“Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor. Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God. God is in none of his thoughts. His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; as for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, ‘I shall not be moved. I shall never be in adversity.’” Psalm 10:1-6
The Lord revealed His concern for the poor in the Gospels.
In Luke 4:18, Jesus announced at the beginning of His earthly ministry, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
In Matthew 11:2-5, when asked if He were the expected Messiah, Jesus replied, “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.”
In Acts 10:38, Peter said of Jesus, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
The Lord ministers to many poor people daily, but even when one poor person feels abandoned by the Lord, that is one too many. David wanted the Lord to show up on behalf of the poor.
The problem is not with the Lord. The problem is with the wicked. The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor. He plots against them. He boasts of his heart’s desire or lusts. He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. He is a part of criminal network that seems invincible. He does not seek God. God is in none of his thoughts. He is prospering but only because he is stealing, cheating and exploiting people. He sneers at those who think to take him down. He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved. I shall never be in adversity.”
Those that have power ought to protect the innocent and provide for the poor, but wicked people prefer to turn them into slaves laborers or sex slaves. Some sell those who are depressed or disillusioned harmful drugs, and/or hard liquor. Others with riches, loan money to the poor and charge them exorbitant interest rates. Still, others take extreme advantage of those who need medical, mechanical, electrical or plumbing help. Still, others take advantage of those who want to purchase land, home and/or car, or perhaps, charge high rent for poor housing! In some places, gangs make people pay “protection money” to avoid being hurt by them. Some run gambling rackets that urge the poor to bet their paychecks on get-rich-quick possibilities that favor the racketeers and robs the poor gambler and his/her dependents..
Poor people bear God’s image. Yet, the proud pursue them like a ferocious lion.
David had been hunted like an animal by King Saul. He was a king who understood what it was like to be one of the poor. In a similar way, 2 Corinthians 8:9 says of Jesus, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” Jesus literally gave the shirt off His back and the blood in His veins to redeem us from the power of the devil.
1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” One of the works of the devil is to deride poor people.
Luke 16:14 says that the Pharisees were lovers of money, and that they derided Jesus.
Proverbs 6:16-17 say, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look...” A proud look is at the top of the list. A proud look comes from a person with an inflated view of his or herself and a deflated view of others.
James 4:4 says, “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
In Luke 12:20-21, Jesus prophesied of the man who laid up treasure for himself, and was not rich toward God, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have provided?”
The proud fool imagines God will never call him to an account.
In Luke 16:23-26, a rich man being in torments in Hades, lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. He cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”
Tyranny by state and church begins with pride. While speaking of the evil deeds of the wicked, David inserts a short prayer, “Let them be caught in the plots they have devised.”
In singing this psalm and praying it over, our hearts should be stirred with a holy indignation at the wickedness of oppressors and filled with a tender compassion for the oppressed.
In Matthew 25:31-46, when Jesus spoke of His return to earth, He depicted Himself as a king sitting on His throne in glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him. He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. The sheep will inherit the kingdom prepared for them before the world was founded. The presence of the Lord in the sheep was revealed by how they treated the “least” of Jesus’ brothers.
Who is the least of Jesus’ brothers?
The apostles came to my mind. In 1 Corinthians 4:9-10, Paul wrote, “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!”
The modern day equivalent of the apostles would be Christian missionaries, pastors, evangelists and teachers who humbly serve the Lord for little pay and quite often for negative recognition.
In some cases, such laborers for Christ serve others who cannot repay them. They end up, hungry and thirsty at times. Due to the fact that they chose the Lord and not worldly wealth and recognition, they are treated as strangers at popular social gatherings. They are turned away by those who could have showed them hospitality. They cannot afford decent clothes and shoes for themselves, their spouses and their children. When they suffer sickness or imprisonment due to their zeal for Christ, those who think them crazy, believe they deserved it.
In Matthew 25:40, The King will say to those who cared for the least of His brothers, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” In Matthew 25:45-46, the King will say to those who had nothing to do with the least of His brothers, “’Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
David had been hunted like an animal due to his earthly king’s misguided perspective of him. By God’s grace and power, David killed Goliath. By faith in God, he conquered enemies of his nation. Yet, his earthly king treated him as an enemy that needed to be destroyed. If were not for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, King Saul would have captured and killed David. I believe this is the kind of poor that David was most concerned for... those suffering due to their faith in God.
Hebrews 11 highlights the acts of faith that pleased God. Hebrews 11:35-38 says, “...Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
These believers presented the teachings of God’s Kingdom in places where there were severe consequences for doing so. The Prophets, Apostles and Jesus Christ did this. They knew heaven was for real, and they wanted all people to have the opportunity to be there.
21st Century Jeremiah is a movement to align end times messages with the prophetic words of the Bible.
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Of Whom the World was not Worthy – Psalm 10
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Whole-Hearted Worship – Psalm 9
“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart. I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You. I will sing praise to Your Name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2
David, filled with love for the Lord, praises Him with his whole heart. Such a moment is divine! When you, a person made in God’s image, love your Creator and worship Him not due to obligation, but due to a genuine revelation of who God is and what He means to you, in that moment, all other concerns fade away and you tell the Lord how much you love Him! Being glad and rejoicing in Him! Testifying of His goodness with songs of worship!
In Psalm 86:11, David prayed, “Unite my heart to fear Your Name.” Say, “No” to distractions! In James 1:8, the Lord urges us not to be double-minded. Be 100% for Jesus! In John 17:21, Jesus prayed that His disciples would be one with Him and the Father. When we praise the Lord and testify for Him, especially with music and with others who love to worship Him, we become in one accord with the Lord.
“When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. For You have maintained my right and my cause. You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. You have rebuked the nations You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” Psalm 9:3-5
The presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power, are sufficient to turn enemies away. Once, my wife was confronted by a rough appearing individual in the pre-dawn hours in San Francisco, she asked him one question, “Do you want Jesus?” He turned away from her without another word and left her alone. In John 18:6, Jesus told those who came at Him with swords and clubs, “I am He” and His enemies fell backward in His presence. Jesus could have destroyed them with a word, but He needed to go to the cross for our salvation, so He let them live and arrest Him.
“You have maintained my right and my cause.” God maintained David’s right and cause because David’s was for what was right in the sight of God. David was for the causes that God was for. His life was aligned with the Lord’s. David and the highest court judge in the universe were one in heart and mind.
Now, in Christ, we too, are able to have the mind of Christ.
Ephesians 4:23 says to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Romans 8:5-7 say, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” God has made a way for us in Christ to be transformed by the renewing of the way we think. Renewed back to the original nature before Adam sinned! He does this by His Holy Spirit living in us and leading us to think as God thinks.
David testified of how God rebuked nations and destroyed the wicked. He blotted out their name forever and ever. David saw God defeat the enemies of Israel on every side as He trusted in the Lord and was led by God’s Spirit in his approach to taking them down.
“O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And You have destroyed cities! Even their memory has perished! But the Lord shall endure forever. He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.” Psalm 9:6-8
The Lord gave David the long view! By divine revelation, David knew that one day all cities that oppose God will be no more. God’s kingdom shall outlast them all. The kingdom of Christ shall be forever and ever. There shall be a divine judgment day on which no hardened criminal will be exonerated. All shall be condemned! Revelation 21:27 says, “There shall by no means enter it [the Holy City] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” A relationship here on earth with our Lord Jesus Christ is the key to that city.
The unforgivable sin is to reject faith in Christ because it is by faith in Him that God forgives all our sins and washes the memory of them away. How does anyone’s name appear in the Lamb’s Book of Life? By repenting! To repent is have a change of mind about Christ. You surrender Your heart, mind, soul and strength to Jesus Christ and ask Him to save and keep You for all eternity. You ask Him to be your Savior and Lord. Lord means that you give Christ the steering wheel and serve His purposes for your life, not your own.
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:9-10
A place of refuge is a safe place. It is a place of provision. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.”
Isaiah 59:19 says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” The standard that the Holy Spirit lifts up against the evil oppressor is the Name of Jesus Christ. In Luke 10:17, seventy followers of Jesus returned to Him with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.” In Acts 2:38, new converts were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 3:16, it was faith in the Name of Jesus that made a lame man to walk again. In Acts 10:43, Peter preached to Gentiles, saying, “To Him [Jesus] all the prophets witness that, through His Name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” They believed and received the Holy Spirit.
By the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, we rebuke demons in the Name of Jesus, and they flee. Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Isaiah 10:27 says, “The yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” The word “Christ” in Greek and “Messiah” in Hebrew means Anointed One. Demons cannot stand against the Name of Jesus.
“Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them. He does not forget the cry of the humble.” Psalm 9:11-12
Yes, we should sing praise to the Lord! We should never use His Name disrespectfully nor should we tolerate any movie or TV show that does so. We treat the Name of the Lord as a sacred name because that is what it is. We should speak about the wonderful things He has done so others too will learn to love and adore Him.
God will avenge those who do wrong – vengeance belongs to God. The Lord invites us to be humble and let Him take care of evil oppressors.
“Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me. You who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation.” Psalm 9:13-14
In John 15:18-19, Jesus said to His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Thus, we pray for God’s mercy to help us navigate amidst people whom the devil has turned against Him. God delivers us from the gates of death and brings us to the gates of praise where we rejoice in His salvation.
“The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah! The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail. Let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah!” Psalm 9:15-20
When we place our enemies into the hands of God, He sabotages the sabotages that were plotted against us. He spoils those who thought to spoil us. They do their plotting in secret, but God knows their plans and alerts us to them. You can find examples of God foiling the plans of the wicked against the righteous in the stories of David which are recorded in First and Second Samuel, in the stories of Elijah which are recorded in First and Second Kings, and in the story of Queen Esther and Mordecai in the Book of Esther. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, Jeremiah, Jesus, Peter and Paul were rescued by miracles from various plots to destroy them.
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Enough said.
The Lord says, “The needy shall not always be forgotten. The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” God will arise. Ultimately, evil people shall perish. The Lord will lift up the poor.
“Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.” Those who seem to escape justice time and time again shall finally be recompensed for what they have done. They are not invincible. They are vulnerable. They have not built their lives on the Word of God. In Matthew 7:26-27, Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
By faith, David foresaw and foretold of the certain ruin of the enemy of the Lord. He was compelled by God’s Spirit not to wait until he reached heavens shore to rejoice, but to live a life of worship and adoration to the Lord now in this life.
Thanks to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, we too, can now live a life of whole-hearted worship toward the Lord by His Spirit. Praise the Lord! Amen!
David, filled with love for the Lord, praises Him with his whole heart. Such a moment is divine! When you, a person made in God’s image, love your Creator and worship Him not due to obligation, but due to a genuine revelation of who God is and what He means to you, in that moment, all other concerns fade away and you tell the Lord how much you love Him! Being glad and rejoicing in Him! Testifying of His goodness with songs of worship!
In Psalm 86:11, David prayed, “Unite my heart to fear Your Name.” Say, “No” to distractions! In James 1:8, the Lord urges us not to be double-minded. Be 100% for Jesus! In John 17:21, Jesus prayed that His disciples would be one with Him and the Father. When we praise the Lord and testify for Him, especially with music and with others who love to worship Him, we become in one accord with the Lord.
“When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. For You have maintained my right and my cause. You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. You have rebuked the nations You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” Psalm 9:3-5
The presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power, are sufficient to turn enemies away. Once, my wife was confronted by a rough appearing individual in the pre-dawn hours in San Francisco, she asked him one question, “Do you want Jesus?” He turned away from her without another word and left her alone. In John 18:6, Jesus told those who came at Him with swords and clubs, “I am He” and His enemies fell backward in His presence. Jesus could have destroyed them with a word, but He needed to go to the cross for our salvation, so He let them live and arrest Him.
“You have maintained my right and my cause.” God maintained David’s right and cause because David’s was for what was right in the sight of God. David was for the causes that God was for. His life was aligned with the Lord’s. David and the highest court judge in the universe were one in heart and mind.
Now, in Christ, we too, are able to have the mind of Christ.
Ephesians 4:23 says to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Romans 8:5-7 say, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” God has made a way for us in Christ to be transformed by the renewing of the way we think. Renewed back to the original nature before Adam sinned! He does this by His Holy Spirit living in us and leading us to think as God thinks.
David testified of how God rebuked nations and destroyed the wicked. He blotted out their name forever and ever. David saw God defeat the enemies of Israel on every side as He trusted in the Lord and was led by God’s Spirit in his approach to taking them down.
“O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And You have destroyed cities! Even their memory has perished! But the Lord shall endure forever. He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.” Psalm 9:6-8
The Lord gave David the long view! By divine revelation, David knew that one day all cities that oppose God will be no more. God’s kingdom shall outlast them all. The kingdom of Christ shall be forever and ever. There shall be a divine judgment day on which no hardened criminal will be exonerated. All shall be condemned! Revelation 21:27 says, “There shall by no means enter it [the Holy City] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” A relationship here on earth with our Lord Jesus Christ is the key to that city.
The unforgivable sin is to reject faith in Christ because it is by faith in Him that God forgives all our sins and washes the memory of them away. How does anyone’s name appear in the Lamb’s Book of Life? By repenting! To repent is have a change of mind about Christ. You surrender Your heart, mind, soul and strength to Jesus Christ and ask Him to save and keep You for all eternity. You ask Him to be your Savior and Lord. Lord means that you give Christ the steering wheel and serve His purposes for your life, not your own.
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:9-10
A place of refuge is a safe place. It is a place of provision. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.”
Isaiah 59:19 says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” The standard that the Holy Spirit lifts up against the evil oppressor is the Name of Jesus Christ. In Luke 10:17, seventy followers of Jesus returned to Him with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.” In Acts 2:38, new converts were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 3:16, it was faith in the Name of Jesus that made a lame man to walk again. In Acts 10:43, Peter preached to Gentiles, saying, “To Him [Jesus] all the prophets witness that, through His Name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” They believed and received the Holy Spirit.
By the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, we rebuke demons in the Name of Jesus, and they flee. Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Isaiah 10:27 says, “The yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” The word “Christ” in Greek and “Messiah” in Hebrew means Anointed One. Demons cannot stand against the Name of Jesus.
“Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them. He does not forget the cry of the humble.” Psalm 9:11-12
Yes, we should sing praise to the Lord! We should never use His Name disrespectfully nor should we tolerate any movie or TV show that does so. We treat the Name of the Lord as a sacred name because that is what it is. We should speak about the wonderful things He has done so others too will learn to love and adore Him.
God will avenge those who do wrong – vengeance belongs to God. The Lord invites us to be humble and let Him take care of evil oppressors.
“Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me. You who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation.” Psalm 9:13-14
In John 15:18-19, Jesus said to His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Thus, we pray for God’s mercy to help us navigate amidst people whom the devil has turned against Him. God delivers us from the gates of death and brings us to the gates of praise where we rejoice in His salvation.
“The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah! The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail. Let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah!” Psalm 9:15-20
When we place our enemies into the hands of God, He sabotages the sabotages that were plotted against us. He spoils those who thought to spoil us. They do their plotting in secret, but God knows their plans and alerts us to them. You can find examples of God foiling the plans of the wicked against the righteous in the stories of David which are recorded in First and Second Samuel, in the stories of Elijah which are recorded in First and Second Kings, and in the story of Queen Esther and Mordecai in the Book of Esther. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, Jeremiah, Jesus, Peter and Paul were rescued by miracles from various plots to destroy them.
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Enough said.
The Lord says, “The needy shall not always be forgotten. The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” God will arise. Ultimately, evil people shall perish. The Lord will lift up the poor.
“Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.” Those who seem to escape justice time and time again shall finally be recompensed for what they have done. They are not invincible. They are vulnerable. They have not built their lives on the Word of God. In Matthew 7:26-27, Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
By faith, David foresaw and foretold of the certain ruin of the enemy of the Lord. He was compelled by God’s Spirit not to wait until he reached heavens shore to rejoice, but to live a life of worship and adoration to the Lord now in this life.
Thanks to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, we too, can now live a life of whole-hearted worship toward the Lord by His Spirit. Praise the Lord! Amen!
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Friday, March 13, 2026
Excellent is Your Name O Lord – Psalm 8
“To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.”
Some think that this psalm was composed by David to be played on a musical instrument that was invented in Gath a city of the Philistines. Thus, the introduction: “On the instrument of Gath.” The Hebrew word “gittith” in the text of the introduction is either the first word of some song; or rather of the musical instrument to which this psalm was set and sung.” [1]
Psalm 8:4 is quoted in Hebrews 2:6 as referring to Jesus Messiah. So, this is a psalm like many others that is about Christ our Redeemer. [2]
“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth. You have set Your glory above the heavens!” Psalm 8:1
In a sense, the Name of the Lord is the Gospel. The Name “Jesus” means “The Lord saves.” The Gospel excels the law in glory. The Gospel is excellent "in all the earth.” Jesus Christ sent His apostles and continues to send the servants of His Word into all the world. This clause shows that what David wrote was prophetic. For not in his time, nor in any period under the Old Testament, was the Name of the Lord more gloriously and excellently spread to all the earth as it was in the Book of Acts and still until this day.
God set His glory above the heavens. Hebrews 7:26 says in reference to Jesus Messiah, “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS.” Thus, Psalm 8:2 is a reference to God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Messiah, the brightness of God’s glory, became flesh and dwelt among us. In Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Angels, principalities, and powers are subject to our Lord Jesus Christ.
The majesty of the Name of Jesus is greater than the majesty of all other names. He who created the heavens is worthy of more glory than the heavens that He created.
“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2
In Matthew 21:15-16, our Lord Jesus Christ applied this passage to the children in the temple, crying Hosanna to the Son of David, out of whose mouths God perfected the praise of the Messiah. The Pharisees had asked Him to silence the children from singing His praise.
Spiritual babes and infants had enough sense to praise Jesus and praise Him loudly. The religious leaders of Jerusalem lacked the spiritual discernment to do so. His disciples and followers knew what they were doing. God put it in their hearts to praise Him.
In John 17:6, Jesus said to the Father, “I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your Word.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ ORDAINED STRENGTH out of the mouth of babes. The strength is the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation. The babes are the apostles and first ministers of the Gospel. They were preaching a new message to the world. This new message was greatly opposed by some who heard it, but they could not stop Christ’s “baby” messengers from being strong and effective for Him. By God’s power, they subdued enemies of God and brought them to the obedience of Christ.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the Son of Man that You visit Him? For You have made Him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned Him with glory and honor. You have made Him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under His feet, all sheep and oxen—even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.” Psalm 8:3-7
The sun is not mentioned, because it cannot be looked upon, as the moon and the stars may, nor be seen when they are. It is thought that David composed this psalm in the night when the moon and stars were visible. It may have been while he was keeping his father’s sheep, since sheep are mentioned first.
“What is man, that You are mindful of him?” This is to be understood of the man (the human nature of) Christ Jesus, as it is interpreted in Hebrews 2:6-9. Isaiah 53:2-3 says of Jesus’ earthly form, “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
“What is the Son of Man, that You visit Him?” The name “Son of Man" is a reference to Messiah in Psalms 80:17, Daniel 7:13 and used by Him of Himself in the New Testament. Jesus, though He appeared outwardly as any other man, He had God’s Spirit in Him without measure.
“You have made Him a little lower than the angels.” This passage is to be understood of the human nature of Christ. He was made but a little lower than the angels in regards to being given a body of flesh that was subject to pain and death. This clause refers to the humiliation of Christ in His human nature, as it is interpreted in Hebrews 2:9.
Philippians 2:5-9 says of Christ, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name.”
Hebrews 5:7 says that in the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death and was heard because of His godly fear.
“You have crowned Him with glory and honor.” God did this by raising Jesus from the dead, and setting Him at His own right hand, committing all judgment to Him; and requiring all creatures, angels and men, to give worship and adoration to Him. After He had run the race, and endured a fight of afflictions, He is said to be “crowned” glory and honor.
“You made Him to have dominion over the works of Your hands.” In Matthew 28:18, Jesus told us, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” He is now at the right hand of God. He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. All things in heaven and earth are made to serve His cause and glory, and for the good of His people. Jesus Christ has a greater dominion than was given to Adam in Genesis 1:25.
“You hast put all things under His feet.” All things are subject to Him. All creatures in the earth, air, and sea, are subject to Him. Sheep and oxen are tamed creatures that are useful for food and clothing production. At times, His wild beasts devour His enemies, but He restrains them from harming His people to which Daniel 6:22 testifies.
“The fowl of the air” are His! The Lord rained quail from heaven about the tents of the Israelites in Psalms 78:27. He commanded ravens to feed Elijah in 1 Kings 17:4-6.
“The fish of the sea” are His. Jesus commanded the fish to serve His apostles in Matthew 17:27, Luke 5:5-6 and in John 21:6. One fish jumped on Peter’s hook. Others jumped into their nets.
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth!” Psalms 8:9
The psalm ends with the same words with which it begins. David was resolved to think of the Lord’s Name with the highest of regards.
O that all of us, God’s people, would regard the Name of the Lord Jesus with the highest regard! To praise Him! To speak of Him with love and adoration! Be ready to turn off any movie or music that misuses His Name. According to Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11, the third commandment of God’s Ten Commandments is, “You shall not take the Name of the Lord Your God in vain. For the Lord will not hold Him guiltless that takes His Name in vain.”
Psalm 34:3-4 says, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Thus, let us highly regard the Name of Jesus Christ. He is Lord over heaven and earth!
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary
[2] Ibid
Many of the explanations of the verses in this article, came to me as I read the Matthew Henry Commentary. I really appreciate the revelations that Christ provided me through this work.
Some think that this psalm was composed by David to be played on a musical instrument that was invented in Gath a city of the Philistines. Thus, the introduction: “On the instrument of Gath.” The Hebrew word “gittith” in the text of the introduction is either the first word of some song; or rather of the musical instrument to which this psalm was set and sung.” [1]
Psalm 8:4 is quoted in Hebrews 2:6 as referring to Jesus Messiah. So, this is a psalm like many others that is about Christ our Redeemer. [2]
“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth. You have set Your glory above the heavens!” Psalm 8:1
In a sense, the Name of the Lord is the Gospel. The Name “Jesus” means “The Lord saves.” The Gospel excels the law in glory. The Gospel is excellent "in all the earth.” Jesus Christ sent His apostles and continues to send the servants of His Word into all the world. This clause shows that what David wrote was prophetic. For not in his time, nor in any period under the Old Testament, was the Name of the Lord more gloriously and excellently spread to all the earth as it was in the Book of Acts and still until this day.
God set His glory above the heavens. Hebrews 7:26 says in reference to Jesus Messiah, “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS.” Thus, Psalm 8:2 is a reference to God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Messiah, the brightness of God’s glory, became flesh and dwelt among us. In Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Angels, principalities, and powers are subject to our Lord Jesus Christ.
The majesty of the Name of Jesus is greater than the majesty of all other names. He who created the heavens is worthy of more glory than the heavens that He created.
“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2
In Matthew 21:15-16, our Lord Jesus Christ applied this passage to the children in the temple, crying Hosanna to the Son of David, out of whose mouths God perfected the praise of the Messiah. The Pharisees had asked Him to silence the children from singing His praise.
Spiritual babes and infants had enough sense to praise Jesus and praise Him loudly. The religious leaders of Jerusalem lacked the spiritual discernment to do so. His disciples and followers knew what they were doing. God put it in their hearts to praise Him.
In John 17:6, Jesus said to the Father, “I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your Word.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ ORDAINED STRENGTH out of the mouth of babes. The strength is the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation. The babes are the apostles and first ministers of the Gospel. They were preaching a new message to the world. This new message was greatly opposed by some who heard it, but they could not stop Christ’s “baby” messengers from being strong and effective for Him. By God’s power, they subdued enemies of God and brought them to the obedience of Christ.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the Son of Man that You visit Him? For You have made Him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned Him with glory and honor. You have made Him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under His feet, all sheep and oxen—even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.” Psalm 8:3-7
The sun is not mentioned, because it cannot be looked upon, as the moon and the stars may, nor be seen when they are. It is thought that David composed this psalm in the night when the moon and stars were visible. It may have been while he was keeping his father’s sheep, since sheep are mentioned first.
“What is man, that You are mindful of him?” This is to be understood of the man (the human nature of) Christ Jesus, as it is interpreted in Hebrews 2:6-9. Isaiah 53:2-3 says of Jesus’ earthly form, “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
“What is the Son of Man, that You visit Him?” The name “Son of Man" is a reference to Messiah in Psalms 80:17, Daniel 7:13 and used by Him of Himself in the New Testament. Jesus, though He appeared outwardly as any other man, He had God’s Spirit in Him without measure.
“You have made Him a little lower than the angels.” This passage is to be understood of the human nature of Christ. He was made but a little lower than the angels in regards to being given a body of flesh that was subject to pain and death. This clause refers to the humiliation of Christ in His human nature, as it is interpreted in Hebrews 2:9.
Philippians 2:5-9 says of Christ, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name.”
Hebrews 5:7 says that in the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death and was heard because of His godly fear.
“You have crowned Him with glory and honor.” God did this by raising Jesus from the dead, and setting Him at His own right hand, committing all judgment to Him; and requiring all creatures, angels and men, to give worship and adoration to Him. After He had run the race, and endured a fight of afflictions, He is said to be “crowned” glory and honor.
“You made Him to have dominion over the works of Your hands.” In Matthew 28:18, Jesus told us, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” He is now at the right hand of God. He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. All things in heaven and earth are made to serve His cause and glory, and for the good of His people. Jesus Christ has a greater dominion than was given to Adam in Genesis 1:25.
“You hast put all things under His feet.” All things are subject to Him. All creatures in the earth, air, and sea, are subject to Him. Sheep and oxen are tamed creatures that are useful for food and clothing production. At times, His wild beasts devour His enemies, but He restrains them from harming His people to which Daniel 6:22 testifies.
“The fowl of the air” are His! The Lord rained quail from heaven about the tents of the Israelites in Psalms 78:27. He commanded ravens to feed Elijah in 1 Kings 17:4-6.
“The fish of the sea” are His. Jesus commanded the fish to serve His apostles in Matthew 17:27, Luke 5:5-6 and in John 21:6. One fish jumped on Peter’s hook. Others jumped into their nets.
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth!” Psalms 8:9
The psalm ends with the same words with which it begins. David was resolved to think of the Lord’s Name with the highest of regards.
O that all of us, God’s people, would regard the Name of the Lord Jesus with the highest regard! To praise Him! To speak of Him with love and adoration! Be ready to turn off any movie or music that misuses His Name. According to Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11, the third commandment of God’s Ten Commandments is, “You shall not take the Name of the Lord Your God in vain. For the Lord will not hold Him guiltless that takes His Name in vain.”
Psalm 34:3-4 says, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Thus, let us highly regard the Name of Jesus Christ. He is Lord over heaven and earth!
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary
[2] Ibid
Many of the explanations of the verses in this article, came to me as I read the Matthew Henry Commentary. I really appreciate the revelations that Christ provided me through this work.
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Arise, Rise, Awake – Psalm 7
“A Meditation of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O Lord my God, in You I put my trust. Save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me, lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver. “ Psalm 7:1-2
David penned and sang this song unto the Lord. “Cush a Benjamite” may be a reference to King Saul, who behaved as a Cushite or Ethiopian barbarian and not as a Israelite. Or perhaps, David referred to a kinsman of Saul named Cush, who misrepresented him to Saul as a traitor. In 1 Samuel 26:19, David wondered if someone had turned Saul against him. Ultimately, David turned to the Lord. He sang to the Lord rather than let thoughts of evildoers fill his mind.
David compares his persecutors to a ferocious lion. Lions are skillful hunters. They don’t hunt for fun. They hunt to kill. Bloodthirsty people are compared to lions throughout the Scriptures.
In 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul compares Nero to a lion. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter compares the devil to a prowling and roaring lion who wants to devour Christians.
Psalm 22:11-21 is a Messianic prophecy about Christ. This prophecy compares those around Jesus during His crucifixion to roaring lions tearing their prey.
“O Lord my God, if I have done this: if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, or have plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; yes, let him trample my life to the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. Selah!” Psalm 7:3-5
If I brought this attack on by the way I treated people… if I am guilty… let my enemy pursue, catch, trample and destroy me.
The truth of the matter is that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We justly deserve God’s temporal and eternal punishment. Thus, we needed someone to remove our guilt and sin from us. Thus, David prays in the next verse for God to arise.
“Arise, O Lord, in Your anger. Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies. Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; for their sakes, therefore, return on high.” Psalm 7:6-7
Arise, rise and awake! David uses three words that relate to resurrection. One for each day that Christ was in the tomb! When Christ resurrected from the dead, He dealt a death blow to death which is our greatest enemy. We deserved death, but Jesus took our guilt and sin away on the cross and arose from the dead three days later. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, even though one dies if he believes in Jesus, he will resurrect.
This passage has a duel application. We want Jesus to bring us into one accord by bringing us into alignment with His Word. We also want the Lord to gather people and assemble them around Him on high when this current world ends.
“The Lord shall judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me. O, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.” Psalm 7:8-9
“The Lord shall judge the peoples.” This has a duel meaning. Judge the people now. God’s judgments are good and to be desired because they bring about a better outcome for those who appeal to Him. This passage also alludes to what Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” There will be a final judgment day when God will pronounce what is right. His judgment will not be corrupted by bribes or by professional deceivers or emotional manipulators. He will judge in perfect harmony with His Word.
God will bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure. Revelation 20:10 says that the devil will be cast into the lake of fire.
“My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword. He bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death. He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.” Psalm 7:10-13
God is the righteous judge. He expresses His wrath with the wicked every day in some shape or form. He doesn’t hold it in and pretend it is not there.
God sharpens His sword for battle. In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter wrote, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The Greek word for resists means that God sets up a military against the proud. He bends His bow. He prepares His flaming arrows. But God gives grace to the humble.
“Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity. Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.” Psalm 7:14-16
The wicked is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. I have heard salvation testimonies from people who gave themselves over to debauchery and dissipation. They became disillusioned and depressed, but then, they heard the Gospel and they were most happy to turn to Christ for salvation, and He saved them and gave them a new life.
The Lord says in this Psalm that those who dig a pit for others fall into it. Those who sabotage others experience being sabotaged. Those who deceive others experience being deceived. Those who trouble others experience trouble. Those who live by the sword die by the sword. Those who collaborate with the wicked, inherit wicked results.
“I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the Name of the Lord Most High.” Psalm 7:17
It is in the righteousness of Christ that we can praise and sing to God. He paid the penalty for our sin. He bore God’s wrath for our sin. Thus, in Christ I find both forgiveness and mercy from God for my transgressions and I find reason to forgive, love and pray for those who oppose me.
David gave thanks and sang to God because God is righteous. He applied his strength to praising the Name of the Lord.
This passage as a duel application. I sing and give thanks now because the Lord makes me glad by His Spirit and His help. I shall sing and praise God for all eternity because of what Christ did for me and my salvation. Praise the Lord!
David penned and sang this song unto the Lord. “Cush a Benjamite” may be a reference to King Saul, who behaved as a Cushite or Ethiopian barbarian and not as a Israelite. Or perhaps, David referred to a kinsman of Saul named Cush, who misrepresented him to Saul as a traitor. In 1 Samuel 26:19, David wondered if someone had turned Saul against him. Ultimately, David turned to the Lord. He sang to the Lord rather than let thoughts of evildoers fill his mind.
David compares his persecutors to a ferocious lion. Lions are skillful hunters. They don’t hunt for fun. They hunt to kill. Bloodthirsty people are compared to lions throughout the Scriptures.
In 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul compares Nero to a lion. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter compares the devil to a prowling and roaring lion who wants to devour Christians.
Psalm 22:11-21 is a Messianic prophecy about Christ. This prophecy compares those around Jesus during His crucifixion to roaring lions tearing their prey.
“O Lord my God, if I have done this: if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, or have plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; yes, let him trample my life to the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. Selah!” Psalm 7:3-5
If I brought this attack on by the way I treated people… if I am guilty… let my enemy pursue, catch, trample and destroy me.
The truth of the matter is that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We justly deserve God’s temporal and eternal punishment. Thus, we needed someone to remove our guilt and sin from us. Thus, David prays in the next verse for God to arise.
“Arise, O Lord, in Your anger. Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies. Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; for their sakes, therefore, return on high.” Psalm 7:6-7
Arise, rise and awake! David uses three words that relate to resurrection. One for each day that Christ was in the tomb! When Christ resurrected from the dead, He dealt a death blow to death which is our greatest enemy. We deserved death, but Jesus took our guilt and sin away on the cross and arose from the dead three days later. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, even though one dies if he believes in Jesus, he will resurrect.
This passage has a duel application. We want Jesus to bring us into one accord by bringing us into alignment with His Word. We also want the Lord to gather people and assemble them around Him on high when this current world ends.
“The Lord shall judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me. O, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.” Psalm 7:8-9
“The Lord shall judge the peoples.” This has a duel meaning. Judge the people now. God’s judgments are good and to be desired because they bring about a better outcome for those who appeal to Him. This passage also alludes to what Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” There will be a final judgment day when God will pronounce what is right. His judgment will not be corrupted by bribes or by professional deceivers or emotional manipulators. He will judge in perfect harmony with His Word.
God will bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure. Revelation 20:10 says that the devil will be cast into the lake of fire.
“My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword. He bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death. He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.” Psalm 7:10-13
God is the righteous judge. He expresses His wrath with the wicked every day in some shape or form. He doesn’t hold it in and pretend it is not there.
God sharpens His sword for battle. In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter wrote, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The Greek word for resists means that God sets up a military against the proud. He bends His bow. He prepares His flaming arrows. But God gives grace to the humble.
“Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity. Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.” Psalm 7:14-16
The wicked is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. I have heard salvation testimonies from people who gave themselves over to debauchery and dissipation. They became disillusioned and depressed, but then, they heard the Gospel and they were most happy to turn to Christ for salvation, and He saved them and gave them a new life.
The Lord says in this Psalm that those who dig a pit for others fall into it. Those who sabotage others experience being sabotaged. Those who deceive others experience being deceived. Those who trouble others experience trouble. Those who live by the sword die by the sword. Those who collaborate with the wicked, inherit wicked results.
“I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the Name of the Lord Most High.” Psalm 7:17
It is in the righteousness of Christ that we can praise and sing to God. He paid the penalty for our sin. He bore God’s wrath for our sin. Thus, in Christ I find both forgiveness and mercy from God for my transgressions and I find reason to forgive, love and pray for those who oppose me.
David gave thanks and sang to God because God is righteous. He applied his strength to praising the Name of the Lord.
This passage as a duel application. I sing and give thanks now because the Lord makes me glad by His Spirit and His help. I shall sing and praise God for all eternity because of what Christ did for me and my salvation. Praise the Lord!
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Confident In God – Psalm 6
“To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David. O Lord do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak. O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled, but You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me! O, save me for Your mercies’ sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You. In the grave who will give You thanks?” Psalm 6:1-5
These words could have well been said by Jesus Christ on the cross. On the cross, Jesus experienced God’s wrath on sin. His earthly body was weak. He was hurt to the bone. His soul was troubled due to the abandoned feeling He experienced. He hung on the cross for six long painful hours before He breathed His last breath. He was going to die. He was going to be placed in a grave, but He wanted to remain in communion with the Father.
David asked the Lord, “In the grave who will give you thanks?” In John 17:15, Jesus prayed to the Father, saying, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”
This song began on a sad note. It is the song of a betrayed lover. He gave love. He received anger and abuse. He needed mercy because all the attacks upon Him had weakened the bones that made him structurally sound. He needed to be resurrect by God from a place of total loss.
Both David and Jesus were great men, but their bodies were still made of dust just like any of us, and thus were subject to the common calamities of human life.
Both David and Jesus experienced distress in their soul. David confessed, “My soul also is greatly troubled.” In John 12:27, Jesus declared, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I came to this hour.” Proverbs 18:14 says, “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?” Thankfully, both David and Jesus overcame the hour that troubled their souls.
David asked, “How long?” In Revelation 6:10, those in heaven who had been slain by swords cried aloud to God in prayer, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim. I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication. The Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled. Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.” Psalm 6:6-10
David’s troubles evoked a multitude of groans and tears from him. His bed became as a pool to swim in and his couch became drenched with water due to his teardrops. He almost wept his eyes out. Jeremiah is famous as being the weeping prophet, but David, and I believe many others in the Bible wept tears as well. The shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.”
Genuine tears and weeping are effective. Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
“The Lord has heard my supplication. The Lord will receive my prayer.” The Psalm ends on a happy note because David senses that God has heard his prayer. Having made his requests known to God, he is very confident his trial will end and his sorrow will turn to joy. The Lord will not gather his soul with the workers of iniquity.
The workers of iniquity had teased and taunted him. They asked him, “Where is your God?” They wanted him to stop trusting in God and to enjoy sin. He told them, “Depart from me”
In Luke 13:23, the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” In Luke 13:24-27, Jesus told them, ““Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’”
The Psalm ends with David moving forward with God. The Lord had heard his supplication. The Lord received his prayer. The Lord quieted his soul.
James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” As David submitted to God, God delivered him from the devil’s siege against his soul.
In Philippians 1:28, Paul wrote, “Do not in any way be terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.” Turn all the enemies attempts to trouble you into an opportunity for God to show His mighty power through you.
In Isaiah 30:15, the Lord God says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Quietness and confidence amidst trouble comes from the Lord. Rather than turning inward, or dwelling on the antics of evil doers, stay focused on God, and He will deliver you.
In Romans 16:20, Paul wrote, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Salvation is of the Lord! His grace is sufficient for you.
These words could have well been said by Jesus Christ on the cross. On the cross, Jesus experienced God’s wrath on sin. His earthly body was weak. He was hurt to the bone. His soul was troubled due to the abandoned feeling He experienced. He hung on the cross for six long painful hours before He breathed His last breath. He was going to die. He was going to be placed in a grave, but He wanted to remain in communion with the Father.
David asked the Lord, “In the grave who will give you thanks?” In John 17:15, Jesus prayed to the Father, saying, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”
This song began on a sad note. It is the song of a betrayed lover. He gave love. He received anger and abuse. He needed mercy because all the attacks upon Him had weakened the bones that made him structurally sound. He needed to be resurrect by God from a place of total loss.
Both David and Jesus were great men, but their bodies were still made of dust just like any of us, and thus were subject to the common calamities of human life.
Both David and Jesus experienced distress in their soul. David confessed, “My soul also is greatly troubled.” In John 12:27, Jesus declared, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I came to this hour.” Proverbs 18:14 says, “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?” Thankfully, both David and Jesus overcame the hour that troubled their souls.
David asked, “How long?” In Revelation 6:10, those in heaven who had been slain by swords cried aloud to God in prayer, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim. I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication. The Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled. Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.” Psalm 6:6-10
David’s troubles evoked a multitude of groans and tears from him. His bed became as a pool to swim in and his couch became drenched with water due to his teardrops. He almost wept his eyes out. Jeremiah is famous as being the weeping prophet, but David, and I believe many others in the Bible wept tears as well. The shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.”
Genuine tears and weeping are effective. Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
“The Lord has heard my supplication. The Lord will receive my prayer.” The Psalm ends on a happy note because David senses that God has heard his prayer. Having made his requests known to God, he is very confident his trial will end and his sorrow will turn to joy. The Lord will not gather his soul with the workers of iniquity.
The workers of iniquity had teased and taunted him. They asked him, “Where is your God?” They wanted him to stop trusting in God and to enjoy sin. He told them, “Depart from me”
In Luke 13:23, the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” In Luke 13:24-27, Jesus told them, ““Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’”
The Psalm ends with David moving forward with God. The Lord had heard his supplication. The Lord received his prayer. The Lord quieted his soul.
James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” As David submitted to God, God delivered him from the devil’s siege against his soul.
In Philippians 1:28, Paul wrote, “Do not in any way be terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.” Turn all the enemies attempts to trouble you into an opportunity for God to show His mighty power through you.
In Isaiah 30:15, the Lord God says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Quietness and confidence amidst trouble comes from the Lord. Rather than turning inward, or dwelling on the antics of evil doers, stay focused on God, and He will deliver you.
In Romans 16:20, Paul wrote, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Salvation is of the Lord! His grace is sufficient for you.
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
God’s Grace and Peace – Psalm 5
“To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning. O Lord, in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” Psalm 5:1-3
The Hebrew word “Nehiloth” appears nowhere else in Scripture but in this Psalm. According to the Matthew Henry Commentary, it is conjectured to be a wind instrument. The NKJV translates Nehiloth as referring to a flute. Translators believe Nehiloth is a musical counterpart to the Hebrew word for string instrument which is “Neginoth.”
How desperately do you want God to answer your prayers? David says to God, “Give ear!” “Consider!” “Give heed!” God was hearing David’s meditations and the voice of his cry because David was looking up to God. He was directing His prayers to God. All his hope was in God! Like the widow that Jesus spoke of in Luke 18, David was relentlessly pursuing God’s intervention.
The God we pray to is a King, and a God. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords! This is how we regard Him. He is mighty. He is able to do more than we ask and imagine by His great power.
Meditation and prayer go together. In Psalms 19:14, David wrote, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” It is good to meditate on Him who is our strength and our Redeemer, and then, to pray to Him with complete confidence in His power and loving willingness to act on our behalf.
David made it his business to pray. Others might live without prayer, but he could not. Kings on thrones should be beggars at God’s throne. Some pray to anything that is called god, but David directed his prayers to the one true God who made heaven and earth. The living God!
David began his day with prayer. Some may say I am too busy to pray. Martin Luther is widely credited with saying, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Hans Van Staten famously said, “When man works, man works. When man prays, God works.”
We are the fittest for prayer when we are the most refreshed, and not yet filled with the business of the day. At the beginning of each new day, God invites us invoke His help and protection against the dangers and temptations that we shall face.
David directed his prayer to God as a marksman directs his arrow to the bullseye. To send our prayers to God is to send them to the right address. All our prayers must be directed to God.
David said, “I will look up.” We must look up to God to remain upright for Him.
“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You.” Psalm 5:4
When David says, “You are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness,” he means God hates it. Though the workers of iniquity prosper, none should think that God has pleasure in wickedness. God does not delight in those who delight in sin.
“The boastful shall not stand in Your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.” Psalm 5:5
In Galatians 6:14, Paul wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” The achievements of people pale in comparison with what Jesus Christ did for us. People often push themselves to achieve great feats for the sake of selfish gain. Christ did great feats of selfless love for the sake of saving the souls of sinners from eternal hell.
God hates all workers of iniquity. To commit iniquity is to take an unfair advantage of someone. Some make a sport of this. God hates such dealers. He loves workers of charity and grace.
“You shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:6
War is based on deceit. Sun Tzu in his book, “The Art of War” states that “All warfare is based on deception.” Bloodthirsty and deceitful men use deception to appear weak where they are strong and to appear strong where they are weak. They intentionally leak misinformation to confuse and catch their prey unprepared for an attack.
God says to us in the Ten Commandments. “You shall not bear false witness. You shall not kill.”
If nations spent but a small fraction of their military budgets on making disciples of Jesus, the world would be a happier and more prosperous place for everyone.
“But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy. In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.” Psalm 5:7
David acted wisely. He chose to look to God for mercy. His reverence for and worship towards God helped him to say, “NO” to lying and killing in regards to King Saul. Saul treated him horribly. David had won battles for Saul. He was loyal to him. He was his son-in-law. But Saul tried relentlessly to kill David. David had two excellent opportunities to kill Saul but would not do it. David considered King Saul as God’s anointed authority. David placed his life in God’s hands and let God be God with King Saul. Eventually, Saul fell upon his own sword and died.
“Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies. Make Your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their inward part is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels. Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.” Psalm 5:8-10
By God’s wisdom and grace, David baffled those who sought occasion against him. He leaned on God to direct him in the right way to go. As a mountain goat walks skillfully in high places without falling, God helped him to navigate safely amidst people who wanted to destroy him.
David’s enemies are bad characters. They disguise their malice with words of flattery. They pretended to be religious or friendly, but inwardly were wicked. Their throat is an open tomb waiting to catch someone and bury them. According to Proverbs 30:15-16, “The grave never says, ‘It is enough.’”
Persecuting God’s servants evokes God’s severity, 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 says they will fall by their own counsels. In Psalms 7:15 and 9:15, David pleads, “They have rebelled against You. Had they been only my enemies, I could have forgiven them, but they are rebels against God.” His prayer for their destruction comes not from a spirit of revenge, but from a spirit of prophecy, by which he foretold that they will certainly fall into their own traps.
“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You. Let them ever shout for joy because You defend them. Let those also who love Your Name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” Psalm 5:11-12
David describes God’s people as righteous because they trust in God. They love His Name. They delight in knowing Him. His prayers for God’s people are, “Let them ever shout for joy.” “Bless the righteous!” “Surround them with favor as with a shield.”
A shield, in war, guards only one side, but the favor of God defends the saints on every side.
In Job 1:9-11, the devil complained to God because God put a hedge of protection around Job. He felt that God’s protection provided Job an unfair advantage to live happily for God. Satan said to God, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
God allowed the devil to test Job with extreme losses. Job rightly surmised that he had been treated unjustly, but he never cursed God. The devil is an unfair dealer. After Satan’s test failed, God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before the test began.
James 5:11 says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” Compassion and mercy are of the Lord.
Paul opened his letter to the Christians living in Rome (Italy), Corinth, Phillipi, Thessalonica (all in Greece), Colossae and Ephesus (both in Turkey) with a blessing of grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace is what our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ want for each of us. [1]
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” God answers our prayers in the morning, and throughout the day because He is rich in mercy, great with love and full of grace towards us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!
[1] Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1
The Hebrew word “Nehiloth” appears nowhere else in Scripture but in this Psalm. According to the Matthew Henry Commentary, it is conjectured to be a wind instrument. The NKJV translates Nehiloth as referring to a flute. Translators believe Nehiloth is a musical counterpart to the Hebrew word for string instrument which is “Neginoth.”
How desperately do you want God to answer your prayers? David says to God, “Give ear!” “Consider!” “Give heed!” God was hearing David’s meditations and the voice of his cry because David was looking up to God. He was directing His prayers to God. All his hope was in God! Like the widow that Jesus spoke of in Luke 18, David was relentlessly pursuing God’s intervention.
The God we pray to is a King, and a God. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords! This is how we regard Him. He is mighty. He is able to do more than we ask and imagine by His great power.
Meditation and prayer go together. In Psalms 19:14, David wrote, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” It is good to meditate on Him who is our strength and our Redeemer, and then, to pray to Him with complete confidence in His power and loving willingness to act on our behalf.
David made it his business to pray. Others might live without prayer, but he could not. Kings on thrones should be beggars at God’s throne. Some pray to anything that is called god, but David directed his prayers to the one true God who made heaven and earth. The living God!
David began his day with prayer. Some may say I am too busy to pray. Martin Luther is widely credited with saying, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Hans Van Staten famously said, “When man works, man works. When man prays, God works.”
We are the fittest for prayer when we are the most refreshed, and not yet filled with the business of the day. At the beginning of each new day, God invites us invoke His help and protection against the dangers and temptations that we shall face.
David directed his prayer to God as a marksman directs his arrow to the bullseye. To send our prayers to God is to send them to the right address. All our prayers must be directed to God.
David said, “I will look up.” We must look up to God to remain upright for Him.
“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You.” Psalm 5:4
When David says, “You are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness,” he means God hates it. Though the workers of iniquity prosper, none should think that God has pleasure in wickedness. God does not delight in those who delight in sin.
“The boastful shall not stand in Your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.” Psalm 5:5
In Galatians 6:14, Paul wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” The achievements of people pale in comparison with what Jesus Christ did for us. People often push themselves to achieve great feats for the sake of selfish gain. Christ did great feats of selfless love for the sake of saving the souls of sinners from eternal hell.
God hates all workers of iniquity. To commit iniquity is to take an unfair advantage of someone. Some make a sport of this. God hates such dealers. He loves workers of charity and grace.
“You shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:6
War is based on deceit. Sun Tzu in his book, “The Art of War” states that “All warfare is based on deception.” Bloodthirsty and deceitful men use deception to appear weak where they are strong and to appear strong where they are weak. They intentionally leak misinformation to confuse and catch their prey unprepared for an attack.
God says to us in the Ten Commandments. “You shall not bear false witness. You shall not kill.”
If nations spent but a small fraction of their military budgets on making disciples of Jesus, the world would be a happier and more prosperous place for everyone.
“But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy. In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.” Psalm 5:7
David acted wisely. He chose to look to God for mercy. His reverence for and worship towards God helped him to say, “NO” to lying and killing in regards to King Saul. Saul treated him horribly. David had won battles for Saul. He was loyal to him. He was his son-in-law. But Saul tried relentlessly to kill David. David had two excellent opportunities to kill Saul but would not do it. David considered King Saul as God’s anointed authority. David placed his life in God’s hands and let God be God with King Saul. Eventually, Saul fell upon his own sword and died.
“Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies. Make Your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their inward part is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels. Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.” Psalm 5:8-10
By God’s wisdom and grace, David baffled those who sought occasion against him. He leaned on God to direct him in the right way to go. As a mountain goat walks skillfully in high places without falling, God helped him to navigate safely amidst people who wanted to destroy him.
David’s enemies are bad characters. They disguise their malice with words of flattery. They pretended to be religious or friendly, but inwardly were wicked. Their throat is an open tomb waiting to catch someone and bury them. According to Proverbs 30:15-16, “The grave never says, ‘It is enough.’”
Persecuting God’s servants evokes God’s severity, 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 says they will fall by their own counsels. In Psalms 7:15 and 9:15, David pleads, “They have rebelled against You. Had they been only my enemies, I could have forgiven them, but they are rebels against God.” His prayer for their destruction comes not from a spirit of revenge, but from a spirit of prophecy, by which he foretold that they will certainly fall into their own traps.
“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You. Let them ever shout for joy because You defend them. Let those also who love Your Name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” Psalm 5:11-12
David describes God’s people as righteous because they trust in God. They love His Name. They delight in knowing Him. His prayers for God’s people are, “Let them ever shout for joy.” “Bless the righteous!” “Surround them with favor as with a shield.”
A shield, in war, guards only one side, but the favor of God defends the saints on every side.
In Job 1:9-11, the devil complained to God because God put a hedge of protection around Job. He felt that God’s protection provided Job an unfair advantage to live happily for God. Satan said to God, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
God allowed the devil to test Job with extreme losses. Job rightly surmised that he had been treated unjustly, but he never cursed God. The devil is an unfair dealer. After Satan’s test failed, God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before the test began.
James 5:11 says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” Compassion and mercy are of the Lord.
Paul opened his letter to the Christians living in Rome (Italy), Corinth, Phillipi, Thessalonica (all in Greece), Colossae and Ephesus (both in Turkey) with a blessing of grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace is what our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ want for each of us. [1]
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” God answers our prayers in the morning, and throughout the day because He is rich in mercy, great with love and full of grace towards us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!
[1] Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Monday, March 9, 2026
Revelation Prophecies of Battles and of New Life
Unclean spirits of demons prompt kings from the east to come toward Israel for a great battle.
“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:12-14
The great commercial empire of the world is eliminated in an hour. Merchants lament the loss of such a great market.
“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come. For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’” Revelation 18:9-10, 17-18
The kings of the earth and their armies are defeated by the Lord. The beast (a political leader) and the false prophet (a religious leader) are captured and thrown into a lake of fire. Their armies are destroyed. Birds feast on the remains.
“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:19-21
The devil is bound from deceiving the nations for 1,000 years.
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the 1,000 years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3
John sees the souls of those who were beheaded for their witness for Jesus and for the Word of God. They live and reign with Christ 1,000 years. Souls most likely reigning with Christ in heaven.
“Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1,000 years.” Revelation 20:4
After the 1,000 years expire, Satan is released to deceive the nations again. He gathers the nations of the earth to surround the “beloved city” (Jerusalem), but these armies are destroyed by God, and the devil is cast into lake of fire forever.
“Now when the 1,000 years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10
John sees new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem. There is no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. The dwelling place of God is with His people.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:1-4
These things shall come to pass very suddenly. Praise the Lord!
“Then he [the angel] said to me [John], ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.’ He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’” Revelation 22:6, 10, 20
“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:12-14
The great commercial empire of the world is eliminated in an hour. Merchants lament the loss of such a great market.
“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come. For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’” Revelation 18:9-10, 17-18
The kings of the earth and their armies are defeated by the Lord. The beast (a political leader) and the false prophet (a religious leader) are captured and thrown into a lake of fire. Their armies are destroyed. Birds feast on the remains.
“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:19-21
The devil is bound from deceiving the nations for 1,000 years.
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the 1,000 years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3
John sees the souls of those who were beheaded for their witness for Jesus and for the Word of God. They live and reign with Christ 1,000 years. Souls most likely reigning with Christ in heaven.
“Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1,000 years.” Revelation 20:4
After the 1,000 years expire, Satan is released to deceive the nations again. He gathers the nations of the earth to surround the “beloved city” (Jerusalem), but these armies are destroyed by God, and the devil is cast into lake of fire forever.
“Now when the 1,000 years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10
John sees new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem. There is no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. The dwelling place of God is with His people.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:1-4
These things shall come to pass very suddenly. Praise the Lord!
“Then he [the angel] said to me [John], ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.’ He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’” Revelation 22:6, 10, 20
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Overflowing Gladness In God – Psalm 4
“To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have enlarged me in distress. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” Psalm 4:1
After David penned this song by divine inspiration, he gave it to the chief musician for use in worship to God. 1 Chronicles 25:1, 7 tells us that “David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals.” “The number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288.”
In Ephesians 5:19, the Lord says to “speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
David asks God, “Hear me when I call.” He wants mercy. He wants to be heard by God.
He acknowledges that his righteousness is from God. Both prophet and apostle proclaim this Gospel. Jeremiah 33:16 says, “In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” In 1 Corinthians 1:30, Paul wrote, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness...” And in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul wrote, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
The Lord enlarged David in distress. Some translations say, “relieved,” but the Hebrew word is רָחַב (rachab) which means to broaden or enlarge. In Psalm 119, David testifies of God using afflictions to enlarge him... make him better. Psalm 119:67 – Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.” Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn Your statutes.” Psalm 119:75 – “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.” Psalm 119:107 – “I am afflicted very much. Revive me, O Lord, according to Your Word.”
Hebrews 5:8 says of Jesus, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” This verse speaks of when Jesus walked among us in human flesh. His flesh was severely tested by fasting for 40 days, by a rocking boat on a stormy sea, by scourging, beatings and crucifixion.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, the Lord spoke to Paul during a time of distress. He said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Thus, Paul wrote to other Christians and said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
“How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah!” Psalm 4:2
He asks the sons of men how long will they continue to be ashamed to glorify God.
Verse 2 of the hymn “Jesus! And Shall It Ever Be” by Joseph Grigg, (1722-1768) says:
“Ashamed of Jesus? Sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star.
He sheds the beams of light divine
O’er this benighted soul of mine.”
Professing your faith in Jesus produces great joy for your soul!
“How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?” In Philippians 3:18-20, Paul lamented, “Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
People who have not experienced the love of Christ coming to and through them, may think they are “blessed” to enjoy the pleasures of this world while others, like Paul, labor to bring the Kingdom of God to people, but not so. Paul wept for those whose only god is their belly and whose end is destruction.
“But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly. The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” Psalm 4:3
Hebrews 7:26 says that Jesus was set apart... “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.” It is in Christ that our sins are forgiven. He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit. His Spirit reveals truth to us. He empowers us to walk and talk like He walked and talked.
The Lord hears me when I call. Jesus said to the Father in John 11:41-42, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
The setting apart of a person to be godly is a work of God’s grace. In John 15:16, Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He may give you.” In John 17:6, 8, Jesus said to our Father, “I have manifested Your Name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.” The sign of a person set apart for God is his or her faith in Christ.
“Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Selah!” Psalm 4:4
Ephesians 4:26 says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
In the prayer that the Lord taught us, we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive the trespasses of others.” We have offended God greatly by our sins, and yet, He forgave us. Just think of Jesus being crucified unjustly by wicked men! He asked the Father to forgive those who tortured Him and were bringing about His death. “Lord Jesus, please help us to be so gracious!”
David said to meditate within your heart on your bed. I find that when I meditate on and thank God for all the good He has done for me in a day, I fall to sleep peacefully. In Psalm 63:6, David remembered God while on his sick bed.
“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4:5
Christ offered to God the Father a perfect sacrifice for us. Hebrews 7:28 says, “For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 12:22-24 says, “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Christians trust in the righteous sacrifice of Christ to make us perfect before God.
“There are many who say, ‘Who will show us any good?’ Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.” Psalm 4:6-7
The flesh wants to see food. Food is the good it seeks. But the soul longs for communion with the Creator of food. Consumption of sumptuous food never satisfies the hunger of the soul as He does. Only fellowship with Christ yields this type of exceedingly great overflow of gladness.
The Matthew Henry Commentary says, “David wanted to see the light of God’s countenance. He sets himself apart by what He seeks. The wealth of the world will never satisfy my soul. Christ taught us to pray, ‘Our Father.’ In God's favor there is enough for us all and we shall have never the less for others sharing in what we have.”
“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep. For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
After David penned this song by divine inspiration, he gave it to the chief musician for use in worship to God. 1 Chronicles 25:1, 7 tells us that “David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals.” “The number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288.”
In Ephesians 5:19, the Lord says to “speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
David asks God, “Hear me when I call.” He wants mercy. He wants to be heard by God.
He acknowledges that his righteousness is from God. Both prophet and apostle proclaim this Gospel. Jeremiah 33:16 says, “In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” In 1 Corinthians 1:30, Paul wrote, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness...” And in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul wrote, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
The Lord enlarged David in distress. Some translations say, “relieved,” but the Hebrew word is רָחַב (rachab) which means to broaden or enlarge. In Psalm 119, David testifies of God using afflictions to enlarge him... make him better. Psalm 119:67 – Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.” Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn Your statutes.” Psalm 119:75 – “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.” Psalm 119:107 – “I am afflicted very much. Revive me, O Lord, according to Your Word.”
Hebrews 5:8 says of Jesus, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” This verse speaks of when Jesus walked among us in human flesh. His flesh was severely tested by fasting for 40 days, by a rocking boat on a stormy sea, by scourging, beatings and crucifixion.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, the Lord spoke to Paul during a time of distress. He said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Thus, Paul wrote to other Christians and said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
“How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah!” Psalm 4:2
He asks the sons of men how long will they continue to be ashamed to glorify God.
Verse 2 of the hymn “Jesus! And Shall It Ever Be” by Joseph Grigg, (1722-1768) says:
“Ashamed of Jesus? Sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star.
He sheds the beams of light divine
O’er this benighted soul of mine.”
Professing your faith in Jesus produces great joy for your soul!
“How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?” In Philippians 3:18-20, Paul lamented, “Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
People who have not experienced the love of Christ coming to and through them, may think they are “blessed” to enjoy the pleasures of this world while others, like Paul, labor to bring the Kingdom of God to people, but not so. Paul wept for those whose only god is their belly and whose end is destruction.
“But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly. The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” Psalm 4:3
Hebrews 7:26 says that Jesus was set apart... “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.” It is in Christ that our sins are forgiven. He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit. His Spirit reveals truth to us. He empowers us to walk and talk like He walked and talked.
The Lord hears me when I call. Jesus said to the Father in John 11:41-42, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
The setting apart of a person to be godly is a work of God’s grace. In John 15:16, Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He may give you.” In John 17:6, 8, Jesus said to our Father, “I have manifested Your Name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.” The sign of a person set apart for God is his or her faith in Christ.
“Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Selah!” Psalm 4:4
Ephesians 4:26 says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
In the prayer that the Lord taught us, we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive the trespasses of others.” We have offended God greatly by our sins, and yet, He forgave us. Just think of Jesus being crucified unjustly by wicked men! He asked the Father to forgive those who tortured Him and were bringing about His death. “Lord Jesus, please help us to be so gracious!”
David said to meditate within your heart on your bed. I find that when I meditate on and thank God for all the good He has done for me in a day, I fall to sleep peacefully. In Psalm 63:6, David remembered God while on his sick bed.
“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4:5
Christ offered to God the Father a perfect sacrifice for us. Hebrews 7:28 says, “For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 12:22-24 says, “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Christians trust in the righteous sacrifice of Christ to make us perfect before God.
“There are many who say, ‘Who will show us any good?’ Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.” Psalm 4:6-7
The flesh wants to see food. Food is the good it seeks. But the soul longs for communion with the Creator of food. Consumption of sumptuous food never satisfies the hunger of the soul as He does. Only fellowship with Christ yields this type of exceedingly great overflow of gladness.
The Matthew Henry Commentary says, “David wanted to see the light of God’s countenance. He sets himself apart by what He seeks. The wealth of the world will never satisfy my soul. Christ taught us to pray, ‘Our Father.’ In God's favor there is enough for us all and we shall have never the less for others sharing in what we have.”
“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep. For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
It is not uncommon for people to think about eternity before falling to sleep. Have you heard the prayer, “Now, I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” There’s nothing we can do once we are dead to transfer our soul from earth to heaven. Only God can do that! That’s why having a personal relationship with Christ yields gladness. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” In Christ, we have the inner witness that our soul is in God’s hands, those nailed scarred hands, and He will bring us to be with Him when we breathe our last breath here on earth.
It will be for us who believe in Jesus as David said in Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Jesus My Glory and Countenance Lifter – Psalm 3
The introduction to Psalm 3 says, “A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.”
According to 2 Samuel 15:30, as David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept with his head uncovered, and his feet bare. Then, the Spirit of the Lord gave him this song. The Lord is gracious to give His servants prophetic words amidst extreme trials.
In 2 Samuel 12:9-11, the Lord had said to David, “You despised the commandment of the Lord... You have killed Uriah the Hittite... you have taken his wife to be your wife... Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house.” Absalom’s coup d’état is one of the adversities.
“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘there is no help for him in God.’ Selah!” Psalm 3:1-2
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, took the adulteries, the murders and every other sin of humankind upon Himself. He was surrounded by many enemies. They cried, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” They continuously increased who troubled Him! They were malicious. They said, “He saved others. Himself He cannot save.” Their words echo the words of David’s enemies who said, “There is no help for Him in God.”
Enemies endeavor to shake our faith in God’s grace and love. They want us to concede to them.
In 2 Kings 19:14, when King Hezekiah received a threatening letter from King Sennacherib, he spread out the letter before the Lord. He asked God to take note of what his enemy predicted. The Lord delivered Hezekiah and his nation from Sennacherib. After that, Sennacherib’s own sons slew him.
The word “selah” occurs frequently in the book of Psalms. Matthew Henry Commentary says it refers to a pause in the music for reflection. As if to say, “Take time for such a thought as this.”
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” Psalm 3:3
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 speaks of turning to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 John 2:2 says that Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Jesus shields believers in Him from the wrath of God that we would otherwise receive for our sins.
Jesus Christ is also the glory and the lifter of our heads. The devil wants to ruin our reputation. Death wants to end our lives. Think of it! Death is the ultimate insult to our life. Praise be to God! Jesus resurrects us who believe in Him from the dead and raises us to glory. The ultimate blessing!
“I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah!” Psalm 3:4
Jesus also cried unto God for us. He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus was crucified on the hill of Golgotha. The Father heard His Son’s prayer from that holy hill. God forgives and saves whosoever calls upon His Name and professes faith in Jesus.
“I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.” Psalm 3:5
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 says, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
The Lord Jesus resurrected people from the dead in the Gospels. He too, resurrected after being dead. In John 11:25, He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
“I will not be afraid of 10,000’s of people who have set themselves against me all around.” Psalm 3:6
We do not need to be afraid of 10,000’s of people because the Lord is the One who rescues us. He rises up and brings them down with a word from His mouth.
“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone. You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.” Psalm 3:7
In Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30, Jesus spoke of hypocrites and wicked people being cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Continuously gnashing one’s teeth ruins them. The strike on the cheekbone is a rebuke. They should not have rejected God’s Son. They should have believed in Him.
“Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah!” Psalm 3:8
In Acts 2:37, on the Day of Pentecost, people were cut to the heart by the Gospel. They asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” In Acts 2:38-39, Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Whoever wants the blessing of God upon his or her life should repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit and call upon the Lord today, and every day! Do you want to be saved? Salvation belongs to the Lord. Every good and perfect gift comes from God above.
According to 2 Samuel 15:30, as David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept with his head uncovered, and his feet bare. Then, the Spirit of the Lord gave him this song. The Lord is gracious to give His servants prophetic words amidst extreme trials.
In 2 Samuel 12:9-11, the Lord had said to David, “You despised the commandment of the Lord... You have killed Uriah the Hittite... you have taken his wife to be your wife... Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house.” Absalom’s coup d’état is one of the adversities.
“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘there is no help for him in God.’ Selah!” Psalm 3:1-2
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, took the adulteries, the murders and every other sin of humankind upon Himself. He was surrounded by many enemies. They cried, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” They continuously increased who troubled Him! They were malicious. They said, “He saved others. Himself He cannot save.” Their words echo the words of David’s enemies who said, “There is no help for Him in God.”
Enemies endeavor to shake our faith in God’s grace and love. They want us to concede to them.
In 2 Kings 19:14, when King Hezekiah received a threatening letter from King Sennacherib, he spread out the letter before the Lord. He asked God to take note of what his enemy predicted. The Lord delivered Hezekiah and his nation from Sennacherib. After that, Sennacherib’s own sons slew him.
The word “selah” occurs frequently in the book of Psalms. Matthew Henry Commentary says it refers to a pause in the music for reflection. As if to say, “Take time for such a thought as this.”
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” Psalm 3:3
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 speaks of turning to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 John 2:2 says that Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Jesus shields believers in Him from the wrath of God that we would otherwise receive for our sins.
Jesus Christ is also the glory and the lifter of our heads. The devil wants to ruin our reputation. Death wants to end our lives. Think of it! Death is the ultimate insult to our life. Praise be to God! Jesus resurrects us who believe in Him from the dead and raises us to glory. The ultimate blessing!
“I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah!” Psalm 3:4
Jesus also cried unto God for us. He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus was crucified on the hill of Golgotha. The Father heard His Son’s prayer from that holy hill. God forgives and saves whosoever calls upon His Name and professes faith in Jesus.
“I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.” Psalm 3:5
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 says, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
The Lord Jesus resurrected people from the dead in the Gospels. He too, resurrected after being dead. In John 11:25, He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
“I will not be afraid of 10,000’s of people who have set themselves against me all around.” Psalm 3:6
We do not need to be afraid of 10,000’s of people because the Lord is the One who rescues us. He rises up and brings them down with a word from His mouth.
“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone. You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.” Psalm 3:7
In Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30, Jesus spoke of hypocrites and wicked people being cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Continuously gnashing one’s teeth ruins them. The strike on the cheekbone is a rebuke. They should not have rejected God’s Son. They should have believed in Him.
“Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah!” Psalm 3:8
In Acts 2:37, on the Day of Pentecost, people were cut to the heart by the Gospel. They asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” In Acts 2:38-39, Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Whoever wants the blessing of God upon his or her life should repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit and call upon the Lord today, and every day! Do you want to be saved? Salvation belongs to the Lord. Every good and perfect gift comes from God above.
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Kiss The Son – Psalm 2
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’” Psalm 2:1-7
In Acts 4:25, Peter attributes Psalm 2:1-2 to God who spoke through the mouth of David. In Acts 13:33, Paul mentions the second Psalm and quotes verse 7 as being fulfilled in Jesus. In Psalm 2:7, God speaks of His begotten Son, and commands people to kiss His Son to avoid His wrath.
Hebrews 1:1-5 says that God spoke to us in these last days by His Son. God made the worlds through Him. He is the express image of God. He upholds all things by the word of His power. He purged our sin. He sits at the right hand of Majesty, and quotes Psalm 2:7, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” Hebrews 5:5 says that Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest but God said to Him, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.”
God the Father says, “You are My Son, today, I have begotten You.” God spoke these words over Jesus during His baptism and during His transfiguration. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”
Why do the nations rage and plot against the Lord and His Anointed One Jesus the Christ? David is surprised at their folly, and angry with their rebellion.
In John 18:36, Jesus told Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight....” In John 15:24-25, Jesus said to His disciples, “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’”
Jesus perfectly obeyed the will of His Father. His presence exposed sin that most people preferred to be undetected and unchallenged. Did Jesus have to live a holy life? Yes, because otherwise, He would have been unfit to be the perfect sinless sacrifice for our sins.
What about us? Do we need Jesus to convict us of our sins? The answer is yes.
Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save. Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Sin separates us from God.
Christ’s death on the cross, says that sin is unacceptable to God. Sin is so bad that it cost God’s Son extreme pain to remove it’s curse from us. Isaiah 52:14 states that His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. He was a bloody mess.
Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus experienced excruciating pain for our sins. In fact, the word excruciating stems from the word for crucifixion.
Christ has bands and cords for us, but they are cords and bands of love. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
The people referred to in Psalm 2 break asunder God’s bands and cords, because they want to be free to sin, but sin is slavery not freedom. We can choose to sin, but we cannot choose sin’s consequences. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Lord does not want to condemn us. He wants to save us.
To oppose God is to oppose the One who loves us more than anyone else. To oppose God is to oppose the only One who can save us from hell and bring us to heaven. Not a good idea!
After the world has done its worst against God and His Christ, God will still be God. 1 John 2:17 says, “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
In Matthew 16:16, after Peter professed to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus said in Matthew 16:17, “On this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” According to Revelation 19:10, the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. This prophetic truth will never change no matter who tries to deny it or cover it up.
The second and third stanza of Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God” goes like this: “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing. You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth His Name, from age to age the same; and He must win the battle.” “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.”
The attempts of Christ’s enemies are easily ridiculed. God laughs at them as a company of fools.
God says, “I have set My King.” Matthew Henry Commentary says, “The kingdom of the Messiah is founded upon a decree, an eternal decree, of God the Father. It was not a sudden resolve, it was not the trial of an experiment, but the result of the counsels of the divine wisdom and the determinations of the divine will, before all worlds, neither of which can be altered.”
In regards to His resurrection, Jesus said in John 10:18, “I have power to lay My life down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” In regards to consistency, Jesus said in John 14:31, “As the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.”
In response to the obedience of His Son, God says in Isaiah 53:12, “Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, because He made intercession for the transgressors.” Revelation 11:15 says that the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ.
“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Psalm 2:8-12
“You shall break them (those that oppose God’s kingdom) with a rod of iron. This was fulfilled in part after the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees persisted in unbelief and in bitter enmity against God’s anointed one, Jesus Christ. They were destroyed by the Romans. God foretold of the Romans in Daniel 2:40 when He spoke of an empire made of iron. In the year 70 AD, Roman Emperor Titus was like a rod of iron to Jerusalem. He slew 1.1 million Jews, enslaved 9,700 and reduced their temple to rubble.
1 Corinthians 15:24 says, “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. Psalm 110:5-6 says, “The Lord is at Your right hand. He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.” Evil in this world has an expiration date. It will come to pass suddenly.
Christ is powerful. His enemies are weak before Him. He has a rod of iron to crush the cruel.
God commands kings to be wise and judges to be instructed. He commands them to serve His Son with fear and rejoice with trembling. In Philippians 2:12, God says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Kings and judges should rejoice in Christ not reject Him.
God commands us to kiss the Son. Not with a betraying kiss, as Judas kissed Jesus, and as all hypocrites, who pretend to honor Him do, but with a kiss of adoration. With a kiss of agreement and appreciation! End the quarrel! Stop the fight! To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission here on earth. To proclaim His Son to people pleases Him.
Scripture tells us that idolators kissed their idols. In 1 Kings 19:18, God said to Elijah, “I have reserved 7,000 in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” In Hosea 13:2, God says, “Now they sin more and more, and have made for themselves molded images, idols of their silver, according to their skill. All of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, ‘Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!’” If idolators kiss manmade gods which are not gods at all, how much more should we kiss toward the Son of God who gave His life for our salvation on Calvary’s cross.
Psalm 2:12 says, “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”
Last night, I listened to the conversion testimony of an Iranian official’s daughter. For the first 23 years of her life, she dutifully obeyed the laws of Islam. She recited prayers frequently daily, memorized large portions of the Koran, lived in isolation and under the threat of death if she disobeyed the rules. Her father promised her hand in marriage to a man she hated. Islam did nothing for her heart. Then, one day, Jesus appeared to her in a vision. And after that, He brought her into fellowship with Christians. Later, she found out that the Lord had appeared to her younger sister as well, and she led her sister to profess faith in Jesus as well. By the grace of God, and with the help of Christians, she escaped from those who would have killed her. She testified that she is just one of many Iranians who have had such experiences. Jesus saw how oppressed and unhappy her people were and came to their rescue in a miraculous way. Praise the Lord!
In Acts 4:25, Peter attributes Psalm 2:1-2 to God who spoke through the mouth of David. In Acts 13:33, Paul mentions the second Psalm and quotes verse 7 as being fulfilled in Jesus. In Psalm 2:7, God speaks of His begotten Son, and commands people to kiss His Son to avoid His wrath.
Hebrews 1:1-5 says that God spoke to us in these last days by His Son. God made the worlds through Him. He is the express image of God. He upholds all things by the word of His power. He purged our sin. He sits at the right hand of Majesty, and quotes Psalm 2:7, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” Hebrews 5:5 says that Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest but God said to Him, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.”
God the Father says, “You are My Son, today, I have begotten You.” God spoke these words over Jesus during His baptism and during His transfiguration. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”
Why do the nations rage and plot against the Lord and His Anointed One Jesus the Christ? David is surprised at their folly, and angry with their rebellion.
In John 18:36, Jesus told Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight....” In John 15:24-25, Jesus said to His disciples, “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’”
Jesus perfectly obeyed the will of His Father. His presence exposed sin that most people preferred to be undetected and unchallenged. Did Jesus have to live a holy life? Yes, because otherwise, He would have been unfit to be the perfect sinless sacrifice for our sins.
What about us? Do we need Jesus to convict us of our sins? The answer is yes.
Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save. Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Sin separates us from God.
Christ’s death on the cross, says that sin is unacceptable to God. Sin is so bad that it cost God’s Son extreme pain to remove it’s curse from us. Isaiah 52:14 states that His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. He was a bloody mess.
Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus experienced excruciating pain for our sins. In fact, the word excruciating stems from the word for crucifixion.
Christ has bands and cords for us, but they are cords and bands of love. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
The people referred to in Psalm 2 break asunder God’s bands and cords, because they want to be free to sin, but sin is slavery not freedom. We can choose to sin, but we cannot choose sin’s consequences. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Lord does not want to condemn us. He wants to save us.
To oppose God is to oppose the One who loves us more than anyone else. To oppose God is to oppose the only One who can save us from hell and bring us to heaven. Not a good idea!
After the world has done its worst against God and His Christ, God will still be God. 1 John 2:17 says, “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
In Matthew 16:16, after Peter professed to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus said in Matthew 16:17, “On this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” According to Revelation 19:10, the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. This prophetic truth will never change no matter who tries to deny it or cover it up.
The second and third stanza of Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God” goes like this: “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing. You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth His Name, from age to age the same; and He must win the battle.” “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.”
The attempts of Christ’s enemies are easily ridiculed. God laughs at them as a company of fools.
God says, “I have set My King.” Matthew Henry Commentary says, “The kingdom of the Messiah is founded upon a decree, an eternal decree, of God the Father. It was not a sudden resolve, it was not the trial of an experiment, but the result of the counsels of the divine wisdom and the determinations of the divine will, before all worlds, neither of which can be altered.”
In regards to His resurrection, Jesus said in John 10:18, “I have power to lay My life down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” In regards to consistency, Jesus said in John 14:31, “As the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.”
In response to the obedience of His Son, God says in Isaiah 53:12, “Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, because He made intercession for the transgressors.” Revelation 11:15 says that the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ.
“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Psalm 2:8-12
“You shall break them (those that oppose God’s kingdom) with a rod of iron. This was fulfilled in part after the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees persisted in unbelief and in bitter enmity against God’s anointed one, Jesus Christ. They were destroyed by the Romans. God foretold of the Romans in Daniel 2:40 when He spoke of an empire made of iron. In the year 70 AD, Roman Emperor Titus was like a rod of iron to Jerusalem. He slew 1.1 million Jews, enslaved 9,700 and reduced their temple to rubble.
1 Corinthians 15:24 says, “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. Psalm 110:5-6 says, “The Lord is at Your right hand. He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.” Evil in this world has an expiration date. It will come to pass suddenly.
Christ is powerful. His enemies are weak before Him. He has a rod of iron to crush the cruel.
God commands kings to be wise and judges to be instructed. He commands them to serve His Son with fear and rejoice with trembling. In Philippians 2:12, God says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Kings and judges should rejoice in Christ not reject Him.
God commands us to kiss the Son. Not with a betraying kiss, as Judas kissed Jesus, and as all hypocrites, who pretend to honor Him do, but with a kiss of adoration. With a kiss of agreement and appreciation! End the quarrel! Stop the fight! To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission here on earth. To proclaim His Son to people pleases Him.
Scripture tells us that idolators kissed their idols. In 1 Kings 19:18, God said to Elijah, “I have reserved 7,000 in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” In Hosea 13:2, God says, “Now they sin more and more, and have made for themselves molded images, idols of their silver, according to their skill. All of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, ‘Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!’” If idolators kiss manmade gods which are not gods at all, how much more should we kiss toward the Son of God who gave His life for our salvation on Calvary’s cross.
Psalm 2:12 says, “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”
Last night, I listened to the conversion testimony of an Iranian official’s daughter. For the first 23 years of her life, she dutifully obeyed the laws of Islam. She recited prayers frequently daily, memorized large portions of the Koran, lived in isolation and under the threat of death if she disobeyed the rules. Her father promised her hand in marriage to a man she hated. Islam did nothing for her heart. Then, one day, Jesus appeared to her in a vision. And after that, He brought her into fellowship with Christians. Later, she found out that the Lord had appeared to her younger sister as well, and she led her sister to profess faith in Jesus as well. By the grace of God, and with the help of Christians, she escaped from those who would have killed her. She testified that she is just one of many Iranians who have had such experiences. Jesus saw how oppressed and unhappy her people were and came to their rescue in a miraculous way. Praise the Lord!
In Psalm 2:7, God says, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” Are we asking the Lord for the nations? Are we praying for them? The Lord has blessed me with maps of the nations of the world on my computer. He leads me to pray for the people of the nations that they would be an inheritance for Him who is worthy of them, that is, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Glory to God!
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Friday, March 6, 2026
Vibrant For Christ – Psalm 1
The Matthew Henry Commentary says of Psalm 1. “The Lord knows those that are His by name, but we must know them by their character.” “The character of a good man is here given by the rules he chooses to walk by.”
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1
Sin invites by passers to walk with it, then, stand with it, and finally sit down with it.
Psalms 119:115 says, “Depart from me, you evildoers for I will keep the commandments of my God.” When I was a teenager, the Lord led me to say to a “friend” who wanted me to do evil, “I fear God, I do not want to go to hell.” After he departed from me, I realized he was not a true friend. He was a user and abuser. God spared me from him.
The devil advised our first parents to disregard God’s commandment. Revelation 12:17 says that Satan wars against those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are they that do His [God’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Psalms 112:1 says, “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments.”
Proverbs 3:34 says that God scorns the scorners but gives grace to the lowly.
The godly don’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly. They prefer to walk with Jesus. They don’t remain where sinners sin. They don’t sit comfortably with those who scorn God’s Word
The Matthew Henry Commentary says, “The word which we translate ungodly signifies such as are unsettled, aim at no certain end and walk by no certain rule, but are at the command of every lust and at the beckoning of every temptation.”
The Heavenly Father teaches us to value our life. To protect and cherish it!
The devil wants us to destroy ourselves. Psalm 17:4 says, “Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.” In Revelation 9:1-11, Apollyon, which means Destroyer, is the king of the bottomless pit. Psalm 106:36-38 says those who worship idols worship demons. In 1 Kings 18:28, idolators cut themselves with knives until their blood gushed out. In Mark 5:1-3, an unclean spirit made a man act so violently that people could not bind him with chains. In Mark 9:17-18, an evil spirit caused a man’s son to harm himself. In Matthew 17:15, the man said it caused his son to fall into fire and water often. Jesus casted the evil spirit out.
We should guard our relationship with God above all else.
“But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law, he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2
In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Jesus is the living Word. As we abide in Him by meditating on His Word and aligning our lives with Him, He produces His fruit in us.
Psalms 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusts in Him.”
Psalms 144:15 says, “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”
Luke 11:27-28 says that a certain woman from a crowd raised her voice and said to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” Jesus responded, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus advised us, “Enter the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go there. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.”
In John 14:6, Jesus is the way. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3
The blessedness of the godly is illustrated by a fruitful and flourishing tree. God’s blessing produces tangible results. Isaiah 61:3 says that a tree of righteousness is a planting of the Lord. Psalms 46:4 speaks of a river whose water make glad the city of our God. God supplies strength and vigor to us by His Word and His Spirit. He keeps us green so we don’t wither.
“The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1:4-6
On the flipside is the person who is careless about their relationship with God. Living to sin is not the example that Jesus set for us. Proverbs 21:17 says, “He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”
Jesus poured out Himself in love for people. God the Father was well pleased with Him. Jesus helps His followers to die to selfish ambitions so we can love God and our neighbor.
There is a way of escape from the deadly love of pleasure, and ungodliness. It is via repentance of sin, asking God the Father to forgive our sin and professing faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Meditation and alignment with God’s Word brings forth good fruit. Your vibrancy won’t wither. He will prosper your work.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1
Sin invites by passers to walk with it, then, stand with it, and finally sit down with it.
Psalms 119:115 says, “Depart from me, you evildoers for I will keep the commandments of my God.” When I was a teenager, the Lord led me to say to a “friend” who wanted me to do evil, “I fear God, I do not want to go to hell.” After he departed from me, I realized he was not a true friend. He was a user and abuser. God spared me from him.
The devil advised our first parents to disregard God’s commandment. Revelation 12:17 says that Satan wars against those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are they that do His [God’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Psalms 112:1 says, “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments.”
Proverbs 3:34 says that God scorns the scorners but gives grace to the lowly.
The godly don’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly. They prefer to walk with Jesus. They don’t remain where sinners sin. They don’t sit comfortably with those who scorn God’s Word
The Matthew Henry Commentary says, “The word which we translate ungodly signifies such as are unsettled, aim at no certain end and walk by no certain rule, but are at the command of every lust and at the beckoning of every temptation.”
The Heavenly Father teaches us to value our life. To protect and cherish it!
The devil wants us to destroy ourselves. Psalm 17:4 says, “Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.” In Revelation 9:1-11, Apollyon, which means Destroyer, is the king of the bottomless pit. Psalm 106:36-38 says those who worship idols worship demons. In 1 Kings 18:28, idolators cut themselves with knives until their blood gushed out. In Mark 5:1-3, an unclean spirit made a man act so violently that people could not bind him with chains. In Mark 9:17-18, an evil spirit caused a man’s son to harm himself. In Matthew 17:15, the man said it caused his son to fall into fire and water often. Jesus casted the evil spirit out.
We should guard our relationship with God above all else.
“But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law, he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2
In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Jesus is the living Word. As we abide in Him by meditating on His Word and aligning our lives with Him, He produces His fruit in us.
Psalms 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusts in Him.”
Psalms 144:15 says, “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”
Luke 11:27-28 says that a certain woman from a crowd raised her voice and said to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” Jesus responded, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus advised us, “Enter the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go there. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.”
In John 14:6, Jesus is the way. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3
The blessedness of the godly is illustrated by a fruitful and flourishing tree. God’s blessing produces tangible results. Isaiah 61:3 says that a tree of righteousness is a planting of the Lord. Psalms 46:4 speaks of a river whose water make glad the city of our God. God supplies strength and vigor to us by His Word and His Spirit. He keeps us green so we don’t wither.
“The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1:4-6
On the flipside is the person who is careless about their relationship with God. Living to sin is not the example that Jesus set for us. Proverbs 21:17 says, “He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”
Jesus poured out Himself in love for people. God the Father was well pleased with Him. Jesus helps His followers to die to selfish ambitions so we can love God and our neighbor.
There is a way of escape from the deadly love of pleasure, and ungodliness. It is via repentance of sin, asking God the Father to forgive our sin and professing faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Meditation and alignment with God’s Word brings forth good fruit. Your vibrancy won’t wither. He will prosper your work.
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
JESUS is RISEN and WITH US – Matthew 28
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.” Matthew 28:1-3
They were on their way to the tomb of Jesus when a great earthquake happened. Not a little tremor! I have experienced tremors twice. The ground felt like Jello for a moment. A great earthquake would have really shook things up. In a sense, this earthquake validates what God was doing! God was shaking things up.
This was the second earthquake in three days’ time. Matthew 27:50-55 tell us that there was an earthquake when Jesus yielded up His Spirit. “Rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” The Good Friday quake caused hard rocks to break into pieces.
Do we have any hard rocks in our lives that need broken up?
Graves were opened! This opening of graves was a good thing. Saints arose from the dead and appeared to many after Jesus’ resurrection. This created a dilemma for the ones trying to keep Jesus buried. Not only did Jesus resurrect from the dead, so did many others. People who died in the Lord, now appeared to many. Empirical evidence that Jesus was and is God’s Son.
An angel of the Lord descended from heaven. I see a connection between this angel and the earthquake. Jesus reveals three earthquakes in Revelation 6:12, 8:5, 16:18 that are connected to angels releasing judgments on earth. In a sense, the resurrection of Jesus is a judgment. The present delusional world condemned Jesus, but God raised Him from the dead. His resurrection affirmed that He is God’s Son and the Savior of the world. His resurrection means Jesus is true.
That great stone that so proudly stood against Jesus, became a perch for a glorious angel. The angel’s countenance was like lightning. Extremely bright! His clothing as white as snow. When the guards saw him, they shook and became like dead men.
“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring His disciples Word.” Matthew 28:4-8
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid.” He didn’t say that to the guards. They needed to be afraid. The angel said to the women, “I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Perhaps, they wondered what Jesus looked like. He had been beaten, bruised, bloodied and buried. In Isaiah 52:14, the Bible says, “His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.”
The angel showed the women the inside of the tomb... EMPTY! WOW! No other founder of a religion left behind an empty tomb.
The angel said to the women, “Go quickly... How should they go? ...Quickly! This reminds me when David faced the giant Goliath. Scripture says that David ran at him. May the Lord help us to run with the Gospel. So many people need to hear it.
The angel told the women to tell the disciples of Jesus that He is risen from the dead. They became the first people to preach the Gospel after the resurrection. The angel told them, “Jesus is going before you into Galilee.” Galilee is a fishing area 80 miles from Jerusalem.
“And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So, they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’” Matthew 28:9-10
How amazing to meet an angel! Then, while experiencing a mix of fear and immense joy, they met Jesus. They worshipped Him! Jesus greeted them with the word... “Rejoice!” He gave them permission to be happy! Leave behind sadness! It is a new day. It is a new beginning!
How did the women respond? They held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. They were happy to see Him! Jesus told them, “Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” This is the same message the angel told them. It is the same message Jesus told His disciples during the Passover meal in Matthew 26:32, He told them, “After I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
“Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Matthew 28:11-15
How many people are being paid by corrupt officials today to spread lies about Jesus?
“Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.” Matthew 28:16-17
What is the significance of returning to Galilee? Galilee is the place where everything began for them. In Galilee, they left everything to follow Jesus. Returning to Galilee would trigger memories of those earlier days. Now, they could view His past miracles and teachings from a post-resurrection perspective. When the disciples saw Jesus, they worshiped Him.
“Some doubted!” Faith is a gift! It comes from God! Once, I heard a Jewish man say, “I hear everything you are saying about Jesus. It is like it is right here.” He put his hand about four inches in front of his eyes. His words reminded me of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, “Their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Those who doubted heard the right message, but they needed to turn toward Jesus for help to believe it. Conversion and salvation is of the Lord!
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.’” Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus spoke of the Trinity when He called His disciples to baptize people in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Priests in the Old Testament washed in a basin before proceeding to do their priestly services for God and others. According to Revelation 1:8 and 2 Peter 2:9, Christ “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.” We are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, proclaiming the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Therefore, we do gladly accept and act on the Lord’s command to be baptized in the Name of the Triune God. As we do what He commands, He fills us with His Holy Spirit. Acts 5:32 says that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him.
Jesus commanded His disciples to make more disciples. The goal is to teach what Jesus taught.
Discipling requires reliance on the Lord. Sometimes, disciples take two steps forward and one back. They promise but don’t do. They say they understand but don’t. They hold onto bad habits and bad relationships. How often is God exasperated with people in the Bible? We should daily pray to God for our disciples and for ourselves.
With God all things are possible! Interestingly, it has been noted that the first two letters of the word GOD from left to right are G-O and the last two letters of GOD from right to left are D-O.
Nick Vujicic is a man who was born without limbs. He has spoken over 3,500 times in more than 84 countries. His work has reached millions of people globally. He has addressed 10 national governments and met 31 Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Prime Ministers. He has a saying that he often repeats, “When you put a GO in front of DISABLED, it spells GOD IS ABLED.”
The last prayer in the Bible is recorded in Revelation 22:20-21. The prayer is a response to Jesus saying, “Surely I am coming quickly.” The prayer is, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Then, the last line of the Bible is a blessing: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
The good news is that Jesus is alive and He is with us! G.K. Chesterton was once asked, “What would you do differently if you knew that Jesus, the Son of God, was standing right behind you.” Chesterton retorted, “He is!”
Before our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He told His disciples, and by extension all of us who believe in Him, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Knowing that Jesus is with us helps us to go forward each day despite facing great challenges. The Lord calls us to place our concerns in His hands, and His promise to us in Psalm 138:8 is, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever!”
They were on their way to the tomb of Jesus when a great earthquake happened. Not a little tremor! I have experienced tremors twice. The ground felt like Jello for a moment. A great earthquake would have really shook things up. In a sense, this earthquake validates what God was doing! God was shaking things up.
This was the second earthquake in three days’ time. Matthew 27:50-55 tell us that there was an earthquake when Jesus yielded up His Spirit. “Rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” The Good Friday quake caused hard rocks to break into pieces.
Do we have any hard rocks in our lives that need broken up?
Graves were opened! This opening of graves was a good thing. Saints arose from the dead and appeared to many after Jesus’ resurrection. This created a dilemma for the ones trying to keep Jesus buried. Not only did Jesus resurrect from the dead, so did many others. People who died in the Lord, now appeared to many. Empirical evidence that Jesus was and is God’s Son.
An angel of the Lord descended from heaven. I see a connection between this angel and the earthquake. Jesus reveals three earthquakes in Revelation 6:12, 8:5, 16:18 that are connected to angels releasing judgments on earth. In a sense, the resurrection of Jesus is a judgment. The present delusional world condemned Jesus, but God raised Him from the dead. His resurrection affirmed that He is God’s Son and the Savior of the world. His resurrection means Jesus is true.
That great stone that so proudly stood against Jesus, became a perch for a glorious angel. The angel’s countenance was like lightning. Extremely bright! His clothing as white as snow. When the guards saw him, they shook and became like dead men.
“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring His disciples Word.” Matthew 28:4-8
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid.” He didn’t say that to the guards. They needed to be afraid. The angel said to the women, “I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Perhaps, they wondered what Jesus looked like. He had been beaten, bruised, bloodied and buried. In Isaiah 52:14, the Bible says, “His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.”
The angel showed the women the inside of the tomb... EMPTY! WOW! No other founder of a religion left behind an empty tomb.
The angel said to the women, “Go quickly... How should they go? ...Quickly! This reminds me when David faced the giant Goliath. Scripture says that David ran at him. May the Lord help us to run with the Gospel. So many people need to hear it.
The angel told the women to tell the disciples of Jesus that He is risen from the dead. They became the first people to preach the Gospel after the resurrection. The angel told them, “Jesus is going before you into Galilee.” Galilee is a fishing area 80 miles from Jerusalem.
“And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So, they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’” Matthew 28:9-10
How amazing to meet an angel! Then, while experiencing a mix of fear and immense joy, they met Jesus. They worshipped Him! Jesus greeted them with the word... “Rejoice!” He gave them permission to be happy! Leave behind sadness! It is a new day. It is a new beginning!
How did the women respond? They held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. They were happy to see Him! Jesus told them, “Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” This is the same message the angel told them. It is the same message Jesus told His disciples during the Passover meal in Matthew 26:32, He told them, “After I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
“Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Matthew 28:11-15
How many people are being paid by corrupt officials today to spread lies about Jesus?
“Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.” Matthew 28:16-17
What is the significance of returning to Galilee? Galilee is the place where everything began for them. In Galilee, they left everything to follow Jesus. Returning to Galilee would trigger memories of those earlier days. Now, they could view His past miracles and teachings from a post-resurrection perspective. When the disciples saw Jesus, they worshiped Him.
“Some doubted!” Faith is a gift! It comes from God! Once, I heard a Jewish man say, “I hear everything you are saying about Jesus. It is like it is right here.” He put his hand about four inches in front of his eyes. His words reminded me of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, “Their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Those who doubted heard the right message, but they needed to turn toward Jesus for help to believe it. Conversion and salvation is of the Lord!
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.’” Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus spoke of the Trinity when He called His disciples to baptize people in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Priests in the Old Testament washed in a basin before proceeding to do their priestly services for God and others. According to Revelation 1:8 and 2 Peter 2:9, Christ “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.” We are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, proclaiming the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Therefore, we do gladly accept and act on the Lord’s command to be baptized in the Name of the Triune God. As we do what He commands, He fills us with His Holy Spirit. Acts 5:32 says that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him.
Jesus commanded His disciples to make more disciples. The goal is to teach what Jesus taught.
Discipling requires reliance on the Lord. Sometimes, disciples take two steps forward and one back. They promise but don’t do. They say they understand but don’t. They hold onto bad habits and bad relationships. How often is God exasperated with people in the Bible? We should daily pray to God for our disciples and for ourselves.
With God all things are possible! Interestingly, it has been noted that the first two letters of the word GOD from left to right are G-O and the last two letters of GOD from right to left are D-O.
Nick Vujicic is a man who was born without limbs. He has spoken over 3,500 times in more than 84 countries. His work has reached millions of people globally. He has addressed 10 national governments and met 31 Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Prime Ministers. He has a saying that he often repeats, “When you put a GO in front of DISABLED, it spells GOD IS ABLED.”
The last prayer in the Bible is recorded in Revelation 22:20-21. The prayer is a response to Jesus saying, “Surely I am coming quickly.” The prayer is, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Then, the last line of the Bible is a blessing: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
The good news is that Jesus is alive and He is with us! G.K. Chesterton was once asked, “What would you do differently if you knew that Jesus, the Son of God, was standing right behind you.” Chesterton retorted, “He is!”
Before our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He told His disciples, and by extension all of us who believe in Him, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Knowing that Jesus is with us helps us to go forward each day despite facing great challenges. The Lord calls us to place our concerns in His hands, and His promise to us in Psalm 138:8 is, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever!”
I point people to faith in Jesus Christ by printed messages, videos and by in-person presentations.
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