• 001 - Blessed vs Perish (ch1)
• 002 - Nations Rage - Jehovah Laughs (ch2)
• 003 - Salvation is from Jehovah (ch3)
• 008 - Excellent Name (ch8)
• 009 - Marvelous Works (ch9)
• 011 - Righteous Jehovah (ch11)
• 012 - the Godly man ceases (ch12)
• 014 - the Fool (ch14)
• 015 - Who may Abide? (ch15)
• 017 - Hear a Just Cause (ch17)
• 019 - the heavens declare (ch19)
• 022 - Behold the Man! (ch22)
• 023 - the Lord is my Shepherd (ch23)
• 024 - Clean Hands - Pure Heart (ch24)
• 026 - Judge me (ch26)
• 027 - In This I have Confidence (ch27)
• 029 - Ascribe to Jehovah (ch29)
• 031 - Trust in Jehovah (ch31)
• 032 - Forgiveness (ch32)
• 033 - Rejoice in Jehovah (ch33)
• 035 - Jehovah my Judge (ch35)
• 036 - Wicked vs Righteous (ch36)
• 037 - Don't Fret over Evil (ch37)
• Future studies
• 050 - You Thought that I was like Yourself (ch50)
• 078 - God's Works-Israel's Responses-Son of David (ch78)
• 082 - 'Which' god? (ch82-83)
• 091 - To Protect One Man (ch91)
• 119 - Seeking God with the heart (ch119)
• 119 - Good that I was Afflicted (a) (119:67,71-77)
• 119 - Good that I was Afflicted (b) (119:67,71-72)

"Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor has stood in the way of sinners, nor has sat in the seat of the scornful." (vs1)

As we begin this new series in Psalms, we find some basic concepts of Godliness, all wrapped up in this one psalm. If all we had of God's Word was this one little psalm, comprised of six verses, we would have 'everything' necessary to be found pleasing to God, to win Heaven's rewards, and avoid judgment.

First of all, please notice the dichotomy, as expressed by the title. God's 'blessings' for something, vs God's 'judgment'. This one aspect, alone, turns most people off. But it is the basis under which man either gains Eternity in God's presence, or everlasting abhorrence. (Dan12:2) People, not desiring to live according to God's absolute holy standards, but also not wishing judgment, instead have deluded themselves into thinking of "gray areas"; trying to mush around somewhere in-between.

Somewhat like the two translations of the Bible in Japanese that existed back in the 50s, when I was a child. As with all languages, there are different ways of saying things. The one translation would form statements like "soo de aru" (soh day a'rue); meaning something like, "this is how IT IS" (period). The newer translation was worded more "politely", and might instead say something approaching, "wouldn't you agree that this is how it is". The word changes were also of a 'softer' -sound- to the ear; it was more 'pleasant' to hear. Just like rebellious Israel was requesting from God's prophets: to "speak pleasant things" (1Ki22:13); and is what is prophesied for when the "time will come" (today) where people, not enduring sound doctrine, desire to "hear pleasant things" (2Tim4:3) Like the serpent asked Eve: Did God (really) ssssay...??? Ohhh, that's not really soooo. Oh, horrors! No! God knows that's not sssssooooo.... (Gen3)

But God does not deal in gray areas. He is black and white. He created light and darkness, day and night. He implores Israel, "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live;" (De30:19)

And notice how "negative" this psalm is. Blessed is the man who has NOT, NOR, NOR.... Oh, your God is sooo "negative". We prefer to be more "positive" and "uplifting". Such negativism chases people away. We don't believe in "repentance" and "humility", because we are of so much 'worth' to God. I have learned to "forgive myself" for not realizing just how valuable I was to God, and so we spend our time 'worshiping'... feeeeeling good; and we are 'proud' of our little church.

Well, let's start looking at this psalm, and analyze what comprises Godliness, shall we...

Notice first the verb tenses. Most English translations from KJV and forward typically render it in the 'present' tense. Blessed is the one who -DOES- not do these evil things (which we will look at in a moment). But it is actually a 'past perfect' tense. Truly, it is blessed to not be doing evil things 'now'; but it is also blessed to NOT HAVE DONE them in the past, at all. The LITV, MKJV and VW get it right. The ancient Wycliffe (predating the KJV) is close, using a simple 'past' tense.

How many people revel in how Saul was so evil, persecuting the Church, and then got saved, and Paul became a foremost apostle to the gentiles. Back during my youth, when people still would talk about 'repentance' and changed lives, the crowd-makers were the speakers who would come and give there 'testimony', spending lengthy amount of time describing in considerable detail HOW BAD they had been, and then briefly close with how they "got saved"; and then the invitation would be given. Glorying in their past lives of sin; not Jesus Christ and His work on the cross to save us, and His resurrection. (Ga6:14) We notice David and the 'drama' of his affair with Bathsheba, her getting pregnant, and then David having her husband killed in battle... all the stuff of a steamy romance novel or soap opera. But how many take note of Samuel, who as a tiny boy was brought to the tabernacle and began to serve under Eli, and eventually was the prophet who actually 'anointed' David. Other than the fact of Samuel's sons not loving God (of which: each person is accountable to God for himself Rom14:12, De24:16), it is never recorded that Samuel ever did anything displeasing to God. So, who was greater?

Blessed is the man who HAS NOT lived a life of sin. Some will excuse the rebellion of youth, even going so far as to suggest that a young man needs to "sow his wild oats" while he is young, and then he will be -ready- to 'settle down'. Trouble is, if you sow wild oats, that's what you reap. "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Ga6:7)

Notice the progression towards evil. It is one thing to "walk" along and see the evil; one can always 'change' directions and walk away. Walking is not a serious involvement, and conversations while walking tend to be more casual. But when one stops to "stand"; one is focusing their attention upon the evil. One is standing, observing, speculating, considering, evaluating; and begins to desire and lust. But then the invitation is given: Hey, come on over and take a load off; the person sits and partakes in the fellowship of evil.

It's like the seduction of Proverbs' "strange woman". A person may happen to be driving by the working-girl district, seeing the wares on display and hearing the invitations. The Godly one keeps eyes straight forward on the way to the original destination. But the wicked one looks over: Oh, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a look. And enough looking is done and, "Gotcha!"

The "simple" one, the one "lacking heart" makes the first move; "passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house" (Pr7:8) If you read in the passage, you will see the seduction, and how he goes in to her. But notice that the whole incident begins when he takes the "way" to her house. He is "walking" in her direction.

How do we keep away from evil? "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not go in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn from it and pass on." (Pr4:14-15) And the person who comports himself in this way is "blessed".

So, if the blessed person is NOT following after evil, what -IS- he pursuing?

"But his delight is in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night" (vs2) "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word." (Ps119:9)

What is this "Law"? Is it the Bible? That is certainly part of it. But what of all those people who lived before the Bible was written? Those people living, -about- 'whom' the Bible records their lives? Those we read about did not, themselves, have the account about themselves to read. So, how did they know God's Law?

God revealed Himself to them. It is "clearly recognized" through creation. (Rom1:19-20) God wrote His Law in the heart. (Ps37:31) It is there in the seat of the conscience. (Rom2:15) God breathed into man the "breath of life" and he became a "living soul" (Gen2:7) When man was made in God's "image", part of that image is the basic knowledge of God's Law. When a man ravishes another man's wife, they both know it is wrong; otherwise, why would it be when they are caught in the act, that they suddenly become embarrassed and fearful of retribution? When somebody lies, they -know- it is not right. When modern man proclaims the doctrines of evolution, sans God, he -knows- God exists; but he is in deliberate rebellion. How many alleged atheists take God's name in vain. The very fact that they even speak of Him, as though He didn't exist, is proof that He does. If He didn't exist, there would be no talk of Him, because the concept would not even enter the mind; and they wouldn't become so angry when Believers speak of Him. How is anger displayed against a non-existent entity?

e.g. Supposing somebody were to postulate that something like "dirt" does not exist? Well, the very fact that there is even a word such as "dirt", with a presumed definition of it and description of its characteristics, says, by those very parameters, that it does, in fact, exist. Otherwise, on what sort of basis would somebody even dream up the concept of "dirt"?

Why even speak in these terms? It is prophesied that a time is coming when people will seek after God's Word, and will not find it. A "famine...for hearing the Words of Jehovah" (Am8:11) With such a proliferation of the Scriptures as we see today, how could such a thing be? What gets destroyed in Revelation? Babylon. Who rules the world for a brief time until that happens? The one called antichrist. During the dark ages what did Babylon do regionally in Europe? It forbad the reading of the Bible, and confiscated and punished anybody who owned or read one, with perhaps as much militance as communism did in Russia and Asia. When antichrist arises, he will be ruling -globally-. (Rev13:16) Do not be surprised when the same thing happens, only this time, globally...that -all- copies of the Scriptures will be hunted and destroyed.

But we also know that many will be martyred and resurrected to Life from that time. If they don't have Bibles, how will they know how to be saved? In their hearts they will know not to receive the beast's "mark", and in that way they will be following God's (unwritten) Law. There will not be complex doctrine during that time, but salvation will be on the basis of "calling upon the name of Jehovah" to be "saved". (Joel2:32) When somebody is drowning, or trapped in a burning building, what are the philosophical complexities or subtleties of screaming out, "HELP!"? During that time it will be, "God...HELP ME...SAVE ME!" And in calling out allegiance to God in that way, they will also be doing as vs1 says: NOT walking/standing/sitting in the place of antichrist.

It is a matter of choosing sides. As Joshua says to Israel, "..choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." (Josh24:15) Remember back to school recess time as children, and choosing up sides for softball, kickball, etc? There were two captains, and everybody ended up on either one side, or the other. There were no "gray areas" where somebody was "between" the two. It was one or the other; either, or. The "blessed" one is one who follows God... no ifs, ands or buts. If a person desires the gray areas, they are NOT on God's side; as Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me..." (Lk11:23) Those who follow the gray areas are of the wicked.

What, then, is the characteristic of one who follows God? He is likened to a tall strong tree, amply watered, bearing bountiful fruit, being fully foliated, and prospering. You can walk up to it any time and pick a juicy mouth-watering apple... or 'whatever' the fruit may be. (vs3)

But what of the wicked? They are like chaff. In ancient times they would beat out the grain, or have animals tread it out; then they would take those crushings and toss them in the air in a stiff wind. The grain would fall to the ground and be collected. The chaff would blow away in the wind. In modern days, chaff is that stuff that comes out the back of the combine, and sifts down through the stubble; and when the rains come, and then it is plowed, there is no more remembrance of the chaff; it cannot be found. Or in some places farmers burn the stubble. (Mt13:40-42) When I plant my garden each year, the corn grows up tall, rather impressive-looking. But when all the ears have been picked, the stalks get chopped down, cut into manageable lengths, and then I go over the piles with the lawn mower to mulch it. When the garden is tilled, there is no more recognition of it. That is the fate of the wicked. Chaff is 'seasonal'. One growing season, and chaff is "phooo"...gone. But the fruitful tree is one that has been around many years, year-in, year-out. It weathers the storms and becomes gnarled and strong; a bastion of beauty and bounty.

Now, if the chaff has been blown away...how can they stand at judgment? They cannot. At the Great White Throne it says that the "...earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them." (Rev20:11) You who believe, along with Jack Van Impe, that this heaven and earth, full of all its sin and corruption, is going to last "forever and ever and ever"...you are chaff. You will be blown away, "Phooo!"

But "Jehovah knows the way of the righteous..." (vs6) The "Lord knows those who are His" (2Ti2:19) It is a sure foundation. And the righeous have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Eph1:13)

One final word about resisting the taunts of the wicked. In their scorn they taunt: You are so intolerant of other views. Well, yes: that is the definition of "not walking in the counsel of the wicked". They have many counselors. What do they advise? You should 'learn' what other people believe; if you 'understood' them, you wouldn't be so critical; after all, everyone has a right to their own opinion. So they invite you to learn their ways.

But do they have any interest in learning of God? No! You see...any such 'dialog' is a one-way street, going -their- 'way'. They never come -your- way. They want you to be tolerant of them; but they are not willing to reciprocate. They never turn to God. And: their -broad- 'way' leads to destruction. (Mt7:13)

Yes, the Godly way -is- a "narrow" (minded) one. (Mt7:14) We are exhorted to NOT walk in their way, nor sit in fellowship with them. They want you to "learn" from them, in order to garner your tolerance of them. But that, too, would be disobedience to God: "...take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them...that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise. You shall not do so unto Jehovah your God; for everything that is an abomination to Jehovah which He has hated, they have done unto their gods..." (De12:30-31)

Why should we show tolerance for that which is an abomination to God? Showing tolerance is the first step. If you continue down that path earnestly enough, you eventually end up "sitting" with them. And remember: "the way of the wicked shall perish" (vs6b)

Amen!

"Why do the nations rage, and the peoples devise a vain thing?" (vs1)

What is "rage"? According to the American Heritage Dictionary: Violent, explosive anger. Furious intensity, as of a storm or disease. Burning desire, passion.

Years ago I spent some time working at a radio station in central N.Dakota that had the label "Christian". Around the same time I was also freelancing as a recordist for live musical concerts, demo tapes, LPs. The area where this was going on then had a new public radio station getting started; so I went to speak with them about offering my services to do on-location recording of musical events for them, as NPR specializes in, for re-broadcast at later dates. (NPR is well known for being a bastion of leftist liberalism and anti-God paganism; but I didn't realize it at the time) When the manager in charge heard that I was spending time with the local "Christian" station, she went into quite a -RAGE- at/about that station. She said some incoherent things that made no sense. But I still remember how surprised I was at how she utterly "exploded" into her tyrade. For a more current example of this sort of thing, think about how Ted Kennedy explodes in venemous rhetoric against issues of morality and decency.

What is "vanity"? According to the AHD: Excessive pride, conceit; lack of usefulness, worth or effect; futile. It's kinda like trying to blow the fall leaves -into- a strong wind. They might move where the nozzle is, but the wind billows them around and they end up farther behind where they had been before you started.

What is the world in a rage 'about'? And what is the nature of their futility? They are in a rage against the Almighty, and His Son, Jesus Christ. (vs2) And in their rage, what is their desire? "Let us break and tear away their bonds, and cast away their cords from us." (vs3)

As this is being written, President Bush has recently nominated Alito for Supreme Court Justice. The leftists are all in a snit over it. They pretend to be concerned about things like "qualifications" and such things; but as Gary Bauer's mailing quotes from one of their ranks, Senator Leahy is quoted as saying, "This is not over competence. He [Alito] certainly is competent. This is the whole issue of ideology..." Why? They fear that Alito may actually balance the court back to the direction of pro-life, pro male/female marriage. Issues that tend to be more Scripturally Godly moral and decent.

How many of these leftists are actually church members, here or there? Many, if not most of them. When the united world religions band is playing, they are all right there, jumping on the band wagon. But if it is an issue of the Ten Commandments: Oh, no..."separation of church and state"!! If it is an issue of rescuing the lives of unborn babies: Oh, no... the woman -MUST- have the "right" to "choose" ...to KILL her baby.

The Ten Commandments? They came from the Almighty. The law that predated them, to not commit murder? That, too, was given by the Creator. These laws are too "binding" and narrow-minded and constrictive. They tie us down. We want to be "free" of all authority over us. We want to be our own gods. How -DARE- somebody, claiming to be God, put such restrictions on us!

Note: Does not the One who created, also have the right to make the rules regarding how the created beings should behave? Ahh, but... that's why they preach evolution, too; so they don't have to acknowledge that it was God who created them.

Anything that God has commanded, they militantly rebel against. Anything that is a true symbol of God's authority, they seek to get rid of it. Along these lines, there are some of them who have made noises that laws may need to be enacted to "edit" the Bible to make it conform to the rising standards against "hate speech"...to outlaw the Bible as it presently exists.

Just a side note here, for you who have balked in the past at mentions that the 'cross' is a pagan symbol that a True Believer should not have any part in....notice that these people typically see nothing wrong with buildings with crosses on the steeples, or adorning the insides of their sanctuaries. They are trying to get rid of God, but see nothing wrong with the 'cross' icon. BUT...they go about changing the Bible. Jesus, who is the "Word" of God. Are you yet "getting" it? Is it yet sinking in?

And what is the nature of their futility? In place of God they have devised various religions and philosophies by which they puff themselves up, claiming to be wise. But if we remember from Proverbs ch1, God is the very definition of wisdom; because wisdom -begins- with an acknowledgment of the Almighty. The "fear of Jehovah (God exists) is the beginning of knowledge..." (Pr1:7) Thus, when they attempt to be wise, when they do so without God, their self-presumed wisdom is futility. That upon which they base it is false. If you think you have a foundation, but that premise is false, the building sinks, sags, and eventually crumbles. (Mt7:26-27) It was a waste of time (futility) to build it.

Man in all his pride! Is God worried about it? Does the Almighty sit up there in Heaven, wringing his hands in despair: "Oh, no! They don't like Me! Whatever will I doooo?" ??

"He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh; Jehovah shall have them in derision." (vs4)

We know what "laugh" is. What is "derision"? According to AHD: Contemptuous or jeering laughter; ridicule. To God, rebellious mankind is an object of ridicule; a laughingstock. Hee hee hee, haw haw haw (slapping the knee, holding one's stomach as one is writhing around from laughing so hard), "Those fools!!!" (Ps14:1)

Oh, but... I thought God is a God of "luuuuvvvv"? Well, yes; His love for the sinner sent His Son to take their death-punishment. (Jn3:16) But when mankind rejects, as a common colloquialism goes: Then all bets are off! God is also a "jealous" God when anybody honors anybody or anything other than Himself. (Ex20:5) And He "visits iniquity". He pays rewards; He "renders" to everyone "according to his works". (Rom2:6) To those who receive His Son, it is rewards. To those who scoff at Him, retribution.

Notice God's word to His Son: "You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel." (vs7-9)

You see, the world's 'wisdom' comes from "the devil as [their] father" (Jn8:44) How smart is the devil? Not very! Satan comes to Jesus and makes an "offer" that he hopes Jesus "can't refuse". He offers to Jesus "all the kingdoms of the world" (Mt4:8~) All Jesus has to do is bow to satan and do homage. How silly! Had not the Father -already- promised the same to Jesus; right here in this passage?

What is Jesus going to do to all the rebels? Break them with a rod of iron. Dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. I don't watch it always, but sometimes I watch parts of the David Letterman show (as I also do Leno), to keep abreast of what these people have to say about the goings on in the world at any given time. One can often get a 'pulse' on society, by how its comedians talk about things. One thing Letterman seems to delight in, often, is to drop things from the tall building, down onto the street below, to watch it fall, to watch it 'splat' all over; and sometimes to replay it a few times, sometimes in slow-motion. He has dropped watermelons, ping pong balls, shredded paper, pumpkins, etc. When a watermelon or pumpkin hits the pavement, it goes "splat". Nothing solid is left. It is all 'mush' of bits and pieces.

In keeping with the previous chapter; of Jesus, John preached, "whose winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the granary; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Mt3:12)

Remember how the chaff is blown away, "Phooo!" Typically the shucks of grain were handled with pitch forks. But once the bulk of the chaff has been blown away, the fork cannot dig down and get everything. Thus, a scoop shovel allows the scraping down, to get every last bit, to toss it up, let the wind blow away the chaff, the grain remains...and the threshing floor is 'cleaned' up in that way. Sorta like dealing with the chestnuts that fall from my neighbor's tree into my yard. The rake is great for the leaves, but the only really efficient way to get all the chestnuts and their husks is with this scoop shovel I have, going along, scraping along. Or, like a mechanic cleans his shop floor: put down the cleaning agent, hose it down, and 'squeegie' it out the door. And the shards left from crashing down a piece of pottery are cleaned/scraped up in similar fashion.

And when Jesus is finished with them... "Phooo!", they're gone.

So... who is it that has the "last laugh"?!

In light of this... what is God's exhortation to the nations?

"And now be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him." (vs10-12)

Amen!

"Salvation belongs to Jehovah. Your blessing is on Your people. Selah." (vs8)

There was another who once cried out, "Salvation is from Jehovah". It was a prophet who had gone wayward and finds himself in adversity; and in his adversity he makes promises to God, "...but I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will make good that which I have vowed." (Jonah 2:9) God had commissioned him to go to Nineveh, but he had caught a boat going the opposite way; so now he finds himself inside a big fish, at death's door. Even though he has been disobedient, and is now making promises; nevertheless, he acknowledges that only God can save him.

Psalm 3, according to the heading, is the occasion where David and entourage are fleeing from Absalom, who is attempting a coup for the kingdom. Why were these events unfolding? It was as promised, because of David's sin with Bathsheba, and murdering her husband Uriah. The promise had been: "Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house...Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the eyes of the sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun." (2Sa12:9-12)

Today's so-called "church" seeks to present a "non-threatening" gospel. I've had occasion recently to see the promos for church/s either starting out, branching out to new 'ministries', or explaining their organizational foundational roots of purpose. Their philosophy for existence. Their 'mission' statements. They build 'comfortable' places, dress casually, and present 'positive' messages... all in the name of providing a "non-threatening" environment, and presenting a "non-judgmental" message of "hope" (they say).

Jonah was nearly dead at the bottom of the seas. As the creature was taking in food, the seaweeds were strangling him, and he was passing out. (Jonah2:5-7) Pretty "threatening", wouldn't you say. And yet it was in -that- precise predicament that Jonah comes to his senses, "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered Jehovah..." Jonah was not surrounded by smiling people, laying their hands on him and praying vehemently commanding God this and that, helping him boost his self-esteem, telling him how 'wonderful' he (already) was. He has been disobedient, and the only one who can save him is Jehovah.

David often found himself surrounded by the enemy, beginning with Saul. Now it was his own son: "how my adversaries have increased! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are saying of my soul, There is no deliverance for him in God" (vs1-2)

After he has sinned in numbering the people, he is given three choices of the punishment, and notice his response: "Let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man." (2Sa24:14)

David was a man "after God's own heart" who, even though he sinned on occasion, did God's will. (Ac13:22, 1Sa13:14) In the midst of punishment, he knows that he is in God's hand. He did not "reject the chastening of Jehovah" (Pr3:11) Even though his enemies surrounded him, he knew that God was a "shield" to him. (vs3) And so, even though they left Jerusalem "weeping" (2Sa15:23,30), David could say, "A am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around." (vs6)

Solomon was not the only wise man who ever lived... David was his father. In exhorting his "son" to "honor Jehovah", and to acquire wisdom; Solomon assures that "When you lie down, you shall not be in dread; yea, you shall lie down and your sleep shall be sweet" (Pr3:24) Perhaps Solomon learned that from his father, David?

In trusting God, David says: "I lay down and slept. I awoke, for Jehovah sustained me" (vs5)

"O Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens!" (vs1)

If this psalm is about God's 'name' being excellent, -what- is that name under consideration? Many translations say "LORD our Lord". But there are "many lords" as the world worships many idols; "many gods" that they call "god". (1Co8:5) Many religions and denominations that use the KJV speak of "god". US currency is stamped with "in god we trust". Oprah claims to believe in "god". When journalists and others quote/translate what Muslims say when they speak of "Allah", the translator relays to us that they just spoke of "god". Many people speak of "lord". The "lord" directed this; or the "lord" did that for me; or I want to please the "lord". When they pray, they often endlessly babble "lord this... lord that... and lord... dear lord... thank you lord" But then, when something fantastic happens to a person (either good or bad), well, the sitcom "Friends" coined the expression with its own unique emphasis, "Ooooh...miiiy...god!!!" Or others will express, "Oh...lordy!" Are these, all, expressions of/to the One mentioned in this psalm?

First of all, the word that many translations render as "LORD" is actually God's "memorial" name. (Ex3:13-15) I AM THAT I AM. The -existing- One. Yahweh/Jehovah. The term "lord" does not carry the same weight or significance. The term "lord" does carry the aspect of the one with that title being higher in rank, elevated, of greater power, a high official, one who is the head under whom others are subservient, etc. And in that the verse says "Jehovah our Lord", the second word legitimately rendered as "Lord" -describes- the One whose name is Jehovah. However, "Lord" is not the Most High's -name-. It might be a title, and is descriptive. But the Most High says, "I am Jehovah; that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images." (Is42:8)

Not picking on KJV (the Wycliffe which preceded it did the same thing); but when a translation merely says "LORD our Lord"... to -whom- is it referring? When it takes the name which is very specific in the Hebrew, the I AM THAT I AM, Jehovah/Yahweh, and reduces it down to "Lord", that detracts from the Almighty! When Babylon also worships saints, queen of heaven and angels (Col2:18), and others worship other entities, it begins to explain how so many different beliefs can pretend to claim the Bible for themselves.

The Jews are not the only ones -not- uttering His -name-!

But this psalm is about the Most High God. (Ge14:18, Is14:14, Da3:26, etc) The expression "most" means that there is no thing or no one higher. And being 'most' exalted, He is the originator of life: "He gives to all life, breath and all things" (Ac17:25) The One who creates and gives life, is, Himself, self-existing. The I AM.

And His glory is "above the heavens". What does that mean? Is that the same as Jack Van Impi's concept that there is the first heaven, our atmosphere; the second heaven, of the planets and stars (so far, so good); but then the third heaven, beyond that: billions, trillions and quadrillions of light years OUT THERE, FAR AWAY?

If the "Word was God" (Jn1:1), and Moses said we don't need to search the heavens or plummet the seas to find it, but that it is "very near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (De30:12-14); then God's glory being "above" the heavens is not that He is FAR AWAY; but rather, that He is above all in power, glory, authority in position and rank.

So, if this is His position: How does He manifest it? How does He prove it? Creation. Because man rejects God, he rejects the notion of "intelligent design" being taught in our schools, and has devised the scientifically and mathematically impossible and unprovable 'theory' of evolution. However, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Ge1:1) Creation proves God's -existence- (Jehovah), and His grandeur and -authority- (Lord).

His glory being "above the heavens" means that He is above all else in the heavenlies. Some are deathly afraid of spirits and demons; and for good reason. So-called "horror" movies usually have demons and such beings at the core of their plots. But one who trusts in the Most High does not need to fear them, because Jehovah is "above" all of them. They can do -nothing- to God's child that He does not allow.

Who are the weakest and most vulnerable? "...babes and sucklings..." (vs2) When Moses was born, the most powerful king on earth had issued the decree that all Israeli male babies were to be thrown into the Nile; but in God's wisdom Moses was raised in all of Egypt's wisdom, right under Pharaoh's nose, by Pharaoh's daughter. When Jesus was a baby, Rome's 'local' ruler mustered his armies to try to do away with him, but God escorted Him away to Egypt. When Jesus came into Jerusalem the religious power-elites complained at the commotion while the common folk were praising: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Mt21:9) And when His enemies, the ones who scarcely a few days later called for His crucifixion, the elites complained, Jesus quoted this very passage (Mt21:16), and also suggested to them that if the common folk were to be still, "..the stones would immediately cry out" (Lk19:40)

In the wilderness, when Israel rebelled against God and were complaining how God was jeopardizing the safety of their children, God consigned the adults to die in the wilderness and promised: "But your little ones, whom you said would be prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness." (Num14:31-32) They might have been of Abraham's seed, but by their rebellion they were enemies of God, and He "removed" them. (vs2b)

And I suspect there could be countless other similar such examples for that verse; but let's move on...

"When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have established..." (vs3)

As we reside on this earth we think it is pretty big. Certainly, man has developed technology that whisks us around it, either in airplanes or in space vehicles. But if it is just -us- against nature, the way it used to be centuries ago, it used to take 'forever' to get anywhere of much distance. As we look at the sun or moon, we can extend our arm and enclose either one between our fingers, visually. They don't seem all that big. But like we've observed in the past: suppose we circumscribed a circle whose diameter was the height of the average American room in a typical house (8ft), take a US quarter out of your pocket and walk a few blocks away from your house; that 'wall' back at the house is the sun, and the quarter is the earth, by perspective comparison. How big (small) is man on that quarter? And...our sun is one of the 'small' stars in the universe; our solar system is situated at the extremities/fringes of our galaxy. And how many millions/billions of solar systems are there in the universe? And all these things God made with His "fingers".

To lazily sing, "Our God is an awesome God..." in today's prevailing spirit seems, somehow, less-than inadequate. The psalmist asks, "what is man?" Why would such a God even take note of such an insignificant 'speck'!

And yet, God has made that speck "in the image of God" (Gen1:26-27,9:6) And in this passage it says, "For you have made him lacking a little from God, and have crowned him with glory and honor" (vs5)

Sorry that we must 'pick' on the KJV again; but facts are facts. Many preachers, if they even noticed that something was amiss, would say something like: In your Bible it says "angels", but in the original it REALLY MEANS..." This is one reason the VW-edition came into existence. If it REALLY MEANS "God", why doesn't the translation -say- so? Why did the servants of Babylon change "God" into "angels" there? The word there is "elohiym" (God), same word as found in Gen1:1,3:1,etc. The word for "angel" is "malak" as found in Ge16:7,19:1,28:12,etc. Not at all the same word! No question about it to mull it around to need to try to 'pick' a correct 'option' from the various 'shades' of meanings. There is no academic 'unclarity', uncertainty or gray area. The word in that spot is "Elohiym" (God). Period!

What does the "shining one" desire to do and be? He said, "I will be like the Most High" (Is14:14); and what does the Most High have? Among other things: the reverence and adoration from man. He tried to get Jesus to pay homage to him, and Jesus told him to 'get lost'. (Mt4:10) But he comes to man -appearing- as an "angel of light", and his fellow-fallen-angels pretend to be "ministers of righteousness" (2Co11:14-15) and he has many followers who "worship angels" (Col2:18)

But is man supposed to do homage to angels? What happened when John, the "beloved" of Jesus, did homage to the angel...twice? What did the angel reply? "Look out! No! I am your fellow servant..." (Rev19:10) And the second time when John did it again: "Now see here! No!" (Rev22:9)

What are angels? Ministering spirits. (Heb1:7) And for whose benefit do they minister? "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who are about to inherit salvation." (Heb1:14) In other words, anyone who is a child of God, or is about to become one, God sends His angels to "minister" on their behalf. Doing what? I have some ideas, which, not having any specific confirmation from Scripture, I'm not going to speculate publicly; but I suspect we will find that out when we arrive in the Heavenlies. But angels serve on our behalf.

Who is of higher station? Who is lower? The one serving, or the one being served?

So... why did Babylon change "God" into "angels"? The Wycliffe, the product of a catholic scholar, got it wrong, too. The Geneva, Darby and even the NASB perversion got it right. But the NKJV continues KJV's error. Yes, it -is- an 'error'! And being the 'kind' of error it is, it certainly -has- to have been 'deliberate'?! It is satan's lie, trying to steal away the homage that rightfully belongs to Jehovah/Yahweh. Man is NOT "lower than angels". Yes, certainly angels are more 'powerful' than man. (2Pe2:11) But it is not written anywhere that angels were made "in the image of God" (read Hebrews ch1); but man was! Man was made lower than God, by the very fact that the thing -made- is less than the -Maker-. And angels exist, among other things, to serve for our benefit.

This little 'speck' called "man", situated on a tiny 'quarter'-sized planet (remembering the illustration above), a product of God's creative "fingers", is "lacking a little from God", and was given "dominion". (vs6)

What is dominion? Sovereignty, control, sphere of influence, to be in charge of, etc.

Dominion over what? The "kingdom"? When I'm waking up on work mornings, hearing the local Moody station, they often play this recording of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (I don't know who/what they are), words including: "We are united in the fight...crushing the enemy under our feet...", and the song goes on talking about our 'soldiering' for God's kingdom, and with -our- might and authority, -we- are going to vanquish the enemy, as -we- are in charge of God's kingdom. Decades ago it used to be "Onward Christian soldiers...with the cross of Jesus..." Kinda like Constantine's 'vision' of the cross, and the message: With this symbol go forth and conquer. And so, out sprang the catholic church, and various historical campaigns like the Crusades, 30 years war, and whatnot.

Over 'what' is man given dominion? Satan and demons? Like I used to hear the local pastors 'pray' years ago on Thursday mornings, in that big circle in the meeting hall at the Union Gospel Mission, as though they thought they had satan wrapped around -their- little fingers: Satan, you better start trembling before -us-; -we- are gonna get'cha; you are gonna sure be sorry when -we- are done with you!

"You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet" (vs6) See?! The Brooklyn Tab choir has it right..!! The -enemy- is under -our- feet!

Or....!

What does it say? "enemy"? or... the "..works of Your hands.." And if there were any question as to what this refers: "..all sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field; the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea passing through the paths of the seas" (vs7-8) When God first made everything, He then creates man and says, "...fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the flying creatures of the heavens, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every plant that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food." (Gen1:28-29) This EARTH and all LIVING CREATURES on this earth.

What does it mean to "subdue" something? To: conquer, subjugate, bring under control, cultivate, etc. -USE- it for man's benefit.

When somebody takes ownership of a house, they often personalize it for their own use. They might re-paint with colors to suit their own tastes. They might do some remodeling to change where rooms and walls are. They will decorate with drapes, pictures, and such things. Man does similar things with the earth by cultivating gardens, farms, parks. To make rivers more beneficial for irrigation and power plants, he does the equivalent of 'remodeling', by building dams to 'manage' (control) the river's water flow, and prevent the damage that undammed flooding causes. Farmers will plant rows of trees and foliage as wind breaks to prevent soil erosion. They will manage wildlife to allow for the raising of cattle and sheep, such that predatory animals will not kill them. All these kinds of things are in obedience to God's command to "have dominion" over the "works of His hands".

But what is man doing? Those calling themselves "christian" are busy trying to usurp dominion over a domain of the heavenlies that is not theirs; and the rest of the world is reverting to nature worship, taking land away from people who rightfully own it and giving it back to the wild beasts, not allowing somebody to build where it is presumed (or deceitfully concocted by planting false 'evidence', when it is not really the case) that some 'rare' species on some alleged "endangered species list" might be living in a "wetlands" area; as their "stupid hearts" revert to "serve the created things more than the Creator" (Rom1:21,25)

God created the present universe, as if, by the "work of [His] fingers". But, for us 'specks' living on this 'quarter', for as awesome as the universe might seem to us, it is as 'nothing' in His sight compared to His concern for the eternal destiny of our souls. When we observe sinful man and how he rebels against God, God provides salvation....not with His "fingers", but "His own arm"...

"For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. For our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against Jehovah, and backsliding from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And justice is driven back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth has fallen in the street, and uprightness cannot enter. Yea, truth fails; and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. And Jehovah saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore HIS OWN ARM brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head. And He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was covered with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay; fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies. He will completely repay their deeds to the coastlands. So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of Jehovah shall drive him out. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says Jehovah." (Is59:12-20)

Indeed...
"O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" (vs9)

"I will praise You, O Jehovah, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." (vs1-2)

Today's church loves to do what they call "worship". Years ago, when there were yet a few men of God here and there actually doing what pastors are supposed to to, "giving attention to reading and doctrine" (1Tim4:13), then along came a generation that ridiculed such meetings as being too stuffy. What did they want to do? "Praise the Lord!" They didn't want the reverence and respect of God's presence by dressing up for church; they didn't like the preacher "talkin' 'bout religion" (teaching doctrine); they just wanted to hang out and "praise the Lord!" That generation is now today's 'mature' leadership. It is the generation of our recent presidents, and yes....this writer. Today it is well-nigh impossible to even find a Biblical "teacher" in any pulpits. In fact, the latest thing on the news the other night is Rick Warren's comments about an 'environmentally friendly' church; using the same rhetoric as Green Peace and mother-earth (Gaia) worship. But then (sigh!) I guess that was the inevitable next step. If the church started preaching a social gospel decades ago, and migrated to 'worship', sans doctrine; what is left? During the course of last year, last summer, some of you may recall my generic query, after having attended some local church meetings to hear a particular guest speaker and noting how their 'worship' was no longer 'exciting' to the attendees; verbalizing 'out loud' (in print) to you-all and asking, "What's next?" What will be the next fad? If the church at one point followed along and embraced the world's music, what is the big thing with the world now? The environment and "mother earth". They "fear and serve the created things more than the Creator" (Rom1:25) This is today's (so-called) 'church' doing this. They are NOT worshiping the Most High. They are NOT -Christ's- [C]hurch. You can tell what a people is by the "objects of their devotion" (Ac17:23) In the previous psalm we noted that man is supposed to have "dominion" over the earth. (8:6) But instead of "subduing" it (Ge1:28), today's church -worships- it, and goes about, along with the world, seeking how to UN-subdue it!

But what do God's Godly ones do? Where is our worship focused? Jehovah. Jehovah is the name of the Most High.

And of what does our worship consist? Lazily, dreamily sitting on padded pews, being lulled into complacency by the soothing and/or throbbing sensuous lustful music, hanging hands limp at the ends of arms lazily propped up at the side by the elbows, drinking in 'feelings'? Dreamily fluttering eyelids and hoping to be washed over and inundated in emotions? ...as they announce to god (whoever that 'god' may be) that, "I have come to worship... I have come to bow down..." Funny thing: they sing about bowing down, but I have yet to see anybody in modern churches actually -doing- it... 'bowing' down. They don't even do as much as Babylon's Rome does... kneeling on kneelers!

But, of what does worship consist? "I will tell of all Your marvelous works"

What are God's marvelous works? They prayed the prayer of Jabez and got wealthy? Well, the ones who actually get wealthy are the ones who con the poor into sending them the 'seed' money, but the poor remain poor. They boast of miracles and healings; but like in the case of Benny Hinn, who was documented on one of the investigative TV programs a couple years ago: in EVERY SINGLE CASE where they followed a person who had been "healed" by Benny Hinn, that person was NOT healed. And in some cases, if they went home and stopped taking their necessary medication, they died of their disease -because- they stopped the medications... believing they had been healed.

But, what are God's works?

When the enemies of God's children are turned back, they "shall fall and perish at Your presence" (vs3) JUDGMENT

God maintains the righteous cause of His children, and JUDGES. (vs4)

God "rebukes" the nations, "destroys" the wicked and "blots" out their names. (vs5) JUDGMENT

God destroys the cities of the enemy and makes them desolate. (vs6) JUDGMENT

God executes judgment with equity (vs8) Black vs white; no so-called "gray areas" of (alleged) graaaeeeessss! JUDGMENT

God "investigates bloodshed" and "forgets not the cry of the lowly" (vs12) JUDGMENT

When nations are destroyed, they sink into their own pits. When they spread out nets to snare others, they get caught in their own devices. And thus, Jehovah is -known- when He EXECUTES JUDGMENT. (vs15-16)

When God executes judgment against evil, He does not gather around the victims and exhort them to "forgive" the perpetrator. He does not send the perpetrator to 'counseling' so that they might learn self-esteem, and to 'forgive themselves'.

But what God does is to provide "refuge for the oppressed" (vs9) God does not forsake those who "seek" Him (vs10) When He investigates bloodshed, He hears the cry of the lowly (vs12) and "lifts up" the victim. (vs13)

Yes, there -is- evil in this wicked world. And there are victims of the evil violence. And that evil may last for a time. But in God's JUSTICE, the promise is...

"..the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever" (vs18)

A time is coming, as prophesied, when "The kingdoms of this world [will] have been made those of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Rev11:15) When that time comes, all these things will come to pass, where today justice is often lacking in our present world; because the characteristic of His reign will be "..with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever." (Is9:6)

When Jesus taught to "turn the other cheek" (Mt5:39), He was not casting aside the 'justice' of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". (Mt5:38) I think the context is clear, that He was speaking of personal vendettas of 'vengeance', because vengeance belongs to God: "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge His people." (Heb10:30) We are not to take vengeance into our own hands, as David was reminded by Abigail. (1Sa25)

But God never did away with "justice". The "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" law was a -legal- issue; not a method for personal grudge retribution. (Ex21) When somebody stole, they were to make restitution. If they intentionally harmed another person, they obviously could not give a tooth back...thus, 'justice', meted down by the presiding Levite/judge, after the facts were investigated, witnessed and ascertained, was the knocking out of the tooth of the perpetrator. (With such justice, what's the need for prisons!)

Today -criminal- "rights" seems to be more important than -victim- rights. But that is not God's justice; and will not be Messiah's justice when He has "taken [His] great power" and sets up rule. (Rev11:17)

Perhaps this is why today's worship is what it is? Most of those "making claims" for Christ, have "come some other way". (Jn10:1) They do not love God "with [their] whole heart" (vs1) Their own lives are yet in darkness, and their deeds, which they think are in "secret" cannot stand the scrutiny of the "light of [His] countenance" (Ps90:8) This is why they like their "gray areas". Living in gray areas they can pretend that Scripture does not say, "Thus says Jehovah"; but imagine within themselves that Scriptures are to be 'interpreted' as to "what does it -mean- TO ME?"

In worship they used to sing, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty". Now they sing: Holy, holy....let me -feel- holy. Whilst pushing the guilt of an evil conscience into the realms of the never-never land of what they presume is God's "graaaeeesss", which they have turned into "licentiousness" (Ju1:4) whilst refusing 'repentance'.

Today's church proclaims that "we are all god/s". Part of God's marvelous works will be when He "lets the nations know that they are but men" (vs20) when they are "judged before [His] face" (vs19) and are "turned away into Sheol" (vs17)

As for those who truly know Him: He "maintains my right and my cause" (vs4), He is a refuge (vs9), they "put their trust in Him" (vs10), and sing His praises (vs11), whilst rejoicing in His salvation. (vs14)

As for the wicked? "Put them in fear, O Jehovah..." (vs20a)

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb10:31)

"In Jehovah I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, Flee like a bird to the mountains? For lo, the wicked bend their bow; they make ready their arrow on the string, so that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart." (vs1-2)

These couple of verses bring back memories of my university days as a music (voice) major, the oratorio "King David" by Arthur Honegger, one of the tenor solos. The solo re-words it slightly, "In the Lord I put my faith, I put my trust...." and then as the "bird" is fleeing to the mountains, the instruments make some high 'fluttery' sounds. And then as the "wicked bend their bow", the music becomes low and 'ominous'. Drama.

Being a "Psalm of David", it is obviously -to- God. But it is also rhetorically to David's enemies. And as one progresses through the verses, it seems like a Psalm of -musing-. David mulling around various thoughts in his mind and heart: In one case talking to God; in another, in the mind's eye, seeing the enemy and remembering what the enemy does and taunts; and perhaps 'processing' some thoughts on how to resolve the enemy's taunts against the realities of God's righteousness? I recognized it; it is a sort of thing I do from time to time.

From time to time we have discussed the tactics the wicked use against the Godly Believer. Some make no claims to spiritual things. But the worst, and most of them either pretend to be Christians, or are heavily into the world's New Age occult beliefs. If they have figured out that you are too hard a 'nut' to crack, do they care about you? Is not their attitude, then, "Get lost!"? Good riddance! Don't let the door hit your backside as you leave! Like a bird fleeing to the mountains, presumably to never be seen or heard from again.

Initially they pretend to care about you, wanting to "assimilate" you into their fellowship. Yes, folks: according to an e-mail recently that came from an organization specializing in church promotions, that was the term they used. How do you get first-time visitors to become part of your group? And they offer materials you can order to help you develop strategies to "assimilate" those visitors. Like the old StarTrek 'borg': "You will be assimilated; resistance is futile" Assimilation: not Biblical Godly "Redemption through His blood, the remission of sins"! (Eph1:7, Col1:14)

And this is how they work. They -pretend- to be 'loving'; but in actuality they have you in their crosshairs, ready to pierce your righteous heart.

So, the psalmist muses: How can you be like this? Why do you say these things? You cannot do such things. My trust is in Jehovah.

Is this not the "foundation"? (vs3) The "fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge" (Pr1:7) And I "trust in Jehovah with all [my] heart..." (Pr3:5) If I don't have the Lord, what can I do? Nothing! These wicked people taunt me, and say all these derogatory things to me; but don't they realize that I trust in the Lord? How can they be thinking that I'm just going to disappear? Where do such thoughts come from?

Do they not realize that "Jehovah is in His holy temple; Jehovah's throne is in Heaven" and "His eyes behold, His eyelids examine the sons of men" (vs4)

The wicked say that "it doesn't matter". Come "just as you are". You don't need to change a thing. You can "make a committment", and because salvation is "not of works" (Eph2:9), and the great men, the "church fathers" have proclaimed to us through their great books, that today's scholars relay to us, that salvation is "sola fide", "faith alone"...all you have to do is Buh-leeeeve! God's graaaeeesss is such that He "doesn't care" -what- you do. You can go to church, and then go hang out with your drinking drug-addict friends in their brothel watering holes. You don't need to clean any sinful behavior out of your life, because once your saved, you can never 'lose' your salvation...you're on your way to Heaven, la-dee-dah....God luuuuuvvvvs you!

Is that what Scripture says? Is that what this psalm says?

God is in Heaven, looking at mankind, and He is EXAMINING. What does it mean to "examine" something? In my background I used to work for a time in electronics assembly. Examining a circuit board might include a huge magnifying glass, with a good strong light source. For what purpose? Checking to make sure that the board was put together properly. That the proper components where in the proper holes. That polarity devices were inserted correctly. To make sure that the solder had covered the pads sufficiently, and up the leads sufficiently. To make sure that no solder was bridging between contacts where it wasn't supposed to be. To make sure that none of the solder joints were 'cold'...in other words, it had melted properly and there was a good mechanical connection, presuming an associative electrical connection. Looking to make sure it was 'good'. But also looking for anything 'bad' that needed fixing or touching up.

God examines with the "light of His countenance" (Ps4:6,89:15,90:8) What is the nature of Jehovah's countenance? He is "righteous". (vs7) He "loves" righteousness. When He examines, He is looking for righteousness. Holiness. Holiness, by definition, is a 'separation' from sin.

Oh, but! We are not so harsh and judgmental! We don't view things so "black and white" like you do! We believe the Bible teaches a lot of "gray areas".

How is the color 'gray' derived? By mixing black and white together. When quality checking a circuit board, if a solder connection looks "gray", it is either rejected or fixed...with heat and flux. What does the flux do? It cleans out the impurities, so that the solder, lead and pad can be electrically joined as 'one'. But the apostasy claims to be striving for "unity" (Jn17) -by- 'mixing' black and white together, by allowing the "gray areas" of sensuality and compromise to exist. But holy righteousness they reject. A cold solder joint 'might' conduct a current for awhile, but eventually it will be a cause for failure of the circuit, and ultimately, the device into which it is installed.

So, why is it that the apostasy thinks that God accepts gray areas? They are all a bunch of 'cold solder joints'. Hewlett Packard does not accept such a product off their assembly lines. And God accepts gray areas even less!

God "tries the righteous". (vs5a) He sees that all the solder joints are nice and shiny, so He plugs it into a tester to see if it is functional.

But "His soul HATES the wicked and the one who loves violence. Upon the wicked He will rain snares, fire and brimstone; and a horrible tempest shall be the portion of their cup" (vs5b-6)

Oh...no! You have this all wrong! God is a God of "luuuuvvvv"!

NO HE ISN'T!

The Most High's #1 characteristic: "Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts" (Is6:3a) God "loves righteousness" (vs7) And if He is to be true to His #1 character, He -must- HATE wickedness.

Well, Phew!!! I thought the Psalms were a collection of all these 'pleasant' things. (1Ki22:13, Is30:10) Easy reading. Things a person can sit down and read, quickly, and be "uplifted". Read a psalm, quick, and get the 'battery' of the heart charged up 'quick'. Something with easy words that I can read a short chapter quick, and will have fulfilled my obligation for reading the Bible that day...not have to think too hard about 'what' I'm reading, and come away -feeling- all 'blessed'. Mmmm??

Dear Reader:
If you base your life on the so-called "gray" areas, because you think separation and holiness is much too harsh, unloving and judgmental, then by your "fruits" (Mt7:16,20) you prove to the rest of us that you are not God's child. You are not a True Believer. You are a pretender. You are one of those to whom Christ will say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!" (Mt7:23)

You can no more mix sin with righteousness to come up with "gray areas", and expect entrance into Heaven successfully; than a solder joint can be 'gray/cold' due to impurities, and hope for the circuit to work.

And you have the nerve to say to the righteous: Get lost! ? Flee as a bird? ...and don't come back! ?

Well, guess what!

The "righteous Jehovah loves righteousness; His face beholds the upright" (vs7); the one you plotted against! But He hates you. (vs5)

Amen!

"Help, Jehovah, for the godly man ceases; for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men. They speak vanity each one with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak" (vs1-2)

A companion to these verses: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine into the land, not a famine for bread, nor a thirst for water, but rather a famine for hearing the Words of Jehovah. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall roam to and fro to seek the Word of Jehovah, and they shall not find it." (Am8:11-12)

One of God's faithful prophets proclaimed: "Your Words were found, and I ate them; and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Jehovah the God of Hosts." (Jer15:16)

But today the prevailing works are perversions; sourced from those who rebelled at God's Word through Jeremiah, who insisted they were going down to Egypt, while they would also continue worshiping the Queen of heaven. (Jer44)

Is that not precisely what today's 'church' is doing. Pretty much all religions and [c]hristian denominations are returning to Egypt (Babylon/Rome) who worship the Queen of heaven; and what they claim as their "Bible" of choice is also one of the perversions from Egypt/Rome.

Thus, if a person were to traipse from [c]hurch to [c]hurch, looking for a Bible (God's Word), one would be hard-pressed to find a single copy. While doing this search, if one had an ear peeled to the PA system, to hear what was being proclaimed from the platform, one no longer hears anything Godly, either.

They have their "friendship" moments where everybody is suppose to get up, galavant around, shaking hands, slapping shoulders, and these days they also hug everybody in sight (whether they are married to each other or not), vainly smiling and feigning friendliness.

The ones on the platform "flatter" the audiences. Decades ago, when pastors might still be preaching the Word, it was the songleaders who would "flatter" the people for all their "smiling faces". Today, as the pastors don't even any longer use the Bible, they tell the congregation what "wonderful people" they are. They are full of "worth". THAT's WHY God gives regard to them and accepts them "just as they are".

But their heart is "double". They speak with a "double heart" in two ways: both towards God, and also towards the people they claim to be shepherding.

Towards God they are attempting to serve "two masters". They -claim- to serve the Most High, but refuse to be holy. They refuse to separate themselves from the world, sin, false doctrine and wolves. Thus, in truth, "from their fruits" (Mt7:15-20), it is plain to see that they are serving satan. And if they are serving satan, they do not belong to God. Jesus said "No one is able to serve two masters" (Mt6:24, Lk16:13) It is NOT POSSIBLE. It CANNOT BE DONE! A Godly steward is one who is "found faithful". (1Co4:2) If he is not faithful: "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not expecting him and in an hour he does not know, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Mt24:50-51)

And then, their double heart is toward their congregations: They "flatter" the people, telling them what they want to hear, how wonderful they are, blah, blah, blah. But when they cajole them for their "seed" money, the people remain in poverty, while they, the servants, live in luxury. They are "thieves and robbers" who "steal, kill and destroy" (Jn10:8-13)

And what is their doctrine? "We shall be strong with our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?" (vs4) They are proclaiming themselves to be 'gods'. They verbally shake their tongues at satan and -pray- in "warfare". They proclaim to satan, "we" are gonna get'cha, and they sing about trampling satan "under -our- feet". And if a Godly person confronts them about their error, they use the "chain of command" and "accountability" ruse to make sure the Godly one knows just how inferior they are for DARING to confront them (god's lofty 'anointed'), and are due God's judgment for not submitting to their "authority".

What is God going to do about it?

"Jehovah shall cut off all flattering lips" (vs3) Pretty effective 'stop' to all the lying proud pontifications, don't you think. In the O.T. justice was meted out, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth". Jesus taught about personal vendettas. (Mt5:38-39) But God's JUSTICE, that which was the original intent behind those O.T. laws, has never changed. And so, the wolves have sinned with their lips? God is going to "cut" them off. Their "end [is] according to their works" (2Co11:15)

And what about all their 'victims'? The ones from whom they conned their livelihoods, and led astray? From Jesus' words we know that "many" are going down the "broad way" to destruction (Mt7:13), who are -willingly- "being led astray" (2Ti3:13), the "blind leading the blind" (Mt15:14)

But for those who are "poor in spirit" (Mt5:3) God says, "I will now arise...I will set him in the safety for which he pants" (vs5)

Some of you reading this have experienced it. Before you came to understand that they are, in fact, 'wolves', you patiently sat under their "ministries". You tried to stand up for God's Truth, as understood from God's Word. You were rebuffed, ridiculed, downtrodden, castigated, and ousted from their 'fellowships'. And as you left one place, it was seeming like there was -no- Righteous fellowship, or minister. You found that "the wicked walk on every side" (vs8a)

But I can tell you from personal experience that God does, indeed, "set him in the safety for which he pants" (vs5b)

I can also atest that, during the process where I was "coming out of" Babylon (Rev18:4), I was also confronted with the Truth of the "Words of Jehovah" being "pure Words". (vs6a) That was when I learned the truth about the perVersions from Egypt, and returned to God's PURE Word.

In my case these two things happened hand-in-hand. The Lord saw to my being "freed" from the apostasy and unequal yokes, while at the same time directing me back to His Word. And when I started reading God's Word again, after 20 years of a perversion, it was like my heart and soul sighed contentedly in peace that: I'm back HOME!

While most people find Amos 8:11-12 to be the case, that they are starving for God's Word; for those who truly seek His face, God's Word is preserved.

"You shall keep them, O Jehovah, You shall preserve them from this generation forever" (vs7)

Amen!

"The fool has said in his heart, There is no God!" (vs1)

"For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is clearly recognized by them, for God has revealed it to them. For ever since the creation of the world the unseen things of Him are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they know God, they do not glorify Him as God, nor are thankful, but become vain in their reasonings, and their stupid hearts are darkened. PROFESSING TO BE WISE, THEY BECOME FOOLISH, and change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things." (Rom1:18-23)

"...knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation. For of this they are WILLFULLY IGNORANT: that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2Pet3:3-7)

In today's world 'where' is it that wisdom is said to reside? If one wishes to rise above the daily grunting-for-food, to philosophize about lofty matters, where is the 'home' of such high thoughts? Is it not the colleges and universities. Institutions of "higher learning" where the "wisdom of this world" (1Co1:20,3:19) touts their degrees, and if anybody presumes to trust in God and the Scriptures, they are ridiculed and laughed out the door.

What is the premise of worldly wisdom? Big bang, evolution, chance; man bettering himself, being the crafter of his own destiny. As Peter foretold, what is today called "uniformitarianism": The progression of events and changes never changes; however things move today, is how they have always moved; the rate at which things change today, is the same rate they have always changed. There is no 'outside' influence on the universe...it is its own entity. There is no intelligent -being- "in charge" of anything. It all...just...-is-.

The world's religions are pretty much all based on things and self. Things like the universe, mother earth and animals. Self...well, that's self. Me, I, myself. The world is also a 'tolerant' place regarding religion. Yes, we see Islam going ballistic these days, and their Koran teaches intolerance towards anything that is not Muslim. And over the centuries the various ethnicities would fight turf wars based on religion...My god can whoop your god! etc.etc. But as 'wisdom' progresses, man claims to be developing and growing -above- such backward concepts of "gods" and "higher powers". Man does not need a god. He is his own authority. And the sooner he can get this antiquated notion of a Holy God out of his mind, the better.

One other thing, too: Mankind -knows- 'which' god is the Most High. For all their proliferation of deities, claiming pantheistic beliefs, and tolerance towards 'all'; they are quite -specific- on 'which' God they have rejected, and towards whom they are intolerant. Truth be told: they don't -really- wish to get rid of notions of "god"...just -one- 'particular' one. For all the talk of keeping God out of schools, and penalizing students for praying, etc; they have no problem teaching children to behave like Muslims, or worshiping Gaia (mother earth). They have no problem with statues to the Queen of Heaven, nor of preserving ancient ruins of the various pyramids found in Egypt, central America, etc. They don't even object to Judaism or Kabbalah.

But they -do- object to 'Biblical' Israel and 'Biblical' Christianity. Jews around the world observe the Pascha Seder and Kabbalism, and nobody cares. Many [c]hristians go to church, and even have nationally televised and glorified assemblies in the Queen of Heaven's cathedrals. But for a Jew to go up to the Temple Mount? Better watch them carefully, lest they might be seen "moving their lips" (in prayer). Don't dare let them have access to the place God told Israel was the place of His Name so they can resume sacrifices. Don't dare allow the recitation of Scripture...it might 'offend' others.

Not allowed to 'witness' to people, because to do so is "threatening"? Must use care when inviting people to a meeting where they might hear the gospel, to do so in a "non-threatening" way. So...when was the last time you saw a [C]hristian holding their fist up to somebody's nose while 'inviting' them to a meeting? That, certainly, would be "threatening", wouldn't you say? But to pleasantly simply 'invite' a person... is "threatening"? Let's see, when catholicism "christianized" central and south America, it did so at the tip of bayonets. So, whose approach is the "threatening" one?

Christianity is threatening? Well, perhaps so...because if they go to a place where the Gospel is actually proclaimed (not something that proliferates these days!), they will learn that they are "sinners", and that God's judgment against sin is the Lake of Fire. And certainly, would you not say that the Lake of Fire is a 'threatening' place! And the prospect of being labeled as a "sinner" is, certainly, 'belittling'. It doesn't do much towards self-esteem.

So, how do we avoid all that judgmentalism and hate speech? Do like my ex did when she announced, a couple weeks before she ran off with her boyfriend: Your God and mine are different. "Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy", but your God requires "obligations". Obligations to holiness, justice, truth and righteousness. If I have a 'different' god, then (in the imaginations of my mind as I refuse to face reality) I don't have to acknowledge the Most High. There is no -such- God, as the one mentioned in the Bible. In fact...let's just get rid of the Bible entirely, and then we won't have to be continually reminded of Him by those hate-filled fundamentalists.

But what does God say of them? FOOLS!

"Jehovah looked down from Heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any who understood and sought God" (vs2) and what did He find? "They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, no, not one." (vs3)

I was watching a little segment of DrPhil the other day; a show where young women were continually going back to their abusive husbands or boyfriends. It is built-in and God-designed for a woman to seek to stay with her man: "your desire shall be for your husband" (Gen3:16) But DrPhil was rather puzzled, seeming to not understand (harping) 'why' these women would continually 'forgive' their men, and want to go back. His conclusion; as though they were being "stupid" for returning to those abusive situations, concluding: the women were lacking in self-esteem. Something DrPhil does not understand: it is part of the curse, "...and he shall rule over you" (Gen3:16b)

As God looks down upon mankind all He sees is corruption, abomination and evil. (vs1) Nobody is good! Nobody does good! And the closer and closer we come to the time when Christ returns to snatch up His children, the more and more evil the world is looking.

It started between Cain against Abel: those doing iniquity attack God's children; as they do not call upon God. (vs4)

Dear fellow-believer:
Take comfort. The world is evil, and they taunt and reject us, as we follow our God. A lot of the world's opposition to us they often don't even realize they are perpetrating, because they are satan's servants, doing his will.

But "God is in the generation of the righteous" (vs5)

That word "generation" means a lot of different things throughout Scripture. In this place, think of it as something like "family"; "generation" and "genetics" being related concepts. We are "children" of God (Jn1:12); "sons" of God (Ga3:26) In other words, we are -related- to God. We are in God's 'family'. We are those who came to Faith in Christ "through their word" (Jn17:20); the preaching of those who preceded us, generation after of generation, beginning with Jesus' disciples at Pentecost. As Paul would speak of his "little children" (Ga4:19); or John's "little children". (1Jn2:1) Paul speaks of how he had "begotten" the Corinthians into Faith "through the gospel" (1Co4:15); along with Onesimus (Phm1:10)

While I despise what the Gaithers stand for, they did write a good little song back in the early 70s: "I'm so glad I'm a part of the fam'ly of God" and again, "you will notice we say brother and sister 'round here...that's because we're a family, and these folks are so dear"

The wicked "shame" God's family, but Jehovah is their refuge. (vs6)

And the psalmist cries out, "Oh that the salvation of Israel was out of Zion!" (vs7)

What/who is the "salvation of Israel"? Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us. (Mt1:23); Jesus (vs21,25)

When did Jesus come the first time? When Israel, the "captivity" from Babylon, was back in the land. But Israel rejected Him that time.

Israel is again now, today, "back" from the captivity of their dispersion. Not yet -all- of them; but a presence, such that there is again a nation. And their Messiah is about ready, again, to come to reign "out of Zion". And then they will rejoice and be glad.

What of the rest of the "generation of the righteous" when Christ returns? The wicked were "eating up" (consuming) the Believers, and putting them often in "great fear" (vs4-5) Jesus promises: "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie; indeed I will make them come and bow the knee before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the Word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." (Rev3:9-10)

And then, the fools who now say that "there is no God" ... "shall know that I am Jehovah" (Ezk25:11, 28:22, etc)

Amen!

"O Jehovah, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?" (vs1)

When we study various passages of Scripture, or discuss certain topics, there is often an expression that accompanies the discussion, that goes something like: If there is one thing you might ever learn from these mailings. or: Of all the things one might learn, 'this' is at the very foundation. or: If a person wants to know "why?" something or other, 'this' is at the root core.

And of course, world philosophy speculates the origins of life, the origins of matter, and man's purpose for existence. In fact, these things are so ingrained in the intellectual mind that the spoof (public) radio show that used to air regularly years ago, "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" used to have this 'whale' falling out of space, shouting out, philosophizing on his way down, "Who am I? Why am I here?" before going 'splat' when he hits, etc.etc.

But these two questions from Ps15:1 certainly do form -the- #1 question that man -should- be asking. Of all the 31,102 verses in the Bible, what is central? The book of Psalms is in the middle, and contains those two central (numerically) verses and are, as it turns out (as I just now looked it up), directly related to this lesson's question. We'll close with them.

In the previous chapter we observed the "fool" who proclaims that God does not exist. But we also observed that those same fools one day will acknowledge God's existence. And in fact, if they were honest with themselves, God has already put a little bit of Himself into their psyches in the form of "conscience". (Rom2:15) They actually truly already -do- "know" that God exists, and that He is holy, and that there is the black-and-white of right and wrong. That there is good and bad. And ultimately blessing or punishment. For all of man's philosophizing against God, in the final analysis, when they look deep inside themselves (which is what they claim to be doing), they -know- God is the Creator, and that He is holy. When they claim otherwise, spinning elaborate lines of 'logic' (mostly excuses) to do so, they are not facing reality. They -know- the truth, but do NOT -face- it. Instead of facing it, they have "turned aside". (14:3) They have "gone astray". (Is53:6) When their conscience hears that little voice saying, "This is the way, walk in it..." (Is30:21) they rebel and refuse.

Thus, with all this as 'introduction' to this chapter, isn't it really almost not necessary to spell out what is in the rest of the chapter? The heart -knows- what it takes to be with God.

What sort of person can abide with God? In the same dwelling with the Most High? Having fellowship with the Almighty? Having communion with the fearsome mighty Judge?

Please -read- the whole chapter. It is only 5 verses. Remembering also that, while we are not under Law, but under Grace (Rom6:14), that if a man keeps God's Law from the heart, "...if a man does [them], he shall live by them" (De30:10, Le18:5, Rom10:5)

A person who IS upright, does good, and is truthful IN HIS HEART. The heart is a place that nobody can see except God. (Heb4:12-13) As Paul says, a True Believer is thus "of the heart, in the Spirit" (Rom2:29)

A person who does NOT let fly with the tongue, does NOT do evil to other people; in other words, he "loves his neighbor as himself" (Le19:18); and again: "And as you would have men do to you, you also do likewise to them." (Lk6:31) And so, since this verse addresses the negatives: Whatever a person would NOT like others doing to them, they don't do to those other people.

A person who HATES those who deliberately rebel against God; and LOVES those who love God. You say you don't think we are supposed to 'hate' anybody, because God 'luuuuvs' everybody and accepts them "just as they are"? No He doesn't!

David says, "Surely You will slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me you men of blood. For they speak against You maliciously; Your enemies are lifted up with vanity. Do I not hate them, O Jehovah, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies." (Ps139:19-22)

Can you imagine a husband or wife, for whom their spouse is the object of ridicule, hate, and malicious mischief, gossip, slander and every evil thing...for that husband or wife to go and make 'friends' with their spouse's enemies? And get together with them, and plot along with them, against their own spouse? NOT HARDLY! But when a person claiming to be a Believer is "friends with the world", the church accepts their stance as 'acceptable' Christian behavior? The Bible says, "Adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore purposes to be a friend of the world is shown to be opposing God." (Jac4:4) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1Jn2:15) He "is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1Jn2:4)

But on the other hand, when a couple is married, do not the friends of each, usually become the friends of the new spouse, as well? "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently out of a pure heart" (1Pet1:22) "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother remains in death." (1Jn3:14)

How does one have access to God's presence? Do good, shun evil. Be righteous, reject sin. Love God and His children, and hate the world and its ways. Really quite simple. That's why this chapter is so short. It's one of the most simple concepts. Paul speaks of the "simplicity that is in Christ" (2Co11:3)

Jesus said that entrance is so simple that, unless one approaches like a child, one cannot get there. (Mt18:3) And what sorts of complex philosophy does the typical child understand? They understand "obey=good", "disobey=bad"; "good=hug", "bad=spank" Black and white. Yes - No. (Mt5:37) If it's not white, it's black. If it's not good, it's bad. If it's not righteous and pleasing, it is sinful and evil.

"Trust in Jehovah, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on faithfulness...Depart from evil and do good, and live forevermore." (Ps37:3,27)

"Learn to do good, seek justice, set straight the oppressor, judge for the orphan, plead for the widow." (Is1:17)

"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." (Ja4:17)

"For He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1Pet3:10-12)

Those two verses in the very middle of the Bible?
(if I calculated correctly)

"Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases" (Ps103:2-3)

What does one do on God's "holy hill"? Bless Jehovah. And over what do we praise Him? That He makes the righteous to "never be moved" (vs5) But when we consider that we are "brought forth in iniquity" (Ps51:5), how do we received cleansing and salvation? Through God's forgiveness of our sins by his great mercy. And of course, those thus forgiven live lives of "fruits worthy of repentance" (Mt3:8) as "...a man is justified from works, and not by faith only" as he demonstrates/proves 'his faith from his works' (Ja2:24,18)

Thus also, the primary 'worship music' in the O.T. when they used to offer sacrifices, for cleansing from sin, as they would be prostrate on the ground?

"Oh, give thanks unto Jehovah, for He is good; for His mercy is eternal." (1Ch16:34)

THAT is 'how' a person can abide with God, and have fellowship with Him.

"But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (Ja1:22)

That's what this psalm is about: not so much about talking the walk; there's lots of people doing that, who don't know the Lord. But does one walk the talk? That is the sort of person God welcomes into His "tent" and on His "holy hill".

Amen!

"Hear a just cause, O Jehovah; give attention to my cry, listen to my prayer; for it is not from deceitful lips. Let my sentence come forth from Your presence; let Your eyes behold with equity. You have examined my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me, and found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." (vs1-3)

Why is David calling to God in this way? He asks for God's shelter, "Keep me as the pupil of the eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings" (vs8) Where is the pupil pointing? That is what the eye is looking at. In other words, God, keep watching out for me. When there is danger chickens will gather the little ones under their wings for protection. There was a case I heard of years ago where there had been a fire. After the fire was put out, they came along and found the mother hen's body perched, upright, charred, dead. So they 'kicked' at her carcass, and out from under her wings came peeping all the little chicks, unharmed. It's hard to imagine such an ability to withstand the ordeal of a fire, even for saving one's young. But she had.

That is the kind of attention David is asking from God. To watch over and protect. Why? What is the nature of the danger?

There are those who "rise up against me" (vs7) And what is the nature of their aggression?

Devastation: To lay waste, destroy, confound, overwhelm. The "enemies of my soul who surround me" (vs9) They are proud. (vs10) And how do they seek to destroy? They lurk and crouch like a cat after its prey. (vs11-12) They hunker down next to the ground, ears back, eyes just barely peering over/through the grass, waiting for the right moment to POUNCE. And when they pounce, and make contact with their claws, it is with a quick, violent viciousness.

We are exhorted to "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1Pet5:8) But the psalmist realizes that this is a kind of vigilance that we cannot do alone, without God. We can watch out for satan, but demons are "greater in power" (2Pet2:11) than we are. We can read Eph6:10-17 about defending against the "wiles of the devil"; but if you read that passage, you notice all the defensive implements are from God.

It is the "armor of God" (vs13) We are girded with "truth" and "righteousness" (vs14) Both of these things are God's character. And whose is the "gospel of peace"? (vs15) Again, that is about what God did through Jesus Christ. (1Co15:1-4) The "shield of faith"? (vs16) Even that is the "faith -of- Christ". (Ga2:16, Php3:9) The "helmet of salvation" and the "Word of God"? (vs17) Again: by definition, from God. We are exhorted to "having done all, to stand" (vs13) But it is not -we- who are standing. David cries out to God: Watch out for me! Protect me under Your wings.

When the lion is pouncing, jump in front of him and divert his attack. The psalm says "forestall him"; "bow him down" (vs13) Perhaps like a little game I used to play with my cat years ago? The cat would usually sleep at the foot of the bed, and so when I would have finished my shower, ready for bed, he would already be there, grooming himself; and we would have a little 'wrestling' match. My hand would pretend to be a spider, or some such thing...scurrying around, making mock attacks. He would rise up, ears back, and 'pounce' at the hand. Of course, as he was pouncing, my hand would go for his face, covering it. There would be pretend biting, and scratching, and kicking of the rear feet. But I would usually always "bow him down". Well...I and my hand were considerably -bigger- than he was. It was easy for me to do.

Satan might be stronger than we are; but God is immensely greater than he is. Satan might wish to pounce on us, but all God has to do is put His 'hand' in satan's way, and "bow him down".

But 'why' should God provide this protection for us? Just as we are people, garnering God's protection; our enemies come in the form of other people (sinners), under satan's domain. And they like to accuse us. Satan is called the "accuser of our brethren" (Rev12:10) Satan tried to accuse Job: He's a goody two-shoes, only because You hedge him in with protection. (Job1:10)

The psalmist asks for God's protection based on his record. God allowed satan to test Job. On another occasion David asks God: "Search me, O Mighty God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and find out if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way eternal" (Ps139:23-24) David has been tested, and found to not have "deceitful lips". (vs1) He has been tested "in the night" (vs3) when a person dreams. They say that dreams reveal a person's hidden thoughts. And God has "found nothing"; because David has "purposed" not to transgress.

David understands that, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." (Ps66:18) So he begins his request for God's shelter with a review of the fact that his heart has been focused on God. He has no unconfessed sin, and so his "sentence" (from the Judge) is that there is nothing wayward. He is pure.

After all, how does a child "snuggle" up to a parent for protection, if they know they have done wrong, and are due punishment?

But, how many people presume to claim to be "christians", whilst living in sin, and have the nerve to chide God when things go bad in their lives? Do they not understand that "...God does not hear sinners; but if anyone reveres God and does His will, He hears him." (Jn9:31) ?

And finally...

What is the nature of these 'enemies' who surround God's child, to (through satan) devour?

They are people who are "satisfied with children, and leave an abundance to their infants....whose portion is in this life" (vs14)

They are 'nice' people, 'good' people; people with 'family values' and they care for their children. They live -in- the world and -for- the world. They are the good "productive citizens" of this world, who you will see participating in every good fund-raising event "for the children". They will raise money for "Jerry's kids", and have walk-a-thons for "XYZ Crisis Nursery", and such wonderful things.

Isn't that what "good christians" should be doing? Shouldn't churches participate in and help sponsor such good things like "Christian orphans fund" and other social causes? Over the past decades those who were labeled as "modernistic" churches proclaimed a "social gospel": being concerned most about "our fellow man". And in more recent years the other evangelical and fundamentalist groups have little by little jumped on that bandwagon. Well, "pure and undefiled religion before God..is...to visit orphans and widows" (Ja1:27) We are to "remember the poor" (Ga2:10)

But in the eternal scheme of things, are social concerns man's #1 priority?

David says...

"As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with the image of You" (vs15)

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is evident that we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." (1Tim6:6-8)

The world strives after riches, and to leave legacies behind for their children...

"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life... I charge you... that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will reveal in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal power." (1Tim6:11-16)

What is the "just cause"? To bury ourselves in social concerns, taking care of "the children"? (One of the characteristics of these last days, of these children that they are so self-righteously 'concerned' about (salving their consciences for all the millions of children butchered in the womb!), is that they are "accursed" along with "forsaking the right way" (2Pet2:14-15)) ...or to be righteous before God?

We are to be "laying aside" all the pseudo-concerns of this world, and "behold[ing] [His] face in righteousness" ... "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb12:2)

Amen!

"The heavens declare the glory of the Mighty God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day unto day pours forth speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor words where their voice is not heard." (vs1-3)

On this earth there are many spectacular things in nature. As this psalm says, the glories of a sunrise. The strength of the sun shining. Perhaps the night was chilly, but then the sun comes up, and man and beast alike go and face into it, soaking in its rays, shaking off the shivers. But then, the exquisite beauty of a sunset, especially under certain atmospheric conditions. I've not seen a volcano erupt, but have experienced earthquakes. As a child growing up in Japan, earthquakes were some of my most-feared events.

But something that really 'grips' me with captivation is a good ol' midwestern thunderstorm. (In Spokane where I live now we don't get them like that very often. The climate is comparatively mild.) The huge bank of dark clouds would come rolling in. One minute all is calm, and the next all fury is unleashed with wind, rain and....aaah yes...the thunder! My favorite. The more boistrous, the better. Particularly when you see the lightning bolt within a mile's distance, and a few seconds later the awesome "Crack!" When animals and children are wimpering and cowering away, I'm out there to take it all in. I sometimes even rush out to the garage so I can stand there, under the garage's shelter, and take it all in at the garage's open door. The greater the cacophony, the more I smile and laugh with delight.

The "firmament -PROCLAIMS- His handiwork" (vs1b) The firmament is where earth's atmosphere is.

Elihu seems to have been of a similar mind...

"Also, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunder from His canopy? Behold, He has spread his light upon it, and has covered the bottom of the sea. For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance. He covers His hands with lightning, and gives charge to strike the mark. His thunder declares it; the cattle also go up. At this also my heart trembles, and leaps from its place. Listen to hear the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes out of His mouth." (Job36:29-37:2)

"Now gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare unto Me: Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me so that you may be justified? Have you an arm like the Mighty God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Adorn yourself with majesty and grandeur, and clothe yourself with glory and honor. Scatter abroad the outburst of your anger; look upon everyone who is proud, and humiliate him." (Job40:7-11)

And yet, as I was re-hearing the one recording of the rain and thunder: as the rain was letting up, suddenly... Cheep, cheep, cheep... chirp, chirp... From wherever sparrows go to hunker down during a storm, they were back. "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father." (Mt10:29) God created the "flying creatures [to] fly to and fro above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens" (Gen1:20) And some of them proclaim His handiwork by saying: "Cheep, cheep, cheep!"

When God spoke face-to-face with Israel His voice was like "thunder" (Ex19:16) When we hear thunder, and then see the rainbow, it is a reminder of God's covenant with man. (Gen9:9-17) But His creation also speaks, "Cheep, cheep!" And these things are a witness to the world of God... being "clearly perceived" leaving mankind "without excuse" (Rom1:20)

And notice: There is no language of people where God's voice is not heard. Wherever the sun "does its successive journeys run", "through all the earth" their line has gone out. In just the same way there is no part of earth's globe that can hide from the sun's rays (vs6), so too, there is no place on earth where God's "glory" is not known, nor that His "handiwork" has not been proclaimed.

There are some people who worry that God's ability to reveal of Himself to mankind is somehow 'limited' unless they, the 'soulwinner', are stuffing everybody's hand with tracts or button-holing them and flapping their yaps at them. But you see... there is no place on earth where God's 'thunder' is not heard, nor His "cheep, cheep, cheep".

When the psalmist considers God's creation, he responds, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?" (8:4) God, who created all the vast universe, speaks out of the thunder, and for the more delicate and sensitive, utters "Cheep, cheep!" ...you mean to suggest that unless you, dear 'soulwinner', are flapping your yap at somebody, that God's glory will not be known to mankind? How small do you think God is? Have -you- seen His creation? Have -you- shut your trap long enough to hear the "Cheep, cheep"? Elijah was flustered about grandiose events, and feeling that his own sense of worth was not being adequately appreciated... they were out to kill him... but it wasn't until he heard the "whisper of a small voice" (cheep, cheep) that he heard God. (1Ki19:12)

"The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul" (vs7a)

What is this "Law" here? Is it Scripture? Well, it certainly would -include- that, since the Scriptures were "breathed" by God (2Tim3:16) through the Holy Spirit (2Pet1:21)

But what is the context? The "glory" of God's creation. The "proclamations" of His handiwork. Yes, Moses went up into the mountain and received "the Law" from God and gave it to Israel. But as Israel is ready to enter the land of promise, and Moses is reviewing the Law to them, what does he say? "...the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it" (De30:14) As Paul summarizes, "..the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts meanwhile accusing or else excusing themselves" (Rom2:15) God's Law existed long before it was ever written down on parchment. God's Word is -living- and -abiding-. (1Pet1:23, Heb4:12)

Until Moses started writing down the Pentateuch (Torah), it is not recorded that there was any written Scripture. So, what did humanity do for 2500 years? Hebrews 11 enumerates many of those from that period who were pleasing to God through "faith". How did they know of God, to either receive or reject Him? The "Word...was in the beginning" (Jn1:1-3) and -spoke- everything into existence. (Gen1:3,6,etc) And He gave covenants to creation and mankind; He -spoke- it; that was His Law. And spoke to man individually on many occasions Gen3:9,4:6,6:13;9;12,etc

You see, God's ways are perfect. He knows what He is doing. He knows the heart. (Ps44:21, Lk16:15) The preacher confronts that his hearer, in truth, knows his own heart, "For your own heart knows that you yourself have..." done wrong. (Ec7:22)

His Law is perfect converting the soul (vs7)...God has given enough knowledge to convert the soul. We often quote Rom10:17, that salvation comes "through the Word of God". I quote it often in refuting modern easy-believerism of the "repeat after me this prayer" soulwinnerism. But how often do we continue to the next verse?

Paul is giving the argument for "preaching" (Rom10:14-15), which many who call themselves "soulwinners" and "missionary-minded" give. How will the heathen hear, unless missionaries -go- and -take- the gospel to them? Many of them include into this argument that God "has no other plan" for evangelism. No other plan, than for MISSIONARIES (people) to GO. And most of those messages and appeals stop at vs17.

But Paul, in the same context, goes on to vs18: "But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world" quoting -this- Psalm we are looking at presently in consideration. And what is the -context- of Ps19:4, which Paul quoted? The heavens, firmament, sun. God's creation. The awesomeness of the bark of His thunder, all the way down to the "cheep, cheep" of His little "flying creatures".

Yes, missionaries should go. Preachers should preach. Soulwinners should win souls. People should hand out tracts and when Spirit-led, button-hole select individuals. Jesus commanded us to go and preach. (Mt28:19-20, Mk16:15, Lk24:47-48, Ac1:8) But before they ever reach their destination, God's 'preachers' have -already- been sent. They are already there. The work has already been going on in the sinner's heart through their conscience, through God's creation.

The final message the world will hear from the angel before the judgment of That Day is:

"Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; also, do homage to Him who MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, the sea and springs of water." (Rev14:7) This is the message mankind has had for 6000 years.

But instead, what does man do? He sees the 'evidence' for the Creator, but instead worships the "created things more than the Creator" (Rom1:25) Man's wisdom, his science and astronomy, sees the evidence of intricate 'design', but in his hatred for God, refuses the evidence staring him in the face, and concludes it all came about "by chance". Last night (as this is in preparation) public TV's "Nova" program was about black holes, and one of the speakers asks, "Where did it all start?" Well, of course, the "big bang"! And the speaker then spins his fingers around and suggests that all this stuff that spewed out from the 'bang' got "stirred around" as it was all just 'happening' (by chance) to form into the vast 'organization' we see, which they had just been showing us. As he cleverly stirred his little fingers around like that, I just busted out laughing, and couldn't contain myself for a few minutes! Just like... "He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh; Jehovah shall have them in derision" regarding their "vain thing" (Ps2:4,1) Peter says they are "WILLFULLY ignorant" (2Pet3:5) It is not that they DON'T KNOW any better. They KNOW, but -PURPOSELY- REJECT.

And when a person purposely refuses, how much good is 'preaching' going to do? If they further reject, it only adds to their punishment. To whom much is given, "from him much will be required" (Lk12:48) When in God's foreknowledge (Rom8:29), knowing "those who are His" (2Tim2:19); and conversely those who are not, the vessels of wrath (Rom9:18-22); He does not send preachers and missionaries to certain people, is that not a measure of 'mercy' regarding their eternal judgment?

So... they have the glory of God's creation, evidence of His existence, but reject Him? They are "without excuse" (Rom1:20) A sinner is "judged already" (Jn3:18) because he has rejected the Creator. (Rev14:7) He sees the Light of God's glory, but prefers his "darkness rather than the Light" because his "deeds are evil". (Jn3:19) This is what he wants!

But... "the one doing truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God" (Jn3:21)

And that's what the rest of this Psalm is about:

Sinful man complains that God's judgment "is not fair" (Ezk18:25) Well, God's Law is perfect. It is the basis for salvation. (Rom10:17) Without God's Law there is no salvation. If the sinner rejects God's Law, they also reject salvation. But God pleads with the sinner, "Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die...? (Ezk33:11)

The Testimony of God is wisdom. (vs7) "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge" (Pr1:7) "..the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom" (Job28:28) God's wisdom calls out: "Understand wisdom, you simple ones" (Pr8:1,5)

The Statutes of Jehovah are upright. (vs8a) Statutes are commands to be obeyed, of things to do. "Trust in Jehovah and do good" (Ps37:3a)

How often in today's world full of self-esteem do they not show some good deed or project somebody did: they will interview the kids who built a little foot bridge in a park, or the people who did a home make-over to help a disadvantaged person, or participated in a walk-a-thon for some cause; and invariably the person doing the "good deed" also emotionally blubbers how it makes them "feel good" to have done the good deed. Whenever I see that, I always wonder to myself, for WHOSE BENEFIT were they doing the deed? The person in need, or their own? To pump up themselves in their own goodness and self-righteousness. Jesus said of those who brag of their good deeds, "They have their reward" (Mt6:2)

But when a person does something for righteousness, out of the pure motives of the heart as unto God, it "rejoices the heart" (Ps19:8) It's like the old song, "Nothing between my soul and the Savior" There is nothing nagging at the conscience, knowing the Lord's discipline is not due; but joy in His presence.

Please read these verses to glean every little bit from them; we will not address every little point right now; there's enough in this one chapter for several studies, but we're only doing one at this time.

But the ways of God are "more to be desired than gold" and is tastier than the tastiest food. (vs10)

But also notice that in God's ways is "warning". (vs11) If we wish to "endure forever" we must keep the "fear" of God, keeping "clean". Clean from what? The filth of the sin of this world. Somewhat like when walking along with children near a mud puddle: Watch out! Stay away from the mud. Don't get your clothes dirty. Here, take my hand and stick close to me.

Children don't always 'understand' consequences. And we as "dust" (Ps103:14) don't always understand God's ways. We don't always realize when we stray from the path, and get 'mud' on our new shoes. So the psalmist asks: "Acquit me of that which is hidden" (vs12)

Israel had a special sacrifice they would offer, regularly, generically, for the entire congregation, for sins committed "unintentionally". (Leviticus ch4) God's mercy and cleansing for sins committed in ignorance. Paul proclaims to the Gentiles, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent," (Ac17:30)

Well, the psalmist is going even deeper than merely repenting. Anybody can say, "I'm sorry...for what? I don't know...but I'm sorry", somewhat like the churches related to Rome will include a generic congregational confession during their worship, and then the priest/pastor "absolves" them of their sins by the mere fact that he has "Reverend" in front of his name. But here the psalmist is asking God to dig into his -own- heart, specifically, to root out anything that is "hidden", even from himself.

How many, after they leave typical church services, where they were clergically 'absolved', leave with -pride- in their hearts: I went to church, now I'm "OK for another week", la dee dah! See how wonderful I am?

But the psalmist requests: "restrain Your servant from arrogance" (vs13a) Do not let the "hidden" sins "rule over me. Then I shall be perfect, and I shall be innocent of great transgression" (vs13)

Where did all this start? Declaration of God's glory. How many people, when they limit themselves to the first couple verses, conclude within themselves just how great -they- (individually) are, because God is so awesome. They raise their hands and sing, "Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above..." while within their own hearts they are thinking, "and how awesome are we, for -worshiping- in this manner"

But when the "sweet psalmist of Israel" (2Sa23:1) considers God's grandeur, it is, "what is man that You are mindful of him?" (8:4) Why does God even take note of something so insignificant as sinful rotten dirty man?! When Peter saw Jesus' power in the catch of fish, he does not stand up, raise his hands and 'praise', but bows down, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (Lk5:8)

It is in -this- context (this next verse is not a 'praise' verse like so many proudly recite), of David requesting God to weed out every secret hidden filth that he might not even be aware of, that he then utters...

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Jehovah, my Rock and my Redeemer" (vs14)

How did Samuel respond when God called?

"Speak, for Your servant is listening" (1Sa3:10)

"Lord, what do You have in mind for me to do?" (Ac9:6)

This study written in another context is located at another place at the website.

Please click to go there - and a link there will return you to this spot, in sequence.

"Jehovah is my Shepherd; I shall not want" (vs1)

Please excuse as I say part of this next sentence grammatically incorrectly and 'dangle' a preposition, but: as we begin to look at this (likely) most 'famous' of all Psalms, WHO IS IT -FOR-?

Who do most people think it's for? And for what purpose is it used? Typically... for the dead. Is it possibly the most-used passage at western funerals where 'clergy' is involved in the "ashes to ashes" ritual?

The world uses it like they do some other things. A song that used to be a 'blessed' song, since 9/11 has become loathsome and odious to me at the mere sound of it; not because the song itself suddenly -became- 'bad', but because the unregenerate have usurped it and had the audacity to presume it belongs to them and their victim-dead... "Amazing Grace" Or if they are experiencing a crisis, they gather around, bow their heads, and jointly recite what they call "the Lord's prayer". They recite the Lord's prayer in crisis, and when people have died they sing (or bagpipe) Amazing Grace and read the 23rd Psalm. They try to presume (in their unregenerate state) that the Most High (in whom they don't believe) is -their- "father in heaven". They presume, even though they reject Jesus Christ, that His grace has "saved a wretch like [them]" even though they have refused to repent of their sin and receive Christ; and don't really believe they actually are 'wretches', but are filled with prideful self-esteem. And when they have gone "through the valley of the shadow of death" that the Lord is [their] Shepherd. Hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo, dominos dominos who's got the dominos, quote some Scripture and Voila! Sh'zamm!! The dead person, who was a scoundrel during life, is now pronounced to be in Heaven, having been (allegedly) one of "God's children".

Isn't it amazing, too (while we're on this subject) how, now that the scumbag is pronounced to be "in heaven" (a place that many of them don't actually believe exists), they also comfort themselves with the notion that the dearly-departed hasn't really left, but is here "with them", in their hearts and spirits; to 'guide' them! Who is He who is with the Believer? The Holy Spirit. So, in other words, they have taken on the pagan eastern notion of "deification" of the dead. If I'm not mistaken, isn't that what Buddhism does? Ancestor worship.

However in truth, this psalm, and everything it contains, is -only- for those who can legitimately and rightfully claim that the Lord is -MY- Shepherd. Nobody else.

There was a story told years ago from somebody's pulpit, I forget now whose, when I was a youth. And I don't remember the details. And don't know if it was actually a 'true' story, or merely made up for its emotional 'punch' for the purpose of the man's sermon. (There's many such stories floating around out there. If you can authenticate this one, please let me know.) But there was a family in which the parents were teaching their children about the things of the Lord. And the little fellow was being taught this Psalm, as most children in Godly homes learn to memorize it. In the KJV the first sentence/phrase contains five words, and so the child was learning those five words while touching the fingers of the hand, starting with the thumb. Being Godly parents, of course, they wished for their children to also receive Christ in Salvation. But they didn't want to 'push' the matter unless their little hearts were ready in understanding

Well, as it so-happened, they lived in one of the northern states. In my youth I grew up in N.Dakota, which is also where I heard the story. So, perhaps it happened in N.Dakota or northern Minnesota? Perhaps a Canadian province? The winters can get cold and brutal. And so, the blizzard came along... perhaps what in recent years has become known as an "Alberta Clipper"? One minute it can be relatively 'balmy' (for winter), and within just a couple of minutes the storm front plows through from Canada, the temperature plummets, and the snow howls...often in white-out conditions. (e.g. One winter in Grand Forks we came out of one store, the sun shining brightly with a few snow flakes whisping in the air, and by the time we had gotten four blocks down the street to our next shopping destination, the sun had disappeared, the wind was howling and good-sized drifts were already beginning to form) And the little boy was 'lost' in the storm. A couple of days after the storm was over, they went out looking, and found the boy's body, frozen solid in the snow bank. But the fingers of one hand wrapped tightly around the 4th finger of the other. As the little boy was breathing his last, apparently, "the lord is -MY- shepherd" The family taking that as a proclamation or testimony of the little boy's "Salvation" before he died.

Yes, during a sermon if told well such a story can be a real tear-jerker, and become the basis to migrate over to the "invitation".

But that is the whole point of the opening statement. God is not some distant entity waaaay out there somewhere, unreachable. But to the one who knows the Lord, He is -MY- Shepherd. And the rest of the psalm describes the nature of that relationship.

For the unregenerate world there are essentially two kinds of deities: the 1) disjunct, and the 2) god-within. For a major segment of the world the concept of "god" is some disjunct entity dwelling billions of light years away at the remotest edges of the universe. Not to be 'picking' on the man again, but this is what Jack Van Impi proclaims: that the 1st heaven is our atmosphere, the 2nd heaven is the universe (so far: correct), and the 3rd Heaven that Paul talks about (2Co12:2) is "beyond that" (in -physical- distance, he says) beyond the farthest star and galaxy.

For the truth of the matter please see: "Heaven: What is it?"

But then as eastern mysticism, the "consecration from the east" (Is2:6), has made greater inroads into the western mind, Hindu's Transcendental Meditation and Yoga have worked their way, and even that which calls itself the 'church' has adapted it and modified their (rowdy) "spirit-filled" -worship- into a more calm "contemplative spirituality", their god is now "within" themselves. They are their own gods.

The psalmist's God, Jehovah the Most High, -MY- Shepherd, is -neither- of these....

This is not to endorse the works of Ralph Carmichael, but back in the 70s he wrote a (light jazz/rock) song with a version of this verse (The "new 23rd"): "Because the Lord is my Shepherd I have everything that I nee-e-eed" In actuality, that is what the verse means. "I shall not want" is an older English expression meaning, "to not be wanting for anything"... or be "lacking" any necessity.

The psalmist says, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (Ps37:25) Paul says, "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." (1Tim6:8) "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." (Php4:11)

The word "want" does NOT support today's "prosperity" theology that suggests a christian is intended to be wealthy, having been showered with all this world's goods. I 'want' that speed boat, therefore because the Lord is my Shepherd, I'm going to get it. NO!

But as Jesus taught: "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Mt6:30-34)

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures" (vs2a) Cattle, when they are uneasy due to some perceived threat, or their master is in a fit and yelling at them, do not lie down. They stand, and often pace around restlessly, bleating or lowing. But when things are peaceful and quiet, they will lie down. They've had their fill of the plentiful pasture, and are now resting, letting things digest. Cows will be calmly chewing their cud.

Oh, by the way: What's the difference between a gum-chewing girl and a cud-chewing cow? "Behold, the look of contentment on the face of the cow!" (Sorry ladies! -smile- That joke is as old as the hills, and just seemed 'appropriate' here...)

KJV says, He leads(eth) me beside "still waters" (vs2b) Many sermons have been preached on how non-turbulent waters keep from getting the sheep's wool wet, getting them all soaked up like a sponge, water-logged, heavy, to where the sheep can't get out, and they drown. But the waters "of rest" go hand-in-hand with "lying down".

Jesus would take the disciples away from the tumult of the crowds, "Come apart by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." (Mk6:31) This is what He does for the Believer. The necessities of life are provided. There is enough food that we can lie down in rest, next to refreshing waters.

"He restores my soul" (vs3a) This I understand well. The word "restore" indicates that something is presently not what it once was, but is 'refurbished' to make it "like new" again. People speak of "restoring" old cars or furniture. They take something that is rusting out, falling apart, and effect repairs to fix it up. Perhaps today there are improved materials compared to when it was first manufactured, so the restoration, then, is said to make it "better than new".

This is what God does. You who know a bit of my life know about the low point when I was made single again. During the following weeks a couple of people claiming to be "christians" fed me John Bradshaw paganism, thinking to raise up my self-esteem. Others, claiming to be 'friends', lied to me and stabbed me in the back, while pretending to be 'supportive'. Various people of the world had their own comments. But the only thing (Person) who actually "restored" my soul was the Lord Jesus, Himself...within my soul and within my heart. Something that was possible only because I "knew the Lord". And the actual restorative process I cannot explain and describe, because it was between the Lord and me, lying down in the green pasture, taking in of His waters of rest. But the overwhelming thing... He made my heart understand, even in the midst of gut-wrenching sorrow, how much He loved me!

This restoration made me "better-than-new" in terms of the "paths of righteousness" (vs3b) That's why I said it was for my soul and heart. (Some of you will remember my testimony up to that point of having been in 'compromise' due to listening to flawed advice, to become more "tolerant" of the apostasy that was underway in the 70s.) And that's why the two are connected in the same verse. A person of the world may be viewed as having a good soul, as others see them; but their heart is still in sin. But when the Lord gets hold of a person, He doesn't stop with the soul, but the change is a -complete- (and 'extreme') "makeover"