the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Discovering Christ Day by Day
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 19-23
“A Nail in a Sure Place”
Isaiah 22:23
Our all-glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Nail fastened in a sure place, the Nail upon which we hang our souls. The Lord God declared, by his prophet Isaiah, “I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.”
Nail Fastened
The triune God fastened “him as a Nail in a sure place” in his eternal covenant (Ephesians 1:3-6), as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” This is the Nail fastened by God in the sure place in his Word (Ecclesiastes 12:11). This Nail is fastened forever in Heaven itself. The Triune God hung on him all his purpose of grace, trusting him with the salvation of his people and the glory of his own great name (Ephesians 1:12).
We hang our souls and all our hope upon this Nail, trusting Christ alone as our Savior (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). And, as the Builder of his Temple, Christ the Nail bears all the glory of it (Zechariah 6:13). In a word, everything hangs on the Nail, Christ Jesus, the Nail God has fastened in a sure place.
Two Kinds of Nails
The word “nail” is used to refer to two kinds of nails. One was a tent stake, like those used to hold the tabernacle in place. The church of God’s elect is the tent and Christ is the nail to which its cords are fastened. He alone is the stability and security of his church. He alone is the stability and security of our souls.
The “nail” also refers to a peg driven into the center pole of a tent or the wall of a house. Utensils and valuables were hung on it. As we hang works of art on our walls, in ancient times men would hang jewels and other emblems of wealth on a nail in some conspicuous place in their dwellings, to be admired by all who came in. That is what the triune God has done. He has hung everything on Christ, to let us see and admire the exceeding riches of his grace and glory in him! All the vessels of the Father’s house hang upon this one nail — Christ Jesus. On him hangs all the glory of his Father’s house! The Triune God has hung on Christ all his mercy, all the covenant of grace, all his promises, and all his blessings. God has hung on him all our salvation. All the glory of his Father’s house hangs on him!
Hang All
Has God enabled me, by his matchless free grace, to hang all the concerns of my soul for eternity upon the Lord Jesus? Indeed, he has, and I do. I have no other hope. “Christ is All” to me, because he has made himself all to me. How eternally firm and secure I rest upon him! “The Nail” upon which I hang all is “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
He is the source, origin, fountain, and support of all my salvation. Indeed, he is “all my salvation.” Every purpose of God is founded on Christ. Every promise of God is made, confirmed, and fulfilled in Christ. Every dispensation of God’s providence in all the realms of nature, grace, and glory comes from Christ (Romans 11:36).
All things hang on Christ, “the Nail” God has fixed in a sure place. Are we blessed with the graces of his Spirit in life? It is from him that we derive all our spiritual strength, gifts, and graces. We depend upon him and him alone for life, ability, power, and every inclination and disposition to believe him, worship him, and serve him. Every inclination and disposition to honor him comes from him. Everything in the house of God and everything in our regenerate souls hangs upon “the Nail.” The whole glory is his! Let us return to him an endless revenue of praise.
Evermore will I hang my soul, and body, and spirit, with all I have, and all I am or hope to be, in time and to all eternity, on this Nail. It is impossible to hang too much on Christ. It is impossible to hang too completely on this Nail. None can perish, nothing can be lost that hangs upon God’s Christ!
