Recently I celebrated by 40th birthday.
We celebrated the years of God's faithfulness to us.
For Moses, 40 was the 1st of three 40-yr chapters.
Jesus was crucified before he reached 40.
They said to him, "you're not even 40 years old".
In the Bible we find 3 notable birthday celebrations.. of 3 kings..
"Pharaoh, Herod & Ahasuerus"
On their birthdays, much was lost:
- Pharaoh lost his butler,
- Herod lost his preacher,
- & Ahasuerus lost his wife.
We also find 3 devourers:
- Pharaoh's butler was eaten by birds,
- Herod was overcome by a young dancer and her mother,
- & Ahasuerus lost his wife due to drunkenness.
The 1st Adam's birthday celebration:
With all of his glory, with his king-like authority of free-will, the 1st Adam cannot escape the futility he has been subjected to. He appears so strong, yet he is weak. In seeking to celebrate self, and glorify his 1st birth, he is reminded that since that day, he is losing. He has lost God, and ultimately will lose everything he possesses.
There is also another, quite different birthday celebration in the bible..
The 2nd Adam's birthday celebration:
This birth is one of a simple, impoverished child:
Of royal decent, this king is laid in a cattle trough.
He is, the "2nd Adam".
The purpose of His birth: is our 2nd birth.
At His birthday celebration, are despised impoverished shepherds...
and 3 kings.
And at His celebration, nothing is lost.
Rather He is added to. "Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh".
Humbly, He has condescended so low, and already "laid aside" the use of everything..
all the external glories of Divinity (Php2).
Now, having "added" humanity to His Divinity, He brings with Him, not futility, but Glory...
"Glory to God in the highest", this is not man-glorifying, but God's greatest glory;
And man receives the benefit of Divine "peace and good will".
And now, this "last Adam" will be increased, and the "increase of His government" shall know no end.
For, the "devourer" is "rebuked", and we are still celebrating His birth, today :)
