Week 17

It was a great Week 17. Hope you all are well and still reading!


Point to consider:
For this post, I wanted to look at three different topics found in the psalms that we read this week.

#1 - A warning in the psalms.

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."
(Psalm 2:2-6)

Does this strike you as echoing what is happening even now in our own time? Consider the recent arguments that our country wasn't founded on Christian ideals; consider the full-out attack to remove symbols of Christianity from public avenues; consider the war on keeping not only Godly creation as an option out of the science classes but even the secular Intelligent Design; consider that prayer was removed from schools; consider when in 2004 a minister in Sweden was jailed for "hate speech" for preaching inside his church against gay lifestyles - and a hate crime bill before the US House right now could potentially be used to do the same thing here; consider abortion laws and the extent to what its practice has been taken and remember that God hates the shedding of innocent blood; consider how just recently the Maryland state senate refused to journalize (and therefore acknowledge) the opening prayer because the minister offered it "in Jesus' name."; consider that Barak Obama's nominated judge to the 7th circuit court of appeals, David Hamilton, has ruled that prayer to Jesus is unconstitutional but prayers to Allah are not. These are just a few examples out of many hundreds you could find.

We've just recently read our passages regarding the times of the Israelite judges, and how when Israel turned from God and how they were punished as a nation.

We are now going to read how this continued into the kingdoms when the kings turned from God taking the nation with them, and how they were punished for it with war, slavery, and dispersement. Should we then too be afraid for our future if our leaders break away from God and throw off His ways?

Indeed, we should.



#2 - A picture in the psalms.

We've looked several times at various pictures of Christ in our Old Testament passages so far. Here is an interesting one that was originally a psalm that pictures an event in the life of Jesus.

For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. Then they
cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
(Psalm 107:25-30)


Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (Matthew 8:24-27)

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. (Luke 8:22-26)



#3 - A prophecy in the psalms.

As we look at this prophecy, let's establish a few points.
* David wrote the 22nd psalm around 1000BC
* Rome was not founded as a city until 753BC
* The earliest known crucifixion dates to around 500BC
* Jesus was crucified around 30AD
* Roman capitol punishment was crucifixion. Jewish capitol punishment was stoning.

Now, I will just show you the scriptures and let you think on these things.

- - -
Psalm 22:1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

- - -
Psalm 22:6
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

- - -
Psalm 22:7
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

Matthew 27:39
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads

- - -
Psalm 22:8
"He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

Matthew 27:42-43
"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "

- - -
Psalm 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.

John 19:34
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

- - -
Psalm 22:15
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

John 19:28
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"

- - -
Psalm 22:16
Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

Matthew 27:27
Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.

Mark 15:25
Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

- - -
Psalm 22:17
I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.

John 19:1
So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.

Matthew 27:39
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads

Matthew 27:41
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.

- - -
Psalm 22:18
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

John 19:23-24
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."So this is what the soldiers did.

- - -