Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Tuesday, March 3, Psalm 34:20

Shin: "He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken."

This line was listed as a prophecy of Christ, who literally lived the completely righteous life, who was literally afflicted for our sake for all of our sins, and literally, when dying on the cross had no bones broken. So this simple metaphor became a literal fulfillment of Christ and His work for us.

We saw similar prophecies like this, like how He represented Israel in "I have called my son out of Egypt", "Rachel weeping for her children", and even His baptism, when He who was without sin was baptized for the sake of His sinful people, only to eventually fulfill Isaiah 53, and Psalm 22 and many other prophecies in a real life, once-for-all sacrifice for our sins.

Here we also see how David understood the love and protection of God in the midst of this great trial he was enduring, and at the same time bringing many under his wing. All knew that many would suffer persecution, the brutality of the wicked, and indeed endure afflictions, broken bones and even death, but were given hope that the ultimate end of the righteous was deliverance.

When we look at the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11, we see what our spiritual forefathers and mothers endured: "and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and other had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:36-40)

Those before Christ do not see what we have seen, but through faith in that hope and promise they endured. We, seeing the final sacrifice, and living with the sure promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit have great advantage over them. We have been made complete in Him:

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:9)

And those "broken bones" will all be put back together at the resurrection from the dead. We have been given a little glimpse when Christ resurrected bodily, yet with immortal differences. For it says in 1 John 3: "and we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (2b)

And with that great promise, we apply John's next verse: "And everyone that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." (3)

Believers, using the old adage, "aim to please" their Heavenly Father. Not in the dread of a slave to their master, but of a child to their Father. We don't create good works; we walk and listen, and enjoy His presence.

And when in the Presence of God, there is no sin. There is no thought of sin. No desire of sin, or to sin, for sin is just a mockery and an aberration of goodness. We have the real thing.

In Ephesians, we are compared to a wife to a husband, and that husband is Christ. And we are "one flesh with Him" so to speak. "for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (5:30-32)

And in Him: "He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken."

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*KJV used*

Memory Helps

Shin:

"He keepeth all his bones:
Not one of them is broken."

Well, this is an easy verse to picture. When we divide it this way, we have two lines ending with a "B" word: "bones/broken". Then:

"his bones/is broken"

Then: "all his bones: not one of them is broken"

Finally: He keepeth/ all his bones not one of them/ is broken.

So picture your body in an X-ray machine, with all of your bones put together, and "not one of them is broken".

And in my word picture, I use Jimmy Durante, the man with the famous "NoSe" of yesteryear. I use him because N=2 and S=0, vowels fillers. He is on that "Singing Mare" (Singing for Psalms, and MaRe for 3-4) They are seeing "all their bones" in a rather large x ray picture, and are "singing" with joy because "not one of them is broken". That way you can link the verse to Psalm 34:20.