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God/Father of Those Who Fear Him.
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Lesson Eleven: by turtle
Psalms 89:1-7 KJV
(1) <Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.> I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for
ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
(2) For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou
establish in the very heavens.
(3) I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
(4) Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations.
Selah.
(5) And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in
the congregation of the saints.
(6) For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the
sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
(7) God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in
reverence of all them that are about him.
God mercy and promise are for today as well as for many years ago. God
established the everlasting covenant with David. Christ was a descent of King
David. His Kingdom is established forever. Though some do not understand the
kingdom that would last forever was not a earthly one. The kingdom God would
establish would be a spiritual Kingdom. One built based on faith in Jesus.
Halt, last week I taught about judgment. What does God's promises have to do
with judgment? How can God promise something and it seems like I am not
being blessed with abundance. The non Christian seems to have everything and I
seem to have nothing. The non Christian is getting richer and I am getting poorer.
Is this a Just God. How many times I have heard questions like these in ministry.
How many times have I heard misunderstanding about God's€™s promises. As
always God's word has an answer to these questions as well has putting everything
in prospective. God is just and His promises are for today, but not always the way
we want them.
Israelites perhaps struggled with God's promises and judgment, especially with
them having poor people around them and seeing wick kings get richer and
richer. How much like we like to judge by what we see. How often we fail to look
spiritually at a situation.
Psalms 73:1-17 KJV
(1) <A Psalm of Asaph.> Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a
clean heart.
(2) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
(3) For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
(4) For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
(5) They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
(6) Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as
a garment.
(7) Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
(8) They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak
loftily.
(9) They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through
the earth.
(10) Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to
them.
(11) And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most
High?
(12) Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in
riches.
(13) Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
(14) For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
(15) If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of
thy children.
(16) When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
(17) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
The Psalmist speaks the truth with his concerns of the unjust and the unrighteous.
He fails to understand how they prosper and gain. A lot of times people see God
has a magician or genie. A give me whatever I please because I believe in you.
Yikes, this is dangerous ground. God prosperity is not necessarily about earthly
riches. God in fact wants to make us spiritually rich in Him. That is why he
chastens and corrects us when we make mistakes. He wants to correct our evil
ways. He desires us to discern truth. What in this life matters but your
relationship with the Lord. And if you desire to grow in your relationship you
learn to love God more and others as well.
Psalms 73:18-28 KJV
(18) Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into
destruction.
(19) How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly
consumed with terrors.
(20) As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt
despise their image.
(21) Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
(22) So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
(23) Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right
hand.
(24) Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
(25) Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire
beside thee.
(26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my
portion for ever.
(27) For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them
that go a whoring from thee.
(28) But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord
GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
God is a just God and has a plan for the wicked. He does not wish anyone to
perish. But He does have a plan for those that do not follow Him. Those that
have no desire to know Him. Those who seem to hate and not have any
compassion for anyone except self. And God also has a plan for those that love
and seek Him. It is truly a spiritual choice. God is just in giving us a choice to
believe and a choice to follow. Some believe in God but do not follow Christ
example. And though no one is perfect in following God, his mercy is extended to
those who love Him.
Isaiah 57:1 KJV
(1) The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are
taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to
come.
We live in a time when the world seems to be getting worse and worse. Though we
cry for peace we see no peace. We see evil men prevailing and justified by actions.
We must press on and run the race towards God. Remembering the promise and
the hope of eternal life with Him.
Hebrews 12:1-4 KJV
(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God.
(3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
(4) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Let us remember God rewards those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 9:24-26 KJV
(24) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the
prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
(25) And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
(26) I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the
air:
So be diligent:
Psalms 19:5-7 KJV
(5) Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a
strong man to run a race.
(6) His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of
it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
(7) The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Reason being:
Psalms 19:8-9 KJV
(8) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of
the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
(9) The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD
are true and righteous altogether.
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