Weekly Message: What resulted in King David’s victory? (Psalm18; 2Sam22) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message: What resulted in King David’s victory? (Psalm18; 2Sam22) 1/30/2024

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & counseling

 

What resulted in King David’s victory and praised God in Sam.22 and Psalm 18?

 Psalm 18 is a victory song, fourth longest in the Psalter, this psalm, also found in 2 Sam.22, was written after the death of Saul and the securing of David’s kingdom. Thus, it commemorates David’s overall deliverance from his enemies rather than a specific victory.                             

  King David relates what the Lord is to him (vv.1-3), rehearses God’s deliverance (vv.4-19), relates the basis for that deliverance (vv.20-30), further rehearses the victory (vv.31-48), and resolves anew to continue praising God (vv.49-50). Not only had David quelled civil war (2Sam.3:1), but God had made him the head of many nations (2Sam.8). Paul saw messianic implications in this statement “so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentles, I will sing hymns for your name.””(Rom.15:9) supported by the term anointed (Heb. messiah) used the royal line, which culminated in Christ.

What resulted in King David’s victory and praised God in Sam.22 and Psalm 18?

• First, He expressed his characteristics as follows,

1.      His righteousness

2.      The cleanness of his hands (v.20)

3.      He has kept the ways of the Lord (v.21)

4.      He has not done evil by turning from his God. (v.21)

5.      He kept His laws, and decrees. (v.22)

6.      He has been blameless before God (v.23)

7.      He has kept himself from sin.(v.23)   

Therefore, he said,

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You , O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light with your help I can advance against a troop with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 18:25-30).

God shows with crooked (perverse) God shows Himself shrewd (lit., twisted); He is at cross-purposes with those who are at crooked-purposes with Him. 

•  Second, King David’s ankles do not turn, He is steadfast and leans on God, twice he claimed that “It is God who arms me with strength for the battle”, and he states,

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold; I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm18:1-3)  

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way Perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. (Psalm 18:32-35) 

Your armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-to the Lord, but He didn’t answer. I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets. (Psalm 18:39-42)

    Third, It’s God who delivered King David and resulted in victory after the death of king Saul, and

 his own son’s death of Absalom, He humbly praised God for His deliverance, he didn’t act in pride, nor

credited on himself, but humble fully lean on God. In Samuel 22:1-51 and Psalm 18:1-50 he sang a song to praise the Lord.          

             You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of the nations; people I didn’t know are subject to me. As soon as they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cringe before me. They all lose heart; they come trembling form their strongholds. (Psalm18:43-45). 

 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. Therefore, I will praise you among the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to your name. He gives His king great victories; He shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, To David and his descendants forever. (Psalm18:46-50)

It commemorates David’s overall deliverance from his enemies rather than a specific victory. Not only had David quelled civil war (2Sam.3:1), but God had made him the head of many nations (2Sam.8). Paul saw messianic implications in this statement “so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentles, I will sing hymns for your name.””(Rom.15:9), supported by the term anointed (Heb. messiah) used the royal line, which culminated in Christ.  

Implication & application

 My friends, King David’s lesson when he faced multitudes of enemies who attacked him, he hid himself in a cave from king Saul, and fled from the attacks of his son Absalom. In his brokenness, frustration, and the disappointment of his loved one who he severed and loved, yet, betrayed him, his hope ankles in the Lord firmly; seek God’s strength, help, and deliverance. Most important is that he kept his integrity, loyalty to the Lord and his master who he served. He kept his characteristics: righteousness; the cleanness of his hands (v.20); He has kept the ways of the Lord (v.21); He has not done evil by turning from his God (v.21); He kept His laws and decrees. (v.22); He has been blameless before God (v.23); He has kept himself from sin.(v.23).

 Indeed, God promised blessing for obedience, king David rejoiced because God blessed him for his obedience. And he praised the Lord, “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!  He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies.”   Paul saw messianic implications in this statement “so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentles, I will sing hymns for your name.””(Rom.15:9). Today, our generation needs to ankle on this solid Rock, the Messiah Christ Jesus our Lord. On this Rock we stand firmly, it is God arms us with strength for battle, the victory belongs to God.    

My friends, are you leaning on Christ? Are you standing on this solid Rock? Are you keeping obedience to the Lord? Are you keeping your integrity characteristic? “The eternal God is your Refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms”. (Deut.33:27). Try to ponder the king David’s victory in 2 Samuel 22 and psalm 18, you will gain the wisdom, hope, help, peace, the sense of victory, and blessed assurance. Your heart will resound this traditional hymn “Leaning on the everlasting arms” it says,  

 1)      What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.  

2)      O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; O how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms.

 3)  What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain :    Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

  Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms

  Leaning on Jesus, safe and secure from all alarms;

  Leaning on Jesus, leaning on the everlasting arms 

   

 

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

Weekly Message: God's restoration to his people Davidic covenant (Jer.33:1- 26) by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message: God's restoration to his people - Davidic covenant (Jer.32:40-33: 1-26)

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce   Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music

Date: 12/20/2014/ & 7/19/2017 & 1/27/2024

 

Introduction

 God restored the hope of His people through the Davidic covenant, which he had established with His people, reaffirmed His covenant with His people in book of Jeremiah 33:1-26. And the prophetical message had fulfilled through the Messiah Christ Jesus in New Testament.

 The palmist King David’s confidence in the Lord

  My friends, do you lack the faith and hope in the Lord and weary to do good? For you faced overwhelming consequences, dangers of darkness and unseen adversaries’ forces. The palmist King David faced dangers, darkness forces, social prosecution, and unjust accusation of wrongdoing. In his challenges and frustrations, he worshiped and petitioned without ceasing, he knew his God is full of merciful and compassionate. And he put his hope in the Lord alone. His blessed assurance was anchored in the Lord. And his strength was intensified by worshiped and praised God. His expression in Psalm 27 reflected great anthem of praise and put his “confidence in the Lord (vv1-6), prays for continued victory (vv7-12), and rejoices in his waiting on the Lord (vv.13-14). The Lord is the “light” dispels the anxieties and dangers of darkness, His “salvation” guarantees the defeat of all adversaries, and the Lord is stronghold assures victory against all assaults.”[1]  King David won the victory all the ways in his life as King, after he repented his adultery sins, God didn’t leave him nor forsake him. Instead of destroyed of his life, God restored his fortunes with hope, and abundance peace and prosperity. God delights his people turn from a sinful way and repent the unfaithful sins.

God’s Davidic covenant affirmed by the message of Jeremiah. 

          God’s faithfulness and the promise reaffirmed the Davidic covenant to His people reveal in the Jer.32:40 - 33:1-26. The Lord is merciful and full of compassionate, after he has brought great calamity on his people, in his mercy, he restored desolate waste land, and his people’s fortunes after his people committed great sins. He “made an everlasting covenant with them, keep doing good to them.” (Jer.32:40).

The Lord’s promises to restore His people as follows,

1.     I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. (Jer.33:6)

2.      I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. (Jer.33:7)

3.     I will cleanse them from all the sins they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. (Jer.33:8)

4.    I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me so that they will never turn away from me. (Jer.32:40)

5.      I will restore their fortunes. (Jer.32:44)

The hope of His people from God’s promises 

1.      " This city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations and earth that hear of all the good things I do for it, and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.” (Jer.33:9)

2.      The sounds of joy and gladness, the voice of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: saying, give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good, his love endures forever. (Jer.33:11)

3.      For this is what the Lord says David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices. (Jer.33:17-18)

Jesus fulfilled the message of hope- “Davidic covenant”. 

 God’s love to His people is unshakable. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (Jh.3:16-17). The message of hope through Jeremiah had fulfilled by Jesus Christ messiah, as the light of the world, so that everyone who believes in him should not remain in the darkness... and He came not to judge the world but to save the world. (John12:46,48). God delights to call us His sons and daughters. And commanded, “Put your trust in the light while you have it so that you may become sons of light.” (John12:36). He didn’t want anyone perish but repent their sins. Jesus affirmed who He is and said, “

I, Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star.”(Rev.22:16). 

Theological principle and conditional term- “the repentance of their unfaithfulness sins”

God delights in His people to love him, to be His Children and call Him father. However, His people have been unfaithful.  Who said, “How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me Father. And not turn away from following me.” (Jer.3:19). God faced the people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in His sight from their youth and provoked the Lord to anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods. (Jer.32:29). They set up their abominable idols in the house that bears His name and defiled it, they built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech…they did a detestable thing and so make Judah sin. (Jer.32:35). The Lord hand the city over to the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon who capture it. (Jer.32:28).

God treated idolatrous is seriously sin and used metaphor to describe “like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me. O house of Israel.” (Jer.32:20) “Return, faithless people, declares the Lord, ‘for I am your husband. I will choose you –one from a town and two from a clan and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jer.3:14). Although God’s heart was grieving for His people’s stubbornness of evil hearts, yet, God restored their hope and established an everlasting covenant with them, inspire them to fear Him so that they will never turn away from the Lord. As the Lord have brought this entire great calamity on this people, so the Lord will give them all the prosperity He had promised them. (Jer.32:40-42). God established Davidic covenant with His people, comforted them, restored their hope, satisfied them with abundance joy and prosperity. All the promises and blessing to His people under a conditional term: First, His people must repent of their sins and unfaithfulness. Second, if His people put their detestable idols out of God’s sight and no longer go astray.

Conclusion

In the Old Testament and New Testament unveils a theme “the Davidic covenant” is everlasting. The Davidic covenant has fulfilled through Jesus, who is the root and offspring of David, yet, without sin, as light, He came to the world, not to judge the world but to save the world. (John12:46, 48). He wants everyone not perish but repent their sins, so they may be saved. He commanded, “Put your trust in the light while you have it so that you may become sons of light.” (John12:36).

          My friends, all God- fear People, facing all the consequences, and darkness hours, put your trust in the light, lift up your holy hands to pray, worship, praise Lord, and petition with thanksgiving in every circumstances. Put away all the detestable idols, put your hope in the Lord, fear of the Lord, and wait patiently. For our Lord is faithful, and full of mercy and compassionate. To those who fear Him and repent the sins, Jesus is the hope of life, joy and peace. God’s love endures forever; He had paid the prices through Jesus to redeem us, and longing to have relationship with us. As Lord said, “I am the Lord the God of all mankind, is anything too hard for me?” (Jer.32:27). “He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it, the Lord is his name, call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jer.33:2-3). 

        My friends, call upon the name of Lord, trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. You will hear the sounds of joy and gladness, the voice of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: saying, give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good, his love endures forever.

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] Charles C. Ryrie. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

Weekly message: Recognizing the Millennial Prosperity ( Joshua 13-19) Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message:  Recognizing the Millennial prosperity                        

Date:  04/22/2018  & 01/25/2024

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music

 Introduction

 My friends, have you ever wondered what is your inheritances from God? Have you ever asked and prayed to God to prosper you with property, land or house, but the answer seems has never come to your way? Perhaps, you need to know what God’s predestination to you?  What the Biblical precepts of inheritances to you? In O.T. Book of Joshua Chapter13 to 19 unveils the inheritances of God are not only the property, land, house, earthly wealth but God himself as eternal life.  

Historical events of inheritance

In O.T. Book of Joshua 13 to 19 provides a prospect of the inheritance. After Moses passed away Joshua took the leadership to lead Israelites to occupy Canaan. When Joshua was ninety or one hounded years old, there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. (13:1). each tribe received the inheritance as their territories as follows,

The tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the Lord; the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them. (Joshua13:14, 33)

 The territory given to Reuben previously occupied by Moab was just to the E. of the Dead Sea. The area given to the tribe of Gad, N. of the Dead Sea, was originally a part of Gilead. Half of the tribe of Manasseh settled E. of the Jordan, the other half chose to settle W. of the Jordan.[1] 

Caleb son of Jephunneh who followed the Lord wholeheartedly received Hebron as his inheritance. (Joshua14:13).

“The inheritance of Judah is in the southern border extended from the S. end of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea) westward to the Wadi of Egypt. Her northern border extended from the N. tip of the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean.”[2] The inheritance of Ephraim was allotted the southern part of the central hill country, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. [3]

The inheritance of Benjamin (Joshua 8:11-28) drew an allotment of land between the territories of Judah and Ephraim, in clouding Jerusalem (in fulfillment of Deut.33:12). The inheritance of Simeon (19:1-9) was given land in the southern section of Judah’s territory in fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy (Gen.49:5).[4] Nebulun was allotted a landlocked area in lower Galilee the included Nazareth and was traversed by trade routes. The territory of Isaac was N. of that given to Manasseh and reached from Mt. Tabor on the W. to the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. The Asher settled along the Mediterranean coast from Mt. Carmel N. to Tyre, where the Phoenicians were. [5] To the E. of Asher was the territory of Naphtali. Dan was allotted a small section of the territory of Benjamin and the Mediterranean. [6]

Joshua received the special inheritances; the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there. (Joshua19:49-51) 

Jacob, by adopting Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own sons will be mine and thus elevating them to a position equal with his other sons, insured that Joseph’s descendants would receive a double inheritance. Apparently, Jacob transferred the rights of the firstborn from Reuben to Joseph, the firstborn of his beloved Rachel (Gen.48:5, 15,16).[7] But Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. (Gen.48:19-20). The double-portion right of the firstborn was given to Joseph’s two sons. The Levites were given certain towns and pasturelands (Num.35:2,4,5).

The Millennial Prosperity

Jacob’s blessing to His sons stated in Genesis 49:1-27, “the prediction of Judah did not begin to be fulfilled until the time of King David, some 640 years after Jacob’s prophecy, he comes, or Shiloh, which probably means “the one who brings or until he comes to that which belongs to” peace. Referring to Messiah who would be of the tribe of Judah (Rev.5:5). At His second coming, Messiah Christ will receive international acknowledgment. (Gen.49:8-12). “He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than mil.”(Gen.49:11-12). Describe the millennial prosperity, with vines so plentiful no one will hesitate to tie an ass to them.” [8] 

Implication and Application

 My friends, when we delight in the Lord, follow the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly, God’s blessing assurance of the millennial prosperity and rewards to us are always “yes”. When there are no earthly property lands to claim as inheritances, perhaps, we need to recognize the millennial prosperity is the servants of God’s predestination and acknowledge our inheritance in Christ is God himself as the tribe of Levi rather than the tribe of Reuben.      

My friends!  Maybe you are Pastors, Ministers, served the Lord wholeheartedly as tribe of Levi, yet, you did not gain the lands or houses as inheritances, or maybe you own the lands, houses as Tribe of Reuben, but lost all the properties because of the natural disaster: earthquake, hurricane, hailstorm, and tornado. Take the comfort of this, God’s blessing assurance of the millennial prosperity and rewards to you are always “yes”, through the tribe of Judah, Messiah Christ will be the gate and door for you to enter in.  As the Lord says, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”(Rev.22:12) “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the bright Morning Star.”(Rev.22:16). “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God the new Jerusalem which is coming down out of heaven from my God and I will also write on him my new name… (Rev.3:12) the New Jerusalem is heavenly city will be the dwelling place of all believers, saints, and the bride of Christ during eternity. (Rev.21:9-22:5).

View the video at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiGPKotbVI0

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

           

            King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

 

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

 

Lucado, Max. God is with you every day. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015

             ____.  Glory days. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015.

 

         Myers, Roth. 31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.

 

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

 

Weekly Message: Jesus is answer by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message:  Jesus is answer                                                            8/5/2017  1/23/2024

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling    

 

 

Introduction

      My friends, do you frustrate of your love one and anxious about how to keep life go on? Or worry about your children, how to fit in and grow in godliness life?  Jesus is answer.  

Jesus is the best Father, Bridegroom, and Physician

When there is conflict, hurt, disagreement, our Lord Jesus is able to transform your love-one into His likeness in His timing. Don’t be frustrated, persistently lead children or your love one to know the Jesus Christ our Lord and grow them in Biblical precepts, decrees, and laws in the Bible. By the powerful Word of God to penetrate their thoughts and minds, the life will find the way of peace, love, strength, joy, favor, acceptance, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus Christ our Lord is the best Father, Bridegroom, and Physician. Once your love-one find Jesus, he or she will find the inner-man peace and emotional tranquility. Jesus Christ our Messiah can transform Saul into Apostle Paul in Jesus’ timing; He will do the same things in this era. For Jesus is same yesterday, today, and forever more.  

The Psalmist King David’s help

   My friends may be you live in a long life, yet, without love and struggle to serve someone full of anger, better, envy, and jealous person just like King Saul. It results you search the meaning and answer of life. In the Old Testament, when the Psalmist King David in the Desert of Judah, separated from the sanctuary in Jerusalem, David fellowships with God, and rely on God who is “the desire of his being, the delight of his soul, and the defense of his life.”[1]   He expressed his deep love to his God, his soul thirsty for him and on the bed he remembers and thinks about the Lord through the watches of the night. He said,

“I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember You, I think about you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wing. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”(Ps.63:2-8).

When Psalmist King David faced enemies’ life threatened and dangerous, in his whole being, he yelled to God and claimed “the Lord’s love is better than life”. In his distress, and frustration he appealed for God’s help and petitioned God to defense of his life. Even the imprecatory prayers appears to verse 9,

“They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God, all who swear by God’s name will praise him while the mouths of liars will be silenced. (Ps.63:9-11).  The Lord is love, full of mercy and close to those who were broken hearted. And the teas of those who delight in Him, trust in Him and rely on in Him, he will not neglect it. Jesus Christ as Messiah, he demonstrated as such servant, “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering witch he will not snuff out” (Isa.42:3).In Chinese literary says, “壓傷的蘆葦,他不會折斷,將殘的燈火,他不吹滅.”(Isa.42:3). The Lord is full of compassionate, and understands each heart of frustration, and able to forgive the act of imprecating. For God is love, he came to the world not to condom the world, but save the world.

Jesus is the way, He transformed Saul into Apostle Paul

           Jesus is the way, life and truth. In Jesus’ timing, He deals with a most cruel man named, Saul. Jesus met him in a light, spoke to him and transformed him into an apostle. Saul became Apostle Paul who described himself few characteristics in the book of Philippians 3:4 – 6

 “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

1) Circumcised on the eighth day, 2) of the people of Israel, 3) of the tribe of Benjamin,

4) A Hebrew of Hebrews. 5) in regard to the law. 6) A Pharisee. 7) As for zeal persecuting the church. 8) As for legalistic righteousness, faultless.”  

Can you believe Jesus is able to do more than what we can image? Jesus’ transforming power modeled Saul into the purist gold to serve the Lord in His timing. The divine power of God shaped Paul into a willing heart that he had forsaken everything in order to gain the Christ. Paul’s explicit statement in Philippians 3:7-8 said,

 “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, than I may gain Christ.” “But one thing I do: I forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.3:13).

Moses’ prayers satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love

  My friends, each concern, worry and conflict with your love one, lead them to know Jesus and the knowledge of truth. Keep praying and petition for them, help them to grow in the Bible, the Word of God will shape them into the godliness and contentment. Each conflict, don’t live in the sense of frustration nor give up the life. In Old Testament, Moses faced his people all the anger, rejection, he didn’t give up nor turn away from his people, yet, he petitioned for his people without ceasing, in Psalm 90, he prayed,  

“ Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations…you turn men back to dust, saying, return to dust, O sons of men. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night... we are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation…the length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow…teach us to number our day aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, we may sing for joy and be glad all our days…may the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us, establish the work of our hands for us –yes establish the work of our hands.”  

My friends, do you live in anger, wrath, frustration, complain, anxious about yourselves or your love-one all the days of your life? Or you serve someone can never satisfy about your service?  Moses lifted up his people to the Lord in prayers; Psalmist King David sought God’s help, and claimed the Lord’s love is better than the life. Life without love is meaningless; love without life is also meaningless. Yet, one thing I know that Jesus satisfied both, He gives not only eternal life, also unfailing love. Even Moses prayed “satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love.” And King David said, “O Lord, because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” 

My friends, when earthly love can’t satisfy you or keep frustrating you, let heavenly Father’s love satisfies you. “The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought if you seek him, he will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles28:9). The love of Christ Jesus provides you both unfailing love and eternal life.  Leading your love one to know Jesus Christ, and learn the Bible.  The powerful Word of God able to penetrate the thoughts and minds and transform one’s characters. And the life will find the way of peace, love, strength, joy, favor, acceptance, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus Christ our Lord is the best Father, Bridegroom, and Physician. Once your love-one find Jesus, he or she will find the inner-man peace and emotional tranquility. Amen!

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[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986), 773  

 Bibliography,

 

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

 

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

            King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

 New American Standard Bible, The Open Bible.. La Habra, CA: Thomas nelson publishers, 1978.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute.1986. 

            Swindoll, Charles R. A man of passion & destiny David. Dallas, TX: Word publishing, Inc.1990