Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 1:1 and following. Indeed, the Psalms, or “praises” have sometimes been called “the heart of the Scriptures” because in their poetic form they express above all feelings. Feelings that will be those of the faithful Israelites during and after the reign of the Antichrist: suffering, anguish, fear… but also confidence, joy, gratitude. Feelings and affections of the Lord Jesus entering in advance in sympathy in the afflictions of this Jewish “residue”. Finally, feelings that believers of all times may experience in their circumstances. For the Psalms exert a special attraction on the reader of the Bible. Indeed, we find presented, more than elsewhere, the feelings of pious men. These are expressed in prayer, confession, praise or suffering. Knowing many of these situations ourselves, we feel particularly challenged by the psalms. But the value of the psalms is not limited to this. The psalmists did not only describe their personal feelings. In them was the Spirit of Christ, who took part in their afflictions and joys, and identified with them in their circumstances (Isa 63:9; 1 Peter 1:11).
This explains why we find Christ everywhere in this book, and not only in the so-called “messianic” psalms (for example, Psalms 16; 22; 24; 40; 68; 69 and 118). It is true that in the latter Christ appears in a very special way, but in the New Testament several psalms are applied to Christ although they are not mentioned as messianic. Indeed, the first verses define the characters of the blessed who can sing these Psalms. And before any other character, God claims that of setting apart, of separating from evil. How many applications this verse 1 has in our everyday lives. He is the indispensable condition for enjoying the Word and “giving fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8; John 15:1-8). The tree planted near the streams of water represents the believer rooted in Christ, receiving from him his vigor. Jesus, as a Man, perfectly realized this setting apart, this pleasure in the law of Jehovah and finally this fullness of fruit brought to the glory of God.
It should be noted that our Lord has been lonely in worship. It is said of him that he got up before daylight, and went to a deserted place to pray, this to make it clear to us that he was praying alone. Thus one reads: “He withdrew to pray”; “he spent the whole night praying to God”; “he prayed alone.” He is not seen once in prayer with the disciples, although he approved of their prayers, teaching them to pray and encouraging them to do so. Why, then, is this so? If he taught them to pray and exhorted them to do so, and if he himself prayed, why did he not join them in prayer?
One can answer that his prayers had in them a character that no other could have. He was answered “because of his piety” (Heb. 5:7). He didn’t need any mediator, being accepted because of who he was. He did not claim the merits of anyone, and did not need propitiatory with the blood of sprinkling. This was the character of his communion with God in prayer; no other worshipper could associate himself with it. He prayed, so to speak, in a temple erected especially for this worshipper who was the Son of God. He offered prayer on an altar that is second to none. No model was at the top of the mountain. He was a worshipper and servant of a particular order, just as he was a priest of a particular order. He was not to be in service, but he learned it. He was not to worship, but he returned it. He was the willing servant (Ex. 21:5; Heb. 5:8) and the worshipper personally accepted. This is how he prayed alone. The Psalms are commonly referred to as the Psalms of David, and rightly so, because if Moses, Ethan, Asaph and others composed some of them, it was David who was most often used to write them. And moreover David, who was by the Holy Spirit, the true “master of the Hebrew lyre,” had richer and more varied experiences than any of the saints of old. He knew all the sufferings for justice and all those that are the consequence of sin, the trials of a martyr and also those of a penitent.
For 2 Samuel 22 and 1 Chronicles 16 are examples of how many psalms originated: They contain excerpts from several psalms. And so we learn that the conditions in which David and other holy men of God found themselves, their circumstances and their deeds, became opportunities for the Holy Spirit to express or reveal by their means what was appropriate for the circumstance, while going far beyond. There is great moral importance in learning the prophetic truths through the Psalms; they are not treated there as pure doctrine, but they are experienced in the various exercises of the soul. Thus Paul teaches us that “partial blindness has happened to Israel,” or that “the branches have been cut.” It is a doctrinal truth that we must understand and believe. But the same truth is found in the Psalms (Ps. 65), for example in the words: “Iniquities have prevailed over me.” Similarly, “all Israel shall be saved” is another teaching of the apostle Paul. But we find it in the same Psalm 65 in this form: “Our transgressions, you will forgive them,” not as a mere statement, but as a happy anticipation in the heart of that same afflicted Israelite.
There is therefore a moral benefit in learning these truths through the Psalms. For we tend to grasp the truth through intelligence, as an object or a proposition, and to speak of it in the same way. But in the Psalms the truth is presented at the same time as the exercises of the soul. The Psalms are the heart of the divine volume. They are placed in the center of the body, where the arteries are felt to beat, the place from which the blood comes out and returns, in other words, where the affections of the new man have their seat and exercise. It is good to be there sometimes: one learns to use the other portions of the Word.
Finally, the word “residue” will be found many times in these meditations. This word refers in a general way to the true Israel of the last days, that faithful flock which, in the time of the complete apostasy of the nation, will be attached to the Lord, to the truth and to the promises of his covenant. Because of this, the moment when the divine judgments fall on the people because of the transgression that has reached its peak, they will be preserved as Noah, for the earth, and will finally become the seed and center of the nation that, accepted and blessed, will worship in the days of the kingdom. Types or samples of this residue are found in every age of the nation’s history: Prophets often speak of it, and describe it in its trials, repentance, faith and obedience, disciplined under the action of the Spirit and under the hand of God, in his tears, experiences and deliverances. The Psalms have a lot to do with all this. (Isaiah 6:13; 25-27; 33:15; 50:10; 59:9-15; 65:8-9; 66:2-5; Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 6:8; 7:16; Hosea 2:14; Joel 2:28; Zach. 12, 13: Evil. 3:16).
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
· Warnings against Bad Associations
Ex 23:2 Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil; and thou shalt not testify in a trial by siding with the many, to violate righteousness. Ex 34:12 Be careful not to make an alliance with the people of the country you are to enter, lest they be a trap for you. Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk according to the counsel of the wicked, Who does not stop on the way of sinners, And who does not sit in the company of mockers, Pr 1:15 My son, do not set out with them, Turn your foot away from their path; Pr 24:1 Do not envy wicked men, and do not desire to be with them; 1 Cor 5:11 Now, what I have written to you is not to have relations with someone who, calling himself a brother, is immodest, or greedy, or idolatrous, or outrageous, or drunkard, or kidnapper, not even to eat with such a man.
· Bad Advice
Count 31:16 Behold, it was they who, on the word of Balaam, led the children of Israel into infidelity to the Lord in the matter of Peor; and then the wound broke out in the assembly of the Lord. 1 Kings 12:10, 28 And this is what the young men who had grown up with him said to him: You will speak to that people who have spoken to you this language: Your father has made our yoke heavy, and you, lighten it for us! you will speak to them thus: My little finger is bigger than my father’s loins. 28 After consulting himself, the king made two golden calves, and he said to the people: Long enough you have gone up to Jerusalem; Israel! behold your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Jb 2:9 His wife said to him, “You stand firm in your integrity! Curse God, and die!
· Saints, opposed to sinners
Pr 10:6 There are blessings on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouths of the wicked. Pr 12:7 Overthrown, the wicked are no more; And the house of the righteous remains standing. Pr 14:32 The wicked is overthrown by his wickedness, but the righteous find refuge even in his death. Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish over every soul of a man who does evil, first upon the Jew, then upon the Greek! 1 Pet 4:18 And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
· Fall of the wicked, prophesied
Pr 11:5 The righteousness of man of integrity smoothes his way, but the wicked fall by his wickedness. Pr 22:14 The mouth of strangers is a deep pit; He against whom jehovah is irritated will fall into it. Ec 10:8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who knocks down a wall will be bitten by a serpent. Jer 6:15 They will be confused, for they commit abominations; They do not blush, they do not know shame; That is why they will fall with those who fall, They will be overthrown when I chastise them, says the Lord. Jer 8:4 Tell them: Thus saith the Lord: Do we fall without getting up? Or do we turn away without coming back? Hos 4:14 Tell them: Thus saith the Lord: Do we fall without getting up? Or do we turn away without coming back? Am 8:14 They swear by the sin of Samaria, and they say, Long live your God, Dan! Long live the way of Beersheba! But they will fall, and will not get up again.
From all of the above, we note that Jesus, the Son of man, can be seen here in his personal holiness and integrity, and then in the rewards acquired, such as “the tree planted near the streams of water” (Jer 17). These rewards were His share on the day of His resurrection, as they will be on the day of His kingdom (namely “judgment”) when the righteous will then share them with Him, and the wicked will no longer be. This psalm is of great sweetness to the soul. We see in it the pious man in the care and direction of God. Nothing disturbs the rest and security of the righteous; he continues the path that is before him, without anything distracting him, towards the reward that is the end of it. How happy to see this book, a precious collection of the feelings of the faithful, open on such a delicate and consoling picture – the portion of the pious man who enjoys the favor of the Lord and finds his happiness in it. For Jesus does not keep an eye on the prosperous condition of which the wicked boast for a short time, but his mind is seriously pondering the destruction that awaits them, and will finally catch up with them. For though the ungodly now live prosperously, they will soon be like bullets; for when the Lord has lowered them, he will cast them out here and there by the breath of his wrath. Moreover, the Holy Spirit teaches us to contemplate with the eye of faith, which might otherwise seem incredible; for though the ungodly man rises high and appears of great advantage, like a majestic tree, we can be assured that he will be like bullet, whenever God chooses to throw him from his high state, with the breath of his mouth. But our souls should continually enjoy divine happiness. For the Israel of the last days, the pious residue, will also have its place, and nous too. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER FOR ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” the confidence of the righteous in the face of the success of the villain.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.