Psalm 149 Pt. 2 Final judgment and lasting praises.
Good morning.....
Ohio governor Mike DeWine is aggressively moving to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our state and we appreciate the measures that he has taken. We all have to make sacrifices for the greater good of our nation at this point.
We are using this "down time" to read more scripture and to draw closer to our wonderful God and Savior, Jesus Christ. I encourage all of our Readers around the world to do the same if you live in an area impacted by the virus.
The Godly testimony of Christians around the world can be used of God to point others to their singular hope, Jesus Christ. Our response of obedience to the rulers in authority over us can become a calming influence upon those who are currently panicked. Our response of thanksgiving to Jehovah in all circumstances can help people around us to reflect upon their spiritual condition.
Jehovah's two edged sword will bring judgment.
Psalm 149:6-9 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
The last section of this psalm begins with the high praises of Jehovah flowing out of the mouths of His redeemed people. I mentioned before that the twoedged sword is a symbol for the Word of God. It is also intimately connected with Jesus Christ, the Word of God (John 1:1-3).
Revelation 1:13-18 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
John saw the risen, ascended Christ in all His glory as recorded at the beginning of the book of Revelation. He describes our Lord and Savior in very vivid terms. Notice that the text says out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword. It is a sword of truth, a sword of justice and a sword of judgment that will smite the nations.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is quick, powerful and discerning of the hearts motivation. It is spoken of in Psalm 19 as being an instrument bringing judgment.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Jesus taught that all those who reject His person and His word will be judged by that same Word that He spoke when the day of the LORD comes.
Vengeance upon the wicked belongs to Jehovah.
Psalm 149:7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
His Word will execute vengeance because vengeance belongs to Jehovah (Romans 12:19, 2 Thessalonians 1:8 & Hebrews 10:30). This judgment is final and there is no court of appeals because Christ the Judge has rendered His decision.
The King of kings and Lord of lords is the presiding Judge.
Psalm 149:8-9 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
All earthly kings will bow down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings to the glory of God the Father. Fetters of iron and chains indicate that they will all be bound by Divine Judgment and that they are powerless to struggle against it.
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Although God is love, He is also holy. Sin must be dealt with and in grace, God provided a Savior for the world in the work and person of His Son, Jesus Christ. You can be born again into the family of God and have a new life in Christ to live.
However, all those who reject the offer of salvation through Christ will be condemned to hell. The judgment is written which is a way of saying that it is secured by the power of the Godhead. It is an irresistible judgment.
The final day of judgment will bring honor and glory to God and will again give all His redeemed children ample reason to praise Jehovah yet again.
Thoughts to Ponder...
This powerful psalm of praise shows the beauty of Jehovah as well as His unrelenting judgment for those who sin. The image of a two edged sword brings the Word of God into sharp focus and reminds us that the scriptures are literally true and that Jehovah will do what He said He would do.
Jehovah is the One, True God who inhabits eternity but dwells with those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits. He is the unchanging God who keeps every promise and covenant that He made.
He is the impartial Judge who will render a verdict upon all who appear at His judgment throne. The scriptures will be the truth used to determine the fate of each person. Jesus said "Ye must be born again" so my closing question is "Are you born again?"
Please give some thought to answering this question as where you will spend eternity depends upon your answer. I have consistently shared the gospel and the need for all sinners to confess their sins to holy God, to exercise repentant faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross. Or, as John put it, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
You no longer have to remain an enemy of God because He set the enmity aside and in grace offers each of you a brand new relationship with Him by believing on His Son, Jesus Christ. But take heed, one day this time of grace will be finished and the Father will send His Son to bring home the harvest of souls for His kingdom. I hope and pray that you will be among the sheep of Jehovah's pasture.
Bob
Ohio governor Mike DeWine is aggressively moving to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our state and we appreciate the measures that he has taken. We all have to make sacrifices for the greater good of our nation at this point.
We are using this "down time" to read more scripture and to draw closer to our wonderful God and Savior, Jesus Christ. I encourage all of our Readers around the world to do the same if you live in an area impacted by the virus.
The Godly testimony of Christians around the world can be used of God to point others to their singular hope, Jesus Christ. Our response of obedience to the rulers in authority over us can become a calming influence upon those who are currently panicked. Our response of thanksgiving to Jehovah in all circumstances can help people around us to reflect upon their spiritual condition.
Jehovah's two edged sword will bring judgment.
Psalm 149:6-9 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
The last section of this psalm begins with the high praises of Jehovah flowing out of the mouths of His redeemed people. I mentioned before that the twoedged sword is a symbol for the Word of God. It is also intimately connected with Jesus Christ, the Word of God (John 1:1-3).
Revelation 1:13-18 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
John saw the risen, ascended Christ in all His glory as recorded at the beginning of the book of Revelation. He describes our Lord and Savior in very vivid terms. Notice that the text says out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword. It is a sword of truth, a sword of justice and a sword of judgment that will smite the nations.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is quick, powerful and discerning of the hearts motivation. It is spoken of in Psalm 19 as being an instrument bringing judgment.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Jesus taught that all those who reject His person and His word will be judged by that same Word that He spoke when the day of the LORD comes.
Vengeance upon the wicked belongs to Jehovah.
Psalm 149:7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
His Word will execute vengeance because vengeance belongs to Jehovah (Romans 12:19, 2 Thessalonians 1:8 & Hebrews 10:30). This judgment is final and there is no court of appeals because Christ the Judge has rendered His decision.
The King of kings and Lord of lords is the presiding Judge.
Psalm 149:8-9 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
All earthly kings will bow down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings to the glory of God the Father. Fetters of iron and chains indicate that they will all be bound by Divine Judgment and that they are powerless to struggle against it.
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Although God is love, He is also holy. Sin must be dealt with and in grace, God provided a Savior for the world in the work and person of His Son, Jesus Christ. You can be born again into the family of God and have a new life in Christ to live.
However, all those who reject the offer of salvation through Christ will be condemned to hell. The judgment is written which is a way of saying that it is secured by the power of the Godhead. It is an irresistible judgment.
The final day of judgment will bring honor and glory to God and will again give all His redeemed children ample reason to praise Jehovah yet again.
Thoughts to Ponder...
This powerful psalm of praise shows the beauty of Jehovah as well as His unrelenting judgment for those who sin. The image of a two edged sword brings the Word of God into sharp focus and reminds us that the scriptures are literally true and that Jehovah will do what He said He would do.
Jehovah is the One, True God who inhabits eternity but dwells with those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits. He is the unchanging God who keeps every promise and covenant that He made.
He is the impartial Judge who will render a verdict upon all who appear at His judgment throne. The scriptures will be the truth used to determine the fate of each person. Jesus said "Ye must be born again" so my closing question is "Are you born again?"
Please give some thought to answering this question as where you will spend eternity depends upon your answer. I have consistently shared the gospel and the need for all sinners to confess their sins to holy God, to exercise repentant faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross. Or, as John put it, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
You no longer have to remain an enemy of God because He set the enmity aside and in grace offers each of you a brand new relationship with Him by believing on His Son, Jesus Christ. But take heed, one day this time of grace will be finished and the Father will send His Son to bring home the harvest of souls for His kingdom. I hope and pray that you will be among the sheep of Jehovah's pasture.
Bob
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