TODAY’S READING: PROVERBS 5-8

 

OVERVIEW:

The pitfalls of immorality, the father’s counsel to his son; the wiles of the strange woman; the blessing of wisdom; understanding and truth.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

These four vital chapters in today’s reading reveal how God has provided wisdom and understanding to preserve the purity of a person’s God-given sexual desires. God shows us that these desires are reserved to be fulfilled in the chamber of a covenant marriage bed that is undefiled (Heb. 13:4).

 

God also reveals the attempt of the enemy of all righteousness, who tempts us through the invitations of the opposite sex to satisfy these desires in the heat of passionate compromise, with the ultimate goal to destroy personal purity, contaminate a church or community, and condemn a country, thus aborting potential for successful leadership, from the lack of a pure heart and clear conscience.

 

The person who is pre-disposed to do the right thing is one who has predetermined to guard (“keep”) his heart, so as not to be lured away from his surrender to Christ’s Lordship.  Understanding the benefits of wisdom is a major part of that process, as we learned in chapter four. We must first hear the father’s instruction attentively so we can understand his doctrine (teaching), and purpose not to forsake what we have been taught.

 

Chapter five opens with PAY ATTENTION to my wisdom, to my understanding so you will not fall for the invitation of the strange woman. Her alluring words are sweet, her smooth seductive mouth will be inviting, (vs. 3), but she will become bitter, calloused, and fickle in her ways.

 

RUN! Is the father’s advice, before you pay the price.

1. Giving your honor to others. (vs. 9)
2. Your years to cruel habits. (vs. 9)
3. Strangers controlling your money. (vs. 10)
4. You will work as a laborer. (vs. 10)
5. You will lose your health. (vs. 11)
6. You will experience cycles of regret and depression. (vs. 12-14)
7. You will miss God’s plan of experiencing the pure love of your life mate. (vs. 15-19)
8. You will develop addictions to your sin tendency. (vs. 22)
9. You will experience an early death from ignoring instructions. (vs. 23)

 

All these losses lead progressively to the warning of idleness and deceit, in chapter six, (often referred to as the devil’s workshop). The culminating sum of ignorance in these warnings is sudden calamity and brokenness that is irreparable (vs. 15), which is often caused by the sowing of discord among the brethren (vs. 19). This person is characterized by the following six things that the Lord hates, seventh actually being an abomination to Him:

 

1. A proud look. (vs. 17a)
2. A lying tongue. (vs. 17b)
3. Hands that shed innocent blood. (vs. 17c)
4. A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations. (vs.18a)
5. Feet that are swift to run into mischief. (vs. 18b)
6. A false witness that speaketh lies. (vs. 19a)
7. Sowing discord among the brethren. (vs. 19b)

 

Obey your mother and father (vs. 20-24, c.f. Eph. 6:1-2) is still the best advice for young men to avoid the dangers of the strange woman. The strong warning is in vs. 25, lusting in the heart, which is adultery (Matt.5:28).

 

Chapter seven opens with the admonition to keep the father’s words and commandments to guard against the lure of sensual involvement so prevalent in every generation. The young man void of understanding (“simple” – vs. 7), is easy prey for the strange woman, especially when his curiosity lures him to her neighborhood (vs. 8), i.e. “curiosity killed the cat,” and it will kill this cool cat also! Being cool is often being stupid. This woman should have been easily recognized by the way she was dressed, or by the way she was undressed, but there are three unmistakable characteristics given in vs. 11: She is LOUD, she is STUBBORN, she does not like to STAY HOME. (CAUTION). This is a temptation for teenage girls to act this way for acceptance with her peers. The precious life is sought after even by the adulteress woman in chapter 6 and verse 26, but they hunt in all the wrong ways, and in all the wrong places. (i.e. “I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places” – Country music’s, Waylon Jennings.)

 

Ironically, what this woman does beginning in verses 15-18, would be totally appropriate if this preparation was done in anticipation of spending this time presenting herself to her husband. It would fit very nicely in the context of the Song of Solomon.

 

The opening theme in chapter eight is three-fold: wisdom, understanding, and truth. This three-fold theme carries with it the following promises:

1. By me kings reign.
2. By me princes decree justice.
3. By me princes rule.
4. By me nobles rule.
5. By me all the judges of the earth rule.
6. All riches and honor are with me.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the CREATOR WHO prepared the heavens – Prov. 8:27-31 (Hebrews1:10; John 1:3).

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS

The Book of Proverbs is the revelation of wisdom from “the son of David, King of Israel” (1:1). As that identification is made, it is imperative that you keep in mind the three applications of Scripture. (For a review of them, please refer to “Highlights and Insights” on Day 125 – June 24th.)

 

THE HISTORICAL APPLICATION

From an historical standpoint, the Book of Proverbs is the impartation of Solomon’s wisdom, the King of Israel, to his son, Rehoboam. (Note, “My son” is found as Solomon’s “lead in” 23 times in this Book.) It is a Book written to a king’s son to teach him how to rule in a kingdom, as he employs the practical principles of life and leadership that flow out of understanding the difference between the wise and the fool, what is right and what is wrong, the “godly” man versus the “evil” man, and a “virtuous” woman versus a “strange” woman.

 

THE DOCTRINAL/PROPHETIC APPLICATION

From a doctrinal/prophetic standpoint, the Book of Proverbs is the revealing of wisdom to the Nation of Israel during the Tribulation Period. (Note how God identifiesIsraelin Exodus 4:22 – “Israelis MY SON”!) It is a Book written byIsrael’s king to warn them against the Antichrist (THE “evil man”) and the harlotrous bed of false religion (THE “strange” woman) that will be so seductive during that time period.  (More will be said about this identification of the “evil man” and “strange woman” in the “Highlights and Insights” section in Today’s Reading.)

 

THE DEVOTIONAL/INSPIRATIONAL APPLICATION

From a devotional/inspirational standpoint, the Book of Proverbs is the revelation of wisdom from

Israel’s king, the “King of kings,” the “Son of David,” the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt.9:27;15:22;20:30-31) to all who have been made His “sons” (John1:12; I John 3:1). It is a Book written to teach a young man how to live and lead in a kingdom, the first “kingdom” being the “kingdom” of his own life. He must learn how to rule his own heart, mind, emotions, passions and desires. When he has applied the wisdom of his King to that first “kingdom,” a young man is ready to take on the responsibility of marriage, and bringing up children. After learning to “rule well” in the “kingdom” of his home, he is then ready to take on the responsibility of applying the wisdom of his King in the “kingdom” of the “church.”

 

Because he has applied the wisdom of His King, revealed through Proverbs, he has learned how to rule in his spirit over the pitfalls men fall into that “disqualify” them from ruling in their homes and the church:

• The love of self – II Tim. 3:2
• The love of pleasure – II Tim. 3:4 (i.e. self-gratification, seduction of the “strange” woman, etc.)
• The love of money – I Tim. 6:10, and
• The love of this present world – II Tim. 4:10.

 

At the same time a young man is learning to apply the wisdom of His King to the “kingdom” of his life and all subsequent kingdoms, if a young lady will likewise apply the wisdom of her King to her life, allowing Him to develop in her the character of a virtuous woman, the two will inevitably, in God’s sovereignty and wisdom, find each other. The godly young man will recognize the character of the woman to whom he should offer the proposal of marriage, and the godly young woman will recognize the character of the one to whom she should accept the proposal of marriage. He would be perfectly suited to fulfill his role of representing the Lord Jesus Christ (the godly man) in the home (Eph.5:25), and she would be perfectly suited to fulfill her role of representing the church (the “virtuous” woman) in the home (Eph.5:24). As the home’s “keeper” (Titus 2:5) or “guardian” (Prov. 31:27 – “looketh well” =“watchman”), she would be reporting to her husband the things that she sees that might put the “kingdom” of the home in jeopardy. As the home’s “head” (Eph.5:23), he would be poised to make the decisions that would provide spiritual security and safety in the home.

 

In a very practical application, it is interesting to observe the connection of the 31 chapters of the Book of Proverbs to days, months, and years. Most months consist of 31 days. Because of the importance of the context and purposes of the Book of Proverbs, many have found it a great spiritual discipline and habit to read the Book of Proverbs through each month, reading the chapter that coincides with the day of the month.

 

In the Jewish mind in Solomon’s day, Jesus’ day, and in the mind of orthodox Jews to the present day, a man had not fully arrived into “manhood” until he reached 30 years of age. (Note that Jesus did not begin His public ministry until He was 30 years of age.) Because of this connection between the chapters in Proverbs and the years of a Jewish young man, some have noted that the context of each chapter should be introduced to a young man at the age that coincides with the chapter. (i.e. that would mean that a boy during the ages of 5,6, and 7 would be learning the cautions of the woman that God says is to be avoided, long before he has even developed an interest in girls, and certainly long before his flesh would be stimulated by her allurements and enticements. When he is in chapter 31, which would be the 30th year of his life, he would be able to clearly see and appreciate the value of the “virtuous” woman that is presented there.

 

It is at that point, the 30th year of his life, after mastering the content of the Book of Proverbs, and applying its wisdom to his life, that he would be qualified to rule his own spirit, his home, the church, the McDonald’s Corporation, IBM, or all at the same time!

 

The Book of Proverbs is an intensely practical Book for learning how to live a godly life in an ungodly world.

 

TODAY’S READING: PROVERBS 1-4

 

OVERVIEW:

The purpose for the Book of Proverbs; the enticement of sinners; the need for wisdom; the prerequisites of obtaining wisdom, knowledge, and understanding; the power of wisdom and knowledge to protect from the “evil man” and the “strange woman”; the rewards of wisdom; the instruction of a father.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In the first four verses God lets you know that the Book of Proverbs was designed to accomplish nine things:

1. To know wisdom and instruction.
2. To perceive the words of understanding.
3. To receive the instruction of wisdom.
4. To receive the instruction of justice.
5. To receive the instruction of judgment.
6. To receive the instruction of equity.
7. To give subtilty to the simple.
8. To give the young man knowledge.
9. To give the young man discretion.

 

Nine, as you recall, is the number of “fruit-bearing” in the Bible. We could say that Jesus wrote this Book of the Bible to us to teach us how to have a fruitful life.

 

We look at the gangs that threaten safety in every major city (and in many not-so-major cites) inAmerica, and wonder how could society have so degenerated to such extreme and senseless violence.  Verses 10-19 of chapter one show us that it is really nothing new! They reveal to us that there is something within our depravity that finds such behavior appealing and “enticing,” and will be a part of a culture where children grow up with no “fear of the Lord” (1:7), and do not receive or “hear the instruction of their fathers, and forsake the law of their mothers” (1:8).

 

For those who become frustrated because you can’t always make heads or tails out of what you read in the Bible, take heart! Claim God’s promise in1:23– “I will pour out my spirit unto you, and I will make known my words unto you”!

 

Note also the related promise in chapter 2 and verse 6, “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” But notice that there are five verses in chapter 2 preceding the promise of verse 6. There are seven prerequisites to receiving God’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

 

1. You must RECEIVE His WORDS. (2:1a)
2. You must HIDE His COMMANDMENTS with thee. (2:1b)
3. You must INCLINE YOUR EAR unto WISDOM. (2:2a)
4. You must APPLY YOUR HEART to UNDERSTANDING. (2:2b)
5. You must CRY OUT for KNOWLEDGE. (2:3a)
6. You must LIFT UP YOUR VOICE for UNDERSTANDING. (2:3b)
7. You must SEEK and SEARCH for God’s WISDOM as you would for silver & hid treasure. (2:4)

 

Notice the very next word in verse 5: “THEN”! After those seven prerequisites are fulfilled, “THEN” verse 6 will be a reality. The fact is, people don’t know God’s Word, and thus, do not receive His wisdom, understanding and knowledge (2:6), for the simple fact that they don’t really want it. God is basically saying through the seven prerequisites – “You gotta want it!”  When you really want it, and thereby, receive it, note the incredible benefit it provides as your internal defense mechanism against sin in2:10-22. “Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee (2:11), to deliver thee from the way of the evil man (2:12)… to deliver thee from the strange woman” (2:16).

 

The “evil man” and the “strange woman” are key characters in the Book of Proverbs and in life.

Keeping in mind the three applications of Scripture, in a historical and devotional sense, every culture has “evil men” who speak forward (perverse) things (2:12), and love to do evil and to pull others into their wicked ways (2:14). God’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge is what “preserves” us and “keeps” us (2:11) from these “ways of darkness” (2:13), and “the forwardness of the wicked” (2:14).

 

Every culture also has “strange women,” women we refer to today as seductive, loose, or whorish, who seek to lure and allure men sexually. Again, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge is what “preserves” us and “keeps” us (2:11) from her enticements and entrapments.

 

From a doctrinal or prophetic standpoint, the “evil man” refers to those in whom the “antichrist spirit” dwells, that are the personification of the very Devil himself. They are found in every culture, and yet will ultimately be represented in THE Antichrist (Satan in a human body – I John2:18), THE “evil man”!

 

The “strange woman” in a doctrinal or prophetic sense, refers to the harlotrous false religious systems of the world that seduce men (mankind) into her bed and hold them there (2:19).

The “evil man” and the “strange woman” are to be avoided in a devotional sense because they will make your life a living hell. The “evil man” and the “strange woman” are to be avoided in a doctrinal/prophetic sense because they will send you to a literal, eternal hell!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the SON OF DAVID;ISRAEL’S WISE KING – Prov. 1:1 (Matt. 927;15:22;20:30-31).

As the CREATOR WHO FOUNDED THE EARTH – Prov.3:19(Col. 1:16; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2-3).

As the TEACHER OF WISDOM – Prov. 4:7,11 (Col. 2:3).

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 144-150

 

OVERVIEW:

Prayer for rescue and prosperity; the Lord extolled for His goodness and greatness; praise for the Lord’s help; praise for Jerusalem’s restoration and prosperity; the whole universe and all of creation invoked to praise the Lord; Israel invoked to praise the Lord; everything that hath breath invoked to praise the lord.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Join David today in Psalm 144 in “blessing” and praising the Lord in the personal application of His attributes and power (note the personal pronoun “my” in verses 1 and 2):

• Praise the Lord that He hasn’t just “strengthened” you, He IS your “STRENGTH” (144:1).
• Praise the Lord that He hasn’t just made you “good,” He IS your “GOODNESS” (144:2).
• Praise the Lord that He hasn’t just taught you principles of defense against the enemy, He IS your FORTRESS,” your “HIGHTOWER,” and your “SHIELD” (144:2).
• Praise the Lord that He hasn’t just made a way of escape, He IS your “DELIVERER” (your way of escape – 144:2).

 

Oh my, let that preach to your soul today!

 

In light of WHO HE IS (as described in 144:1 and 2); we cry out with David in verse 3, “WHO in the world ARE WE?” We cry out, “Lord, what is man that thou takest knowledge of him! Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!” (I love the exclamation points that God has placed in His perfectly preserved Word! Note that both statements in verse 3 are actually questions, but are followed by exclamation points rather than question marks. What’s up with that? Perhaps the psalmist understood that in light of God’s incredible GREATNESS and man’s incredible SINFULNESS, there could never be a suitable answer to the questions, so the questions become major STATEMENTS of just how incredible, wonderful and awesome God actually is!!!!

 

In light of God’s unequalled and incomprehensible awesomeness the Psalm ends with, “Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” Are you “happy”?

 

May the cry of the psalmist’s heart in verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 145 be the genuine cry of our hearts, “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.” Remember A.W. Tozer’s surmise of the evangelical church in our day, that “worship” is “the missing jewel” that desperately needs to be “rediscovered.”

 

Allow the glorious words the psalmist uses to lift up his praise and worship to the Lord in verses 3-21 become your words today as you seek to “rediscover the missing jewel.”

 

Verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 146 are likewise great verses to make your own as the expression of your total resolve to praise the Lord for the remainder of your time on earth and for all eternity: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being” (146:1-2).

 

Psalm 147:1 reminds us of the reason we praise the Lord: “for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely (or beautiful).”

 

 

Psalm 148 teaches us about the three “heavens” (148:1 c.f. II Cor. 12:2) from which praise is to come forth. The first “heaven” is from the earth to the clouds. It is where birds and airplanes fly, what we call the earth’s atmosphere (148:7-14). The second heaven is that which is above the clouds to the “frozen face of the deep” (Job 38:30) that is billions and billions of miles above our heads (what we call outer space – Ps. 148:3-6). Then, the third heaven (148:1-2) is the abode of God, above the frozen face of the deep (Job 38:30). This is what John saw in Rev. 4:6 when he said, “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal.” The point of Psalm 148 is praise is to come from every place in the entire universe! We cover the whole layout of the universe in the series “Questions and Answers” Cd #9 and in the Revelation series Chapter 4 “Looking back into the Future”

 

You gotta love the glorious simplicity of the psalmist’s exhortation to those of us who have been “beautified” with the precious gift of “salvation” (149:4). “Let the saints be joyful in glory… Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword (see Heb.4:12; Rev. 19:15; Eph.6:17) in their hand” (149:5-6). As you live in pursuit of God today (and everyday!), that is a great way of simplifying your goal: Have the high praises of God in your mouth, and keep the two-edged sword of God’s Word right at your fingertips (i.e. in your hand and in your heart, ready to be applied as needed)!

 

Could there be a more glorious way to end the Book of Psalms than with the psalmist’s words in Psalm 150? The psalmist exhorts us to praise the Lord (150:1) in the place that He dwells (i.e. “in His presence,” or “in His sanctuary”), and in all places that His presence and power are found (i.e.

Everywhere! “In the firmament of His power” – 150:1). We are to praise Him (150:2) for all that He

DOES (“His might acts”), which proceed out of all that He IS (“His excellent greatness”). We are to praise Him with any and all musical instruments in existence (150:3-5), but most importantly, with the instrument of our mouth, as our words are validated by the life that we live.

 

“Praise ye the Lord” (150:6). Just do it!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE WHO GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND – Ps. 146:8 (Matt. 9:27-30; Mark 10:46-53; John 9:1-41).

 

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 136-143

 

OVERVIEW:

Thanks for the Lord’s goodness toIsrael; response toIsrael’s captivity; thanksgiving for the Lord’s blessing; God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence; prayer for protection against the wicked; prayer for sanctification and protection; prayer for help in trouble; prayer for deliverance and guidance.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 136 is a masterful and beautiful way of showing and stating that the God of the Bible who is THE Lord (vs. 1), the GOD of gods (vs. 2), the LORD of lords (vs.3), the GOD of heaven (vs. 26), and the God of creation (vs. 5-9), is tremendously merciful, and has been demonstrating His mercy throughout all of history (vs. 5-26). Twenty-six times in 26 verses we are reminded, “For his mercy endureth for ever.” Remember, grace is God GIVING to us what we DO NOT deserve. Mercy is God NOT GIVING to us what we DO deserve!

 

Psalm 137 is a tremendously sad song about God’s people being taken captive by the godless Babylonian empire (representative of Satan’s false kingdom of religious systems in the Bible). This song (Psalm) could and should be felt and sung by those of us living during this time of “Laodicean” captivity (Rev. 3:14-22).

 

Psalm 138:2 is one of the most important statements in all of the Word of God concerning itself! “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: FOR THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY NAME.” In light of what the Lord’s “NAME” actually is (i.e. the sum total of all of His attributes) and what the Lord says regarding His own name (i.e. Neh. 9:5 – “Blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted ABOVE ALL blessing and praise”), how then could anything be exalted ABOVE His name? God magnified His Word above His name, because it is only through the Word of God that all that God is (His name) is revealed to us, and it is only through His Word that we learn how to “magnify” (Ps. 138:2), “exalt, bless, and praise” (Neh. 9:5) the name of the Lord!

 

In a world that has totally gone mad with reconstructive and plastic surgery to recreate what we don’t appreciate about “the look” God gave to us when He created us, Psalm 139 teaches us that the God who is omniscient (139:1-6), omnipresent (139:7-12) and omnipotent (137:13-17) made us to look just like we look for His purposes! Rather than being all bummed and depressed about it, we need to accept it, get over it, and use our “look” to fulfill His purposes for our lives! It will be a wonderfully freeing day when you can thank God for all of your “features” that you would change if you could!

 

Psalm 140 and verse 1 says, “Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man”. The evil man is one of the main characters of the Book of Proverbs to which we will go into detail in a couple of days. We will see in the doctrinal/prophetic application, the “evil man” is none other than the Antichrist of the Tribulation Period. Note the singular “evil man” and “violent man” in verse 1, as if it were just one individual, and yet the pronoun in verse 2 is plural: “Which imagine mischiefs in THEIR heart…” I John 2:18 is a key cross reference – “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that ANTICHRIST shall come, even now are there MANY ANTICHRISTS; whereby we know that it is the last time.”

As we have seen continuously through the Psalms, at the end of the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will have united the nations (UN) in war against the Nation of Israel as verse 2 described, “Continuously are they gathered together for war.” Then the key word to set the context appears in verse 3: “Selah”.

 

Just as it looks utterly hopeless forIsrael, then the Lord returns to judge His enemies and establish His rule and rest in His millennial kingdom. That context, (see it set in verses 3, 5, 8) prevails throughout this entire Psalm, pointing to “that day” when “the upright shall dwell in thy presence” (vs. 13) on the earth. Once again, it’s amazing the “doors” that open with just a few simple “keys” of Bible study!

 

Verse 2 of Psalm 141, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense” has beautiful scriptural ramifications. In the Old Testament Tabernacle, the altar of incense was set just outside the veil where the Lord dwelt in the Holy of Holies. The prayer of the saints, represented in the incense, is the delightful aroma that made its way into the Lord’s presence. That Old Testament Tabernacle was just a picture (Heb. 8:5), and when John was caught up to see the True Tabernacle, he wrote in Rev. 5:8 – “And when he (the Lord Jesus Christ) had taken the book (the title deed to the earth), the four beasts and four and twenty elders (the church) fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF SAINTS”!

 

In Psalm 142, the historic background and context is set for us in the title, “Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave” (i.e. When Saul was seeking David’s life). This is another great Psalm to use as a guide for those times in life when we find ourselves pressed by our “troubles” (vs. 2), “when our spirit is overwhelmed within us” (vs. 3), when our enemies have “laid a snare for us” (vs. 4), when you feel you’ve forsaken by everybody, and nobody “cares” (vs. 4), when we’ve been “brought very low” (vs. 6a), when we’ve been “persecuted” (vs. 6b), and when it feels that our very soul is in “prison” (vs. 9). It is encouraging to know that David teaches us that we can be honest with God about our circumstances of life and how we feel, and yet, rather than allow yourself to wallow in self-pity, recognize that there are a good five billion people who are alive at this very minute who are absolutely clueless that this Psalm is descriptive of their spiritual condition, and if they knew enough about their condition to articulate it, they could repeat verse 4 with David, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” Will you be that man or woman today (and every day!), who will care for the souls of the lost, pointing them to the refuge, the might cross?

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE WHO DELIVERS SOULS FROM PRISON – Ps. 142:7 (Luke4:18).

Day 190– FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2012

 

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 120-135

 

OVERVIEW:

Prayer for deliverance from lying lips; the Lord as the Keeper of Israel; prayer for the peace of Jerusalem; prayer for the Lord’s help; praise for the Lord’s deliverance of Israel; the blessing of trusting God, thanksgiving for the return from captivity; prosperity comes from the Lord; the blessedness of the fear of the Lord; prayer for the overthrow of Zion’s enemies; hope in the Lord’s forgiveness; childlike trust in the Lord; prayer for the Lord’s blessing upon the sanctuary; the blessedness of unity; the blessing of the night watchers; praise for the Lord’s works, and the vanity of idols and idol worship.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

What if Eve would have been able to write verse one of Psalm 120 – “In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me”?  What if the cry of her heart would have been the cry of the psalmist’s heart in verse 2, “Deliver my soul, O LORD, form lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue”? It’s wonderful to dream about what might have been if Eve had applied these verses, but how wonderful would it have been had we applied them at key times in our lives, and how wonderful will it be if we can apply them today, and the remainder of our days?!

 

Do note that verses 2-7 of Psalm 120 are all pointing to the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period in the prophetic application of these verses.

 

Psalm 121 also has incredible prophetic implications and applications for Israel. When her “help” comes, it will come from “the hills” (121:1). God is careful to name these “hills” in His Word:

 

 

1. Mount Sinai (Deut. 33:2; Jud. 5:5; Ps. 68:8)
2. Mount Seir (Ezek. 35:2, 3, 7)
3. Mount Paran (Deut. 33:2; Hab. 3:3)
4. Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:1-6)

 

During the Tribulation Period, God will establish Israel (121:3), He will “preserve” them (121:7) and from “this time forth” (i.e. from the time of the Second Coming and throughout the Millennium) they will come in and go out of Jerusalem (121:8).

 

Psalm 122 is descriptive of what will take place in the Millennium.

 

As you read Psalm 123, read it from the perspective of a Jew in the Tribulation Period awaiting the arrival of the Messiah.

 

Psalm 124 describes Israel’s literal deliverance from a literal flood and from literally being eaten and swallowed. For those who have the time to get into it, some key cross references are Isa. 6:13; Rev. 6:9-11; Ps. 35:22; 44:22; Rev. 20:4; 12:15; Dan. 9:26; Jer. 51:34.

 

The prophetic context of Psalm 125 is the beginning of the Millennium (note “from henceforth even forever” in verse 2).

 

Psalm 126 refers to the Second Coming of Christ when He “turns the captivity of Zion” and establishes His Kingdom on the earth. The “soul-winners” in verses 5 and 6 are those described in Ecc. 11:1-7, and yet from a devotional/inspirational standpoint it is true for us. When we travail in prayer for the lost, watering the seed of God’s Word (Luke 8:11) that we have sown in the soil of men’s hearts with our tears, we will reach people with the gospel!

 

It is vitally important to understand and apply the truth of Psalm 127:1 to our individual lives, our marriage, our family, our church, and our nation: “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Psalm 128 is another vital and practical Psalm in relation to our marriages and families.

 

Psalm 129 describes the scourging endured by our Lord Jesus Christ in His first coming, and yet points to the execution of His judgment at His second coming. Psalm 130 is also a Messianic Psalm with tremendous practical implications. Psalm 131 is predominantly practical, with prophetic (Millennium) overtones in verse 3. Psalm 132 is filled with Millennium references. (See verses 11 and 13-18).

 

The “brethren” of Psalm 133:1 are the brethren of Matthew 25:34-42 and Matthew 28:10. Devotionally, it is, however, very wonderful and “pleasant” when all of God’s children in His church “dwell together in unity” (133:1 c.f. I Cor. 1:10).

 

Only Psalm 117 is shorter than Psalm 134, and its context is obviously the Millennium. (The “house of the Lord” – 134:1, is a literal house to be built on this earth – Ezek. 40-44, and the “servants of the LORD” – 134:1, will stand in that house again.)

 

By now, hopefully you can identify the prophetic context of the Psalms, identifying the Tribulation,

Second Coming and Millennium references, while still applying these verses to your life inspirationally in a practical sense. Try your hand at it in Psalm 135.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our PROTECTOR – the ONE WHO PRESERVES OUR GOING OUT AND COMING IN – Ps. 121:8 (John 10:9)

As DAVID’S FRUIT or DESCENDANT who will sit upon David’s throne – Ps. 132:11 (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30)

 

 

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 119

 

OVERVIEW:

The greatness, power, and perfection of God’s Holy Word.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 119 is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is an “alphabet Psalm” in that each of the 22 stanzas that are each comprised of 8 verses, each begins with the 22 consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet (i.e. Alpha, Beth, Gimel, etc.). There is perhaps no greater treatise concerning the Word of God in the entire Bible (or in all of existence for that matter!) than this Psalm. Note that 173 out of the 176 verses in this Psalm refer specifically to the Word of God. It is also interesting to note that there are at least seven other different terms (other than word/words) used in this Psalm to refer to God’s perfect Word (seven is the number of perfection and completion in the Bible), and all seven are established in the first seven verses, and in verse 164 the psalmist said, “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.” The seven other terms used to refer to God’s Word/Words are 1) Law 2) Testimonies 3) Way/Ways 4) Precepts 5) Statutes 6) Commandments, and 7) Judgments.

 

In terms of an overview of this incredible Psalm, it is difficult to know where to begin. My dear friend, Jeff Adams, has written what is in my estimation, the best commentary ever written on Psalm 119. I would call it a must for every person who is serious about being a man or woman of the Word of God. I bring his commentary up because it is such a reminder that “highlighting” this Psalm will not even begin to scratch the surface of all that God packed into it.

 

There is one key thing, however, to which we will devote our attention. This Psalm deals with our heart attitude toward the Word of God. It shows us that the real issue is not our knowledge of the Bible, but our LOVE for the Bible (evidenced, of course, by our obedience to it – John14:15, 23).

Do you love the Word of God? If so, how do you know?

 

It is interesting that as God inspired the “man after His own heart,” a man who loved God passionately, to pen the Psalms he composed, very seldom does God choose to record those times when David actually expressed His love for Him. In Psalm 119 alone, however, David expresses his love for the Word of God 11 times! There are many lessons to glean and apply from that observation, but perhaps the most practical and applicable being the simple fact that you cannot separate loving the God of the Word from loving the Word of God!

 

As David expresses his love for the Word of God in Psalm 119, he includes the characteristics his love for the Word actually produced in his life. This becomes incredibly beneficial as we search our own hearts to determine whether we really love the Word of God, because if we do, these same characteristics should be observable in our lives. Psalm 119 then, shows us…

 

SEVEN WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU LOVE THE WORD OF GOD:

1. You know that you LOVE the Word of God BY WHAT YOU HATE. (119:127-128)
1. You will HATE every FALSE WAY. (119:127-128)
2. You will HATE LYING. (119:163)
3. You will HATE VAIN THOUGHTS. (119:113)
2. You know that you LOVE the Word of God BY THE HOLY ATTITUDE WITH WHICH YOU VIEW IT. (119:140, 160,164,72,93,103,128,131,161)
3. You know that you LOVE the Word of God BY WHAT CONSUMES YOUR THOUGHTS. (119:97,15,23,48,78,99,148)
4. You know that you LOVE the Word of God BY THE JOY YOU RECEIVE FROM GETTING INTO IT AND LIVING IT. (119:47)
5. You know that you LOVE the Word of God BY YOUR SURRENDER TO IT. (119:48)
6. You know that you LOVE the Word of God BY YOUR INABILITY TO BE OFFENDED. (119:165)
7. You know that you LOVE the Word of God BY THE DESIRE IN YOUR INNERMOST BEING TO OBEY IT. (119:116-167)

 

Based on the seven characteristics, do you love the Word of God?

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

By the PSALMIST WHO DELIGHTED IN FULFILLING GOD’S WILL – Ps. 119:47 (John 6:38; 15:10;

4:34).

 

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 110-118

 

OVERVIEW:

The Lord gives dominion to the King; the psalmist’s praise for the works of the Lord; the blessed man; the Lord’s exaltation of the humble; God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt; the heathen idols contrasted with Jehovah; thanksgiving for deliverance from death; a psalm of praise; thanksgiving for the Lord’s saving goodness.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 110 is a very significant Psalm. It is specifically this Psalm that Jesus used to prove His deity when He sought to shut the mouths of the Pharisees in Matthew 22. That passage says “While the Pharisees were gathered together (see Matt.22:23-35), Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then called him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (Matt. 22:41-46).

 

Notice in verse one of Psalm 110, that 1000 years before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, David recognized that the Messiah existed (“The Lord said unto my Lord”); acknowledged that the Messiah was his “Lord” (“The Lord said unto MY Lord”); and understood that the Messiah would one day come in judgment upon His enemies (“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool”).

 

Psalm 110 is quoted no less than seven times in the New Testament: Hebrews 1:13; 5:6;7:17; Matt. 22:43-44; Mark 12:36; Acts 2:33-34; Luke 20:42-43.

 

Psalm 111 is a psalm of praise for the “works of the Lord.” God’s works in this Psalm are described in nine different ways. They are: 1) Great (v.2); 2) To be sought out (v.2); 3) Honorable (v.3); 4) Glorious (v.3); 5) Wonderful (v.4); 6) To be remembered (v. 4); 7) Powerful (v.6); 8) True (v. 7); 9) Judgmental (v. 7).   Verse 10 of Psalm 111 is a great reminder to those of us living in the last days, because we have been brainwashed before coming to Christ, and for most of us, after coming to Christ, not to believe it. It is true as it stands, however, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”! Not “reverential trust” – not “holy reverence” – FEAR! All of our lives, Satan has been bent on teaching us to fear what God told us NOT to fear (II Kings 17:7, 25), and teaching us not to fear what God TOLD US TO FEAR (Ex.20:20). It basically comes down to this: we will either fear God or fear man (Prov. 29:25). Jesus helps us get the issue in perspective in Matthew10:28– “And fear not them which kill the body (i.e. men), but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”!

 

How’s that for tact?

 

Psalm 112 describes the “blessed man” that we met in Psalm 1.

 

Psalm 113 describes the millennium.

 

Psalm 114 is a very brief overview of the events recorded in the Books of Exodus and Joshua, and that will be repeated at the Second Coming of Christ.

 

Psalm 115 admonishes three groups of people to “trust in the Lord” and find Him as their “help” (aggressive action AGAINST the enemy) and their “shield” (protection FROM the enemy). The three groups are 1) “Israel” (v. 9 – i.e. Jews in the Tribulation); 2) The “House of Aaron” (v.10 – i.e. Levitical priests who are about to serve in theMillennialTemple– Ezek. 40-42); 3) “Ye that fear the Lord” (v. 11 – Gentile converts in the Tribulation – Rev. 7:9).

 

Psalm 116 is a Messianic Psalm.

 

Psalm 117 is short – and sweet!

 

Psalm 118 is the middle of the Bible – and specifically verse 8 – “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Verse 22 and 23 of Psalm 118 are incredibly significant, and will be quoted at key places in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ the Apostle Peter, and the Apostle Paul. Psalm 118:22-23 says, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Jesus quoted this verse to the chief priests, scribes and elders ofIsraelto show them that they were about to be the ones who fulfilled this prophecy (Matt.21:42; Mark 12:35-36: Luke 20:42-43). When Peter preached to the high priest, scribes, rulers and elders of Israel in Acts 4, he quoted his verse to explain to them that they had fulfilled this prophecy (Acts 4:5-11). When God inspired Paul to write the Book of Ephesians to reveal the mystery of the church, the body of Christ, he, too, quoted the verse in Ephesians 2:19-21.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE SEATED AT THE FATHER’S RIGHT HAND – Ps. 110:1 (Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1)

As the STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REFUSED – Ps. 118:22 (Matt.21:42; Mark 12:35-36; Luke 20:42-43)

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 106-109

 

OVERVIEW:

A recounting ofIsrael’s rebellion and the Lord’s faithfulness to deliver them; the deliverance of the Lord in the troubles of life; the psalmist’s praise of the Lord and his cry of supplication for victory; the vengeance of God meted out upon His enemies.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we pick up in Psalm 106 in today’s reading, the psalmist continues his praise and thanks to the Lord as he recounts God’s mercy throughIsrael’s history. Note that verse 8 identifies God’s ultimate purpose inIsrael’s deliverance in the exodus: “Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.” God repeats that overarching principle in several places in the Old Testament. In Exodus9:16God said that the real issue was “that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” As God told Ezekiel what to say to the elders of Israel in Ezekiel 20, as He recounted Israel’s history, He said in verse 9, “But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.” The reason these verses are so significant, is that God lets us know in I Corinthians 10:1-6, 11, that Israel’s exodus out of the bondage of Egypt was just a picture of our exodus from the bondage of sin and the world (II Tim.2:26; Eph. 2:2). (Note thatEgyptis always a picture of sin and/or the world in the Bible!) What that lets us know is that in the final analysis, contrary to fundamental Bible-believing, Laodicean thought, and teaching, the purpose of our salvation was not first and foremost for our benefit, though incredible beneficiaries we are! The real purpose of our salvation was God’s glory! He saved us for “His name’s sake” (Ps. 106:8a; Ezek. 20:9)!  He saved us so that His “mighty power could be known” (Ps. 106:86)! He saved us so His name could be “declared throughout all the earth” (Ex.9:16)!

 

Please take the time to understand that this is far more than a moot point! This simple point concerning the purpose of our salvation smacks totally against everything that even fundamental, Bible-believing Christianity in the Laodicean Age (1901 A.D. – Rapture – Rev. 3:14-22) believes and teaches!

 

The “Christianity” OF OUR DAY:

1. Says that Christianity is primarily about God benefiting His creatures (i.e. God exists for us)
2. Says that the most important thing to God is people.
3. Asks, “What do I need to do to gain God’s blessing?” (i.e. Seeks God’s hand)

 

The “Christianity” OF THE BIBLE:

1. Says that Christianity is primarily about God glorifying His Son. (i.e. we exist for God)
2. Says that the most important thing to God is His glory (i.e. His name)
3. Asks, “What can I do to most glorify God?” (i.e. Seeks God’s face)

 

No wonder Paul said, “In the last days perilous times shall come. (II Tim. 3:1), and that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim. 4:1)! Be very careful and discerning!

 

Based on what I Cor. 10:6 and 11 says, the things that the psalmist lays out aboutIsrael’s history in Psalm 106 provide limitless application for our lives.

 

The theme of Psalm 107 is, “Oh that men would praise the Lord of his goodness, and for his wonderful works, to the children of men!” (See verse 8, 15, 21 and 31). All of the verses in between are designed to help you do just that. Again, the applications of these verses to our lives are limitless!

 

In Psalm 108, note that the first 5 verses are a replica of Psalm 57:7-11 and verses 7-10 are a replica of Psalm 60:6-9.

 

There is certainly an historical application to David’s life in Psalm 109, but the psalm is not primarily about David’s situation, but the Messiah’s humiliation, His confrontation with Satan, His victory over death, and the ultimate vindication of His life as the Father executes His vengeance.

Though David composed this Psalm (under the inspiration of God, of course), the words actually compose the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, and every aspect of the prayer will be answered to the letter!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE WHO MAKES THE STORM A CALM – Ps. 107:29 (Matt. 8:27; John 14:27)

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 100-105

 

OVERVIEW:

Exhortation to praise God; the psalmist’s profession of uprightness; the prayer of an afflicted man for mercy on himself and Zion; praise for the Lord’s mercies; praise for the Lord’s majesty; the wonderful works of the Lord in behalf of Israel.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The first verse in today’s reading is a call to “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands” (100:1). It is a reminder that God’s passion is and has always been the world-wide worship of His Son from every kindred, tongue, people and nation. Don’t ever lose sight of the scope of our commission! We are to make disciples of all nations, or as verse one says, in “all lands.” What could you point to that you are actively and specifically doing to see that God’s passion as it is expressed in verse one is being realized? Are you presently discipling someone (i.e. are you presently reproducing a reproducer of reproducers)? When was the last time you actually gave the gospel to someone? Do you give above your regular tithes and offerings to missions?  Are you involved in our Bible publishing ministry? When was the last time you went (or have you ever been) on a short term missions trip? Note also in verse 2, we are to carry out our commission with “gladness,” not out of guilt or obligation.

 

In a world that absolutely caters to the “lust of the eyes,” Psalm 101:3 is a doozey! “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” Some more “mature” believers evidently feel that they have “graduated” past such extreme measures in the name of their “liberty in Christ,” or want to label you “legalistic” when you say that setting no wicked thing before our eyes includes many (most?) movies, TV shows, commercials, magazines, advertisements, the internet, and any wicked thing we might set before the eyes of our imagination. Call it what they may, what part of “NO” in “set NO wicked thing before your eyes” is even remotely difficult to understand?

 

Whereas verse 3 of Psalm 101 is a warning about HOW we spend our time, verse 4 warns us about WHO we spend it with. We have been called to reach the lost, but we must recognize the reality of verses like I Cor. 15:33 – “Be not deceived: evil communications (also translated “company”) corrupt good manners (or morals).” Our most intimate associations must be with brothers and sisters in Christ, who have likewise (along with us!) surrendered themselves to Christ’s Lordship. Note the continuation of the thought in 101:7 – “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight”!

 

At times of your life when you’re really “going through it,” Psalm 102 is a great place to find refuge.  Notice the title (listed in most Bibles), “A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.” Of course, prophetically the psalm points to the Nation of Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation when the Lord Jesus Christ will “arise and have mercy uponZion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come” (102:13). Note also, the definite Second Coming references in verses 16 and 21-22.

 

Feeding off of verse one of Psalm 103; I know I have sought to bless the holy name of the Lord from my soul, I’m not certain, however, that I’ve ever actually done it with “all that is within me.” Have you?  I’m absolutely certain that that is what the worship of heaven will be (Rev. 4); the difficulty is in bringing the worship of heaven to earth, and to our lives!

 

Note that Psalm 103 begins and ends the same way – “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” This psalm is about God’s mercy. The nature of mercy (vs. 4), the measure of mercy (vs. 8), the scope of mercy (vs. 11), and the duration of mercy (vs. 17). Perhaps the more we learn about and grow to appreciate the incredible mercy the Lord has extended to us, the more apt we will be to genuinely “bless the Lord will all that is within in us.”

 

The first and last verse of Psalm 104, likewise, includes the exhortation to “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”  Whereas Psalm 103 addresses God’s mercy, Psalm 104 is all about God’s majesty, and focuses on the wonder of creation.

 

Psalm 105 is the first in a series of five Psalms that feature the phrase, “O give thanks unto the Lord,” (See Psalm 106, 107, 118 and 136.) This Psalm, along with Psalm 106 highlightsIsrael’s history much like we observed in Psalm 78. The first five verses contain nine (9 is the number of fruit-bearing in the Bible) exhortations that should be carried out by every child of God in any dispensation:

1. “Give thanks” (105:1a)
2. “Call upon his name” (105:1b)
3. “Make known his deeds” (105:1c)
4. “Sing unto him” (105:2a)
5. “Talk ye of all his wondrous works (105:2b)
6. “Glory ye in his name” (105:3a)
7. “Rejoice” (105:3b)
8. “Seek his face” (105:4)
9. “Remember his marvelous works” (105:5)

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the CREATOR (“It is He that hath made us”) – Psalm 100:3 (John 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11).

As the ONE WHO FORGIVES ALL YOUR INIQUITIES – Psalm 103:3 (Matt. 9:6).

 

TODAY’S READING: PSALM 90-99

 

OVERVIEW:

God’s eternality and man’s transitoriness; the security of the one who trusts in the Lord; praise for God’s goodness; the majesty of the Lord; the vengeance of the Lord; a call to sing, worship, and praise the Lord; the Lord’s power and dominion; praise for the Lord’s righteousness; the exaltation of the Lord as our holy King.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 90 is unique for several reasons. First, because it is the oldest psalm, and therefore the first one ever written; and second, because it (along with Psalm 91) was written by Moses. Notice the prophetic application of Psalm 90:4 – “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” In the Old Testament, there were three watches to a Jewish night (Judges7:19). In the New Testament, there are four watches (Mark6:48). Note that Christ was born at the beginning of 1st “day” of 1000 years, and will come again at the beginning of the 3rd “day” of 1000 years (II Pet. 3:8; Ex.9:11). Christ was born at the first watch of the night, and will return “in the fourth watch of the night” (Matt.14:25), which is the “morning watch,” and hence the title, “the Day of the Lord,” when the “SUN (!!!) of Righteousness will arise” (Mal. 4:1-2).

 

Note also in verse 10 of Psalm 90 that the normal life span for a typical man until the Second Coming of Christ is 70 years (i.e. average age at death). The Lord will “take that up a few notches” for those born during the Millennium (Isa. 65:20), as men will live to be several hundred years of age as they did in some Old Testament times (Gen. 5).

 

In terms of “numbering our days” (90:12), the point is, “redeem the time” (Co.4:5; Eph.5:16), or make the absolute most of each day. Taken literally,

If you are age 20, you have 18,250 days to live.

If you are age 25, you have 16,425 days to live.

If you are age 30, you have 14,600 days to live.

If you are age 35, you have 12,775 days to live.

If you are age 40, you have 10,950 days to live.

If you are age 45, you have 9,125 days to live.

If you are age 50, you have 7,300 days to live.

If you are age 55, you have 5,475 days to live.

If you are age 60, you have 3,650 days to live.

If you are age 65, you have 1,825 days to live.

If you are age 70, you are now on “borrowed” time!

 

But remember Proverbs 27:1 – “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”! Remember, also, what time it is on God’s clock! We are the generation whose days will be shortened by the Rapture, so we’re back to the main point of Psalm 90:12: Live each day as if it were your last, because it might just be!

 

Psalm 91 is another personal favorite. Without understanding the doctrinal/prophetic application of Scripture, however, you can get yourself more than just a little messed up, by claiming promises that are not intended for you, or promises that are not intended for you in THIS life.

 

Though most Bible scholars are unable to identify the prophetic application of this Psalm as it applies to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Satan understood it very well! Satan makes this identification in Matthew 4:6, and the Holy Spirit records it to reveal (I Cor.2:10, 13) the real meaning of Psalm 91. (Note also that there is a double prophetic application in Psalm 91 in that the verses also apply to the remnant of Jewish saints in the Great Tribulation (91:3, 5, 6, 10). Any way you slice it, God’s people in the Church Age are not promised protection from “the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday” (91:5-6). There are a minimum of 50 million people in the Church Age who sought with everything within them to “dwell in the secret place of the Most High,” who were shot through with arrows, sewn in the skins of animals and thrown to wild beasts, placed on the rack to have every joint ligament, tendon, and muscle totally ripped to shreds, burned at the stake, crucified, boiled in oil, or had done to them just about anything the devil could imagine and could prompt people to mete out on God’s precious saints. And that’s not to mention a minimum of another 50 million saints who have been struck down in wars, or by some sickness or disease (pestilence).

 

There is, however, an incredible devotional/inspirational application of this Psalm for those of us living in the Church Age:

1. There is a “secret place” (91:1) of intimacy with Christ that we can experience in our relationship with Him that others don’t experience (Isa. 57:15; 4:6; 32:2; Song of Sol. 2:3, 6).
2. Our eyes will “behold and see the reward of the wicked” (91:8), as we will be the “armies” that follows the Lord out of heaven at His Second Coming when He returns to the earth to unleash His judgment (Rev. 19;11-16; Isa. 63:1-4).
3. Once we have been raptured and have entered into our external “secret place” (John 14:3), no evil shall ever befall us again (Ps. 91:10a), and no plague will ever again come near us (91:10b).
4. We will be “delivered” at the Rapture, at which time we will be “set on high” (91:14).
5. The Lord has not promised us the ABSENCE of trouble in this life, but He has promised His PRESENCE with us through it (Ps. 91:15; Heb. 13:5; II Cor. 12:9)!
6. The Lord has and will honor us (Ps. 91:15; John5:44;12:26).
7. We will be “satisfied” with “long life” beyond our wildest dreams. Jesus called it eternal life, and that’s pretty dog-gone long!

 

Many other incredible prophetic and devotional truths unfold in the remainder of today’s Psalms (92-99) that hopefully you are now beginning to see how to identify and apply for yourself. Enjoy!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the GOD WHO COVERS WITH HIS FEATHERS – Ps. 91:4 (Matt.23:37).

As the ROCK OF OUR SALVATION – Ps. 95:1 (I Cor. 10:4).

As the LORD WHO JUDGES THE EARTH IN RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH – Ps. 96:13 (Rev. 16:5-7).

As the LORD WHO RETURNS IN FLAMING FIRE – Ps. 97:4 (II Thess. 1:7-9)