“Show us your faithful love, [Yahweh], and give us your salvation,” sang the Psalmist (Psalm 85:7). Recently, I paused to ponder this, wondering what the songwriter understood by the word ‘salvation’. What did it mean for the people when they sang, “His salvation is very near those who fear him” (85:9, italics added)? The Old Testament is full of references to salvation. Famously, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “[Yahweh, Yahweh] himself, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. You will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation” (Isaiah 12:2-3). For us, the word is inevitably linked to Yahshua and the price He paid to secure our salvation. But how, before Messiah came, did Israel perceive this?
When Joshua led Israel to victory at Jericho, Rahab (who had helped Israelite spies escape the city) and her entire family were saved from death because of a scarlet thread bound in the window (Joshua 2:18). My father used to say, “There’s a scarlet thread running through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.” In other words, salvation is a major biblical theme! Personal salvation in the Old Testament was based on faith in Yahweh and belief in His promises, which, through His grace, produced righteous men like Abraham, Moses, and David.
The Hebrew word for ‘salvation’ is ‘yesha’ which is translated variously as ‘deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, and welfare’ (Strongs H3468). Israel experienced Yahweh’s protection and love in all these areas. But those who revered and honoured Him knew His salvation personally and walked in righteousness. Israel’s hope was closely bound into the Messianic promises liberally distributed throughout the Old Testament.
Our experience is vitally bound into Yahshua’s sacrifice on Calvary. Through faith in Him we receive salvation, freely given through the abundance of His grace. Powerfully, those early ministers shared the concept of salvation in the new covenant; the reality of spectacular messianic prophesies fulfilled in the Person of Yahshua! In Hebrews we read that Yahweh “had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us” (Hebrews 11:40).
Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash
https://unsplash.com/photos/a-wooden-block-that-says-salvation-next-to-a-bouquet-of-flowers-qD9u5soVcQw
The Test Of LoveWe look at our lives through a spiritual lens now, as we see how our actions as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, friends and coaches, workers and employers relate to [Yahweh's] will.
Timothy Peck
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