93. The Psalm Against Terrorist Groups!

Psalm 2

A modern-day commentary on Psalm 2.

Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying, “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.” 2:1-3.

Terrorist groups and their leaders rage (tumultuous - Strong H7283) in a totally uncalled for war. They are plotting a vain thing (to no purpose - Strong H7385).  Before they attain their purpose they will be suddenly and completely destroyed! They speak and act as if they will just walk over Jehovah's army when they finally do meet Him.  A few years ago, in a blog, I read words to this effect, "I can hardly wait for that war to come because we will annihilate Jehovah and His angels."  Think again, Sam!

At times it seems as if the terrorist groups, sometimes with nations joining later, will be the last anti-Jehovah army that will ever exist. 

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; Jehovah shall mock at them. Then He shall speak to them in His anger, and trouble them in His wrath. 2:4-5.

Then the lawless one (the counterfeit Messiah who will take a throne in Jerusalem) will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thes. 2:8.

• Some say the day of Christ's return has already happened.  
• Many believe that Christ will return before "the great tribulation".  
• However, Saint Paul said, For it (Christ's return) will not be (happen), unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin (the counterfeit Messiah) is revealed, the son of destruction he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; 

The terrorist groups go out of their way to destroy religious buildings and symbols; they are especially intent on killing religious people.  Before the end comes one of them will will assume the position of leadership over all the peoples of the world so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God, (by deception and flattery, before it is all over, he will have convinced many people that he is worthy of worship), and he will be given a throne (in the temple in Jerusalem).  2 Thes. 2:2-4.

If the above theories should prove to be true, the terrorist groups will advance, and keep on advancing; they will invade Europe and the Americas; They are already working havoc in Africa and they will infiltrate the Far East.  From Syria, they will also move southward until they reach the valley of Megiddo in Northern Palestine and there they will meet their final foe - Jehovah and His hosts.

Israel will be poised to defend themselves, and before they suffer total defeat, Christ will return to earth, and with His mighty angels He will put an abrupt end to that war, to give relief to you (the upright) when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, (they) will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed. 2 Thes. 1:7-10.  That will forever be the end of the terrorist groups and their compatriots.

Christ, very bluntly, put it this way the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:28-29  

A New Inheritance

Then, looking into the future the psalmist pictures Jehovah saying to Christ Ask of Me, and I shall give the nations for Your inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession. 2:8.  What kind of inheritance would Christ be satisfied with?  Would He want to inherit a bunch of nations where war is the normal way of life?

Because He doesn't, David says, And now be wise, O kings; be instructed, O judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 2:10-11.

How will Christ obtain such an inheritance?  He shall break them with a rod of iron; He shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 2:8.

Blessed (spiritually prosperous) are all who put their trust in Him. 2:12  

92. The Jewish Hymnal

The Introduction

The Psalter may be regarded as the heart’s echo to the speech of God, the manifold music of its windswept strings as God’s breath sweeps across them. Expositors Bible Commentary.

The Book of Psalms is divided into five, very uneven, sections.

The first book contains forty-one psalms; 1:1-41:13; most written by King David;
The second, thirty-one; 42:1-72:20; most of these are written by King David;
The third, seventeen; 73:1-89:52; written by Asaph;
The fourth, seventeen; 90:1-106:48; chiefly anonymous;
The fifth, forty-four; 107:1-150:6; about three-fifths anonymous and two-fifths written by King David. Pulpit Commentary.

The Psalter is also a Pentateuch, the echo of the Mosaic Pentateuch from the heart of Israel; it is the fivefold book of the congregation to Jehovah, as the Law is the fivefold book of Jehovah to the congregation. Pulpit Commentary.

The "books" are severally terminated by a doxology, not exactly the same in every instance, but of a similar character, which in no case forms any part of the psalm whereto it is attached, but is simply a mark of division. Pulpit Commentary.

It has been suggested that the first Psalm is not one of the Psalms but rather an overview of the Book of Psalms.  Psalm 1 contrasts the blessings on the righteous with the curse on those who live unholy lives.  In a very general way, one could also see the Book of Psalms in that light.

The title of ... many of the psalms is as a key hung ready at the door, to open it, and let us into the entertainments of it; when we know upon what occasion a psalm was penned we know the better how to expound it.  Matthew Henry.

The following quote is very rich and speaks volumes of how we can get the most out of the Book of Psalms.

The subject matter of this book is exceeding great and excellent; many of the psalms respect the person, offices, and grace of Christ; his sufferings and death, resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God; and so are exceeding suitable to the Gospel dispensation. The whole book (of Psalms) is a rich mine of grace and evangelical truths, and a large fund of spiritual experience; and is abundantly suited to every case, state, and condition, that the church of Christ, or particular believers, are in at any time. Gill's Expository Commentary.

Psalm 1

Many translations put verse one into the past tense; eg. the man who has not walked.

Blessed (O the happiness of the man! Barnes Com.), is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. 1:1.

This verse speaks of gradual degradation;

1. from walking in the advice given by the wicked
2. to standing where the sinners feel at home and finally 
3. sitting, at ease, in a movie house or in front of a TV watching while the scoffers on the screen ridicule Christ, our Redeemer; or sneer at Jehovah and verbally drag Christ's Church through the dirt of the world.  

How is it possible that born again Christians can tolerate, with pleasure, such "entertainment"?

But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night. 1:2  In contrast to being entertained by those who mock Jehovah the person who is spiritually prosperous will find his "enjoyment" in the pages of the Bible.  Like Jeremiah, the spiritually prosperous person might be forced to spend his time separated from his peers and business associates; all the better, for it gives him more time to meditate on the goodness and grace of Jehovah.    I did not sit in the circle of mockers, nor rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand; for You have filled me with indignation. Jer. 15:17.
  

Therefore the wicked shall not stand (be acquitted, Jameson, Fausset and Brown)in the judgment, ... sinners (will not be found) in the congregation of the righteous (in heaven).1:5    Sinners won't have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won't have a place with the people of God. 1:5 Contemporary English.

91. Pride Comes Before A Fall

Three Unwise Counsellors

1. The first of Job's counsellors was Eliphaz; 
2. the second was Bildad, 
3. and now the third of Job's miserable comforters, Zophar, comes to make his "pitch".  

The problem is that he is walking down the same erroneous path that the first two miserable comforters, 16:2, had taken.  What they are saying is that the only reason people suffer is that they have sinned and God is punishing them for their sins.  Job calls their theology into question; he says, But you are imputers of lies; you are all worthless healers. Oh that you would stop speaking entirely! And it would be (show) your wisdom. 13:4-5.  Many public speakers, those that speak as though they have all the answers to everyone's problems, could take a lesson from Job's retort.

1. In 15:1 Eliphaz takes a second "stab" at instructing Job; 
2. in 18:1 Bildad takes over for Eliphaz 

but both of them are just regurgitating the same old accusations against Job, and Job is all fed up with it and says, How long will you torment my soul and break me in pieces with words? 19:2.

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall rise on the earth at the last; This is He whom The Christian Church is waiting for, and He will come with vengeance. at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven ... in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thes.1:7-8.  Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is. Rev 22:12.   Notice, He did not say He is coming soon; He said He is coming quickly!   

and even after they, the ulcers, corrupt my skin, (KJV has, And though after my skin worms destroy this body, but Bible scholars that read Hebrew say that there is nothing that substantiates that idea.  So the word they probably refers to the ulcers that are eating away at his flesh).

yet this (I know): in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself. Job 19:23-27.  This is the inextinguishable hope of the Christian Church.  If it were not for that hope, our eternal outlook would be on par with that of the ungodly.  Saint Paul said the same thing in these words if Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins. Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.1 Cor. 15:17-19.

However, we hold to the words of Job, yet this (I know): in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself.  If this is true, how is it that we have been taught that God is invisible?

A Fourth Unwise Counsellor

The book of Job continues on in the vein of accusations by his three friends and Job's retorts, till chapter 32.  Then, a younger man, Elihu, enters the dispute because his wrath burned against Job, because he had justified himself rather than God.   Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer and had condemned Job. 32:3-4.

Basically, they had just beat the wind and accomplished nothing with all their philosophising. He said to them, Yes, I listened to you, and, behold, not one of you proved Job wrong nor answered his words. 32:12.  His problem is that, using different words, he continues on the same track as the first three counsellors.

Again, according to Elihu, it is with sickness or material loss that God punishes sin. He says, If they (people) are ... held in cords of affliction, then He shows them ... their sins, that they have behaved themselves proudly. If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in blessedness, and their years in pleasures. But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 36:8-13. We know, by observation, that this teaching does not line up with the facts of life.

Jehovah's Point of View

In Chapter 38 there is a change in the monotony of the Book of Job.  Here the author finally has Jehovah stating His point of view, and He was not impressed with this young man's, Elihu's, foolish theology. Jehovah answered Job out of the tempest, and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 38:1.

Then, for four chapters, according to the author, Jehovah speaks of His mighty power and wisdom as compared to that of humans. He asks, Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? 38:4. Do you cause the various seasons to happen? Do you control the procreation of all creatures? Do you feed the animals of the earth? Did you set up the constellations of the heavens? If not, then, you should not vaunt yourself against Me!

And it happened after Jehovah had spoken these words to Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. And now take to yourselves seven young bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. And My servant Job will pray for you. 42:7-9.

How ironic! These three self-righteous "teachers" who accused Job of living a sinful life, are now in a position where they must ask him to pray for them! Surely we can all learn a lesson in humility from this turn of events.  Those who seem to be the most righteous might not be!

90. The Lord's Forgiveness

No One Is Immune

If the whip kills suddenly,  Such a "scourge"(in KJV) as war, or pestilence, or famine, is probably meant. If one of these be let loose upon a land, and slay, as it always does slay, indifferently the good and the bad, the innocent and the guilty, what is God’s attitude? Does he interpose to save the righteous? By no means. Pulpit Commentary.

He will mock at the calamity of the innocent. Job 9:23.  He looks on passively, indifferently. Job even goes further, and says, with an audacity that borders on irreverence, ... He will laugh at the trial of the innocent. St. Jerome says, "There is nothing in the whole book harsher than this." Pulpit Com.

The following statement bears repeating: Jehovah is not normally involved with an individual's situation.  Christ intimated as much when he said, For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Mat. 5:45. Christ was not speaking only of the weather.  This is a generic statement which says, righteous or unrighteous - you get what you get.

When it comes to the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins the Old Testament is but a shadow of the teachings of forgiveness in the New Testament!  Even the books of poetry hardly admit that forgiveness of sins is possible without making restitution to God in some material or physical way.

Why do You not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? Job 7:21.  He (Job) has not sinned greatly, heinously; and therefore he cannot understand why he (Job)  has not been forgiven. The idea that the Almighty cannot forgive sin except upon conditions, is unknown to him.  Pulpit commentary.   This is the same viewpoint that many in the Christian Church also hold; Lord, I will do this or that if only You will forgive me for what I have done, or thought, or said.  Some try to buy God's forgiveness by paying cash, others are willing to, or cause themselves to, suffer just so that God will forgive them.

Forgiveness Is Free

The New Testament allows for no such teaching; but it is rich in teaching that Jehovah will grant forgiveness freely, by His grace, if a person in honesty asks for it and vows to turn from his/her sins.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph.1:7 + 9.

For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him.  If the Lord and I should have a debate, how could I possibly answer Him?  If he, any person, will argue with Him, he cannot answer Him one of a thousand questions. Job 9:3.

I wish that we should come together in judgment; but there is no mediator between us, who might lay his hand on us both. 9:32.   How I wish that there was an arbitrator between Jehovah and me; one who would place one hand on Jehovah's shoulder and one on mine and then plead my case for me.  No, in the Old Testament there is no such a person.  However, praise Jehovah, the death and resurrection of Christ ushered in One who will do that for us!!  If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1.

For now I shall sleep in the dust, and You shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. Job 7:21.  When I was alive and needed your healing and forgiveness you did not bother finding me, but soon I will die and then You will want to forgive me but You won't be able to find me.  But, Lord, I do not want to die unforgiven!

Job believed in the resurrection of the dead, as we will see later, but now in a period of deep depression, he spoke not of the resurrection "morning" but as anyone who must first go down to the grave.  In 10:2 Job starts his lament to Jehovah; it is a dark, dreary dirge.  He ends his soliloquy with these words of hopelessness, Are not my days few? Cease then, please quit punishing me, and let me alone (let me have some peace), that I may take comfort a little while, before I go, and I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; a land of obscurity, the darkness of the shadow of death, without any order, and the shining is as darkness. 10:20-22.

without any order, or vicissitudes and successions of day and night, summer and winter, heat and cold, wet and dry; or revolutions of sun, moon, and stars, or of the constellations. Gill's commentary.

and the shining is as darkness. This is a very striking and graphic expression. It means that there is no pure and clear light. Even all the light that shines there is dark, sombre, gloomy - like the little light of a total eclipse, which seems to be darkness itself, and which only serves to render the darkness more distressing. Barnes Commentary.

We were certainly taught an un-biblical non-truth when we were told that at death we "go to heaven".  The Bible clearly teaches that we must first go to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; a land of obscurity.  However, at the return of Christ, the resurrection will take place, both for the righteous and the unrighteous.

Then, after the resurrection, we will "have our day in court" at the Great White Throne and after that, depending on the court's ruling, we will either ascend to the Heavenly realms - or not.

For more on this topic see:
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89. Skin in Exchange for Skin

Now let's look at some individual statements in the Book of Job:

Jehovah said to Satan: you moved Me against him to destroy him without cause; Job 2:3,  or, you "badgered" me into doing something to Job that I had no reason to do.

• How does this statement fit into the picture that theology has taught about Jehovah?  
• How does this agree with the idea that God is always in complete control?

Satan answered Jehovah and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man has he will give for his life. 2:4.   It is interesting to see the different opinions that Bible commentaries have on this verse.

The sense will be clear if we translate it "Hide for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for himself." The hide of an animal, lion or sheep, which a man wears for clothing will be given up to save his own body. Expositors Bible Commentary.  A man would rather go around naked than lose his life. 

If a man's head or his eyes are in danger, he will lift up his hand or his arm, and expose that in order to save the other; ... and so it may in this sense; and mean the skin of his hand, as a shield for the skin of his head or eye. Gill's Bible Commentary.

A man willingly gives up another’s skin (life) for his own skin (life). So Job might bear the loss of his children, etc., with equanimity, so long as he remained unhurt himself. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown.

Misguided Instructions

His wife said to him, Do you still hold to your integrity? Curse God and die! 2:9 Modern King James.

However, in contrast, notice the same lengthy verse in Brenton's English Septuagint Version.

And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, (everything by which people measured your importance is gone) even thy sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; (In this version she rightfully decries the death of her children.  In the book of Job that most of us know, her right to mourn the death of her ten children is not even alluded to) and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me. She has become a domestic servant, looking for work wherever she might find it.  She is obligated to work till the setting of the sun. Job 2:9.

She says to her loving husband, but say some word against the Lord, and die. 2:9.  If you would simply curse Jehovah, He would punish you with death and you would be set free from your agony.  

Of Job the Bible says, that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and turned aside from evil. 1:1.  Still, the first of Job's three comforters came up with this "brilliant" bit of false theology;

• Remember, please, who ever perished, being innocent? 4:7 Modern King James.  
• No truly innocent person has ever died young. 4:7 Contemporary English.  

Job could see past his friend's theology, and said Right words are powerful, but what does your arguing argue? 6:25.  You say that I am suffering because I am guilty; I purpose this idea, Oh that my grief were but weighed, and my ruin laid in the balances together! For now it (my ruin) would be heavier than the sand of the sea; 6:2-3.

Another translation makes it very clear O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance. If I have to pay for my sins by suffering, justice has already extracted more than what is fair. Darby's Version.

Is there not a warfare to man on earth? Are people not born to fight a difficult battle?  Now that Job has given up on regaining his health, with Saint Paul he says, I have fought the good fight. 2 Tim. 4:7.

Are not his days also like the days of a hireling?  A hireling is a servant who was hired to perform a certain task, and when that task was finished his position was terminated, so, with Paul, in sorrow Job says, I have finished the course. 2 Tim. 4:7.

As a servant earnestly desires the shadow; the shades of night, to get some rest, just so Job is anticipating death, and just as surely as a hireling looks for his wages Job is expecting the appropriate remuneration for having lived an upright life.  Job 7:1-2.  Later, Saint Paul echos Job's words, Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing. 2 Tim. 4:8.