Beloved, I have the joy of sharing with you today the above theme from Ps 17:1 et seq. Indeed, it is his justice that is before us. But it is also and first of all before God who finds complete satisfaction in it. Men can only see someone’s walk, but God goes further and considers the motives that regulate that walk. We have learned that “The Lord probes the righteous… ». Now here is the result of this careful examination of Jesus’ heart: “… You have found nothing: my thought does not go beyond my word” (John 8:23-27). Incomparable model! Let us ensure that our thoughts are always in perfect harmony with our words and vice versa.
Let’s also learn to know and use the Word of God as He did. He used it to guard against the violent man, satan himself (Mt 4:1-11). For there is a contrast between “the men of this world who have their portion in this life” and the righteous—Christ, but also the believer—whose part is heavenly (Ps 16:1-11). While now suffering for righteousness, he thinks of the resurrection and the Object of his affections: “I will be satisfied with your image” (Ps 16:1-11). This psalm, unlike the previous one, presents to us the words of Jesus, not as being aware of dwelling in the house of Jehovah, but as stepping forward to encounter the contradiction of men. But just as inside he had always behaved with the holiness of a worshipper, so outside he keeps himself pure of all evil, in the midst of men. With this integrity, he expects God to act by his presence to claim his right. And he awaits the resurrection as a reward for his righteousness, when soon his persecutors — men “of this world, who have their portion in this life,” will be broken.
For the key of Ps 17 in these: “Listen, O Lord, righteousness!” Before that, we found the blessed way and the operation of this spirit of trust: and this Psalm we have seen, is essentially applicable to Christ himself, in person, although the same spirit also operates in the residue. This text also applies to Christ: the point of view is a little lower, although it is also that of the Spirit of God; we clearly see that he has in sight other people than Christ himself, although not without Christ. Yet Christ is there, for without him no one can rightly say, “Listen to righteousness!” Our Psalm is a call to Jehovah to judge, God rising up to defend the righteousness of the one who invokes him. The faithful residue will finally be delivered from his mortal enemies; The Lord will rise to confuse them. However, some, even among the wise, will fall (Dan 11): Christ himself, perfect in all things, succumbed, albeit for much more glorious reasons, but nevertheless in his sympathies for his people.
This is why righteousness rises much higher than deliverance presents from the pious residue on earth by the government of God, to a result true toward Christ and which is the consolation of the faith of all who will fall under the oppression of the enemy: “I will see your face in righteousness; when I wake up, I will be satisfied with your image.” This is entirely true of Christ who is before his Father in righteousness and who is the very image of the invisible God (Col 1:5),” the one in whom God is manifested in glory. But Christ traced the path he walked, like the Righteous on earth, in the midst of evil, and where he was exposed to the temptations of the enemy. Above all there was in him, even in his most secret thoughts, a perfect integrity of heart; there was in him, in obedience, the purpose not to transgress; the words of God’s mouth directed him in obedience. Thus, he never set foot for a single moment in the paths of the destroyer; the words of God’s mouth never led there, as the Lord shows us in his temptation in the wilderness. For in the paths of the Lord, he looked to the Lord so that he might strengthen his steps: yet this is a part of justice in man, namely dependence. He implored God, with the full assurance that God would hear him, and such is the trust we have.
This was the path of Christ and He then makes it the foundation of his expectation in the intervention of the power of God for his protection, as God delivers those who trust in him, from the oppression of the wicked: “Make admirable your goodness, you who by your right hand, save from their opponents those who trust in you”. They were in prosperity, they prided themselves; but Jehovah was Christ’s refuge when he did not yet intervene, and Christ expected his open intervention on his behalf. This is why the perfection of the moral character establishes a closeness of trust and gives the feeling that we have value in the eyes of the Lord: For God would like to see this feeling in us too. How much more are we worth than passerines; the very hair of our head is counted (Mt 10:30-31). Here all this is perfect, and the righteous call upon the Lord to be kept as the apple of the eye, as what is most precious to the one who possesses it.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Declare me innocent:
· Sincerity, a characteristic of True Religion
Joshua 24:14 Now fear the Lord, and serve Him with integrity and faithfulness. Make the gods served by your fathers on the other side of the river and in Egypt disappear, and serve the Lord. 1 Cor 5:8 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, not with a leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened breads of purity and truth. 2 Cor 1:12 For what makes us famous is this witness of our conscience, that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially towards you, with holiness and purity before God, not with carnal wisdom, but with the grace of God. Phil 1:10 for the discernment of the best things, that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 2:7 showing yourself in all respects a model of good works, and giving a pure, dignified teaching, 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word and with tongue, but in deeds and with truth.
· Justice divine
Ps 103:6 Jehovah does justice, He gives right to all the oppressed. So 3:5 The Lord is right in her midst, He does not commit iniquity; Every morning he produces in the light his judgments, without ever lacking in them; But he who is iniquitous does not know shame. Jn 5:30 I cannot do anything with myself: according to what I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my will, but the will of the one who sent me. Rom 2:2 We know, in fact, that God’s judgment against those who commit such things is according to the truth.
· Divine fairness or righteousness
Ps 98:9 Before the Lord! For he comes to judge the earth; He will judge the world with justice, and the people with fairness. Ps 99.4 Let us celebrate the strength of the king who loves justice! You strengthen righteousness, You exercise justice and equity in Jacob. Isaiah 11:4 But he will judge the poor fairly, and he will pronounce with righteousness on the unfortunate of the earth; He will strike the earth with his word like a rod, and with the breath of his lips he will make the wicked die.
· Path of Sin
Pr 2.15 Who follow circuitous paths, and who take winding roads; Pr 12:15 The way of the fool is straight in his eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise. Pr 13:15 A healthy reason has grace as its fruit, but the way of the treacherous is harsh. Pr 14:12 Such a way seems straight to a man, but its way out is the way of death. Pr 15:9 The way of the wicked is in horror to the Lord, but he loves the one who pursues righteousness. Isaiah 59:8 They do not know the way of peace, and there is no righteousness in their ways; They take circuitous paths: Whoever walks there knows no peace. Mt 7.13 Enter through the narrow door. For wide is the door, spacious is the path that leads to perdition, and there are many who enter through it.
From all the above, we note that after all, the prosperous oppressors are only the instruments of Jehovah,- men of this world, satiated with all that their hearts may desire, by the external providence of God,- but what a lesson for the Jews whose part, according to the law, was to be blessed in “their basket, in their hutch and in the fruit of their wombs” (Dt 28. 4-5). Compare the parable of the rich and Lazarus (Luke 16. 19-31), and that of the unfaithful bursar (Luke 16:1-13). The Word presents us here clearly the break with this world and a place in the glory of the world to come. “The face of the Lord in righteousness” and “his image” after revival in another world, are well worth the share of the “men of this world.” But notice, death and another world are here fully in sight, although deliverance is also in sight, the residue being introduced here in a more distinct way: it is here as of Matthew 5, where we find these same two things. We thus find the Jews at the end of the days, but in the midst of circumstances similar to those of the life of Christ, that is, living piously in the midst of a wicked people. In fact, the residue seems to be introduced in a clear way. So we have the Lord’s experiences in very different ways. For Il enters into the happiness enjoyed by the soul when it dwells in the house of God: priest or worshipper, he realizes that the cords have fallen for him in pleasant places because he is in the house, in the presence of God. Being both “inside the veil” and “out of the camp” is the attitude that suits the believer, and this is full of moral beauty and dignity. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF 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 respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the sufferings and glory of the Messiah.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.