Salmo 17 - Uma Oração com Confiança na Salvação Final

 

Salmo 17 Uma Oração com Confiança na Salvação Final                              

Comentários de Dennis Edwards

Uma Oração de David

Salmo 17:1-2 Ouve, Senhor, a justiça, atende ao meu clamor, dá ouvidos à minha oração, que não procede de lábios fingidos. Que a minha sentença saia da Tua presença; que os teus olhos contemplem as coisas que são iguais (ou certas/verdadeiras).

David está a clamar a Deus, alegando que é honesto e sincero e que Deus deveria ouvir e responder ao seu pedido.

Salmo 17:3 Tu sondaste o meu coração; Visitou-me durante a noite; Você provou-me, e nada encontrou; Estou decidido a que a minha boca não transgredirá.

O apóstolo Tiago recorda-nos que a nossa boca é o nosso maior problema. “Assim também a língua é um pequeno membro, e gaba-se de grandes coisas. Vejam quão grande coisa incendeia uma pequena fogueira. E a língua é um fogo, um mundo de iniquidade; assim está a língua entre os nossos membros, que contamina todo o nosso corpo, e incendeia o curso da natureza; e é incendiado pelo inferno. Mas a língua ninguém pode domar; é um mal incontrolável, cheio de veneno mortal. Com isto bendizemos a Deus Pai; e com ela amaldiçoamos os homens, feitos à semelhança de Deus”, Tiago 3:5,6,8,9.

Jesus disse-nos também que daríamos conta de toda a palavra ociosa, pois pelas nossas palavras seríamos justificados e pelas nossas palavras seríamos condenados, Mateus 12:37. As palavras são coisas reais. Eles abençoam ou amaldiçoam. O apóstolo Paulo advertiu-nos ainda para que “não saia da nossa boca nenhuma palavra torpe (ou má), mas só a que for boa para promover a edificação, para que ministre graça aos que a ouvem”.

Salmo 17:4 Quanto às obras dos homens, pela palavra dos teus lábios me guardei das veredas do destruidor.

É a palavra de Deus que nos guarda dos caminhos do destruidor. Lemos noutro lugar nos salmos: “Lâmpada para os meus pés é a tua palavra e luz para o meu caminho”, Salmo 119:105. “Com que purificará o jovem o seu caminho, observando-o segundo a tua palavra,” Salmo 119:9. “Escondi a tua palavra no meu coração, para não pecar contra ti”, Salmo 119:11. É vivendo, meditando e seguindo a palavra de Deus que escapamos às ciladas do nosso inimigo espiritual.

Salmo 17:5 Dirige os meus passos nas tuas veredas, para que as minhas pegadas não vacilem.

Como filhos de Deus, estamos totalmente dependentes da Sua ajuda: “Embora sejamos infiéis, Ele permanece fiel”, 2 Timóteo 2:13. O apóstolo Paulo assegura-nos que “Aquele que começou em vós a boa obra a aperfeiçoará até ao dia de Cristo Jesus”, Filipenses 1:6. "Porque eu sei em quem tenho crido, e estou certo de que ele é poderoso para guardar o meu depósito até àquele Dia", 2 Timóteo 1:12b.

Salmo 17:6-8 Eu te invoco, pois tu me respondes. Ó Deus, inclina para mim os teus ouvidos e escuta as minhas palavras. Mostra a tua maravilhosa misericórdia, ó tu que salvas com a tua mão direita aqueles que em ti confiam, daqueles que se levantam contra eles. Guarda-me como a menina dos olhos, esconde-me à sombra das tuas asas.

Uma metáfora familiar nas Escrituras é a do Senhor ser como uma galinha que oferece proteção sob as suas asas aos seus pintainhos. “Aquele que habita no esconderijo do Altíssimo, à sombra do Omnipotente descansará. Direi do Senhor: Ele é o meu refúgio e a minha fortaleza, o meu Deus; nele confiarei. Certamente ele me livrará do laço do passarinheiro e da peste perniciosa. Ele te cobrirá com as suas penas, e debaixo das suas asas estarás seguro; Salmo 91:1-4.

Salmo 17:9-10 Dos ímpios que me oprimem, dos meus inimigos mortais que me cercam. Estão envolvidos na sua própria gordura: com a boca falam orgulhosamente.

Uma descrição algo precisa dos ricos e poderosos ímpios que oprimem os pobres e os necessitados e falam arrogantemente contra tudo o que é chamado Deus ou que é piedoso.

Salmo 17:11-12 Eles agora nos cercam nos nossos passos: baixaram os olhos para a terra; como um leão ávido da sua presa, e como um leãozinho que espreita em lugares secretos.

A imagem do ímpio como um leão que ataca o piedoso é repetida no Novo Testamento, onde o apóstolo Pedro escreve: “Sede sóbrios e vigilantes; porque o vosso adversário, o diabo, anda em derredor, rugindo como leão, buscando a quem possa tragar; 1 Pedro 5:8-9a.

Salmo 17:13 Levanta-te, Senhor, desilude-o, derruba-o.  livra a minha alma do ímpio, que é a tua espada.

A palavra de Deus expressa repetidamente a ideia de que o Senhor, por vezes, usa o incrédulo para castigar o Seu povo. O rei da Assíria foi chamado de navalha de Deus em Isaías 7:20, que veio contra Israel. “Nesse mesmo dia o Senhor rapará com uma navalha alugada, a saber, por aqueles que estão além do Rio, pelo rei da Assíria, a cabeça e os cabelos dos pés; Deus enviaria os assírios como julgamento sobre as dez tribos do norte de Israel.”

Nabucodonosor, que veio e destruiu Jerusalém e o primeiro templo, é referido como servo de Deus em Jeremias 25:9: “Eis que enviarei e tomarei todas as famílias do norte, diz o Senhor, e Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilónia, meu servo, e os trará contra esta terra, e contra os seus moradores, e contra todas estas nações em redor, e os destruirá totalmente, e fará deles um espanto, e um assobio, e perpétuas desolações.”

Salmo 17:14 Dos homens que são a tua mão, Senhor, dos homens do mundo, cuja porção está nesta vida, e cujo ventre enches do teu tesouro escondido: estão cheias de filhos e deixam o resto dos seus bens aos seus pequeninos.

Os ricos encontraram formas, através das suas fundações, ONG e associações, de esconder o seu dinheiro para poderem evitar os impostos e, como resultado, os seus rendimentos crescem exponencialmente ao longo das gerações. São do mundo e amam as coisas que são do mundo, a concupiscência da carne, a concupiscência dos olhos e a soberba da vida. Mas o mundo passa, e as suas concupiscências; 1 João 2:16-17.

Salmo 17:15 Eu, porém, contemplarei a tua face na justiça;

David compara os homens do mundo e a recompensa que têm nesta vida com a sua própria esperança e recompensa no reino celestial. As suas palavras são semelhantes às de Job mil anos antes. “Porque eu sei que o meu Redentor vive, e que por fim se levantará sobre a terra; olhos verão, e não outro; ainda que os meus rins (órgãos do corpo) se consumam dentro de mim”, Job 19:25-27.

No Novo Testamento vemos uma esperança semelhante dos discípulos de Jesus. O apóstolo João escreveu: “Amados, agora somos filhos de Deus, e ainda não se manifestou o que havemos de ser. porque assim como é o veremos”, 1 João 3:2. O apóstolo Paulo escreveu: “Porque a nossa cidade está nos céus; de onde também esperamos o Salvador, o Senhor Jesus Cristo: O qual transformará o nosso corpo vil, para ser conforme ao seu corpo glorioso, segundo o seu eficaz poder de sujeitar a si todas as coisas,” Filipenses 3:20-21.

Esta é a esperança de todo o filho de Deus nascido de novo: a vida eterna. Como também escreveu o apóstolo Paulo: “Eis aqui vos digo um mistério: nem todos dormiremos (morreremos), mas seremos transformados, num momento, num piscar de olhos, ao som da última trombeta: porque a trombeta soará, e os mortos ressuscitarão incorruptíveis, e nós seremos transformados. Porque é necessário que isto que é corruptível se revista da incorruptibilidade, e que isto que é mortal se revista da imortalidade. Quando, pois, isto que é corruptível se revestir da incorruptibilidade, e isto que é mortal se revestir da imortalidade, então se cumprirá a palavra que está escrita: Tragada foi a morte na vitória. Onde está, ó morte, o teu aguilhão? Onde está, ó sepultura, a tua vitória?... Mas graças a Deus, que nos dá a vitória (sobre a sepultura e a morte) por nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo,” 1 Coríntios 15:51-55.

O apóstolo Paulo estava a recitar Isaías, onde encontramos a mesma esperança. “Ele trará a morte em vitória; e o Senhor Deus enxugará as lágrimas de todos os rostos; e tirará de toda a terra a opressão do seu povo, porque o Senhor o disse. E naquele dia se dirá: Eis que este é o nosso Deus; nós o esperávamos, e ele nos salvará. nós o esperávamos, e nos alegraremos e nos alegraremos na sua salvação”, Isaías 25:8-9.

Não temos uma cidade permanente aqui na terra, porque esperamos uma que venha. Somos estrangeiros e peregrinos na terra, persuadidos pelas promessas de Deus e que as abraçamos. Procuramos a cidade que tem fundamentos, da qual Deus é o construtor e o edificador. “Portanto, Deus não se envergonha de ser chamado nosso Deus; porque nos preparou uma cidade”, Hebreus 11:16. Esta é a Cidade Celeste, a Nova Jerusalém, onde Deus enxugará dos nossos olhos toda a lágrima; e não haverá mais morte, nem pranto, nem clamor, nem dor; Apocalipse 21:4. E Deus fará novas todas as coisas.

Essa é a esperança a que nos agarramos, a nossa recompensa celestial. Como escreve de novo o apóstolo Paulo, citando novamente Isaías: “As coisas que o olho não viu, e o ouvido não ouviu, e não subiram ao coração do homem, são as que Deus preparou para os que o amam”, 1 Coríntios 2: 9. “Portanto, meus amados irmãos, sede firmes e constantes, sempre abundantes na obra do Senhor, sabendo que o vosso trabalho não é vão no Senhor,” I Coríntios 15:58. “Sê fiel até à morte, e dar-te-ei a coroa da vida”, Apocalipse 2:10.

Originalmente publicado Janeiro 17, 2025.

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Psalm 16 - For You Will Not Leave My Soul in Hell

 
Dennis Edwards

The following Psalm of David seems more applicable to the Messiah than to David who received it. Apostle Peter in his epistle mentions that many times the prophets didn’t understand the full depth of what they were receiving from the Lord.

1 Peter 1:10-13 “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:¹¹ Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

¹² “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. ¹³ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Both Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul use parts of the following Psalm in their witnessing and defence of the Gospel that Jesus is Lord and the Messiah to which the Jewish people had longed for. The Jewish people believed the Old Testament was the word of God, therefore, it was an acceptable authority to use when sharing the Gospel. First, we’ll look at Peter’s argument.

Acts 2:22-36 “You men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know: ²³ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: ²⁴ Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

²⁵”For David speaks concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:²⁶ Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ²⁷ Because You will not leave my soul in hell, neither will You suffer Your Holy One to see corruption. ²⁸ You have made known to me the ways of life; You shall make me full of joy with Your countenance. (Psalm 16:8-11 Septuagint)

²⁹ “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. ³⁰ Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; ³¹ He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.

³² “This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. ³³ Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear.

³⁴ “For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on my right hand, ³⁵ Until I make Your foes Your footstool. (Psalm 110:1) ³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made the same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Apostle Peter quotes from both Psalm 16 and Psalm 110 in making his claim that Jesus is the fulfilment of David’s prophetic words, which David could not have been speaking about himself.

Apostle Paul makes a similar defence quoting from Psalm 2 and Psalm 16.

Acts 13:26-41 “Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fears God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. ²⁷ For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

²⁸ “And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.²⁹ And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

³⁰ “But God raised him from the dead: ³¹ And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.³² And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, ³³ God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten You. (Psalm 2:7)

³⁴ “And as concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:3) ³⁵ Wherefore he says also in another psalm, You shall not suffer Your Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

³⁶ “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: ³⁷ But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. ³⁸ Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: ³⁹ And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

 ⁴¹ “Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declares it unto you,” Habakkuk 1:5 and Isaiah 29:14.

As we read the Psalm, we can read it as though the Holy Spirit is speaking through David, and the words are a prayer of David, or, we can read it as a prayer of the Son of Man.

Psalm 16:1 “Preserve me, O God: for in You do I put my trust.”

Both David and Jesus put their trust in God, and we must, too.

Psalm 16:2 “O my soul, you have said unto the Lord, You are my Lord: my goodness extends not to You.”

In the above prayer, if we look at it as if Jesus is praying it, He is saying, “God the Father, nothing can be added to Your goodness.” Jesus Himself emptied Himself of His Divinity to suffer the death of a sinner as we read in the New Testament.

Philippians 2:6-8 ^“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Psalm 16:3 “But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.”

Jesus extends His righteousness to those that believe and obey Him, “the saints and the excellent,” in other words, the true believers.

John 1:12 “But as many as receive Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

2Corinthians 5:21 “For He  (God) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Psalm 16:4 “Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.”

Those seeking other gods only end with sorrows as Apostle Paul writes to Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:9-11 ^“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ¹¹ But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

Psalm 16:5 “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: You maintain my lot.”

For those who follow Christ closely, our inheritance is not earthly, but heavenly. Jesus Himself being an example of one who followed hard after God and kept the Heavenly vision.

Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Hebrews 12:2-3 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinner against Himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds.”

Psalm 16:6 “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.”

God even blesses his servants here on earth and promises them houses, and lands, and brothers, and sisters.

Mark 10:29-30 “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, ³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”

Psalm 16:7 “I will bless the Lord, who has given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.”

God instructs us in our sleep if we are seeking Him and His will in our lives. We see that Jesus got up early to spend time with His father. Before major decisions and events, he spent the night in desperate prayer.

Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

Luke 6:12-13 “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. ¹³ And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.”

Matthew 26:36 “Then comes Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and says unto the disciples, Sit here, while I go and pray yonder.”

The following verses are the ones used by both Peter and Paul in their defence of Jesus being the Messiah, and spoken of by the prophets and by David.

Psalm 16:8-10 “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope. ¹⁰ For You will not leave my soul in hell; neither will You suffer Your Holy One to see corruption.”

David did see corruption; therefore, he is not speaking of himself, but of the Messiah who was to come, prophesized by the “voice of the Lord,” who walked with Adam and Eve in the garden.

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you (the serpent and his followers) and the woman (the true believers or Bride of Christ), and between your seed and her seed; it (Jesus the expected promised Seed) shall bruise your head (Satan shall ultimately be defeated by Christ or has been at the cross), and you shall bruise His heel (Satan was allowed to kill the Messiah).”

Had Satan known what he was doing, Apostle Paul writes, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory," 1 Corinthians 2:8b. It's just like in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. When they killed Aslan the Lion, they were fulfilling the law which in turn broke the curse which the witch had over the land. The death of Aslan freed everyone from the curse of the witch. After three days, Aslan came back to lead them to victory over evil.

Job, the oldest book in the Bible, written around the time of Abraham or around 2,000 BC, talks of the promised Messiah or Redeemer.

Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ²⁶ And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: ²⁷ Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”

Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fulness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.”

Jesus, seeing the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, and so should we.

Hebrews 5:7-9 “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; ⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, (be encouraged); I have overcome the world.”

Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Originally published 17th of September, 2024

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Psalm 13 - How Long Will You Forget Me, O Lord?

 

“A Prayer of the Church, or of a Believer, for deliverance from the Atheistic Faction” Bishop Horsley – (1733-1806) A Psalm of David.

13:1 How long will You forget me, O Lord? for ever? How long will You hide Your face from me? ² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Dennis Edwards: In the first two verses, the psalmist cries out four times, “How long?” That is often the question we ask God in our complaint, when we are going through some arduous trial or tribulation or persecution. How long will it last, Lord? When will you bring me through to the other side? Jesus even felt the abandonment of God on the cross and shouted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

Many a martyr has felt abandoned by God. They had obeyed God and had stayed strong in their convictions, but ended up in the fire or on a cross, or facing some other cruel death. They were tempted to feel and think God had abandoned them

It looked as if God had abandoned Jesus, because Elijah didn’t come and save Him. Yet, three days later He rose from the dead and proved His Messiahship and victory over Satan and death. Apostle John wrote, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil,” 1 John 3:8b. 

Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8b. God knew beforehand that He would need to redeem His creation, you and me, by coming into the world and dying for us. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” 1 John 3:16.

^{Psalm 13:3} Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; ⁴ Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

The psalmist prays and asks God to enlighten him, to bring light back into his eyes from the discouragement he is feeling under the attacks of his enemies. His anguish of soul is so great, he feels like dying. He pleads with God to hear his prayer and let His presence bring release, surcease from anxiety and suffering.

^{Psalm 13:5} But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. ⁶ I will sing unto the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

By faith the psalmist proclaims victory and begins to praise the Lord before the answer has come. He reminds himself that God has always dealt positively with him in the past, and assures himself that God will do so once again. He is reminding both himself and God of God’s promise to rescue and save the righteous. He is reminding God of His faithfulness. 

The psalmist is offering the sacrifice of praise, even before the victory has come. His praise is manifesting the victory before he sees and feels it. He will soon have victory because He knows that God dwells in the praises of His people, Psalm 22:3.

It is good to give thanks and praise unto God. We enter into His presence with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, Psalm 100:4. Praise the Lord all you saints. “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

“Rejoice, evermore. And again, I say rejoice!” Philippines 4:6. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Your name, O most High: to show forth Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night,” Psalm 92:1-2.

Let us be people of thanksgiving and praise. If you are going through a testing period and the clouds of discouragement have dimmed your view, look up! Your redemption is drawing nigh. Draw nigh to God and He promises to draw nigh to you. Lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet, Hebrews 12:12-13. 

Don’t let discouragement cause you to fall out of the way. Resist the devil and he will flee from you, James 4:7. God wants to bring healing and victory. Hold onto His word. It is surer than everything else that exists. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but God’s word shall never pass away, Matthew 24:35. “For ever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven,” Psalm 119:89.

Lord, I believe, deliver me from my unbelief and lack of faith. Bring healing and victory! In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Originally published January 13, 2025.

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Salmo 13 - Até quando te esquecerás de mim, Senhor?

“Uma Oração da Igreja, ou de um Crente, pela libertação da Facção Ateísta” Bispo Horsley – (1733-1806) Um Salmo de David.

13:1-2 Até quando te esquecerás de mim, Senhor? para sempre? até quando esconderás de mim o teu rosto? Até quando terei cada dia tristeza no coração? Até quando o meu povo será exaltado sobre mim?

Dennis Edwards: Nos dois primeiros versículos, o salmista clama quatro vezes: “Até quando?” Esta é frequentemente a pergunta que fazemos a Deus na nossa queixa, quando passamos por alguma árdua provação, tribulação ou perseguição. Quanto tempo é que isto vai durar, Senhor? Quando é que me vais levar para o outro lado? Jesus sentiu mesmo o abandono de Deus na cruz e gritou: “Meu Deus, meu Deus, porque me abandonaste?” Salmo 22:1. Muitos mártires sentiram-se abandonados por Deus. Obedeciam a Deus e mantinham-se fortes nas suas convicções, mas acabavam no fogo ou na cruz, ou a enfrentar alguma outra morte cruel. Foram tentados a sentir e a pensar que Deus os tinha abandonado.

Parecia que Deus tinha abandonado Jesus, porque Elias não veio salvá-lo. No entanto, três dias depois, Ele ressuscitou dos mortos e provou a Sua condição de Messias e de vitória sobre Satanás e a morte. O apóstolo João escreveu: “Para isto se manifestou o Filho de Deus: para destruir as obras do diabo”, 1 João 3:8b. Jesus foi morto desde a fundação do mundo, Apocalipse 13:8b. Deus sabia de antemão que precisaria de redimir a Sua criação, tu e eu, vindo ao mundo e morrendo por nós. “Nisto conhecemos o amor de Deus: que ele deu a sua vida por nós; e nós devemos dar a nossa vida pelos irmãos,” 1 João 3:16.

Salmo 13:3-4 Olha para mim e ouve-me, Senhor meu Deus; Para que o meu inimigo não diga: Prevaleci contra ele; e aqueles que me perturbam alegram-se quando sou movido.

O salmista ora e pede a Deus que o ilumine, que lhe traga de volta a luz aos olhos do desânimo que está a sentir perante os ataques dos seus inimigos. A sua angústia de alma é tão grande que sente vontade de morrer. Ele implora a Deus que ouça a sua oração e deixe que a Sua presença lhe traga libertação, cessação da ansiedade e do sofrimento.

Salmo 13:5-6 Mas eu confiei na tua misericórdia; o meu coração se alegrará na tua salvação. Cantarei ao Senhor, porque me fez muito bem.

Pela fé, o salmista proclama a vitória e começa a louvar o Senhor antes que a resposta chegue. Lembra-se de que Deus sempre lidou positivamente com ele no passado e garante a si mesmo que Deus o fará novamente. Ele está a recordar-se a si e a Deus da promessa de Deus de resgatar e salvar os justos. Ele está a lembrar a Deus a Sua fidelidade. O salmista está a oferecer o sacrifício do louvor, mesmo antes da vitória chegar. O seu louvor manifesta a vitória antes mesmo de ele a ver e sentir. Em breve terá vitória porque sabe que Deus habita nos louvores do Seu povo, Salmo 22:3.

É bom dar graças e louvar a Deus. Entramos na Sua presença com ações de graças, e nos Seus átrios com louvor, Salmo 100:4. Louvai o Senhor, todos os santos. “Em tudo dai graças, porque esta é a vontade de Deus em Cristo Jesus para convosco”, 1 Tessalonicenses 5:18. “Alegrai-vos sempre. E mais uma vez digo, alegrem-se!” Filipinas 4:6. “Bom é render graças ao Senhor, e cantar louvores ao teu nome, ó Altíssimo;

Sejamos pessoas de gratidão e de louvor. Se estiver a passar por um período de provação e as nuvens de desânimo lhe tiverem obscurecido a visão, olhe para cima! A sua redenção está próxima. Aproxime-se de Deus e Ele promete aproximar-se de si. Levantai as mãos cansadas e os joelhos vacilantes, e fazei veredas direitas para os vossos pés, Hebreus 12:12-13. Não deixe que o desânimo o faça sair do caminho. Resisti ao diabo, e ele fugirá de vós, Tiago 4:7. Deus quer trazer a cura e a vitória. Apegue-se à Sua palavra. É mais seguro do que tudo o resto que existe. O céu e a terra passarão, mas a palavra de Deus nunca passará, Mateus 24:35. “Para sempre, Senhor, a tua palavra está firmada nos céus”, Salmo 119:89.

Senhor, eu creio, livrai-me da minha incredulidade e falta de fé. Em nome de Jesus, eu rezo.

Publicado originalmente 13-01-2025.

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Psalm 11:3 "If the Foundations Are Destroyed, What Shall the Righteous Do?"

By Dennis Edwards:

Psalm 11:3 asks us,

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Of course, if the foundation of a building is destroyed, the whole building will go down. Therefore, to destroy faith in God, one has to destroy the foundation of faith, which is  belief in the Word of God.

If men can show that God's Word is in fact false, or in error, then men can destroy faith, because faith comes from hearing God's Word. Atheism, materialism, evolution, and naturalism, or the belief that only the natural world exist, have been the forces at work daily, constantly, consistently attacking the veracity of the Word of God. Like the slow, consistent dropping of water eventually wears away the rock beneath it, so have these doctrines of men eroded man's belief, man's trust in God's Word. 

Mankind has willingly discarded the Bible, because he believes it to be of little significance in the modern world. The communists in Russia and elsewhere confiscated the Bibles and destroyed them in their attempt to destroy faith in God. But men have learned that a direct attack upon the Word of God only causes men to cling to it and their faith the more. They have learned that by repeating their mantra enough times in the mouths of learned men, the masses will accept their ideas. By teaching as fact the assumptions of evolution, or the unfounded and unproven initial belief of evolution, that is, the belief that molecule to man evolution actually occurred, scientific men have deceived mankind.

The belief that molecule to man evolution has occurred, contrary to what the Bible teaches, and contrary to what actual  scientific evidence demonstrates, has been the single most important factor in the decline of faith. So says Dr. Michael Denton in his 1985 book Evolution: A Theory in Crisis.

Together with the media's constant barrage against anything that is Godly or Christian, the enemies of faith have slowly, but surely been actively working on destroying the faith of today's and future generations. What will the righteous do? Thank God for all the Godly men and women who are doing their best to hold up the dike against the destructive, evolutionistic, materialistic, naturalistic, atheistic, & new-age philosophies that have inundated Western Society over the past 150 years. Are you standing up for the truth or helping others who are?

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Psalm 7 - Part 1: O LORD My God, in You Do I Put My Trust: Save Me

A Prayer of Vindication 

Psalm 7 King James Version   A Prayer of Vindication      Commentary by Dennis Edwards

7:1 O Lord my God, in You do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

The psalmist starts off by declaring his trust in the Lord during times of persecution. In Psalm 34:19 we read, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Apostle Paul tells us, “Yea, and all that will Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12. In Colossians, he encourages us that God “has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son,” Colossians 1:13. Jesus told us that we should not fear them which can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both body and soul into hell,” Matthew 10:28. He said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.

^{Psalm 7:2} Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

Apostle Peter warns us to be sober and vigilant, because it is the devil that goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, whom we must resist steadfast in the faith, 1 Peter 5:8-9. Apostle Pauls tells us to, “Put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,” Ephesians 6:11. He then goes to describe the armour: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesian 6:13-17.

^{Psalm 7:3-4} O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, (if) I have delivered him that without cause is my enemy):

David tells the Lord, that if he is really guilty of evil, in that he has condemned the innocent, let him, therefore, be punished like the wicked.

^{Psalm 7:5} Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

David is saying, If I am guilty, Lord, condemn me.

^{Psalm 7:6} Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift up Yourself because of the rage of my enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that You have commanded.

In times of persecution, the righteous plead with God to rise up in their defence. God will judge those who persecute the righteous. During the time of the future great tribulation, God first sets a mark or seal on those that are His. “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads,” Revelation 7:3. He then reins down tribulation on the wicked and the unbelievers. Ezekiel 9:1-7 has similar imagery where an angel goes forth and designates with a mark who shall live during the judgment on Jerusalem. God would supernaturally protect those who were not guilty of the sins of the nation and had refused to participate in iniquity. The other angels go forth and guide the hands of the Babylonian soldiers as they kill those who participated in evil, and leave those with the mark untouched.

^{Psalm 7:7} So shall the congregation of the people compass You about: for their sakes therefore, return You (from) on high.

When the peoples or nations see the wicked punished, many will come to faith. After a major natural or man-made catastrophe, people are usually more sensitive to God. They may have survived, while others died. They realise it was God’s mercy and are therefore more open to Him. When Jesus comes back in the clouds many of the unrepented will repent, and come to faith.

Recently we went to an area of Spain where flooding had destroyed various small towns and many were killed. When talking to a director of an association which a leading communist had directed us to, we were being careful about how we talked about God, not wanting to offend a man we assumed was an unbeliever. My wife said, “We believe in God, but we are not affiliated with any denomination.” The director responded, “We, also believe, however you want to call Him. We were here when the canal overflowed. We were here in the darkness and heard the screams for help. My wife and two children were with me. We believe. We know that it is by God’s mercy that we are here today.” The tragedy had brought him to faith.

Matthew 24:29-30 Immediately after the tribulation of those days…the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

After the tribulation, at the time of the rapture, it seems a great repentance will take place in Jerusalem and around the world, and many will believe.

Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his first born.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.

Some will be wailing in repentance, while others will still be in anger at God.

Revelation 16:21 And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague was exceeding great.

^{Psalm 7:8} The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me.

We that believe have put on the righteousness which is of Christ. We are clothed with His righteousness, not our own. God will chastise us for our sins, for judgment must begin first at the house of God. And if the righteous scarcely stand, what shall happen to the ungodly and sinners? 1 Peter 4:17-18.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

We that believe shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, but our judgment will be tempered, because we have believed and followed Christ. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad,” 2 Corinthians 5:10.

The unbelievers shall stand before the Great White Throne Judgment seat of God after the 1,000 year Millennium and the second battle of Gog and Magog.

Revelation 20:11-13 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

We will all be judged. Every man will give account to his works whether they have been good or evil.

To the righteous, those who have truly believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God, they shall be clothed in the righteousness of the Son and accepted by the Father. The unrighteous who accepted not the gift of eternal life in Christ, shall be judged by their own works, whether they were evil or whether they were good. Those whose works were good shall have their lives extended in the afterlife. They will continue to grow into the knowledge and acceptance of the love of God, until they too may enter into the Heavenly City New Jerusalem and dwell in the presence of the most High.

Revelation 21:23-27 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

End of Part 1: To go to Part 2 click on link:

https://fightforyourfaith.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-righteous-god-tries-hearts-and.html

Originally published 02-04-2025.

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