2019 Jan 27 Psalms 27,89, 2Thessalonians 2
2019 Jan 27 Psalms 27,89, 2Thessalonians 2
Hello to each and all! Let's this time consider Psalm 27:5-8. For commentary on verses 1-4, search "Dec 27".
Recapping verse 4, it stated David's request: "One thing I have asked from Jehovah—It is what I will look for—That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To gaze upon the pleasantness of Jehovah And to look with appreciation upon his temple." Dwelling "in the house of Jehovah" refers to being a part of the family of God, Jehovah. He also wanted to maintain appreciation for the privilege of true worship. Verses 5-8 continue:
"5 For he will hide me in his shelter on the day of calamity; He will conceal me in the secret place of his tent; High on a rock he will place me. 6 Now my head is high above my enemies who surround me; I will offer sacrifices at his tent with joyful shouting; I will sing praises to Jehovah. 7 Hear me, O Jehovah, when I cry out; Show me favor and answer me. 8 Speaking for you, my heart has said: “Seek to find my face.” Your face, O Jehovah, I will seek to find."
Psalm 27:5,6 Whatever Jehovah needs to do to protect His faithful servants "on the day of calamity," He will do so, moving those being protected to rejoice and praise Jehovah! Such divine protection will also result in the people of God being free of any shame the wicked may have sought to heap upon them--each one's head will be "high above" the enemies who may have surrounded him or her.
Psalm 27:7,8 David pleads for Jehovah to hear his cries, to answer when he calls. Psalm 65:2 says to Jehovah: "O Hearer of prayer, to you people of all sorts will come." That is, people of "all flesh." Jehovah is interested in all who will come to Him in truth and sincerity of heart, with respect for His glorious throne. Psalm 86:5 says: "For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive; You abound in loyal love for all those who call on you." May we appreciate God's rightful dominion over mankind, and appreciate our privilege of speaking with Him, reading His inspired word the Bible, and receiving of His loving support and guidance, and any blessing he may bestow upon us. (Psalm 1:1-3).
Psalm 89 (Book 3, 17th psalm, continued) verses 38-41 mention God's allowance of His anointed one to be profaned, his fortifications being reduced "to ruins," becoming a reproach to his neighbors. God's people may have to endure a difficult time in the future, yet Jehovah will still support the righteous. Psalm 55:22 says "Throw your burden on Jehovah, And he will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to "fall," or "totter." These verses of Psalm 89 read: "38 But you yourself have cast off and rejected him; You have become furious with your anointed one. 39 You have spurned the covenant with your servant; You have profaned his crown by throwing it to the ground. 40 You have broken down all his stone walls; You have reduced his fortifications to ruins. 41 All who pass by have pillaged him; He is a reproach to his neighbors." May we continue to rely upon Jehovah, and look to Him in good times and bad, for support, guidance, and spiritual protection. Sometimes Jehovah has used in this system the power of various nations to judge another. In this system of things, the protections of Jehovah are primarily spiritual, as Psalm 91 describes, "Because you said: "Jehovah is my refuge," you have made the Most High your dwelling; No disaster will befall you, and no plague will come near your tent." (Psalm 91:8-10). God can protect our spiritual lives, including our relationships with Him and dear ones. However, do you know some good people who have been harmed physically in this world--do you really think they "deserved" it? Rather, were they not like the men on whom the tower in Siloam fell? (Luke 13:4,5). Let us hold on to our hope of the resurrection into God's new world for dear friends and loved ones we may have lost in this system of things, which does not have God's full protection and blessing. Still, as 2Peter 2:9,10 reminds us, "So, then, Jehovah knows how to rescue people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people to be destroyed on the day of judgment, 10 especially those who seek to defile the flesh of others and who despise authority..." God's right to rule mankind was challenged, and we are still living with the results of Satan's attempt to mislead our first parents, to choose to see life without God's full protection, experiencing the results of man's attempts to rule without God. Of course, those respecting God do now benefit, especially as we apply divine wisdom, but in God's new world His blessing will be in full measure, as He rights the wrongs we've experienced in a world with ungodliness. At that time, as Isaiah 25:8 says "He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it."
2Thessalonians 2:9-12 continues mention of a lawless one, who deceives many from true righteousness and true worship. For consideration of verses 1-8, search "Oct 27". Verses 9-12 read this way: "9 But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders 10 and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. 11 That is why God lets a deluding influence mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness." How vital to be truth seekers, reading God's word diligently so as not to be misled from the truth of God, by those who would claim to know God's word but tell religious lies, seeking their own glory and benefit. (John 7:18; 1Peter 5:2,3). May we not be deluded by "every powerful work and lying signs and wonders" causing ones to be led astray from the truth of God. As Jesus said, at Matthew 7:21-23: "“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’" Let us ensure we are doing the true will of God, including what we read at 1Timothy 2:4, "whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth."
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Between Winchester, Virginia, and hopefully, Washington D.C., having confidence that our thankful trust in God will not fail to inspire us to the peace He has purposed via His Kingdom!
