PM Aug 27th Psa 130

August 27^th       

 

Psalm 130

 

A song of degrees

Hoping for deliverance

1: Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. 2: Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3: If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4: But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5: I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6: My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 7: Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8: And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

 

Psalm 131

 

A song of degrees of David

Childlikeness

1: LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2: Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. 3: Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Today we are reading the 11^th and 12^th Psalm of the Degrees, No 130 & 131. In this Psalm Hezekiah is described as shut in the city like a ‘bird in a cage’. Sennacherib had surrounded Jerusalem and held the whole city captive. But the Lord had enabled Hezekiah and thousands with him to escape like birds from a cage. This expression is found on the Cylinder of Sennacherib 607-583BC which can be found in the British Museum. This cylinder of clay describes the eight military expeditions of Sennacherib and it contains these words, quote..I fixed upon him And of Hezekiah (the king of) Jews, who has not submitted to my yoke… …(Hezekiah) himself like a caged bird within Jerusalem his royal city, I shut in etc.

See Psa 124v7 ‘Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered’. This Psalm of David is taken by Hezekiah to describe his day but originally it described the time when 

David was shut up into the high fortresses of the mountains.

Hezekiah begins saying out of the depths of my distress I cried to the LORD. He says Lord hear my voice and let your ears listen carefully to the sound of my prayers. He says if the Lord took specific notice of every sin then were would any man stand? But you forgive men so that they will fear you. He says, I will wait on you and in your promises I have hope of deliverance. I long for you more than those who long for the dawn to break. May all Israel hope in the LORD because in the Lord there is mercy and he has plenty of redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. Apart from the immediate deliverance there is a prophetic hint to the salvation of Israel prior to the kingdom.  In Psalm 131 we have the city of Zion held captive by Sennacherib, but some have escaped. 200,150 were taken captive when they made a bid to escape but the rest eventually were delivered. This little Psalm of only three verses is a Psalm expressing Hezekiah’s humility. He says, Lord my heart is not proud nor do I have a superior attitude. Nor do I do ‘great things’. I have been quite, like a child that is now weaned of his mother. No more crying for milk. So let all Israel set their hope in the LORD from this time forward and forever.

AM Aug 27th 2Cor 13

August 27th

I love you all

11: I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12: Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13: For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14: Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16: But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17: Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18: I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19: Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20: For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

I have embarrassed myself, says Paul. I have become a fool in glorying in my ministry, but you pushed me into it, because l should have had you to recommend me instead of having to recommend myself and it should be you that realise that l do not come second place to the most important apostles – although in myself l am nothing. The signs of my apostolic authority were demonstrated among you in all patience, in apostolic signs, wonders and mighty deeds. In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except in this that l took no wages from you for my ministry. I’m sorry if this was an offence to you. And very soon l will be able to come to see you again, says Paul, and l will still not take any money from you, because l do not want your money, l want you. You are my children in the Lord and you know that parents provide for their children not the other way around. And so l will gladly spend myself and be spent out for you because l love you even more when you do not love me. Let this always be so. I have not been a burden to you but being clever, l caught you with my craftiness. (Like a crafty fisherman, I caught you without a bait on the hook) I won you for Christ without it costing you a penny. And did l make money through any of those who l sent to you? I asked Titus and another brother to come to you. Did Titus take any money from you? (No of course not) And we lived in exactly the same way. We walked the same path. Do you think that we are making excuses for ourselves? (No we are not) We speak all this before God in Christ. We do everything, my dear loved ones that you will be built up in the faith. I am afraid that when l come I will not find you as l would like to have you and that you will not receive me in a way that l would like. I don’t want there to be debates, envy, anger, wrath, arguments, talking behind people’s backs, whispering, pride, riots. I don’t want God to use me to bring you to order and to humble you before God. (I will if l need to) And l do not want to find that sin has not been dealt with in the church. I don’t want to have to deal with it when l come.

PM Aug 26th Psa 128

August 26^th       

 

Psalm 128

 

A song of degrees

One who reverences the Lord

1: Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2: For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3: Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4: Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5: The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6: Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

 

Psalm 129

 

A song of degrees

A Prayer against the enemies of the Lord

1: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: 2: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. 3: The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. 4: The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 5: Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. 6: Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: 7: Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. 8: Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

Today we are reading Psalm 128 & 129. Psalm 128 describes the sign that the Lord gave to Hezekiah. We read in 2 Kings 19

29: And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof. 

And in Isaiah 37

30: And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

So Hezekiah says that the blessing of God rests on the one who fears the Lord and live righteously according to law. And the blessing of God is the bringing in of a harvest that a man has sown. In other words there is national economic peace and security for Israel. The righteous man will be well and his wife will have children. The Lord will bless his people from out of the city of Zion and the blessed man will see the good of Jerusalem all of the days of his life. He will see his grandchildren and there will be peace in Israel. This describes Gods blessing on Israel under law. Gods blessing is the continuation of human life, the bearing of children and grandchildren. Peace in the land and fruitfulness in the field. How very different is the blessings of God for the christian. His blessing comes by faith and has no relation to law keeping. And all of Gods provision in peace and fruitfulness and in family are on the basis of Gods unmerited kindness. Psalm 129 is a Psalm declaring Hezekiah’s trust in the Lord. In 2 Kings 18…

5: He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. 6: For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. 7: And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

 

Hezekiah says that many times since he was young has Israel been afflicted, yet the enemy have not triumphed over Israel. It seems that Hezekiah equates his personal experience with the troubles of Israel. He says they beat me on my back but the Lord is a righteous judge and he destroyed these wicked people. May they all be completely overcome that hate Zion. Like grass on the roofs which dies before it has fully grown. They will never hear anyone blessing them in the name of the LORD.

AM Aug 26th 2 Cor 12

August 26th  

2 Corinthians,  12

Depending on God

1: It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2: I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3: And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4: How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5: Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6: For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10: Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul says in this chapter that it has become necessary to glory in his ministry to make the point that his ministry is in no way inferior than these ‘super apostles’ who trouble the churches. Here he relates his amazing visions. (He speaks in the third person) He says, l knew a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago had such visions of the heaven, (were God dwells), that he did not know whether he was in the Body or in the Spirit - only God knows. Paul says, he was caught up into the third heaven. [There are three ‘heavens’ in scripture. There is the heaven were the birds fly, which we call the atmosphere. There is the heaven were the sun, moon and stars are, which we call outer pace. Then there is the third heaven where God is. Where outer space ends - there the third heaven begins.]  Paul says, he (himself) was caught up into paradise and heard things unable to be described in words. They were things which are so holy that it is not lawful for man to speak of them. Paul says, l will glory in God but not in myself, but l will glory in my infirmities. Then Paul says, l have been foolish enough and will stop this tomfoolery. And l will stop so that people will not think of me greater than what l am. To prevent me from getting above myself, because of the many revelations that l received, God gave me a special difficulty in the body. It was a special thing, from Satan, which prevented me from getting proud of myself. And three times l asked the Lord to take this thing away, yet he said to me that his enabling grace would be sufficient for me to bear it. You see my spiritual strength is made strong in the midst of my bodily weakness and so therefore l will glory in my infirmities so that the power of Christ will rest upon me. In a way l take pleasure in my weakness and in infirmities, in reproaches, in my needs, in persecution and in my total poverty for Christ’s sake because at this moment of weakness God makes me strong as l trust in him completely.

PM Aug 25th Psa 126

August 25^th       

 

Psalm 126

 

A song of degrees

Thanksgiving for restoration

1: When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3: The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4: Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 5: They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6: He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

 

Psalm 127

 

A song of degrees of Solomon

True security

1: Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2: It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3: Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4: As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5: Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Today we are reading Psalms 126 & 127. Both of the Psalms are Psalms of the degrees. Psalm 126 is the seventh Psalm in this series and it describes Jehovah’s promised help. It is the first of the triplet which describes the distress that the people of God faced and the Lords deliverance. We read in 2Kings 19…

32: Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. 33: By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. 34: For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

And in 2Chron 32…10: Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?...  15: Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?...  17: He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

Isa 36…20: Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? 21: But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. 22: Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

37v11: Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?

So in this Psalm the psalmist says, when the Lord delivered us from the siege of Jerusalem it was like a dream come true. Then we burst out into laughter and singing and the nations round about said The LORD has done great things for them. But we said the LORD has done great things for us, of which we are glad. Lord he said may our captivity be turned into a torrent like the rivers of the desert. Lord we have sown in tears, may we reap in joy. The sower goes out in tears carrying precious seed in time of famine but if he sows he will return in joy bringing back a great harvest. Psalm 127 is the eighth Psalm of the songs of degrees. And it is written ‘for David’s sake’. It was selected by Hezekiah to be the central Psalm of the 15.

2Kings 19…34: For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

The city of Jerusalem was saved for David’s sake because the Lord had promised that David’s seed would remain and sit on his throne and David’s successor was Solomon, the subject of this Psalm. 

2 Kings 20…5: Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. 6: And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

The Psalmist says that the building of David’s house was something that only the Lord would be able to do. We are not talking about David’s physical house. It’s not a building that we are reading of, but ‘The house of David’ in terms of his children’s children, his descendants. This comes out very clearly, in that Hezekiah had no heir. But the Lord delivered him from this major stumbling block to the fulfilment of the Covenant with David and gave him a son. Then he speaks of the hopelessness of his situation and the trouble of mind it brought him in long hours of waiting on the Lord and in fasting. The Lord gives to those that he loves the rest, of knowing that the Lords concerns are in his hands and that he does not sleep or forget. Then he says, children are my inheritance from the Lord and the Lord has rewarded me with the fruit of the womb. Arrows in the hand of a mighty man are a great resource and in the same way children are a great blessing. Blessed is the man whose has many children, and he will not be ashamed, because they will defend him against his opponents at the gate of the city.

AM Aug 25th 2Cor 11

August 25th  

2 Corinthians,  11

I didn’t take money from you

1: Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4: For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 5: For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6: But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7: Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8: I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 9: And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 10: As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11: Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12: But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15: Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I’ll brag a little too

16: I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. 17: That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18: Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19: For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20: For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21: I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. 22: Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24: Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25: Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26: In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27: In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28: Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29: Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30: If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31: The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32: In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Not only is this letter of Paul difficult to understand but it is an expression of Pauls humour too. Paul takes his arguments into what he calls ‘a little folly’. He says l ask God that you would bear with me while l say things which may seem a little silly. Paul says, l am a little jealous over you (in the sense in which he feels they belong to him) but it’s a godly jealousy not a sinful jealousy. He says l have betrothed you like a virgin so that l may present you to Christ. But l am afraid that by some dastardly means Satan might have tricked you, like he did Eve, so that your minds might have been corrupted from the simplicity of faith in Christ. Because if a preacher comes who preaches a Jesus who is quite different from he whom we have preached, or if he preach a different Gospel which is not what you received from us. I am afraid that you might put up with him. I suppose that l am not left behind by these ‘super apostles’. Though l might be course in my speech yet l am not in knowledge. Our message has been throughly made clear to you by our ministry. Have l committed a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because l preached the Gospel for free to you? I have taken money from other churches so that l might do you Gods service. And when l was with you and l was in need l did not send the bill to any of you. My brethren in Macedonia sent finance to supply my needs. I have tried to keep myself from being a burden to you and l intend to do so in future. In truth no-one can stop me from boasting in the whole area of Greece. No-body in Greece has supported me in the ministry. Did l do this because l didn’t love you? The Lord knows how l feel about you. What l do, l do so that those who might oppose me might find no opportunity to accuse me of any wrong doing. And that those who take no recompense for their ministry and are proud of it will find the same is true for me. These men are not true apostles. They are deceitful in their work. They pretend to turn themselves into apostles of Christ. Do not be surprised about this because even Satan pretends to be an angel of light. And therefore it is not difficult for his ministers to be made up into ministers of righteousness. There end is to be destruction in direct proportion to their evil work. Paul is careful to point out that what he is saying seems like foolishness but he says receive me like a fool so that l may describe my ministry. What l am saying just now is not from the Lord – l am speaking like a fool would speak. Seeing many glory after their human lives l want to join in and boast with them. You suffer fools gladly - so l will speak as a fool. You allow a man to bring you into bondage, to consume you, to take from you, Even if a man exalts himself or even if he slaps you in the face, you bear with him. Because they speak with confidence about themselves then so will I. They say they are Hebrews? But so am l. They say they are Israelites? Yes, and so am l. They claim to be children of Abraham. But then so am l. They say they are ministers of Christ? (This is embarrassing now!) I am even more so a minister of Christ. I have worked much more exhaustingly they them. I have received a flogging more times than the law allows. I have been in prison frequently. I have been taken to the point of execution often. From the Jews, says Paul, five times l was flogged according to the Law. Three times l have been beaten with rods. Once l was stoned to death (Yet l lived) Three times l have been shipwrecked. I have had a night and a day floating in the open sea. I have been on journeys almost constantly. I have been at the point of death from the sea, from robbers, and from my own countrymen. I have been in danger of my life from heathens, and in the city, and in the wilderness. and in the sea, and from false brethren who would love to have murdered me. In all this l have been often worn out and in much pain, I have been in all night watching’s often, I have often been hungry and thirsty, and often l have fasted. I have been exposed to cold and nearly naked. And all this is apart from all the burden that comes on my shoulders everyday - the care of all the churches. To those that are weak l am weak with them. To those that are offended, l suffer with them. If l have to glory then l will glory in all my sufferings. I call upon God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is blessed for evermore to witness that l am telling the truth. In Damascus the governor secured the city to try to arrest me, but through a window – in a basket l escaped out of his murderous hands.

PM Aug 24th Psa 124

August 24^th       

 

Psalm 124

 

A song of degrees of David

The Lord protects

1: If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2: If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6: Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7: Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8: Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

 

Psalm 125

 

A song of degrees

The Lord surrounds

1: They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 2: As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. 3: For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. 4: Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. 5: As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Today we are reading Psalm 124 & 125. Psalm 124 is a Psalm of David but it is used by Hezekiah to describe the LORD as the creator of Heaven and earth. This was a reply to Rab-shekeh’s railings. Let me read the background 2Chron 32…

16: And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. 17: He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. 18: Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 19: And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. 20: And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

In 2Kings 19 we read…

14: And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. 15: And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. 16: LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

In Isa 37 we read…

15: And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, 16: O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. 17: Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.

So David is quoted in these songs of the degrees as being the best answer to the railings of Rad-shakeh. David says, The LORD is on our side. If the Lord had not be on our side when men rose up to oppose us and destroy us we would have been totally destroyed. We were totally over come in many senses. Then David blesses the LORD who did not allow us to be eaten by their enemies. Then we have an interesting concept – our lives were delivered like a bird that escapes out of the net of the bird catcher. The snare was broken and the birds escaped. This concept is quoted by Sennacherib which is written on the clay prism which is now in the British Museum. Then David says, our help is in the name of the LORD who is the creator of Heaven and earth. It’s interesting in scripture that when God is spoken of to Gentiles he is referred to as the God of Heaven. Psalm 125 speaks about Hezekiah’s honest desire for peace.

In Isa 38 we read…

17: Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

In 2 Chron 32 we read…

1: After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. 2: And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

Hezekiah says those who trust in the LORD will be like the mountain of Zion which can never be removed. And just as the mountains surround Jerusalem so the LORD surrounds the people of God, now and forever. And the punishment of the wicked will not rest on the righteous in case the righteous begin to do wickedness. Do good O LORD to those that do good and to those who are upright in heart. This theology could not be father from the Grace of God. Could there be a clearer statement of legalism and law keeping. He says, do go to those who do good. This is not error but it is the truth of God under law. Under law God blessed the good with goodness but under Grace God gives his goodness to those who are not good, on the basis that Christ has done good. Under law Hezekiah pleads that because Israel has been good and upright then God should be good to them. And this was the conditions and provisions of the Mosaic Law. Then Hezekiah gives his reasoning, he says, that those who turn away from following the straight path to their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them out of the land, with all the evil workers of iniquity but the Lord will bring peace on Israel. As Christians we can see that Israel under the law had a real experience of God without the personal salvation that christians know and enjoy.