Bringing Tongues Of Fire From The Sparks Of Faith…
LESSON 6
PSALMS – SONG OF SOLOMON
By Rev. G. Evan Newmyer
INTRODUCTION TO LESSON 6
David was a “man after God’s heart”, that doesn’t mean David had a heart akin to God’s heart, rather it shows David was always seeking the heart of God. One mainstay for David was Praise, yet we find the word “worship” used more times in the Book of Revelation, than in the Psalms. Why? Praise is thanking God for what He has done, is doing and will do. Worship is a request to be in the presence of God, or have the presence of God among us. David wanted the Presence of God, but he knew there remained a wall, as the fall nature standing between God and man, yet he also knew God would move on behalf of those who love Him. Psalms opens many areas, for the most part the Psalms are prophetic in nature; they speak of things the scribe had no knowledge of, while pointing to events yet future.
Proverbs is a Book of Godly division depicting the differences between the Real and the Counterfeit. When all we have is the counterfeit, it’s nearly impossible to tell it from the Truth, but when we see the Truth, the counterfeit is exposed.
Ecclesiastes is for the Preacher, it will lead us to the Song, showing how we have the advantage to view things from the spiritual, yet carnal man views the same events from the natural, thus drawing two completely different conclusions. Song will take us into the search for the Bride, as She seeks Her lover. With that, let us begin.
LESSON 6
PSALMS – SONG OF SOLOMON
We know the Net has both good and bad fish, we also know Pharaoh was not able to cross the Sea, yet in Romans we find God raised Pharaoh for a purpose. Therefore, we find the problem for the children in the wilderness wasn’t Pharaoh, it was the “works of Egypt”. Those works caused them to build the golden calf, as well as attack the man of God, simply because God was not working with them in the way they wanted. Could they have changed and walked in faith? Yes, they crossed the Red Sea by faith, but it was going to take a decision to believe. The same is true with us, we must make a decision to believe God is always working in our best interest. Courage in many cases for the Christian is being open to exposure, as we are ready for correction, to gain perfection. Of course we must be able to discern, for some find fault in everything, just to find fault.
Jesus builds His Church from the Rock (Body of Christ), not from the world. David, Solomon and the other Old Testament saints who gave prophetic words looked ahead as they spoke of a mystery, thus they prophesied in part, yet we have the evidence in hand so we can believe. We have the knowledge of the Cross and Resurrection, something the people in the days of John the Baptist didn’t have, we are also privy to the greatest Gift granted to mankind in the New Birth. The Bible is a holy book, but it does little good unless we are guided by the Holy Ghost. Some people study the Bible eagerly waiting for the Holy Ghost to bring them truth: others study what others say the Bible says. Lessons are great, but they don’t take the place of our Bible, they merely support it. The Bible does not produce Life, the Word in us does, but the Word in us uses the Bible as a rule book for redemption. Therefore, the Bible gives us Rules, although Jesus never said the history testified of Him, He did say the Psalms did (Luke 24:44). A testimony is something said about someone, it behooves us to read in order to discover the Testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
David was the appointed and anointed king, yet Saul sat on the throne, why didn’t God remove Saul? Wasn’t it God who sent Samuel to anoint David? Saul was the rebellious one, so why didn’t David simply kill him? Saul was no longer appointed by God, thus he lied, attacked the anointing of others, he even killed God’s priests, but God still appointed him to be a Sar (Captain) over the people. David knew the difference between the anointing on a person, and the anointing granted by the position. David didn’t respect the man, he respected the anointing on the position, thus his respect for the position kept him from harming the man. Respect and Honor are the same, if we respect the anointing we honor it. Saul on the other hand was just the opposite, he felt his position gave him the right to harm, vex, or come against others. Saul became David’s test, when David endured he became king. Jesus has made us kings and priests, but each area is determined by a test and training. Saul was tested, yet failed to respect the anointing of his position, thus failed to be secured as “king”. David respected the anointing through his test, he became the established king.
The comparison between David and Saul is seen in the Psalms, Saul being equated to the Wicked, David to the Righteous. The “Just” is not at issue here, since the word only appears a couple of times, but we do have the word Wicked and Righteous (in one form or another) appearing about the same amount of times. The division in the net is between the Righteous and Wicked, with the Wicked being the “workers of iniquity”.
Our look at Psalms and Proverbs will expose the Heart, open the Net, allowing the Spirit of Truth to do a Good work for our souls. Psalms is a prophetic book, yet it’s not. There are some Psalms which are completely prophetic in nature, there are Psalms from the heart of man to God, there are Psalms from man to man, there are Psalms defining historical events, there are Psalms where God exposes the heart of man, thus Jesus separated the Psalms from the Prophets, yet included them in His Testimony.
Proverbs is a definitive Book, as it divides the Net further: Proverbs talks about the strange woman in the high places, as she compares to the Woman of Virtue in the Highest place. Giving us a high place and one higher, some obtain one place, yet the purpose it to gain the Higher. Spiritual wickedness is conducted to high places, not the highest place. Proverbs talks about the Fool in detail, yet Jesus told us not to call anyone a Fool. Could Proverbs be in sin? No, we find Proverbs connects with Hebrews 4:12, displaying the division between soul and Spirit. The “fool” is the old man who planted his deeds and wiles, yet when we came to the Cross the old man became ineffective. It doesn’t mean the old nature won’t entice us, it means it no longer has power over us. The old nature is the fool of fools, when we see the old man as God does, we won’t have any trouble rejecting him as the voice of a stranger.
Proverbs projects a message only understood by those who are seeking God. Proverbs is one of those areas Nicodemus should have known, as it points to the New Birth. Psalms opens many areas of Praise, pointing toward Worship, thus there must be a difference between the two. The word Worship appears 16 times in Psalms, but the word Praise in one form or another appears over 150 times. The Book of Revelation has the word Worship more times than Psalms. Jesus said the Father seeks those to Worship Him in Spirit and Truth, but He didn’t say the Father sought those who could praise in Spirit and Truth (Jn 4:24). In order to worship in Spirit, one must be spiritual in nature; therefore, they must be Born Again in order to worship by the Spirit of Truth. Until the Spirit was given on Pentecost man gave worship, but it was not in Spirit and Truth, rather it was carnal; sincere, but carnal. Some praise the Lord to feel good, but that doesn’t mean it pleases the Lord. In order to worship in Truth, one must have Truth, thus Jesus said He is Truth (Jn 14:6). Jesus also said the Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (Jn 14:17). We have the ability to do what David longed to do, praise and worship God as God desires.
The words Praise and Worship in the dictionary seem close in definition; however, the Bible shows a difference. Man can worship and praise most anything, as some have. Man gives praise to members of his society for various acts, thus praise denotes a Presence of honor; however, for the most part we don’t find man giving Worship to those he praises. For instance, someone may do some work of honor in the world system, which the world considers “good”. The members of the world give the person Praise for their efforts, represented by a plague, or metal, or something else to show their praise, but they don’t worship the person. Of course we know some do worship people, which is termed mentor worship. The Book of Revelation shows all sorts of Worship, they worship the Beast, the image of the Beast, or the number of the Beast; therefore, it depends on where one places their praise and worship, as to whether it’s good or evil.
There are different Hebrew words for the English word Praise, each connecting to the other, yet separated from each other. The Hebrew Shabach means to make a Loud Tone, but it doesn’t mean to out shout down the person next to you: it shows a type of humbleness or homage. Humbleness is not something coming from the Spirit, rather it comes from our soul as a permissive condition based on choice. The Hebrew Yadah means to toss up ones hands, or open the hand to receive the Power, Ability, and Direction from the Lord. The Hebrew TeHillah means a hymn, it connects to another Hebrew word (Halal). The Hebrew Halal means a clear celebration, such as one gives in a marriage celebration. Putting TeHillah and Halal together leads us to what is known as The celebration of the marriage in song. The Hebrew Zamar means striking the strings of an musical instrument. Praise does take emotionalism as well as enthusiasm; it contains the thoughts of Thanksgiving, becoming a tribute of gratitude for benefits. Therefore praise is centered in the benefits of God, whether those benefits are past, in hand, or yet to come. Praise is not a theatrical experience, it is not suppose to be something we use to impress man, or ourselves, nor does it impress God, it’s based on a love and appreciation toward God. It’s for this reason the soul must have the Spirit of Truth as the motivation for both Praise and Worship. Praise and Worship are not forms used to make us feel good, rather we become pleased when we know God has received our Praise and Worship.
In order for one to move into Praise or Worship one must move through the word Benefit. For whose Benefit do we Praise and Worship? We Praise the Lord for All Things, whether we understand them or not, or whether we like them or not. Praise thanks God, but worship seeks the Presence of the Lord, so we can enter the place God has for us. Worship is also an act of giving honor and reverence to God, regardless of the benefits, or lack thereof, at times worship is not put to music, it’s the earnest prayer of a righteous saint, on the other hand worship can be put to music, both are accepted by God.
Praise can be, and often is pleasing to our souls, it’s not wrong, rather we know how we feel in the moment of pure praise, but worship can take on many forms. Worship can bring tears, it can be silent, it can be loud, it can be an expression from our hearts, or it can express the heart of the Lord at the moment. With Worship comes the word Trust, which in one form or another appears some 70 times in the Book of Psalms. If we truly worship we are giving trust to the entity we worship. Trustworthy and Trust are different, it’s our Trust in God making us Trustworthy. There are four Hebrew words used for Trust in Psalms, one is only used once (Ps 73:28). In Psalm 2:12 and other places it’s the Hebrew Chacah meaning To flee for protection. In Psalm 4:5 plus some other places it’s the Hebrew Batach meaning To be confident, or secure as a child would feel secure enough to play without fear. In Psalm 40:3 and other places it’s the Hebrew Mabtach meaning security, or assurance, in Psalm 73:28 it’s the Hebrew Machceh meaning A place of refuge as a shelter. All have slight differences, but really they show how trustworthy the Lord is, we can trust in His protection, knowing He has granted us a Shelter from the storm. This shows why we don’t put our trust in people, if we trust them for protection, refuge, a benefactor to our faith, or a means of security, we’re in trouble; when they will fall, we fall twice as far; becoming the victim of all victims. Leaders assist us, but if we enter Mentor Worship we are not only putting our trust in man, we have made an idol out of a human. We do trust people to do as they should, our mates should do as they should, but we don’t put our reliance in them. If they fail at anything we will either fall apart, to attack them with a vengeance; yet we should be the one able to minister to them. If we put our Trust in God we will be able to stand and minister as an oracle of God.
There are eleven different Hebrew words for the English phrase Cut Off, but one draws our attention, the Hebrew Karath. This Hebrew word will be used by the Prophets as well, but in Psalms and Proverbs we find it in Psalm 12:3, 34:16, 37:9, 37:22, 37:28, 37:38, 101:8, 109:13 and in 109:15; in Proverbs we find it in 2:22, 10:31, 23:18 and 24:14. This Hebrew Word means to Cut Off a body part, each time we find it, we also find a reference to the Broken Body of Jesus. The Greek word Paul used for Broken in reference to the Broken Body of Jesus means to Break off a branch, or Tear something away, as a part of something completely taken away. This wasn’t done at the Cross, since not one bone was broken. Wait, what about the stripes of Jesus? Those where wounds, not pieces of a Broken Body. When Paul told the Corinthians the importance of Communion, he placed the betrayal of Judas in his teaching. Why not say “the night the Lord gave us Bread and Wine in Communion”? When Judas did his act of betrayal it was “night” (Jn 13:30), yet Jesus said He lost none Except the “son of perdition”, for the purpose of fulfilling the Scripture (Jn 17:12). When Judas showed up with the army of religious hypocrites we read how the Scripture was fulfilled regarding the “son of perdition” (Jn 18:9). All that is fine and fits, until we get to II Thessalonians where Paul tells us, “man of sin to be revealed, the son of perdition” (II Thess 2:3). To be revealed? Wasn’t it Judas? Oh my? There goes old Paul again, someone should tie the man down. No, Paul saw the word “Wicked”, connected to the term, “workers of iniquity”. Like Peter, John, James, Jude and others, Paul knew there were bad fish in the net, or tares in the field, but they also knew the Kingdom of God was pure. Jesus builds His Church on the Rock, Jude tells us we cast the net to build the Rock (Jude 22-23). We do not build the Church, we enter the Body so Jesus can build us into the Church, so the Church can become the Bride. Showing there is One Baptism with parts inclusive to the Doctrine of Baptisms. The Greek has several words for the English word One, there is one made up of parts, yet one not made up of parts. There is One Body, but we know it’s made up of parts, so it is with the wording One Baptism.
We water baptize people, but why? Does it save them? No, water baptism is a sign or token of induction into the Body with their acceptance and belief in the premise behind the death and resurrection of Jesus. We in the Body greet the convert by the acceptance of their statement of belief. Water being a metaphor for Mercy, shows the symbol is the sign or token of the person accepting the Mercy of God, as they vow to conduct themselves in continual belief to fulfill the royal Law of forgiveness. The Witness and Report are connected, the Father in the Report connects to the Water in the Witness, the Word in the Report connects to the Blood in the Witness, the Holy Ghost in the Report to the Spirit in the Witness (I Jn 5:7-8). We find we are washed of the Water by the Word, thus the Water refers to Mercy, the Word in us to Grace by the Spirit. The Word is not the Water, but uses it. The Living Water is Living because of the Spirit in us, but the Living Water is not the Spirit, it’s a product of the Spirit joined to the Mercy coming from us as a witness and testimony.
Psalms will make a division by identifying the Wicked, as the Tares. They are not sinners yet to enter, rather they entered the Body because they said they believe in the death and resurrection; however, it doesn’t mean they are the Church. Philip ran into Simon of Samaria, this Simon believed the signs, but belief in signs never lasts long. Nonetheless he said he believed, then he was water baptized. When it came time to lay hands on him, the Lord rejected him. He was told to pray because his heart wasn’t right before God. He in turn told the apostles to pray for him, but they refused. Simon never did pray, he became known as the father of all heretics (Acts 8:4-22). No one is going to make our prayer of faith for us, we make it. Simon was water baptized, said he believed, yet his heart was laced with “wickedness”, which manifested years later in his various heresies. Did the apostles rebuke Philip for water baptizing Simon? How dare he water baptize this Simon? Perhaps he should take Simon back through the water to erase the baptism? No, we are told “Teach, baptize, and teach the more”, we are not told to judge whether one should be able to enter the Body or not. Other than water, the requirement is for the candidate to believe, if they say they do, we in the Body water baptize them (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 8:36-37 et al). The point being we will see Psalms and Proverbs speak of the Wicked, Proverbs of the strange woman as evils within the grouping. We have to put the information in our rememberer, it will come in handy when we run into a walking, breathing Tare.
The Hebrew Karath also means One has made their own covenant, after entering another, pointing to the Wicked, (sons of perdition, or workers of iniquity). They enter the Body based on the conditions of the Covenant set by Jesus, but they also refuse to let the old nature go, thus they attempt to change the Covenant to fit the old nature. The word Paul uses for Wicked means Without Law, which is one of the meanings of Iniquity. They are not free of a Law, rather they set themselves above God’s Laws. How can this be? We are kings and priests (Rev 1:6), as kings we rule our own kingdom realm. It doesn’t mean we dictate or rule over the Kingdom of God, it means we are the ones who are given the keys to our own personal individual kingdom, thus we are charged with enforcement and obedience. If we say, ”well bless God, I am not doing that”, we have set rules in our kingdom. However, in the end we will face the King of kings, who will judge us. We have priestly duties as well, but as kings we can set up princes in our realm. If we allow anger a prince position, it will set up a principality ruling in its realm. However, if we allow Peace, Joy, or any attribute of God a position in our kingdom, they will govern accordingly, identifying the type of kingdom we have. Now we are ready, let’s begin.
PSALMS
The Hebrew title for this book is Book Of Praises, the English title comes from the Greek word Psalmoi meaning Pious Songs, or Music Of Stringed Instruments. Originally it was five separate books, with Psalms 1 through 41 as the first book, Psalms 42 through 72 as the second, 73 through 89 as the third, 90 through 106 as the fourth, and Psalms 107 through 150 as the fifth. Each of the first four conclude with a doxology, the fifth with a key to victory. The Jewish tradition linked the Psalms to the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch to us, or Torah to the Jew. Jesus said the Law, Psalms and Prophets testified of Him, but He excluded the history of the Jewish people. The history of the Jews testified for or against them, not for or against Jesus.
Didactic Psalms give instruction, Messianic Psalms contain prophecy relating to the Messiah, Imprecatory Psalms involve pleas to God for punishment of the wicked, the Penitential Psalms express the feelings of a repentant heart, or an appeal for divine cleansing. Other Psalms are classed by titles, for example, the Psalms of Degrees were sung at the beginning of worship services; the Miktam Psalms deal with atonement. Some Psalms separate Seasons and Times, pointing to various aspects of our Season, or the Season to come. There are some Psalms holding prophetic messages presented as a simple statement or praise, thus we can’t exclude any statement as not being Prophetic in nature, and neither can we stretch them to fit a prophetic content when none exists. The same is true with the Prophets, we may read a prayer by a prophet, yet it can be prophetic.
The Psalms talk a great deal about the Wicked, but any of us can become very paranoid, “Oh I thought about hitting them in the nose, I must be wicked”, or “I really wanted don’t like them, I must be wicked”, or “I really don’t want to extend mercy right now, oh my I must be wicked”. Not so, those are momentary lapses, the wicked hold a nature full of masks attempting to make people think one thing, while they are planning their destruction. The Psalms will give us some insight into the character of the Wicked, yet we will also learn discernment is always a door opener.
Psalm 1:1 begins our praise by giving us direction and purpose, as we read: “blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, does not stand in the way of the sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful”. There are three “do not’s”, one is walking, one is standing in the way, then sitting in the seat of the scornful. The first is not merely walking, it’s walking in the Counsel of the ungodly, or accepting advice from those who lack God. The next may sound strange, it would seem as if we should stand in the way of the sinner, but if we break it down we find it’s positional. The way of the sinner is worldly in nature, here we find we are not to stand in the same premises as the sinner, which includes using the reasoning of the world, or the wisdom of the world. Next is the seat of the Scornful, the word Seat is from a word meaning “Me” Or “Mine”, referring to a nature. The word Scornful has various meanings, to brag, be arrogant, boast, mock, or deride, thus if we sit in the seat we will use the ways of the Scornful, we will seek to slander others. The word Ungodly is the Hebrew Rasha, it also means Wicked, referring to being guilty of a crime.
The Blessed part shows we mediate in the “Law of the Lord”, at the time this was written all they had was the Law of Moses, so is Moses the Lord? No, this is prophetic verse, pointing to the perfect Law of Liberty, which is the Law of the Spirit (v. 2).
The metaphor Tree in verse 3 points to the Kingdom, it’s planted by Rivers of Water. The Tree of Life is on either side of the River of Water of Life, on either side (Rev 22:1-2)? The context in Revelation shows the Tree of Life is at the Throne, but as one travels the Street (river of life) they find the same Tree in their Heart as the Spirit. This is akin to following the path the Faith of Jesus by the Spirit. The Tree of Life has leaves for healing, here in Psalm 1:3 we find the leaf shall not wither (fade, or lose life). The Fruit of the Tree shall be in “His Season”: the Tree of Life has twelve manner of fruit (Rev 22:2). Blessed is the person who is Born Again, who has the River of the Water of Life in them. The Water being a metaphor for Mercy coupled with the Law of the Spirit points to Living Water. We are being Washed by the Water (Mercy) by the Word (Spirit) in us (Eph 5:26).
Verses 4 through 6 give us the result of the ungodly, or our first clue to the end of the Wicked. They will not stand in the Judgment? How can it be? As it turns out it’s exactly what will happen, they will not stand in the Judgment, they will be in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10). The sinner shall not stand in the congregation of the Righteous, for the Lord knows the way of the Righteous, thus the way of the ungodly shall “perish”. The word Perish is the Hebrew Abad meaning to perish or destroy, it’s akin to the word Perdition, although the Hebrew Lavad equates more to the word Perdition.
Psalm 2 continues with more division, by exposing Imaginations. Like Psalm 1 we find two groups; with a question, Why does the Heathen Rage, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth as “rulers” take counsel against the Lord. This takes us back to “walk not in the counsel of the ungodly”. This also opens up the area of “rulers”; Paul tells us we war against the rulers of darkness of this present world. He then lists them as, anger, clamor, evil speaking, foolish talking, and others of the same type. Whenever an emotion guides us, causes us to speak, or act, they rule us. If anyone can control our emotions, they rule over us.
Verse 4 tells us the evil plan is to separate the cords, meaning to completely separate us from anything relating to God, defining the Second death. The second death lacks any attribute of God, no light, joy, peace, love, or any of the other things man seems to ignore the source of, yet uses.
Verse 6 speaks of David, but prophetically we see Jesus on Zion, which is made clearer in verse 7. “Thou are My Son, this day have I begotten You”, we see this quoted in Hebrews 1:5 pointing directly to Jesus. Here in Psalm 2:7 the word Begotten is the Hebrew Yalad it too has several meanings including, Beget, or To bring forth, the latter is the meaning here.
Verse 8 is a promise to Jesus, not us. The context still connects to “My King upon My holy hill of Zion”. Did Jesus ask? Yes, we’re in the Body, all of us were heathens given to the Son by the Holy Ghost. This doesn’t say the property of the Heathen, it says the Heathen is the property.
The term “rod of iron” is not the same as Staff, iron is a metaphor for bondage, while a Rod is a metaphor for Correction. The Staff is a metaphor for guidance, when we put the metaphors Rod and Iron together, it points to breaking the Bondage. To dash us into pieces is what we want, the brokenness of the Lord is one of the best things to happen to us. Jesus takes, He breaks, He blesses, then He puts us into service.
Verses 10 and 11 tell us as kings, or judges to submit, yield to the brokenness, then Serve the Lord with fear (being aware of who the Lord is) and trembling. Paul told us to work out our salvation by fear and trembling (Ph’l 2:12).
Verse 11 is just the opposite of what Judas did, Judas gave the kiss of betrayal, here it’s the kiss of honor and submission. We also find, “Blessed are all they who put their trust in Him (the Lord)” (v. 12). It’s vital, put your trust in the Lord, not in people.
Psalm 3 is a Morning Prayer, or the beginning of the Day, relating to our Season. There are times when it seems the Wicked have encamped round about, then there are those who look, yet see no hope, no way out, all seems lost. However, if we put our trust in the Lord we can be assured He is our shield, glory, and the lifter (granting hope) of our head (v. 3). With the Lord there is always a route of escape (I Cor 10:13).
Verse 4 connects to 3:6, the Lord is established on heavenly Zion (holy hill), as the Head of the Body, the Anointed One who has set us in His Body keeps us by the Spirit. We will find rest for our souls, the Lord will sustain us. For those who have the peace of Christ in their hearts, they lay down and sleep in peace, then raise and walk the path of righteousness (Ps 3:3-8). Verse 8 tells us why we don’t find the wording, “gift of salvation”, it belongs to the Lord. He grants us Grace to get us through the Justification, so we can become Glorified, at which time we will be the product of Salvation.
The word Salvation in verse 8 is the Hebrew Yeshuah (or Y@shuwah), meaning Salvation by God. In Psalm 27:9 we find the Hebrew Yesha meaning Salvation as well, this word as well as Yeshuah point to Jesus. Other Hebrew words are Tehshooaw meaning Salvation by God, or deliverance by God, plus the Hebrew Molops meaning a trickle of blood, to the Jew it pointed to Moses sprinkling the people and book, to us it means we are sprinkled by the Blood of Jesus (I Pet 1:2). Jesus said the Psalms testified of Him, thus the words used for Salvation point to Jesus; however we also see Grace is our Gift, Salvation the goal, yet Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Psalm 4 is an Evening Prayer, but it has some interesting connections. It begins with a Call recognizing God as our Righteousness. The word for Call is the Hebrew Qara meaning to Preach, Call, or Invite. The topic of the prayer is Mercy, then we find the Hebrew Taphillah for prayer, which means prayer. It reminds us of Blind Bartimaeus who called out to Jesus, “Son of David have Mercy on me”.
The prayer in Psalm 4 is not a “Night Prayer”, rather it’s toward the end of day. Verse 2 is the reply from God to the, “sons of men”, which means those assigned to Mercy; adding, “how long will you turn My Glory into shame?”. Since we know about the Wicked, this Psalm makes sense. The Wicked or Tares entered based on the Mercy of God, but they refuse to give it, leaving God no choice but to form them into vessels of dishonor (Rom 9:21-23). Although they love “vanity”, they seek after leasing, God will still reach out to them right up to the very last moment. Leasing means Untruths, or promoting Fables, which points directly to the Wicked. Jesus will connect the Father’s Mercy with Holiness, here we find the Glory is also connected to Mercy.
Verse 3 reminds us how the Lord has Set Apart, or Sanctified, making us separated from the world for a good work. The phrase “him that is godly” is the Hebrew Chacyid meaning Merciful, among other things, but Merciful fits the context of the verses. This is a division between the vessels of honor, and those of dishonor. Mercy is a powerful instrument granted to those in the Body; so powerful it determines what the hand of the Potter does with the clay.
Stand in awe, sin not, the sin here has to be the refusal to grant Mercy, after we receive it. As sons of men we have the Mercy of God, as sons of God we have the Spirit of Truth (Grace). Jesus was Declared the Son of God by the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection, thus it takes the same Spirit in us to make us sons of God (Rom 1:4). The wording Stand in awe is the Hebrew Ragaz meaning to be Afraid, or to Quake in fear. Since this Psalm is set for the evening we can see why one who accepted the Mercy of God, yet refused to grant it would shake in fear; John called it, “shall wail because of Him” (Rev 1:7). Paul gave us three groups in the Body regarding the change from Day to Night; there are the Dead in Christ as those crucified with Christ, there are the those who Sleep through the Night in Jesus, then the drunk who go into the Night (I Thess 5:5-7). John said before the Night begins there will be those who will partake of the First Resurrection, but another group who will sleep through the 1,000 years, with the third group appearing as the Beast of the Earth, confirming Paul’s teaching (Rev 20:4-6 & 13:11). Our goal is not to be among those who sleep, or the drunken who go into the Night, but to be partakers of the First Resurrection when the change from Day to Night takes place.
Verse 5 gives us the stand of the Godly, we have the Righteousness of God by the New Birth; however, in this verse we find sacrifices (plural) of Righteousness, relating to how Mercy gives us standing before the Father. Again we find “put your trust in the Lord”. Most of our collapses of faith happen because we put our trust in people, when the people fail, we fall twice as far.
Viewing the Wicked we could make the mistake of thinking if they are lost, so are we, not so. The Wicked refuse the New nature, rather they keep the spirit lusting to envy. When we were in the world the spirit lusting to envy controlled us, but when we entered the kingdom of heaven the same spirit became ineffective. Therein is the mystery, the Wicked found they can use the spirit lusting to envy for their fleshly benefit, thus they twist it into the spirit of the world, they have the appearance of righteousness, but inside Satan reigns (II Cor 11:13-14). Rather than be Transformed by God’s Mercy, they become self-transformed, they become the he of the world. It’s one thing to be subject to the spirit lusting to envy, another to use it. The cleaning process is Justifying us, the Record said we are Justified, the Witness is bringing it to pass. Each exposure we go through is for our benefit, since each brings another cleaning in the Process.
To David the “wicked” were those who attacked the kings throne in Jerusalem of the earth, to God the Wicked are those who attack New Jerusalem. Both attacks happen on earth, both are motivated by the darkness. Our goal is not only to discern the Wicked, but remain free of the same fruit they partake of. We don’t want to get paranoid, or think every time we miss it, or make a mistake God is going to form us into a vessel of dishonor. The Wicked have the same opportunity as anyone else, but they love the things of the world, more than they love God. Peter says they promise us liberty, yet they themselves are still in bondage to the flesh (II Pet 2:18-22). We will slip, James tells us every man is drawn away by his own lust, yet if we fall into divers temptations we rejoice. We rejoice simply because we are the only ones on this earth who have the advantage of the Spirit of Truth cleaning us of lusts, darkness, as well as the wiles of the enemy. The conclusion of this prayer shows the confidence of Mercy, we can lay down and rest, the Lord makes us to dwell safely, even in the face of adversity.
Psalm 5 is one of the many areas where the Trinity is seen; it begins with Lord, then King, then God, also there are three areas wherein we communicate to God, Meditation, Voice of our cry, and Prayer. We Mediate on the Word, this goes further than reading the Bible, rather we Mediate on the Word in us, we tone our ears to hear the New Man. We read our Bible as food for the Word in us, but anyone can read their Bible, yet never mediate on the Word (James 1:21-22).
This Psalm is for those of the Morning, recognizing the Report is the Father, Word and Holy Ghost, but they also know the Witness is the Water, Blood and Spirit. We pray with the full expectation of God hearing us, as well as we hearing God. There are conditions regarding God answering us; God hears the prayers of the Righteous, but His ears are closed to the ungodly. Verse 3 has an interesting statement, “I direct my prayer unto Thee”, how many pray to be heard of men? How many invite the devil into their prayer life? No where can we find Jesus praying while carrying on a conversation with the devil, why do we think we are greater than the Master?
Verse 4 tells us how God does not take pleasure in wickedness, the word for wickedness is the Hebrew Resha meaning Iniquity, or Wickedness, which identifies the Wicked as workers of Iniquity, it also defines spiritual wickedness as the failure to be spiritual after receiving the Spirit. The Wicked attempt to impress God, yet they are just as concerned with impressing people and themselves. Verse 5 connects all this, showing how God hates the “workers of Iniquity”. This is one of the few areas where we find God hates, but if we understand what the Wicked do, we can understand why. They place stumbling blocks before Babes, slander members of the Body, they are anti the anointing of God’s Grace in the person, they hold to the he of the world making them opposed to the Spirit which is of God. The Hebrew word for Evil in verse 4 is Ra meaning Thoughts: God has no pleasure in the thoughts of the Wicked, nor in their plans against the called of God. However, if God knows their thoughts, He knows ours as well, thus we can pray within, God hears. Paul said if there is no interpreter we pray in the Spirit within ourselves toward God, he also said we speak to ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, all forms of prayer (I Cor 14:28 & Eph 5:18-20).
Verse 6 refers to Leasing, it’s the same word found in Psalm 4:2. The word Abhor means to detest in a ritual or moral sense. Unless they change the Wicked will be the ones to hear, “I never knew you” (Matt 7:21-23). Now the good part, “As for me”, I will come into the house in the multitude of Your Mercy (v. 7). Verse 8 asks the Lord to “lead” us, Jesus said the Holy Ghost will teach us all things (Jn 14:26). Yet, if the Holy Ghost is going to teach us, why do we need teachers? It’s how the Holy Ghost teaches us, it would be stupid for the Holy Ghost to appoint teachers, then not use them.
Verse 9 is the point when we discern those who lie in wait to deceive, full of their deception, witchcraft, and trick questions. We also find they will flatter with the tongue when talking to us, but slander us behind our backs. They speak nice, if they can gain the advantage, but they are merely looking for the place to insert their dagger of slander: however, do we war against them, or their ways? Verse 10 seems to lack some Mercy, but then we read God will allow them to fall by their own counsels. They rebelled against God, they used a lower authority in their attempt to overthrow or hinder God’s authority. By their own doing they are classed, thus they had the same opportunity as anyone who enters the Body, they simply refuse to follow the set procedures.
Verse 11 is right back to putting our Trust in God, seems to be a key issue. Then we find if we put our Trust in God, we also gain a righteous standing (v. 12). We can trust people to do as they should, but we never put our trust in people. There is a difference, also we never attempt to out guess God. God gives us a word, we then attempt to find out what God should do if we obey. When God doesn’t perform for us, we get mad, yet we are the ones who formed our own fable. Two areas causing us problems, putting our trust in people, and attempting to out guess God.
David was a king and a prophet, but he was not Born Again. David was in the time of “blessing and cursing”, under the Law of Moses. Therefore, in order to keep us in the Blessing, and free of the cursing, God had the words regarding the Wicked spoken by the Prophets before the Day dawn broke, there is no need for us to pray against anyone. We are told to Bless and curse not, we pray For those who persecute us. We are under a different Law, with different attributes and conditions.
In these Psalms we can see David asking God to avenge him, but we also have the evidence of David respecting (honoring) the anointing. Not many were anointed in David’s day, the priest by the office, the king by the office, the prophet by the office. When Saul was coming against David, it was David who knew better than to come against Saul. However, Saul held a disrespect for the anointing, he proved it by coming against David. David walked in Mercy, Saul did not. Mercy develops an attitude of Mercy, some of us handed the gun to the devil, loaded it for him, then looked down the barrel wondering how fast the bullet comes out. Not a good thing. We need to disarm the old man by not giving him the words of corruption to use against us.
Psalm 6 is a prayer for Mercy in the time of trouble, yet it begins with knowing we’re in trouble, then asking the Lord not to rebuke us, neither chasten us in His anger, but grant us Mercy. No excuse, we know we were weak, we admit it, we recognize it by seeking repentance unto restoration (v.2). Where is the trouble? In the soul (v. 3), we need to be restored, Mercy is how it will begin (v. 4). Repentance means more than turning, one can turn part way, ending in self-righteousness. We turn from the desire or lust which caused us to fall, then turn unto the Kingdom to be restored by the Holy Ghost.
In verse 5 the word Remembrance means The conscious effort to remember. This isn’t the same as no remembrance of the dead for us, but it does connect. There is no remembrance of the Dead, yet we were all the walking dead before we came to the Lord, yet we know He remembered us since He brought us into His Light. This verse points to the time when the final division takes place at the Judgment, the time when the second death becomes the issue, a time when hell will widen her borders to make room for those who couldn’t find their names in the Book of Life. Hell was made for the devil “and his angels”: his angels include the sons of perdition, both are seen in the lake of fire in the end. After the final judgment, those in heaven will have no remembrance of those in hell, regardless of who went there, yet those in hell will have a remembrance.
Verse 6 is a Night reference, the term “all the night”, could read, “every night”, the reference is the misery as their bed swims in tears. Verse 7 continues the thought, the enemies have made the Lord weary, they do mischief to God, by doing it to His people. This is prophetic area, since verse 8 points directly to the workers of iniquity. In the end the workers of iniquity will kill all those who stand for God, then comes the end.
Psalm 6:8 connects to 5:5 where we found God hates iniquity (Heb 1:9), thus His anger is over those who work at iniquity. Here in Verse 8 shows “Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity”, which is a statement relating to the Judgment (Matt 7:21-23). The Workers of Iniquity will do some good things, but they are unequal, they fail to do the will of the Father, which is granting Mercy (Matt 7:21-23).
Jesus prayed for us, but He also prayed in the Garden for those who follow the Judas nature, thus the prayers are said, we grant Mercy, not vengeance. All of us will face our personal Gethsemane, the place of separation when the old nature who seeks vengeance is truly crucified. When Jesus was in the Garden the Rock was the place whereon He fell. It’s far better to fall on the Rock, then have the Rock fall on us. We will have our wilderness experiences, our cave experiences, with our personal Gethsemane, all of which are for our own good.
While in the Garden Jesus had Peter, John and James with Him, yet He didn’t. There are those times when people are all around us, but we’re alone. The place where we learn how to overcome the Wicked, as we move from Young Children to Youngmen (I Jn 2:14). These areas are signs of our growth, never curse the wildernesses experiences, God does some great work during those times.
The purpose of praise is to bring us into worship, yet it’s near impossible to praise when we’re consumed with anger, or bitterness. Adverse events can be a blessing, we can apply Great Mercy in our Sacrifice of Praise to obtain Great Mercy. Praise is an attitude changing experience, Worship a Character builder. Jesus said “go ye and learn what it means, I will have Mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matt 9:13). If Jesus called them sinners, surely He doesn’t hate them, thus there is a division between the sinner and the Wicked. Mercy puts the Kingdom of God At hand, Grace puts it In hand. The Good News preached by the disciples prior to the Cross was based in Mercy, at the time they had no concept of the Cross or Resurrection (Mark 9:32).
Psalm 7 is the first of the Imprecatory Psalms, including this Psalm and Psalms 35, 58, 69, 83, 109 and 137, giving us Seven Psalms reminding us Vengeance belongs to God. As we read the Psalms we find the context always shows Vengeance upon the Wicked, not man in general. It’s important to define the Wicked as those who entered, based on being saved from the pollutions of the world, but accepted the spirit of the world, becoming antichrist in nature (I Jn 2:19, 4:1-4 & II Pet 2:19-22 ). Did we say that? It deserves repeating. The Wicked have the ability and opportunity in hand, but reject it for the authority of the world, thus they become the he in the world, while rejecting the Greater He. They are the enemies of Jesus, the sinner is not the enemy of Jesus, or our enemy. John says the Wicked are of the world, yet he equated them to being a “brother” (I Jn 4:1-4 & 2:11). He also said they came from us, but were not of us (I Jn 2:19). Clearly they are in the Body, but they also rejected the purpose for entering the Body.
There are like statements in the New Testament, but with a different purpose (Acts 1:20, 8:20-23, 13:10-11, Rom 11:9-10, and II Tim 4:14). We can’t forget, the Holy Ghost had David pray these statements, then Jesus affirmed them in the Garden at which time they became complete. We are not to pray against anyone, this is the Day of Salvation, the Day the Lord has made. In the Book of Acts the prayers of the disciples didn’t ignore the danger, or the threats, but their intent was to receive the ability to Preach the more by signs and wonders in order to see Jesus magnified, rather then see others destroyed.
Man puts his trust in most anything, but we put our trust in God. If we trust God, we trust Him in all things, good, bad or indifferent (Ps 7:1). The word Trust is an interesting word, it has various degrees of meaning attached to it. One can trust their car will get them from one location to another, but they don’t trust in their car cooking their dinner. One can trust their stove to cook a meal, but they don’t trust in the stove to get them from one location to another. Misplacement of trust is a serious error, one can put their trust in their own ability, talent or gift, one can even put their trust in their ability to manipulate people, or they can put their trust in God, the last is still the best choice.
In Psalm 7 we find the metaphor Earth, pertaining to the Courtyard, or the kingdom of heaven. A man’s enemies are in his own household, but a house divided will fall. A very interesting statement considering the Body will be broken, thus our goal is to be of the Church. The heart of Psalm 7 is the prayer to have our own heart exposed (v. 4). When someone tells us we are prideful, we consider our ways. If what they say is true, God will confirm it, we admit it to be cleaned, but if what they say is not true, God will still judge us according to Righteousness, not lies or slander (v. 8). The Just still live by faith, the wicked by wickedness, we war against entering spiritual wickedness (v. 9). We talk to our soul to determine our standing, or whether or not our communication is corrupt or incorruptible (Ps 7:4). We ask God to judge us by the Righteousness of Jesus, to expose tares in us, to correct us in order to bring us into perfection (Ps 7:5-16). The mirror of God has two sides, one could be accusing us of their fault, or the offense could be exposed in us, we need discernment by the Spirit to determine the truth. When God exposes a tare we don’t run to self-pity, we praise the Lord according to His righteousness (Ps 7:17).
There are many times when we do get angry, but we sin not: we never allow our anger to speak or act for us, lest we give place to the devil. “Well I got mad, and I know it was righteous indignation”, sounds more like self-justification, rather than indignation. When any emotion controls us, we will interpret events and words through the emotion. If it’s anger, or any other out of control emotion, it becomes the filter to our understanding. We will misinterpret the event, or words adding to our frustration, presuming the fable is truth. God will expose the wild imagination, when He does, we usually say, “Not so Lord, I know what I saw”. No we didn’t, we presumed something based on our emotions, not on Truth. Clarity removes all those hindering elements while allowing us to see the Truth, rather than a fable based in deception
Psalm 7:11 shows how God is angry with the Wicked every day, later we will see how God hates their acts (Prov 6:16-19). Here we find why God is angry, they “turn not”, and rather they use envy, slander and deception to come against the brethren. They reject exposure, they reject words regarding how nasty, slanderous or carnal they are. Their Ways, not their Acts tell us who they are. Fruit identifies the tree, the tree identifies the root, the root identifies the source. For those focused on the Love of God, it’s difficult at best to consider a loving God could hate, but here it is. However, understanding why He hates is important. In reference to the Wicked it’s based on the harm they do to the Body, as well as to the reputation of Christ. Their evil will manifest in the Night when they enter an illegal position, presuming they are “prophets”, they end destroying everything in their path. In Proverbs we find God hates things, lying lips and such, but do lips lie? Or the person using the lips? It’s a key, God hated Esau, because Esau sold his birthright, it’s the same principle regarding the Wicked. They barter, or give their birthright to Satan in exchange they use the spirit of the world, their concerns are worldly. Jesus gave Himself so we could have the Birthright, the Wicked reject it for the flesh. Understanding them can have a reverse effect if we’re not careful, we can turn and hate the Wicked all the time, but it’s not the purpose for us. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, He will repay. Awareness belongs to us, we can discern.
The process is also defined, displaying why we need the saving of the soul, as well as telling us why it seems hard at times. The saving of the soul is a travailing work, one taking a heart in love with God. This doesn’t mean to Love God for the benefit, but to Love God regardless of the benefit. The Wicked love God for the benefit, their iniquity is based on the seed of corruptness conceiving mischief, which brings a falsehood (Ps 7:14). They made their own pit, they dug it, they have fallen into the ditch.
Verse 14 points to a “he”, in the mind of David this was Cush the Benjamite (I Sam 24:9 & 26:19), but to us we can see a correlation. In Ezekiel 28:14-15 we find the devil was once the anointed cherub who covered (protected), he was in the Garden, then he found iniquity in himself, causing him to twist his position in a manner it was not intended. The Wicked do the same, they have authority, they have the Unction over the Body, as do all in the Body, but they use the spirit of the world to enhance their own selves, rather than submit to the Holy Ghost to receive the Greater He. Verse 15 shows the “he” has made his own pit, he dug it, he is fallen into the ditch. Jesus said when a man attempts to save his own soul it’s like the blind leading the blind, both the person and their soul fall into the ditch (Luke 6:37-40). Here we find “the ditch”, the same as in Luke, thus it’s not a ditch as one of many, but one ditch. The wording “is fallen” is the Hebrew Naphel meaning to fall as in a violent death, or to fall down prostrate as in prayer; depending on the usage, strangely enough we find another example in the New Testament. In Revelation 17:10-11 we find the phrase “and there are seven kings: five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space”; we could assume these kings are the world, but wait, Revelation 17:9 shows the seven “heads” are “seven mountains”, not seven kings, these seven mountains come from ten, thus we have a division. The Beast of the Sea begins with Ten nations, but ends with Seven, but these Seven Kings are Seven, with Five Fallen, the Sixth is, then comes The Seventh, as well as the introduction of this Eighth. In Revelation 17:11 the word “perdition” defines this Eighth, the one who separated itself from the Seven, becoming the synagogue (gathering) of Satan. These Seven are not part of the Ten, rather we find the Ten went from Ten to Seven, this grouping is much different. What Seven elements does the Book of Revelation talk about in reference to “kings”? The Seven churches, the word Fallen has two meanings, both of importance, connecting to this Psalm. One meaning is to fall before God, the other is to Fall away from God, it’s this latter meaning we find here in Psalm 7:15 (Rev 2:8 & 3:9). The word Synagogue means gathering, thus they gather together based on Satan reigning within them. Five of the churches are gone, the Sixth is when the Eighth begins as the Beast of the earth, but surfaces when the lukewarm Seventh allows the Eighth entry into a place it should not be, the Eighth then is the Beast of the Earth, showing the Earth is a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, not the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven has tares planted by the enemy, known as the children of the Wicked in our Season, the Wicked in the Night.
The Wicked have their Mischief return to them, their “violent dealing” shall “come down upon” their head (authority – Ps 7:16). The wording “violent dealing” is the Hebrew Chamac meaning Unrighteousness, or Oppressor; it’s the Unrighteousness connecting to being Ungodly. The metaphor Head refers to Authority, thus they reject the Authority of Jesus, for the authority of the Beast of the Sea (I Jn 4:1-4). The Blood of Jesus cleans us from all unrighteousness (I Jn 1:7). Therein lays the difference, they accepted the Bread, but refuse to submit to the Blood. However, as for us we will Praise the Lord according to His Righteousness (Eph 4:24), we will sign praise by “the Name” (Authority) of the Most High. We operate under the Name of Jesus, the metaphor Name, like Head means Authority; the metaphor Horn refers to power. Authority is the granted permission to do something, Power is the ability to carry out the Authority. Jesus gave the disciples Authority by saying, “Go in My Name”, but He also told them to wait for the Power from on High (Luke 24:49 & Acts 1:8).
Since we operate under the Name of Jesus, we also understand excellent is His Name in the Earth: in Psalm 8 we find another metaphor pointing to the kingdom of heaven. Although the sons of perdition make their plans to deceive, we find the Name of Jesus is Still Excellent. The word Excellent means Mightier; therefore, Greater is He in you, than the he of the world, because we Believe in Jesus, we are Born Again with the Word in us producing Godly Ways (Ps 8:1-3).
Jesus quoted Psalm 8:2 in Matthew 21:16, this has nothing to do with children in the physical sense, it has to do with the Babes in Christ. The Holy Spirit will perfect the praises of the Babes in Christ, our job is to assist, not hinder. We also find Praise is a strength, it will confound the enemies of Jesus.
There is the sacrifice of praise, those times when praise seems like the last thing we want to do. Even if we begin to praise, we presume it’s merely a mind game, but here in verse 3 we find a change in attitude takes place when we enter praise. Therefore, at times it’s a faith issue when we begin our sacrifice of praise, looking to the result of entering His gates of Thanksgiving. If we consider all Jesus has done our thoughts regarding the event begin to change, we begin to see the Precious, changing us in the event, allowing us to see God has a plan for us.
The moon is a metaphor for Zion of the earth, the Stars would depend on a number, or lack thereof. If the number is twelve it refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, especially when we see the number of stars joined to the metaphors moon and sun. However, the metaphor Stars without number refers to us. In the Book of Revelation the “woes” fall on the earth and the sea, they do not effect the heavens. All metaphors are important: God has “ordained” these elements, if we would have seen the wording, “Thou has created”, we would have a different meaning in this verse, but the word Ordained is the Hebrew Kumn meaning To establish, or Fix in place. For us we find Zion of the heavens (Body), coupled to the Stars without number (Church) are established, God has a plan, He is not making this up day by day. The Record is Set, Fixed and Established, the Witness is carrying out the Record in us on a daily basis.
Why would God even pick us? What were we? Did we do some greatness to grab God’s favor? Did we give God something He didn’t have? God having a love for us, sent His Word to save us from ourselves (Ps 8:4-9). The position of the Son of man, means Jesus stood for us in the Form of a man based on the Mercy of the Father, but it doesn’t mean His positions stopped there. Prior to Pentecost the disciples were Jews not Gentiles, they were all subject to the promise, even Judas was subject to the promise. Paul tells us Jesus was made (not created) the Son of man (seed of David) according to the flesh, but declared the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection (Rom 1:3-4). Jesus was still the Son of God before the Resurrection, it was the Declaration by the Spirit becoming of importance, once the Resurrection happened, no one can crucify the Son of God. We are sons of men by the Mercy of the Father, sons of God by the Spirit in us. We must hold both positions as Jesus did, knowing the power and authority of each.
In Psalm 8:7-8 we see the Sheep, Oxen, the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, with the Fish of the Sea plus whatsoever “passes through the paths of the Seas”. These metaphors cover many areas, the Sheep and Oxen are Good Fish, the Oxen are the laborers of the Lord, we know what the word Sheep means. The beasts of the field are the sons of perdition, the fowls their followers picking at the fruit, but the Fish in the Sea are not yet caught, yet all of them belong to God as potential inhabitants of the kingdom. We never make the decision regarding who can enter the Body, or who can’t, nor do we make determinations of who is in the Body, or who is not. All belong to God, not us (Jude 21-23).
The wording Passes Through is the Hebrew Avar meaning To trespass, thus the Sheep and Oxen are protected, but the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air attack the Tree, meaning they are trespassing. The Fish of the Sea are still under the authority, power and seat of Satan: however, O Lord, Our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the Earth (Ps 8:9). The Name (Authority) of Jesus is over all in the Body, it’s our protection and authority keeping us separated from the world. We were fish of the sea (Gentiles), or the sand of the sea (Jewish), but Jesus by the Holy Ghost has made us fishers of men.
We still use the metaphor Sheep when talking about people of God, we know sheep are cute, but they stink, they’re stupid, they all need help, yet when they’re cleaned up they’re kind of cute; it’s the goats who have intents and desires not conducive to being Sheep. Clean up a goat, it still stinks.
Psalm 9 is a Thanksgiving for God’s Justice; if we don’t understand His Justice, we will never understand His Ways. If for no other reason, when we understand Mercy, we will understand God’s Justice is the result of rejecting His Mercy. Recognition to gain belief begins with, “Praise the Lord with our whole heart for all His marvelous works” (Ps 9:1). When our bank account is minus zero, our house is upside down, the ministry is so inside out, we can’t tell top from bottom, we turn to face God recalling the joy of our salvation, we will be glad and rejoice in God by singing praises to His Name (Ps 9:2-8). If Job’s three friends would have understood this, or the children in the wilderness would have done this, things would have been much different for them.
Psalm 9:6 displays the end of the enemies of Jesus, their Destructions (plural) are come (past tense) to a Perpetual End, the sons of perdition are Judged, but their Justice comes at the Judgment. The word Destructions is the Hebrew Charavah meaning Dry place, or Ruin, it refers to the rubble. The word Perpetual is the Hebrew Natsav meaning To establish; the word End is the Hebrew Tamam meaning To be completed, or Done, thus the course is already set for the Wicked. Does it mean God has an A list and a B list? No, it means God knows all things, we don’t. What is our assurance? The Spirit in us, the very means God has given us to make it. The Wicked either reject the Spirit, or separate themselves (Jude 18-19), it’s not God who causes it, but God will honor their decision (Rom 9:22-23).
In verse 8 we find the Lord “shall judge” the world in Righteousness, but He shall also “minister judgment” to the people who are upright; the word Judgment in this case means Upright, or agreement. The wording “minister” is the Hebrew Diyn (Gen 6:3), or Duwn meaning To plea a cause. Two different methods of judging, but both based in Righteousness, showing Righteousness is connected to Mercy. The wording “shall judge” is the Hebrew Shaphat meaning To vindicate, or punish. The Righteous would be those who used Mercy, defined by Jesus as those who are blessed of the Father (Matt 25:33-46). This is explained in verse 5 as God has Rebuked the Heathen, He Has destroyed the Wicked, blotting their name out of the Book of Life forever and ever. The phrase forever and ever denotes two Ever’s, the first is our Season, the next Ever is the Season to come; however, we are not among the Heathen or the Wicked. During those times when we are oppressed, or in torment because of their lies, or malicious acts, the Lord is still our refuge (Ps 9:9). How do we counter these evils? Praise the Lord by making His Doings (Ways) known, tell of the Good things God is doing, seek the Precious. We will be humble and seek the discernment of the event, without being overcome by the event (Ps 9:11-19).
Verse 17 is one of the most interesting in the text, showing the Wicked turn into Hell, thus showing they are the subtle beasts of the field causing the borders of hell to widen, thus the devil’s angels include the “Wicked”, as messengers of Satan.
To David a heathen was a Gentile, the “nations” were also Gentile, considered the enemies of God. It all changed with the Gospel, the enemies of Jesus are in the same house, the Gentiles become the fish of the sea we are sent to catch. Nonetheless the application of the enemies of God is still seen in the prophetic words. There are times when it appears God is gone on vacation, or simply turned His back on us. The Wicked appear to run wild, without any restraint, the “poor in Spirit” seem to be just as poor in Spirit (v. 10:1-2). However, God has a plan, the Wicked will be taken in their own devices they have imagined to put on others. The more they deceive people, the more they become deceived. The word Devices in verse 2 is the Hebrew Mazimmah meaning the purpose of an evil plot, the imagination defines the intent, the same premise as those who lie in wait to deceive. The word Imagined is the Hebrew Chashab meaning To think, reckon or impute. We impute the old nature dead on the Cross, the Wicked use the same premise only in an evil manner. They impute their plan complete, only in their case they call it “faith”, or “righteousness”, but it’s still based in an evil intent based on a lust to envy.
Verse 3 is an identifying element of the Wicked, they boast in their own desires and abilities. They are full of strife and division, they are covetous (envy) in nature. The verse continues with the same premise defining Pride is their driving motivation. It would seem they wouldn’t speak of God, but it’s not the context, they speak of God, but only to their advantage, or use God as their servant. Their real concern is exalting themselves, thus their Ways are grievous. The word Grievous is the Hebrew Chuwl meaning wounded or to cause pain. The Wicked curse and bless not, their hearts are full of deceit and fraud; from the heart the mouth speaks. We discern the words of a person, to determine the source. Perhaps not at first, but their words will make the source clear if we listen to discern.
Verse 8 defines lying in wait to deceive, they have secret plans in their hearts, tricks to trap the innocent. The word Innocent is the Hebrew Nagiy meaning blameless, thus the Wicked search out the blameless to cause them harm. The Wicked have no position or cause to form any plan of evil, making them Lawless. This is made clearer in verse 9, they lay in wait secretly; the word secretly is the Hebrew Mictar meaning hidden places, or a secret hiding place. The Psalm talks about a “he”, but the reference points to the position of the son of perdition. It’s one position, but with more than one subject therein, making the he the body of Judas run by the spirit of the world. The Body of Christ is made up of individuals, but it’s still One Body, the position of the son of perdition is one position, but it still has members. Verse 11 shows they hide in secret, thinking God doesn’t know what they are doing, or worse they think what they are doing is ordained and approved of God.
Verse 12 defines the “poor” as the humble, but interesting enough James and the Jews of his time defined the Poor as those outside of the Promise, the Rich as those with the Promise, thus we as the Poor humbled ourselves to gain the Rich Promise of Grace.
If we keep the context of the “heathen” in line with the prophetic, verse 16 makes more sense. It makes little sense to send Jesus to die for the heathen, yet destroy them. The heathen in general terms means without God, or without the Promise of God; in the prophetic sense it means one who has rejected the Promise offered by God. The Wicked accepted the Promise of entrance into the Body, but rejected the Promise of the Holy Spirit by retaining the spirit of the world. They also attempt to make God condone to their old natural agendas, while they claim to be the entire purpose of Salvation.
Psalm 11 is termed Trusting in God, it fits what we just read. How do we know we’re not among the Wicked? We have the Spirit, we are at least trying to walk in the Spirit. Our desire is not the same as the Wicked, they seek to carry out their own agenda, usually against the Spirit filled saint, to justify their unbelief. They envy those who walk in mercy, yet they hate those who walk in the Spirit. However, the key issue for us is trust, where do we put our trust? It better be In God, thus “In the Lord put I my trust” ( Ps 11:1). The wording “Put I my trust” is the Hebrew Chacah meaning to place our hope, protection, confidence, and security in God.
Verse 2 talks about the Darts, the attacks coming out of nowhere, the Wicked set their bow, their mind game is set, the trap is ready, they use deception, then shot their dart right at our belief and faith. They seek to remove our belief, damage our trust in God, corrupt our foundation. Faith is a Now condition, based in the unseen, seeking the unseen hope, but it takes Knowledge to know what faith is capable of. Our belief is also a Now condition, but it’s based on past knowledge, or experiences, thus if someone can remove our belief, our faith has no knowledge or confidence, it will fade, lacking a Godly hope.
Jesus said from John the Baptist until “now” the Kingdom suffered violence, but the violent take it by force (Matt 11:12). That phrase relates to these verses, the violence is self-righteousness, Jesus also placed a time element on this. It wasn’t before John the baptism or after John, it was from John until the “now”. The Violent are different, they are strong, but the force is based on an outside energy, they seize the Kingdom, they don’t make it suffer. The Wicked still use self-righteousness, Paul said they come with a mask of righteousness, but inside Satan still reigns (II Cor 11:13-14).
Three words of interest, transfigured, transformed, and translated. Translated means moved from one place to another, transformed is a change on the outside, transfigured is a change on the inside, producing a change on the outside. The Mercy of God will transform us, the Grace of God will transfigure us, so we can be translated from the earth into heaven. The wicked are self-transformed, they have the appearance, but lack the lawful method for change. They cry, laugh, beat their chest, they give a outward theatrical performance to impress man, thinking they are impressing God.
If we put our Trust in God, the Wicked haven’t a chance, if we put our trust in men, the Wicked will take advantage to trap us. The Lord is in heaven, He sits at the Right hand side of Majesty on High, He sees and knows how we try daily to walk the walk, and talk the talk. He also knows those of the synagogue (gathering) of Satan, as well as knowing they love violence (injustice – Rev 2:9). The Book of Revelation coupled with Psalm 11:6 show the Lord shall reign fire and brimstone down on the Wicked. As for the Righteous, they will be protected, because they put their Trust in the Lord, He will deliver them.
David as a prophet often spoke on behalf of the Lord, yet regarding circumstances he was familiar with. As a person his enemies were flesh and blood, but his physical enemies were nonetheless symbols of pride, ego and the self nature, which prophetically pointed to the enemies of Jesus. Our old nature is ineffective, yet it will voice its opinion, pride coming here, ego there, the desire to panic, fear from behind, yet in the midst of those enemies we trust in God (Ps 12:4-5). All the talk about the Wicked leads to Psalm 12:3 and beyond. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, with the tongue speaking proud things (Ps 12:3). There are two elements here, flattering lips are not the same as edifying someone, rather they attempt to exalt the person above measure. The Hebrew Karath is used for the phrase, Shall cut Off, referring to the time when the Body of Jesus is Broken. Pride pops up saying, “there is no God” or “it’s has passed away”, which is the same, but pride is void of Godly Wisdom, yet full of natural intellectual knowledge (Ps 14:1-6).
Psalm 13 is a shadow of a place we’ve all been in, the writer is talking to God, yet asking God “how long will you forget me”? (Ps 13:1). If we can talk to God, He hasn’t forgot us. Similar to asking God, “are You real?”. Why ask Him, if you don’t think He is real? Verse 2 is the product of “self-counsel”, using the soul to counsel the soul ends in “sorrow of my heart”.
There is an interesting statement here, one wherein we gain a hope. There may be times when it appears as if the enemy has prevailed, but God will not allow the enemy to prevail, neither will He allow the enemy to rejoice. Rather God will bring Light and Mercy, then we can rejoice in God’s Salvation (Ps 13:4-5). Verse 5 again points out how Salvation is of God, not man. Nonetheless it shows we are in the hand of God, we must believe God is working for our best interests regardless of the event. During the hard times, good times, and in all times we Trust in the Lord with a Heart rejoicing in His Salvation (Y@shuwah – Ps 13:5). Only the fool says in his heart, There is no God, which is a metaphor saying “God doesn’t see”, in context it shows one who refuses to put their Trust in God.
The very next Psalm answers the question from 13:1 as we read, “the fool says in his heart there is no God”, thus the fool won’t ask God a thing (Ps 14:1). In context the word Fool means one without God, thus if one doesn’t believe in the existence of God, they won’t recognize Him in their thoughts, deeds, or words. If someone “wonders” if there is a God, they are not a “fool”, but a lost soul seeking Truth. God is always looking those one who seeks Him (Ps 14:2), if He sees they have gone aside, or have become filthy, it doesn’t mean God gives up on them, it means He sees them, thus He is seeking to restore the lost. If the workers of iniquity trick the people of God with strongholds or fables, it doesn’t mean God will give up reaching out to both the Wicked and the victim while it is yet Day. It all means God has a plan, He will not forget us, nor forsake us (Ps 14:2-7).
Verses 1 through 3 in Psalm 14 relate to Romans 3:10-12, there is none good, no not one, there is none Righteous until they are Born Again. There was right standing before the Law, but not before God. Goodness is relative to the person, if someone did something “good”, then it was God who gave them the idea, or ability, thus man in and of himself is incapable of doing good, there is none Good but God. The phrase, “call upon the Lord”, is seen in many places, it means one who continually calls on the Lord. It has the same context as Mark 16:16, which is not a discourse on baptism, but a teaching on continual belief. If we are in the Body, we continually believe then the saying, “shall be saved” covers us; however, if we are in the Body, yet fail to continually believe, then the saying, ”shall be saved” doesn’t cover us. Jesus was upbraiding the disciples with their unbelief, He did so by showing it was up to them to continually believe in order for the signs to follow. They took the correction, thus showing belief and unbelief are choices we make (Mark 16:20).
The reference to the Wicked eating up God’s people as they do “bread” indicates metaphorically the Wicked are of the Body, but not of the Blood (v. 4). We are the Bread, thus they never disrupt the Blood, but they do attack the Bread (Rock).
Man has the choice to believe or hold unbelief, for those who desire to believe, the littlest evidence is necessary; for those who desire to hold their unbelief, no amount of evidence is enough. We persuade those who want to know God, we never debate, we never make it personal, if they reject our words, nor do we allow them to make it personal. When a debate becomes personal, hate and anger will dominate.
Trusting in God doesn’t mean we ignore pride, nor pride’s crime partners, it means we don’t relay on mankind for our salvation, deliverance, need, source, or reward. If we ignore any pride in us, especially the wall of pride we become self-deceived, instead of running the enemy out of the camp, we allow another to enter. Pride is a massive wall or a small wall, depending upon our position in the process of the saving of the soul, but one brick can cause us to stumble. Pride uses various shields, when God exposes pride, or any lust we join with God by telling the mountain to, “Go”, then we have faith in God to remove it from our lives. Using the pride of life to suppress some lust isn’t freedom, it’s self-deception. The process will take some humbling experiences, but humbleness will remove the root from the tree of pride, causing pride to dry up and die.
The Lord doesn’t give up easy, He will not be rejected without a fight. We may face many wilderness experiences before we get the idea, a humble heart is far greater, than a puffed out chest full of pride. When we remain humble before those who condone our attitudes, we gain nothing, but when we are humble before those who are attacking and belittling us we gain much (I Pet 2:20).
However, when we use humbleness as a tool to manipulate others, it’s not humbleness, but the pride of life counterfeiting humbleness to gain the advantage by deception. Humbleness is submission, or an attitude which avoids debate, anger and corrupt communication. Neither humbleness or submission ask us to lay down as a doormat, rather it means we avoid debates, the use of anger, or the urge to interfere in the things of God. When we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, the finger of God will do the correcting. We do want what is Right in the sight of God, Love those who persecute you, pray for those who caused you harm, never render evil for evil (Rom 12:14-17).
Psalm 14 ends with a Night proclamation, the Lord will bring back the captivity, as Isaiah says, When the Lord sets His hand a Second time to recover the Remnant the Night will begin (Isa 11:11 et al). Paul said it will begin with Peace and Safety, but ends in sudden destruction (I Thess 5:3).
Psalm 15 asks a question, Who will abide in God’s Tabernacle? Who shall dwell in the Holy Hill? The Holy Hill is understood as Zion, but David didn’t have the Tabernacle, he didn’t have the Temple either. Jesus said He would build His Church on the Rock, thus we find two things, the Rock, upon which the Church sits. The Rock upon which Jerusalem of the earth sits is called “Zion”, in the Book of Hebrews we find there is also a heavenly Zion, as our mount of holiness (Heb 12:22). We are the Body, the Body is the Rock, the Mount of holiness from which Jesus builds His Church. The Rock and Head of the Rock are seen typed as the Tabernacle, the Rock being the Holy Place, the Head the Holiest of All. The question is valid, who will abide? The Father seeks those who worship in Spirit and Truth, thus in order to fit the category one must have the Spirit of Truth; therefore we are granted the Spirit of Truth by the New Birth, making “ye must be Born Again” a commandment, not a suggestion.
Psalm 15 answers the question giving us points to consider: “walking uprightly”, working “righteousness”, and “speaking the Truth in the heart”, all three of these take the New Man to accomplish. One could be upright before the Law, even hold a form of righteousness before the Law, but they were not upright or righteous before God, neither were they capable of speaking Truth from a heart based on the fallen nature of man (v. 15:2). It takes a New Heart based in Truth to speak the truth, there are those who say things then add, “well it was the truth”, no it wasn’t, it was their opinion. However, we have a problem, Jesus said from the heart comes no good thing (Matt 15:18-19), yet Paul said we must believe in our hearts God raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 10:9), Paul then added from the heart we believe unto righteousness (Rom 10:10). If no good thing comes from the heart, how can we believe unto righteousness? Circumcision of the heart, the cutting away of the Old, the imparting of the New Heart (New Man – Rom 2:29). Therefore, the Righteousness is “His Righteousness” which we obtained with the New Man (Eph 4:24). With true Righteousness we can come boldly to the throne of Grace, without it, we can’t.
True Judgment is merely separating the Precious from the Vile, here in Psalm 15 we find such a division. The vile would be those who do evil with their tongues, or speak evil of their neighbors continually. These are the signs of a bitter heart, one seeking fault while failing to show Mercy, neither do they attempt to show Mercy. Scratch the surface of their mask with exposure, they will retaliate with a vengeance.
Verses 3 through 5 all relate to Mercy, when we add the Truth of the Heart, we find Living Waters, or Mercy applied by the Spirit of Truth.
Psalm 16 begins with the familiar, “for in You (God) do I put my trust”. Then in verse 2 we find the activity of the soul. In Psalm 15 it was the heart, thus the division between Soul and Spirit is taking place. Our Righteousness and Holiness are based in the New Man, who is Spirit, not our souls. Our souls have the right and authority to join, or be engrafted into the Righteousness and Holiness, but our souls don’t generate either.
Our soul has said, “You are my Lord”, but we also find no one can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost (I Cor 12:3). This is a confession of the soul, but it doesn’t mean the person can hear the Lord, thus in order to be a servant, one must hear the Master’s voice. In the days of David God talked to the prophets, but now He speaks by Jesus in us the hope of Glory (Heb 1:1-2).
The context here points to, Who is your God? To those who say the Lord is their God, they rest in the assurance of knowing with Whom they stand (v. 3). However, for those who have another god, their sorrows will be multiplied. We will not drink of their cup, neither do we mix the cup of devils with the Cup of the Lord (I Cor 10:21).
In verse 6 the Lines are fallen, the word Lines is the Hebrew Chebel meaning a rope or a measuring line, the wording “are fallen” is the Hebrew Naphal meaning to fail, to be cast down, or lost, this indicates the protection of evil has fallen. This has to be taken into context with verse 10, showing verse 6 is the breaking of barriers, the destruction, or making ineffective he who had the power of death, that is the devil (Heb 2:14). Regarding verse 10 Peter commented on Pentecost regarding the words of David, as they referred to Jesus and the Resurrection (Acts 2:27-31). Verse 11 confirms this, as the Holy Spirit shows us the Path of Life, the fullness of Joy leading us to Jesus at the right hand of Majesty on High (v. 11). The Faith of Jesus is proven, our faith follows Him by the Spirit.
Psalm 17 begins in a prayer language known to the Jew, the position giving one the right to pray to begin with: having done all to stand, stand therefore. Verse 2 shows us the Right standing is being Equal, in our case it’s holding Mercy and Grace, in the case of David it was being open before the Lord.
Psalm 17:11-17, with Psalms 35, 38, 69, 83, 109 and 137 are known as the “Imprecatory Psalms”, meaning specific prayers to invoke God’s wrath on the Wicked. Two modern thoughts concern this type of prayer, some contend imprecation is proper for the New Testament person, others say under Grace we are not permitted to pray in such a manner, thus these prayers were spoken prophetically to release us from having to make them. Those who contend we should pray show the command to love one’s neighbor was in the Old Testament, they use the thought of Vengeance is the Lord’s, thus we are simply remind the Lord to apply vengeance. The souls under the altar of God pray, or ask the Lord how long will He not judge or avenge their blood (Rev 6:10). However, they are not telling the Lord to attack people, it’s the blood of the saints in question. We can’t use the same premise as those under the Law of Moses, we are under a different Law; thus we are told without question to agree with our adversary (Matt 5:25), to pray for those who persecute us (Matt 5:44), as well as forgive to be forgiven (Matt 6:12). These Jesus called Commandments, telling us if we teach anyone to break them, we shall be the least, the lust to gain vengeance removes us from mercy (Matt 5:17-19).
Others argue some verses in the New Testament indicate such prayers are proper, but the verses used do not support the contention. One verse is Acts 1:20, but it’s the disciples replacing Judas, not praying against him. The act of replacing Judas was out of order, since they were told to tarry, rather than hold a board meeting. Another area is Acts 8:20 where Peter told Simon, “your money perish with you”, but this is not a prayer, it’s a statement of exposure. Peter gave Simon a path to recovery by telling him, “pray God, if perhaps the though of your heart be forgiven”, hardly praying against Simon, rather it’s making a request for Simon to pray. Acts 13:10 is another, but it’s not a prayer either, as Paul moved by the Holy Ghost to take action on a Jew who was a sorcerer. Others use Romans 11:10 were Paul is teaching by using a quote from the Old Testament, but it’s not a prayer either. It would be a terrible mistake to think Paul is saying to pray against someone in Romans 11:10, when in Romans 12:20-21 he said, “If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head, be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good”. The last one used is II Timothy 4:14 where Paul is talking to Timothy about Alexander the coppersmith, but it’s not a prayer, rather it’s just the opposite. Paul is leaving the reward, if any in the hands of the Lord, he is not telling the Lord to punish Alexander. Spiritual matters are still foolishness to the carnal mind, Jesus gave us Commandments in this area specific for the Body of Christ. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden regarding the Wicked, so we won’t have to. How can we pray for those who persecute us, while telling God to kill them? This was so important we find the disciples never mentioned Judas Iscariot after Acts chapter 1, they never prayed against him either. Many New Testament scribes used Balaam, Korah and Cain as examples of wicked people, Paul mentioned a couple of warnings to Timothy, but we do not find any authorization from any Apostle allowing us to pray against anyone. It would be vital, since the Lord gave the New Testament Apostles Commandments to give to us. The “least Commandments” were given us by the Lord on the Mount of Olives pertaining to Mercy, they are not inferior (least), rather they are the least we can do. Michael the archangel knew better than to bring a railing accusation against the devil, rather he said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9). Carnal minds look for ways to vent their anger, rather than deal with it. The Wicked look for people who want to vent their anger in prayer, then encourage them to do so, which in turn gives the devil opportunity (Eph 4:26-27).
Verse 3 is a New Testament concept regarding the proving of our souls by our heart, becoming a testing of our faith. The measure of faith is in our soul, we can make the decision to use it any way we desire, but the Commandment is “have faith in God”. Verse 4 speaks of the “destroyer”, which is the Hebrew Pariyts meaning Robber, or Destroyer. However, how is it trusting God? When we view the context we gain a mystery, the soul must be one with the Spirit to bring about “that born of the Spirit is Spirit”, it takes testings to engraft us into the Spirit so our souls are Spiritual. The Lord proves our souls, so we can seek the Lord by the Spirit, thereby making the two One, as our souls become more and more Spiritual in nature. The Lord proving us coupled with our knowledge of how the Lord will guide our footsteps shows He is fully able to clean us of all the natural carnal behaviors (v. 5). This is verified in verse 6, “I have called upon You, for you will hear me”. We can’t hear God until He first calls us, thus we hear God by the New Man. Confidence in God while trusting in God, gives us the ear for God in the time of need (v. 6-7).
The wording “I have kept” in verse 4 is the Hebrew Samar meaning To guard the flock, thus the right standing was giving the heritage of God due respect. In David’s case, as well as ours it’s respecting the Anointing.
Verses 9 and 10 speak of trusting God for protection, the wicked are camped about, the enemies are near, but the Lord is our keeper and refuge, in Him will we trust.
When we prayed, “deliver me from evil”, we gave God the right to expose those areas of hindrances. It’s no secret only a few walk with Jesus in White, but it pertains to the Rapture which are those who are Dead in Christ, it doesn’t include those who sleep in Jesus. However, the term “Few” is only relative to the number from which its taken. John shows the Few are so many one can’t count them, thus there is room for us. “Oh my, I don’t walk exactly like Jesus, I guess I can’t make it”, wrong, the purpose of the Gospel, with the New Testament letters show us how the people of God were people, they made mistakes, yet they made it. We all miss it, or make mistakes from time to time, but thank God this is the Day, we are children of the Day. Security in the Lord is found in who we are in Christ (I Thess 5:5-7, Rev 20:5, 20:13 & Ph’l 3:10-11). We don’t want to be so paranoid over becoming among the Wicked we’re afraid to preach, or do the works of the ministry. The Wicked have some very distinctive characteristics, the Psalms will speak a great deal about them, so we can identify the characteristics. If our life style is not the same as the Wicked, then we are either Dead in Christ, or we will Sleep in Jesus, either of those two groups make it.
Psalm 17 coupled with Ephesians shows us why we shouldn’t pray against people, we war against the “wiles” of the devil, we do not war against flesh and blood. The Wicked are flesh and blood who use the spirit of the world, but it still doesn’t give us authority to pray against them. In Psalm 17:11 the elements change, these elements have compassed us in our steps, they have set their eyes like as a lion greedy of his prey, as if it were a young lion lurking in secret places, Arise O Lord “disappoint him”, what happened to the “them”? Then we read, “deliver my soul from the wicked, which is Your Sword”. The Sword of the Lord for those who have the Armor of God is the Word (Rhema) of God, yet for those opposed to the Lord it’s the two-edged sword from the Lord’s mouth. The Wicked are not the Sword, they are subject to it, thus this prayer would be akin to “delver me from evil”. The context goes back to delivery from the hands of the wicked, whose life is their belly (flesh). This is still speaking of saving our souls, we must be delivered from the wiles, in order to see what they are.
Psalm 18 is a Song of Victory, connecting to Psalms 19, 20 and 21. Psalm 19 reflects on God’s Creation, Psalm 20 is a Prayer for Victory, Psalm 21 is Praise for Victory, the four of them lead to Psalm 22 which is the seat of Victory.
Above all else our trust in the Lord is voiced when we live by, “I Will Love You, O Lord, My Strength” (Ps 18:1). The key is knowing it’s God’s Strength, not the might of man. More often than not we “hear”, but rather than wait on the Lord, we think we can do it better, producing a sign of our lack of Trust in the Lord. When God begins to do something in our lives we don’t like, we get mad, blame the world, the devil, but it’s because we lack trust in God. A lack of trust stems from the desire to control events and people. If we trust in God it really doesn’t matter what tomorrow holds, but if we don’t in trust God, tomorrow becomes a great concern, so much so, we work today, so we can control tomorrow.
When the adverse event hits, we can be like Job sitting in the ashes, or we can see God has a plan. If we act like Job in the ashes of despair we can count on the carnal minded with their carnal acts of ministry to point out all our faults, yet they have no answers. Accepting the concept of God having a plan allows us to thank God for the plan, which in turn brings clarity in the cleaning whirlwind of God. “You want me to thank God for this, no way, never, won’t do it”. You better, if you want to find the purpose. The soul says, “I will in no way praise God for the event, I will praise Him through it, but not for it”, it’s a confession of being dissatisfied in God’s work, thus our mind says God didn’t do as we wanted, now we’re mad. “Well, it’s not God, it’s the devil”. Really, how do you know? “I don’t like it”. Ouch, it always seems to be the key, if we like it, it’s God, if we don’t, it’s the devil. The children in the wilderness didn’t like the events either, but we know it was God training them. We must discern, even if it is the devil, praising the Lord will give us clarity and ability to gain from the event.
The Lord is the only One who can provide us the strength of His salvation, the only One worthy of praise (Ps 18:1-3). The Lord is our Rock, thus the Body of Christ is still the Lord’s Body, we imputed the flesh dead on the Cross, for the effort the Lord gave us His Body, which is the Bread. The word Salvation is verse 2 is the Hebrew Yesha meaning deliverance, or a place of safety, defining the Body as the Rock.
From the context of this Psalm we also see a preview of the very last days. The Lord heard from His Temple, or place of Judgment (v. 6). The earth shook, the foundations of the hills were removed and shaken because of the Wrath of God (v. 7). This is not the Rapture, but the very last day when the earth turns inside out to become the lake of fire. When the Rapture comes, the earth will shake, the people on the earth will think it’s God’s wrath, which begins the great deception (Rev 6:15-17). In the very end the Hail and Coals of fire fall from heaven (Ps 18:11-13), caused by the false prophet. The false prophet was run by the “spirit of antichrist” in our Season, seen as the false prophet in the next. Why the change? During our Season they are “anti Christ”, but the Rapture removes Christ Like people, thus the challenge for the Wicked will change; instead of iniquity, they will become the doers of sin; moving into a position they have no right to. They simply prove their bitterness by turning their desire of evil in a different direction.
We know the purpose of the Night is to make the enemies of Jesus His footstool, in Psalm 18:9 we find “He bowed the heavens also, He came down: and darkness was under His feet”. This couldn’t mean the Birth of Jesus, since we find the term “bowed the heavens”. Later we will see how the Day of the Lord has a beginning and an end, with a time element between the two called a “thousand years”. The Day of the Lord begins when the Day is done, as the Night begins, when the Night is done, then comes the Judgment. This helps us understand verses telling us “it’s appointed unto all men once to die, then comes the Judgment” (Heb 9:27). Until all men die the first death, the Judgment won’t come, since the Judgment points either unto life, or the second death.
David was both king and prophet, as prophet many of the Psalms show us the Holy Ghost speaking through a man to the Father for the Son, bringing the will of God into the earth (Ps 18:15-50). The Book of Hebrews says, “Then said He, Lo, I come to do Your Will, O God. He takes away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which Will” (Heb 10:9-10). We are sanctified solely by the Will of God through the offering of the Blood of Jesus. Within Psalm 18 we read, “He delivered me from the violent man”, which is a singular usage for the word Man (Ish), referring to the old man, or the sin nature full of the wiles of the devil (Ps 18:48). This is not the Hebrew Adam, but the Hebrew Ish, referring to mankind in general under the fall nature, thus pointing to the old man. On the Cross Jesus took all sin from time past, time present and time future on His flesh, but in order to benefit one must partake of His Flesh by receiving the mercy of the Father. Death by sin came with Adam, sin and death separated man from God, since God is Life. Even Abraham’s bosom was within speaking distance of hell, however, Jesus by the death of His physical flesh, but not the death of the Messiah who can never die; destroyed or made the devil ineffective to those in the Body. It seems like a paradox, Jesus Who is the most innocent, died for those who are guilty. However, it’s the only way it could come to pass. Regardless of who we were, we were guilty; none of us were born into the flesh as “holy and righteous”, we were flesh based, more prone to sin, than not, proven when we did sin the first chance we got. However, by what Jesus did for us, we are now able to impute ourselves dead of the flesh by the Cross, to gain the Spirit of Truth by the power of the Resurrection. Thereby giving us authority over the flesh, meaning over the sin nature which governed the flesh. We became a New Creature, the old is dead, no longer effective. We are not “old sinners saved by Grace”, we “were” old sinners who died on the Cross of Jesus, now we are Raised by the Power of God into a New Covenant proven by the seal of the Holy Spirit. No other organization on earth can make the claim, none have any evidence of a leader being Resurrected.
The old man’s authority was in the flesh, we impute the flesh dead on the Cross of Jesus, thus the flesh, the old man, the devil, the wiles of the devil, plus the darkness are ineffective. We are the Body, those things are under our feet. However, we are not ineffective, since we are in the Body of Jesus, also known as the Body of Christ. Paul said we die daily, in order to be Renewed into Life daily, it doesn’t mean we are saved daily, we are simply remembering what Jesus did for us on a daily basis. We take the Bread first, remembering we are no longer of the Flesh, but of the Body by the Mercy of the Father. Then we partake of the Blood, the Token of the New Covenant cut for us by the Word of God made flesh. Then we remember how we are baptized with the Holy Ghost to become Spiritual in nature, in order to understand the Spiritual things of God.
When we receive the Cross of Jesus, we receive all His flesh endured for us, including the stripes, the beatings, the nails, the mocking, the crown of thorns, the curse of the Law, the Law itself, everything else He abolished on the Cross is abolished in our New lives. Jesus died so we might live, meaning we live by the New Birth through a Spiritual nature unto the fullness of the Christ Character. So does it mean our memory is gone? No, it means we have a new position above the old nature, a newness so new the old is no longer considered. One of the hardest elements for us to consider is the Newness the Cross brings, we have memories, the flesh is still there, yet we have a new Body called the Body of Christ. In essence we merely calling something to be, as a were; thus it’s appointed for all to die once, we merely allowed Jesus to complete it for us.
God’s Mercy places us in a like position as Adam before the fall where death by sin did not reign. However, even Adam couldn’t visit God, nor could he reason with God on God’s level. Mercy is great, it’s the Door opener, it grants us the ability to forgive as we are forgiven, but we must move to the grave, then the Power of the Resurrection in order to be sons of God. If Jesus was declared the Son of God by the Spirit of Holiness as a result of the Resurrection, then the same Spirit who raised Him will raise us, showing we must have the Holy Spirit of Promise.
God granted us His Mercy, so we could walk in it. The Son provided Grace, so we can have it. How can we thank God for the forgiveness of our sins, if we hold or impute sins against others? We can’t, Paul said we obtained Grace as a Gift, not of our own, but in the realm of Mercy, Jesus said in order to be forgiven, we have to forgive. The two don’t make any sense at all, unless they are talking about two different, yet related things. Forgiveness of our sins is a an act of Mercy, the salvation of our souls, or the remission of sin are Grace based. If Grace can’t be earned by any effort on our part, yet we can’t be forgiven unless we forgive, we must be speaking about two things. Amen?
The Wicked gain the Adam nature, then they seek to be like Adam. Some of them even worship Adam by giving Adam more credit, than God did. Adam was earth bound, there isn’t one verse showing Adam used faith, nor was Adam able to leave the confines of the earth. Rather we find Adam was formed of the earth: since his flesh was of the earth, he remained with the earth. James tells us the wisdom of man is earthly, sensual (soulish) and devilish; not a devil, but devilish. The same wisdom Adam used, “it was the woman you gave me”, showing how he handled events. Jesus said, “Father forgive them”, two completely different approaches.
The Wicked don’t want to submit to the Christ nature, but why? Adam controlled his own life, God served Adam, Adam didn’t serve God, but Jesus gave up His life for us. Jesus served the Father, thus it becomes an issue of Service, the Wicked want to be served of God, the Faithful want to serve God. God will deliver us from the “strong enemy” (strongman – Ps 18:17). The Cross gains us many things, it makes the enemy ineffective (Heb 2:14), we have the forgiveness of sins, the breath of Jesus as the power to forgive as we are forgiven, which is much greater then the atonement under the Law of Moses.
Psalm 18:21 points to the Ways of the Lord, it’s known as the Song of Victory. If we hold the Ways of the Lord, we will obtain victory over the ways of the Wicked. As we grow in the Lord our desires change, we will do good by our New Nature. We did things without thinking by the old nature, what makes us think we won’t in the New? Many of our good works are done daily, yet we pay little, if any attention to them. At first we have to think, “What would Jesus do?”, but then we find ourselves doing what Jesus would do. These are the Ways of the Lord as a result of the New Birth, a great benefit indeed.
Verse 24 of Psalm 18 says, “therefore has the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness”, it would seem self-righteousness has a position; however, it doesn’t say self-righteousness, rather it points to Righteousness giving Recompense. The word Recompensed in verse 24 is the Hebrew Shuv meaning To turn back, or To turn around, or To turn to Jehovah, here it shows one has slipped, but Repentance by the Righteousness of God brought them back. Some if not all of us will slip, but the Seed of God in us will fight to get us back onto the path. Who is God save the Rock, who is A Rock, save our God? (v. 31). When God gives us victory, we sing His praises among the heathen as a testimony to the might of the Lord God we serve (v. 49-50). This also indicates the Unction over the Body is of the anointing of Christ, it’s a protection or every member, no matter what type of fish they are.
Psalm 19 has some interesting divisions, the Heavens Declare the Glory of God, the Firmament Shows His handiwork. Metaphorically we are the Heavens, thus in the Book of Revelation there is a Woe on the earth, then one on the Sea, but none in the Heavens. The word Heavens is the Hebrew Shamayim mainly denoting the Air or Sky, or the abode for the stars. The word Firmament is the Hebrew Raqiya meaning the place where the waters above the earth are stored. The word Declare is the Hebrew Caphar meaning to Talk, or Speak of. The word Show (showeth in KJV) is the Hebrew Nagad meaning to declare or show forth. The planets and stars above the earth are there, they openly declare the Glory of God, but the Glory is also in those who are Born Again (Rom 8:18). The place where the Waters are stored is known to us as the clouds in the sky, the salt water in the sea evaporates goes into the clouds, then the clouds move over dry land where the rain falls. However, the metaphoric use is also important, we are the Clouds (Witnesses) who received the Mercy of the Father (Water) when we left the Sea (World), as we were translated to the Earth (kingdom of heaven), then after we obtained the Spirit as we are transfigured by the Spirit into a son of God to produce Mercy for others.
Verse 2 is another division, with more metaphoric symbols. The children of the Day Utter Speech, but the Night has Knowledge. The word Utter (uttereth in the KJV) is the Hebrew Naba meaning To pour out: it’s the same context for both New and Unknown tongues. New tongues is a New manner of speech, but still in the understanding, Unknown tongues is when the Spirit of Truth in us speaks, both show a Pouring Out of the Spirit from within.
Verses 4 through 6 actually speak of the stars, firmament, day and night, but we can also see the Gospel, it has gone out and will go out until the end of the earth. In our Season it’s the Gospel of Peace, in the Night it’s the Everlasting Gospel. In our Season it’s unto Salvation, in the Night it’s Judgment, but still throughout all the earth (Rev 14:6).
The “Law of the Lord”, is the Law of the Spirit, it’s also known as the Law of God, thus the Law of the Spirit “converts” the soul during the Day. In the Night the “testimony of the Lord” will be found in the Law and Prophets, as the Two Witnesses calling for repentance (v. 7 & Jn 5:39).
James said, the engrafted Word is able to save our souls, but he didn’t say the engrafted Scriptures save our soul, there is a difference (James 1:21). The word Engrafted means our souls become part of the Word (Seed of God), as our soul becomes spiritual in nature. John called it the ability of a sinless nature in the seed of God to keep us from continuing in sin, by the change in natures (Jn 3:9). Peter said, we are Born Again by the incorruptible seed of God (I Pet 1:23). Paul said, If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (Rom 8:10). When the Spirit brings forth the Blade by the New Birth we can see with clarity, knowing all things are under the feet of Jesus. We will keep the things of God in order, we will not elevate them above measure, nor reject them.
In verse 9 there is another division of importance, the Fear of the Lord is Clean, enduring forever: the Judgments of the Lord are True and Righteous. The Fear of the Lord is an awareness of the Integrity of the Lord, coupled with a complete respect for the Lord, and His Position. The same Judgments are the basis for the trying of our faith, moving us further and further from the condemnation on the world (v. 10).
Verse 12 defines self-deception, without the Spirit we could be knee deep in sin, yet never know it. Not all sins are confined to murder, some are done by words. Using what the world calls lawful, often is a self-centered way still a sin. Slandering someone is a sin, hindering them in doing what the Lord desires is a sin. Not saying something, when we should is iniquity, leading to sin. All these things the Spirit in us warns us of, or gives us caution, plus a means to correct the source so we won’t do it again.
Verse 14 is the combination of the heart and mouth being acceptable to the Lord, in Ezekiel God said He would sprinkle Clean Water (Pure Mercy) on us, then we shall be clean, then He will give us a New Heart as a New Spirit by taking away the stony heart produced by the spirit of man (Ezek 36:25-26). The Heart is the source of the intent, the Word in us divides thought from intent, thus the thought can seem good, but the intent corrupt. What we think is a “good work” could in fact be corrupt and destructive. The New Heart is the New Man, as the Word in us guiding and dividing. By the Spirit we can know our Heart and Words are connected and acceptable before the Lord.
Psalm 20 is a plea for help in the “day of trouble”, Paul called it the “evil day”, but in any trouble or evil we need God’s help. In verse 1 the word Defend could also mean Set me on a high place, or In a place of security. Verse 2 could also read, “sent Your help from the sanctuary”, which would be a response from God based on the sacrifices, in our case it’s the Sacrifice of Jesus (v. 3). Communion is a matter of Remembering what Jesus did, it is not a faith builder, as much as it is a belief builder (v. 5).
The Right Hand of God is the place of equal power, the same premise is seen in the authority of earthly kings; the queen sits on the left side, no one sits on the right side of the king. However, we find Jesus on the Right Hand Side of Majesty on High, indicting equal power and authority, thus in the Day of trouble we come boldly to the Throne of Grace to Obtain Mercy, and Find Grace ( Heb 4:16). By Mercy and Grace we can not only stand, but know why we are standing.
Psalm 21 is of course David the king, but in truth we find some things mentioned David was not privy to. Jesus has made us kings and priests unto God (Rev 1:6). The purpose of a kingdom is to carry out the will of the king, thus a king is over the subjects in the kingdom. In our case, who are our subjects? I can’t be yours, and you can’t be mine. Things are subjects, if we allow fear to be a prince, it will reside in our kingdom as a ruler. If we allow anger, bitterness, unbelief or any of the other rulers of darkness to reside in our kingdom they take up prince positions. On the other hand, if we allow believe, faith, hope, love and forgiveness positions, they reign as princes. Proper kingdom order brings joy in the Strength of the Lord which is found in His Salvation, they we can Greatly Rejoice (v. 1).
Verse 2 in context with the Salvation of the Lord makes sense, in context with asking for anything from the old heart lusting to envy it doesn’t. Ask anything in the Name of Jesus, it shall be granted; however, the key is in the Name, or within the Authority of the Name. It doesn’t mean anything in general, it’s limited to Mercy and Grace, the foundation of the Name. If we are Rejoicing in the Salvation of the Lord, then we have a New Heart centered on the things of God, not the things of the self. We cannot use this concept to fulfill a lust, then get mad when we don’t get the answer we want. “You lust and have not: you kill and desire to have”, “you ask and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:1-5). Verse 3 defines this asking as “blessing”, not only has God given us all spiritual blessings, He expects us to be a blessing (Eph 1:3). Then verse 4 narrows it down, we asked for Life, God gave it, even length of days forever and ever, which has to point to the New Birth. In so doing it becomes one of those areas Nicodemus should have known about (Jn 3:10).
We must believe Jesus is raised from the dead, but how can we truly believe in our heart Jesus is raised from the dead, if we don’t believe in the Trinity, or as it was called in the early days the Unity? Jesus said He would raise Himself from the dead, Paul said the Father raised Jesus, both he and Peter said it was the Spirit of God, thus God did raise Jesus from the dead (Jn 2:19 22, Gal 1:1, Rom 8:11 & I Pet 3:18). We can’t truly believe Jesus is raised from the dead unless we have the same Spirit in us allowing us to believe; since the Same Spirit who raised Jesus, will raise us. Verse 6 continues the thought, we are blessed forever, we are exceedingly glad, we Trust in the Lord, we have received the Mercy of the Father (v. 7). Events happen, our attitude in the event determines if we overcome the event, or we are overcome by the event. Often it’s merely casting the hindering element unto the Lord, knowing the event, or attack doesn’t matter, it’s the Lord who matters.
Verse 8 doesn’t tell us to pray against the enemies, it shows we have clarity, as we find our enemies are not flesh and blood. As far as the enemies of Jesus, they will end in the lake of fire (v. 9). Verse 11 shows how they intended evil against “Thee”, not “me”, thus the attacks come because of the Lord. We can’t take attacks personal, or we will form bitterness against the person making flesh and blood our enemy; rather than render Mercy through the Ministry of Reconciliation, we will impute their sins on them personally.
What matters? The Lord be exalted (v. 13). We are saved by the Mercy of the Father from the world. We are being Saved by the Grace of the Son in the kingdom through the New Birth. We must have both Mercy and Grace in order to hear “Well done My faithful servant” (Matt 25:21).
Psalm 22 begins with, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”; of course we know Jesus said this on the Cross, but does it mean the Father forgot Jesus, or rejected Him? Not at all, Jesus said, “believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?” (Jn 14:10), with, “All things the Father has are Mine” (Jn 16:15). Jesus went to the Cross for us, the statement is prophetic on our behalf, it was each of us who were separated from God by the sin nature: Jesus as the Son of man stood for us, gaining our Victory, something we could not do. The Faith of Jesus is proven, our faith coupled with the New Man guides us on the same path of Victory.
As the Son of man Jesus operated in the Mercy of the Father, thus Mercy is the entry position we all must have. Based on having the Father’s Mercy we are sons of men, based on having the Spirit we are sons of God. Paul’s statement in Romans clarifies this, Jesus was made, not created from the seed of David (Son of man), but He was declared the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness through the Resurrection, two positions, same Jesus (Rom 1:3-4). The Book of Hebrews adds one more position, yet it’s the same Jesus, as Hebrews tells us the Father looked upon the Son and said, “Your throne, O God is forever and ever: a scepter of Righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom” (Heb 1:8). The Holy Ghost calls Jesus God, the Father calls Him God, yet some of us refuse to. Talk about strongholds.
Jesus said, “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness”; yet it’s His Kingdom, established in His Righteousness. The Kingdom of God came to the earth on the Day of Pentecost, if not, you’re not Born Again. When Jesus walked on the earth before the Cross, He did so as the Son of man, when He went to the Cross, He did so as the Son of man, but when He gave the Sacrifice, He did so as the Son of God, the result brought Him back to the position as God the Son, yet in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, three positions (Jn 1:1). Jesus didn’t give up positions, rather He operated in the proper position at the proper time. We operate as kings and priests, but we can mix the ways of the world into our kingly position, or the deeds of the Law of Moses into our priestly position, finding ourselves in error. Positional authority is very important, we are representatives of the Lord, yet it’s by the Spirit we understand which position we operate in for the moment. Are we a priest? King? Minister? Only the Spirit in us gives us direction to the positional authority.
Psalm 22 gives us the incentive to work based on appreciation, rather than seeking some self-based reward, or some self-righteous attitude based on our works. Psalm 22 is classed as a “Messianic Psalm”, over the years some have debated over what makes a Messianic Psalm, some use the three prong test, 1) is the words found in other books which attribute them to a discussion of the Messiah, 2) are there references in the New Testament to the words used in the Psalm, and 3) is there testimony of the Jews or Body of Christ denoting the Psalm as Messianic. Some suggest David was speaking of himself, and not of Christ. Others suggest David was speaking of himself, yet suggesting Christ. However, we must take into consideration the difference between the scribe and the Author. If the Holy Ghost is the true Interpreter of Prophecy, then the Holy Ghost is the Author, not David. The wording in this Psalm points directly to Jesus, it was quoted by Him on the Cross, thus giving us a road map of what He did for us
Whatever Jesus spoke on the Cross, He spoke for us, including “Forgive them Father, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen had this Same Mind, when the stones were coming through the air he prayed for the Lord not to hold the sin against the people (Acts 7:60). Jesus, Who did no sin, neither was any guile found in His mouth, Who when reviled, reviled not again: when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously: Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the Cross, that we, being dead to sins, should live in Righteousness: by Whose stripes we were healed (I Pet 2:22-24). The path of Victory actually began before God said, “Let there be Light”, the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. The Record is complete, the Witness is in the process of carrying it out (I Jn 5:7-8).
Jesus stood from sunset to sunset (day-time), during the rainy season as well (night season) for the just and unjust (Ps 22:1-2). Instead of crying out, “this isn’t fair!” Jesus said, “You are holy, oh You who inhabit the praises of Israel” (Ps 22:3). Who did Jesus come for? The Jews, thus the beginning of this Psalm is still centered on the premise, the Gentile will find the Door opening before this Psalm is finished.
The fathers trusted in the Lord (Jehovah), as Jesus proclaims the trust placed in Him. Jesus didn’t ignore, or avoid the Cross, nor was the Cross some form of suicide. Suicide is an act to escape danger, or to end some assumed misery, but Jesus gave of Himself for others. He faced the danger, took on the hazards, completed the work in Joy to please the Father. From the natural birth of Jesus through the Resurrection, Jesus never did one self-based thing, nor did He speak or act on His own. If Jesus gained one item from the Cross, it would have been self-based, allowing the devil to accuse Him, but the Cross is the ultimate of all self-less acts, something none of us could accomplish. After the Cross and Sacrifice the Father gave Him a Name above all names. Now wait, because of the Cross we come to Jesus,
wouldn’t it be something He did for Himself? No, the Holy Ghost draws us to the Cross, thus the Son gave, the Father received, as the Holy Ghost gathers, One God all in all.
When we came to Jesus, our concern was not preaching to the nations, rather it was based on being saved from the world. The first small step was the wisest thing we ever did, but it was nonetheless a self-based act. It didn’t stop the Holy Ghost from giving us the benefit of the Cross, yet it shows none of us could have accomplished the act of the Cross, thus until we have life, we cannot present ourselves as a living sacrifice.
Jesus took the trust, prayers, hope and faith of all those who were held in captivity, then proclaimed how God has remembered them (Ps 22:4-5). This Psalm shows how Jesus didn’t act from His positions as the Son of God or God the Son, rather He stood alone as the Son of man, a worm, a reproach of all men (Ps 22:6). Jesus didn’t use some mind game to avoid the pain of the Cross, He felt the pain, since it was for all mankind, it was multiplied. If Jesus would have used anything to subdue the pain, the Cross would have been in vain; He had to take our sins, with the judgment of our sins upon Himself, thereby dissolving them in His innocence.
The harm of sin is never restricted to one person alone, sin always affects others. The Father is more hurt by our sins, than we know. Jesus became the Door between the Father and each of us; He took the pain, suffering, judgment as well as the result of sin, causing the veil to be ripped from top to bottom. As the Son of God Jesus opened the Door for us to heaven by overcoming death, then as God the Son, He is waiting to receive us through the Door at the Rapture. After the Door is closed, then the windows of heaven are opened, but we also know the thief attempts to gain entry some other way. Windows? Some other way? Ahh, the thief presumes material blessing in hand is a sign of holiness. Are we not suppose to be blessed? Jesus said the Things would be added, the point being, having the material blessing in hand is not a sign one way or the other of our holiness, the New Man is a sign (seal) of true Holiness.
Jesus took our place on the Cross, for cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree, yet Jesus is not the cursed. Who did He stand for? Those under the Curse, meaning each of us. Jesus Commended (Placed in safe keeping) His Spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46), thus Jesus as the Son of man stood for all mankind who lacked the Spirit. Jesus couldn’t fight the battle as the Son of God, since God wasn’t in need of saving. The Battle had to be in His position as the Son of man, since we needed to be saved. The Cross and Judgment are based on Jesus as the Son of man, not the Son of God, meaning the concept is Mercy. Jesus laid the foundation for the salvation of our souls, the prophecy is found here in Psalm 22.
The pain Jesus suffered was the pain appointed to each of us, thus we seek to know the victory of His sufferings, to gain all He wanted us to have. Jesus destroyed the devil through death, yet prior the devil had the power of death (Heb 2:14). Jesus held Life in the face of death, Life will always overcome death, just as Light will always overcome darkness. The people laughed at Him, scorned Him, mocked Him, joked about Him, while He was dying for them (Ps 22:6-7). Jesus wasn’t on the Cross to deliver Himself, yet the princes of the world tempted Him with, “Save Yourself, make God save You” (Ps 22:8). Jesus recalls the purpose, how He was given a body and grew in the form of a human to bring Reconciliation between man and God.
Jesus always had the ability to say, “That’s it, it’s not worth it, I’m going home”; yet based on His love for the Father as well as for us, He endured, now we endure based on our Love for Jesus. He faced frustration, pain and sorrow, yet they were the emotions of man, being experienced by God for man (Ps 22:10-11). The “bulls of Bashan” marched about the Cross; the bulls of Bashan are the ones who oppressed the poor and crushed the needy (Amos 4:1). The devil with every demon moved about the Cross like ravening and roaring lions, thinking they destroyed God’s plan (Ps 22:13). If the princes would have known the outcome of the Cross, they never would have crucified the Lord of Glory (I Cor 2:8). Who are these princes? Those appointed to be kings, yet instead of receiving the Cross, they called out “Crucify Him”.
If the devil could tell the future at all, he would never have made the mistake at the fall, surely he would never have allowed the Cross. The devil’s ability to manipulate the future was found in the Witch of Endor, but it doesn’t mean he foretells the future. Rather it means he works to manipulate it, thus he projects an evil prophecy through one of his own, attempting to use the mind of man to make his evil predictions come to pass, yet the evil prophecy or the event were still known by God before the foundation of the world. We understand even if the event began as evil, God is still able to turn it to Good To them who Love Him, and To them called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
The devil can’t read minds, but in most cases he doesn’t have to, he merely plants the thought allowing the lost to turn it into an action, as if it’s some great intellectual endeavor. One demon plants a thought in someone’s mind, another plants the same thought in someone else’s mind, then the people think they can read minds. A demon bends a spoon, the person thinks they have some great power, the spoon is a formation of man, not a creation of man, it has no life. The conclusion? Big deal, bend a spoon and still go to hell. However, it’s merely a counterfeit of the Manifestation of the Spirit, we have the word of knowledge, wisdom with discerning of spirits, we don’t need to read someone’s mind, just listen to their words.
Psalm 22 negates the thought of Jesus sleeping in the grave, it also rebukes the concept of, “if God can’t die, how come Jesus died”; the earthly flesh of Jesus (the physical seed of David) died on the Cross through the pain caused by us, but His body didn’t see corruption, thus in death Jesus held Life, making it possible for us to have Life (Rev 1:18). The problem is the flesh, not the soul, thus the soul picked up fleshly traits, now the Spirit is washing us clean of the flesh.
The Law of Moses used innocent animals in the acts of death to show the law of sin and death ruled the flesh of man, yet none of those animals came back to life. They lacked the pure holiness to conquer death, but Jesus did conquer death. The example and promise of the Cross proves we can die to the old, yet live in the New. We are the Body of Christ, who are Born Again of incorruptible Seed.
David the prophet then describes the torment of the Cross in a time when the Cross was unknown. This proves the Psalm is not about David, he never died on a Cross; thus his is an example of the prophet making a statement, without knowing what the statement means. Natural man would reject the concept, presuming it was some fable of the mind, but the prophet knows speaking and understanding are different. The prophet speaks as they are moved by the Holy Ghost, to David the concept he is speaking was unknown to him, yet he spoke it, it also shows the manner in which the Cross was used, connecting it to historical evidence. The Cross was not designed to bring sudden death, it was designed to cause the bones in the shoulder to dislocate then slam against the wind pipe, causing the victim to choke to death. The victim would hold their body up by their legs as long as possible, or until the soldiers broke the legs of the victim, but for Jesus to be our Passover, not one bone could be broken. However, in order to open the Door for the Gentile, His death had to be at the hands of the Jew, but by the means of the Gentile. This complex endeavor could only be done by God, since He knew from the foundation of the world.
Looking around the Cross for those who supported Jesus, or who would call out, “Remember the Father” would be useless, for there was none. His mother cried, His best friend hung his head, His other friends ran for cover, there were only the dogs (those who mocked Him) about the Cross with their corrupt communication and temptations (Ps 22:16). Dogs are the mockers, speaking evil of things they know nothing about. We know Jesus said it would be so, this type and shadow displays the feelings we obtain when we are being crucified with Christ. The flesh as the real enemy, yet the flesh of Jesus was so Merciful it became the ultimate holiness in the flesh, then it became the Body of Christ, meaning we under the anointing of the Mercy of God.
The one point in time when there appears no one to help, when we all of a sudden we don’t know who we are anymore, the time when everything seems so out of our control, is the second when we know we are being Crucified with Christ. We can be in the midst of many people, yet alone; however, Jesus knew He wasn’t alone, the Mercy of the Father comforted Him, because He lived the same Mercy day by day.
Is there a metaphoric scene here? Yes, when we enter the wilderness the old nature in us is seen for what it is, we can be in a crowd, yet be alone. It’s the place of separation, the place where we’re not in the world anymore, but we’re not in the Promised Land either. It’s a time the old man fights back with temptations, emotions, suggestions, yet he is ineffective. It’s when we begin to deny the self and pick up our cross when our minds will hear, “There is no God”, “This is crazy, it won’t work”, “who do you think you are?”, “this is mind game, it’s not real”, “I don’t know who I am anymore”. All those questions, imaginations, or temptations begin go flow like birds out of the nest. Then comes the Truth as the New Man tells us, “Stand, this is God”. The New Man is doing a great work, we may not see it, it may not appear so, but our Trust in God knows we asked, our belief is firm in God Is thinking, then our faith holds there will be a beneficial result.
Our wilderness is a change in process, from the old covering of darkness, to the new covering of Light. The Robe Jesus wore at the Cross has many descriptions in the Gospel, yet they all relate. John says it was a Purple Robe; purple is the color of royalty, but it didn’t start out that way. Luke says it was Gorgeous, the word Gorgeous means radiant, or pure White, referring to the White Robe of the Resurrection. Matthew says the Robe was Scarlet or Red in color, Mark uses a word meaning Purple, but denotes a mixture of red and white to reach Purple. All cover the same garment, all speak of the Covering, yet all concur it was one piece without seam as was Aaron’s priest robe. The Robe couldn’t become purple until the Blood of Jesus entered the clothe baptizing (identified) the Robe in Blood as the Royal Priestly Garment for the saints of the New Testament. John heard an elder say those in heaven before the 1,000 years washed their robes in the Blood of Lamb (Rev 7:14). When the soldiers parted His garments, they couldn’t find it in their greed to part the Robe, no one can rip our promised Robe. We find we are the ones who Washed our Robes in the Blood of the Lamb.
Then comes the physical death of Jesus, but physical death is only the first aspect of death, not the result or the completion of death. The physical body of Jesus died on the Cross, yet the body came as result of His humanness, thus Jesus the Christ never died; therefore, He was dead, yet is alive forever more (Rev 1:18). Jesus defeated the second death, yet died in the flesh to provide us a means to be dead to the flesh in order to be alive by the Spirit to avoid the second death. However, for us to be in the Body of Christ on this earth means He had to retain His Body, but it could not be Spirit, since it means we would have to be Spirit to enter. Our baptism in water represents the Mercy of the Father as our token to impute the flesh dead on the Cross of Jesus, based on our belief in the death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus told the disciples, “touch Me and see, a Spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see”. The Body was then given to us, we accept His death when we deny the self and pick up our Cross. The New Covenant begins for us in the Blood of Christ, evidenced by having the Same Spirit of Holiness who raised Jesus. Our Hope is being a partaker in the completion of the First Resurrection before the Night begins, but our foundation for our Hope is knowing we are the Body of Christ.
Through death Jesus destroyed the devil, thus the Life of Christ destroys the works of the devil. Man faces two deaths, it’s the second death with everlasting torment (Rev 20:6). The first death is when the Formed flesh goes back to the earth, for from the earth it came, to the earth it must go. This is called “giving up the ghost”, or out of the body the soul goes (Greek ExPsuche). God formed Adam’s body of the earth for the earth, our bodies are reproductions of the forming process, but our souls are creations.
The first Adam failed, the Second did not. It’s the Second Adam nature we seek, not the first. Whatever God creates cannot cease, for God cannot cease, but things formed from creations go back to the creation. The earth will continue on forever; however, it will continue in a different form (II Pet 3:10). The soul of man is judged, not his flesh, yet it’s the love for the flesh causing the soul to be judged. The flesh was condemned before our birth, but our souls were not. We were born into the fleshly sin nature, but sin took hold when we sinned, then we used the flesh to satisfy the wanton soul, connecting our soul to the flesh. From then on the soul equated everything to the flesh, life, time, pleasure, sorrow, emotions, even salvation. Being under the sin nature means we are more prone to sin, than not. It’s not a devil, it’s a nature favoring disobedience, thus we became children of disobedience as we followed the spirit of man. Once we were sold under sin, we had no escape, the flesh was able to trap us. However, by the sinless death of Jesus we can impute ourselves dead by what He did, thus we can obtain the Spirit of Holiness now, which is our assurance telling us the Resurrection is real. We could not have the Spirit unless the Resurrection of Jesus actually happened, thus the Seal of the Holy Spirit is our assurance of the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus.
Peter quoted David in regards to the Power of the Resurrection by saying, “You will not leave My soul in hell, neither will You suffer Your Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:27). Peter shows this wasn’t David speaking of himself, rather it was David the prophet speaking prophetically about Jesus. The soul was in hell, yet the flesh in corruption, thus Jesus didn’t “die” in the sense of being inactive, rather He was very active during those three days. Those who are Flesh minded still consider death the time when the flesh returns to the earth, yet their concept is based on the soul being fleshly minded. Man is still faced with the second death, thus if there is second, the first is not a concession of consciences. The created soul goes on without end, the flesh goes back to the earth.
The Psalm continues on the path, Jesus begins to go into the lower parts of the earth, then Psalm 22 tells us, “Deliver My soul from the sword: My darling (only one, or only Son) from the power of the dog” (Ps 22:20). We know Jesus was in the grave three days, then Luke shows Jesus was with the disciples for forty days after the Resurrection (Acts 1:3). It’s fifty days from Passover to Pentecost, thus seven days were unaccounted for, yet they weren’t spent hiding secret books. Those seven days were before the Father, we found in the Law how no one can touch a holy thing and live before it’s sacrificed, thus Mary or anyone else couldn’t touch Jesus until the Sacrifice before the Father was complete. In Matthew it shows they held Jesus by the feet, but the word used shows they restrained Him by their unbelief, confirmed in Mark, rather than physically holding Him with their hands. The Priest waited outside the Holy of Holies for Seven days, then the Sacrifice was given. The Book of Hebrews tells us, when the Father brings the First Begotten into the world He said (past tense) “Let all the angels of God worship Him” (Heb 1:6). The word Angels goes much further than winged beings: the Galatians received Paul as an angel (Gal 4:14). An angel is a spiritual messenger of God, but an evil angel is a natural messenger of Satan.
Jesus told Mary to tell the disciples to wait for Him in Galilee, yet the disciples remained in the house in Jerusalem. The disciples were told by Mary, Jesus was Resurrected, she also told them she saw Jesus. The disciples were told the Resurrected Jesus was seen by two other witnesses, yet they failed to believe until Jesus appeared. Not only did their unbelief keep them Bound, it caused them to rebel. They didn’t go to Galilee as they were told until after they saw Jesus. However, prior to Pentecost none of the disciples were Born Again, none of them had spiritual courage, knowledge or the wisdom of the Spirit, thus they trusted in their own reasoning. Therefore, we are giving examples, we can be a disciple, but without the Spirit we will end trusting in our own reasoning.
The Testimony of Jesus was at stake, the future of every saint was at stake, Jesus proved no man could save his own soul. Did Jesus have to save His soul in this? Not at all, it’s the point, His soul didn’t need saving. At any time in the process Jesus could have called legions of angels down, or taken the entire world by force. He could have, but He didn’t. The purpose for the battle of Jesus was to grant us Grace, freeing us from the confines of the world, thus bringing us to a place to save our souls, not His. Greater love has no man, than to give his Life (soul) for his friends. When Jesus faced the devil there was nothing, not one little thing the devil could accuse Him of, death could not take it’s hold. Jesus stood for us, making it possible to free us from condemnation and judgment; thus, we judge ourselves to the Body and Blood of Jesus, so we will not be condemned with the world. Whenever the devil attempts to accuse us, we stand with Jesus, the same verdict of innocence covers us by the Unction: the accuser cannot accuse those with the Power of His Christ (Rev 12:10-11).
Jesus first preached in the midst of the congregation (Ps 22:22), which would be the Jews. Peter said, Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison, those before Noah, who were sometime disobedient (I Pet 3:20-21). Before Noah there were no Hebrews until the line began with Abraham, neither were there any Jews, since they began with Judah, thus Peter’s comments don’t mean they were spirits, rather it points to a separation between those who entered the Bosom of Abraham and those who died prior, yet held a like testimony of Enoch who walked with God and was not, it points to the potential of them to become spirits, thus God forgot no one. Jesus then preached to the Great Congregation (Bosom of Abraham – Ps 22:25). In all this we must recall these people were not given the opportunity of the Cross when they walked on the earth, thus the addition of Grace also brings in, “to whom much is given, much is required”. The process shows Jesus preached to those in hell, then He went to Abraham’s Bosom which was not in hell, but still within visual distance of hell. Those who received the preaching became a great Cloud of witnesses placed captive under the altar of God (Rev 6:9).
Although natural man may look at the Jews taking the land, and killing people as some great murder spree on the part of God, it was in fact Mercy, for those same Gentiles received the opportunity to hear and join the captivity. Paul tells us, don’t try to pull Jesus down again, it won’t work; there is more then enough evidence to believe if we want to. Jesus need not give us some special personal sign by returning or producing a special Cross just for us. It was done for all mankind, it’s up to us to receive it. When Jesus took Captivity Captive, it closed Abraham’s Bosom, it served it’s purpose.
Under the Altar of God is still in heaven, Paul called it the Third Heaven, as the Second Paradise, thus it’s no longer within the communication realm with hell. We find those under the Altar of God communicate with Jesus, not with the dead in hell. The Parable of the rich man in hell is not some “untruth”, or “cute little story”, it was based on Truth, if not, Jesus lied, which we know isn’t the case. The Parables of Jesus are based on truths, they are not made up based on some imagination. The Parable of the rich man shows if the rich man could leave hell and speak to his brothers, he would never have asked Abraham to send someone. The conclusion is they don’t wander around the earth, the dead speak not to the living. Abraham confirmed it by saying even he couldn’t go back to talk to the rich man’s brothers. Clearly the parable gives us many truths, the obvious is Abraham’s Bosom was not in heaven, rather it was in speaking distance of hell, or yet earth bound, but separated by a gulf. Those under the altar of God don’t even mention hell, they speak to Jesus, yet Jesus sits on the Right hand Side of Majesty on High, showing a completely different local. Next we find it was impossible for those in hell to go back or communicate with the living, devils will, the souls in hell will not; thus, whether it’s Abraham’s Bosom or under the altar of God, the souls could not communicate with those on earth. Next we find the souls of mankind exist after the flesh returns to the earth, thus we know if there is “eternal life”, there is also “eternal judgment”. Next we find whether it’s the first or second death it’s not a cessation of consciousness. Even those who sleep in Jesus will awake at the Judgment to have their works judged (Rev 20:5 & 20:13).
Psalms 1 through 21 tell us about the victory before the fight, thus Jesus had victory in hand before the fight began. Some of us fall into “bragging rights” after the battle, but in truth we know we were shaking like a dog in the midst of it. The truth is, Jesus delivered us, by the deliverance we gained another reason to believe. On the same note, we cannot have victory unless we travel through our own personal Psalm 22, thus we can’t claim Psalm 23 until we learn the lesson of being Crucified with Christ. The Holy Ghost presented every line, word and position of each Book in the order He wanted.
The Kingdom is the Lord’s, He is the governor among all nations (Ps 22:26-28). No matter what the nations of the world do, they will all have to give account to the Governor. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess, Jesus is Lord, but for many it will be too late. No man, great, small or indifferent can keep alive his own soul (Ps 22:29). However, a Seed shall serve Him, the Seed is the Seed of God granted those who are Born Again (Ps 22:30). Those who receive the Seed have the Power to Witness the greatness of Jesus to those who shall be born (Born Again), thus we are the angels sent to those who shall be heirs of salvation (Ps 22:31 & Heb 1:14). The captives were of a past generation who were taken captive by Jesus, here the verse is talking about a present generation causing effect on future generations. This gives us the open Door for the Gentiles, the voice has gone out, the world has heard. Through death Jesus defeated him who had the power of death, that is the devil (Heb 2:14).
With Psalm 22 in hand we can come to our Great Shepherd, we shall not want (Ps 23:1). We sought the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, the things were added, yet we knew better than to seek the things, thinking they were the kingdom. We tend to confuse the promise, if we Seek the Kingdom and His Righteousness, our faith knows the Things will be added, but if we run off to gain the things, we lack faith in the ability of God. Ouch, covenant talk and duties, we have ours, Jesus has His; we seek, He rewards, but if we turn it around we have transgressed God’s side of the Covenant. “Well, I didn’t get the Things I wanted, and old so-and-so isn’t seeking the Kingdom, and he has all sorts of things”. When we get to Proverbs, we will find how material blessings in hand don’t prove one’s position with God. However, the word Things also includes the Things of God, which go much further than material possessions. God establishes us in the Spiritual Things, then we are granted material things when we learn they are not gods. The children had quail coming out their noses; if one assumes material possessions in hand will prove one’s righteousness, they will sit around with a nose full of quail, yet miss God.
The pasture of God is the Bible, the thorns are associated with a curse, but all curses are hung on the Tree; the good sheep know the difference between the good grass and a thorn (Ps 23:2). The word Pastures means A pleasant place, the Bible is purposed as a pleasant place, one where we find our confidence of safety and rest. The Lord brings us to the Living Waters of God (Mercy empowered by the Spirit), where we drink freely of the Water (Mercy) of God to avoid the bitter water (Ps 23:2). We will never be in a position to have Living Water flow from us, if we don’t have both the Spirit (Word) and Mercy in us.
Once we receive the Seed of God unto the growth we can be assured He will “restore our souls” unto their original created intent (Ps 23:3). The word Restore means A conversion unto God, which is more than a turning around, it reflects an encounter with God on God’s level. The word Restore does not mean to make it like it was, it means to make it the way God intended it to be, which is Spirit by the Spirit. The restoration of the soul removes the wiles of the devil, allowing us to walk the path of His Righteousness, rather than going about seeking self-righteousness (Ps 23:3 & Rom 10:1-4). We will walk through this world (valley of the shadow of death) knowing we are free of the second death (Ps 23:4). The biggest fear of mankind is the fear of death, being Born Again is the confidence of things hoped for, our hope is the Rapture where we will be free of the second death (Rev 20:6). By the Power of His Christ, we will fear no evil, for we seek and look for the Rod of God’s correction, as we do His Staff of guidance (Ps 23:4).
We find a Table in the “presence” of the enemies, what? How could that be? Wasn’t Judas at the table? Doesn’t Jude tell us the wicked feast with us? This shows us the Wicked will sit at our Table, but we also find the Blood (Cup) brings victory over the Wicked (Ps 23:5). The Lord has anointed us with oil to be kings and priests unto God, the promise is secure us in the Mercy of the Father, the least Commandments are known to us. Jesus obtained the Kingdom, but we obtained the “oil of gladness”, thus we hate iniquity to the point of not doing it, yet we love Righteousness, because Jesus is our Righteousness (Heb 1:9).
If we have judged ourselves, we shall not be judged, then we can say, “Surely goodness and Mercy shall follow me”, as “I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever” (Church – Ps 23:6). Why didn’t David say “in the Temple of the Lord”? The Hebrew word for House is Baylth meaning A tent, later it became associated with the Temple (I Kings 6:5), but David’s understanding of the word didn’t include the Temple, it reflected to the Tabernacle, or the Holy of Holies. The tenses are interesting as well, we don’t follow Goodness and Mercy, they follow us as signs and wonders. If we are seeking the signs, we are not producing them. Jesus promised the signs would follow those who believe, yet at times we find ourselves chasing signs. It’s far better to produce them, than chase after them.
Psalm 24:1 connects to the Table of the Lord, again we want to keep in mind the metaphor Earth pertains to the kingdom of heaven. Yes there is a Beast of the Earth, but the appearance of the Beast happens after the Wheat are taken in the Rapture. Therefore, the Righteous and the Wicked belong to God, He will reward or repay, as He deems fit. If God tells us to say something, we do so as an oracle of God, but we don’t allow ourselves to say something to the Wicked, when we haven’t heard from God.
Back in Psalm 21 it was the king, but here we find this Psalm entitled The King Of Glory, or the King of kings. Two things are evident, the earth is the Lord’s, but so is the world. Very interesting, considering some think the devil is the god of the world. Paul does talk about the “god of this world” (II Cor 4:4), but in the same context he tells us the Law of Moses has veiled the Jews as well (II Cor 3:16). If the Law has power and authority, it rules, so much so it will be used to judge the Jews at the Judgment (Rev 20:12). The Law of Moses is also a principality, a ruling element within a nation, thus it can bless or curse, making it a god over the world as the Judging agent. The world and the earth have to belong to the Lord, or He couldn’t judge them. It doesn’t mean the world is “holy”, since God is not dealing with the world
as children, it merely means the Law of Moses is the god of the world, yet there is the spirit of man hovering over mankind, explaining the purpose of the Law of Moses being a written conscience. Paul said the spirit of man knows the things of man, but is completely ignorant of the things of the Spirit of God (I Cor 2:11). Then he added how the spirit of the world is opposed to the Spirit which is of God (I Cor 2:12-13). The Spirit which is of God is the Spirit of Truth, thus the he in the world is run by the spirit of the world; indicating there could be no spirit of the world until there was a he in the world as the spirit of antichrist, which didn’t appear until there was a Spirit of Christ.
The Law of Moses judges the world, finds it in sin, pronounces it guilty, yet it’s what the Law of Moses is suppose to do. It was designed by God to accomplish those acts, thus it’s power and authority are designed to neither curse or bless. The Law of the Spirit is much different, designed for a different people; if we can’t accept the Lordship of Jesus, then we won’t be able to truly trust in Him. The Law of the Spirit saves us, preserves us, then presents us to the Lord of our Salvation, it’s designed to, it also has a power and authority to accomplish the task through the New Man.
Verse 1 talks about the earth and world, but verse 2 talks about the “it”. Which it? The earth or the world? Has to be the Earth, since He established it on the “Seas”. The metaphor Sea points to the Gentile world, but the Earth is above the Sea. The word Established is the Hebrew Kuwn a primitive root with several meanings, one fitting this context is To be set up, or fixed. The Body of Christ is fixed on the Earth, but the Church is fixed on the Body.
Verse 3 asks a question, who can ascend into the Hill of the Lord? Into the Hill? How about on the Hill? No, this refers to heavenly Zion, which is the Body. We are not above the Body, we are in it. James tells us “clean your hands you sinners, purify your hearts you double-minded” (James 4:8). This is reference to using the spirit lusting to envy, rather than submitting to the Word in us. Here in Psalm 24:4 we find the same context, only it shows we did wash our hands when we obtained a pure heart, we have “not lifted up our soul unto vanity, or sworn deceitfully”. The word Vanity means Pride, the source of pride is the spirit lusting to envy. The word Deceitfully is the Hebrew Mirmah meaning deceit, or subtilty, the same context as we found in Genesis 3:1.
Verse 5 has to speak about the New Birth which produced the New Earth as the Kingdom. The Blessing of the Lord is the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the Righteousness from God relates to Salvation. The generation seeking His face, and the generation obtaining are different. Here we find Jacob, not Israel, thus Jacob refers to the person, Israel the nation. Each person should have sought the Face of Jesus, but some did not.
The Gates and Doors are seen in verse 7, the Gates are not the gates of hell, these are the Gates around Jerusalem, the Doors are plural and Everlasting. There is the Door to the house of David, which no man can open or close, but there is the Door where Jesus stands and knocks, if any man opens the Door, He will enter (Rev 3:8 & 3:20). If no man can open it, how is Jesus tells us to? Different doors, John made entry into heaven through the Door by the Spirit (Rev 4:1). The metaphor Door points to the entrance of the heart, but we also find it’s the method of entrance into the House. The thief comes in through the Window, unless of course we have lost our “keys”, but if we lost our keys we are an unfaithful servant who no longer belongs to the House.
Who is the King of Glory? The Lord Strong and Mighty. Paul prayed we might know the exceeding greatness of the Power of Christ , and how the working of the mighty power of Jesus is doing battle for us by perfecting us on a daily basis. How do we reach it? “Unto You O Lord do I lift up my soul” (Ps 25:1). The wording Lift Up is the Hebrew Nasa, also seen as Nacah in Psalm 4:6, meaning to give in respect, it was also translated as Armor bearer 18 times. We give our souls to the Lord, He takes, He blesses, He breaks, then He gives back ready for service. Verse 2 again tells us to trust in God; it’s clear God has the power to either allow our enemies to triumph over us, or not. However, we also find if they do, it’s because we have failed to Trust in God. Here we find if we trust in the Lord, our enemies will not triumph over us. In our case our enemies are the wiles of the devil, which connects all this to Ephesians with the Armor of God.
There are some translations today negating the Faith of Jesus, or make it appear as if our measure of faith is more than enough. However, if we Trust in the Lord, we must also acknowledge our measure of faith is incapable of producing its own path, as good as we might think it is, it is still not enough to gain the promise (Heb 11:39). The Faith of Jesus has accomplished the goal, He sits at the right hand side of Majesty on High. We are in the Faith, yet we moved from faith to Faith, thus our measure of faith is vital, but it still isn’t enough to accomplish what the Faith of Jesus has. By our faith is in God coupled with the New Man we can follow the tracks the Faith of Jesus has established.
In order for the translation to be correct it must not change gender, it must not change tense, it must not change possessive quality. The changing of one small word can change an entire context: for example, if we change “His faith” to “my faith” we have removed our confidence in Jesus, we have also changed trust in God, to a trust in the self. It’s difficult to face a cultist who says, “I believe the Bible as far as it’s translated correctly”, when we keep changing the Bible to suit our theology, rather than change our theology to fit the Bible. In Psalm 25:5 we find a progression, lead me in Your truth, to Teach me, You are the God of Salvation, then to On You do I wait. These four areas show the pathway of Faith, sign posts Jesus left for us. Waiting connects to Patience, meaning we stay the course, we don’t attempt to make our own path, we follow the one established.
In Psalm 21 the word Salvation is the Hebrew word Yeshuwah (or Y@shuwah), which points to Jesus as our Salvation; however, in the Hebrew it means Deliverance, Safety, or Being Secure. When we Trust in the Lord we know He is fully able to Deliver us, as He keeps us Safe and Secure. If we Trust in God, then the event is simply a learning experience, it’s not destruction on wheels. This same Hebrew word is used in Psalm 21:5, taking us back to Psalm 20:5 we are told Rejoice in “Your Salvation”, it’s the same Hebrew word, thus in order to enjoy and endure our path, we rejoice In Jesus because we put our Trust in Him.
Verse 4 speaks of the Ways of God, it’s the Ways teaching us to identify Path, as we remain thereon. The Path is Truth, Jesus is Truth, the Armor of God has Truth (v. 5). To David it was waiting for Salvation to be presented, for us, who are the children of the Day it’s the path of Grace leading us to Salvation.
Verses 7 through 21 give us some insight, God’s “tender mercies” forgives the sins of our youth, our youth is the time we were in the world. The same context was used by Jesus in John 21:18 when Peter was being converted.
We seen to spend great time on Grace and Faith, but Mercy and Belief are just as vital. The Stripes of Jesus came on the way to the Cross, not after it. The Mercy of God heals the physical body, Grace saves our souls.
The Paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth, they lead us to Grace. Since Jesus is Truth, we find verse 10 relates to us. The Covenant of God is not the Covenant of Moses, the Covenant of Moses was given to Moses, then Moses gave it to the people. The Covenant here is based in Mercy and Truth as direct influences on our lives; therefore we find, “pardon my iniquity”, which was done when we came to the Cross of Jesus (v. 11). The process moved from forgiveness of sins, to the Covenant where we are cleaned of by the Blood of Jesus, as well as the washing of the Water by the Word to enter a Spiritual state to find the remission of sin (Matt 26:28 & Mark 14:24).
Once we are taught of the Lord, we will also find our souls at ease (v. 13). The word Secret in Psalm 25:14 is the Hebrew Sod meaning A friendly conversation, it equates to resting. If our Trust is in the Lord, our eyes are toward Him, He will move us from the Net into the Kingdom (v. 15). Verse 16 is a great hope, but it became a stumblingblock to the Pharisees and religious leaders. The people kept saying, “Son of David have Mercy on me”, none of them said, “Son of David, give me Grace”. The context of the Psalms shows only the Lord can grant forgiveness of sins by the direct application of God’s Mercy. The people asked, Jesus granted, but the religious leaders had a fit. The evidence didn’t matter, they knew only God can forgive sins. Jesus responded, what does it matter if He says raise up and walk, or your sins are forgiven, the result was the same (Luke 5:23-24). Jesus as the Son of man healed the people, thus we as sons of men we must walk in the Mercy of God.
Verses 20 and 21 give us the reason for trusting in the Lord, rather than in people. The Lord can keep and deliver our souls, man can’t. The Lord has the integrity and righteousness to preserve us, man doesn’t. The spirit of man trusts in mankind, but the result is failure, or destruction.
Once in a while someone will tell us we are prideful, or we are weird, or off base, but we never cast those words off as “words out of the darkness”, rather go to the Lord allowing Him to discern. When we judge ourselves we shall not be judged, but there are times when we become self-deceived, or in need of judging by the Lord. It is far better to ask the Lord to judge us, than force Him to (Ps 26:1 & I Cor 11:28-32). Psalm 25:21 talked about the Integrity of God, here it’s the Integrity of the person. Different Hebrew words? No, they are both the Hebrew Tom or Tame meaning Perfection or Completeness. It depends on whom the Integrity applies, in reference to man it would be “having done all to stand”, in reference to God it would mean we are completely Honest, Perfect and Open, without masks, deception or false fronts before Him. The word Examine in Psalm 26:2 is the Hebrew Bachan meaning To prove, or Test, connecting to the Book of James. Here we find the Asking is asking God to test us, or prove us, or examine us, thus we ask in Faith, knowing the purpose is to hone us into perfection. If we have true Faith, then the testing brings the works of faith. James points out if someone came to our door in need, would we say one thing, yet do another? The same is true with the testing of our faith, do we say one thing, yet do another? Do we say we trust in God, yet get mad if God doesn’t perform for us? If so we need our faith tested and proven. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing, I love God no matter what”, great, but when “the no matter what” happens we will see.
All of us will face the judgment seat of the Lord, but it’s far better to face the Lord at His table while it is yet Today. When we walk in God’s integrity we have a trust in the Lord so firm it can’t be shaken by the influence of the spirit of man.
Psalm 26:5 defines the Synagogue of Satan as the Congregation of evil doers, or the gathering of the Wicked. The word Congregation is the Hebrew Qahal meaning A congregation of people within the called, but it doesn’t mean they are Chosen. The word Wicked is the Hebrew Rasha meaning Lawless, it has the same meaning and context as Paul’s reference to the Lawless One in II Thessalonians 2:8. The word Lawless doesn’t mean they are not subject to Law, it means they refuse to submit to God’s Law, they make themselves without a Law by establishing their own. Would it include someone who goes back to the Law of Moses after entry into the Body? No, it would include someone who accepts the Cross, yet rejects the Law of the Spirit.
The concept of the Broken Body of Jesus is seen in many Scriptures, but it’s also seen in the actual land of the Jew. The nation was divided into the land of Judah and Israel, thus we find two divisions in the division. For Judah the division will be between the House and the Tents (Tabernacles), for Israel it will be between those who are truly Israel, and those who say they are of Israel, but are not. Being of Israel and being a Jew are different, Israel is a place, a Jew is a person. A “true Jew” is one who is circumcised of heart as they follow the Law of the Spirit, but someone who is of Israel is called an Israeli, since they live in the land known as Israel.
The Testing by our Faith brings forth Faith, then Faith brings forth Thanksgiving and Wondrous Works (Ps 26:7). We pray Deliver me from evil, in verse 8 the same theme is seen in the phrase, Let not our souls be gathered with the sinners. The word Gather is the Hebrew Acaph meaning To destroy. This prayer has two points, first we pray not to be associated with the Synagogue of Satan, next if we are, we pray to be delivered. The Synagogue doesn’t mean the Synagogue of Satan is Jewish, the word Synagogue means Gathering, the word Church means Called out ones. Members of the Synagogue of Satan were called, but gathered with Satan by rejected the calling.
The Lord is our Light, our Salvation and Life, we shall not be afraid (Ps 27:1). When the Wicked come to devour us, they will stumble, if we fight the good fight of faith. When the rulers of darkness, the lusts of the flesh, the wiles of the devil come upon us, they will fail because the Lord is our Light, He has given us the Strength of Christ.
In the Psalms as well as in the Prophets we find the use of the word “Law”, to these people it means “Law of Moses”, but why didn’t they say “Law of Moses”, rather than simply “Law”? The Holy Ghost is the Author, thus to these people it was the “Law of Moses”, but to us it’s the “Law of the Spirit”, showing the Holy Ghost simply had them write “Law”. To David his enemies were flesh and blood, to us we don’t war against flesh and blood. We view the enemies much different than David, yet to us and David they are real.
The Place we seek is the House of the Lord, the Purpose is to view the beauty of the Lord, the Method is to give our sacrifices of joy and thanksgiving, singing praises unto the Lord at all times, continuing to believe as we enter the Land of the Living (Ps 27:1-14). The word Beauty points to being a Doer of the Word, if one is a Doer of the Word, it doesn’t mean they do the Bible, it means they are seeking to walk as the Word (Jesus), by allowing the Word to be Engrafted (James 1:21 & Heb 4:12).
Psalm 26 is called A Prayer For Protection, Psalm 27 A Prayer of Praise, Psalm 28 A Prayer for Help, Psalm 29 is called The Voice Of The Lord, they all relate. In Psalm 28:1 we find the Lord is the Rock, yet Jesus said “Upon This Rock”, thus we find the we are in the Anointed Body of the Lord. A hard concept, but when we imputed the flesh dead, the Lord gave us His Body as our protection. The Rock is not the Church, the Church is on the Rock, thus we find independent rocks after the Rapture, who raise up as the Beast of the Earth. They were unable to hold to the Spirit when Christ like people are taken at the close of the Day. Neither will they sleep in Jesus, rather they are the drunken who go into the Night.
No one is going to be established in the Church, unless they are first of the Rock. We cast the net, Jesus builds the Church. The word Supplication means To Supply, or asking for the Supply, going much further than material items, although it includes the material. There are times when we need the Supply of Joy, or Peace, more than we need the Supply of the Material. Psalm 28:4 is a request for the Lord to deal with the Wicked by rewarding them according to their endeavors. This removes the chore from our hands, it’s the same concept Paul used with Alexander (II Tim 4:14).
The Wicked regard not the Works of the Lord, which is the same as failing to hold respect for the Workers of the Lord, thus when a devil is cast out, they give the devil credit. When someone is healed, they seek the evil in the event, rather than give God the glory. They treat the Cross as their personal property subject to them, or something to give them personal benefit without being responsible to the purpose of the Cross.
There is a difference between our trusting in God, and trusting in people. When we trust in God the storms will not rock us, if our trust is intellectually based, but not In God, the storm will rock us out of the boat in a second. In Psalm 29:1 we find the word “mighty” reflecting to the Mighty having the ability to give unto the Lord Glory (recognition). Hold it, don’t we get glory and strength from the Lord? Do we give back what God gave us? The word Mighty is the Hebrew “Ben-El” and Ben means “son of”, and El means God (JP Green renders it “Give glory to Jehovah mighty ones, sons of Jehovah”), Oh my, this is pointing to a “son of God” giving Glory to God. Romans 8:18 says the Glory is in us, thus we have the ability to give God the Glory from the Glory within. Verse 2 is one of the few places where we find the word Worship in the Psalms, thus it relates to being able to worship God in Spirit and Truth by being Born Again. Another place Nicodemus should have been aware of (Jn 3:10-11).
The voice of the Lord is upon the Waters, the Lord is upon Many (Great) Waters, the Voice of the Lord is powerful, full of Majesty. In Genesis 1:9 God called the Waters to be gathered together unto One Place. The metaphor Water points to Mercy, but Waters points to people upon whom (not in whom) the Mercy of God sits; whether the world knows it or not, in this Season the Mercy of God is still reaching out to mankind. In the Book of Revelation the Woman is seen sitting on Many Waters (people), then we find the Many Waters as the Beast, indicating the Beast is made up of people (Rev 17:1-2). A flood is water in rebellion, it leaves the place where it should be, traveling into places where it should not be (Rev 12:5). This is different from having the Water in us, this area explains how God could raise Pharaoh, yet Pharaoh was cruel. It doesn’t mean the people have Mercy in them, it does mean the earth is sustained for now because of the Mercy of God.
The breath of life is the soul, the soul has many God granted attributes, the Agapao (not Agape) love in which man can love darkness or light (Jn 3:19), the measure of faith given to all men, the ability to apply mercy, of course the ability to invent. Man nonetheless shows signs of mercy in forgiving, compassion, and carrying for the needy; of course the nature of fallen man takes those attributes adds pride then steals the glory, nonetheless the Mercy of God keeps the world and earth from blowing apart.
The Lord’s Voice can also break, it can break even the powerful cedars of Lebanon. The word Voice is the Hebrew Qowl meaning Voice or Proclamation, thus we find the Voice of the Lord will break (Ps 29:5), divide (Ps 29:7), and shake all that can be shaken (Ps 29:8). What does He shake off? Kadesh of course, what? Who? The word Kadesh means A frightened person, it’s a metaphor for the “spirit of fear”. When the shaking begins the spirit of fear is exposed, then cast off leaving us with confidence in the Lord.
Psalm 29:11 says the Lord will bless His people with Peace; Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you” (Jn 14:27); as an inheritance. The wording “leave with you” is a phrase one would use in a will. Then Jesus said, “My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you” (Jn 14:27). After the Resurrection Jesus said “Peace unto you” more than once, thus the promise and presentation are complete, we have it now. The Peace of God is stable, it is never moved by the events of the world. If the world’s events, or the cares of this world shake us, we are minding the wrong things, we have yet to receive the Peace of Jesus.
Psalm 30 is A Prayer Of Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving for what? This prayer comes as the result of the battle, the time when the Lord proves He is able. Battles don’t prove our holiness, they prove God is active in our lives. On the mountain top we praise the Lord, for He lifted us up to high places. This is not a high thing, but high places (Ps 30:1-2). The high places in this context are the highest, not the place where the strange woman dwells, but higher. The prayer of faith healed us, the Lord brought us His faith to fortify our praise (Ps 30:2 & James 5:13-15). The Lord raised us by forgiving our sins (Ps 30:3-4). Jesus said we take Communion to Remember, here we find we also Remember His Holiness (v. 4).
There are various forms of prosperity, but perfect prosperity is the saving of the soul (Ps 30:5-6). Psalm 30:9 shows the blood of man, even a man like David wasn’t able to atone for sin. In the same verse we find “shall the dust praise Thee?”. The metaphor Dust refers to the flesh of man without the soul, since it was formed of the dust of the earth; therefore, flesh and blood cannot truly praise God, much less worship Him, we must come to Him in Spirit and Truth, by the Spirit of Truth.
This is the same context is the “grave”, when man is in the grave can his flesh praise the Lord? No, so the time to praise the Lord is before death. The Cross is where we imputed death to the flesh, but Jesus gives us Life, so we can have it more abundantly.
Psalm 31 is called The Commitment To God, thus when He has delivered us, it’s time to make a Commitment. Many are delivered, but fail to make a Commitment. When the “time of decision” comes, it’s a shaky thing, a time when we wonder “who am I?, What am I?, What is going on?”. This one area is a place of separation, the place when the Eye on the entry curtain to the Holy Place is searching out our hearts. Some see an image looking like it came right out of hell, others see their self nature, others see darkness, but they are merely the wiles and traits of the old nature the Lord is exposing so they can be removed. Don’t panic, be joyful, the time of cleaning is at hand. Guilt is a dark cloud, conviction is Light: condemnation is a dark cloud, repentance is Light. The darkness is a sign of something not of God, however it doesn’t mean it’s the devil; more likely it’s something demonic based on the spirit of man. Faith activities light, yet if we operate out of fear, anger, bitterness, or rebellion we will interpret events and Words through those areas of darkness missing the Truth, Faith, Hope, or Love. Mercy sees the events in the Light, gaining from the event or gaining from the Word of the Lord.
Some of our wilderness experiences are testing our Love for God, do we merely say it? Or do we really love Him? When we end in the valley, or the cave we still praise the Lord as we search for the good in the event (Ps 31:1-24). Psalm 31:1 is in opposition to the Law of Moses, since the Law of Moses called for a form of self-righteousness, yet in Psalm 31:1 we find “deliver me in Your Righteousness”, leading the way to “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness”. Not only is the Body of Christ the Rock, but Jesus is the Fortress (not a stronghold – Ps 31:3). This is an area where the word Fortress doesn’t correlate to Paul’s use for Stronghold, here Jesus is our Fortress; our minds form strongholds, Jesus gives us a Fortress built upon the Rock, to remove the Strongholds of corrupt thinking, unbelief, rotten theology, and imaginations.
When God’s Mercy forgives us we know, “blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven” (Ps 32:1). We gained the mountain top by discerning the event, through discernment we know the Lord is working with us, thus we stop looking to place blame on people or events. The devil goes about seeking whom he May devour, so why give him a whom? In order for the dart of the Wicked to find its target, there must be a target. The New Man is cleaning away targets by brining us into perfection so our souls will not fall into “trouble” (Ps 31:9-10).
Psalm 31 has some areas relating to the Cross, Jesus was left alone by His disciples, yet His enemies gathered around Him to take His Life (v. 10-13), yet He trusted in God. This is just another area showing why we trust in God and not man. Did Jesus trust in Peter? No, in John? No, but He did entrust His mother into John’s care, much different.
Verse 14 relates to Thomas when he saw the marks on the Body of Jesus, and said, “my Lord and my God” (Jn 20:28). Here in verse 14 of Psalm 31 we find “O Lord: I said, You are my God”. It may seem somewhat vague, but if we look at “I trusted in You, O Lord”, then we can see how Thomas repented for his lack of belief and trust. This is even clearer when we see Thomas didn’t say, “I believe”, but Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (Jn 20:29). The tenses show one Has believed without seeing, trust in God is often based on not seeing, yet believing.
Verse 16 shows we are saved from the world by the Mercies of God, but Paul points out we are being saved by God’s Grace. We were delivered from the world into the Kingdom, to be saved, thus it’s a Process (or did we say that?).
The Wicked are defined in part in verses 17-18, they are hardly ashamed now, but in the grave, or at the judgment they will be. They lie in wait to deceive, their lying lips not only tell lies about people, they lie about their commitment to the Lord. They entered saying they would serve the Lord, yet they serve their theology, natural intellect, religious pride, or speak hard things against the righteous.
Verses 19 and following gives our protection, the Wicked seek to do harm, but the Righteous and Just still live by faith, even when they are persecuted or attacked. The phrase “sons of men” points to those who walk in Mercy, showing Mercy is always the main weapon against any attack. We speak words of Grace, but we respond in Mercy. No matter how bad things look, God is faithful. It may not appear as if God isn’t anywhere near us, but we know He hears our supplications (v. 22). Courage is an attitude of trust, when we are of good courage the Lord will give us the Strength to endure (v. 24). Courage for a Christian is based in how they stand in the face of adversity, if with God, then courage is a factor, if with the self, then it’s not.
Psalm 32 is called A Psalm of Confession And Forgiveness, Psalm 33 is called Praising God, giving us another progression. The Earth is full of His goodness (Mercy), why then do we find the Wicked therein? They don’t reach for His goodness, nor do they use Righteous Judgment, they refuse to apply Mercy, meaning Mercy is the division between the Good and Bad. When someone slanders us, yet enjoys it, we have a choice, to apply Mercy, or use the same weapons they use; however, we know the opportunity to render Good for the Evil is our gain in Christ. Mercy and tolerated someone is different, we tolerate them, but do we forgive them? Mercy refuses to impute sin on people.
Psalm 33:12 is interesting considering what the word Nations means, it’s the Hebrew Ghoy, or Goy, which is a Jewish term for any nation not of Israel. To the Jew, the Gentile is a Goy, the Gentiles live in the various Ghoy. This one verse is a promise to any Gentile nation who makes God their Lord, which goes much further than printing His name on their money. It also goes much further than using the Law of Moses as a basis for their laws of the land, it means they not only say they Trust in God, they do it.
The context given to us here is not “in God we Trust”, rather it’s “God is our Lord in Him do we trust”, thus no one can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost. This doesn’t mean they can’t mouth the words “Jesus is Lord”, rather it means they can’t live up to them. The carnal mind is its own lord, regardless of the words spoken by it.
The phrase “sons of men” in Psalm 33:13 still relates to Mercy, the Lord looks from heaven, but He also fashioned their hearts, as He considers their works. There is no king who can be saved by the people of his kingdom, no man can deliver himself by his own strength, yet the Eye of the Lord is upon the sons of men who fear Him, as they Hope upon His Mercy. This is another area defining the term “sons of men”, showing how it relates to Mercy granted, so they can give Mercy to others.
The word Fashion in verse 15 is the Hebrew Yatsar meaning To form, not Create, thus this is a Forming process, not a matter of creation. In verse 16 the word Host doesn’t refer to angels, it’s the Hebrew Chagil meaning Might, Strength or Power; here it’s in reference to kings. The purpose for a kingdom is to carry out the will of the king, this is an area where God places whom He will in various leadership roles, for a purpose, yet leaders can’t save us, but they can point us to Salvation, even teach us about it, but they can’t grant it.
Psalm 34 is called Praising God For Deliverance, yet when we enter Deliverance we can count on opposition. Deliverance brings us to the truth of “All Times”, there are times when we don’t need deliverance, as well as those times when we do. It’s just as important to praise the Lord when we don’t need deliverance; yet how can Praise be continually in our mouth, if we are going about slandering others? How can praise be continually in our mouth, if we blame the devil for every event wherein we are not pleased? In the pit, or in the cave, or in the wilderness, or in the valley, or on the mountain top we will “praise the Lord at all times” (Ps 34:1). Whether we like the event or not, we will continually praise the Lord to gain the fullness of the Spirit (Ps 34:1-2). Praise is an element of Faith, praise gains the attention of the Lord, He will deliver us from fear, danger as well as the snare of the enemy (Ps 34:3-18). Many are the afflictions of the Righteous, this is a promise, but the affliction produces a Precious Perfection, if we understand the process and purpose. The Lord loves us, He brings affliction to purify us in the justification, so we can be glorified (Ps 34:19-22). Verse 7 doesn’t say The Angels, it says The Angel, we found God sent an Angel before the people, thus we find this Angel still has a Message from God, in our case we are the Angel with the Gospel of Peace as our message.
The young lions in Psalm 34:10 are not Lions from the tribe of Judah, they are suppose to be with Him, but they are kittens with loud voices. The young lions go about seeking the blessing, but they have no desire to be a blessing. As strange as it mean seem, the metaphor Lion means one who devours, or one who renders judgment, thus the Lion from the Tribe of Judah will Judge, but the devil goes about As a roaring lion, two different things. During the Day the devil goes about judging and causing judging, but the Day is of Salvation, not Judgment. The devil counterfeits the judgment, attempting to bring it before its time, thus we find As a roaring lion, not Is one. Jesus will Judge, but He will do so Righteously in the proper time in the proper Season.
Psalm 34:13 is a warfare verse, “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile”. The wording Cut Off in verse 16 is the Hebrew Karath again, meaning To cut away a part of the body, it’s a metaphoric reference to the Broken Body of Jesus. The Righteous cry unto the Lord, the wicked bring the affliction causing the Righteous to cry. This would seem strange, considering Affliction comes from within, but here we find it’s the case, it’s produced from those in the Body who remain in the Courtyard, refusing to enter the Holy Place. When the time comes the Courtyard will be left behind, those in the Holy Place will be lifted to the Holiest of All. Verse 20 supports the concept of the Broken Body, not one bone of Jesus was broken at the Cross, yet the Bread (Body) was broken. When will this Breaking take place? At the Rapture, not until.
Psalm 35 is a Prayer For Rescue, as the word Plead begins the process. The word Plead is the Hebrew Riv meaning To conduct a legal case. The evidence is before the Lord, have we done wrong to deserve this? Have we done some evil? If the Lord says, Yes, we repent, if not, we Plead our case, but to the Lord, not man, thus when we plead our case before man it ends as self-justification. This plea does not mean we tell the Lord, “it was the woman you gave me”, or “the serpent made we do it”, it means we come to the Father based on what Jesus did for us to ascertain if we did wrong, or not. Many times we may be surprised, we have not done wrong, it’s a test to purify us.
When the enemy sees we are about to receive the salvation of our souls, or we are on the very edge of freedom, he will send his floods (messengers of Satan) to disrupt our course. However, instead of running to war, we first go to the Lord to gain the battle plan (Ps 35:1-10). We ask God to remind us how He is our Salvation, He is our Power, He is our Guide, and Source. The false use rumors; some of those rumors involve things we don’t even know about, of course they also dig into the dead bones of the old man to find things we do know about, but their intent is still Slander based in their self-exalting envy. They come to destroy, not build, they come to accuse, not edify, discern their ways, reject their words if they are laced with evil, wicked, self-based slanderous motives. We did what the Lord wanted, now they come with their corrupt communication, but what do we do? When they are sick, we put on sackclothe, we prayed for those who persecute us, we don’t kill them (v. 13). They rejoice in iniquity, theirs and others, but God’s love doesn’t rejoice in iniquity; therefore, if one joys in the iniquity of others, they lack the love of God. Discern their ways, as well as their body language, the puffed out chest is still a sign of pride in the heart. Whenever anyone attempts to use a confessed sin against us, they are condemned by the same sin (Ps 35:11-26). Why get mad? Why seek vengeance? The sin they speak of is no longer against us, it became part of our testimony of deliverance. Most of the sons of perdition have no idea what type of person we are, really they are so self deceived, by using deception they consider they are the only ones doing God’s service. They come to accuse in order to exalt their own souls, instead of fighting them with the same weapons, discern the source. The concept of “turn the other cheek” doesn’t mean we say, “okay go ahead hit this one”, it means we don’t use the same type of weapon being used against us. They use slander, we use Mercy. They use lies, we speak the Truth in Love.
Before there can be a lie, there must be a truth; therefore, seek the truth and gain. If someone uses a confessed sin against another, the Lord takes the sin then applies it to the accuser; instead of being a “watchdog for Jesus” they end a “worker of iniquity”. As the victim is praising the Lord for His Mercy and Goodness, the accuser is being condemned, thus those who accuse are condemning their own selves. (Ps 35:26-28 & Luke 6:37-38). As a result we learn to always apply Mercy, we have a ready state of mind to forgive before there is a cause.
Psalm 36 is called The Wickedness Of Man, pointing to the vessels of dishonor. They are those who go about looking for evil, since the intent started in their own heart, it’s where the evil is found. They will interpret events, words and people through the evil in their heart, while thinking they found evil, we find they are evil. The Pharisees went about looking for fault, they assumed they found fault in Jesus, did they? No, but they thought so, thus the fault was in their own hearts. When we find ourselves seeking fault, it’s time to discern our own heart, of course there are times when the Lord will have us rebuke, but the intent is much different.
The Wicked flatter themselves, but their own iniquity convicts them before God (Ps 36:1-4). When we reach for God’s Mercy, His Mercy reaches for us (Ps 36:5-7). The Foot Of Pride ends under the Feet of Jesus as His footstool (Ps 36:11). Pride is the mother of the Wicked as they work iniquity (v. 12). Here we find they “Shall Not Be Able To Rise”, which means the same as Jude told us, they are unable to hold to the Spirit at the Rapture (Jude 19). They go into the Night becoming the Beast of the Earth, thus they will move from being the Beasts of the Islands, to the Beast of the Earth, but Beasts nonetheless.
How do we fight this battle in the Courtyard? Are these really dogs of darkness? Or dogs of the shadow? Are they merely Babes who don’t know any better? Or are they the enemies of Jesus? Psalm 37 tells us God Takes Care Of His Own. Instead of rendering evil for evil, we give Mercy to gain Mercy (Ps 37:8-12 & Luke 6:36-38). When the evil doers come against us, we don’t fret, rather we trust in the Lord (Ps 37:1-3). Our delight is not in our works, but in what the Lord has done. No matter what they say about us, they are saying it against the Lord, He will repay (Ps 37:3-6). This doesn’t mean we take joy in the destruction of the enemy, rather it means the repaying, method, and timing are in the hand of God, not ours. We are in the Body of Christ, words spoken against us are spoken against the Body of Jesus, we are dead, thus dead people can’t be insulted.
We often think the word Meek means to crawl around on our belly, but meekness is ceasing from anger or wrath, it’s akin to Submission or Humbleness (Ps 37:7-1 & Eph 4:29-31). When the messengers of Satan attempt to disrupt our Peace it’s for several purposes; they seek to make us feel inferior, or to make us use uncontrolled anger, or for us to enter self-justification, or for us to simply give up; thereby causing us to fall from Mercy, thus if we fall from Mercy we fall into their snare. Anyone who is carnal, or allows the spirit lusting to envy to motivate them, they will send darts toward us. However, the Armor of God is fully able to quench (take the fire out) of any dart, Mercy is fully able to heal our wounds, if any. Once we learn the power of Mercy we will not suffer from the attacks of the Wicked, we learn our real battle is our own flesh, the place where the wiles of the enemy lurk.
The Wicked are the birds who pick at our fruit, or sit in the shadow of the tree, they use Bible principles in reverse, or strictly for self-benefit, they are the Balaams who take advantage of the saints, or the Jezebels as the self-appointed who come against the appointed of God (Ps 37:16-21). If we believe in the Lord, we are among the Righteous; although the Lord orders our steps, we will still fall from time to time, but when we fall, the Lord is there to lift us “in His hand” (Ps 37:22-24). It may surprise us to find along the path the Lord has placed areas to cause us to trip, but the purpose is to see if our feet are still shod with the Preparation for the Gospel of Peace. Testings hone our faith in the Lord, bringing us deeper and deeper into the place where Deep calls to Deep.
We don’t have to beg for the Bread of Life, Jesus gives it freely. The Bread of Life brings our condition of Mercy, leading us to the Blood to establish us in the Kingdom of God (Ps 37:25-40). It’s obvious we have two elements for Communion, whether we dip the bread into the wine, or the wafer into the grape juice, or keep them separate as Jesus did, there are still two things, the bread, and the cup. It has to tell us there is the kingdom of heaven relating to the Mercy of God, and the kingdom of God relating to the Grace of God. The Rock is the Bread, the Church is the Blood, but we need both in order to be of Christ.
Psalm 37 also gives us two areas concerning the Meek, the metaphor Earth is still the kingdom of heaven here on earth, not the planet. The first group who inherits the earth also have the evil doers to contend with (Ps 37:9), but the evil doers shall be Cut Off, this is the same Hebrew word meaning To cut a part of the Body off. This first group of Meek know to Wait on the Lord, waiting entails patience, the sister to faith.
When we first came into the kingdom we made all sorts of confessions, some good, some bad, some stupid, but Grace filtered out the bad, ignored the stupid, allowing us to live in the good. Some of those good confessions were, “I want to serve the Lord”, “I want to do something”, “I think I’m called”, “I love the Lord so much, I want to do something for Him”. Each of these brought about something called, “secured by the tongue”. We said it, God received it, then He began to operate off our confession. At the same time the enemy said, “no, I’ll stop it”, then he sent messengers of Satan to discourage, hinder, slander or attempt to stop what God had ordained, often he attempted to use the flesh. We are the treasure of this battle, the prize of the conflict, the crown of victory, the jewel of the Lord, He is not one to give up easily.
The first group is told In a Little While the Wicked shall not be, we Must at all times consider the Place where the Wicked end on the day of Judgment, as we pray to have God keep us from being self-deceived, or falling into the hands of the Synagogue of Satan. For the most part we did pray this in the phrase, “deliver me from evil”, yet at the time we had no idea what the phrase stood for, but we were nonetheless “secured by the tongue”, as God began a work to keep us from the Synagogue of Satan. However, whether we received it or not is still a matter of our choice. Of course there is the phrase “hung by the tongue” as well, those times when someone displays their unbelief, or lack of trust in God by their words, thus we discern their words to detect the source.
The second group of Meek come after the Wicked are Cut Off, they have the Abundance of Peace, or the Time of Comfort. The Peace they acquire is not the same as the Peace we have in the New Birth. Jesus said the Peace He gives us is not like the peace the world gives, yet Paul said those in the Night will say Peace and Safety, of course then comes sudden destruction. When Jesus said, “Peace I give you”, it was a Gift related to the Kingdom. The phrase “I Give” entails a Covenant promise, it was also part of our inheritance. We must receive the words spoken, before they can take root in our lives. The Peace of Jesus removes all the barriers, curtains, hindrances and obstacles between us and God. We can come boldly to the throne of Grace to obtain Mercy, and find Grace in the time of need. The high priest went once a year into the holy or holies, but trembling; hardly bold. To truly Prosper one must be at peace with God, we enter Peace by submitting to the New Man as we remain Meek. Giving us another view of Meek, easily entreated, or teachable.
With these two groups we find a mystery concerning the Day and Night, the First Group are the Body, the Second the Remnant. During the Season of the Night the Wicked appear as the Beast of the earth; as they plotted against the Just, they plot against the Woman (Ps 37:12). The “just life by faith”, thus the Just are those who are being Justified, who believe unto the saving of the soul, meaning the Just are of the Day of Salvation, not the Night of Judgment.
In verse 21 the context is not money, but how the Wicked borrowed the gift of Mercy, but never granted Mercy to others. It’s important to see how the context is Mercy, not money, thus showing the Steps of a Good (Merciful) man are ordered by the Lord (v. 23). The word Ordered is the Hebrew Kun meaning To Stand, or To be established, thus the Steps relate to faith. If there is none Good, but God in order to be among the Good, one must have God in them of a truth. This is a prophetic verse pointing to being Born Again in order to produce Living Water, another area Nicodemus should have known.
Verse 24 shows we will fall, even the Good fall, but the Lord is there to uphold them With His Hand (v. 24). The goal of the Meek is to endure, maintain, stand in faith while waiting on the Lord. We Keep His Way, but in the keeping we know the Wicked watch the Righteous in order to slay them (v. 32-34). Here it’s “seek” to slay; we know the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, his children are no different. The word Slay is the Hebrew Muth meaning To bring to death, thus their goal is to drag us from Life to Death, yet Death and Life are found in the power of the tongue.
Psalm 38 is A Prayer Of Penitence associated with the Lord chastening us, but don’t forget the Lord chastens us to keep us from being condemned with the world, if we are not chastened, we better consider our position. On the same note, we don’t want the Lord to wait until His wrath is moved to hot displeasure before He rebukes us, we want to be open and ready for His correction now (Ps 38:1). It’s far better to hear the suggestion of correction, than feel the rod of correction. Being open for the discernment, makes us open for offense, the offense brings us into correction unto perfection. It was once said, Offense will get us off the Fence, how true. The false reject offense, yet God will still use the vessel of dishonor, not for their sake, but for the sake of honing the vessel of Mercy into the vessels of honor (Rom 9:21-23).
Sickness has become a touchy subject at best, there are times when sickness is a sign we have missed the mark, but there are times when it’s not, it still takes discernment. Some of the Wicked are never sick, yet some of the Good are never sick, it takes discernment; however, when our bodies are full of wounds from the sin nature, or filled with loathsome disease, there is a way out (Ps 38:3-8). God’s hot displeasure brings sickness, we can’t ignore this as something under the Old Covenant alone, for Paul said, ignoring the table of the Lord produces sickness, weakness, and death (dead works – I Cor 11:30-32). If we are in the hand of the Lord, then we are free of the devil, instead of justifying ourselves by blaming the devil, we first discern the event to determine if it’s affliction or persecution. In either case we praise the Lord, we Jump for joy, we don’t climb into the pit, or enter self-pity through self-justification. Whether it’s sin, iniquity, the sin nature, rebellion, failure to forgive, cursing the darkness, talking evil about things we know nothing about, being a victim under carnal leadership, being a victim of an attack we took personal, or just some sickness, it doesn’t matter, what matters is finding the cause by trusting in God (Ps 38:8-12). We tend to focus on the sickness, yet ignore the cause. There has been so much attacking comments regarding sickness, the victim becomes paranoid. Sickness is either flesh centered, or mental, in either case there is a cause to be discovered. Whether the Lord tells us to go to the doctor or not isn’t the issue either, it’s obeying what we hear. Faith allowed to be turned into condemnation for being sick is not faith at all. Faith looks for the Hope set before it, but it’s based on the unseen. James tells us to call for the Elders, they will anoint us with olive oil representing mercy as we pray our prayer of faith to obtain the Wisdom of God in order to deal with the event, or person. The oil isn’t going to heal us, just as the water in our water baptism didn’t save us. Nonetheless it’s representative of the Mercy of God being applied by the Elders, a symbol, but effective.
Here we find one cause of sickness maybe the displeasure of the Lord, yet there are those who wait for us to get sick, so they can mock us (Ps 38:12). There are other areas causing sickness as well, one such cause is a result of not hearing the Lord, or not seeing the lesson He is presenting (Ps 38:13-15). James says one cause is conflict between the brethren when allowed to fester into a sickness (James 5:16). We also find sickness has many purposes, in the New Testament we find some sickness is purposed as a sign of showing God’s glory (Ps 39:13-40:1 & Jn 9:1-3). When the Lord does heal us, we don’t forget the lesson, rather we praise Him for the healing, even if the healing resulted from a rebuke (Ps 40:1-5). In any case we know the Will of the Lord is more important than someone condemning us for being ill. However, we could be simply refusing to do something the Lord told us to do, thus battling the Authority of the Lord. Therefore, Wisdom will show us the error, then we can clear our iniquity by repentance (Ps 38:18-39:1). The Lord does rebuke us for our iniquity, it’s better to be sick in body, than a vessel of dishonor carrying iniquity to the grave (Ps 39:3-12).
Psalm 39 is called The Vanity Of Life pointing to the unsaved, or rebellious soul. It’s a request to discern the Mirror of God. Is the vanity ours, or are we looking at others? Is what we see, or what we are? Is God using the Mirror to expose our soul which is effecting our heart? Or are we discerning the other person’s soul or heart? If it’s our soul are we seeking Deliverance through the Lord (v. 8). It’s God rebuking or correcting us, what’s the purpose? It’s to form us into the Image of His Son, so we can produce the Fruit of Righteousness. Once we find deliverance, then comes Psalm 40, A Song Of Deliverance.
Jesus is the volume (fullness) of the Bible; the Scriptures Testify of Him. When we ignore any aspect of our calling or venture off into an area we have no business, we are open for the Book to rebuke us (Ps 40:1-17). The word Horrible in verse 2 means A pit of noise, there are times when the Noise of Unbelief is louder than the song of faith. There are also times when we get a Word, a Vision or a Sign, then believe God for a whole day, when it doesn’t come to pass as we want we say, “oh well, I guess it wasn’t for me”. If we have faith, we have patience leading to endurance (Ps 40:1). If we are meek, we are patient (Ps 40:2). If we believe, we trust in the Lord (Ps 40:4). A New Song is the Song of praise for a Promise, whatever the promise may be.
When those like Job’s friend’s come around us saying, “oh really, I’ll believe it, when I see it” or “Right, I suppose God is going to drop it out of the sky”, or “do you mean faith is the problem?”; we tend to say, “I come against you in the Name of Jesus”, but we don’t want to act too hastily. God will allow unbelieving people to bring words of discouragement for the purpose of honing our faith. If we are seeking the Precious we can learn from any event, even an attack. When Paul was attacked his found Grace was sufficient, it always is. Paul found the attack kept him from being exalted above measure, it’s different from being exalted at all. When we exalt anyone or anything above measure we form an idol, thus Paul saw how the attack kept others from exalting him above measure. Whatever the situation we must Praise the Lord for His benefits, as He moves us deeper into the Faith.
Psalm 40:6 is a clue to being able to discern the “Pharisee mind”, and how it works. Jesus gave homework assignments to the Pharisees, yet they refused to consider what He said, or the assignment, they ended yelling “Crucify Him”, rather than “Praise ye the Lord”. Jesus will give us assignments as well, the Spirit may ask, “what does this mean?”, it behooves us to find out. In Matthew 9:13 Jesus told the Pharisees, “go you and learn what it means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice”. The phrase “go you and learn” is a homework assignment, thus God gives us homework assignments. Later in Matthew 12:7 we find they failed to do their homework, then in Hosea 6:6 the phrase, “for I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”, but the key is still Mercy, something the religious rulers during the earthly ministry failed at.
Ears attached to a willing soul are more important than our sacrifices of labor: the Lord tells us to apply Mercy, yet we run all over doing “deeds” thinking one will balance the other, assuming we don’t have to apply Mercy. It’s still iniquity, the failure to do what we are told to, while doing other things. The Pharisees feared change, feared losing their positions because they envied Jesus. Faith comes by hearing, thus if we refuse to hear, faith can pass us by like a train in the night. If we asked for God’s Wisdom, we must also be easily entreated (teachable). Some seek truth, some seek conformation of their heresy, some seek support for strongholds, the Pharisees sought support for their strongholds, yet failed to receive the truth. A teachable mind is looking for truth, it may have to bend, or cast out some points of view, but truth will set us free.
Psalm 41 is called David’s Prayer In Sickness, it relates to our Prayer of Faith. It begins with, “blessed is he who considers the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble” (Ps 41:1). Taking care of the poor is a matter of Mercy, thus we find Mercy is product making us the blessed. The people during the earthly ministry knew this concept, as they cried out to Jesus, “Have Mercy on me”. Mercy heals our bodies and clears our minds. At times we keep fighting to find Faith, but we should be giving mercy.
The Lord will heal our bodies, heal our souls, and keep us from evil diseases (Ps 41:4-13). When the Lord heals our soul, it’s because we know our soul needs healing. We have no problem in running to the Lord, or to a doctor when our flesh is “at dis-ease”, but when our soul is “at dis-ease” we tell others, “I’m handling it”. If we were handling it, our soul wouldn’t be at “dis-ease”. We pour out our soul to the Lord, He pours out His Mercy to us (Ps 42:1-4).
When we find ourselves in the pit of despair, our soul needs to be edified in order for us to raise above the event. The word Edify means To charge up from an outside source, often the outside source is the New Man inside. By the Spirit we say to our soul, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted in me? Hope In God, for I will praise Him for the help” (Ps 42:5). Can we talk to our soul? We better if we are walking in the Spirit, the soul needs to be reminded it’s a servant, the New Man as master.
When the world hears us talking to our soul, they may think we belong in a special room with padded walls, but when God hears us telling our souls to get right before God, He considers us worthy. When we are in those times of hardship we know Deep still calls to Deep, it’s the Deep things of God bringing revival to our souls (Ps 42:7).
If our soul is still looking for the bed of self-pity, or the chair of self-justification we again say, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? why are you disquieted within me? hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him” (Ps 42:11). On the other hand we may be in the process of exposure, if so we praise God for caring (Ps 43:1-3). If our soul is still disquieted (lacking peace) we say again, “Why are you cast down, Oh my soul?” (Ps 43:5). This isn’t strange, we are asking our soul, “Why?”, which means we want discernment, not self-pity, thus our soul has to calm down so we can hear the Spirit. It may take more than twenty seconds, but endurance produces ears to hear, as the soul learns to remember all the Lord has done (Ps 44:1-26).
Psalm 43 is very short, it’s called A Man In Exile, displaying a separation from the Light. John tells us if we say we are in the Light, yet hate (slander) our brother, we are in darkness even until now; however, here the text shows we accepted a fable, or self-induced prophecy from the Wicked, or an attack from an unbeliever as personal causing us to turn off our Light. God is Light, but He gave us the switch. Again it takes discernment, or a spiritual ability by the New Man not to take the attack personally. Without the Light we feel as if God has left us, it’s almost like being Exiled to a strange and dark land, but if we call out, God will hear. Then we need correction for the soul, our own minds assumed the words from the darkness were better than the Light, which shows us for a moment we stopped listening to the Spirit (v. 5). We are still in the Kingdom, still able to be recovered and restored: leading us to Psalm 44, a Prayer For Protection.
There are some who think God doesn’t need to speak to God, but Jesus said, “How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Spirit, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit You on My Right Hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool. David therefore himself called Him Lord; how is He then his son?” (Mark 12:35-37). David was God’s choice to sit as king, but the “son of David” is King over all. David appointed Solomon, but the Father appointed Jesus. The son of the king takes the seat of the king when the king dies, yet Jesus as the “son of David” lives forever more. If Solomon was the next king, how could Jesus be the “son of David”? Prophetically, David is speaking of the Son who reigns as God’s choice. In the mystery we find Solomon was appointed by David, but the true son of David is Jesus. The Holy Ghost spoke through David, thus many things were said by David as projected prophecy regarding the forthcoming son of David (I Pet 1:10-11 & II Pet 1:20-21
If God gives us direction on earth by prophecy, it seems prophecy would be moot when we face Jesus, the Spirit of all prophecy. If knowledge is the understanding of God for the earth, it seems we wouldn’t need knowledge when we see God sitting on His throne; however, until that time, we speak with the tongues of men and angels, respect prophecy, and receive knowledge to grow by. What does this have to do with Psalm 44? We have Heard how God worked with those in the past, showing God was fully able then, what makes us think the world is able to overcome God now? (Ps 44:1-3). Truly, if God delivered them who were in the darkness, we in the Day have a better Promise. We have the knowledge of God, experiences with the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Christ in us, a Better Covenant, surely we have the advantage. If God was able to deliver us from the snare of the devil by the Cross, surely the Power of the Resurrection is able to save our souls (vs. 4-15). Even if we fall for the voice of him who blasphemes, or allow our faith to slip, we can still speak to our soul, then praise the Lord for He is still able to deliver His own (vs. 16-17).
We found our error, we need deliverance, our soul is bowed to the dust, we made a dumb mistake, but Mercy is still Mercy, it endures forever; above all, God is fully able to restore the repentant heart (v. 26). Once we are delivered, we are ready for A Royal Wedding Song, which is the basis for Psalm 45. Grace is poured on our lips, we speak with the tongues of men and angels (Ps 45:2). Psalm 45 explains the term spiritual eunuch: in times of yesteryear a man was made a eunuch to guard the queen. One who is not a spiritual eunuch will violate the daughters of the King as well as the Queen (Ps 45:9-15). The evidence is how the Wicked invade the Woman, causing her to become the “Whore”. They are the cause of fire coming from heaven to destroy the earth; they refuse to protect the King’s possessions, rather they bring Sudden Destruction.
Instead of the fathers bringing the promise we find the children with the new promise, we are the children of the Most High (Ps 45:16-17). Jude said, “But you beloved, building up yourselves (edifying yourself) on your most Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). Jude doesn’t say, beginning your faith, rather it’s building On our faith in order to deal with the masses as we cast the Net (Jude 21-23 & Acts 4:29-31).
Psalm 45 is about the Bride and Jesus, it begins with our tongue being the Pen of the Writer (v. 1). The Psalm makes a separation between the Bride and the “children of men” (Adam Like – v. 2). The Truth, Meekness and Righteousness by the New Man teaches us the Ways of the Lord (v. 4). The Lord looks at our hearts, He knows we loved Righteousness, yet hated iniquity (wickedness), whether in us, or others (v. 7 & Heb 1:9). The Daughter is warned not to forget Her own people, or Her father’s house, this would be after the Bride is taken (v. 10). It’s when the Bride descends they shall see Her in all Her Glory, She made Herself ready, yet at the same time on earth the Daughter of the nation is seen as the Woman (v. 12-15).
The purpose for the wilderness experiences, or the times of exposure prepare us to receive the Character of Christ in fullness. When we have the spiritual nature we will profess, “God is our refuge and strength” (Ps 46:1). It’s those who hear and obey who sit in the holy place of the Most High (Ps 46:4). It’s those with ears to hear, who hear, “be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). It’s the Believer who knows “The Lord of hosts is with us” (Ps 46:11).
The devil is ineffective, yet some think he attacks us at his will. Misconceptions regarding affliction produce bitter hearts, thus the root of bitterness will always defile us (Heb 12:15). The Lord Most High is a Great King over all the Earth, He shall subdue the nations under our feet (Ps 47:2-3). Sounds like we’re going to be able to beat up the secular press, not so, this means they have no authority or power over us. All things are under the Feet of Jesus, we are His Body (Eph 1:22), yet if we think evil forces are over our heads, where does it put us? If we are of the Body of Christ, then all things are under us, not over us.
When Jesus ascended He gave gifts unto men to assist the Body until the time when we meet Him in the air. God has Gone Up with a Shout, with the Sound of a Trumpet (v. 5). The wording Gone Up is the Hebrew Alah meaning To Ascend, or To Bring, here it means both, Jesus Ascended, yet He will Bring us up to Him, then we will sing praises Face to Face with the Lord (Ps 47:6). Those who sing Praises also have Understanding (v. 7). Then God will judge the heathen and the princes of the people, even the people of the God of Abraham, who must pass the books, then find their names in the Book of life (v.9).
Psalm 48 is called The Glory Of Zion, referring to the Remnant. The Psalm begins with the City of God, which is Jerusalem of the earth, showing the knowledge of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem in the latter days by the Sixth church. The Jew understands Zion is the mount upon which the city of Jerusalem sits, thus when Jesus said, “On this Rock I will build My Church”, the entire Jewish mind went “tilt”. To the Jew it was suppose to be built on the mount of the city, yet Jesus didn’t point to earthly Zion, He pointed to Heavenly Zion known as the Body of Christ. The Church is established upon the Rock, not under it. Here we find earthly Zion, upon which the City sits as a She (v. 3); in verse 8 the word Hosts means People of war, not people of peace. Verse 9 and following points to the Night, as we see the “temple”, Mount Zion, and the Daughters (not tents) of Judah, all metaphors. The Psalm ends with Forever and ever, pointing to time without end, then the phrase “He will be our guide even unto death”, denoting the phrase, “loved not their souls unto the death”.
The warning is found in Psalm 49, entitled Trusting Riches Is Foolish. There is a knowledge pointing to the foolishness of man, displaying how man is engrossed with the deceitfulness of riches, or how some of us become overly concerned with riches (Ps 49:1-5). Some trust in wealth, assuming wealth will spread the Gospel, wealth may print Bibles, wealth may get us to one country or another, but only the anointing of God can preach the Gospel with effectiveness. We preach and a thousand people receive the Lord, then we take the credit, or worse we give the credit to humans; however, the Holy Ghost brings people to the cross, He can do it in spite of us, or with us (Ps 49:6-20).
Asaph also wrote many Psalms, he was also noted as a prophet. The name Asaph means Collector, or one who gathers for a purpose. The first part of the Psalms points out our goal, setting us in the direction of Worship, as it points to the Glory of the Lord. Asaph tells us about the time when Jesus returns to the earth at the sound of the Great Trump. The Last Trump and the Great Trump are different: the Last Trump is the last of two, the First announced God wanting to be among His people. The Last Trump proclaims the opening of the Jewish Year, or the restoration of Israel, but it also proclaims the Rapture. The Great Trump proclaims the second coming of Jesus for judgment at the conclusion of the works for the Son of man (Matt 24:37).
There are two Days of the Lord: Jesus will come to the Air to gather us at the Rapture, then later after the 1,000 years is finished He steps on the Earth. Jesus will place one foot on the Sea (world), and one on the mount (Jerusalem of the earth), none of us want to be here then. It’s still appointed unto all men once to die, then comes the judgment (Heb 9:27). There will be no judgment until all mankind has died the first death, thus the Judgment is the place between the first death and second death, with the Judgment Seat as the escape for those who find their names in the Book of Life.
The First coming of Jesus produced Salvation, yet His Resurrection isn’t complete until Jesus receives us in the Air above the Altar of God. The Second coming brings the Judgment of God when Jesus is Revealed, as every eye sees Him.
To the Jew, God’s Mercy is His Justice, His Justice is His Mercy, thus they can’t separate the two, or the purposes for each. Mercy removes us from the Justice of God, Grace from the Judgment of God. Many sayings in the Prophets point to two events, not one, but if one can’t discern the two events, they will mix them into one, bringing confusion, rather than clarity. The history of the Jewish people gives us a preview as we find the prophets speaking of the same event, but in a different light, thus the prophets speak of an event in their time, yet it’s also projected to a future event as well. It doesn’t mean history or the prophets are wrong, rather it shows God framed the events long before He said “Let there be Light”, the Plan has the previews of what will be, to assure us what must be, will be.
Asaph says God will come with fire, as He gathers the saints for the judgment (Ps 50:1-5). Then we find what it takes to pass the judgment, and why so many of us have been tricked into situations where we end cursing ourselves. Some of us make the mistake of confusing a vow with faith, a vow is something we promise to do, faith points to what God will do. It’s better to say, “if the Lord wills, I will do this or that”; then find ourselves out on some limb attempting to excuse some vow we made. How would we like it if someone just told us “I wanted to buy a car, so I signed your name to the contract, don’t mind do you?”. Making a Vow then attempting to trick God into taking care of it, is not faith, it’s presumption. We can’t say, “Oh, I did it by faith”, since faith comes from hearing. Did we hear first? “No, I did it, then I told God to back me up, isn’t that faith?”. It may be stupid, but it’s not faith. This lesson keeps us from making foolish vows on the spur of the moment, then blaming God when we can’t keep the vow (Ps 50:8-14). This also connects to the “the Word God spoke”, but then we devised the reward for our obedience. When the reward didn’t come to pass, we got mad, it’s still presumption. God will reward us, but we don’t decide what the reward will be, God does.
God doesn’t need our assumed great sacrifices; rather He seeks those who will believe in what He has done. We give our souls, but in truth when we accepted the Cross we found Jesus paid the price for our souls (Heb 10:38-39). If we do give our vows unto the Lord, we must keep them with praises of thanksgiving (Ps 50:14-23). Whether it’s a missed vow, or a failure to maintain a vow, we first acknowledge our transgression, rather than make the same mistake fifty times. Restoration promises us a foundation from which we won’t keep tripping over the same failure time and again.
After the warning, what now? Psalm 51 is a repentance Psalm, showing we don’t blame anyone, including ourselves (Ps 51:4). Psalm 51:1-19 is among the greatest of the passages concerning exposure unto repentance, to gain forgiveness. It came after David’s folly with Bathsheba just after Nathan the prophet exposed the sin to David. Would David had known his sin if Nathan wasn’t obedient? Who knows, it remains Nathan was obedient, and David did repent. The word Lovingkindness is close to the word Grace, but it’s closer to the true meaning of Mercy. The Hebrew word for Lovingkindness is Chesed, to a Jew it’s one of the most important words in the Old Testament. Accordingly it stems from God’s eternal principles, once God establishes a principle it remains, thus the Mercy of God endures forever, but His Grace is for a Season on the earth, yet forever in heaven. First John shows us how many Heard the Commandment, but lacked the ability until they received the Spirit, thus Lovingkindness to David is much different from Grace to us. Mercy extended for the moment, is different from a heart walking in Mercy. God’s Mercy is ready, it’s prepared to forgive the wrong done. Mercy in its pure form as a constant state of mind to forgive completely, or better not to impute sin on people, being a close definition of the word Lovingkindness.
We can also see David isn’t the only scribe used here, there are other scribes, including Moses. However, we must consider they were praying to the Lord. All Scripture is God breathed, thus in one way or another the Psalms point to Jesus. Jesus explained it when He said “for David himself said by the Holy Ghost….” (Mark 12:36), thus David and others penned the words, but the words came from the Holy Ghost speaking about the Spirit of Christ. So, why does Mark say “Holy Ghost”, yet Matthew says “by the Spirit” (Matt 22:43)? Mark shows ability to speak (Holy Ghost) Matthew about the words spoken of (Spirit of Christ).
Psalm 51:2 has two areas, Wash and Cleanse, the word Wash is the Hebrew Yasar meaning to Chastise, which is the Washing of the Water by the Word, but the word Cleanse is the Hebrew Naqah meaning To be guiltless, referring to the result of the Cleaning of the Blood of Jesus. Verse 3 displays how David Acknowledged his sin, or transgression, the word Acknowledge means To perceive, or Understand, thus it’s not merely saying he had sinned, but understanding what the sin entailed. Did David sin against the Commandment? Yes, why then didn’t he give a sacrifice as the Law of Moses dictates? David was more concerned regarding how he sinned against God, his sin hurt his friend, by causing pain in the heart of his God. Verse 4 makes no sense at all, if it wasn’t for verse 3. Didn’t Bathsheba have a husband? Didn’t David arrange for him to be killed? Wasn’t there others killed as well? Yet, here David says his sin was against God and God alone. This explains why David didn’t give a sacrifice, his concern was God, not the Law of Moses. It doesn’t mean the Law wasn’t good, it means David’s heart sought after God. David knew he used his position in a wicked manner; he sought to satisfy his lusts through his position. How close was David to becoming among the Wicked? One step, but his repentance was also his step to restoration.
God told David, “I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel, and of Judah, and if it been too little, I would moreover have given unto you such and such things” (II Sam 12:8). God gave David whatever he wanted, and more, so why did David take what God didn’t give? The spirit lusting to envy, then God tells David it was the Commandment of the Lord being despised, thus the act of David’s sin was akin to telling God he despised God (II Sam 12:9). David’s sin also caused his child to die, but God didn’t “kill the baby”, rather the sin of David would have placed the baby and David in the hands of the enemies of God, thus God took the baby to save it (II Sam 12:14 & Isa 57:1). Paul warned us of spiritual wickedness, the word Wickedness has the same meaning as we find here in Psalms; it’s Iniquity, or the failure to become Spiritual, but it also entails using our position in wrong manner. David used his position in manner not in line with the provisions, or anointing of the office.
Truth in the inner parts is birthed in Mercy, the Hidden Part is the New Man, thus at this point we are entering prophecy. Verse 7 is a type and shadow of the Cross, the greatest element of God’s Mercy toward man. In verse 7 we find Purge and Clean, the word Clean is different from the one we found in verse 2, this word is the Hebrew Taher meaning To purify, or Justify. The word Purge is the Hebrew Chata meaning To atone for, or Condemn: it can mean a breach of civil law, a breach, not respecting the rights of another, or falling short of God’s standard, all of which point to a failure to do something we have the ability to do. It’s equivalent in the Greek is Anomos meaning Lawless. As noted, the word Lawless doesn’t mean one is free from the Law, it means one has no respect whatsoever for the Law they are under. From the two words we find the Cross has two elements, Salvation and Judgment, thus we rightly divide the Word to understand them.
The reference to Hyssop is a direct connection to the Cross; when the Hyssop and vinegar were placed to the mouth of Jesus, He said “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). Vinegar is sour wine often used as a sedative, but the Hyssop goes back to the Law of Cleansing in Leviticus 14:1-5. On the Day of Cleansing the priest would go into the camp looking for the plague of leprosy, thus leprosy was a sign of one who was rebellious toward God. The priest would use live birds, cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop as cleaning agents (Lev 14:4).
Did God break David’s bones? No, but verse 8 makes reference to Broken Bones, what Broken Bones? (Ps 51:8). The Broken Body of Jesus yet to come, one would think Broken Bones would be a cause for grief, but here we find Rejoice. God’s judgments are just; we praise Him for His judgments, just as we do for His Grace. The Broken Body of Jesus will bring about a time when the enemies of Jesus will be made into His footstool, then all “God’s children” will soon be in heaven, where there is no remembrance of the dead.
When the Body is Broken those who Hear with Joy and Gladness will Rejoice as they will see their Maker face to face. Later after the Judgment, , many will join New Jerusalem, then it will be Done and Complete. This is clearer in Psalm 51:18 where Zion and the Wall to Jerusalem are noted. Jesus marks the 144,000 on Zion (Rev 7:1-4), but the Wall of New Jerusalem is established on the “12 stones” granted in the New Testament apostle positions (Rev 21:14). The Remnant are noted as Pearls and Gates, but before the Gates are fixed the Wall must be complete (Rev 21:18-21).
Verse 10 is asking God to Create in us a Clean Heart, but God isn’t in the business of recreation, thus the verse doesn’t ask for a recreation, it asks for a New One. The word Create is the Hebrew Bara meaning A entirely new element, one made from nothing, something only God can do. This verse explains the New Birth, the heart of man is the fall nature seen as the spirit of the man, but if we are circumcised of Heart, we obtain a New Heart, called the New Man, meaning we are Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Our manner of thinking begins to change from flesh to Spirit.
Verse 11 relates to the New Covenant as the word Restore in verse 12 is the same one used in Psalm 23; here it’s Restore the Joy of Salvation, but it doesn’t say, “my Salvation”, rather it shows “Your Salvation”, thereby showing Salvation belongs to God, it’s not a Gift, but the goal. Psalm 51:11 is the first place in the Bible where we find the title “Holy Spirit”, again the word Create is the Hebrew Bara. The New Birth is It’s not restoring some old heart or spirit, rather we are circumcised of heart as the flesh nature is cut away, then a New Heart is created after God’s true holiness and righteousness (Eph 4:24). Can God take the Holy Spirit away from us? Yes, but the only time the Bible indicates it will happen is if we separate ourselves from the Spirit (Jude 19). The Holy Ghost delivered the Seed, the Seed is the Holy Spirit of Promise (Jn 7:39 & Eph 4:13). The Parable of the Sower shows the Seed is given to all sorts of grounds, thus we are the Ground. Nothing can take us from the hand of God, nothing can separate us from the Love of God, but we can separate ourselves from the Grace of God. David made a terrible error, he misused his position, caused the death of others, yet repentance placed him back on the right path of his calling. It doesn’t excuse what he did, but it does show God is forgiving and merciful. It’s also obvious David had no idea at the moment what he was doing was sin, to him it was the exercise of his kingship. When Bathsheba appeared with child, David attempted to cover his folly, showing then he became aware it was wrong, but lacked knowledge of it being sin. It took the prophet to bring clarity to the event, the second David became aware of Who he sinned against, he honestly repented.
Psalm 51:14 is a specific request to be delivered from the guilt of murder, here David admits the death of Uriah, knowing he misused his position and calling. Verse 15 is David asking the Lord to open His lips, so David can open his, showing words without repentance fall to the earth. However, a repentant heart isn’t one of self-pity, or self-imposed guilt, it’s one knowing the effects of sin, as it’s willing to turn unto God.
Verse 18 points to Zion and the Walls of New Jerusalem, which we talked about prior. All this still relates to us, we ask to be forgiven, if God will forgive David, surely He will forgive us when we ask.
It’s obvious most of this Psalm relates to ministry, the steps mentioned are those leading to the ability to minister. We can’t minister until we enter the Joy of Salvation by obtaining the Spirit, then we are able to “teach transgressors” the Ways of God (Ps 51:13). Any other means ends in the misuse of the position, or the feeble attempt to use natural means to define spiritual matters, which always ends in failure.
What about the person who loves the feeling of darkness? They can end as a servant of wickedness, as did Doeg the Edomite who killed all but one priest to please Saul (I Sam 21:3-7). Saul misused his position in a much different manner than David, these two Psalms show us the difference. David made a mistake, when his sin was revealed he repented. Saul on the other hand wanted to kill the exposure of his sin. Doeg is a type and shadow of those who kill the just to please the wicked. Doeg devised the destruction by his own mouth; he reported the actions of the man of God (David) to Saul, but Doeg’s heart wasn’t right, he loved evil, gossip (slander) and rumor, he wanted to be exalted in the eyes of Saul (Ps 52:3). Doeg wanted to please people, thus he justified his acts, much like Judas did, until his plan fell apart.
There is no gift called the watchdog gift, but this Psalm is the Watchdog Psalm defining how some go about looking to devour the anointed people of God to satisfy a wanton ego, or feed their lust to envy. “Well, I’m not too sure they are anointed”; well it doesn’t matter, unless God gives us a word of rebuke, we leave them alone. “Yeah, but how do you stop their heresy?”, by preaching the truth in love. It’s one thing to point out error, another to present Truth allowing it to expose the error. Doeg assumed David and the priest were wrong, yet Saul was right. The evidence showed Saul was in error, with David the chosen one. The desire to please men caused Doeg to draw his own conclusions of right and wrong. Although Psalm 52 doesn’t appear to have mercy attached to it, it does. Psalm 52 speaks of God’s Judgment, not one of us hasn’t at one time or another used the might of our own hand as if we were God applying Judgment (Ps 52:7). Mercy removes the stains, but the New Birth based in Grace gives us a New beginning, so New it makes us appear New.
Verse 8 shows how we fight the battle, we are the Green Olive Trees, not the fig trees. We trust in God’s Mercy, rather than our own natural ways. The word Wickedness in verse 7 could also read Substance, it goes further than material benefits: it includes using a position for self-gain regardless of who it hurts, much like the world does “business”.
Iniquity or envy will cause us to attack others, both are based in the wrong spirit. The same is true when we assume our denomination is the only one with “the truth”, or our sect is the “highly exalted” part of the Body; we end with idols in the mind, leading to a desire to belittle other members of the Body. Instead of seeking God, the watchdog seeks innocent blood, as did Judas. While the watchdogs are about killing the Just with slander and opinion, the faithful are praising the Lord (Ps 52:9).
The fool sits in a corrupt tree claiming there is “no God”, or blames God for their own ineffectiveness (Ps 53:1). This doesn’t mean the person thinks God is a non-concept, rather the person assumes they can do as they please, yet God won’t do punish them. Verse 2 shows the “children of men” (Adam like), pointing right to the wicked ones, thus they believe there is One God, they simply refuse to submit to Him, or live in the purpose of His Name. For if they did, they would follow Him. Verse 4 shows this group as the workers of iniquity, Jesus showed us they will use the Name of Jesus, but reject Mercy (Matt 7:21-23). The “sons of men” are those who walk in mercy, a different group then the children of men, God looks down from heaven upon the “children of men” to see if any have understanding, or if any really seek God, every one of them have “gone back”, but Gone back to what? The use of the spirit of the world, or perdition, yet the Just live by Faith, but if any man Draw Back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who Draw Back to Perdition, but of them that Believe to the saving of the soul (Heb 10:38-39). We pray, “take not Thy Holy Spirit from me”, giving God the absolute right and authority to do what it takes to keep us in a spiritual position. We may not like the method, but it’s the best for us.
Psalm 54 is called A Prayer Of Relief, it’s a Psalm of David during the time when the Ziphims came to Saul, thus it also relates to the Good and the Wicked. The Name (Authority) of Jesus is based on Saving us, yet it’s one thing to say “By the Name of Jesus”, another to say “In the Name of Jesus”. The first doesn’t denote the speaker as being In the position, the second does. When we are Baptized In the Name of Jesus, it has nothing to do with words spoken, rather it points to the position of authority. We vow not only to Believe in the Name, but to be changed into what the Name stands for. Now wait, you just said there are none Good but God, but here you say there is a division in the net between the Good and Wicked. True, it’s the point, the Good become Good because they have the Mercy of God. When we operate from self-imposed conclusions, or presumptions of good works we are self-deceived. To do “good works” one must operate from the Mercy of God. Grace is the inner ability, but the ability to apply Mercy comes with the measure of faith, even if we are not Born Again, we can do the Least Commandments of Mercy.
In this case the Strangers have come against the anointing, the word Strangers is the Hebrew Zur meaning Pressed together, or To bind. We either bind ourselves, or loose ourselves. The premise of “binding and loosing” will be discussed in accordance with the Scriptures later, but for here we find they Bind themselves to evil, by using it.
Once a person accepts the Cross of Jesus the spirit of man is no longer effective, it can no longer rule, but if the person likes the effects or feeling they get from using the spirit or man, they will use it. The result is operating from the wrong spirit, John called it the he in the world, Paul called it the spirit of the world. The difference between the Wicked and sinner is position, when we were in the world we were the children of disobedience, controlled by the rulers of darkness. However, when we came to the Cross all those elements became like their father the devil, ineffective. In the world we had no choice, in the Kingdom we do, thus to refuse the Seed of God, yet receive the spirit of the world means the person has rejected the Holy Spirit for the spirit of the world; therein lays the reason they become the enemies of Jesus. The enemies of Jesus have the opportunity to deny the self, pick up their cross, and walk in the Spirit, but they make the choice to use the ways of the world against the Christ nature. They become religious, legalistic, natural in thinking, yet use the protection over the Body for their own personal benefit, without regard for the rest of the Body, thus they become lawless.
The Wicked facing David wanted his soul, the same is true when we face the Wicked, they want to destroy our souls, thus they have not Set God before them (v. 3). The word Set is the Hebrew Sum meaning To establish, these Wicked are not from some foreign land, they are within the borders of the Promised Land. Saul lost his anointing by misusing his position, causing him to come against the anointing on David, he then became determined to kill David. Verse 5 appears as if God has Evil, since He will return it, but the context shows the Evil comes at the anointing, yet it’s returned, like a ball bouncing off a wall. This is a double warning, if anyone comes against the anointing with evil intent, the same evil is returned to them. It also stands, if we use evil with our anointing, the evil will come upon us as well. Verse 7 doesn’t say our eyes see our desire on the enemy, it says our eye will see His desire upon “mine enemies”, this is a prophetic verse regarding the Son seeing His enemies as His footstool by the power of the Father (Acts 1:7). Therefore, Vengeance is My saith the Lord, I will repay. We find it’s far better to bless, than render evil for evil.
Psalm 55 is called Betrayed, for good reason. Betrayal is an act from within the same house, the word Betrayal means “To aid an enemy”, thus it doesn’t mean one is the enemy, rather it shows by acts or words one is assisting the enemy. The phrases, “Let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth”, with “don’t give place to the devil” are warnings concerning Betrayal against ourselves. Peter denied the Lord three times, Judas Betrayed the Lord once, yet Judas’ sin was fifty times worse than all of Peter’s added together, thus Peter repented and was restored, Judas entered self-repentance then found a piece of rope just long enough.
We also see a clue to the Rapture in Psalm 55:6, Oh that I had wings (spiritual) like a dove (Spirit)! for then would I fly away (taken up), to be at Rest. From this Psalm comes the song, “I will fly away”.
We know the Day comes before the Night, yet God has given us a sign for the Remnant in the Night by the manner in which a Jew looks at the keeping of a Day. The Jewish day begins at sunset, not sunrise, thus the reference is to Seasons, to the Jew it’s the Night before the Morning, but for us it’s Day before the Night (v. 10).
This enemy is a “man, my equal”; whoa, hold it, what? (v. 13). The word for Man here is the Hebrew Enowsh meaning mankind, it’s used regarding man’s weakness, thus one can recognize their weakness of the flesh, or they can use the flesh. This enemy is of the same household (v. 14), thus it relates to the Bad fish in the same Net. How do we fight? As for me, I will call upon God, He shall save me (v. 16). Verse 18 shows us what happens when we use the Armor of God as intended, the Lord will deliver our soul in Peace (v. 18).
This entire Psalm gives us those times we went from mountain top, to valley, to pit, all because we took the words of some unbelieving person to heart. The voice of the enemy was heard, it caused our heart sore pain (vs. 3-4). Why do we pay more attention to unbelief spoken in our direction, than we do belief? Fifty people can tell us, “I see Christ in you”, one will say, “I think you’re crazy”, yet we will allow the words of one to disrupt us, rock our boat, or toss us into the storm.
The terrors by night refers to what is to come in the Night, but it also shows the Terrors are the Wicked, they began in our Season, but go into the Night. The Wicked with their wickedness and deceit have marched around us, it appears as if it’s all going to fall apart, but appearances are not the “truth of the matter”, the truth is in the Plan of God (Ps 55:4-15). This terror didn’t come from the humanist, the secular press, the heathen, this terror came from the self-transformed who appeared as righteous, but inside Satan still reigned (Ps 55:12 & II Cor 11:13). This terror came from those who stand in the House of God, yet counseled to do evil in the secret places (their hearts – Ps 55:13-15). This terror came when those who feasted with us turned and attacked when they were exposed. We called them brother or sister, then one day the hidden fruit (ways) came to the surface. They were exposed by their soulish endeavors to attack, destroy, slander, or discredit us, yet God will turn their evil against them, but deliver our soul in peace (Ps 55:15-18). Will God judge them during the Day? No, judgment is set for the Night, they still have a chance to repent, while it is yet the Day.
When we are overwhelmed we are quick to give our burden to the Lord; however, the moment we feel the slightest burden of pain, sorrow or unforgiveness from the self-transformed, we immediately cast it upon the Lord, He will sustain us (Ps 55:22). Peter said, we become humble before the Lord through the act of casting our care upon Him, but there is no humbleness in casting those things we know we can’t handle. The humbleness comes in casting those things hindering our walk, whether we think we can handle them or not. Pride will refuse to cast a burden on the Lord it thinks it can handle, but humbleness knows the Lord is fully able to either deal with it, or tell us how. This is not a matter of sloughing off the problem, but one of submission. Casting our care on the Lord doesn’t mean “well that’s it, no need to concern myself now”, it means we are seeking an answer, or the manner in which to deal with the event or person in a Godly way. It may be “walk away”, it may be “say”, or “stay”, but if we don’t listen how will we know?
However, testings are different, when God places the test on us, we can’t cast it back to Him, it comes right back to us again. This submission refers to anything Hindering our walk, whereas, the test of God is not hindering, it’s sent to build us. On the same note, pride assumes it can handle many things, yet it can’t handle a thing. The word for Care in Peter means anything causing a Distraction, or Hindering our intended purpose (I Pet 5:5-7). The word Distraction means something turning us away from our original focus. Peter isn’t telling us to give God those things we can’t handle alone, rather we give God anything distracting us from our course. The second word Peter used in reference to the Care means Jesus has a vested interest in us. Therefore, our Care is something distracting our course, His Care is based in the value He sees in us. God cares about anything hindering, disrupting, or distracting us from our course, regardless of how small it may appear to us. Including fear, sorrow, pain or the seeds of unforgiveness.
When we are afraid, we put our trust in God to deliver us, rather than use the pride of life (Ps 56:3). David was a man chased by fear and evil, yet he was able to put his trust in God. David didn’t have the Spirit, but he did have the anointing of a king, plus a love for the Lord to sustain him (Ps 56:4-11). In difficult times we go to our “book of prophecy”, we look at the promises God has given us personally, either visions, words, or experiences showing the many times He has delivered us, then we know His vows are true, His Word is firm, He is faithful to sustain us (Ps 56:12-13).
Jesus told us to say unto the mountain “Go”, but some of us keep saying, “come here mountain”, as if we’re calling a dog to dinner. After we tell the mountain to Go, we must believe what we say, yet we said Go to the destroying mountain (Mark 11:22-26 & Zech 4:6-7). Having whatsoever we say, must be taken in the context with the rest of the verses. The context is having the inability to forgive removed, which means the spirit of man is removed from over us. We want the mountain Loosed from us, by the effort we also loose any unforgiveness, causing God to loose His Mercy on us. It has to begin by a decision, we make the choice to forgive as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us. We then believe what we said, then our faith becomes at issue as we doubt not, rather we know God is able to remove the mountain. Clearly this begins with a God Is belief, leading to the reward of having the mountain removed. The method given is plain, “when you stand praying, forgive, if you have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you” (Mark 11:25-26). Binding and loosing in a Godly sense.
During the earthly ministry Mercy was the call, not Grace, Grace was not at issue until after the Cross and Resurrection. Mercy is a powerful God granted element, people were healed, devils were cast out based on the Father’s Mercy by the Authority of Jesus. God promised to give us Mercy when we give mercy, thus we believe God’s Mercy heals our bodies and minds (Ps 57:1-2). Even if God has to bring it from heaven, it doesn’t matter, we still trust in His ability to produce all He promised (Ps 57:3). How God does it, is not a matter of faith, faith knows God will do it. Our hearts become fixed on the promise, the hope set before us until we receive (Ps 57:7). Having the promise, and having the product of the promise are different, yet both call for belief and faith.
Abraham was obedient after the promise was in hand, his test of faith came when Isaac was on the altar after he said, “God will provide Himself a burnt offering”. Rahab held to the promise after the messengers left, her test of faith came when she was left alone in the midst of the heathen. Abraham knew God was able to raise the lad from the ashes, Rahab knew she would be spared, both were future tense issues regarding Deliverance in the face of sure death. Rahab heard about God and believed; Abraham heard from God and believed, both backed up their words with actions of faith.
James talks about the rich and poor, but does he refer to material wealth? Or does it have something to do with Abraham and Rahab as faith examples? Ahh, a mystery, James was a Jewish Christian, to the Jew a Rich man was a Jew with the Promise, a Poor man was a Gentile without the Promise, thus James uses Abraham as an example of a rich man (Jew) with works of faith, then Rahab as a poor man (Gentile) with works of faith. The conclusion shows, whether Jew or Gentile, Rich or Poor, all can have works of faith. The question becomes, What are works of faith? “Well, James shows going to door to door”, not so, James says when they come to our door, not when we go to theirs, yet it’s an allegory, representing our words matching our actions; thus the works of faith are seen in the displayed attributes of the Wisdom of God (James 2:1).
Natural man follows the spirit of man, thus there is poison in the lips of natural man (Ps 58:1-5). Thank God, when we came to Jesus old things passed away, including the old nature. It doesn’t free us from our works of faith in the New, but it does show we won’t reap what the old man sowed, he is dead, the price is paid.
Jesus said, we will tread on serpents and drink any deadly thing but it will not hurt us (Mark 16:16-18). This doesn’t mean we run out and grab some snake or drink poison, rather it means the Serpents (malicious thinking people) have no authority over us, neither will the words of their poison harm us, since we will speak with New Tongues of Mercy, and Faith in Jesus. There is a reward for the Righteous, the Reward is Jesus (Ps 58:11).
God will deliver us from the workers of iniquity, from pride, ego, the self-based soul, as well as from those who go about looking for error, where there is no error. As long as we have faith in Him, we will be spared (Ps 59:1-17). The mind of the Pharisee begins by looking for error, the mind of a righteous person begins by looking for Truth. Each event will have Blessing or Cursing, which one we seek is the one we end with. Truth will expose faults, but the purpose is to bring healing; whereas, Pharisees expose fault to exalt their self. God will show us some hard things, but nonetheless they’re for our own good (Ps 60:1-3). We want God to help us, which also means we stop depending on man (Ps 60:11). When we are overwhelmed with the cares of this world, we run to the Rock, but for David the Rock was higher than he; however, for us, we are established as the Rock, with Christ as our Foundation (Ps 61:2).
We must discern the false, we must discern the signs God is giving us, we must discern the event, and stop cursing the Rock of our salvation with carnal theology. Our Salvation is found when we enter the Rock, but the Ability of our Salvation is found in the Blood of Jesus. We look for a Stronger Tower, we stop using the strongman with all his evil treasure in the stronghold of the self (Ps 61:3). We look for the hiding place between the wings of the two angels over the seat, the place of Mercy (Ps 61:4). We ascertain if we have performed our vows daily, our vows begin by dying daily to allow the Spirit to live the life of Christ through us (Ps 61:6-8).
Our deliverance may not come within seconds, but it will come if we wait upon the Lord (Ps 62:1-3). Some bless God with their mouth, they have all the faith confessions down to a fine art, but they lack faith in their heart. We speak what we believe, we don’t speak to believe. God has given us a New Heart, one fully able to get us through this (Ps 62:4). When we take the time to build on our belief, our confession will be based on what we believe, rather than saying something trying to believe (Ps 62:5-10). When we seek God early, our victories will be in hand before the battle begins (Ps 63:1). When we march into the battle with the Glory of the Lord (Armor of God), we will be victorious, but if we wait until the first fifty blows hit us before we grab our Armor, we’re doomed for failure.
The Lord gave us three Psalms for the so-called watchdogs for Jesus: the first points to their intent, the second to the pain and sorrow they cause, in Psalm 64 we find their intent. These Wicked appear in the latter days as the Beast of the earth, yet they are from us, but they were never of us. They lie in wait to deceive, they hold secret counsel, thinking God doesn’t hear (Ps 64:4). We know some will cast out devils, prophesy and do many wonderful works, yet fail at granting Mercy. There are others who use the wiles of the devil, they rebuke prophecy, yet Jesus will tell them, “depart from Me, you workers of iniquity”; here in Psalm 64 some of the iniquity is defined (Ps 64:2). The defined area pertains to any watchdog, they use their tongues as poison arrows, they search out supposed iniquities, but they base their investigations on their own self-based conclusions. They rejoice over iniquity by seeking supposed failures, in order to exalt their wanton position. They are self-exalted, which is the opposite of “edify their self”. They shoot their arrows suddenly with the specific intent to cause harm, yet their intent is not exposure unto perfection, but exposure to exalt themselves in the failings of others. They make their own words to fall on themselves, bringing about their own corruption (Ps 64:2-8). The time will come when they will pay, but the righteous shall be rewarded (Ps 64:9-10).
If we fall into deception of being a watchdog, we can repent and be restored, but if one enjoys destroying the hope of another, they need to consider their ways by seeing they are Wicked at heart. We have a Better Covenant and Promise, our transgressions and iniquities can be pardoned, if we ask (Ps 65:3 & I Jn 2:1). God’s river of Living Water is surely able to cover our wrongs, iniquities and transgressions (Ps 65:9-13). In the end it comes down to every knee will bow to the Name of Jesus (Ps 66:4-5). Our hope knows the exposure is a sign we have entered the saving of the soul, God holds our souls by His life (Ps 66:9). Our security is the continual concern to pay our vows, to give ourselves a living sacrifice, declaring what the Lord has done for our souls (Ps 66:10-20).
When God brings His Mercy to us, we are blessed, yet the method He has ordained for us, is to give mercy to others (Luke 6:36-38 & Ps 67:1-7). When God raises up in our hearts, the Glory of Christ is evident, then the enemies of God will scatter (Ps 68:2). All of us were orphans lost in the world, but God is the Father to the fatherless (Ps 68:4-5). God looks at the idol worshipers, wondering why they seek the high hills (things) in their hearts when He sits on the highest of all things, or better, why do they seek the lowest, when the highest is being presented? (Ps 68:16-22). Good question.
Psalm 69 shows how any of us can slip into the carnal mind, but it also shows we can pray our carnal actions don’t cause others to fall (Ps 69:5-6). This is different from the time we first came to Jesus, it seems the Holy Ghost first fills us with a joy and love, so much so it seems Love is birthed in us, we just had to tell someone, but some of us told the wrong people. There are some who simply don’t understand, we end as a proverb to those who don’t know the Lord, a laughing stock to the heathen; our families and friends think we’re crazy, or we’ve gone over the deep end of religion. They call us fanatics, religious zealots, they may reject us for a time. They may even talk behind our backs, or make us the blunt of their jokes; it seems as if their rejection is overwhelming; however, Seeds planted, will be Watered, the Lord will bring the increase. Above all, we don’t want others to fall, or be ashamed (Ps 69:6-7). Although to them our approach may appear to be a shame, it’s a blessing waiting to happen. They see the Love, yet there are those offended by the Love of the Lord. Their natural reaction is to attack the offense, yet Love plants seeds of Peace. Hold tight to the calling, don’t let the faces of discouragement cause us to discourage others.
When Paul was in jail the watchdogs started, there were some who preached out of strife using Paul’s bonds against him, but nonetheless Christ was preached, God is still able to deliver His own. When Jesus was on the cross, His family and disciples were ashamed, the very nation (house) He came to save mocked Him, He was a stranger in the midst of His brethren, an alien to His mother’s children (Ps 69:8). The so-called prophets and religious leaders sat in the gate talking evil about Him (Ps 69:12). Yet, His prayer was unto His Father, He sought to please the Father, He only spoke what the Father gave Him (Ps 69:13). The water of the devil’s flood came against His body, yet He was delivered (Ps 69:15-18). Jesus appeared to be a shame, a reproach, but that was only because He carried our sorrows, He borne our sins, He took our iniquities; all those sins from times past, times present and times future separated Him from the Father until the He cast those sins back on the Adversary (Ps 69:19). When Jesus was on the cross, there was none, no, not one who called out, “Remember the Father”; not one of them even said, “have faith Lord” (Ps 69:20). All those who persecuted Him, lost their first estate causing their names to be removed from the Book of the Living (Ps 69:26-28). When we are attacked, or in the pit we remember Jesus, as we praise the Lord with thanksgiving (Ps 69:30). The Babe in Christ remains humble, knowing they are among the poor in Spirit (Ps 69:32-33).
Our faith brings us into the inheritance showing we are among those who Love His name (Ps 69:36). Zeal without the Spirit ends in legalism, anyone without the Spirit will use the things of God, rather then be used by God. The natural mind is still bound to the natural, causing the house to be eaten for self-gain (Ps 69:9-10 & Jn 2:16-17). It’s not our zeal, but where we put it, or what motivates it. We can have a zeal for the Body, a zeal for our ministry, but without a zeal to hold the Kingdom, we will miss the Ways of God; thus a Zeal for God motivated by the Spirit brings the reward. Jesus took our repentance as His garment, then changed our sackcloth to white robes of Righteousness (Ps 69:11).
There are times when it seems God will miss our time of need; although God has missed some golden opportunities to be early, He has never been late (Ps 70:1-5). God is not the author of confusion, nor does He desire for us to be ashamed, our wrong motives bring shame on us (Ps 71:1). Instead of corrupt communication we pray for our mouths to be filled with praise (Ps 71:8). No matter what age we are in the Lord, praise still opens the doors to heaven (Ps 71:18-23).
Psalm 72 was written for Solomon; however, prophetically it points to the true Son of David. This Psalm tells us the King holds the judgments; when Jesus was in the Garden, He took the cup of God’s wrath from the Father. However, prior Jesus gave us the cup for remission. The fourth cup from the Garden is not one of joy for either Jesus or the Father, but God must do what God must do (Ps 72:1-2). God judges the wicked with their wickedness, but He judges the righteous with His Righteousness, as He judges the merciful based on their Mercy (Ps 72:3-4). The Name of Jesus shall endure forever, His judgments are true (Ps 72:15-20). It is far better to have His Righteousness, then attempt to impress God with acts of self-righteousness.
Psalm 73 is called The Fate Of The Wicked; it begins what is known as Book III of the Psalms. The lust to envy is a nasty trait, it distorts facts and truths, induces hate, bitterness, producing a legalistic mindset centered in fighting flesh and blood. Envy being the lustful desire to have what someone else has, yet it’s not willing to pay the price to get it will begin by challenging or making unsound comparisons: Why does his ministry seem to be doing so good? Why do the wicked prosper? Why do some get healed and some don’t? “I don’t think it’s Bible based, oops it is, but I don’t care, I still won’t believe it”. When we see the prosperity of the wicked we can fall into envy, wondering how can it be, yet here we sit (Ps 73:3). The rain falls on the just and unjust, but we put our trust in God. If we allow the spirit of man to guide our thinking, we will fall into bitterness. Once envy takes its hold, we will seek fault, or make up fault just to have something to hate. Therefore, Jesus said, “What do you care, you follow Me” (Ps 73:2).
The he in the world attempts to insert the cares of this world to our minds, it attempts to make us fear the things of the world, yet God has framed the Ages. If the cares of this world begin to overcome us we will fear destruction, or some other concern the world frets over. At times they seem to have the answer, but they never seem to know the question. The health and prosperity of the heathen, or the wicked are only tests, thus prosperity in the hands of the wicked is greed, envy and destruction. However, if we enter envy over what we think is their prosperity we will attempt to use the same means they use, causing ourselves to fall into the trap (Ps 73:6-12). There is the prosperity of God which centers on our souls prospering, but there is the prosperity of the world centered on greed and envy (Ps 73:15-16). Even if we do fall into the trap, there is the Sanctuary of God, the place of Clarity and repentance, a place to understand the result of faith, rather than the wealth of the wicked (Ps 73:17). God put them in slippery places, their wealth is a snare, their health a trap, their laughter a tightly fitted robe (Ps 73:18). God gave them prosperity, but they knew it not, it can slip in a moment. They gave credit to their self-righteous acts, they robbed God’s glory. This doesn’t mean we are suppose to be poor, rather the love of money is the root of all evil, not the possession of it. What one does with it, how they fret over it, how they obtain it, or knowing Who gave it to them become the dividing factors.
Verse 20 of Psalm 73 would also seem as if God either sleeps, or takes naps, but neither is the case. The Hebrew word translated as Awake is Ur, meaning To begin an act, the Act would be making the enemies of Jesus His footstool. We find the wording “their image”, the word Image is the Hebrew Tselem, it’s the same context as Nebuchadnezzar’s image of himself (Dan 3:1). The word means A resemblance, or A likeness, which points to the Image in the latter days. This same word is used to show Adam was created in the Image of God, but completed by the New Birth, as the Spirit forms into the Image of God’s Son. Adam was a Tselem, he lacked the inner ability to complete the prophetic call to be the Image, thus he was soul, not Spirit. On the other hand we are not Tselem, because we have the Spirit in us to complete the Image.
God remembers His purchased congregation, He hasn’t forgotten the Remnant (74:2). As bad as the rebellious children were, God promised to revisit the faithful. The Night is for Judgment, when the Eighth comes as the Beast of the Earth, the time for the synagogue of Satan to roar as the false lion to entrap the Woman, thus the enemies of God roar in the midst of the congregation (Ps 74:4-7). God warns us to keep our ears open to the prophet’s call; those without ears reject the prophet, but when they reject the prophet, they become a sign showing there is no God in their temple (Ps 74:9).
Those who stand on the path of thanksgiving hear the wondrous works of God before they happen (Ps 75:1). Our old prideful soul is the “fool of fools”, we reject pride by not dealing foolishly knowing it’s a trait of the wicked (Ps 75:4). Our humbleness judges pride, finds it guilty, then casts it out of the temple. Humbleness has more power than pride, the roots of pride cannot survive in the face of humbleness (Ps 75:6-8).
We know to pay our vows to God, but anyone can hide behind pride assuming they are wise by never making a vow to God, they are only wise in our own eyes. They say the words, but in their heart they “crossed their fingers”. They were simply playing a mind game with God, they will lose in the end. Our course is to seek the Kingdom and His Righteousness; other vows include giving praises in the face of adversity, giving God the glory regardless of the event, maintain belief, faith, hope and love; therefore, it’s not the vow, but the type of vow (Ps 76:11). When we fail to make a vow, or make a foolish vow without consideration of the factors, we will find sores in the night, sickness in the day, complaining day and night (Ps 77:1-3). Then we remember the Right Hand of God by meditating on His good works, then we can be healed and set back on the Right Path (Ps 77:10-12).
God inclines His ears to the words of a repentant heart (Ps 78:1-3). We can remember the children of Israel who left Egypt, they saw the wonders of God, yet they believed not and trusted not in God’s salvation (Ps 78:2-22). To them Salvation was deliverance from Egypt and bondage, we are Saved by the Mercies of God from the world and its bondage, but we are being Saved by Grace through Faith to reach the salvation of our souls. If it were instant, then faith would not be an issue, since faith reaches to a future hope. Our faith demands for us to trust in God’s salvation, meaning we trust God is able to save our souls. God’s Justification is a process, it started the day we received the Mercy of God, it ends when we are glorified.
The Bible doesn’t speak against reincarnation, rather it tells the truth regarding the false concept of reincarnation, the truth sets us free. The word Reincarnation means In the Flesh again, coming from the Latin Incarnare, even if it was true, the person would be none the better. God is full of compassion, He is quick to forgive us, knowing we are but flesh; a wind passing away which comes not again (Ps 78:37-39). That born of the flesh is flesh, not flesh, and flesh, and more flesh.
Our time to accept or deny the Lord is now, there is no salvation in the grave (Ps 88:10). At the Judgment Jesus will judge the works of many, but then it will too late to run out and feed the poor, visit the fatherless, or seek Jesus. Who is going to call Him down again? Who can make Him take the captivity again? None can praise God from the grave, but those under the altar of God praise Him all the day long. It’s true, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord, but for many it will be too late. Paul talks about those who Sleep in Jesus, but he also told us not be among them (I Thess 5:5-7). His point is don’t be satisfied knowing you will sleep, work to be among the children of the Day, those of the Light, those who are Born Again, those who mind the Spirit to become spiritual in nature.
Our time here on earth becomes the place for the time of decision, not after death. God is the God of the living, not the God of the dead. He sits in the assembly of the saints, not in the graves of the dead (Psalm 89:7). The children in the wilderness weren’t satisfied with what they had, they tempted the Holy One by limiting Him (Ps 78:41-42). Every time we say, “that has passed away”, we limit the Holy One, every time we say, “not for today”, we tempt God. When we say, “not so Lord, you don’t know”, we tempt the Holy Spirit. God lead the children through the forty years in the wilderness, but He also destroyed those who believed not (Ps 78:53 & Jude 5). Jude tells us to remember the event; therefore, if it didn’t apply to us, why would we have to remember?
They thought as the heathen, their bodies were given to the fowls of the air (Ps 79:2). In our case the fowls of the air are the Wicked, who barter themselves to the devil to keep their ability to control the spirit of the world; based on their pride, ego and envy. They entered, but failed to obtain the ability to maintain. Instead of the saving of the soul, they returned to perdition (Heb 10:38-39). The New Man will discern our heart, when unbelief appears; we turn to God seeking His help, He will give us reasons to believe (Ps 79:9). God will bring us back to His path of Righteousness where we “shall be saved” (Ps 80:3).
The strange gods we tend to pick up are worldly, they bring self-deception, or blindness making us unable to find the path (Ps 80:9-10). When idols fill our minds we can’t hear God. What idols? How about self-righteousness? Yes self-righteousness is an idol to the New Testament saint, just as doing the Law of Moses to gain the benefit is witchcraft to those in the Law of the Spirit (Gal 3:1). We please God by faith, thinking we can impress God is prideful in nature.
God said He would never leave Israel, but Israel refused to walk God’s path; therefore, she left Him, then God said, “but My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (Ps 81:11-12). God never left them, His love continued for them, but He still punished them for their unbelief. They couldn’t separate themselves from His love, but they did separate themselves from Him.
The world is the world walking in its own counsel, but it doesn’t mean God doesn’t know what the world will do. God’s control is not manipulation, it’s knowledge of the future. Fear uses manipulation to avoid danger, faith faces the danger knowing the purpose and cause are to benefit the people of God. Fear attempts to control the event, demanding exact knowledge of the result before entering; whereas, belief knows God Is. The wars, death, or the other elements in the world are the fault of the world, yet known by God. The world made the decision to follow it’s own lusts, God honors the decision, but it doesn’t mean He likes it. The purpose for the world is already established, thus Salvation has another purpose and goal (Isa 14:26).
If one walks hand in hand with the ways of the world, they are not a child of God, they are a child of Balial. However, all of us were children of Balial and idol worshipers when we were in the world, but God pulled us from Egypt (world), then called us judges (gods). Pride wants to be a king’s kid, without bowing to King of Kings. In truth we are not “king’s kids”, we are kings (Rev 1:6). If we are “Children of God”, then we’re “gods” defined in Psalm 82. Not as defined by religious conceit, or by makers of idols, or at the suggestion of the devil. There is a vast difference, so vast Psalm 82 defines God’s appointed and anointed leaders as the gods (representatives) of God.
God stands in our congregation judging the gods (leaders – Ps 82:1). That has to bring clarity to our position, God is not sitting in the “big chair” behind the pulpit, He is sitting with the Congregation. These are not “little gods”, or independent of God, rather they are God appointed and anointed leaders. However, they rejected and mocked Mercy, they were found in iniquity. God tells them, “You are gods and all of you are children of the Most High”. Wow, even in their iniquity He calls them “gods”; it’s positional, thus they are appointed to the position, the rebuke here is a failure (iniquity) to operate in the given position. This is defined when God adds, “You shall die like men and fall like one of the princes” (Ps 82:6-7). A prince is known by the territory they represent, but the territory is not the nation, it’s a place within the nation. A king’s kid is a prince called to be a king, yet remains a prince who never makes it to the calling. “Now wait, Jesus is the Prince of Peace”. Yes, a prince is known by the principality they represent, thus Peace is a part of the Kingdom, not the entire Kingdom, since Jesus is also King of kings. Here the concept is princes in the Royal Court, but they have yet to advance to the kingly order, because they failed to show mercy.
When the Pharisees heard Jesus say, “I and My Father are One”, they had a religious fit (Jn 10:30-33). When Jesus told them, they were suppose to be gods, they picked up stones. In order to be a god for God, one must submit to God, in order for us to be a god for God, we must have the Seed of God, in either case it calls for Submission unto the Lord. Once the Seed has broke through then the Blade appears, then comes the appearance of a Christ Like nature in growth. However, when anyone appears as Christ Like, the Pharisees attack. Is it bad? Not at all, it’s the proof of the pudding, when they attack we know we’ve made it.
A Pharisee gained great pride in saying they were “of Abraham”, yet they wouldn’t believe as Abraham. This Psalm also shows “judging” is not condemning, rather Judging in a Godly manner is much different from the way the world judges. Here the Judge takes care of people, protects them from evil by separating the Precious from the Vile. A Godly judge does the undefiled religion, taking care of the poor, while remaining unspotted by the world (James 1:27).
One of the few times during the earthly ministry Jesus referred to Himself as “the Son of God” was before the Pharisees, but the purpose was to rebuke them for not being the called “gods” of God (Jn 10:34-38). God still rebukes the gods for their failure to operate as the called judges (gods). Instead of holding the position, they claim it, yet act independent of God. The Pharisees gave their sacrifices, paid their tithe, did service in the temple, yet they were of their father the devil, and the lusts of the devil they would do (Ps 82:2 & Jn 8:44).
Elijah was a man of like passions as we, there are times when we are like Elijah the prayer warrior, but there are other times when we are like Elijah running from the voice of Jezebel, or like Elijah who sat in the cave feeling sorry for himself; when we should be sitting at the mouth of the cave waiting for God to say, “what are you doing here?”. God tells us, Arise Elohiym (“O God” in KJV) to judge the earth (Ps 82:8). The use of “O God” in the King James is proper since it means the gods must raise up with God. Whether we like the term gods or not doesn’t matter, God called us gods; but as representatives of His Mercy, not as someone bringing condemnation on the people. Do we judge the world, or the earth? The word earth is a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, we are kings, thus we judge ourselves while we are in kingdom of heaven, lest we be judged. However, we also know the Godly method of judging is to separate the Precious from the Vile. Let us accept the calling, keeping the tabernacle of God in our hearts by keeping Him who makes it the tabernacle holy (Ps 83:12).
We must also determine if the earth itself belongs to us, or not. Jesus said His Kingdom was not of this world, yet the Father owes the cattle on a thousand hills, Jesus will still judge mankind. Our position in the Kingdom makes the earth subject to us, but if we rule in worldly sense, we have misused our position. Jesus owned the Cross, plus the earth the Cross sat on, the Temple in which He was judged, as well as the people who judged Him. All things were created for Him, and by Him. However, did He rule as the world rules? No, He ruled as the Royal King of all kings, He is our example of our ruling position. We judge the earth by doing what is Right in the sight of God.
Psalm 82 told us to “judge the earth”, Psalm 83 points to those who failed to do so. Psalm 83 is A prayer regarding the Enemies of God, yet we know the enemies of Jesus will become His footstool, thus this Psalm is prophetic in nature, giving us many clues to the Night regarding those made the choice to be “vessels of dishonor”.
The enemies of God have made a “tumult”, which is the Hebrew Hamah meaning To war, To rage, or To break the Peace, which is what they will do, break to pieces the time of Peace and Safety. Peace is a weapon to defeat strife, but strife is a weapon used against Peace. Those who enjoy strife, cause strife, then take “crafty counsel” against the people of God in this Season, then they “consulted against” the hidden ones in the next (Ps 83:3). The word Crafty is the Hebrew Arom meaning To form a cunning plan, it’s the same context as “laying in wait to deceive”. The Wicked form their plans of destruction in secret meetings in their minds, they may say they seek “correction”, yet their intent is to destroy. They truly think they are doing God a service, they think it’s their calling in life to destroy anyone they suspect as a danger to the Body of Christ. Exposure of the Wicked and slandering someone are very different, since slandering is a characteristic of the Wicked. We can’t expose them, by acting like them.
The word Counsel and Consulted are different, the word Counsel is the Hebrew Sodh meaning A friendly conversation, they come as ministers of righteousness, but inside Satan still reigns. They reject the saving of the soul, they desire control, or power they can control, thus they refuse to submit to the Holy Ghost. They retain a mask, but the saving of our souls removes masks. They love power, but the saving of our soul brings a Love for God coupled with a respect for His power. The word Consulted in Psalm 83:3 is the Hebrew Malak meaning king, or ruler, but in Psalm 83:5 it’s the Hebrew Yaats meaning To direct, or Decide a purpose. The first usage is the person, the second the decision made. This Psalm begins by asking God not to remain silent, it’s a request for Him to say something, or do something about the enemies of God. This seems to be Judgment centered, but we find God isn’t doing anything to judge the enemies in this Season. We find a mystery; during the Day the Lord’s concern is not Judgment, but Salvation. It will change in the Night to Judgment not Salvation, but here we find the Wicked defined, they are going about doing wickedness, or being antichrist, yet it seems as if they are getting away with it. The enemies make a Tumult, although they say they love the Lord, we find they really hate Him. How can this be? They refuse to be obedient, they have formed themselves into religious legalists. The word Tumult is the Hebrew Hamah meaning an Uproar, or Noise of trouble. They “take crafty” counsel against the people of God, showing they are antichrist in this Season. The wording “have taken crafty” is the Hebrew Aram meaning To be subtle, or deceptive.
In this case it’s to cut off the name of Israel, but in our case it’s their envy causing them to be left behind. The natural minded want us to be naturally reasonable, to be Christ like without the Spiritual activity proving we are Christian. They substitute the ways of the world for the Ways of Christ. In our Season they are antichrist, in the next they are the false prophet. The Sin in the Night is for them to claim to be a prophet, since the only prophets will be in the Law and Prophets, yet the iniquity in this Season is the refusal to be spiritual in nature by the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 83:6-8 lists ten nations, or peoples, which correlate to the ten heads on the Beast of the Sea in the Book of Revelation (Rev 13:1). Then in verse 11 we have a few names of importance: Oreb means Raven, Zeeb means Wolf, Zebah means Slaughter of innocent animals, and Zalunna means Shade. Putting these together we find a division between the Day and Night. During the Day the Wicked are Ravens, who go about slaughtering the innocent, but in the Night they are wolves in sheep’s whose Shade (covering) was lost when the Church was taken in the Rapture. In the Night they run to the only place where the knowledge of God is found, the city. For the most part they hate the term “Rapture”, since deep inside they know it will be when their covering will be taken.
The writer desires for God to make them all “perish” (v. 10), the word Perished is the Hebrew Shamad meaning To exterminate, or to be exterminated. The concept of the lake of fire is seen in verse 13, the Wicked in the lake of fire produce the fire. Therefore, the false prophet causes, or makes fire to fall from heaven, they don’t “call” it down (Rev 13:13). Then they will know the Lord He is God, it will be a Day of darkness (Amos 5:18).
We begin to see just how the Psalms and Proverbs explain and define the Wicked, as well as why they become numbered among the enemies of Jesus. If the Psalms testify of Jesus, why so much on the Wicked? They are in the Body, the Body is still Christ. Self-deception makes one think they are doing God a service by attacking others in the Body, but they are doing ourselves a disservice. This explains how God didn’t make them Wicked, but He does Mold them into vessels of dishonor. “What? If God molds, then God makes”. God molds according to the choices and decisions of the clay, the vessels of dishonor reject Mercy, the vessels of honor walk in Mercy, or at least try to; thus both have the opportunity and ability, both made decisions, God simply molded them accordingly.
Every prophetic word, and every prayer for or against the Wicked has been said. God made sure we could stand in Mercy in the face of adversity, neither do we have to allow anger to vent itself in our prayer life. There isn’t one example of any saint praying against another person in the New Testament, giving information about someone, and praying against them is much different. We have the greatest opportunity in the times and seasons of mankind, we are looking at a God who at this time isn’t considering Judgment, rather His goal is for all to come to the saving knowledge of the Gospel.
Faith comes by hearing, but if we are having problems hearing the Lord, we pray, “show us your mercy, O Lord and grant us Your salvation; I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace unto His people and unto His saints” (Ps 85:7-8). This is a request for clarity in reference to our position and condition; if we pray for God to expose and remove any hindrance in us, we will be able to hear Him.
A spiritual attitude is one of response, not deliberation; the Pharisees reacted, Jesus responded. We can Meditate on the Scriptures, or we can Meditate on the Scriptures by the Word in us. Ahh, if we Mediate on the Scriptures by the Word in us we will be prepared for the evil day. Instead of reacting to the attack, we will respond in Mercy to the attackers. When the messengers of Satan show up, we will know Grace is sufficient. However in order to find Grace we must obtain Mercy. Then our soul can rejoice, as we lift our soul unto the Lord (Ps 86:1-4).
God is Spirit, He took on flesh, but He does have a soul; therefore Adam was the beginning as a living soul, he lacked the Spirit to complete the premise, since God is Spirit, the New Birth granted us the same Spirit who declared Jesus the Son of God by the Resurrection, meaning the same Spirit declares us sons of God.
Many of the Psalms have prayers of repentance, which are prayers seeking God’s Mercy for wrongs done by a person, or a people. A true intercessor is like Daniel who didn’t do anything evil, yet he was among a people who did. When Daniel prayed it wasn’t “forgive my people Lord for the wrong they have done”, rather he included himself, but why? After all in the New Testament we find Stephen praying Mercy asking the Lord not charge the people for the sin of killing him. Why didn’t Stephen pray one of these God go get them prayers? Because he knew the importance of Mercy. In Daniel’s case it was the nation, although Daniel as a person may have been innocent, Daniel as a member of the nation was not. For us it’s a different story, we are a nation in a nation, we are kings, and the purpose of a kingdom is to carry out the will of the king. Our kingly order is established by us, we can allow, or refuse entry to any subject in our realm. We can reject Mercy, and allow bitterness, or we can reject bitterness, and allow Mercy. Mercy is not only an attribute of God, it’s an essence of His character. The Lord is always ready to forgive, we must be ready to forgive as an action of our faith, rather than reacting in fear or anger (Ps 86:5-13). Mercy is the constant state of mind ready to forgive, before there is a cause. However, the Judgment would seem to negate the view, but the Judgment is a matter of division, yet the Lord at the Judgment is applying Mercy as well (Matt 25:31-46). The Judgment is based on Mercy, not Grace, thus the Lord will be looking for acts of Mercy.
The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob, thus Jacob was a man, who thought as a man, he reacted as a man (Ps 87:2). The term Gates of Zion is a metaphoric term pointing to the Remnant first and foremost (Rev 21:21 et al), here we find God loves the Remnant, as He puts His hand a second time to recover them, yet they will be overcome, but they will also make the enemies of Jesus His footstool. It doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us, rather it shows a division of Seasons. We are termed overcomers, the Remnant will be overcome by the Wicked, making the Wicked the footstool of the Lord.
Zion is a mountain upon which Jerusalem sits, the mount itself has no gates. Yikes, God made a mistake. Not so, the Gates of Zion are seen on the wall of New Jerusalem, extending the metaphoric connection. With the insertion of Jacob the first thought has to be the nation Israel, since Israel came from Jacob, but we also know the end times ends with “Jacob’s Trouble”, not “Israel’s Trouble” (Jere 30:7). Giving us the first aspect pointing this Psalm to the Remnant, but then there is another Zion connected to New Jerusalem, we can’t mix the two. The Rock, or Body is heavenly Zion, the Church is New Jerusalem, yet the gates of New Jerusalem are the Remnant. Zion of the earth is where the city Jerusalem is located, but in the Book of Revelation the Remnant are marked on Zion, yet they see the abominations done in the city. Two places, yet connected by local. The Body of Christ is heavenly Zion, the Church is New Jerusalem, two places yet connected.
God is a good God, but He is also a God of justice and judgment (Ps 89:14). Blessed are the people who know His Mercy and Truth, who hear the joyful sound of His Light (Ps 89:14-15). Psalm 89 is a prophesy regarding our Season, the word “mighty” in verse 6 is the same Hebrew word seen as “God” in verse 7, how can it be? It’s the Hebrew Elohiym meaning God and His branches, it was also translated as “gods”, or “mighty” in Psalm 82. Who among the “sons of God” can be compared to the Lord? None, yet He has made us joint-heirs to the Promise, thus we have like benefits in Jesus, it doesn’t mean we are God the Son, rather the Spirit is forming us into sons of God. The biggest mistake the Wicked make is thinking because they are termed “sons of God”, they are equal to God. We are a people with a Great Authority, but we are under a Greater Authority.
This Psalm shows Jesus is the exalted One, His throne is forever, as the days of heaven (Ps 89:29). This also helps us understand how the Father could give Jesus a Name above all names. It would seem the Father gave Jesus position above the Father, how then could they be equal? If Jesus is on the Right Hand side of the Father, then there is a Oneness, or Equalness, whatever you prefer, so then how can the Name of Jesus be higher than the Name of the Father? Didn’t Jesus say the Father was greater? Yes, yet the term Name means Authority, Jesus said the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is combined into the Authority of Jesus, which Authority He gave us as His Body. If it’s the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, surely the “Son” was included, it’s the combined Authority granting us Mercy by the Father, Grace by the Son, the Spirit by the Holy Ghost.
As Mercy forgives our sins, Grace blots them out, so then in like manner the transgression and iniquity of the evil doers will be visited on them (Ps 89:32). The opposite of Salvation is Judgment, there is no “middle ground”. “Wow, none of us have a chance”. Not so, having the New Man covers a multitude of sins. Love with Mercy are still factors breaking down barriers. Since we are Born Again we will be changed in a twinkling of an eye, the corruptible will be removed, as we are made incorruptible. “Gee, we won’t know who we are”. For the most part we don’t know, but the change is not a person we were not, but the completeness of the person we will be, we will be known as we are known.
Mercy is always an incentive, if we give Mercy, man will give it back shaken down, pressed together and running over, the promise is if we give Mercy, it will come back Greater than it went out. Give judgment and slander, and they will come back greater than they went out.
God will not break His covenant, it’s man who breaks (breaches) the contract unto the promise (Ps 89:34). God will bring the strongholds in our minds to ruin, then we can sit in His Glory (Ps 89:40-90:2). To the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day, but He knows the length of our days (Ps 90:4 & 90:10). This is another hope, if the Lord gives us a task He knows we can complete it, He knows the length of days. Elijah had several tasks, yet he knew he wouldn’t complete them all, thus he enlisted Elisha to complete the work. Nonetheless it was known from the foundation of the world, thus as Elisha ended the ministry of Elijah he found his own prophetic ministry beginning.
There are covenants many; man makes covenant with man, man makes covenant with God, but in this case it’s not man making a Covenant with God, it’s God’s Covenant presented to man, man can either accept, or reject. We can’t change God’s Covenants, neither can we walk in all of them, we must make a decision if we want the New, or the Old, or neither. Once the decision is made, we must make our choices based on the decision.
God dwells in heaven, our goal is to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Instead of lodging in the shadow of the Almighty as David, we can lodge with the Almighty (Ps 91:1-3). Man was made for the earth; when God created Adam, death as a result of sin was man made, although it was in the plan. Since Adam was formed and created of the earth, it’s obvious he was not designed to inherit heaven, the angels were created for heaven, man for earth, both were given their first estate. It takes a change in family order, with a change in character, to change position for man to leave the confines of the earth. “Oh really, we see guys go into space all the time”. True, but they take the air of earth with them, without it they can’t survive. Where man goes, so does his environment, thus we need the Spirit in order to become Spiritual to make it through the Door without the earthly environment; thus we find being Born Again is when the Spirit in us is forming our souls into a Spiritual nature to fit our resurrected bodies waiting for us when we are glorified.
When we sit in the Glory of the Lord with “long hair” (the anointing) we proclaim, no evil shall befall us, neither shall any plague come near our dwelling (body or tabernacle – Ps 91:10). God gives His angels charge over us, His angels (Born Again saints) bring the message of God to help us, comfort us, edify us, and exhort us (Ps 91:11 & Acts 15:32). We don’t tempt God by jumping in the street to see if some car will hit us, rather we hear and obey the Lord our God. There are those who want us to tempt God, they bring their enticing suggestions based in their unbelief. Why don’t you do this or that, it’s the same as saying, “why don’t you jump off this tower, and see if God will catch you”, or “I will believe if I can pick the grave, then see if you can raise the dead”. Those types of challenges are based in unbelief, not the desire of God; never fall for the enticing of the unbeliever to make a theatrical display of the Power of God.
It’s always a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord for all things (Ps 92:1). The saving of the soul will entail a few “pit experiences”, but the purpose is for us to cast away the mask to see the old man as he really is, then we will gladly dispose of him. Then we can submit to the Spirit, the result is more than enough reason to give our praises to the Lord for the works of His hand (Ps 92:4). The brute or the fool never seem to grasp the saving of the soul, but a Righteous man knows the reward is having the Righteousness of God (Ps 92:6-15). In the saving of the soul, the Lord will put us face to face with the mirror, the things we hate in others are often the hidden elements in us. When the floods approach, we discern, we don’t panic (Ps 93:2-4). If we are attacked we don’t attack back, the test is whether or not we will use Mercy, then allow the Lord vengeance in His time and timing (Ps 94:1-2). The Lord knows the thoughts and intents of man, it’s natural man who doesn’t. The spirit of man knows the things of man, but hasn’t a clue to the things of the Spirit of God (Ps 94:11 & I Cor 2:11).
Often we have no idea of our intent, the saving of the soul brings the rebuke from the Word to save us, not destroy us; therefore, we praise God for, during, and after He chastens us (Ps 94:12). The Lord shall cut off the strongholds, but first He exposes them by His chastening; therefore, the exposure is saving us, it’s a good thing to be covered by the Glory of the Lord (Ps 94:23). It’s a good thing to know His Grace is sufficient, it’s a good thing to walk in Love, it’s good thing to walk in the Light, it’s a good thing to stand in Mercy, it’s a good thing to know the Lord’s Ways, it’s a very good thing to be Born Again.
In the midst of the saving of the soul we sing unto the Lord by giving our sacrifice of praise (Ps 95:1). The sacrifice of praise comes when there seems no reason to praise the Lord (Ps 95:2-4); in those times we have a choice, we can either give our sacrifice of praise by faith, or say, “I’ll praise God through it, but not for it”, the latter is error, displaying how we equate events to the pleasure they bring us. The old nature hates anything it can’t control, or doesn’t bring pleasure to the flesh, the New Nature knows all things are of God, thus when the event may not be pleasing, we nonetheless praise the Lord to gain the purpose of the event. When we worship and bow down we are being humble, God raises the humble, but resists the proud, thus being humble will resist pride (Ps 95:4-10).
Psalm 95 is called, The Praise And Worship Psalm, Psalm 96 is entitled, God Is The True King, Psalm 97 is called, The Power Of God, Psalm 98 is entitled, God Rules The Word, and Psalm 99 is called, God Is Faithful, they relate one to the other. Psalm 95 begins with “sing unto the Lord”, but Psalm 98 begins with “sing unto the Lord a New Song”, a New Song is always sung before God does a New Thing. How do we sing a New Song? How about from the New Heart of expectation? A New Song seeks the New Thing, yet all New Things for us begin with the New Man. The Scripture tells us God so loved the world, it doesn’t say God so loved the Earth, we must make a separation between the two metaphors World and Earth. The World is the place all of us were in, the Earth is a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven. The physical earth is the place of testing for all mankind, the kingdom of heaven is the place of testing for those who receive the Cross, the Kingdom of God is the place of dwelling for those who have the Spirit of Truth.
The kingdom of heaven has both good and bad, the Kingdom of God has only the Good. After entry into the kingdom of heaven we move on to have the Kingdom of God, within. However, the Wicked remained in the Earth, since they were never of us. This group is the one God remains angry at, Revelation 10:2 shows an angel putting his Right foot on the Sea, but his Left foot on the Earth, the Sea is the place we cast the net, the Earth is the area of harvest, it’s the place where the separation between the Wheat and Tares takes effect. We don’t see the angel put his feet or hands on the Sand of the Sea, or the Heavens, thus the prophecy John has isn’t directed to the Sand of the Sea, rather the Book of Revelation is sent to us, those who came from the Sea yet entered the Earth as our incentive to fight the good fight of faith in order to be removed from here, before the Beast of the Earth appears. This gives us four metaphors to remember, the Earth, Sand of the Sea, Heavens, and Sea. All four are important, each has its own place in the plan.
Psalm 94 ends with, “And He (God) shall bring upon them (the workers of iniquity, or Wicked) their own Iniquity, they shall be Cut Them Off by their own wickedness, yea, the Lord our God shall Cut Them Off” (Ps 94:23). The Textus Receptus Text, and the Masoretic Text show two different Hebrew words for the two phrases “Shall Cut Them Off”, as seen in J.P. Green’s Interlinear Bible. The first is the Hebrew Karath meaning To cut off a part of the Body, the second is the Hebrew Tsaraph meaning To put an end to, To wipe out, or make to vanish. The first word shows the Broken Body at the Rapture, the second shows the very end at the Judgment. This Psalm only makes sense if we understand the purpose for the Rapture. When the Rapture happens, the Body of Christ will be broken, then the Wicked Shall be Cut Off. After the Time of Comfort the Wicked will be Cut Off from any attribute of God as they are place in Perdition, or the lake of fire, yet with a resurrected body they can’t be destroyed, thus they will melt, come back, melt again, come back, forever, defining the resurrection of the damned.
Paul is the only one telling us Jesus said, “This is My Body broken for you”, although the others show Jesus breaking the bread. Paul also places the broken Body with the betrayal of Judas (I Cor 11:23-24). This mystery Paul received from the Lord, all these different verses here in the Old Testament show the Cutting or Breaking of the Body. We can understand how Psalm 95 points to the Fear of the Lord: the Body of Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation, yet we move from the Earth to the Rock, to the Church. This is seen in any rock formation; if we sit on a rock, we know the rock is above the ground, yet it’s connected to the ground making the Rock akin to the kingdom of heaven, or the Body, but under the Rock is the ground, showing the Beast of the Earth was of us, but not part of us.
Zion of the earth is natural, it was built by God in the formation of the earth, yet the city of Jerusalem was built by man. In our case we build the Rock, yet Jesus builds the Church. Nonetheless the Body will be broken, the Church will not. The work didn’t stop when we entered the kingdom of heaven, it began. Once we enter God’s rest our work ceases, as His work by the Spirit begins. We know God is working with us as the New Man exposes and corrects us to bring us into perfection. It’s more than enough cause to give God Thanksgiving.
Verse 4 shows the Hand of the Lord, the Hebrew word for Hand is Yad meaning Power; it can mean either to good or evil, or left or right; often it connects to Possession. Then we find the metaphor Hills, which connects to the metaphor Mountains, later we will see the Mountain of the Lord sitting on the Mountains. The metaphor Hills refers to smaller nations; the metaphor Mountains refers to the dominate nations of the earth. Then we find the metaphors Sea and Dry Land in verse 5, pointing to the Sea as the Gentile world, the Hebrew word for Dry Land used here is Yabbesheth, it’s only found here and in Exodus 4:9. This metaphor is explained in Exodus as the land of Egypt where the “water turned to blood”, thus it’s a metaphor for the Earth after the Rapture, showing how the Wicked are worldly minded. We entered the Gate based on the Water and Blood of Jesus, we enter the Door based on the Water, Blood and Spirit. In our delight we sing, Come let us worship and bow down, let us Kneel before the Lord our God our maker (v, 6). The word Kneel is the Hebrew Barakh meaning To bend the knee, as in Submission. One can bend their knee in submission, or fight it tooth and nail; the one who willingly submits gains in the experience.
There is a close association in the Jewish culture regarding kneeling to receive the blessing, it was also considered a kindly and benevolent greeting between parties. This means more than just kneeling down, it includes an attitude of submission and honor toward God in the kneeling. One can kneel with a heart of submission, one can kneel because they think they should, or kneel because someone broke their leg, yet the only premise God honors is the one who kneels based on submission and reverence unto the Lord.
Psalm 95:7 tells us Today if we will hear His Voice, thus Faith comes by Hearing, but the Hearing by the Rhema. We must hear while it is yet Day, for the Night comes when no man can work. These verses were used in the Book of Hebrews to show how Unbelief stopped the children in the wilderness from obtaining the blessing, although the blessing was as close as their finger tips. Verse 9 shows the children Tempted God, but wait, didn’t James say no can tempt God? or did he? Of course he did, ahh some overzealous scribe. Not so, James points out how we can’t tempt God to do evil, neither will God tempt us to do evil, but any of us can take the good gift of God and twist it into a temptation. The children didn’t fool God, He knew what they were doing, thus He sent them a test of exposure. This also shows the children assumed their tempting caused God to bow and meet their favor, but it was their perception of the matter, not the clarity. Let’s face it, quail coming out of your nose is a sure sign of greed exposed. Therefore, even the Great Quail Hunt was not a matter of God bending to the temptation, but God exposing the evil in the heart of the children who tempted Him. This one area is where one can become confused, some assume any temptation is evil, yet the same word James uses was used in John 6:6 showing Jesus tempted Philip. If one retains the Stronghold indicating only the devil tempts us in any degree, they are also saying Jesus is the devil, not wise at all. There is tempting unto evil, wherein the person doing the tempting has am evil lust from which they operate, but the one being tempted must also have a evil lust in order for the temptation to be complete. James says we can ask amiss, or ask to consume the product on some lust, the Great Quail Hunt is an example. God gave a Good Gift, the one with the lust perverted it.
Jesus was taken into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil, thus the Spirit didn’t tempt Jesus, but the Spirit did take Jesus to be tempted. Jesus did not succumb to the temptation, proving there was no evil lust in Him. Since He didn’t succumb it also proves Jesus cannot be tempted unto evil, thus He tempts no one to do evil. To be tempted, or falling into temptation are different. Jesus was taken to defeat the devil’s temptations, in the case of Philip, it was Philip who had the lust, the first place he sought help was the bag, not Jesus. In Psalm 95:9 we see the children Tempted and Proved God, what then is the difference? The word Tempted is the Hebrew Nasah meaning To test, or Put to the proof, it would be the same meaning as the word James uses. The word Prove is the Hebrew Bachan meaning To search out, or Investigate, which means they were seeing just how much they could gain from God by making Him prove Himself, before they would believe. This latter area is one we can fall into, or perhaps have. We test God to see if He really is God, if He really will do it, is He really among us. We tend to call them “fleeces”, but let’s face it, we’re testing the water. In Malachi God says to prove Him, but we have to look at the group He is talking to. Their concern is what they can get from God, not what they do for God, they would akin to the sixth church (Malachi 3:13-15). This is not the same as believing a promise God has given us, rather testing God would like Abraham making his own determination to offer Isaac, rather than hearing from God. Therefore, we find God told Abraham, then Abraham obeyed, it wasn’t Abraham presuming to make the sacrifice to see what God would do. Abraham believed God was able to raise the lad (promise) from the ashes, only because God told him two things. First the lad was the promise to bring about the nation, next it was God who told him to offer the lad. Since God spoke, Abraham knew it would be good, thus obedience does as it’s told.
Verse 10 explains the concept, displaying how the children never knew God’s Ways, they saw His acts, time and again, but they never bowed the knee to find His Ways. If we don’t know God’s Ways we will tempt, or Prove Him, yet the evil is within our hearts, not with God. He will not submit to our evil, although we may get an answer, but a nose full of quail is not “life more abundantly”. If we tempt God, we are doing so from an evil lust, but it doesn’t mean God is taken by our temptation, it means God will use it to bring about something Good in the form of exposure, as He exposes our lust, which is good since the purpose is based in Justification.
Psalm 96 begins with One New Song relating to Worship, as God seeks those to Worship Him in Spirit and Truth, thus this relates to the Church. The New Song in Psalm 98 relates to the Remnant, as we find a division in Seasons. In Psalm 96 we find the reference to the Earth, but not so in Psalm 98, thus Psalm 96 is directed to those who have entering the Kingdom of God from the kingdom of heaven. When we Bless His Name, we become a blessing In His Name (v. 2). How can we declare His Glory, if we don’t have it? The Remnant will talk about it, but we are suppose to have it (Rom 8:18). The word “gods” is again the Hebrew Elohiym meaning the extensions of God, it’s used both for the appointed children of God, or for idols, thus one can be appointed to be a god, yet end as their own idol.
Verses 7 and 8 tell us three times to “Give unto the Lord”, then we can Worship Him. Why three times? If any will follow Him, we must (1) deny their self, (2) pick up their cross and (3) follow Him. Verse 11 shows the metaphor Heavens, which points to the spiritually minded, thus this Psalm is directed to the spiritual minded who are told to Rejoice. Revelation 12 tells us the devil is cast down, then we read, “Rejoice oh you heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth and of the Sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time” (Rev 12:12). This can’t be the 1,000 years, since the devil is bound then, it can’t be after since the devil is seen in the lake of fire, thus this must relate to our Season. We want to cast the devil down, or “pull down” the devil, some call this the “devil’s strongholds”, but strongholds are in the mind, not over cities. The Scriptures show the devil is cast down, we Tread on him; therefore, all things are under the Feet of Jesus; if we presume the devil is above us, where does it put us? Where does it put Jesus if we’re of His Body?
There can be no antichrist until there is a Christ; however, there can be shadows according to the prophecies, still there was no antichrist attitude until Christ came, just as there is no spirit of the world until God gave the Spirit which is of God (I Cor 2:12). Verses 11 and 12 of this Psalm point directly to our Season: those still in the Earth who are moving to the Kingdom of God should be Glad, there is still time to make it, while it is yet Today. The Field is the same Field Jesus talks about, in verse 13 we find the coming of the Lord takes time. He will first move to the Air to become His purposed Bride, then He will come to retrieve others after the 1,000 years. There are two days of the Lord marked by two trumpet blasts, the next one heard will be the Last of the two Trumps announcing the changing of Seasons, then comes the Great Trump when the Winepress is ready the Cup of God’s Wrath to be poured out.
The Jewish New Year had two trumps, one to mark the opening of the Day, the Last to mark the closing of the Day as it brought the Night, but there was a Third called the Great Trump announcing the end of any High Sabbath (Isa 27:13). The Rapture comes at the Last Trump, but the Judgment comes at the Great Trump, two different trumps for two different reasons. Don’t get confused, there is the First of Two trumps to open the Day, the First trump sounded when God wanted to be among His people, it ended on Pentecost as the sound of a rushing mighty wind. Then comes the second of the Two trumps known as the Last Trump, or the last of the two, which announces the close of the Day and the beginning of the Night. Then at the end of time comes the sound of the Great Trumpet announcing the Judgment. Three trumps all told, each has a purpose.
Psalm 97 gives us the Earth and Isles; both are metaphors, the Earth we know, the Isles refers to those who are above the Sea, the Sand of the Sea, or the Earth. An isle would be akin to those who sleep in Jesus, they are above the Sea, yet still connected to it. Verse 5 shows the judgment of the Lord, as the planet will be turned inside out to become the lake of fire. In verse 4 we find the Earth will tremble, but back in 96:11 the Earth was suppose to be Glad. The difference is found in the Season, in 96:11 there was still time, in 97:4-5 it’s near the end of time.
The reason the Earth must tremble? Idols, either idols of stone, or idols in the mind, it makes no difference, they confound us by bringing confusion in the things of God (Ps 97:7). Verse 8 gives us two groups, the first will be last, the last will be first. Zion is for the Remnant, but we are the Heavens. The Lord is able to preserve the souls of His saints, as He delivers our souls from the old nature of pride, ego and self-based thinking, just as He is able to deliver the Remnant (Ps 97:10). The Remnant have a little strength, thus they will be overcome in the end, but we have the Strength of Christ making us “overcomers”, if we mix the two, we will assume we will be the overcome, overcomers; it’s not the case at all. Grace empowers us to Overcome, the Judgment calls for the Remnant to be overcome by the Wicked, two completely different premises which are seen when we Rightly Divide the Word, thus we have the Strength of Christ, they have a little strength.
When we consider all God is doing to save us, we will make a joyful noise unto the Lord (Ps 98:4). We make the joyful noise before the Lord comes, for it’s too late after He comes (Ps 98:9). Psalm 98 shows the heathen will know it was God, when they look upon Him on the last day (v. 2). Verse 5 shows the same as the Book of Revelation with the sounds of the harps in heaven, then verse 9 shows the Lord judging the World at the Judgment, yet it’s appointed unto all men once to die, then comes the Judgment. There are some signs for us, if there are wars, rumors of wars, famine and pestilence in the world, then it’s still the Day, the time of Salvation. If there is Peace and Safety in the world, then it’s the Night assigned the time of Judgment.
Psalm 98:5 would seem like we are suppose to worship at the Lord’s footstool; however, we know His enemies are His footstool, what gives? The prophets tell us the earth is the footstool of the Lord, during our Season we worship “at” His footstool. In the Night the Synagogue of Satan will be His footstool, they are the ones who cause the bruise on the heel of Jesus. Nonetheless, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord, but for those of His Footstool, it will be too late. One has to define the “footstool”, then define the two places called Jerusalem. Jerusalem of the earth is the location of the Lord’s footstool, but the earth itself is the footstool of the Lord. New Jerusalem is the Throne of the saints, far above the earth. When the Lord returns His enemies will be in control of the Woman (Jerusalem), they entered the Night, but at first they are found at the feet of the Sixth church, but in the end the Woman will follow their evil ways. They worship for self-centered reasons, they chase whatever organization appears to have the knowledge of God. Just as they did in our Season, they begin one way, end another.
How many do you think will come out of hell or the grave and see Jesus, knowing it’s the judgment, then tell Him, “You know man, I never like that Jesus stuff, I thought the New Age had it together”. Not a one, they will all bow and confess Jesus is Lord; some will even say “Lord, Lord haven’t I done some great things in your Name”; however, for many it will be too late, too late indeed, while it is yet Today we worship Him.
Psalm 98:6 points to the Law and Prophets, as they spell out the last days, it’s not a mystery. How can one avoid the Judgment? Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all you lands, serve the Lord with Gladness, Know the Lord He is God. For the Remnant it’s “enter His Gates” (Ps 100:1-5), for us it’s make it through the Door (Rev 4:1-2), in both cases it’s knowing the Lord is Good, His Mercy is everlasting, it’s still Mercy making the difference between a vessel of honor, and one of dishonor (Rom 9:21-23).
There is an evil defined in Psalm 101 as a warning to us all, never be caught in the act of slander, for the Lord will Cut Off the proud heart, and the Slandering mouth (Ps 101:1-8). Remain in the Perfect Way, the word Perfect is the Hebrew Tamim meaning Entire. The Perfect Way is the path of Faith, but we also find the word Perfect has a process as well, thus we are being Perfected by the Spirit (v. 2). Wanting to be served of the Lord, yet desiring to serve the Lord in gladness determines the difference between being defeated or being a victor. Merely serving the Lord isn’t going to bring us victory or the blessing, rather it’s service with Joy and Gladness of heart (Deut 28:47).
The one who Works Deceit can’t remain in the House, the one who said they were a Christian, but lied, will not be in His sight, or better, will not appear before Him, rather they are the drunken who go into the Night (v. 7). Verse 8 has the wording “I will early destroy all the wicked”, the word Early is the Hebrew Gadaph meaning To hack with words, it has nothing to do with time, rather it shows the Two-edged Sword coming from the mouth of Jesus; therefore, we have a better promise, the Word of God is quicker than Any Two-edged Sword (Heb 4:12). The wording Cut Off is the same Hebrew word found in Psalm 94:23, meaning to Cut away a part of the Body. For us we have the Word in us being engrafted, dividing and separating for clarity, we have entered the saving of the soul, instead of being Cut Off from the Body, we are bonded by the New Man of Grace.
We enter Psalm 103, entitled God’s Love. When we Bless the Lord, it must be with all that is within us (v.1). Knowing all the Lord has done for us produces a willing mind eager to enter His Joy, it’s what the Lord desires. Doesn’t seem like He is asking too much, does it? When we think of all the times we had “great faith” when we wanted God to do something for us, yet had “little faith” when God asked us to do something for Him we didn’t like, we can repent as we receive the exposure, allowing us to learn.
Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ, thus His love is part of everything created. It’s not His Love, but His Love, Mercy and Grace we desire. Verse 7 gives us the Ways and Acts, the Ways were known to Moses, the Acts to the children, but the children failed to enter in by belief to understand the Ways of God. Verse 8 shows the longsuffering of the Lord has an end, in this Season it will be the Rapture, the very end it will be the Judgment. Verse 19 is another verse showing the Throne of the Lord is in heaven, His footstool is the Earth, why then do we claim His Throne is going to be the Earth? Sounds like strongholds, desiring one thing when God has determined another.
There is a type of soulish Joy, there is a natural joy, there is the Joy of the Lord promised us through His Glory. His Glory endures forever, just as His Mercy endures forever (Ps 104:31). The Joy of the Lord is continual peace based in our confidence in Him, a belief based in God Is, as God is working out a plan to bring us into the Image of His Son. Without the Glory of the Lord we will go about giving theological opinions regarding Jesus, but void of His Joy and Power; however, through the Glory of the Lord we will declare His Name from the Witness within (Ps 105:1-4 & Rom 8:18). It’s by the Glory (Christ) we can declare, “touch not My anointed and do My prophets no harm” (Ps 105:15). As strange as it seems the one who usually shouts this verse in our face, is one who has gone about doing harm to the prophets or misusing the anointing. This verse is a warning, it doesn’t mean they won’t do harm, as the deaths of nearly all the disciples show, rather it means they will pay the price for the harm they do.
How often have we heard someone slander a brother, then when they are rebuked, they yell, “you’re coming against the anointed of God”. Foolishness is the mother of self-deception. The Wicked assume they can belittle, slander, or mock a brother or sister and be free of rebuke: merely a sign of their pride being their god.
Our faith produces endurance, our time will come, just as Joseph’s time came (Ps 105:17-21). Look at all God did for the rebellious children in the wilderness, how much more will He do for those who seek the Kingdom of God and all His Righteousness (Ps 105:32-45)? God will save the Remnant, but not for the sake of the Remnant, rather it’s for His Name’s sake, thus the Remnant bring about the Judgment by exposing the enemies of Jesus as His footstool. During our Season they desired peace in the world, in the next they will have it, yet they are just as evil, demanding, and envy based.
God will bring forth His Glory from within the saints one more time, not for our sake, but for His Name’s sake. Our hope reaches to become partakers in the First Resurrection so the Glory in us can be revealed as we are among those who walk with Jesus in White. Why? The answer is His longsuffering; thus the Wicked will have one last chance to repent before they become the “rocks” in the Night.
We can teach people to sing, we can memorize songs, but we can’t teach them to praise and worship. We can’t hold meetings on how to get others to praise, rather praise comes from the heart, the Power of praise depends on our condition and position. Praise breaks down walls, moves us from an inferior position to higher level, praise changes our attitude, opens our eyes to discern the event, as it opens our ears to hear the Lord. James used various words for the word Pray in his teaching on prayer and praise. The Book of James becomes a type of prayer manual, the prayer of faith is a supplication based in honesty and faith, thus we are just as open to receive the rebuke, as we are the blessing. The prayer for the Elders is one of worship, the prayer of faith is given by the one in need showing the supplication, the combination brings the healing power of the Lord. The basis of praise is, Praise ye the Lord, O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His Mercy endures forever (Ps 106:1).
The Yoke was destroyed for us to be anointed, but we can place a Yoke back on the flow of authority, finding ourselves wanton. The Yoke causes us to curse the darkness, rather than giving God the praise. We tend to magnify the pollution, forgetting the One with the solution. The fathers in the wilderness failed to understand God’s great wonders in Egypt, they remembered not His wonders and lost their ability to praise (Ps 106:7-19). Since it was based on something God did, it became a matter of belief, not faith, thus praise is belief based, worship faith based. They changed their own path, they believed not the Lord, causing the Lord to destroy those who failed to believe (Ps 106:24 & Jude 5). They murmured in their tents, when we murmur in our souls, we lose our ability to praise (Ps 106:25). We will either lift our hands to the Lord or He will lift His hand against us (Ps 106:26). Murmuring, complaining, or failing to seek God in all things, draws us to idols and “strange daughters” (Ps 106:36-37). The Lord delivered the children time and again, but they provoked Him with their counsel, they were brought low by their iniquity (106:43). Their counsel formed their excuses for the lack of Glory, peace and victory. When we lack the Glory, we lack Mercy, hindering our abilities. Isaiah says they vexed the Holy Spirit, but how can it be? The Spirit was not given until Jesus was glorified (Jn 7:39 & Isa 63:10-11). Isaiah gives us a prophecy by combining the attitude of the children, with those who fail to appreciate the gift of the Holy Spirit, thus unbelief attacks the Spirit. Paul associated the wanderings in the wilderness to the Corinthian situation, indicating their carnal attitude was close to vexing the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit we are sealed by, the children by their unbelief vexed the purpose of their wilderness; we can do the same by allowing unbelief to enter in. The basis of God’s rest is based in Belief, not faith.
We give thanks to the Lord in the fire of affliction, for His Mercy is healing our souls and exposing the dangers therein (Ps 107:1). When we cry unto the Lord in our time of trouble, He will deliver us (Ps 107:6). However, it takes ears to hear the method of deliverance. Some cry unto the Lord because people aren’t doing what they want, but the method of deliverance may be “come out of her My people, be not a partaker of her sins”, or remain you are learning. God will send His Word to heal and deliver us from destruction (Ps 107:20). Yet, Jesus is the Word, thus we have the Word in us: another area showing our healing and deliverance are found in the New Man. Some of us think God sent the Bible to heal us, not so, He sent His Word made flesh for us, then gave us His Seed as the New Man.
Our sacrifices of praise, with our praises of thanksgiving turn God’s ear to us. When we cause our own problems, our soul will melt, we will reel to and fro and “stagger” (Ps 107:26-27). Abraham didn’t stagger at the promise, rather he believed the same God who promised him, was also fully able to perform the promise (Rom 4:20-22). James used the same Greek word Paul used for stagger, only in James it’s translated as Doubting in reference to holding a double-mind. James says let not the double-minded expect anything from the Lord (James 1:5-8). What double-mind? The phase means “two souls”, or “twice soul”, going from one thought to another, James equated it to blessing God, then cursing man, one mind seeking God, the other seeking to curse mankind.
The Lord can calm the storm, or make the waves still (Ps 107:29). Jesus proved He is Jehovah, yet one can’t be a Witness for Jehovah without the Spirit. The disciples were not theologians, but they were Jews who knew Scripture. When the storm came, they saw danger on one hand and Jesus resting on the other, the fear of danger was greater, as they said, “Master, don’t You care that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). Sounds like a “wilderness mind”, “Lord You brought us out here to kill us”. Oops, not a wise thing to say, yet Jesus countered their unbelief by giving them another reason to believe. Jesus calmed the storm then asked, “why are you so fearful? how is it you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). He didn’t ask them why they had little faith, or where was their faith, He said their fear vacated their faith. The were going to the other side, Jesus was with them, yet part way something appeared to stop them. They put their minds on the immediate danger allowing their purpose to slip; if Jesus said go to the other side, He knew they would make it.
Jesus often made the factual statement “oh ye of little faith”, simply to point out our measure of faith is little, but the Faith of Jesus is not. It’s by the Faith of Jesus we have access (Eph 3:12). Little faith has a tendency to look at the immediate event allowing terror to enter. We move from; “The Lord will save me” to, “I think we’re going to die”, double-minded. When we know how great the Faith of Jesus is, we can see the falling away from The Faith is the attempt to vacate His Faith. The enemy wants us to assume our faith is as great as the Faith of Jesus, yet we know from Hebrews chapter 11 many had faith, yet were not able to gain the promise (Heb 11:39). Our measure of faith is vital, but it’s also a gift designed to follow the path of the Faith of Jesus, not recreate it (Rom 12:3). The Faith of Jesus is proven, He is raised from the dead, He is sitting at the right hand of Majesty on High. Our faith through the New Man allows us to “Follow” Jesus, but our faith attempting to take the place of the Faith of Jesus ends in frustration, or overconfidence.
Our measure of faith is in our hand, we can place some here, some there and some in God. If it were not the case Jesus would never have said, “have faith in God”. When our faith is in the Lord we know, “they are glad because they are quiet; so He brings them unto their desired haven (enclosure of safety)” (Ps 107:30). We must seek the Living Water in the wilderness, thus from the dry ground God is able to bring it forth (Ps 107:35). There are times when we feel like dry ground, but inside there comes the Water of praise. Perhaps we need an attitude change to gain our confidence; yet a fixed heart on God will praise the Lord (Ps 108:1). Wait, how do we get a Fixed Heart? Create in me a Clean Heart O God, ahh, the New Man is Fixed on God, it’s our souls who need to hear. At times praise is a faith issue, we don’t feel like it, it’s the last thing we desire to do, but by faith we begin, then we will enter in the gates of praise.
God’s Mercy is greater than the event, much greater than the devil (Ps 108:4-5). God has spoken in His holiness, we shall rejoice (Ps 108:7). We pray for the will of God to be done on earth, as it is in heaven; it’s accomplished when our old nature dies on the Cross, so we can be with the New Man gaining the New nature. Rebellion shows we are still listening to the spirit of man, as we attempt to accomplish the things of God by natural means. Our self nature wants the credit, control, or glory, yet God shares His Glory with no one, thus He places His seed in us thus His Glory is in us by the Spirit which is of God.
Psalm 109 is known as one of the Imprecatory Psalms, which means a prayer regarding the Wicked, there are Eight such Psalms (7; 17; 35; 58; 69; 83; 109 & 137). Revelation 17:11 calls the Wicked the Eighth, here we find the clue to the Wicked being in two the Seasons of the Day and Night. There is the “mouth of the wicked”, and the “mouth of the deceitful”, both speak with a “lying tongue” (Ps 109:2). A lying tongue isn’t restricted to speaking a lie alone, it entails a tongue of hate, slander, or coming against the Body of Christ, or any member thereof. It speaks just enough to set the anvil of honor on someone, without speaking the entire truth. When we are attacked we give ourselves unto prayer (Ps 109:4); we never render evil for evil, but good for evil (Ps 109:5).
Psalm 109:8 should seem familiar if you’ve read Acts chapter 1, especially the phrase “let another take his office” (Acts 1:20). Acts Chapter One has some interesting events, which we will get to later; however, we want to see how Peter and the other disciples saw the ways of Judas as “Wicked”, then associated his ways to this Psalm. Since Judas was from within the ministry, it stands those run by the spirit of antichrist are within the Body as well. The path of righteousness begins in the courtyard but continues to the Holy Place where we tend the Light, Bread and Altar of golden incense, but some remain in the courtyard, cursing the sacrifices made by others.
The Wicked are “fatherless”, their “wife” is a widow, of course this is metaphoric in nature. Judas was not married, he had no wife, we know who his father was, thus this defines the order of the Wicked, not the man Judas. They reject Mercy, thus they have no father, they refuse to let go of the old nature, thus they have no wife. We know Jesus said the Pharisees were of their father the devil, yet He said Judas was a devil, but Judas was within the group, the Pharisees were not. The vessels of dishonor take Mercy, but refuse to give it.
In Acts the disciples were told to Tarry, they were not told to replace Judas, or anyone else, their mistake was attempting to replace the man, not fill the position. Later in Acts 13:1-3 we find only the Holy Ghost appoints to the five fold offices. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time, they had Scripture to back them up, they even prayed. However, they received no answer, they ended voting to determine who would replace Judas. Of course the Holy Ghost had not yet fully come, thus they were still natural. Nonetheless they were told to Tarry, they remained in the house, yet one could suppose since they remained in the house they were Tarrying. However, they were told to wait for the Power from on high. The point for us is of course we can have Scripture, we can pray, but unless we have the Authority from Jesus to act, we will be out of order.
Psalm 109:13 shows two generations for the Wicked, one in our Season, then one to come, thus Jesus speaks of Jezebel and “her children” (Rev 2:20-23). Then we read in Psalm 109:14, “let not the sin of his mother be blotted out”, what? What mother? The strange woman we will learn about in Proverbs. The clue to the Wicked being the vessels of dishonor is found in Psalm 109:16 in the phrase, “because he remembered not to show mercy”, it has nothing to do with Grace, the determination between the vessel of honor and one of dishonor is based on mercy (Rom 9:21-23). Surely holding meetings to attack, slander, or come against someone in a personal nature lacks Mercy. The Wicked produce Confusion, making Confusion their mantel. As for us? We will greatly praise the Lord with our mouths, we will praise Him among the multitude. Clearly this Psalm is prophetic in nature, the prophet speaks as he is moved by the Holy Ghost for our benefit.
Paul wanted to serve God, even when he was Saul the angry Pharisee, he simply couldn’t. The moment we know “oh wretched man that I am”, God can begin to restore our souls. It does take a teachable soul desiring to be formed by the Lord (Ps 110:3). We know the phrase “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit You at my right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool” is a reference to Jesus sitting at the Right Hand Side of the Father (Ps 110:1 & Heb 1:13). However, we find many things in this prophetic saying. Why would Jesus sit? Why did Stephen say, “I see the heaven opened, and the Son of man Standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). Is Jesus sitting or standing? If He stands, then what? If He sits, then what? Did Stephen look far into the future? Why didn’t Stephen say, “Son of God”? Or “Jesus”, why “Son of man”? Jesus went to the Cross as the Son of man, the Spirit of Holiness declared Him the Son of God by the Resurrection, yet Jesus will judge as the Son of man (Rom 1:3-4). However, if He is sitting it’s a time of Rest, when He stands it’s time to return to carry out the Judgment. Stephen asked the Lord not to hold the sin of his murder against the people, but he also saw the Lord standing to return, vengeance belongs to the Lord.
Knowing what Jesus did for us, always brings joy to our salvation process (Ps 111:1). Jesus has shown us the Power of His Works, He has given us His Glory to perform the task (Ps 111:6). A willing soul reaches beyond the self, it will couple to the willing New Heart to finish the race. Unbelief keeps looking for an excuse to fail, whether blaming God, or attempting to use natural intellect in the place of God’s Knowledge, or man’s wisdom in the place of God’s. Excuses are like roses, an excuse is an excuse no matter what title we place on it. All excuses smell nice to us, but they hold thorns.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord (Ps 112:1). A fear of God begins with an awareness of who God is, including knowing God’s integrity coupled with our respect for Him. Only a fool fails to fear the judgment of the Lord, whereas a Spirit filled child knows they are free of the judgment, yet they believe there is eternal Judgment, but by knowing there is an eternal Judgment, they know there is eternal Salvation.
The unsaved fear the justice of God, even to the point of making up self-induced concepts assuming God saves all, whether they accept Him or not, or they set out to disprove there is a God. The child of God has a different fear of God, they respect Him, they know His integrity, they know God must do what God must do, yet they also know God is Love. Jesus is our friend, but one must respect a friend to be a friend. People love, but God is Love, much different. The child of God fears missing God, fears upsetting God, fears disappointing God, as well as fears hurting the Lord of Glory. A man once asked, “so if I hate this person will Jesus be mad at me?”, it’s not the question, the question should be, “if it upsets Jesus, do you care?”. If the person doesn’t care what difference does it make?
There is the Fear of the Lord, defined as reverence and respect for the Lord; the word Respect does mean Honor, but it also means to avoid interference; therefore, we determine our actions won’t interfere with something God is doing, which is giving Him honor. The word Anti means opposed to something, we can be opposed to what God is doing, yet presume we’re doing good. Before we interject ourselves into the lives of others, we pray first. God is more of a Gentlemen than our minds can conceive. He seeks our permission and willingness for His work in us, when we say “Not so Lord” He stops until we say, “Save me oh Lord and I shall be saved”. We can do what we think is a great work for the Lord, make a great social change, yet be fighting God all the way. Do we what we want? Or do what God wants? God is gracious to a righteous man because a righteous man stands upright before the Lord by obeying the will of the Lord (Ps 112:4-10).
Psalm 112 tells us we are Blessed when we keep the Commandments of the Lord, for us it doesn’t mean the Ten Commandments, rather it means the Commandments of Mercy and Grace found in the Gospel. Unto the Upright there arises Light in the darkness, or better they arise as the Light in the darkness. We shall not be afraid, our hearts are Fixed, our souls trust in the Lord (v. 7). The wording “is fixed” is the Hebrew Kuwn meaning Established, our Hearts are the New Man, thus we affix ourselves to the New Man to be upright.
This also gives us a view of the very end times, the Wicked may appear to prosper, but when they see the Established Upright standing with the Lord, then the Wicked shall gnash their teeth, and “melt away” as their desire perishes (v. 10).
If we are a servant of the Lord we will praise Him willingly, if we’re a friend, we can’t help but seek Him in all things (Ps 113:1). No one should ever have to tell us, “let us praise the Lord”, rather our souls should be filled with praise, looking for a place to pour it out. When we humble (negate or negating our pride by denying our self nature) ourselves before the Lord, heaven’s Door will open causing God’s Mercy to flow into us (Ps 113:5-6). Whatsoever we loose on earth, is loosed in heaven, when we grant Mercy, the Mercy of the Father is granted to us, as we also find man giving us mercy.
God’s control over the elements proves God’s power, it doesn’t prove our power (Ps 114:1-8). Power is having the ability to do something, but not doing it for the betterment of all. When we have no choice but to do something, then we have no power. We may have authority to carry out the order, but no power to change it. Jesus said He could call angels down, it shows He had the Power to stop the Cross; on the other hand the two malefactors next to Him couldn’t stop a thing, they had no power. If they put us on a Cross we can complain, cry out, resist, but we’re still on the Cross. Jesus could have stopped it, but He didn’t, a display of true power.
All idols are the works of a man’s hand, whether idol’s of silver and gold, or mental they are planned out in the mind. The old saying “money talks” attempts to say the idol of money can speak, but money doesn’t talk, greed does. Money is a thing, it’s not evil, rather the love of money is the evil. Things are things, what man does with them makes them either good or evil. Whatever the Lord tells us to do, we do. If He tells us to labor in the market place, we go, not for the gold’s sake, but out of obedience. If a man does not work, he does not eat, but there are those who labor day and night in Word and Doctrine who are worth double the honor (I Tim 5:17-18).
Idols have mouths, but can’t talk, they have eyes, but can’t see, they have ears, but can’t hear; those who make them are also end with unseeing eyes, unhearing ears, rather their mouths are full of the abominations of idols (Ps 115:4-8). Man makes an idol so he can control his god, we can make idols out of people as well so we can feel exalted by exalting them. When one trusts in an idol they will polish it, protect it, use it, or guard it, yet it soon deteriorates and falls apart. Instead of trusting in the idol, we trust in the Lord, He will bring our help (Ps 115:11-13). If we love the Lord we will do as He says, then He will hear our voice (Ps 116:1). Only the Lord can deliver our souls from the idols of the self (Ps 116:4-5). In all this, what can we give the Lord? Do we give Him what He already has? We render praise and joyful service for His benefits (Ps 116:12). He will give us the Cup Of Salvation, thus we pay our vows to the Lord (Ps 116:14 & 116:18).
God has nations within the kingdom of heaven, all His nations will praise Him for His Mercy endures forever (Ps 117:1-2). Mercy and Grace are different, we come boldly to the Throne of Grace to Obtain Mercy and Find Grace, thus Grace is a Gift granted to us to reach Salvation, but Mercy is in our hand, even if we don’t have the Spirit we can render Mercy. Mercy will heal our bodies and minds, remove depression and fear as it destroys disparity. One cannot do the things of Grace without Grace (Spirit), but one can do the things of Mercy by the measure of faith. Jesus gave us the Commandments of Mercy on the Mount of Olives, after His Resurrection He gave the Apostles Commandments of Grace, they gave them to us (Matt 5:1-7:27 & Acts 1:3). The Commandments of Grace are alluded to by Jesus in the Gospel Accounts, but defined in the New Testament Letters. Mercy is a stabilizer, it’s the very signature of God on our hearts, it’s the nature of God to forgive, thus from our hearts we forgive as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us (Eph 4:32). Even when the Body acts like the children in the wilderness, we know God’s Mercy still waits for the one who will grant Mercy.
Nothing passes away before its time, rather it’s out of reach to those who fail to believe. It’s better to trust in the Lord, than to have self-confidence (pride of life – Ps 118:8). It’s better to be positive toward the Lord, than positive in our own thinking. The Name of the Lord will destroy pride, because we humble ourselves (Ps 118:11). The second death has no authority over those who live in Jesus, those with the life of Jesus should not fear the first death (Ps 118:17). The Lord will chasten us, but His purpose is to bring us life, not death (Ps 118:18). When Jesus went to the cross it opened the Day, this is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it (Ps 118:24-25). The premise is to Rejoice then be glad, some of us refuse to rejoice until we’re glad, it’s just the opposite of the command: we Rejoice in the Lord, then we will be glad.
Psalm 119 follows the Psalm on the Joyful day of the Lord for good reason. To the Jew this Psalm covers all 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphabet regarding meditation on obedience; however, to us it’s a road map to the saving of the soul. Our goal is to be undefiled In The Way, but the flesh defiles us (Ps 119:1). The early Christians were first known as The Way until they reached Antioch (Acts 11:26). We toss the title Christian around like water, or apply it to anyone who is not a Jew or atheist, but even the disciples didn’t call themselves Christian, rather when the people saw their faith, demeanor and Power they called the disciples “Like Christ” (Christian). However, this is a Process, when we are “little children” we were cleansed by the washing of the Water by the Word removes many things, spots, blemishes, lusts, strongholds, plus all the hindering elements we have stored away. The Blood of Jesus brings us Remission by removing all signs of unrighteousness, yet any unrighteousness is sin (I Jn 1:9 & 5:17).
Clarity is a key attribute to being Born Again, the New Man does open our eyes to see the things of God (Ps 119:18). With open eyes we can understand the Way, as we learn the precepts of God (Ps 119:27-28). Putting verses to memory is not the same as understanding them, knowing what the Author had in mind when the scribes wrote the words, is understanding. When we see and hear the precepts our souls will melt in the heaviness of exposure, but the purpose is to remove us from the way of lying idols, or self-deception (Ps 119:28-29). When the Lord teaches us we will understand, when natural minded man teaches us we won’t (Ps 119:33-34). John tells the little children, “you have no need for a man to teach you” (I Jn 2:27). We ask, “why am I reading this study?”. First John is a teaching letter, thus it would be stupid for the man to say they didn’t need a teacher, when he is in the act of teaching. It’s the same as “I only allow the Holy Ghost to teach me”, which means Jesus and the Holy Ghost error when they anointed Teachers. The Holy Ghost teaches us by comparing spiritual to spiritual, but we need teachers to teach us (I Cor 12:1). First John doesn’t mean we don’t listen to a Teacher with the anointing, it means no one can teach us how to Love. A Teacher can teach us what Love is, the various forms of love, but it still takes the New Man in us to teach us how to love. The Unction over the Body will teach us many things, the Anointing in the New Man many more.
The anointing brings us into the perfect Law of Liberty, where we discern Things (Ps 119:45). Liberty brings comfort from the prophecy (Ps 119:50). Comfort puts our feet straight on the path of the testimony of Jesus (Ps 119:59). When our feet are straight, we believe the Lord (Ps 119:66). Then comes the destruction of pride when we learn to humble ourselves in joy (Ps 119:78). Some humble themselves in order to gain the advantage, they appear to be humble, but inside they are taking pride in their efforts. Others humble themselves based on a fear of a confrontation, others know how to humble themselves. When we humble ourselves in joy, without being ashamed, pride will be vacated. Pride is an archenemy of the Spirit of Truth, it resists humbleness to promote pride, or fakes humbleness to gain a position of pride, yet God gives Grace to the humble, but resists the proud. Humbleness brings a comfort from the Word in us to establish us in the Lord’s faithfulness (Ps 119:82 & 119:90). Wickedness waits in the shadows to choke out the Seed of God, yet the Word of God is much stronger than any wickedness, the weapons of our warfare are still mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (Ps 119:95). The anointing brings us understanding from God’s point of view (Ps 119:99). When the Light shines it vacates darkness, making exposure a joy (Ps 119:105). The Light exposes the intent behind vain thoughts before they become words (Ps 119:113). We ask God to deal with us, correct us, bring us into perfection, then we praise Him for it, believing we have received the benefit (Ps 119:124). The Word (Jesus) is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps 119:105), the Word in us gives us Light and understanding (Ps 119:130).
God will order our steps by the Word, as the Word divides and separates, teaching us the things of God (Ps 119:133-134). By the New Birth we gain the Righteousness of God granting us the Power to believe in the Name of Jesus (Ps 119:137 & 119:145-148). During the fire of God’s affliction we won’t wait until the flames are about our noses, rather we will submit to exposure in order to find the deliverance, rather than run around in fear looking to escape the Baptism of Fire (Ps 119:153). Our love for the Lord seeks Him many times during the day, as a friend seeks out and finds a friend (Ps 119:164). Our confidence in the New Man to save our soul is based in the Life of Jesus, thus we will not fear death, or its branches, rather praise will continually pour from our hearts (Ps 119:175).
Psalms 120 through 134 are “songs of degrees”, the word Degrees means To elevate or move up in steps. It’s one thing to know about the saving of the soul, another to be in it, but once in it, we must have an attitude conducive to the process. The meaning of the word Prosperity is Advancement, when we were in the world we were of a lower state, yet God heard our prayers of repentance then pulled us from the world to an advanced condition of Mercy. Then we obtained the Seed of God to advance to a position of Grace by the Spirit. Then we enter the Spiritual realm to be sanctified and justified, advancing to the Throne of God. We may never raise the dead, we may never preach to 50,000 people at one time, in fact we may not preach to fifty people in our lifetime, but by the New Man we can live in love, show mercy, walk in faith as we believe in God.
The Authority in the Name of Jesus is granted to anyone who enters the kingdom of heaven (Body), yet only those in the Kingdom of God have entered the Purpose of the Name. The Name of Jesus allows us to cast out devils, give prophecy and do many wonderful works; however, these are matters of right standing under the Unction over the Body. Don’t forget the disciples before the Cross cast out devils and healed the sick, yet they didn’t understand the Cross or Resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, they operated in Mercy, they had their sins forgiven on earth, but they were still bound to the earth. Nonetheless, freely they received, freely they gave. The Resurrection and Ascension opened the Street between earth and heaven, the Captivity being taken Captive was the first evidence. The loosing of the Father’s Mercy from heaven the second evidence. The Name of Jesus to the Spiritually minded person works internally by the Spirit, a clear evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus. If we have the Spirit, the Resurrection is real, simply because no one can have the Spirit until Jesus was glorified by the Resurrection.
The songs of degrees are New Songs from a soul being cleaned in the fire of affliction. No one can enter the fire of God’s affliction until they are baptized with the Holy Ghost (Matt 3:11). As the Son of man Jesus forgave sins on earth, as the Son of God He forgives sins in heaven, as God the Son He remits sin, thus the forgiveness of our sins brings Life, but we need Grace to enter Life More Abundantly. Grace puts us in a position where sin can’t be defined. One Fruit of Grace is Love, thus Love still covers a multitude of sins. The devil didn’t sin in heaven, he sinned on earth against heaven, we are restored on earth for heaven.
Do we want to see the enemy face to face, just once, just one time? Go look in the bathroom mirror. It’s not some strange thing, although it seems like it at first, but we have a victory by a wonderful Guide, an Instructor who is the New Man. The New Man points out those things of the soul requiring cleaning. Grace is not sent to destroy the soul, but save it, thus the New Man has one goal, to save our souls. The old man has one goal, to destroy us.
The old nature loved the feeling of being superior, or prideful, the New Nature loves the feeling of being humble and merciful. The enemy planted Tares, things without heart or mercy in us when we were in the world. When we see the “real me” we will cry out to the Lord, admitting our lips lie, our tongues are deceitful, a fire of hell no man can tame (Ps 120:1-6 & James 3:6). Our admission is a step of recognition, moving us from the old nature to the New. For the first time we saw through the deception of the self, the door of our heart opened as the Lord rushed in like a Mighty Wind, ready, willing and able to bring us into perfection by the Spirit.
As long as we carry the mask of the old man, even with a religious twist, we can’t see who we really are, thus God rips the veil, breaks the yoke, removes the masks, then the Work of Justification unto Salvation begins. We will never know who we are in Christ, as long as we continue to wear the masks from the old nature. When we hide behind the mask, what we want to do, we won’t, yet what we don’t want to do, we do (Ps 120:7). Our help comes from the Lord (Ps 121:2), He doesn’t sleep, nor take a break, rather He continues minute by minute taking us through the “degrees” of the saving of the soul (Ps 121:4-5). The Lord shall preserve the willing, as He keeps the servant from evil while preserving our souls (Ps 121:7). The word Preserve means to Keep Save from harm, thus the saving of the soul is not to harm us, but to save us. It’s our own misinterpretation of the cleaning causing us problems.
We have been instructed in our building process, we are now glad to enter the tabernacle of the Lord (Ps 122:2). Paul said the foundation was Jesus Christ, but the method in which one builds is in our own hand (I Cor 3:11). We can use the flesh, or self-righteousness, but it’s using wood, hay and stubble, or follow the procedure of spiritual awareness by using gold (purity of God’s Wisdom), silver (redemption by the Spirit), and precious stones (obedience), if we use God’s methods we can give thanks unto the Lord, as He does the impossible in us (Ps 122:4-5). No one can save their own soul, but by the New Birth it is more than possible to have our souls saved by the precious Blood of Jesus.
New Jerusalem is our home, we pray for the peace of New Jerusalem (Ps 122:6). Jesus didn’t say, peace unto your land, but He did say, “Peace Unto You”; therefore, peace is granted to the inhabitants of New Jerusalem, comfort in the land is promised to the remnant (Jn 20:21). We moved from servants by the seed to the root stage, to disciples as blades, to become friends of the Lord (Ps 122:6-9). Understanding the saving of the soul places as in a position to attend the precious, rather than look for the vile. When we know the New Man is forming our souls into the Image of God’s Son we can stop fighting God, and begin to enjoy the process. We will no longer hold our heads down in shame, rather our eyes will be on the Lord, as we stand upright with Him in heavenly places (Ps 123:1).
Our forgiveness of others secures the Mercy of God upon us, by Mercy we can have healing (Ps 123:3). We can’t maintain forgiveness of sins without forgiving others, we can’t forgive others effectively unless we know our sins were forgiven for the sake of being Christ Like, which entails the one element proving we are Born Again (I Jn 3:9-24, Luke 6:36-38 & Eph 4:32).
When we enter the saving of the soul those who have either rejected it, or ignored it will come with scorning words. They will think we have gone overboard, or turned into a religious freak. Their words are the words of the proud, thus pride attacks humbleness; whereas humbleness voids us of pride (Ps 123:4). Instead of falling into the bitter water of pride, we seek the Living Water of God (Ps 124:4-7). The destroying mountain is set against us, but the Lord knows every evil intent of the enemy before the enemy does. God has provided us the Truth in Heavenly Zion, the holy mountain of God, we are free of the mountain of destruction (Ps 125:1-5).
We fall into captivity when we find ourselves running after the cares of this world, or attempting to change the course of the Beast, instead of calling the called from the Sea. Repentance gives God our permission to deliver us from our folly, instead of bitter words of religious conceit, our mouths will be filled with laughter (Ps 126:1-6).
There are times when we think we can help the Lord finish the building process, but unless the Lord builds the house, our labor is in vain (useless – Ps 127:1). All the labor, study and work to save our own souls is a product of the pride of life, changing our pride from worldly matters to religious conceit isn’t the goal. It doesn’t make any difference if our pride is worldly or religious, pride kills. Humbleness is a product of Trusting in God, yet trusting in God and demanding for God to perform for us are very different.
Instead of going about attempting to build the temple, we submit, allowing God to build the tabernacle. We supply the obedience by walking in the Spirit (Ps 128:1-6). Satan doesn’t afflict our soul, but Satan does afflict our body as a result of the tares in our soul (Ps 129:1-2). The Lord will cut asunder the cords of Satan, without the cords (tares) Satan has nothing in the house (Ps 129:3-8). The Lord keeps the evil one from entering the house of the just (Ps 130:3-4). When we attempt to clean our own house, we may have some success in pulling up a few tares, but the evil plowman will return with more tares; the latter will be more wicked than the first. Pushing lustful desires down deeper in our souls works for the moment, but then like a rubber balloon in water, they keep popping up in a different area, stronger than before. God removes the things planted by the enemy, then cleans us of the unrighteousness they produced. The first bunch of tares came from the world as golden calves of natural reasoning, but we entered the kingdom of heaven to be free of the “tare planter”. Once we enter the kingdom of heaven we have the choice to be cleaned by the washing of the Water by the Word, plus the cleaning of the Blood. However, retaining the spirit of man prevents us from entering the Kingdom of God, which produces a vessel of dishonor. From time to time the cleaning process may appear to expose some “new tare”, but they’re not new, they have been hidden in the corners of our soul. Our soul waits on the Lord to clean the field, our faith in God knows He is able to remove all the offending elements, whether tares, lusts or mountains (Ps 130:6).
Like a weaned child we begin by eating little bits of meat, before we can engage in a steak dinner (Ps 131:2). We started with the milk, then to strained meats, to small bits of meat, until we could sit at the table and enjoy the larger portions. At first the large doses of meat cause the soul to choke, but the same meat can be cut up by the Spirit, then given line upon line, precept on precept until we become meat eaters.
Children should never play with toys they can choke on, yet when we were little children in the Body we had our “toys”. Some loved one toy above another, but we considered some of those toys our personal treasures. The same is true in the saving of the soul, perhaps our toy is pride, or self-pity, or manipulation, or control, whatever; we played with it until God began to expose and remove us from the choking toy. We cried, kicked and acted like the baby we were. In the process we gained insight, we saw how dangerous the toy was. We put it aside, then grew up. Sound stupid? We do it every time, and we know it.
The cleaning is a process, we don’t slumber until we have the tabernacle prepared for the Lord (Ps 132:4-5 & 132:6). God will clothe us with His Righteousness when we put on the New Man (Ps 132:16). The Word Unity only appears twice in the New Testament, both times in Ephesians (4:3 & 4:13). We talk about the unity of the faith, but the unity of the faith depends on the unity of the Spirit. The Unity of the Faith and Spirit are joined together, thus we can never be in the Unity of the Faith, without walking in Spirit. A group can be of one mind, yet hold an evil intent and desire. Being of one mind is only useful if our desire is based in the Mind of Christ. Attempting to have unity without the Spirit, ends in religious division. It is good and pleasant for the brethren to dwell together, but it takes the Spirit to form us into holy brethren (Ps 133:1-2). The brethren don’t look at one another to determine what God is doing, they bless the Lord, yet edify one another (Ps 134:1-3).
There are many ways which seem right onto a man, but the ends thereof are death. God gave us a New Heart, we walk the path the Lord has established; therefore, a foolish heart thinks it deserves many ways, usually its own way. If we stand in the house of the Lord, we can’t help but praise Him, as praise gives us eyes to see the Path of the Way (Ps 135:1-3). John tells us one commandment in the New Covenant is to believe in the Name of Jesus (I Jn 3:23-24). If we believe in the Name (Authority) of Jesus, we also believe in the Ways of His Name, not simply the authority. We give praises to Jesus, and to His Name (Ps 135:1 & 135:13-14).
God’s Mercy is always available, it hasn’t changed, passed away or moved from us, His Mercy endures forever (Ps 136:1-26). Grace goes in the Rapture, but Mercy remains, thus the sons of perdition refused Mercy during the Day, but attack it in the Night. If they can’t walk in Mercy during the Day, how will they during the Night? However, as long as it is Day, we know God’s Mercy is ready to forgive them, if they repent (Ps 137:1-138:8). When we find ourselves facing the daughter of Babylon, God’s Mercy will deliver us (Ps 137:8). There isn’t one word spoken God doesn’t know, there isn’t one mind game God didn’t see before the foundation of the world (Ps 139:4). By our words we are justified, or we are condemned; therefore, it’s as close as our mouths, the word of faith we preach (Rom 10:8-10). We can’t hide from God, even in the belly of the whale, it’s better to face Him by entering the saving of the soul (Ps 139:1-24). All things are open and naked before Him (Heb 4:13). The Lord will deliver us from the “evil man”, and from the “violent man” (old man – Ps 140:1-2).
When our eyes seek evil, we will miss God, but putting our eyes on God brings peace and joy in the saving of the soul, thus the wicked will fall because they seek evil (Ps 141:8-10). We don’t hold back, but bring our complaint before the Lord, to vacate the anger, before it has a chance to act or speak for us. When we find ourselves attempting to take the old nature off the cross, we run to the Lord, seeking His face (Ps 142:2). When we’re honest before the Lord, He will show us how He is bringing our soul out of prison, not putting us in prison (Ps 142:7).
The enemy will persecute our soul attempting to gain control by darts, suggestions or the flood of the cares of the world (Ps 143:3). The devil always wants what doesn’t belong to him; however, Mercy gives us power to read on the enemy, Grace gives us power over all the wiles of the enemy (Ps 143:3-6). Worry and fear give the demonic forces energy, then the demonic forces use worry or fear against us; whereas, Faith, Hope and Love all work for us. The strength of our salvation is the Spirit, we praise the Lord continually by having the Spirit of Christ (Ps 144:1-7).
The saving of the soul is impossible for anyone without the Spirit, but it’s always possible with God. Great is the Lord, and greatly is He to be praised, for His greatness is unsearchable (Ps 145:3). The Kingdom is everlasting, the saving of the soul not only brings us into the fullness of the Kingdom of God, but gives us the Power of His Christ to complete the task (Ps 145:13 & Rev 12:10-11). The moment we call on the Lord by the Spirit of Truth, He is there (Ps 145:18-19). The saving of the soul makes us a blessing to God (Ps 146:1). Standing in Mercy as a “son of man” can’t gain the full benefit, but we can’t get the full benefit without Mercy, thus we obtain Mercy as we seek Grace, thus Grace brings us into the position of a “son of God” (Ps 146:3 & Rom 8:1-11). Praise draws God’s Mercy, to heal our broken heart, bind up the wounds of affliction and bring our minds to the point where we can tell the differences between need and greed (Ps 147:1-18).
As the angels of God, we praise the Lord at all times (Ps 148:2 & Heb 1:6-7). The New Covenant brings us before the Lord, producing a New Song (Ps 149:1). Paul said, “he therefore who ministers the Spirit and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works (deeds) of the Law or by the hearing of faith” (Gal 3:5). Paul didn’t say, by the saying of faith or by the talking of faith, but by hearing Faith. The word Paul used for Ministers is the same Greek word from which we get the English word Choreography, which means a set plan of events to gain the attention of the viewer. The Spirit plays the New Song, we dance with those who hear His tune (Ps 149:3-5).
Paul also told us about the shaved head, or the head with short hair, but Psalm 150 tells us about the “long hair of the anointing”. There are various areas of the anointing, as the skins over the tabernacle show, the anointing of the Office, the anointing of Grace, the Unction on the Body, and the anointing of Mercy, all important, but all designed for various areas. We can’t use the anointing of the Office as if it will save us, it’s not designed to. Rather it’s designed to assist the members of the Body; neither can we use the anointing in the Manifestation of the Spirit as the power of the office, simply giving a Word doesn’t make one a prophet.
When the Spirit moves we praise the Lord in His sanctuary (holy of holies) to gain the Power of His Christ (Ps 150:1). The Psalms defined Soul, Trust and Deliverance, but why? Is there a danger? Is there a danger in the kingdom of heaven? Yes, it’s still the same old pride issue, the puffed out chest, the desire to be the special of the special, the superior over all the others in the Body, rather remaining a member of the Body. The Spirit is forming us into the Image of God’s Son, this is the area the Wicked reject, they want the goose bumps and goodies, but they don’t want to pay the price by getting rid of their old nature. With the saving of the soul comes some valleys, but they are for exposure unto cleaning to reach perfection. With knowledge intact we can Praise the Lord for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet (looking for the last trump announcing the Rapture): praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments. Praise Him upon loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everyone with the breath of God, or with the life of God praise the Lord with joy and gladness of heart (Ps 150:1-6). Praise induces a state of mind, our soul needs to be stimulated through praise and worship, we need saved emotions to express ourselves during our praise. The Word in us will edify us, will give us the method to sing to ourselves in those hard times (Eph 5:19).
PROVERBS
The Hebrew title for this Book comes from the Hebrew word Mashal meaning “to be like”, it extends the Godly judgment by separating the Precious from the Vile even more. The actual name Proverbs was derived from the Latin title Proverbium, the theme of the book is found in Proverbs 1:3 & 1:7, which displays a Process as well. It begins to make sense, this thing called Justification unto Salvation is a Process. Proverbs 1:3 points “to know wisdom and instruction”, but we must also “perceive words of understanding”, then “receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity (equities)”. Proverbs 1:7 extends this to show the Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of knowledge. We find wisdom is another key to this book, as we know now, wisdom is the manner in which we deal with people and events. In order to gain this wisdom we must first Know it personally in our own lives, then Perceive before we can Receive. In the New Testament we find the Book of James is akin to Proverbs, since both talk about wisdom. James separates God’s wisdom from the wisdom of man, thus if one attempts “part God’s Wisdom, with part man’s wisdom” they would be double-minded. It’s in James where we discover God’s wisdom is an attitude or ability maintained by the Spirit (Word – James 1:21); however, we also know there is the wisdom of man which tends to be earthly, sensual and devilish (James 3:15). The conclusion is we must be Born Again to obtain the attributes we need, the Wisdom of God being one of those attributes. We can have the Spirit, yet not be spiritual (I Cor 3:3 & 3:16), thus we can have the Spirit yet still use the wisdom of the spirit lusting to envy. It’s not until James where we find the wisdom of God is an attribute of Grace. Here in Proverbs it’s a point of division, not only alluded to, but seen in various ways. We read about the foolish woman, the wise woman, the foolish son, the wise son, and so on. The division can be seen as the division between the New Man (Wise), and the old man (foolish).
In respect to God’s wisdom we find another mystery, Paul told us New Jerusalem is the mother of us all, yet in the Book of Revelation the Bride is seen as New Jerusalem, so what gives? Jerusalem of the earth is not spiritual, neither is it Born of God, rather the prophets will show God found the city then adopted it. On the other hand, New Jerusalem is Born of God, thus where our mother is, so is our home. On the earth we are the Church being established on the Rock, in heaven we are the Bride, yet the Bride made herself ready by faith, love and submission as she walks in the Spirit.
The content in Proverbs gives us insight to two spirits, wisdom pointing to the Spirit of Christ, the strange woman in high places pointing to the spirit the world. There could be no spirit of the world, until there was a Spirit which is of God. The strange woman is not in the lower place, but neither is she in the highest place, she is in a high place. Paul said the danger of spiritual wickedness is in the high places, not the highest (Eph 6:12). The allegory shows the strange woman made advancement, but retained the ways of the lower places. She has the power of seduction, one in which she “entices”, but Wisdom has a Greater Power, thus Wisdom will expose to bring to pass the desire of God.
The word Proverbs also holds the premise of being A saying expressing a Truth, which is recognized by the Hearer: much like a Parable or Metaphor. However, a Metaphor need only suggest the premise to the hearer, yet a metaphor need not be truth to make expression. The metaphor saying count your eggs before they hatch means not to count on something unless it’s in hand, but if we had chickens we would expect eggs, and wouldn’t sit around worrying about having an egg for breakfast. The metaphor points to something by using something else, but the something else need not be true to make the point. However, a Proverb, like a Parable must be based on some fact or truth in order to project Truth. It doesn’t mean since Truth is projected all will receive the Truth, rather it means only those who have ears to hear will receive. Jesus told Parables, He also used metaphors, but in the cases of the Parables they were based on factual reflections. When Jesus said, “work while it is yet Day, for the Night comes when no man can work”, did it mean the next day the earthly ministry work would ceased? No, we know better, yet the Day of the Lord is like a thousand years, thus the metaphor Day took us back to Genesis and the Greater Light, thereby giving us the plan of Salvation for the Day, and the plan of Judgment for the Night. When Jesus talked about the rich man in hell, where the rich man could see Abraham’s Bosom it was based on fact, not fantasy. When Jesus took the captive, where do you think they were? In Abraham’s Bosom; from there Jesus placed them in captivity in a higher place, one Paul called the Third Heaven.
Proverbs will expose some of the high things coming against the knowledge of God, yet God knows all things, thus high things are not restricted to theology alone, they can include past events, or things people said as well. We may misinterpret the event by viewing it through the natural by forming a high thing coming against the knowledge of God, or misinterpret what someone said, forming a stronghold. Wisdom gives us the advantage to view the event through God’s eyes, bringing enlightenment where darkness prevailed.
Solomon penned many of the words, but the wisdom and context came from God. Jesus used Parables, now we now know the word Proverbs means a Parable, Jesus said all Parables (Proverbs) pertain to the Kingdom, thus we will look for the Kingdom in these Proverbs. Some of the most obvious divisions in Proverbs are between the Tree of Life, and the misrepresented fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; the Virtuous Woman who is the Bride, and the strange woman who is filled with religious conceit (yet both women are in the same net), between walking with God, and walking in the natural. This division didn’t stop in the Old Testament, rather Jesus talked about the Wheat and Tares in the same field, as well as the Good and Bad fish in the same net.
Proverbs opens with Solomon showing he is the son of David the king, but when Solomon wrote these words he was a king. Why would he change the order of kingship? Why say he is the son of king David, rather than the “king, son of David”? Proverbs pertains to a son of the King, neither David or Solomon were Jesus, rather the layer of truth shows the context goes much further than even Solomon knew. Simply because Solomon put the pen to paper, doesn’t mean he is the Author. The Holy Ghost is behind every word in the Bible, thus the Bible is a Word from God, about God, referred to as Scripture; but Jesus is the Word of God, thus we have a Word talking about The Word, with the engrafted Word in us determining what is said. Are there other kings in high places? Yes, we are made priests and kings unto God, the high place is the place of danger, the place Paul warned us about, our goal is to reach the Highest place.
The wisdom and instruction must be perceived before we gain understanding (Prov 1:2). Knowledge tells us God’s purpose, wisdom grants us the ability to operate in a Godly manner. Understanding is the experience gained from the application of the Wisdom. Paul said the Holy Ghost compares spiritual to spiritual, the word Compare (comparing) is the Greek Sugkrino meaning To judge together, or Combine together, thus the Holy Ghost takes the spiritual things of God matching them to the spiritual things of the New Man, making the soul obligated to Learn of the New Man. The Holy Ghost doesn’t teach spiritual to natural, thus if we remain carnal we miss the instruction (I Cor 2:13). Paul called the Corinthians carnal, yet in Romans he also said to be carnal minded was death, but he also said the Corinthians had the Spirit. What gives? The Corinthians were unlike any of the other churches of God (I Cor 11:16), they were remaining carnal, when the call was to become spiritual. The Corinthians are a prime example of being in the high place, the result was allowing false apostles into their midst. They were contend to “sleep in Jesus”, but it also means their works of Mercy would be judged, yet some of them were attacking Paul, what kind of Mercy is that?
The naturally minded person equates all things to what they see, touch, feel, presume or assume. They also relate Bible principles to the natural, since they are natural they fail to understand spiritual matters; however, the spiritual always applies the wisdom of God. The natural grabs the dog’s tail, the spiritual minded teach the dog new ways. We can teach with enticing words of man’s wisdom to impress some, or we can present God’s wisdom and win many (I Cor 2:4). It’s important to know any concept of “I don’t believe” is based in the doctrines of men; the concept of “I won’t believe” is based in the doctrines of devils: therefore, we seek to believe, rather than promote unbelief. The saving of the soul removes all the aspects of “I don’t believe”, rather it seeks to believe, yet it also rejects fables. How can we say, “I’m a Believer”, when we have more “I don’t believe” tenets, than we do Belief tenets?
There is a process noted in verses 2 through 6, the word Wisdom in verse 2 is a different Hebrew word than the one used in verse 3. The first use means one has seen Wisdom, the second means they project it, thus Wisdom is akin to God’s Love. We can read about God’s love, or even see it in others, but it doesn’t mean we project it. The same is true about Life or Grace, we can read about them, but that doesn’t mean we have them.
The goal is to Know wisdom, which brings instruction, thus with wisdom we can discern the instruction. How many times were we Instructed of the Lord, yet assumed we were being attacked by the devil? More than once, thus we seek wisdom to discern the difference between our soul misinterpreting the event, as well as knowing what God is doing in the event. The Wicked on the other hand are instructed, yet think it’s a personal attack against them, they in turn attack.
This is the trying of our faith, as we see in verse 3 as the “instruction of wisdom”, including the awareness of Justice, Judgment and Equity, the foundation for Faith in God.
James is a book showing us the Testing and discernment of our faith. We saw how the children in the wilderness murmured and complained, yet it appears as if God was blessing them because He succumbed to their temptations. However, we find God would have blessed them regardless, thus their temptations were coming back to them in the form of exposure and testings. It’s far better to discern, than burn.
In Proverbs the word Wisdom is equated to a She, but it doesn’t mean Wisdom is a female, rather it points to the Spirit filled Bride of Christ. Proverbs is a the place of Division, the strange woman will begin her introduction with the same words as wisdom, but then things change in the process, the change of wording exposes the source, it always does. The strange woman uses the spirit of the world to make her determinations, she is opposed to the Spirit which is of God. Yet, Wisdom uses the Tree of Life, with healing in Her leaves. When exposure does come to the soul, we tend to find fault in others to justify our fault, but the Spirit keeps bringing us back to our exposure. Someone uses our words to show we are making personal attacks, yet to justify ourselves we will say it’s them, not us. Self-justification is the counterfeit to God’s Justification, we can confuse one for the other. Just as we can confuse the Report in heaven for the Witness on earth, God calls us Justified by the Report, but we are being Justified by the Witness on earth. God says it’s done, but the Witness is doing it. Self-justification cuts the Process short, it assumes since God said it, then it’s done claiming there is no Process. It’s the voice of the strange woman, not wisdom. If Patience is to have her perfect work, then it’s a Process. Justification has a viewpoint, but so does self-justification. The Justification of God sees error, but it also sees Victory over the error. Self-justification sees error in others, to feel at ease with it’s own error. Why? If self-justification can find the fault, it can also reject the exposure. “They do it more”, “I guess we all do it”, “I’ve seen some worse”, “it’s not me, it’s them”, all products of self-justification. The spirit of man is no different, it searches for the fault in others to avoid its own error, but praise be to God, we have a Spirit cleaning us with the washing of water by the Word. In layman terms self-justification is being self-centered.
When we compare the invitation of wisdom with that of the foolish (strange) woman they may begin the same, the suggestion is there, yet we find the strange woman uses the deception by sounding like wisdom, but the intent of the invitation is much different. There is always a division between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. Their approach may appear somewhat alike, but their intent and purpose are completely different. When we judge the outward appearance we will never discover the intent; here is a perfect example, this discernment shows us we can hear the invitation, but we better discern the motive. We don’t want to jump too far ahead, but this helps us see the division we are about to study. The following gives us a comparison between the two, seeing them side by side shows the invitation is worded the same:
| WISDOM | FOOLISH WOMAN |
| Proverbs 9:4 | Proverbs 9:16 |
| (4) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, | (16) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, |
Not only do the English words appear the same, we find the Hebrew words and the tenses are also the same, but it ends there, as the following shows:
| WISDOM | FOOLISH WOMAN |
| Proverbs 9:5 | Proverbs 9:17 |
| (5) Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
|
(17) Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. |
Different? Yes, the word Pleasant here is a different Hebrew word than the one found in Genesis 2:9. The word in Genesis 2:9 is the Hebrew Chamad meaning Beauty, or To delight in. The Hebrew word used in Proverbs 9:17 is Naam meaning agreeable, it does carry the same concept of Beauty and Delight, but with an added feature of the agreement based on the desire of lust of the presenter. Water being a metaphor for Mercy shows the foolish woman steals Mercy, but refuses to give it. The Bread eaten in secret means she uses the Unction over the Body for self-benefit, without regard for the purpose.
On the other hand Wisdom points to the Bread and Wine “mingled” meaning the Blood mixed with Mercy, thus we find the invitation of Wisdom is to the table of the Lord in openness before the Lord.
Verse 1:5 also shows how we Increase to the Understanding to be Wise in the Counsels. It’s not merely Understanding, but the Interpretation of the words bringing clarity and Peace. In verse 2 we find the word “Words”, again it appears in verse 6, but they are two different Hebrew words. The first could equate to the Greek Logos, the second to the Greek Rhema, showing the New Man is our source to detect the intent in ourselves and others. The carnal minded think we’re reading their minds, but we are discerning their words, since words either justify or condemn.
Proverbs also shows the counterfeiting ways of the strange woman projects many paths, as her luring words attempt to pull us from the Way. The strange woman is found in two different settings, yet it’s the same strange woman. This division helps explain the tares and bad fish. Proverbs also gives us the purposed Bride, as She makes Herself ready for Her Husband. Some are granted the potential, yet make the decision to remain with the old source, becoming a member of the strange woman. We can equate these lessons to the purpose for the growth of the Seed of God working unto perfection, or the rebellious soul working to have its own way. The Early church noted Two Ways, one unto Life, the other unto Death, yet they placed both those ways in the kingdom process. One for the Wheat, one for the Tares. Jude also noted the good and bad in the same net, yet we still pull in the net, we don’t make decisions regarding who can remain in the net, and who cannot (Jude 22-23).
We have the two English words Wisdom and Wise, but here in Proverbs there are six different Hebrew words used for Wisdom, plus three different Hebrew words used for Wise. The word Wisdom appears over fifty times, the word Wise over sixty times. For Wisdom we find the Hebrew Chokmah meaning One of skill, or One who comprehends learning. Then the Hebrew Chokmowth meaning A very wise woman who is able to project wisdom. Then the Hebrew Sakhai meaning Prudent, or One who is able to Act prudently, showing clarity by Wisdom. Then the Hebrew Ormah meaning Cunning, or Discretion, it holds two edges, the Cunning refers to the wisdom of man, the Discretion to the Wisdom of God. Then the Hebrew Tushiyah meaning To help, this is poetic word linking to “a doer of the Word”. James uses a Greek word for Doer meaning a Poet, in classical Greek a Poet is one with beautiful thoughts, or a Performer, yet people sought after the delightful wording, thus the connection between Poet and Beautiful Thoughts. Our English word Poet comes from the Greek Poietes meaning one who has insight, or gives a beauty of expression. Often the context of Poet in classic Greek related to one who had romantic thoughts, or thoughts of peace and beauty. James concept is the same, one who is a Doer of the Word if they operate in Peace, walk in Love, with Beautiful thoughts. Lastly is the Hebrew Lev meaning The center or Heart, one can have an intellectual view of wisdom in the mind, but lacking wisdom in their Heart. The three words for Wise are, the Hebrew Chakham meaning Experienced, then the Hebrew Sakhal meaning To act prudent, and lastly the Hebrew Bin meaning One who is able to Discern or Perceive. All these show us stages of growth in the process. Seeing wisdom in others, doesn’t mean we have it, having it, doesn’t mean we can project it. Discerning in the heart, is different than discernment made known to the mind. The New Man discerns, divides and separates; whether we listen to gain is up to us. In all this we find we are talking about Ways, not Acts, thus wisdom is a Way of God. Proverbs will divide the Ways of the Just, from the Ways of the Wicked.
Proverbs also points to three stages for wisdom, it gives subtilty to the simple, advisement (discretion) and knowledge to the young man, then hearing and increase to the wise man. This equates to John’s use of the Little Children, Young Men and Fathers. The Little Children know their sins are forgiven, but they are the ones warned about the spirit of antichrist, thus they are still in high places (I Jn 4:1-4). The Young Men have overcome the Wicked, they know the tricks and words of the Wicked allowing them to discern their ways, meaning they have moved to the Highest Place. The Fathers know Jesus personally by having the same nature and character, thus they fellowship one with the other. Not only do the Fathers know the ways of the Wicked, the Wicked know when the fathers show up.
Solomon said, we use Subtilty on the simple, this is not to be confused with the method the devil used in Genesis 3:1. Solomon uses a word meaning one can either use the wisdom unto prudence, or they can twist the purpose of wisdom to produce guile, thus God’s Wisdom explained in James pertains to those who are spiritual in nature; meaning there are some who ask amiss (not in faith), so they can use Wisdom by a lust. Solomon used wisdom in a general term, but James divides wisdom into the two categories, God’s and man’s. The devil used a cunning evil based knowledge, assuming it was wisdom, thus the wisdom of man is the same old violation found at the fall. Without God’s Wisdom we will always run to the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to obtain our insight, which adds to the deception.
Paul said, he would not have a novice (little blade or small sprout) to teach, lest they be lifted up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the devil (I Tim 3:6). Wisdom for the simple (small child) is for their growth, not for them to help others grow. The first position of Wisdom is for us to learn how to deal with ourselves. The Little Children, or Simple have the unction (covering) because they are in the Body, they have the Spirit, but there is growth taking place. They have reached a point where the wisdom of God divides and separates for clarity within, yet from time to time they also use the wisdom of man. The little children seek anointed teachers, they don’t go about teaching. They are the ones told about the discernment between the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of antichrist (error) in reference to their own hearts, thus the Cleaning of the Blood brings discernment as well as removing all unrighteousness, thus man’s wisdom is the basis for unrighteousness.
The little children can be fooled, Paul called the Galatians little children several times, thus they were about to walk backward, thinking they are going forward. The Young Men are able to discern the strange woman and her ways, they have the knowledge and discretion (principal part). The word Discretion means Discrete, or The ability to separate for clarification.
The interpretation brings understanding, the understanding puts the knowledge to work for God (Prov 1:6). Peter said, there was no private (self) interpretation of the Word: as the holy men of old were moved by the Holy Ghost to write; therefore, it takes the Holy Ghost to interpret what was written. Although the holy men wrote, it doesn’t mean they understood what they were writing (II Pet 1:19-2:1). Translation takes words from one language placing them in another, without making any attempt to interpret why the words were written; also a translation doesn’t change the tense, meaning, or possessive order (Objective Genitive). However, the translator need not know what the Interpretation is in order to translate; however, if the translator begins to interpret, they are taking the place of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, Holy Ghost interpretation tells us what was in the Author’s mind when the words were written by these scribes. Digging up Matthew, Mark, Luke or John isn’t going to give us the Gospel. Going about looking for other manuscripts, or reading every book available isn’t going to give us wisdom. If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, but ask in Faith, indicating they are ready to use Wisdom in a Godly manner, also since it is of faith, it means it will take a process. Without wisdom knowledge becomes divorced from Truth, producing a falling away from the Faith. Hearing or reading a great sermon or hearing a Truth, then regurgitating it upon people isn’t the Anointing at work. Hearing and allowing the Holy Ghost to expand, dig deeper, add to the teaching is the Anointing at work.
Our first step is have a fear (total respect) for the Lord, which brings knowledge, but even a fool can respect God, yet fail at wisdom and understanding (Prov 1:7). Our fear of God is based in four elements; His Justice, His Mercy, His Judgment (His Wrath), then His Equity or Advisement, which is the fear of missing God. This last area shows God warns, directs and guides, but it still takes ears to hear. This first chapter will show ears can hear most anything, they can hear God, or the spirit of man, yet what we accept, we follow.
Verse 8 begins with metaphors, verse 9 points to us (Grace), thus New Jerusalem is Spiritual in nature, the Mother of us all (Gal 4:25-26), our Father is God, relating to Mercy, thus by the Spirit with God’s Mercy we enter Grace. The “chains about your neck” isn’t bondage, nor is it a Yoke, it relates to wealth and prosperity (ornament). The earth is the mother of our flesh, yet the devil used to be our father as well, but he isn’t in the same realm now. We changed families, now our parents are heavenly, not earthly, we are no longer bound to darkness, but free by the perfect Law of Liberty.
The very first premise is to turn our ears from sinners, meaning what the natural person says we don’t take to heart. The word Entice in verse 10 is the Hebrew Pathah meaning To allure in a sinister Way, it was used to describe hell widening her borders (Isa 5:14). The Wicked are the birds sitting on our branch, they don’t produce fruit, they pick at it (Prov 1:19). Verses 11 through 14 show the Pharisee attitude, they plot to overthrow those who walk in the anointing. They all use the same excuse of self-justification, “really brothers, they don’t have the anointing, so what we’re doing isn’t against them, it’s for God”. Whenever we plot destruction, or slander a member of the Body, we are the ones without the anointing. These few verses tell us to discern their words, hear what they say, discern their enticing bait, but never partake of their fruit. They are warned of their folly, more than once, as we are warned of ours more than once, but being warned, and taking heed to the warning are two different things.
Verse 19 talks about Ways, not acts. The ways of the Wicked take Life, not grant it. They will talk about Jesus, they will talk about the Holy Ghost, they will even talk about being filled with “the Spirit”; although they promise us liberty, they themselves are in bondage to the flesh (II Pet 2:19-22). Wisdom is not hidden from us, it cries in the “street”; or a place between places, indicating the Body or the kingdom of heaven (Prov 1:21). Wisdom takes us on the Way to the Kingdom of God where only the good fish dwell. This explains Wisdom as a type of Tree of Life on either side of the river of life (Rev 22:2). The tree of life is in the Report connected to the Witness, the river of life runs from the throne in heaven to the heart of the Born Again Believer (Rev 22:1-2). Wisdom is like the Tree of Life, it’s heaven related within the Born Again Believer, thus the Life of Christ is a type of the Tree of Life, showing why it’s in two places at the same time.
In verse 22 we find the Simple and Simplicity, the word Simple is the Hebrew Pethiy meaning Foolish, or Simple minded. The word Simplicity is the same Hebrew word depending on the context, it can mean “open minded”. Sound strange? Not at all the world says we need to be open minded, the Gospel tells us the path is narrow, few there are who walk it. To be Simple minded is to be open minded, to be Christ Like is to have a narrow mind set on Jesus. The Simple also love scorners, they delight in the scorning, which is a sure sign of the wrong spirit. When we rejoice in the fall of a brother or sister, we are using the wrong wisdom.
The Gospel is simple, but carnal minds make it confusing, either in the receiving or the giving. The reproof of the Spirit causes us to grow, but rejection of the reproof removes us from wisdom, we end in the house of idols, mixing our Cup into the cups of devils. The Reproof of the Bible is much different from the reproof of the Spirit, both are different from the reproof of natural man. Someone may in fact reprove us with natural theological reasoning absent the Spirit, Mercy or words of Grace, if we can’t tell the difference we will walk from the Truth into a fable, or worse into an illusion. Anyone can use words from the Bible to inflict pain on us, but the reproof of the Spirit is not to destroy us, but to correct us unto perfection. On the same note, we can’t reject the reproof, God calls, as wisdom reaches out her hand, but itching ears hate God’s counsel. Itching ears use the formulas of the world; wherein they can use their intellect and natural wisdom to ignore the Truth; all they are doing is building their pride in self-righteousness. If one continues to ignore the spiritual aspect of God, or continues to reject God’s wisdom, the day will come when they will call on the Lord, yet He won’t listen (Prov 1:25-28).
Formulas are a means we use to avoid faith, if we know the purposed outcome we haven’t used faith, rather we use a prescribed road map, yet the ends thereof are still death. How we treat God, is how God treats us, whatsoever God hears from us, He will do to, or for us (Numb 14:27-28). If we pray by cursing others, God will allow the curse to be put on us, if we pray blessings on others, God will bless us, if God hears our complaining and murmuring, He will put us in the place of complaining (wilderness). If we make God first place, He makes us first place, but if we ignore His Ways, He will ignore us. God will not join our prayers of war against the brethren, but the spirit lusting to envy will (James 4:1-5). Giving place to the devil is giving the devil opportunity, which is using anything the devil uses, the error comes when the person enjoys their folly.
Instead of loving the reproof the fool hates God’s reproof, they reject the counsel of God for some natural reasoning (Prov 1:30). When the simple (foolish) turn away from wisdom, they are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Yet, we have a promise, whosoever hearkens unto God’s wisdom shall dwell safely, they shall be quiet (removed) from the fear of evil. John said, this was overcoming the wicked one, thus wisdom will move one from the Blade to the Full Corn in the Ear. In verse 27 we find “desolation” and “destruction”, giving us another type of Fear, rather than the Fear of God. The word Desolation means A storm, the word Destruction means Calamity, it was used in the phrase Day of Calamity. Both of these show one can believe, but not based in “God Is”, rather it’s the wilderness thinking of “God is going to punish us, God is going to destroy us, God is going to make us desolate”. The thing they fear the most will fall on them, simply because they failed to Fear God.
Verse 28 gives us God’s answer to the Wicked, He will not hear them when they cross over the line of righteousness. They refuse to hear God, rather they allow their own mind to be their god. They hated the knowledge of exposure, they failed to choose the Fear of God, they ate of their own fruit, which is really a non-fruit, or non-productive; they used their own way, filled their hearts with their own devices, yet they were in the kingdom of heaven. Verse 33 is the good side, those who Hearkened (listened), shall Dwell safely, the word Dwell in verse 33 means Permanently, the word Safely means Of a confident mind, connecting to continual belief after we enter the Body of Christ.
Proverbs are given to a little child (a son) pointing to the overcoming wisdom God is willing to give to His children (Prov 2:1). The commandments for the Old Testament are different from ours, we believe in the Name of Jesus and love one another (I Jn 3:23). The word Believe entails a confidence on past information we accepted as truth, not merely an intellectual view. Along with belief in the Name of Jesus comes respect for His Name, thus belief entails knowledge of the authority we are under. The Name of Jesus isn’t given to us to play with, or to bring about self-serving conditions, misuse of the Name of Jesus removes us from Mercy; therefore, incline your ears to wisdom, apply your heart to understanding. Wisdom is a treasure we search for, yet we are the treasure God searched for. The kingdom of heaven is the place where we search for wisdom, the Kingdom of God is place where we use Wisdom. Jesus said, We don’t live by Bread alone, but by every word (Rhema) proceeding out of the Mouth of God, in verse 6 we find wisdom comes from the Mouth of God (Matt 4:4 & Prov 2:6).
The Kingdom has jewels hidden therein, but only wisdom can find them. Wisdom guides us into righteous judgment, as it keeps our path right (Prov 2:8-9). Wisdom brings Light to knowledge making our souls pleasant and pleasing unto God (Prov 2:10). Wisdom brings Discretion assisting the Logos to separate for clarity, thus clarity is able to deliver us from the way of the “evil man” (Prov 2:11-12). The wording Evil Man is the Hebrew Ra, which we saw in Psalms, meaning Wicked, the word Man is the Hebrew Ish, thus we find two groups in one. The Wicked who are sons of perdition, but then adding Ish, points to the foolish as those who sit on the fence, the one who is not yet a son of perdition, but nonetheless carnal minded equating everything to the self-nature. Every one of us entered the kingdom with a carnal mind, but we are not supposed to remain carnal. We came into this as sinners, but we are being cleaned unto the remission of sin, we were not expected to remain as we were. We are not what we were, yet we are not yet what we will be.
We judge ourselves to determine if we obtained, or retained some traits we should not, or if we have some form of unbelief, since any aspect of unbelief causes confusion and bitterness in our minds. James tells us to ask God for wisdom, but he also defines God’s wisdom as opposed to the wisdom of the world (James 1:5 & 3:15-17). James doesn’t tell us to ask for Knowledge, or Understanding, thus we find Wisdom is the assurance of dealing with people in a Godly manner (James 2:1-3). James also tells us if we are Endued with Knowledge let our Works be done with Meekness of wisdom, thus knowledge without wisdom is dangerous. Paul tells us knowledge without love will puff up (cause pride), although the knowledge he refers to is based in Grace, we nonetheless can make a correlation. Knowledge is great, but applied knowledge by the wrong wisdom causes harm, it also makes us legalistic in nature. Paul also said we all have knowledge, it’s the application of knowledge absent love he refers to. Knowledge applied with God’s Wisdom through Love is beneficial to all, more important we will deal with God’s people in the same manner as God.
However, in this quest there is also a Strange Woman and the Stranger (Prov 2:16). The strange woman is privy to the promise and commandment, but rejects them to keep her house of idols which are laced with death (Prov 2:17-18). The strange woman attempts to usurp authority over her husband, uses enticing words to trap her supposed lovers, but her intent is to rob, kill and destroy her own lovers. She is the wisdom produced from the spirit of man, her wisdom is earthly, sensual (soulish), and devilish (James 3:15). Man can use his natural knowledge to learn what others say about God, man can use his earthly wisdom to deal with people through natural knowledge, but the source is the wrong spirit. When anyone uses the wisdom of man they equate everything to the natural, the extreme would be the natural reasoning equating man to God, or God to man. If man had a beginning, God must also have a beginning; if the streets of the earth have physical coatings, then the streets of heaven must also have physical coatings. Man then applies his natural knowledge assuming if God is Spirit, then man must have a Spirit without being Born Again, and so on. Jesus said that born of the flesh, was flesh, that Born of the Spirit is Spirit. If we hold up our hand, we can say, “I was born of the flesh, and I am flesh”, but if we have the Spirit of Truth we can advance to, “My soul is being born of the Spirit, my soul will be Spirit”. Our flesh will tell us, “no you are not, you are flesh, see right there in the mirror”. However, a son of God is Spirit, thus God’s people are a spiritual people. We are not yet what we will be, but this we know, on the inside we are Spirit, we are able to worship God in Spirit and Truth by the Spirit of Truth.
The strange woman is the metaphoric symbol for those who enter the high places, but refuse to be spiritual: Paul alluded to this is the place where spiritual wickedness can take place. She has her dwelling with her traps, yet none who willingly join to her return again, they sin the sin onto death (Prov 2:19-22). The Wicked are no longer of the world, they have made entry into the Body, making them in high places, but not the Highest.
We also have two different Hebrew words for the word Strange, in Proverbs 6:24, 20:16, 23:27 and 27:13 it’s the Hebrew Nokriy meaning Foreign, or Adulterous. The remaining uses of the word Strange come from the Hebrew word Zuwr meaning Profane, or a Foreigner. This mystery gives us the two horns of the Wicked, one horn for our Season, one for the next. The Book of Revelation divides the two horns, with one larger than the other (Rev 21:8 & Rev 22:15). If we place these elements in two lists we can see how one is larger than the other (see below).
| Revelation 21:8 | Revelation 22:15 |
| But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. | For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. |
| Fearful | Dogs |
| Unbelieving | Sorcerers |
| Abominable | Whoremongers |
| Murderers | Murderers |
| Whoremongers | Idolaters |
| Sorcerers | Loves a lie |
| Idolaters | Makes a lie |
| Liars |
In Revelation 21:8 we have eight elements, in Revelation 22:15 we have seven, yet they all relate to the Eighth who comes from the Seven. Some elements are the same, but there are others added to the second horn, with some remaining with the first horn. The word Fearful means without faith, it would seem strange since the Wicked have no problem in talking about faith, but wait; is it faith in general, or The Faith? Ahh, they want us to use the measure of faith without consideration for the Faith of Jesus. They want us to think our measure of faith is as good, if not better than the Faith of Jesus, yet Hebrews 11:39 shows the attributes of the measure of faith are not enough to gain the Promise. Pride in our ability is a destroyer of Faith, it moves one from the path the Faith of Jesus has already obtained, into some illusion of being able to accomplish the same finish as Jesus did, without Jesus. The absence of Fearful in the second list shows faith in the Night is not an issue, it’s knowledge, belief and mercy.
The term “whoremonger” points to loving the strange woman, which is holding to the spirit of man, until it turns into the spirit of the world. All these show us the outward appearance means nothing, it’s what’s within the person that counts.
Jesus said, He is the Door to the sheepfold, but the Porter (Holy Ghost) brings us through the door, then we can go in and out discerning the difference between the voice of Jesus, and the voice of the stranger, thus the strange woman is then defined as the Wicked, the Stranger as the spirit of man (Jn 10:1-5 & Prov 2:22). This clue gives us the area of division, showing us this strange woman is a metaphor, the word Strange is the Hebrew Zur meaning To bind, To crush, or To be estranged from something or someone, much like being Anti- Christ, or Lawless; the word Woman is the Hebrew Ishshah meaning A wife, A concubine, or Widow, it was the same word used in Genesis 2:23 when Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones…she shall be called Woman (Ishshah)”; therefore, this is not a single female, but one purposed for a marriage. Wait, didn’t Paul equate Hagar to bondage, wasn’t she the mother of Ishmael, does this allegory connect? Yes, the strange woman must be cast out with her son, both of them are based in the spirit of man.
The weapons of the strange woman are her lips, she uses natural logic to judge and discern, she is the soul without Spiritual control, the carnal mind without guidance, yet guidance is at hand. The deception comes when one thinks they can control the spirit of man, or assume the Spirit of Christ is servant. In truth, they never control the spirit of man, rather it soon turns to become the spirit of the world controlling them, yet no one is going to control the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of the world is opposed to the Spirit which is of God (New Man – I Cor 2:12), the spirit of man knows all the things of man, but is completely ignorant of the things of the Spirit of God (I Cor 2:11). The strange woman does acts of counterfeiting, yet they are based in the voice of the spirit of the world, the danger is within.
Proverbs 2:22 has the same Hebrew word we found in Psalms for Wicked, the wording “shall be rooted” in the phrase “shall be rooted out of it” is the same word we found in Psalms meaning To cut off a body part. Jude says the Wicked will be “plucked up by the roots” (Jude 12), but in order for something to be plucked up by the roots, they must have roots, thus they had the Seed and Root, but lacked the Blade. Jude also points out they are Without fruit, then he says they are trees whose fruit has withered (Jude 12). Without fruit, then withered fruit? They never Produced the fruit of Mercy, what little fruit they did have died before it could be used, thus they are twice dead (Jude 1:12). It would appear the Wicked will be removed from the Earth, but we find the wording “shall be cut off” associates to a Covenant, thus it means they will be cut off from the Covenant, which is the same as the independent rocks left as a result of the Broken Body of Jesus (Rev 6:15).
If we understand the metaphors used in the Book of Revelation we will also understand the mystery allowing faith to grow unto a Peace unshakable. Jesus said He would build His Church on the Rock, the word “rocks” in Revelation 6:15 is the same Greek word Jesus used, but since it’s “rocks”, rather than Rock we find they are broken off pieces of the Rock left at the Rapture. When Jesus called Peter a Rock, the word used is different from the one He used for the Rock. Peter is a piece of the Rock, he was not the entire Rock, thus Peter was representative of the disciples, making the other disciples pieces of the Rock as well. However the Church was yet future tense (will build), which came on Pentecost. This explains the use of “rocks”, they were of the Rock, not the Church, yet being independent they were left behind, then surfaced as the Beast of the earth; they are the drunken who go into the night ( I Thess 5:1-7).
The length of our days with our peace are found in wisdom (Prov 3:1-2). Paul told the Corinthians they failed to discern the Body and Blood of Jesus, in essence they broke the commandment, many of them were sick, weak and dead (I Cor 11:30). They rejected the purpose for the chastisement of the Lord, ending with a self-induced curse, yet Corinth was one of the richest, if not the richest church in the land, they had more money than sense (I Cor 11:30-32). Mercy is found in the Body of Jesus, Grace and Truth in His Blood. If we forsake Mercy, Grace and Truth for the words of the stranger, the strange woman will cause us to remove ourselves from the Unction (Prov 3:3). Trusting in the Lord calls for us to trust in Him fully, it takes experiences of understanding, rather than trusting in our own understanding. Our natural understanding looks to the event, or vile, then judges the event by the event (Prov 3:5). Part of our Faith in God is knowing the event is working to a Good end, not a demonic end. If we are seeking God, we are also seeking our Hope in God, thus the events are given to us to build us in the faith, not rip us from it. The Wicked are prideful, they reject the call, we on the other hand seek the call. There is a vast difference, the strange woman speaks words to entice us, yet the words may not be obvious, but they are discernible.
The fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil makes us wise in our own eyes, the Tree of Life makes us wise in God’s eyes (Prov 3:5). The Fear of God is the root to knowledge, faith is the root to wisdom. If we understand God’s Righteousness we also understand He is Equal. If a unrighteous person turns to become Righteous, God will treat them as Righteous. However, if a Righteous person turns to become unrighteous, God will treat them as unrighteous. God grants us Love for love, Mercy for mercy, Peace for peace, Joy for joy, Longsuffering for longsuffering, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (soulish), but mighty through God (Fruit of the Spirit) to the pulling down of strongholds (house of the strange woman), removing high things (natural soulish concepts), exposing those things in our hearts coming against the knowledge of God (bad theology), casting down imaginations (extended metaphors, fables, or making the real unreal), all of which sets us free of fables and misinterpreted viewpoints. Wisdom is the working element to our faith, it’s a fruit of our faith manifested.
Wisdom is health to our navel (cord of life, or the place where Life comes from), it’s health to the “marrow” of our bones (Prov 3:8). The blood is produced from the marrow, as the Word of God divides the joint and marrow (Heb 4:12). The bone is the item standing between the marrow and joint; the joint brings movement to two or more bones, but the marrow produces the blood to keep the body intact. Without the bone there is no joint, neither is there a place for the marrow to produce the blood. Without the Word of God in us, we have nowhere to go, nor do we have Life. God used the hand of man to write His mysteries, but the Holy Ghost uses the wisdom of God to reveal the mysteries. As long as man holds the Bible as a product of man’s intellect, the mysteries remain hidden; when we are Baptized with the Holy Ghost the first mystery is opened, then it becomes a continual opening of the layers of Truth building our foundation of belief, supporting our faith. The Word in us brings the Scriptures to life, thus the Word in us is akin to the Marrow, the Scriptures akin to the Bone. Faith always Comes, the hearing brings it into our souls. It’s the Glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of the king is to search out the matter (Prov 25:2).
Wisdom maintains God first place; making sure God is taken care of with the firstfruits, which is always done before we care for our needs or anything else (Prov 3:9). This is simply making God first place in all things. One of the first things we ask at the beginning of the day is: What does God want? Some of us say, “I have to go to work!”; God will probably tell us to go to work, but whatever God tells us, our obeying then becomes obedience to the word spoken, not obeying our own mind, thus when we decide on our own, it’s vain. When we do anything based on obedience, God will bless the work of our hands, bringing us joy in the workplace, regardless of the workplace. If God doesn’t want us there, He is able to remove us, just as He removed the children from Egypt. On the same note we are the Firstfruits of the Spirit, God’s people are spiritual.
In order to keep us Christ centered, the Lord will chasten us (Prov 3:11). A wise man loves the chastisement of the Lord, but a fool hates it (Prov 3:11-13). Loving the chastisement doesn’t mean we form excuses to remain in the same old condition, rather we lift our hands in surrender, as our praise brings strength to our feeble knees so we can walk the Path (Heb 12:11-13). The chastisement of the Lord has a purpose, if we Receive it, it will bring the Peaceable Fruit of Righteousness (Heb 12:11). Doesn’t James talk about the Fruit of Righteousness? Yes, but the wisdom of man is a product of the strange woman, or the spirit of man, incapable of producing the Fruit of Righteousness. The same spirit can enter self-righteousness, and often does, but it also takes great pride in its efforts, which proves the point; it’s earthly, sensual, and devilish. If we assume we are being chastised by the Lord, but the result is no Peace, it’s not the Lord doing the chastening.
Hating chastisement is the same as rejecting the purpose, phrases like, “I’m not above this” or “I’m loved because God spanked me”, are excuses to remain in the same condition, rather than learning from the chastening. When God chastens us, it’s to wake us up, so we can get back on the path of righteousness. Jesus Phileos those He rebukes, as He brings us into correction (Rev 3:19), yet correction without advancement means we rejected the purpose of the correction.
The Tree of Life connects to the Spirit, but the Spirit operates by God’s wisdom; therefore, the Water (Mercy through knowledge), the Blood (the understanding of God and Grace) and the Spirit (wisdom of God in the New Man) all bear witness to the Record in heaven (I Jn 5:8). Knowledge exposes how the spirit of man is useless when it comes to spiritual matters, wisdom also shows us how to deal with the ineffective spirit of man, rather than feed it with more natural products of destruction.
Our Witness is not a bunch of words, it’s the Character and Attitude we exhibit. We gain the Character of Christ in the New Birth, but it’s internal, the work of our faith brings it to the external. The New Birth was previewed in the Birth of Jesus, the Holy Ghost Overshadowed Mary, the “holy thing” in her is called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Jesus a Thing? Doesn’t sound right, must be an overzealous scribe, right? Wrong, it explains the New Birth, showing our growth is internal, in order to project an external nature. Mary was a walking metaphor of each of us, the Holy Ghost overshadowed us, the Seed of God was planted to make us sons of God. Jesus wasn’t Born Again, rather He provided the means for us to be Born Again.
Jesus is our Example, if we have a premise, we find the example, we don’t make up our own example to the premise. Jesus entered this world in the flesh as a Baby, the holy thing was not Birthed until Birth took place. When we received the Seed it was conception, not Birth, it’s misleading to presume one is Born Again when they receive the Seed. After the Seed is planted, then comes the Root, which is the fetus stage, then the Blade, thus it’s the Blade producing the Fruit, not the Root (Mark 4:28).
The Spirit of the Lord moved over the face of the waters in the beginning, thus the wisdom of God founded the earth, the understanding of God (the Father) established the heavens, and the knowledge of God (Jesus, the Word) brought creation, One God, all in all (Prov 3:19-20). However, the strange woman assumes all creation is for her, as she thinks God must perform for her, making her the center of God’s attention. We know when we pray God hears our prayers, but He also hears the prayers of many. We are special, but we are not the special of the special.
Wisdom is an attribute of Grace, as Grace is Life infused into our souls (Prov 3:22). When we walk in wisdom we rest in the Lord as we lay down safely (Prov 3:24-26). We will have the “good” of God in our hearts, we won’t withhold from others (Prov 3:27). However, the stranger looks about seeking whom he may devour, bringing strife, slander, and envy to disrupt our condition (Prov 3:30-31). James said, where envying and strife are found, so is confusion and every evil work (James 3:16). Confusion is the sign of exposure when we hold a fable and Truth is presented. Truth doesn’t produce confusion, it exposes the Fable, it’s the Fable bringing confusion. The Corinthians were called brothers, as they were called “to be” saints, they had the Spirit, were baptized into the Body, yet their carnal minds still reigned producing envy, strife and division in their midst, causing them to give honor to the false apostles, yet they attacked the man of God (I Cor 3:1-3 & II Cor 13:2-5). There is a wisdom of man, there is the Wisdom of God (James 3:15). We can’t do the “undefiled religion” with a defiled garment, yet only the Spirit can wash our garment clean (James 1:27). Even if we do the undefiled religion, we still can’t gain entry into heaven without the Spirit. The undefiled religion isn’t all there is, we need to enter the wisdom of God to have an Attitude to fit the Character of Christ. One attribute of the undefiled religion is to be separated from the world, meaning we are sanctification. If we are Born Again we are expected to obtain the Wisdom of God by faith.
Paul said, who has known the mind of the Lord, but we are instructed through the mind of Christ (I Cor 2:16). Of course this is dependent on having the Mind of Christ. The children hear the instruction of the Father through wisdom (Prov 4:1). When we grow in the Father’s house, we become the beloved, as God looks upon us as His treasure on earth (Prov 4:3). He also looks at the other saints as the only ones, but it doesn’t change the faith of being the apple of His eye, this is not the special of the special, it’s the position of the special (Prov 4:3-6). The strange woman rejects the concept of the “other saints”, assuming she is the only saint, or the only one who hears from God. That is, unless someone fills her ego, then of course they hear from God as well.
Without the Spirit we lack Godly wisdom, and without the Spirit we can’t have the Knowledge from above (Prov 4:7). Just as there is a wisdom from above, and one from the earthly, there is a Knowledge from above, and one of the earthly. Both the knowledge and wisdom of the earth seek after God, but in so doing they will also find the Commandment, Thou shall not covet, is placed against them. Why? The intent, the seeking is still based in some lust to envy centered in covetousness. This was Paul’s point in Romans chapter 7, before he came to the Lord he desired to serve God, but in the serving he knew the Commandment, Thou shall not covet fell on him. He was in a no win situation, what he wanted to do, he couldn’t, but what he didn’t want to do, he did. In his mind he desired to serve God, but in the effort he found he had to use the flesh. In using the flesh it means he used the spirit lusting (covets) to envy, therein caused the Commandment to fall on him. Until he came face to face with Jesus, then he found the Law of the Spirit could make him free. He was able to be separated from the realm of the spirit of man by imputing the flesh dead through the Cross of Jesus, thereby freeing him to be a servant of the Lord’s by the Spirit.
When we exalt Jesus the Spirit will bring wisdom as a garment of Grace, yet the Unction is a protection, a Light to our path (Prov 4:9). Wisdom is a benefit of Life More Abundantly, she guides us around the path of the wicked by keeping us from the path of evil (Prov 4:14-15). The Wicked will not sleep through the Night, they are the drunken who go into the Night (Prov 4:16 & I Thess 5:5-7).
We have the Bread of Life with the Blood of Jesus, but the wicked use the bread of wickedness with the wine of violence (Prov 4:17). They hold up a cup, but it’s the cup of devils, thus they take the bread and cup, but it changes in their hands. Their hearts hold the wine of violence, their slander has spilled the blood of the saints; whereas we have the Blood of Jesus to preserve the saints. The way of the wicked is darkness, when they stumble they have no idea it was God attempting to get their attention. A fool curses God by blaming the devil, or by giving the devil credit for events. The fool doesn’t understand, they fail to see the event was God produced as He works to save us from ourselves (Prov 4:19). Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word; the Spirit brings life to the Words as wisdom grows (Prov 4:22-23).
Proverbs 4:15-19 is the defining verses for Hebrews 10:38-39, the Just live by faith, they are not of them who are draw back to perdition. Here we see they draw back to perdition by the manner in which they treat the Bread and Wine, yet the Just walk the path of the shinning Light in the Perfect Day.
The lips of the strange woman bring all sorts of honeycomb words, honeycomb words stem from prophecy, yet they are self-prophetic in nature. The words sound like they should come from God, but they are right out of perdition, full of private interpretation, ego infested, making promises not afforded the person, as they produce false prophecy (Prov 5:3-5). False prophecy points us in the wrong direction, a false prophet will speak to a lust, or to entice a person. The strange woman is also the one who takes a good and true prophecy, then brings a faulty interpretation. Itching ears follow flattering words, thus false prophets speak flattering divinations (Ezek 12:24).
The stranger promises us riches, but entices us to use other means, rather than the method God has established. The stranger tempts us to use self-righteousness, the ways of the world, the advancement of prosperity without regard for our souls prospering. God wants us to prosper, but by His method. God has a procedure of prosperity void of greed and self, the stranger has a method based in greed to enhance the self (Prov 5:9-10). To the stranger it’s better to retain, thus the only reason the stranger gives is to receive, they are not servants, but investors. They fit the group defined in Malachi, their words are stout against the Lord, they say it is vain to serve the Lord without some personal gain, thus they seek Profit, rather than Love or Kindness (Mal 3:13-14). God will nonetheless bless them with possessions as they give to the storehouse, but it’s still a test, or exposure (Mal 3:10 & 3:15). There is a better blessing for those who Fear the Lord, the Lord heard them, they are written in the Book of Remembrance (Book of Life – Mal 3:16). There is a difference between the one who serves God, and the one who serves for self-benefit (Mal 3:18). Wisdom defines which is which, the test will expose the intent of the person.
In the midst of the congregation the strange woman speaks and draws even the elect (Prov 5:14). The strange woman attempts to get us to use the pride of life, or take of bitter water (pride of life), instead of the fountain of the Spirit (Prov 5:15). In the latter days it will be the strange woman who thinks she is rich and in need of nothing, yet she is found holding the cup of devils. The strange woman wants us to be intellectuals, full of man’s wisdom, producing pride instead of removing it; thereby bringing the by-products of envy, strife and division, which will kill us in the end.
The strange woman claims to be our friend and lover, but her intent is to kill us so she can be self-exalted. Instead of looking for the strange woman we look to the inside, as we seek the beauty of God’s Spirit. Seeking the Kingdom of God is seeking to become the purposed Bride, thus we won’t be fooled by the outside adornment of the strange woman (Prov 5:18-19). The stranger and the strange woman will die based on their own iniquities (Prov 5:22). The stranger is the mouth for the strange woman, giving us the concept of the false prophet as the voice behind the image of the Beast in the Book of Revelation. God won’t judge the wicked, they have judged themselves by their evil doings (Jn 16:11). The devil doesn’t go about seeking whom he Wants to devour, he goes about seeking whom he May devour. The devil doesn’t put anyone in hell, he entices them to put themselves in hell. God’s Judgment is a matter of division between the wheat and tares, the good fish and bad, the goats and sheep. Belief is a matter of choice, when we were in the world we believed all sorts of things, because we made the choice to. Jesus loved us before we loved Him, but we still had a choice to accept the calling to be changed from what we were, to what we can be in Christ. Those who use the wiles of the devil, have associated themselves to the devil. Just as we find those who use the ways of the strange woman, become like her.
In the very latter days a Star falls called Wormwood, the metaphor Star points to a position appointed in heaven, yet Wormwood means Bitterness, thus a root of bitterness will defile the Woman, as she becomes the strange woman by connecting herself to the stranger, the two shall be one in the bed of adultery.
A Sluggard is not someone who does nothing at all, rather it’s someone who does nothing for the Lord. One can work five jobs, yet be a Sluggard. We talk about unity, but the Spirit of the Lord tells us to look at the ant, who has no guide, or overseer (officer) or ruler, yet they work together in their group, they even fight together to protect their gift (Prov 6:6:8). When Jesus was in the Garden, Peter was sleeping with his hands folded (Prov 6:9 & Matt 26:40). Jesus asked Peter, “what could you not watch with Me one hour?” (Matt 26:40). This doesn’t mean One Hour of natural time, rather it means watching during the Hour Of Temptation. Jesus was taking the cup of God’s wrath from the Father, the fourth cup of Passover which will be poured out in the last days. Jesus knew all things were possible with God, but He also knew not all things are profitable for God (Matt 26:42). Peter and the other disciples were told three times to Watch (Mark 13:33-37). The word Watch means to keep awake and alert. Consider the one who winks the eye and says, “all has passed away”, or “we have plenty of time to prepare the Kingdom”, they have forwardness of heart, they are sluggards (Prov 6:13-15). Peter was sleeping with hands folded, when he should have been praying.
Both the Stranger and strange women entice us to make flesh and blood our enemy. They form plans of mischief, they sow discord, they “wink with the eye”, which is a metaphor meaning one who makes fun of what others say, yet they “walk with a forward mouth” (Prov 6:12). They are Boastful speakers, self-willed exalting themselves in what they call their “testimony”.
Here in Proverbs we find there are six things God hates, when we add the seventh they form an abomination (Prov 6:16). These are “things”, ye the things are attached to people. The proud look, or the boastful look is first, yet the look is attached to a face, the face to a person. God hates the things, but it’s the person who projects them. This is our stand as well, we don’t war against flesh and blood. The proud look is the result of pride, it produces a lying tongue, who claims to be Christian, but lacks the faith and power to prove it. Then hands shedding innocent blood, innocent blood is shed by slanderous words; then an heart devising wicked imaginations, pointing to fables and false teaching (Prov 6:16-17). Here God points out the things He sees, the words, actions and such, if the person attaches their self to the actions they have taken the place of the things. This shows why God hated Esau, the man Esau attached himself to the wickedness by giving up his birthright. God’s Promise was attached to the birthright, thus we find Esau is used as an example of one who uses the Body, or Promise in a wrongful manner, failing to give the Birthright respect and honor (Heb 12:16 & Jude 4).
Esau was also used as a type of the vessel of dishonor, he received, but failed to honor or respect what he received. Esau had the promise in hand, although the actual gift was future tense. Esau is a type of the Wicked based on having received the Seed, but refuses to allow it to grow, rather they use the spirit of the world. Paul tells us, “What if God, willing to show His wrath, to make His power known, endured with much suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction (perdition), that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy” (Rom 9:22-23). The division is between the vessels of wrath and the vessels of Mercy, thus the division is between the sons of perdition and the sons of men who walk in Mercy. The Romans were judging others, but they had no position to do so, if they continued they were in danger of being cut off the Olive Tree (Rom 11:21).
However in all fairness we have to see one who “works” at iniquity is the one termed Wicked: their wickedness is found in the abomination “he who sows discord among the brethren” as a continual effort (Prov 6:19). Just as we continue to believe, they continue to sow discord. They work harder at iniquity, then most do at granting Mercy. If we are in the Unity of the Faith by the Spirit our nature is not to sow discord, it’s to walk in Love. Therefore, we are acquainted with God’s Love, not His wrath; if not His wrath, then not His anger, if not His anger, then the concept of God hating is far from us. Does He hate? Yes, but it’s not the issue with the child who honors their heavenly Father as they respect Jesus by following the Spirit, or at least try to.
On the other hand, has anyone ever gave you “the look”? Those times when their eyes tell the story? Religious pride has a “look”, when we see the “look” we know it’s the strongman getting ready to defend the stronghold. Paul told us, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, and casting down imaginations (II Cor 10:5). When faced with “the look” we better have our Armor in place with our weapons of Love, Mercy, Truth, Faith and Hope ready. If not, we will grab the weapons of the carnal which include debate, anger, deception, trickery and pride. One proud look fighting another is hardly Godly warfare, neither is camel swallowing contests able to prove anything.
The number seven also refers to completeness to gain the Rest, but here we find the seven areas of unrest and bitterness. The list of the seven areas for the completeness of wickedness continues with: feet that are swift in running to mischief, the Stranger who devises mischief, then a false witness, or one who slanders the brethren, or accuses the brethren falsely. Prior it was one who speaks lies, the reference is speaking lies in general, whereas this reference is speaking lies as a witness about others. A lie can have some factual basis, but be void of Truth. The lying wonders come when anyone speaks lies or slanders another, yet the “strangers” are those who follow the lying person by repeating the lies. When someone lies, we tend to be moved by their personality as we enter the realm of self-justification, “oh well, they didn’t mean any harm”. Foolishness, the Wicked use people, they love to have people around them who exalt them, who excuse their behavior or give them honor. The Wicked use people as toys, or tools for their own self-pleasure, the example is the strange woman. The Wicked enter with a smile, a tear, or a sincere appearance, yet they cause a split when they find people governed by lusts, they use those lusts by enticing the simple to follow them. The “game” is to steal people from another, a form of self-importance, as they want to show they are better than others, yet the ones they steal follow lusts, not God. In some cases we find God cleaning the congregation by allowing the Wicked to cause a split, in other cases it’s to remove the Righteous from the Wicked. The proof is of course the leader, are they the Righteous? Or Wicked? Their ways are the signs and evidence.
The seventh is the abomination bringing envy, strife and division, as he sows discord among the brethren, it’s this seventh abomination which produces the split, and splits are usually carnal divisions (Prov 6:19 & I Cor 3:3). This doesn’t say the person brings discord, rather they plant the seeds of discord by their soulish, carnal ways. They bring illusions, they make their battlefield flesh and blood, their weapons are carnal. They are moved by outward appearances and soulish conclusions. The Lust For Other Things, includes power, or control over people, or events, Jesus called it the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (Rev 2:15). The name Nicodemus means Victory for the people, the title Nicolaitanes means Victory over the people. Envy is a lust desiring the gift of another, the anointing of another, the ability of another, the prosperity of another, the congregation of another, yet the lust refuses to walk the same path, rather like Korah it will attack the person, or seek to destroy what it envies. Envy is the mother of deception, it brings the illusion, “if I only had that, I would be like them”, having someone’s passion is not going to make us like them. Having a ministry like them, will not make us them. We Follow Jesus to gain our gift, anointing, ability and prosperity, instead of destroying, we bring Life and Truth to the hearer. Elisha was upset because he didn’t get “double the spirit”, or double what made Elijah, Elijah. Elisha was his own man, with his own anointing and ministry. He finished the course for Elijah, but he also had other elements to his ministry, including the school of prophets.
The Law of Moses was never designed to give man the wisdom of God, but the Law of the Spirit was so designed. When Jesus came with a Better Law, the Pharisees were convinced Jesus was attempting to destroy the Law of Moses, yet He said He did not come to destroy the Law of Moses, it still has a purpose; it’s assigned a realm (principality). Rather He presented another Law based in His Blood, connecting man to heaven, something the Law of Moses was incapable of doing, because it was not designed to. In Proverbs 6:20 we find “the law of your mother”, what, didn’t the father have a law? It was the father’s commandments, but the mother’s law, a mystery? Yes, the Father gave the Law to Moses, it was Moses who gave it to the people, it provided the unbelieving children a means to be blessed. The Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments did their job, they declared mankind incapable of maintaining the Commandments, thus they were applied to the flesh (mother earth), yet we impute the flesh dead, completing the purpose of the Law of Moses, granting us the opportunity to accept the Law of the Spirit by having the Spirit. The Law of the Spirit is based in Liberty, for David or Solomon the Law of Moses was the law of their mother (Prov 6:20).
The Commandments of the Old were the basis for the Law, the token of the sabbath day linked one to the other. In our case the Law of the New Testament and the Commandments of the New are linked together by Mercy and Grace by the Spirit. The Commandments Jesus gave us from the Father are Mercy based, thus Mercy is a work of the soul, not the flesh. The Commandments Jesus gave us by the Holy Ghost are Grace related, a work of the Spirit in us training our souls, thus we come to the throne of Grace to Obtain Mercy, and find Grace.
Verse 21 tells them to bind the commandments continually upon their heart, and tie them around their neck. This has a metaphoric usage, the heart is of course the basis of intent, but the neck is where the Yoke was attached. Jesus told us to take His Yoke giving our souls rest, but to the Jew this passage has a much different meaning. The Hebrew word Tefillin or the Greek Phylacteries seem to be derived from this passage, the Jew took two black leather cubes attached them by long straps, then wore them during the morning prayer (except on high sabbaths – holidays), the two cubes contained passages from the Torah written on parchment. One of the Tefillin cubes was called the Shel Rosh, it was placed at the center of the forehead. The other cube was called the Shel Yad with the leather strap wrapped around the arm seven times. The cubes are a reminder to study the Torah every day as they keep the Commandments “bound” to them. However, there is a metaphoric New Testament concept as well, we obtain a New Heart, and our hands are lifted high onto the Lord for His service. To the Jew the Law and Commandments give them direction, but Jesus said the Spirit of Truth shall guide us into all Truth, also showing us things to come (Jn 16:13-14). The Spirit of Truth is the Greater He in us, separating us from the he of the world (I Jn 4:1- 7, I Cor 2:11-12 & Prov 6:20-21).
Verse 23 doesn’t say the Commandments as many, but Commandment as one, John tells us we have heard of the Commandment (I Jn 2:7), which Commandment is the basis for the Royal Law, to love one another (I Jn 2:10). Yet at the same time we must understand loving one another doesn’t mean we follow blindly, we still discern the ways of the strange woman (Prov 6:23-24). In order to walk in love we must also accept the reproofs and instruction as teachable (easily entreated) saints.
In Proverbs 6:24 we find “the evil woman” and the “strange woman”, Yikes, a sister. The word Evil is the Hebrew Ra meaning Malignant, Noxious, or one who causes pain, mischief, or hurt, it refers to the acts of the Wicked, thus we find two stages of the same element. The evil woman is the product of the strange woman, the evil part is the slander, the “flattery” part is how she entices, thus she will either attack, or entice. Like the damsel in Acts 16:16 they will flatter the person by attempting to entice their egos, setting the trap of destruction.
If a thief steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry, he is not despised, but if he is caught he must return sevenfold, plus the substance of his house (Prov 6:30-31). We tend to think “oh boy the devil owes me”; but the context shows if it’s the case we can’t despise the devil, further we must take his entire house, including all the lusts, darkness, evil, demons, and whatever else is in the “substance of his house” (Prov 6:31).
The thief took to satisfy the soul, the adulterer destroys his soul (Prov 6:30 & 6:32). Proverbs 6:32-35 is good advice, going much further than refraining from the physical act of adultery. Jesus tells the Seventh church they think they are rich and in need of nothing, but yet they are poor (Rev 3:17). The Seventh church is the product of the Windows of heaven opening up during the Time of Comfort as it brings the wealth of the world through the city, but after a time their attitude changes, they are seen as wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Do they think they are? No, they think they are increased with goods (Rev 3:17, 18:4-7 & 18:11-19). The illusion, or self-deception is the result of playing house with the strange woman.
Verse 33 makes it appear as if there is no forgiveness, but the context is still the strange woman as the Wicked. This would be the unpardonable sin, using the strange woman’s ways, yet calling them “of God”. This is a nature, not a slip, or a mistake, or even falling into temptation. This is the result of holding the cup of devils, calling it the New Covenant. Jesus paid the Ransom for us, but the Wicked regard not the Price paid (Prov 6:35). A far cry from someone who honors the price paid, by seeking to walk in the Spirit.
Proverbs 7:1 is a first person request, it’s not “keep the Words of the Lord”, but “keep My words”. The plural usage points to the Rhema, thus we find Jesus as the Logos, the Spirit as the Rhema, faith comes by hearing, the hearing by the Rhema indicating a desire to have the Spirit to have Life (Jn 6:63).
In the twilight or evening the simple one meets a woman subtle of heart, she is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house (Prov 7:6-11). She is in the streets, the place between places, lying in wait, just as Paul said there are those who lie in wait to deceive (Eph 4:14).
A young man is no longer a child, they have overcome the Wicked, yet without understanding they won’t pass by the strange woman, they will stop to hear her enticing words, or be fooled by her false demeanor. She will tell him how she worshipped and gave her offerings, but her fruit is evil and enticing, she desires to place him in bondage, to have him work to please her religious concepts, rather than have faith to please God (Prov 7:7-22). The strange woman will tell him how God has prospered her, how she gave her peace offerings, yet she is enticing by using words of deceit, trickery, and twisted thinking, thus whether she prospers or not isn’t the question, it’s her ways and words we judge. Her goal is to make the young man move in a different direction, she sets up a gate of hell, a diversion, division, or hindering element.
The strange woman counterfeits God’s wisdom in the forms of, “common sense, or self-confidence”; her weapon is based in the pride of life, she is joined to the he in the world to the point one can’t tell one from the other in the bed of adultery. She makes it sound as if all is safe, the Goodman is gone on a long journey (Prov 7:19). She entices the lusts of the youngman, she uses the illusion of fleshly pleasure.
Man has his five senses of the flesh to detect what he assumes to be good or evil; therefore, common sense is using the pride of life to detect what man assumes is good or evil based on worldly standards. Sanctification is a separation from the world, thus refusal to be separated from the world leaves us unholy, unjustified and unsanctified. We don’t need common sense, we need the Mind of Christ. We are in the world, but it doesn’t mean we are of the world. As soon as the strange woman thinks we are under her control, she plants her wile (tare), if we receive it, we fall from Grace (Prov 7:23). Her house is the broad way to hell, bringing death to her paths, thus she has many paths, we only have One. She will use many “road signs” seemingly right, but all lead to destruction (Prov 7:25-27). The strange woman has more paths than we the Body has doctrines, her paths consist of the doctrines of men and devils, most of which become the foundations to the various cult systems.
Running to the Law of Moses is the wrong direction, jumping to the restoration of Israel is the wrong path for us, but it’s the right path for the Remnant, using the pride of life is the wrong path for anyone; all of the strange woman’s paths form the broad road, many there are who follow therein. Thank God we have the path of righteousness leading to the fullness of the Kingdom of God.
Wisdom cries out for someone to reach unto her (Prov 8:1-2). Wisdom cries to the sons of men (those who walk in Mercy) regardless of time (Prov 8:4). Wisdom speaks truth, but wickedness speaks forward and perverse things (Prov 8:7-8). The word Perverse means directed away from what is right to something wrong, or twisting the words to fit a self-justified state. This is the same premise we find in the letter to the Galatians, thus Proverbs is prophetic in nature. Wisdom belongs to those who are full age, for they are able to discern good and evil, without having to partake of the fruit of the wrong tree (Prov 8:9 & Heb 5:14).
Then we see what the “fear of the Lord” entails, if we fear the Lord we hate evil, pride and arrogance, this isn’t hating it in others, it’s hating it in ourselves (Prov 8:13). Wisdom loves, provides, and fills those who love Her (Prov 8:17). Wisdom produces gold tried in the fire of God for the benefit of the soul (Prov 8:18 & Rev 3:18). The fruit of wisdom is more important than physical gold or silver, for wisdom leads us in the way of Righteousness (Prov 8:19-20). Wisdom was before the foundation of the world (Prov 8:22), it will carry us unto the end of the world.
The Delight of wisdom is the anointing, better is the Delight of wisdom than all the riches in the world (Prov 8:31). Wisdom moves into the house then builds it unto Glory (Prov 9:1). Wisdom drives out the world, but brings the New Wine to the Table of the Lord (Prov 9:2). Wisdom calls, “come eat of My Bread and drink of My Wine which I have mingled” (Prov 9:5). The strange or foolish woman says, “Stolen Waters are sweet, and Bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (Prov 9:13-17). The foolish woman doesn’t give Mercy, she steals it, just as a fowl takes the fruit from the branch. The foolish woman thinks she is getting away with her folly, or she has fooled God by her mask of self-righteousness, even to the point she has fooled herself. She thinks she is wisdom, she thinks she is in the highest place, but she is self-deceived.
Between Proverbs 9:3-5 and 9:15-17 we find the hidden agenda of the strange woman. Both wisdom and the strange woman say, “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither”, both speak to those who want understanding, but then it all changes. Wisdom has the Bread mingled with Wine, but the strange woman doesn’t, she seeks the stolen waters of mercy, she would rather render slanderous and wicked words. Her intent is to cause the person to turn from using mercy to using the ways of the strange woman. The strange woman eats bread in secret, thinking the Lord doesn’t know her heart. We saw this prior, the invitation is the same, the change is in the intent and pending result.
Some seek the Body yet stop before the Blood, some attempt to jump over the Lord’s Body to take the Blood, but wisdom joins them bringing us into the fullness of Mercy and Grace with nothing lacking. The word Mingled in verse 5 is the Hebrew Macak meaning mixed, it’s the same concept is mixing water with wine, something the early Believers did in Communion. The premise was the Water representing the Mercy of the Father, the Wine the Blood of Jesus (Grace), they saw the importance of Mercy and Grace mingled.
The strange woman sits at the “door to her house” (Prov 9:14), but wisdom has her Seven Pillars she has built (Prov 9:1). In the Book of Revelation we find Seven churches, but we know there were many more than seven. The seven noted were all started by John, but nonetheless we know there was the church in Jerusalem, the Galatians, as well as others. The connection goes right back to the Seven Pillars of the Golden Candlestick (Menorah), with Jesus as the Light, making Wisdom the Oil to the Menorah, the fuel keeping the Light burning.
The strange woman being at “the door” shows she begins in our Season, but ends in the next. Then we see the “foolish woman” who is clamorous, simple, yet knows nothing (Prov 9:13). The word Foolish is the Hebrew Kesiluth meaning One of folly, it only occurs here in Proverbs 9:13. The strange woman is one of folly, one who is joined to the Fool (root word for Kesiluth). A foolish son rejects wisdom (the Spirit), by retaining a carnal mind, he is easily seduced by the strange woman, showing the strange woman uses carnal endeavors to trap the carnal minded.
A wise son makes the Father glad, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his Mother (Prov 10:1). We work while it’s Light, the harvest is ready in the Season of Light, but a son who sleeps when it’s time to harvest is a shame (Prov 10:5). A foolish son will walk with the foolish woman becoming Strangers to the Covenant.
A Righteous man’s reward is a well of life (Prov 10:11), in order to Receive a Righteous man, one must respect them. Wisdom is found in the lips of one who has understanding, but the Rod of correction is for him who is void of understanding (Prov 10:13). Understanding involves discernment, when we can discern the event, God won’t have to correct us over and over to open our eyes. Proverbs 10:15 could be taken to mean money, but it refers to one who has a “strong city”, rather than silver and gold, our City is New Jerusalem.
We put bits in a horse’s mouth, wisdom puts a bit in our mouth to keep us from sinning with our lips (Prov 10:19). Wisdom gives us a true balance; whereas the old man uses a false balance (Prov 11:1). When pride comes, the scales become unbalanced, pride produces corrupt theology producing an unteachable soul (Prov 11:2). He that trusts in his riches shall fall, but he who trusts in the Lord shall be raised (Prov 11:28). The rich man who faced Jesus trusted in his riches, more than he trusted in Jesus (Mark 10:21-25). It’s not the riches, it’s the trust: the deceitfulness of riches chokes the seed of God, keeping us from entering the Kingdom of God. We are told to Trust in God, we use the riches as the Lord desires, a far cry from trusting in riches.
The fruit of righteousness comes from the Tree of Life, the fruit of the Tree of Life is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no Law; therefore, the Law of the Spirit is for those who walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23 & Prov 11:30). To reach this area we must seek God’s instruction, since we love His Knowledge (Prov 12:1). There is none good but God, but a good man obtains favor (prosperity) from the Lord (Prov 12:2). A wicked man’s word will condemn him, by our Words we are either justified or condemned (Matt 12:33). Justified words are the fruit of a good tree; we obtained the Seed of God, then we apply Water bringing forth the Good Fruit from the Good Tree, in which there is no evil (I Jn 3:9). From which tree are we gaining the Fruit? Is it the Tree of Life? Or the corrupt tree?
The Bride of Christ is purposed to be a virtuous woman wearing the crown of life, but if she makes Jesus ashamed, she brings rottenness in His bones and death to the marrow (Prov 12:4). We are the purposed Bride, but we are also the Body of Christ; therefore, the wife has not power of her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife (I Cor 7:4). We as the Body of Christ have the Power over the Body, but not over the Church, it’s the Church where we find the Crown of Life.
The Body is the testing place, not the finish of the race. When we till the ground, and make haste for the seed of God, we shall be satisfied with the Bread of Life (Prov 12:11). Instead of following the way of the fool, which seems right in the fool’s eyes, we will follow Jesus, becoming the righteous in God’s eye (Prov 12:15 & 12:26). The way of the Righteous is Life, in the pathway of the righteous there is no death (Prov 12:28). Every time we see the word Life in the Old Testament it becomes the basis for the testimony of Jesus (Jn 5:39). Jesus brought Life, the Scriptures point to Life, they couldn’t bring it, yet the Scriptures are nonetheless Holy. The Scriptures laid out the prophecy, yet Jesus is the Spirit (reason and purpose) of all Prophecy.
A wise son hears his Father’s voice, but a rebellious son hears not the Father (Prov 13:1). This is a direct correlation to the vessel of honor and one of dishonor, the vessel of Honor hears the Father’s voice of Mercy, the one unto dishonor does not.
If we fight to make ourselves rich, we gain nothing, if we seek the Kingdom of God we gain the riches of heaven, causing the things to be added (Prov 13:7). The Law of the Spirit is the Law of the Wise, it’s a fountain of life separating us from the ways of death (Prov 13:14). Vexation of Spirit (poverty), and shame (no Christ) shall be the inheritance of those who refuse instruction (Prov 13:18).
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children, Jesus left us the inheritance to the Kingdom of God (Prov 13:22). He who spares the rod hates his son, but in the mouth of the foolish is the rod of pride (Prov 13:24 & 14:3). It’s not the Rod, but how it’s used. The world uses punishment to appease anger, but a righteous man brings correction unto perfection for the benefit of the one being corrected. The world brings punishment to keep it’s own position safe, a righteous man brings correction to help the other person enter righteousness. God uses the Rod of Correction, but it’s not to belittle us, or force us to obey, rather it exposes our error so we can be placed back on the Path of Righteousness. There are some who are motivated by hate, others who are motivated by their Love for God, yet those who love God also hate evil, pride, arrogance, iniquity and the evil way (Prov 8:13). Some want to get even with the world for past wrongs, but it’s a failure to forgive. When hate or validation is the motivation, the thing we fear the most will come upon us. If Love is our motivation we can still hate evil things, but love the people.
Appearance isn’t a clue to the heart, thus discerning doesn’t begin with appearance. The strange woman stands at the door, she uses her appearance to attract her prey. There are those who appear righteous, but inside Satan still reigns, the fruit of their lips exposes their tree (source). We flee from the presence of a foolish man, when we perceive not in him the lips of knowledge (Prov 14:7). There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Prov 14:12). Once we begin to backslide, we will fill our hearts with our own ways, if we return not, we will choke the Seed of God out of our hearts (Prov 14:14 & Mark 4:15-19). Repentance has two parts, being sorry for what we have done is only part of it, we must turn unto the Kingdom of God to complete the process. Without the Kingdom of God our repentance lacks correction, without correction we will do the same things over and over again until we become callous.
We are the cups, when we pour in the Blood of Jesus, the self spills out, but if we pour in the self, the Blood spills out. The cup of the self is the cup of devils, the cup is just a cup, it’s what’s in the cup making the difference. The backslider needs a retraining into the building process from the foundation of Christ. No matter when the backsliding started, God wants them to return to the beginning to start anew. Backsliders fall because of a faulty building process; the foundation is Christ, but everyone builds differently, one can use some wood, another gold (purity), some hay and some silver (redemption), some stubble, some jewels (fruit of the Spirit). The foundation is not the problem, the materials used to build on the foundation can be the problem.
The poor in Spirit are hated by their neighbor, but the neighbor who hates the poor in Spirit is in sin (Prov 14:20-21). In the fear of the Lord we find strong confidence, the fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life (Prov 14:26-27). The word for Fear means a total respect and knowledge of Who God is, what His Holiness entails, as well as knowing God is equal. We can’t please God without faith, but we must have the knowledge of God to understand what faith consists of.
The New Birth brings New Tongues, Unknown Tongues and Groanings that can’t be Uttered. The New Tongues are words backed up by God’s Love, Mercy, Grace and Wisdom, they come from the Tree of Life, rather than the corrupt tree (Prov 14:17 & 15:1-4). Unknown Tongues is when the Sprit speaks through the New Man, Groanings come as the Spirit produces birth pains. Groanings can’t be uttered, thus they are not spoken, when someone goes about “groaning” on the outside, they lack the groaning unto birth on the inside. New Tongues are the evidence of a character change based on the New Tree. All are different, yet all have the same source, all have a purpose and a benefit. Groanings are the labors of the Spirit bringing the birth of the Seed of God, thus they are Groanings not uttered, or groanings internally. In the Greek the word Groaning is akin to something about ready to explode, thus it pertains to growth within. Unknown Tongues are when the Spirit speaks to ABBA Father; no natural man understands what is said, only the Spirit can interpret (I Cor 14:2 & 12:10). Unknown tongues don’t “exalt the self”, they edify the person enabling them to deny the self. Unknown tongues are an offense to the unbeliever and unlearned, but to the believer it’s a source of peace in the time of trouble.
Without the New Birth our sacrifices are laced with the spirit of man, the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord (Prov 15:8). When God reproofs a scorner, they go about saying, “God always does this to me” or “why does this happen to me?”; they fail to “love the reproof” (Prov 15:12). When the Groaning comes, they reject it for the pleas of the old man saying, “have pity on me, make God stop this” (Matt 16:22-23). The old nature is greedy seeking self gain, rather than seeking the position to bless God (Prov 15:23-27). The fool looks for the self-benefit, instead of the gift of the Spirit, the fool seeks the gift of greed, by using Godly principles to enhance the self (Prov 15:27). He who refuses instruction (correction) hates his own soul; instead of seeking the salvation of the soul, the fool uses the old man in a religious vain to puff up his pride (Prov 15:32). If we love God then we will delight in the salvation process, as we delight in the exposure of our soul. A wise son seeks the reproof of the Word, as the Guidance of the Spirit unto perfection.
When we gain eyes to see, we will see how the old man has lied to us, tricked us into thinking pride is being humble, or humbleness is a weakness; the ways of a man are right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the intents of our thoughts (Prov 16:1 & 16:3-5). Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit (attitude) before the fall (Prov 16:18). The ungodly dig up evil in others, yet ignore the good (Prov 16:27). We are sent to destroy the works of the devil, vacate pride, drive away any haughty attitude, as the example of one who trusts in God (Prov 16:20). A reproof gains more with a wise man than a hundred stripes on the back of a fool (Prov 17:10). A merry heart comes from a right attitude, it does the heart good (Prov 17:22).
Our confession is the evidence of the tree, but painting oranges red never makes them apples. We check our own confession to detect our soul, yet a fool’s mouth is his own destruction, his lips a snare to his soul, he continually is hung by the tongue (Prov 18:7). However, a good tree produces confidence in the Name of the Lord, it sits in the high tower (Tabernacle) of the righteous (Prov 18:10-14). Death and life are in the power of the tongue, the Power of the righteous tongue is found at the Tree of Life (Prov 18:21). It’s interesting to note it’s death first, then life, thus Life came with Jesus to spare us the second death. A good tree produces words of life, a corrupt (death) tree produces words of death. A good heart finds the Righteous position knowing they have a good thing (Prov 18:22).
Knowledge is the first step, wisdom brings understanding to the knowledge, but a soul without knowledge is not good (Prov 19:2). There is the wealth of man, the wealth of God, it’s the wealth of God making many friends, but the poor in Spirit are separated (sanctified) from their neighbor in order to gain the fullness of the Spirit (Prov 19:4). Every man is a friend to Him who gives gifts (Prov 19:6), Jesus gave us gifts to complete the calling, the Holy Ghost gives us gifts as well, the Spirit brings the manifestation to make the gifts work for the benefit of all. Wisdom, Love and Faith are all sisters, he who gets wisdom loves his soul; he who keeps understanding finds good, yet there is none good, but God (Prov 19:8).
When we are slothful toward the saving of the soul, our soul becomes idle, as it begins to produce idols (Prov 19:15-18). Some want to discern everyone else’s heart, but not their own, some go about cursing the darkness, but fail to see the Light, some go about fighting the devil, but refuse to fight their own carnal souls; wisdom knows the battle ground, the fight, and the weapons we must use.
The sluggard will not plow the field when it’s cold; therefore, they end begging God in the time of harvest. A sluggard is not one who does nothing, rather they wait and wait until the time is upon them. We prepare the ground by repentance, gaining the attention of God (Prov 20:4-7). No one can save their own soul, who can say, I have made my heart clean? They claim their deeds or works cleaned their own heart, but the thought process comes from the pillar of pride, their latter state is worse than the first (Prov 20:9-10). The natural mind of man attempting to save a soul, is the blind leading the blind.
A talebearer speaks to us with flattering lips to learn our secrets, so they can run around and tell all, but they only tell half-truths, or suggestions, they will interweave fables into their tales (Prov 20:19). When we find what they did, we don’t say, “I’ll get them” or “Lord get them”, rather we wait on the Lord by applying Mercy, as we reject personal recompense, learning the lesson; there are some things better kept between us and the Lord (Prov 20:22-27).
When Jesus said, “physician, heal thyself” it wasn’t the same as “take two aspirins and call me in the morning” (Luke 4:23-24). The prayer of faith heals the sick one, it’s centered on obtaining the Wisdom of God to deal with the event at hand. In many cases it’s the event overcoming us, or people overcoming us. The first step is our decision to forgive is to please the Lord, even if we don’t want to forgive. The sacrifice is by faith, looking to the result which is the forgiveness manifested. Faith is the only way any of us can “forgive the unforgivable”; the Decision opens the Door, then God will give us the Mercy to bring the desire to completeness.
Jesus presented the means, but we must receive it to be healed and saved. When the call is for three aspirins, yet we only take one, we miss the goal. Jesus wants to give us His Glory by His Character, but He will not make our choices, or believe for us. It’s a two way street, He has done all it takes to complete the process, yet we must enter the process to gain. Instead of following recompense, the talebearer, or the ways of the strange woman, we seek after God’s Righteousness and Mercy, thereby finding Life, Righteousness and Honor before God (Prov 21:21-22). The strange woman holds to her pride, but humbleness destroys pride; therefore, we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will lift us in due time (Prov 22:4). It’s also true, if God tells us to expose the false, it’s done by love and mercy, not hate, debate, or clubs of theological premises lacking understanding.
God trains us in the way we must go by bringing correction unto perfection, we train our children the same way; however, one must be willing to receive in order to gain. A hypocrite enforces rules, they themselves refuse to follow. The world punishes out of fear or frustration, God brings wisdom in correction unto perfection (Prov 22:6-7 & 22:15-17). We eat the Bread of Life, not the bread of one who has an evil eye, nor do we eat bread in secret (Prov 23:6). Taking the evil bread, or holding the cups of devils, will cause Jesus to spew us out of His mouth (Prov 23:8 & Rev 3:16-17). Man equates riches in the material sense, God equates riches to the prosperity of the soul. James used the same premise, a Rich man is one who is entitled to the Covenant, a Poor man is not. We became rich the day we accepted the New Covenant, the just still live by faith.
Wisdom builds the house, but understanding will establish it (Prov 24:3). If we are seeking the Lord to gain Truth, our hearts will find it. All of us will miss the mark at times, we don’t want to, but we do. All of us have been seduced by some stranger, we didn’t expect to, but we were; however, none of us need remain that way. We learn from the burn, we accept the lesson by Understanding and Wisdom.
We’ve all picked up some strange thinking along the way, strongholds, or high things, as all Babes do, but a just man falls seven times a day, yet the Lord forgives them seventy times seven, as they continue on (Prov 24:16). There is a purpose in all things, God knows when we are going to miss it, but He also knows we are quick to repent; therefore, He is able to make the error a lesson unto perfection. The errors we make serve a purpose, they remind us we are human, we still exist in the earthly flesh, although imputed dead it still speaks. When our brothers fall we don’t cast them off, we run to restore; when our enemies fall we can’t take joy; our joy will turn on us to be our enemy (Prov 24:17-18). It’s a battle not to say, “I knew it” when we see the fall of someone who attacked us over and over, we can’t joy in their downfall; we must pray for those who persecute us as we seek restoration, rather than destruction.
There are times when the Lord has placed hard times or valleys before us to expose, or correct us, there are times when we make our own walls, or dig our valleys, yet the Lord allows it to bring correction. Simply because it seems hard doesn’t mean it is, really it’s only hard because we have rejected the easy instruction. The Lord is able to make a way for the Just, we have the choice to gain from the experience, or allow it to overcome us. Building a wall by using bottles gains nothing, thus there are times when we use the wrong tools for the right job, making us frustrated. God brings correction guiding us to the right tool, for the right job as He removes frustration. An a ear who hears the entire message is far better than the impatient ear who only hears “go”, without hearing where to go, or what to do when they get there, as well as what tools to use in the building process.
God speaks in mysteries, allegories, metaphors and parables, it’s to the Glory of God do so, but it’s the honor of the king to search out the matter. When we find the mysteries by the Spirit we can be assured the Spirit is removing the Dross, to bring forth the Redemption (Silver), so we can be vessels fit for the Potter (Refiner – Prov 25:2-4).
Some of us long to hear the Lord say, “Well done My good and faithful servant”, a good desire, but it’s predicated on hearing the Spirit guide us until we hear, “Come up hither”, rather than being put lower in the presence of the Prince whom their eyes will see (Prov 25:7). On the last day the Jews will look upon Him they have pierced, as every eye will see Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the Son of man come to Judge. The phrase “Come up hither” is the call from the Holy Ghost to the Spirit to enter Heaven, evidenced by John hearing “Come up hither” when he entered the door to heaven by the Spirit (Rev 4:11).
Ezekiel viewed the last days from the earth, John viewed them from heaven and earth, thus John has a view of the Report and Plan in heaven, as well as the activity on the earth (Rev 4:1). Immediately, in the twinkling of an eye, John was taken to the throne in heaven (Rev 4:2). This is a Twinkling, not a winking, thus it’s faster than Light. Revelation 4:1 is a symbol of the Rapture, when the Gentile Age ends the Door to heaven will be closed for the last half of the Hour (Rev 4:4, 6:9-10, 7:1-2, 8:1 & 15:8). Our Hope is being spared the wrath of God, a promise secured by the Spirit in us.
Wisdom makes us wise, Mercy makes us just, the five Wise Virgins all had lamps and oil; whereas the five foolish virgins had the lamps, but no Oil of Mercy. Holding the container doesn’t mean it’s holding the right product. The fool says in his heart There is no God, the fool plays mind games with God, one who presumes and assumes many things, mostly illusions. Those who made Jesus Savior, yet for one reason or another were denied the opportunity to receive the Spirit to make Him Lord will not be forgotten, although they will receive few stripes. Jesus will never deny Himself, therefore, the person will find their name in the Book of Life as they hear, “come up hither”. At the Judgment the Bride receives Her bridesmaids (Rev 11:12 & 21:24). It is far better to hear “Come up hither” before the 1,000 years than face the Prince (Prov 24:7).
If we see our enemy hungry, we feed them, if he is thirsty we give them water, as we heap coals of fire on their head, then the Lord shall cover and protect us (Prov 25:21-22). Coals bring light and exposure, yet Mercy is ready to forgive. The desert wanderers used to carry the coals from the fire used the night before in a protected metal container on their head, thus to give part of those coals to another was a great sacrifice, a tremendous act of mercy. If our enemy repents, we’ve gained a friend. When we give mercy, mercy is given back, shaken down, pressed together and running over; if we give condemnation, it comes back, shaken down, pressed together and running over (Luke 6:37-38). It’s better to gain a friend who was an enemy, than gain more enemies. Not only does the giving refer to natural food, but we find the Meat of the Word, which is Wisdom coupled with the Water (Mercy), rather than words of manipulation and destruction. Why feed the fires of hell? Put them out with the Living Water.
When we care for our concerns first, then give God the leftovers, we force God to give us His leftovers, yet even the leftovers can heal us, but the leftovers are still appointed unto the dogs. Perhaps we made the vow to enter the ministry with joyfulness, which means we also vowed to receive the training with joyfulness. If we are complaining about the training, we broke our vow, the curse never comes without cause (Prov 26:2-5). Therefore we can be among those promised freedom from the curse of the Law, yet fail to maintain our vow, or fail to discern the Body which in turn gives the devil opportunity. Wisdom uses understanding to find the cause, rather than blame us for our shortcomings. When the children were in the wilderness it was the Lord, not the devil who placed the curse in the Law. The Curse of the Law was a form of correction, truthfully it was about the only correction the children understood. Nonetheless, giving the devil the credit for the correction of God is the heart of a fool. Assuming we can reject God’s ways and thoughts yet be holy, is the mind of a fool.
The event is not our problem, it’s our soulish reaction to the event becoming the problem. We tend to put wood where there is no fire, or keep piling wood, hay and stubble on the fire until it’s out of control (Prov 26:20). Gold melts, it doesn’t burn, but when we put a match to dry hay it roars out of control. Faith brings a fire to purify us into God’s gold, but the wild soul starts fires it can’t put out. Instead of looking about for someone to blame, or instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we seek wisdom to discern the event while we understand all the Why’s, thereby gaining, rather than losing.
A wise man receives reproof and learns, a fool hates reproof and loses. God will not answer a fool according to his folly, God looks to the potential and purpose. If we answer a fool with his own folly (using the same source or agreeing with their conclusions) we encourage them to remain in their own conceits. At the same time we join in their folly, making us a fool as well.
Iron sharpens iron, everything produces after its own kind, the type of water we use determines the growth. If we water with bitterness, bitterness grows, if we water with faith in God, Faith grows. If we water with Mercy, Mercy grows. When we forsake our calling, fail at our vows, or play religious social mind games we are not praising God we are praising the self (Prov 28:4). Wisdom brings the mind of Christ for instruction (Prov 28:5 & I Cor 2:16). When we do sin, we go to the Lord, for he who attempts to cover (hide) his sin will never prosper in the Lord (Prov 28:13). However, a faithful man will always abound with blessings (Prov 28:20). A proud heart stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be fat (wealthy) in the Lord (Prov 28:25). He who trusts in the Lord will walk wisely, he who trusts in his own heart is a fool (Prov 28:26).
With all these statements regarding the Fool, it would seem Jesus was either wrong, or Proverbs is; since Jesus told us “whosoever shall say, You Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matt 5:22). However, the context Jesus uses begins and ends with “a brother”; the word Fool used by Jesus means without God, a type of the strange woman, here in Proverbs it’s a metaphoric separation within the person, indicating they have separated themselves from the Lord. Paul called the Galatians foolish, but he never said they were without God. Proverbs gives us a division within, the soul without the Spirit it’s a fool, the soul with the Spirit is wise, which shows a soul with the Spirit is with God. This brings us to the main context of Proverbs, as it relates to the saving of the soul, the purpose of our faith. Proverbs defines the fool for the Jew, to us it defines the old man. Regardless of our great mental advances, without the Spirit we’re still a fool. Our old man was a fool, but God gave us the wise man in the New Man. Each foolish thought is the voice of the old nature, each thought of Godly wisdom is the New Man. A double-minded person will follow the fool, yet call himself a Wise Man. We look inside for the fool, rather than run around looking for the fool while being one. If we hear the voice of the old man, we will find ourselves in the “gathering of fools”. We don’t tell someone, “Proverbs says you’re a fool, you jerk”, rather wisdom tells us, “we are a fool”, then we repent. Contending with the fool, whether in rage, or laughter doesn’t give us rest (Prov 29:9). Laughing at the devil may make him mad, but it doesn’t defeat the his works; the Name of Jesus destroys the wiles of the enemy. Using wicked means to accomplish what we assume is a Godly result, is the work of an unjust person (Prov 29:27).
If we want the “rest of God” we will receive the correction of God with joy and gladness (Prov 29:17). Praise brings Joy, but Joy based in unsaved emotions ends in pride. Laughter and Joy are different, Joy is a settled stable mode of thinking with a confidence in God, but through unsaved emotions it’s about as stable as water.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy his mother taught him is the last chapter in Proverbs. The name Lemuel means, Belonging To God, the prophecy talks about the Virtuous Woman (Prov 31:10). This prophecy reaches to the Bride of Christ, becoming God’s purpose for us. We can take this teaching and force it on some females, yet in the process we proved we are not the Virtuous Woman. If we receive the knowledge and wisdom of the prophecy, we can enter the purpose. Our price is far above all the rubies in the world, we are the treasure (wheat) in the field (Prov 31:10).
A Virtuous Woman is given the trust of Her Husband (Prov 31:11). Ahh, now we see, this Woman becomes the purposed Bride of Christ. She stretches out her hand to the poor in Spirit, she looks for the needy, she is not afraid of any danger coming to her household (Prov 31:20-21). Her Husband is Known at the gates of the city, and sits in rest, knowing He has a good Bride (Prov 31:23). She makes fine white linen (Prepares Herself to walk in white with Jesus – Prov 31:24). When she opens her mouth, wisdom comes forth, her tongue holds the Law of Kindness (New Tongues – Prov 31:26).
Her children rise up and call her blessed (Prov 31:28). Her works of wisdom, faith, love are the fruit of the Spirit bringing her praise in the gates of New Jerusalem (Prov 31:31). God gives us His vision of the Bride, we believe unto the vision to enter therein. This is our promise, it hasn’t passed away, it’s been hidden, but God has power and anointing waiting for those who believe, hold knowledge, seek wisdom, use understanding. This is how the Bride makes herself ready, she walks in the Spirit, operates in the Wisdom of God, treats the people of God as God would, she is in love with her betrothed Husband she will move heaven and earth to be by His side.
ECCLESIASTES
Ecclesiastes was written by the son of David the king over Israel in Jerusalem; although we credit Solomon with the words, we fail to see the King is Jesus, the son of David, the Author is the Holy Ghost. The word, Ecclesiastes pertains to the Church, thus the word Preacher points directly to the Body. The Jew holds to the Torah, the Church is established on the Apostles and Prophets (I Cor 12:28), we look to the Prophecy and Power of Christ, not the Torah. The Hebrew word used for Preacher means a Female Lecturer; therefore, Ecclesiastes points to the Virtuous Woman, the Wise Virgin, the one with Wisdom, the one who Allows the Spirit to manifest and preach. There is no Office for “Preacher”;we are all supposed to be the Virtuous Woman.
The most perplexing situation to face any minister is Vanity, not only in their own heart, but in the hearts of the self-deceived. The Lord could ask someone to do some little act of faith, one small point of obedience, it may not seem like much, but it’s the hammer to the wall of pride, the dynamite to the pillar of control, the block busting rock to the idols of the mind. It could be as simple as “pray with your mate” or “forgive them” or even “you were wrong, apologize”; yet the person will fight tooth and nail, or form all sorts of excuses, even to the point of attempting to use twisting the words spoken. Instead of “forgiving them”, they will work night and day feeding the poor, but refuse to be obedient to the direct request from the Lord. Pride will run about doing all sorts of religious works, but the intent is to avoid the one thing Jesus has asked. As Pride builds its self-righteousness, it is also building walls of rebellion. The Word wasn’t sent to destroy anyone, but to save them, yet some join with the strange woman while denying the Spirit the ability to cover them with the Glory of Christ. Whatever the Lord asks us to do, it’s well within our ability, but it always involves choice; therefore, pride keeps us from obeying the Lord, a failure to obey is the entry to iniquity.
Faith can cometh all day long, but Pride will keep closing the Door. Faith is for the Day, but the Pride of the Wicked will cause the Door to close on them at the Rapture. Pride is the cornerstone to the works of the devil. Pride and control are sisters, pride refuses to submit, it never wants to finish what it started. The fear of failure governs pride, if the work is left half done, it’s better if it was never done. Control is a form of bondage, although the person assumes they are in control, it’s really control controlling them.
Fear of commitment, fear of responsibility, fear of failure, or a fear of applying faith are all stones in the wall of pride, each is vanity and vexation to the Spirit. Control wants to know all the ins and outs before it begins while faith wants to know, “if it’s God.” Faith doesn’t care if the event appears to be failure; faith knows the victory may be a mystery to the eye of man, but well known to God.
Control and pride will love each other in the same house (mind), but fight like cats and dogs if they are found in separate houses. Pride looks for self-exaltation, control looks for self-protection. It’s all vanity, the vanity of the sheep cause more pastors to cry out in the night because of the vexation. The word Vexation appears ten times in Ecclesiastes, but we find two different Hebrew words. The Hebrew Retuwth is used in Ecclesiastes 1:14, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 4:4, 4:6 and 6:9; meaning Feeding upon or Grasping after, it comes from the Hebrew Raah meaning To rule, or Associate with, it often points to those who feed upon Vanity, thus in order to define it, we have to look at what it’s feeding off of. The other Hebrew word is Reyown it’s used in Ecclesiastes 1:17, 2:22 and 4:16, meaning a Desire, or Lust, it comes from the Hebrew Raah as well. Vexation is the produce of the spirit of man, it will ask, but ask amiss to consume the product on a lust.
Psalms gave us the knowledge, thus knowledge takes longer to explain than wisdom. Proverbs gave us wisdom, now we have Ecclesiastes, the understanding of the wisdom. Ecclesiastes builds on the prophecy given to Lemuel, showing the soul without the Spirit produces vanity. It also points to the promise granted the Bride of Christ, as well as potential in us by Christ as God sees it, or on the other hand what happens when we lose our vision. Knowledge without wisdom leads to intellect without ability, we all have knowledge, but not all have Love, yet Love is how Godly Faith works.
Man using his natural intellect to decipher the Bible doesn’t negate the pride of life, it builds it: ending in a taste not, touch not theology, laced with bondage to the flesh, or pride producing religious conceit. Without the Holy Ghost to interpret the Word, the intellectual will use their mind as the guiding factor; thereby making the spirit of man the governor over the Word. They call their mind the interpreter, thus they exalt their intellect. According to the intellect, whatever the mind can’t do, God doesn’t do anymore. The source of most unbelief is based on this premise, someone uses natural intellect to disprove the Bible, then naturally motivated people accept it, enforcing their unbelief, thus belief is a choice, but if we are more prone toward unbelief, we will seek out the words of unbelievers, even if they are scholars.
There is a very thin line between intellectual control over the Bible, and the interpretation of the Bible. Although it’s a thin line, it separates the groups by miles. Years of study will not bring the interpretation, yet without sound study there is nothing in our rememberer for the Holy Ghost to bring forth. Study and being open to the Holy Ghost run hand in hand; without the Holy Ghost man’s intellect simply runs around in confused theological circles forming traditions of men as doctrine. The mind of man without the Spirit begins and ends in vanity (Eccl 1:2).
The Resurrection of Jesus is the key point of the Christian faith, thus it has been attacked from the very beginning. The Resurrection of Jesus proves one thing, Jesus has the power over death, something no other person on this earth from Adam until the end of time could accomplish, thus it’s paramount to believe in our heart God raised Jesus from the dead, thus God gives us a New Heart (Spirit) as support for our belief.
Generations pass away, but the earth will go on forever, although its latter end is much different from its beginning (Eccl 1:4). Eternity was once described, as the earth in the form of a giant steel ball, every hundred years an eagle would fly by and touch the earth with one wing. When the eagle has worn the earth down to the size of a small ball, eternity would have just begun. Man spends all his life on one pass of the eagle’s wing; it’s vanity; really Eternity is void of time as we know it. Today’s great discovery, is tomorrow’s foolishness; today’s great victory, is tomorrow’s historical blunder.
Understanding removes the excuses we formulate for failure, “It was the Bible you gave me”, “well if they hadn’t done it, I won’t have”, “if they didn’t do it to me, I wouldn’t have this unforgiveness, it’s not my fault”, or “it was the pastor you gave me”. Then there are the formulated intellectual excuses of, “it has passed away”, or “we’re not sure about those verses”, or “we’re going to restudy the Resurrection”, all come from the intent of “since it’s passed away, I’m not responsible”. Leaders also form excuses, “what if they don’t believe?”, from the intent of, “I don’t have to go, since they won’t believe”. Then the famed, “I’m not wise enough”, or “I don’t have the faith it takes”, or the classic, “I’m not worthy”, all from the intent of avoiding the call, they are based on vanity and pride. Even the “I’m not worthy” excuse is pride, it fears failure, it would just as soon take the false humble position, which enforces pride, rather than negating it.
It’s all vanity of intellect, it’s vain in the eye of God. Our position is never to force people to believe, rather we present convincing evidence, backed up with signs and wonders, allowing the people make their own choice. Elijah didn’t force the people to believe, he did tell them, “If God be God, worship Him but if Baal…” thereby presenting choice, then he presented the evidence for choice. Choice without something to choose from, is not choice at all.
The devil is defeated, he can’t destroy a shoe box, but his works carry on in the hearts of lost man. We are sent to destroy the works of the devil, not the devil. God doesn’t see some hairy demon running the world ripping man apart, He sees the hearts of man ripping out the seed of God. Jesus said, the Pharisees were of their father the devil, yet He presented them evidence of God’s Mercy. When Jesus was on the cross, the evidence of the Body before Him wasn’t all that great, yet He completed the task. Jesus looked ahead to the Bride, He saw what will be, although at the time it didn’t appear as such, He knew the evidence of what will be was worth the cost paid.
Jesus is the Spirit of all prophecy, the Prophecy went forth as He completed the prophecy. He presented the prophecy to the Pharisees and others, but they failed to enter in. Prophecy has two sides, which will be regardless, or which will be if we enter in by faith. Jesus presented many things, He said many things projecting the result of the Cross, thus His faith knew the result was Good; He attended the Precious, not the vile.
There is labor, and there is labor; one can work three hours a day, yet feel as if they’ve worked fifty; one can pray in the morning, then work forty hours and feel as if they worked one. God gives us previews of the future in the things that were (Eccl 1:9). God gives us mini-signs of things to come, but we can confuse the mini-sign as the event, and end looking backward, rather than forward. Although the event, or the Move may appear New to us, it’s not New to God. The beginning and end were all in hand before the beginning of the world, it’s merely a matter of man’s time and God’s Timing intersecting.
Sodom was one city to describe the result of all folly, Abraham was one man to describe the faith of many. The strange woman has many foolish children, the son of perdition is a position, but it has many who draw themselves therein. There is no new thing under the sun, a Believer is a Believer, a Pharisee a Pharisee, regardless of time. The world today is no different from the world at any point in history. Lost man has fancy buildings, or fast machines, but he still holds the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Lost man can invent new machines, but he is none the better. Lost man can invent bigger weapons, then use them to control his assumed peace, but there is no peace, there is a war or rumor of war every day until the Rapture. Man works to add a few years to his physical life, yet dies. It’s all vanity. If nothing is New, how then can we have the New Man? There is nothing new under the sun, the New Man is heavenly in nature. However, the prophecy in the very beginning was to make man in the Image of God, it came to pass in the New Birth. The New Covenant came to man after the Old, but it was in the Plan. The Plan has all the events, thus there is nothing New, it’s all recorded and happening (Eccl 1:11).
All this doesn’t mean we sit in some cave either, for one is just as bad as the other, rather we hear and obey. The Preacher put his heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all the things done under heaven (Eccl 1:12-13). However, Wisdom is found in the Believer, not the world. The Preacher searches the world as the “eyes of the Lord” looking for Truth, but finds vanity. Truth is only found in Jesus who sits on the right hand side of Majesty on High, seen again in the heart of the Born Again Believer.
When we reach the Full Ear we will view the world from the eye of the Preacher, seeing the waste involved in the cares of this world, the foolishness found in the deceitfulness of riches, the horror observed in the lusts for other things, yet if we allow them to overtake us we will become bitter, or end in frustration. The field is ready for harvest, thus man in and of himself can never make the crooked straight, rather he makes the crooked more crooked (Eccl 1:15). The Preacher gave his heart to know wisdom, but also to know madness and folly, it was the madness and folly causing the vexation of the Spirit (Eccl 1:17).
The Preacher saw the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the mixed seed of what man assumed to be good, always ending in evil. Paul said, we can be sealed with the Spirit, yet grieve the Holy Spirit with our corrupt communication (Eph 1:13 & 4:30). To the Jew the base meaning of Vexation means something consumed, causing them to be Grieved. Isaiah tells us how rebellion vexes the Holy Spirit, or causes the Holy Spirit to turn and become our enemy (Isa 63:10). The word Paul used for Sealed means Given the authenticity to present the Gospel, it doesn’t mean we can do what we want, when we want, how we want. When the “wiles of the devil” proceed out of our mouths in all those words of bitterness, unbelief, slander, anger and wrath, we become a disciple of evil, rather than a disciple of God.
The Preacher needed only to look at herself, the Wisdom she desired was not to be found in the things of the world, it’s found in the things of God. When we are able to discern our own words, we will not allow corrupt communication to come from our mouths grieving the Holy Spirit (Eccl 1:18).
The “burden of the Lord” is not some burden placed on us regarding what the world is doing to God, it’s God’s burden regarding what man has done to God. God desires to prove us by faith, it’s our own stiffnecked thinking producing the stripes (Eccl 2:1). We tend to jump from hill top to hill top, looking for mirth and pleasure, but we are merely avoiding the test of faith (Eccl 2:1-2).
We must seek the Wine of the Spirit, not the wine of man (Eph 5:17-18 & Eccl 2:3). We can do great works, cast out devils and prophesy, yet be found chasing after unbelief (Eccl 2:4-11). Having God’s wisdom, and being used by it are different. We can’t judge the fool, we must seek to walk in God’s wisdom to save the fool (Eccl 2:12-15). We tend to love our natural life more than death, rather than love the life of Christ to bring the death to the old man (Eccl 2:16-17). Saying we want to be crucified with Christ, and submitting to it are different. Rebellion and Pride are also sisters, causing vexation of the Spirit (Eccl 2:17).
We hate the deeds of the old man, yet we tend to fight to preserve him, or ignore the obvious. The works of the spirit of man, even religious works seem right to a man, but not in the eyes of the Lord. There is none Good but God, thus in order to be Good, one must have God. Works of religion without Mercy are works of worldly endeavors, they are vexation (Eccl 2:18-23). When we are Good in the sight of God, we will enjoy the labor, as we are at rest within (Eccl 2:24-26).
We begin to see that the counterfeit or the Wicked are a he, she, and an it; but we are neither male or female. It’s close, but not the same, thus the Wicked are adulterers and adulteresses; whore and whoremonger. They are the defined in many terms, the purpose of our faith is the saving of our souls by the Justification process. All the battles, and fights are to bring us into the Spiritual realm. It’s a war, one where our victory was determined the second we received the Spirit of Christ.
Times in a Season have many elements, some seem good, some seem bad, some seem indifferent, but each is a means for God to exercise us into the faith (Eccl 3:1-10). Strong Meat (Understanding with action) belongs to those who are full age (Heb 5:14). Milk is for the disciple who holds knowledge without the ability to apply wisdom (Heb 5:13). Yet, we all need the milk to grow by, but not any milk, rather we seek the sincere milk of the Word (I Pet 2:2). Milk takes us to the house, Meat opens the door to fill the house (I Pet 2:5). The fool has the world in his heart, as he seeks to give man the credit for the works of God (Eccl 3:11). Understanding knows God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Eccl 3:12-15 & Heb 11:6).
The Preacher looked, seeing the place of judgment, but there was only wickedness there. Then the Preacher saw the place (not the people) of righteousness, but iniquity was there. The Preacher saw man was doomed, there were none to plead his case, no manner of life or provision to bring man to salvation. The Preacher said in her heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. Ecclesiastes gives us the Hope of God, the Preacher saw man, saw how man couldn’t begin. The incentive was there, it was written, the Prophecy would go forth. Jesus would give us the beginning and end, giving us the ability to run and finish the race to avoid the Judgment, as the Spirit removes vexation from us.
Our connection to Understanding is at the table of the Lord; if we judge ourselves, we will not be condemned with the world (Eccl 3:16, I Cor 2:13-16 & I Cor 11:31). All of us face the judgment seat of Christ, but we have the opportunity to face the seat at the table of the Lord, whenever we so desire. We judge ourselves by allowing God to judge our hearts, but we must submit to the judging in order to gain from it (I Cor 11:28). The Corinthians were carnal in thinking, they failed to respect the Apostle of God (II Cor 13:3). They failed to examine themselves to determine if they were walking in the faith (II Cor 13:5). Paul tells us in the latter days there will be a falling away from The Faith, but the Corinthians failed to enter The Faith. The result of their failure to judge themselves ended in fighting over their favorite man of God, fighting over baptisms, placing yokes and veils of pride, ego and the self between their calling and Jesus, ignoring the purpose for being Spiritual, rejecting the fullness of the Spirit, then coming against the man of God, thus they ended in the midst of the synagogue of Satan, with the deacons of Satan teaching them (II Cor 11:13-20). The table of the Lord is the place of His Faith and Righteousness (Eccl 3:16). It is not the place to bring our self-righteousness, but if we have sinned, or come short, the table of the Lord is the place for us. If we think we are rich and in need of nothing, we best stay away from the table, lest we find the rebuke of the Lord (Eccl 3:20-22).
We have the Spirit to be Christ Like, but we must allow the Spirit to represent Jesus through us. The process takes us from natural to spiritual, the Spirit also ascertains and discerns our position and condition to detect whether or not we are seeking to obtain the goal. The Wicked attempt to place barriers before us, the Spirit encourages us to reach to the highest place (Eccl 4:1). Jesus looks about seeing how man has rejected Another Comforter (Spirit of Truth), He is grieved (Eccl 4:2); however, He praises the Dead in Christ, for they found the Comforter, then gained Another Comforter, as they held to the Faith of Jesus (Eccl 4:3). Jesus tells the Fifth church, “Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God” (Rev 3:2). He tells us to strengthen Things, not people, the Things are ready to die, not people (Eccl 4:4, Jn 14:16-17, 14:26 & 16:7-13).
Instead of being crucified with Christ, the fool eats his own flesh to preserve it (Eccl 4:5). Better is a handful of the peace of God, than two of the flesh (Eccl 4:6). Making the flesh our god is vexation of Spirit, a sore travail to the Lord (Eccl 4:7-8). Allowing the Spirit to work through us is always better than our souls working alone (Eccl 4:9). A threefold cord is not quickly broken, but it can be broken (Eccl 4:12). In our case the threefold cord is the Water, Blood and Spirit; for the remnant it becomes the Law, Prophets and keeping the commandments of God. We can chase after the Spirit, yet reject the Water, or we can reject the Spirit and presume the Water is enough, we must have the entire Witness in order to complete the Report.
God has a plan for each of us, but He keeps it in heaven until we pray, “not my will but Your will, Oh Lord, let Your will be done on this earth, as You purposed it for me in heaven”. Once we make the decision, then believe, our faith can reach to the result. The saving of the soul begins, then the “second child” shall stand in the Kingdom of God ready to gain the victory (Eccl 4:13-16). The “first child” was crucified with Christ, the second child (Seed of God) seeks to be spiritual.
We keep our feet straight in the House of the Lord, we never give the sacrifices of fools (Eccl 5:1). We can’t be humble and hold pride at the same time; we can’t submit, and be controlling at the same time. Submission is the Weapon to destroy Control, thus control is the enemy of Faith. A fool thinks they are the special of the special, the only one, or among the only sect having all the Truth. The Wise Man asks himself, “where do you want me in the Body Lord?” or “Bless the Body Lord, forgive us our transgressions, for when one of us hurts, we all hurt”. Nothing can separate us from God’s Love, but the question is do we love God? God loves mice, rattlesnakes, and idiots; God blessed the children in the wilderness, but they died there. We can be separated from Grace, but the Love of God is still over us all.
All those vows we made before the Lord, all those times we said, “I will serve You with joyfulness and gladness of heart, no matter what”, or “I want to be Christ Like”, or “Use me Oh Lord” will be tested (Eccl 5:4). It’s better never to make a vow, then to make one from a foolish heart, we are to keep our vows before the Lord (Eccl 5:5). God expects us to take Him at His Word, He takes us at ours. We don’t brag on our vows before angels or man, we do them, as we keep them in the presence of the Lord (Eccl 5:6). Man dreams a dream, then attempts to make God bring it to pass; whereas the Wise hear the Lord, knowing He will bring the Promise to pass (Eccl 5:7 & Rom 4:17-22).
Envy is the destroyer of peace, the wrecker of hope; wanting silver or having it never satisfies the wanton soul; loving the abundance of riches, never brings peace, allowing God to add allows us to praise the Lord (Eccl 5:11). Understanding sees all the riches of the earth are produced to promote God, not man (Eccl 5:9). From the womb we came naked, to the earth our flesh goes naked, but our souls can gain the treasures of heaven, where our treasure is, so is our soul. What profit is it for a man to labor to gain the whole earth, yet lose his soul in the process (Eccl 5:16-17). Understanding brings the knowledge of God, producing praises filled with thanksgiving (Eccl 5:18). A fool enjoys the product all the days of his life, yet remains in darkness (Eccl 5:17).
John said, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (III Jn 2). This is not some common, or general greeting, since III John is the only place we find it, rather it points to Ecclesiastes. The context shows we can have a type of material prosperity, yet our souls can be void of prosperity, or we can have our souls prosper so we are able to handle God’s prosperity. A man can be blessed of God, knowing God is the provider, or a man can be blessed of God, reject the joy and have a stranger eat the blessing (Eccl 5:18-6:2). The only difference between the two is “joy in his heart”; both are blessed of God, but only one eats his portion knowing it’s the gift of God (Eccl 5:19). We serve God with joy and gladness of heart to become a blessing (Deut 28:47).
The Name of Jesus is better than ointment, but the Oil of Mercy with the Name of Jesus brings the Power of His Christ by the Spirit (Eccl 7:1 & Rev 12:10-11). When we hear the works of the devil coming out of our mouths, or the mouths of others we will also Understand why mourning is better than feasting, or sorrow better than laughter. The House of the wise is the house of mourning, but the house of fools is the house of mirth (Eccl 7:4). Better are those who face the testing of their faith to bring patience, than those who hold pride (Eccl 7:8-10).
Understanding tells us why some are righteous and die young, or why some are wicked and seem to live on (Eccl 7:15). The righteous perish and no man takes it to heart, the merciful are taken away but none consider the purpose (Isa 57:1-2). God takes some knowing the evil laying ahead; it’s better for them to be with those who sleep in Jesus, than end with the wicked in the lake of fire. It doesn’t mean the elderly are wicked, it means there are reasons God does things, the vessel doesn’t question the Potter.
The Preacher sees all this vanity and vexation of Spirit, when we gain Wisdom, Understanding and Discernment our hearts will break, we will also see many things we don’t want to. Braggers, talebearers, murmurers, complainers, yet most haven’t a clue to what they are doing or saying (Eccl 7:24-29). However, we will also know how to deal with the events and people by Wisdom and Mercy.
Who knows the interpretation of a thing? (Eccl 8:1). Who can tell the purpose? Eye has not seen, nor ear heard the things God has prepared for those who love Him; yet, God sent His Spirit to reveal those things to us, as Deep searches Deep bringing the spiritual nature of God by the New Birth (I Cor 2:7-13 & Eccl 8:1-4). The spirit of man hasn’t a clue about the things of the Spirit of God, but it knows the ways of man in detail: when we become spiritual in nature the spirit of man simply doesn’t know how to deal with us (I Cor 1:11). The spirit of the world produces the he in the world, which is opposed to the Spirit which is of God (I Cor 1:12). The danger is not the spirit of man, but the spirit of the world enticing us to use the knowledge, or wisdom of the world in place of the Knowledge and Wisdom of God, or bring the fears or cares of the world into the Kingdom.
Whosoever believes in the Name of Jesus, loves their brother, they will not see evil (Eccl 8:5 & I Jn 3:23-24). There is a purpose for all things, all things have a purpose; even if we don’t understand the purpose (Eccl 8:6). No man can change the Spirit of God, no man can change the course of the world, what man thinks is change, is really something God saw from the foundation of the world (Eccl 8:6-8). Each plan of the devil is new to the devil, but known by God before the foundation of the world; each move of a nation is new to the nation, but known by God before the foundation of the world. It’s better to stand with God even if we don’t know the outcome, than run with man guessing at the outcome. It’s better to be used of God, then used by the spirit of man to fight the outcome.
The rain falls on the just and unjust, but only the just know why; only the just gain in their Godly position (Eccl 8:14-17). There are the works of the devil, the works of the spirit of man, but there are the works of God. If we look for evil, we will find it, but if we look for God, we will find Him (Eccl 8:17 & 9:2). We are joined to the living by the Spirit of Truth, it’s better to be a living dog, than a dead lion (Eccl 9:4). There is no remembrance of the dead for those who reach heaven, but hell will carry the remembrance of what could have been forever (Eccl 9:5). No matter how close a person may seem to be to us on earth, if they don’t make it to heaven, we will not remember them at all. The burning lake of fire will be just that, a large sun off in space. We make it to heaven by judging ourselves, as we allow the Spirit to wash our garments in the Blood of Jesus (Eccl 9:8). When we find wisdom, we fight to maintain it with all our might, never letting go of the Grace of God or the Spirit (Eccl 9:10). It’s better to be the smallest one in heaven, than the biggest in hell.
In the net of the kingdom of heaven, there are bad fish and good fish. The bad fish are those who stand with one foot pointed to the Kingdom of God, the other touching Egypt (the world – Eccl 9:12). They are the messengers of Satan who bring the serpent’s works to break our hedge (Eccl 10:8). Without the Spirit we fight with dull weapons, or boring talk (Eccl 10:10).
Salt has a savor or zeal, but salt is made up from two different chemicals, either of which by their self would kill us, but mixed together they lift the taste buds. The Body and Blood mix together bring the Salt of enthusiasm to make our emotions Praise effective. We can’t take of the Body, yet reject the Blood, it would result in death.
Slothfulness causes the building to decay, but when we cast the Bread of Life on the waters of the world, it will return, even if it takes many days (Eccl 10:18-11:1). We sow while it is yet Today, the mercy, love, faith, righteousness and truth may not appear to have taken seed, but they will as God brings the increase (Matt 6:33 & Eccl 11:6). If we are cheerful givers, we sow by mercy, taking care of the needs of others, because we walk in Love, then God returns the need to us (Eccl 11:6).
While it is yet Today we seek all the Glory we can get from the Spirit, for when the door closes, it closes for all time (Eccl 12:4-5). At the Rapture the Spirit will return to the Father, those with the Spirit return with the Spirit. Those who Sleep in Jesus, sleep through the Night (Eccl 12:7).
The conclusion: Fear God, keep the commandments of Christ, God shall reward us. On the same note, Ignore the Spirit, hold to the self, run with the flesh, play with the Wicked, and face the judgment (Eccl 12:13-14). Our hope is the Resurrection, whether the First or the Last, we know Jesus will not judge Himself, or forsake His own. As long as we are reaching for Him, He will always reach for us.
SONG OF SOLOMON
The Song Of Solomon is also known as the Song of Songs, or a Song added to the Song continuing the theme from Ecclesiastes, giving us a New Song unto the Lord our God. This book is among the Old Testament works known as the Megilloth, or Scrolls. The Jew knows Jehovah He is God, some will say Jesus, He is Christ, but only those who know the New Song can say “Jesus, He is Lord”. Ecclesiastes was the view of the Preacher, but Song gives us the result of Jesus, the Newness from heaven to make an everlasting Change. Song will answer the Preacher’s question, “Is there nothing but vexation?”.
Ecclesiastes gave us the reality of Understanding, but the Song gives us the potential of God’s vision for the Bride of Christ. Making the Song some sexual entanglement has caused the fall of many teachers and pastors. Making the Song equate to the flesh, produces flesh, but equating it to the Spirit produces faith in God’s vision. Solomon was sent by the king to build the House of God, making the Song of Solomon a prophetic message of the Holy Ghost building the Tabernacle of God in our hearts. The Song gives us the means and incentive, as well as the desire we must have to finish this race. The love of God is seen in the Blood of Jesus, thus the Blood of Jesus is better than all the blood of the sacrifices put together. Some play games with the Blood, but others mix the mercy of God with the Blood to produce Christ Like actions (Song 1:1-2). Paul said, he could speak with the tongues of angels, and the tongues of men, yet without Agape love it was no more than a noise in the wind (I Cor 13:1). The Love of God contains the Life and Light of God, walking in Love is the proof of being Born Again. God’s Love being self-less adds to the attributes of the Spirit making them beneficial for all. Someone could have prophecy pouring out of their lips, understand every mystery in the Bible, have all the knowledge concerning God, have the faith to move every destroying mountain, yet without love it benefits them nothing (I Cor 13:2). They will turn the entire thing into the “self”, they will be impressed with their own ability, talent or gift, forgetting where they came from.
The Blood of Jesus is the New Testament, thus the Blood is Grace; therefore, Paul warns the “carnal minded” to seek God’s love. The Ointment (Anointing) falls on many, but only the wise respect it (Song 1:3). A virgin is one who remains separated from the world, they are Born Again, Behold all things are new. It has nothing to do with the physical, since the flesh is dead on the Cross. We are Born Again not the flesh, but of the Holy Ghost. Wanting to “restore” the flesh is not the same is being healed, don’t expect God to take our flesh back for a “second chance”, especially after we are told to impute it dead. What is done is done, we move on in Jesus to become spiritual in nature.
Although we will fall from the mountain from time to time, God is able to pick us up seventy times seven. The blackness turns to whiteness in the chamber of the Bride of Christ (Song 1:4-5 & Heb 13:4).
The Song of Solomon is the cry of Love, thus Praise brings us Worship, Worship brings us Understanding, leading to wisdom, as wisdom brings us into the Agape Love of God to deal with people and events. God looks at us as the called, faithful, full of His power, but He also sees us as the “cluster of camphor (cypress) in the vineyard of Engedi” (Song 1:14). The name Engedi comes from two Hebrew words meaning, Fountain of the kid, or The eye of the landscape looking to the border of growth. The latter is more in tune with the context. David spent time in the wilderness of Engedi (I Sam 24:1), it was next to the City of Salt (Joshua 15:62). However, here we find it as a metaphor, the Fountain of our youth in Christ gave us eyes to see the fairness, beauty and purpose of the Bride, as God sees Her (Song 1:14). We are not perfect yet, rather God sees the result, as the Spirit is working from the inside out to reach it.
God knows we are the lilies among the thorns, yet lilies are beautiful, they stand out among the thorns (Song 1:1-2). We sit under His shadow, although we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil for the Shadow of the Lord still brings us mercy (Song 2:3-4). God’s Right Hand embraces us in the time of trouble, holding us in the times of joy (Song 2:6). When we hold the Glory, the Lord leaps on the mountains (nations of the world), yet He also stands behind the wall encouraging us (Song 2:8-9). Since He is standing behind the Wall, we have more than a little hope. This wall is the foundation of New Jerusalem, the twelve apostles started the wall, we will finish it (Rev 21:14). However we can’t build the wall to New Jerusalem, if we are still using pride, religious conceit, or the self nature, those are the tools to build the walls of Babylon.
The Remnant are promised the gates to the city, but the gates can’t be built until the wall is finished (Rev 21:12). The wall measures a hundred and forty four cubits (a Cubit is the length of a man’s arm from the elbow to the tip of the finger), but the city is 12,000 furlongs (a furlong is 220 yards, or a greater distance – Rev 21:16). The city is not the 144,000, the wall is measured for the distance, rather the city is 12,000 pointing to the tine when it’s Done, meaning all is complete when the Judgment is finished.
Jesus sent us the Dove of the Spirit in the cleft of the Rock (Song 2:14). As soon as the Holy Ghost plants the Seed of God the change begins to take place. We change nature and character in the process, being formed into the comeliness of Christ (Song 2:14).
Paul also told us, Jesus was made (not created) according to the seed of David, but was declared the Son of God by the Power of the Resurrection, thus He sees us as the “cluster of camphor (cypress) in the vineyard of Engedi” (Song 1:14). To the Galatians, Paul didn’t say, “who gave Himself for the world” or “who gave Himself for you”; rather Paul centered on the one on one relationship, his life was no longer his, it belonged to Jesus; the Lord paid the Ransom, the purpose was for us to be His Bride.
If we discern the Body of Christ correctly, we would seek to die to Jesus in order for the Spirit to live through us in all ways, fashions and means with signs and wonders following to prove it. Paul worked from appreciation, while Understanding the gift he held. The Song tells us, “My beloved is mine and I am His: He feeds me among the lilies” (Song 2:16). We gain while in the midst of the thorns, God never promised us a rose garden, He promises us a Lily Garden. The day will come when the tongues of men will pass, prophesy will pass, and knowledge will pass, the day will end as the shadows will flee away (Song 2:17). Until the day when we meet Jesus face to face in the Air, tongues will continue, prophesy will continue, as knowledge continues, for without knowledge we can’t gain the wisdom, without wisdom we will never understand the things God has for us.
Our souls long for the Lord, He is the center of all our love and desire (Song 3:1). Without the desire to love Him beyond all else, the love of self will come in through the windows, making us seven times worse than our beginning. It’s one thing to fight the self-nature day by day, another to find it sitting in the Temple of God, proclaiming itself to be God. We search for Jesus in all things, good, bad or indifferent (Song 3:4). The Holy Ghost brings the crown of Life, the crowning ceremony is heard from every corner in heaven (Song 3:4-11). When the crown of life is in place, Jesus looks upon His Bride, He sees her as fair, a virgin, with the eyes of the Dove, searching out Truth, and Grace. She has teeth holding the New Tongues of Mercy and Grace; lips speaking in other tongues; a soft neck, no longer stiff from the Yoke of bondage; she has ample milk to feed the babes, there is no spot in her, since she has been washed by the Water by the Word, and cleansed by Blood (Song 4:1-7). Instead of making the decision to pick the corrupt tree, she becomes the Tree of Life, our Beloved will walk in the Garden with us (Song 4:16). He will hand us the fruit of the Spirit, as we produce the Living Water, allowing others to “Drink abundantly” (Song 5:1). We will be open, without shame or regret before Him (Song 5:2 & Heb 4:12-13).
When we put off our coat of many colors (royal garment), we can search high and low, but we won’t find our Beloved (Song 5:3-8). Our Beloved is dressed in White, seeking those who desire to be clothed in White (Song 5:5). We will describe Him to the Spirit, as we seek Him again (Song 5:10-16). At the same time Jesus is talking to the Spirit, asking where we’re at (Song 6:1-3). She is His Dove, His undefiled, where can she be? Has she died? Perhaps she has passed away? He is our Beloved, where can He be? Has He passed away? Has He forsaken us? The Spirit went into the Garden to see if we wandered off. The Lord calls out, “Return, Return”, if we hear we will have beautiful feet walking with the Spirit (Song 7:1). Then we will have His Desire covering us, we can go forth into the field and vineyard for the time of harvest is at hand (Song 7:10-12).
Instead of looking for Jesus in the wilderness, or instead of attempting to impress man and ourselves, we will walk with Jesus out of the wilderness with the Seal of the Spirit (Song 8:5-6).
This completes this study and gives us the foundation to enter the Major Prophets.
By Rev. G. E. Newmyer – s.b.i. les6Rev 10/2003
