Jag's House of Wews 2

The truth of this gospel goes out to the ends of the world. And every knee shall bow. For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations. Ultimately, our hope rests on the truth that what God has promised to deliver, He will. And the present suffering pales in comparison for what will come. Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. Our suffering is cause to praise the Lord to the brethren, to being others to the knowledge of Christ, to proclaim His power and promise, and to partake in the spreading of His gospel to all people, that every tongue shall confess that He hath done this. Amen

Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. The praise and glory and fear of the Lord comes from knowledge of the doctrines of God. The understanding of His ways, the past performance of His promise, the teachings of the fathers through the inspired and preserved word of God. Faith cometh by hearing. In the midst of the congregation, among those that fear the Lord and sing His glory, blessing God and His holy name, we are not only given the opportunity to give testimony of what He has done for us, but hear what He has done for others. To learn doctrine and see that He has heard those who call out to Him. We can know, as Elijah on the mountain, alone, that there are a remnant of believers. Romans 11:3–4 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. We have fellowship in our gatherings with the brethren. We have understanding from preaching and support of prayer, and the opportunity to worship God with those who have gone through what we have. To edify those going through things we have endured. Hebrews 10:23–25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. That communal exhortation is invaluable to a believer in tribulation. Going through a personal trial. Hearing the victory Jesus has given others provides the strength to go on. To know the meek shall eat and be satisfied, seeking the Lord and finding Him, unto eternal life. John 6:35–37 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. This is the meat we eat, and are satisfied, never to hunger again. Complete in Christ, and having eternal life.

Psalm 22 continues. The desperate plea of the condemned man, compassed by dogs, scorned and ridiculed, pierced and heartbroken, feeling abandoned by God, turns to a prayer of certain hope. We know God has delivered every promise He has made. He has heard the cries of His people and, in due season, saved them. We may persist in our prayers, reminding God, and ourselves, of His faithfulness, as we ask for more immediate relief. His perfect timing may not be ours, but at our weakest He shows His strength. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. From the proverbial horns of a dilemma, from the immediate threat, we call upon the name of the Lord. Not only the saved, His darling, but the lost often find His strength in their time of trial. Foxhole converts. The Potter often moves the clay in such a way, that we finally see our shortcomings and impotency, and need His hand to lift us up, that we may be what He has planned for us to become. If even Jesus Christ was to be made a reproach and murdered by bloody men in a wicked act, that we may know eternal life, as the risen and triumphant Son of God, then our trials are an opportunity to overcome by His power and to give the Lord the glory. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. In the midst of tribulation, we shall praise Him. That is the mind of a mature Christian. It is difficult to see, sometimes, and we may feel isolated, alone, but in our most desperate hour, we praise Him. We declare His holy name to our brethren, in the congregation we hold up His excellence. (It may not be a primary (or even secondary) application of this psalm, but it strikes me that we cannot lift up our voice in praise to the congregation, to declare His name unto the brethren, if we avoid church. If we forsake the assembly. Go to church!)

The prophetic nature of the God-inspired Psalm of David continues, showing the children of Israel the truth of Christ, through a glass darkly. In David's personal pain, we see a shadow of the suffering of Jesus, a reproach of men, despised of the people, laughed to scorn. Matthew 27:39–43 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. Compassed about by bulls, by dogs, men like lions, surrounded by the Roman soldiers doing the work of the Jews, piercing Jesus' hands and feet with nails. Splayed out upon the cross, His joints distended and twisted to support the weight of His body. The sinking feeling of death settling in His guts, as He struggled to breathe. His bones in sharp relief to His stretched out skin. Crying out for water, Jesus is given vinegar to drink, raised up on hyssop, a bitter gall that could not quench His overwhelming thirst. The soldiers then parted His garments by lot: Matthew 27:34–35 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. The desperation and loneliness, the mental anguish Jesus suffered on the cross, He had also carried with Him for 33 years. Understanding the suffering that awaited Him at Calvary, knowing His anointed part in the great redemptive plan, while at all points being touched by the infirmity of the flesh, and tempted as we are. His prayers at Gethsemane, Son to the Father, that if it were possible to take this cup from Him, please let it be so. But steadfast to do the will of the Father, even knowing the physical and emotional pain He would endure. These stanzas in this psalm tragically capture it all, before transitioning to the joyful hope found in every tribulation those who love God can take comfort in: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Psalm 22 continues from its powerful open, to convey the desperation that Jesus' flesh must have felt in that moment, which is felt by everyone of us at times in our life. Certainly, it was David's own state of mind when the Spirit led him to compose it. That we cry out to God, and feel like He is far from us. That He doesn't hear. That He may have abandoned us to our plight. But there is always the hope of faith, and trust in the holy God, Who has kept His promises and delivers those who trust in Him. The promises made to the fathers, kept. He heard the cries in Egypt, and brought them out of the land. He heard their cries during the time in the wilderness. He delivered their children to the promised land. He heard them in the days of judges, where their own sin brought them low, sending men to raise them up and bring them out of evil. Those that trusted Him were not confounded. Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us We know that God is good, and cannot lie. And so our deliverance is assured, even when our flesh is weak and we feel abandoned. The almighty God's consistent faithfulness in keeping his word to those he foreknew, gives us confidence and strength. These things were written for our admonition. That we may know Him as a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. We are given that knowledge of the past that we might have the surety of the future.

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? In the 9th hour, Jesus cried out from the cross the words of the Psalm, the opening line of a song of desperation, penned by David centuries earlier. An event recorded twice in the gospels: Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The man Christ Jesus, after a day of betrayal, abuse, beaten beyond human recognition, scourged, shamed and mocked, cursed, hung on the tree, and become sin for all mankind, acknowledging in death that, by taking on all of the sin in all of creation, He is, in that moment, no longer looked upon by the Father Whom He has been with, and a part of, since everlasting. The prophetic words of the Psalm, Christ's words echoed through time to the psalmist, words Jesus Himself knew from before the foundation of the world, conveying the heartbreaking moments before the perfect and holy Lord would willingly give His life that we may live. Jesus cried out in Aramaic, the daily language of the people, the language He grew up in life speaking, conveying His humanity in that moment. The Hebrew words, long sung by Israel in the congregation, translated, and again, interpreted into Greek, and given to us in English, never losing a scintilla of power. Given to us as the blessed hope, an example of the endurance and steadfastness we should look to: Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Jesus, our scapegoat, receiving our sin in atonement, without the camp. Taking them utterly away. Not as the blood of bulls and goats, offered yearly for sanctification by the High Priest of the Tabernacle, but once and for all, shed for man. And He, as THE High Priest, entered into the Heavenly Tabernacle, and applied His own precious blood upon the mercy seat in Heaven. No greater love than this has ever been shed towards us, that God became flesh, and lived among us, sinless and perfect, that He might drink of this cup. Going to the cross that we might live. The tragic nature of these words reveals the depth of the love of God. That while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalms 22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Philippians 3:7–11 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

I can't do Psalm 22 justice this morning. Need time 😭

It is amazing that people deny the idea of "faith alone," and claim it is absent from scripture, when the book of Psalms exists. (It is equally amazing that they'll deny the idea of trusting and scripture alone when Psalm 119 exists)

The dominant theme of the book of Psalms is placing all your faith in God alone, to redeem, to save from danger, to exact vengeance and recompense, to be the strong tower and shield, a ready comfort, faithful to His promises, generous with His mercy and gracious in His gifts. Trusting in the Lord for every category, especially for our eternal life. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. Those that have called upon the name of the Lord for salvation, who trust in His promises, are given eternal life. Forever. This is the confidence we have. The sure hope that we place our trust in. And we trust that the wicked will be dealt with according to His perfect and holy judgment. Just as sure as our exaltation and glory is guaranteed, that through the Lord's mercy we shall not be moved, we can know the wicked who reject Him will be swallowed up in His wrath. That His fire shall devour them, as the smoke of their torment rises forever. Eternal life and salvation, contrasted with eternal wrath and fire. We who trusted in Him, sing praises and worship Him. We exalt the Lord, we sing praise to His power. Amen

Psalms 21 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. 3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. 6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. 7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. 8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. 9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. 10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. 11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. 12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them. 13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

There goes our shot at apostleship boys…

Good enough for Aaron and David's servants, good enough for me

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. This verse is often quoted, and has inspired generations of believers. But in practice it can be difficult. We often seek reassurance from our material, wealth and position. David, writing this. Psalm with dual purpose (at least), the prophetic imagery of Christ Jesus and the surety of his salvation, but also as an intercessional prayer before a battle against a well-armed and equipped foe. David's showing us that it is better to trust in the Lord than all the horses and chariots in the world. That in our battles, even if we are seemingly overmatched by our enemy, we are still victorious in God. What a comfort. What a blessing. That we can stand fast, and be sure of our deliverance. That we can trust in the Lord in all things, because we've first trusted in Him, our eternal security. When we are weak we are made strong. God uses us to confound the wise. We have already overcome in Christ. And we should rejoice in our salvation.

Psalm 20 is yet another song of praise and worship for the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. The name of the God of Jacob. The Lord that strengthens us out of Zion. The one offering forever, the burnt sacrifice. Christ Jesus. The love of God has been granted to us in his grace, and his counsel is wisdom; trust in the Lord. We will rejoice in the salvation given to us in the name of our God. We will set up banners in His holy name. He is Christ Jesus, and God hears all our petitions, lifted up in His name. The Lord saves His anointed. He did not leave his soul to see corruption. His anointed was not left in hell. The saving strength of His right hand. Christ Jesus. Some trust in the power of this world, their own strength, their own works. And they will be brought down low. He will say depart from me. I never knew you. But to those of us who trust in the name of the Lord, our God, we are risen and made to stand upright. In Christ Jesus. Save, Lord. In the name of the King of Kings and the Lord of lords, Christ Jesus.

Psalms 20 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. 6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

1 Corinthians 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

Aye Joe Rogan…

We are blessed to have the knowledge of the truth before us. His inspired and preserved word, that we may know Him. And God does not leave those without the oracles lacking. But for the children of God, creation gives us reassurance and opportunities to worship Him for His might and glory. To have reminders that He loves us. To every seed we sow that comes to fruition. To every shooting star, or bird in flight, or wave crashing on the shore, we are able to look at the Lord in awe. Babies born to the death of the elderly, spring following winter, the setting sun and darkest night...all creation is a parable to those with ears to hear and eyes to see. To know God loves us. And His mercy upon us is evidence to others seeking truth. The light in us shines that others may see and glorify God. We are to be as the firmament, as the rising sun and the crashing wave. His children are meant to teach the heathen who seeks the Lord, as much as anything in creation. Because we are new creatures in Christ, brought forth as a testimony to God's greatness. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Amen