Deuteronomy 33
Moses blessing of children of Israelverses 1-5
And this is the BLESSING – wherewith Moses the man of God
BLESSED the children of Israel before his death
And he said
The LORD came from Sinai – and rose up from Seir to them
HE shined forth from mount Paran
HE came with ten thousands of saints
from HIS right hand went a fiery law for them
YEA – HE loved the people – all HIS saints are in YOUR hand
and they sat down at YOUR feet
every one shall receive of YOUR words
Moses commanded us a law – even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob
and HE was king in Jeshurun [Israel]
when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were
gathered together
Moses instructions to Reubenverse 6
Let Reuben live and not die
and let not his men be few
Moses instructions to Judahverse 7
And this is the blessing of Judah
and he said
Hear – LORD – the voice of Judah – and bring him to his people
let his hands be sufficient for him
and be YOU an help to him from his enemies
Moses instructions to Leviverses 8-11
And of Levi
he said
Let your Thummim and your Urim be with YOUR holy one
whom YOU did prove at Massah
and with whom you did strive at the waters of Meribah
Who said to his father and to his mother – I have not seen him
neither did he acknowledge his brethren
nor knew his own children
for they have observed YOUR word
and kept YOUR covenant
They shall TEACH Jacob YOUR judgments
and Israel YOUR law – they shall put incense before YOU
and whole burnt sacrifice upon YOUR altar
BLESS – LORD – his substance – and accept the work of his hand
smite through the loins of them that rise against him
and of them that hate him – that they rise not again
Moses instructions to Benjaminverse 12
And of Benjamin
he said
The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him
and the LORD shall cover him all the day long
and he shall dwell between HIS shoulders
Moses instructions to Josephverses 13-17
And of Joseph
he said
BLESSED of the LORD be his land – for the precious things of heaven
for the dew – for the deep that couches beneath
for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun
for the precious things put forth by the moon
for the chief things of the ancient mountains
for the precious things of the lasting hills
for the precious things of the earth and fullness thereof
for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush
let the BLESSING come on the head of Joseph
on the top of the head of him that was
separated from his brethren
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock
and his horns are like the horns of unicorns
with them the shall push the people together to the
ends of the earth
and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim
and they are the thousands of Manasseh
Moses instructions to Zebulun & Issacharverses 18-19
And of Zebulun
he said
Rejoice – Zebulun – in your going out
and Issachar – in your tents
They shall call the people to the mountain
there they shall offer sacrifices of RIGHTEOUSNESS
for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas
and of treasures hid in the sand
Moses instructions to Gadverses 20-21
And of Gad
he said
BLESSED be he that enlarge Gad – he dwell as a lion
and tears the arm with the crown of the head
And he provided the first part for himself – because there
in a portion of the lawgiver – was he seated
And he came with the heads of the people
he executed the justice of the LORD
and his judgments with Israel
Moses instructions to Danverse 22
And of Dan
he said
Dan is a lion’s whelp – he shall leap from Bashan
Moses instructions to Naphtaliverse 23
And of Naphtali
he said
O Naphtali – satisfied with favor
and full with the blessing of the LORD
possess thou the west and the south
Moses instructions to Asherverses 24-25
And of Asher
he said
Let Asher be blessed with children
let him be acceptable to his brethren
and let him dip his foot in oil
Your shoes shall be iron and brass – and as your days
so shall your strength be
Moses praises the LORDverses 26-29
There is none like to the God of Jeshurun
WHO rides upon the heaven in your help
and in HIS excellency on the sky
The eternal God is your refuge
and underneath are the everlasting arms
And HE shall thrust out the enemy from before you
and shall say – Destroy them
Israel then shall dwell in safety alone
the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine
also his heavens shall drop down dew
Happy are you – O Israel – who is like to you
O people saved by the LORD – the SHIELD of your help
WHO is the SWORD of your excellency
And your enemies shall be found liars to you
and you shall tread upon their high places
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. (1288 “blessed” [barak] means salute, celebrate, praise, invoke, bestow power for success, prosperity, fertility, or positive verbal exchange)
DEVOTION: Moses was about to die before entering the Promised Land. He wanted to bestow power for success for the different tribes of Israel. He wanted to give each tribe words of praise. He had just written a song against the tribes of Israel because the LORD commanded him to because HE knew their future and Moses knew how they acted in the past.
So here we have Moses giving words of encouragement to the tribes before his final days.
Each tribe had different promises. Each tribe had a different future. Each tribe had to evaluate their relationship to the LORD.
We want people to look at our church and say words of praise that are appropriate. There are seven churches in the book of Revelation that received a word from the LORD. Only one had nothing but praise given to it. The others had lessons they needed to learn before they were going to receive their rewards.
Each church had a pastor. Each church needed a different type of pastor to lead them. No two churches are the same. No two ministries are exactly the same. Each area of our world needs Biblical churches that meet the needs of those who live around the churches.
The twelve tribes each had different futures within the will of God. Each church has the same type of distinction regarding their future where they are located.
What type of church leader does your church need to fulfill the will of God for your area of ministry? Are you reaching your world with the Good News of the Gospel?
CHALLENGE: Each tribe was given an encouraging word from Moses. We need to give encouraging words to those in our local churches. There is a time for warning and there is a time for encouragement.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together. ((3484 “Jeshurun” [Yeshuruwn] means upright, name of Israel, showing Israel’s special relation to God or symbolic name for Israel describing her ideal character)
DEVOTION: There is a great song “There is no God like Jehovah.” Here we find that there is another name for Israel and that is Yeshuruwn. It shows a special relationship between the children of Israel and the LORD.
Moses is giving his final blessings to each of the tribes of Israel. He is encouraging Israel that they have a special place in the plan of God. He is informing them that the LORD loves them and is going to take care of them. He is teaching Israel that they are under the everlasting arms of the Almighty God.
There reaction should be one of JOY. They have a shield to help them. They have a sword to defend them. Their enemies are going to be found out to be liars. They are going to defeat their enemies and live in their land.
Moses uses this special name that is given to Israel to show how close they were to God. HE was their King and God (v.26) in this chapter. Moses was trying to show them that they can have a special place of blessing.
We are in a place of blessing. We have a special name with the LORD. We are called “saints.” We are called “joint heirs with Christ.” We have the “mind of Christ.” We are precious to HIM.
Are we living our lives like we are a special people to an Everlasting God? Do we realize that we have sword defending us? Do we realize that we have a shield defending us? Paul instructs us to put on the Armor of God to fight against our enemies. Many commentators believe this is an instruction to put on Christ. We need to remind ourselves of these facts regularly. Praise HIS name!!!!
Those who are genuine believers in Jesus Christ will have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life. We will receive a new name when we arrive in heaven. These are precious promises to all those who repent of their sins and ask the LORD Jesus Christ into their lives and follow HIM. Those that refuse to follow Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
CHALLENGE: Live as if you are precious in the sight of the LORD. Tell others they can be precious if they repent and become followers of Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit.
: 9 Who said to his father and to his mother, I have not seen him, neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed YOUR word, and keep YOUR covenant. (8104 “observed” [shamar] means to keep, watch over, guard, to conform one’s actions or practice to, preserve, be careful about, protect, or revere)
DEVOTION: The one tribe that had to be closes to the LORD was the children of Levi which was where the High Priest came from and the priest that ministered came from and the individuals who would help the priests came from.
So this tribe was divided into three groups. The High Priest was the one who went into the Holy of Holies once as year for his own sins and the sins of the tribes of Israel. The priests did the daily tasks of offering the sacrifice to the LORD from the people. They also instructed the people.
The other individuals in this tribe were those who served the priests wherever they were needed. They had to carry the Tabernacle when they were in the wilderness but once in the Promised Land they would be servants to the priests at the Temple.
All three groups were to be HOLY before the LORD. They were given cities but no territory of their own. They were the LORD’S inheritance.
We are the LORD’S inheritance today. Christians or followers of Jesus Christ are given gifts to help the local church function in the training of the believers in their area. We are the special people who are to reach out into our communities with the fruit of the Holy Spirit active in our lives.
There are going to be those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ who are not faithful witnesses for HIM. They will cause some to look away from Christ because of their actions but each generation has a responsibility to witness for the LORD in their territory.
CHALLENGE: Loyalty to the LORD is rewarded with blessings from the LORD not only in eternity but here on this earth.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 They shall call the people to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand. (3243 “suck” [yanaq] means to draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth, nurse, give nourishment, suckle, or to give milk)
DEVOTION: Newborn babies need to have nourishment to continue to grow. This is what has to happen to every child that is born. If they are not fed, they will die.
This is also true of the nation of Israel. Here is one tribe that is promised the abundance of the seas for their health and wellbeing.
The LORD gives promises through Moses to each tribe of the children of Israel as they move into the Promised Land. Moses is about to leave them as a leader in the hands of Joshua. He is instructed of the LORD to state what the LORD is going to do for HIS people.
This is also true today. The LORD is going to provide for each believer in a way that will help him or her survive in this world that is not willing to honor the LORD most of the time.
How can we work in a world that is not honoring the LORD? We can only do it with the promises that the LORD gives throughout HIS word, the Bible. HE says that HE will take care of every believer in a way that will help them grow in their personal relationship to HIM.
HE knows what each tribe in Israel will need from HIM. HE also knows what each individual will need from HIM to survive in our world. HE never leaves us alone if we are one of HIS children. HE knows what we need and will give us the strength to face the world we are living in.
This was true of Israel in the Old Testament and it is true of believers today. We are not to worry about HIS provision for us but we can pray and watch HIM work in our world and in our lives.
CHALLENGE: Trust in the LORD and watch HIM provide for your every need. Each of us are different and HE knows it.
: 27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms and HE shall thrust out the enemy from before you, and shall say, Destroy them. ( 4585 “refuge” [ma’ownah] means den, place, hiding place, lair, habitation, an asylum, dwelling place, cave, or a state of safety form danger as a figurative extension of a hiding place)
DEVOTION: Where do you turn for help? Do you acknowledge that you need help at times? Some people seem to think that they never need anyone else’s help. They seem to think that they can conquer any problem by themselves.
The Bible doesn’t teach this in relation to the people of God. The Old Testament saints needed the help of the LORD all the time. HE was the one they went to when trouble came their way. HE was their refuge. HE was their place to run when they saw an enemy coming. HE was the one who gave them instructions regarding how to handle each enemy. Remember that there were different enemies that they faced throughout their existence.
Today New Testament saints need the help of the LORD as well. They need to turn to HIM when they face trials that come into their life or the life of the church. Both individuals and congregations need to go to the LORD in prayer to find out what his solution is to their needs. Sometimes the enemy is within the local congregation in the form of individuals who are not faithful to the Word of God. Sometimes the enemy is an individual outside the church that wants to harm the church or its witness in the neighborhood.
All enemies need to be turned over to the LORD and HE will give leadership instructions regarding how to defeat the enemy. Too often we try to face the enemy in our own strength and we fail.
Only with the help of the LORD will we be able to face each type of enemy and win a victory. Are you looking for a victory in your own life or in the life of your local church? If not, you are not doing anything that would cause the enemy to give you a hard time. You need to be more to cause the enemy to want to come and have a fight. Then the LORD can help with the fight and show you what victory looks like. That would really be an encouragement to you and to others.
CHALLENGE: We always have SOMEONE to turn to when we need help. It is the LORD!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Moses asks LORD to bless works of Leviverse 11
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Thummim and Urimverse 8
Incenseverse 10
Burnt sacrificeverse 10
Altarverse 10
Sacrifices of righteousnessverse 19
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Fiery lawverse 2
Wordsverse 3
Judgmentsverse 10
Lawverses 4, 10
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God (Elohim)verses 1, 26, 27
LORD (Jehovah)verses 2, 7, 11-13, 21, 23, 29
King of Jeshurunverse 5
Precious things of heavenverse 13
Justice of the LORDverse 21
Blessing of the LORDverse 23
God of Jeshurun [Israel]verse 26
Riding on the heavenverse 26
Eternal Godverse 27
Everlasting armsverse 27
Saved by the LORDverse 29
shield – sword
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sinaiverse 2
Seirverse 2
Mount Paranverse 2
Enemiesverses 7, 27, 29
Massahverse 8
Meribahverse 8
Enemiesverse 29
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Rise up againstverse 11
Hateverse 11
Liarsverse 29
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Blessingverses 1, 11, 13, 23
Saintsverses 2, 3
Loveverse 3
Inheritanceverse 4
Helpverses 7, 26, 29
Observed the wordverse 9
Kept the covenantverse 9
Teachverse 10
Sacrifices of Righteousnessverse 19
Lawgiververse 21
Justiceverse 21
Refugeverse 27
Safetyverse 28
Happyverse 29
Savedverse 29
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Moses (final message to each tribe)verses 1-29
Man of God
Children of Israelverses 1, 10, 21, 29
Congregation of Jacobverse 4
Tribes of Israelverse 5
Reubenverse 6
Judahverse 7
Leviverses 8-11
Jacobverse 10
Benjaminverse 12
Beloved of the LORD
Josephverses 13-17
Dew
Precious fruits: Sun
Precious things: Moon
Brethrenverse 16
Ephraimverse 17
Manassehverse 17
Zebulunverses 18, 19
Issacharverses 18, 19
Gadverses 20-21
Danverse 22
Naphtaliverse 23
Asherverses 24-25
Fountain of Jacobverse 28
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Deathverse 1
Everlasting armsverse 27
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org Also if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
33:13–16. Moses prayed first for Joseph’s material prosperity. Crops would grow (his land would be blessed) as they received dew from heaven above and waters … below. The deep waters may refer to wells or to springs and rivers derived from subterranean waters. The sun and the moon (lit., lunar “months,” i.e., seasons) were also necessary for crop growth. The gifts of the ancient mountains and of the everlasting hills probably refer to the timber of the forests, used in building houses. The good crops enjoyed by this tribe were called the best gifts of the earth; they were given by God, who dwelt in the burning bush (Ex. 3). (Deere, J. S. (1985). Deuteronomy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 321). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
More space is devoted to Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh (Deut. 33:13–17) than to any other tribe, but Jacob followed the same pattern (Gen. 49:22–26). Jacob had given the rights of the firstborn to Joseph and had also made his younger son Ephraim firstborn over Manasseh (Gen. 48). Moses blessed Joseph with “precious [choice] things” in terms of plenty of water, good land, fruitful harvests, and valuable timber and minerals from the hills and mountains. He spoke of the “sun and moon” because these were the lights God put in charge of the seasons (1:14). “The one who dwelt in the bush” (Deut. 33:16) was the Lord Himself when He appeared to Moses (Ex. 3). The phrase “separated from his brethren” can also be translated “a prince among his brethren.” This was true not only literally in Egypt but also spiritually and morally in the family. He was a godly man.
Moses compared Joseph and his sons (“his glory”) to a beautiful firstborn bull with sharp horns that defeat every enemy. The word “firstborn” (“firstling”) is significant, because Joseph inherited the blessing of the firstborn when Jacob rejected Reuben, and Ephraim was made firstborn over his brother Manasseh. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were known for their fruitful lands, their large flocks and herds, and their military power. Unfortunately, they were proud of their ancestry and occasionally refused to cooperate with the other tribes and thereby created problems for the nation. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1999). Be equipped (pp. 193–194). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
33:13–17 Joseph. This included both Ephraim and Manasseh (v. 17), who would enjoy material prosperity (vv. 13–16) and military might (v. 17), which would compensate and reward them for the Egyptian slavery of their ancestor (see Ge 49:26). Ephraim would have greater military success in the future than Manasseh as the outworking of Jacob’s blessing of the younger over the older (see Ge 48:20). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Dt 33:13–17). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 16. And for the precious things of the earth, and fulness thereof, &c.] Corn of all sorts produced out of the earth, and grass that grows out of it, and cattle that feed upon it; for all which some part of the land of Joseph, particularly Bashan, was famous; as for the oaks that grew on it, so for the pasturage of it, and the cattle it bred, ch. 32:14. see Psal. 22:12. and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush; the angel of the Lord, the Word and Son of God, who appeared to Moses in the bush, and made himself known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and expressed his good will to Israel, by sending Moses to deliver them out of their bondage: and the favour and good will of the same divine Person is here wished for, and which has appeared in his assumption of human nature, obedience, sufferings, and death, Luke 2:14. The bush was an emblem of Israel, and the state they were then in, and of the church of Christ; of which see the note on Exod. 3:2. and where Christ may be said to dwell, as he did among men, when he was made flesh, and does dwell in the midst of his churches, and in the hearts of his people by faith: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph; that is, in all things, as Onkelos; or all these blessings, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; all before mentioned, let them come openly and visibly, and in great plenty, upon the posterity of Joseph, who was a type of Christ, the head of the righteous, on whom all the blessings of grace are, and from whom they descend to all his spiritual offspring, Prov. 10:6. Eph. 1:3. and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren; when he was sold by them into Egypt; the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem are, “and was shining in the glory of his brethren;” that is, when he was a ruler in Egypt, and had honour from his brethren there, and was beautiful and glorious among them, as a Nazarite, as the word here used signifies, see Lev. 4:7 and may be applied to Christ, who was chosen from among the people, and separated from sinners, and called a Nazarene, Psal. 89:19. Heb. 7:26. Matt. 1:23. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 169). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
13–17. The blessing of Joseph is very striking, and deserves the closest attention, from the interest all true believers in Christ have in it. It is true, Joseph was separated from his brethren when sold into Egypt, and separated from his Father’s house: but the spiritual illustration of this, and the typical reference it had to the person of the Lord Jesus, in all which Joseph was as an eminent a type of Jesus as almost any one character in the scripture, demands, that we should look much beyond Joseph the Son of Israel, for the real, spiritual meaning of this blessing of the man of God. Joseph, as the head of a tribe of Israel, was indeed much blessed with the precious things of heaven, and the precious things put forth by the sun, and by the moon: but it was the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, (even Jesus, who appeared to Moses at the bush), which sanctified and crowned the whole. But what I would more particularly desire the Reader to take notice of in this blessing of the man of God is, that he prayed all those mercies might be in the lot of Joseph, on account of his dweller in the bush. The words might be rendered, and perhaps ought strictly to have been so rendered, for the good will of him, my dweller in the bush. As if Moses meant to say, my dweller is him that dwelt there, when first he manifested himself to me, as my covenant head and Savior, who had undertaken, and in the fulness of time, would appear for the accomplishment of salvation. Hence the man of God, when in the full prospect of death, dwells so sweetly upon it, and seeks all blessings upon the head of Joseph, on this sole account. Here Reader! is the great secret of religion. If the good will of Jesus be in our mercies, this puts a sweetness, and gives an enjoyment to all. But if this be wanting, it is not all the precious things brought forth by the sun, or the precious things put forth by the moon, can give real comfort to the soul. Reader! pray be diligent in your seeking for this coronet mercy, to crown the whole in your experience. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Deuteronomy–2 Samuel (Vol. 2, pp. 170–171). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
1 John 3
Those who say they love God must manifest that love by loving others.
INSIGHT
The final test of Christian character is action, not words. It is not what you say that determines your life message, but what you do. John writes: “Let us not love in word or in tongue, but indeed and in truth” (v. 18). Consistency is one of the great challenges of the Christian walk. Whenever our actions do not match our words, the message of our actions always overrides the message of our words. Therein lies the basis for one of the most consistent complaints against Christianity over the ages: hypocrisy. (Quiet Walk)
|
THE CERTAINTY OF EVERLASTING LIFE
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13
The knowledge that we have eternal life is something that is possible to us. That is something that needs to be emphasized. There are those who would tell us that eternal life is something to which we attain only when we come to die and leave this world and go into the next. They suggest that it is wrong for anyone to claim that he has eternal life. Such people dislike the doctrine of assurance. “We do not know,” they say, “and we must not seek to know. Faith means that you are always grasping at it, but it is something you cannot actually have while you are in this world.”
But that is a philosophical concept of faith that is not in accordance with what we have here. John says in essence, “My whole object in writing to you now is that you may know that you have eternal life and know it certainly. I want you to know that you possess it.”
You find the other apostles saying the same thing. What was more characteristic of the apostle Paul than this assurance? In Romans 8 he says, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 38-39). “I know whom I have believed,” he writes to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:12). “I know,” he says. There is no uncertainty about it.
So it seems to me that to interpret faith as a kind of constant uncertainty is to deny the teaching of the Word of God that we are His children.
A Thought to Ponder: The knowledge that we have eternal life is something that is possible to us. (From Life in God, pp. 92-93, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Shielded by the Word
“I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (Psalm 119:113-114)
The Bible is replete with military imagery. We are told to “wrestle” against the “spiritual wickedness in high places” and to be sure that we put on “the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:12-13). As the good soldiers of the King, we are told to “endure hardness” (2 Timothy 2:3) and expected, as His army, to be about the “pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
David was a warrior king, and many of his psalms contain battle terms used both literally and figuratively to show the way God protects and provides for us in spiritual warfare. The “hiding place” David often mentioned was a secret retreat that provided shelter from the enemy (Psalm 32:7). The “shield” can refer to the same sort of retreat but is most often used to describe a soldier’s defensive buckler. Faith is our shield in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:16).
Thus, in this stanza (Psalm 119:113-120), the psalmist visualized God in the role of Protector and Captain. He looked to God for his life while being upheld “according unto thy word” (v. 116). Safety was no doubt prominent in his thoughts while affirming that he had continual respect for God’s statutes (v. 117).
The psalmist was also fearfully aware of God’s take-no-prisoners attitude toward those who are against Him (vv. 118-119). While our gracious Lord and King is patient toward all sinners, His ultimate plan is to “put down all rule and all authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:24). Knowing this, the psalmist concluded: “My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments” (Psalm 119:120). Only a fool refuses to fear the Creator’s wrath. (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.