In Andrew Peterson’s beloved Christmas album Behold the Lamb of God, he sings the song, “Deliver Us,” based on Jesus’s lament for Jerusalem in Luke chapter 13. He sings, hauntingly,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem
How often I have longed
To gather you beneath my gentle wings.
Even typing these words brings tears to my eyes. Peterson captures, in a way that only master songwriters can, the ache of the ages. The song ends with those lines, an answer to the previous verses that are sung from the perspective of God’s wandering people:
Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay
Our shackles they were made with our own hands
Jesus’s lament summarizes the history of God’s stiff-necked people. Jerusalem—used here both literally, in reference to the city, and also as a metaphor for God’s people throughout time—had a history of turning away from God and abandoning the prophets, judges, and even the Messiah God had sent to them. Even earlier in this chapter, we see a specific example of the Pharisees questioning Jesus’s miracles. The crowds believed, but the leaders rejected Him.
Despite the innumerable sins of His people and their continuing self-imprisonment due to their own choices, Jesus weeps over the city and the people He came to save (Luke 19:41). God longs to gather His children, to protect them, to gather them under His wings (Psalm 91:4). Jerusalem is His greatest joy (Psalm 137:6), the people He will go to the greatest lengths to save. It is the promise of the whole of Scripture.
Jesus stands outside of the city where He will die, and His lament is not for His death. His lament is for the people He longs to save. He has just finished warning them, telling them that by not believing Him they will not join Him in the kingdom of God. But His lament shows us that He does not make these proclamations about the narrow way out of anger, but out of grief.
“How often I wanted to gather your children together…
but you were not willing!” (v.34).
Even in His lament over the past and current rejection of His people, Jesus knew He would be rejected yet again in Jerusalem. But the steadfast, faithful, persistent love of the Father through the ages, embodied in the person of Christ, never fails. Love would carry Jesus all the way to the cross, into the dark tomb, and ultimately, into the glorious resurrection—where He invites us to join Him, forever.
Melanie Rainer is a bookworm from birth who makes her days writing, editing and reading in Nashville, where she also joyfully serves as the editor of Kids Read Truth. She has an M.A. in Theological Studies from Covenant Seminary, spends as much time as she can in the kitchen, and can’t wait until her two daughters are old enough to read Anne of Green Gables.
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47 thoughts on "The Narrow Way"
How relevant is this word right now in 2021!
This is so good. Understand that questioning God is apart of or sin.. but don’t let it devour who you know He is; love. ❤️❤️
Please pray for me. I am having an ultrasound done on my kidneys & abdomen next week due to some abnormal test results. I’m feeling nervous but also trying to remember like the the Psalm says that He will encircle me & that He would keep me as the apple of His eye.
My husband and I have read this scripture many of times about the path being narrow to enter His kingdom. We both lean to it meaning more than just being applicable to the people of Jerusalem then. I actually shared this with him and he is angry at what the writer has said, feeling as if she is leading them astray from what the word of God is truly saying and gleaning her own understanding.
This verse should be applied to the broadest scale possible. Many will knock, this is true. The path to Christ is narrow. When I saw the header of this devotional, I was excited and hopeful that the writer would be stressing the importance of following a life where they aren’t practicing lawlessness and are fully devoted to Christ. Instead, I find some watered down message that says we are invited to join God forever so long as we accept Him into our hearts. We have to be PRACTICING our faith. We must be steadfast. That is why the way to Christ is so narrow.
I suggest you read Ephesians 2:8 … for it is by grace we are saved, through faith. Not through works so no one can boast. And Romans 11:6 … and if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace ceases to be grace.
It is the GRACE that gets us in. Not what we do. I hope this helps.
The parable of the fig tree is heart wrenching, yet a beautiful depiction of why Jesus die for us…so that grace an mercy would be renewed daily.
While we continue to fail God by not walking in the purpose He has established for our lives and/or using the gifts that He freely given to us, we are likened to the fig tree that bears no fruit.
How much longer will Jesus continue to stand in the gap pleading for more time for us to get it together? Leave her alone, let me continue to fertilize the soil, and if she truly won’t bear fruit cut her down.
My prayer is that as we continue to seek the face of God that we do so wholeheartedly. May we continue to “strive to enter through the narrow door,” entering empty having used all of the gifts and talents that we have been blessed with.
Elaine, I think it means that people will try to enter heaven after Jesus has returned. They will say they knew him (on earth) but they didn’t have a real relationship with him or commit to follow him while alive in earth.
I have to admit I’m a little confused. Just a few days ago we were reading about how to pray, “ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” But here I read “many will try to enter wont be able to…you will knock on the door, saying, “lord, open up for us!” He will answer you “I don’t know you or where you are from.” Does anynody have any insight to this seeming paradox?
I think the first part has to do with persistence in prayer. The second part I think has to do with a genuine relationship with God, not just in name, but true integrity.
Amen!! I love the song “King of the World” by Natalie Grant. It serves as a reminder that God can not do his best work in me when I contain Him or make him smaller than He is. In hindsight, I always recognize HIS timing is perfect. I’m still working on recognizing that in present time.
Thank you for this reminder that God’s timing is better than what we think in our time.
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
How often I have not been willing to be gathered under Jesus’ wings of all that He has done for me. Humbled by His persistence to continue to pursue me whether I want it or not.
There have been so many times in my life when I have been like the children of Jerusalem, refusing to let God take me under his wing for protection and guidance because it is so easy to think that your way is best. It is taking that much larger path of everyone else and thinking that we are in control of our lives and that we can do it ourselves, but y’all I am so happy to know that I can’t do it all myself and that I need Jesus!! He always has my plans, purpose, and heart in His mind when guiding me through life and that is something I can take comfort in. Every step He guides me through is deliberate and for His glory, what a weight off my shoulders that I do not have to do it alone! I am so thankful for His fierce love that is strong enough to single each one of us out and to call me back when I stray away.
Praying for your sweet baby, Emmeline!
Steph C- what a great correlation!!! Thanks for pointing that out!
Emmeline- praying for your baby and for you to have strength.
Church mouse – always look forward to your posts.
My sisters, your words lift us up every day and know that I am praying for you all. Much love to all.
Praying Emmaline.. God be present in every stage of this journey with your little one. Praying He give you strength to trust and hold fast to Him, that you believe He only has the best plans and purposes, not to harm but, to give you and your a hope and a future..
Will be holding you and yours up in prayer in these following days.. love wrapped hugs and prayers being sent your way..x
Please pray for my 2 month old baby, he is having a CT scan next Thursday to find out if a suture in his skull has closed too early, If so, he will have to undergo a surgery. Really afraid and sad about what he might have to go through. But God is good no matter what happens and pray for my heart to believe that and accept his plans in everything, including my son’s life. He will always be glorified.
Praying for your precious little one Emmeline.
I’m praying for you, your baby, and the doctors!
“The ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, ‘There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day’.” (Lk 13:14) We try to limit God … to make Him like us when we say, “this is the appropriate day/time/way to do this”. God is not limited or ruled by time, custom, or social norms. He acts when and how is best. Our only correct response is to bow in worship and shout with praise when He intervenes!
These passages remind me of a time in my life when I denounced God, rejected my faith, and lived a miserable life, full of sins. During this time, God chased after me. Time and again, He sought me out through others. It took a lot of people, but I finally found my way back to Him. In hindsight, I can see how I was pursued; His love is relentless! Thank you God for not giving up on me!
I resonate with your words. Thank you for sharing. That relentless love chased me too. I’m forever humbled and indescribably thankful.
Amazing! Who can fathom His love?
I love reading this to be reminded the Love God has for us ❤️
❤️
I am struggling to see where Psalm 137:9 fits into our other readings and devotional for today.
Hey Summer,
I understand, verse 9 seems harsh and very dark! Psalm 137 is a lament written after the fall of Jerusalem and the exile in 587/86 BC. The writer had just witnessed most of their people starve to death, killed or forced into slavery; the city was razed to the ground and the temple (where God was supposed to dwell) destroyed. Later in their history’s, and in the prophets, we see the people understand their own history of sin is what led up to the entire Exile; but the psalm writer isn’t concerned with that at the moment. The writer is in pain and feeling anger and despair at the situation. This psalm is lamenting all that is happened and is a vehicle for the writer to express their pain openly and honestly before God. Verse 9 is what bible scholars call “imprecatory”- a prayer for harsh judgment against unrighteous enemies. This is really tough- but within that context maybe we can understand something of the depth of grief and anger the writer is feeling. I don’t think the inclusion of verse 9 here means that is something we should pray, or that it is God’s will to do it. I think it is an example of how safe and free we are to express anything we might be feeling to God, and that’s honestly hugely comforting to me!
I hope this helps! Praying for more insight from the Lord for you as well.
As for how it fits in specifically to this reading- my guess is it was included because it’s part of the psalm (it’s a short one anyways), and maybe because it also echoes a call for just retribution for wrongs, even if how it is said is pretty brutal.
The last shall be first, and the first shall be last. This may not be related to what Melanie is talking about this morning. But something came to mind. I work at a school with kindergartners. I love these children very much! I love my job!And there’s the few who always want to be first. The first in line. And trust me they run and fight for that position. And there are times because it’s normally the same students over and over that I turn the line around so that the last person in line will be the first person in line. Then the child who is fighting for the first looks at me in an odd way. And I reminded the children it doesn’t matter where they are in the line because we are all going to the same place which is normally the playground. And I remind them we all get to go play nobody’s going to get left behind.
I love this!
This is a beautiful analogy, thank you!
❤️
This is overwhelming because I never really sat and read these passages like this. Jesus loves his people so much and yet they continuously closed the door to him. Oh loving and persistent our saviour has been? How is still the same today, wanting to love his people though we are unworthy of it. This was such a good awakening I needed
Hi guys. Such a rich word today.
Was curious about how in the devo, Melanie says that Jerusalem is God’s highest joy (truth), but the verse she refers to, Psalm 137:6. Isn’t that being sung by the captives in Babylon? It’s not from God’s point of view, correct?
Praying for all who call themselves Abraham’s children to come to know, follow and love Jesus, the Messiah. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem which is attainable through Him. And praying for all those who label themselves as “other” – that they would seek and find Him also. His arms are ever welcoming. But know also that a day is coming when He will say “Enough” and the door to the ark will close and those outside will perish. Until that day, we continue to pray.
Beautiful. May we be ready for that day!
Beautiful. May we always be ready for that day!
This makes me think of the way I respond to my fiancé sometimes. When I am acting very immature during conflict, I can shut down and refuse to be humble or collaborate. He is willing to work with me and talk to me, but I am not willing to do the same. He still remains patient with me.
In the same way, Jesus loves me even when I am “unwilling”. Even when I sometimes choose to sin, even when I sometimes sin carelessly, or even obliviously…He still loves me. How great is His love for me!
Wendy, I can so relate to your comments. My heart,too,hurts for those who cannot see past this life and their need for a relationship with the Lord of eternity. It especially hurts when it is your own family. Let’s continue to trust God to touch their hearts and let’s pray unceasingly for their salvation.
Alexis,
I love that song also. Recently I was trying to figure out if it is an old hymn or a new one. In readying about it I discovered that it was written by Stuart Townsend in 1995. He was writing praise songs, but felt a call to write a hymn in the traditional style that he remembered from his youth. He said that it has prematurely aged him because people assume it is an old hymn and are surprised that he is still alive!
He also co-wrote In Christ Alone with Keith Getty.
Probably more than you wanted to know, but I also love that song and thought it was an interesting story.
Bessie, thank you for sharing about the hymn. I assumed it was an old hymn since it sounds like one.
This text shares Gods intense love for us – just as a parent.
There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my child…..
I have had a relationship with my Loving Lord ever since I can remember, and continuing to strive to love like He loves with joy!
But the emotion of sadness overwhelms me just the same – as I think of those who do not realize there’s more than this world.
My children were raised in the church, but now do not live a life within a church family. My biggest heartache for them is their relationship with Jesus. If you were to ask them if they believe, they would answer yes – but it’s the relationship with Him that I hope and pray will be what they desire….
I pray for this everyday – that they would know Him and love Him and trust Him just like they do with their physical Dad.
No weeping and gnashing of teeth:/
My heart goes out to all that do not know……
Going through same thing here with my 2 daughters. One graduated from college and one still in college. I have tried and tried to get them to become involved in a campus ministry or go to church , but they never did. I pray for them to renew their relationship with Him.
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us…the lyrics of that song always brings me to tears. A melodic reminder of how truly special we are in the eyes of our God. And yet like the people of Jerusalem…the Israelites in the wilderness…we lose sight and lean on our own understanding and turn away from the one who loves us and knows us the most. In little ways and big ways, we take our gaze away. I’m grateful this morning for the reminder that God loves me deeply and He desires to commune with me and I need to keep my focus on Him,
“Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay
Our shackles they were made with our own hands”
We all…
will repent or perish
are fruitless until Jesus
disabled until restored
the smallest seed until planted
“Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay
Our shackles they were made with our own hands”
Our Father…
finds us in the wilderness
cares for us
protects us
carries us
provides and nourishes us
The doorway is narrow but, make every effort to enter through it.
For the doorway was created by our Jesus.
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Humbly awed by You God.
Amen
Wow … a love like this – overwhelming to think about. Thank you, Jesus!