These words from the Psalms and Proverbs are as true today as ever they were. We have much to learn as Christians from the teachings of those who knew our Creator as intimately as these. Psalm 33 (KJV) 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. 11- Counsel- from the Hebrew root ‘ets’ meaning tree and used abstractly as ‘firmness’ and uprightness and that’s the root word but the word derived from it means the firm and upright advice or counsel. Thoughts- the Hebrew root refers to a design or purpose and continues into the thoughts (as in the designs of the mind). The counsel and thoughts of Yahweh/Yehovah (translated as ‘the LORD’ in the KJV & others) will stand firm forever. Even though there may be a new covenant, the Word of our Creator stands for eternity. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, spoke much regarding the Word of God handed down in the law and the prophets. He said not one word of it would fail and we have much to learn from studying God’s law. The law cannot save us, because the law condemns us, because we are all guilty of that law. This teaches why we are in need of our salvation. In saying in verse 11 ‘to all generations’, this means that it will never be put aside throughout the generations of mankind. Even the New Testament doesn’t nullify the counsel set forth before in the Old Testament, because God’s Word (as given in His counsel and thoughts handed down through Moses and the prophets) stands to all generations. Notice in several verses- ‘all generations’, ‘all the sons of men’, ‘all the inhabitants of the earth’. Though the Bible clearly points out that God ‘chose’ (selected, set apart) a particular people (the Jews/Israelites) to be a special people to transmit God’s will (plan, design, ie- counsel and thoughts) to mankind, they were not the only people God wished to offer His mercy to. They were to teach the world about the true Creator. As Paul pointed out in Romans, the promise offered to Abraham based on his belief was not to Abraham alone, but to those who trusted in God, our Creator. As is pointed out in verse 18 above, “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy”. “22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” In verse 22 notice carefully that it says ‘according as we hope in thee’. How accordingly is your hope in Him? Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. (KJV) People always tend to think that their way of thinking is right, but the LORD measures the uprightness of all men’s thoughts. The law called for a sacrifice, but those who knew the Lord knew that His desire was more for justice and right judgment than for sacrifice. The sacrifice called for in the law was a foreshadow of the true Sacrifice that God had ordained from the foundation of the world that His Only Begotten Son might make on behalf of those who came to Him. Proverbs 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. (KJV) This is in keeping with Jesus’ teaching of how we were to deal with our enemies. All that Jesus taught is in keeping with the Old Testament teaching, because Jesus came not to destroy the Old Testament teachings, but to fulfill them. Some may find verses in the Old Testament that tell of people living outside of God’s law. This is because God revealed His law to demonstrate to all mankind how that we could not find salvation in His law, but only in His mercy by trusting in His Word. As Jesus taught, and even the Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t argue this point, all the law and the prophets hold the love for our Creator as the greatest commandment, and love for our neighbor as the second greatest commandment. Indeed, by living to the perfect ideals of love, we will keep all of God’s law. Even so, we fall to our own selfishness and greed all to easily. This is why we say, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 21:54:27 +0000
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