July 31 Your Daily Bible Study:
Psalm 112 -114:
Psalm
112
Author
unknown: Blessed iS the man who fears
the lord
1 Praise you the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who
delights greatly in His Commandments. (This Song is an expansion of the last Verse of the
previous Psalm. It praises the Messiah
because of His Ways on Earth, and because He molds men into His Own moral
Image.)
2 His seed shall be mighty
upon Earth: the generation of the
upright shall be blessed. (If we delight greatly in the Word of
the Lord, we shall be greatly blessed.)
3 Wealth and riches shall
be in His House: and His Righteousness
endures forever. (It is into “His House” that we are
invited, where wealth and riches abide.)
4 Unto the upright there
ariseth light in the darkness: He is
gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. (The word “upright” in Verse 2 is singular in the Hebrew Text,
and thereby applies to the Messiah. The
word “upright” in this Verse is plural in the Hebrew Text, and thereby applies
to His servants. Thus is the argument
illustrated that He can make His servants like Himself.)
5 A good man shows favour,
and lends: he will guide his affairs
with discretion. (The Blessings of the Lord make it
possible for the “good man” to “lend.”)
6 Surely he shall not be
moved forever: the righteous shall be in
everlasting remembrance. (Prosperity,
at times, comes even to the unrighteous, but is fleeting and ultimately goes
away. The contrast given by the Holy
Spirit concerning the righteous is that their prosperity shall last forever,
because it is anchored in Christ.)
7 He shall not be afraid
of evil tidings: his heart is fixed,
trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be
afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. (Evil tidings
shall not put the Believer in fear, for he knows the Lord will undertake.)
9 He has dispersed, he has
given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted
with honour. (This Verse speaks directly of the
Messiah. He enriches, His benefits never
end, and He triumphs.)
10 The wicked shall see it,
and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. (“Wicked” in the first line of this Verse is singular in the
Hebrew Text. It means the lawless one of
Dan. 11:36 and II Thess. 2:8. “Wicked”
in the last line of this Verse is plural in the Hebrew Text, and means the lawless
ones, i.e., the followers of the Antichrist.
Thus,
the great picture is drawn. The
Antichrist and those who hope in him will perish, while those whose expectation
is based on Christ will triumph.)
Psalm
113
Author
unknown: Praise to God
1 Praise you the LORD. Praise, O you servants of the LORD, praise
the Name of the LORD. (It brings these Psalms very near to the heart, when one
remembers that they [113-118] were sung by the Lord Himself on the night of His
betrayal.
Only
those who are the servants of God can worship God. What the Messiah Personally is, as already
stated, is the theme of this Psalm.)
2 Blessed be the Name of
the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.
(The
words, “from this time forth,” relate to the occasion of His future
enthronement in Zion. The duration of that Kingdom is foretold in
this Verse, “forevermore.”)
3 From the rising of the
sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s Name is to be praised. (Concerning the world, the extent of His Kingdom is predicted
here — worldwide.)
4 The LORD is high above
all nations, and His Glory above the heavens.
(As Verse
3 proclaimed the extent of His reign, Verse 4 proclaims its universality.)
5 Who is like unto the
LORD our God, Who dwells on high (the Hebrew Text says, “Who has enthroned Himself on high”; God
enthrones Himself, for there is none greater than He),
6 Who humbles Himself to
behold the things that are in Heaven, and in the Earth! (To interest Himself in the heavens is wonderful condescension,
but to descend in His affection still lower to the Earth is Amazing Grace [Gen.
1:1].)
7 He raises up the poor
out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill (the Lord delights to help the poor, the
hurting, the suffering — if they will only trust Him);
8 That He may set him with princes, even with the
princes of his people. (If trusted, the Lord leads one into great blessings.)
9 He makes the barren
woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise you the LORD. (The “barren woman” speaks of Israel in her glorious
Restoration. The Psalm begins with
“Hallelujah” [Praise]. It ends with
“Hallelujah.”)
Psalm
114
Author
unknown: God’s power demonstrated in the
exodus
1 When Israel
went out of Egypt, the house
of Jacob from a people of strange language (this
Verse commemorates the powerful, even the all-powerful, Deliverance of Israel from
Egyptian bondage. The name “Jacob” is
used here and in Verse 7 to emphasize that Grace, not merit, forms the basis of
past and future Deliverance for Israel, as well as all Believers, and for all
time);
2 Judah
was His sanctuary, and Israel
His dominion. (Evidently, this Psalm was written after the Kingdom was divided [II
Ki., Chpt. 17].)
3 The sea saw it, and
fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little
hills like lambs. (The argument of this Psalm is, as to the past, that if
nature, represented by the Red Sea, Sinai, and Jordan, trembled at the
manifestation of God, how much more should the sinners of Canaan tremble before
Him?)
5 What ailed you, O you
sea, that you fled? you Jordan, that you
were driven back?
6 You mountains, that you
skipped like rams; and you little hills, like lambs? (The Holy Spirit draws our attention to the great Power of God,
to which even nature must respond accordingly.)
7 Tremble, you Earth, at
the Presence of the Lord, at the Presence of the God of Jacob (the “Presence of the Lord” means His
“Parousia” or Revelation — that is, His future coming in Power and great
Glory. The word “Lord,” in this Verse,
is “Adon.” The idea is, if the Lord
shows such kindness and affection for His ancient People, then so much fearful
doom will fall upon all who ill-treat them [Mat. 25:31-46]. The Arabs, and all other nations for that
matter, should read these words very carefully.
It says “The God of Jacob,” not the god of Muhammad);
8 Which turned the rock into a standing water,
the flint into a fountain of waters. (The sense of the Verse is that the Rock was Christ [I
Cor. 10:4]. It actually refers to the
waters from the Smitten Rock [Ex. 17:6; Num. 20:11]. “The flint” stands for the stony heart of
men, which is melted by the Grace of God and turned into “a fountain of waters”
[Jn. 4:13-14].)
I Thessalonians 2 - 3:
Chapter 2
(A.D. 54)
PAUL
1 For yourselves, Brethren, know our entrance in
unto you (presents his defense, a justifiable
defense of his personal Ministry for the sake of Truth), that it was not in vain (it brought forth much fruit):
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and
were shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi (high
motives are required for men to continue a true and, therefore, costly, Gospel
Ministry), we were bold in our God to
speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention. (The
triumph of the Gospel by an effort of only the highest kind and overcoming the
most formidable opposition.)
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit (no ulterior motives),
nor of uncleanness (impure motives), nor in guile (trickery):
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in
trust with the Gospel (the testing had been
completed, and thus signified an approval by God), even so we speak; not as pleasing men (presents the biggest problem in the Ministry, pleasing
men and not God), but God, which tries
our hearts. (This
constant scrutiny by Omniscience is a great comfort to those who aim to please
God, rather than men.)
5 For neither at any time used we flattering
words, as you know (refers to the attempt to
gain selfish ends by insincere speech),
nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness (refers to pretense):
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor
yet of others (refers to conduct designed
to elicit or extract praise), when we
might have been burdensome, as the Apostles of Christ. (This
refers to the fact that as Apostles, they might have demanded certain things,
but didn’t!)
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse
cherishes her children (refers to a Mother
feeding her children):
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we
were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also
our own souls, because you were dear unto us (is
literally in the Greek, “because you became beloved ones to us”).
9 For you remember, Brethren, our labour and
travail (refers to his self-sacrificing as it
concerns the Gospel): for labouring night and day, because we would
not be chargeable unto any of you, we Preached unto you the Gospel of God. (This probably
refers to a mixture of preaching the Gospel and the repairing of tents to
support himself.)
10 You are witnesses, and God also (it is important that conduct appear right in the eyes
of men; however, only God’s Judgment is infallible), how holily and justly and unblameably we
behaved ourselves among you who believe (concerns
the lifestyles of the Apostle plus Silas, Timothy, and anyone else who may have
been laboring with him):
11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and
charged every one of you (pertains to dealing
with the Thessalonians with encouragement, as well as by solemn injunctions), as a father does his children (presents the image being changed from that of motherly
tenderness to that of fatherly direction),
12 That you would walk worthy of God (has to do with our daily living, which can only be done
by proper Faith evidenced in the Cross),
Who has called you unto His Kingdom and Glory (should have been translated, “Who is calling you into His Kingdom and
Glory”).
RECEPTION
13 For this cause also thank we God without
ceasing (refers to the manner in which the
Thessalonians had received the Word),
because, when you received the Word of God which you heard of us, you received it
not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the Word of God (the Word of God was faithfully delivered to the
Thessalonians, and they faithfully believed it), which effectually works also in you who believe. (This
refers to the fact that the Word “is working” only in those who “are
believing,” which refers to the Cross and makes the working of the Spirit
possible.)
14 For you, Brethren, became followers of the
Churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus (identifies
all who are truly “in Christ Jesus” as being “True Churches”): for you also have
suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of
the Jews (pertains to persecution):
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own
Prophets (presents the crime of the ages), and have persecuted us (the
Jews tried repeatedly to kill Paul); and
they please not God (is, in fact, a
monumental understatement), and are
contrary to all men (refers to their
sectarian, self-righteous spirit and attitude):
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that
they might be saved (means the Jews, as a nation,
had rejected Christ and the Cross, and would, thereby, never admit Gentiles
could now be saved as well), to fill up
their sins always (there is a limit
beyond which God will not go): for the
wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
(This is used in the past tense,
simply because it is so sure of fulfillment.
In fact, it was fulfilled totally in A.D. 70.)
PAUL’S CONCERN
17 But we, Brethren, being taken from you for a
short time in presence, not in heart (refers to
the Apostle having to leave the city before he desired to because of the Jews’
action against him [Acts 17:1-10]),
endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. (This
presents no want of affection, but from causes beyond control.)
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I
Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
(This proclaims the fact that the Evil
One is a real personality, and not a mere figure of speech.)
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown
of rejoicing? (This presents the Apostle
pointing beyond, far beyond, the minor annoyances now, to the great coming time
when there will be no more separation and no more hindrances by Satan.) Are not even you in the presence of our Lord
Jesus Christ at His coming? (This points to the coming Rapture of the Church.)
20 For you are our glory and
joy (what Christ
had made of them).
Chapter 3
(A.D. 54)
TIMOTHY
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear (refers to Paul strongly desiring to know the spiritual
situation back at Thessalonica), we
thought it good to be left at Athens alone (refers
to Timothy being sent back to Thessalonica, with no mention of Silas);
2 And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of
God, and our fellowlabourer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you (the Thessalonians needed more teaching, so Timothy was
sent to carry this out), and to comfort
you concerning your Faith (suggests
encouragement):
3 That no man should be moved by these
afflictions (refers to the fact that we should
not allow these things to discourage or hinder us): for yourselves
know that we are appointed thereunto. (We are destined for afflictions because of Satan’s
opposition to the Gospel.)
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you
before that we should suffer tribulation (Faith
placed totally in the Cross of Christ brings opposition from both the world and
the Church, but mostly from the Church);
even as it came to pass, and you know (means
tribulation is inevitable).
5 For this cause (speaks
of the persecution, and their response),
when I could no longer forbear (presents
the Apostle repeating for emphasis what he has already said in Verses 1 and 2), I sent to know your faith (that their Faith was remaining steadfast in the Cross), lest by some means the tempter have tempted you,
and our labour be in vain. (This tempted them to move their Faith to something other
than the Cross, which would mean spiritual wreckage.)
THE REPORT
6 But now when Timothy came from you unto us (refers to Timothy coming from Thessalonica to Corinth,
where Paul now was), and brought us good
tidings of your faith and charity (refers
to an excellent report on their Faith and Love), and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring
greatly to see us, as we also to see you (meaning the Thessalonians had not been pulled away from
Paul by false teachers):
7 Therefore, Brethren, we were comforted over you
in all our affliction and distress by your faith (their
Faith remaining strong greatly encouraged the Apostle):
8 For now we live (are
comforted), if you stand fast in the
Lord. (Refuse
to allow your Faith to be moved from the Cross to other things.)
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for
you (in essence, says, “How can we thank our God
enough concerning you!”), for all the joy
wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God (presents that which produces joy in the heart of the
Apostle, which is success in the Work of God, and pertains to the Spiritual
Growth of these Believers);
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might
see your face (has to do with the Apostle’s
desire to once again visit this fledgling Church, which he did sometime later
[Acts 20:1-2]), and might perfect that
which is lacking in your faith? (Strengthen them more firmly in the Cross, which must
always be the Object of our Faith.)
PAUL’S
PRAYER
11 Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord
Jesus Christ (the Cross of Christ alone has made
this relationship possible), direct our
way unto you (the Will of God is sought,
and the way being made as the Will of God comes to the fore).
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in
love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward
you (which will come to pass as the Cross of
Christ is more and more understood):
13 To the end He may stablish your hearts (be without blame at the Judgment Seat of Christ) unblameable in Holiness before God, even our Father (refers to the fact that it is God Who is the Judge of
these things), at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ with all His Saints.
(This refers to the Rapture of the Church.)
