Lesson 9 – Day 5

The Depth of Grace

In this week’s lesson, we have studied several concepts of grace.  Now I want to give you the full measure of the definitions of grace from the viewpoint of advanced theological interpretation.  Many historical studies of biblical Hebrew have traditionally attempted to sum up this spiritual gift from God.  To do this, let’s first look at Psalm 84:11,

“For Yahweh (Elohim) God is a sun and shield; Yahweh gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

This is a powerful and revealing scripture. God says that He is a shield, that He is brighter than the sun, and that His warmth extends to us. Then He says, “Yahweh gives grace and glory…”  These two words “grace and glory”, are first spiritual, then become material and natural.  Grace is a spiritual force, and as a result always begins a blessing.  Grace is first a spiritual blessing, and glory is the result of grace in the material form of favor and glory.  What good would a blessing be if it had no effect on our livelihood? Grace, as it matures into visible favor, will cause others to treat you differently.  Many good things that happen in this fallen world might be the result of the unseen spiritual force of grace.

In chapter 4 of this lesson, we found that the English words grace and favor are interchangeably used in translating the Biblical Hebrew of the Old Testament.  I believe the reason is that the understanding of the spiritual force of grace was not spiritually appraised before Christ appeared.  Favor is the result of grace.  The inspiration of the Holy Spirit upon the writers of scripture, put the grace of God in the light of understanding of that time period.  Grace is a gift of God, bending down and stooping to an inferior being, and thus appearing to the natural senses as favor.

Favor, when it originates with the power of God, we call this supernatural favor.  So, grace is God’s gift to us, which produces over time, supernatural favor, which appears in the natural as glory.

Again, the definition of grace; the qualities of a person or thing that give pleasure to the senses, objective beauty, loveliness, charm, graciousness, whatever is pleasant and agreeable, to be beautified, to encamp about (thus to hang around). 

TAKE THIS QUIZ

(Remember, grace and favor, can be upon people, places and things.)

1. If a house has grace, what would it be like and look like?
2. If a restaurant has grace and favor, what would the atmosphere and food be like?
3. If a park has grace, what would it be like and what would be in it?
4. If a ministry has grace, how would it function?
5. If you have grace, what kind of miracles would happen around you?
6. If a country has grace, how would it operate and treat its citizens?
7. If a house has grace upon it, how would be different than the houses around it?

Our prayer for today.

Father, reveal to me the grace, favor, and glory that You have continually guided me by.  Reveal to my mind Your grace flowing to me daily.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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