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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

"Frap me Lord"

Verb 1. frap - make secure by lashing; "frap a sail" lash - bind with a rope, chain, or cord; "lash the horse"

2. frap - take up the slack of; "frap a rope" tighten, fasten - make tight or tighter; "Tighten the wire"


In the series, The Incomparable Christ , Nancy Leigh DeMoss explains that Hebrew tells us,

Because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (2:18).

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (4:15).

He is the incomparable Christ. He was tempted but without sin

So, verse 16 of Hebrews 4:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (4:16).

You see that word help twice in those verses. “He’s able to help those who are being tempted.” “He will give grace to help us in our time of need.”

I looked up that word in the original Greek language. It’s a word that’s used to describe a rope or a chain that is used to hold together a boat, a vessel that is falling apart. It’s called “frapping a vessel.” It’s wrapped around this vessel, and it’s used to hold it together.

It’s the same word that’s used in Acts chapter 27 when the apostle Paul was in this boat going to Rome and a great storm came up, and the boat was going to be shipwrecked. It says, “They used supports to undergird the ship” (v. 17). That word supports is the same word help. “He is able to help those who are being tempted.

I’ve come to love this picture because when our little “ship” is being storm-tossed, and we feel like we’re in danger of falling apart from being assaulted by the evil one, from being tempted and tried, Jesus is the one who holds us together, who undergirds us, who supports us. He can do this, He help us, He can hold us together, because He knows what it is to be tempted and tried Himself without ever having given in to temptation.


Doesn't that sound good? I don't know about you, but when the storms of life are raging, I'm so glad that I can depend on Jesus to "frap" me and hold me together!

3 comments:

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