David

The Covenant

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The following verses from Psalm 89 gives us the reminder of God’s covenant with David. Will his kingdom be eternal?

If his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments; If they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments;  Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.
Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

Psalm 89:30-37

God says in the Psalm “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.” So God is always faithful to fulfill His word. David will always have an heir on the throne of Israel.

That Heir on the eternal throne is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He came the first time to die for the sins of His people in all nations of the world. He died on an old rugged cross, He was buried, and three days later came out of that grave alive.

That same Jesus is returning some day, and will set up His kingdom over the whole world. That’s right. He will rule the whole world in holiness, righteousness, truth and justice. There will be peace on earth for a thousand years.

I call Him, Lord. I call Him, Savior. I also call Him, King, because He is the King of kings; and He is also Lord of lords, and He will put away sin and evil forever and forever.

His will is for you to call on His name today, and be saved to eternal life.

Upheld By The LORD’S Hand

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The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

“The steps of a good man…;” we must understand what a good man is. It is the man or woman who walks in the steps of the LORD. It is not a matter of good works, it is a matter of the law of God being written in the heart. That happens in only one way, and that is by the cross of Jesus. For David and all Old Testament believers they were followers of Jesus Christ by grace through faith on credit, awaiting the coming of the Lord as the sacrifice for sin.

For the follower of Jesus today the payment for sin has been credited to our account, and we have received the righteousness of Christ, because He died for our sins.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” which since the righteous through Jesus Christ do walk in His steps we can also know that the LORD is delighted to see it is done in  us.

The thing about being a “good man” is that he can fall, but because he is the LORD’S the LORD picks us up, and He uphold us with His own hand.

This falling is not a physical falling, but rather a spiritual falling which can lead to a physical iniquity. The spiritual fall happens before the transgression. No one can fall so far away from God that God cannot pick you up. God loves His people, and He loves us too much to allow us to sin successfully.

 

…That will I seek after…

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One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.

Psalm 27:4-5

The Psalmist, David had a heart for God, for seeking Him, to know Him better, and to trust Him.

We are told in other places in Scripture that there is none who seek God (Psalm 14:1-2; Romans 3:10-11), and that is true unless God gives you the desire to seek Him. God says in Hebrews 11:6, ” But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” So there are many seekers for God and His salvation, and most of them will most likely receive eternal life by coming to God by the only way which God and His Son Jesus has made for us.

That only way is by grace through faith in the death of Christ on the cross, His burial, and resurrection on the third day. He finished the work He came  to do.

If you, like David  are seeking to dwell in the house of the LORD all your life, to behold all the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple then you will believe in –  trust in David’s Savior and Messiah, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Abiding With GOD

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LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.
He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15:1-5

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel in writing this Psalm asked two questions; “LORD, who shall abide in Your tabernacle?” and  “Who shall dwell in Your holy hill?”, and is basically asking the same question. The presence of God was the ark in the tabernacle, and the “holy hill’ is Zion.

Both the tabernacle with the ark of the covenant, and the holy hill being the place of rule for the King of kings someday represent the presence of the LORD. Who shall dwell in the presence of the LORD?

The way to abide with the LORD is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ for He said, “I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). In order to dwell in the presence of GOD it must be through the Lord Jesus Christ, and then we will produce those fruits David is speaking of.

Jesus even went on to say, “If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6).

For one who does not have faith in Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross of Calvary, there is no hope of bearing this fruit of good works mentioned in the Psalm by David. After telling us that we are saved by grace through faith, the Bible says in Ephesians two ten, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Who will be in the presence of God for all eternity, dwelling with Him? Those who have been given the righteousness of Christ Jesus.

Dealing With Sin

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And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. And David said unto God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech Thee, do away the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.” (vv. 7-8)

King David had sinned against the LORD in ordering a census, a counting of the numbers of people in his kingdom. It must have been a bit of pride, wondering just how many people he was shepherding. Anyway he had sinned against the LORD in  doing what he did.

Gad the prophet to David came with a message from God, and told him “God is displeased with this thing, and struck Israel with a plague. He goes to God in prayer, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing, I beseech You, do away with the iniquity of Your servant: for I have done foolishly.”

The king admits, confesses his sins. That is what every individual must do when we sin against God. No confession, no repentance, no deliverance.

And David said unto Gad, “I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (v. 13)

Now, take a look at verse 13 above. David has been given a choice of three things by which he will pay the price for his sins. His answer was, “Let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for great are His mercies.” He would rather depend of the mercy of God than on the wrath of man for three months, or the affects of a plague. The mercy of the LORD is great. In the book of Lamentations, by Jeremiah the prophet, we are told that “His mercies are new every morning.” King David knew that.

God’s mercy means that God is not pouring out His wrath on those who deserve wrath; and my friend, that is all of us on planet earth. We have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We all deserve His wrath, but He in His great love and mercy has provided for us through a perfect sacrifice to pay sin’s debt, and that is Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, “Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let Thine hand, I pray Thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on Thy people, that they should be plagued.”
1 Chronicles 21:7-8, 13, 16-17

The angel of the LORD was ready to destroy Jerusalem, and God in His mercy stopped the angel of the LORD from doing that. David is very repentant, and the elders have witnessed the wrath that God was pouring out. He cries out to God, “I am the one who has done this sin, but these sheep, what have they done?” In calling his people sheep was humbling himself before the LORD God as a lowly shepherd.

The  king is told by the LORD to build an altar, and offer a sacrifice to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan. David goes to Ornan, and ask to purchase the land from him. Ornan sells the threshing floor to David, a he makes a sacrifice. It was many years before when Abraham had seen this mountain “afar off” as he was going with his son Isaac, the promised son; and was prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, and God provided a Ram caught in a bush by his horns, in the stead of his son.

This threshing floor would become the place where the temple of Solomon would stand.

That Ram provided by God to Abraham is a picture of the promised Messiah, that would come, and give His life in our stead.

Do you desire to deal with your sin that has so long kept you enslaved to it? Would you like to be at peace with God? Would you like to know that your sins are forgiven? You can have those things by turning away from your sins, and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ; God’s perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Son of God who became sin for us, on the cross, taking the wrath of God on Himself, dying; and He was buried, and then He arose from that tomb. Through Him and Him alone can we become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). That is God’s grace. God is giving us something which we do not deserve; that is deliverance from sin.

 

The High Cost Of Sin

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And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 18:33

King David has seen the price of his sins concerning the wife of Uriah, and his murder of Uriah the Hitite.  There is a son (Amnon) who raped his sister Tamar, the sister of Absalom. When Absalom hears about he is angry, and sometime later Absalom kills his brother Amnon for the rape.

The sword of death was in David’s house.  Some one has written, and said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; sin will leave you longer than you want to stay; and sin will cost you far more than you can ever pay.” David was finding this out.

These tragic events were foretold by Nathan the prophet when he confronted the king about the sin he had committed, and said, “…The sword shall never depart from your house…” (2 Samuel 12:10).

Absalom rebels against he father, and tries to take the kingdom away. David loves Absalom, and flees Jerusalem, and Absalom and his followers give pursuit. Absalom has it in his heart to kill David. David has no such thoughts of killing his son.

Our text for today above shows a father’s heart for his son said, “If only I had died in your place.” The king have given orders to the three generals to not harm Absalom. However, Joab, one of the generals had other ideas. When he saw Absalom caught by his hair hanging in a tree, he ordered him to be killed. Now David is mourning the death of his rebellious son.

It is with great love that we did have someone die for us. Jesus Christ the Son of God , became flesh and blood, from a babe in a manger to the Man He is, that He might die for the sins of the world. The Bible also tells us that “Whosoever believes in in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life” (John 3:16).

On the cross Jesus became sin for us, and was judged by the Father in our stead. He died there. He was buried, and in three days He rose from the grave, and He lives forever more.

Sin against God has a very high price to it. Sin takes your life away. Sin is all over the world. There is only one who never sinned, and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He paid our sin debt. The wages of sin is death. The only escape from eternal death, is by calling on the name of Jesus in repentant faith, turning from your sin to Jesus Christ.

Do you believe today that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that God has raised Him from the dead? If you do then, you shall be saved.

Sin Against God Affects Us All

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And David said unto Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said unto David, “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2 Samuel 12:13-15

There are many people whom I have heard say something like this after they have been confronted about some sin they have committed; “I am hurting nobody, but maybe myself. I am not hurting anyone else.” O, what a lie is that.

King David had committed adultery with one of his faithful soldiers wife. Uziah’s wife became pregnant by David, and David tried to cover up the possible scandal that would occur. He ends up sending Uziah back to the battlefield, and to certain death, thus by his order murdering his soldier. There he has killed a man, after he has adulterated his wife. There is two others affected by one man’s sin. Joab, David’s General over the battle is also affected by David’s scheme to cover his sin.  Then, the baby dies as a result of David’s sin.

For all practical purposes David deserved to die. David confesses his sin, and Nathan the bold prophet who confronted the king about his sin, gives him God’s message, “The LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Nathan has told him already what his sin will do in his family, and against him in verses 11 through 12, of this same chapter. In the verses above the sin of David, the LORD said would give cause for his enemies to blaspheme God.

My sin, and your sin always affects others. The next time you think you are getting away with something that you did wrong. You had ought to think again, because it does affect others, and maybe those closest to you. When your sin is exposed, and it is known, then it will cause many others to take a dim view of God, and will blaspheme the name of God.

Even things done in the privacy of a bedroom with the wrong person with or without the opposite sex. Your sin will find you out, and you will give an accounting to GOD for it.

The good news is, that there is forgiveness for all who fall on their face before the LORD in repentance, for one who is already a follower of Christ (1 John1:9). For the one who does not yet know Jesus Christ He will forgive your sins, and cleanse you, and give you eternal life with Himself. Repent – turn away from your sin – and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ believing He died on a cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again. Will you call on His name today? He is waiting.

The Death of a Stranger

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And David said unto the young man that told him, “Whence art thou?” And he answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” And David said unto him, “How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”  And David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and fall upon him.” And he smote him that he died.  And David said unto him, “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’S anointed.’ ”
2 Samuel 1:13-16

Some background for these verses. First of all David loved his king Saul, and Jonathan the king’s son. Even though Saul had tried to kill David or have him killed, David trusted the LORD with his life, and that of the king as well. Also, David had promised Jonathan and Saul that he would show favor to their family.

Now, David has been told by an Amalekite stranger that Saul, and Jonathan are dead. The stranger tells David a cock a maime  story of how he killed Saul, when according to First Samuel 31:1-6 Saul fell on his own sword, thus killing himself, when he saw that the war was lost, and when Saul’s armor bearer saw that the king was dead he killed himself.

The stranger did not know David. It appears that he sought David out seeking some kind of reward for killing David’s enemy. Only he did not know that Saul was not David’s enemy; Saul was David’s king, and David would not lay a hand on him, neither permit anyone else to do so. David was king Saul’s enemy and all because of envy.

David had two opportunities to take Saul’s life, and he would not do it, because Saul was the LORD’S anointed king (1 Samuel 24:1-9ff; 26:1-16ff). So for this Amalekite stranger to come to David seeking a reward for killing his king was very foolish. Later on after David has become king another two men kill a son of Saul – Ishbosheth – whom Abner tries to set up as king. Ishbosheth was not God’s chosen, or anointed king of Israel. These two men, Rechab and Baanah kill Ishbosheth while he is lying in his bed in the middle of the day. They think they will get a reward from the king for killing an enemy. Their reward is death (2 Samuel 4).

King David remembers the covenants he had made with Jonathan, and he keeps them. That shows us that David is an honorable man of God. He keeps his word. He is faithful to the LORD God as well.

From David we learn how to trust the Lord, our God, and Savior. As David was a man of his word, so ought the Christian to be people who will speak the truth in love, and when we make a promise, or a covenant with someone we keep it. Also, just because someone takes a hit at you, and they consider you their enemy; they do not have to be our enemy.

How can we live like that? How can we love a neighbor who hates us, and does whatever they can to destroy us? We need to first know the LORD, and His Son Jesus Christ. We must have a different heart than that the world has. Do not strike back. Difficult? Most certainly, but remember David’s refusal to strike king Saul.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. He died on the cross for our sins – your sins and mine – He was buried, and He rose again. We have a risen Savior who is forever living and He intercedes for us continually. Call on His name. He will hear you and He will deliver you (Romans 10:13).

Promise of a Prosperous Pursuit

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And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.  And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod.” And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.  And David enquired at the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
1 Samuel 30:6-8

Giving a little background information. David and his men had been given the city of Ziklag for he and his men to dwell in. This was a Philistine city which the ruler of the Philistines had given them. David, and his men were serving that ruler, or so the ruler supposed, while David and his men never attacked any people of Israel, as David told Philistines that he was.

On a day the ruler told David they were going to war against Israel, he asked David to join him, and David agreed. They got to the site of their troops, and the lords of the Philistines did not like that, David, and Israelite with a reputation of killing ten thousand to Saul’s thousand. So, Achish the ruler of the Philistines sent him back to Ziklag.

When David and his men returned to Ziklag ravaged, their wives and children gone. All the people of Ziklag had been taken by marauding band of Amalekites. Upon finding the city ravaged, their wives and children taken, and all their things, their stuff taken, there was talk among the men of stoning David. David was grieving as well as the other men.

In verse six of the above text we read, “…But David encouraged himself in the LORD.” I can hear him praying, singing psalms, praising God Almighty, and giving an offering of thanksgiving. Doing so will encourage the wounded heart.

Then David asked the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” He is no longer discouraged. David is ready for action, and he asked to LORD, before he just in a hap hazard fashion takes after them without the LORD’S counsel. The LORD’S counsel is “Pursue; for you shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

Now David has God’s word of assurance they will be victorious. They will get their wives, their children, and all that was taken, they will get it all back, just as the LORD had said.

How does this apply to the Christian of today?  First of all we all have days when it seems like those around us – family, friends, fellow workers at our place of employment, and enemies even – are against us. Remember David’s own men were talking of stoning him. Yet, David knew the LORD, and strengthened himself in the LORD. You and I can do that as well. We do not need a therapist. We need Jesus Christ. He is our healer, and He is our Help.

When you are discouraged, or depressed pick up your Bible, and read it. If you, as a Christian are down, in despair, and doubt, then read the Psalms. Begin thinking about the many blessings the Lord has given you. Be reminded of God’s wonderful, marvelous love, mercy, and grace. Also be reminded of His greatness, power, His holiness, and righteousness, and that He still cares for us.

Jesus Christ who died on a cross to free us from sin, from death, and from hell is also the wonderful counselor. He is Lord of all, and He is our Savior.

If you are down and discouraged today, and you do not know Jesus who died for you, here is how you can be delivered from sin, and have help for your discouragement. “If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Futile Pursuits

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But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
1 Samuel 23:27-29

King Saul of Israel hates the young David who is  the one who killed the Philistine champion and giant  by the name of Goliath. Ever since the young maidens were singing “Saul has killed his thousands; and  David has killed his tens of thousands,” Saul has been envious to the point of hating David.

Saul also know that he will not have a son, or anyone from his family take the throne, because Samuel the prophet has told him so. He is in pursuit of David for the distinct purpose of killing him.

The king has no more loyal servant than David. David is fleeing from Saul out of his fear of the LORD God, more than any fear he might have of Saul. David does not want to harm his king, therefore he flees from him. Yet the king pursues.

In his pursuit of David he leaves his kingdom at the mercy of the enemies around them, and while he is out chasing a friend, and faithful servant the Philistines invade Israel. This takes Saul and his army out of the pursuit.

Futile pursuits take place when we take our eyes off the Lord, and go after what we want in our lives. Futile pursuits happen when we become envious over someone else’s successes, and do things that might sabotage their work, or ministry. Futile pursuits take place when we know the word of God, and the will of God, but we do things against the will of the Lord instead.

As a Christian we sometimes get involved in futile pursuits that take us away from what God called us, and leads us to do. Let us pursue the things of God, beginning with loving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls, and with all our strength; and also loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

It is the will of God for you to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection; but you see your own way of salvation and there is no other way. Your pursuit of salvation is futile, and will fail. The enemy of God’s salvation is attacking destroying your kingdom because you are pursuing your own envy, and evil.

Turn your life over to Jesus Christ today.

Behaving Wisely

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And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.  And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
1 Samuel 18:28-30

King Saul had grown envious of David. Why?  Because Saul could see and he knew that the Spirit of the LORD had left himself, and was now in his servant David.

Why had the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul?  The king had been disobedient too many times. Some of the times his disobedience was due to his arrogance and pride. Those things can get in the way of behaving wisely.

The Spirit of the LORD was within David from the moment Samuel anointed David as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12-13). To make one thing clear for the Spirit of the LORD – He can dwell within many at the same time; because the Spirit of the LORD was on and in Samuel as well. It was because of David’s love for the LORD God, and thankfulness for His work in his life that he behaved himself wisely as he went out, and as he came in

Saul was afraid of David, also because he could see, and he knew that the LORD was with David. When the Spirit of the LORD is with you, and you know it, there is nothing you have to fear. You are at peace, you have faith, and confidence that the LORD is working in and through your life, and that nothing can get in the way of the Lord’s working in you.

Behaving wisely is  work of the Holy Spirit of God in the follower, the disciple of Jesus Christ today. Behaving wisely does not mean doing whatever I want with my life. Behaving wisely means following the Lord’s direction for one’s life; going where He goes, doing what He does, loving like He does, and loving what and who He does, and also hating what He hates.

We cannot behave wisely apart from the Spirit of the LORD, whom we know as the Holy Spirit given to everyone who comes by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ in  repentance, confessing one’s sin, turning from sin to Christ believing Him and His work on the cross dying for the sins of the world, His burial, and resurrection. When you have received this free gift of grace God gives us His Holy Spirit, and then we will begin “Behaving Wisely.” Also read Ephesians 2;8-10.

Our Righteousness

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Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our Righteousness.
Jeremiah 33:14-16

The Earth Shall Praise You, O LORD

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I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee.  I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.
In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.

Psalm 138:1-8

The Word Of The LORD Is Pure

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Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: who have said, “With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?”
“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise,” saith the LORD; “I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.”
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.  The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

Psalm 12:1-8

Be Strong, and Of Good Courage…

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And David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.”
1 Chronicles 28:20-21

The Price Of Despising God And His Word

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And Nathan said to David, “Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel,
“I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.”
2 Samuel 12:7-10

God’s Way Is The Only Way

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And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, and said unto them, “Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.” So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 15:11-15

The City of David

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And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, “Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:” thinking, David cannot come in hither.  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.  And David said on that day, “Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain.” Wherefore they said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
2 Samuel 5:6-10

Facing the Enemy

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Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O Thou most High.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? In Thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book? When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
In God will I praise His word: in the LORD will I praise His word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto Thee. For Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Psalm 56:1-13

The Goodness of God Endures Eternally

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Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, He shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: “Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy name; for it is good before Thy saints.

Psalm 52:1-9

The LORD is Righteous and Holy

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The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.  The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.  The LORD preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:17-21

When the Name of the LORD is Blessed

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Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, “Blessed be Thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.   Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name.   But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.  For we are strangers before Thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
“O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build Thee an house for Thine holy name cometh of Thine hand, and is all Thine own.   I know also, my God, that Thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy Thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto Thee.
“O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Thy people, and prepare their heart unto Thee: and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep Thy commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.”
1 Chronicles 29:10-19

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens.   Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Psalm 8:1-2

When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things
Proverbs 2:10-12

He Only is My Rock and My Salvation

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My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:5-6

The following is from John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible of Psalm 62 verses  5 and 6.

My soul, wait thou only upon God,…. Be silent and subject to him, acquiesce in his providences, rest in him patiently and quietly, wait for his salvation; See Gill on Psa_62:1; perhaps some new temptation might arise, and David’s soul began to be uneasy and impatient; for frames are very changeable things; and therefore he encourages it to be still and quiet, and patiently wait on the Lord, and on him only:
for my expectation is from him; or “my hope”, as the Targum; the grace of hope is from the Lord, and the thing hoped for is from him; he is the author and the object of it; and his word of promise encourages to the exercise of it; or “my patience”; as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions. The grace of patience is from the Lord; the means of it is his word; and it is exercised, tried, and increased by afflictions sent and sanctified by him; and “expectation” is nothing else than these graces in exercise, a waiting patiently for things hoped for Old Testament saints expected the first coming of Christ; New Testament saints expect his second coming; and all expect good things from him in time and eternity; nor shall their expectation fail and perish; and therefore is a reason why their souls should wait only on the Lord.

He only is my rock and my salvation,…. See Gill on Psa_62:2;
he is my defence; these epithets of God are repeated, to strengthen his faith and hope in him, and to encourage a patient waiting upon him;
I shall not be moved; neither greatly, nor at all; his faith gets fresh strength and rigour, the more he considers God as his rock, salvation, defence, and refuge; See Gill on Psa_62:2.

For God to be your rock and salvation you need to come to Him by way of the cross of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus paid our debt that we could not pay and have everlasting life, Jesus was buried taking away our sin, our guilt, our condemnation and death, then Jesus came out of the grave alive forever more. Come to Him. Call on His name in faith and repentance.

The Redeemed

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But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah. Psalm 49:15

Every man, woman, boy and girl is condemned to an eternal, excruciating death. Unless there would be a Mediator step in and pay the price of our sin. We are all born into this world condemned by sin, spiritually dead, and seemingly without hope.

Many people try to redeem themselves by good works. Many of those same people think they have lived a good life therefore God owes them an eternity with Him. They just work themselves into Hell and eternal damnation, because they do not believe God’s word.

The Psalmist says that it is God who will redeem my soul. When Isaiah the prophet saw the LORD, high and lifted up, he fell on his face  crying “Woe is me. I am undone. I am a man of unclean lip and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). It is God who convicts and convinces us of sin, and it is He who draws us to Himself in humility and faith.

God receives us only through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, His burial and resurrection. In His death He has paid the sin debt of all who will believe Him.

O will you hear Him today? You are not good enough to please God. All our goodness, and righteousnesses are as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). Only the righteousness of Jesus Christ can redeem us (2 Corinthians 5:21). He has paid the price. Will you receive Him?

…The Days of the Upright…

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The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Psalm 37:18-19

This is one of the most comforting and encouraging of the one hundred fifty Psalms.

While we know that the LORD is all knowing (Omniscient), it is great to know that He cares for those who are His even in, and especially in times of darkness of evil.

I will share today from Spurgeon’s  TREASURY OF DAVID…

“The Lord knoweth the days of the upright.” His foreknowledge made him laugh at the proud, but in the case of the upright he sees a brighter future, and treats them as heirs of salvation. Ever is this our comfort, that all events are known to our God, and that nothing in our future can take him at unawares. No arrow can pierce us by accident, no dagger smite us by stealth; neither in time nor in eternity can any unforeseen ill occur to us. Futurity shall be but a continual development of the good things which the Lord has laid up in store for us. “And their inheritance shall be for ever.” Their inheritance fades not away. It is entailed, so that none can deprive them of it, and preserved, so that none shall destroy it. Eternity is the peculiar attribute of the believer’s portion: what they have on earth is safe enough, but what they shall have in heaven is theirs without end.

“They shall not be ashamed in the evil time.” Calamities will come, but deliverances will come also. As the righteous never reckoned upon immunity from trouble, they will not be disappointed when they are called to take their share of it, but the rather they will cast themselves anew upon their God, and prove again his faithfulness and love. God is not a friend in the sunshine only, he is a friend indeed and a friend in need. “And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.” Their barrel of meal and cruse of oil shall last out the day of distress, and if ravens do not bring them bread and meat, the supply of their needs shall come in some other way, for their bread shall be given them. Our Lord stayed himself upon this when he hungered in the wilderness, and by faith he repelled the tempter; we too may be enabled not to fret ourselves in any wise to do evil by the same consideration. If God’s providence is our inheritance, we need not worry about the price of wheat. Mildew, and smut, and bent, are all in the Lord’s hands. Unbelief cannot save a single ear from being blasted, but faith, if it do not preserve the crop, can do what is better, namely, preserve our joy in the Lord.

I pray you know the All Knowing, All Present, All Powerful One through His Holy, Righteous Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, was buried and He rose again, proving the word of God to be true including every word He has spoken. Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son.