The Key of David #2

(Feast of Tabernacles 2020—Day 6)

The very words of the actual words and events to take place
in the life of Christ in the Book of Psalms

Fred R. Coulter—October 8, 2020

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Day 6 of the Feast of Tabernacles!

What a Feast it has been so far, and it always goes by too quickly! But nevertheless, here we are Day 6 and let's continue on with key or heart of David. We saw last time that David said many times that his heart was fixed; in other words, completely immovable that he would go from God.

• that doesn't mean that he didn't sin
• that doesn't mean that he was perfect in the flesh

What is important is that this is the kind of conversion, attitude and dedication that we need, especially living in this age where everything is so easy and convenient to where we have so much. It says in Rev. 3 to the Laodiceans that they have an attitude that they say they're 'rich and increased with goods' and all of this is a blessing from God.

But not necessarily! Which is a greater blessing:

• To have your head cutoff because you have faith?

or

• To have everything you need and you don't have to worry about anything, and you get lackadaisical and then God has to correct you?

That's the question!

So, let's come to where were last time for just a minute; Luke 10 tells us that the things that we know and understand, and God has given from His Word, which He has opened to our understanding because it's the last days, and He promised that 'the wise shall understand.' The wise ones are the ones who:

• love God as David did
• keep His commandments as Christ said
• have the faith that generates good works, based up the Word of God and the Spirit of God

Luke 10:23: "And He turned to His disciples and said privately, 'Blessed are the eyes that have seen the things that you see.'" The fact that you can read the Bible and see what's going on in the world, knowing what is happening!

We did see the things exactly as the apostle saw. They had some things much, much greater than we do, of course, because they were apostles. But nevertheless, we have more understanding of the plan of God through His Holy Days than they had back then. They were just in the beginning of learning of that.

Verse 24: "For I tell you, many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.'" Think about that:

• lest we get complacent
• lest we think we have everything
• lest we think we have need of nothing'

Let's understand that whatever we understand it is because of the Word of God and the Spirit of God!

And because God has promised to give it in the last times! Not that we're anything great of ourselves, because we're not! We will see that when we come back to the things of David, that that's exactly the attitude that he had. It was yielded to God all the time.

What was David facing all the time? Fights, battles, war and intrigue, until he finally had a little rest. That was after he was king for seven years and the rest of the ten tribes came down and they said, 'We're flesh of your flesh, and bone of your bone, and we want you to be king over all of us.'

That's when there was a king over all 12 tribes of Israel, and that passed to Solomon. That is 33 years that all 12 tribes were under David. Then for 40 years all 12 tribes were under Solomon. How long was it from the death of Solomon until the split up of the kingdom when the ten tribes went back and followed Jeroboam instead of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon? We don't know!

But we can say that only within the span of 80 years or less all 12 tribes were under the kingship of David and Solomon. That's the only time in history that that was true. Think about when they come back out of captivity what that is going to be like.

In receiving what we are receiving:

• the salvation
• the Spirit of God
• the Truth of God
• the Word of God

all together, Peter writes:

1-Peter 1:10: "Concerning which salvation the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you have diligently searched out and intently inquired." They wanted to know: 'When, O Lord'?

So. we've gone through the book of Isaiah and a lot of the Psalms, there are a lot of things there concerning the Kingdom of God. But how? When? What? It's going to be an amazing thing, really!

Verse 11: "Searching into what way and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them was indicating, testifying beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and these glories that would follow."

When you can't see the end and you're way back close to the beginning, and all of these things are prophesied and not understood, and some of them are deep mysteries, it's hard to grasp even some of it! Think about how they must have felt.

Of course, they had to have greater faith, because when something is here, like today, you don't need faith to see if you can find it. Now then, we need faith to understand the greater degree of what all of these things mean for the world, the Church and us individually.

Verse 12: "To whom it was revealed that, not for themselves, but to us they were ministering these things, which now have been announced to you by those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven—into which things the angels desire to look."

Notice what Peter says next, because this is something that applies throughout all time, and a especially to those who are of the Philadelphians who love God.

Verse 13: "For this reason, be prepared in your minds, be self-controlled…"—choosing with the Word of God, the Spirit of God to do the things that are pleasing in God's sight!

"…and be fully hoping in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (v 13)—at the return of Jesus Christ!

The fullness of grace will not come until the first resurrection, because that's when we receive the fullness of the gift of eternal life.

Verse 14: "As obedient children, do not conform yourselves to the former lusts, as you did in your ignorance. But according as He Who has called you is Holy, you yourselves also be Holy in all your conduct; for it is written, 'You be Holy because I am Holy'" (vs 14-16).

That's quite thing that we're going to be Holy! We're called Holy brethren now, because we have the Holy Spirit. When the resurrection comes we will be the sons and daughters of God! That's the fullness of the grace! We have yet to receive that.

Let's continue on with the Key of David, and the heart of David! We're going to spend all the rest of the time in the book of Psalms. That's quite a fantastic thing when you put it together, because all of these are important concerning

• David's relationship with God
• his attitude toward God
• how he lived

Remember that every day when he was in his house he could just walk down the hall to that extension on his house where the Ark of the Covenant was in a special tent. The priests were there to minister to it. Then they had an altar right outside of that where they had sacrifices that they would give.

David was looking forward to the time when he would dwell with God:

Psalm 84:1: "How lovely are Your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!"

Here's another thing about the character of David. He served God:

• with all his heart
• with his whole heart
• his heart was fixed
• he hungered and thirsted after God's way

That's how we need to be!

Verse 2: "My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Think how intense his prayers were!

• God heard him
• God answered
• God gave David the promise that he would be king over Israel forever

Verse 3: "Yea, even the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God."

Notice how he drew close to God and understood! Think about this: Here's the temple and on top of the temple birds made their nests, right above the altars of God, the little sparrow.

Verse 4: "Blessed are those who dwell in Your house…"—ultimately that is New Jerusalem because Jesus said:

In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were otherwise, I would have told you so, but now I go to prepare a place for you.

For each one of us! Jesus is preparing that.

"…they will still be praising You. Selah…. [stop, think and meditate] …Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts" (vs 4-5).

Here again we see that David understood that he lived, moved and had his being in God!In everything!

Verse 6: "Who passing through the valley of weeping make it a place of springs… [convert and change the whole world] …yea, the early rain also clothes it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appearing in Zion before God" (vs 5-7).

Our strength comes from God; stop and think about it! What are we but just kind of a speck; that's how we started, a speck of life so small that the naked eye could not even see it. Look at us now! If we look at that, remember Jesus' promise that since we have this body of flesh, and we're converted, we will have a body of spirit!

Verse 8—notice how he cried out to God: "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed" (vs 8-9). David was the anointed king, and he was pleading for God to look upon him!

Looking forward to the ultimate of being in New Jerusalem; v 10: "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness, for the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (vs 10-11)—in spite of the troubles and difficulties we have today!

Think of what it's going to be like at the resurrection, living in the Tabernacle of God, with God!

Verse 12: "O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You."

Let's see that David had a great understanding of the purpose of mankind, as it related to him, as well. Let's see what he understood. Of course, we have all of this in our book: From a Speck of Dust to a Son of God: Why Were You Born? That's the important thing. We always need to look at the purpose of:

• why we're here
• our circumstances of what they are
• where we are going
• what we need to do

But we always have to turn to God to do it!

Psalm 8:1: "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens!"

What is like to see God in His full glory? We have to be at the resurrection to see!

Verse 2: "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings… [that's what we are compared to the world] …You have ordained strength because of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and the avenger."

There will come a day when all of those—like we saw in Rev. 3, the synagogue of Satan will come and worship God before our feet. The first thing they're going to do is think to themselves, 'What? Did God choose these people? Yes, indeed He did!

Verse 4: "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? For You have made him a little lower than God and have crowned him with glory and honor" (vs 4-5). That's just here on this earth! "…a little lower than God…" so that God could become a man and men and women can become the sons and daughters of God! That's quite an amazing exchange.

Verse 6: "You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." Not yet all things are under his feet, but Jesus has already paved the way!

Think about that! God made the whole world, and down through all the centuries from the beginning with all of mankind from the beginning to the end so that there would be billions and billions in the Kingdom of God!

From all of those from the time of Abel clear down to the last two witnesses (Rev. 11) are all in the first resurrection to serve and love God continually, and to carry out His plan.

So, what we are seeing here is that David had a pretty good understanding of God's way, of the future of it, because He was king.

Psa. 38—notice that God had to correct David. As a man with all the strength and power that he had, and his willingness to go out and do things, he did suffer difficulties and even sickness. So, one of the important things about David that we're finding is that David always repented and trusted God! He suffered:

• sickness
• difficulties
• anguish
• intrigue

Psalm 38:1: "O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath; neither chasten me in Your fury, for Your arrows stick fast in me, and Your hand presses heavily upon me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger; nor rest in my bones because of my sin… [here's a prayer of repentance; think of the anguish that he was going through at this time] …for my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me" (vs 1-4).

Here we have a great example that when things become too much, that you feel oppressed, burdened down, and it's hard to bear it, you turn to God! Always trust God! Now notice how bad it was:

Verse 5: "My wounds are putrefied and fester because of my foolishness."

Didn't we read where he said, 'Man at his very best is altogether vanity.' He was not exalting himself.

• he knew that he was king because of God
• he knew that he won battles because of God
• he knew that he had many enemies against him, even within his own household and council

Here he is sick; v 6: "I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long."

So, you think you have a difficulty and problem, look at this one:

Verse 7: "For my loins are filled with a burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and painfully broken; I groan because of the anguish of my heart" (vs 7-8)—quite a thing!

All of us have been somewhere close to that in our lifetime, and all of that is because that will test and prove us. God proves us by the difficulties and things that we go through!

Verse 9: "My LORD, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You." What does he do? He completely yields to God with all his heart!

Verse 10: "My heart pants; my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand apart from my plague; and my neighbors stand far off. And those who seek my life lay snares for me; and those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and plot deceptions all the day long" (vs 10-12).

This is also part of a prophecy of what Christ went through, because he had to work in the midst of his enemies all the time. They were looking to get him.

Verse 13: "But like a deaf one, I do not hear; and I am like a dumb one who opens not his mouth. Thus I am as a man who hears not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs, for in You, O LORD, do I hope; You will answer, O LORD my God" (vs 13-15). Quite a tremendous thing! Look at what he was doing!

Verse 18: "For I will confess my iniquity…"—that's Who you repent to: God the Father and Jesus Christ.

The promises given in 1-John 1 is that He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness IF we confess our sin. Of course, the sins that God is most interested in are those that are in the mind! That's why we have the laws and commandments of God written in our mind and heart so that will cleanse our mind!

"…I am full of anxiety because of my sin. And my enemies are vigorous; they are strong; and those who hate me without reason are multiplied" (vs 18-19). This is obviously also a prophecy of what Jesus went through!

Verse 20: "And those who render evil for good oppose me because I follow what is good."

David was so down and low—in spite of his trusting in God—look what he said:

Verse 21: "Forsake me not, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O LORD my salvation" (vs 21-22).

WOW! Look at how he confessed! Now let's look at how he confessed after the situation with Bathsheba. Notice that he understood that that sin was directly against God. Again, here's good example of deep repentance, clear into the heart! That is called a catharsis, which is a great cleansing! Notice how David did it here:

Psalm 51:1: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me" (vs 1-3).

That's quite a thing! That's why we go through things like this. Certain major things in our life stick in our mind and we remember what we did. That serves as a warning. God will forgive the sin, but that will remain as a warning to not do it ever again!

Verse 4: "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight…"

Why is that true every time we sin? Because God has given his laws and commandments, and sin and transgressions are violations of the laws and commandments of God. So, it is only against God. Yes, he caused the husband of Bathsheba—Uriah the Hittite—to be killed in battle. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and she bore a child and God took the life of that child so that it would not bring any further reproach upon the kingdom.

That's a difficult thing, but because of that sin—even with the repentance that he had—so likewise with us: When we repent there comes a time where we have a discipline from God. The discipline from God to David was that his whole household and parts of his kingdom would rebel against him, and Absalom tried to take over the kingdom, and he was a son that David loved greatly, but he turned out to be a real rebel! That's all came because of the sin with Bathsheba!

Verse 4: "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight, that You might be justified when You speak and be in the right when You judge."

David examined himself, his attitude, his carnal nature and everything about himself, and he understood this that like the New Testament says, every human being—because of the sin of Adam and Eve—has the law of sin and death in them! This is the source of sin that comes from within. The source of sin that comes from without is from Satan the devil.

Verse 5: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." It's not that his mother was committing adultery; but human nature from the instant that they are conceived until they die have the law of sin and death, and that's what David means when he says that he was born in iniquity and conceived in sin.

Notice how to overcome that, and this is the lifetime of:

• grace
• mercy
• forgiveness
• repentance
• changing
• developing
• growing in grace and knowledge

Right here:

Verse 6: "Behold, You desire Truth in the inward parts…"—your inner thoughts, inner mind and everything down to the smallest little thing in your brain, because God says that He's even going to judge the secrets of men. That's why repentance like this is really profound and important, and what we need to do.

"…You desire Truth in the inward parts…" in the mind!

• Truth is the Word of God
• Truth is the commandments of God
• Truth is the precepts of God
• Truth is the Law of God

What proceeds from God is Truth!

"…and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom" (v 6). When that happens, we see our sin, and we learn and acknowledge! Look at King Hezekiah and King Josiah—two very righteous kings.

Hezekiah prayed to God and God destroyed the whole army of 180,000 of the Assyrians. Then he got all the spoil that the armies had gathered, coming down from Assyria and going clear into Egypt. He took it all into his house and the treasury house of the Lord.

This was quite a thing! Then Hezekiah got sick and was ready to die. God sent Isaiah to tell him to set his house in order because he was going to die. But Hezekiah turned to the wall and wept sore, and cried out to God: 'O God, spare me.' So, God heard and answered his prayer and gave him 15 years more life. Quite a blessing!

But then he acted foolishly; the ambassadors from Babylon who heard of this great victory over the Assyrians, came to Hezekiah to find out what it was. Hezekiah was flattered by them so much that he did the foolish thing of showing them all the wealth and booty that he took from the Assyrians as well as all that God had given him.

So then Isaiah came, on God's instruction, and said, 'Who were these men?' They were from Babylon. What did you show them? I showed them everything, there was nothing I withheld from showing them! Isaiah said, 'You've done foolishly! All of this shall go to Babylon, but it will happen after you die!'

So, then Hezekiah said, 'I'll have peace in my day.' Though he was righteous, Hezekiah did not turn to God—like David did—in these troubles. He died and it all went to Babylon.

The other one was King Josiah who straightened everything out, made all the people keep the Laws of God after he heard what was read from the Book of the Law. Then he made everybody keep the commandments of God and for 12 years it was really, really good.

Then there was a battle with the Egyptians and Josiah wanted to go out and fight, and he was told not to go fight. During that 12 years they had a lot of peace up to this point, and if he would have stayed back they would have won the battle. But no, he disguised himself as an ordinary soldier and went out and took an arrow and died.

So, it's important to understand what David did here. He understood the difficulties that would come after him, even though he was forgiven the sins.

Verse 6: "Behold, You desire Truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (vs 6-7).

Then he went on to say, v 11: "Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me." Very important, because God came very close to doing it! Had David not repented this way, it would have happened. But God restored him!

Verse 12: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and let Your free spirit uphold me. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall turn back to You. Deliver me from the guilt of shedding blood, O God, O God of my salvation, then my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness" (vs 12-14).

Verse 16: "For You do not desire sacrifice…" because this repentance came direct from God!

Psa. 86 is one we've covered before, but it's also very good for us to understand, and this fits right in with 1-John 1 & 2, that Jesus is the propitiation of our sins.

Psalm 86:1: "Bow down Your ear, O LORD, answer me, for I am poor and needy." Don't get lifted up!

Look what happened to the Church in our day when they got lifted up and carried away with money and sin! That church no longer exists! The man who was the leader of it always wanted to be with rich people. Now the campus where they had their college is completely changed with the exception of the auditorium, the student center, the garage and gymnasium. Those were sold to two people:

• the auditorium to a Chinese Pentecostal Church dedicated by Benny Hinn when they took possession of it
• the Maranatha Christian School, a private school

All of the rest of it has been turned into expensive condominiums! They tore down the beautiful classrooms. They tore down where the television studio was, and coming down the hill on Green Street they tore down the administration building and built four stories of expensive condominiums! What a judgment that God finally carried out upon the sins there in Pasadena.

You can never promote spiritual growth with physical things and by physical means! Can't do it!

Psalm 86:1: "Bow down Your ear, O LORD, answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am Holy; O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You" (vs 1-2). That's what we need to do!

We need to believe in God always, and trust Him and not lean to our own understanding. See what happens when that occurs! Lean to God's understanding!

Verse 3: "Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I cry unto You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O LORD, do I lift up my soul… [quite a Psalm of repentance] …for You, LORD, are good and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy to all those who call upon You" (vs 3-5)—with a true heart!

Verse 6: "Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me" (vs 6-7).

Let's see the that this is verified in 1-John 1; he's talking about not only the brethren, but himself:

1-John 1:5: "And this is the message that we have heard from Him and are declaring to you: that God is Light, and there is no darkness at all in Him. If we proclaim that we have fellowship with Him, but we are walking in the darkness… [Satan's way (Acts 26)l the power of Satan] …we are lying to ourselves… [the worst lie is to lie to yourself, you believe it and deceive yourself] …and we are not practicing the Truth" (vs 5-6)—living by every word of God!

Verse 7: "However, if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His own Son, cleanses us from all sin." He is ready to forgive!

Verse 8: "If we say that we do not have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the Truth is not in us." Constantly the Truth, the Truth, the Truth! Remember that:

• God is true
• Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
• the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth
• the Bible is called the Word of Truth

Verse 9: "If we confess our own sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us" (vs 9-10).

See how we have that in Psa. 86, which also is a prophecy of what was written here in the New Testament in 1-John 1. Now we need to complete the whole thought:

1-John 2:1: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And yet, if anyone does sin… [which we do] …we have an Advocate with the Father; Jesus Christ the Righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins…" (vs 1-2)—the continual atoning through the shed blood of Jesus Christ to forgive us and justify us to God, and to put us in right standing to Him, just exactly as David was pleading in Psa. 86!

"…and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (v 2)—in God's plan according to His Holy Days!

(Break)

Psa. 32—this is quoted in the New Testament as one of the main activities that Jesus Christ would do. It also shows:

• God's love
• God's mercy
• God's forgiveness

And how He deals with us!

Psalm 32:1: "Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." All of that is accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

Verse 2: "Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." There's only one person recorded in the New Testament who had no guile, and that was Nathaniel!

That's quite interesting, indeed. It shows that when we come to God for repentance, we come with our whole heart. We don't treat it as though it's removing a little dust off the shelf.

Verse 3: "When I kept silent, my bones wore away through my groaning all the day long, for by day and by night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You… [not to any man] …and my iniquity I have not hidden…. [you don't come and repent partially] …I said, 'I will confess my transgression to the LORD,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah" (vs 3-5).

Quite an important thing, and how important that is to take place!

Verse 6: "For this reason let every Godly one pray to You in a time when You may be found…"

If we don't turn to God when we need to, when we have sin that we need to repent of, He may not be found the way you want it.

Verse 7: "You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall encircle me with songs of deliverance. Selah."

Notice what happens then, because when we are resurrected and in the Kingdom of God, we're going to be teaching people God's way. So, what we do here, we're learning God's way through living the way that God wants us to live.

Verse 8: "You said, 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you, My eye shall be upon you.'" That's God directing us:

• with His Spirit
• with His Truth
• with His righteousness

Verse 9: "'Be not like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding—which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.' The wicked has many sorrows, but His steadfast love surrounds him who trusts in the LORD" (vs 9-10). Think about that!

God's steadfast love always there surrounding you! The way David writes these things is very descriptive.

Verse 11: "Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart."

The amazing attitude that David had, and this is what we need to have. We need to understand that God is always there, and we can cry out to Him and we confess our sins, and we confess them all! Not part, but all!

Psalm 62:1: "Only for God does my soul wait in silence; from Him comes my salvation."

Even though we have the things we need to do, only God can save us. Even though we keep the commandments of God and His Holy Days, and we do those things that are pleasing in His sight—because we're His workmanship and God has ordained that we are to walk in these things—we trust in God! We can't trust in our own ways! It won't work!

Verse 2: "He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved." Even though sin may come along, you're not greatly moved away from God!

Verse 3: "How long will you imagine mischief against a man? You shall be slain, all of you… [now he's directing this to the wicked] …you shall be like a bowing wall and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his great height; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. Selah" (vs 3-4).

That's the way it is in the world, and likewise is a prophecy of the enemies of Christ. It would be interesting to see going through all the Psalms how many of these things applied to Christ. We'll see one of the most profound that David did a little bit later.

Verse 5: "My soul, wait in silence for God alone; for from Him comes my hope. He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my strong tower; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory, the Rock of my strength; my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times… ]always] …you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah" (vs 5-8).

That's why we have prayer and study every day, because we are in training, and this training comes from God through His Spirit. That's why we need to come to Him every day in prayer, in study and have our mind changed, converted and transformed.

Look out at the world and here is a true statement, v 9: "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie… [that's true] …when weighed in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity." Worse than just vanity! Though they're upheld as the great this, that and the other thing!

Verse 10: "Trust not in oppression, and do not take pride in stolen goods; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. God has spoken once; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God" (vs 10-11)—the power for wealth! And we understand that it comes from God!

• we have to be diligent
• we have to be honest
• we have to apply ourselves
• we have to ask God to be with us

and God will bless us! Those blessings can be used to further preach the Gospel and teaching the brethren so we can attain to the resurrection!

Verse 12: "Also to You, O LORD, belongs mercy; for You give to every man according to his work."

Psalm 16:1: "Preserve me, O God, for in You do I take refuge. I have said to the LORD, 'You are my LORD; I have no goodness apart from You'" (vs 1-2).

Think about that! There is no goodness that is spiritual, everlasting goodness in human flesh. They can do good deeds, but goodness without hypocrisy, and goodness without the evil of human nature behind it, can only come from God.

Verse 3: "As for the saints… [that's all of us] …in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all My delight" This is God's speaking to us!

Do you think God is pleased when we're keeping the Sabbath, the Feast like we're doing now? Of course! That is so we can trust God and do it in the right way. It will be a great and marvelous thing, like the great Feast we've had so far.

Verse 5: "The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup; You shall uphold my lot."

We are told that we are joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8). There it is! And our inheritance is eternal life and living in New Jerusalem!

Verse 7: "I will bless the LORD Who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the nights."

David thought a lot about God at night, prayed to God. thought on His Word and looked forward to really doing the will of God. That should be the same way with us! God will instruct us; He will give us things to understand. There will be many moments, like a light that goes on BING! 'Oh, now I understand!' BING! Really, that is true!

Verse 8: "I have set the LORD always before me…. [never leaving God] …Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, My heart is glad, and My glory rejoices; My flesh also shall rest in safety" (vs 8-9). That means when you're put in the grave after you die!

Here's a prophecy of Jesus that will also apply to us, but we will be corrupted and disappear. The flesh, because dust you are and to dust you shall return.

Verse 10: "For You will not abandon My soul to the grave; neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption."

That's directly of Christ and quoted in the New Testament as well. Here's what God will do for us. This is what Do will do, and that's why we have

• the Spirit of God
• the Word of God
• the Sabbath
• the Holy Days
• the Feasts

Verse 11: "You will make known to Me the path of life… [that not just the life we're living now; but eternal life] …in Your presence is fullness of joy…. [no more sorrow, no more all of the fighting human nature] …At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

I have no idea what that means, because I don't know what pleasure as a spirit being really consists of. Today we all have emotions and feelings. Think about what we're going to have as spirit beings. We can't think very far on that because we have no way of judging it.

Psalm 17:5: "My steps have held fast to Your paths, my feet have not slipped." That's interesting; quite a thing to say!

Verse 6: "I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me; hear my speech. Show Your marvelous loving kindness, O Savior of those seeking refuge in You; by Your right hand save them from those who rise up against them" (vs 6-7). Take care of the enemy and we don't even know it!

Verse 8: "Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings."

How many times in the book of Psalms does it talk about 'shadow under the wings'? protected by God?

When you look this way you can't see the shadow. The only thing you can see is the shadow of the tree on the ground, but that which makes the shadow you cannot see. It's likewise with God's protection. His protection comes upon you, but you can't see it. After you've gone through whatever you've gone through, you can look back and see that God was with you and helped you.

Verse 14: "From men by Your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your treasure. They are full of children, and will leave their riches to their babes. As for me…" (vs 14-15).

David comparing all the wealth, all the things of decent, good people in the world, and he's saying that the most important thing for him is the resurrection. Look at what it says, and this is also a prophecy of Christ:

Verse 15: "As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness"—the resurrection!

What did Jesus say that likeness would be like: The children of the Kingdom shall shine as the sun in it's full strength! What kind of glory is that going to be? Look at us today, just flesh and blood, we all have our physical problems up and down. Time marches on and no one is getting younger; everybody is getting older and then we're going to expire.

Look what we have when we're resurrected, "…when I awake, with Your likeness" Remember that we started out, we're made 'a little lower than God,' so that God could come in the flesh and we could become like God. There it is right there.

We're going to look at some of these Psalms that are directly concerning Christ and how David was the only one who received these words. That's how righteous he was, and how close to God he was.

Psalm 40:1—a prophecy of Jesus Christ: "I waited patiently for the LORD, and He inclined unto me and heard my cry."

• Did God always answer Jesus' prayer? Yes!
• What did Jesus say? I thank you O Lord that you always hear Me!

That means hear and answer!

Verse 2: "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my steps." That's bringing us out of this sinful world and our own sins, and putting us on Christ!

Verse 3: "And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God; many shall see and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." That's what we're going to do during the Millennium!

Just think how many are going to enter the Kingdom of God then. Brethren, the more we learn of the way of God and how great it is, it is absolutely phenomenal indeed!

Verse 4: "Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust and does not respect the proud, nor those who turn aside to lies."

There are a lot of lying doctrines out there. So, we need to know the Truth and know the doctrines. We need to be strong in the Lord, and not relent to any of their attacks against the Truth.

Verse 5: "O LORD my God, many things You have done, Your wonderful works and Your thoughts which are toward us; there is none to compare unto You; if I could declare and speak of them, they would be more than can be told."

Stop and think about this! From the time you were baptized until now—whatever length of time that is, whether a short period or long period of time—but for a longer period of time, you can look back and see many of the things that God has done for you:

• taken care of you
• heard you
• healed you
• watched over you
• taught you

Here are the words of Christ found in Heb. 10:

Verse 6: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened…"

Not quite as good a translation as it could be, but in Heb. It says, 'You have prepared a body for Me.' That's Christ!

Verse 7: "Then I said, 'Lo, I come; in the Scroll of the Book it is written of Me.'"

Daniel 10:21: "But I will show you that which is written in the Scripture of Truth…."—or the Scroll of the Book or Bible!

There are probably many of them up in heaven before the Throne of God. Everything that we have down here is written up there. Think about that in relationship to always being honest with the Scriptures. When we were working on translating the Bible—the New Testament I did and Michael Heiss did the Old Testament—that's what we had in mind: the Truth of God! That's why in The Holy Bible in Its Original Order you will not find any of our own ideas; but you will find the Truth of God and the Word of God rightly interpreted.

Psalm 40:7: "Then I said, 'Lo, I come; in the Scroll of the Book it is written of Me. I delight to do Your will, O My God; and Your Law is within My heart'" (vs 7-8).

Verse 9: "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation… [wherever he was down there in Galilee and Judea and so forth] …lo, I have not kept back my lips, O LORD, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not hidden Your loving kindness and Your Truth from the great congregation" (vs 9-10).

The ministry of Jesus Christ summarized right here in Psa. 40, written by King David; an amazing thing! A thousand years before Christ, and carried out and we know everything that took place.

Verse 10: "I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation…"

Think about that, not only in Jesus when He was preaching, but also inspiring with the apostles. But David was given these words. That's quite a thing!

"…I have not hidden Your loving kindness and Your Truth from the great congregation. Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; let Your loving kindness and Your Truth always preserve me" (vs 10-11).

What was the truth? The resurrection from the dead! But notice what it was like constantly during the days of Jesus and His ministry, as well as probably David in his activities as king and fighting all the enemies all around.

Verse 12: "For evils without number have encircled me; my iniquities have taken hold on me…" This has to be David, but what were the iniquities that Jesus bore? The iniquities of us all!

"…so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me" (v 12). That's the weight of all the sins of the whole world!

Verse 13: "Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me." That was sure true through the resurrection, and God did!

Psa. 22—tie in with Isa. 52, which is looking at Christ from God's perspective of what Christ went through to carry the sins of the world. Psa. 22 is different; it's from Christ's perspective looking back to God and everything that He would go through. There are words here that I imagine that when David got done writing it he wondered why he wrote it this way. But this is what God inspired, and these are some of the very words of Jesus when He was on the cross dying.

Psalm 22:1: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me, and why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?…. [the very words while Christ was on the cross] …O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not answer; and in the night season, and am not silent. Yet, You are Holy, O You enthroned upon the praises of Israel" (vs 1-3).

Verse 6: "But I am a worm, and no man…" Think of the humility of the crucifixion, to where God in the flesh understood the weakness of everything; that He was so depleted of everything within that He was just like a worm.

"…a reproach of men and despised by the people…. [yes, they were gathered out there] …All who see Me mock Me; they shoot out the lip; they shake the head, saying, 'He trusted on the LORD; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, since He delights in Him!'" (vs 6-8).

'Yes, if You're the Christ come down off the cross,' they said.

Verse 9: "For You are He who took Me out of the womb… [going clear back to the time that He was conceived and born] …causing Me to trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth; You are My God from My mother's womb" (vs 9-10).

I wonder if He had any consciousness in His mother's womb? We don't know!

Verse 11: "Be not far from Me; for trouble is near, for there is none to help." No person to help, and they shouldn't and couldn't, because He was there to die for the sins of the world!

Verse 12: "Many bulls have encircled around Me; strong bulls of Bashan have surrounded Me." That means encircling the cross were the demons and Satan laughing, mocking and jeering!

They didn't believe that God could resurrect Him. They were thinking: 'We have the victory!' But His death was the victory over them and the sins of the world!

Verse 13: "They opened wide their mouths at Me, like a ravening and a roaring lion. 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" (vs 13-14).

These are all of His thoughts while He was on the cross dying, and those were given to David! No one else! That's how close David was to God.

Verse 15: "My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evildoers have encircled Me; they have pierced My hands and My feet; and You have brought Me into the dust of death" (vs 15-16). All those the very thoughts of Jesus when dying on the cross!

Verse 17: "I can count all My bones; they look and gloat over Me. They divide My garments among them and cast lots upon My vesture. But You, O LORD, be not far from Me; O My strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver My soul from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth; yea, and from the wild ox's horns. You have answered Me" (vs 17-21).

Through all of that He knew that God answered Him and He would be resurrected. Then His spirit went back to God.

Verse 22: "I will declare Your name to My brethren…"—which He did after He was resurrected He came back and taught the disciples out of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms about His life!

"'…in the midst of the congregation I will praise You.' You who fear the LORD, praise Him; all of you, the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and stand in awe of Him all of you, the seed of Israel" (vs 22-23).

Verse 27: "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD…"

David understood what was going to happen and that the Gospel would be preached around the world and everyone would hear. Just like it says in Matt. 24, 'This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached to all nations as a witness.'

"…and all the families of the nations shall worship before You… [the ultimate fulfillment of the plan of God] …for the Kingdom is the LORD'S and He rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him; even he who cannot keep his own soul alive. A seed shall serve Him…" (vs 27-30)—that's us!

Remember Gal. 3—if you are Christ's then you are heirs according to the promise and you are the seed of Abraham! That's what it's talking about right here.

"…it shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation…. [and the coming generations, and the coming generation after that] …They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall yet be born, that He has done this" (vs 30-31)—or finished this!

There it was, David—a man after God's heart—who cried out to the Lord all the time; who had troubles and difficulties as a king and the things that he went through. He went through many things that were precursors of what Jesus would go through.

Psa. 23—we can liken this Psalm--the prayer of David—when Christ was first resurrected in the tomb.

Psalm 23:1: "The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want"—or lack anything! Isn't that true if you're just resurrected from the dead?

Verse 2: "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (vs 2-3). Everything about what Jesus did in completing the work that God gave Him to do!

Verse 4: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… [which He did, and died and was resurrected] …I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies…." (vs 4-5).

The power and preaching the Gospel went out in the presence of the enemies that came against Christ and crucified Him, according to the prophecies that were given.

"…You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life… [which is into all eternity] …and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (vs 5-6)—the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles! That will also apply to us!

Now, picture this—Psa. 24—as the angels are accompanying Jesus as He ascends up to the Throne of God the Father.

• think of the rejoicing
• think of the singing
• think of everything that was going on in heaven around the Throne of God

Because now Jesus was coming to the Father:

• Who had been crucified
• Who had been victorious over Satan the devil
• Who was victorious over the enemies
• Who was the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God

To take away the sins of the world!

Psalm 24:7: "Lift up your heads, O you gates… [the gate that Jesus entered into to go to be accepted of God the Father] …and be lifted up, O you everlasting doors; that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle" (vs 7-8). He won the greatest battle of all!

Verse 9: Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you everlasting doors; that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah" (vs 9-10).

What an amazing thing that was that David was given these words of the actual events to take place in the life of Christ:

• His crucifixion
• His death
• His resurrection
• His ascension into glory

Everything that was given to David, words that are not given to any of the other prophets!

Psa. 118—this is what we need to have. In a couple of days we are going back into the world and we're going to be needing:

• the protection of God
• the strength of His Spirit
• the power of His faith and belief in us
• His love that surrounds us

Psalm 118:13: "You have thrust hard at me so that I might fall, but the LORD helped me." Keep that in mind when trouble comes upon you!

Verse 14: "The LORD is my strength and song… [tie in Psa. 22-24] …and He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous… [the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles] … the right hand of the LORD does mighty things. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the LORD" (vs 14-17)—the resurrection!

Verse 18: "The LORD has sorely chastened me; but He has not given me over to death."

Now notice v 19, because what happened to Jesus when He ascended back into heaven: the gates were opened for the King of Glory! The gates will be opened on the Sea of Glass for us!

Verse 19: "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I will praise You, for You have answered me and have become my salvation" (vs 19-21). Amazing!

This is important because these are the events that lead to the Kingdom of God on earth!

Now let's come back where we began, Revelation 3:9: "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who proclaim themselves to be Jews and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will cause them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you."

This word in the Greek for loved is 'agape'! The word love thatis 'phileo'—brotherly love. Here this is a higher class of love.

Verse 10: "Because you have kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you from the time of temptation, which is about to come upon the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth." We can see the seeds of it already beginning to sprout!

Verse 11: "Behold, I am coming quickly; hold fast that which you have so that no one may take away your crown." Hold fast:

• to the Truth
• to the love
• to the righteousness
• to the dedication
• to everything of God

through His Spirit!

Verse 12: "The one who overcomes… [that will be us if we do] …will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall not go out anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which will come down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name."

Let no one steal your crown!

Verse 13: "The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

This the key of Davidandthe heart of David, so that we can be in New Jerusalem with Jesus Christ. Amen!

Scriptural References:

• Luke 10:23-24
• 1 Peter 1:10-16
• Psalm 84:1-12
• Psalm 8:1-2, 4-6
• Psalm 38:1-15, 18-22
• Psalm 51:1-7, 11-14, 16
• Psalm 86:1-7
• 1 John 1:5-10
• 1 John 2:1-2
• Psalm 32:1-11
• Psalm 62:1-12
• Psalm 16:1-3, 5, 7-11
• Psalm 17:5-8, 14-15
• Psalm 40:1-7
• Daniel 10:21
• Psalm 40:7-13
• Psalm 22:1-3, 6-23, 27
• Psalm 23:1-6
• Psalm 24:7-10
• Psalm 118:13-21
• Revelation 3:9-13

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 3; 11
• Acts 26
• Romans 8
• Hebrews 10
• Isaiah 52
• Matthew 24
• Galatians 3

Also referenced: Book:
From a Speck of Dust to a Son of God: Why Were You Born? by Fred R. Coulter

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8/5/20

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