Category Archives: Bible, General

Natan’s Commentary on Psalms 59 to 63

Posted on by
1

Psalm 59

Psalm 59:9, I will wait for you. When a righteous person suffers for righteousness sake (and not because of any sin he has committed, vv. 3–4), the saint, because of his strong scruples and sense of right and wrong, desires immediate justice upon his enemies. Yet because his life is in YHVH’s hands, he looks to the courts of heaven to render justice when the all wise and all knowing Almighty, who sees the end from the beginning and lives outside of time, determines is the best time to do so. For this reason, the saint must learn to wait on YHVH to avenge him for the wrongs committed against him. 

Waiting to see one’s desire upon one’s enemies (v. 10) is an aspect, though a difficult one, of the faith walk. Through it all, the saint never takes his eyes off of his merciful Elohim, who is his defense. He never loses his spiritual, heavenward focus and never ceases to sing praises his Creator every day (vv. 16–17). 

The act of praising Elohim and expressing faith in the knowledge that heaven will ultimately render justice, even while one is in the midst of persecution at the hands of the wicked is a major differentiating factor between the saint and the heathen. 

All humans suffer, but not all have the faith and hope that heaven will reward them in due time by seeing justice served on one’s enemies. 

Never forget that the concept of “enemies” may encompass more than just other humans; it may include such things as suffering because of material and financial privation, trying circumstances, ill health and ultimately death, generational curses or simply the stress and duress of living in a fallen world that is under the control of the devil and his sinful minions. 

Regardless of who our “enemies” may be, the saint is promised deliverance from them all in due time. This is because YHVH promises to “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on [him], Because he trusts in YHVH]” (Isa 26:3).

Psalm 60

Psalm 60:12, Through Elohim. Sometimes YHVH avenges our enemies through us. If this is the case, we must make certain that we are fighting his wars, his way and on his terms, and not our way often out of our own impetuosity and wounded egos using our own methods and strength to accomplish our desires upon our enemies (see Zech 4:6; Ps 127:1).

Psalm 61

Psalm 61:2, Rock that is higher. When our heart affections and spiritual focus is on something that is higher, loftier and more solid and substantial than ourselves, then our focus will naturally be higher than ourselves and we will be elevated in all areas of our lives as a result. 

Conversely, when our focus is on something that is at the same level or lower than ourselves, then we will sink to that level. 

This is a fundamental difference between following or worshipping Baal (the world, flesh and the devil) versus following or worshipping Elohim: the former is the downward path that leads to spiritual death and separation from Elohim, while the latter is the upward path that leads to Elohim and eternal life in his presence. 

The choice is ours as to which path we will take. Every day we are faced with many small and sometimes large decisions as to which direction we will go. Choose wisely and do the right thing by choosing the path that will bring blessing and life!

Psalm 61:4, Tabernacle…shelter of your wings. Over the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant were the over-shadowing wings of the two cherubim, which was the representative of Elohim’s throne and glorious Presence on earth (see Isa 37:16; Ezek 10:1–22; 11:22–23). It was in this place of intimate worship before the “Rock that his higher than me” (verse 2) that David sought shelter or refuge and deliverance from his enemies (verse 3). 

Biblical phrases such as, “under the shadow of your wings” is a Hebraism meaning “before YHVH in the place and state of worship” (also see Pss 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:7; 91:1, 4). 

It was also in this place—between the cherubim—that Moses heard the voice of Elohim (Num 7:89), and that David would see the power or might strength and glory or manifest presence of Elohim in a prophetic, ecstatic or spiritual vision (Ps 63:2).

As saints of YHVH Elohim, we can come into his presence, that is, into this actual throne room (as represented by the holy of holies in the Tabernacle of Moses through our spiritual relationship with Yeshua our Messiah, Master and Savior.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Yeshua, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of Elohim, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb 10:29–22)

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

Psalm 62

Psalm 62:1, Salvation [Yeshua]. To the delight of disciples of Yeshua the Messiah, his appears several times in this chapter some 1,000 years before his birth. What does this psalm teach us about his cameo appearance in these prophetic references?

Verse 1—We learn that Yeshua (the Hebrew word meaning “salvation” comes from Elohim). The source of salvation is not from this earth or men—only from heaven. Yeshua is coming, and in the mean time, his people must wait silently or in quiet trust for him.

Verse 2—Elohim is a rock (or boulder) and our salvation. Here we learn that Yeshua is Elohim and that he is not only our spiritual rock, but is like giant rock or actually a boulder to his people. He is their only rock and salvation; there is none other.

Verse 6—As we wait patiently or silently for Elohim alone (and not on anything or anyone else), who is our salvation, our expectance or hope is only on him (v. 5). Only he is our rock (not anything else including money, other people, power, position, influence, material goods, good health, physical strength, education, our mental abilities, philosophies of men or occult powers), for only he is our rock or boulder or the source of our solidity, our salvation (or Yeshua) and our defence from everything or everyone that comes against us.

Psalm 62:2, 6, Salvation. Heb. Yeshua.

 

Are the Imprecatory Psalms at Odds With Yeshua’s Command to Love One’s Enemies?

Posted on by
2

Psalm 58

Psalm 58:1–11, Overview of an imprecatory psalm. 

Psalm 58 like many of the other imprecatory (from imprecation meaning “a spoken curse”) psalms expresses the extreme and overwhelming frustration, nay, the animus or antipathy that the righteous child of Elohim often viscerally feels toward the wicked evildoers that surround him, and the strong and yearning desire that one has for heaven to render judgment against those who hate all that is good. Is it a bad thing for righteous people to hate wickedness? 

Is it sinful for YHVH’s saints to desire justice from the heavenly courts for the wrongs committed against them by their wicked, evil-doing and God-hating enemies? More importantly, are the imprecatory psalms opposed to Yeshua’s teaching to love one’s enemy? While this may appear to be the case, and many Christian Bible teaches aver this to be so, we will answer these questions, and upon closer examination, see that these imprecatory psalms express some deeper spiritual truths that are consistent with the totality of Scripture and are actually in line with the teachings of Yeshua. In analyzing this subject, we will use Psalm 58 as our launch pad into examining a larger subject suggested by the imprecatory verbiage found in biblical psalmic literature.

At the outset of this discussion, let’s establish one important fact. The author of the fifty-eighth psalm knows a basic Bible truth that is found in both the Old and New Testaments. It is that judgment against one’s enemies is ultimately in the hands of Elohim (Deut 32:35, 43; Ps 94:1–2; Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30); it is the Almighty who will arise and tread down and scatter one’s enemies (Ps 60:12; 68:1). In the mean time, however, while waiting for Elohim to act, the earth reels and struggles under the heavy and constant attacks of the wicked, and the psalmist cries out to Elohim to render judgment against the ungodly (Ps 58:6), which Elohim will eventually do. At that time, the righteous will rejoice (Ps 58:10). The time when heaven will balance the scales of justice cannot come soon enough for the oft persecuted and downtrodden saints, for it will be then when YHVH will reward the righteous and judge the wicked when he comes from on high (Ps 58:11). 

Continue reading →
 

Understanding Biblical Literary Devices– A Key to Correctly Interpreting Scripture

Posted on by
1

Psalm 57

Psalm 57:1, In the shadow of your wings. Other Scriptures that refer taking shelter under the shadow of YHVH’s wings in times of trouble (and all the time for that matter) include Psalms 17:8; 61:4 and 91:1. The wings of Elohim is an example of an anthropomorphism which is “the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal or object.” Obviously, Elohim is not a Bird-God, for he does not have wings like a bird. This is an example of a poetic or literary device that the writer employs to help us to understand  difficult spiritual concepts using physical analogies. 

Author’s note: At the end of this article, I will address the false concept that the earth is flat, which I refer to as “flat earth foolishness.” Those who believe that the earth is flat base this notion on a twisted understanding of the Scriptures. A basic, 101 level comprehension of the rules of logic, biblical interpretations (called hermeneutics) and understanding the literary devices and cultural contextual background of the biblical authors will summarily dispel this false notion, as this article will point out.

Furthermore, I am not open to debate about this issue. If you want to argue with me that the earth is flat, then take your nonsense and peddle it somewhere else, but not on MY blog. Your comments will not be allowed to be posted and they will be immediately deleted. So don’t waste your or my time trying. — Natan Lawrence

The Bible is full and running over with literary devices. This is because much of the Bible is poetry or literary prose. Understanding these many and varied literary devices will help one to correctly interpret Scripture, find the deeper meaning of a Scripture, understand the richness found therein, and enables one to better understand the true message and intent of the author. 

But why does the Bible employ so many literary devices from Genesis to Revelation as we are about to see from the examples below? There are specific reasons why YHVH Elohim inspired the writers of Scripture to employ various literary devices besides for the sake of making the Bible more interesting to read. There are definite and deep spiritual reasons for this that relate to our gaining a deeper, personal relationship with our Creator. We will discuss these reasons later.

In the mean time, having an understanding of the literary devices that YHVH inspired the biblical authors to employ will insure that one does not derive errant understanding from Scripture by, for example, understanding something in a literal sense that was meant to be figurative, symbolic, metaphorical or hyperbolic. Much of biblical prophecy, for example, has been written using literary devices and one can easily misconstrue something to be literal when it is figurative and end up with all sorts of bizarre interpretations and twisting of the Scriptures engendering false doctrines and heresies.

The following is a list of literary and figurative devices found in the Bible with definitions and examples:

Acrostic: A composition usually in verse in which sets of letters (such as the initial or final letters of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase or a regular sequence of letters of the alphabet. An example of this is Psalm 119 in which the first words in successive units of the poem start with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In Psalm 145, the first word in each verse starts with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Allegory: A story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life. Parables are form of allegory where symbols are used to teach biblical principle. Yeshua employed this teaching method to convey deep spiritual truths by using everyday examples from life that his listeners, with a little reflection, could understand. Examples of this include:

  • The mustard seed in Matt 1331–33 and the leaven in Matt 13:33 are symbols for the kingdom of Elohim. 
  • In the Parable of the Prodigal son represents believers who backslide and come back to Elohim (Luke 15:11–32). 
  • The Parable of the Vine and Branches symbolizes the believer’s relationship with Yeshua (John 15:1–8). 
  • Paul compares of Hagar and Sarah in Galatians 4:21–31 to represent salvation by works versus salvation by grace. 
  • Ezekiel uses two sisters to represent apostate Judah and Samaria (Ezek 23:1–49). 
  • In Psalm 80, Israel is likened to a grape vine.
  • In Ezekiel 16, Israel is likened to a virgin bride and then an adulterous woman.

Alliteration: The use of the same initial consonants in a line. This biblical literary device is only noticeable in the original languages. 

Allusion: An indirect reference to something else. The referent and meaning are understood from cultural, personal context, or inside knowledge. Examples of this include:

  • The great sign in heaven in Revelation 12:1 refers back to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9. In John 8:58 when Yeshua declared, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM,” his listeners knew that he was telling them that he was the I AM of Exodus 3:14. 
  • While hanging on the cross and Yeshua declared, “My Father, my Father, who have you forsaken me,” he was signalling to his hearers that he was fulfilling the Messianic prophecies of Psalm 22. 

Anthropomorphism: This is a type of personification where human characteristics (physical form, human-like emotion, or other human characteristics) are attributed to Elohim, in order to make his spiritual qualities more understandable to finite and limited human understanding and linguistics. An example of this is found in Genesis 6:6 where YHVH is grieved, or in Jeremiah 3:12 where YHVH is angry. Other examples from Scripture include

  • So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. (Exod 33:23)
  • For thus says YHVH of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. (Zech 2:8)
  • Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. (Ps 130:2)
  • …[N]o one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. (John 10:29).

Aposiopesis: The leaving of a thought incomplete usually by a sudden breaking off in mid-sentence. Examples include:

  • Then the YHVH Elohim said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—therefore the YHVH Elohim sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. (Gen 3:22–23)
  • Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. (Exod 32:32)
  • But if we say, “From men”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. (Mark 11:32)
  • And if it bears fruit—but if not, after that you can cut it down. (Luke 13:9)

Apostrophe: The addressing of a usually absent person or a usually personified thing rhetorically. This is a type of indirect type of personification where the speaker addresses an inanimate object including him or others who cannot respond to the statement or question. For example, sometimes a psalmist addresses his soul or commands mountains and rivers to praise Elohim. Examples of this include:

  • Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? (Ps 43:5)
  • Sing, O heavens, for YHVH has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! (Isa 44:23)
  • Then he cried out against the altar by the word of YHVH, and said, “O altar, altar! Thus says YHVH…” (1 Kgs 13:2
  • Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! (Isa 1:2)
  • Open your doors, O Lebanon, That fire may devour your cedars. Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, because the mighty trees are ruined. Wail, O oaks of Bashan… (Zech 11:1–2)
  • O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! (Matt 23:37)

Assonance:  This is poetic literary device where the internal sounds of words are repeated. This biblical literary device is only noticeable in the original languages. 

Chiasmus: A figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through the reversal of the lines of a poetic structure in order to make a larger point. Examples of this include:

  • Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed. (Gen 9:6)
  • But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (Matt 19:30)
  • Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart… (Isa 6:10)
Continue reading →
 

Natan’s Commentary on 1 Samuel 11 to 14

Posted on by
4

1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:4, Then the Spirit of Elohim came upon Saul. How do we know that this was not merely the human passion of anger that aroused in Saul causing him to take action as opposed to the moving of the Spirit? Indeed it was human passion, for this verse says that “his anger was greatly aroused.” But the fact that the fruits of his action led to YHVH’s will for the nation of Israel being accomplished indicates that Saul was motivated by the Spirit, and that this was not just a purely human reaction. Often times it is hard to determine if one’s actions are carnally motivated or they are being led of the Spirit. This is where righteous judgments must be made (John 7:24), and the fruits must be evaluated whether they be good or bad (Matt 7:16–20). When the will of Elohim is accomplished, then we can be sure that it was a Spirit-directed activity. In the case of Saul’s anger against Nahash the Ammonite, his anger led to the rallying of Israel’s troops, the defeat of Israel’s enemy, the salvation of Israel, unification of Israel under Saul and Samuel, and the renewal of the kingdom of Israel resulting in national revival (vv. 13–15).

1 Samuel 11:14, And renew the kingdom there. According to The ArtScroll Rubin Edition Prophets Commentary, Gilgal was the place where Joshua had originally set up the Tabernacle of Moses upon Israel entering the Promised Land (p. 69; Josh 5:9–10). From the time of Joshua to Samuel, Israel had fallen on hard times physically and spiritually. As a nation, Samuel was leading Israel back to the geographical spot where it was last a great nation and walking in will of YHVH. A wise person once said, “If you’re not hearing the voice of YHVH in your life and he seems to be silent, then go back to the last place where he told you to do something and you said, ‘No.’ That’s the spot where he told you to go right and you went left.” This principle applies to nations and to individuals as well. Reflect on this as pertaining to your life.

1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:1ff, A king over you. The establishment of Saul as king in Israel was a constitutional or limited monarchy, unlike the kings of other Eastern nations of the time where the king had total, unlimited and absolute power. Their kings ruled by whim and fancy, while Israel’s would be subservient to the Torah; their kings placed their self-aggrandizement above the national interest, while Israel’s king was charged with upholding and safeguarding the nation’s righteousness, and with guiding Israel as the bearer of [Elohim’s]—not the king’s—majesty (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 1187). “The [Israelite] king was bound to respect the liberty, honour, and the property of his subjects, and his powers were strictly limited by the fundamental laws of the Torah (Deut 17:14–20). Prophets, psalmists, and sages all conceived of the king as a shepherd of his people, whose scepter should be a scepter of peace, pity, and righteousness” (The Soncino Pentateuch, p. 649). This is the basis of a republican form of government, which, in theory, describes the American form government. As you become more familiar with YHVH’s laws it will become evident that certain aspects of the American legal code derive from the Torah. This truth underscores the fact that our society has deep Judeo-Christian roots.

1 Samuel 12:3, Whose ass have I taken? The moral integrity of spiritual leadership is essential. Most leaders in Christian church would strongly assert their probity (honesty and decency), and at the same time would deny that they are building their ministry kingdoms for personal benefit, but what is the real truth? How do they treat their children and wives behind the scenes? What is their response toward their detractors? How do they treat other “competing” ministries? Do they live off of YHVH’s sheep, or do they use tithes and offerings for the care and feeding of YHVH’s sheep? If they do receive income from their flocks, how dependent are they on that income? To what degree do they make decisions affecting the congregation in order to solicit a response that will ensure the security of their position as chief leader and beneficiary of the congregation’s largesse? To what degree do they angle their teaching and preaching to curry the favor of their constituents thus keeping the funds flowing toward them? These are questions that spiritual leaders all need to ask of themselves.

Continue reading →
 

Natan’s Commentary on 1 Samuel 11 to 13

Posted on by
1

1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:4, Then the Spirit of Elohim came upon Saul. How do we know that this was not merely the human passion of anger that aroused in Saul causing him to take action as opposed to the moving of the Spirit? Indeed it was human passion, for this verse says that “his anger was greatly aroused.” But the fact that the fruits of his action led to YHVH’s will for the nation of Israel being accomplished indicates that Saul was motivated by the Spirit, and that this was not just a purely human reaction. Often times it is hard to determine if one’s actions are carnally motivated or they are being led of the Spirit. This is where righteous judgments must be made (John 7:24), and the fruits must be evaluated whether they be good or bad (Matt 7:16–20). When the will of Elohim is accomplished, then we can be sure that it was a Spirit-directed activity. In the case of Saul’s anger against Nahash the Ammonite, his anger led to the rallying of Israel’s troops, the defeat of Israel’s enemy, the salvation of Israel, unification of Israel under Saul and Samuel, and the renewal of the kingdom of Israel resulting in national revival (vv. 13–15).

1 Samuel 11:14, And renew the kingdom there. According to The ArtScroll Rubin Edition Prophets Commentary, Gilgal was the place where Joshua had originally set up the Tabernacle of Moses upon Israel entering the Promised Land (p. 69; Josh 5:9–10). From the time of Joshua to Samuel, Israel had fallen on hard times physically and spiritually. As a nation, Samuel was leading Israel back to the geographical spot where it was last a great nation and walking in will of YHVH. A wise person once said, “If you’re not hearing the voice of YHVH in your life and he seems to be silent, then go back to the last place where he told you to do something and you said, ‘No.’ That’s the spot where he told you to go right and you went left.” This principle applies to nations and to individuals as well. Reflect on this as pertaining to your life.

1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:1ff, A king over you. The establishment of Saul as king in Israel was a constitutional or limited monarchy, unlike the kings of other Eastern nations of the time where the king had total, unlimited and absolute power. Their kings ruled by whim and fancy, while Israel’s would be subservient to the Torah; their kings placed their self-aggrandizement above the national interest, while Israel’s king was charged with upholding and safeguarding the nation’s righteousness, and with guiding Israel as the bearer of [Elohim’s]—not the king’s—majesty (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 1187). “The [Israelite] king was bound to respect the liberty, honour, and the property of his subjects, and his powers were strictly limited by the fundamental laws of the Torah (Deut 17:14–20). Prophets, psalmists, and sages all conceived of the king as a shepherd of his people, whose scepter should be a scepter of peace, pity, and righteousness” (The Soncino Pentateuch, p. 649). This is the basis of a republican form of government, which, in theory, describes the American form government. As you become more familiar with YHVH’s laws it will become evident that certain aspects of the American legal code derive from the Torah. This truth underscores the fact that our society has deep Judeo-Christian roots.

1 Samuel 12:3, Whose ass have I taken? The moral integrity of spiritual leadership is essential. Most leaders in Christian church would strongly assert their probity (honesty and decency), and at the same time would deny that they are building their ministry kingdoms for personal benefit, but what is the real truth? How do they treat their children and wives behind the scenes? What is their response toward their detractors? How do they treat other “competing” ministries? Do they live off of YHVH’s sheep, or do they use tithes and offerings for the care and feeding of YHVH’s sheep? If they do receive income from their flocks, how dependent are they on that income? To what degree do they make decisions affecting the congregation in order to solicit a response that will ensure the security of their position as chief leader and beneficiary of the congregation’s largesse? To what degree do they angle their teaching and preaching to curry the favor of their constituents thus keeping the funds flowing toward them? These are questions that spiritual leaders all need to ask of themselves.

1 Samuel 12:17, Your wickedness is great. Samuel, speaking for YHVH, called Israel’s desire to be like the other nations and to have a king rule over them a great wickedness. To emphasize YHVH’s displeasure, Samuel asked YHVH to send a destructive rain upon Israel’s wheat harvest (verse 18). As a result of this punishment, Israel recognized their sin of rejecting YHVH’s mode of ruling them, and choosing instead to accept a worldly form of government (verse 19). But how deep was Israel’s repentance? Did it bring about a course change for the nation? No. How often does YHVH attempt to capture our attention because of sin in our lives, and as a result of his punishment and the impending physical loss (our personal “wheat harvest”) we verbally admit our sin, but our hearts remain hardened and predisposed to continue walking in the same sin?

1 Samuel 12:19, We have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.The people knew they had sinned, but they refused to repent and to turn away from their sin. To know one has sinned and to even admit it is not the same as repentance, which means deeply regretting that sin, and then with one’s whole heart turning away from that sin and walking in righteousness.

1 Samuel 12:22, It has pleased YHVH. Despite Israel’s unrepentant recalcitrance, what was YHVH’s response to his people? Some Bible teachers would have us to believe that the concept of grace is foreign to the Old Testament and is revealed only in the New Testament. YHVH’s response to Israel’s rebellion is but one of many such examples of his mercy superseding his judgment that are found in the Tanakh. What are some other examples of this?

1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13:13, You have not kept the commandment. The nation of Israel was a constitutional monarchy, not a dictatorship run by a tyrant king who was free to do whatever he wished. Israel’s constitution was the Torah, which the king of Israel was to know thoroughly and to obey. This is something Saul was not committed to doing, because he had a heart of pride and rebellion and not obedience toward YHVH. He followed the laws of Elohim only when it suited him, otherwise he followed the dictates of his own heart. This is why YHVH rejected him as king over his people Israel.

 

Natan’s Commentary on 1 Samuel 7 to 10

Posted on by
7

1 Samuel 7

1 Samuel 7:2, The ark abode in Kirjath-jearim.The ark did not return to Shiloh from when it came (1 Sam 4:4) and where the tabernacles had been located. This is because when the Israelites took the ark from Shiloh, YHVH forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh (Ps 78:60). By the time of Jeremiah, Shiloh was still forsaken if not in ruins (Jer 7:12, 14).

1 Samuel 7:7, YHVH thundered [Heb. ra’am] with a loud thunder [Heb. qol]. Ra’am means “to tumble, that is, be violently agitated; specifically to crash (of thunder); figuratively to irritate (with anger).” Qol means “a voice or sound” and is often translated as thunder. YHVH discomfiting and routing Israel’s adversaries was in response to their returning to him with all of their hearts and putting away the foreign gods or idols from among them and serving YHVH only (v. 3–4). YHVH is the same yesterday, today and forever. Perhaps if you do the same as the Israelites, he might also deliver you from your adversaries in wonderful and miraculous way.

1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8:1–2, Made his sons judges.It is the deep desire of every loving and dutiful parent for their children to follow in their footsteps whether it be to pass on to them the family business, occupation or the family religion. Each child, however, has to choose his or her own path in life, and sometimes they make the wrong choices and go in errant directions despite their parents best intentions. 

1 Samuel 8:3, But his sons did not walk in his ways.Samuel’s sons did not walk in the way of father. The children of ministers often have a hard time walking in the footsteps of their righteous parents. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes it is because the parents are so involved in ministry—the long line of needy people seeking the minister’s help never ends—that they have little or no time to spend with their children and to teach them the ways of YHVH. But this alone does not explain why bad children come from good families. More often than not, young people view the allurements of this world and the desire for money, pleasure and social acceptance as being more attractive than the struggles that accompany those who are in service to YHVH. The true ministers of YHVH typically suffer financial privation, rejection of men, criticism and ridicule and outright persecution even from those they are serving. Who wants that for their lives? Not surprisingly, very few children do. This is a bad reflection on the children, but also on those to whom their parents have giving their lives in service who are treating their parents so poorly. Perhaps these are some of the reasons why Samuel’s children went astray spiritually, although these excuses for apostasy will not pass muster with YHVH. Each person is responsible for his or her own actions regardless of the bad actions of others around them, and YHVH will hold each person accountable for the choices they make.

It seems that many of the children of righteous parents in the Bible did not walk in the ways of their righteous parents. Isaac and Rebecca produced Esau, at least one of Moses’ sons was an idol maker, Solomon went astray, Samson had his struggles, and the son of nearly every righteous king of Judah was wicked. In fact, sadly there are very few, if any, examples of any children of notable biblical characters walking in the footsteps of their godly parents.

1 Samuel 8:5, 20, Make us a king…that we also may be like all the nations.The desire to conform to the status quo and norms of the world around us is often too hard to resist. This carnal human proclivity is prevalent on an individual basis as well as on a societal level, and has been the ruination of the lives of many people as well as the cause of the downfall of many nations. Looking to human governmental systems instead of to Elohim as one’s ruler, provider and protector is a form of idolatry.

1 Samuel 9

1 Samuel 9:6–8, He can show us.Saul desired a personal prophecy from Samuel, the man of Elohim, a prophet, about his donkeys in exchange for money. This is akin to hiring a fortune teller or a palm reader to predict what the future holds. By giving the Samuel an offering, Saul was attempting to hire the prophet to peer into the unknown on his behalf. This same activity goes on in the Christian church today in almost all “prophetic” circles as people line up to seek a so-called “personal prophecy” form someone claiming prophetic insights. Many church “prophets” profit hugely from this unbiblical activity. Saul never lost the penchant for desiring to know his fortune, for toward the end of his life he sought out the witch of En Dor, a necromancer or spiritist, to tell him what the outcome of an upcoming battle would be (1 Sam 28:7ff). (Also see notes at 1 Kgs 14:3; 2 Kgs 8:8.)

1 Samuel 9:9, Seer…prophet. This verse tells us that the Bible view the terms seer and prophet synonymously.

1 Samuel 9:19, I am the seer.Samuel unashamedly declares his ministry office. He already had a long and proven track record of hearing from Elohim, so he was not bragging when making this declaration; he was merely stating a fact. This is unlike many so-called prophetic and other ministerial wannabes in today’s church, who attach the title of “prophet” (or other ecclesiastical titles such as bishop, apostle, pastor, rabbi, reverend, father, etc.) to their names with either the misguided or the ulterior motive of gaining recognition and credibility, and in turn, more money, position and power.

1 Samuel 10

1 Samuel 10:2–7, Samuel’s prophecy.Samuel gave Saul an extremely detailed prophecy, which came to pass thus proving the validity of the prophet’s word (v. 7). If a prophet’s word does not to pass, or only partially comes to pass, then he is either not a prophet or is a carnal prophet who only hears from Elohim partially. Either way, beware of such individuals.

1 Samuel 10:6, Turned into another man.The sovereign YHVH Elohim can supernaturally intervene in a person’s life and use them to fulfill his larger plans and purposes, even when they thought that they wanted to do something different, or even when they had no desire to do it at all. The Bible is full of such examples (e.g., Pharaoh, Jonah, Mary and Paul to name a few). He can even use animals (e.g., Balaam’s donkey) or rocks (Luke 19:40) to accomplish his purposes.

1 Samuel 10:19, You have rejected your Elohim.The children of Israel rejected Elohim’s direct rule over them preferring instead an earthly king and human government. It is easy to sit back with 20–20 hindsight and criticize the Israelites for their errant choice. But how many times in a myriad ways do we also reject YHVH’s rule in our own lives? Oh, it may not be in major, glaring areas, but in the seemingly minor choices that we make every day, how often do we choose to cater to the dictates of the flesh and acquiesce to the world, the flesh and the devil instead of making the hard choices to obey Elohim and his Word? This too is rejecting is rule in our lives. Let’s be honest. We all do it. The first step to overcoming this weak proclivity is to recognize our failures and then begin taking steps to conform our lives to YHVH’s Word instead of the other way around.

1 Samuel 10:26, Valiant men…whose hearts Elohim had touched.It is a wonderful thing when the Creator of the universe reaches directly into this earthly dimension and touches a human heart to do his will. A similar thing happened when YHVH stirred the heart of Cyrus, the Persian king, to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (Ezr 1:1 cp. 7:27). YHVH also moved the hearts of the Jews to begin building the temple in Jerusalem under Ezra (Ezr 1:5; 2 Chron 36:22). Later, YHVH moved on the heart of Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh 2:12). The spirit of Zerubbabel was similarly stirred in helping to rebuild the temple (Hag 1:14). Likewise, YHVH stirred the hearts of the children of Israel to help build the Tabernacle of Moses (Exod 25:2; 35:21, 26, 29; 36:2). If YHVH stirs your heart to do something for him, he will give you the strength, resources and wisdom to accomplish it. Good fruits will then come forth as evidence that he was in it.

 

Natan’s Commentary on Psalms 51 to 54

Posted on by
2

Psalm 51

Psalm 51:5, In sin. Either David is confessing that he was born as illegitimately, or he saying that he was born a sinner, with a sin nature and totally cut off from Elohim, or he is saying both things.

Psalm 51:7, Hyssop. According to Dr. Debra Raybern, natureopathic doctor (http://www.scribd.com/doc/28334085/Healing-Oils-of-the-Bible), hyssop oil is distilled from the stems and leaves of the plant. Hyssop was offered to Yeshua while on the cross (John 19:29), presumably, to help him breath due to its respiratory benefits. It also can relieve anxiety, alleviate respiratory infections, cuts and wounds, sore throats, and metabolize fat. The hyssop plant was used during the exodus from Egypt to dab the Hebrews’ doorposts with lamb’s blood (Exod 12:22), thus protecting them from the plague of death. Hyssop (along with cedar) was used in purification rituals (Lev 14:4ff; Num 19:6,18), since the chemical constituent, carvacrol, has antibacterial properties. 

Psalm 51:17, Sacrifices…broken spirit…contrite heart. (See notes at Ps 116:17.) Broken is the Hebrew word shobar meaning “to burst, break (down, off, in pieces, up), bring to birth, breach” and refers to a one’s personal spirit that YHVH has broken into or breached. This is necessary if there is to be a breakthrough in one’s spiritual life. 

The fallow ground of one’s heart must be broken up or tilled for righteousness to occur as one seeks YHVH (Hos 10:12). 

The hard and carnal heart of each person must be circumcised (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Col 2:11). This occurs through repentance from sin as this psalm explains. 

It is then that not only one receives salvation, but joy comes with that salvation (v. 12) along with gladness (v. 8). Why? Because YHVH has lovingly purged and cleansed us of our sins and blotted our past sins out (vv. 1, 2, 9) and the guilt therefrom (v. 14) and has us whiter than snow (v. 7). 

When does this happen? Only when we acknowledge our sins (v. 3), and not until then. This freedom from sin and spiritual heart, mind, and emotional cleansing only occurs when we humble ourselves, allow the light of YHVH’s truth (v. 6) to shine into deep and dark areas of our lives, and to expose the sin that lies therein (v. 3b). 

This process all starts when we allow YHVH to break open the fallow ground of our hard, stoney and sinful hearts (v. 17). When this happens, the good seed of his Word can fall onto the fertile soil of our lives like rain on parched ground resulting in a rich harvest (Matt 13:23) of spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22–25). So repent of sin!

Psalm 52

Psalm 52:0, A Contemplation of David. The subheading to this chapter reads, “To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of David When Doeg the Edomite Went and Told Saul, and Said to Him, ‘David Has Gone to the House of Ahimelech.’”There is a lesson to be learned from this tidbit of trivia from Scripture. What was David doing while he was fleeing for his life—or perhaps a short time afterwards once the dust of this traumatic event had settled, and he was able to collect his thoughts and jot them down? He was writing a psalm to Elohim. He reviewed the event of the past several days through the lens of his faith in Elohim and the ultimate justice that would be served on his enemies as well as the blessings that would accrue to David because of his obedient faithfulness. Instead of fretfully wringing his hands while wallowing in a toxic mixture of bitterness, fear, anger and self-pity, he chose to travel the higher road of laying all of his troubles at the feet of YHVH, who he knew would ultimately make all things right for him. Indeed, this occurred, and eventually Saul was killed and David become king over Israel.

Psalm 53

Psalm 53:1, The fool has said…no Elohim. Any belief system, philosophy or ideology of man that denies the existence of a Creator is foolishness, for it’s foundation is faulty making everything upon illogical and foolish no matter credential, erudition, social acceptance or intelligence of its proponents. It is fundamentally flawed and must be rejected as foolishness originating from fools. The reason that Elohim-haters and deniers hate YHVH Elohim and the Bible so much is because it pulls no punches and calls them what they are—fools!

Psalm 53:6, Salvation. Heb. Yeshua.

Brings back the captivity. An important truth: Release from spiritual captivity precedes release from physical captivity. One must become released from spiritual, mental and psychological bondage before one can be set free from physical bondage. At his first coming, Yeshua started the process of releasing his people from spiritual bondage for those who would put their faith and trust in him and allow his Spirit to work in their lives. At his second coming, he will complete the process with the destruction of Babylon the Great finalized by the release of his people from economic and political bondage. This whole process of bringing his people back from captivity coincides with the steps in the salvation process. First a person is spiritually begotten, regenerated or set free from bondage to the world, the flesh and the devil in his personal spirit. After that, he is set free in his soul (his mind, will and emotions), and then he is set from bondage to the limitations, weakness and corruption of his physical body when he receives his glorified body at the second coming of Yeshua.

Psalm 54

Psalm 54:7, He has delivered me. Our focus of interest in this verse is the phrase, “He has delivered me out of all trouble…,” with special focus on the word all. This begs a valid question that all of YHVH’s saints undoubtedly will ponder from time to time. If YHVH promises to deliver us from all of our troubles, then why are we still experiencing troubles in our lives? There could be several reasons for this. 

First our troubles could be a result of our own sin. When we break the laws of Elohim, we will suffer the consequences of our wrong actions. We reap what we sow. Those consequences may affect us immediately, in the short term or in the long term. 

Second, our troubles may be a result, no necessarily of sin, but simply because of wrong choices that we make in our lives. For example, if you purchase an automobile that has mechanical problems, then there is a good chance that it is going to break down and leave you stranded somewhere. While the purchase of a faulty vehicle is not a sin, it may cause you a lot of trouble.

Third, our troubles may simply be a result of living in fallen, sin-ridden world. As the saying goes, when you walk through a pig pen, you are likely to get some pig manure on your boots. It is difficult to walk in this world without being adversely affected by its filth.

Fourth, the Bible promises over and over again that the saints will suffer persecution in this world at the hands of wicked people. Moreover, the Scriptures are full of examples of this occurring. If we are living righteously, why do we think that we will be the exception to the rule?

Fifth, we may be experiencing troubles simply because stuff happens. We live in a world where mechanical things break down, our human bodies grow old and eventually die, things wear out, people have problems getting along with each other and so on. Cars break down, toilets overflow, people get sick, crops die because of pest infestations, people stub their toes and bump their heads and the list goes on and on. There is no end to the list of potential troubles that one can experience in life just because it is not a perfect world and we are not perfect people.

In conclusion, if Elohim promises to deliver his people from all of their troubles, then is he lying when we experience troubles in our lives? Most definitely not. As already noted, he is not responsible for all of the troubles that we may be experiencing in our lives. Our troubles may be a result of our repeated sin or the wrong choices that we make. But for the sake of discussion, let us assume that one is living a perfectly righteous life and is at peace with everyone around them, even then your physical body will still wear out and you will die. Death is the ultimate trouble that all humans will experience.

So what does Psalm 54:7 really mean when it says that YHVH “has delivered me out of all trouble”? It is true that YHVH has delivered and will deliver his righteous saints from many of the troubles they experience in life, but ultimately, as previously mentioned, everyone will still die. To be sure, death is the mother of all troubles! What this verse seems to suggest is that YHVH, who lives outside of time and space and who lives in eternity where past, present and future are non-existent realities, views his saints as having been delivered from all of their troubles eventually (from the human perspective of time). To YHVH, his saints have already been delivered from their troubles through Yeshua the Messiah, who is man’s ultimate Savior from all of his trouble. It is now up to each saint to embrace, by faith, the hope of this spiritual reality that exists outside of time and space, and that will ultimately be theirs when they pass through the veil of death and are transformed from a physical being into a spirit being, who now inhabits the spiritual dimension where the ultimate reality of a trouble-free existence perpetually exists.