[2:1] …promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. [2] Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

[6] In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. [7] Note And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. [8] Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

Titus 2:1,2, 6-8

It has been said that character is what we are when nobody is watching. If we sincerely wish to walk with God, we must strive, to do the best of our abilities, to follow God’s path and to obey His instructions. In short, we must recognize the importance that integrity should play in our lives. Build your life on the firm foundation of integrity. When you do, you won’t need to look over your shoulder to see who, besides God, is watching.

“Image is what people think we are; integrity is what we really are.” – John Maxwell

“No man can use his Bible with power unless he has the character of Jesus in his heart.” – Alan Redpath

“Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” – Billy Graham

Let me be a person of integrity, Lord, and let my words and deeds be a testimony to You, today and always, Amen.

     A prophet before Moses;
     A priest after Melchizedek;
     A champion like Joshua;
     An offering in place of Isaac;
     A king from the line of David;
     A wise counselor above Solomon;
     A beloved/rejected/exalted son like Joseph.
          And yet far more…
The Heavens declare His glory…
and the firmament shows His handiwork..
     He who is, who was, and who always will be;

     The first and the last
     He is the Alpha and the Omega
     the Aleph and the Tau
     the A and the Z;
     He is the first fruits of them that slept.

     He is the “I AM that I AM” [the Voice of the Burning Bush!]
     He is the Captain of the Lord’s Host
     He was the conqueror of Jericho

     He is enduringly strong;
          He is entirely sincere;
               He is eternally steadfast;

     He is immortally graceful;
          He is imperially powerful;
               He is impartially merciful;

In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
     The very God of very God.
     He is our Kinsman-Redeemer
     and He is our Avenger of Blood;

     He is our City of Refuge;
     our Performing High Priest,
     our Personal Prophet,
     our Reigning King.

He’s the Loftiest idea in Literature;
     He’s the highest Personality in Philosophy;
     He’s the Fundamental Doctrine of Theology;
     He’s the Supreme Problem in “higher criticism”!
     He’s the Miracle of the Ages
     the Superlative of everything good

We are the beneficiaries of a Love Letter:
     It was written in blood,
     on a wooden cross
     erected in Judea
     2,000 years ago.

He was crucified on a cross of wood,
     yet He made the hill on which it stood.

By Him were all things made that were made;
without Him was not anything made that was made;
By Him are all things held together!

What held Him to that cross? It wasn’t the nails!
(At any time He could have declared, “I’m out of here!”)
     It was His love for you and me.

He was born of a woman
     so that we could be born of God;
He humbled Himself
     so that we could be lifted up;

He became a servant
     so that we could be made co-heirs;
He suffered rejection
     so that we could become His friends;
He denied Himself
     so that we could freely receive all things;
He gave Himself
     so that He could bless us in every way.

He is
     Available to the tempted and the tried;
     Blesses the young;
     Cleanses the lepers;
     Defends the feeble;
     Delivers the captives;
     Discharges the debtors;
     Forgives the sinners;
     Franchises the meek;
     Guards the besieged;
     Heals the sick;
     Provides strength to the weak;
     Regards the aged;
     Rewards the diligent;
     Serves the unfortunate;
     Sympathizes and He saves!

His Offices are manifold;
     His Reign is righteous;
     His Promises are sure;
     His Goodness is limitless;
     His Light is matchless;
     His Grace is sufficient;
     His Love never changes;
     His Mercy is everlasting;
     His Word is enough;
     His Yoke is easy and
     His Burden is light!

     He’s indescribable;
     He’s incomprehensible;
     He’s irresistible;
     He’s invincible!

The Heaven of heavens cannot contain Him;
     Man cannot explain Him

The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him
     and learned that they couldn’t stop Him;
Pilate couldn’t find any fault with Him;
     the witnesses couldn’t agree against Him.
Herod couldn’t kill Him
     death couldn’t handle Him
     the grave couldn’t hold Him!

He has always been and always will be;
     He had no predecessor and
     will have no successor;
     Your can’t impeach Him and
     he isn’t going to resign!

His name is above every name;
     That at the name of Yeshua
     Every knee shall bow
     Every tongue shall confess
     That Jesus Christ is Lord!

His is the kingdom, the power, and the glory… for ever, and ever.
…Amen!

      - Chuck Missler
     www.khouse.org

Depending upon which scholar you consult, Psalms is one of the two Old Testament books most frequently quoted in the New. The other contender is the Book of Isaiah. Our Lord saw Himself as the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies and types of the Psalms.

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). Other references of the Psalms from our Savior are: He cited Psalm 110 (Matt. 22:43-44) to show that David spoke of Him in the Psalms. The Savior also uttered the beginning words of Psalm 22 from the cross (Matt. 27:46).

In their preaching and writing, the apostles often quoted from the Psalms as biblical proof of the fact that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Peter quoted Psalm 16:8-11 as proof that Jesus must be raised from the dead (Acts 2:24-36). Paul’s message was virtually identical (cf. Acts 13:29-39). Any book so prominent in the minds of the New Testament writers should also be important to us.

The Psalms Have Had a Prominent Role in the History of the Church Through the Ages

According to Paul’s letter to Timothy the reading of Scripture was to play an important role in the assembled worship of the saints (1 Tim. 4:13). From 1 Corinthians 14:26, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 we can safely infer that the singing of the Psalms was a vital part of the corporate worship experience of the church. While the translators have indicated a more general category by their rendering of the term “psalms” (rather than “Psalms”), I believe the Old Testament Psalms were certainly included in this broader category.

Not only did the church continue to sing the Psalms, the early fathers often chose to write commentaries on the Book of Psalms. Among these fathers were Chrysostom and Augustine. The church of the Reformation made much use of the Psalms and men like Luther were known for their love of this book. H. C. Leupold, who wrote “Exposition of Psalms,” goes so far as to suggest, “Perhaps we are safe in saying that no biblical book has seen more use throughout Christendom than has the Psalter.”

The Psalms Significantly Contribute to the Worship of the Church Today

Bernhard Anderson reminds us that in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, “especially where the ancient monastic usage is still preserved—the entire Psalter is recited once each week. In the Anglican church the Psalms are repeated once a month.” Our church hymnals are filled with the Psalms, either quoted or paraphrased. The Psalms have provided inspiration for many hymnists. In The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, Isaac Watts wrote hymns for every Psalm and many others. I grew up singing from the Baptist Hymnal that was full of songs inspired from the Psalms.

There are several reasons why the Psalms have meant so much to the saints over the years. Here are a few reasons why they considered the Psalms their most prized possession.

(1) The Psalms speak to us. We cannot read very far in the Psalms without drawing the conclusion that the psalmist seems to have been reading our mail. How is it that after centuries have passed we find a man who lived in a different time and culture expressing our innermost feelings, fears, and hopes? The answer, of course, is that we are reading the Scriptures, divinely inspired, infallible and inerrant, so as to be a word from God to us (cf. 1  Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). Recognizing this, it was Luther who centuries ago said,

“The Psalter is the favorite book of all the saints.… [Each person], whatever his circumstances may be, finds in [the book] psalms and words which are appropriate to the circumstances in which he finds himself and meet his needs as adequately as if they were composed exclusively for his sake, and in such a way that he himself could not improve on them nor find or desire any better psalms or words.”

In the Psalms the history of Israel is not only condensed (e.g., Ps. 78), but her theology is compressed. I once read an article with a title something like, “Israel’s Theology, Sung, not Said.” I think that is a correct assessment of the Book of Psalms in terms of its theology. Sabourin reminds us that the Psalter has been called “a microcosm of the whole Old Testament, … the epitome of Israel’s spiritual experience.”

Bernhard Anderson suggests another reason why the Psalms speak to us. He reminds us that the Psalms were written at a point when Israel was between the initiation of God’s Kingdom and its culmination. Christians today live under similar circumstances. Our Lord has come to the earth as our Redeemer and Israel’s Messiah, but He has also returned to the Father to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-3). We are living in the interim, awaiting the culmination—the coming of God’s Kingdom, much like Israel of old. It is this anticipation and at the same time a sense of God’s absence (at times) which enables the saint of today to identify with the struggles of the saint of old and to find the Psalms striking a familiar chord in our own hearts and lives.

(2) The Psalms speak for us. It was Athanasius, an outstanding church leader in the fourth century, who reportedly declared “that the Psalms have a unique place in the Bible because most of the Scripture speaks to us, while the Psalms speak for us.”

Our Lord expressed His grief at being separated from His Father on the cross by repeating the words of Psalm 22:1. Jonah’s “psalm” (Jonah 2:2-9), composed in the belly of the great fish, was an original work and yet his words and phrases were borrowed from the Book of Psalms. Countless Christians, down through the ages, have found the Psalms to speak for them and have prayed the words of a Psalm, finding them the best expression of their souls’ desires.

We know from Romans 8:26-27 that the Spirit of God speaks those things for us which are unutterable. Is it not possible that some of our unutterable feelings and desires may have been spoken by the psalmists under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? I find that the psalmist has often put his finger on a problem I have grappled with and penned what I have not been able to put into words. Consequently, the Psalms not only speak to us, but for us. We can therefore sometimes pray in the words of the Psalms more effectively than in our own words. As Theodore Laetsch has said, “How many Christians have voiced their prayers in hours of extreme anguish by repeating familiar passages from Scripture or from their hymnbook!”

(3) The Psalms speak for us “out of the depths.” I am particularly indebted to Bernhard Anderson for this insight. He has entitled his excellent book on the Psalms, Out of the Depths: The Psalms Speak for Us Today. It is one thing to be able to praise God when we have, in our modern idiom, “had a nice day.” It is quite another to praise God when the bottom appears to have fallen out of life. If there is any time when men have turned to the Book of Psalms it is in their hour of deep despair and adversity.

No wonder the church fathers of the early centuries turned to the Psalms. And the Reformers did likewise. John Calvin had this to say about the psalms:

“This book I am wont to style an anatomy of all parts of the soul; for no one will discover in himself a single feeling whereof the image is not reflected in this mirror. Nay, all griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, anxieties – in short, all those tumultuous agitations wherewith the minds of men are wont to be tossed – the Holy Ghost hath here represented to the life.”

In the preface to his book, Bernhard Anderson reminds his readers that Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed by the Nazi regime, was a man deeply influenced by the Psalms. His last publication before his death was The Prayer Book of the Bible: An Introduction to the Psalms (1940). On May 15th, 1943, he wrote these words:

“I am reading the Psalms daily, as I have done for years. I know them and love them more than any other book in the Bible.”

A friend who was with him in his last days said: “[Bonhoeffer] always seemed to me to diffuse an atmosphere of happiness, of joy in every smallest event in life, and of deep gratitude for the mere fact that he was alive.… He was one of the very few men that I have ever met to whom his God was real and close to him.”

It was another Russian prison camp in the same war which produced yet another student of the Psalms. Claus Westermann, a scholar whose work has contributed greatly to the study of the Psalms, was imprisoned with a copy of Luther’s translation of the Psalms. During his confinement he turned his attention to the Psalms and his writings have benefited many students of these precious Scriptures.

Since the Psalms speak for us “out of the depths” (this expression comes from the opening words of Psalm 130), we may find comfort, consolation, and the words to praise God in our darkest hours. This, incidentally, explains much of the reason why the Psalms are so neglected in preaching and worship in most American congregations. The truth is that we have had it too easy. We, like the Laodicean church of the Book of Revelation, have found Christianity comfortable and we have become complacent. It is when we are suffering and God seems strangely absent that our attention turns to this precious book. I pray that it will not take tragedy and trouble to motivate our study.

I might also add that it is noteworthy that virtually every Psalm which is attributed to David is a Psalm of lament. Most, if not all, of the Psalms of David were written in the days when he was fleeing from Saul, not when he was sitting on the throne of the nation. If anyone qualifies to praise God from “out of the depths” it was Jonah, for his psalm was composed from within the belly of that great fish which God had appointed to save him (cf. Jonah 2:1-9).

(4) The Psalms are not only a “Prayer Book” but a pattern for worship. Much of the value of the Psalms is that they speak to and for us. I believe this helps explain why Paul instructed the churches of the New Testament times regarding the sharing of psalms (1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). While I believe that much of the “psalming” which took place in the New Testament church involved reading from the Book of Psalms, I am inclined to think that when Paul spoke of a “psalm” he was also speaking of a particular form or pattern for participation, rather than referring only to the 150 psalms contained in the Book of Psalms.

If I understand the Psalms correctly they provide the saints with a pattern for participation in worship, as well as with a prayer book (the Old Testament psalms, which are read or repeated). In fact, the psalms of the Bible are not even confined to the Book of Psalms. The worship of individuals and of congregations often employed psalms. For example, the Israelites sang a song (a psalm) of praise to God after passing through the Red Sea at the Exodus (Ex. 15:1-18). In Deuteronomy 32 Moses composed a psalm contrasting God’s faithfulness with Israel’s unfaithfulness. Deborah composed a song of praise after God rescued His people (Jud. 5:1-31). Hannah sang a psalm of praise to God for the gift of her son, Samuel (1 Sam. 2:1-10).

Not all the psalms of the Old Testament were psalms of praise and thanksgiving. Many were psalms of lament. There are psalms of lament in the Book of Job (e.g., 3:3-12, 13-19, 20-26; 7:1-10; 10:1-22). The books of Jeremiah (e.g., 15:15-18; 17:14-18) and Lamentations (e.g., chaps. 3; 5) contain numerous laments.

This leads me to the conclusion that the Psalms provide us not only with a passage to ponder and to pray, but also with a pattern for our prayer and worship. Martin Luther found the Psalms to be a school of prayer:

“The Christian can learn to pray in the psalter, for here he can hear how the saints talk with God. The number of moods which are expressed here, joy and suffering, hope and care, make it possible for every Christian to find himself in it, and to pray with the psalms.”

If the Psalms are a pattern for our worship, our prayer, and our praise, then it is my hope that our study of the Psalms will make of us better worshippers, more skillful and faithful than we have ever been before in prayer and in praise.

Conclusion

The psalmist pictures God as enthroned upon the praises of His people:

O my God, I cry by day, but Thou dost not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
Yet Thou art holy,
O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises of Israel (Ps. 22:2-3).

If God were enthroned upon your praises, how glorious would that throne be? If God were to be seen enthroned upon the praises of our church, how glorious would He appear to men?

The Psalms which we have been studying greatly influenced the thinking of the apostles and the worship of the early church. The Psalms have been found worthy of the study and devotion of the greatest men of the centuries, and have brought comfort to those who have suffered for their faith. Any book so revered and read for centuries should also be our prized possession as it has been for so many saints before us.

Blessings,

Chris

Bible.org

[108:3]  I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

[4]  For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

[5]  Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;

Whenever I read this psalm or Psalms 57:9-11 which are the same words, I think of the Maranatha Music worship song “Be Exalted O God”.  I have listened to this song as part of one of my Praise and Worship CD’s for as long as I can remember.  I even had it on cassette before CD’s.  It has a wonderful melody that fits these verses perfectly. If you do not spontaneously start praising the Lord when you read these verses, you need to check your spiritual pulse. Below are the song’s lyrics:

Be Exalted O God 
Verse
I will give thanks to Thee,
0 Lord, among the people.
I will sing praises to thee
Among the nations.
For Thy steadfast love is great,
Is great to the heavens,
And Thy faithfulness,
Thy faithfulness to the clouds.

Chorus 
Be exalted, 0 God, above the heavens,
Let Thy glory be over all the earth.
Be exalted, 0 God, above the heavens, 
Let Thy glory be over all the earth.

1977 Maranatha! Music

Blessings,

Chris

• 107:4-9 First Group: Those Who Wandered in Barren Places.
• 107:10-16 Second Group: Those Who Sat in Darkness.  
• 107:17-22 Third Group: Those Who Suffered for Their Own Folly.
• 107:23-32 Fourth Group: Those Who Went Down to the Sea in Ships.

No matter how extreme our calamity, God is able to help us. He is loving and kind to those who are distressed.

[107:1]  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

[2]  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so , whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

Praise God I have been redeemed!  We should shout it from the housetops!  God has done so much for me and has lifted me out of the pit of despair that I need to thank Him for.  This psalm is a declaration that when we live in God’s presence, we will not be able to keep this glorious experience to ourselves.

[4]  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

[5]  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

[6]  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

[7]  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

[8]  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

[9]  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Just as this first group lost their way and were tired, hungry, thirsty, and exhausted, those who are lost without Christ has not experienced the satisfaction that comes from knowing God.  Anyone who recognizes that they are lost can receive the offer of Jesus Christ to satisfy these needs.  Jesus is the only way, the truth, and the life.  He is the bread from heaven, the living water, and the giver of rest.

[28]  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

[29]  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

[32]  Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Those who have never truly suffered may not appreciate God as much as those who have matured under hardship. Those who have seen God work in times of distress have a deeper insight into his loving-kindness. If you have experienced great trials (I am still going through a pretty huge one with my Chronic Pain), you have the potential for great praise.  In James 1:2, it states, “[2]  Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials.”  Why would we consider suffering and trials “great joy”?  Romans 5:3-4 gives us the answer: “[3]  And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, [4]  endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”  Praise God for our suffering because it produces perseverance, endurance, and hope and hope is the highest form of maturity for Christians.

107:43 Let the Wise Attend to These Things.

[43]  Whoso is wise, and will observe these things , even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

The final verse closes by inviting “Whoso is wise” (i.e., those who genuinely seek to be skillful in godly living; “will observe these things”, specifically, to the many ways in which God has displayed his “lovingkindness” . Such a meditation will increase one’s wisdom.

Blessings,

Chris

[6]  I am like a desert owl, *[ Or a pelican of the desert ]
like an owl among the ruins. [7]  I stay awake;
I am like a solitary bird on a roof. (Psalms 102:6-7)

These birds are pictures of loneliness and desolation. When you have Chronic Pain, many times (most of the time) you just want to be alone.  You do not want to be around people much because it takes so much energy not to frown or even scream out from the pain.  I know that my friends just want to reach out to comfort me; however, my natural reaction is to refuse the help and conversation.  Suffering silently though, really is not the Christian thing to do or even the healthy thing to do.  Instead, I know I need to accept graciously the support and help my family and friends want to provide me through Jesus’ love.

Psalm 102 is a messianic Psalm and is quoted by the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 1:10-12.  My sufferings cannot even come close to our Saviour’s when He was nailed to the cross for my sins.  He was the Man of Sorrows and was beaten, bruised and tortured and was reduced to skin and bones.  The pain He suffered was unimaginable.  Forsaken by God and by man, He was alone, like a solitary sparrow on a rooftop.

The Lord endured this agony and suffering for “the joy that lay before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). Knowing that a great reward was coming for God’s people gave Jesus great joy. He did not look at his earthly discomforts, but he kept his eyes on the spiritual, invisible realities. My goal is to finish the race, like Christ, and persevere in times of suffering, looking to Christ as my model and concentrating on my heavenly destination.

By counting my Chronic Pain or other trials and  tribulations “as joy” (James 1:2), I will have the endurance through faith (James 1:3) to spread God’s joy to others in spite of my afflictions so that I never have to suffer silently again. Praise God!

Blessings,

Chris

[2]  I will pay attention to the way of integrity.
When will You come to me?
I will live with integrity of heart in my house.

David may have written this psalm early in his reign as king as he set down the standards he wanted to follow.  We certainly know he did not always walk this way and actually strayed pretty far off the way of integrity at one point.  One of the incredible attributes of David was that he knew that he could not lead a life of integrity on his own (that’s what got him in trouble with Bathsheba).  For most of his life, he knew he needed God’s help to stay on the right path.  We too can claim these words and lead blameless lives if we avoid (1) looking at wickedness ("I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar," 101:3 ), (2) evil thoughts ("perverse ideas," 101:4 ), (3) slander ( 101:5 ), and (4) pride ( 101:5 ). While avoiding these wrongs, we must also let God’s Word show us the standards by which to live.

Psalms 101:6 (HCSB)

[6]  My eyes favor the faithful of the land
so that they may sit down with me.
The one who follows the way of integrity
may serve me.

David said that his “eyes favor the faithful.”  In other words, he would choose as models and as friends those who were godly and truthful.  It really does make a difference who you associate with or hang out with.  The old saying “garbage in, garbage out” is very true.  The people we hang out with can have a profound influence on our life.  We need to make sure we keep our eyes on those who are faithful to God and His Word.  I have found out the hard way over the years that my Christian brothers and sisters consistently built me up when I needed it most while the non-Christian friends only brought me down to their level.  I would rather be with men and women of integrity that I know are in God’s Word because when bad times come, they can encourage you with solid Biblical foundations; however, what would a non-Christian have to offer in encouragement?  If they don’t believe in Jesus Christ then what hope do they have?  If they have no hope, how can they possibly provide hope to you?

Blessings,

Chris

Being declared righteous by God seems initially to be an impossibility to any thinking Christian. How can someone who sins be declared righteous “just as if I’d never sinned?” It is an apparent contradiction that confounds logical thought—until a deep look is given at some key passages of Scripture.

The issue of justification has divided Christians for centuries. It was the central dividing issue between Catholics and Protestants during the Reformation, and it even divides people today. The trouble often surrounds the issue of sin and whether or how much a Christian can sin and still maintain his or her salvation. The flip side of that is, of course, the issue of how righteous persons can sin. Does God look the other way when we sin? Does He pretend he doesn’t see? Does He not “sweat the small stuff”? Doesn’t He care about white lies and blind spots? How can God declare us righteous if we sin?

In addressing this difficult question, we must first begin by establishing the fact that God does, indeed, declare us to be righteous. Our central passage states it in no uncertain terms: “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” How are we justified? Paul stated it in Romans 4:2–3: “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’”

This passage tell us that justification brings about righteousness. We are justified, and all God’s children have always been justified by faith.

Abraham

Abraham Justified by Faith

[4:1]  What then can we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? [2]  If Abraham was justified *[ Or was declared righteous , or was acquitted ] by works, then he has something to brag about—but not before God. *[ [He has no reason for boasting in God's presence] ] [3]  For what does the Scripture say?

Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him for righteousness. *[Ge 15:6]

[4]  Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. [5]  But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares righteous *[ Or who acquits , or who justifies ] the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

We call Abraham our “father,” not because we “become Jewish” by
coming to Christ. He is the Father of the faithful because he had faith
prior to being circumcised. At the time Abraham was “saved” he wasn’t “Jewish”! (Gen 17). Abraham was reckoned to righteousness by his faith when he was still on Gentile ground, two chapters before the covenant sign
of circumcision was placed upon his flesh.

When we believe in Jesus and receive Him personally as our Savior, our sins are forgiven, we are born again, and Jesus’ righteousness becomes ours. What happens when we are justified? Well, as we have already seen, we have peace with God (see Rom. 5:1). We are saved from God’s wrath through Christ (see Rom. 5:9). We are glorified (see Rom. 8:30). We become heirs, having the hope of eternal life (see Titus 3:7).

Nothing we can do will make us righteous before God. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:16, “A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ.” In Titus 3:5–7, we read: “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

We are justified by faith, that is, declared righteous, because we are righteous in Christ.

David

Abraham lived before the law…How was David saved? David lived
under the law and understood : Israel’s greatest king was also justified
by faith alone.

David wrote Psalm 32 after his great sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11). Can God forgive a man who commits adultery, deceit, and murder? Yes! When David repented and turned to God, he was forgiven, even though the Lord allowed David to feel the bitter consequences of his sins (2 Sam. 12). God justifies the ungodly, not the righteous (v. 5; Matt. 9:9–13).

The key here is that David confessed his sin and did not attempt to cover up his sin with “religious works” or fig leaves. He does not repeat the mistake of Adam and Eve who, when found out by God, attempted to hide, or Cain who brought his own offering to God. Here we see David taking full advantage of the blood of the covenant. He does not seek to be justified by his “works.” Rather, David offers to God the sacrifice of a “broken and contrite heart.”

I found this article that I thought was insightful:

“The word “justification” has important judicial meanings. A person whose actions are in question will be justified if those actions are examined and found to have been right. Thus “justify” can mean both “found innocent” and “vindicated” in a particular course of action.

The theological meaning of justification rests heavily on the judicial concept. God is the ultimate judge of all beings in the universe. He will evaluate their actions and will not clear the guilty. Yet David, in Psalm 51, appealed to God for forgiveness. David relied on God’s mercy (vv. 1–2), despite the fact that a sentence of condemnation would have been completely justified by the fact of David’s sins (vv. 4–5). David faced this dilemma and expressed his conviction that it is God’s saving action alone that could free him from guilt and restore his joy (vv. 7–14). Thus, David called on God to justify him—to declare him innocent—despite his sin and his guilt” (The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, 1985, p. 372).

It is important that we understand how God’s law of putting men right before Himself actually works. Nowhere does the Bible teach that by performing religious duties, men and women can earn their righteousness! This makes the teaching of Christianity completely unique among every other religion in the world. Muhammadanism teaches that its believers must adhere to a strict set of commandments and religious practices. Many cults teach their followers that they must complete many religious programs in order to earn their righteousness before God. The New Age Movement (now called Spiritualism), based on ancient Hinduism and Buddhism, teaches that we must work off our karma. However, the Bible teaches something completely different. The apostle Paul writes about King David, who as I already stated committed both murder and adultery (Rom. 4:5–8):

[5]  But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares righteous *[ Or who acquits , or who justifies ] the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

[6]  Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

[7] How happy those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered!
[8] How happy the man whom
the Lord will never charge with sin! *[Ps 32:1-2]

Paul starts verse 6 with “likewise” or “just as” indicating that David’s experience was the same as Abraham’s. King David was called “a man after God’s own heart.” Yet he committed murder and adultery. David paid a heavy price for those sins in his life. However, through the blood and his faith in God’s ability to make him righteous, he was made righteous before God. The sweet singer of Israel said that the happy man is the sinner whom God reckons righteous apart from works. Although David never said this in so many words, the Apostle derives it from Psalm 32:1, 2, which he quotes in the next two verses.

What did Paul see in these verses? First of all, he noticed that David said nothing about works; forgiveness is a matter of God’s grace, not of man’s efforts. Second, he saw that if God doesn’t impute sin to a person, then that person must have a righteous standing before Him. Finally, he saw that God justifies the ungodly; David had been guilty of adultery and murder, yet in these verses he is tasting the sweetness of full and free pardon.

Blessings,

Chris

“This is the most distinguished jewel among all the psalms of consolation”—Luther.

As Psalm 90 was a psalm of death, so Psalm 91 is a psalm of life; it is a messianic psalm and gives a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. This psalm has been the favorite of many including both my grandmother and grandfather that provided a spiritual heritage for their family, which was passed down to my family, and will be passed on for generations to come.  It was in my grandfather’s small country church that I walked down the isle with tears in my eyes as I gave my life to Jesus Christ at the age of eight.  I cannot help think of those two wonderful giants of the faith whenever I read this psalm.

[91:1]  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

[2]  I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

This is a great promise of blessing to believers. Yet, the promise is not made to all who believe, but only to those who are willing to make their abode in the secret place, to sit down or take up residence there. The words shall abide (Heb lūn) signify to pass the night. They imply a constant and continuous dwelling, and not just a temporary visitation during trouble or calamity. Psalm 91 is a promise to those who take up residence in the secret place.

[3]  Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler *[ [That is, one who catches birds in a trap or snare] ]

And from the perilous pestilence.

Pestilence comes from the Hebrew (Heb dabar), which signifies to speak or speak out. The pestilence appears to be something spoken, something proclaimed by God among the people. The Septuagint renders it (Gr thanatos) death.

[4]  He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

This makes me think of God being like a mother hen sheltering her young from the hawks of the sky and snares of the field.  His truth shall be your shield and buckler gives us double armor.  The shield on our arm and the coat of mail giving protection to every part of the warrior’s body.

[5]  You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

[6] Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

We do not need to fear the pestilence that walks in darkness which is the grim reaper hiding in the darkness looking to take his next victim.  The word rendered destruction (Heb qeteb) here and in Deuteronomy 32:24 is rendered by the Septuagint (Gr daimonion) meaning the demon of the day which could mean sunstroke.  Basically if we take up residence in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty, we are assured of round-the-clock, twenty-four-hour protection from Satan and his angels.  What an incredible psalm of comfort this is!

[7]  A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

[8]  Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

[9]  Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

This passage promises protection from sickness as a blessing of the redeemed life. The word “plague” (Hebrew nehgah ) is used of something “inflicted” on a body, and specifically was used to refer to “spots of leprosy.” Here the Lord describes an abiding defense against “inflicted” disease, but the promise is conditioned upon making the Lord our true refuge and habitation. How can we do this? Two Hebrew words in v. 9 give us the answer. The word makhseh, translated “refuge,” means “a shelter,” “a place of trust,” and derives from the root khawsaw, meaning “to flee for protection,” “to confide in.” Maween, translated “dwelling place,” indicates “a retreat.” It comes from the root ˓onah, which describes the security of intimately “dwelling together as in marriage.” These key words elaborate a principle. When we make the Lord our refuge and habitation by trusting Him—taking our cares, fears and needs to Him; by seeking His counsel, spending times of refreshing with Him; and by loving Him and walking closely with Him through every day, we enter into a sheltered place of promise regarding health.

[10]  No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

These verses were dear to the Israelite’s hearts because of what their forefathers witnessed in Egypt during the bloody Passover night when the death angel passed through the land and the first-born was executed by the judgment of the Lord.  As long as the Israelites made the Lord their refuge and dwelling place, they did not need to fear being overcome by evil.  We too can claim this promise and I have many times.

[11]  For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

[12]  In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

One thing to note is that this is the only time in the Old Testament where there is any reference to guardian angels.  Another thing to note is that the psalmist does not say angel, he states angels, plural. Dr. Billy Graham, observing the plural in this text, concluded that each believer must have at least two angels whose assigned duty it is to protect them. God loves us so much that he has not just one angel but at least two or more angels caring for us and bearing us up lest we dash our foot against a stone. As a loving mother tenderly cares for their small child, so do we have angels caring for us.

[13]  You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

It was a common mark of complete victory when the vanquished foe lay prostrate on the ground and the conqueror placed his foot on the lifeless body of his enemy. From this practice came the metaphor of treading underfoot, indicating complete victory.  It is significant that the psalmist repeats the lion and cobra which provides emphasis that the lion in the strength of its youth and the most dreadful type of serpent, are no match for God’s ministering spirits.

[14]  “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

Here God Himself tells us that if we set our love (The verb used here for love is not the usual Hebrew word for love. It has the idea of “holding close to,” even “hugging tightly in love”) upon Him and are willing to dwell in the secret place, we are showered with His blessings and promises.  We are not to only run to Him when we are in trouble but we are to take up residence, abide, and dwell in His presence and fellowship with Him.  He will set us on high above all danger because we know Him personally.

[15]  He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

In Jeremiah, God states, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jer 33:3). When we call God’s name, He doesn’t have to stop what He is doing and run to get there in time for our need.  He is already there when we need Him.  He knows what we need before we ask and is ready to help us in our time of need.  The key is that we have to ask – we have to call upon Him. If we honor God with our love and willingness to forsake the world, God will also honor us.

[16]  With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.”

If you are wondering if we can apply the promises of this psalm to believers today, the answer is YES!  You may say, “what about those believers that still die from disease, or car accident, or even in war?”  Well, part of the answer may lie in this: The one who trusts in Jehovah is immortal until his work is done. Jesus said as much to His disciples. When He suggested returning to Judea, the disciples said:“Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (John 11:7–10).The Lord knew that the Jews could not touch Him until He had finished His work. And this is true of every believer; he is kept by the power of God through faith.

What a contrast between this psalm and the last one, Psalm 90.  Psalm 90 describes a long life full of toil and sorrow.  This psalm provides a long life full of promise and comfort.  The difference?  The reality of verse 1.  By dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, we are shown salvation. To see the salvation of God is to see beyond today and to know that, “… the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18). What an incredible psalm!

Blessings,

Chris

Psalms 90:4 (HCSB)

[4]  For in Your sight a thousand years
are like yesterday that passes by,
like a few hours of the night. *[2Pe 3:8]

In stark contrast to God’s agelessness is the brevity of human life. It seems that God is constantly issuing the order, “Return to dust,” and a never-ending line trudges down to the grave. To One who is eternal, fallen man’s original life-span of about a thousand years is no more than a past memory or a fraction of a night. J. Vernon McGee states beautifully about our brief life here on earth, “It would be like the flight of a bird through a lighted room, coming out of the darkness through one window and going out another window into the darkness again.”

Psalms 90:8 (HCSB)

[8]  You have set our unjust ways before You,
our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

We are ever before our Lord so nothing is hidden from Him. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer used to say (and Chuck Missler quotes in this week’s session) that secret sin on earth is open scandal in heaven. The angels are watching you; they see what you do down here.

Psalms 90:12 (HCSB)

[12]  Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. *[ Or develop a heart of wisdom ]Dt 32:29; Pr 2:6-15; Ep 5:15-16]

Realizing that life is short helps us use the little time we have more wisely and for eternal good. We need to take time to number our days by asking, “What do I want to see happen in my life before I die? What small step could I take toward that purpose today?”

Psalms 90:17 (HCSB)

[17]  Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;
establish for us the work of our hands-
establish the work of our hands! *[1Co 15:58]

Because our days are numbered, we want our work to count, to be effective and productive. We desire to see God’s eternal plan revealed now and for our work to reflect his permanence. I can’t help but think of the last lines of the movie “Saving Private Ryan:

Old James Ryan: Tell me I have led a good life.
Ryan’s Wife: What?
Old James Ryan: Tell me I’m a good man.
Ryan’s Wife: You *are*.

Sometimes we feel dissatisfied with this life and all its imperfections; however, we must remember our desire to see our work established is placed there by God. But our desire can only be satisfied in eternity. Until then we must apply ourselves to loving and serving God here on earth.

Oh, to do something in this life that will have value in eternity! That’s what’s important!

Traditionally Psalm 90 has been a favorite reading at Christian funerals. And not without reason, because it reminds us of the shortness of life and the need to redeem the time or buy up the opportunities. But the Psalm does not reflect the comfort and assurance of the era of the New Testament. Christ has brought “life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Hallelujah! We know from Paul that to die is gain; it is to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. And so the somber and dark outlook of this Psalm should be replaced by the joy and triumph of our hope in Christ, for now death has lost its sting and the grave has been robbed of its victory. We now can sing:

Death is vanquished! Tell it with joy, ye faithful;
Where is now the victory, boasting grave?
Jesus lives! no longer thy portals are cheerless;
Jesus lives, the mighty and strong to save.
——Fanny J. Crosby

Blessings,

Chris