Numbers 25:1-18  Israel Worshiped Baal at Peor

[Study Aired October 23, 2023]

Num 25:1  And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 
Num 25:2  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 
Num 25:3  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 
Num 25:4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
Num 25:5  And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye everyone his men that were joined unto Baalpeor. 
Num 25:6  And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 
Num 25:7  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 
Num 25:8  And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 
Num 25:9  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. 
Num 25:10  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 25:11  Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 
Num 25:12  Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 
Num 25:13  And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. 
Num 25:14  Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. 
Num 25:15  And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. 
Num 25:16  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 25:17  Vex the Midianites, and smite them: 
Num 25:18  For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake. 

Intruduction

Chapter 25 starts with how Israel committed sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab, and as a result, they ended up serving Baal at Peor.  This whoredom and idolatry was punished by the Lord with a plague. The chapter also describes the pious zeal of Phinehas and the Lord’s commendation of his zeal. This chapter ends with the enmity between the Israelites and the Midianites.

The preceding three chapters of Numbers 25 dealt with Balaam, who was invited by Balak, king of Moab, to come and curse the people of Israel with the intent that this would cause the people of Israel to be defeated by the Moabites. Balaam could not curse the people of Israel because the Lord told him that the people of Israel were a blessed people who could not be cursed. In Revelation 2:14 we are given further information that the whoredom of the people of Israel was the result of Balaam’s doctrine which taught Balak to entice the people of Israel to commit fornication, which would cause the Lord to go against them, thus making it easier for them to be defeated.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The question is: what is this doctrine of Balaam which cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, causing them to be involved in eating things sacrificed to idols and committing fornication? The fornication in this sense spiritually means to worship another Jesus. That is, leaving our husband Christ to play the harlot. Through the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles, we are able to know the doctrine of Balaam. Let’s take a look at what John has to say about the doctrine of Balaam:

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The doctrine of Balaam causes us to eat food offered to idols and to commit fornication. Eating food offered to idols means accepting what the idols of our hearts say and rejecting the truth of the word of the Lord. The doctrine of Balaam also causes us to forsake our husband Christ and go after another Jesus. In 1 John 4:3, anybody who does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh has the spirit of the antichrist. As we are aware, everybody knows that Jesus came in the flesh. However, it is only the elect who believe that Jesus Christ comes to us, His elect, in this life to destroy the works of the flesh within us with the breath of His mouth and His brightness. What this implies is that any teaching that does not acknowledge Christ as coming within us to overcome the flesh is tantamount to the doctrine of Balaam. In other words, any teaching causing us to rely on our strength through our perceived self-will (false doctrine) instead of Christ is the doctrine of Balaam. This is because, without Christ coming to us, we are like grasshoppers before the flesh and at the fullness of time, we shall succumb to its control as we end up playing the harlot.

With regard to the doctrine of Balaam, this is what Peter has to say: 

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

What this means is that any great swelling words of vanity constitute the doctrine of Balaam since it has the potential to arouse the lust of the flesh. An example of these great swelling words of vanity is as follows:

2Pe 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

The feigned words mean fictitious words. In other words, false doctrines is the doctrine of Balaam since it has the potential to allure the lust of the flesh which leads us to clinging to another Jesus.

Paul also said the following to say:

Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Perverse things used here by Paul means misinterpreted or corrupt words. It can also mean to ‘turn away.’ In other words, these perverse things spoken are false doctrines which cause us to turn away from Christ to follow another Jesus and therefore constitute the doctrine of Balaam.

As we know, the people of Israel here were the new generation of believers with most of them less than 40 years old. They had left Egypt, but they ended up in Babylon as they committed whoredom and ate food offered to idols.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

There are many lessons we can glean from this chapter to guide our path to Christ and be delivered from Babylon within and without.

Israel Joined Himself unto Baalpeor

Num 25:1  And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
Num 25:2  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Num 25:3  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

The daughters of Moab in verse 1 signify the many different divisions of Babylon. The Israelites committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab therefore spiritually signify leaving our husband Christ to be joined to or worship another Jesus when we were in Babylon.

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

In verse 2, the people of Israel eating the sacrifices of their gods and bowing down to them means imbibing the false doctrines of Babylon, which causes us to leave the simplicity which is in Christ in favor of another Jesus. Over time, we end up joining ourselves completely to another Jesus such that we become twofold the child of hell, just as the people of Israel joined themselves to Baalpeor and became worse off as they incurred the anger of the Lord.

Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

We must remember that the people of Israel in this case were a new generation with a maximum age being less than 40 years, as almost all the old generation had died in the wilderness. They therefore represent us as believers when we started our walk with Christ. Our attraction to Babylon to serve another Jesus is so strong, especially when we start our journey with Christ. This is clearly shown in the following verses:

Pro 7:1  My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 
Pro 7:2  Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 
Pro 7:3  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 
Pro 7:4  Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
Pro 7:5  That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 
Pro 7:6  For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
Pro 7:7  And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 
Pro 7:8  Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 
Pro 7:9  In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 
Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 
Pro 7:11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Pro 7:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 
Pro 7:13  So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 
Pro 7:14  I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 
Pro 7:15  Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 
Pro 7:16  I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 
Pro 7:17  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 
Pro 7:18  Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 
Pro 7:19  For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 
Pro 7:20  He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 
Pro 7:21  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 
Pro 7:22  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 
Pro 7:23  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 
Pro 7:24  Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 
Pro 7:25  Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 
Pro 7:26  For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 
Pro 7:27  Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Our Judgment and That of the World

Num 25:4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

In verse 4, although most of the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord by their whoredoms, it is the chiefs of the people who were held responsible by the Lord. The Lord told Moses to take the chiefs of the people of Israel and hang them in the sun before the Lord.  The chiefs of the people of Israel symbolize the elect who are being judged for their whoredom in this life. The fact that the chiefs must be hanged in the sun and before the Lord is to remind us that it is those who are in Christ, represented by the sun, who are being judged. Being hanged before the Lord means our judgment is all part of the plan of the Lord with the objective to cause us to learn righteousness. 

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Num 25:5  And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye everyone his men that were joined unto Baalpeor. 

The judges of Israel in verse 5 refers to the elect. This verse is to show us that in the fullness of time, as judges we will administer judgment to the whole world. This will happen during the lake of fire age.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Num 25:6  And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

The Midianitish woman represents Babylon and the children of Israel who were weeping before the tabernacle in the presence of the Lord, symbolizing the assembly of the Lord’s elect. Therefore, verse 6 shows us that when we become part of the church of the firstborn, we clearly see the sins of the physical churches of this world, which is Babylon, as the weeping children of Israel saw the Israelite in the company of the Midianitish woman in plain sight. The psalm of David clearly shows us that it is when we enter the assembly of the church of the elect that we see Babylon clearly and her end.

Psa 73:1  A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 
Psa 73:2  But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped. 
Psa 73:3  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 
Psa 73:4  For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 
Psa 73:5  They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Psa 73:6  Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 
Psa 73:7  Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 
Psa 73:8  They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

Psa 73:12  Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Psa 73:13  Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Psa 73:14  For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 
Psa 73:15  If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 
Psa 73:16  When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
Psa 73:17  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 
Psa 73:18  Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 
Psa 73:19  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Num 25:7  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 
Num 25:8  And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 
Num 25:9  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. 

Phinehas here symbolizes the elect who was among the congregation who were mourning or weeping for the sins of Israel.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses [the elect], and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth [in mourning].

A javelin is an instrument to kill or destroy. It comes from an unused word which means ‘to hurt.’ Spiritually, it represents the fire of the word of the Lord which destroy or hurts our old man.

1Sa 18:11  And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

Phinehas thrusting the man and the Midianitish woman with the javelin means that the Lord’s elect shall judge the world and Babylon in the Lake of Fire Age. This judgment shall destroy the old man in all mankind since creation. That is when the plague of sin shall cease. In verse 9, those who died from the plague were 24,000 (24x10x10x10). The number 2 means ‘a witness’, the number four signifies the whole of whatever is under consideration, and the number 10 represents the completeness of the flesh.  In this case, we are looking at those who have died as a result of the plague. In other words, we are looking at the whole of humanity who were spiritually dead as a result of the plague of sin. What the number 24,000 therefore means is that all humanity who were spiritually dead will be saved through judgment and therefore become like the Lord’s elect (the two witnesses).

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 
1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

It is instructive to note that the javelin entered the woman through the belly. Paul makes it clear that those whose God is their belly are mindful of things of the earth. So it is the fiery word of God (javelin) which put to death our “belly” which stands for our earthly mindset and desires that have become our God. This implies that the judgment of Babylon is to destroy the old man. 

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 
Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

The Blessing of the Elect

Num 25:10  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 25:11  Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.
Num 25:12  Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
Num 25:13  And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

The zeal for the Lord by Phinehas resulted in the children of Israel not being consumed by the Lord. This means that our zeal for the Lord in this life is for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ and the people of the world, including those in Babylon. In other words, the mercy we have received from the Lord which has caused us to be zealous for the Lord is for the benefit of all humanity as they also shall receive mercy from us. May the Lord help us to be zealous for Him in this life!!

Psa 69:9  For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

In verses 12 and 13 we are given to know some of the blessings the Lord has given to us, His elect. One of the promises given to Phinehas for his zeal for the Lord is the covenant of peace. As the Lord’s called and chosen, we are like Phinehas whom the Lord has given the peace of mind which passes all understanding. To the rest of humanity, the way of peace has eluded them.

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

Isa 57:21  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Isa 59:8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. 
Isa 59:9  Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 
Isa 59:10  We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

In addition to our covenant of peace, the Lord has also blessed us to be given the priesthood.

Isa 61:6  But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Num 25:14  Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. 
Num 25:15  And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. 

It is insightful to note the names of the victims of Phinehas’ zeal. The name of the Israelite that was killed by Phinehas’ javelin was Zimri, which means that ‘God is my protection.’ That of the Midianitish woman was Cozbi which means ‘false.’ What we are being told here by these names is that the false doctrines that we imbibe take away the Lord’s protection, and therefore we become easy prey for the devil.

It is also important to note that the man (Zimri) was a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites, and the woman was the daughter of a chief house in Midian. As we indicated earlier, Cozbi, the Midianitish woman, represents Babylon. This implies that it is the leaders of Babylon who commit fornication with her and lead the people astray.

Isa 9:16  For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. 
Isa 9:17  Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for everyone is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 

Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 
Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

The Enmity Between Israel and Midian

Num 25:16  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 25:17  Vex the Midianites, and smite them: 
Num 25:18  For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.

The Midianites represent our flesh. If we do not see that the present danger regarding our walk with Christ is our flesh, then we shall surely be defeated by it, just as Zimri was overcome by a daughter of Midian. The Lord telling Moses to vex the Midianites is another way of saying that our flesh lusts against the spirit and are therefore contrary to each other. However, if we walk in the Spirit, that is, if we walk according to the word of the Lord, we shall smite the Midianites (the flesh).

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

May the Lord continue to help us to overcome the flesh in this life. Amen!!

The Book of Romans, Part 7 – God is Justified

[Study Aired July 25, 2023]

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 
Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 
Rom 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 
Rom 3:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 
Rom 3:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 
Rom 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known: 
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

In Romans 1 and 2 Paul chastises those who are judging improperly and teaches them how to properly judge. We must judge ourselves first before we can judge others. He also introduces the spiritual meaning of the physical world and what it means to be a true Jew.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

Here in chapter 3 Paul continues to explain the law’s purpose and how to properly judge.

Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 

Psalm 51:1-4 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

We must acknowledge our transgressions and our sin is against God himself.

Rom 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 

In Romans 3:5, the apostle Paul presents a hypothetical question to address a potential objection or misunderstanding. Let’s break down the verse to understand its meaning:

“But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man)”

In this verse, Paul is discussing the concept of God’s righteousness in relation to mankind’s unrighteousness. The phrase “our unrighteousness” refers toour sinful actions and behaviors. Paul suggests that if, through our unrighteousness, God’s righteousness is made more evident or praised, then does it mean God is unjust when He punishes sinners?

The argument seems paradoxical, and Paul prefaces it by saying “I speak as a man.” This statement is used by Paul to signify that he is presenting a man’s line of reasoning or a hypothetical argument. He is not asserting this as a valid point but rather raising a question that some might pose, which he will soon address.

The point Paul is making is that God’s righteousness is demonstrated even more powerfully against the backdrop of mankind’s unrighteousness. God’s justice and holiness shine brightly when contrasted with the sinfulness of mankind. However, this does not mean that God is unjust in punishing sinners. On the contrary, His righteous judgment is entirely fair and just, even if it serves to highlight His righteousness. Paul uses the same type of argument discussing the law in 2 Corinthians 3:7-11.

2 Corinthians 3:7-11 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

In the following verses (Romans 3:6-8), Paul refutes this hypothetical argument and reaffirms that God’s judgment is just and necessary. He argues that if God’s righteousness is demonstrated through man’s unrighteousness, it doesn’t mean that God should tolerate or condone sin. God will still judge sin because He is holy and just, and He has made it clear through His law that sin leads to condemnation.

Rom 3:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 
Rom 3:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 
Rom 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

In essence, Paul is emphasizing that God’s righteousness is not compromised or diminished by our unrighteousness. God’s justice remains perfect, and His judgment is without fault. This section of Romans highlights the universal sinfulness of mankind and the need for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, underscoring the righteousness of God’s plan of redemption.

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known: 
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 

Romans 3:9-18 are quoted from the following Old Testament verses.

Psalm 14:1-3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalm 53:1-3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalm 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Psalm 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

Psalm 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Psalm 59:12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Isaiah 59:7-8 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Here are the last two verses in our study.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

In these two verses (Romans 3:19-20), the apostle Paul explains the purpose and limitations of the law in relation to man’s righteousness and justification before God.

Romans 3:19 – The law speaks to those who are under it. Its purpose is to bring everyone to a recognition of their guilt before God. In other words, the law reveals the true extent of man’s sinfulness and renders every mouth silent, leaving no one with an excuse for their wrongdoing. The law demonstrates that all people are falling short of His perfect standard.

Romans 3:20 – The deeds or works done in an attempt to follow the law cannot justify anyone in God’s sight. No one can attain righteousness or be declared righteous by merely obeying the law. Instead, the law serves as a means to recognize sin and to gain knowledge of what is right and wrong in God’s eyes. It reveals the gap between human imperfection and God’s holiness, making it evident that no one can achieve salvation or righteousness through their own efforts under the law.

In essence, these verses affirm that the law highlights man’s sinfulness and inability to attain righteousness on our own. Instead, the knowledge of sin through the law points to the need for God’s grace and the redemption provided through faith in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God.

Psa 72:1 A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
Psa 72:2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
Psa 72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
Psa 72:4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

This particular Psalm has a focus on the judgment from God that must befall all mankind and symbolically speaks of the order and the means by which God introduces that judgment into the earth, through the church – Christ’s body.

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

David and Solomon are the types and shadows used to describe how God is giving his anointed elect (Solomon) through Christ (David) the ability to judge a matter righteously.

It is given to the king to be able to judge a matter justly, as Christ said of himself, and it is given to the king’s son to be able to judge a matter correctly by the same power of God’s holy spirit.

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

A most interesting story in (1 Kings 3:7-28) was inspired to help us understand how God gives wisdom to his people or to the “king’s son”, who demonstrated he had received the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity after he was given a humble and contrite heart to ask not amiss of God in his dream for those things which he would need to be a proper ruler of the nation of Israel.

Pro 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Pro 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

A small breakdown of this story of King Solomon’s judgments on the two harlots

Knowing we are in over our heads: (Joh 9:41)

1Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
1Ki 3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Knowing that God alone can make us pleasing and accepted in the Lord: (Eph 1:6)

1Ki 3:10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
1Ki 3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
1Ki 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

God deeply blesses the first fruits of His creation for losing their lives: (Mat 16:25)

1Ki 3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
1Ki 3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. (Eph 6:2)

We are blessed to be spiritually awake and standing before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.(Eph 5:14)

When Solomon awakes it is symbolic of our being born again in Christ as we tarry in Jerusalem (Luk 24:49) because it is only there (Jerusalem above) that we can worship God in spirit and in truth (Gal 4:26, Joh 4:24).

1Ki 3:15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

Judging the harlots both within and without, and how to do this: (Joh 7:24)

1Ki 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
1Ki 3:17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
1Ki 3:18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
1Ki 3:19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
1Ki 3:20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
1Ki 3:21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
1Ki 3:22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

After the accounting is given judgment is accurate and swift: (Ecc 8:11, Mat 24:12, Rev 2:27, Dan 2:43)

1Ki 3:23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
1Ki 3:24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
1Ki 3:25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
1Ki 3:26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
1Ki 3:27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
1Ki 3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

The heartless response of the false church (false mother) shows she has no real concern for the life of this child. Her heart was revealed by her own words that came out of her mouth on this day (Mat 12:36-37).

Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The result of King Solomon having this sword in the earth sharply dividing the intents and thoughts of man’s heart, is that people learned righteousness. Whether they retain that righteousness or how long they retain it is another thing altogether, and God has decreed already who it is that will ultimately “go and sin no more” and how long we all must be that people who fall seven times, walking in the wilderness forty symbolic years, receiving the word on various types of ground, all until He grants that we receive “seed” on good ground. It’s important to notice that the reward is fruit that is “an hundredfold” for those who come to hear for they receive the full benefit of hearing that which each joint of the body of Christ has to offer via the word of God, which is a “an hundredfold” reward as well, described in.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Jos 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Luk 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Luk 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

You might think well “how can I receive an hundredfold houses?”; and scripture shows us the answer to this and every other spiritual statement being made.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

With some of these stories and scriptural principles fresh on our hearts, let’s begin looking at this Psalm tonight to see how these verses, and righteous judgment, applies to each of our lives in Christ today.

Psa 72:1 A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.

It’s a simple point but one that James tenderly asks the brethren to remember that God gives every good and perfect gift. As we mature we will be more and more grateful for those gifts given to each member of Christ’s body which are for the overall good of our spiritual health.

Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

In other words, our prayer today should be “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son”.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

This brings to mind Mike’s prayer request to the body to pray for Steven Crook to be strengthened and held up to do the studies during that time the Vinsons are on this remarkable “Grace and Peace Tour”. That is an example of the mature desire we have for each other, as was inspired by this prayer:

Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; [in other words “an hundredfold“]
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Psa 72:2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

Who is He that “shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment”? and just who is “thy poor” who is judged?

This is who “He” is:

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2Ti 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: [do your diligence to come to Christ in each other who you are – Heb 10:25].

Psa 110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

And this is who “thy poor” is:

Psa 74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

Son 5:2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Luk 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Psa 72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

We are those mountains^H2022 and little hills^H1389 spoken of in this verse, just as much as we are his little flock, little children, apple of his eye, heirs of the promise, fruitful trees, thy poor and so many other parables to describe who we become in his sight (Psa 114:4, Psa 114:6, Psa 148:9, Pro 8:25, Nah 1:5). But we are both the negative as well as the positive connotation of each of those symbols. A simple search of those two Strong’s numbers (mountains^H2022 and little hills^H1389) tell of our story of becoming something we are not capable of without Christ.

It truly is every mountain and hill within man’s heart that will be brought low and the landscape will dramatically change for all the world’s inhabitants during the millennium when the Lord establishes His rule and reign over the kingdoms of this world in that day when “all flesh shall see the salvation of God”. Being saved in this age we know that seeing and even believing is not a true indicator of conversion, just as was the case in Christ’s day.

Luk 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
Luk 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Psa 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
Psa 102:26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. [another promise of the salvation of all].

Ruling with a rod of iron will create a temporary condition of peace, and this is a time of hedging humanity in from being ground to powder by the “rock of offence”.

Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psa 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Isa 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Isa 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

The world is blessed by the testimony of Christ’s Christ and seeing his rule on the exterior with a rod of iron ‘is was and will be’, as “mountains” and “little hills”; but true conversion comes only after those mountains fall on us. The great day of God’s wrath is when we are crushed by Christ, and prior to that the relationship reveals our hearts stumble over the word as God softens and hardens our hearts. True conversion can only happen through the chastening and scourging grace by which all men will be saved.

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Psa 72:4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

Twice now God mentions the “poor of the people” and also “the children of the needy” and how He will “break in pieces the oppressor”.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

That breaking in pieces is going to be done with a rod of iron by those who will be given the authority to put down the nations, that God will cause to be yet disobedient to His rule over the kingdoms of this world. This again has an inward application for us today. Satan will be bound however at this time, so the only oppressor on earth is the natural enmity that man has against the spirit of God which enmity will be exposed and dealt with when the fullness of the Amorites occurs. This little by little falling back into iniquity is happening before our eyes in todays society and once again has an ‘is was and will be application’.

Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Zec 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

The sum of God’s word shows how Christ will use the elect to be the ones who will judge these matters in the earth, the softening and hardening of hearts as they pray fervent prayers to God to withhold rain or to not withhold rain shadowed in the life of Elijah.

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months [type of the time the two witnesses are given power to witness to the nations Rev 11:3].
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

We are receiving the world as sons at this time and love them even while they are yet sinners just as God loved us when we were unable to obey God from our hearts. The lesson being laid out for all to see is that God is Sovereign over the entire process of the world’s conversion as He uses the elect to demonstrate His absolute power and authority, proving once again that all things are working according to the counsel of His own will and that when the psalmist prays saying “Give the king thy judgements, O God” he is speaking of His elect who will judge the earth and be given the power and authority to do this.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

There is no true healing in the earth unless the Lord gives the increase (1Co 3:6) and so the world during this time is being brought to see with very real examples that they cannot confess their faults one to another, or pray for one another unless the Lord gives the increase for this to happen (the softening of the earth by the word of God). It is therefore the fervent prayer of Elias a type of Christ or the elect that brings healing and fruit to the earth as humanity are either dragged to Jerusalem to worship or are given hearts that are hardened to not do so (Joh 6:44, Zec 14:17). We can see through the sum of God’s word that He calls a few to be judges, kings and priest in the earth, and that perfecting of the saints is happening within the church today via the gifts that God gives. These realities bring us back to our title and the concept of God giving us the ability to judge a matter rightly which is a good and perfect gift from heaven “Give the king thy judgments, O God”

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.