PSALM 21
David praises the LORD: Victory verse 1- 2
The king shall joy in YOUR strength – O LORD
in YOUR salvation how greatly shall he rejoice
YOU have given him his heart’s desire
have not withheld the request of his lips
SELAH
David praises the LORD: GOD’S presence verse 3- 6
FOR YOU presented him with the blessings of goodness
YOU set a crown of pure gold on his head
he asked life of YOU – YOU gave it him
even length of days forever and ever
His glory is great in YOUR salvation
honor and majesty have YOU laid on him
FOR YOU have made him most blessed forever
YOU have made him exceeding glad with
YOUR countenance
David praises the LORD: HIS unfailing love verse 7
FOR the king TRUSTS in the LORD
and through the mercy [lovingkindness] of the most High
he shall not be moved
People describe the LORD’S help verse 8- 12
Your hand shall find out all your enemies
your right hand shall find out those that hate you
You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger
the LORD shall swallow them up in HIS wrath
and fire shall devour them
Their fruit shall you destroy from the earth
their seed from among the children of men
FOR they intended evil against you
they imagined a mischievous device
which they are not able to perform
THEREFORE, shall you make them turn their back
when you shall make ready your arrows on your strings
against the face of them
People praise the LORD for his mighty acts verse 13
Be YOU exalted LORD – in YOUR OWN strength
so will we sing and praise YOUR power
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 “the king shall have joy in your strength, O Lord; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” (The word “salvation” in verses 1 and 5 (kjv) means “deliverance, victory”)
DEVOTION: David had prayed that his life be spared (v. 4), and the Lord answered him (v. 2; 20:1, 6). This blessing was part of God’s covenant with David.
As you reflect on your salvation do you remember what you were delivered from? For some it may be something like alcohol or drugs! For others it was other areas of sin that the Lord convicted you of.
After a few years of serving the Lord, you may have forgotten the depths of sin you once lived with! As the joy of our salvation leads us and helps us to live each day take a moment to reflect on how the Lord brought victory over an area that held you in bondage!
CHALLENGE: After your time of reflection what do you think you need victory over next in your life? (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 2 YOU have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withholden the request of his lips. Selah (4513 “ withholden” [mana] means keep back, denied, hindered, restrained, refuse to hand over or share, or be kept from)
DEVOTION: David was a shepherd boy who went to battle against a giant that was hindering his nation from moving forward. He didn’t become king then but went back to take care of sheep.
The LORD was training David for future victories and for the leadership of the nation. HE was working HIS plan in David’s life and David was willing to let the LORD do things in HIS own time.
We are being trained by the LORD for the responsibility HE wants us to have in HIS kingdom. It is not always in a leadership position but it might be. We need to be open to the LORD’S leading in our life and make sure that we are willing to wait for HIS timing and HIS responsibility HE wants to give us.
Too often there are people who desire a leadership position that the LORD is not preparing them for. It is hard to know what the LORD wants to do with us when we first become a follower of HIM.
David waited many years from the time he killed Goliath but he was willing to wait on the LORD and this proved to be what the LORD wanted before HE gave him a place of leadership.
Today we have many people who are in leadership positions in the church that were not called of God for that position. They were elected by people who were interested in just filling a position rather than waiting on the LORD for HIS leading.
Pray that you can discern who should be in leadership in your church or organization because with the wrong leadership the ministry will not move forward.
CHALLENGE: Pray that the LORD gives you the desire of your heart and that is what the LORD’s desire for you should be. If you are going for a wrong position you will fail.
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: 3 For you prevent him with the blessings of goodness: you set a crown of pure gold on his head. (6923 “preventest” [qadam] means go before, to meet, come or be in front, or to lead)
DEVOTION: Our understanding of this word is different than those who translated the King James Version of the Bible. This word has a positive meaning as opposed to our understanding of the word. We think of it in a negative sense. Here we have the LORD meeting with King David with blessings of goodness.
HE is not taking the blessings away but giving them to him. The LORD blesses a king that honors HIM first. The psalm is really a shower of blessings given to a leader who follows the LORD.
The first part of this psalm deals with all the blessings the LORD is giving to the king. The last part of this psalm is telling of all the actions the king will perform on those who oppose the LORD.
The final verse tells us to praise the LORD and exalt HIM. When we honor the LORD first in our lives by our actions, HE will honor us with HIS blessings.
CHALLENGE: Are we honoring the LORD with our actions? OR are we expecting blessings when we are not honoring HIM?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 For the king trusted in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. (982 “trusted” [batach] means confidence, secure, bold, be confident, to fear nothing for oneself, lead to believe, or be full of confidence, or believe in a person or object to the point of reliance upon)
DEVOTION: Our full confidence needs to always be in the LORD. We need to be confident that HE is going to lead us in the right direction regarding every aspect of our lives.
If we are not looking to the LORD for guidance in our future then we are trusting yourself rather than God. HE is the one who created you. HE is the one who saved you. HE is the one who gave you the brains that you have for a certain responsibility. HE is the one who is going to lead you each step of our life.
Sometimes the LORD uses other people to help you make the right decision regarding your gifts of the Holy Spirit. We need to be willing to listen to others regarding our strengths and weaknesses.
When we are teenagers, we don’t fully understand what the LORD is going to do with us for the rest of our lives. We can go in one direction and end up in another. It is what the LORD wants to happen in our lives that is most important.
David put his full confidence in the LORD and WAITED for the LORD’S timing to become the king of Israel. It was not something that he thought he should have and at times he didn’t want it but the LORD picked him and he became a great king.
Remember God doesn’t pick perfect men because there are none. HE picks a servant that HE can trust to do the right job at the right time. It is done in mercy. David was not perfect but the LORD chose him and he was willing to serve.
CHALLENGE: Make sure you are trusting the LORD to lead you in the right direction in your life. HE will never lead you wrong.
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:13 “Be YOU exalted, Lord, in YOUR own strength: So will we sing and praise YOUR power.” (Exalted, 7311 יָרוּם, [ruwm], to be high, be set on high, to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted, to be lifted, rise)
DEVOTION: God deserves to be exalted. HE is far above everything here on earth, and created the earth. Furthermore, HE remains exalted in heaven, whether or not we choose to exalt HIM here on earth. This psalm is talking about giving God the glory HE alone deserves. David points out that some people refuse to give God the glory HE deserves and instead oppose HIM.
In this psalm, David also points out both God’s transcendence and HIS immanence. HIS transcendence is the quality where God is greater than anything here on earth, and over it all. HIS immanence is the quality of God where HE is near to HIS creation and is moved, for example, by the prayers of HIS people. Both of these are in view as David praises God and asks that God be exalted by mankind.
This psalm also mentions that God will triumph over HIS enemies, and that this triumph is inexorable in God’s timing. God does not always intervene when we think HE should, but He does intervene in the time that HE knows is best. That is part of HIS transcendence. We can trust that HE will act when HE knows the timing is best. Sometimes that is not until after our earthly lives are over and we are at home with HIM.
So our trust in HIM should manifest itself in our singing and praising HIM for HIS power. Only in this life do we get to choose to do this—it should be done as often as we reflect on HIM (not just on Sundays!). Once we have died, we will continue to praise HIM, because we will see HIM clearly for exactly who HE is.
Do you spend time reflecting on the nature and character of God? Are you willing to praise HIM for who HE is?
CHALLENGE: This will lead to the confidence and peace that we need to have as we trust HIM with all HE is doing in our lives. (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
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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)
Request verse 2
Ask verse 4
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Rejoice verse 1
Exalt the LORD verse 13
Sing verse 13
Praise verse 13
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 7, 9, 13
Strength of the LORD verse 1
Provider of salvation verse 1
Most High verse 7
Mercy verse 7
Wrath of the LORD verse 9
Power of the LORD verse 13
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)
Enemies verse 8
Children of men verse 10
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Hate verse 8
Evil verse 11
Mischievous device verse 11
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Joy verse 1
Strength verse 1
Salvation verse 1, 5
Rejoice verse 1, 6
Heart’s desire verse 2
Prayer verse 2
Blessings of goodness verse 3, 6
Life verse 4
Length of days verse 4
Honor verse 5
Majesty verse 5
Glad verse 6
Trust verse 7
Mercy verse 7
Stability verse 7
Exalt the LORD verse 13
Sing verse 13
Praise verse 13
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
David (wrote the Psalm verse 1- 11
King
Heart’s desire
Crown of gold on head
Most blessed
Not be moved
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Ver. 11. For they intended evil against thee, &c.] All evil, whether in thought or deed, if not immediately and directly, yet is ultimately against the Lord, whose law is transgressed, and who is despised and reflected upon as a lawgiver; all sin is an hostility committed against God, or against Christ, against the Lord and his Anointed, or against his people, who are all one as himself: the intention of evil is evil, and is cognizable by the Lord, and punishable by him: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform; not the death of Christ; that was indeed in itself a mischievous device of theirs, but that they performed, though they had not their end in it; they expected his name would then perish, and they should hear no more of him: but rather it respects his resurrection from the dead, they could not prevent, though they took all imaginable care that there might be no shew of it; and when they found he was really raised from the dead, they contrived a wicked scheme to stop the credit of it, but in vain, Matt. 27:63–66. 28:12, 13, 14 and Jews and Gentiles, and Papists, have formed schemes and done all they can to root the Gospel, cause, and interest of Christ, out of the world, but have not been able to perform it. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 614–615). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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11. “For they intended evil against thee.” God takes notice of intentions. He who would, but could not, is as guilty as he who did. Christ’s church and cause are not only attacked by those who do not understand it, but there are many who have the light and yet hate it. Intentional evil has a virus in it which is not found in sins of ignorance; now as ungodly men with malice aforethought attack the gospel of Christ, their crime is great, and their punishment will be proportionate. The words “against thee” show us that he who intends evil against the poorest believer means ill to the King himself: let persecutors beware.
“They imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.” Want of power is the clog on the foot of the haters of the Lord Jesus. They have the wickedness to imagine, and the cunning to devise, and the malice to plot mischief, but blessed be God, they fail in ability; yet they shall be judged as to their hearts, and the will shall be taken for the deed in the great day of account. When we read the boastful threatenings of the enemies of the gospel at the present day, we may close our reading by cheerfully repeating, “which they are not able to perform.” The serpent may hiss, but his head is broken; the lion may worry, but he cannot devour; the tempest may thunder, but cannot strike. Old Giant Pope bites his nails at the pilgrims, but he cannot pick their bones as aforetime. Growling forth a hideous “non possumus,” the devil and all his allies retire in dismay from the walls of Zion, for the Lord is there.
12. “Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.” For a time the foes of God may make bold advances, and threaten to overthrow everything, but a few ticks of the clock will alter the face of their affairs. At first they advance impudently enough, but Jehovah meets them to their teeth, and a taste of the sharp judgments of God speedily makes them flee in dismay. The original has in it the thought of the wicked being set as a butt for God to shoot at, a target for his wrath to aim at. What a dreadful situation! As an illustration upon a large scale, remember Jerusalem during the siege; and for a specimen in an individual, read the story of the death-bed of Francis Spira. God takes sure aim; who would be his target? His arrows are sharp and transfix the heart; who would wish to be wounded by them? Ah, ye enemies of God, your boastings will soon be over when once the shafts begin to fly! (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 1-26 (Vol. 1, pp. 316–317). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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c. God Is Going to Destroy His Foes in a Purposeful Way (21:11–12)
“For they intended evil against Thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore, shalt Thou make them turn their back, then Thou shalt make ready Thine arrows upon Thy strings.”
The world will be united over one thing—to get rid of God and every person on the planet who dares to acknowledge Him in any way. The beast will inaugurate the great tribulation, a planned attempt to exterminate believers once and for all.
This is the “evil device” planned against God which the beast, for all his authority and power, will be unable to finish. God will intervene. The armies of the earth will be drawn to Armageddon by demonic power and while they are assembled there to decide the fate of the world, Jesus will return. All the time, God has been making ready His strength.
So then, the coming kingdom of Christ will be founded on the power of God—the power of God to discover and to destroy His foes. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Psalms 1–88: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 1, Ps 21:11–12). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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21:11–12. Even though they schemed to overthrow the king, they would turn in fear from before him. Thus the king, who trusted in the Lord, was assured of future victories. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 809). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The king trusted in the Lord and so did the people, and they affirmed their faith as they addressed these words to the king. The emphasis is now on the future victories God will give David and Israel because they have faith in the living God. (See 20:7.) God’s right hand is more than a symbol of power; it actively works for His people and brings defeat to their enemies (89:13; 118:15–16; Deut. 5:15). “Find out” (kjv) means “dispose of.” Just as fire devours what it touches, so the Lord will devour David’s enemies as a cook burns fuel under the oven (79:5; 89:46; 97:6; Mal. 4:1). The nation of Israel and David’s posterity would be preserved (18:50; 2 Sam. 7:16; Gen. 12:1–3), but there would be no future for the enemy. “Fruit” refers to posterity. (See 127:3, 132:11; Deut. 28:4; Hos. 9:16.) God did give David many victories and he greatly extended Israel’s borders and brought peace to the kingdom. The nations might get together and plot against him, but David would still win the battle. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., p. 88). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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If the psalm originally celebrated a specific deliverance (see introductory comment), it saw in this the promise of final triumph. It has the crusading spirit dedicated to hunting out every enemy, not allowing him the initiative (find out … find out, 8), and to ridding the world of his kind (10). This again outruns the power of any king, as 9b acknowledges, and the scale of events calls once more for the Messiah. 2 Thessalonians 1:7b–9 may owe something to this passage, with its theme of Christ’s appearing and of attendant fire and judgment. When you appear (9) is lit. ‘at the time of your face’, i.e., of your presence (cf. Rev. 6:16). ‘In the time of thine anger’ (av, rv) is a less literal translation. (Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, pp. 121–122). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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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!!)
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A CHRISTIAN IS A SPIRITUAL PERSON
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God.
1 Corinthians 2:12
What is a Christian? I am never tired of putting forward that question, because I think that of all things that are misunderstood in the world today, this is the one that is most misunderstood. What is a Christian—a good person, a moral person, a formal member of a church, one who pays an occasional visit to God’s house? Is that a Christian? Shame upon us if ever we have given that impression! No; a Christian is a spiritual person. Is that not the statement of the New Testament everywhere—a spiritual man or woman?
A spiritual person is one who has received the Holy Spirit—that is New Testament terminology. Christians are people who are altogether different from those who are not Christians. They are not just a little bit better or people who do certain things. No; they themselves are different; they are spiritual. “We have received,” says Paul, “not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God….He that is spiritual judgeth all things” (1 Corinthians 2:12, 15). Not so with the natural man. That is the difference.
Now there are some people who say that you become a Christian and then later you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. But you cannot be a Christian unless you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is that, in a sense, that makes you a Christian. It means new birth; it means being born again; it means, to use the language of Peter, to be “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). It means, to use the language of our Lord Himself, that God is abiding in us. “He that keepeth his commandments,” says John, “dwelleth in him, and he in him” (1 John 3:24). And if you want the best commentary on that, read John 14, those great words of our Lord: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (verse 18); or as some would translate it, “I will not leave you orphans, I will come again.”
A Thought to Ponder: A Christian is a spiritual man or woman.
(From Children of God, p. 140, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Children of the Day
“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
It may be significant that most of the days during the year that have been considered to have some special meaning are observed as “Days”—for example, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, etc. Those observed mainly at night, such as Halloween and New Year’s Eve, tend to emphasize frivolity or even sinfulness. Christmas Eve may be an exception, but this celebration (December 25) rarely notes the real reason for Christ’s incarnation.
It is for good reason that darkness has become a term referring not only to absence of daylight but also to absence of moral light. Many biblical references make this connection. Note just a sampling.
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
“For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love” (1 Thessalonians 5:7-8).
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them…But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light” (Ephesians 5:11, 13).
All who have trusted in Christ have been “delivered” by our heavenly Father “from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). It would be utterly irresponsible, therefore, for us ever to shame our Father, by behaving like the children of darkness. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Redeeming the Season
He made the moon to mark the seasons. Psalm 104:19
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Worthy of double honor | Expository advocating – Part 1
Preaching is a fool’s task. Paul says as much when he tells the Corinthians that “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Cor 1:17). There are a lot of preachers and congregations who agree so strongly with that diagnosis that they’ve deemed it necessary to modify the way preaching is done in their church. They’ve gotten rid of the traditional sermon, which is viewed by some as archaic and abusive, in favor of dialogue and conversation.
Paul was telling the truth when he said that preaching the gospel is folly, but he also says, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise” (1 Cor 1:27). A commitment to expository preaching takes a firm belief in the power of God’s Word and a humble recognition that the God-appointed means of preaching is better than whatever impressive or efficient model we might devise. God will build his church through expository preaching, and it takes a committed fool to believe it and do it. This means there will be times when your pastor feels deeply the reality that he is engaging in a fool’s task and will cry out with Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things” (2 Cor 2:16)?
If your preacher is a committed fool, he will need encouragement. That might not seem obvious, but the reality is that the pastorate can be a discouraging place. Not only does the very idea of preaching look foolish in the world’s eyes (and occasionally in those of the congregation), but discouragement seems to come from every direction even as he tries to serve the Lord and love his people. Maybe his own sin is overwhelming him and hurting those around him. Maybe there’s tension at home. Maybe he can’t make ends meet financially. Maybe he’s feeling inadequate after listening to a John Piper sermon. Maybe a member made a snide comment after a sermon that he can’t shake. Maybe it seems like no one follows along as he preaches. Whatever it is, these things take a toll.
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Although most Christians today express a deep fondness for the Scriptures, they are apparently failing to feast on it. Noted researcher George Barna has reported that fewer than 4 in 10 born-again Christians read the Bible on their own even once in a typical week. A similar FamilyLife survey conducted in churches throughout the United States found that two-thirds of couples read or discussed the Bible together but only occasionally. If you want a spiritually healthy family, you must make sure that each member consumes a healthy diet of the everlasting Word of God. It’s the difference between a healthy spiritual life and lifelessness. (Moments Together for Couples by Dennis & Barbara Rainey)
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That I May Know Him
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Philippians 3:10)
Paul deeply desired to know Christ in an intimate fashion—to experience an even deeper relationship. In our text, he lists three things that will also be known if we know Christ.
The power of His resurrection: The victory of Christ over sin and death exhibited His great power. Paul not only longed for an ultimate resurrected body, “if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (v. 11), but he longed for the power over sin as well, “to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11).
The fellowship of His sufferings: Paul’s desire to know Christ was so great he was willing, if need be, to suffer as He suffered. And, indeed, Paul did suffer in many ways (as seen in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 and elsewhere). “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). “If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17).
Being made conformable to His death: Paul was willing to die as Christ died and soon did die a martyr’s death, beheaded in a Roman prison. But that is not in view here. Rather, he wanted to be like Christ in His death, gaining complete victory over all sin. “For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:7).
To know Christ in this way, to be conformed to Him as Paul desired, primarily demands developing the servant’s heart and selfless humility that took Christ to the cross (Philippians 2:5-8) to make it possible for us to know Him. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his loyal commanders.
INSIGHT
There is greater pain in sin than in righteousness. David clearly loves Bathsheba. Certainly, it would have pained him had he turned his heart away from her before having relations with her. But that pain is nothing compared to the pain he brings on himself and others by taking her as his own. Adultery, murder, the death of their child, the loss of respect, and the memory of the guilt were some of the results of his sin.
It is sometimes painful to do the right thing, but it is always more painful to do the wrong thing.
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FACING GOD
How should man be just with God?
Job 9:2
The most urgent, vital question confronting man is still the question asked of old by Job: “How should man be just with God? “Certainly, there is a new setting to problems” whether they are economic, political, or educational; whether they deal with the shortage of houses or the proper treatment of strikes. But all these problems are temporary. Behind and beyond them all remains that unavoidable situation in which we shall be face to face with the eternal God, “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
The ultimate problem for man is not himself, his happiness, or the conditions that surround him while he is here on earth. His ultimate problem is his relationship with God both in time and in eternity; and God is eternal, changeless, absolute. How foolish it is, therefore, to argue that modern man needs a new remedy or a new type of salvation rather than “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:11), which is to be found alone in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let us agree wholeheartedly with the modern man when he says that he believes always in having the best. The man who does not desire the best is a fool. Let us by all means have the best, whatever it may cost and whatever its source may be. Further, it is true to say that in many realms and departments of life the latest is undoubtedly the best. For example, the decline in the mortality rate in diseases like meningitis and pneumonia is truly astonishing. There can be no question at all but that in the treatment of the ills and diseases of the body, the latest is the best.
But can the same be said about the cure of the ills of the soul? Is there some magical potion that can be given to a man who is on his deathbed, who realizes his sinfulness?
A Thought to Ponder: The ultimate problem for man is his relationship with God.
(From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 120-123, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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