Messengers of Christ– Revelation 1:11-16

Revelation 1:11: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

Jesus gave John a preview of events to come. In Revelation 1:11, He told John, “What you see, write on a scroll and send it.” In Revelation, Jesus commands John twelve times to “write.” By the grace of Jesus Christ John functioned as a seer, writer and publisher for God. [1]

“It is the opinion of very learned writers upon this book, that our Lord, by these seven churches, signifies all the churches of Christ to the end of the world; and by what he says to them, designs to show what shall be the state of churches in all ages, and what their duty is.” [2]

Revelation 1:12-13: “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.”

In Revelation 1:20, Jesus explains that the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches. He has messages for each of these churches in Revelation chapters 2-3. The churches are compared to candlesticks because they hold out the light of the Gospel to the world. The churches themselves are not the source of the light. Christ is our light.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus compared His followers to lamps. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The Son of Man refers to Jesus Christ as God enfleshed in human form. In truth, it is we humans who are made in His image.

Christ is clothed with a priestly garment down to His feet. “Long garments were an emblem of great status and authority.” [3]

“The golden band around the chest probably hints at the garments of the high priest (Exodus 29:5). Exodus 39:1-5 says that there were golden threads in the band that went around the chest of the high priest of Israel. Jesus’ band has more than a few golden threads. It is all gold! How much greater is the eternal, heavenly priesthood of Jesus!” [4]

Revelation 1:14: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.”

When John saw Jesus in heaven, instead of hair matted with blood, His hair was white like wool. Instead of a tortured face, His face shined like the sun. Instead of bleeding feet, His feet glowed like molten brass. Instead of eyes glossed over with pain, His eyes were like flames of fire.

His white hair connects Jesus to being the Ancient of Days referred to in Daniel 7:9, “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool.”

The fiery eyes of Jesus see deep into the human heart. Nothing is hidden from Jesus.

Revelation 1:15: “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

His feet like burnished brass connect Him to the One who appeared to Daniel in Daniel 10:6: “His face like the appearance of lightning, His eyes like torches of fire, His arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of His words like the voice of a multitude.”

“Fine brass is also a durable metal, the most durable known in the ancient world. Therefore feet… like fine brass are “An emblem of His stability and permanence, brass being considered the most durable of all metallic substances or compounds.” [5]

His voice sounds like many waters. There is a parallel between Revelation 1:16 and Ezekiel 43:2. In Ezekiel 43:2 and following, Ezekiel sees the glory of God. God’s glory sounds like many waters. The same language is used of Jesus in Revelation 1:16. His voice sounds like many waters. These passages depict the same reality. Jesus is the glory of God. He gives and IS God’s Word to God’s people. [6]

Revelation 1:16: “He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”

In Revelation 1:20, He explains that the stars are the seven angels of the churches. The Greek word for angel is ἄγγελος – angelos. The Hebrew word for angel is מַלְאַךְ – mal’ak. Angelos and mal’ak both mean “messenger.” A “messenger” can be a heavenly being or an human being depending on the context of the passage.

Many scholars interpret “angel” in Revelation 1:20, as the pastors of the churches. Jesus holds them in His right hand, that is with favor and strength, so that they can serve His people well. The Good Shepherd is holding them and helping them to speak His Word. To God be the glory!

The sharp two-edged sword that proceeds from His mouth is the Word of God. In Hebrews 4:12, God’s Word is compared to a two-edged sword that is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Jesus helps us to distinguish the difference between a lie and a truth. In Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

The face of Jesus shines as the sun. In Matthew 17:2, when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, His face shined like the sun. In Matthew 17:5, God the Father spoke from a cloud and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” In John 8:12, Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jesus enlightens our souls so we can see God.

Now that we have received these words and visions of Jesus, we too should live circumspectly of them and share them with others.


[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Poole, Matthew A Commentary on the Holy Bible, Volume III: Matthew-Revelation (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1969, first published in 1685)
[3-4] Enduring Word Commentary
[5] Clarke, Adam The New Testament with A Commentary and Critical Notes, Volume III (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1831)
[6] Chad Bird, 1517 Project at https://youtu.be/XKxgyW8-A6M?si=t69sabf3-ml-dU2E

Trials Turned to Gold – Revelation 1:9-10

Revelation 1:9: “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

In Hebrews 10:34, the writer commended those who suffered losses for the sake of the Gospel, saying, “You had compassion on those in prison. You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” Thanks be to God for a knowing that Christ is worth more than the treasures of this world.

By describing his suffering, John showed that he understood what other Christians were experiencing. He was on the Isle of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

John was exiled for God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus. In Revelation 12:17, the devil wars with keepers of God’s commands (Law) and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Gospel). The devil does not want lost souls to hear such presentations and be saved.

In his book, “The Freedom of the Christian,” Luther explains “that the entire Scripture of God is divided into two parts: commands and promises.” Luther’s friend Philip Melanchthon wrote, “All of Scripture is either Law or Gospel.” [1] He also wrote, “The Law shows the disease, the Gospel the cure.” [2]

John was on one of the 237 inhabitable islands of Greece called Patmos. Jesus showed John how world empires would end in the very place where blueprints for world empires were created. “Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization, being the birthplace of democracy, western philosophy, the Olympic games, western literature, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama.” [3]

Patmos spanned roughly 13 square miles of rocky terrain with sparse vegetation and harsh living conditions. Its rough landscape and distance from the mainland made it a natural fortress and an ideal isolated prison camp for the Roman Empire. [4]

Revelation 1:10: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”

John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. Oh, that all people on earth were moving in the power of the Holy Spirit on the Lord’s Day.

“The Lord’s Day” refers to the first day of the week (Sunday), which Christians observe in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection. John was meditating on the Word of God under the gracious guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Those who want to enjoy fellowship with God on the Lord’s Day should turn their thoughts and affections away from worldly and earthly things and give their attention to worshipping God and meditating on His Word.

What John did hear? John heard a voice as of a trumpet. The heavenly watchman Jesus Christ was sounding the alarm and telling His people to prepare for a battle.

How does one prepare for tribulation? In 1 Peter 4:12-13, Peter advises us not to think of trials as strange: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

We can ask the Lord to deliver us from tests and trials. Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s prayer, “Lead us not us into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

In Revelation 3:10, Jesus told the Christians in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

In Luke 21:36, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

A young Corrie Ten Boom was afraid of death. Her father asked her: “When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?” Corrie replied: “Why, just before we get on the train.” Her father then explained: “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need—just in time.” [5]

In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised us, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” In Psalm 23, our Good Shepherd brings us through the valley of the shadow of death to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Much of the Bible was written under duress. Moses, who wrote the first five books of the Bible, had to face off with Pharaoh and lead hundreds of thousands of people through a wilderness for 40 years. King David, the prophets, the apostles and Jesus experienced persecution while bringing God’s Word to hungry souls.

Trials are often a writer’s greatest asset, acting as the raw material for deep and authentic storytelling. While painful to experience, adversity connects a writer to the kinds of situations people like to read but not talk about.

A common saying among writers is to “torture your protagonist.” Whenever a character finds a solution, the next outcome should create an even greater complication. Stories stall when things go well for the main character. Hardships show a character’s true nature and force them to grow. Overcoming severe trials makes the final victory satisfying.

The good news is that while some people shy away from troubled souls, the Lord draws near to them. In Psalm 34:18, it is written, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

In Romans 8:35, 37-39, Paul wrote, “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”


[1] Commonplaces 1521, 94.
[2] Commonplaces 2014: 91
[3] Enduring Word Commentary

[4] https://youtu.be/_2AlTpYrVhE?si=M3ViFV9c7wfisCM0
[5] The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, (c) 1971

Glory to Jesus the Messiah – Revelation 1:6-8

Revelation 1:6: “He [Christ] has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

What a grand privilege to be included in God’s kingdom and to serve Jesus as a priest. A priest stands between God and humanity and forms a bridge so God can get to humanity and humanity can get to God. Jesus calls us to be bridges between heaven and earth. [1]

God made the promise of priesthood to Israel in Exodus 19:6, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” But He did not mean priests in the sense of taking over the physical work inside the tabernacle.

In 2 Chronicles 26:16-19, King Uzziah attempted to unlawfully combine the two offices of king and priest apart from God’s authorization to do so. Eighty priests withstood him, saying, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests… who are consecrated... Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed!” The Lord struck Uzziah with leprosy.

In the New Testament, Jesus became our High Priest. He succeeded where the previous Aaronic priesthood failed, namely, He never sinned. Also, Jesus lives forever, whereas Old Testament high priests had only temporary lives on this earth. Jesus replaced animal sacrifices which had to be offered again and again, with one perfect sacrifice, namely Himself, so that whosoever believes in Him is saved to the uttermost. [2]

In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. “ Then, in Acts 2:4, the Holy Spirit baptized them. The Holy Spirit authorized and empowered them to be priests unto God, and to reign on the earth.

In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter wrote, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” And in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Christ making us kings and priests unto God is a stated fact in Revelation 5:10: “You have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth.”

In what sense of the word, do New Testament “kings and priests” reign on the earth? We reign in a spiritual sense because God is with us and we are with Him.

In Luke 9:1, Jesus “called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” In Luke 10:17, the disciples joyfully reported to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.”

While serving proclaiming the Gospel in China and in Hong Kong, we too saw people delivered from demons in the Name of Jesus. We too fed hungry souls the Word of God. God did His kingly and priestly work through us.

In the Book of Acts, the Lord servants rebuked demons out of people and healed sickness. They fed people the Word of God.

“To Him [Christ] be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 1:7: “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

Just as Jesus ascended into the clouds after His appearance to His disciples, He will return to earth with the clouds. This time every eye will see Him.

Just as Jesus ascended into the clouds after His appearance to His disciples, He will return to earth with the clouds. This time every eye will see Him.

Revelation 1:7 is the first prophecy in Revelation that is yet to be fulfilled. It says, “Every eye will see Him.” When Jesus returns, He will come in clouds of glory.

Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Colossian 1:17 says, “He [Jesus] is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”

Jesus is not just a good man, a prophet or miracle worker. In Revelation 1:8, He reveals Himself as the Almighty who started and ends all things. He exists in the past, present, and future.

Therefore, anyone who tries to deny or remove any part of the glory and divine authority belonging to Christ dishonors Him greatly. Those who despise Him will be brought low, but those who honor Christ will be honored by Him.

[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Hebrews 7:11, 17, 24-27; 8:13

 

 

Blessed is the Hearer and Keeper – Revelation 1:3-5

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3

There are seven blessings recorded in the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things…”

Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

Revelation 16:15: “Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Revelation 19:9: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”

Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.”

Revelation 22:7: “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who do His commandments.”

Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy…”

In Matthew 13:16-17, Jesus said, “Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Divine revelation is a gift from God.

Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things which are written therein…”

In Luke 2:19, “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

In John 13:17, Jesus said, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

Let us live circumspectly of Biblical prophecy.

Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things which are written therein, for the time is near.”

In Matthew 24:27, Jesus said that His return will happen as suddenly as lightning strikes. In Matthew 24:36-44, He said “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” People will be going about life as usual as in the days of Noah. He warned, “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Revelation 1:4: “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.”

Revelation 1:4: “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…” Note: The Lord addressing churches not Israel.

These churches were located in modern day Turkey. These churches were located in modern day Turkey. These churches likely consisted of Gentiles. How wonderful that a Jewish disciple wrote a book for the Lord and sent it to Gentile churches!

The early Church began with Jewish believers in Jerusalem, but by the time John wrote Revelation, the Gospel had spread extensively among the Gentiles. [1]

Revelation 1–3 addresses the churches because the immediate subject is Christ’s relationship with His Church during the present age. Israel is not the focus of these opening chapters. Israel does, however, become very important later in Revelation. [2]

Revelation 1:4: “…Grace to you and peace from Him...”

Revelation begins in Revelation 1:4 and ends with a blessing of grace in Revelation 22:21: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Amazing grace! In Ephesians 2:4-5, it is written, “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ... it is by grace that you have been saved.”

Here we have an apostolic blessing upon those who give proper attention to this divine revelation. This blessing seems intended to encourage us to study this book and not become discouraged because some parts are difficult to understand. Careful and attentive study will be rewarded. [3]

Revelation 1:4: “...From Him who is and who was and who is to come...” Revelation 4:8: “Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 16:5: “You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be…” John blesses the churches in the Name of the One who is, and who was, and who is to come. He is eternal.

Revelation 1:4: “...And from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.” Seven Spirits speaks of His perfectness. The seven Spirits are characteristics of our Lord who is anointed by the Holy Spirit. [4]

The Holy Spirit is called the seven spirits. This does not mean that there are seven Holy Spirits. Rather, it speaks of the one perfect and infinite Spirit of God, who works through many different gifts and activities. He is before the throne because God works and governs all things through His Spirit. [5]

Revelation 1:5: “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is likely mentioned after the Spirit because John is about to say much more about Christ.

Note: John had seen Christ on earth. In Revelation 19:11-16, John sees Christ returning in glory. This vision fulfilled what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 16:28 when He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

In Revelation 1:5, Jesus is the faithful witness. Christ was eternally a witness to all the counsels of God. When He came into the world, He faithfully revealed God’s will to us. We can 100% depend upon Christ’s testimony because He cannot be deceived and cannot deceive us.

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. In John 18:37, Jesus stood before the judgment seat of Governor Pontius Pilate, and said, “You say that I am a king, I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of truth listens to My voice.”

Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. Unlike others who falsely claimed to be prophets for God, He died and rose again and appeared to His followers to verify His claims. He is the only founder of a religion who did that! Jesus is the first person to rise from the dead and remain alive forevermore.

Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus, but she had to die again before entering heaven.

In Revelation 1:5, Jesus is “Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” This book is dedicated to Him who loved us, loosed us and lifted us.

Jesus especially revealed His love for us by dying on the cross for us and taking away our sins. “Thank You Jesus for dying for our sins.”

Have you ever washed a shirt that had an ink pen in the pocket? The stain would not come out. Sin is like that. The word for “wash” in Greek can mean to wash or to let loose. When Jesus commands our sins away, they must release us.

Some say, “I need to get cleaned up before I come to Jesus.” Does a mother wash a dirty child clean so she can love him? Or does she wash the dirty child clean because she loves him? Jesus washes our sins away because He loves us. He washed our sins away with His blood.

In 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, when Jesus had given thanks, He broke the bread and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

To Christ be the glory forever and ever. Amen.


[1-5] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Revelation 1:1-2

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” Revelation 1:1

Thanks be to God! He reveals Himself to us via His Son Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews 1:1-4, it is written, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

In Amos 3:7, it is written, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

In Daniel 2:28, it is written, “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed.”

The Book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible is a revelation from Christ because all divine revelation comes through Him and points to Him. Especially in these last days God has spoken to us by His Son. Christ, as King of His Church, has shown His church the rules and ways by which He will govern it. As the Prophet of the Church, He has also revealed the things that will happen in the future. [1]

Jesus helps finite-minded people to know God. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus prayed, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”

In Matthew 11:27, Jesus stated, “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

The Book of Revelation is a revelation which God gave unto Christ. Although Christ is God and has life and light in Himself, He receives instructions from the Father in His role as Mediator between God and man. Our Lord Jesus is the great keeper and messenger of God’s revelation. Through Him, we learn what we may expect from God and what God expects from us. [2]

In Luke 24:32, a disciple of Jesus remarked, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scripture to us?”

In Luke 24:45, Jesus opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

Revelation 1:1 says that Christ sent and signified His revelation to John by His angel. God gave the revelation to Christ, and Christ used an angel to communicate it to the churches. [3]

In Acts 7:53, Stephen testified, “You received the Law by the dispensation of angels…” The Lord dispensed His angels to graciously bring His Word to people. Hebrews 2:2 says, “The Word spoken by angels was steadfast.”

How fitting that the last book of the Bible is entitled, “Revelation” which means to uncover, unveil, and reveal. Satan’s propaganda against God is strong because his time is short. He spreads lies against God and His people. Thus, we need Jesus Christ to reveal the truth to us.

Revelation 1:1 says that God gave this book to Jesus to share with His douloi. Douloi is the Greek word for bond slaves. Douloi are slaves of their own free will. They want to be bound to their Master! Being a douloi of Jesus is not bad because He takes care of His servants. He reveals truth to His servants that He does not reveal to others. [4]

“Shortly” is the ancient Greek phrase “en tachei” which means ‘quickly or suddenly coming to pass,’ indicating rapidity of execution after the beginning takes place. The idea is not that the event may occur soon, but that when it does, it will be sudden.” [5]

“He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” Revelation 1:1-2

“He signified it by His angel to His servant John.” “Signified” or Sign-ified – Revelation is a books of signs. Signs of the time! [6]

After John received the revelation, he bore witness to the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus, and the things the Lord showed by way of divine visions. Revelation is the Word of God. It, like all Scripture, testifies to Jesus. In John 5:39, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” In Luke 24:44, Jesus said, “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

The Lord gave John visions of things to come. In Numbers 12:6, the Lord said, “If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision. I speak to him in a dream.” Many words of major and minor prophets came to them via visions. In the Gospels, Zechariah, Joseph and Mary received God’s Word via visions of angels. In Acts, there are words derived from angelic visions. These visions fulfilled God’s promise to Israel recorded in Joel 2:28.

The Book of Revelation is the testimony of the triumph of Jesus Christ over the devil. In the Book of Revelation, light triumphs over darkness. Christ’s Bride – the Church triumphs over Satan’s harlot – Babylon. Revelation gives us a general understanding of how God’s providence and government will work in and around His Church. [7]

John faithfully recorded what was shown to him. Everything came from God and was the testimony of Jesus. John added nothing to God’s revelation, and he left nothing out that God had shown him. He faithfully declared the purposes and counsels of God.

“Thank You Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords for revealing to us the Father, and for speaking to us concerning the things that are to shortly come to pass.”

[1-3] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[4-7] Enduring Word Commentary

Hallelujah – Psalm 150

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary! Praise Him in His mighty firmament!” Psalm 150:1

Do we go somewhere special to sing God’s praise? Psalm 150 says to “Praise Him in His sanctuary.” This speaks of putting feet to our confession that God is worthy of our praise. Some people spend a great deal of money on tickets to go to sporting events and concerts. The Lord is worthy of the greatest following. No one’s mighty acts can compare with His.

Where better can God be praised than where He especially reveals His glory and gives His grace? [1] Praise the Lord for houses of worship where people make His praise glorious!

Psalm 150 says to praise God “in His mighty firmament.” The heavens display God’s glory through their vastness, brightness, and beauty. The heavens impact the earth. The angels who dwell in heaven can be thought of as leading us in this great work of praise. [2]

“Praise Him for His mighty acts! Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” Psalm 150:2

We should praise God Almighty. We see His power in creation, in His care and control of the world, and in the salvation He provides. Let us praise Him for using His might to fight for us. [3]

When we praise people, we often exaggerate their goodness, but it is impossible to exaggerate God’s goodness? He deserves our highest praise. [4]

“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet! Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance! Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals! Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:3-6

What tools do we use to praise God? Do we have tools to do other tasks that are of interest to us? What about tools or instruments to praise the Lord?

How should we praise God? Psalm 150:3-6 speaks of the instruments that Biblical worshippers used to praise the Lord. They used stringed and percussion instruments as well as their bodies in dance and their voices with singing to praise the Lord.

Our praise should be united and harmonious. Musical instruments sound their best when they play together in harmony rather than compete to be the center of attention. Romans 15:6 speaks of glorifying God “with one mind and one mouth.”

Let us, like musical instruments, offer to God harmony! Our worship should not be careless or halfhearted. The music God values most is praise from a heart that loves Him.

Who should praise God? Everyone who has breath should praise the Lord. In Revelation 5:13, John saw a vision in which “every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth” gave praise to God. However, in Genesis 2:7, God gave to people life in a special way when He “breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life,” and he became a “living soul.” As long as we have breath, let us praise the Lord. Let our praise of Him be as natural as breathing. Every breath brings us closer to our final breath here on earth. Let us prepare to meet Him! [5]

The first sections of Psalms, according to the Hebrew division, end with “Amen and Amen.” The fourth ends with “Amen, Hallelujah.” The fifth and final section ends simply with “Hallelujah.” This is fitting because the last six psalms are completely devoted to praising God. There is no complaint or request in them—only praise. [6]

The Book of Psalms, more than any other book in the Bible, urges us to praise the Lord. Psalm 150 is a glimpse of heaven. In heaven, we will totally enjoy loving and praising the Lord. [7]

Our English word, “Hallelujah” is based on the Hebrew words for “praise the Lord!” “Hallelujah” is the refrain from heaven in Revelation 19:1 after the evil Babylonian empire is destroyed. [8]

Babylon is a code word for a kingdom whose worship directed toward self rather than to God. This is the nature of all who are under the influence of Satan. Satan wants the worship that belongs to God directed toward him. It will be a glorious day when the devil is cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone. After that day, he will never interfere or interrupt the praise of God’s people again. Hallelujah!

[1-8] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Battles Won by Praising the Lord – Psalm 149

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints.” Psalm 149:1

Praise the Lord for those who compose new songs to the Lord. Praise the Lord for musicians who fine tune their skills and rehearse frequently, and yield all of this to the Lord for His glory. Praise the Lord for lyrics that help us express our hearts to God, and His heart toward us.

I especially appreciate songs that recount the compassion of Christ to save us from our sin.

Praise the Lord for the freedom to assemble together and worship Him. Praise the Lord for places of worship in our neighborhood. Praise the Lord for people who put time, treasure and talent into building and maintaining places of worship in our communities.

God reveals His presence as saints assemble and worship Him. As the number of worshippers increases, the assembly begins to reflect worship in heaven. The primary reason we gather together as God’s people is to worship and praise Him. [1]

“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.” Psalm 149:2

God identified Israel as His creation, His children and His kingdom. His presence among them set them apart from the other nations. Thus, Israel has a good reason to rejoice in God and be joyful in their heavenly King. [2]

The original wording says, “Let Israel rejoice in his Makers.” Some understand the plural “Makers” as pointing toward the mystery of the Trinity, since God said, “Let us make man.” [3]

We express our joy in the Lord by verbally praising Him among people. Our praise is a profession of delight in God’s character, and our relationship with Him. It is our privilege to be among those who rejoice in God. [4]

Jesus Christ is our King. Zechariah 9:9 is a prophecy about Jesus: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy King comes.” Jesus is our King, and He is the King above all other kings.

“Let them praise His Name with the dance. Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.” Psalm 149:3

Dance, timbrel, and harp were used to praise the Lord in the Old Testament. The first recorded incident of a timbrel being used appears in Exodus 15:20. Miriam led the women of Israel to dance to the Lord and play timbrels after the Lord helped Israel to escape from Pharoah’s army. In 2 Samuel 6:14, David danced to the Lord when the Ark of the Covenant returned from its captivity among Israel’s foes. The first incident of someone playing a harp is documented in Genesis 4:21: “Jubal... was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.”

“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people. He will beautify the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:4

The Lord takes pleasure in our worship, our well-being, and in our fellowship with Him. What an encouraging thought! God delights in us. [5]

“He will beautify the humble.” Humble refers to people who realize that their existence, their wholeness and their eternity totally depends on God’s grace, forgiveness and love for them, not any works that they can do to impress Him.

Proud people tend to mock and mistreat humble people, but God beautifies them. God helps onlookers to see that He honors those who honor Him. In John 12:26, Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

God beautifies the humble with salvation. Sometimes this includes earthly deliverance. When God dramatically delivers His people, those who were once lowly can be lifted up and honored. As Psalms 68:13 says, “Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” [6]

But the greatest salvation is eternal salvation. On the day when Christ returns, the righteous will be glorified and “shine forth as the sun.” Because we have this hope, we can praise God even during the darkest times. [7]

“Let the saints be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud on their beds.” Psalm 149:5

At one point in my life, I was placed in charge of a ministry that was deeply in debt and the church building was run down and in need of many repairs. When I would lay down to sleep at night, my mind would race with thoughts of all of the problems that I was not able to resolve that day. A that time, the Lord taught me to refocus my mind on my blessings that day. Did I eat, did I have clothing, did I have a bed to sleep on underneath a roof in a house, and did I still have a wife by my side? Yes, I did. “Thank You Lord!” Every night I went to sleep thanking the Lord for what I have instead of thinking about unfinished business.

In Psalms 119:62, David wrote, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.” David thanked God for making His Word to be a reality in his life.

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” Psalm 149:6

We are to praise God while we fight the battles He commands us to fight. David was famous for worshipping the Lord, but he was also the commander of Israel’s army. In 2 Samuel 1:17-18, “David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow.” He wrote a song about what was memorable and valuable about Saul and Jonathan after they died in battle rather than focus on evil.

“To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples! To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron! To execute on them the written judgment—this honor have all His saints.” Psalm 149:7-9

David and the armies of Israel fought battles that God had commanded them to fight. They defeated nations that had oppressed God’s people. 2 Samuel 8:1 says, “After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them.” [8]

God’s judgment was carried out through people such as Joshua against the kings of Canaan, Gideon against the princes of Midian, and Samuel against Agag. In 2 Chronicles 20:23, Jehoshaphat's army went into battle with “the high praises of God in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand” and God gave them the victory. [9]

Someone might wonder how humble people defeated kings and nations. The answer is found in the phrase “the judgment written.” They were not acting from personal hatred or a desire for revenge. They carried out God’s specific commands and judgment. In Revelation 17:16-17, the kings who destroy Babylon “execute the judgment written.” [10]

However, we must not use such passages to justify the use of lethal force to gleefully destroy people. In Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is called a “two-edged sword” and in Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit.” Christ urges us to use the sword of His Word to spread His Gospel that saves souls not to use swords made of steel to send them to hell. While we have “the high praises of God” in our mouths, we should also have the olive branch of peace in our hand. [11]

The first preachers of the Gospel used God’s Word to achieve great spiritual victories. The false gods of nations were cast down when people who worshiped them converted to Christ. Even powerful people were shaken by God’s Word, such as Felix when Paul preached to him. [12]

God’s Word helps us defeat personal sin. We use His Word to cut down sinful desires. God’s Word puts to death selfish ego and helps us to love God and our neighbor. “This honor have all the saints.” Every believer can experience victory over sin through the power of Christ. [13]

Complete victory will happen when Christ returns to judge the world. Jude 1:14-15 says that “the Lord” will come “with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 states that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, He will take flaming fire vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey His Gospel. “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.”

Kings and rulers who reject Christ’s authority will not be able to escape His final judgment. In 1 Corinthians 6:2, it is written, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” [14] So we believers in Christ will be in total agreement with Him when He makes His final judgment.

The Book of Psalms begins with a word of encouragement to meditate on God’s Word day and night. As the Book of Psalms comes to a close, it speaks of praising the Lord for the victories that He gives to us who trust in Him. Praise the Lord!


[1-14] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

To God Alone Our Loudest Praise – Psalm 148

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels! Praise Him, all His hosts!” Psalm 148:1-2

We live in a dark and troubled world, so we know very little about the world of light and glory above us. Because our understanding is limited, we can hardly imagine the greatness of heaven. But we do know this: there is a world above us filled with countless angels who serve and worship God. [1]

In Colossians 3:1-2, it is written, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

The Psalmist urges the angels, “all His hosts” to praise the Lord. In Luke 2:13, a multitude of angels praising God is referred to as a heavenly host.

Hebrews 12:22 states that “the heavenly Jerusalem,” has “an innumerable company of angels.”

The word “angel” is a Hebrew word that can refer to a heavenly being or to an earthly messenger. When we glorify God, we participate in the joy of angels.

Spiritual heaven has angelic beings. Earthly “heaven” has sun, moon, and stars. They bring God glory. They are also beneficial to us.

“Praise Him, sun, and moon! Praise Him, all you stars of light!” Psalm 148:3

The sun, moon, and stars give us a glimpse of the glory of God, who is “the Father of lights.” [2]

Idolaters worshiped the sun, moon, and stars as gods. They worshiped the creation instead of the Creator because the creation could be seen while God could not. But we worship the true God. We look at the sun, moon, and stars as fellow witnesses to God’s greatness, and we call upon them to praise Him with us. [3]

“Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens!” Psalm 148:4

Psalms 68:33 testifies of God riding on “the heaven of heavens,” from which God speaks.

“The waters that are above the heavens,” likely refer to the clouds in the sky. Praise God for the waters from heaven that water the earth and make it fruitful. [4]

The Chaldee paraphrase of this verse says, “Praise him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters that depend on the Word of Him who is above the heavens.” God controls the clouds. He opens them, and no one can shut them. He shuts them, and no one can open them. [5]

“Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for He commanded, and they were created.” Psalm 148:5

We should praise the specific Name of the Lord: “Yahweh,” or “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” or “Jesus Christ” for our blessings. There is only one God who is Creator, Redeemer and Holy Spirit.

“He also established them forever and ever. He made a decree which shall not pass away.” Psalm 148:6

God commanded the sun, moon, stars, heavens and water above the heavens into existence. His decree guarantees their duration. [6] When they suffer harm, God is able to heal them.

“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths. Psalm 147:7

The sea creatures bring God glory. They have unique features and abilities which teach us something about God and about ourselves. God is hidden in them treasures of knowledge and wisdom. They are amazing to behold!

God is praised even in the deepest places, just as people can pray to Him from the depths. [7]

“Fire and hail, snow, and clouds! Stormy wind, fulfilling His Word!” Psalm 147:8

In Job 38:22-23, God said to Job, “Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?”

When we look into the sky, we see various signs. There are watery signs, such as hail, snow, and the clouds from which they come. There is lightning. There are powerful winds. These signs reveal to us the majesty and power of God Almighty. [8]

We do not always know where the winds come from, where they go, or exactly how they gain and lose their strength. But we do know that they obey God’s commands. Christ demonstrated His divine power when He commanded the winds and the sea, and they obeyed Him. [9]

“Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars!” Psalm 147:9

In the Bible, Jesus speaks of mountains metaphorically as an obstacle to overcome. He speaks of hills as being visible places from which we can shine for God. He speaks of fruitful trees as people who are abiding in His Word and drinking from Him as their source of life. He speaks of cedars as being people who are strong and noble. The Bible uses these things to praise the Lord.

“Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl!” Psalm 147:10

God is glorified by wild and domestic animals. Even the smallest crawling creatures and the birds that fly high in the sky praise the Lord. We see God’s goodness in the abilities and instincts He has given to each creature. We also see His goodness in the way He provides for them and in the purposes for which He created them. [10]

“Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children!” Psalm 148:11-12

Kings, princes, judges, young and old should praise the Lord. God established human society. Kings rule because God allows them to rule. Princes and judges receive their wisdom and authority from Him. Thanks be to God for rulers and servants who are a blessing to us! [11]

Everyone should praise God. The rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, should praise God. Those whom God has given positions of honor should honor God. [12]

Young men and young women should praise God. Instead of spending their time, treasure and talent on selfish entertainment and pleasure, their souls should magnify the Lord. [13]

Older people should use their last earthly days to glorify God. Older people can pray the words of Psalm 71:18: “Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.”

Children should praise the Lord. Psalm 8:2 says, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have ordained strength because of Your enemies.” [14] In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them. For of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:13

The Name of the Lord is excellent and worthy of praise. His Name is above every other name. His glory is greater than anyone or anything else’s. He should receive our loudest praise.

“And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints—of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 148:14

We, God’s people, have received the greatest blessings of all, which is to know and love Him.

Some understand “the horn of His people” to refer to David, who was a picture of Christ. God exalted David as king, and ultimately Christ was exalted as “a prince and a Savior.” Through Christ, those who were once far from God are brought near to Him. [15]

The people of Israel were honored by God to be adopted by Him as His own special people, to be delivered from tribulations by Him, to receive His Word, and to radiate His glory. Through the people of Israel, God gave to the world Messiah. In Christ, we are brought near to God. The closer we are to God, the greater the blessing. The greatest blessing is to be with Him forever.


[1-15] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

It is Good to Sing Praises to God – Psalm 147

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God. For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.” Psalm 147:1

Praising God fulfills the purpose for which we were created. Praising God brings its own reward. It is like having a taste of heaven while still on earth. When our hearts are focused on God, He helps us to see blessings that otherwise we would miss. God blesses those who praise Him. [1]

Complaining tends to cast a shadow over everything we see. Praising God yields light and clarity.

“The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.” Psalm 147:2

The Lord built up Jerusalem through a worshipper of God named David. David employed over 200 singers of praise to the Lord’s Name as well as many musicians. People who praise and thank the Lord tend to be more productive than those who are complaining and never happy.

God “gathers together the outcasts of Israel.” Some people have been separated from God's people because of their own sin and foolishness. Others have been scattered by war, persecution, famine, or other troubles. [2] Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is the kind of caregiver who will leave 99 well-kept sheep to find that one sheep that is lost and alone.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

Sin deeply wounds hearts. In Psalm 51:10, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” The Lord healed David’s broken heart and he no longer viewed himself as cut off from God and from God’s people. Through the comfort of God’s Spirit, he had assurance of God’s forgiveness and of His abiding presence.

According to Psalms 40:2-3, when God brought David “out of the horrible pit,” He placed David’s feet “upon a rock” and put a “new song” in his mouth. [3]

“He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by name.” Psalm 147:4

The stars are beyond human ability to count, yet God knows every one of them. They are all his creation and remain under his control. Their size and power is vast, but God commands them all. They are completely under His authority and move according to His direction. [4]

“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.” Psalm 147:5

Human knowledge has limits. We can learn much, but eventually we reach the boundaries of what our minds can understand. God’s knowledge, however, has no limits. His wisdom is deeper than we can ever comprehend. [5] I praise Him for sharing His knowledge with us.

“The Lord lifts up the humble. He casts the wicked down to the ground.” Psalm 147:6

God gives grace and help to those who humble themselves before him, even when other people look down upon them. But those who proudly oppose God and treat others with contempt will eventually be brought down. God sometimes humbles the proud through His providence in this life, but ultimately every proud person will face His judgment. [6]

In Job 40:12, Job prayed, “Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low.” [7]

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry.” Psalm 147:7-9

Although God is great enough to command the stars, He is also compassionate enough to care for the smallest creatures. [8]

First, God sends rain. He “covers the heaven with clouds” and prepares rain for the earth. Clouds may make the sky dark and gloomy, but they also help earth produce its crops. In a similar way, afflictions can appear dark and unpleasant, but God can use them to produce good results in our lives. Through trials, He can produce “the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” [9]

God provides grass on the mountains, a place that people may never cultivate or harvest. Grass serves as food for animals, including wild animals for which people make no provision. [10]

Young ravens they cry out to God because their parents abandoned them. If God cares for such small creatures, He will take care of us who are made in His image. [11]

Just as the earth depends upon heaven for rain, we look to God to provide for us.

“He does not delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” Psalm 147:10-11

Psalm 147 teaches us what kind of people God delights to bless. He does not take pleasure in “the strength of the horse,” referring to powerful war horses, nor does he take pleasure in “the legs of a man,” referring to the strength and ability of mighty soldiers. [12]

Jehoshaphat had the right idea when he prayed in 2 Chronicles 20:12, “Lord, we have no might.” God values truth and good judgment. Jehoshaphat had both. God answered his prayer and gave his kingdom victory over an overwhelming foes who planned to destroy Jerusalem. [13]

The fear of God and hope in God are not opposites. They coexist in the heart of believers in God. We have reverence for God’s greatness, confidence in His goodness, a proper fear of His judgment, and a confident expectation of His mercy. [14]

Our fear of God keeps our hope from becoming presumption, while our hope keeps our fear from becoming despair. We should neither become careless because we trust God’s mercy nor become hopeless because we recognize God’s holiness. [15]

God takes pleasure in those who “hope in His mercy.” Even when we cannot identify a particular promise in the Bible that directly addresses our circumstances, we can still trust God’s character. We know that He is good, merciful, faithful, and compassionate. [16]

A humble confidence in God’s goodness honors Him. Just as an honorable person appreciates being trusted, God is pleased when we trust Him. [17]

In summary, Psalm 147:1-11, teaches us that praise should be a regular and joyful part of our daily lives. We praise God because He builds us up, heals our broken hearts, rules over creation, humbles the proud, provides for His creatures, and takes pleasure in those who fear Him and trust in His mercy. [18]

“Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!” Psalm 147:12

The people of Jerusalem are to praise God. Jerusalem is a city on a hill. Jesus spoke of us being cities on a hill and lights on a lampstand. If any city on earth has good news worth sharing with the rest of the world, it is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where much of the Bible narrative took place. It is where Messiah Jesus did mighty miracles, died for our sins and resurrected from the dead.

“For He has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest wheat.” Psalm 147:13-14

Jerusalem had gates and bars for protection, but those defenses would not have been effective apart from God. The best plans and defenses are useless without God. Thus, while it is wise to use means available to us, we should invoke God’s help and give Him glory for our safety. [19]

God had blessed their children and given them the blessing, “Be fruitful, and multiply.” Parents are greatly blessed when they see their children prospering under God’s care. It is encouraging for an older generation to see the next generation prospering and multiplying. [20]

God makes peace by ending and preventing wars. He makes peace within a nation by settling disagreements and preventing conflicts between neighbors. [21] God gives and promotes love.

God’s Spirit often leads me to pray His promise to us about peace that is recorded in Isaiah 2:4: “He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.”

God filled them with the finest wheat. Wheat was one of the most valuable crops, and the land of Israel was known for producing excellent grain. [22]

“He sends out His command to the earth. His Word runs very swiftly.” Psalm 147:15

The same God who protects Jerusalem is the God who changes the weather. [23] Talking about the weather is one of the most common conversation starters in the world.

God’s Word runs swiftly. Think about it! As soon as God said, “Let there be light,” there was light. Nothing can prevent or delay what God has commanded.

“He gives snow like wool. He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts out His hail like morsels. Who can stand before His cold?” Psalm 147:16-17

According to Job 38:22-23, God has “treasuries of snow and hail.” He brings them forth according to His will. Snow is compared to wool because it is white and soft. It falls quietly, and covers the earth. Frost can look like ashes spread across the grass. Praise God for various weather changes. Praise God for fires, warm clothing, and shelter when it is cold outside. [24]

“He sends out His Word and melts them. He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.” Psalm 147:18

Thaws are from God. “He sends out His Word and melts” frost, snow, and ice. His warm winds cause frozen waters to flow again. God eventually restores for us growing seasons. [25]

Just as God remembered Noah and brought him out of the flood in Genesis 8:1, He remembers the earth and keeps His covenant with it. In Song of Songs 2:11-12, it is written, “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth. The time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”

The thaw compares with the work of the Holy Spirit. In John 3:8, Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Just as warmth melts frozen ground, God’s Word and Spirit melt cold hearts. [26]

Conversion is like a spiritual thaw. God softens a hard heart, produces tears of repentance, warms cold affections, and causes what was previously frozen to begin flowing. The change is obvious, even though we cannot fully explain how God accomplishes it. [27]

“He declares His Word to Jacob, His statutes, and His judgments to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation. And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 147:19-20

God gave Israel His statutes and judgments. They were under God’s special guidance. Their laws were given through divine revelation. God gave them priests and prophets to speak His Word. Israel did not discover God’s laws on its own. “God declared His Word to Jacob.” He made His statutes and judgments known to him. [28]

No other nation had been given such clear knowledge of God and His will. Other nations might have possessed wealth, powerful rulers, military strength, and great learning, but Israel had something far more valuable: God’s revealed Word. This eventually changed when the Messiah came and removed the barrier between Jew and Gentile. Now, the Gospel is preached to people of all nations. [29]

It is a tremendous blessing for any people to have God’s Word because faith comes by hearing it. God’s Word teaches us how to know and please Him. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe has made Himself known to us. [30] Not only this, but He sent His Son to pay our sin-debt on the cross, and to resurrect from the dead to assure us of life after death... a life that is better than the one we are living now. Praise the Lord!


[1-30] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Perpetually Praising My Provider – Psalm 146

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord. I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 146:1-2

In 2 Samuel 6:16, Michal considered it beneath David’s dignity to dance to the Lord before his nation, but he felt that the Lord was worthy of love expressed with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. David felt his position gave him even more reason to lead others in worship. [1]

David resolved to praise God all his days. Since God created us to bring Him glory, it should surprise no one that worshipping Him yields great joy to the worshipper.

“Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs he returns to his earth. In that very day, his plans perish.” Psalm 146:3-4

David was a king, yet he warned people not to put their trust in earthly rulers. He could have expected people to depend upon him because of his position and the great things he had done for Israel. Instead, he directed them away from himself and toward God. [2]

We should not place our complete confidence in human leaders because their plans can fail, and circumstances can become greater than their ability to control them. In 2 Samuel 3:39, David admitted, “I am this day weak, though anointed king.” [3]

Sometimes though authorities have the means to help us, they are preoccupied with other matters or they simply choose to not to respond to us.

Earthly rulers are temporary. Even if a ruler has the ability to help us today, he may be replaced by someone else or die suddenly tomorrow. [4]

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 146:5

Who receives God’s help? Those who have the God of Jacob as their helper! The God of Jacob welcomes us to depend on Him to meet our personal needs. [5]

“Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps truth forever.” Psalm 146:6

We should trust God because He created us and the environment that we live in. God has complete power over everything. His ability to save is never limited. [6]

God “keeps truth forever.” He watches over truth to ensure that it prevails over lies just as light dispels darkness. Christ is called “the faithful witness” in Revelation 3:14. [7]

“Who executes justice for the oppressed! Who gives food to the hungry! The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.” Psalm 146:7

Our Lord brings about justice for oppressed people who have no earthly advocate. In 1 John 3:8, it is written, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” In Acts 10:38, Peter testified, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Jesus is still doing these works through His body the Church.

God “gives food to the hungry.” He ordinarily provides food for people through the normal processes of life, but Scripture also records times when he provided food in extraordinary ways, such as when ravens fed Elijah. Christ also demonstrated this power when He made much food out of little food, and miraculously fed thousands of people. [8]

Christ provides physical food for our bodies and the bread of life to nourish our souls. [9]

“The Lord sets prisoners free.” God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt and later from captivity in Babylon. Christ also demonstrated this power by freeing people from various physical afflictions. [10] His greatest work of liberation is freeing sinners from slavery to sin.

“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises those who are bowed down. The Lord loves the righteous.” Psalm 146:8

In Matthew 11:5, Christ sent testimonies of His works to John the Baptist, saying, “The blind see and the lame walk. The lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear. The dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” He gave sight to the blind. He raised the dead. In Luke 13:12, He healed a woman who had been unable to straighten herself up for 18 years. [11]

Jesus continues to lift people from being spiritually dead to God to being spiritually alive to Him.

“The Lord loves the righteous.” God has a special love for everyone who seeks to do what is right in His sight. In John 8:29, Jesus said, “He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” [12]

“The Lord watches over the strangers. He relieves the fatherless and widow, but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.” Psalm 146:9

Strangers often have few friends or people to defend them, yet God watches over them. Christ welcomed Gentiles, who were once strangers to God’s covenant, into His kingdom. [13]

Widows and orphans are vulnerable to exploitation, but God defends and helps them. [14]

God turns the way of the wicked upside down. He will ultimately destroy the plans of those who oppose Him and His people. When God is for us, no one can prevail against us. [15]

“The Lord shall reign forever—Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 146:10

God's kingdom will last forever. Earthly kingdoms rise and fall. Kings die, governments change, and nations disappear. But God’s kingdom never ends. [16]

Thus, put your hope in God. He forgives your sin, heals your body, defends you from enemies, fills you with love, peace and joy, and is your invincible and everlasting King. Amen! Praise the Lord!

[1-16] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Continuous Praise – Psalm 145

“A Praise of David.”

“I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your Name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from God. When earthly sources fail us, it is wonderful to have the help of the God who created the heavens and earth.

He created us. He loves us. I want to praise Him every day.

In essence, David is saying to God, “I will speak well of You. I will tell others about Your Name.” Usually, when people are happy with a service or a product, they tell others about it. To speak honorably about God, is an act of praise and worship unto His Name.

“Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your Name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:2

David wants to bless and praise God not only during weekly formal worship services but also in his everyday conversations. When our hearts are full of God, our mouths will naturally speak about Him with reverence and praise. [1]

Praising God should be part of our daily lives. No day should pass without giving God praise—not even a busy day or a difficult and sorrowful day. We should consider praising God one of the most important things we do each day and one of our greatest sources of comfort. [2]

When David says, “I will bless You for ever and ever,” he intends to continue praising God throughout the rest of his life, and then, beyond that, forever and ever in heaven. [3]

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” Psalm 145:3

God is greatly to be praised. How greatly do we praise Him? Though the height, depth, width and breadth of God’s greatness is beyond our ability to fully understand, we should never stop trying to understand just how great God is.

“One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4

Thankfully, though I do praise the works of the Lord and declare His mighty acts, I need not worry that this practice will come to an end when God takes me to be with Him. His Word says one generation after another will continue to praise His works and declare His mighty acts.

“I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness and shall sing of Your righteousness.” Psalm 145:5-7

If you are like me, your mind may tend to wander from one interest to another. David meditated, that is focused his mind, on the majestic glory of God. His thoughts about God overflowed from his mouth. They were good thoughts that made him feel like singing to God.

Proverbs 15:13 says, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance...” Psalm 34:5 says, “They looked to Him [the Lord] and were radiant...” Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine....” In 3 John 1:2, the apostle prayed, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” A soul that is filled with meditations on God’s glory and praise for His Name, prospers and so does the soul’s earthly body.

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:8-9

God saves us according to His grace, great mercy, and compassion. His saving help and loving favor are not something we must earn or merit from God. God gives to us out of the abundance of His generosity and love.

We might behave like His enemy and still receive great blessings from Him. In Romans 5:6-8, it is written, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This may be hard for us to receive. God loved me when I had nothing to offer Him but sin and pain? Yes, He did. This is why God is so great!

God shows kindness to all His creatures, from the greatest angel to the smallest creature. His care extends throughout His creation. His tender mercies are over all his works. [4]

“All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You.” Psalm 145:10

All of God’s works praise him in some way, just as a beautiful building honors its builder or a well-painted picture honors its painter. [5]

For what should we praise God?

“They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.” Psalm 145:11-13

When by faith we see God’s glorious kingdom, we want to talk about it and let others know about it. Let us not overly focus on dying things rather than on the things which are forever.

Hebrews 11:10 says of Abraham, “He waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:26-27 says of Moses, “He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

Earthly kingdoms rise and fall, but God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. His dominion endures throughout all generations. [6]

“The Lord upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14

It is God’s glory to help the weak. Our Lord Jesus still heals the sick and mends broken hearts.

God keeps us from temptation and delivers us from evil. He prevents our fall or quickly restores us back to Himself through forgiveness. He forgives sin and removes the guilt of it.

“The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:15-16

Every creature depends upon God. He gave them life, and sustains them. Animals search for food according to the instincts God has given them. As Matthew 6:26 reminds us, they do not sow or reap, yet God provides for them. [7]

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works.” Psalm 145:17

God makes us sinners right with Him by placing our sin on Christ and by graciously giving to us the righteousness of Christ. After He has redeemed us, He fills us with His Spirit. This is a divine work of grace. We don’t deserve it, but God does this work for us because He loves us.

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him. He also will hear their cry and save them.” Psalm 145:18-19

God is ready to answer our prayers. He draws near to us when we pray. He not only comes near to us when we pray, He answers our prayers to Him in greater ways than we asked or imagined.

“The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.” Psalm 145:20

We may experiences tribulations in this world, but God preserves us who love Him. When the wicked are destroyed, it is because they rejected a relationship with Him. [8]

“My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless His holy Name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:21

There is always more to say about God. Thus, David began his psalm with praise to God, and ended it with praise to God. [9] May we, like David, have God’s praise continually in our mouths!


[1-9] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Happiness – Psalm 144

“A Psalm of David.”

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle—my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the one in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.” Psalm 144:1-2

Blessing the Lord is an excellent way to begin one’s prayer. As we speak words of praise to God, we are reminded of just how great our God is and able He is to help us.

David uses various words to describe who God is to him. He blesses the Lord for being his rock, his trainer, his lovingkindness, his fortress, his deliverer, his shield, his refuge and the One who subdues those who rise up against him. David truly loved the Lord and worshipped Him.

In 1 Samuel 23:29, David hid himself in the strongholds at En-gedi. After that, in 2 Samuel 5:7-9, he dwelt in the fort. Yet David did not put his ultimate trust in certain geographical locations. He wrote, “Lord, You are my fortress and my high tower.” God’s love for us and promises to us are our greatest defense enemy attacks.

Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane wrote beautifully about the Lord’s grace to us in her hymn entitled, “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.” Here are some quotes from her hymn: “Beneath the cross of Jesus

I fain would take my stand. The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land. A home within the wilderness. A rest upon the way, from burns beneath the noontide heat and burdens of the day. O safe and happy shelter! O refuge tried and sweet! O sacred place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet! As to the exiled patriarch, that wondrous dream was given, so seems my Savior’s cross to me: a ladder up to Heav'n. I take, O cross, your shadow for my abiding place. I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face. Content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss. My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.”

In Genesis 15:1, God was David’s forefather’s shield, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” God was David’s shield on battlefields as well.

God helped David to learn how to use a shepherd’s staff. He taught David to play a harp. Now, that David was at war, God taught David’s hands for war and his fingers for battle. [1]

Before the Lord made His calling known to me, I earned only average grades in school, but after He called me, He helped me graduate as the valedictorian at the Evangeline Booth College. He helped me to learn Biblical Greek and Hebrew, as well as Cantonese and Mandarin.

God subdued people under David’s leadership. At first, his older brother and his king doubted his ability to conquer a giant. Every man in Israel feared Goliath. But David ran toward Goliath in the Name of the Lord and in the Lord’s strength he defeated Goliath.

“Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath. His days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:3-4

David was amazed that God dignified people, writing in Psalm 8:5, “You have crowned him with glory and honor.” These words are applied to Christ in Hebrews 2:6. [2] Jesus Christ took on human flesh. He lived a sinless life among us. He became a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. He died on the cross for us who failed God. He is the ultimate statement of our worth to God.

“Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Flash forth lightning and scatter them. Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them. Stretch out Your hand from above. Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.” Psalm 144:5-8

David wants God to make it clear to his enemies that heaven and earth belong to God alone. He envisions God touching the mountains and making them smoke. He sees God sending lightning bolts after them like arrows from heaven. He compares their lies to overwhelming waters that destroy everything in their path.

God’s right hand is a hand of truth because Jesus who speaks the truth is seated at God’s right hand. The right hand is usually the hand of promise by which deals are confirmed as being binding. David’s enemies were covenant breakers. David’s God was a covenant keeper.

Did God ever use thunder and lightning as weapons against armies? Yes, He did! In 1 Samuel 7:10, it is written, “Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.” Lightning heats the air around it so fast that the air cannot expand normally, so it explodes, creating thunder. [3]

In Revelation 8:1-5, when an angel took a golden censer filled with fire, and threw it to the earth. The result was noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake on the earth.

“I will sing a new song to You, O God. On a harp of 10 strings, I will sing praises to You, the One who gives salvation to kings, who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword.” Psalm 144:9-10

David turned his attention from his enemies to God. He sang a new song to God on his harp. God inhabits the praises of His people. Worship welcomes God into one’s war, and God wins.

In 2 Chronicles 20:20-22, King Jehoshaphat appointed singers to the Lord to praise the beauty of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they sang, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” “When they began to sing praises, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.”

God “gives salvation unto kings.” Kings may have bodyguards, armies, weapons, and every other means of protection, yet, in the end, it is God who gives them safety and deliverance. Rulers owe God a great debt of gratitude for every victory and every deliverance He gives them. [4]

“Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth! That our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style! That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce. That our sheep may bring forth 1,000’s and 10,000’s in our fields! That our oxen may be well laden! That there be no breaking in or going out. That there be no outcry in our streets.” Psalm 144:11-14

Dishonesty and covenant breaking destroys interpersonal relationships and national solidarity. David asked God to rescue Israel from such dirty dealers so that the nation’s children could grow up well. He wants sons to be productive plants rather than weeds. He wants daughters to be as polished pillars in a palace. Such daughters hold a family together as pillars keep a building from collapsing. If the people practice love for God and love for one another, God will bless their flocks and herds, or in today’s language their GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

God did not create us to hurt and destroy one another. May God’s love, joy and peace to prevail.

David prayed for honesty, prosperity and peace to prevail. He prayed against outcries (riots) in the streets! He wanted the people to have no reason to complain.

“Happy are the people who are in such a state. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Psalm 144:15

Honest and trustworthy interpersonal relationships are a great blessing. God helps people to love one another, and to consider others more important than themselves. Such goodwill among people yields great happiness. This happiness is the from the Lord.

[1-2, 4] Material developed and edited from Matthew Hemry’s Commentary

[3] Google sources