Psalm 76: "Dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Rev_6:10, Deu_12:1-2) Part III (verses 8-12) Psa 76:8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, Psa 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. Psa 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. Psa 76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. Psa 76:12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. In this last section of our study with Psalm 76, we will look at how God saves the "meek of the earth" who are given to learn to be "still" and let Him fight their every battle within and without (Exo_14:14, Deu_3:22). Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Deu 3:22 Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you. We mentioned the word "controversy" in last week's study and how it is connected to judgement in many verses in God's word (Mic_6:2, Hos_12:2, Hos_4:1). Mic 6:2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. Hos 12:2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. It is this judgement that will lead us to being still (Mar_14:60-61, 1Pe_3:4). Mar 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. The controversy in the land is what God begins in the heart of those being judged today,
and this judgement leads us to an inescapable place where we learn that we can, only by God's grace and faith, come to "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD"(Exo_14:13, 2Co_1:9). Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Where will we go to find the nourishment and example to be able to lie dead in this street (Rev_11:8) and no longer trust in our own fleshly reasoning minds (Pro_3:5-7)? The answer, as always, lies in our communion with the body of Christ, in Christ vineyard which we are (Joh_15:4-5). Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. It is within God's vineyard that we can glean from one another, and be still, and listen to Christ in each other, which is part of decreasing and abasing ourselves so Christ can increase (Luk_18:14, Php_2:3). Our chief desire is coming to want all men to be saved and to be those kind of first fruits who understand how this is accomplished by bearing each other's burdens and esteeming each other better which is how we decrease and Christ increases in each of our vineyard experiences. Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. If we are blessed to be still in this age to hear the voice of God in His vineyard (Deu_6:4), we will understand that God is avenging "our blood on them that dwell on the earth" (Rev_6:10, Deu_12:1-2) by first judging us and stilling our hearts so that we can become obedient children who will inherit the Kingdom of God (Mat_18:3, Rev_21:7). Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Deu 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. Deu 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. *** our first two verses in tonight's study *** Psa_76:8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, Psa 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. Death and judgement, Death and fear Death and stillness. There are a couple of treasures to unearth here: * Until judgement comes upon the world within and without, the earth will not fear and be still (1Ki_19:12). * Death is likened unto this "stillness" in scripture (Rev_11:8), and only those who are dead to sin and alive in Christ can be still in order to witness to this dying world. Christ's work/parable/word to raise the maid in Luk 8 points to those two thoughts above. First, consider the need to feed this maid after he raised her physically as a type of our being raised in heavenly places (Eph_2:6, Eph_1:20, Rom_4:25 search the word 'raised' in the new covenant to yield a great mini study) and fed only after we have died to self. This maid is a type of the elect who gives witness that the Lord is able to resurrect /heal /rebuke /exorcise /make whole our faith (see the entire 8th chapter of Luke for all of these examples that climax with this maid's resurrection at the end of this chapter), through the judgement that takes place in our heavens, and feeds us after the world witnesses our death and our being raised up, which will cause the world around us to fear and be still when it happens. Here are some verses that accompany these thoughts.
Luk_8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. Luk 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. Luk 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. This judgement that we're looking at is what saves the meek of the earth who are blessed to not only stumble unto Christ and "fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken" by His word (Isa_28:13-14), but also to have that word then purify us within -- by Christ, the rock -- crushing all the idols of our hearts that we so readily hold unto unless the Lord tears them down and builds us up anew (Mat_21:44, Jer_18:4-6, Act_7:49, Psa_127:1). Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isa 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Act 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psa_76:10 Surely the wrath H2534 of man shall praise H3034 thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain H2296. This verse compliments the idea that man's wrath is for a season and serves its overall purpose to the glory of God (Joh_19:10-11, Act_4:27-28). H2534 Total KJV Occurrences: 124 fury/ious/iously/, 73 wrath/ful/wroth, 35 H3034 Total KJV Occurrences: 114 praise/ed, 53 thank/s/ful/ing/giving, 40 confess/ed/eth/ing/ion/, 18 Joh 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. God has power in heaven and in earth (Isa_45:7) and demonstrates His love to the world by giving Christ and his body as a living sacrifice (Rom_12:1) who fill up in this age what is behind of the afflictions of Christ (Rom_4:25, Col_1:24, 1Jn_4:17). Just as Christ was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification, so is the elect raised with Christ in heavenly places today to become saviours for the rest of the world who will come to know God and His Son Jesus Christ through the church (Joh_17:3, Eph_3:10). The 'restraining' spoken of in this verse is tied to the idea that there is a right time for judgement for all the earth, each man in his order (2Th_2:6-12, 1Co_15:23) 2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 2Th_2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth G2722 G737 will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Psa_76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. We are told to vow H5087, and pay unto the Lord your God: which we know is our reasonable service (Rom_12:1). And what is the purpose of a vow H5087? Num_6:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow H5087 a vow H5088 of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: Accompanied with the promise that God will make our feet like hinds' feet (Psa_18:32-33) God's elect are given the mind of Christ and the faith and strength to be able to bring presents unto him as we endure through this life fearing him who "ought to be feared"(mat_10:28, 1Th_5:23). Psa 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Psa 18:33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Psa_76:12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. This last verse discusses in type and shadow the wickedness within all mankind that will be cut of in its time (1Th_5:23). These princes and kings of the earth are judged and the blood of Christ is avenged upon them that dwell upon the earth. The earth is a metaphor for where all this wickedness abides (1Jn_2:16). 1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. The stillness we have been looking at tonight can only come about as a result of God
dealing with our first Adamic voice that must decrease as Christ's voice and word and mind and way become the only one that matters (Joh_6:68, Joh_17:23). Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. That stillness only comes as we decrease. John knew it in part (Joh_3:30) but we know it much more clearly. Let's line up these verses to understand what that stillness means: Joh_3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease G1642. Heb_2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower G1642 G1024 G5100 than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man To decrease is to taste death and be baptized into Christ's death as we die daily (Rom_6:3-4, 1Co_15:31). Most assuredly "He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth" to fill us with that spirit that quickeneth and gives everlasting life. Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.