Psalms – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word

“Love is a Consuming Fire” – Part 2

Steven Crook — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 20:59:06 +0000

“Love is a Consuming Fire” – Part 2

by Steven Crook

In part 1 of this series, I ended the study by saying:

Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

Declare ALL HIS WORKS with rejoicing, even those we may perceive as negative or bad!

Psa 47:6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
Psa 47:7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

I wanted to start this study where we ended last time to continue this thought and also to learn if we can glean from scripture how it is we live this out practically in our lives today.

How do we sing praises to the Lord, with understanding and to declare his works with rejoicing? Why is thanksgiving referred to as a sacrifice?

Let’s be honest. How many times do you catch yourself saying, or at least remember thinking, “Lord, I just don’t understand?!…”?

That is a phrase that is common to the human condition because we oftentimes have NO CLUE what is happening to us, our family, friends, enemies, people who are our neighbors or people across the globe, nor do we have a CLUE what to expect is coming next, but we put on “happy faces” and pretend that everything is going to be okay because yesterday was.

Well, today is the day of the Lord!

What comes today is all of the Lord, just as the Truth has been from the beginning of time. We just seem to think our thoughts, emotions, remedies, revenges, hugs, defeats, wins, etc., etc, etc., are going to somehow change the outcome of things.

The Truth is that God is in control of it all, and once we understand that to our core, until that shakes and rattles you like an undeniable earthquake in your heavens, then you will never be able to declare His works with rejoicing and to praise Him with lips of thanksgiving and understanding, for our God is a consuming Fire.

I am often touched, so to speak, by the words I read. I can be affected quite easily, when the moment is right, by the words that pour forth as springs of living water from the scripture.

We read Psalms 47 and 48 in the last study. I am going to continue to read the next few chapters in Psalms in this study, because these Psalms, or SONGS to the Lord, are very precious to Him ESPECIALLY in times of DURESS and great CHANGE.

The Lord only accepts praises WITH UNDERSTANDING, so what is it we are to understand, especially in the context of this study?

Psa 49:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Psa 49:2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
Psa 49:3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Notice that we are told, right here just a few verses later, what we should be doing to gain understanding. One of the key ingredients in the recipe of success is to meditate with your heart.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

We do not need to fear, because the Lord places upon our hearts what steps we will take, therefore we are protected from Him by His own hand.

When trying to understand why things happen or are happening to us and others around us, we need to learn to dance to the music being played! That hard-to-be-understood dark saying is being played on the harp of the Lord!

Psa 49:4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Psa 49:5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Gen 25:26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Psa 77:18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
Psa 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

So our walk is important to understanding that “the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about” tells us that the Lord is working it all. Don’t believe me? Let Him speak on the matter then.

Psa 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Psa 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Psa 49:8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Psa 49:9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Psa 49:10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

We all go to the grave the same as the next person.

Psa 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; >they call their lands after their own names.
Psa 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
Psa 49:13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

At the end of the day, the Lord just wants us to take some time to ponder why it is we are here, what we are doing, and where we are going. We need to do that. What we will discover very quickly is that we are the basest of beasts. I mean the BASEST when it gets down to the core of it.

Even in the garden of Eden, we were given dominion to NAME all the beasts, tend to the GARDEN OF GOD, that He HIMSELF had planted, watered and nourished to PRESENT TO US to tend; just for us to go about the work and then one day WANT MORE… in the form of “a helper”. Turns out, men need a helper at night most times.

Naming the beasts in the garden of God is akin to naming the lands after our own names. We take pride in the things we OWN or have DOMINION over, but it is always short-lived and always at the discretion of the LORD. How painful is that to “Selah” over! Your flesh will weep for its loss and “hard work”. Why?

Psa 49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
Psa 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the POWER of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Even so Lord come quickly. When we accept whatever is to come in the day of the Lord, which happens to be every day, then we have arrived at peace in the Lord. That does not mean NO FIRE. It means DWELLING CONTENTEDLY in the FIRE; whatever the Lord decides to do WITH THAT FIRE!

Some days you wake up with plans and find out that “house” in your “land of plans” caught fire last night while you slept, and the Lord willed something else to happen.

Some days you wake up and find that King Neb is making an edict that if anyone so much as coughs at your Lord’s name the wrong way, they would be cut asunder and spread around the kingdom, as we saw at the end of the last study.

Psa 49:16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Psa 49:17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
Psa 49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
Psa 49:19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
Psa 49:20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

‘Man in honour, without understanding, ends up like all perishing beasts.’ These men will NEVER SEE LIGHT.

Why? Light comes FORTH out of darkness, but it is NOT darkness. Likewise, DEAD things cannot be ALIVE to SEE the LIGHT that can only be seen during the DAY.

Remember the day that it is and who it is that we are versus the rest of humanity. It doesn’t matter what time period, age, aion or whatever length of time you want to label time as, is. Right now, it is the ‘today’.

Today = a very particular moment in time.

“Man in honour, without understanding, ends up like all perishing beasts.” These men will NEVER SEE LIGHT.

If you want to perish WITH understanding, then let us CONSIDER what the Lord has to say on the matter, because it matters to ALL MATTERS under the SUN! The mighty God the Lord has spoken.

Love is a consuming Fire, and love as defined in scripture as keeping His commandments. The Truth is, we cannot keep His commandments without Him DOING IT IN US. Flesh cannot glory in front of God.

The difference between “us” and “them” in the bible, is that we were once the “them” and we now KNOW, via KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING, that the Lord calls the shots. Get with that PROGRAM and plan and you will be able to understand who you are and WHY things happen the way they do.

When someone asks you, “How’s it going?”, “You know, life has a way of kicking you when you’re down” is a phrase that comes to mind; KNOW that LIFE does have a way of DOING to you what HE WILLS according to fulfilling the WILL of GOD the Father. That is His purpose, and you are His bride, but you get NO SAY in the affairs of HIS HOUSE!

It’s like when people make a big deal out of the “policies” or things the first lady or wife of the U.S. president says. What she says or thinks DOESN’T matter in the context of running the country. She hasn’t been elected.

This is as true if it were a husband or a husband who had previously been president like Bill Clinton and Hillary. If Bill stepped in one day and tried to take over a join chiefs national security briefing, I think there would be some fireworks. I’d like to see as a fly on that wall!

You get my point then. We, as the bride of Christ, have no BUSINESS telling our Husband Jesus, what’s up from down and down from up. We don’t get to criticize the things happening to us for the sake of it. We must also be careful to FEIGN worship. After all, a “warship” is always in WAR. Let your worship reflect your dedication to the mission.

Psa 50:1 A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
Psa 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Psa 50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
Psa 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

Contrary to popular thought, judgment beginning at the house of God is the only place it is happening NOW, currently. The “END” of that judgment has not yet began.

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?

Continuing in Psa 50:

Psa 50:5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

Oh, oh, oh! We made a covenant with GOD via SACRIFICE? Uh, oh. We had better keep this deal! Seriously, the Lord is very serious about this, and you will know it in your heart if you fulfill these verses.

Psa 50:6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
Psa 50:7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
Psa 50:8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
Psa 50:9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Psa 50:11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
Psa 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Psa 50:13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

We aren’t going to be reproved right now so that we can go kill some poor animal and sacrifice their blood to the Lord. No, we are going to SACRIFICE another kind of sacrifice. A true sacrifice. A sacrifice that is felt in the innermost heart of who we are.

There are stony hearts, and there are fleshly hearts, but that is not what it sounds like. There are DEAD hearts, and there are LIVELY hearts; full of life. God wants you to sacrifice to Him of UNDERSTANDING LIPS.

We could be like the disciples (and we are at our appointed time), and tell Jesus to His face, “Yeah, we can drink of that cup you speak of” while not having a clue we are going to always deny Him over and over when push comes to shove.

Here is the real sacrifice God wants from you and me:

Psa 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Psa 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Can you not admit when the Lord says you will pay your VOWS to Him with SACRIFICING LIPS, because your thanksgiving comes the STRONGEST when you know it was, is and will always be Him controlling whatever happens, and it is He who will always be able to bring you into THAT remembrance.

Yet, we are His, and His judgment is simply to continuously right the direction of His ship with us on the ride in it. We could be without UNDERSTANDING like we used to be. See verses to follow:

Psa 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
Psa 50:17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Psa 50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Psa 50:19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Psa 50:20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
Psa 50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Psa 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Psa 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

So, it is important that we forget not God and in so doing become the wicked all over again. We need to always remember the glass/mirror and what manner of man we are ourselves; yet, the Lord rescued us from that.

Whatever it is we are going through is the fire of the Lord. We often grumble when we know the fire is getting hot in our lives, and yet another thing seems to be getting “burned away” or taken from us, our thoughts or our plans, etc., but we are really grumbling about the things the Lord had already known were happening.

Love is a consuming fire because God is Love. If we are one with Him and He is one with us, then we are ONE in MIND that whatever is happening, HIS HOUSEHOLD IS BEING LOOKED AFTER.

Can we say a general in a far-off land is NOT taking care of His household because He is in WAR somewhere else? Generals still get paid, and he could die any moment. The obvious answer is, yes, he is taking care of his household, and also he is a GENERAL.

The Lord may not tell us all the details of the war we are in. He may not engage with His wife (you and I as the bride of Christ) with everything He is planning to do, but He is always a Faithful husband who will do what needs to be done to execute His purpose given to Him by God the Father.

We may not know if the fire consumes us fully or lets us walk out of it without the smell of smoke on us, but we do know we have been told it will ALL BE OKAY!

That is a sacrifice of thanksgiving that is hard to lip when the fire continues to get hotter and hotter. It is, however, the only way sacrifice is to be given – with understanding.

Studies in Psalms – Psa 143:1-4 “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake…”

Tony Cullen — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 02:46:44 +0000

Psa 143:1-4 “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble” – Part 1

[Study Aired January 23, 2020]

Psa 143:1 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
Psa 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
Psa 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Psa 143:4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

This Psalm reveals some of the type-and-shadow moments in king David’s life that foreshadow the spiritual deliverance that God will grant the elect in this life as He brings His people to cry out for that deliverance from the persecutions and the unbelieving spirit of this world which is constantly around us and can easily overwhelm us or cause our hearts to feel desolate (Gen 4:7). If not for the prayers of the saints which are an answer to the desire our Father put in Christ’s heart to sanctify us, we would soon perish and spiritually wither in this life (Joh 17:17, Luk 22:32, Joh 17:20, Mat 24:12).

Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? [Eph 1:6] and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The clear message from start to finish of this Psalm is that it is but for the grace of God and the faith of Jesus Christ that we can be delivered from our greatest enemy, which is ourselves, our own deceitful and desperately wicked hearts which cannot overcome except the Lord deliver us (Jer 17:9, Psa 127:1). It will take His righteousness within us (Php 3:9) to make that deliverance happen and that thought is book-ended in this study, specifically in verse 1 and verse 11 with the answer to how all our enemies within us are going to be cut off by the Lord (Psa 143:1, Psa 143:11)

Psa 143:1 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

Psa 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness‘ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Throughout this Psalm, David is asking God to hear his prayer and to answer him, demonstrating God’s righteousness and faithfulness toward his servant (Psa 143:12). We are encouraged in this Psalm to think on the things of the Lord and are reminded how blessed we are to hunger and thirst for His righteousness (Php 4:8, Mat 5:6) Only God’s righteousness can quicken us and speedily deliver us from the iniquity we are promised will abound more and more in this world (Psa 143:5-6, Joh 6:53).

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Psa 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
Psa 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

There is a theme of deliverance in the old covenant and especially in the life of king David and Israel which typifies the deliverance of God’s children today that occurs through the grace and faith God grants us as a free gift (Eph 2:8). In Romans 1:20 we read, “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.” By this we know that all the things that were made in the old covenant, all the stories of deliverance, or the lack thereof, were written for our admonition upon whom the end of the ages is come, and those stories point to the order of God’s plan and the Godhead that reveals his eternal power “being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead” (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11).

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

1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The bible and the events we see which have unfolded according to the counsel of God’s will (Eph 1:11) were written to encourage us in this age so we can be more than conquerors through Christ and speak of the certainty of that process we are promised by our Father which declare He will make a way of escape for us to bear through those trials with Christ.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

If we are being admonished in this age by the truth they prophesied unto us today found in 1 Peter 1:12, then the stories we read of the great deliverance that was given to David and Israel, accompanied with great loss and sorrow, should serve to help us to be armed with the mind of Christ, a mind that tells us to heed the admonitions of old and believe those stories as applicable to you and me, and that God will “with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Co 10:13).

The armed and realistic way of thinking for Christ’s body today is to know that there will be fiery trials and persecutions (1Pe 4:12, 2Ti 3:12) and that our flesh cannot bear up under what is going to be required of us to become kings and priests except through Christ through whom we can endure all things (Php 4:13).

Right between verses 11 and 13, 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall“, meaning we are always to understand that our deliverance is not by might nor power but by God’s holy spirit as we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Him (Zec 4:6, Php 3:14).

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

When we think we stand and then fall, as we are appointed to fall seven times (Pro 24:16), having God’s spirit in measure and not without measure as Christ did (Joh 3:34, Rom 12:3), it will be through Christ that our self-righteous tendency to attribute those sins to our supposed free moral agency will be conquered as we come to believe and understand His sovereignty over all things He causes, just as He causes us to hear His lovingkindness in the morning, and causes us to know the way wherein we should walk (Psa 143:8).

The pride of life or self-righteous spirit within us is one of the most formidable enemies from which we must be delivered, and as we discussed recently, when we are impatient with ourselves as God shows us something that we need to change by grace through faith, we won’t be possessing our souls in patience as we ought with such a spirit (Luk 21:19, Jas 1:3). Not knowing that it is through the trying of our faith that patience is formed will result in our beating the manservant within and growing cold in our love toward each other because of our disbelief that God is working this longsuffering patient work within us (Rom 2:4). The hope-filled message for God’s elect today is that He will hold us up through it all and help us to see that He won’t delay His coming. He won’t tarry (Luk 12:45), symbolized as coming to us “in the morning”, the third day after we have gone through a process of judgment (Luk 13:32, Luk 24:7 Good fruit is produced as a result of judgment throughout our life – 2Pe 1:3-8)

Psa 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Luk 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

This “Psalm of David^H1732 [“beloved“]” is another type-and-shadow witness of the process that God puts his beloved children through to bring them to that conclusion that we are experiencing God’s mercy first, “thy mercy” [vs 12] (Rom 11:30-31), as a kind of first fruits that are learning of “thy faithfulness” [vs 1] (1Jn 1:9) and “thy righteousness” [vs 1] (Rom 3:10, Jas 1:17) in advance of the world and for “thy name sake” [vs 11] (Mar 13:13) as He brings our souls out of “trouble”, a trouble that we are born into with these bodies of death that must die daily (Job 5:7, 1Co 15:31)

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.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Job 5:7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

God causes us to cry out for His help by His spirit that quickens us in this age: “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble” (of vs 11), and if not for that word which is spirit (Joh 6:63) which we are blessed to read, hear and keep (Rev 1:3) in advance of the world, we would not be able to be filled with the hope that God gives to us so that we can overcome (Rom 8:24).

Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

David, whose name means beloved^H1732 [Eph 1:6], and who is a type of the elect, asks God to give ear to his supplications, and this type-and-shadow request of king David (1Pe 1:12) was written for our admonition to point us to the truth that it is “in thy faithfulness” and “in thy righteousness” that God will answer the prayers of His elect, and not because of anything we have personally done. He has decreed that those inspired prayers will lead to our salvation (Php 1:19) and will be made for His name’s sake and will glorify Him through the body of Christ.

1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Php 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Christ no longer calls us “servants” but friends (Joh 15:15), and the friend is the one whom the Lord makes known the judgment that has come upon us in this age (1Pe 4:17, Amo 3:6-7), whereas the sowing and reaping in our flesh that occurs to all of mankind who groan and travail (Gal 6:7, Rom 8:22-23) is not at this time serving the same purpose that it does for those who are called His friends in this age (Rom 2:12-14). David in type-and-shadow is saying, “Don’t let my judgment only be in the earth, in the form of a servant, but rather judge me as a friend and wound me faithfully as a friend (Pro 27:6), and don’t let your sword depart from my house as my friend (2Sa 12:10).” So when we boast in our sufferings, we do so because we are acknowledging we are being received of God, and what we suffer bears witness to this truth (Rom 5:3, 2Th 1:4-5, Jer 9:24, 2Ti 2:12, Heb 12:6).

Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

When God’s judgments are in the earth, men will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9), and yet David asks the Lord to “enter not into judgment with thy servant”. David was not asking the Lord not to judge him, but rather he was acknowledging, as Christ did, that there is none righteous, none good, pointing to the truth that we are shaped in iniquity from birth and conceived in sin, and that our flesh and no flesh “no man living” would ever be justified or inherit the kingdom of God (Psa 51:1-5, 1Co 15:50).

When God’s judgments are accompanied with our hope of glory within us [in our earth, earth, earth, representing the church where judgment is happening Jer 22:29, 1Pe 4:17, Col 1:27], then those judgments are to be greatly desired (Psa 139:24), seeing they will bring about the new creation that is being formed through Christ (Eph 2:10). It is through that dying daily process that we begin to truly see Christ and no longer look at just the hinder parts of our Lord which represents the law and our inability to live lives that are filled with His righteousness (Exo 33:20, Php 3:9).

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

If God enters into judgment with us in this age, it will be for the express purpose of forming His righteousness within us, creating a likemindedness within the body of Christ that will ‘naturally’ care for each other (Php 2:20, Php 3:20-21, Gal 6:10).

Php 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Psa 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Psa 143:4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

We can easily feel overwhelmed or desolate when our souls are being persecuted and our life is being brought “down to the ground”, feeling like we are dwelling “in darkness”. All of this inspired experience of king David was written down for our sakes and is a very parallel event to what happened to Saul of Tarsus, who became called Paul found in Acts 9:4-9.

We will end this first part of our study looking at how these last two verses (Psa 143:3-4) apply to God’s elect who were called to be judged first, from the foundation of the world, and called to be smitten as Christ was, down to the ground (Isa 53:4-5, Rev 11:9) and to dwell in darkness for a period of time having for so long buried our own dead, not yet having truly grasped the salvation that was ours, the blessing that we were called to through Christ (1Pe 3:9).

Until that day occurs, that day when we know we belong to God (Rom 8:16-17), we don’t understand that it is His righteousness which will save us and His faithfulness working in us which won’t ever stop, and that understanding is preceded by our spirit being “overwhelmed within me” and “my heart within me is desolate”. The new heart and new spirit God forms within us through Christ strengthens us in our inward man who can now live to the glory of God and overcome day by day as we rule over sin in our life through Christ, even though we are sore pressed on every side from time to time (Eze 36:26, Eph 3:16, 2Co 4:7-15)

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Act 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Act 9:9 And he was three days without sight [Mat_12:38-40 , Rev_11:9-11], and neither did eat nor drink.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

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;

That is why we cry out to our Father as His children. We cry out for His mercy as we come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy in our time of need, which is today while we are in these corrupt vessels that cry out, “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” (vs 11)

Next week, Lord willing, we will look more closely at what God is going to do and going to cause to happen in the life of His children so that we can be more than conquerors through him in this age.

Psa 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
Psa 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Psa 143:7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Psa 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Psa 143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.[Psa 142:5]
Psa 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Psa 143:12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Studies in Psalms – Psa 113:1-3 “Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth” – Part 1

Tony Cullen — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 03:49:13 +0000

Psa 113:1-3 “Worship the Father in spirit and in truth” – Part 1

Psa 113:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
Psa 113:2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
Psa 113:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.

We may not think of praising God as part of a process of coming to have a right relationship with our Father and Christ and each other while were in the midst of singing or worshipping him in spirit and truth (Joh 4:23), but if we consider that the Psalms or any other part of God’s word which talks about praise still comes under the category of “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Ti 3:16), then it becomes clear that praising the Lord is more for our sakes “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” as it says in 2Timothy 3:17.

However, even if we speak the truth or sing the truth, if what we do in the flesh is not accompanied with charity, “spirit and truth”, our praise of God or our gift of prophecy is then likened unto a “clanging gong” in the ears of our Father and each other as it is then not being done “to the glory of God” because it is not done charitably. Everything we do must eventually be centered around knowing that “the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (Joh 14:20). We are growing together in that love and patience as we worship our Father “in spirit and in truth“, and that worship is connected to our learning to bear each other’s burdens as God brings us to a place where we are truly glorifying Him with our actions: “the Father seeketh such to worship him.” We are blessed to be putting off childish things which we are told to put away and acknowledge that it is via the grace and faith of Christ that this is even possible.

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

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

God must show us where we come short in regard to what we are lacking in charity (1Co 13:4-8), and it is his goodness which is leading His children to repentance (Rom 2:4), for which we should give thanks and praise to Him! Our Father’s charitable mind is being formed within the body of Christ to create a “bond of perfectness” (Col 3:14-15) within His body (temple – 1Co 3:16). That temple knows in part and understands that our prophecy is in part to the end that “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1Co 13:9-13, Eph 4:14-16).

What charity does in order to become “the bond of perfectness”:

Suffereth long (1Co 13:4; Rom2:4)
Envieth not (1Co 13:4; Pro 14:30)
Vaunteth (boasts) not itself (1Co 13:4; Rom 3:27)
Is not puffed up (1Co 13:4; 1Pe 5:6, Mat 23:12, Luk 14:10)
Doth not behave itself unseemly^G807 (1Co 13:5 – uncomely^G807 toward his virgin 1Co 7:34-40)
Seeketh^G2212 not her own (1Co 13:5; Mat 6:33, Heb 11:6, Mat 7:7-8, asking, seeking and knocking all our life so we do not become conceited and rest on our laurels – Rom 11:23-25, 1Co 9:25)
Is not easily provoked^G3947 (Act 17:16 positive use – provoke unto^G3948 Heb 10:24-25)
Thinketh no evil (1Co 13:5; Luk 23:22, Joh 18:23)
Rejoiceth not in iniquity^G93 (1Co 13:6; Joh 7:18)
Rejoiceth in the truth^G225 (1Co 13:6; Joh 1:14, Joh 4:24)
Beareth^G4722 all things (1Co 13:7; 1Co 9:12)
Believeth all things (1Co 13:7; Mar 9:23, Joh 3:12-16)
Hopeth all things (1Co 13:7; Rom 8:24-25)
Endureth all things (1Co 13:7; Mar 13:13)
Never faileth (1Co 13:8; Mar 13:24-25)

1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face[1Jn 3:2]: now I know in part [Eph 1:14]; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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.

God’s elect pray with thanksgiving. With this prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we are given the peace of God which passes all understanding as we interact with the world around us (Mat 6:13, Mat 10:16). This prayer for the peace of Jerusalem above (Psa 122:6, Gal 4:26) “rules in your hearts” and is a necessary ingredient “in [this] one body” which is “thankful”. God’s peace can be given to us, a peace that passes all our human understanding and that makes it possible for us to overcome “thy hardness and impenitent heart” that would otherwise just naturally “treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God”. We don’t want that to be the case, so we have the solution to overcoming that spirit within us by doing what is written in the following verses of Colossians 3:16-17.

Paul talks about the word dwelling richly within us, in the same context of “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” and that we should sing with “grace in your hearts to the Lord” thankful for the favor He has shown us. The words we sing can be convicting us and used to lift us out of darkness or spiritual bondage, which is what “grace in your hearts” will do. The shadow of that happening is with the example of how David played music to drive away evil spirits from Saul, and Saul was refreshed as it says in 1Samuel 16:23.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp [the harp represents the instrument that we are in God’s hands being used to send the word that will bring healing (Psa 107:20)], and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

There is a harmony which God is forming within the body of Christ via His spirit that is explained in great detail in Colossians 3:1-13 as well as these parallel verses of 1Corinthians 13:1-13. God’s spirit works in the lives of those who are worshipping Him in spirit and truth, and part of that worship is found in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” which we are blessed to share with one another to the glory of God. That sharing and worshipping of God is connected to the sacrifice of praise that we want to have on our lips “continually” as it says in Hebrews 13:15.

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually [“do all in the name of the Lord Jesus“], that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

As we sing to the Lord with grace in our hearts, praising the Lord will help us in all other relationships which God has given us in this life. Right after Colossians 3:16-17 tells us how we are to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him“, the very next verses speak of this harmony in all those relationships:

Harmony of the family of God explained:

Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

In this Psalm 113, we will look at how God’s people are called to “Worship the Father in spirit and in truth” and how that praise is very helpful in bringing us to understand and appreciate the greatness of God as we look outside of ourselves and think on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, any virtue, and any praise.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Psa 113:1 Praise^H1984 ye the LORD. Praise^H1984, O ye servants of the LORD, praise^H1984 the name of the LORD.

To be clear, to “praise^H1984 ye the LORD” does not specifically mean to sing a song, or play an instrument before the LORD, but it does mean is to let your light shine before all men so that our Father in heaven is glorified.

1Ch 16:10 Glory^H1984 ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
1Ch 16:12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
1Ch 16:13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth^H1984 glory^H1984 in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Praise^H1984 Versus Glory^G2744

1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory^G2744 in his presence.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth^G2744, let him glory^G2744 in the Lord.

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory^G2744, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast^G2744.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Praise^H1984 hâlal haw-lal’: A primitive root; to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate; also to stultify: – (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.

Glory^G2744 From some (obsolete) base akin to that of αὐχέω aucheō (to boast) and G2172; to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense): – (make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice.

Psa 113:2 Blessed^H1288 be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

H1288 bârak baw-rak’: A primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason): – X abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, X still, thank.

Gen 2:3 And God blessedH1288 the seventh day [Christ is our rest typified by the seventh day (Heb 4:3-11)], and sanctified it (Joh 17:17): because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. [Luk 12:32]
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, [1Co 15:58] lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Gen 9:1 And God blessedH1288 Noah and his sons [types of the elect], and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

It is only when we have Christ within us as our hope of glory that we can truly say “Blessed^H1288 be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore”. As our hope of glory within us (Col 1:27), we can glorify our Father as we are sanctified by His word (Joh 17:17), and Christ is giving us the ability to understand with a spirit of power, love and a sound mind how we can bless or glorify God on this earth (2Ti 1:7). The rest that we have been blessed to enter into is Christ, who is working in us both to will and to do our Father’s good pleasure (Luk 2:49, Php 2:13, 1Jn 4:17) which will have us labouring to enter into that rest, as we build the body of Christ up in love. Christ’s body is typified by “Noah and his sons”who are building that ark, or temple in troublesome times (Heb 11:7, Dan 9:25, Job 14:1, 1Pe 4:17).

Psa 113:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.

God’s name is glorified through the judgment which we endure our entire life: “from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same”. That judgment takes place in the firmament as we see in Psalm 19, and it is a life-long process that God is working in the lives of those who have been predestined to be those kings and priests ordained of God.

Psa 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psa 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psa 19:5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Psa 19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover by them [the law and testimony of the LORD (vs 7), the statutes and commandment of the LORD v8, the fear and judgements of the LORD (vs 9)] is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Psa 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Psa 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Christ is likened unto the groom (Psa 19:5) whose “going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof” (Psa 19:6), to destroy the man of perdition by little and little, and by the brightness of his coming (Deu 7:22, 2Th 2:8). This destruction occurs as “thy servant” is forgiven of all our iniquities and healed of all our diseases (Psa 103:3) being made ready through this judgement (Rev 19:7) so that we can become Christ’s bride and see our husband face to face at the marriage supper (1Co 13:12, Rev 19:9).

“The LORD’S name is to be praised^H1984” and is, from start to finish, what we are being shown in this Psalm, as we learn to run this race with joy and peace in our hearts, thankful that our Father provides all that we need to make that possible by Christ.

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

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

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

H1984 hâlal haw-lal’: A primitive root; to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate; also to stultify: – (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the next few verses in our study entitled “Worship the Father in spirit and in truth” where we will see more reassuring verses that confirm God’s plan to prepare Christ’s bride to go from being a barren woman to one who will take care of the affairs of God’s house bringing in many children unto Christ with great joy “to keep house[God’s house], and to be a joyful mother of children [God’s children]. Praise ye the LORD.”

Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Psa 113:4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
Psa 113:5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
Psa 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
Psa 113:7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
Psa 113:8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
Psa 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

Studies in Psalms – “Praise the LORD for His Goodness…”, Psa 107:1-8 – Part 1

Tony Cullen — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 15:43:43 +0000

Psa 107:1-8 “Praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men” – Part One

Part One (Psa 107:1-8) “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men”
Part Two (Psa 107:9-15) “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men”
Part Three (Psa 107:16-21) “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men”
Part Four (Psa 107:22-31) “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men”
Part Five (Psa 107:32-43) “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men”

The last verse of this Psalm reads “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD”, and this reminds us of Revelation 1:3, which says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

The time is at hand for God’s elect to be sent forth and having done all to stand against all the wiles of the devil as a people who are sent forth “as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” who understand “the lovingkindness of the Lord” working in the lives of all those who are being dragged to Christ.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Lord has woven throughout this Psalm 107 a series of difficult events that will lead us back to the point of “praise[ing] the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! “

We can see in each section of this Psalm prior to that cry that we are brought to make out to the Lord the means to the end which God has ordained for each of the elect in the earth to be able to grow and mature through this life via our Creator who delivers us from all our troubles and gives the spiritual increase to Christ’s body, which fills us with thanks and praise for His wonderful works being done to us. It is through the troubles, through the storms which God raises, that we learn of His great might and power that deliver us and fill us with thanks and praise for His love toward us.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

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:

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

The progressive pattern in this Psalm which leads to our praising the Lord for His goodness cannot be understood unless we see His goodness as a work of repentance that does bring us to a point of praising Him for the safe haven that brings us to be quiet in our souls. This Psalm reveals a progressive pattern that God is working in our lives so that we can become more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Isa 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Part one (Psa 107:1-8) speaks of the redeemed, or those who are being redeemed from the enemy who we wrestle against in our heavens and how our lives are directed and guided by Christ “in the wilderness in a solitary way” which is a shadow of how we all first come to hear the voice of the true shepherd telling us to come out her my people, “her” being the wilderness of sin, Babylon within each of us, of whom we come out in order to be redeemed from the earth.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Psa 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psa 107:3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

As I mentioned, there is a progression of deliverance for which the Lord has purposed for us, a little by little driving out of all the beasts in the land, and clearly this represents what Christ is doing within the temple which we are.

Exo 23:30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

Ecc 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

We give thanks upon every remembrance of our threefold cord (Php 1:3-6), Who we need as one healthy body to drive out the beast within the temple, and to cleanse His house so that it can remain a house of praise and worship of our great Creator (Joh 4:23).

Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed^H1350 of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed^H1350 from the hand of the enemy;

The word ‘redeemed’ is very significant in this verse as it is tied unto the idea that the redeemed are those who have a redeemer, and without Christ as our redeemer and mediator there would be no possibility for redemption to occur.

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

The following words which are connected to the word redeemed reveal the means and ways by which our Father will fulfill his promise to deliver us “from the hand of the enemy”. Christ is our kinsman redeemer Who has gone before us to make a way where there seems to be none in the sea of our flesh, a strong deliverer, a very present help in trouble is our Lord.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Deu 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Redeemed H1350

1. to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman

a. (Qal)

1. to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer 1a

b. by marrying brother’s widow to beget a child for him, to redeem from slavery, to redeem land, to exact vengeance

1. to redeem (by payment)
2. to redeem (with God as subject) 1a

c. individuals from death 1a
d. Israel from Egyptian bondage 1a
e. Israel from exile
f. (Niphal)

1. to redeem oneself

2. to be redeemed

Psa 107:3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

This following verse explains what the Lord is redeeming us from as we are gathered out of the lands [within us-the self-will part which can’t yet acknowledge that God is sovereign and works all things according to the counsel of his own will but will, in time, as the man of perdition is destroyed by the brightness of his coming little by little, “from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south”.

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:

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Judgment is upon the house of God, and we know that judgment comes from the north, and so we are left to conclude that if we are being judged in this age, then we are in fact being shepherded of the Lord who is sovereign over our eastern directions, our western direction, our southern direction, all our directions, as we grow in our ability to be easily led of the spirit of God bringing every thought captive unto Him.

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?

Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge^G1556 all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Revenge G1556

– Original: εu787 κu948 ιu954 εu769 ωpar – Transliteration: Ekdikeo
– Phonetic: ek-dik-eh’-o
– Definition:
1. to vindicate one’s right, do one justice

a. to protect, defend, one person from another

2. to avenge a thing

a. to punish a person for a thing

– Origin: from G1558
– TDNT entry: 09:22,2
– Part(s) of speech: Verb

– Strong’s: From G1558; to vindicate retaliate punish: – a (re) venge.
Total KJV Occurrences: 4
•avenge, 2
Rom_12:19; Rev_6:10

•avenged, 1
Rev_19:2

•revenge, 1
2Co_10:6

Redeemed H1350

•revenger, 6
Num_35:19 [2Co_10:6 , Luk_2:35 , Num_25:7-8]; Num_35:21; Num_35:24; Num_35:25; Num_35:27

Without judgment from the north, every way east, west and south will seem right to a man but it will lead to death (Jer 10:23, Pro 14:12, Pro 16:33 the lot is cast into the lap the North-South-East and West).

When we are fulfilling God’s will, we are overcoming the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life for that very reason. Even when we are directed by the judgment of God from the north we pray that we don’t despise that correction but learn that we are being received through it.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

When we are led of the spirit (Rom 8:14-15) we will find liberty in Christ (2Co 3:17), even if we are not going in the direction that our flesh does not want to go (1Jn 2:15-17, Joh 21:18).

Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

When we forget God’s law and don’t keep his commandments, we are in fact still among those who “wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way”. Christ is our refuge and our high towered city in which we dwell being raised together in heavenly places.

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

So there is an “is, was and will be” relevance to this verse as there is with every section of scripture. God has been merciful toward us as His kind of first fruits to be able to be convicted that we are not of this world but rather the manchild who is blessed beyond words to be able to say that we know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent into our lives to finish this great work of grace and faith within each of us (Joh 6:29, Joh 17:3).

Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

As was mentioned at the start of this study, this first section of Psalm 107 is very focused on the starting point of our calling when we see clearly that we are the prodical son in need of deliverance from the bondage of sin which is represented as being “Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.”

Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

These verses are very important to be seen as being parallel to each other (Luk 15:19, Luk 17:10) and demonstrate the mindset that God is accomplishing within us through the fiery trials that humble us and remind us that we are but dust.

Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psa 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

This is the definitive moment in our life when we cry “unto the LORD in their trouble” and we experience his deliverance from all our distresses.

This is not a small thing, this is a huge event, because most of the world cannot see their need for deliverance and do not see their blindness and are not being dragged to Christ to go where they do not want to go.

Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

It is only those who are being led of the spirit and dragged to Christ and His body who are going to experience a day of trouble and distress from which He has promised to deliver us. It is that trouble and distress that God uses to form the new man within us and destroy the old man at the same time.

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

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.
Luk 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Luk 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Luk 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

As we look further into this Psalm, we will see how God has complete dominion over the breaking points of our heavens and what it takes to bring us to no longer trust in our flesh so that we can be blessed to drink the cup which He gives us.

2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Psa 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

1 John 4:17 explains how it is possible to be led “forth by the right way” through judgment. Christ is that “right way” being our mediator with our Father, having broken down the middle wall of partition so that we may reside together in peace in “a city of habitation” called new Jerusalem above which is the mother of us all (Gal 4:26).

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Saying “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men” has been written because it is what is going to happen. These words are retorical because they declare what will happen, not maybe, it will happen, we will “praise the LORD for his goodness” and “his wonderful works to the children of men” once we go through the trials and test that are accompanied with the promise that he will always make a way for us to endure through all those necessary trials that God uses to perfect our praise of Him.

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. [the context is overcoming sin and it is through communion that we do this as we read on….(Heb 10:25, Mal 3:16)]
1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians10:15 Hearkens back to the first part of our study where I wrote…

“The last verse of this Psalm reads “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD” and this reminds us of Revelation 1:3 which says “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand”.”

And so the time is at hand for us to realize as wise children of God who have gained our wisdom from the Lord (Jas 1:5) that the cup of blessing that we bless, is “the communion of the blood of Christ”, and the bread we break is “the communion of the body of Christ”.

Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at Part Two of Psalm 107:9-15, entitled “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men” where we will look at the progression of trials which God has predestinated for us and written in this symbolic language of Psalm 107 which shows that we must through much tribulation progressively enter into the kingdom of God.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Studies In Psalms – Psa 103:12-16 “Bless The Lord” Part 3

Tony Cullen — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 23:23:33 +0000

Psa 103:12-16 “Bless The Lord” – Part 3

Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psa 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Psa 103:16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

This section of Psalm 103 talks about a holy passage of time that is reserved for the saints who are being shown that it is indeed our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom of God as stated in:

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Our understanding of what that kingdom is and what we are to do with it while we occupy our very temporal vapour-like life, matures and grows as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and become convinced of His intimate knowledge of all that He is doing within the body of Christ both to will and to do within the many-membered body of Christ “that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ”.

Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (1Co 7:1-23)
Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

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:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The spirit of God is bearing witness of this work “at that day”, also called ‘the day of the Lord’, that we are sons of God who are being changed and growing as we go from glory to glory, and in this study we will look at how His mercy, His pity, His forgiveness, among other things, accompany His precious little flock all along the journey “from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him” (of verse 17).

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

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

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The next few verses after Luke 12:32 explain to us what God is in the process of doing in each of our lives, so that we are a people who are convinced that it truly is our “Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. Right after Christ utters these words “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”, He proceeds to tell us what will happen in our lives in order to work out our own salvation through Christ as God “worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”.

The highlighted words that are found in Philippians 2:12-13, along with those verses that precede (Luke 12:32, namely verses Luke 12:33-53), must be lived in our lives if we are going to have the much needed patience and faith (Rev 14:12-13) of the saints developed within us, so that we can possess our souls to the glory and honour of our great Father (Luke 21:19).

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The instructions of Christ in Luke 12:33-53, and also found in this Psalm under discussion, help us to understand what it means to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” and the resulting “Fear not, little flock” effect which this work has on each of our lives, an effect that Christ declares before He goes into the details of what we must do. The Lord will do this through us if we are called and chosen and being dragged through the experience God’s word calls “the patience and faith of the saints”, we will drink the cup (Mat 20:23). We “Bless The Lord” that He has given us this honour and privileged to be purified in this age through the much tribulation which accompanies our salvation that is unfolding as we drink that cup together (1Co 10:16).

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith (and that is how “their works do follow them” that were ordained from the foundation of the world – Eph 2:10), and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Here is a list of admonitions from Christ so that we can have that peace which passes all understanding and know in our hearts that it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom:

Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have (1Jn 2:15), and give alms (Heb 13:15); provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth (how do we provide bags which wax not old, or treasure in heaven that fails not? Rev 3:18).
Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; (the whole suit armour so that we may be able to stand in the Lord and the power of his might – Eph 6:10-18)
Luk 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately (1Pe 3:15-18 , parable of the ten virgins Mat 25:1-13).
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants [“Bless The Lord”], whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luk 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. [another way of saying “from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children”]
Luk 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

The point being made that there is none good (Rom 3:10, Mar 10:18), and that it is a miracle, and only by the grace and faith of God, that the bride will be made ready in that hour so that the thief (in this case, Satan) will not come and destroy us, because we have been blessed to be among those who are heeding the admonition to “watch and pray” (Mat 26:41).

Luk 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Luk 12:41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

Peter is asking on our behalf, “Are we the ones who are working out our salvation with fear and trembling, or are we the unwise servant who has no fear of God and are reflecting that lack of reverence by not providing any food or drink for Christ today?” Maybe we think we are profitable when Christ tells us that we are in fact only profitable because of the work that He is working in us, again, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:12, Luk 17:10).

Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (while it is called today “Bless The Lord” and be about our Father’s business – Heb 3:13)
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming [through the deceitfulness of sin]; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; (1Pe 5:8-9)
Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (did not work out his own salvation with fear and trembling – Php 2:12).
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

If ever there were a verse that should make us sit up and take notice, it’s this one right here…because we’re being told to wake up (Eph 5:14) and realize we are the ones “unto whomsoever much is given”, and so we are being admonished to not neglect so great a salvation (Heb 2:3) by stirring up the spirit within us and not forsaking the assembling of the brethren (Heb 10:25) so we can be partakers of that tremendous blessing of being in the blessed and holy first resurrection which we are to striving to enter – Rev 20:6, Mar 10:30, Php 3:14, 1Co 9:27).

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? (Act 14:22, 1Pe 4:12)
Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! (Christ is not just speaking about his baptism of fire that had to take place but also speaking of his body that must yet fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ Col 1:24)
Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Luk 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Luk 12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Christ is preparing our hearts right now for the division that will become louder and louder in this ungodly age, and is blessing us to come together and be His real family, His real brothers and sisters fulfilling our Father’s will (Mar 3:35), even as He allows the world outside of ourselves to become more and more fragmented. That is the former conversation we all had and out of which we come out, seeing the fruits of Adam that did not produce the unity and joy and love that God’s people are blessed to enjoy today, because we are not divided by the sword of God’s word but united through the dying daily process that He has called us unto (2Sa 12:10).

Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

The dividing within us of father against son, mother against daughter, daughter against mother (churches also) mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (2Th 2:8) must all happen within us in order to have the hearts of the fathers turn to the children and the children to the fathers within us first (Mal 3:1-3, Mal 4:6).

Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto (Psa 121:1-2).
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. [The day of the Lord, the day of his vengeance speaking of God’s elect, Zion! Isa 34:8, Isa 63:4]
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

We need to mature together as a body if we are going to endure until the end and be faithful through the “great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people” in this life.

Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Rev 11:1-2 – the times of the Gentiles within – Jer 2:19, Gen 15:16).
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [within and without]
Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (The solution to enduring until the end is in these following verses: Psa 104:15, Mal 3:16, Heb 10:25).

Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Adam and Eve cannot begin to see the need for the sacrifice of Christ in his or her life while they are in the idyllic garden of Eden, and yet God has devised a means to redeem that first Adamic seed which is likened to water that has been spilt into the ground, seemingly not able to be recovered, and this need to be recovered, or reinstated is true of all mankind (1Sa 15:15, Eze 37:4-5, Joh 17:17).

The transgression of Adam extends from start to finish, from east to west (Mat 23:35), and as in Adam all die, so in Christ will all be made alive through Christ, through the church typified by Mary, born of that Adamic seed which is coupled with the seed of the Father (1Co 15:22, Joh 3:16, 1Jn 4:9-11, Gal 3:16). The garden of Eden is symbolic of a womb where Adam and Eve were formed (Gen 2:8).

Mary is blessed above all churches (Luk 1:42), and we are blessed above all people on the earth for this reason, that we have this new life within us (Col 1:27), this holy seed that is being formed through much tribulation that was symbolized by Christ’s time in the womb, and also his time in the earth that he came out of (Jer 22:29).

It is important to note that Adam and Eve could not partake of the tree of life because there was no life in them, no seed of Christ, and no desire to be connected to Christ in that regard. They knew Him only after the flesh (2Co 5:16). It would take the destruction of that first marred-in-the-hand-of-the-Potter vessel (Jer 18:4) and the redemptive power of the holy spirit working in our heavens to become that new man child (Rev 12:17) who has been raised in heavenly places today for that purpose of going unto perfection on the third day (Eph 2:6, Luk 13:32). Adam and Eve will one day have that holy seed, that holy spirit within them as it was in Christ without measure and they shall then be able to overcome, giving an accounting in the great white throne judgement for all the sins of the world within themselves that were cleansed by the blood of the Lamb from east to west (1Jn 2:16).

Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth^H7355 his children, so the LORD pitieth^H7355 them that fear him.

Jacob is loved of the Lord, and Esau is hated to remind us that God sees nothing in our flesh which we can offer Him, but has given abundant life through Christ, who is typified by Jacob (Rom 9:11-15).

H7355 râcham raw-kham’ A primitive root; to fondle; by implication to love, especially to compassionate: – have compassion (on, upon), love, (find, have, obtain, shew) mercy (-iful, on, upon), (have) pity, Ruhamah, X surely.

Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Speaking of Esau within us, who needs to be destroyed and judged today by Mount Zion (Oba 1:21), we read in Romans 11:

Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Rom 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

As we can see, God has great plans for all of His children (Rom 11:12), and He loves them all, and in due time He will extend that mercy and love unto all of his creation. We must not boast against those branches that are broken off, and we are to consider the mercy that God has extended to us in this age very carefully.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psa 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Psa 103:16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

It is very reassuring to know that God knows “our frame” and remembers “that we are dust”, that we are descendants of Adam and Eve who need to be redeemed from the earth.

We are likened unto grass and flowers of the field that flourish for a season, in the world which is the field (Mat 13:38), but then “the wind passeth over it” and that is symbollic of the spirit of God that passes over us, (Joh 3:8) first very symbolically as the Passover lamb with the blood on the lintels of our doors (Exo 12:7-13, 1Co 10:11), but then in a very real and living way with the life of Christ within us that causes the grass or flower to decreases as Christ increases in us if he is working with us in this age (Joh 3:30).

The following verses in Exodus are very much connected to the idea of working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, but also to the thought that it is with the Passover Lamb being digested in our lives, so that we can be strengthened or quickened of the Lord both to will and to do what the Father’s good pleasure is for us to do. These admonitions also parallel the verses we looked at earlier in Luke 12:42-53.

Exo 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
Exo 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Exo 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
Exo 12:10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
Exo 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.
Exo 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

We are a new creation that is groaning and growing in the Lord, and that is the reason it is written that after God has worked this holy work within us and perfected us on the third day, there is nothing left of the first man Adam – “it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more”. We become new, and God is reconciling the world within us unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, through the church which is the means that God will use to reconcile all the world in time (1Sa 15:15)

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (Adam of 1Co 15:23 and 1Co 15:50).

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the last part of our four-part study entitled “Fear The Lord” where we look at verses 17 to 22 that speak of how God’s angels will “Bless The Lord” for His wonderful works unto the children of men, works that have been accomplished in His little flock who are blessed to know that it is His good pleasure to give the kingdom to them in this age.

Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
Psa 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psa 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Psa 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Psa 103:21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Psa 103:22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Studies In Psalms – Psa 13:1-6 “How Long Wilt Thou Forget Me, O LORD?”

Tony Cullen — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 21:17:42 +0000

Studies in Psalms – Psa 13:1-6 “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?”

Psa 13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Psa 13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Psa 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Psa 13:4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
Psa 13:5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Psa 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

This shorter-than-most Psalm has three distinct sections which help demonstrate to us the process that God has set in motion to humble our flesh and bring us to cry out for deliverance, which resolves in praise after we learn of His faithfulness and His love to see us through the process.

1. The first section of the study, verses one and two, focus on the anxiety of our flesh which feels so easily forsaken and forgotten. God brings us to cry out with strong tears when the Lord brings us to our wits’ end, which comes about as a result of seeing that there is no hope in flesh. They remind us of the following verses in Psalm 107 and Hebrews that apply to Christ and His body and must be part of our walk if we are going to grow unto maturity and reign under Christ, becoming those who are of the circumcision and who have no confidence in the hopeless, corruptible, flesh in which we reside today.

Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. [thinking within]
Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Isa 3:1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water

Isa 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men (Gal 3:16) for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.[thinking within] (Luk_17:21)

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared^G2124;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear^G5401 in love; but perfect love casteth out fear^G5401 (Joh 6:63, Rom 5:5): because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
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.

2. The crying out to the Lord because He has brought us to our wits’ end of verses three and four is the second part of this Psalm, and it precedes the next verses that speak of hearts that give thanks and have praise on their lips. God is working all of our trials and tests as the body of Christ so that we can be stronger together as we learn to communicate and share our life of Christ through the trials and sufferings which is what nourishes the body as a whole when we come together. These following verses bring out this point of communicating this communion with one another to our spiritual growth and benefit.

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Then verse 16 answers why we praise the LORD and see that it is connected to His goodness that leads us to repentance and breaks the “gates of brass, and cut(s) the bars of iron in sunder” within our hearts:

Psa 107:15-16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion^G2842 of the body of Christ?

1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

3. The third part of this Psalm, verses five and six, resolves in a song of gratitude for the work of faith that God takes us through bringing us closer to being able to see Him face to face.

God never tries us beyond the measure that we can endure (1Co 10:13) so the answer to how long to which this particular Psalm speaks a few times will always be just long enough for us to realize that there is no help in the flesh, and there is an absolute certainty of deliverance through Christ.

Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psa 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

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.

2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves [in our flesh], but in God which raiseth the dead:
2Co 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Opening Verses:

Psa 13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Psa 13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

One way we can answer this question of “how long” mentioned four times in these first two verses is found in 2 Peter where we read:

2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord [or day of the Lord] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward [God’s elect today], not willing that any should perish (Joh 18:9), but that all should come to repentance (Rom 2:4).
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.

The sovereignty of God is not in the creation which some worship today (Rom 1:25), but in the Creator who controls the clay perfectly, which is what 2Pe 3:8-10 is telling us. The creation is a reflection of His sovereignty, a type and shadow of his endlessness, as in the physical heavens that seem to extend forever. And being as vast as those heavens are, they declare His glory but are not His glory; a type in the physical revealing for us God’s grandeur (Psa 19:1, Rom 1:20, Heb 11:27). God’s intention is to bring Christ, as a “thief in the night”, into the life of every man in time so that “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”.

Our heavens declare God’s glory as we go from glory to glory through Christ our hope of glory (2Co 3:18, Col 1:27) and scripture reveals how unsearchable the wisdom and declaration of that glory through our heavens [our minds] is (Joh 21:25). For God’s elect, whether in the flesh or as resurrected beings one day, we are on an endless journey to know His ways (G3598) which are ways of peace, a peace which is established through judgment.

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The connection that God’s word gives us with Isa 9:7 and 2Pe 3:8-10 is how his kingdom, which is within us, is established through judgment, or as it says “upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever” — King David being a type of Christ on the throne of our hearts in this age, God willing.

With this connection in mind, we can see that “the day of the Lord” in our own lives is what will establish Christ on the throne of our hearts through judgment. How much judgment? How long Lord?: “beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”.

In one day of the Lord, God can accomplish what is impossible for us to accomplish within these earthen vessels because of the hope of glory abiding within His people. Christ is the one who takes us through the process of judgment upon our flesh (3 tens – 10x10x10=1000), and from God’s perspective the 1000 years is symbolic of the dark flesh (1Co 13:12) that is destroyed by the brightness of his coming on the one day of the Lord (2Th 2:8). It takes the day of the Lord in each of our lives to illuminate our heavens to see who we are, and to be brought through the process of judgment to which these numbers point. Both the light and the darkness are the same to God because He is the Master Potter controlling the dark clay perfectly unto perfection through the Lord who represents that one day or ‘day of the Lord’ (Psa 139:12).

Psa 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Psa 13:4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

How true it is that the enemies of the cross “rejoice when I [we are] am moved” meaning they are there to try to divert our attention in times of sorrow and suffering to come down from the cross which is our altar and the place where the life of Christ abides and grows stronger (Mar 15:30, Gal 2:20, Act 2:40).

We are all guilty of spitting on Christ’s face, of buffeting him, and hitting him with the palm of our hands in our time (Mat 26:67). Without God’s spirit within, our unbridled flesh disdains the fact that He declares that there is none righteous and that we need a Saviour “lest I sleep the sleep of death” (Joh 16:7). Those who are not given to acknowledge this greatest of all crimes that we are guilty of, drinking the cup unworthily, continue to serve Him from a fleshly perspective, not acknowledging the need to die daily, mortifying the deeds of our flesh (1Co 11:27, Heb 6:4, 1Co 15:31, Rom 8:13). With this spirit they will see their enemy within prevail “against him”. Our flesh will continue to “trouble me” until they or we are given to admit that I am the man (2Sa 12:7). This is the painful judgment that first comes upon the house of God (1Pe 4:17) and is the means by which God “lighten(s) mine (our) eyes”.

Psa 13:5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Psa 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

God has dealt bountifully with us, teaching us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts (Tit 2:12), showing us step by step, trial by trial, from glory to glory, that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us as a spotless sacrifice (Rom 8:37, Eph 4:32, 1Pe 1:19). Blessed is the man that trusts in the Almighty and in His mercy that endures forever from age to age (Psa 100:5, Psa 107:1, Psa 136:1).

God mercifully brings us to trust in his mercy and burns out the conceit of our hearts so that we can become that branch along with Christ who will be used to support those who will come after us. We are being blessed in this age to see more clearly the sum of his word along with giving us the ability to trust in his mercy and want to share and show that mercy to the rest of the world (Gal 6:10). If God be for us and is dealing so bountifully with us in this age, we will be able to rejoice in Him and through this glorious work that He is accomplishing for the salvation of all mankind (Php 4:4, 1Co 15:22).

Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

The end result of His working in our heavens and making us into a new creation is a glorious unified body, ‘the bride of Christ’, who has made herself ready so that we can share in this joyous union with our Saviour and help bring in the other fold that he has promised to save in God’s perfect timing.

When we feel in our flesh, in our heavens, that our Lord has forgotten us, and we cry out “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?”, we are really witnessing to the fact that God is working in our lives and that we are learning of His righteousness through those judgments in our earth that often weary our weak flesh, which God can and will quicken within those who He is working with in this age.

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 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Psalms 75 “The Horns of The Righteous Shall Be Exalted”

Tony Cullen — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 02:21:39 +0000

“The horns of the righteous shall be exalted”

Psa 75:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
Psa 75:2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
Psa 75:3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
Psa 75:4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
Psa 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
Psa 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
Psa 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Psa 75:8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
Psa 75:9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
Psa 75:10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Right out the gate of this Psalm we are told what we are going to be reading and how God is going to accomplish this good work of having “the horns of the righteous” exalted. The word ‘Altaschith‘ and the word ‘Asaph‘ give us God’s very specific purpose for all flesh of all time:

Altaschith^H516

– Original: אu¹⁵⁰⁰ תu¹⁴⁶⁸ שu¹⁴⁷³ חu¹⁵¹⁴
– Transliteration: ‘Al tashcheth (Aramaic)
– Phonetic: al tash-kayth’

– Definition: Al-taschith = do not destroy

Asaph ^H623
– Original: אu1505 ףpar
– Transliteration: ‘Acaph
– Phonetic: aw-sawf’
– Definition: Asaph = gatherer
– Strong’s: From H622; collector;

Asaph the name of three Israelites and of the family of the first: – Asaph.

Altaschith means ‘do not destroy’, which is what God has promised of all of His spiritual creation, that it will not be destroyed.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Joh 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

What will be destroyed is ‘the old man’ or ‘soulishness of man’, symbolized by what this word Asaph conjures up. As a ‘gatherer’, it speaks of the end times or harvest, and as Asaph is also the name of three Israelites, “three” is symbolizing the process of that harvest or judgment.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

So with these concepts in mind we are reminded that God has a controversy with the nations of the world who He is going to gather unto judgment both within and without.

Jer 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Rev 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

All the world will be judged, each man in his order, (judgment is connected to patient continuance, as we possess our souls in patience), and that judgment which begins at the house of God (1Pe 4:17) will one day go out to all of the world, all of Israel who represents the world who will be judged by the Israel of God (Gal 6:16). This judgment comes about in succession (i.e. process or order) and means the destruction of the flesh, and is symbolized by the three holy days that Israel was commanded to come up and keep year by year.

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

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.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

God anoints the elect in this age to see and understand that we are a part of this process of judgment which is what is needful for us to be enabled to become “pillars” who can judge the congregation uprightly. These are the wonderful works that God is performing in Christ’s body for the sake of the rest of the world, who will be healed by our stripes.

2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

We pray that God will grant us the forbearance, the faith, and deep love we need in order to continue to persevere and possess our souls in patience today. This particular Psalm really points to the solution of how God is going to create this resolve in the body of Christ.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Christ is destroying our flesh or soulishness, as our lives our narrowed into judgment which comes forth from the north (judgment leads to spiritual increase). All our journeys in life are leading up to this day of judgment, which we are blessed to be a part of and to learn about in His word.

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psa 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Jer 6:22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

Psa 75:1 To the chief Musician, AltaschithH516, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near [kin] thy wondrous works declare.

As the body of Christ matures, we give greater and greater thanks (mentioned twice = witness) for being a part of this process of wonderful works that we know are needful and necessary to going onto perfection on the third day as a new creation (Luk 13:32, 2Co 5:17).

The nearness of (near [kin]) or relationship we have with our Kinsman redeemer is expressed in these verses below:

“Thy name is near thy wondrous works declare” reminds us that not only are we his workmanship (Eph 2:10) and that we are called and chosen (Mat 22:14) to do a work greater than these (Joh 14:12), but also that as His body, we too, have been given a new name to see and hear and understand (Rev 2:17) and declare His wondrous works to all the children of men (Psa 107), as the next two verses confirm:

Psa 75:2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

If we go through this process of judgment in this age, and if we are received as sons and daughters through chastening and scourging, a big of part of that process will be connected to our turning our other cheek from those who oppose us in this life. When we are granted to turn the other cheek, we are judging a situation rightly and being prepared by our Father to be judges (Mat 5:39).

Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Psa 75:3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

Again, if we are judged in this age we are going to see the faulty foundation we once were on, and it will be clearer and clearer how this world is upon that foundation that must crash down and be destroyed in one symbolic hour. We bear up the pillars of Christ in each other and know that this world will reject that strength which is ours today. The end result will be that this world will crash down upon us and be the sword that God uses to perfect Christ’s righteousness within His body. Sampson typifies all of this in this part of scripture.

Rev 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Jdg 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Jdg 16:29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
Jdg 16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

Psa 75:4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
Psa 75:5 Lift not up your horn^H7161 on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

In this particular verse the holy spirit inspires the words every^G3956 man,^G444 three times to remind us again that there is process to this destruction of the flesh that thinks it has power unto itself with no connection to God. It is the pride of life [don’t lift up your horn] of the first man adam that we are warned against (1Jn 2:16-17)

How we warn every man through preaching, or teaching in all wisdom will differ for every situation and every man, but the end goal will always be the same “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1Co 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1Co 9:23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

“Lift not up the horn” is mentioned twice in this psalm to witness to us that we need to ask God to destroy that part of us that wants to give our opinion, and express our wisdom and power rather than the power of God which comes from above. We do a lot of shadow boxing in the court (beateth the air) with the law where there is uncertainty and days and months and times and years that we wrestle with but it is when we truly begin to be judged of God by being dragged out of Babylon that will find ourselves keeping under our body and not exalting our own horn of righteousness, but rather praying that we should never be a castaway and able to glorify God with a contrite and broken heart that can only come from Him alone.

1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

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.

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

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.

Psa 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

Promotion^H7311 [same Strong’s number used for the english word “lift up” in the previous verses] comes as a result of God narrowing our life in service to Him and His body (Joh 21:15).

All our life we go east and west and south in our steps and these three directions are always being judged by God’s sovereign hand from the north which has always guided all our steps (Ecc 11:9, Act 17:28) as he prepares our hearts to be comfortable in the north where judgment comes. God’s desire is to have all people abide in the proper judgment and in harmony with Him who abides symbolically in the north where judgment comes from.

Psa 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

In order to get to this place of peace and entering into the joy of the Lord (Mat 25:21) we need to know who is in charge and how it is that by his merciful hand there is a continual decency and order (1Co 14:40) in His creation which will bring all men one day to praise our Great God and to bow every knee before him (1Co 15:28, Rom 14:11). And in the end it is Christ who is set up^H7311 (exalted) and Adam who is put down^H8213, (humbled, abased) within and without (Php 2:1-10).

Psa 75:8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

A cup of judgment in God’s hand that is “full of mixture” that is to say has been prepared by God and made to be drunk by all men, “all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.”

When the world is being sanctified by the word of God (Joh 17:17) or wine during the millennium it will be faith given to the nations but not tried faith. It takes more than just hearing the word of God, we must be doers as well, and not just doers for the sake of doing, because that would be equivalent to many good works (Mat 7:22) which is what will happen during the millennium (Jer 6:14, Eze 13:10). It is all to teach us the most enduring and profound lesson that only Christ can be Christ working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Rom 8:9, Php 2:13).

Like the blessed emails this week about gardening and weeds, we will plant the word of God in the hearts of men and water that field, which is the world (Mat 13:38). However the condition of the earth and its ability to receive and be nourished by the word is a matter of timing (Mar 4:2-8). We must live by every word of God, and so every amount of growth, or lack of growth, has a profound lesson to teach us as we see the Master of the vineyard harden and soften hearts throughout the ages all to the glory and honour of our Father.

The wine is red, Adamic^(H120), as we are told that we will indeed drink it (Mat 20:22-23), until “it is finished” (Joh 19:30) and judgment is complete (Isa 51:22-23, Isa 52:1-2).

Psa 75:9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

What a glorious desire and blessed place to rest for ever and ever. We are heading toward something far greater than we can receive in our earnest state of flesh, but we do have a few verses that give us an inkling of how glorious it will be:

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Psa 75:10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

We know that we are the beast that sits on the throne of God showing ourselves out to be God. This is the beast whose horns must be cut off, in order for the horns of the righteousness of Christ within us to be exalted.

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

The new horn of the righteous is the new creation that does show themselves to be the body of Christ and who think it not robbery to be equal with God, in the sense that all things are ours now, and we have become part of something because the old horns have been shaved off, and the Lord, the Master Potter, has made something new that lives and glorifies God with every ounce of its being.

1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (represented by those ten horns Rom 8:2)
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Psalms 72:1-4 “Give The King Thy Judgments, O God”

Tony Cullen — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 23:42:09 +0000

Psalm 72: “Give the king thy judgments, O God” – Part 1

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.

Psalms 68 – “Ascribe Ye Strength Unto God…”

Tony Cullen — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 22:56:28 +0000

“Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds”

by Tony Cullen

Psalms 68 (Part 1): Verses 1-11

Psa 68:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
Psa 68:2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
Psa 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Psa 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
Psa 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Psa 68:6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
Psa 68:7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
Psa 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Psa 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Psa 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

Right near the end of the Psalm we are looking at in this study we find the title of our study in verse 34 which says “Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.” Those words truly define the exercise that we are all called unto as the Lord makes his strength perfect through the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) who is was and will be perfected by the means that God has devised to reconcile all His creation (2Sa 14:14). That means is described in verse 34 of this Psalm as “his excellency” and “his strength“, which we know He is making perfect through the weak and marred vessels of clay that God created (Jer 18:4). So if He is making his strength perfect through us today, then we must conclude in this verse that we are those clouds that He is perfecting and preparing to bring his strength and excellency over the rest of Israel in their appointed time.

Last week we talked about how there is a process to going unto perfection and how the body of Christ is that means to an end that God uses to reconcile the elect today who are being judged and who will ultimately have the ability and power to go into all the earth and judge the world without as we are being judged within so they (the world without) can learn righteousness which God is forming in us through this life in Christ that we share today (Luk 13:32, Isa 26:9, Heb 4:11-16, Heb 2:18, 1Jn 4:17).

What a joy to know that we serve a God whose eyes never slumber or sleep (Psa 121:4) and whose sole purpose is to develop a family whose care and love for one another is unparalleled and made perfect through our weakness (2Co 12:9).

This Psalm speaks very much about the power of God and the effect that His hand has working in our lives. He is burning up the vanity within us that wants to hold onto this life, this temporary existence that we have which is like a mist, or smoke that is driven away, or as wax that melts before a fire. This burning and suffering that we go through in our life is how “the wicked perish at the presence of God” within us, and it describes how we lose our life so that we may gain the life of Christ where we can find power and love and soundness of mind to become more than conquerors through Him (Mat 16:25, 2Ti 1:7, Rom 8:37).

We are called to think it not strange but to know that it is part of the process in our walk as Christians to have to endure fiery trials (1Pe 4:12). We come to know that we are being purified by those fiery experiences, and we are brought to see it all as a blessing and a witness that God is working with us as He gives us “light affliction, which is but for a moment” (2Co 4:17).

As always, we need to ask God to help us see how these verses apply to the destruction of the man of sin within each of our own lives being destroyed by the brightness of Christ and his word that is sanctifying us in this age (Joh 17:17).

Our enemies are being scattered both within and without, and God has purposed for all men to hate us both within and without (Mat 10:22, Rev 12:11, Mar 10:18) seeing all the sin of the world is within us and without (1Jn 2:15-16).

The actions of all mankind witness how we are beasts (sheep) scattered by the Shepherd (Joh 2:15), and we need to live this experience of being scattered so that, God willing, we can be gathered in this age by a loving Shepherd as He creates a ministry of reconciliation through the church who has been given the power to reconcile Christ’s body so that we can enter into God’s temple as changed and converted beasts (2Co 5:18-19, Rev 15:8, Rev 4:10).

We are no longer looking behind at past our transgression and sinful life (Luk 17:32, Php 3:13) but see and understand that we are in a marred vessel that is being made anew as we reach forth together “unto the things which are before”. We need to forgive ourselves within and forgive the world without, and this can only happen by our dying daily and being given to be on the cross with Christ day by day (Gal 2:20, Luk 23:34, 1Co 15:31).

Our sins separate or scatter us from God, but being led unto repentance reconciles us to one another and to our Father and Christ (Psa 51:2-3, Psa 51:10, Mar 10:8, Eph 2:14, Luk 23:34). We are purposely scattered by God and made to be at enmity against our Creator and one another and then twain becomes one, Christ and his body, or husband and wife, fathers and children, children to fathers, as it says in (Mal 4:6) all types and shadows of the one bread and one spirit that the body of Christ is and how all the world or the whole lump is serving a holy purpose as (Rom 11:16) puts it (1Co 10:17, Eph 4:4, 1Co 15:22).

The positive type of scattering as opposed to seeing the hypocrisy of our flesh being exposed when we learn that Christ has been smitten of God and we have scattered as a result (Mat 26:31) is to make the beast scatter from the temple or to witness Christ as the true Shepherd within his body make the beast of the field to scatter (Deu 7:22, Num 14:9) like king David who in type and shadow scattered and destroyed both man and beast which are the same unto God (Joh 10:12-14, 1Sa 17:36, 1Sa 17:51, Ecc 3:18).

In summary for these two verses, it is God who is gathering the nations within to bruise Christ and his Christ both within and without as discussed (Act 4:27-28), and it is Christ in us the hope of glory (Col 1:24) who is going to enable us to be redeemed and be the kings and priests who redeem all nations, languages, tongues and peoples both within and without (Rev 7:9, Rev 5:9). Death is an enemy that is destroyed by the death of Christ and his Christ who are as sheep for the slaughter (Rom 8:36), and the word scattered has both a positive and negative use but are both needed to accomplish God’s predetermined purpose for humanity (2Co 1:20, Eph 1:11, Act 4:27-28).

Psa 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Psa 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

The pattern is revealed again how there is joy in the morning after weeping endures for a night (Psa 30:5, Mat 26:75). This is when we sing praises to his name: and extol him that works in our heavens by His powerful spirit or excellency and strength which we ascribe unto him.

Psa 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Psa 68:6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

God is turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers and showing us that without him we are spiritually fatherless and widows without our true groom (Mal 3:1, Mal 4:6).

God takes care of His children who have the honour of coming out of this world and understanding the shadows and types that are hidden from our own flesh and blood family who are deceived and cut off from God today for our sakes (Luk 10:24).

It takes his dwelling in “holy habitations” to convince us of this new family relationship where we now honour our heavenly Father and are no longer of our father the devil. We recognize that we are spiritual widows for having been dragged out of Babylon (Rev 18:4, Joh 6:44) which is a “dry land” that keeps people bound to lies where there is no stay of bread or water to be had (Isa 3:1).

Psa 68:7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
Psa 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

The parallel thought for us in this verse is found in Hebrews 10:32 where we’re encouraged to remember the former days and what great struggles we were given to bring us closer and closer to that place where we don’t trust in our own flesh but in God alone (2Co 1:9, Pro 3:6-9).

Unless our earth shakes and our heavens (our minds) drop at the presence of God (Rom 14:11) we will not come to know God and Jesus Christ in this age (1Jn 4:17, 1Pe 5:6-9). The bride of Christ that comes up on mount Sinai is of a meek and quiet spirit today and ultimately is becoming that example of a city set on a hill or nation that God provides for the world to learn of His glory and power (Oba 1:21, 1Pe 3:4, Isa 66:7-8).

Psa 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Psa 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

So on one hand we have the whole stay of water and bread taken away contrasted with what God is doing with those who are his in this age. Our inheritance is in Christ and we are Christ’s inheritance (Eph 1:18, Col 1:12, Joh 8:12, Mat 5:14) and God is making his strength perfect through this weary flesh by sending “plentiful rain”.

God has called the “poor” of the world to be rich in faith (Jas 2:5), which demonstrates his goodness and desire to not overlook any crumb (Joh 6:12, Mar 7:28), any part of his creation, for He so loved the world that He gave Christ and His body (Joh 3:16) for the feeding of the masses of humanity. As we read in Psalms 68:11 “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.”

God’s elect are called in this age to witness of his great power as we demonstrate not just how God can take a small scattered group and do a great work through us, but also how that work ascribes to the world his strength and excellency in making us one body of believers, one bread and a ministry of disciples who love one another and are being used to ultimately reconcile all the world by turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers (Mal 4:6).

“Hear The Word of God, and Keep It” (Luke 11:28)

Tony Cullen — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 21:21:06 +0000

“Hear the word of God, and keep it”(Luk 11:28)

Introduction

Psa 64:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Psa 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Psa 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Psa 64:5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
Psa 64:7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
Psa 64:8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
Psa 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
Psa 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

This prayer in verse one of Psalm 64 sets the tone for what God is bringing the body of Christ to be able to do in this age in advance of so many others who are sincerely crying out to Him. It is “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man [that] availeth much” after all, and we know that it is the righteousness of Christ alone that is accepted before our Father and that makes our prayers powerful and spiritually effective for the body of Christ and for those for whom we pray (Jas 5:14-16).

We are of the generation that has no confidence in the flesh, and yet God inspired the psalmist to write “hear my voice” and “preserve my life”. So we must ask which “voice” is really being spoken about here and which “life” is to be preserved.

If God hears my voice and I am as Christ (1Jn 4:17) and Christ and our Father are one (Joh 10:30), then we must share in that oneness of our prayer life as well (Joh 14:20). It may be obvious, but it still needs to be stated that God hears every prayer, so when the scripture is written “hear my voice, O God, in my prayer” we are being reminded that although our prayer is heard that does not mean that God is going to act upon our every request (Jas 4:15, Luk 22:42-44). It is only when we are broken by God and given a humble and contrite heart from our Creator that we can make that prayer of faith to our Father that is accepted in the beloved, a prayer just as the one that Christ made in the garden, prayers that eventually and over time say more and more consistently “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Isa 66:2, Eph 1:6).

We live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, so we are the disciples of (Mat 26:40-45) who sleep on in our time, to eventually be given to see that it is “high time to awake” (Rom 13:11) as Christ’s bride who is no longer dull of hearing and blind to the signs of the time that are around us and in God’s word (Mat 16:3, Gen 29:17).

Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Mat 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Mat 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

We rejoice that God has given us to hear the voice of the true Shepherd (Rev 14:4, Rom 8:14). The trumpets of the book of Revelation pronounce judgment upon the marred vessel and those judgments will be understood and heeded if Christ is in fact working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure, which is to have Christ be the author and finisher of our faith today. That mature faith comes about as a result of being able to hear spiritually and act upon that which we hear (Rev 1:3, Rom 2:13).

Being able to hear and see spiritually does not preclude that there is no struggle involved with our being able to endure until the end (Mat 24:13), and Christ’s life demonstrates for us that we ought to be as He is at this time watching and praying and being alert and awake today right now with our garments being kept unspotted from the world (Rev 3:4, Rev 7:14). This tall order is impossible to accomplish accept the Lord give us the ability to not fall asleep in the garden as all the disciples did and we all must do in our appointed time.

Rev 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

We will overcome by His grace and faith (Eph 2:8) which causes us to stand as we discussed in last week’s study. God brings us to our wits-end, and manifests within us strong prayers with tears (Heb 5:7) and like Christ we are heard “in that he feared”. So we are heard under these circumstances, but prior to such heartfelt prayers there is a season when our prayers along with our outward actions are very much self-centered (Jas 4:3). All such prayers are not heard, or rather not acted upon (Jas 1:6). It takes the destruction of our carnal minds, as chapter 4 of the book of James clearly says (Jas 4:6-9), to be able to “having done all stand” (Eph 6:13) and to finally be able to make powerful prayers that will unfold in a process that will enable us to understand that this is a work of the Lord within us delivering us from the otherwise undeliverable beasts that we are (Rev 13:4).

It is God’s purpose to show us that light comes out of darkness and so we must have this season of asking amiss and having to be tormented through the process that humbles us and brings us to see that it is Christ in us who is our life and the only one who can preserve our life from “fear of the enemy” by making the kind of prayers that availeth much and give us victory over the enemy we are overcoming together in this age.

Tonight we will look at how scripture defines the wickedness of man’s heart against Christ, and how God for a season uses those evil messengers to remind us that we need our Lord to defend us against the otherwise unstoppable powers and principalities that we cannot make war against (Eph 6:12 , Rev 13:4) except the Lord build up the defences of our life through Christ and His body.

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Psa 64:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

It is “in my prayer” (Luk 18:1, Mat 26:41) that the life of Christ is preserved within us. We are admonished to not neglect so great a salvation which is accompanied with victory over “fear of the enemy” if we are being given to stir up God’s spirit within us and realize confidently (Heb 11:6, Heb 10:35) that He who is in us is greater than him who is in the world (Heb 2:3, 1Jn 4:4).

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

(1Jn 4:6) reminds us that hearing is a spiritual matter, and although the Lord causes the world and ourselves who are coming out of the world to make many prayers, at this time it is only given unto the elect to offer up prayers that preserve the life of Christ within us (Joh 14:6, Col 1:27, Rom 8:9) from fear of the inward enemy of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1Jn 2:16).

God is merciful to all those who cry out to Him, and He alone knows the heart of the person making the prayer as He is the one motivating the person to either make a prayer from a broken and contrite heart or perhaps from a place that is more focused for the time on their own need even still being broken from whatever trial or circumstance that has brought them to this point (Php 2:4).

We need to pray for each other and ask for our own daily needs spiritually, but we also need to realize that God is the author of our prayer life that is growing with His spirit (1Co 3:6) within as He bring us to be able to offer up the types of prayers that give us the ability to put off the flesh and go through the fiery trials of this life which are the only things that will make it possible for this gift of faith that we are given to become tried and tested, the kind of faith that works with the love of God for good of all others (1Pe 1:7, Gal 5:6).

Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

There were secret counsels against Christ which parallel what will happen to the elect especially at the end of this age (Mat 12:14, Act 4:27, Rev 11:7-10), and it is important for us to see this and understand that God will make provision for us when those days become more overt and we are dragged where we do not want to go (Joh 21:18) to give witness among those whom God would have us leave this witness (Act 7:57-60, Luk 21:11-12)

Mat 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Act 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Act 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

We are hidden in the Lord (Col 3:3), and consequently it does not matter what people do to our flesh (Mat 10:28), and as always it will be by going through the fire and the trials of having to be falsely accused in this world that we will be hidden “from the secret counsel of the wicked”. It is not by escaping the crowds that Christ was preserved from “the insurrection of the workers of iniquity”, although there was a season where God delivered Christ from all their attempts to destroy his flesh because Christ’s time had not come to be apprehended (Joh 10:39), but when it did come He was made ready by going through the process of fervent prayer and being strengthened by the angel in the garden that God sent to him (Luk 22:41-45).

Luk 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Luk 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luk 22:45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
Luk 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Psa 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Psa 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

What is going to be and already has been one of the hardest trials we have to endure through Christ is the false accusations of those who are enemies of the cross (Pro 25:18, Php 3:18), and although the Lord will let them “whet their tongue like a sword” and “and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words” as the scripture says, we can be confident as the body of the Christ that we can stay the hand of Satan and all the fiery darts that God will allow to be sent our way at the appointed time (Psa 12:3, Pro 10:31, Eph 6:16).

We are told exactly how the enemy operates. It is in secret and using the blitzkrieg method to attack Christ without fear.

For those who are not familiar with the term, here is the meaning of the word blitzkrieg:

A German term for “lightning war” – blitzkrieg – is a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower. Its successful execution results in short military campaigns, which preserve human lives and limits the expenditure of artillery.

All of this reminds us of these words of our Lord that remind us of how powerfully God can remove these spirits in an instance (Luk 10:18, Act 9:3-4).

Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Nothing is going to surprise the elect if the Lord is making our hearts ready for all such attacks which are predestined to occur. We need only go from verses 7 to 9 of this psalm 64 (Psa 64:7-9) to see this point in God’s plan which is also declared in (Isa 48:3):

Psa 64:7 And God doth shoot them with an arrow, Sudden have been their wounds,
Psa 64:8 And they cause him to stumble, Against them is their own tongue, Every looker on them fleeth away.

Psa 64:5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

This verse really speaks about that part of our human nature that foolishly hides in the garden (Gen 3:8) from the Lord, deluded into thinking that we cannot only hide from the Lord but plan and plot in such a way that we could even overtake his plans and purpose by doing what we want outside of His will, which we know nothing is (Rev 20:8, Eph 1:11).

Amo 9:2 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

We dig into hell, the evil earthly ‘earth, earth, earth’ experience that God gives us (Ecc 1:13, Jer 22:29) to eventually give an accounting in the day of our judgment (Ecc 11:9, Mat 12:36, 1Pe 4:17).

All those laying of snares in secret become our own trap that we fall into in the day of evil that the Lord made for himself (Pro 16:4, Isa 29:15).

The Lord reveals who we are and how great His power and hand is over all the affairs of humanity, the light and the darkness, which are the same unto Him (Psa 139:12, Joh 1:5).

Psa 64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

God gives us a powerful enemy both within and without, who are “ever learning” but not able to come to “the knowledge of the truth” for a very specific reason (2Ti 3:7): It is the vain philosophies of man throughout the ages and the science falsely so called (Col 2:8, 1Ti 6:20) throughout the aions that have been profound and deep and have kept the mind of mankind in darkness and unbelief of the true Creator and His purposes (2Co 4:4).

This is the “diligent H2664 searchH2665” spoken of in this verse, and Rotherham says it well:

Psa 64:6 (Rotherham) They devise perverse things, They have completed the device well devised, Both the intent of each one, and the mind, are unsearchable.

Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

All of this deception has been according to God’s counsel who will suddenly break the vanity and lies that we have held onto in one symbolic hour (Jos 11:6, Gen 32:24, Rev 18:10). The Lord will bring into the light all this iniquity, perverseness, vanity, deceit (Zep 3:5, Zep 3:13, Psa 147:6) that is the strength of the horse in us that will be broken (Jer 8:6, Psa 147:10), and “all that watch for iniquity are cut off” (Isa 29:20).

(For more information please see: Animals in Scripture – Horse

What will hamstring (hough) the hind leg of the beast is shadowed in this verse as well (Gen 25:26) and God has made manifest this correlation between the heal of Esau being bruised by Jacob and the houghing of the horse to remind us that we are beasts who will only be overcomers once God takes away our strength by the hand of the Lord (Gen 32:25) typified by Jacob taking hold of Esau’s heel (Ecc 3:19). And it is then that “all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing” and “The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory”(Psa 64:9-10).

Psa 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
Psa 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

[More studies in this series can be found at https://anthocul.wordpress.com and additional study notes can be seen by joining Tony’s Thursday night study at 7:30 p.m. ET. The link to join is on the home page of this site. Furthers questions or comments can be sent to Tony at anthocul@sympatico.ca.]

Psalms – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word

“Love is a Consuming Fire” – Part 2

“Love is a Consuming Fire” – Part 2

by Steven Crook

Studies in Psalms – Psa 143:1-4 “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake…”

Psa 143:1-4 “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble” – Part 1

[Study Aired January 23, 2020]

Studies in Psalms – Psa 113:1-3 “Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth” – Part 1

Psa 113:1-3 “Worship the Father in spirit and in truth” – Part 1

What charity does in order to become “the bond of perfectness”:

Harmony of the family of God explained:

PraiseH1984 Versus GloryG2744

Studies in Psalms – “Praise the LORD for His Goodness…”, Psa 107:1-8 – Part 1

Studies In Psalms – Psa 103:12-16 “Bless The Lord” Part 3

Psa 103:12-16 “Bless The Lord” – Part 3

Studies In Psalms – Psa 13:1-6 “How Long Wilt Thou Forget Me, O LORD?”

Studies in Psalms – Psa 13:1-6 “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?”

Psalms 75 “The Horns of The Righteous Shall Be Exalted”

“The horns of the righteous shall be exalted”

Psalms 72:1-4 “Give The King Thy Judgments, O God”

Psalm 72: “Give the king thy judgments, O God” – Part 1

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

Psalms 68 – “Ascribe Ye Strength Unto God…”

“Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds”

by Tony Cullen

Psalms 68 (Part 1): Verses 1-11

“Hear The Word of God, and Keep It” (Luke 11:28)

“Hear the word of God, and keep it”(Luk 11:28)

Introduction

Psa 64:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

Psa 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: Psa 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

Psa 64:5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Psa 64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

Psa 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. Psa 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Praise^H1984 Versus Glory^G2744

Psa 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Psa 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

Psa 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
Psa 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.