King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, April 22, 2022
Chapters: Psalms Chapters 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21
Message: From Humble to Exalted
Hello My Friend,
Well, I am still feeling dizzy whenever I move too fast, so I am unable to drive, I have not felt this bad in a long time. My mother is still in the hospital, the stroke affected her left side so she is having a hard time walking and seeing things right in front of her and not being able to go see her makes me feel even worse. On top of that my job is threatened once again, but then again, it has always been since I started. While I am concerned, I am not worried because I know that God is in control. I watched a movie where a woman admitted that she always had to control everything so when her son was in a position to where the only one who could do anything was God that was when she understood that God needed her to let go. When I heard that I actually admitted to myself that I am the same way. Them as I was reading the chapters for today, this passage came up.
[Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 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. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.]
When I first dedicated my life to Christ my church use to sing this Psalm as a song, and it goes like this:
[The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.]
When we receive Christ as our Saviour, He did not promise that our walk with Him would always be on a bed of roses, sometimes we must endure the thorns as well. What He does promise is that He will be with us forever and that even if we get stuck by the thorns, He will pull them out. Well, sort of, He actually said this, [Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.]
The Old Testament is not much different than the New Testament in regards to keeping God’s commands, to the world they truly are grievous, but to the saved, born again Christian, they are pretty simple. The Psalms we are reading today are known as Penitential Psalms from David, meaning they get right to the heart and conscience and convict you to repentance with the added bonus of God’s promises of mercy and deliverance. David, may have been the apple of God’s eye as all of His faithful are, but he made some unwise decisions at times. In fact the whole ordeal with Abner that we read about yesterday proved that David has a bit naive. Of course, he cried out to God, but he was not as worried about the chastening as he was about God’s anger toward him.
[Psalms 6:1-5 To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?]
[rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.] I told my husband last night that God is angry with me and this is why all these bad things are going on. Of course, that is not how God works, but I felt just like David did as he continues the prayer., [Psalms 6:6-10 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.]
[for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.] I will tell you this, when God seems like He is no where to be found, that is when He is actually closer than ever, working on us, teaching us, growing us, and listening to every word we say to Him. We must remember that we are saved by grace, though our faith in Christ, and nothing can change that, even David knew that, [Psalms 8:1-4 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 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. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?]
[When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,] We really do not comprehend just how much God loves us, even though we do constantly fail Him. The afflictions, the chastening, the mercies, and grace, they are all given by Him freely just because we accept His Son as our Saviour. This Psalm, by the way, has Jesus written all over it, and was written before God had told him that He was going to send His Son through his ancestry, Psalms 8:5-9 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!]
[For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,] What truly is man that our LORD and Saviour is mindful of us? We are stiff necked people, as God would call us, full of pride and self righteousness, and that is where Jesus comes in as this meek and mild man who somehow humbles us. And although Jesus is fully God, He is also fully man, who descended in the flesh through David’s lineage, and was made a little lower than the angels, [Hebrews 2:9-11 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,]
How incredible is it that you literally see Christ within the pages of Scriptures, even without knowing what His name would be? That is the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells true believers. Nevertheless, do you see how God’s Word has never changed, it is the same message that God has always had from the very start. Jesus, truly is the captain of our salvation, and we should be thanking and praising Him all day long.
[Psalms 9:1-6 To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. 3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.]
[destructions are come to a perpetual end:] The destruction of the wicked will always come to an end, but those who put their faith and trust in Christ, He will be their refuge, [Psalms 9:7-10 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.]
[for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.] Jesus, will never deny anyone who comes to Him. There is a difference between believing that He saves and actually being saved. People are so ridiculous to think that they can use God and Jesus to become rich, they are wicked, pure evil, and all under the hand of Satan, who will end up where he is going, hell.
[Psalms 9:15-20 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.]
[that the nations may know themselves to be but men.] The world thinks they have all the answers, the world thinks they have the power to control their fate, the world thinks they can even play God. They are, but men, meaning mankind, and they too will fall at the mercies of God, only He will have none on them, their end will be hell and they will only have themselves to blame for it.
[Psalms 10:1-7 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.]
[His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above] Why does God seem to stand afar through our trials? Three words, to humble us. The word humble means that we are to be meek, lowly, modest, abase, in other words, it is to bring us to the knowledge that we are, in fact, imperfect and need Him every since day to survive not only in this world, but once we leave here. We can have a sense of pride in the way that we strive to do our very best, but we also must keep ourselves humble, knowing that without Christ, none of it is possible, or at least is eternal, [Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.]
Who God is referring to in this are the children of men, these are the ones who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ, let alone God, and have no faith whatsoever. Until we come to the knowledge of Christ and receive Him as Saviour we are children of men.
[Psalms 10:13-18 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. 16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. 17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.]
[thou hast heard the desire of the humble:] Jesus said this, [Matthew 23:12-13 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.]
Satan is slick, he will find out our very desires, weaknesses, and fears, and he will play on them until we either turn to Christ or fall for his trap and get caught up in it. Let me tell you just how many saved, born again Christians have gotten caught up in his net. However, because they are saved, unless they accepted Christ in vain, they can get out of the snare of Satan, just by calling out to Jesus. The wicked on the other hand will never see Jesus for who He is. In fact, David, questions why the wicked get away with things while he was getting persecuted for doing no wrong, then as he meditates on it and realizes that they are, but fools.
[Psalms 14:1-4 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.]
[who eat up my people as they eat bread,] As much as we would love to get through the rest of this phase of our life without any suffering the truth is without it we would not become more like Christ Himself. Yes, as we endure the suffering with Christ we increase and encourage our faith and that enables us to become more like Him. If Jesus went through it, then we also must go through it. Think about this, if Jesus died and now lives to tell about it, would not He do the same for us since we are trusting in Him as our Saviour? Oh yes! We will be like Jesus! We will raise from the dead and live forever with Him! Amen! Until then we need to keep holding on to our faith, and doing our part.
[Psalms 16:1-5 Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; 3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.]
[my goodness extendeth not to thee;…But to the saints that are in the earth,] And that is another reason why God humbles us, it also reminds us that we do have eternal life, we are His inheritance and amazingly, we do have an inheritance awaiting us on the other side of this world, [Psalms 16:8-11 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.]
[Thou wilt shew me the path of life:] People read these verses and think that souls that are in hell somehow make their way to heaven. There are even some that suggest that when Jesus died that He spent three nights in hell. First of all, Jesus was in paradise of three nights, and second, this is David’s way of saving that trusting in Him will not send him hell. It is just like when Jesus tells us how to pray and we are asking God to lead us not into temptation, [Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.]
We must realize that it is okay to ask God questions, He actually wants us to ask Him questions. As we draw closer to Him through our afflictions, we not only get better insight spiritually, we can find comfort in His response, even if we do not understand His reasoning. All we really need to understand is that God’s thoughts and ways are much higher than our own, and as long trust Him, He will see us through.
[Psalms 19:1-5,12-14 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.]
[Who can understand his errors?] Sin is an error, a wandering out of the way of God, and many mistakes are made by the people of God themselves, even so many that they cannot number them. There truly is nothing sweeter to our soul and spirit than the Word of God, it truly does enlighten both our heart and soul, not only to God’s mercies and grace, but again to keep us humble. David, was quick to discover that, even as king, without God, he was nothing.
[Psalms 21:1-7 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. 3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. 6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. 7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.]
[through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.] There is nothing that God keeps for those who love Him. God will place us where we need to be so that we are not forgetful of His mercies and especially His grace. As much as I would like to be comfortably wealthy, never have to watch every piece of food I eat, never have to walk with pain, and always be strong in mind, body, and spirit, I am not, and therefore, I must come to Jesus every single day, for I know that His grace is sufficient for me,[2 Corinthians 12:8-10 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Psalms 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.]
Today’s Prayer: God, While I will never understand all of Your ways, and why I need to face so many afflictions, even with my faith in You, I do understand that You will never leave nor forsake one soul that knows Your Son as their Saviour. In fact, You will never see their sin because You no longer see them through their flesh, but through the blood of Your Son. I believed in and received Your Son by my faith in Him alone. Lord, Lead me and guide me, prepare me, grow me, strengthen me, shower me with Your grace, mercy, patience, love, longsuffering, and the very peace that passes all understanding as I keep my heart, my faith, and my trust is in You. I ask this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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