Originally posted: 02/09/2019
Yesterday, we considered Him Who Orchestrates. And today, the symphony plays on!
And as the symphony plays on, each opus more impressive than the one preceding, reveals the brilliance of our Heavenly Composer, Arranger, and Conductor! And as the universe sits in awe, there is One Who steps forward, One Who has been there, Orchestrating; and now the spotlight shines, on Him alone; a spotlight emanating and radiating from His very Presence, on Him, the Soloist.
Soloist: “a person who works, acts, or performs alone.”
Consider Him, the Soloist
- The Soloist determines the times.
- Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile… (41:1).
- The Soloist discloses the future.
- Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer,” (41:15-16).
- The Soloist confirms His will.
- Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do…. 28 It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do…. 32 Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about,” (41:25, 28, 32).
- The Soloist establishes authority.
- So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you,” (41:39-40).
- The Soloist, alone, receives the applause.
- Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 He named the second Ephraim, “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction,” (41:50-52).
How are we to respond to the Soloist?
- Give Him our times. They are not really ours to begin with. He holds all time in His capable hands. Surely we can trust and rest in His time.
- But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day, (2 Peter 3:8).
- Give Him our future. It is not ours to hold on to or direct. He is the One who controls all things, including our future; let us lean on Him in faith.
- …And lean on the God of Israel;
The Lord of hosts is His name.
3 “I declared the former things long ago
And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them.
Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass,” (Isaiah 48:2-3).
- …And lean on the God of Israel;
- Seek His confirmation. God confirms His will to us as we surrender, obey, and seek His renewing and transforming power in His Word. He would not have us walk in confusion; let us approach Him in faith, humility, obedience, and full assurance that He will confirm His good and acceptable and perfect will.
- Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect, (Romans 12:1-2).
- Trust His promotions. No matter what we perceive our abilities, our resources, or our circumstances to be, they are not the defining factors of success. We are all on equal footing before Him; for all we have is from Him. What He requires is that we are faithful with what He gives and assigns.
- His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master,” (Matthew 25:21).
- Give glory and praise to Him alone. When we consider Him, the amazing Soloist, Who works, acts, and performs alone, how can we not praise Him? And when we consider He invites us to be a part of His majestic symphony for all of eternity, how can we not give all glory to Him?
- “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created,” (Revelation 4:11).
The final verse of the final Psalm, recorded from the penned collection of humble, sincere. and profound praise and worship, concludes with the only response possible:
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6).
Of course! The whole of the universe is part of His symphony; a symphony that is only performed well when He, the Soloist, is receiving all glory and praise!
And He will be praised; for He alone is able and worthy to determine the times, disclose the future, confirm His will, establish authority, and receive all praise!
As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice…shouting, “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:37-40).
Let’s not be replaced by the stones! He has assigned us the glorious privilege of a becoming a part of His superb and sacred symphony; that we would give only Him, the Soloist, the glory that He alone deserves.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth, (Psalm 115:1).