- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Jan 17, 2021 17:20:28 GMT -8
Psalm 27
Many of us today are worried since the US election. We now have a socialist controlled government. And that is not an accusation, as socialism was part of their platform. Worse, all evidence points to the election being blatantly stolen; a political coup rather than an election. Even many on the left are worried at this turn of events. So what should be our response as believers?
Psalm 27 (ESV) The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
A psalm of trust.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold [refuge] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
As in many psalms, this one is rich in metaphors. Light- He shows us the way; salvation- when early Hebrews thought of salvation, they did not spiritualize it, but rather thought of it in terms of being rescued from a foe or a particular circumstance; stronghold/refuge- He is our protection from the schemes of ha’satan and his minions (spiritual and temporal).
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up [devour] my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
“Devour my flesh” is an idiom for harmful or malicious speech. One of the things the left tries to do today is silence believers so they can malign and accuse us unchallenged as they lie about us and about the word of God.
The phrase may also refer to our adversaries as predators.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet [Or in this] I will be confident.
The psalmist determines he will be confident in the Lord’s deliverance.
4 One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty [Lit delightfulness] of the Lord
and to inquire [meditate] in his temple.
That he may visit the Temple as a place of study and meditation on God. But more than that, to know God as a constant companion, a good friend and mighty protector.
John 15:4a Abide in me, and I in you.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter [tabernacle, house]
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
God’s house for us is His presence
The reference to a tabernacle, or house means the Temple. However to a believer our bodies are the Temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you [plural] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
We must never forget to give praise and thanks for our deliverance. But be mindful to give thanks for the testing and strengthening as well.
1 Thessalonians 5:18a give thanks in all circumstances;
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
[the command (seek) is addressed to more than one person]
We must go further than just asking for help. We must seek God’s face; to know Him as a friend and protector.
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
Note the change in tone here. David, in the depths of his troubles, beset by enemies on all sides knows the temptation of falling away from his walk with God. To possibly even blame God. But sometimes God allows us to go through these troubles, seemingly hiding or turning His face away from us in order to bring us to a deeper level of trust. To strengthen us for the times ahead. Anyone can trust when times are good, but many fail when times are hard. Many others however trust Him more when times get hard. We need to decide which group we will be numbered in. Will we trust God in the bad times, or will we fall away?
10 For [if] my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but [then] the Lord will take me in.
But no matter how dark it gets, when those closest to us have forsaken us, even then God will take us as His own to protect and instruct.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will [Lit soul] of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
His enemies are liars, bearing false witness against him. And this will be an excuse to do violence to him, either through the law or through their own lawless acts. But he seeks a level path, one based in Torah and the rule of law.
13 [Oh! Had I not believed (had I not the assurance) that I would look] upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
As opposed to the land of the dead; a place where there is no access to God, in itself a type of death and the very definition of Hell.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Wait for the Lord. If we get ahead (or lag behind), we become easy prey for our enemies (the enemy, ha’satan). Be strong, because He strengthens us. Take courage, because we know that even if they destroy our body we will not suffer the final death. The Lord will gather us to Himself, and no one can take us from Him.
John 10:26-29 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
His sheep hear His voice. No one may take us away, but we may walk away any time. We still have free will. But if you are not walking with God then the time comes you really need Him, you will not hear His voice. You are not among His sheep. This psalm is meant to encourage us to remain among His sheep; abide with God! As Revelation 2 & 3 puts it several times, and is variously translated, “To he that overcomes, prevails, conquers, gains the victory” will go a new name, the Tree of Life, new raiment, authority, the morning star (a place of high honor), he will bear God’s name and sit with Him on the throne, and have eternal life.
Edit: This is NOT a blanket condemnation of either party, nor an endorsement of one over the other. I don't particularly like either one of them, and this is not a political forum. But the facts are plain as to what has happened and what all they say they will do. The facts also are many are worried, angry, depressed. I fight these emotions myself. However we need to worry about what God will do and leave the politicians to His tender (or not) care. This post may be pushing the envelope a bit, but I thought it was particularly apropos.
So Please, no politics. However if you are worried about something clearly stated by the new regime then we can discuss it only in terms of our dealing with it as believers. Thanks.
Many of us today are worried since the US election. We now have a socialist controlled government. And that is not an accusation, as socialism was part of their platform. Worse, all evidence points to the election being blatantly stolen; a political coup rather than an election. Even many on the left are worried at this turn of events. So what should be our response as believers?
Psalm 27 (ESV) The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
A psalm of trust.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold [refuge] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
As in many psalms, this one is rich in metaphors. Light- He shows us the way; salvation- when early Hebrews thought of salvation, they did not spiritualize it, but rather thought of it in terms of being rescued from a foe or a particular circumstance; stronghold/refuge- He is our protection from the schemes of ha’satan and his minions (spiritual and temporal).
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up [devour] my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
“Devour my flesh” is an idiom for harmful or malicious speech. One of the things the left tries to do today is silence believers so they can malign and accuse us unchallenged as they lie about us and about the word of God.
The phrase may also refer to our adversaries as predators.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet [Or in this] I will be confident.
The psalmist determines he will be confident in the Lord’s deliverance.
4 One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty [Lit delightfulness] of the Lord
and to inquire [meditate] in his temple.
That he may visit the Temple as a place of study and meditation on God. But more than that, to know God as a constant companion, a good friend and mighty protector.
John 15:4a Abide in me, and I in you.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter [tabernacle, house]
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
God’s house for us is His presence
The reference to a tabernacle, or house means the Temple. However to a believer our bodies are the Temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you [plural] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
We must never forget to give praise and thanks for our deliverance. But be mindful to give thanks for the testing and strengthening as well.
1 Thessalonians 5:18a give thanks in all circumstances;
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
[the command (seek) is addressed to more than one person]
We must go further than just asking for help. We must seek God’s face; to know Him as a friend and protector.
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
Note the change in tone here. David, in the depths of his troubles, beset by enemies on all sides knows the temptation of falling away from his walk with God. To possibly even blame God. But sometimes God allows us to go through these troubles, seemingly hiding or turning His face away from us in order to bring us to a deeper level of trust. To strengthen us for the times ahead. Anyone can trust when times are good, but many fail when times are hard. Many others however trust Him more when times get hard. We need to decide which group we will be numbered in. Will we trust God in the bad times, or will we fall away?
10 For [if] my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but [then] the Lord will take me in.
But no matter how dark it gets, when those closest to us have forsaken us, even then God will take us as His own to protect and instruct.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will [Lit soul] of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
His enemies are liars, bearing false witness against him. And this will be an excuse to do violence to him, either through the law or through their own lawless acts. But he seeks a level path, one based in Torah and the rule of law.
13 [Oh! Had I not believed (had I not the assurance) that I would look] upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
As opposed to the land of the dead; a place where there is no access to God, in itself a type of death and the very definition of Hell.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Wait for the Lord. If we get ahead (or lag behind), we become easy prey for our enemies (the enemy, ha’satan). Be strong, because He strengthens us. Take courage, because we know that even if they destroy our body we will not suffer the final death. The Lord will gather us to Himself, and no one can take us from Him.
John 10:26-29 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
His sheep hear His voice. No one may take us away, but we may walk away any time. We still have free will. But if you are not walking with God then the time comes you really need Him, you will not hear His voice. You are not among His sheep. This psalm is meant to encourage us to remain among His sheep; abide with God! As Revelation 2 & 3 puts it several times, and is variously translated, “To he that overcomes, prevails, conquers, gains the victory” will go a new name, the Tree of Life, new raiment, authority, the morning star (a place of high honor), he will bear God’s name and sit with Him on the throne, and have eternal life.
Edit: This is NOT a blanket condemnation of either party, nor an endorsement of one over the other. I don't particularly like either one of them, and this is not a political forum. But the facts are plain as to what has happened and what all they say they will do. The facts also are many are worried, angry, depressed. I fight these emotions myself. However we need to worry about what God will do and leave the politicians to His tender (or not) care. This post may be pushing the envelope a bit, but I thought it was particularly apropos.
So Please, no politics. However if you are worried about something clearly stated by the new regime then we can discuss it only in terms of our dealing with it as believers. Thanks.
