OUTREACH SITE:    The Psalms of David: Psalm 1-22

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The Life of David

God has seen fit to preserve much of David’s history, as well as the Psalms.  Why?

We need to read of David’s history and all of his battles with enemies and with sin, and then stand back and see them in the allegorical spiritual context of our own struggles with sin and our struggles with spiritual enemies, persecutions and spiritual struggles.

As David fought the Philistines and Canaanites, we fight against the host of wickedness.  As God gave David victories when he was faithful and many sore trials to perfect his righteousness;  we have many trial and also will have an ultimate victory over all wickedness and sin if we faint not.

There are tremendous spiritual lessons in the Psalms and the struggles of David about: Who can deliver, Who we should always rely on; about faithfulness and perseverance and much much more.

Psalm 18-22

God is Our Salvation

Psalm 18

1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

If we run from God by compromising with his Word and commandments;  we are running towards our own destruction.  Of we run to God and redouble our zeal when we face trials; we are going to the True and Only source of our Deliverance and Salvation!

4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

WHO shall we call upon when we face trials?  Who shall deliver us?  Our own compromising with the PONLY thing that will save us, our zeal for God’s law?  Or the fashioner and giver of the commandments that bring life eternal?

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Be diligent to please go and keep his commandments without compromise!  then you will be on God’s side and when the enemy attacks, Almighty God will be your defender and work everything out.

Even if we suffer unto death; he will keep his promise and raise up in that Day!  It is better to die in worldly poverty and igno,iny, beimng hated and destryed for our zeal for our god; than tpo kive granfdly in this life by compromising with God’s ways and commandments.

Luk 9:23   And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross  [burdens] daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his [physical] life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his [physical]  life for my sake, the same shall save it [shall save his spiritual life, be raised up and have life eternal].

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away [by God]?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

 

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

The Mighty One shall destory the powers of darkness that are against him an dthose who love him enough to follow his leadership and do as he requires with enthusiastic zeal.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters [waters are peoples, and in this case enemies who despise zeal for God].

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

The Almighty will deliver from those who persecute and resist him and his faithful children.  The Eternal will deliver his beloved and set them with a good reward of eternal life and rulership as priests and teachers over the earth.

19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

 Because I delighted in Him and in his law.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness [zeal for his law]; according to the cleanness [sinlessness]  of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways [commandments] of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity [kept myself from compromising with God's commandments which is iniquity].

24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward [self willed and stubborn] thou wilt shew thyself froward  [strong willed].

God will destroy the proud, the conceited, the arrogant and bring down the haughty;  He WILL SAVE those who suffer to please him.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

28 For thou wilt light my candle [candle is a KJV error, because they used candles in Britain and did not consider the olive oil lamp and its connection with the Holy Spirit in us making our light shine.  More accurately he will light my lamp]: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness [giving me undrstanding].

Through diligent obedience to God’s commandments I shall receive enlightenment into God’s true ways.  By God’s commandments I have learned wisdom and by his power he has delivered me so that I have overwhelmed strong armies and overcome strong fortifications.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

The commandments of God are perfect and not to be neglected or compromised with.

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Dear brethren, if you are persecuted or punished for diligent zeal and obedience to the word of God;  Fear Not, Stand fast and wait on his deliverance!

31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?

God is our strength and our salvation; let us rely on HIM; and RUN to HIM all our lives for eternity.  It is his commandments which shall make us perfect before him. 

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ [dear's feet to leap gracefully] feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war [to wield the two edged sword, of the spirit of truth], so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Rhe battles and wars of the psalms and David are allegories of our spiritual battles against the foreces of evil.

All the power of the enemy is broken by the power of truth.  God’s word is truth, therefore God is truth for God cannot lie.

Titus 1:2   In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

 

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip [into sin].

We are to pursue the enemy of sin and Satan, of the sin and compromise that so easily besets us, and by the POWER OF GOD, to overcome all sin and to be untied with our God in mind, action and spirit through the diligent seeking of his commandments and the destruction of sin, which is the transgression of the law.

1 John 3:2   Beloved, now are we the [called] sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be [look like]: but we know that, when he [Christ] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And everyman that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

Brethren, EVERYONE  is to purify himself from all sin; so that we may be pure as Christ was pure and sinned not!  We are to become pure from even the faintest trace of sin, which is the breaking or compromising with even the least of God’s commandments.  We are even to avoid any appearance of sinning against any of the commandments of God!

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

We are to fight the good fight and destroy the enemy of sin within us.  If we are valiant and depend on the power of our God to deliver us and enable us to overcome; instead of giving up the struggle for the potage of an easy life;  God shall deliver us with his Mighty Deeds as he delivered Israel out of Egypt!

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies [the power of sin in us, is destroyed in us through the atonement of Christ and the Spirit of God given to us to enable us to keep all of God's commandments]; that I might destroy them that hate me [for sin works in us to destroy us].

Any person who teaches that we may overlook and tolerate sin and doctrinal heresy in our midst for the sake of [a false] organizational unity; is a FALSE TEACHER and should be cast out!  Indeed he is either foolish or a liar, for he is saying that doctrinal DIS-unity somehow brings unity

41 They [enemies and sinful commandment breakers] cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

The lax and lukewarm for the will and commandments will be beaten into the dust of contrition in the soon coming great tribulation.  If they repent they shall have to prove their repentance by suffering in the flesh to save the spirit.

God will NOT deliver those who sin against him!  We must first repent of our sin and turn to God with passionate love and zeal to keep his law and do his will.

42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

The overcomer who loves the law of God as avid shall achieve victory over sin and be exalted to eternal life as rulers and priests; teaching the paths of salvation in the Kingdom of God.

43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people [the strivings of sin and Satan against me]; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

After  the day of the Lord’s coming is come, God’s spirit will be poured out on all flesh and humanity will submit to their God and his High Priest and King Jesus Christ, and to the priests and kings of his government.

44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. 45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close [hiding] places.

Jesus Christ is the ROCK of our salvation and does the will of the Father:  Delivering us to overcome Satan and all sin, and ultimately giving us a birthright inheritance of eternal life with them.

Why would anyone want to sell the birthright ofr his calling for a church catered meal on the Sabbath!  or any other such sin of self indulgence?

46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Psalm 19

The greatness of God is seen in that he created the earth and the marvelous starry heavens.

1 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. 6 His [the sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

What is a man beside God?  Who are we to question his Commandments?  The Greatness of God is seen in his Magnificent Law.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul [from death to life] : 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 [Respect and awe] 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.

Why do we desire gold and the perishable things of this world, shamefully going to law againstour brothers; and have not cleaved with all our hearts and all our strength, to the Commandments of our God?

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned [of sin and the consequence of evil deeds] : and in keeping of them there is great reward.

WHO can find any error in God or in his commandemnts?

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.

Psalm 20

A blessing on the zealous

1 [May] The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice [dedicated service]; Selah.

May thy will be done.

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed [those anointed with his spirit] ; he will hear him [the faithful supplicant] from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Let us NOT trust in our own wisdom, doing our own traditions and ways, doing what is right in our own eyes; nor let us trust in our own strength and our own righteousness.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord: let the king  hear us when we call.

Psalm 21

Those who rule by the word of God shall be established.

1 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 [God preserves the faithful] 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.

The reward of the faithful.  Christ trusted in te Most High and did trangress.  We should follow Christ and trust in the Most High never transgressing his law. 

5 His [Christ when he comes] 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 [the faithful] shall not be moved.

When Christ shall come he shall destroy all sin and wickedness, and as a part of  the government of Christ the faithful; shall root out all sin and wickedness.

You who tolerate sin and sinfully compromise with God’s commandments now; will you be chosen to root out these same sins in others?

8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. 9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. 10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

11 For they [rebel against God's law] intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform [for Christ will fight against them].

12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

Psalm 22

A complaint of delay in deliverance quoted by Christ on the stake as he died.  How many of us feel  this way in the time of our trials?  let us not fall away but stand firm in faith towards God and his promises as did Jesus Christ.

This Psalm is a prophecy of Jesus Christ, and as he suffered we shall also be persecuted. See Heb 11.  These things are well known and I shpould not need to cover this prophecy in depth.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Trust in God, he WILL deliver according to his promises in his own way and in his own good time.  manbe allowing us to suffer and die as teh father did his only between son; so that he could keep his promise to raise up faithful son’s from corruption to incorruption for eternity!

1 Cor 15:42   So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The faithful zealous commandment keepers shall be heard of God.

1 John 3:22   And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

 6 But I am a worm [maggot; this is speaking of true humility towards the Father and how Christ compared himsefl to the Father], and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

12 Many bulls[strong enemies]  have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs [wicked men in a pack]  have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me [bones are exposed from beatings].

18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

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