David is getting close to reaching the height of his glory in this chapter, but what about the glory of the Lord? In chapter seven we saw the covenant that the Lord made with David. It promised that David would never lack a descendent to inherit his throne. The Jews could trace the lineage of David all the way until the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. After that there is no heir. That is in keeping with God’s covenant with David for the promises to David are fulfilled in Jesus. So David, in the respects of ruling the nations as a king is a type of Christ. When David subdues the nations around him, it is a foreshadowing of the time when Jesus will rule the world when He returns. Jesus will fulfill the promise made to David. He will crush His enemies under His feet. He will rule the nations with a rod of iron. We will then have a perfect human government because Jesus will be that government. So in this chapter we see a prefiguring of the Messiah. Finally one day evildoers will be put down, and righteousness will reign. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
The Valley of Salt from Qumran
Psalm 74
Sometimes it feels like the anger of the Lord is billowing up like smoke against us. The Psalmist certainly felt that way. It is common for wolves and coyotes to seek to kill the sheep, but not the shepherd. Yet apparently the Lord has allowed a nation to attack the temple and burn its doors. Therefore, Asaph attributes this act to the Lord. There are a few times when the temple was burned by an enemy. Perhaps it was during the reign of Rehoboam when Shishak Pharaoh of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and plundered the temple. Perhaps it is in reference to the exile of Nebuchadnezzar. Perhaps it was some other time. Whichever era it was, it is time of soul searching. It was time of loss, terror and pain.
“Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.” Asaph knows that the Lord is able to deliver. So, it is a matter of “why hasn’t the Lord delivered yet”? It appears that the Lord has chosen not to deliver. So Asaph appeals to the covenant. Also, Three times in this Psalm he asks the Lord to remember: 1) His congregation (v2); 2) The enemy has blasphemed the name of the Lord (v.18); 3) The reproach of the foolish man. It is an appeal from Asaph to the glory of God. How does it reflect upon God’s glory when His people suffer? Asaph’s perspective is that it demeans God’s glory; therefore, He appeals to the covenant asking God to intervene for the sake of the covenant.
From a New Testament perspective, we are called to share in the New Covenant, which implies a sharing in His suffering. Our suffering can magnify His glory as the world sees us willing to suffer for His name and the sake of His righteousness. On the other hand, if our suffering is the result of the discipline of God for our own foolishness, then our suffering demonstrates the justice of God. Sometimes the dark haunts of cruelty extend even into our own being resulting in foolish behavior which God must discipline in order to remove it from our lives for His glory. Arise O God and plead your cause! Glorify Your name! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Ezekiel 43
There are a few things of which I am ashamed enough that I don’t even want to write about it. Unless you are into voyeurism, you wouldn’t want to read it either. Yet the Lord knows my deeds and my heart. I have repented and confessed those things to Him. He has forgiven me. He has sanctified me.
It is future to Ezekiel, but the temple has been rebuilt. The glory of the Lord appears again in reverse order as the glory left before the destruction of Ezekiel’s temple. What was that glory like? It was so overwhelming during its appearance in chapter one that Ezekiel fell on his face when he saw it and heard the voice. Fourteen years the temple has lain destroyed, and now Ezekiel sees a future temple flooded by the glory of the Lord. What is preeminent on the mind of the Lord as He returns His glory to the temple?
No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places.Of course the reference to harlotry refers mainly to spiritual harlotry, not physical harlotry, but the point is that it will end. Israel, the people of God will be cured of this problem. In the midst of fidelity, God reveals His glory. Somehow the building and dimensions of the new temple contributes to the fidelity of His people. Somehow seeing the new building and its dimensions causes His people shame over past infidelity and inspires them to new heights of faithfulness. There is a pattern to be seen here. God takes people who are inherently unfaithful to Him. He destroys whatever it is that is the key to their unfaithfulness, even if it is that which we expect to house His glory. Then He rebuilds those things in an even greater and more magnificent way. If we see the beauty of what He has done, if we are truly shamed by our indiscretions, if we see the magnificent way in which He rebuilds, then He calls us back to live in the presence of His glory.
Later in this chapter, the sons of Zadok (the priests) come to the altar to sanctify themselves. On the night in which Jesus was betrayed, He prayed in His high priestly prayer, John 17:19: And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. We have been sanctified that we might serve Him. This is a sanctification that He has performed in His holy temple, Hebrews 9:12, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
What about you? Are there things in your past that bring shame when you remember them? Do you want them washed away? Do you want to be clean? The shame you feel is meant to drive you to Him to receive the cleansing which He gives. He desires for you to respond to the shame by coming to Him for Him to remove it. Have you come? It is His glory to remove the shame. Won’t you come? It is His glory to remove your shame and replace it with His. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
2 Corinthians 6
Jesus has made us co-workers with Him! What was His work? It was to do the work of the Father! He ate with the rich, but He had no kitchen of His own. He spoke to multitudes, but they listened only so their bellies could be filled. He called the weary to find rest in Him, but He had no bed or pillow of His own. He came to seek and save what was lost, but the lost called for His crucifixion. He is love, but He was hated. He healed, but He was wounded. He was perfect, but He was called a sinner. Look at what He accomplished! Look at what is cost! We work with Him. That means that we will experience what He experienced and gain what He gained. Therefore, we lay aside everything that will destroy our motivation. We will be Holy! We also are His sons and daughters! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
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