A Trilogy of Psalms – 22 – 23 – 24

A Trilogy of Psalms

Psalm 22 — Psalm 23 — Psalm 24

<<To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.>> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psalm 22:1)

<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)

<<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

   In considering these three psalms we have an overview of the first advent of Christ: the dispensation of grace, and the future millennial kingdom of the Lord of glory. This is the voice of the Spirit speaking expressly in these three-time elements.  We will be discussing the Lord’s first advent in relation to Psalm 22 looking at the suffering Savior and His rejection by His own, and by the world.

   The second time period is the time of grace, and the elements of Psalm 23 surrounds this period of time. We are reminded by the Spirit that, they without us should not be made perfect. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40) The Lord revealed Himself as the good shepherd, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11) We are possessed by Him, preserved by Him, and in Him we enjoy the presence of His Spirit.

   Psalm 24 presents to us as an overlay of the last time period of man on earth. And the One who reigns in this thousand-year period is the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. All three of these psalms were penned by David the king. In his writings he received from the Spirit of God the projected writings of these prophecies for David was moved by the Holy Spirit within him.

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 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. 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. (1 Peter 1:10 – 12)

 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 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 spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2^nd Peter 1:16 – 21)

    In both references through Peter the Spirit of God, Himself, is clarifying His presence and His unction within the prophets who God chose to reveal His word (not the word of men) to the world. The power of the Holy Spirit upon man makes man a subject for receiving the exact word of God as the Spirit dictates to the mind and heart of His chosen. The Lord, Himself, declared that David was a prophet, and gave His approval by quoting from David’s one hundred and tenth psalm (Psalm 110). (Matthew 22:44) (Mark 12:36) (Luke 20:42) In Matthew Chapter 22, verses 43 through 45, the Lord quoted from David’s Psalm 110. The importance of this quote is the eternal kingship and priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ that Christ is a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

   We are blessed to have these three psalms (Psalm 22, Psalm 23 and Psalm 24) in the exact order of the Spirit of God. Many ignore the trilogy of these three psalms, and yet, if we mediate on each psalm, and combine them as an overview of the manifestation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, His eternal connection with His body (the Church), and His connection and relationship to every believer that He has redeemed by His blood. We have the wonder of our present day (the dispensation of grace), and here in this dispensation God has revealed to us things that no other group or time periods have seen and heard concerning the glories of Christ. The Spirit is free to move within us, for there is no law hanging over us, there is no sin to crush us under the eternal judgment of God. God’s grace places us under the wings of the Almighty to bear us up and set us before the throne of grace. So therefore, let us begin our walkabout in Psalm 22.

—– Psalm 22—–

<<To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.>> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psalm 22:1)

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (Psalm 22:2)

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. (Psalm 22:4)

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. (Psalm 22:5)

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

 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, (Psalm 22:7)　

He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. (Psalm 22:8)

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. (Psalm 22:9)

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. (Psalm 22:10)

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. (Psalm 22:11)

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. (Psalm 22:12)

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. (Psalm 22:13)

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. (Psalm 22:14)

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. (Psalm 22:15)　

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16)　

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. (Psalm 22:17)

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:18)

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. (Psalm 22:19)

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. (Psalm 22:20)　

Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. (Psalm 22:21)

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)

Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. (Psalm 22:23)

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. (Psalm 22:24)

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. (Psalm 22:25)

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (Psalm 22:26)

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. (Psalm 22:27)

For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations. (Psalm 22:28)

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. (Psalm 22:29)

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. (Psalm 22:30)

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Psalm 22:31)

      The Spirit’s first words reverberate to us from the future to the past of the voice of the Lord. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psalm 22:1)

   Do you feel these words of the Savior? Do you see the darkness all around you? For out of those hours of darkness came the cry, My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me? In these hours of darkness Isaiah 53:10 was fulfilled, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. This was the deep darkness of the cup that could not pass from Him. This is the time that was referred to when the angels came and strengthened Him for this darkness, and for this cause. For Christ saw the cross before the foundations of the world; before they were laid, the heavens were the works of His hands. He knew the darkness that He would endure on the cross of Calvary. In this darkness the Son of God, the man Jesus Christ became the divine sacrifice for sin; to not only cleanse the sin of the world and remove it, but to satisfy all the claims of heaven, and sanctify heaven itself by His own death upon the cross. The hand of the world of sin was laid upon Him. The sin of the world covered Him in darkness, and His eyes were darkened from the face of God. Jesus Christ hung between sin and eternity in that dread darkness of God’s judgment. It was the sin of Adam, the sin of the world upon the divine son of man. Listen to that cry over and over, each soul of redemption has come to grace because of that cry. Hear that cry, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And because the Almighty stopped time in that darkness, stopped sin and death, and forged the keys of hell, Christ came out of that darkness triumphant over the world, the flesh, and the devil.  That cry gives me the assurance that I will never be forsaken by God. I will never be cut off from God Almighty because in that darkness my sin (all my sin) was laid upon Him, upon God’s Christ, and this could only happen because of His manifestation in the fullness of time when God humbled Himself and became a man and humbled Himself unto the death of the cross. He bore the personal sin of every man, and then took sin itself out of the way and nailed it to His cross. It was the highest Himself who became the lowest of man, so that He might be exalted, and His name would be revealed higher than every man, higher than every deity, for at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. He cast Adam out with the transgression of Adam. He left all men without an excuse, for He cleansed the path of redemption for all. And yet, all will not come. The same heart that rejected and crucified the Lord Jesus still exists today, thereby making unrepentant man subject to his own sin and the judgment of that sin. It was paid for by the Judge of the whole earth. And in His righteousness the Judge of the whole earth will do right. He has seen the travail of His soul, and He is satisfied. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

   The Holy Spirit magnifies this cry of Psalm 22:1 by mentioning the hours of darkness, from the third hour to the ninth hour in all four gospels, and the Holy Spirit specifically mentions the darkness that was all around the Prince of light. Let’s begin with the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 27 verses 45 and 46. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:44 – 46)

   The Spirit of God presents to us the setting of His crucifixion in the gospel of Luke in the three hours of darkness. In the gospel of Luke, which encompasses His position as the son of man, we have the darkness increased over the land (in the gospel of Matthew) to the whole earth. The Son in Deity, and the sun in the heavens as the natural light of man was shut off from all life, and total darkness was upon God’s Christ, and upon all the souls of mankind. During these hours of darkness (when Christ was bringing the finality of His finished work to the Father) the veil in the temple was rent in the midst (this was from the top to the bottom) showing heaven’s removal of the weight of the law upon the souls of mankind. Our sentence was death under the law, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The symbolism of the veil being rent was to announce that the way to the holy of holies was made for ALL mankind by Jesus Christ through the sacrifice of Himself, and His shed blood that cleanses from all sin. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46) We have the cry of His loud voice projecting to us the anguish, the suffering, and the loneliness of being cut off from God the Father. And then, in the still small and somber voice, He proclaimed these words: into thy hands I commend my spirit; and all being finished He gave up the ghost.

   Let us now go to the gospel of Mark, Chapter 15, verses 37 through 39. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. We again have the reference to the cry of His rejection. And so loud was the cry that it brought forth a great earthquake, (Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.) and this is what caused the veil in the temple to be rent (torn) from the top to the bottom. In verse 34, it was at the ninth hour (at the close of His suffering) when the darkness was at its deepest depth that He cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:33, 34)

   In the gospel of John, Chapter 19, we do not see the words, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani, however, the Spirit of God opens the mind in verse 28, in the small phrase ‘after this.’ After all His suffering, after His denial by man, after His rejection of His own (Israel), and after watching one disciple after another leave His side, Jesus knowing that ALL things were now upon Him proclaimed, It is finished. Even His last request, I thirst, was to fulfill all Scripture. This fulfilled the prophecy that they gave Him gall to drink. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalm 69:21) And after that He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.

   In the 19^th Chapter of the gospel of John, we miss the character of the coat of many colors that could not be rent for it was woven from the top throughout. He came from heaven’s glory to reveal Himself, the One who had been woven into man’s history as the Almighty God. He came to bear the sin of man, and to set mankind free. The veil that condemned man in the symbol of the law was replaced with His coat of many colors. As the veil was made of many colors, the blue of heaven, the crimson of blood, the brightness of His glory and the manifestation of His heavenly kingdom was rented by the Cherubim woven into the fabric. And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: (Exodus 26:31)

 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:18)

   His coat could not be rent as the fabric of the Being of Christ (the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega) could not fail nor be rent asunder. He must fulfill all that was written in Moses and the prophets. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:18) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (Matthew 27:35) His glory in its fullness was veiled from the eyes of humanity, and yet, His very Being was symbolized in the fine twined linen of cunning work seen through the colors of blue, purple, and scarlet. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. (Hebrews 10:19, 20)

   How blessed we are in considering Psalm 22 for it is only in the gospel of John that we read the words, It is finished. This gospel of John is the gospel of the Son of God. It is the gospel of the Lamb of God, and we see this all the way to the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We see the references of the Lamb being slain and of His blood being the covering for sin for He has cleansed us and redeemed us to God by His blood as a Lamb slain before the foundations of the world.

 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Psalm 22:31)

   Why do some Bible commentators and some theologians refuse to believe the prophetic value of the Psalms? It is evident that God by His determinate counsel and foreknowledge laid out the plan of redemption before man was, and to the end of man’s history upon the earth. And because of the counsels of God we find a reality in the fulfillment in Psalm 22 of Christ’s work upon the cross. In the closing words of the Spirit of God, who is the Spirit of Christ, we have this testimony that He has done this! They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Psalm 22:31) This statement is in reference to His very words, It is finished. For He finished the work of redemption for all those who will believe which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man; they are born from the seed of heaven by the Holy Ghost. When we consider the determinate counsels of God, we see our Lord and Savior as the appointed sacrifice from the foundations of the earth.

    The true history of mankind, what man IS, can only be told by God! For mankind is a perpetual liar, he lies about himself, he lies about his history, he lies about his actions, he lies about his sin, and most of all he lies about the Almighty God. It is the history and the words of the prophets that describe the mount of the cross, and the Christ of the cross, before He was manifested! Out of the darkness and death and judgment these words were recorded as the light returned to the world in the Person of Jesus Christ. It is finished is the blessed assurance that every believer has in Jesus Christ. At that time, and only at that time, could He commend His own Spirit to God the Father. The Son of the Father’s love had finished the work of redemption. Sin in its whole was gone. In the darkness, death and hell were defeated and discharged, and victory was claimed by the Light of the world. In Him was life and the life was the Light of man. (John 1) What took place in the darkness was too horrible for any words from man. Only the Spirit of God, through the prophetic writings of the prophets, could compile and give an exact account of the sufferings of Christ. If you consider the Scriptures in the gospels, they are a small record of the sufferings of Christ compared to the declaration of the Spirit of God by the prophets, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? This cry from the past to enforce the understanding of a future event is to show the depth and the immensity of the divine judgement of God on the Son of His love. It is the Spirit Himself who takes us into this channel of life when He recorded the centurion and his spear. This was the evidence of life in the blood of Christ. When the Lamb of God hung on the cross His chest and His ribs bulged out because of the weight of His body, and as the centurion’s spear was thrust under the rib cage of the Son of God, the point of his spear pierced His heart. Why this final act of man? More than just sin was on trial. Man was on trial as well. And this final act exposed mankind for what he really is in Adam. All man’s hatred was at the point of that spear. He must finalize his work by killing His Creator! The very heart of the Creator of all things MUST be ruptured. This also fulfills the Lord’s statement, Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20). We remember the hours of agony in Gethsemane when the Lord spoke of this cup. He cried out to the Father, If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done. Out of His side came new life, not by flesh, not by bone, but out of His side came blood and water.

 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31)

 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. (John 19:32)　

 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: (John 19:33)

 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34)

 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. (John 19:35)

 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. (John 19:36)

  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:37)

   This is the record of the Spirit of God, this is the record of prophecy, and its fulfillment that all things concerning God’s Christ should be fulfilled. He not only finished the work of redemption, the work of the cross, but He, in Himself, was the fulfillment of the Scriptures. The apostle John reaffirmed this in his 1^st epistle. He referred to the Spirit’s voice in the accuracy and the fulfillment of God’s word.

 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1^st John 5:5)

 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1^st John 5:6)

 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1^st John 5:7)

 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1^st John 5:8)

 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (1^st John 5:9)

 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1^st John 5:10)

 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1^st John 5:11)

 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1^st John 5:12)

 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.(1^st John 5:13)

 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:(1^st John 5:14)

 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1^st John 5:15)

 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1^st John 5:16)

 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (1^st John 5:17)

 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1^st John 5:18)

 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1^st John 5:19)

 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1^st John 5:20)

 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1^st John 5:21)

   Now we must listen to the Spirit’s voice. We are dealing with water and the blood. Notice that in both occasions (in the gospel of John, and in his first epistle) that the blood and the water are not mingled. God, the Holy Spirit, reveals a divine miracle as a witness of whom Christ was  this is the true God and eternal life. We don’t need the science of men, or their approval of the Scriptures, for the Spirit speaketh expressly, and what greater voice could we, and should we, listen to. The voice of the Spirit, in John Chapter 19, the eternal voice declared moment by moment, that the Scripture must be fulfilled giving total evidence of the eternality of the Scriptures. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 (Matthew 24:35)

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

(Mark 13:31)

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

(Luke 21:33)

   These three records of this specific statement lead us to believe that these words are reaffirmed by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This also gives evidence to the Holy Spirit actually having the voice of the living God. Look at the record in John’s first epistle in 1^st John 5:6, This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. Notice in this verse that we have a witness of the Spirit, the same witness that recorded all those things that took place in the crucifixion of the Son of God; it is the Spirit that Christ promised the Spirit of truth.

   The Spirit documents the order of the blood and the water at the cross. This is Christ’s order, for He was both Sacrifice and Priest: first, the blood must be shed, then the divine Priest must take it to the laver of life. There He must stop before He can enter into the true tabernacle above (not made by hands). We have in Jesus Christ both the sacrificial work of redemption in His blood, and we have the sanctification of that work and His Person in the water. This was not earthly water, this was water from the side of the heavenly Being who is the Sanctifier, the Lord of glory Jesus Christ. In the epistle of John, Chapter 5, once again the Spirit speaks to us; now He speaks to us in our part by stating the water and the blood. We must present ourselves to God, and we must see Christ as both God and the living waters of sanctification; then by belief in Christ we come under the redeeming blood. When we think of ourselves, we are like the Israelites of old, we are bringing the sacrifice to the great High Priest, the eternal and Redeemer of all men. We must identify ourselves with the Son of His love, the perfect Lamb of God, therefore, He was the perfect sacrifice for all our sins. At the door, or the gate of the tabernacle, the Israelite would present his lamb. He would place his hand upon its head and identify his sin with the one that was to be sacrificed. All we like sheep have gone astray, the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Christ professed Himself as the door, if any man enters in, he shall be saved. He proclaimed this and fulfilled this at the gate of the divine tabernacle through His death.

   Do we identify with the sufferings of Christ? Do we identify with the crucifixion of the cross? Why are we different from the apostle Paul? Paul, through the Spirit, stated that he was crucified with Christ, nevertheless, he lived, but he was living a divine life. For he had been transformed on the Damascus Road. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) In reference to the Israelite bringing the lamb, and identifying his sin on the lamb, we have Paul (through the Spirit) identifying with his sin on the Lamb. He has brought his sin to the cross of Christ, he, in himself, deserved death, but Christ gives him life. This is the identity of sin, and only the blood could atone for man’s sin. And only then, when the Lamb was slain, were all the inward parts washed with water showing the complete cleansing and sanctification of the sacrifice. This we see, first in the blood and then the water from the side of our beloved Savior. In the epistle of John, the order had to change, for we come by the faith of the Son of God. We must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him IN His redemptive work. We are bathed or washed as He washed the feet of His disciples. We are cleansed by His blood in the New Testament. For the New Testament is a testament of life. The Old Testament was a testament of death. The law, in its whole, could not bring forgiveness, and could not give newness of life. The New Testament is unto life eternal in Christ Jesus.

 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)

 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (Hebrews 9:16)

 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (Hebrews 9:17)

 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. (Hebrews 9:18)

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, (Hebrews 9:19)

 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. (Hebrews 9:20)

 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. (Hebrews 9:21)

 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)　

 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:23)

 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)

 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (Hebrews 9:25)

 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)

 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:(Hebrews 9:27)

 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

   We have in the book of Hebrews, Chapter 9, the divine witness of the things of heaven. Moses was given directions from Jehovah to take the blood, the water, the scarlet, wool and the hyssop to redeem, and to sanctify the tabernacle and its vessels, and the people of God. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, (Hebrews 9:19) (Exodus 24:5-6, 8; Leviticus 14:4:4, 6-7, 51-52; 16:14-15, 18) This was an example of the heavenlies, and the eternal work of Christ. The blood speaks of the remission of sin, the water of the Sanctifier who sanctified His people. The wool of the purity of the sacrifice, and the hyssop symbolizes the Spirit’s witness of the Son. We have the water and the blood in 1^st John 5:8, And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. We have the Spirit in the water, and the blood in Christ Jesus, and these agree in one. This is the completion and the whole of God’s grace in the Son of His love.

   Through His grace we are allowed to walk with the Divine, and we are allowed by His grace to walk through the valley of death; notice in Psalm 23, it is through . . . I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. There are no stops — we make no stops to mourn, but we pass through with rejoicing in our souls. Now, David could say, What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me? I will TAKE the cup of salvation, and CALL upon the name of the Lord. (Psalm 116:12- 13) We, as believers, walk through the valley of death because He led the way into the valley of death. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. (Psalm 48:14)

   Let’s refer back to Psalm 22, verses 14 and 15 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

   Without the voice of the Spirit in the 22^nd Psalm, we would not have these inner thoughts of the Son of God. We will not be able to feel His agony, even if it is only by words. Should we not consider how great is the grace of God? Should we not enter into the sufferings of Christ? For the Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. And this witness is within us. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1^st John 5:10) What do we find through the 22^nd Psalm? We see the suffering Savior attacked by the mad dogs, and the bulls of Bashan; through the Spirit’s voice we behold the blood of redemption and the waters of sanctification; and these bring us into the presence of the good shepherd.

—– Psalm 23 —– 

<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:2)

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psalm 23:5)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:6)

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)

   The Lord is my shepherd, what a closeness: walking among the sheep, knowing all, and knowing each one by name. His name for me will be proclaimed according to Revelation 3:12, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. The good shepherd walks among the sheep with all His power for them, with all His compassion for them, with all His mercy for them, with all His righteousness for them, and with all His grace and love for them. The basket is full, it is overflowing, as He tends to His sheep. In John Chapter 10, He told us about the usurper, the butcher, the hireling, and He is the only one who calls us by name.

 Side note: When T. Ernest Wilson made a trip to Israel he was riding with his guide when they came across a flock of sheep and a man behind them driving them forward. Brother Wilson asked, Is that the shepherd? The guide replied, No, that’s the butcher, the butcher drives the sheep, the shepherd walks among the sheep, and the shepherd leads the sheep. ♦ End of Side Note.

    The Lord Jesus Christ is also a wall around us, to us in the dispensation of grace. He is the city of our God, and He is in the midst of the sheep. We are completely dependent on and in Him.

 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:14)

 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them  , and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. (John 10:27 – 30)

   In this Psalm of grace, Psalm 23, I shall not want for He is all in all to me. I need nothing but Him, and Him alone. This we see expressed by the voice of the Spirit in the Song of Songs, Chapter 2, verses 8 -13.

 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. (Song of Songs 2:8)

 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. (Song of Songs 2:9)

 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Song of Songs 2:10)

 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; (Song of Songs 2:11)

 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (Song of Songs 2:12)

 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Song of Songs 2:13)

   In meditating upon Him and Him alone, we see a brighter day. We see in Him a warmer sun, brighter stars, and bluer skies. The world does not change, but we change from death to life in Him. All is better now, for He has called us to come away with Him from this ungodly world. We walk with Him, not for Him, even though we do His bidding, we walk with Him in His divine love. And when we lie down it is with Him in the beauty of holiness. His goodness and mercy surround us, and the Spirit of Christ witnesses within of His great love. We have the calmness of a soul purged by blood and anointed with the Spirit of grace. This is a wonderful thing; this is the peace that passes all understanding.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:2)

   It is the peace of the pasture, the endless green grass of eternal life, the waters are still, and there is no boisterous waves or tumult of death. The burdensome waves are gone forever for He, Himself — the highest, laid down His life, and then through the power of His endless life took His life out of death and forever hushed its voice. In the power of His endless life He took from death, death’s possession, me; and His endless life now is shared by His servants, and my life was snatched from death and hell. He declared from Psalm 23, by the Spirit of God, Peace be still. For the torment of death is no more, and He gives us peace everlasting. Oh, such a peace. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) Why is this peace so important to both Christ and to the believer? You see, Christ is peace, He is the only peace, and God confirms this in the word of God that He is the Prince of peace. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

   Consider these names in Isaiah, as it relates to the wonderful, good shepherd, and of course, His relationship to His sheep. If we need a counselor, where can we go? We look to the Counselor who is never wrong, for all is upheld by His righteousness. If we need His strength, we have the mighty God who has all power given unto Him both in heaven and in earth. If we need supplication, we cry out, Abba Father to the everlasting Father. We have obtained sonship by the Son of His love, and the highest Himself has set us up in heavenly places with Himself away from the world. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, but MY peace I give unto you as the Prince of peace, for He is the One who upholds and possesses ALL peace. Now I save the best for last, the wonder of wonderful, even the Spirit mentions this wonderful name first, I have kept the best for last, for the Lord Jesus is the fullness of all wonder. Never a man spake like this man. (John 7:46) What manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him. (Matthew 8:27) Who is he Lord that I might believe on him? (John 9:36) And Jesus said unto him, Thou has both seen him, and it is he who talketh with thee. (John 9:37) We say deep in our souls, To whom shall we go, who shall we abide with this day, for Thou only the eternal King has the words of eternal life. As the centurion said, Truly this man was the Son of God. How wonderful, all the petals in every blossom cannot match the beauty of holiness in our wonderful, good shepherd.

    How wonderful is the Living Word, He is endless. How wonderful is His written word, for it is endless within His very Being as He is endless so too His word never fails. The many names He used through the Scriptures are brought together in the wonderful, wonderful name of Jesus, Savior, Christ, Anointed One, and the fullness of the Godhead bodily. The fullness of the all-in-all, all magnifying the wonder of His Person. The word ‘wonderful’ fills His divine character. His glory is engulfed by His own wonder, as He fills all-in-all in the wonder of His love.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)

   In verse 3 of Psalm 23, the wonder is truly wonderful. He, not I, restored my soul. His divine will, and purposes are fulfilled each and every time a soul is plucked from the burning fires, although they are heated seven times hotter. He restoreth my soul, and he leadeth me in the path of righteousness by the power of His name, and by the word of His power. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. (Psalm 66:1-4) A name so great that every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess the name of Jesus to the glory of the Father. This name of Jesus stands out in the 5^th Chapter of 1^st John, verse 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

   Referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God reveals that this (the Lord Jesus Christ) is the true God, and eternal life. This one verse is totally ignored by the nay-sayers. For in this verse, we see His Sonship, we see Him as the God of heaven, we see Him as the Son of God’s love, and at the same time the mighty God with the power of an endless life. Remember His words to Phillip, If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. Only the Spirit of truth can give us such a view, as He looks at us through the lattice we see Him through the window of faith, behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. This is the true God, and eternal life. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:8 – 9) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. (John 10:29-30)

  Man in Adam cannot think on this higher plain of the Spirit of truth because one has to be part of God’s Christ and have the mind of Christ to understand and to see the fullness of His glory. It is only through the Spirit of Christ that He can reveal Himself and the everlasting Father, and the Spirit of truth as the fullness of the Godhead bodily. This One, the Son of God, Jesus Christ is the true God, and eternal life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) The true God, Jesus Christ, has the power of an endless life; He proclaimed that power that He could lay down His life, and He, also, in that power could take it again because He is the Author, and the Possessor, and the Creator of all life. And in this power, He walks with us through the valley of death.

   Paul rejoicing in his soul, stated that he died daily, for he saw the value of the finished work of Christ on the cross. All was finished for Paul’s soul, and he saw the value of the resurrection and the empty tomb. For the empty tomb declared the power of an endless life. Paul could also say of himself, nevertheless I live, yet, not I, but Christ liveth in me.

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

   In this power of an endless life, the good shepherd walks through the valley of death with all His own, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, for the devil has been silenced by the Savior’s love, and the Son of God has the keys of both death and hell. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18) Christ and Christ alone has silenced the mad dogs and the bulls of Bashan for us. He has leashed them and tied them to His stake of judgment which will come at the great white throne. So, with my soul restored, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. Notice, in this verse from Psalm 23, the plurality of the paths, I remind you of the many who walk by faith, and the roll call of faith in Hebrews, Chapter 11. Even though we are in one God, and we have His righteousness, yet there are many paths of the righteous. They tread in many walks of life, and by faith they behold Him who is invisible. And they walk by His name, the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus Christ. He has not only given His peace, His life, His grace, but He has given us His righteousness, and all this because He has given us His death in His love. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15) Herein is love that Christ Jesus laid down His life for His friends, and in this friendship, He walks in the midst of the Church singing the very praises of God unto His brethren. (Hebrews Chapter 2)

   I live in Him through the power of His endless life by which the world is crucified unto me, and I am crucified unto the world. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14) This power comes from the witness of the Spirit of Christ as He promised the Spirit of truth to His disciples. He has rained down His Spirit on the children of grace, and He asks you today, Children, have ye any meat? This is the unction that John speaks about in his first epistle in Chapter 5, verse 20, And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. In this verse, we not only have the identification of the Son of God as the true God, but we also have the reference of Him abiding in us, this is the Spirit of Christ within us. And by His Spirit He opens the eyes of our understanding as He opened the eyes of those recorded in the gospel of Luke.

 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? (Luke 24:41)

 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. (Luke 24:42)

 And he took it, and did eat before them. (Luke 24:43)

 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45)

   As He opened the understanding of His disciples, He also promised to send His Spirit to give an understanding not only of the Scriptures, but the Spirit of truth would speak of the things concerning Christ.

 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)

 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)

   This is the unction that is sent down from heaven that we may know Him, and the fellowship of His suffering. Every child of God receives from the Father (the Spirit of Christ) this unction. I say this to clarify the Spirit of Christ. If you have the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8) you have the Spirit of the Father, if you have the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of the Father, you have the Spirit of God. These three agree in One, and this is the fullness of the Godhead bodily in Jesus Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 3:4) For thou art with me, we have the Spirit of Christ within the believer as the Spirit of God declares in Romans 8:1, 9,

 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.(Romans 8:9) This is the divine evidence that separates the sheep from the goats, and the wheat from the tares.

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psalm 23:5)

   The psalmist now declares that thou anointest my head with oil. This is the divine oil of gladness. (Hebrews 1:9) This anointing in Psalm 23 is the anointing of heirship with Christ as the Son of God whereby we can cry, Abba, Father.

 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:14-17)

 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:5-7)

   We as the children of God have vicariously received the anointing of the oil of gladness because we are in Him (Jesus Christ) who has been anointed with the very oil of gladness; and He is in us, and we are in Him, and if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His. The unction of the Spirit of Christ is the inward witness of Christ to clarify and to confirm inwardly His presence in the children of God, thus, His children are the manifestation to the world of the outward witness of Christ within them. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:16) The next two verses in Romans 8 describe who and what we are, we are both children and heirs with Christ, notice we are joint heirs, this is everyone who has been called out of darkness into His marvelous light, these are the sons of God by adoption. And we have this standing before the Almighty in Jesus Christ our Lord.

   Now, dear one, the gospel of worldly blessings is not the gospel of the heavenly possessors. We have been called out of this world so that our bonds to the world are severed. We are translated into the kingdom of His dear Son, and in Psalm 23 although we are blessed by Him, we are also joined to His sufferings,

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psalm 23:5)

   The enemies of Christ are my enemies. Yes, I said enemies. My enemies are the enemies of Christ. And these are the enemies that will be put under His footstool. I am not here to appease them, but to condemn them, for by the Spirit of truth man is brought to repentance. And the guilty, the enemies of God, must repent, and come to Jesus Christ. It is only God, in His marvelous power, who can prepare His table in the presence of His enemies. We see this in many churches. We have the enemies of God sitting at His table knowing not the truth of God, nor having the unction of the Spirit of Christ. They condemn themselves each and every time that they take the bread and the cup. This truth will probably not be declared in many places, but I must speak the truth as the Spirit leads me. The enemies of God have not changed. Caiaphas, Annas and Pilate are still with us today. Their names may be changed, but they have the same spirit, the spirit of antichrists. In the presence of these enemies we suffer their cruelty, we suffer their rejection, and we suffer their animosity against our Christ. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) We have this treasure, the treasure of God, hidden in an earthen vessel. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

   Paul uses the word ‘compare’ in verse 18 of Romans 8, and it is related to the suffering of Christ in us. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him. This is the sojourn, or the walk, through this world with its related sufferings. But all these sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. The redeemed soul must believe this and the Spirit must confirm this, therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, a new creation, created in Christ, and created by Christ. The Lord Jesus took of Himself out of the womb of darkness and death to spring forth in newness of life so that we may live in Him in His life. I will say it again, before the cross we did not have a glorified Man in heaven for us. He was always the Son of the Father in heaven, but now the manifested Man (Jesus Christ) is glorified in heaven for us. And He shares with us His love, His eternal life, and His eternal glory.

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psalm 23:5)

   His cup was full of woe, and His cup was full of the hatred of the whole world. His cup was full of the sin of mankind, His cup was full of the enmity against God, His cup was full of the death of the cross, His cup was full in the separation of the Father. But He gives me a cup that is full of His glory. I exist for His glory and in His glory, from glory to glory, how precious to be full of Christ that filleth-all-in-all.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:6)

   What a finale we have in this last verse: goodness and mercy, grace and truth, righteousness and holiness, the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. It is He, and He alone, who is all goodness. He is all mercy, and He gives it abundantly to His children, Children, have you any meat? Yes, He is our bread of life. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word, every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4) My steps are kept, and counted, by the Living Word. My path is directed by the written word. My life is hid in God’s Christ. My life is His. Where does that lead? This leads to the eternal house of God (not made by hands, but by the word of His power). (Hebrews 1:3) I will dwell in this house that He has built by Himself.

 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:4-6)

   In the age of the psalmist (this being David) Solomon’s temple was not yet built. We know that Solomon’s temple was called the house of the Lord; however, this was only in type or shadow of the house built by Christ which is made up from every believer in Him. The psalmist was pointing us to the dispensation of grace, he knew grace for he had taken the cup of God’s salvation. When he closed Psalm 23, we had a marvelous testimony to the eternality of this house that Christ built in that the eternality and eternal security of everyone who has come to Christ under His grace.

   The entire 23^rd Psalm is a prophetic view of the dispensation of grace, written prophetically by the Spirit of God through the mind, the heart, and the pen of David. Again, David could say, What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits to me. I will TAKE the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. The cup that runneth over with mercy, and with grace and truth in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ on whose name every believer calls and trusts for their eternal salvation. Why is it so difficult for man to receive the Person and this wonderful name of Jesus, which the Almighty declared is above every name? This is the name of His glory, the name, Jesus Christ. He is Lord, and He is Master to those who love Him. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, His house, forever. Why forever? It is forever because He has the power of an endless life and He has risen from the depth of death to save my soul. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)

   He freely gives this endless life to every child of God. I can say of myself, I will dwell with Him in His house made by Him, and for Him who is the beginning of the creation of God. The 23^rd Psalm is the extension of His throne of grace to every believer. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

—–Psalm 24—–

   Now we dash forward into the future with a great cloud of witnesses and the evidence of the word of God. We pass to the last period of man’s rule on earth as we take up Psalm 24.

 <<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. (Psalm 24:2)

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? (Psalm 24:3)

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. (Psalm 24:4)

He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:5)

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. (Psalm 24:6)

¶ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:7)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:9)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10)

    Many times, the Lord gives us the evidence of the future from the historical facts. Psalm 24 spans thousands of years and ends with the rule of the Lord of glory, the King of glory. But before continuing on, let’s look at the end of each of these three Psalms.

 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Psalm 22:31)

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:6)

 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:10)

    These three psalms end with an overview of the history of the time period of grace, the finished work of Christ, and the millennial reign of the last King to reign on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ.

   Psalm 22 ends with the generation of Jesus Christ proclaiming His name and telling the world that he hath done this referring back to the context of the entire 22^nd Psalm. Also consider Matthew 1:1, the generation of Jesus Christ. They without us should not be made perfect. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40) This verse in Hebrews embraces the finished work of Christ not only does it applied to us, but it is applied to all those who walk(ed) by faith in the Old Testament, and those who will walk by faith through the great tribulation.

   Man feels secure when he dwells in his own house. If anyone builds a house, he feels that he has done the best to secure himself from the elements and from the world. Now He who has built all things is Christ, and He has built His house (whose house we are). This house is an eternal house, and this is how the 23^rd Psalm ends with the complete security of every believer in Jesus Christ. But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

   We now come to the city of our God. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:7-10)

 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)

   All three of these psalms fit perfectly in their order dispensational. This is to fulfill the determinate counsels of God. It is to reassure us of His great power and majesty. Psalm 24 begins with the earth that He possesses, that He has made. <<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1) And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. (Hebrews 1:10) Why should the Almighty have to claim the earth and the world that He made? It is His! He owns it all! In the gospel according to Job, God asks this question, Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. (Job 38:4)

 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? (Job 38:5)

 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; (Job 38:6)

   It is the only true God of heaven and earth Jesus Christ who is the Creator of all things. For by Him were all things created and for Him were they made. He alone counsels the wind, He raises the sun, and then sets it into the night, but man (the world organizer) has organized it by his evil and has declared both the earth and the world for himself. It’s mine and I will not give it up, is the cry of the selfish child grown into adulthood. And if this is not enough now mankind wants to claim the planets and the stars for himself. Mankind, like the explorers Lewis and Clark, looks into the great beyond of our universe; however, man (in his own dominion) cannot keep and take care of his own house, and yet he desires to expand his control further into the dominion of God! This is the present evil world. The world lies in shambles; it has been brought into chaos by Adam and his sin, and it has a mark upon its forehead that reads, Present evil world. Paul stated this in Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. And John followed this up in his first epistle. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1^st John 5:19) Did God create an evil world? No. Satan and man (in Adam) made this wicked world without God. In fact, mankind has cast God out of his knowledge and out of his heart. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:21, 22)

    To follow up on Romans 1:22, the fool has said in his heart, There is no god! ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1) ¶ <<To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 53:1)

    If man cannot keep his own house, then where must a soul turn? There is a house not made by hands, but made by the power of an endless life, and by the power of the eternal word. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3) (Hebrews 3:4, 6) Man will deny the wickedness of the world. He is like a nervous horse in the starting gate, he has to wear blinders because of his sin, he sees nothing to the right, and nothing to the left, he can only see straight ahead with his own quest to throw God out of God’s own creation. To throw God out of the world that man has developed through his sin, but now, we are at the end times and the end of time. Soon God is going to give mankind a great history lesson. Since man denies the word of God, then God will come in judgment and destroy the frail false facades of the might and majesty constructed by humanity.

   There is no one who can stand in the presence of God for He is a holy and righteous God. Not only is He jealous for His creation, but He is jealous for His Church, the Church of the Living God. For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14) For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming fire, [even] a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24) He created His Church by the death of Himself on the cross. He went into the womb of death to bring forth everlasting life for the Church (every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ). But mankind in Adam crept in unawares deceiving and masking his end goal: to throw Jesus Christ out of His own Church that He created by His own death, and by His resurrection.

   The governments of the world will be destroyed, and rule will be returned to God, and righteousness will rule in Christ’s dominion. He is the Creator of all things, and His Church is a separate spiritual organism from the world. In this country (USA) one of the political phrases that many like to quote is ‘separation of church and state.’ I want you to think very carefully: the state of evil has no business entering or controlling the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The men who wrote our Constitution knew that the state should not be involved whatsoever in the affairs of the church. The ‘separation of church and state’ was to protect the church from the state not to protect the state from the church! Christ’s true Church is separated from government to be a witness against the very evil governments of the world. Politicians only want separation to work their way, and not the ways of Christ. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ should be under no obligation to tell any government of its inner workings and its spiritual and physical relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. When anyone gives a financial gift to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is no business of any government to know anything of the giver or the amount of the gift. If a preacher, a true preacher of God, is cared for by a congregation, it is no business of the world or government to know the amount or the kind of that care. The man of God serves God, and not politics. Government does not have the right to give tax exemption to churches; for the churches should not be under government control at all, both financially and spiritually. Everything is upside down because evil men crept in unaware. And just to finish what God says and sees of government, He sees all governments of this world as the corruption of man in Adam. There is no government that is dedicated to, and follows, the path of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even the majority of Church life is regulated by Satan and man, and not by God. It is the heart of man that is desperately wicked. It is the heart of man that is deceitful above all things, but the Lord knows every heart, and the evil heart will be judged and sentenced at the great white throne judgment. Mankind likes a generic god, a god that will fit into man’s situation, a god who will pat mankind on the back and say, Well done to man’s sin. Mankind desires a god whom he can worship as long as he keeps control over all his desires and over all his wants.

   We see a suffering Savior on the cross. The Lord Jesus told His disciples that they will suffer with Him. Paul stated, If we suffer with Him we shall also be glorified with Him. All the apostles endured the sufferings of Christ, the last book in the Bible was written by the beloved John while he was in exile on the isle of Patmos. He was on Patmos because of his testimony for Jesus Christ. Mankind wants a god after the image of man’s own heart! The god of this world at present is Satan. You know that old serpent, the great dragon, the Devil, Apollyon (the destroyer), he continues to deceive mankind which is fairly easy to do because of the heart of man. Man in Adam is prone to follow the path of Satan and not the path of righteousness. Man will follow the paths (which are many) of the deceiver of this world. It is no wonder that God declares Satan to be the god of man which we have as referenced in the book of the Revelation with the man of sin, the true and ultimate Antichrist. It is truly a miracle of grace from the God of grace when a brand is plucked out of the fire. When their eyes are opened, they stand on Mount Pisgah (Pisgah means survey) and survey the eternal promised land. Unlike Moses, who could not enter in, what Christ reveals to us, and in us is preparing us for the place that He is preparing for us; isn’t this wonderful, a place of righteousness, a place of holiness, the absence of sin, and the absence of evil. In John Chapter 14, the Lord Jesus promised, I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there ye may be also. As He prepares this place, He is also preparing us to be conformed to His very image: the image of the Son of God.

   I go back to resurrection day: this is a bright shining new morning for light has come forth out of death, and the Almighty has revealed Himself with the power of an endless life. When Mary came to the tomb, her only desire was for Him, and Him alone. Christ had to open her eyes to His new image, the glorified image of the Son of God. She could see her Master and her God with all the affection of her love and His love for her. With her eyes she had beheld the everlasting God, the God of endless life. Even Job could say, With these eyes I shall behold him. Therefore, to every child of God, I say, With these eyes we will behold Him, and we will behold Him as He is.

The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. (Psalm 24:2)

   In Psalm 24 God has not signed the title deeds of earth over to Satan or to mankind. The whole purpose of the first two verses of this psalm is to clarify His possession of His own creation. He has proclaimed that heaven is His throne, but the earth is only His footstool. But to the earth, the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? Well, let’s go to verse 3, of Psalm 24.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? (Psalm 24:3)

   Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Where can we find the answer, the answer lies within the eternal word of God. The answer is in Psalm 2, verses 6 and 7, Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:6, 7) God gives us the answer of the Kingship and Sonship of Christ in two prophetic views of Scripture. Pilate asked the question, Art thou a king? The reply from the Lord Jesus was, For this end was I born. This was a curious phrase for One who was born in a manger, and One who had no earthly possessions. Yet, Christ was speaking of a future glory when the world would see Him as Lord of lords, and King of kings. He was born of a woman, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, He came forth as the manifestation and the unique Being of the only GodMan ever to be born. He did this to bring about the work of redemption, and the finality of mankind’s dominion over the world. He was born to be the last King, the most glorious King, the most holy King, the most righteous King, and the most Majestic King. He will overthrow all governments with His righteousness. And for his cause was He born to ascend into the holy hill of Zion and stand as both Priest and King in the most holy place.

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.(Psalm 24:4)

   In the eyes of the Spirit of prophecy we see the man Christ Jesus, with clean hands for He did no sin. We see Him with a pure heart for there was no sin within Him, even the Spirit of God testified of this fact in Hebrews Chapter 7 verse 26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. This is such an opposite description from man in Adam. For mankind cannot achieve a pure heart. The heart of man is not only corrupted by sin, but it is the seat of man’s deceitful actions and deceitful ways. How many messages have you ever heard of the clean hands and pure heart of Christ? I repeat — He did no sin — and there was no sin in Him. And contrary to the deceiver’s gospel, although He was tempted in all parts like as we are, it was impossible for Christ to sin. For God cannot abide sin in His righteousness, for this cause we, as Christians, have to be created as a new creature in Christ. As He was conceived in complete purity and holiness by the Holy Spirit of God, so too we must be created by that same Spirit of God: not by blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but by the will of God. Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost to be manifested as the pure, holy, righteousness of God on earth. He is, and was, and is to come, the pure SuperMan, and there is no other. As we quoted from Hebrews 7:26, the Spirit of God has put His seal on the One who is worthy to ascend into the holy mountain, and to stand in the most holy place, for He, Himself, is the most holy. As we contemplate these things, we groan in our own hearts, we feel the very pain of the creation because of the sin of mankind, and we say with the Spirit of God, Even so, come Lord Jesus, for the night is far spent and His day is at hand. Come out of the night with thy glorious light, and God said, Let there be light. And in Christ was life, and that life (the only possessor of life, the only Creator of life) was, and is the light of man. Yet, mankind desires to walk in the darkness. He refuses to comprehend the light, for they have rejected their Creator so that they can seize the prize of earth. They are as fools, and slow to reason. Should not all be fulfilled that was written in Moses and in the prophets, and in the psalms? Was not this perfect Man on earth to redeem earth and to redeem man? And this Man did nothing amiss.

 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:5)

   In this verse (verse 5) we enter into the inheritance of the Lord as in Hebrews 1:2, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. The point of heirship is well taken up by the Holy Spirit for Christ has been made heir of all things: the earth, the world, and they that dwell therein. The miracle of God becoming man so that a man, a righteous man, could claim all things once more: as the GodMan He stripped away Adam’s title and Adam’s dominion, and returned the earth to the rightful King and Sovereign. He continues today to move through the kingdoms of men bringing about their destruction, and raising up men to lead, and to fulfill the determinate counsels of God looking to the future and the final destruction of the usurper and the destruction of mankind. This is He who came by blood and water to redeem us to Himself, not to the world, or to a future kingdom of the world, but to redeem us unto Himself as a bride-in-waiting claimed by her King and Master. And soon, dear children, soon, the bride will behold Him as He is, and will be like Him.

   In contemplating this entire psalm, we have the history of the world and of the earth from its creation to the final reign of God as Lord of lords, and King of kings. This will bring about the close of man’s history, and it will be at the exaltation of the Man who was once rejected by man in Adam for He will lay claim to the world, to the nations, and of course, to the Israel of God.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. (Psalm 24:6)

   In this verse we have the God of Jacob, and the generation of those who seek His face. Moses spoke to God face to face; the two men on the Emmaus Road spoke to God face to face; all the disciples spoke with God face to face, even Pilate spoke to God face to face. Now, we (as Christians) see His face, as through a glass darkly, in Spirit and truth. For we seek Him, our beloved, and we look forward in seeing the day of His glory; as we wait for this glory, He looks at us through the lattice work (Song of Songs 2:9), and we get a glimpse of Him through our window of faith. We desire Him, and His desire is toward us. Oh, what a wonder! Listen to the heartfelt description of the Spirit in our hearts as He gives us the wonderful Scriptures out of the Song of Songs.

 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. (Song of Songs 2:14)

 ¶ What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? (Song of Songs 5:9)

 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. (Song of Songs 5:10) His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. (Song of Songs 5:11)

 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. (Song of Songs 5:12)

 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. (Song of Songs 5:13)

 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. (Song of Songs 5:14)

 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. (Song of Songs 5:15)

 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Songs 5:16)

   Look, I say, Look at the end of verse 16, This is my beloved, and this is my friend, this is the friend who sticks closer than a brother. Oh, daughters of Jerusalem, seek His face, know the Christ of God, that He is hovering over you, to redeem you and relieve all your sufferings. Jacob, the supplanter, met God and said, Truly, this is the house of God, for God is in this place. And angels would descend and proclaim the birth of the Holy One, the birth of the highest Himself, the birth of the Almighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of peace.

¶ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:7)

   Now through the rest of this Psalm 24, we have a grand and glorious entrance. He is seated upon a great white stallion as in Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. As so many things have been prepared by God, we must believe that this white stallion is the only one of its kind, especially prepared for the King of glory. Think of this steed shivering beneath the Creator of all things — his Creator and being absolutely obedient to the King that sits upon him. Every hoof placed according to the sovereign will of the King upon his back. Now, Israel looks upon Him whom they had pierced, and now in great majesty and power the gates of His dominion will be lifted up, and Hosanna will be heard throughout the whole land, and all of Israel will declare, Blessed is He that cometh as our King and our God. The trumpets will resound through the land much louder than can be heard or felt from Mussorgsky’s composition of The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:9)

   The whole world will speak of His glory, and the gates of Jerusalem will receive her King. Lift up your heads, see the majesty of the King once stricken and smitten by His people and the world. The One whom the world has denied for more than two thousand years will enter into His beloved city Jerusalem bringing peace at last to its gates.

   Then we have the everlasting doors, and here we have the eternal aspect of His own Being as the Creator of all things. These everlasting doors carry us into the eternal state of the new heavens and the new earth wherein righteousness will dwell, and the righteousness of His Person, and His love will reign eternally.

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)

   The history of mankind comes to a close, but first, the arrogance of the foolish and darkened heart of humanity can only ask, Who is this King of glory? Mankind has no idea who this is because of his darkened heart that the once rejected Lord is now the King of glory. Who is this King of glory?

   The Book of Psalms begins with the blessed man (Psalm 1) who walks not in the counsels of the ungodly, nor stands 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, he mediates day and night.

   There are three questions that mankind should ask: question one from Psalm 2, Why do the heathen rage and the people image a vain thing? Question two from Isaiah 53, Who has believed our report? And from Isaiah 63, question three, Who is this that cometh? If we read Psalm 2, then Isaiah 53, then Chapter 63 of Isaiah we will see the answer to Psalm 24 verse 8, Who is this King of glory?

   What can be seen in these three portions of Scripture Psalm 2, Isaiah 53, and Isaiah 63? In Psalm 2 we see man in his sin. In Isaiah 53 we see Christ in His sufferings. In Isaiah 63, we see Christ’s exaltation; we see Him in His reign over the earth, and His possession of His people Israel. He once suffered without (outside) the gates of Jerusalem. He once came, meek and lowly, riding on the back of a colt of an ass, but now He rides on the back of the greatest steed that has ever been beheld. The voice of truth echoes in the reply, The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. This first declaration of the gates of the everlasting doors comes when He subdues all His enemies, and they become His footstool. (Psalm 110) (Hebrews 1)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10)

   We have the refrain, and the question is repeated, but now all things have come to pass because now He is the mighty conqueror, He is the only Sovereign, He is the Lord of lords, and King of kings. I would think that the last statement would come from the Bride, or from the angels, or from the beasts around His throne, or could it be that once more heaven will open above, and this time we will hear the voice of all heaven, not only saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, but the whole of heaven will cry out, The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. He is now the Lord of lords, He is now the King of kings, and He is now Glory of glory.

 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)

 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (Revelation 19:12)

 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)

 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15)

 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10)

Amen and Amen.

© Copyright 2018, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)