Christian Archaeologists Explains His Work
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Psalm 71- Part 1 - In You, O Lord, I Take Refuge
Psalm 71 KJV Commentary by Dennis Edwards
Psalm71:1 In thee, O Lord,
do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
At the
Tower of Babel God put the people to confusion. That’s what Babel means, "confusion." It is where God confounded their languages. Instead of submitting to
God and spreading out around the world, as God had said, in small agricultural
communities, the first peoples after the flood, started building cities,
compounds, to make a name for themselves, Genesis 11:4.
Nimrod was
the mighty leader. His name signifies “rebellion,” as he led a rebellion
against the Lord in his empire building, his building of cities. It seems he
had four: Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, (Genesis 10:10). In Isaiah 14:21, a
chapter about Lucifer’s fall, we read, “Prepare slaughter for his (Lucifer’s)
children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess
the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.”
God is
against the godless cities of man where corruption and iniquity breed like
flies.
Zephaniah
3:1-4 we find, “Woe to her that is filthy (rebellious) and polluted (unclean),
to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction;
she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within
her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones
till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests
have polluted the sanctuary; they have done violence to the law.”
As a result,
God says He will cut off the nations: their towers will be desolate; He will
make their streets waste, that none pass by: their cities will be destroyed, so
that there will be no man, that there will be none inhabitant, Zephaniah 3:6. Finally,
the Lord says, “For all the earth shall be destroyed with the fire of My
jealousy,” Zephaniah 3:8b.
The final
destruction of Babylon the Whore, the commercial city system of the world
today, will come by fire in one hour. “She shall be utterly
burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her…. Alas, alas that
great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come,”
Revelation 18:8&10.
“And the
merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their
merchandise any more…For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by
thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of
prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth,” Revelation
18:23b-24.
People
living in cities are more dependent on themselves, than on God. They forget God
and become their own gods. They lose the fear of the Lord.
Psalm 71:2 Deliver
me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and
save me.
In our own
righteousness we can not escape. But because we have believed on Jesus, He has
given us the power to become the sons of God, joint heir with Him in His
kingdom. The Lord says, “But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor
and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word,” Isaiah 66:2b. We that
believe on the name of the Son of God have been endowed with His righteousness.
We have been reconciled with God and have put on the righteousness which is in
Christ.
Psalm 71:3 Be
thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: You have given
commandment to save me; for You are my rock and my fortress.
Jesus is
the Rock. He is the chief cornerstone which the builders, the religious leaders
of the Jewish nation, the scribes and the Pharisees, rejected. He has become
the head of the corner. Jesus went on to say, “Therefore, say I unto you, The
kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth
the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall upon this stone, (Jesus Himself,
the chief cornerstone,) shall be broken….,” Matthew 21:43-44a.
What Jesus
means by broken is that they shall have a broken spirit, a broken and contrite
heart that God does not despise. Therefore, whosoever falls upon Jesus will
have the right attitude of heart, will have a broken and contrite heart,
because they know they cannot save themselves by their own righteousness. They
are totally dependent upon the righteous that is imputed to them through Jesus’
sacrifice on the cross, through believing and receiving the gift of eternal
life which we receive by faith in Christ.
The rest of
the verse in Matthew 21:44b says, “but on whomsoever it, (the stone), shall fall, it shall
grind him to powder.” Sounds like a grinding stone. If we don’t fall upon our
knees in humble submission to the Son of God confessing our sins, we are
standing in our own pride. But God resists the proud, while giving grace unto
the humble. It is either one or the other. We either fall at Jesus’ feet in
humble submission, confessing our inability to be righteous, and depending totally on the complete mercy of God for our salvation; or we justify ourselves and believe that
we in our own righteousness can approach unto God.
Daniel 2 has
a description of a stone cut out without hands descending and smiting an image. The image
represents the various empires of the world down through history. The stone
smites the image on its feet of iron and clay, the kingdoms of the last days.. The image is broken into pieces and becomes like the chaff of the
summer threshing floor. The wind carries the pieces away and no place was found
for them. The pieces represent the kingdoms of man. But the stone that
smote the image becomes a great mountain, and fills the whole earth,” Daniel
2:34-35.
That
mountain represents God’s millennial kingdom, that occurs after the judgments
on the present world systems. In Isaiah 2:2-4 we read.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days,
that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow
unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us
His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the
nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war anymore,”
We will either
be part of one kingdom or the other. If we fall upon Jesus, we become citizens of
God’s heavenly kingdom, joint-heirs with Christ. If we reject Christ’s gift of
eternal life, and want to do it our way, instead of God’s, then we have a
fearful looking to of judgment. “He that believes not the Son shall not see
life, but the wrath of God abides on him,” John 3:36b.
Psalm 71:4 Deliver
me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous
and cruel man.
Ultimately,
we want to be delivered from the antichrist personalities we encounter in life.
Antichrist governments and religious peoples have persecuted God’s people from
time memorial. Cain killed his brother Abel, because his brother’s simple
child-like faith exposed Cain's own hypocrisy. King Saul persecuted David. The
Scribes and Pharisees persecuted and conspired to kill Jesus. The early
Christians were persecuted by Jewish religious authorities. They were
persecuted by Roman secular authorities. Jesus had said, "If they have persecute me, they will also persecute you," John 15:20b.
During the period of the great tribulation, that three-and-a-half-year period before the return of Christ, the Antichrist forces will surmount a great persecution against the true believers who refuse to take the Mark of the Beast, the 666. "And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake, (the believer's sake) those days shall be shortened," Matthew 24:22.
Nevertheless, though some shall fall, and be killed, many shall be
supernaturally protected and have their needs supplied till Christ returns in the clouds to catch them up to Himself. "And He shall send forth His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other," Matthew 24:31. "And the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall they ever be with the Lord," 1 Thessalonians 4:16b-17. Hallelujah!
Psalm 71:5 For
You are my hope, O Lord God: You
are my trust from my youth.
David was
killing bears and lions in his teenage years. Jesus, when he was twelve years
old, was talking and asking questions to the religious scholars in Jerusalem, “and
all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers,” Luke
2:47. If we look back into our own lives, we may remember God’s call or presence on our
life even in childhood.
Psalm 71:6 By
thee have I been held up from the womb: You are He that took me out of my
mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
The idea of
God’s presence being with His children from before birth is found elsewhere in
the Scripture. In Psalm 139:13-14, we see an example. “For You have possessed
my reins: You have covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul
knows right well.”
Psalm 71:7 I
am as a wonder unto many; but You are my strong refuge.
We that
follow God are often “a wonder unto many,” because we do not follow the
fashions of this world. We are not conformed to this world, but have been
transformed by the renewing of our minds, through reading, studying, and
following God’s word. We are in the world, but not of the world. Jesus had said, "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you," John 15:19.
Psalm 71:8 Let
my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Praise is
one of the weapons of the spirit that we have in our arsenal. Apostle Paul
admonishes us, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but
that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers,” Ephesians 4:29. Psalm 144:14b says, "that there be no complaining in our streets." David prayed elsewhere, “Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my
strength, and my redeemer,” Psalm 19:14.
Psalm 71:9 Cast
me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.
Many people
have the fear of being abandoned by God and loved ones when they get old. They know they will need the help of others to have a happy and healthy end of life. Many old
folks suffer from loneliness as a result of living on their own. Some are swept
away to live in nursing homes under the care of strangers. Facing the end of
life alone can be a daunting experience. I think most people would agree with
the sentiment of the verse. We don’t want God to cast us off. We don’t want our
friends and family to cast us off. We pray for a happy and healthy end of life
in the care of family and friends.
Psalm 71:10-11
For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take
counsel together, Saying, God has forsaken him: persecute and take him; for
there is none to deliver him.
Living on
our own, not being in community with others, can cause us to experience fears.
Fears of being robbed, or being killed. God’s word says, “One can chase a
thousand, but two can put ten thousand to flight,” Deuteronomy 32:30.
Ecclesiastes 5:9-12 brings the point home better.
“Two are
better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they
fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he
falls; for he has not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then
they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevails against him,
two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Psalm 71:12
O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
We covered
the theme of God responding to prayer recently. God does respond, but sometimes
not as urgently as we would like. However He responds, whether it is yes, no,
or wait; we need to trust Him, that He knows what’s best. He says, “No good
thing will I withhold to them that walk uprightly,” Psalm 84:11. In Proverbs
3:5, He advises us to, “Trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not to our own understanding.” If things don’t come out the way we wanted them to, we should still trust that God knows what He is doing. "All things work together for good to them that love God," Romans 8:28a.
End of Part
1.
Salmo 70 - Uma Oração de Ajuda Contra os Perseguidores
Salmo 70 – Um Salmo de David - Comentários de Dennis Edwards
Salmo 70:1 Apressa-te, ó Deus, em livrar-me; apressa-Te, Senhor, em socorrer-me.
Muitas vezes, encontramo-nos em situações difÃceis em que precisamos que Deus responda prontamente. Nem sempre responde tão rápido quanto gostarÃamos. Mas Ele responde. Ele diz: “Não negará bem algum aos que andam retamente” (Salmo 84:11). Diz-nos para “pedir com fé, sem duvidar; porque aquele que duvida é semelhante à onda do mar, impelida e agitada pelo vento. Não pense tal pessoa que receberá alguma coisa do Senhor; pois o homem de coração dividido é inconstante em todos os seus caminhos” (Tiago 1:6-8).
Deus diz-nos também: “Pedis e não recebeis, porque pedis mal, para o gastardes nos vossos desejos” (Tiago 4:3). O apóstolo João escreveu: “Tudo o que pedimos, recebemo-lo dele, porque guardamos os seus mandamentos e fazemos o que Lhe agrada” (1 João 3:22). David, no Salmo 34:15-17, também escreveu: “Os olhos do Senhor estão sobre os justos, e os seus ouvidos atentos ao seu clamor. Os justos clamam, e o Senhor os ouve e os livra de todas as suas angústias”.
Por isso, Deus espera obediência se queremos que Ele responda aos nossos clamores. Assim como o cego que fora curado, quando questionado pelos fariseus sobre se Jesus era de Deus. Ele respondeu: “Porque é maravilhoso que não saibam de onde é, e, no entanto, ele abriu os meus olhos? Ora, sabemos que Deus não ouve os pecadores; mas, se alguém é temente a Deus e faz a sua vontade, a esse ele ouve. Desde o princÃpio do mundo nunca se ouviu dizer que alguém abriu os olhos a um cego de nascença; se este não fosse de Deus, nada poderia fazer” (João 9:30-33).
O autor de Hebreus diz-nos para “chegarmos com confiança ao trono da graça, para que possamos alcançar misericórdia e achar graça, a fim de sermos ajudados em tempo oportuno” (Hebreus 4:16). Devemos aproximar-nos com confiança porque “não temos um sumo sacerdote que não possa compadecer-se das nossas fraquezas; antes, foi tentado em todas as coisas, à nossa semelhança, mas sem pecado” (Hebreus 4:15).
Contudo, Deus nem sempre responde prontamente. Ele responde, sim. Mesmo quando parece que Ele não responde, de alguma forma Ele capacita-nos para suportar a situação. O apóstolo Paulo escreveu: “Não vos sobreveio nenhuma tentação que não fosse comum aos homens; mas Deus é fiel e não permitirá que sejais tentados além das vossas forças; pelo contrário, juntamente com a tentação, vos proverá livramento, para que a possais suportar” (1 CorÃntios 10:13). Deus promete, de alguma forma, “consolar-nos em todas as nossas tribulações” (2 CorÃntios 1:4a).
Seja sim, não ou espere, Deus responde. Confie nele, mesmo que pareça que não está a ouvir.
Salmo 70:2-3 Sejam envergonhados e confundidos os que procuram a minha alma; sejam repelidos e confundidos os que desejam o meu mal. Sejam repelidos, para sua própria vergonha, os que dizem: Ah! Ah!
Aqui vemos a razão da angústia de David. Está a ser perseguido ou procurado pelos seus inimigos. Talvez se esteja a referir ao rei Saul, que procurou matar David. A certa altura, David e os seus homens estavam rodeados pelo rei Saul e pelos seus homens. De repente, o rei Saul recebe uma mensagem a informar que os filisteus tinham atacado uma parte do reino. Imediatamente, quando tudo indicava que David e os seus homens seriam capturados, o rei Saul abandona a perseguição e regressa para responder à ameaça dos filisteus (I Samuel 23:25-29). Teria Deus inspirado os filisteus a atacar para que David fosse salvo?
Salmo 70:4 Alegrem-se e regozijem-se em ti todos os que te buscam; e digam continuamente os que amam a tua salvação: Glória a Deus!
Amém. “Engrandecei o Senhor comigo, e juntos exaltemos o seu nome. Busquei o Senhor, e ele me respondeu; livrou-me de todos os meus temores” (Salmo 34:3-4). “Este é o dia que o Senhor fez; regozijemo-nos e alegremo-nos nele” (Salmo 118:24). “Alegrai-vos sempre no Senhor. Repito: alegrai-vos!”, Filipenses 4:4.
Salmo 70:5: “Mas eu sou pobre e necessitado; apressa-te em socorrer-me, ó Deus! Tu és o meu auxÃlio e o meu libertador; Senhor, não te demores.”
Em IsaÃas 66:2, encontramos: “Mas para este olharei, para o pobre e abatido de espÃrito, e que treme da minha palavra.”
No Salmo 34, encontramos outras preciosidades: “Clamou este pobre homem, e o Senhor o ouviu, e o livrou de todas as suas angústias”, versÃculo 6. “Perto está o Senhor dos que têm o coração quebrantado, e salva os contritos de espÃrito”, versÃculo 18.
Quer que Deus responda à s suas orações? Mantenha um espÃrito humilde e contrito. “Deus resiste aos soberbos, mas dá graça aos humildes”, Tiago 4:6b. “Aproximai-vos de Deus, e ele aproximar-se-á de vós! Pecadores, lavai as vossas mãos; vós que tendes a mente dividida, purificai o vosso coração. Lamentai, chorai e lamentai; transformai o riso em pranto e a alegria em tristeza. Humilhai-vos diante do Senhor, e ele vos exaltará.” Tiago 4:8-10
“Ainda que demore, esperai por ela, porque certamente virá; não tardará.” Habacuque 2:3b. “Esperai no Senhor; sede fortes e corajosos; esperai, pois, no Senhor.” Salmo 27:14.
Salmo 70 - Oración pidiendo auxilio contra los perseguidores
Salmo 70 – Salmo de David - Comentarios de Dennis Edwards
Salmo 70:1 ¡Date prisa, oh Dios, en librarme! ¡Date prisa en socorrerme, oh Señor!
A menudo nos encontramos en situaciones difÃciles donde necesitamos que Dios responda con prontitud. No siempre responde tan rápido como quisiéramos, pero sà responde. Él dice: «No negará ningún bien a los que andan en integridad» (Salmo 84:11). Nos dice: «Pedid con fe, sin dudar. Porque el que duda es como la ola del mar, arrastrada por el viento y echada de un lado a otro. No piense, pues, tal persona, que recibirá algo del Señor. El hombre de doble ánimo es inestable en todos sus caminos» (Santiago 1:6-8).
Dios también nos dice: «PedÃs, y no recibÃs, porque pedÃs mal, para gastarlo en vuestros deseos» (Santiago 4:3). El apóstol Juan escribió: «Todo lo que le pidamos, lo recibimos de él, porque guardamos sus mandamientos y hacemos lo que le agrada» (1 Juan 3:22). David, en el Salmo 34:15 y 17, también escribió: «Los ojos del Señor están sobre los justos, y sus oÃdos atentos a su clamor. Los justos claman, y el Señor los oye, y los libra de todas sus angustias».
Por lo tanto, Dios espera obediencia si queremos que responda a nuestras súplicas. Como el ciego que fue sanado, quien respondió a los fariseos cuando le preguntaron si Jesús era de Dios. Él respondió: «¿Por qué es maravilloso que no sepan de dónde viene, y sin embargo me ha abierto los ojos? Ahora bien, sabemos que Dios no escucha a los pecadores; pero si alguno adora a Dios y hace su voluntad, a ese sà lo escucha. Desde que el mundo existe, ¿acaso se ha oÃdo que alguien abra los ojos de un ciego de nacimiento? Si este no fuera de Dios, no podrÃa hacer nada» (Juan 9:30-33).
El autor de Hebreos nos dice: «Acerquémonos confiadamente al trono de la gracia, para alcanzar misericordia y hallar gracia para el oportuno socorro» (Hebreos 4:16). Debemos acercarnos confiadamente, porque «no tenemos un sumo sacerdote que no pueda compadecerse de nuestras debilidades, sino uno que fue tentado en todo según nuestra semejanza, pero sin pecado» (Hebreos 4:15).
Sin embargo, Dios no siempre responde con prontitud. Él sà responde. Incluso cuando parece que no responde, de alguna manera nos capacita para sobrellevar la situación. El apóstol Pablo escribió: «No hay tentación que os sobrevenga que no sea común a los hombres; pero fiel es Dios, que no os dejará ser tentados más allá de vuestras fuerzas, sino que junto con la tentación os dará también la salida, para que podáis soportarla» (1 Corintios 10:13). Dios promete, de alguna manera, «consolarnos en todas nuestras tribulaciones» (2 Corintios 1:4a).
Ya sea que la respuesta sea sÃ, no o esperar, Dios responde. ConfÃa en Él, incluso si parece que no te escucha.
Salmo 70:2-3: «Sean avergonzados y confundidos los que buscan mi vida; sean rechazados y desorientados los que desean mi mal. Sean rechazados por la recompensa de su vergüenza los que dicen: “¡Ajá, ajá!”».
Aquà vemos la razón de la angustia de David. Está siendo perseguido o buscado por sus enemigos. Quizás se refiere al rey Saúl, quien buscaba matar a David. En un momento dado, David y sus hombres fueron rodeados por el rey Saúl y sus hombres. De repente, el rey Saúl recibe un mensaje de que los filisteos han atacado parte del reino. Inmediatamente, justo cuando parecÃa que David y sus hombres serÃan capturados, el rey Saúl abandona la persecución de David y regresa para responder a la amenaza de los filisteos (1 Samuel 23:25-29). ¿Acaso Dios inspiró a los filisteos a atacar para salvar a David?
Salmo 70:4: «Que se alegren y gocen en ti todos los que te buscan; y que los que aman tu salvación digan continuamente: ¡Sea Dios engrandecido!».
Amén. «Engrandeced al Señor conmigo, y exaltemos juntos su nombre. Busqué al Señor, y él me respondió; me libró de todos mis temores» (Salmo 34:3-4). «Este es el dÃa que hizo el Señor; nos alegraremos y gozaremos en él» (Salmo 118:24). «Alégrense siempre en el Señor. Repito: ¡Alégrense!» Filipenses 4:4.
Salmo 70:5: «Pero yo soy pobre y necesitado; apresúrate a ayudarme, oh Dios. Tú eres mi auxilio y mi libertador; Señor, no tardes.»
En IsaÃas 66:2 encontramos: «Pero a este miraré, al pobre y contrito, que tiembla ante mi palabra.»
En el Salmo 34 encontramos otras joyas: «Este pobre clamó, y el Señor lo oyó, y lo libró de todas sus angustias» (versÃculo 6). «Cercano está el Señor a los quebrantados de corazón, y salva a los de espÃritu contrito» (versÃculo 18).
¿Deseas que Dios responda tus oraciones? Mantén un espÃritu humilde y contrito. «Dios resiste a los soberbios, pero da gracia a los humildes» (Santiago 4:6b). «Acérquense a Dios, y él se acercará a ustedes. Limpien sus manos, pecadores; y purifiquen sus corazones, ustedes los de doble ánimo. AflÃjanse, lloren y lamenten; que su risa se convierta en lamento, y su alegrÃa en tristeza. HumÃllense ante el Señor, y él los exaltará». Santiago 4:8-10.
«Aunque tarde, espérenlo; porque sin duda vendrá, no tardará».Habacuc 2:3b. «Espera en Jehová; ten valor y ánimo, y él fortalecerá tu corazón. SÃ, espera en Jehová», Salmo 27:14.
Friday, March 20, 2026
Psalm 70 - A Prayer for Help Against Persecutors
Psalm 70 KJV – A Psalm of David - Comments by Dennis Edwards
Psalm 70:1 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.
We are
often in predicaments where we need God to respond speedily. He doesn’t always
respond as speedily as we would wish. But respond He does. He says, “No good
thing will He withhold to them that walk uprightly,” Psalm 84:11. He tells us
to “ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the
sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he will
receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,”
James 1:6-8.
God, also,
tells us, “Ye ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that you might consume
it upon your lusts,” James 4:3. Apostle John wrote, “Whatsoever we ask, we
receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things which are
pleasing in His sight,” 1 John 3:22. David in Psalm 34:15 & 17 has also
written, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open
unto their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of
all their troubles.”
Therefore,
God expects an element of obedience, if we want Him to respond to our cries.
Like the blind man who had been healed expressed to the Pharisees when pressed
as to whether Jesus was of God. He responded, “Why herein is a marvellous
thing, that you know not from whence He is, and yet He has opened my eyes. Now
we know that God hears not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and
does His will, him He hears. Since the world began was it not heard that any
man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he
could do nothing,” John 9:30-33.
The author
of Hebrews tells us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:16. We should
come boldly, because “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with
the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we, yet
without sin,” Hebrews 4:15.
However,
God does not always answer speedily. He does answer. Even when it seems He
doesn’t answer, He does in some way enable us to bear the situation. Apostle
Paul wrote, “There is no temptation taken you, that is not common to man; but
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to
bear it,” 1 Corinthians 10:13. God promises to in some way, “comfort us in all
our tribulations,” 2 Corinthians 1:4a.
Whether it
is yes, no, or wait; God answers. Trust Him even if it seems He is not
listening.
Psalm
70:2-3 Let them be ashamed and
confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to
confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their
shame that say, Aha, aha.
Here we see
the reason for David’s anguish. He is being persecuted or sought out by his
enemies. Perhaps he is referring to King Saul who sought to kill David. At one
point, David and his men were surrounded by King Saul and His men. Suddenly,
King Saul receives a message that the Philistines have attacked a part of the
kingdom. Immediately, just when it seemed David and his men would be captured,
King Saul abandons his pursuit of David and goes back to respond to the threat
of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 23:25-29. Had God inspired the Philistines to
attack so that David would be saved?
Psalm
70:4 Let all those that seek thee
rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say
continually, Let God be magnified.
Amen. “O
magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the
Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,” Psalm 34:3-4. “This
is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalm
118:24. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say, Rejoice,” Philippians
4:4.
Psalm
70:5 But I am poor and needy: make
haste unto me, O God: You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.
In Isaiah
66:2 we find, “but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a
contrite spirit, and trembles at My word.”
In Psalm
34, we find some other gems. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and
saved him out of all of his troubles,” verse 6. “The Lord is nigh unto them
that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit,” verse 18.
Do you want
God to answer your prayers? Keep a humble and contrite spirit. “God resists the
proud, but gives grace unto the humble,” James 4:6b. “Draw nigh to God, and He
will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts,
you doubled minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be
turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight
of the Lord, and He shall lift you up,” James 4:8-10.
“Though it
tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry,” Habakkuk
2:3b. “Wait on the Lord: and be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy
heart; wait, I say, on the Lord,” Psalm 27:14.
Salmo 69 - Parte 2 - Un llamado urgente de ayuda en tiempos de dificultad
Salmo 69 - Parte 2 - Comentarios de Dennis Edwards - Volver a Parte 1
Salmo 69:16-18 Escúchame, oh Jehová, porque tu misericordia es grande; vuélvete a mà conforme a la multitud de tus piedades. No escondas tu rostro de tu siervo, porque estoy angustiado; óyeme pronto. Acércate a mi alma y redÃmela; lÃbrame de mis enemigos.
El EspÃritu Santo guÃa a David en la oración y nos deja un ejemplo de cómo interceder ante Dios en nuestros momentos de desesperación.
Salmo 69:19-20 Tú has conocido mi oprobio, mi vergüenza y mi deshonra; todos mis adversarios están delante de ti. El oprobio me ha quebrantado el corazón, y estoy lleno de angustia; busqué a alguien que me compadeciera, pero no lo hubo; busqué consoladores, pero no los hallé.
Jesús, en el huerto, buscó a sus discÃpulos para que lo acompañaran en oración, pero sus ojos se cansaron y se durmieron. En la cruz, Jesús pudo haber tenido la misma experiencia. Dios tuvo que permitir que Jesús muriera como pecador, para que fuera un Sumo Sacerdote compasivo, compadecido de nuestras debilidades, tentado en todo como nosotros, pero sin pecado (Hebreos 4:15).
El apóstol Pablo cita el versÃculo 20 en su carta a los Romanos, diciendo que los fuertes debemos soportar las debilidades de los débiles y no buscar nuestro propio placer: «Porque ni siquiera Cristo se complació a sà mismo; sino que, como está escrito: “Los insultos de los que te insultaban cayeron sobre mÔ» (Romanos 15:3).
Salmo 69:21: «Me dieron hiel por comida, y en mi sed me dieron vinagre a beber».
Este versÃculo se considera profético de Cristo. En Mateo 27:47-48 encontramos: «Algunos de los que estaban allÃ, al oÃr que Jesús habÃa clamado: “Dios mÃo, Dios mÃo, ¿por qué me has abandonado?” (Salmo 22, profecÃa de su crucifixión), dijeron: “Este hombre llama a ElÃas”. Y enseguida uno de ellos corrió, tomó una esponja, la empapó en vinagre (vino agrio que adormecÃa el dolor), la puso en una caña y se la dio de beber».
La siguiente sección del Salmo podrÃa ser profética de lo que les sucederÃa a los enemigos de Cristo. Jesús habÃa orado para que Dios perdonara a los guardias romanos que lo crucificaban. Sin embargo, tal vez la siguiente sección de la oración de David refleje los deseos del MesÃas respecto a los réprobos impenitentes.
Salmo 69:22-25: «Que su mesa se convierta en una trampa para ellos; y lo que deberÃa ser para su bienestar, que se convierta en una redada». Que sus ojos se oscurezcan para que no vean, y que sus lomos tiemblen continuamente. Derrama sobre ellos tu indignación, y que tu ira se apodere de ellos. Que su morada quede desolada, y que nadie habite en sus tiendas.
En el año 70 d. C., unos 40 años después de su muerte, Tito y las legiones romanas destruyeron el templo y Jerusalén. Los lÃderes judÃos perdieron su posición y su patria como resultado de condenar a su propio MesÃas.
Salmo 69:26 Porque persiguen a aquel a quien tú heriste, y hablan del dolor de aquellos a quienes hiriste.
En IsaÃas 53:4 encontramos: «Ciertamente llevó él nuestras enfermedades, y sufrió nuestros dolores; con todo, nosotros le tuvimos por azotado, herido de Dios y afligido». Jesús llevó nuestros dolores y sufrimientos en la cruz. Fue herido por nuestras transgresiones y molido por nuestras iniquidades. Nuestro castigo cayó sobre Él.
David, como prototipo de Jesús, parece poner en boca de Jesús una oración de condenación contra sus enemigos.
Salmo 69:27-28: «Añade iniquidad a la iniquidad de ellos, y no les permitas entrar en tu justicia. Sean borrados del libro de los vivos, y no sean inscritos con los justos».
En Apocalipsis 20:11-15 encontramos la descripción del Juicio del Gran Trono Blanco que tendrá lugar después del Milenio. En ese momento, aquellos que no resucitaron en el primer rapto serán juzgados. “Y vi un gran trono blanco, y al que estaba sentado en él, de cuya presencia huyeron la tierra y el cielo, y no se halló lugar para ellos. Y vi a los muertos, grandes y pequeños, de pie ante Dios; y se abrieron los libros, y se abrió otro libro, que es el libro de la vida; y los muertos fueron juzgados por las cosas que estaban escritas en los libros, según sus obras. Y el mar entregó los muertos que estaban en él; y la muerte y el Hades entregaron los muertos que estaban en ellos; y fueron juzgados cada uno según sus obras. Y la muerte y el Hades fueron arrojados al lago de fuego. Esta es la segunda muerte. Y el que no se halló inscrito en el libro de la vida fue arrojado al lago de fuego.”
Tanto David como Jesús oraron para que Dios juzgara con justicia a los impÃos por su maldad.
Salmo 69:29 Pero yo soy pobre y afligido; que tu salvación, oh Dios, me exalte.
A diferencia de los malvados que se regodean en su maldad, David es humilde, quebrantado y depende de Dios para su salvación. Es pobre y afligido, «no rico ni próspero, ni necesitado de nada» (Apocalipsis 3:17).
Salmo 69:30: «Alabaré el nombre de Dios con cánticos, y lo glorificaré con acción de gracias».
Dios nos ha dicho que habita, o que su presencia reside, en las alabanzas de su pueblo (Salmo 22:3). Nos ha dicho que entremos en su presencia con acción de gracias y alabanza (Salmo 100:4).
Salmo 69:31: «Esto agradará al Señor más que un buey o un toro con cuernos y pezuñas».
Aquà vemos, en boca de David, miles de años antes de Cristo, la verdad de que Dios se complace más en la condición de nuestro corazón, en nuestra actitud hacia Él y hacia los demás, que en la ostentación externa de sacrificios y ofrendas.
Jesús dijo en Juan 5:24: «Dios es EspÃritu; y los que le adoran, en espÃritu y en verdad es necesario que le adoren» (Juan 4:24).
Salmo 69:32-33: «Esto verán los humildes y se alegrarán; y vivirá vuestro corazón, vosotros que buscáis a Dios. Porque el Señor oye a los pobres y no desprecia a sus cautivos».
Cuando los humildes y los pobres vean el juicio de los impÃos, se regocijarán.
Salmo 69:34 Que los cielos y la tierra lo alaben, los mares y todo lo que en ellos se mueve.
Apocalipsis 4:11 «Digno eres, Señor, de recibir la gloria, la honra y el poder; porque tú creaste todas las cosas, y por tu voluntad existen y fueron creadas».
Salmo 69:35-36 Porque Dios salvará a Sion y reedificará las ciudades de Judá, para que habiten en ella y la posean.
Este es uno de los versÃculos que los sionistas cristianos o judÃos utilizan para reclamar el derecho a toda la tierra prometida a los descendientes de Abraham, desde el Nilo hasta el Éufrates. Desde 1948, el pueblo judÃo ha regresado a Palestina y reconstruido las ciudades de Judá. Creen que es su derecho divino poseer la tierra y que pueden usar cualquier medio posible para ejercer ese derecho, incluso quebrantando las leyes de Dios en el proceso. La manera en que los inmigrantes judÃos han desplazado a los antiguos ocupantes de Palestina y los han tratado con crueldad ha disgustado a Dios y a la comunidad internacional.
Salmo 69:36: «La descendencia de sus siervos la heredará; y los que aman su nombre habitarán en ella».
¿Se refiere este versÃculo al perÃodo del Milenio posterior a la dispensación actual? Los sionistas lo usarán como prueba bÃblica adicional de su derecho a heredar la tierra. Pero, ¿son realmente sus siervos? ¿Siguen sus preceptos? ¿Han aceptado a su Hijo, el MesÃas ungido anunciado en las Escrituras? Jesús, el apóstol Pablo y Charles Spurgeon coinciden en que solo hay un Israel: aquellos que creen en el nombre del Hijo unigénito de Dios. Gálatas 4:26,28-29 “Porque todos vosotros sois hijos de Dios por la fe en Cristo Jesús. … Ya no hay judÃo ni griego, ni esclavo ni libre, ni varón ni mujer, porque todos sois uno en Cristo Jesús. Y si sois de Cristo, entonces sois descendientes de Abraham y herederos según la promesa.”
Romanos 8:17 “Y si somos hijos, también somos herederos; herederos de Dios y coherederos con Cristo, si es que padecemos con él, para que juntamente con él seamos glorificados.”
Filipenses 1:29 “Porque a vosotros os ha sido concedido por causa de Cristo, no solo creer en él, sino también padecer por él.”
No se trata solo de creer, sino de hablar en favor de Jesús en asuntos de verdad y amor. Jesús dijo: “Por tanto, cualquiera que se avergüence de mà y de mis palabras en esta generación adúltera y pecadora; «También el Hijo del Hombre se avergonzará de él cuando venga en la gloria de su Padre con los santos ángeles», Marcos 9:38.
Creer significa absorber las palabras y el espÃritu de Jesús para que se unan a nosotros. Si creemos, nos mantendremos firmes y seremos contados. Defenderemos la verdad. Nos opondremos a la injusticia. Nos mantendremos firmes en el poder del amor por la verdad del Evangelio en todo lo que hacemos y decimos. Como el apóstol Pablo exhortó a sus discÃpulos: «Es necesario que a través de muchas tribulaciones entremos en el reino de Dios», Hechos 14:22b. Si defendemos a Jesús, la verdad y el amor, «sufriremos persecución».
Salmo 69 - Parte 2 - Um apelo urgente por ajuda em tempos difÃceis
Salmo 69 - Parte 2 - Comentários de Dennis Edwards - Voltar para Parte 1
Salmo 69:16-18 Ouve-me, SENHOR, porque a tua benignidade é boa; volta-te para mim segundo a multidão das tuas misericórdias. Não escondas o teu rosto do teu servo, porque estou em angústia; ouve-me depressa. Aproxima-te da minha alma e redime-a; livra-me por causa dos meus inimigos.
O EspÃrito Santo está a mover David em oração e a deixar-nos um exemplo de como interceder em oração a Deus nos nossos momentos de desespero e angústia.
Salmo 69:19-20 Tu conheces a minha afronta, a minha vergonha e a minha desonra; todos os meus adversários estão diante de ti. A afronta partiu o meu coração, e estou cheio de tristeza; e esperei por alguém que tivesse compaixão, mas não houve ninguém; e por consoladores, mas não encontrei ninguém.
Jesus, no Jardim, olhou para os seus discÃpulos para que estivessem com Ele em oração, mas os seus olhos estavam pesados e eles adormeceram. Na cruz, Jesus pode ter tido a mesma experiência. Deus teve de permitir que Jesus morresse a morte de um pecador, para que Ele fosse um Sumo Sacerdote compassivo que tivesse sido tocado pelos sentimentos das nossas fraquezas, sendo tentado em todas as coisas, como nós, mas sem pecado, Hebreus 4:15.
O apóstolo Paulo cita o versÃculo 20 nas suas cartas aos Romanos, dizendo que nós, que somos fortes, devemos suportar as fraquezas dos fracos e não agradar a nós mesmos: “Porque nem Cristo agradou a si mesmo; mas, como está escrito: Os insultos dos que te insultavam caÃram sobre mim”, Romanos 15:3.
Salmo 69:21 Deram-me fel para comer e, na minha sede, deram-me vinagre para beber.
O versÃculo acima é considerado profético de Cristo. Em Mateus 27:47-48 encontramos: “Alguns dos que ali estavam, quando ouviram isto (quando Jesus clamou: Meu Deus, meu Deus, porque me abandonaste? (Salmo 22, uma profecia da Sua crucificação), disseram: Este homem chama Elias. E imediatamente um deles correu, pegou numa esponja, embebeu-a em vinagre (vinho azedo que anestesiava a dor), colocou-a na ponta de uma cana e deu-lhe de beber.”
A secção seguinte do Salmo pode ser profética do que aconteceria aos inimigos de Cristo. Jesus orou para que Deus perdoasse os guardas romanos que estavam a cumprir o seu dever de o crucificar. No entanto, talvez a próxima secção da oração de David sejam os próprios desejos do Messias sobre os réprobos impenitentes.
Salmo 69:22-25 Que a sua mesa se torne uma armadilha diante deles; e o que deveria ser para o seu bem, torna-se um laço. Que os seus olhos se escureçam, para que não vejam; e faça tremer continuamente os seus lombos. Derrama sobre eles a tua indignação, e que a tua ira ardente se apodere deles. Que a sua habitação fique deserta; e que ninguém habite nas suas tendas.
Em 70 d.C., cerca de 40 anos após a sua morte, Tito e as legiões romanas destruÃram o templo e Jerusalém. A liderança judaica perdeu a sua posição e a sua pátria como resultado da condenação do seu próprio Messias.
Salmo 69:26 Pois perseguem aquele a quem feriste; e falam da dor daqueles a quem afligiste.
Em IsaÃas 53:4 encontramos: “Certamente ele tomou sobre si as nossas enfermidades e carregou com as nossas dores; contudo nós o consideramos castigado por Deus, ferido e afligido.” Jesus carregou as nossas dores e sofrimentos na cruz. Foi ferido pelas nossas transgressões e moÃdo pelas nossas iniquidades. O nosso castigo veio sobre Ele.
David, como protótipo de Jesus, parece estar a colocar na boca de Jesus uma oração de condenação contra os Seus inimigos.
Salmo 69:27-28 Acrescenta iniquidade à sua iniquidade, e não entrem na tua justiça. Sejam riscados do livro da vida, e não sejam inscritos com os justos.
Em Apocalipse 20:11-15, encontramos a descrição do Julgamento do Grande Trono Branco que ocorrerá após o perÃodo do Milénio. Nesse tempo, serão julgados aqueles que não ressuscitaram no primeiro evento de ressurreição/arrebatamento.
“E vi um grande trono branco e aquele que nele se assentava, de cuja presença fugiram a terra e o céu; e não se achou lugar para eles. E vi os mortos, grandes e pequenos, em pé diante de Deus, e abriram-se os livros; e abriu-se outro livro, que é o livro da vida; e os mortos foram julgados pelas coisas que estavam escritas nos livros, segundo as suas obras. E o mar entregou os mortos que nele havia; e a morte e o inferno entregaram os mortos que neles havia; e foram julgados cada um segundo as suas obras. E a morte e o inferno foram lançados no lago de fogo.
Tanto David como Jesus oraram para que Deus julgasse justamente os Ãmpios pela sua maldade.
Salmo 69:29 Mas eu sou pobre e triste; põe-me num lugar alto a tua salvação, ó Deus.
Em contraste com os Ãmpios que se regozijam na sua maldade, David é humilde, quebrantado e dependente de Deus para a sua salvação. É pobre e triste, “não rico, nem enriquecido com bens, e sem necessidade de nada”, Apocalipse 3:17.
Salmo 69:30 Louvarei o nome de Deus com um cântico, e o engrandecerei com ações de graças.
Deus disse-nos que Ele habita, ou a Sua presença se instala, nos louvores do Seu povo, Salmo 22:3. Ele disse-nos para entrarmos na Sua presença com ações de graças e louvor, Salmo 100:4.
Salmo 69:31 Isto também agradará mais ao Senhor do que um boi ou um novilho com chifres e cascos.
Aqui vemos, na boca de David, cerca de mil anos antes de Cristo, a verdade de que Deus se agrada mais da condição do nosso coração, da nossa atitude para com Ele e os outros, do que da demonstração exterior de sacrifÃcios e ofertas.
Jesus disse em João 5:24: “Deus é EspÃrito, e é necessário que os seus adoradores o adorem em espÃrito e em verdade”, João 4:24.
Salmo 69:32-33 Os humildes verão isto e se alegrarão; e viverá o vosso coração, vós que procurais a Deus. Porque o Senhor escuta os pobres e não despreza os seus prisioneiros.
Quando os humildes e pobres virem o julgamento dos Ãmpios, regozijar-se-ão.
Salmo 69:34 Louvem-n’O os céus e a terra, os mares e tudo o que neles se move.
Apocalipse 4:11 “Tu és digno, Senhor, de receber a glória, a honra e o poder, porque criaste todas as coisas, e por tua vontade elas existem e foram criadas.”
Salmo 69:35-36 Porque Deus salvará Sião e reconstruirá as cidades de Judá, para que ali habitem e a possuam.
Este é um dos versÃculos que os sionistas cristãos ou os sionistas judeus usam para reivindicar o direito a toda a terra prometida aos descendentes de Abraão, do Nilo ao Eufrates. Desde 1948, o povo judeu regressou à Palestina e reconstruiu as cidades de Judá. Acreditam que é o seu direito dado por Deus possuir a terra e que podem utilizar todos os meios possÃveis para cumprir esse direito, mesmo infringindo as leis de Deus no processo. A forma como os imigrantes judeus deslocaram os antigos ocupantes da Palestina e os trataram cruelmente desagradou a Deus e à comunidade internacional.
Salmo 69:36 A descendência dos seus servos a herdará, e os que amam o seu nome nela habitarão.
O versÃculo acima refere-se ao perÃodo do Milénio após a presente dispensação? Os sionistas vão usar o versÃculo como mais uma prova bÃblica para o seu direito à herança da terra. Mas serão eles realmente Seus servos? Estão a seguir os Seus preceitos? Aceitaram o Seu Filho, o Messias ungido predito nas suas Escrituras? Jesus, o apóstolo Paulo e Charles Spurgeon concordam que existe apenas um Israel: aqueles que crêem no nome do Filho unigénito de Deus.
Gálatas 4:26,28-29 “Porque todos vós sois filhos de Deus pela fé em Cristo Jesus. … Não há judeu nem grego, não há escravo nem livre, não há homem nem mulher; porque todos vós sois um em Cristo Jesus. E, se sois de Cristo, então sois descendência de Abraão e herdeiros segundo a promessa.
Romanos 8:17 “E, se filhos, somos também herdeiros; herdeiros de Deus e co-herdeiros com Cristo, se é certo que com ele padecemos, para que também com ele sejamos glorificados.”
Filipenses 1:29 “Porque a vós vos foi concedido, em relação a Cristo, não somente crer nele, mas também padecer por ele.”
Não se trata apenas de crer, mas de falar em nome de Jesus em questões de verdade e amor. Jesus disse: “Portanto, qualquer que, nesta geração adúltera e pecadora, se envergonhar de mim e das minhas palavras, “Dele também o Filho do homem será envergonhado, quando vier na glória de seu Pai com os santos anjos”, Marcos 9:38.
Crer significa absorver as palavras e o espÃrito de Jesus para que se tornem um só connosco. Se crermos, levantar-nos-emos e seremos contados. Defenderemos a verdade. Levantar-nos-emos contra a injustiça. Levantar-nos-emos no poder do amor pela verdade do Evangelho em tudo o que fizermos e dissermos. Como o apóstolo Paulo admoestou os seus discÃpulos: “que é necessário que passemos por muitas tribulações para entrarmos no reino de Deus”, Atos 14:22b. Se defendermos Jesus, a verdade, o amor, “sofremos perseguição”.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
The Seat of the Scornful
The Seat of the Scornful
By Virginia Brandt Berg (1886-1968)
Audio length: 7:55
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Every morning before I get up, I review Psalm 23. Then I say the Lord’s Prayer. Then I always read Psalm 1, and chapters 11 and 12 of Hebrews. I go through quite a few scriptures that bless my heart and help to prepare me for the day. But now I want to read you Psalm 1. I think many of you may know it or perhaps you memorized it long ago.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
“Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” You know, in so many places today there’s a scorning of the things of Christ, and it seems like nothing is sacred anymore. So much of the news is slanted toward modernism and communism (atheism). And some of the leaders that we expected so much from, it seems as if they’re not on the side of Christ.
I can understand why some people do not want to be outspoken for the Lord Jesus Christ. They come to a place where they are fearful. They don’t themselves sit in the seat of the scornful, but they’re afraid of these scornful ones and those that will ridicule them, or they’re afraid of the repercussions that could impact their career or reputation.
Some of the greatest people in history have been scorned for their stand. There is a lot of criticism these days, and it does make it hard for people to testify and to witness about the power and blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
True, every Christian who strives to faithfully bear witness for his Lord is going to pay dearly for his courage and his fidelity. Peter declared long ago, “Know this, there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (2 Peter 3:3; 1 Peter 5:8).
Now the paths of service are crimson with the blood of suffering. Hearts have been broken and hopes have been dashed and souls are needlessly wounded by thoughtless, cruel people who are willing to occupy front seats among the scornful. These people sit on the seat of the scornful and jeer at God’s people and make it hard for them to testify or witness about the things of Christ. I love those words in the psalm: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1).
It was the same, though, for the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a hero of the multitude, but when the curtain came down on His ministry, men of religious bigotry and political malice unsheathed the sword of hatred, and at His arrest, His disciples fled for their lives. At the cross there was but one of His chosen disciples who dared to stand by.
You know, Paul was the heart of the early church. You remember that in his hour of direst need, he said: “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world and has departed … and Crescens is gone,” and “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil. … At my last trial no man stood with me. All men forsook me” (2 Timothy 4:10, 14, 16). Paul’s friends were not able to face the lions and the swords of fire and martyrdom. They clung tenaciously to their seat among the scornful.
This occurs in our time also. I had an experience along this line. A young woman had been greatly blessed; God had healed her marvelously, and she went to tell someone about it. She said, “Oh, I had the most marvelous doctor, and he did such a wonderful work.” Then she added in a whisper, “Of course, the Lord helped a little.”
I turned to her, and I said, “You did have a good doctor, but you’ve got a very jealous God; and the Lord healed you through the prayers of all your friends, and I prayed for you desperately. True, the doctor did help some, but the Lord did the work.” It seemed she was ashamed of this.
A friend complained of the blasphemy of a certain program, and I said, “Did you write in or protest?” She said, “Oh, goodness no! They would’ve published my name and my letter.” I responded, “Well, those that stand against Christ and the things that you believe, they don’t mind having their names published.”
One time a Christian woman and I were sitting in the Southern Pacific train. A conversation between three people took on a vitriolic tone toward the Bible and Christ. She couldn’t stand it any longer and she got up and left. She never said one word of protest or gave any witness of her faith before those people.
There’s something tragic when we’ve got so much to witness about, but we let those that sit in the seat of the scornful put fear into us. It’s an awful thing when we have such a wonderful Lord, and there can be such transformation in others’ lives, and yet we don’t tell people about the balm that there is in Gilead. We used to sing a hymn in Sunday school:
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone.
Dare to have a purpose true,
And dare to make it known.
—Phillip Bliss, 1872
Oh, I wish that some unsaved one listening in right now would have the courage to trust God for salvation and then help us stand out for His truth. Declare your allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ right now. Do you have the courage to do that? What a changed life you would have. What a witness you could be for the truth and the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God help you to have courage to stand out for the cause of Christ in this dark day. It’s needed so very much, and surely you owe the Lord Jesus Christ that much loyalty that you’ll not listen to the scornful or sit anywhere near the seat of the scornful. God help you to have the courage to speak for Him.
From a transcript of a Meditation Moments broadcast, adapted. Published on Anchor March 2026. Read by Lenore Welsh.
https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/the-seat-of-the-scornful/?=
Psalm 69 - Part 1 - An Urgent Plea for Help in Trouble
Psalm 69 King James Version
Psalm
69:1-2 Save me, O God; for the waters
are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where
there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
The cry of
David sounds similar to that of Jonah the prophet who got himself into trouble
because of his disobedience to the Lord. God had called Jonah to warn the city
of Nineveh of its impending doom if they repented not. But Jonah ran from the
presence of the Lord and took a ship in the opposite direction.
Jonah ends
up getting thrown off the ship he took and swallowed by a whale. Here are some
of the cries that are recorded in Jonah’s book. Most of them were cries from
David’s own mouth and recorded in the Psalms.
Jonah 2:1-2
Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly. And said, I
cried by reason of my affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the
belly of hell cried I, and You heard my voice.
Jonah,
being a man of God, a prophet, was familiar with the scriptures. The above
verses sound similar to Psalm 18:4-6.
Psalm
18:4-6 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me
afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented
me. In my distress I called unto the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my
voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.
Jonah
continues praying or reciting scripture.
Jonah 2:3
For You have cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods
compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
The above
cry sounds like something from Psalm 42:7. “Deep calls unto deep at the noise
of thy water-sprouts (waterfalls): all thy waves and billows have gone over me.”
Next
recorded in Jonah 2:4 is, “Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will
look again toward they holy temple.”
Psalm 31:22
has the same idea of being cast out of the Lord’s sight or feeling a lack of
God’s help. “For I said in my haste, I am cut off (cast out) from before Your
eyes (out of your sight); nevertheless, You heard the voice of my supplication
when I cried unto thee.
Jonah
continues, “The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed
me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the
bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet
have You brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God,” Jonah 2:5-6.
An aside note here on the above verse which mentions mountains in the ocean: the first recorded sea mountain was discovered by a Swedish deep-sea dredging operation on July 2, 1869. The Soviets discovered the Lomonosov Ridge in the Arctic Ocean in 1948, proving the Arctic basin was divided by underwater mountains.
Of course, sailors in antiquity had noticed that
some parts of the ocean were shallower than others. However, it wasn’t until
the 1950s that the American and Soviets began to map the floor of the oceans
and confirmed the existence of massive interconnected mountain ranges across
the ocean floors.
The question is how did Jonah, writing between 790-750 BC, know about the mountains on the ocean floor? The fact that he did seems to point to a hidden knowledge, which the Bible refers to as the Holy Spirit. In 2 Timothy 3:16a we find Apostle Paul giving the answer: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
Apostle Peter confirms Paul’s affirmation. “Knowing
this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” 2 Peter 1:20-21. Therefore, the Holy
Spirit inspired Jonah to write what he did and gave him knowledge that he
himself could not have known.
In Jonah 2:5, Jonah could be remembering Psalm 18:5 or Psalm 116:3 which says, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold of me: I found trouble and sorrow.” Jonah in his predicament calls out to the Lord as does David in Psalm 18:6 and the author of Psalm 116:4. "Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul."
We can remember, also, that Jonah is a foreshadowing of Jesus. Jonah was three days and nights in the whale’s belly, while Jesus was three days and nights in the heart of the earth, Matthew 12:40. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane may have been meditating or experiencing the anguish of heart that David expresses in the Psalm 69.In time of
emotional stress and anxiety, we must, like David and Jonah after him, and Jesus, cry out to the Lord for help. However, David, at this
point in the psalm, is still overwhelmed with emotion and the feeling of being
forsaken. His faith is still battling and he has not seen the light of day yet.
Psalm 69:3 I
am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: my eyes fail while I wait for my
God.
David is in great distress of soul and spiritual turmoil while waiting on God to respond to his cry. The Psalm could aptly apply to Jesus who may have used it as one of His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane. Remember Jesus sweat blood because He was in so much torment of soul and spirit. “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground,” Luke 22:44.
Psalm 69:4 They
that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: they that
would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that
which I took not away.
David feels overwhelmed by the number of enemies he has. Jesus, also, had innumerable enemies, both physical and spiritual.
Psalm 69:5 O
God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from thee.
David
frequently confesses his sins and short-coming to God in his songs of prayer
and praise. Elsewhere in the scripture we find the idea of God being
all-knowing and ever-present throughout His creation. Theologically it is
called Omniscient, and Omnipresent.
Proverbs
15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
2
Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole
earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
toward Him.
Jesus said
that whatsoever is done in secret shall be made known in public. In Number
32:23 we read, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” There is nothing hidden
that shall not be revealed. Nevertheless, “if we confess our sin, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and cleanse us of all
unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9. “He that covers his sin shall not prosper: but
whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy,” Proverbs 28:13.
Psalm 69:6 Let
not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of
hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for
my sake, O God of Israel.
David is compassionately praying that his life, his problems, do not become a stumbling block to other believers. Jesus, also, before His passion, prayed for His disciples that God would keep them from the evil, John 17:15b. He specifically told Peter that He had prayed for him. He told Peter to not lose faith, and that when he was "converted, strengthen your brethren," Luke 22:32b.
Psalm
69:7-9 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I
am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
For the zeal of thine house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that
reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Because of
David’s love for God, he bears reproach. As David is a protype of Christ, the
verse could also be seen prophetically as pertaining to Jesus. Jesus bore
reproach because of His love of God, and love for mankind. The section, “the
zeal of thine house has eaten me up,” is quoting in John 2:17 as referring to
Jesus and His zeal in cleansing the temple of the money-changers and merchants.
Psalm 69:10-12
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. I
made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. They that sit
in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
“They that
sit in the gate,” refers to the leaders or elders of the community who we see
throughout scripture sitting at the gates of the city to pass judgment or
witness business transactions.
Psalm
69:13-15 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in
the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver
me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that
hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me,
neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
David is more encouraged now. We could imagine Jesus using these verses in prayer to His Father while he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. End of part one. Go to Part 2.
