Studies in Psalms – Psalm 119, Part 3 – Psa 119:33-48 “HE and VAU”
Psalm 119 – Part 3 – Psa 119:33-48 “HE and VAU”
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it untothe end.
Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with mywhole heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psa 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; andquicken thou me in thy way.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devotedto thy fear.
Psa 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments aregood.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, eventhy salvation, according to thy word.
Psa 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psa 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Psa 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
Psa 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psa 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
In our first study on Psalm 119, we looked at the words Aleth and Beth, the first two Hebrew letters which are a witness of Christ, who is connected to that word “Aleth” because he is “the way”, the “Alpha and the Omega” and also the one who has pre-eminence in all things.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.1Jn 4:17Herein 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.
The word “Beth” is connected to the intimate and loving relationship we have with our Father and Christ as His kind of first fruits who first trusted in God and come to learn that it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Jas 1:18, Eph 1:12-13, Luk 12:32) a kingdom that is found within the house of God, or the kingdom of God within us (Luk 17:21), or the house of bread, where we are blessed to abide through Christs strength that is found in His body that is nourished by that bread in the church (Joh 6:35, Joh 14:23-26, Joh 15:4-5, 1Co 3:16, Col 1:24). The bread and wine symbolize His body and the communion of suffering which we share so we can be strengthened and no longer trust in our flesh but rather in the flesh that is represented by the church which is his body (1Co 11:1).
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Last week’s study looked at the meaning behind the next two Hebrew letters in this psalm, “Gimeland Daleth“. We were reminded that “Gimel”, being the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet, is connected to “the process of spiritual completion” and the letter “Daleth”, being the fourth letter in the alphabet, is connected to the “the whole“. The answer to how all, or the whole [4] (1Co 15:22, 1Ti 4:10, 1Jn 2:2) of humanity will be saved is through the process of ‘grace through faith’ that all men will be saved by [3 and 5] (Eph 2:8), and the order of that salvation is witnessed to us through the words “Aleth” and “Beth“. (Aleth is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and represents Christ [1] and Beth, [2] being the letter that represents the witness of Christ through the church, is the second letter that corresponds with God’s two witnesses, the saviors who will come up on mount Zion “to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S” [Rev 11:3, Luk 24:48,Oba 1:21]).
In this week’s study we will look at the next two letters, “HE” and “VAU”, and see how this fifth and sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet connect to the 16 verses they introduce (Psa 119:33-48). Five represents “grace through faith” and six represents “the number of man”.
The only way for our flesh to be conquered and overcome and brought into subjection unto Christ is by having our Father drag us to our Lord (Joh 6:44). That dragging is symbolically represented by a hook in these verses (Eze 29:4, Eze 38:4, Isa 37:29). The hook happens to be the symbol connected to the Hebrew word “VAU” along with a ‘tent peg’.
Christ’s flesh was established and settled in the earth like a tent peg that held His tabernacle in place for the service to which God called him, and in like manner, we, as God’s children are called to the same exercise of losing our life so we can find it by this hook or tent peg that is best described in terms of what it does in Galatians 2:20.
God’s grace is given to those with whom He is working in this age as we raise our hands (Lam 3:41, Psa 134:2) to God in prayer while He brings us to our wits’ end (Psa 107:16, Psa 107:19) causing us to look to Him (Psa 121:1) who reveals the truth (Joh 16:13, Rev 1:1) to us through His spirit which is symbolized by the breath of life (Gen 2:7, 2Ti 3:16). These underlined words I just read are connected to the word “HE”, the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of GodG2315, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
G2315 theh-op’-nyoo-stos
From G2316 and a presumed derivative of G4154; divinely breathedin: – given by inspiration of God.
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/files/alphabet_chart.gif
God’s word tells us not to be confident in our flesh (Php 3:1-4, Php 3:8-9), for it is all a vanity, which is being brought into subjection to Christ, who is our hope (Rom 8:18-23, Psa 62:5, Col 1:27). The blessing being given to so very few in this age is God’s grace [5] and the accompanying faith being freely given to us while we are in these earthen vessels which experience “the process of spiritual completion“, the three sixes mentioned in Revelation chapter 13 (Ecc 3:19, Rev 13:1-18) that leads to the perdition of the man of sin within us. The verses in Revelation 13:1-17 which precede Revelation 13:18 describe this man of perdition within us who must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives today (2Th 2:8).
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 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.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
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:Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man;G444 and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
All the flesh of mankind, represented by the number six, is vain in God’s eyes, including Christ’s flesh, which must come under the judgment of God’s word if it is going to learn of His righteousness (Ecc 1:2, Ecc 1:14, Isa 26:9) as opposed to the self-righteousness our flesh naturally produces as we go in the way which seems right to us (Pro 14:12). When we stop going in the way that seems right to us, it is because of the judgment which comes to us that is symbolically directed from the north where God’s judgments arise (Jer 1:14, Psa 75:5-9). Those judgments will little by little (Deu 7:22) guide us into a right and discerning circumspect walk in all directions in this life – north, south, east and west – as we carry with us those judgments from God which give us our direction from the north (Eph 5:15-17, Rom 8:14-16, 2Co 10:5).
Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all isvanity and vexation of spirit.
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.
Today’s verses in Psalm 119 will remind us of the privilege and honor we have in this age to be judged of our Lord and to be given a proper understanding of the unfolding of His spiritual workmanship which, for today, is hidden from the mind of mankind.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psa 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Psa 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
There is so much requesting done in these first few verses and the desired result of what is being importuned is explained to remind us we need to ask God for victory to overcome at His hand in this age (Mat 7:7-8, Zec 4:6). When we ask, we are soliciting for His word, which is spirit, to quicken us (Joh 6:63, Luk 11:13). How it quickens us is the mystery hidden from the world. Grace chastens us to forsake ungodliness in this age (Tit 2:11-12), and it is that process of asking and then receiving of His grace which chastens and scourges every son being received. We need to meditate on and fully embrace His grace as the bride of Christ who is being made ready, or quickened, through that process of asking and then receiving of those things for which God also causes us to ask (Php 2:13). This fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, “HE”, is showing us that we are blessed to be engaged in this requesting and receiving of God’s grace which is sufficient for us in this life and is the means by which God makes His strength perfect through us (2Co 12:9).
Here are some of the requests which were written for our sakes, in the order that they were presented, along with the accompanying results or benefits of God’s hand answering those requests:
“Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes;” = “and I shall keep it unto the end”.
If the LORD teaches us “the way of thy statutes”, “I shall keep it unto the end” because He has purposed from the foundation of the world that the elect would receive this inheritance in him “To the praise of the glory of his grace“.
Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psa 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
“Give me understanding “ = “and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with mywhole heart”
We have not because we ask not, and when we ask at first, we ask amiss, as the book of James reminds us (Jas 4:3). However when God gives us understanding, when he opens our heavens, it will be because we have been granted that increase through Christ (1Co 3:6) who teaches us to ask for what we need, spiritually resulting in the new creation being formed in those who can now say “I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart”.
“Make me to go in the path of thy commandments “ = “for therein do I delight”
Again, it is only in the asking for these words, which are spirit (Joh 6:63), that we can then be true witnesses who have been dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) and brought to our wits’ end crying out to God with those strong tears (Psa 107:19-20) saying, “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments.” When we are granted such a prayer and a heart of fear, the fruit of our life will be demonstrated in the “delight” we have in those commandments which are sweeter than honey, and the sacrifice of praise that will be a result of our thankfulness for God’s deliverance from ourselves (Psa 119:103, Heb 13:15).
“Incline my heart unto thy testimonies” = “and not to covetousness”
Our hearts are not naturally inclined to anything that is spiritual (Gal 5:17) including the testimonies or witness that God has called us of always be ready to give out of a heart of fear and trembling (1Pe 3:15). When we are not being dragged to Christ and learning of His testimonies, the covetousness of flesh is manifest in its lust and envy which are always right there on the surface, like sin that lies at the door and wants to rule over us, but it will not through Christ.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity” = “and quicken thou me in thy way”
The next thing requested is to “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity”. All is vanity as the preacher said it is (Ecc 3:19), so that does not leave us very much to look at in this world. The point is, broad is the path that leads to destruction and the way of life is found in Christ and His Christ, and that way is very narrow and requires our steadfast attention, an attention that is not possible unless we are granted to ask God to “quicken thou me in thy way” so we can fulfill His will on earth as it’s done in heaven (Mat 6:10). These verses in Matthew 7:13-19explain who it is and how it is He is creating that steadfast spirit (Heb 11:26) needed within the body of Christ within the assembling of the brethren where we learn together to “dwell with everlasting burnings”.
Heb 11:26: for he had respectG578 unto the recompence of the reward.
G578 ap-ob-lep’-o
From G575and G991; to look away from everything else, that is, (figuratively) intently regard:– have respect.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
“Stablish thy word unto thy servant” = “who is devoted to thy fear”
Asking the Lord to “stablish thy word unto us” is of the utmost importance, and it can only happen through the fiery trials He will bring our way to fulfill that purpose of settling and strengthening us in the Lord. How blessed we will be if He does that for us in this age (comfortable in the fire below and Rev 20:6, Rev 4:8).
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
“Turn away my reproach which I fear” = “for thy judgments are good”
We know there is no good thing in flesh, and we are constantly in a battle against it, both the past, the future and the immediate, but what God wants us to know is that we can look to Christ and be more than conquerors through Him as He gives us the power to forget what is behind us as we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Him. He is the one, the only one, who can “Turn away my reproach which I fear” and He does that through His judgments in my earth so that I can learn righteousness “for thy judgments are good”.
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.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.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.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
This last verse in this first section reminds us of the prophets of old who have “longed after thy precepts” and were quickened by God’s hand to typify the righteousness of Christ (1Pe 1:12) which God has given to very few today by which to be spiritually quickened (Joh 6:63). God has established these types and shadows of overcoming in the old covenant for our sakes. We can have absolute confidence in what He can do in our lives today as Christ fulfills His “more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established uponbetter promises” within the body of Christ where these “heavenly things” are being accomplished within our heavens.
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:
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount [1Co 4:6].
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
None of these prayers were uttered in vain, because we know that God’s salvation will come to all men “according to thy word”. It will come as a result of the mercy that He first showed to each of the elect who are the first to trust in God and learn of His work of salvation which are being accomplished through Jesus Christ (1Ti 4:10, Act 4:12).
The emphasis is all men will be saved, the LORD’S mercy will be shown unto all men, but it will be “according to thy word” that tells us that there is an order to that salvation and that God does all things decently and in order.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Psa 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
If God is saving us in this age, we will “have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me” because of the strength He gives us to put off our flesh as we’re given dominion over sin, over the adversary within and without ourselves who will rage against God’s elect until the very end of this age (Rom 8:32-33, Act 4:26-27). God had determined these things to be done to His glory and to show the world in due time that we can only be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. He gives us the faith and the power to be the first who completely “trust in thy word” (Rom 8:37).
Psa 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
If God will answer our prayer to “take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth“, we will always have a light unto our path in this temple which is His body (Psa 119:105). That light will shine more and more brightly for God’s elect (Php 2:13-15), and it will invite persecution, all of which God has ordained to come our way to test us and to once again prove we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ and His body (Rom 8:37, Rev 2:10).
Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word isa lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Rev 2:10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall castsome of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Psa 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
“One thing I have desired” King David said of the LORD, “and that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple” (Psa 27:4). God’s elect are called and chosen out of this world to believe that the fulfillment of this desire which David made unto the LORD is being realized in the life of those of whom king David was a type as the king of Israel (Rev 1:6). The Israel of God (Gal 6:16) desire one thing of the LORD as well, and that is to dwell within “the house of the LORD”, the church, which we know is Christ’s body (Col 1:24). We are dwelling in the “earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph 1:14), and the seal God has placed upon the elect (Rom 11:5, Rom 9:27, Rom 9:8) assures us we will be able to keep “thy law” your commandments “for ever and ever” because of our hope of glory within (Col 1:27).
Psa 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
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.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Psa 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psa 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. Psa 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
These final few verses drive home the importance and the reward given for those who obey God’s commandments. We will walk at liberty if Christ’s spirit is within us (2Co 3:17, Jas 1:25, Gal 6:2). That spirit will embolden us to “speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed” (Luk 12:11-12). We will delight ourselves in His commandments which we have loved because we know that “in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psa 19:11).
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Luk 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luk 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
The Hebrew letter “VAU” connects to this series of verses which talk primarily about God’s commandments and precepts. When we walk in them while we are in these vessels of clay, [6] we demonstrate our love for God and our love for all of mankind (Joh 14:15-18).
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
God’s kind of first fruits have been granted to be armed with the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16) and have been promised with that mind we can overcome all the powers and principalities we wrestle against because of Christ in us, who is much higher than them all (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21).
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
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.
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Having the knowledge that we are more than conquerors while we are in our flesh through Christ (Rom 8:36-37) is something to greatly rejoice over as we come to understand our names have truly been written in heaven from the foundation of the world for that purpose (Php 4:4, Luk 10:20).
Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
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.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
We are chastened and scourged through a process of “grace through faith” [5] in order to be received in time as mature sons [6] whom God has promised and purposed in Christ that He would make us ready for the wedding supper to which we are called (Eph 1:4, Eph 1:11-13, Rev 19:9). If it is not written in our book to suffer in this manner while we are in our flesh, then that, too, will have been written from the foundation of the world (Rev 17:8).
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.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Being first in this process of being judged and coming up in that blessed and holy first resurrection upon which “the second death has no power” (Rev 20:6) is all “unto the praise of his glory” and something that is made possible by the fiery trials we experience in our flesh today [6 ‘VAU’] so that we can be saved (Heb 5:7, 1Jn 4:17) by ‘grace through faith’ (Eph 2:8) [5 ‘HE’].
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
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;
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.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
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