Promised Coming

2 Peter 3:1-9

As chapter 3 of 2 Peter begins, Peter gives his motivation for writing both of his letters. He says:

2 Peter 3:1-2 (NKJV) ¹Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ²that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

His concern is seen in the warnings he gives as he speaks of false teachers and the challenges we face as followers of Jesus. He also expresses his affection in his form of address, and he calls us “beloved.” 

Jesus commanded us to love each other. Peter shows his love by reminding us of the truth. We also recognize that false teachers fake love and concern when we say this. However, the content of Peter’s message reflects his affection. He is concerned that we are “mindful of the words which were spoken” by the prophets and Apostles. He does not direct us to himself; he leads us to the words of others that have proven faithful. He is not seeking his own benefit but ours.

The words of the prophets and Apostles form the foundation of our faith; in other words, the Old Testament and the New Testament are our source. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, always direct us to base our lives on the written word of God. For example, the prophet Isaiah says:

Isaiah 8:20 (NKJV) To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Later in chapter three, Second Peter says that false teachers distort the writings of Paul as they do the rest of the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16). If Second Peter teaches us anything, it teaches us to base our lives and faith on the written word of God. 

Anything I say and any teaching you hear must align with Scripture, or it is wrong. This is true of anything we read or that claims to teach the truth, and Scripture is how the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. In Acts, the Bible recognizes the Bereans as noble-minded for checking what the Apostles were teaching against the Old Testament Scriptures.

Acts 17:11 (ESV) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

The Bereans were “more noble” because they examined the Scriptures to see if the things taught were consistent with Scripture. They did not blindly accept everything they were told.

Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:1-2 again.

2 Peter 3:1-2 (NKJV) ¹Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ²that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

In verse one, we see that he stirs up our “pure minds.” Having a “pure” (sincere or unmixed) mind is essential. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:8 (NKJV) Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Titus 1:15 helps us understand why a pure heart is so important.

Titus 1:15 (NKJV) To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

The defiled mind and conscience lead to being what 2 Peter 3:3 calls “scoffers.”

2 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) ³knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

By saying “knowing this first,” Peter emphasizes the essential nature of the promise of His coming. Not everyone who asks, “Where is the promise of His coming,” is a mocker. The mocker asks the question with a defiled heart and conscience. Peter says the scoffer (mocker) walks according to their own lusts (evil desires). 

People suppress the truth if the truth does not serve their lusts. An impure (lustful) heart will hide from, twist, or otherwise, pervert the truth. In verse five of second Peter, Peter says people deliberately hide (from themselves) certain truths.

There is nothing wrong with the question, “Where is the promise of His coming.” However, the scoffer asks the question to mock the promise and follows it with the statement, “For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of creation.” They believe that everything has continued without change since the beginning. Verse five through seven of second Peter chapter three expose the error in the belief system of people who scoff at what the Bible says about the return of Christ.

2 Peter 3:5-7 says:

2 Peter 3:5-7 (NKJV) ⁵For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Two errors in thinking or belief of scoffers are shown in these verses. The first error is that they do not believe or acknowledge the biblical account of creation. And the second error is that they do not consider the story of Noah and the Ark to be true. According to 2 Peter 3:7, people purposely (deliberately) hide or ignore facts. He is saying humanity knowingly covers (hides) the knowledge of creation and the flood. 2 Peter, like the rest of Scripture, is inspired by God. So it is God who is saying that creation and the flood provide enough evidence to answer the mockers. Romans 1:18 says essentially the same thing.

Romans 1:18 (NKJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Most people I know are not mockers. However, most people are deceived. The deceiver knows the truth and deliberately says something different. The devil is the great deceiver and the father of lies. And, as Ephesians 2 teaches us, the world is under the power of the evil one. Because of this, most of the world is deceived concerning the obvious truths of creation and the flood. However, while God excuses their ignorance, He does not excuse their unwillingness to acknowledge the truth when they are confronted with it.

Acts 17:30-31 speaks of God’s willingness to overlook ignorance and harsh judgment of willful hiding from the truth.

Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV) ³⁰“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹“because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him [Jesus] from the dead.”

God sustains all creation, and in Him, all things exist and have their being. The power of God holds everything together. And, according to Romans 1:18, humanity has no excuse for not acknowledging these facts. However, even though humanity deliberately forgets God, God continues to sustain and provide for humanity. But, 2 Peter 3:4 contains a strong warning for the world; judgment is coming. God destroyed this world once by flooding it. God will destroy this world again, but everything will be destroyed by fire the next time. God destroyed the world by the flood because the inclinations of mens’ hearts were only evil continually. God is just, and God will see that justice is done. The coming judgment will be final, when this world is destroyed by fire.

If God is preserving this world for judgment, where is Jesus? Why has He not kept His promise to come back?

First, let’s consider where Jesus is. The Bible teaches that Jesus is at the right hand of God making intercession for us. Many verses say that Jesus is at God’s right hand interceding for us, and one such verse is Romans 8:34.

Romans 8:34 (NKJV) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with His followers while He is at the Father’s right hand. The Holy Spirit teaches and keeps us. Through the Holy Spirit, God makes us alive spiritually (this is called “rebirth”). Jesus also gives gifts by the Holy Spirit so that His followers function together as a body. His body, known as the Church, remains in the world to tell others about Jesus and plead with each person to be reconciled to God. When Jesus comes back, this will end.

When He ascended to heaven, Jesus said that no one will know the day or the hour of His return. He did tell us to be aware of the signs of the times. While we do not know the time of His return, we know for sure that it is two thousand years closer than when He left. 2 Peter 3:8-9 encourages us with the following words.

2 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV) ⁸But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Focus on the words “the Lord is not slack concerning His promise.” In this case, the term “slack” means “slow.” However, He is waiting. Here is the answer to why Jesus has not come back yet. God “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

God will not mess with your free will. If you choose to ignore Him and hide from the truth, He will not force you to turn. He is “longsuffering” (patience that only God can show) toward us. However, this will not go on forever. Do not try to figure out when the day of Jesus’ return will be, but know that it will be soon.

2 Peter 3:8 tells us, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” This is not meant to be interpreted as one thousand years equals one day, because the Scriptures are making the point that time is irrelevant to God. We are tied to time and think in terms of time. It seems like “forever” since Jesus left. We must not forget that time means nothing to God. He controls time and has set a time when Jesus will return, but time is not the measure for His work. When His will is accomplished, when everyone He wants to be saved is saved, He will return. We count “slackness” as time and impose that thinking on God. 

“Boy, He sure is slow!”

No! He is not slow. He is perfect; all His works are always complete, and when, and only when, He is ready, Jesus will return.

Are we ready?

Let me end with 1 John 3:3.

1 John 3:3 (NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Great Love

 Great Love

Ephesians 2:3-7

Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1 And you [He made alive,] who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

We were dead in our trespasses and sins, walked according to the course of this world, and were under the power of the evil one. On top of all this, we conducted ourselves in keeping with our sinful desires.

I came to know Jesus Christ at an early age. But, even at an early age, my heart was sinful, and I knew it. I have since found that I must take up my cross daily and follow Jesus, which means dying to my evil desires and walking by the Spirit. 

Before we came to know Jesus, we were children of wrath; in other words, the wrath of God was directed toward us. Even in this state, God loved us. It seems like a contradiction to say the wrath of God was directed toward us at the same time He loved us, but as children of wrath and under the control of the evil one, the inclinations of our hearts were only evil continually.

This is where God’s love comes in. Ephesians 2:4-5 says:

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Here we see that God loved us with a great love, which is why He made us alive together with Christ. God is described as “rich in mercy.” Mercy means not to treat someone as they deserve. We were children of wrath deserving of death, but God did not treat us as we deserve. Instead, He poured out His kindness on us through Christ Jesus.

We were dead in our trespasses, meaning we had no connection or inclination toward God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We did not have the Holy Spirit, and we were blind. 2 Corinthians 4 speaks of the blindness of the unbeliever. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV) ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Once again, we face the fact that the person without Christ is under the power of the evil one. He is the father of lies and blinds people from the truth by filling their minds with lies. We can be deceived as well. Satan roams about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He is relentless, attacking from our earliest days until we go to the grave. If we did not have the Holy Spirit from God, we would not stand a chance.

Praise God, Ephesians 2:6 tells us that not only did God make us alive together with Christ, but He seated us in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus.

Satan would not have us live with this reality. He throws all of his attractions, distractions, and tricks at us to keep our minds off the truth. 

Jesus talked about the sower sowing seeds. He spoke of seed that fell on the path. The seed is the word of God, and the path is a hardened heart where it is easy for the devil to “snatch away” any seeds that are sown. The second type of soil is rocky soil. This person eagerly and joyfully accepts the word of God, but they are shallow. Jesus said they have no root in themselves. They are like those “tossed about by every wind of doctrine.” (Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.)The devil has his agents teaching in pulpits, writing books about faith, and drawing people away from the truth. If we are to be good soil, we must submit to the Holy Spirit and receive the word implanted. 

By seating us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, God gives us a position and a place where we are safe from the attacks of the evil one. Colossians 3:1 says:

Colossians 3:1-3 (NKJV) ¹If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

We are to set our minds on things above. But notice here that it says, “You died.” We were dead in our trespasses and sins, so how did we die if we were made alive?

We died to the flesh and to sin. However, we can still live under the control of the flesh. We can do things to help us stay free of the flesh. We might have to cut off things like television, fleshly music, or anything that pulls our hearts and minds away from Jesus and our place in the heavenlies. 

God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, but it is up to us to walk in those things. Ephesians 2:7 tells us that God does this to show the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us.

The grace and kindness that God has poured out on us in Christ Jesus are immeasurable. If while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, is there anything God will withhold from us? Our position and place in Christ Jesus are privileged beyond what we can comprehend.

Proclaim and Declare

Psalm 96

Almost everybody has heard the story of David and Goliath. David fought Goliath when he was still a youth. Around that same time, Samuel anointed David as king. David was 15 years old when he was anointed, and he began to rule as king when he was 30 years old. 

For hundreds of years before David was born and up to the time he began his reign, the Tabernacle of God, which Moses had built, was in Gibeon. However, The Ark of the Covenant (the box that was covered in gold and contained some preserved manna, the stone tablets on which the law was written, and Aaron’s rod) was not in the tabernacle. The ark was to be kept in the inner sanctum of the tabernacle called the Holiest of Holies. It was only to be moved when the tabernacle was moved (the tabernacle was an ornate tent used in place of a temple while the Israelites traveled in the wilderness). At the end of the days of the judges, while Samuel (the one who wrote First and Second Samuel) was still young, the Israelites foolishly took the ark out of the Holiest of Holies and carried it into battle against the Philistines. They hoped that this special object would give them victory.

God disapproves of the veneration of objects or people, so God gave the Philistines the victory that day, and the Ark of the Covenant was taken captive by the Philistines. The Philistines had taken the Ark captive quite a few years before David became king. But, the Philistines could not keep the Ark because God struck them with diseases wherever the Ark went. As a result, the Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel. The Ark stayed in Kiriath-jearim for over 20 years, where it was when David came to power.

David sought the Lord with all his heart, and when he became king, he wanted to make sure the worship of God remained the center of the nation. As he consolidated his power, he established a new capital city by capturing the Jebusite city of Jerusalem. Then, once Jerusalem was established as the nation's capital, David tried to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem, but Israel did not follow the procedures that God had specified for moving the ark. The result was the death of a man named Uzziah, who reached out and touched the ark (touching the ark was strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses).

When Uzziah was struck dead, the movement of the Ark stopped, and for many years it stayed in that place in the house of a man named Obededom the Gittite. While the Ark was kept safe in that place, David took time to make a new tabernacle in Jerusalem and study in the law of Moses the proper way to move the ark.

When the preparations were completed and the day to move the Ark finally came, the whole nation of Israel celebrated. 2 Samuel 6 tells us:

2 Samuel 6:14-15 (NKJV) ¹⁴Then David danced before the LORD with all [his] might, and David [was] wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁵So David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

David was a poet and a musician, and many of the Psalms were written by him. As part of his preparations for bringing the Ark into Jerusalem, David wrote a song. Perhaps it was that song that he danced to. We do not know because the Scriptures do not tell us. However, the Scriptures do tell us the words of the song; the song is Psalm 96.

At the time, it was a new song, so it starts with the words, “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!” 

New also means “fresh.” We must remember to always keep our praise of God “fresh” and new. I love singing the doxology, but sometimes when we sing something over and over, we stop thinking about the words we are singing. People will never stop writing new songs, and we shouldn’t. When our hearts are moved by the Spirit to worship, we must respond and those with poetic and musical gifts should exercise those gifts to the glory of God. Inventive, new, and fresh worship is a gift from God.

However, we should not throw out the old. Most of the Psalms are over 3,000 years old and they are just as good today as the day they were written. The Psalmist calls on us to “bless” the Lord (bless means praise) and we do this by using our mouths to make known His faithfulness.

God chose Israel and set it apart from other nations to be His special people for the purpose of making His name known among the nations. When God set them apart, they were no different from other peoples. But, God’s law and presence with them made them unique, so the whole world could see that there was no God like the God of Israel.

Psalm 96 came out of Israel’s unique relationship to God. As the Ark of the Covenant entered Jerusalem and David danced before the Lord, this song was sung to declare the glory of God. David declares several truths about God.

First, He declares that there is no God like God. Psalm 96:4 says:

Psalms 96:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴For the LORD [is] great and greatly to be praised; He [is] to be feared above all gods. ⁵For all the gods of the peoples are idols…

Idols are empty and meaningless, but the spiritual bondage that accompanies idols is real. We tend to think that idols are no longer an issue in our modern world, but this is not true.

Japan is one of the most modern, technologically, and scientifically advanced countries in the world. And, it is a country filled with idols of all kinds; wood, stone, and ceramic gods are everywhere. Even the emperor is worshipped as a god. Stones and objects become gods by ceremonies where spirits are prayed into them. The emperor becomes a god by an extra special ceremony. That ceremony remains secret from the public. 

Japan is one of hundreds of nations where idols are worshipped.

When the psalmist says that the gods of the nations are idols, he points out that it is foolish to bow before objects. But that is not all. The Israelites and you and I know that the spirits behind the “idols” are evil, fallen angels who seek to deceive and destroy men and women.

To strengthen the point that God is to be feared above all gods, the psalmist says:

Psalms 96:5 (NKJV) For all the gods of the peoples [are] idols, But the LORD made the heavens. 

Only one God created all things. God’s glory and greatness are seen in the things He has made. Psalm 19 says:

Psalms 19:1 (NKJV) To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

This is the second truth the psalmist declares. God is the creator of all things. From the vastness of space to the tiniest atom, all creation shows how incomprehensibly great God is. The psalmist calls upon us to join all creation in singing, proclaiming, and declaring the greatness of God. His strength and power are beyond our ability to understand. Psalm 96:10 says:

Psalms 96:10 (NKJV) Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved…”

The world is firmly established because the Lord reigns. No other explanation for our existence is satisfactory. All such explanations fall short of the facts seen in the data available to us.

The third truth the psalmist singles out is that God is our Savior. 

In the second verse of the psalm, the psalmist says:

Psalms 96:2 (NKJV) Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Salvation is good news. “His salvation” lets us know that salvation is from the Lord, and salvation cannot be obtained anywhere else.

Psalm 96:10 says, “He shall judge the peoples righteously.” And then, verse 13 says:

Psalms 96:13 (NKJV) For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

Alongside and undergirding all the psalmists’ praise of the Lord is the truth of salvation. We can praise Him because He saves us. 1 John 4:19 says:

1John 4:19 (NKJV) We love Him because He first loved us.

The great rejoicing of this song comes out of this love. If God did not provide salvation, the fact that “He shall judge the world with righteousness” would be terrible. For those who do not accept the salvation that God offers, His judgment will be terrible. As Psalm 96:4 says:

Psalms 96:4 (NKJV) …He [is] to be feared above all gods.

The Bible tells us our God is a consuming fire. No injustice or unrighteousness will survive in His presence. The prophet Jeremiah says:

Jeremiah 10:7 (NKJV) Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise [men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, [There is] none like You.

The psalmist praises God because He is the only God, the creator, and Savior. He calls for us to respond with singing, and with proclamation and declaration. Throughout the psalm, there is a call to tell the nations, the peoples of the earth, about God. Let’s look at verses 2 and 3.

Psalms 96:2-3 (NKJV) ²Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. ³Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

These two verses call on us to proclaim the good news and declare His glory. These two words call for two different types of communication. The word rendered “proclaim” means to preach. 

We do not all preach, but we are all involved in preaching the gospel. Our tithes and offerings, and prayers support the proclamation of the gospel. If we do not give, people will not hear the good news. Romans 10 asks:

Romans 10:14 (NKJV) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

We all have a part in this preaching because we are all members of the Body of Christ. The body working together accomplishes the proclamation of the good news.

The second word Psalm 96 uses to call us to action is “declare.” This is a different word and a different activity than proclamation. Another translation of the word is “tell.” We are to “tell” of His glory. The idea communicated here is telling others what God has done for us.

This is something that every individual can do. One does not need to stand on a street corner and shout, although there is a time and place for that. However, we can all tell a friend, neighbor, or family member what God has done for us.

The psalm ends with an incentive for all of us. 

Psalms 96:13 (NKJV) For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

Three thousand years ago, David knew that God was coming. He did not understand all the details, but He knew God was coming. God came to the world He created as a baby when Jesus was born. At that time, He purchased our salvation. He will come again, and this time He will judge the world with righteousness as David says. 

In 1 John 3:3, the Bible tells us:

1John 3:3 (NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

The way we live, one would think we do not believe He is coming. The time for us to proclaim and declare is coming to an end. He is coming soon, and those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will face judgment. 

With all the good things God has done for us, surely we can declare His glory! We have good news to share. The angels called it “good news of great joy!” Psalm 96 overflows with praise because God is worthy of our praise, and he has done great things for us.

An Eternal Dynasty

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-29

Psalm 89 begins with the title, “A Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.”

I assume you do not know who Ethan is; I didn’t. He is mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31. God made Solomon wiser than any man alive. As a comparison, God says that Solomon was even wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite. Since God makes the comparison, we can assume that Ethan was a very wise man.

According to Strong’s and Brown-Driver-Briggs, a “Maschil” is a didactic Psalm (a teaching Psalm), and it is a “Contemplation” in that it reflects prolonged and serious thought. Ethan was a man who specialized in prolonged and serious thought.

Psalm 89 overflows with worship and praise for God and the greatness of His works, His mercy, and compassion. Contemplation (thinking about) God brings us to this place of worship. If it does not, we are not thinking according to the truth. We must learn to think about God by what He reveals of Himself in His word.

We are in clay vessels and live in a world of perishing things. The world and all it contains is wearing out. Our loved ones grow old, and our children grow up. We naturally think in terms of time and the limits of our lives. So, when the Psalmist says, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,” we should notice his reference to time.

The first four verses of Psalm 89 are very much focused on “forever.” Read them with me.

Psalms 89:1-4 (NKJV) ¹A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. ²For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.” ³“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁴‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah

The Psalmist speaks of “forever” and “all generations.”

We must adopt an eternal perspective if we want to contemplate God (think about God). An eternal viewpoint is not natural because everything we do is limited by time. God is the everlasting God. He is from everlasting to everlasting. His character, promises, and works are eternal. 

What does the everlasting nature of God mean when it comes to His mercies?

The Psalmist can “sing of the mercies of the Lord forever” because those mercies will never change; they are everlasting. God has never been more merciful than He is right now, nor will He ever be less merciful. 

The Psalmist also must last forever if he is going to sing forever. God created us to exist forever. When this body wears out or is destroyed, our spirit will continue to exist, and we will be either in the presence of God or separated from God forever. God tells us that “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) God does not speak of another chance or purification after leaving this body.

When we get sick and God heals us, we say, “God is good!” God is good, and He is good when He chooses not to heal us. Nothing comes into our lives out of God’s control, and he can change, fix, stop, or prevent anything. And yet, bad things happen. The Psalmist deals with this truth in verses 46-48.

Psalms 89:46-48 (NKJV) ⁴⁶How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? ⁴⁷Remember how short my time is; For what futility have You created all the children of men? ⁴⁸What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah

Here we see the Psalmist confronting the chastisement (correction) of God. God’s rebuke and discipline come from His mercy as much as His comfort and abundance. Hebrews 12 tells us that the Lord disciplines the child that He loves.

Hebrews 12:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

Job spoke profound truth when he said:

Job 2:10 (NKJV) Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?

If all things are under God’s control, what is mercy?

The word used in Psalm 89:1 is “checed.” The root meaning of this word is goodness or kindness. However, “checed” is not about being polite; rather, it extends goodness to the lowly, needy, and miserable. The Psalmist says he will sing of the goodness and kindness of the Lord forever. 

Humanity and each of us individually should sing of the goodness and kindness of the Lord forever. The reason is found in Psalm 40 where it says:

Psalms 40:1-3 (NKJV) ¹… I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. ²He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my steps. ³He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; many will see [it] and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

The pit and the miry clay are of our own making, but God does not treat us as we deserve, and that is mercy. 

Attached to mercy, Psalm 89 also speaks of God’s faithfulness. He says, “With my mouth will I make know Your faithfulness to all generations.” 

God’s faithfulness is His “emunah.” This Hebrew word means “firmness, steadfastness, fidelity.” God’s faithfulness is closely associated with His mercy; because of His faithfulness, His mercies never fail or run out. As has been stated, God does not change. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah says:

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV) ²²[Through] the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. ²³[They are] new every morning; Great [is] Your faithfulness. ²⁴“The LORD [is] my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Here, as in Psalm 89, the Scriptures point to God’s faithfulness in His mercy.

With God’s mercy and faithfulness as the background, the Psalmist says:

Psalms 89:3-4 (NKJV) ³“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁴‘Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah

Why would God make a covenant with man?

The nations of Europe have the “North Atlantic Treaty Organization” (NATO). NATO was formed after WWII for cooperative defense against the expansion of the Soviet Union. The nations who sign on to this treaty promise to defend and help each other.

God does not need our help or defense, so His covenant (treaty) is one-sided. God has made known to us His reason. Ephesians 2:4-5 say:

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Because of mercy and love, God made a covenant with man. The covenant Psalm 89 speaks of is with God’s “chosen.” God swore to David to give him an eternal dynasty, a never-ending kingdom. But the one to sit on the throne is to be the seed of David.

The seed of David was born in a stable in Bethlehem. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he is everlasting. Listen to what the Psalmist says about this seed of David.

Psalms 89:19-29 (NKJV) ¹⁹Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, and said: “I have given help to [one who is] mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. ²⁰I have found My servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed him, ²¹with whom My hand shall be established; also My arm shall strengthen him. ²²The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. ²³I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. ²⁴“But My faithfulness and My mercy [shall be] with him, and in My name his horn shall be exalted. ²⁵Also I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. ²⁶He shall cry to Me, ‘You [are] my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ ²⁷Also I will make him [My] firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. ²⁸My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him. ²⁹His seed also I will make [to endure] forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.”

This Psalm is a prophecy about Jesus. When He came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came to suffer and die for our sins. Right now, He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God and is waiting until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. When He returns, He will be our conquering Lord and King. Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. His kingdom will be everlasting as He is everlasting. David’s dynasty is eternal because God chose for the flesh of His Son to come through David’s lineage.

Since He is our King, please note that:

The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who hate him.

This promise of protection and strength extends to us who are His. We do not deserve this; His mercy and faithfulness never change, so we are saved.

Do you keep this eternal perspective?

Is your hope in the Lord?

At the Father’s Right Hand, Ephesians 1:20

Ephesians 1:20

At the Father’s Right Hand

We are still in the prayer that Paul is praying for all the saints (that includes you and me). He requests that we know the greatness of God’s power that is at work in our lives.

According to verse 20, this power is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Ephesians 1:20 (NKJV) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated [Him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places,]

Now, the Apostle is talking about Jesus. We must understand that although I say “the Apostle is talking about Jesus,” God is the One speaking. The Bible was given to us by the Holy Spirit. While the Bible is not a magical book, it is living, active, sharp, and powerful. The words of this prayer take us to the throne room of God, where Jesus is seated on a throne. His throne is at the right hand of God the Father. 

Sitting at the Father’s right hand is a place of favor, but in Jesus’ case, it is much more than favor. Jesus said,

John 10:30 (NKJV) “I and [My] Father are one.”

The unity of the Father and the Son is such that Heaven’s throne is not divided even if there is a right-hand seat. Jesus is God’s unique (or as we know it, “one and only”) Son, and there is none like Him.

To the Jews of 30 A.D., Jesus said,

John 8:58 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

With the statement, Jesus declares that He is “I am,” which is God’s name. John 1 tells us that He was in the beginning with God, and nothing that was made was made without Him. (In other words, He created everything.)

However, Jesus humbled Himself and took on human flesh, and he became obedient to the point of dying of the cross for our sins. But when God raised Him from the dead, He exalted Jesus. Ephesians 1:21 says:

Ephesians 1:21 (NKJV) far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

We cannot improve on the words of this verse. Jesus is FAR above all powers, all authorities, all rulers, and His name is GREATER than any name that is named.

Why is it important for us to know this?

First, this same power lives in and works in us. We are weak, but He is strong. We make excuses for ourselves, but we lack faith. When the disciples were afraid, Jesus scolded them for their lack of faith. Why do we afraid? Why do we not trust God for everything? Is there anything He cannot do? So, if I am His child, and His power is working on my behalf, do I have anything to worry about? Yet, we get so stressed!

Second, God has given Him as head over all things to the Church. Jesus owns and runs the Church. According to Revelation 2 and 3, He holds the Church in His hands and can plant and remove as He sees fit. He instructs us how we should function as a Chuch. There is nothing in these verses about pews or chairs, hymnals or projectors, the color of the carpet, or buildings. These things are actually important. I am not saying that we should not be careful in what we choose to do with God’s money. However, Jesus’ focus when He talks to the seven churches is their relationship to Him and whether or not they remained faithful to the truth. Did they tolerate bad doctrine? Did they deny the truth under persecution? Were they passionate about Jesus?

Church and our lives are about our relationship with Jesus. Everything else matters. Our families are important, our children invaluable, fellowship is essential, and others are indispensable. But Jesus is and must be first. He is our Savior, and He is also our master, not just boss but MASTER. 

Do we seek Him? Do we obey Him? Do we listen to Him?

Jesus is seated in the heavenly places. We MUST stop seeking earthly things! Jesus said, Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Colossians 3:1 says:

Colossians 3:1 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Why are we so petty, selfish, and stubborn?

We seek the wrong things, and we do not believe (we have very little faith).