"A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"

Transcription

1 "A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (Psa_101:1-8) Psa 101:1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. Psa 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Psa 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psa 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Psa 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Psa 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. Psa 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. Psa 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD. All things are for our sakes (2Co_4:15-17) including the increase of late that God has given in the recent blessing of a wedding and another one that is on the way. These blessings in the physical help us see and understand how increase is given and manifested through the body of Christ (1Co_3:6) as two become one in the spiritual, whether that is between a husband and wife or as we become one in our own heavens with our bride groom Jesus Christ (Mat_25:6). That oneness is reflected in the strength that God gives us to be able to do all things decently and in order within the church (1Co_14:40), and that order is shown in marriage as well as in the way Christ loves the church (Eph_5:23-27). In this week's study we will look again at the mystery of faith or mystery of godliness as it is also called (1Ti_1:19, 1Ti_3:16), that we share together and that God is forming through Christ's bride as we partake of this communion of suffering together (1Co_10:16), enduring the cross that we are called to bear by way of the author and finisher of our faith Jesus Christ (Mat_16:24, Rev_19:7, Heb_12:2). The washing of water by the word is what is required to see the bride made ready (Rev_19:7) and that process is stated in this Psalm with these words found in verse eight: "I will early destroy [the quick work of God] all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD". When we overcome those things in our land that God allows to be there, we will be nourished by those giants (Num_14:9) and be given the strength through the grace and faith also given to us (Eph_2:8), to enter into the kingdom where nothing shall be found in it that defiles it (Rev_21:27). God has called his children to hear the cry made at midnight: "behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him", and to trim our lamps which is symbollic of destroying the wicked of the land, those impurities in our life that are preventing the light of Christ from burning brightly and purely in our heavens (Mat_25:6-7). To not be able to see and follow through with these commandments of the Lord (being a

2 hearer as well as a doer of the word) is akin to not clearly hearing the trumpet to fight a good fight of faith, or to put on the whole suit of armour, or to do a whole host of other things that are not possible to do without Christ giving us the victory to do so, and therefore boasting is excluded for the body of Christ because of the faith being given to us to overcome (Rom_8:35-37, Rom_3:27). Even these two things are accomplished by all ten virgins of (Mat_25:7) who hear "the cry made at midnight" and all arise and all trim their lamps; and so we are reminded that it truly is a gift of God to have that extra oil symbollic of God's holy spirit to light our way in this dark world as He helps us discern the narrow way of escape that He has set before His children (1Pe_4:18, 1Co_10:13, Mat_7:14). In this study, I hope to show the inward application of God's judgement upon our first man Adam as described in the first seven verses, both in what it is and what it should be doing to us as the bride of Christ, and how it all points to verse eight that tells us the blessing that this judgement produces on those with whom God is working in this age: "I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD" When we hold fast the mystery of the faith by proving all things, the mystery of godliness will be revealed; and that is the blessing that God has called us unto, to "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" Psa 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD. Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. There is spiritual fruit that is born out of the ground of understanding the headship of Christ in our life, and that knowledge helps us possess our souls and brings peace that passes all understanding as we prove all things and continue on holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience (1Ti_3:9-10). It is that order that the world is missing and that Babylon cannot obtain because faith has not been given to her to do today what is being given to the spiritual Israel of God (Rom_9:32, Gal_6:16). Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy,

3 and upon the Israel of God. As we mentioned in a previous study, knowing how the headship of God's plan works is the means to how we can hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience as described in these verses (1Co_11:3, Eph_5:23-33); and it is the 'critical spiritual infrastructure' so to speak, that allows for peace of mind even in this very dark and unsettled world in which we now live (Mat_12:39). God does ALL things decently and in order, and scripture emphasizes ALL things because in the end it is this order that ultimately witnesses to the ALL in ALL plan of God (1Co_15:28). 1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. our first verse: Psa_101:1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy H2617 and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. The english word 'mercy' is translated from various hebrew and greek words and mentioned 276 times in the KJV. Strong's number H2617 is used 249 of those times (according to KJC; BTSCTVM+ says it is used 247 times), and is first mentioned is in regard to Lot escaping the judgement of Sodom. Gen 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise,

4 take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful [ H2551 pity/compassion] unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. Gen 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. Gen 19:18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Gen 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace [type of Eph_2:8] in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy [ H2617 goodness/kindness/mercy], which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Notice how this story is connected to judgment, and to grace and faith as the angels hasten Lot, saying arise, take thy wife [your faith, your church, your body], and thy two daughters [the witness of Christ needed to accomplish this coming out of Babylon], and the miracle of God dragging Lot without the camp, without the city where we are all commanded to go, and "escape to the mountain [Christ Psa_121:1], lest thou be consumed"(heb_13:13). We escape Sodom and Egypt by dying daily (1Co_15:31) or symbollically lying dead in that great city that is spiritually called Sodom where we lay dead for three days (Rev_11:8, Rev_11:11). "I [We] sing of mercy and judgment unto thee O LORD will I [we] sing", because we know that this victory over our flesh is supernatural and one that requires the miracle of grace and faith as Christ works in us both to will and to do of our Fathers good pleasure (Php_2:13). Psa_101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. It would not have been wise for Lot to resist the angel of the Lord in this story we just read, and yet, as we know our flesh does not die easily and with these following verses (Gen_18:20-32 an entreatable two way conversation for our learning between Abraham a type of Christ in us seeking the will of God in this story as he commits the worldly concerns around him unto God), we are reminded that it is for His name's sake, or but for the grace of God, or for His righteousness working within his people, that regardless of our initial resistance to go into that narrow way that is Christ, God does show great mercy toward us to let grace abound toward those sons and daughters that He is receiving through much tribulation or through chastening and scourging in this age which is symbolized by the destruction of those very cities that Lot has been dragged out of (2Co_9:8, Rom_6:1, Heb_12:6-7, Php_4:13, Joh_6:44). No one's heart is perfect before the Lord and the scripture says we deceive ourselves if we think otherwise (1Jn_1:8-10, Rom_3:10) so what the Psalmist is telling us here is not that he is wise of himself or that he is perfect of himself but rather that we ought to walk with an entreatable heart, an heart that is like a child's heart, easy to be instructed and given correction when it is needed (Mat_18:3). That correction comes when we are fighting a good fight of faith and trimming our lamps and pressing toward the prize of the mark of

5 the high calling in Him, that is when the Lord "come[s] unto me" when I "walk within my house" the temple of God the body Christ the church "with a perfect heart". That good fight of faith will have us staying in the light and being cleansed by the hope of glory within us (Php_3:14-15, 1Jn_3:3). 1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. It is interesting to note that Strong's numbers H8549 and H1870 translated into english as "perfect way" is mentioned in 13 verses in the old testament, and shows us brightly WHOSE ways are perfect, and as 2Sa_22:33 puts it so perfectly, HE makes my way perfect: Deu_32:4 He is the Rock his work is perfect H8549 : for all his ways H1870 are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 2Sa_22:31 As for God, his way H1870 is perfect H8549 ; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 2Sa_22:33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way H1870 perfect H8549. Psa_18:30 As for God his way H1870 is perfect H8549 : the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psa_18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way H1870 perfect H8549. Psa_101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect H8549 way H1870. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Psa_101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect H8549 way H1870, he shall serve me. Psa_119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled H8549 in the way H1870, who walk in the law of the LORD. Pro_11:5 The righteousness of the perfect H8549 shall direct his way H1870 : but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6 Pro_11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright H8549 in their way H1870 are his delight. Pro_28:10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way H1870, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright H8549 shall have good things in possession. Pro_28:18 Whoso walketh uprightly H8549 shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways H1870 shall fall at once. Eze_28:15 Thou wast perfect H8549 in thy ways H1870 from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. [to understand that we did not 'fall' nor were we created perfect, read the whole chapter of Ezekiel 28 along with this study done years ago by Mike: Psa_101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. We're going to fall seven complete symbollic times (Pro_24:16-18, Rom_11:20) in this age of ours, and learn to abide in the fire [God's word], and God willing we will always "hate the work of them that turn aside" and not let it "cleave to me [us]". Who is it then that is being cleansed in this age so that we "set no wicked thing before mine eyes", but those who God is dragging to Christ (Joh_6:44) because we don't naturally want to go toward a light that is going to judge us, and yet if we are blessed to be amongst those who are judged in this age and shown God's goodness that leads us unto repentance (Rom_2:4), we will see these verses of Isaiah (Isa_33:14-16) being fulfilled in our life day to day. Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; Isa 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Sadly, there are those who have left our fellowship and declared that they are not the sinners in Zion who are afraid, nor have a fear of God, which in their minds is an unhealthy way to walk through this life. God is showing us that this is the highmindedness of (Rom_11:20) that we must guard against and not let it "cleave to me". All have sinned and were all in sinful flesh and it is better to find out that we are 'the man' today (2Sa_12:7), the sinner in Zion who has been blessed to be "surprised" by our hypocritical

7 flesh. We must live these words as well, and not put them off on someone else: "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites". We must not say 'I'm not afraid I have liberty in Christ, I can do what I want when I want'. That of course is a lascivious spirit that denies "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jud_1:4). Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Psa_101:4 person. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked This verse points once again to Isaiah chapter 33 and remind us that unless we are in that fire, these sins which are in the flesh of all men will cleave unto us and manifest in our hearts. This is some of what God's word says about a froward heart: H6141 iqqesh ik-kashe' From H6140; distorted; hence false: - crooked, froward, perverse. Pro_11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Pro_17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. Psa_18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. Psa_18:26 is really only one of God's many ways that He will answer a fool according to their folly (Pro_26:4) and why we want to keep ourselves pure and unspotted in this age visiting the fatherless and widow in their affliction (Jas_1:27). Psa_101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Nothing is hidden from the Almighty and we know that he hears and causes our every thought, so if we are slandering our neighbour and thinking we can do this in secret (privily), God has allowed us to deceive ourselves (Isa_63:17); and if He is working with us in this age, He will destroy that part of our life that is defiling the temple of God within us (1Co_3:17-18, Ecc_10:20). Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our

8 heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. Ecc 10:20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. This section of scripture, like all scripture, is written for God's elect and we are being admonished to know that God is 24/7 on the job and will deal with "an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer". Psa 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. Verse six is a great reminder to tell us to look to the Lord in one another and follow each other as we follow Christ (1Co_11:1). 1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. It is when we walk in that "perfect way" that we discussed earlier, as walking in the light of God's word that cleanses us of all iniquity (1Jn_1:7) and is the true fellowship of the spirit, that we should want for one another. When we are blessed to walk in the truth of His word, we will be in that faithful land raised together in heavenly places (Joh_8:21-32, Joh_14:15, Joh_15:10, Joh_14:23, Eph_2:6). 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Psa 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. Deceitfulness is found in Babylon, the little leaven of the pharisees that can leaven the whole lump of Christ's body and choke the word of God (Gal_5:9, Mat_13:22, Mar_4:19, Heb_3:13) and so we are admonished not to think above what is written (1Co_4:6), and to prove all things, and hold fast to what is true (1Th_5:21), and to fight a good fight of faith (1Ti_6:12), so that we can be ready to always do battle against those spirits that God sends our way to strengthen us, and that we can be reminded that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church (Eph_6:13, Jer_29:13, Exo_15:26, Mat_16:18). Mat_13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

9 Mar_4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Heb_3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. If we are being baptized in His death every day as we die daily (Rom_6:3), we will be able to become rich toward God and lay up treasure in heaven as opposed to being that house which we once were "full of deceit" believing that gain is godliness (Eph_2:1-2, 1Ti_6:5). It is God's undefiled word that quickens us and enables us to keep the diseases of Egypt away from the house of God, and God is admonishing us in these verses that deceit will not dwell within His house or tarry in His sight, not for long if he is working in that person's life (Ecc_8:11, 1Co_5:4-6). Isa_53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Jer_5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. It is the deceitfulness of the supposed riches of Babylon, the leaven of the Pharisees, that Christ warns us against along with covetousness, and the rich young ruler has them both and cannot relinquish them yet (Mat_16:6, Luk_12:15, Mat_19:21-22) Mat 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. The true riches are not seen and understood by the churches of this world and that is why God says we are so incredibly blessed in this age to have our eyes and ears open to what is the true gospel, the pearl of great price, that will one day save all mankind (Luk_10:20, Mat_13:46, Col_1:27). Psa_101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD. This, our last verse of this study, simply shows us again the means by which God is going to bless his people in this age, by "destroy[ing] all the wicked of the land" and "cut[ing] off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD" within (1Co_3:17-21). 1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this

10 world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; The "city of the Lord" is Jerusalem above the mother of us all, and God is going to finish this heavenly work within each member and build the temple of God that is being built without hands (Act_7:48, 1Ki_6:7). That workmanship of God, the building of that temple without hands, will require affliction but, as the rest of these verses show, after we endure that light affliction, after we bear each other's burdens through this very temporal life, there will be "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" awaiting us in the blessed and holy first resurrection (2Co_4:14-18, Rev_20:6, Rev_4:8, Act_20:35) 2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. I would like to end this study off with some verses that explain what that "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" is, and why we should encourage each other to keep pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Php_3:14): Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.