AM July 1st Rom 6

July 1^st              Slaves to Christ

15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17: But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20: For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21: What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul again reiterates the question at the beginning of the chapter. Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under Grace? And again he says, God forbid. Paul says don’t you know that when we yield ourselves to do sin we become the servant to sin. However l thank God that you were once a servant of sin but now you have obeyed God from the heart the teaching that you received from the Lord. So having been set free from sin you have become slaves to righteousness. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

PM June 30th Psa 15

June 30^th           Psalm 15          True Worshippers

A Psalm of David

1: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2: He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3: He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4: In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5: He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

 

Psalm 16

[1]Michtam of David        

(16-41 Christ in the middle of his people)            A Prayer of Confidence

1: Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2: O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; 3: But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4: Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5: The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6: The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7: I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8: I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9: Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Today in Psalm 15 and 16 we have an insight into the heart of David and the worship of Israel. In Psalm 15 David asks the question as to who can stand living in the tabernacle the place of the presence of God. Then he added who will live in the holy Hill? (This probably has a prophetic tone because in the coming kingdom The Temple of the Lord will be established on the Holy Hill of Zion.) Then David answers his own question, he says He that walks with God uprightly according to the Law. He does righteous works and he speaks the truth in his mind. He does not return bitter words to others nor does he do evil things to his neighbour. And he does not take up a case against his neighbour. He treats vile people with contempt and he gives honour to those who reverence the Lord. When he promises something he will fulfil it even when it proves to be very injurious to himself. He does not lend his money to make more money nor does he take bribes to testify against innocent people. The man who lives like this is unshakeable. The next Psalm, No 16, is called a Micham of David. This means ‘A Golden Psalm’. It is a call by David on the Lord to protect him in the dangerous life that he lived as Gods man. He says preserve me because l am trusting in you. He confesses that his righteousness is not enough for the Lord but that the Lord’s goodness does extend to all those who live holy lives before their Lord. The Lord delights in them. He says those who worship other gods may they have an increase of sorrows. He says l will never offer sacrifices like them nor call on the name of their gods. The LORD, he says, is my inheritance and my cup of joy. You maintain my plot of land. The lots that chose my plot have appointed me to pleasant places. I have a good inheritance. I will bless the LORD who has given me good guidance. He motivates me even in the night. Therefore my heart is full of joy and my glory rejoices in the Lord and one day this old body will come into its rest in the assurance of resurrection to glory. Because you will not allow your holy one to be corrupted by this earth. You will show me the path of life. In your presence of overflowing joy and at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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[1] Or A golden Psalm

AM June 30th Rom 6

June 30^th           Romans 6         (Sanctification)  We are dead to sin

1: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7: For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

In this passage Paul talks about the union that believers have in Christ. This passage is not about christian baptism, its about baptism into Jesus Christ in which the believer becomes united to Christ. First, Paul suggests an objection to his teaching. Some might say, If Gods grace abounds more and more to cover all sin then we might as well sin more so that Grace might abound. His response to this devish suggestion is, God forbid. Then he explains why. He asks a question, How shall we Christians, who are dead, to sin live any longer in it? Don’t you know, he says, that we who believe have been baptised into Jesus Christ’s death. We are buried with him in baptism into death that in Christ we might be raised up from the dead by the Glory of God. Therefore we should walk in a new life. If we Christians have been planted into the same death as Christ then we will also live in the same resurrection power. Our old man is crucified in Christ so that the body of our sin might be destroyed and so that we might be free from the ruling power of sin. The person who is dead is free from sin. If we are dead in Christ we will also live in him. We know that Christ is not subject to death any more, death has lost its rule over him. Christ died once but he now lives in resurrection power to God. In a similar way we are to believe that we are also dead to sin but alive to God. We must not let sin rule our lives in the flesh to obey its lusts. Nor must we submit the parts of our body to unrighteous deeds but we are to submit ourselves unto God, as those that are living in a resurrection life. If we walk in the Spirit sin will not dominate our lives. Sin dominated our lives under law but this will not happen under Grace.

PM June 29th Psa 13

June 29^th           Psalm 13

 

A Psalm of David          A Prayer for help

1: How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3: Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5: But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6: I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

To the chief musician,

Psalm 14

 

A Psalm of David          The sinfulness of man

1: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2: The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3: They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4: Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. 5: There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. 6: Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. 7: Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

On this day in June we are reading in Psalm 13 and 14. Both of these Psalms were written by David. In Psalm 13 David calls on the Lord in his time of distress because he feels that the Lord has forsaken him. The salvation of the Lord seems to be a long time in coming and David is getting more and more desperate. He asks how long will l talk to myself and have sadness in my soul every day? And he asks how long will you allow my enemy to rejoice against me? He aks for the Lord to think about him and to shed his light upon his eyes because if not that he will be killed and then his eyes will be shut in the grave. David says do not let my enemy overcome me and be able to rejoice at my downfall. He says they want to hurt me, but l have put my trust in the Lord and my heart will yet rejoice in my salvation. In that day l will sing to the LORD because he has given me so many blessings that l cannot count them all. In Psalm 14 David comments on the foolish men who live as if there is no God. Who become increasingly corrupted in their deeds and none of then live righteously. The LORD sees all men and he looks to seek if there are any that truly seek after him. Yet God sees that among the foolish there are none that are holy or that live righteously. He speaks in incredulity – Is there none among those who do works of wickedness that have any knowledge? They devour the people of the Lord as if they are eating bread. And they do not call on the LORD. They will suddenly fall into great fear because God is with the generation of the righteous. The poor have a refuge in the Lord and therefore the wicked will come to shame. If only the salvation of Israel were to come out of Zion when the LORD brings deliverance to his people. In that day Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.

AM June 29th Rom 5

June 29^th           Romans 5         Peace with God

1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4: And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11: And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Christ, the second Adam

12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14: Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15: But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16: And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17: For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul says we are declared righteous before God on the basis of faith and because of this we are in a state of peace with God through what Christ has accomplished. Because of what Christ has done we are brought into a standing before God characterised by the unmerited kindness of God and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this we glory in the opposition, we face, because we know that this trouble works patience in our lives and patience brings experience and experience hope in God. And our hope will never be embarrassing because Gods love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which God has given to us. You see, when we were helpless sinners Christ died for us. Most people would not die for a righteous man however perhaps people would die for a good man but God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. But much more than this we are declared righteous by the blood of Christ and therefore we are saved from the wrath of God that is coming. If God has reconciled those that were his enemies by the death of his Son we will most certainly be saved by his life. And even more we are full of the joy of the Lord through Jesus Christ, and in Christ we have received the atonement. Through Adam sin entered into the world and death by sin and so that is why every man dies eventually because all men have sinned. Until the Mosaic Law was given sin existed in the world but sin was not reckoned to men when there was no law. However death dominated the lives of men from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not committed the same sin as Adam had. Through one man’s (Adam) sin all die, but conversely, through one man (Christ) many receive the gift of Gods Grace. Adam committed one sin and through it brought condemnation to all men. But the free gift of God in Christ brings forgiveness of many sins. Death dominated the lives of men through one man but by one other man the abundance of God grace came to all believers who are declared righteous in Jesus Christ. One man brought judgment on all men but the righteousness of God comes on all believers. By Adam’s disobedience many were made sinners, but by the obedience of Christ many are made righteous. The law was given so that men might know how wicked they really are, but where sin abounded the grace of God abounded even more. Just as sin dominated in men’s lives bringing death so the grace of God dominates through righteousness to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

PM June 28th Psa 10

June 28^th           Psalm 10          A Prayer for justice

1: Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? 2: The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3: For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4: The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5: His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6: He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7: His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 8: He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9: He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10: He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11: He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. 12: Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. 13: Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 14: Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. 15: Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. 16: The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. 17: LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

To the chief musician,

 

Psalm 11

 

A Psalm of David          Trusting The Lord

1: In the LORD put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2: For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 4: The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5: The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6: Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7: For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

To the chief musician upon Sheminith,

 

Psalm 12

A Psalm of David.         A Plea for help

1: Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2: They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3: The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? 5: For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. 6: The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7: Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. 8: The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

To the chief musician,

Today we are reading Psalm 10,11 & 12. Psalm 10 is a call on the Lord to deal with the wicked according to their wickedness and to save the righteous. Psalm 11 is a call on the Lord when the enemies of God surround the righteous. Psalm 12 is a statement of the Lord intent to save the righteous and destroy the wicked. These three Psalms have a similar theme. Back to Psalm 10. In this Psalm the poet asks for an explanation as to why the Lord appears to be absent when times of trouble come. He describes the evil deeds of the wicked such as the oppression of the poor. They have no thought for God and are full of self importance. They are full of cursing, lying and wickedness. They lie in wait to murder the innocent and pounce on the poor to rob them. He says to himself God will never see! - God will never hold me to account! But the Lord sees everything and he will definitely hold wicked men accountable for their sins. He calls for the judgment of God on these men. There will come a day when the LORD will be king of all the earth and there will be no wicked men in the land. The LORD hears the prayer of the humble and he will set right the injustices of men. In Psalm 11 David declares his trust in the Lord in the days of his trouble. The wicked are ready to kill the righteous But the Lord (Christ) is in his Holy Hill (This is prophetic and refers to the coming kingdom) And the LORD’s throne is in heaven and he sees everything. The Lord tries the righteous but the wicked and violent are hated by the Lord. He brings snares, fire and brimstone and tempests on them The LORD loves righteousness and he sees those who live uprightly. The next Psalm is again a contrast between the godly and the wicked. The wicked are flatterers, and they have double motives. The LORD will deal with them. When the poor and the needy sigh under their burden the Lord will arise. The Words of the Lord are pure words so pure that they are like silver put to the heat seven times. (This is no reference as some say to the AV of 1611) The words of the Lord will be preserved from generation to generation – Forever. 

AM June 28th Rom 4

June 28^th           God’s promise

13: For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14: For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16: Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17: (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18: Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19: And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21: And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22: And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24: But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Paul explains that the promise that Abraham had from God, which was that he would inherit the whole earth, was not based of Abraham’s righteousness according to obedience to the law, but it was through the righteousness of faith. If those who were in the old covenant obtained the promise given to Abraham then faith was made pointless and the promise was made ineffectual. The Law brings the wrath of God on sinners and were there is no law there is no transgression of the law. Salvation is of faith so that it might then be an act of Grace on Gods part. And the blessing promised to Abraham comes not only to those who are the natural seed of Abraham but also to his seed on the basis of Faith. Abraham is called the father of many nations and he hoped in God even when it was naturally impossible to have hope. He believed that God could give life to the dead and call into being children that didn’t exist. He was not weak in faith nor did he think that his inability to bear children being about a hundred years old. Nor did he think about the inability of Sarah’s womb to bear children. He was not surprised at the promises of God but he was strong in his faith and gave glory to God. He was completely assured that God who made the promise was able to fulfil his promise and God reckoned to him righteous. This was not just recorded for Abraham’s benefit it was written for us to know and believe too - we who believe that Jesus our Lord has been raised up from the dead. Christ was delivered for our sins and raised up for our justification.

PM June 27th Psa 7

June 27^th           Psalm 7

Shiggalon of David, which he sang unto the LORD concerning the words of Cush the Benjaminite

The Perfect man and false witnesses

1: O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: 2: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 3: O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; 4: If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) 5: Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. 6: Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded. 7: So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high. 8: The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. 9: Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. 10: My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. 11: God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 12: If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. 13: He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. 14: Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15: He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16: His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. 17: I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

To the chief musician upon Gittith,

Psalm 8

 

A Psalm of David          Salvation comes by the perfect man

1: O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5: For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6: Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8: The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9: O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

To the chief musician upon Muth-labben,

 

Psalm 9

A Psalm of David          (8-9 Final conflict & Deliverance)

Thanksgiving for justice

1: I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2: I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. 3: When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. 4: For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. 5: Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 6: O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. 7: But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8: And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 9: The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10: And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 11: Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. 12: When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. 13: Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: 14: That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. 15: The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16: The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18: For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19: Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20: Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

 

In today’s bible reading we will be looking at Psalm 7, 8 & 9. Psalm 7 is about David in times of stress and persecution. It seems that Cush the Benjaminite had been saying some pretty horrible things about him so he sings this prayer to the Lord. He says O LORD my God I am trusting in you so save me from all those that are persecuting me and deliver me from their hands. Because if you don’t then l will be torn in my soul like a lion does to its prey. Then he turns to the Lord and says if l have done something wrong then let my enemies persecute me. David is not seeking deliverance if he has brought trouble on himself rather he pleads with the Lord to discipline him if he has done wrong. But he says if l am innocent then arise and defend me. He calls on the Lord to deal with him according to his integrity. He pleads that God might establish the righteous and judge the wicked. He says the Lord not only sees all that men do but he also sees their motives. The principle of living under the law is that God judges the righteous that he is angry with the wicked every day.  And if the wicked do not turn from their sins then he will sharpen the sword that he will bring against them. And he has already bent his bow to begin battle against the wicked. He has prepared his instruments of destruction and he has decided which arrows he will use to destroy them. The Lord will make the wicked fall by the very means which they devise against the godly. Then David sings a note of praise to the LORD because he is righteous. Psalm 8 is the second Messianic Psalm - a hymn of praise to the Lord whose name excels all other names in all the earth. David says that he has set his glory above the heavens. Yet he has ordained that babies and breast-fed infants will receive strength to praise the Lord. And in this way the enemy and avenger will be made silent. David says that when he thinks about the universe that the Lord made with his fingers and the moon and stars who are placed in the sky to serve him. And when he considers their majesty what is man that God should think of them constantly. And who is the son of man that God should come to be with him? Because you have made men to be a little lower in rank that angels but you have crowned him – Christ with glory and honour. The Lord has made him be having dominion over the whole of the earth and all things will be put under his authority. All creatures in heaven and earth and sea will serve him. In Psalm 9 David brings his first Prayer-Psalm. In the beginning he brings his fourfold praise to God. He says. I will praise the LORD with all my mind. I will display all the marvellous works of the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in the Lord and my heart will be full of music to the Lord because you Lord are the most high. When my enemies are overcome they will fall in your presence. You have kept me honoured and judged my case. You have destroyed the heathen so that they are forgotten forever. But the Lord will endure for ever. He will judge the world in righteousness. And he will be a refuge for the oppressed. Those that know the Lord will put their trust in him, because he never forsakes those who trust in him. So sing praises to the Lord. David says remember me in my day of trouble. Save me so that l can sing your praises. The wicked will be destroyed and all the nations that forget God. The poor will not be forgotten forever. And the poor will look up and their longing will not perish. So Arise LORD and do not allow evil men to win. Judge them O Lord, Put them in fear so that all the nations will realise that they are mere men.

AM June 27th Rom 4

June 27^th           Romans 4

1: What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7: Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9: Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10: How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11: And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

What can we learn from Abrahams life (who is the father of the Jews) We learn that if Abraham was justified by his own effort then he would have something to be proud about, However not before God. The Scripture states that Abraham believed God and God counted his faith as righteousness. If a man works hard then his reward is a debt owed to him and it is his wages and it cannot be by grace. But to the man that does not work for Gods blessing but believes in the God who declares righteous the unrighteous. His faith is counted by God as righteousness. David the king described the blessedness of the man who God imputes righteousness without human effort. When he said, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Now does this blessing only come to the Jew? (The circumcised) Or is it also for Gentile? (The uncircumcised) It wasn’t circumcision that made Abraham righteous it was faith. Because Abraham was reckoned righteous before he was circumcised. Circumcision was latter received as an outward sign to Abraham of his faith. Abraham is the father of all gentile believers in God even if they are not circumcised. Abraham is the father of circumcision to those who are not circumcised but who walk in his steps in the same faith in God that Abraham had when he was uncircumcised. 

PM June 26th Psa 4

June 26^th           Psalm 4           

[1]A Psalm of David.        Conflict between the seeds

1: Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2: O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3: But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4: Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5: Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6: There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7: Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8: I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

[2]To the chief musician on Neginoth.

 

Psalm 5           

A Psalm of David.         The Perfect man in the middle of his enemies

1: Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2: Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3: My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4: For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5: The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6: Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7: But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8: Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9: For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10: Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12: For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

To the chief musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith.

 

Psalm 6

A Psalm of David.         The Prefect man chastised

1: O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2: Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3: My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 4: Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. 5: For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6: I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7: Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8: Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9: The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10: Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Today we are reading three Psalms 4, 5 & 6. In Psalm 4 David says Hear me when l call Lord. You are the God before whom l am righteous. You have made me great when l was in distress. Treat me with kindness and hear my prayer. Then he rebukes then men who are his foes. He says how long will you glory in my shame? How long will you love empty plans? Think of it. He says l want you men to know that God sets apart all those who live lives righteously according to law. And the LORD will hear them when they call on him. So stand in awe of God and stop your sinning and talk to yourself on your bed and be still – think of that. Offer to the Lord the sacrifices of righteous deeds and put your trust in the LORD. There are many who doubt the Lord but He has put joy in my heart more than the joy of harvest time. I will sleep in perfect peace because the Lord makes me to live in safety. The Fifth Psalm is a prayer. Where David says to the Lord. O LORD think about my thoughts. Listen to me – My King – My God. I will lift up my eyes to pray to you in the morning. You have no pleasure in wickedness. Foolish men cannot stand before you, because you hate all wicked men. And you will destroy all those who live like that. You hate men of blood and craftiness. But l will approach you in you abounding mercy and in reverence l will worship toward the holy temple. Lead me Lord in righteousness because my enemies because my enemies surround me. They are untrustworthy and full of wickedness. There mouth is like an open grave. Destroy them O God. Let them be caught in their own snares. Banish them from your presence. But let all those who trust in you rejoice. They them shout for joy. Because you fight for them May the joy of the Lord fill their hearts. Because you will bless the righteous. You will be like a shield around them. Then in the 6^th Psalm David pleads with the Lord not to rebuke him in his anger. Or punish him too much. He says have mercy on me. because l am weak. Heal me O LORD and save me because l am very troubled. How long LORD before you help me? David pleads and it breaks your heart to hear him plead. He says if l am killed l will not be able to remember you then and in my grave how will l give you thanks. David is exhausted and weeps profusely. He commands wicked men to leave him alone because he says in faith the LORD has heard my weeping. May my enemies be ashamed and turn away from me.

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[1] Superscription

[2] Subscription

AM June 26th Rom 3

June 26^th           Romans 3

1: What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2: Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3: For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4: God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 5: But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6: God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7: For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8: And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

Everyone has sinned

9: What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12: They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13: Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15: Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16: Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17: And the way of peace have they not known: 18: There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

C. The Gospel of God concerning his Son          (Justification)    God’s way for making us right

21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29: Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31: Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Paul anticipates the next question. (He has heard it so many times before) If the judgment of God comes on all men in a completely fair way then what is the advantage of being a Jew? And what benefit is circumcision? Paul says, look the Jews have lots of benefits. The first being, that they are the custodians of the word of God. Paul is arguing that the justice of God is going to be fair on all men outside of Grace. Will God be wrong to judge Jewish men for their deeds? And the answer is – God forbid. How can God judge any men if he does not judge them all. There are those who say that l say that we can do evil so that good will come of it. This is a wicked thing to say. Are Jews better than Gentiles? No absolutely not. We have already established that both Jews and Gentiles are both under sin. The Bible says that, There is none righteous no not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. (There was a righteousness of the law that Jews stood before God in, but one of the purposes of the law was to exposes the sinfulness of men. When a Jew found that he had sinned to came to the priest and offered a sin offering and his sin was covered. So Paul is not saying that there is no righteousness of the Law but that the Law alone could not make a man ultimately right with God.) They have all gone out of the way; they have together become unprofitable; there are none that do good, no, not one. Their throat is like an open grave; with their tongues they have spoken deceit; the poison of snakes is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. What an indictment on the Jewish nation. Paul says that we know that what the law says it says to those under the law so that every man under the law might be silenced in the presence of God. And that the entire world might realise that they are guilty before God. So we can see that by doing the deeds of the law no sinner is declared righteous before God. The law only brought the knowledge of sin. However, now a righteousness of God has been revealed to the world, a righteousness which is witnessed in the OT, but is only now revealed. It is the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ (unto all and upon all them that believe – for there is no difference between all men, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glorious standard of God.) God declares those who believe to be righteous. And it is completely free to them; it is by his grace through the redemption that is found in Christ Jesus. God has made Christ to be a sacrifice for sin and men receive forgiveness of sins by faith in his blood. God is declared at this time to be just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. God remains holy and righteous but he is now able to make men holy and righteous. So who can boast before God? Boasting is completely excluded before God. Is it on the basis of merit? No it is because men must come to God only on the basis of faith. So says Paul we must conclude that a man is justified by faith in Christ and not by the doing the deeds of the Mosaic Law. And is this God the God only of the Jews? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, He is the God of Jews and Gentiles. There is one God and he justifies both the Jew and Gentile through faith. Paul comes to the last question for now. Has this truth made the Mosaic Law pointless? Again he says God forbid; the Law has been vindicated in all this.

PM June 25th Psa 1

June 25^th           Psalm 1            A.   The Genesis section           

 

Man’s creation, fall & recovery. – Man in View

The Perfect man in blessing - Christ

1: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3: And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4: The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5: Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6: For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

Psalm 2            The Rebellious man

1: Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3: Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5: Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6: Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7: I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8: Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10: Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11: Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

[1]A Psalm of David, when he fled from Abalom his son.

 

Psalm 3            The Perfect man rejected

1: LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2: Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3: But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4: I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5: I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 6: I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. 7: Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8: Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

To the chief musician on Neginoth.

Today we begin studies in the Psalms. This is going to prove to be both very interesting and very blessed. In the first Psalm the poet describes the blessed man who lives in the fear of the Lord under the Mosaic Law. The blessed man has three negative things about his life. He does not live his life based on the ungodly advice of wicked men. Secondly he does not take his stand on the side of sinful men. Rather he crosses the valley to stand with the armies of the living God. Thirdly he does not sit in bitter mockery of those who try to live righteously before the Lord according to law. It’s easy to be grumpy and cynical but the blessed man is not like that. On the positive side the blessed man is a man whose absolute delight is in the meditation of the word of the Lord. He thinks about it day and night. The word of God is never far from his thinking. He thinks about it in the busy round of daily work and at night in his wakeful moments. Then the poet changes into an artist to paint a picture of a tree which he likens to the blessed man. This tree is no wild tree it is planted by the gardener to be in exactly the right place. It is planted by an endless source of sustenance and therefore it bring forth fruit that is fully developed and in the right time. And the tree opens its branches and bathes in the light of heaven. Then the poet breaks the picture to say that this man – the blessed man is prosperous in all he does. Then the scene changes and he describes the ungodly. They are life the chaff the wafer of husk that surrounds the kernel of grain which is light and the slightest breeze blows it clean away never to be seen again. Then the Poet declares that the ungodly WILL NOT STAND in the judgment. They have no honour and prosrate themselves before the judge of all men in terror. They will not be part of the assembly of the righteous in the coming kingdom. Why is this so? Because the Lord knows the life that the righteous live and he will make sure that the life style of the ugodly will be obliterated forever. The second Psalm is the first of the Messianic Psalms and is a series of expressions of incredulity regarding the plans of evil men to thwart the Messianic reign of Christ. When Christ comes to establish his everlasting kingdom the kings of the earth will not like it one bit. They will rage against him and think that they can over come him my military might. They will plan to invade the Holy land. They will plan to overthrow his rule. But the Lord will laugh and then he will come on them in his fierce anger. God will set his son in Zion on his holy hill. He will say of his this is my son. He will break his enemies with a rod of iron and break them in pieces like a clay pot. You nations – be wise. Kneel and kiss the son of God Lest he be angry and you perish from the earth. But the blessing of God will rest on all those who put their trust in him. The third Psalm is an expression of the troubles that come to the man of God in the course of his ministry. They taunt him saying there is no help for him in God. If there is no help in God then he is lost forever. Then the Psalmist rises up to contradict the words of men declaring that The LORD is a shield for him and his glory and the lifter up of his head. He is able to face men eye to eye and lift up his head to see the Lord his Saviour. He says l called on the Lord and he heard me in Zion his holy hill. He says l laid down to sleep and l woke up because the Lord sustained me. So l will not be afraid of 10,000 who surround me. He calls on the Lord to save him. He says the Lord has judged his enemies and saved him and blessed him – Think of that.

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[1]The text of scripture includes both superscriptions and subscriptions and should never be omitted from any Bible.

1.   Superscription – Title

2.   The Psalm – Text

3.   Subscription – Footnote

See Isa 38v9-20. Hab 3v1-19 as examples of this principle.

These facts have been discovered by Dr. J.W. Thirtle.