LIFT UP THE LORD
Psalm 92: 8-11
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A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe |
If you survey the Old Covenant books, one item of history will stand out about as much as any of the theological and spiritual issues. That fact is that all of the human enemies of our God and King were eventually destroyed within the historic record. Yet by comparison, the Church of our Lord and King Jesus Christ has continued, grown and prospered down through the ages.
Perhaps I say this too often, but the sudden breakup of the Soviet state in the last decade is nothing more than the hand of God meting out His justice in His good time. One of the last communist nations, just south of our borders is forced by economic and spiritual bankruptcy to admit and perhaps even submit to a "vicar" of Christ. While we may have differences with the Church of Rome, at the very least we can say that the present Pope is a better choice for the people of Cuba than present regime has been over the last thirty-some years.
As we watch the unfolding demise of every communist state, we should well consider that the Lord is indeed King of all the earth, and His sovereign rule will prevail as history providentially works its way towards His purpose. May we with the psalmist, raise up the precious Name of the Lord and give Him thanks and praise.
But you, O Lord, are exalted forever.
This eighth verse of our psalm today is our theme and by comparison we see His will worked out even in our own lives, country and century. Now, if you are thinking that I know what will happen before the year two thousand and one, when the new century really begins, you are going to be disappointed. However, I do think that the great theme of this twentieth century that all of our history has been wrestling with is this: whether or not socialism or capitalism will be the economic means of sharing God's earthly wealth among the peoples. Let us be certain to understand that the eighteenth century really did not begin until after the battle of Waterloo in 1815. Neither did the focus of this century begin until after the Great War which lasted through 1918 at least.
So, when I consider the consolidation and development of economic determinism it may be another twenty years before we know where we are headed for certain. One thing I can predict in the words of the psalmist:
For surely your enemies, O Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
I was recently involved in a short discussion of sharing ethics with our young people. Perhaps I was a bit terse in my statements, but I was very frustrated at the lack of freedom in America to share completely the truth of the gospel in the public square. Our young people need to hear the biblical demands of the commandments so that they can measure their lives in comparison. Hopefully if you have an IQ beyond being able to breath, you know that the politically correct bunch have pretty much stifled any free discussion of ethics.
The feminists and their kin will not allow the revelations of our Father God to be distributed. No indeed, they propose to raise up a new system of ethics that have no religious base. Never mind that according to the liberal historian Will Durant, there never has been a time in history when ethics were proposed, studied or encouraged apart from a religious base! And as the New Agers propose their "uncola" nonreligious ethic, we can readily see why the God of revelation will laugh heartily at their pronouncements. Have you figured out any details of our New Age focal ethics?
How about this observation: It is more wicked to breath out tobacco smoke than it is to murder an unborn child in its womb! Now, I ask you, how long do you think the God of heaven will allow such an absurdity to continue! Just as assuredly as the Soviet state was destroyed, so will be the fate of the American enterprise if we do not repent as a nation and lift up the revelations of our Lord instead of the New Age Aquarian tripe being foisted upon us by the politically correct crowd!
Do what they may to us, those who oppose the greater wisdom of our God and King will be utterly destroyed before our eyes. I do hope that I have the great satisfaction of living long enough to see the current political reign of the feminists, the sodomites and their socialist cronies brought to an end. The spiritual stench of their increasing power rises up to heaven as an offense not only to God but to every living creature upon the earth. In a few short days we will observe the twenty-fifth anniversary of the court case which has allowed living children to be ripped from the womb of their mothers.
Try as hard as they might the pro-life lobbies and activists have only been able to slow the slaughter and we must wait for God's interdiction in history to put an end to this travesty. Sometimes it is difficult to live in the midst of the politically correct environment and were it not for the encouragement of God's Word, we would faint and falter.
You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured upon me.
In comparison to the way of the wicked we are to understand that the Lord will be exalted forever and ever. And the fact that He is our very own God should encourage and sustain us. In verse ten the Hebrewism of exalted horn symbolizes strength. This personal strength we are promised will raise us up beyond the brute untamed animal strength of our worldly antagonists. And like those wild animals which may be conquered and prepared for sacrifice with fine oils. so too may blessings flow over us like the cultic oils used for anointment in Israel. Just as the Lord's enemies are to be defeated, so does our psalmist expect that his own enemies will be routed and scattered.
My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
Oh may we pray that the Lord our God will make it so. Even if His work is delayed for a decade or more, may His enemies who hate and detest us for loving Him - may they be scattered and destroyed. Or at least, if it is His will, may they come to know Him and confess their great sin. Amen.
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Resources Used: |
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Kidner, Derek. |
Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms. | |
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Spurgeon, C.H. |
The Treasury of David. | |
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The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society (1973, 1978, 1984) | ||
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Psm 092e |
17 January 98 | |