KNOWING THE TRUE GOD FROM THE PSALMS #1

 

KNOWING the True God 

His mind and nature in the Psalms #1

by

Keith Hunt 

The book of Psalms is perhaps the single largest section of the Bible to learn about what the Lord God is like, in thought, mind- set, action, character, and emotions.  PSALM 1 If you believe the Psalms are a LIVING work on the ways and mind of God, then this first psalm will blow away the crazy teaching of some, trying to use the New Testament to "do away with" the LAW of God. First, just look at the law of God as found in Exodus 20. Why would anyone want to "abolish" such a law? If the world was observing it ... my what a different world it would be! There is a reason why so many in Christendom want to "obliterate" the law of God from New Testament theology. It is the FOURTH commandment they do not like, do not want to observe, and do not want to teach others to observe. In this "modern" rush-here and rush-there; work-here and work-there, busy mad-dog life that most in the Western world want to live; being a taxi for their children who want to do this and do that, be in this activity and that activity. People by and large today want to have EVERY minute of every day FOR THEMSELVES! To teach that, NO, there is ONE day, the 7th day of the week, that is NOT YOURS, but belongs to God, and He tells you to observe it to worship, praise, meditate, on Him, and to STOP and read His word; to use that Sabbath day to grow in grace and knowledge of Him ..... well that is just not very popular to teach in most circles of Christianity. And so people come up with every argument under the sun to "do away with" the law of God so the 4th commandment can be ignored. If you believe the Psalms are a LIVING view of the mind and attitude of the Eternal God, then you have no choice but to DELIGHT in the law of God, to meditate on it day and night. The whole context of Psalm one is righteousness as opposed to sin; godliness as opposed to un-godliness. The un-godly will not be able to stand in the judgment; they will be blown away with the wind that they use to try and blow away the law of God. The attitude of the righteous is clearly given in verses 1 through 2. Psalm one is knowing the Eternal in respect to His law, which by the way, you can see what the apostle Paul had to say about it in Romans 7. PSALM 2 A Psalm devoted to the Kingdom that the Son of God will one day set up on this earth. Pompous man, vain man, those with crazy teaching like evolution ... God just has a good belly laugh at. One day He says He will have the nations in derision and vex them in sore displeasure. God will not sit back and be quiet and do nothing; He will one day rise up and send Jesus the Messiah back to earth, to break the nations with a rod of iron. It will be a time that man should "kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little" - and that little will be more than enough to shake rattle and roll this earth, into subjection. The nations do not want to experience anything but a "little" of God's wrath, that is for sure. We see here the emotions of the Lord can be anything but gentle and sweet, if the situation warrants it. And would you believe we find in the book of Revelation that even after God steps in to shake rattle and roll this earth and the nations upon it, many people will still curse God to His face and NOT repent! But the Son will have the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. A cry goes out to kiss the Son, otherwise it is perish through His wrath. There is a side to God that we must give honor and respect to; we need to have a respectful fear of the Lord; there is also a side of the Lord we need to put trust in. You might say what we find in this Psalm is a "respectful repentance of sin" and "faith in the Lord as our Savior." PSALM 3 Ah, we have a God here who can fight our battles, deliver us from our enemies, WHEN He sees fit to do so. We should be able to see from reading the Bible, that sometimes we may not be delivered. Paul was delivered a number of time. Then at the end of his life, under Roman rule he was not delivered; he died as a martyr. With this Psalm we must keep in mind Hebrews chapter 11. PSALM 4 "But know that the Lord has set apart him that is godly for Himself ... Stand in awe, and sin not ... Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord" (verses 3-5). What is sin? Answer: 1 John 3:4 with Romans 7:7 with Exodus 20. What is righteousness? Answer Psalm 119:172. The Lord interprets Himself in His word. This is the working of Himself. PSALM 5 "For you are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with you ... you hate all works of iniquity" (verses 4-5). Answers to those verses above in Psalm 4, just put in a different way. The Lord will bless the righteous; with favor will you compass him as with a shield (verses 11-12). PSALM 6 Verse 5 from David is the truth of the matter concerning death - there is no remembering or giving thanks to God! Easy to understand what the teaching of the Lord is on the subject of death. That is why the subject of the resurrection was so important to the first apostles. Sometimes the Almighty lets us swim in our tears before we are delivered from the enemy (verses 6-10). PSALM 7 God knows the righteous and He is angry with wickedness. Iniquity and falsehood will our God judge and finally destroy out of the earth (verses 11-17). PSALM 8 The nature all around, the heavenly stars that now with space telescopes, we are able to see the breathtaking and mind- numbing sight of the universe, near and far. Why did God create mankind is the question. The answer is in Hebrews 2. God interprets Himself. You need to study my study called "A Christian's Destiny" - it is mind-bending as to WHY you are here; why you have been born. PSALM 9 The Lord destroys; He rebukes at times; He turns back the enemy at times; some cities have gone, and their memorial is all be perished. God will judge the world, in righteousness. He does not forget the cry of the humble. The wicked will be snared even by his own hand; they shall be turned to hell; all nations that forget God are on a path to hell in many ways, what we sow we reap. God will not forget the needy: the expectation of the poor shall not perish. We cry for man not to prevail; for the heathen to be judged; and to know they are but physical men. PSALM 10 The Lord is sometimes as if He stands far off in the time of trouble. The Eternal abhors the covetous. PSALM 11 The Almighty hates wickedness and violence. He will pour fire and brimstone in a horrible tempest, upon the wicked. The second death awaits those who will not repent of sin and serve the Lord. The Eternal loves righteousness (see Psalm 119:172) and He looks with favor the upright (see the first chapter of Job). PSALM 12 Those that use "flattering lips" and "speak proud things" shall in the end, if they do not repent, be cut off. The words of the Lord are "pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." PSALM 13 God is "mercy" and "salvation." PSALM 14 The Holy One can and does look upon mankind and sees that all have gone aside, all have sinned. PSALM 15 The Lord will only let the upright, the righteous, and those who speak the truth in their heart, abide, dwell in His holy hill and tabernacle. Only those who come to understand and follow the true way of salvation will dwell with God. And that true way of being saved by His grace is fully expounded to you on this Website. PSALM 16 Verse 10 is a prophecy of the resurrection of Christ from death. The Father is able to say it will be before time (millions of years before if He determined it be so) and it comes to pass. PSALM 17 By the word and very nature of God we can be kept from destruction (verse 4). Then notice verse 15. It is God's will, His plan, His purpose, to have mortal man, those who become His children, literally born to be LIKE HIM, in His very likeness. This is the truth inspired to be said again in the New Testament, by the apostle John - 1 John 3:1-2 - to be like Christ NOW IS, when we shall see Him AS HE IS! And Revelation chapter one tells us what Christ now looks like! We were created not to be on the "angel" level but on the "God" level of existence. We were created to be part of the very Godhead. This is clearly what those two passages tell us. Just BELIEVE it folks, just read it as a child and believe it. It say what it means and means what it says. Many things in the Bible are just that simple to read and believe. If you have not done so, you need to study my study called "A Christian's Destiny" and come to know the mind of God on the reason He created mankind. PSALM 18 With the merciful God will show mercy. With the upright man God will deal uprightly. With the pure the Lord will look upon as pure. With the rebellious, they shall be dealt with accordingly as they deserve.. God will save the afflicted and humble, but will bring down the pompous and proud. God's way is perfect. The word of the Lord is the light as a candle, and will give that light to those who do not want to stay in darkness. The Eternal's way is perfect; His word is refined and pure as gold. The Lord will give strength for the battle. It is He that can deliver from the enemy. This also is the Lord. This also is knowing the true God (verses 25-50). PSALM 19 God, the Almighty One is shown to us in the creation of the heavens, the universe. There is none like Him that can set the course of all that is. What does God think of His law? Why He says it is PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL! Yes it shows us that we are sinners. The very testimony of the Lord makes WISE the SIMPLE - those of a child like mind, will read and understand. What does God think of His STATUTES? He says they are RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART! What does Gods think of His COMMANDMENTS? He says they are PURE, ENLIGHTENING the eyes! What does the Eternal think of giving Him a RESPECTFUL FEAR? Why He says it will make you CLEAN! What does the Lord think about His JUDGMENTS? Why He says they are RIGHTEOUS! They are more to be DESIRED than much pure gold. They are SWEETER than the honeycomb! That is all in Psalm 19 friends. Do not let anyone tell you the law and commandments of God are "done away with" or "abolished" - such theology is the doctrine of demons! Without the laws of God we would never know what sin IS! That is the clear teaching of the great apostle Paul in Romans 7, where Paul calls the law and commandments of God, GOOD, HOLY, and JUST! Yes, we are saved by GRACE through FAITH, no amount of law keeping can wash away the stain of our sins. Only the blood of Christ can do that. But the law of God REMAINS! In Psalm 19 you have heard, you have come to know what the mind of God is towards His law, commandments, statutes. The question is friend, do you feel the same way? If the mind of Christ is in you (Phil.2:5) you WILL feel the same way. You will also at times shed tears as David did, when you see the world disobeying the law of God: "Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law" (Psalm 119:136). And you will also know that righteousness is everlasting, and righteousness is the commandments of God (see Psalm 119:172, 142). Then also the law of the Lord is TRUTH (Psalm 119:142). All of God's WORD is truth (John 17:17). And Jesus taught man should not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Do you study the Eternal's word from Genesis to Revelation? Are you willing to order your life around and within the word of God? Many call themselves "Christian" but only the very few really KNOW the true God, and know His mind and will, as to how people are to conduct their lives from his word, as they call themselves the children of God. If you have not done so, you need to study my study called "Saved by Grace" and come to understand this vital truth for your salvation. Wow .... we have only covered 20 or so Psalms, but what we have found about KNOWING God IS AMAZING! We have many more Psalms yet to cover. .........................