A Byword and Laughingstock
5/1 Reading Portions: Numbers 8; Psalm 44; Song of Solomon 6; Hebrews 6
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
5/1 Reading Portions: Numbers 8; Psalm 44; Song of Solomon 6; Hebrews 6
Psalm 44:14
You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
ENDURE
During one of His Roman trials, Jesus Christ was a byword, an incompressible riddle and conundrum, to Pontius Pilate (Mark 15:5). At His crucifixion, Jesus was a byword, a mysterious parable, to the Roman soldiers (Luke 23:36). Moreover, Jesus was mocked, shamed, ridiculed, and made a laughingstock by the Jews, saying:
“He saved others; let him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!” Luke 23:35
Jesus Christ is very God, and these things happened to Him. Can we be so vain or foolish to think we would escape what He endured? Jesus said,
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:18
Therefore, we should not be amazed by the ridicule we receive (1 Jn 3:13). Moreover, if we persevere, by God’s grace, to live devoted to Jesus Christ, doctrinally instructed by God’s Word, and dutifully active in gospel works unto the Father’s glory, we may even experience the laughter and ridicule among people who profess to be saved. Understanding this helps us to renew our minds (Rom 12:2; Col 3:10). As our minds are renewed, and we are conformed more and more to the image of Christ Jesus (Rom 8:29), our prayers, therefore, may be shaped with greater alignment to God’s will (1 Cor 4:15; Eph 5:15-17), and our actions may be determined by greater illumination of God’s Word (Jas 1:25). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Jesus was a byword
Among the uniformed;
To those who knew the Word,
They also cast their scorn.