the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
1 Chronicles 21:14-30
On this same mountain of Moriah, Abraham had once offered up his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2; 2 Chronicles 3:1). But God had restrained Abraham’s hand, in the same way as He now holds back the angel’s hand. Divine judgment, thus diverted, now takes the form of fire consuming the sacrifice which David offers (v. 26). After having presented a substitutionary sacrifice in Isaac’s place, Abraham had called this place "Jehovah-jireh", that is to say "In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen (or provided)" (Genesis 22:14).
As far as we are concerned, we know the solemnity of that provision, and we know too who it was who had to receive the strokes of God’s judgment in our place. The voice which here says to the angel "It is enough" then orders him to put back the sword into its sheath; but this voice is the same as that which would one day say, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow. . . smite the shepherd" (Zechariah 13:7). Unfathomable and wonderful mystery! The judgment we deserved has been for ever turned away from us because it fell on Him, who was smitten in our place: Jesus, the Shepherd, appointed by God, our good Shepherd, "the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts".
