Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith

Paul talks about the importance of faith and love as oppose to hollow doctrine that can result in disputes. The law is intended to show sinners their wrongdoings but some are eager to teach the law without understanding the true motive which is love.

Paul humbly described his past life as a blasphemer, insolent man and ignorant even though he was highly intelligent and educated in the religious laws. He now sees that as his ignorance and humbly receives the grace and mercy of God in salvation.




1 Timothy 1
Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

No Other Doctrine

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

Glory to God for His Grace

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,[a] be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

For that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition

During Paul's time, the believers would have known about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ because Jesus Himself was teaching it. However, there may have been some confusion and false teaching started to appear regarding the subject. Paul himself had taught on this subject and in this letter he tried to clear some of the confusion.

Firstly, the End will not come yet until there is a great "falling away". This could mean many abandoning their faith in God or many would be against the believers. Then the "son of perdition" will exalt himself, perhaps by placing himself in the Most Holy Place in the rebuild Temple in Jerusalem. However, he will not be revealed yet until his restraints have been taken away. Some believe that these restraints are the believers who will be taken away first during the Rapture. Only then is the Anti Christ revealed and deceive people on earth. God will allow the people to be deluded because they have rejected God.

The believers on the other hand can be comforted from knowing the the salvation that God provided is secured. Jesus who loved us and saved us by grace, has also prepared us for good word and works.




2 Thessalonians 2
The Great Apostasy

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ[a] had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He[d] who now restrains will do so until He[e] is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Fast

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ

Paul shares a few words of encouragement to the Galatians. Firstly he urges us to help others who have fallen, to get back on the path to Jesus. In order to do this and to help others with their burdens, we should not think too highly of ourselves.

Paul teaches on reaping and sowing in terms of doing it in the flesh versus in the spirit. Sowing in the flesh results in corruption while in the spirit produces everlasting life. This is perhaps related to the motivation for doing good, as he also calls us to do good for others.

Paul reminds us that it is not a matter of circumcision or any outward religious sign, but rather, the things that really matters include the cross of Christ and being made a new creation.




Galatians 6
Bear and Share the Burdens

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe

A lame man was waiting by the pool where it was well known that when an angel stir the water of the pool, the people will get healed. However this lame man was always left behind because he was not fast enough. Jesus came and commanded him to take up his mat and walk. Miraculously the blind man could walk as he obeyed Jesus without question. Later the others who saw the miracle decided to find fault that he was carrying his mattress on the Sabbath, instead of marvelling at the healing miracle.

When the people found out it was Jesus, Jesus replied that He and His Father is always working. This is essentially equating Jesus with God, which infuriated the people more. Jesus reveals many things here about the close relationship between the Son and the Father. The Son only does what the Father does, the Father loves the Son, the Father will show even greater works or miracles, the Son also raises the dead like the Father, but the judgment authority of the Father is given to the Son. To honour the Father, one must honour the Son.

Jesus reiterates that He is doing His Father's will in judgment and all authority is given to Him. Those who hear Him and believe in the Father will have everlasting life, those who don't will be in judgment. Jesus also describes judgment to involve those who have been dead and that they will be raised up to salvation or judgment.

Jesus describes the testimony of others pointing to Himself. The first is John the Baptist who points to Jesus, and Jesus is greater that John. The Father has testified of Jesus by the many miracles Jesus performed. Scripture itself also testifies of Jesus and they would know Him, if they understood the Scriptures. The Father also testifies of Jesus and they would know if they loved God. Jesus tells the people that they do not have the love of God in them, hence they do not know Jesus. Also Jesus said Moses also accused them (ie pointing their faults), and if they have truly believed in Moses' writings, they would also believe in Jesus' words.





John 5
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.[b] 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Honor the Father and the Son

16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him,[c] because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Life and Judgment Are Through the Son

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

The Fourfold Witness

31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

For we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world

Interesting note that Jesus Himself did not baptize but His disciples baptize others. The Pharisees heard His influence was greater than John the Baptist's and so Jesus went to Samaria on his way to Galilee. Jesus stopped at Jacob's well and offered the Samaritan woman His living water. Jesus had a long and fruitful conversation with the woman. The woman became interested to accept the living water offered by Jesus. Jesus revealed that He knew about her many husbands and she asked if He was a prophet. Then Jesus taught her that true worship must be to God the Father and done in spirit and in truth. She talked about the Messiah and Jesus admitted that it is Him.

The disciples found Jesus and were amazed why He was talking to a Samaritan. Jesus explained that it is part of His Father's work. Jesus also told the the harvest is ready and then He taught about the principle of reaping where someone else had sowed. This is much more than the principle of reaping what you sow. In practice, we should be ready to sow and allow others to reap, as well as reaping where others have sown before.

The woman who had gone back to town to tell others, resulted in many Samaritans coming to hear Jesus and believing in Jesus. They accepted Jesus is the Messiah and were overjoyed that they asked Him to stay with them. Jesus stayed in Samaria for two days before going to Galilee.

Jesus said that a prophet is not honored in his own country, when he returned to Galilee. Nevertheless, people came out to see Him and believed because of the things He did in Jerusalem. Then a nobleman also came to request Jesus to heal his son. When he found that his son was healed at the same time that Jesus spoke healing on his son, the nobleman and his entire household believed.




John 4
A Samaritan Woman Meets Her Messiah

1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria.

5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”

Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

The Whitened Harvest

27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”

28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

The Savior of the World

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word.

42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ,[a] the Savior of the world.”

Welcome at Galilee

43 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

A Nobleman’s Son Healed

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

The Daily Sacrifice is Taken Away, and the Abomination of Desolation is set up

This is the final recorded vision of Daniel and is described as a tremendous time of trouble, but Michael (possibly the archangel) will watch over His people. Many will be delivered. The dead will also rise up, some to judgment, some to glory, similar to the rapture of the dead. Daniel is instructed to seal up the book until the End Times.

Then Daniel saw a vision of two men having a conversation, one man was asking the other the timing on the fulfilment of these prophecies. The prophecy would be a long time from that time, and Daniel is to hold on to the knowledge before the End Times. Then more details were given, that the End Times will come after 2300 days (which is likely to be years) when the Temple sacrifice is stopped, and the abomination is placed in the Temple. This could be the time of the Maccabees Revolt.



Daniel 12
Prophecy of the End Time

1 “At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.
4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

O Lord, You Induced Me, and I was Persuaded

After prophesying the warnings from the Lord, Jeremiah was arrested and put in jail by Pashhur. It seemed that Passhur was a priest as well as a ruler of some sort over the temple. He is also likely to be one of the various false prophets who lied to everyone that things are going well. Jeremiah warned him that he and his false prophet friends will be taken into captivity by the Babylonians and the land will be plundered.

Then Jeremiah described his unenviable role as a prophet of doom. Although he did not want to preach such messages, he was compelled to do it. He could not hold back what God wanted him to say. As a result of his prophecies, people plotted against him. But he continued with God's word and praising the Lord, and confident that no one could harm him as God was protecting him.





Jeremiah 20
The Word of God to Pashhur

1 Now Pashhur the son of Immer, the priest who was also chief governor in the house of the Lord, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. 2 Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the Lord.

3 And it happened on the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord has not called your name Pashhur, but Magor-Missabib.[a] 4 For thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon and slay them with the sword. 5 Moreover I will deliver all the wealth of this city, all its produce, and all its precious things; all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give into the hand of their enemies, who will plunder them, seize them, and carry them to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into captivity. You shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and be buried there, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.’”

Jeremiah’s Unpopular Ministry

7 O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded;
You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.
I am in derision daily;
Everyone mocks me.
8 For when I spoke, I cried out;
I shouted, “Violence and plunder!”
Because the word of the Lord was made to me
A reproach and a derision daily.
9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.”
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.
10 For I heard many mocking:
“Fear on every side!”
“Report,” they say, “and we will report it!”
All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying,
“Perhaps he can be induced;
Then we will prevail against him,
And we will take our revenge on him.”
11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One.
Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail.
They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper.
Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.
12 But, O Lord of hosts,
You who test the righteous,
And see the mind and heart,
Let me see Your vengeance on them;
For I have pleaded my cause before You.
13 Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord!
For He has delivered the life of the poor
From the hand of evildoers.
14 Cursed be the day in which I was born!
Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me!
15 Let the man be cursed
Who brought news to my father, saying,
“A male child has been born to you!”
Making him very glad.
16 And let that man be like the cities
Which the Lord overthrew, and did not relent;
Let him hear the cry in the morning
And the shouting at noon,
17 Because he did not kill me from the womb,
That my mother might have been my grave,
And her womb always enlarged with me.
18 Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow,
That my days should be consumed with shame?

He has Established the World by His Wisdom

The Lord calls on the people not to follow the ways of the Gentiles. In particular, God is referring to the practice of worshipping the gods of the Gentiles, hence idolatry. God describes how the idols are built and decorated with mortal hands and there is no life in them. This is in contrast to the God of Israel who is King of all nations. The Lord is true and living God, everlasting King.

God is described as the creator of the universe and everything in it including the earth, the sky and the seas. Any attempt to represent Him with an image is futile. Then God is identified with Israel as the tribe of His inheritance. His name is given as the Lord of Hosts. Again there is a warning of the coming invasion and captivity of Judah. It will be a time of great distress and the land will be made desolate.




Jeremiah 10
Idols and the True God

1 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple.
5 They are upright, like a palm tree,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For they cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.”
6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due.
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You.
8 But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish;
A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
9 Silver is beaten into plates;
It is brought from Tarshish,
And gold from Uphaz,
The work of the craftsman
And of the hands of the metalsmith;
Blue and purple are their clothing;
They are all the work of skillful men.
10 But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
11 Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”

12 He has made the earth by His power,
He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
13 When He utters His voice,
There is a multitude of waters in the heavens:
“And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”[a]
14 Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge;
Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image;
For his molded image is falsehood,
And there is no breath in them.
15 They are futile, a work of errors;
In the time of their punishment they shall perish.
16 The Portion of Jacob is not like them,
For He is the Maker of all things,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The Lord of hosts is His name.


The Coming Captivity of Judah

17 Gather up your wares from the land,
O inhabitant of the fortress!
18 For thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I will throw out at this time
The inhabitants of the land,
And will distress them,
That they may find it so.”
19 Woe is me for my hurt!
My wound is severe.
But I say, “Truly this is an infirmity,
And I must bear it.”
20 My tent is plundered,
And all my cords are broken;
My children have gone from me,
And they are no more.
There is no one to pitch my tent anymore,
Or set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted,
And have not sought the Lord;
Therefore they shall not prosper,
And all their flocks shall be scattered.
22 Behold, the noise of the report has come,
And a great commotion out of the north country,
To make the cities of Judah desolate, a den of jackals.
23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
24 O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
25 Pour out Your fury on the Gentiles, who do not know You,
And on the families who do not call on Your name;
For they have eaten up Jacob,
Devoured him and consumed him,
And made his dwelling place desolate.

But the Lord will be to you an Everlasting Light

This chapter describes a time when the Gentile nations will know the God of Israel. But more than that, they will come in multitude to Zion and bring great wealth, perhaps as offerings. Their rulers and kings will also come to Jerusalem, and they will serve Israel. Their multitude and abundance they bring will be glorifying to God.

The speaker in this also reveals that He is the Saviour, Redeemer and Mighty One of Jacob. Then Gentiles will supply them, even with milk. There shall be no more wars. These seem to be describing the time when the Lord will reign on Earth. It describes that the Sun will not be the one providing light during the day. In fact the Lord's eternal light will provide them with light all day.



Isaiah 60
The Gentiles Bless Zion

1 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 “Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar,
And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
5 Then you shall see and become radiant,
And your heart shall swell with joy;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense,
And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,
The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar,
And I will glorify the house of My glory.
8 “Who are these who fly like a cloud,
And like doves to their roosts?
9 Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me;
And the ships of Tarshish will come first,
To bring your sons from afar,
Their silver and their gold with them,
To the name of the Lord your God,
And to the Holy One of Israel,
Because He has glorified you.
10 “The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls,
And their kings shall minister to you;
For in My wrath I struck you,
But in My favor I have had mercy on you.
11 Therefore your gates shall be open continually;
They shall not be shut day or night,
That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles,
And their kings in procession.
12 For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish,
And those nations shall be utterly ruined.
13 “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together,
To beautify the place of My sanctuary;
And I will make the place of My feet glorious.
14 Also the sons of those who afflicted you
Shall come bowing to you,
And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet;
And they shall call you The City of the Lord,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
So that no one went through you,
I will make you an eternal excellence,
A joy of many generations.
16 You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles,
And milk the breast of kings;
You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 “Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
Instead of iron I will bring silver,
Instead of wood, bronze,
And instead of stones, iron.
I will also make your officers peace,
And your magistrates righteousness.
18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;
But you shall call your walls Salvation,
And your gates Praise.

God the Glory of His People

19 “The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.
20 Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
21 Also your people shall all be righteous;
They shall inherit the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.
22 A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation.
I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”

For My House Shall be Called a House of Prayer for All Nations

God outlines His plan for salvation which extends towards the Gentiles. He calls on all to be ready through righteousness and justice, awaiting for His coming. A gentile who accepts the Lord, will have equal rights in the promises and inheritance of God's covenant. Our Lord Yeshua quoted this "For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” This anticipates the day when all people of the earth would come to worship God.

The second part of this is critical towards the watchmen, the shepherd - who are described as dumb dogs and ignorant. These are those who are entrusted the leadership for God's people but have become lazy, greedy and pleasure seeking for themselves.



Isaiah 56
Salvation for the Gentiles

1 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come,
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who lays hold on it;
Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3 Do not let the son of the foreigner
Who has joined himself to the Lord
Speak, saying,
“The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”;
Nor let the eunuch say,
“Here I am, a dry tree.”
4 For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
5 Even to them I will give in My house
And within My walls a place and a name
Better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them[a] an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off.

6 “Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says,
“Yet I will gather to him
Others besides those who are gathered to him.”


Israel’s Irresponsible Leaders

9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour,
All you beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind,
They are all ignorant;
They are all dumb dogs,
They cannot bark;
Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yes, they are greedy dogs
Which never have enough.
And they are shepherds
Who cannot understand;
They all look to their own way,
Every one for his own gain,
From his own territory.
12 “Come,” one says, “I will bring wine,
And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink;
Tomorrow will be as today,
And much more abundant.”

For the Lord will Comfort Zion

God again comforts His people, first reminding them of their ancestry in Abraham. God will restore the desolate places in His land. God declares his offer of salvation for all, and that the world is sliding down. God talks about their judgement in exile and oppression, brought about because they turned away from God. Yet God reminds them that He will not forsake them and that they are His people. Jerusalem is also described as one which has borne the correction of God and is in a drunken like state. But God's comfort is that they will be led out of it and the punishment would be imposed on their oppressors.



Isaiah 51
The Lord Comforts Zion

1 “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness,
You who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.
2 Look to Abraham your father,
And to Sarah who bore you;
For I called him alone,
And blessed him and increased him.”

3 For the Lord will comfort Zion,
He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the Lord;
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

4 “Listen to Me, My people;
And give ear to Me, O My nation:
For law will proceed from Me,
And I will make My justice rest
As a light of the peoples.
5 My righteousness is near,
My salvation has gone forth,
And My arms will judge the peoples;
The coastlands will wait upon Me,
And on My arm they will trust.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
And look on the earth beneath.
For the heavens will vanish away like smoke,
The earth will grow old like a garment,
And those who dwell in it will die in like manner;
But My salvation will be forever,
And My righteousness will not be abolished.

7 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,
You people in whose heart is My law:
Do not fear the reproach of men,
Nor be afraid of their insults.
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment,
And the worm will eat them like wool;
But My righteousness will be forever,
And My salvation from generation to generation.”

9 Awake, awake, put on strength,
O arm of the Lord!
Awake as in the ancient days,
In the generations of old.
Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart,
And wounded the serpent?

10 Are You not the One who dried up the sea,
The waters of the great deep;
That made the depths of the sea a road
For the redeemed to cross over?
11 So the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness;
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you.
Who are you that you should be afraid
Of a man who will die,
And of the son of a man who will be made like grass?
13 And you forget the Lord your Maker,
Who stretched out the heavens
And laid the foundations of the earth;
You have feared continually every day
Because of the fury of the oppressor,
When he has prepared to destroy.
And where is the fury of the oppressor?
14 The captive exile hastens, that he may be loosed,
That he should not die in the pit,
And that his bread should not fail.
15 But I am the Lord your God,
Who divided the sea whose waves roared—
The Lord of hosts is His name.
16 And I have put My words in your mouth;
I have covered you with the shadow of My hand,
That I may plant the heavens,
Lay the foundations of the earth,
And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”


God’s Fury Removed

17 Awake, awake!
Stand up, O Jerusalem,
You who have drunk at the hand of the Lord
The cup of His fury;
You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling,
And drained it out.
18 There is no one to guide her
Among all the sons she has brought forth;
Nor is there any who takes her by the hand
Among all the sons she has brought up.
19 These two things have come to you;
Who will be sorry for you?—
Desolation and destruction, famine and sword—
By whom will I comfort you?
20 Your sons have fainted,
They lie at the head of all the streets,
Like an antelope in a net;
They are full of the fury of the Lord,


The rebuke of your God.

21 Therefore please hear this, you afflicted,
And drunk but not with wine.
22 Thus says your Lord,
The Lord and your God,
Who pleads the cause of His people:
“See, I have taken out of your hand
The cup of trembling,
The dregs of the cup of My fury;
You shall no longer drink it.
23 But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you,
Who have said to you,[a]
‘Lie down, that we may walk over you.’
And you have laid your body like the ground,
And as the street, for those who walk over.”

And the Ransomed of the Lord Shall Return

In contrast to most of the previous prophetic chapters on judgment, this chapter tells of a time when the wilderness and desert of Zion will blossom again. Through this, people will recognize the glory of God. There will be a great restoration: the blind, deaf, lame and dumb shall be healed.

There is a description of the "Highway to Holiness" a road taken by the redeemed people, those ransomed by the Lord. Nothing will stop them taking this path, the unclean ones will not be able to use it. The redeemed ones will take this highway to Zion with singing, joy and gladness.



Isaiah 35
The Future Glory of Zion

1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,
And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,
Even with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
The excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
And make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
With the recompense of God;
He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.
For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,
And streams in the desert.
7 The parched ground shall become a pool,
And the thirsty land springs of water;
In the habitation of jackals, where each lay,
There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
But it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
Shall not go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;
It shall not be found there.
But the redeemed shall walk there,
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

For in YAH, the Lord, is Everlasting Strength

A different theme in Isaiah is beginning, moving away from prophecies of judgment, here is a revelation to the people on how to access God's salvation plan. Although God brings down the proud cities and nations, He favours those whose mind is on Him and trusts Him.

The people described here trusts and waits on the Lord. They practice righteousness. They understand the judgment of the Lord that must come. They continue to be in relation with the Lord, praising and glorifying Him. Interestingly, there are mention about the dead shall rise, suggesting the time of resurrection.


Isaiah 26
A Song of Salvation

1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
“We have a strong city;
God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates,
That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.[a]
5 For He brings down those who dwell on high,
The lofty city;
He lays it low,
He lays it low to the ground,
He brings it down to the dust.
6 The foot shall tread it down—
The feet of the poor
And the steps of the needy.”
7 The way of the just is uprightness;
O Most Upright,
You weigh the path of the just.
8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments,
O Lord, we have waited for You;
The desire of our soul is for Your name
And for the remembrance of You.
9 With my soul I have desired You in the night,
Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
For when Your judgments are in the earth,
The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
10 Let grace be shown to the wicked,
Yet he will not learn righteousness;
In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly,
And will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
11 Lord, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see.
But they will see and be ashamed
For their envy of people;
Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.
12 Lord, You will establish peace for us,
For You have also done all our works in us.
13 O Lord our God, masters besides You
Have had dominion over us;
But by You only we make mention of Your name.
14 They are dead, they will not live;
They are deceased, they will not rise.
Therefore You have punished and destroyed them,
And made all their memory to perish.
15 You have increased the nation, O Lord,
You have increased the nation;
You are glorified;
You have expanded all the borders of the land.
16 Lord, in trouble they have visited You,
They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.
17 As a woman with child
Is in pain and cries out in her pangs,
When she draws near the time of her delivery,
So have we been in Your sight, O Lord.
18 We have been with child, we have been in pain;
We have, as it were, brought forth wind;
We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth,
Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19 Your dead shall live;
Together with my dead body[b] they shall arise.
Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;
For your dew is like the dew of herbs,
And the earth shall cast out the dead.


Take Refuge from the Coming Judgment

20 Come, my people, enter your chambers,
And shut your doors behind you;
Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment,
Until the indignation is past.
21 For behold, the Lord comes out of His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
The earth will also disclose her blood,
And will no more cover her slain.

And All Flesh Shall Bless His Holy Name

David the psalmist praise God for His greatness and majesty. Perhaps more than just the works of creation, David was also praising God for His goodness, righteousness, compassion, mercy, patience. David describes God's rule as everlasting from generation to generation all would know His greatness. This is a God who provides, protects and forms a relationship with those who call on him honestly, who feat Him and who love Him.


Psalm 145
A Song of God’s Majesty and Love
A Praise of David.

1 I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 I[a] will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.[b]

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9 The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.[c]

14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

O Lord, You Have Searched Me and Known Me

The Lord God knows us in every way, even to the minutest detail, as this psalmist has learnt. God is also everywhere and so He is able to help us whereever we are. There is no running and no hiding from God, and how wonderful that is the case.

God knows us when we are in the womb and even before we were born. God has written us in His book before we were formed. This psalmist, probably David, knows that God knows him fully. He is able to place his confidence and trust in God and to know that no matter when, no matter where, whether in light or darkness, He can count on God to lead him.


Psalm 139
God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

20 For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.[c]

21 Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;

24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

He Brought Out His People With Joy

From the Creation in the last psalm, this psalm reminds us of the more personal God who relates to His people. It starts with a call to give thanks to God, sing to Him, glorify Him and remember His works. Then it starts reminding us that God formed a covenant relationship directly with man, through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

It tells the account from Jacob to the injustice done to Joseph, but who finally rose to become a powerful man in Egypt - all part of God's plan. Following this the children of Jacob were oppressed in Egypt, but God miraculously brought them out through Moses and Aaron, and provided for them through their journey in the desert.

The last few verses provide an excellent summary that God was glad and it filled Him with joy to bring His people out of Egypt. And God fulfilled His promise to give them the land of the Gentiles. He also expected them to observe and keep His statutes and law


Psalm 105
The Eternal Faithfulness of the LORD

 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
         Call upon His name;
         Make known His deeds among the peoples!
 2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
         Talk of all His wondrous works!
 3 Glory in His holy name;
         Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
 4 Seek the LORD and His strength;
         Seek His face evermore!
 5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
         His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
 6 O seed of Abraham His servant,
         You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
       
 7 He is the LORD our God;
         His judgments are in all the earth.
 8 He remembers His covenant forever,
         The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
 9 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
         And His oath to Isaac,
 10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
         To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
 11 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
         As the allotment of your inheritance,”
 12 When they were few in number,
         Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
       
 13 When they went from one nation to another,
         From one kingdom to another people,
 14 He permitted no one to do them wrong;
         Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
 15 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
         And do My prophets no harm.”
       
 16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
         He destroyed all the provision of bread.
 17 He sent a man before them—
         Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
 18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
         He was laid in irons.
 19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
         The word of the LORD tested him.
 20 The king sent and released him,
         The ruler of the people let him go free.
 21 He made him lord of his house,
         And ruler of all his possessions,
 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure,
         And teach his elders wisdom.
       
 23 Israel also came into Egypt,
         And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
 24 He increased His people greatly,
         And made them stronger than their enemies.
 25 He turned their heart to hate His people,
         To deal craftily with His servants.
       
 26 He sent Moses His servant,
         And Aaron whom He had chosen.
 27 They performed His signs among them,
         And wonders in the land of Ham.
 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark;
         And they did not rebel against His word.
 29 He turned their waters into blood,
         And killed their fish.
 30 Their land abounded with frogs,
         Even in the chambers of their kings.
 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
         And lice in all their territory.
 32 He gave them hail for rain,
         And flaming fire in their land.
 33 He struck their vines also, and their fig trees,
         And splintered the trees of their territory.
 34 He spoke, and locusts came,
         Young locusts without number,
 35 And ate up all the vegetation in their land,
         And devoured the fruit of their ground.
 36 He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land,
         The first of all their strength.
       
 37 He also brought them out with silver and gold,
         And there was none feeble among His tribes.
 38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
         For the fear of them had fallen upon them.
 39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
         And fire to give light in the night.
 40 The people asked, and He brought quail,
         And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
 41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
         It ran in the dry places like a river.
       
 42 For He remembered His holy promise,
         And Abraham His servant.
 43 He brought out His people with joy,
         His chosen ones with gladness.
 44 He gave them the lands of the Gentiles,
         And they inherited the labor of the nations,
 45 That they might observe His statutes
         And keep His laws.
       
         Praise the LORD!

The LORD Reigns, He is Clothed with Majesty

This psalm proclaims God Almighty with his majesty and strength. He has been on his throne forever. The strength of the LORD is also incomparable and is no match for anything on earth, such as floods. This short and simple psalm simply places God up high above all else forever.


Psalm 93
The Eternal Reign of the LORD

 1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
         The LORD is clothed,
         He has girded Himself with strength.
         Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
 2 Your throne is established from of old;
         You are from everlasting.
       
 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
         The floods have lifted up their voice;
         The floods lift up their waves.
 4 The LORD on high is mightier
         Than the noise of many waters,
         Than the mighty waves of the sea.
       
 5 Your testimonies are very sure;
         Holiness adorns Your house,
         O LORD, forever.

I Will Sing of the Mercies of the LORD Forever

This psalm is in great contrasts to the previous one - both were written by Ezrahites supposedly. The previous one was short and the writer was in distressed. This one is long and the writer is full of praise.

He describes God's mercy and faithfulness and the covenant with David. He describes also the incomparable wonder of God. God is praised for many of His attributes like mighty, righteousness, justice.

A large middle portion of the psalm is devoted to David and God's covenant with him. It describes from the part he was chosen by God through the prophet to the everlasting covenant. God does warn that of punishment if the descendants stray away from the covenant. But the more important thing is that God reminded them that they can be restored to the covenant and that it cannot be permanently broken.

Psalm 89
A Contemplation[a] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

 1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever;
         With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
 2 For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
         Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
       
 3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen,
         I have sworn to My servant David:
          4 ‘Your seed I will establish forever,
         And build up your throne to all generations.’”  Selah
       
 5 And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD;
         Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
 6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD?
         Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?
 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
         And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
 8 O LORD God of hosts,
         Who is mighty like You, O LORD?
         Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
 9 You rule the raging of the sea;
         When its waves rise, You still them.
 10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain;
         You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
       
 11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
         The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
 12 The north and the south, You have created them;
         Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
 13 You have a mighty arm;
         Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
         Mercy and truth go before Your face.
 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
         They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.
 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long,
         And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
 17 For You are the glory of their strength,
         And in Your favor our horn is exalted.
 18 For our shield belongs to the LORD,
         And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
       
 19 Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one,[b]
         And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
         I have exalted one chosen from the people.
 20 I have found My servant David;
         With My holy oil I have anointed him,
 21 With whom My hand shall be established;
         Also My arm shall strengthen him.
 22 The enemy shall not outwit him,
         Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
 23 I will beat down his foes before his face,
         And plague those who hate him.
       
 24 “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,
         And in My name his horn shall be exalted.
 25 Also I will set his hand over the sea,
         And his right hand over the rivers.
 26 He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
         My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
 27 Also I will make him My firstborn,
         The highest of the kings of the earth.
 28 My mercy I will keep for him forever,
         And My covenant shall stand firm with him.
 29 His seed also I will make to endure forever,
         And his throne as the days of heaven.
       
 30 “If his sons forsake My law
         And do not walk in My judgments,
 31 If they break My statutes
         And do not keep My commandments,
 32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
         And their iniquity with stripes.
 33 Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him,
         Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.
 34 My covenant I will not break,
         Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
 35 Once I have sworn by My holiness;
         I will not lie to David:
 36 His seed shall endure forever,
         And his throne as the sun before Me;
 37 It shall be established forever like the moon,
         Even like the faithful witness in the sky.”  Selah
       
 38 But You have cast off and abhorred,
         You have been furious with Your anointed.
 39 You have renounced the covenant of Your servant;
         You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
 40 You have broken down all his hedges;
         You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
 41 All who pass by the way plunder him;
         He is a reproach to his neighbors.
 42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
         You have made all his enemies rejoice.
 43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
         And have not sustained him in the battle.
 44 You have made his glory cease,
         And cast his throne down to the ground.
 45 The days of his youth You have shortened;
         You have covered him with shame.  Selah
       
 46 How long, LORD?
         Will You hide Yourself forever?
         Will Your wrath burn like fire?
 47 Remember how short my time is;
         For what futility have You created all the children of men?
 48 What man can live and not see death?
         Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?  Selah
       
 49 Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses,
         Which You swore to David in Your truth?
 50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants—
         How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
 51 With which Your enemies have reproached, O LORD,
         With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.
       
 52 Blessed be the LORD forevermore!
         Amen and Amen.