Category Archives: Psalms

Natan’s Commentary on Psalms 69 to 71

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Psalm 69

Psalm 69:10, Chastened my soul with fasting. (See notes at Lev 23:26.) The natural soul of man—that is, one’s mind, will and emotions—is like an unruly and totally self-focused child, or a rebellious and petulant teenager; it is stubborn, prideful and wants its own way and fusses when this is denied. The act of fasting, which is the practice of self-denial through the deprivation food, helps to bring the soul under the control of the spirit within a person and, in turn, helps to bring one’s Spirit into line with the Spirit of Elohim.

Psalm 69:22, Table become a snare. The word table (Heb. shoolkan) derived from the Hebrew word for a skin or leather mat. Thus in ancient times, a table was either that or a low stool about 14 inches high where people sat on the floor around this stool, or it was a leather skin or mat that was spread on the floor (like a picnic blanket) and the food was spread on it. When David prays that the table of his enemies would become a snare to them, David’s meaning would be, “Let their feet become entangled in it, as it is spread on the ground” (Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, p. 57).

Psalm 69:28, Book of life. From this verse and Exod 32:32 comes the idea that every person who was ever born had their name written Elohim’s “Book of Life” until, because of unrepented sin, the Almighty is forced to blot them out. Our names may or may not remain in this book depending on our actions and the choices we make in this physical life. Our time on earth is merely a period of testing, a proving ground and a classroom. Will we pass the test and overcome the world, the flesh and devil and subsequently be rewarded with heaven’s gift of salvation resulting in eternal life and inclusion in the kingdom of Elohim as immortal sons and daughters of our Creator, or will we fail to meet the requirements, fail to pass the test and have our names and our lives blotted out of existence forever? The choice is ours.

Psalm 70

Psalm 70:2–3, That seek after my soul. The more are enemies persecute us, the more we should seek Elohim and the sweeter should be his salvation (Heb. Yeshua, see v. 4) to us. It only follows that the longer we spend in the cold rain, soaked to the skin and chilled to the bone, the greater will be our appreciation of a hot shower or a warm fire.

Psalm 70:4, Love your salvation (Heb. Yeshua). Those who are in love with Yeshua the Messiah will continually be saying, “Let Elohim be magnified (Heb. gadal). Gadal means “to make large, increase or boast.” The more we love Yeshua, Elohim’s salvation, the more we will be continually loving, praising and worshipping Elohim.

Psalm 70:5, Poor and needy. Not until we recognize our personal spiritual poverty and neediness will we seek, much less appreciate, the salvation of YHVH. The problem is that the majority of people, due to human pride and complacency, fail or even refuse to admit their spiritual lack and, therefore, cannot or will not receive the help, deliverance or “salvation” (v. 4; Heb. Yeshua) of Elohim.

Psalm 71

Psalm 71:3, The commandment to save me. YHVH has given us his Torah commandments to protect and guard us, and to preserve and deliver us from evil. They are like guardrails on the road of life to protect us from veering off of the road and over the cliff to our doom. Once redeemed by the blood of Yeshua, YHVH’s Torah shows us how to love Elohim with all of our being and our neighbor as ourself. It also shows us how to walk a sanctified life and remain in a redeemed state as we progress through the spiritual wilderness of this physical life en route to the Promised Land of our eternal inheritance in the kingdom of Elohim.

Psalm 71:4, Cruel [Heb. chametz] man [or leavened man]. The Hebrew word chamets means “pungent, sour or fermented” and is the one of the words used to describe leavened bread. Therefore, it is a biblical metaphor for sin. Other words in this verse that describe those individuals who are the enemy of the saints include the wicked (i.e., the morally wrong] and the unrighteous (i.e., the morally distorted).

Psalm 71:20, Shall revive me again…bring me up from the depths of the earth. This is one of several psalms that prophesy of a bodily resurrection of the righteous dead. (Also see Pss 17:15; 50:4–5; 73:24 cp. Job 14:15; 19:26–27.)

Psalm 71:21, You shall increase my greatness. What could be greater and more comforting than eternal life as a glorified son and daughter of Elohim?

Psalm 71:22–23, I will praise you. What could be a greater source of praise to the Almighty than his granting his saints the gift of eternal life?

Psalm 71:24, They are confounded. What could be a greater victory over all of one’s enemies than for the Creator of the universe to grant one eternal life and inclusion in his everlasting kingdom?

 

Natan’s Commentary on Psalms 65 to 68

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Psalm 65

Psalm 65:3, Atonement. (Heb. kaphar) YHVH will provide covering or expiation (by sacrifice) for our transgressions. Forgiveness of sin involves not just a judicial decree from a judge, but the idea of atonement as well; that is, a penalty price has to be paid, the scales of justice have to be balanced. For every crime a price must be paid, restitution must be made. Biblically, this is how forgiveness works.

Psalm 65:5, Your awesome deeds in righteousness. How does YHVH answer our prayers? In many ways. But one of those ways is through performing awesome deeds of righteousness or through providential or divinely orchestrated circumstances that occur in the life of the saint. The saint is wise to watch for these, so that he can give YHVH praise and thanks for them.

Psalm 65:7, Seas…people. Seas is a poetic Hebraism for people. In this case, verse eight implies that the people who “dwell in the farthest parts” are those who are the furthest away from Elohim spiritually.

Psalm 66

Psalm 66:18, If I regard iniquity. Iniquity is the Hebrew word aven meaning “trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol.” Anything in our lives that comes before our relationship with Elohim is an idolatrous stronghold to us and blocks our ability to serve, hear and obey Elohim. It hinders our relationship with him, takes us away from him, and thus blocks our prayers from being heard by him.

Psalm 67

Psalm 67:1–2, Face to shine…that your way. In analyzing this biblical passage, let’s apply some mathematical logic and discover the wonderful place to which it leads us. It’s a place that’s higher and better than any other! Here we go…

YHVH’s face or countenance shines like the sun in its full strength (Rev 1:16). He is the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2). The sun is the greater light that shines in the darkness of this world (Gen 1:16). The physical sun points to and is a representation of Yeshua who isn’t the greater light, but the Greatest Light that shone on this earth before the physical sun was created on the fourth day, and will shine once again on the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:23) as he shone on the first three days of creation (Gen 1:3). 

Presently, Yeshua is the Light of the world (John 8:12) that is contained in his Torah-Word, which is truth, and which is revealed by the Spirit of Elohim (John 16:13) to those who humbly and repentantly seek it like little children (Matt 18:3–4). 

Moreover, Yeshua is the Word of Elohim that was made flesh (John 1:1, 14), and he is a spiritual light that shines in the darkness of this world to show men the way out of the darkness and to his Father in heaven (John 1:4;–5; 8:12, 9:5 cp. 14:6) who himself dwells in supernal light (1 Tim 6:16; Dan 2:22; 1 John 1:5; Jas 1:17). 

Light in the Scriptures is also a metaphor for truth (John 3:21) and the Torah (Prov 6:23 cp. Ps 119:142, 151). Light is also a metaphor for the Word of Elohim (Ps 119:105). Yeshua was and is that Word (John 1:1, 14). 

Now let’s go back to Psalm 67:1–2. When Elohim causes his face to shine on us, we will be blessed and receive his mercy (verse 1). The result will be that we will know his ways and his salvation, which is Yeshua (salvation is the Hebrew word Yeshua in verse 2). 

Can the truth of Elohim’s word be any clearer than this? When we understand these simple biblical truths, and humbly submit ourselves to them and walk in the light of this glorious truth, our lives will be in perfect alignment or in sync with the plumb line of YHVH’s laser light-like truth. This puts us on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, and it places us in the middle of YHVH’s river of life (Ps 1:3) that flows from his throne and a tree of life (Prov 3:18 cp. Ps 1:3, read vv. 1–6 for context). 

This spot is where it’s at—the sweet spot of life (see Ps 1:1–6)! Yet men are so hard-hardhearted, stiffnecked, rebellious and arrogant that they refuse to see these simples truths because they love the darkness of their sin and refuse to come to the light of Yeshua (John 3:19–20). 

Those of you who are privileged to have the light of YHVH’s countenance shining on you, give him the glory he deserves for his wonderful merciful grace in your life, and take a moment to offer up a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving!

Psalm 68

Psalm 68:4, YAH. According to TWOT, Yah (Strong’s H3050; TWOT 484b) is a contraction of YHVH (Strong’s H3068, see TWOT 484b) and is found some 50 times in the Tanakh. Many names in the Tanakh contain this abbreviated form of YHVH (Yehovah) including Yehonatan and Yehoshaphat. Hebrew scholar, Nehemiah Gordon, agrees that Yah is the abbreviated form of His name YHVH, but he states that it derives an ancient practice of taking the first and last letter of a word to express an abbreviation. So the first and last letters of YHVH produce the abbreviation Yah (from an article entitled “The Pronunciation of the Name”). Yah is found in several other scriptures as well including Isa 12:2; 26:4; 38:11.

Psalm 68:5, Mountain of Bashan. Bashan is in the region of Mount Hermon, and the mountain mentioned here the same mountain. This was the mountain of the Gen 6 illicit angelic incursion into the affairs of mankind and where the Gates of Hell existed that was the opening of the abyss from which the fallen angels or demons entered and exited. Hermon is the tallest mountain the entire region at must under 10,000 feet high. No wonder Satan wants his seat of government to be there, since mountains in the poetic language of Scripture are often a metaphor for seats of government.

 

Psalms 2 and 64 on “Conspiracy Theories”

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Psalm 64

Psalm 64:2, Secret plots of the wicked. When in human history have the wicked—those who hate YHVH—not been hatching up secret plots and conspiracies in an attempt to overthrow YHVH plans and laws and to destroy those who represent his rule of law and kingdom on this earth? 

Satan, YHVH’s arch enemy and the one ultimately behind these plots, kicked off this cosmic struggle between the forces of darkness and light, good and evil in the Garden of Eden at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, when he enticed the first humans to join him in rebellion against haven’s mandates.

This never-ending tug of war between heaven and hell for world domination will culminate in the end times when “rulers [will] take counsel together [i.e., a conspiratorial plot] against YHVH and his Anointed [i.e., Yeshua the Messiah]” (Ps 2:2) in an effort to “break their bands [of YHVH’s rule of law as expressed in the Torah and the Prophets of the Bible] in pieces and cast their cords from us,” (Ps 2:3). Of course, YHVH will laugh in derision or mock and ridicule them for their hubris, and pour his wrath out upon them (Ps 2:4) prior to Yeshua’s second when heaven will place King Yeshua on his holy hill in Zion (Ps 2:6) to rule over the world as King of kings. The book of Revelation prophetically chronicles how this struggle will culminate, even as Psalm two predicts.

All this is to say that the secret plots of the wicked have been going on since man has been on this earth, and they continue to go on to this day. The government-media complex propagandistically derisively refers to this devilish plots as “conspiracy theories” as if to obfuscate their existence and to divert the masses’ attention away from them, but this does not change the fact the wicket of been hatching secret plots to overthrow YHVH and his people since the beginning, even as the Bible clearly shows.

What Does the Bible Say About So-Called“Conspiracy Theories”?

For as long has humans have been on earth, people have formed groups and conceived plans to consolidate resources and riches to rule over other people, forcefully if necessary, for the love of money, power and sexual gratification. It was true when the Bible was written, and it is true today because human nature has never changed from then until now.

The notion that governments and many other organizations are always open and transparent with the people that they supposedly represent or oversee is a belief only for the naive and ignorant. If this were so, then why do governments possess “intelligence agencies” and why do secret organizations exist whose membership is reserved only for certain privileged people and which have elaborate initiation rituals along with penalties if the organization’s secrets are revealed?

Continue reading →
 

The Blessing of Walking in Relationship With Elohim and His Word

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Psalm 111

Psalm 111:2, The works of YHVH…studied by all…pleasure. Studied is the Hebrew word darash meaning “to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication to seek or ask; specifically to worship, diligently inquire, make inquisition, question, require, search, seek [for, out].” Pleasure is the Hebrew word khayfets meaning “pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind) that is acceptable, delight (-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant, pleasure, purpose, willingly.” This verse is pregnant with meaning and can be viewed from several vantage points depending upon which word or group of words one focuses.

First, the works of YHVH are worth studying, following, pursuing, seeking, or diligently inquiring about. 

Second, studying the works of YHVH is an act of worship. Those who seek YHVH diligently by studying his works are actually worshiping him in so doing.

Third, those who study the works of YHVH desire to do so and find that his works are worthy of studying and they find pleasure in learning about him; they place high value in this pursuit.

Psalm 111:10, The fear of YHVH…beginning of wisdom. This statement is often attributed to Solomon and his book of Proverbs, but it actually originated with David. Solomon learned this truth from his father and repeated it twice later (Prov 1:7; 9:10). Had he remembered these wise words of his father after he had become rich, famous and powerful, perhaps he would not became an apostate in his latter in having fallen so far away from YHVH. One can start out well as a young person walking in the path of truth, light, wisdom and righteousness, but that’s no guarantee how they will end up. Young people would do well to follow the wisdom of their parents, grandparents and elders and to learn, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the older generation.

Psalm 112

Psalm 112:1, Blessed is the man. YHVH promises blessing upon those who fear him and delight in his commandments. This is such a simple concept to understand that it is shocking that more people cannot grasp it! When you acknowledge the Almighty Creator of all things, who is the Just Judge of the universe and the Supreme Lawgiver and you seek him, serve him with reverence and live by his rules, it all stands to reason that you will reap some benefits. The blessings resulting therefrom are incalculable; the psalmist lists a few of them in the following verses.

Verse 2—His descendants will be mighty upon the earth. The Hebrew word for mighty is gibbor meaning “powerful; by implication warrior, or champion, chief, giant, mighty, strong (man), valiant.” When we think of the concept of mighty, we mustn’t fall into the trap of defining mighty as the world defines it, which usually involves money, power and fame. One can be gibbor in YHVH’s sight and not possess those attributes that society requires for one to be considered “great” or “mighty.”

Verse 3—He will possess wealth and riches. Wealth is the Hebrew word hon meaning “enough.” Therefore, the Bible defines wealth as having enough. How does one define enough? How many people on earth do not have enough? What are our needs versus or wants? If our needs are met, then we have enough. If we have more than that, then we have an over abundance and are truly wealthy. Not only that, but are wealth and riches to be defined only in terms of material possessions? How about expanding the definition of wealth, riches and enough to include good health, family, marriage and friends? Let us take these ideas to the higher spiritual plateau to include redemption or salvation, the receipt of the Spirit of Elohim into one’s life, divine revelation from the Word of Elohim, a relationship with Yeshua the Messiah, and eventually eternal life including inclusion into the very divine family of Elohim. Now do you feel that you possess wealth and riches and have enough, even though you may not be rich monetarily? If so, give Elohim the praise! If, not, then get saved by coming into a spiritual relationship with Yeshua, and then begin to count the blessings that will follow as a result!

Verse 3—His righteousness endures forever. What does this mean? This can be taken to mean several things. First, one’s righteousness endures through one’s posterity because if one has raised one’s children in the fear of Elohim, and they in turn will pass these values on to their children and so on. Second, as spiritual salt and light, one has also influenced the world around themselves to make it a more positively and a better place. Like a pebble dropped into a lake, the ripples of one’s actions will reach out and touch many lives for years to come. Third, the righteous man has the hope of eternal life, therefore, he will live forever before Elohim because he fears Elohim in righteousness. What is righteousness? It is adherence to the commandments of Elohim (Ps 119:172) and delighting in said commandments (Ps 112:1).

Verse 4—Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness. This is a huge promised blessing! The righteous man will be given divine revelation as to what to do and where to go when those around him are walking cluelessly in confusion and darkness.

Verse 5—He deals graciously and lends. He is so blessed of YHVH that his cup overflows and he is a blessing to those around him. Most people are takers because they are in survival mode and they do not have enough left over to be a blessing to others. On the other hand, those who fear Elohim find themselves in his blessed river of life and the blessings therefrom overflow onto others.

Verse 5—He will guide his affairs with discretion. Discretion is the Hebrew word misphat meaning “a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree, determination, discretion, or to be judged.” This means that he will be able to rightly discern between right and wrong and make proper judgments when facing life’s uncertainties; he will know what to do and when to do it, thus ensuring that he will always make the right decision, which leads to good results and blessings.

Verse 6—He shall never be shaken. This is because the righteous man is standing on the solid rock of YHVH Elohim and his Word or Truth.

Verse 6—The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. His legacy will live on after his death both on earth and in heaven.

Verse 7—He will not be afraid of evil tidings. Why is this? Because his heart is steadfast trusting in Elohim. This is because he is on the right side of Elohim, therefore, heaven is on his side. What is there to be afraid of? If Elohim be for us who can be against us (Rom 87:31)? 

Verse 9—His horn will exalted with honor. This is the ultimate and highest blessing of the man who fears Elohim and delights in his commandments. Power and honor will be his, and not as men define these terms, but has heaven defines them,which are true and everlasting power and honer!

Psalm 112:4, Light in the darkness. YHVH promises to give light in the darkness to those who fear him and delight greatly in his commandments (v. 1). Light in the darkness is knowing what to do when others are walking around blindly in confusion. It is divine guidance and revelation. As YHVH commanded light to shine in the darkness on day one of creation, so he will command the divine light of his Truth to shine into the darkness of our life situations and we will instantly know what to do and where to go. 

 

Judgment for the Wicked, Rewards for the Righteous—Meditations on Psalm 50

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This psalm presents several fundamental biblical truths that should ignite the fires of hope for the saints of YHVH Elohim. First, YHVH, the Mighty One or El, is coming to judge the earth and the wicked thereon with the fires his judgment. Second, out of this, he will deliver his saints from that fire and will gather those who are in a covenant relationship and who glorify him through the sacrifices of praise and who walk righteously. Wherever his saints may be, whether in heaven or on (or in) the earth, he will show them salvation.

Psalm 50:0, A Psalm of Asaph. Asaph is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:5. He also wrote Psalms 73–83.

Psalm 50:4–6, heavens…earth…gather my saints. This verse declares that YHVH will gather together his saints from the heavens and from the earth that he may judge them (see also Deut 32). This is referring to the last days’ judgment seat at Yeshua’s second coming when the righteous saints, both the living and the dead, will be transformed into immortality. What is interesting to note here is that these verses indicate that two things. First, when YHVH comes to gather his saints, some saints will be in heaven and some will be on this earth (1 Thess 4:15–17). Second, of those saints who are dead, Scripture elsewhere indicates that a part of them (i.e. the body and soul which is their mind, will and emotions) is dead and buried in the grave, while another part of them is in heaven (i.e. their spirit). Elsewhere Scripture informs us that when a person dies physically, their body along with their soul dies (Ezek 18:4, 20; i.e. the soul is not immortal), but that their spirit returns to YHVH (Eccl 3:21; 12:7 cp. Ps 90:10; Luke 23:46; Deut 30:4). So whether dead or alive, and wherever they may be, this verse succinctly states one of the fundamental and elementary biblical doctrines of the gospel message, namely, that of the of the resurrection of the dead (Heb 6:1–3). For YHVH as the righteous Judge of the universe will gather his saints (that is, those who are in covenant with him, as verse 5 states) together before his judgment seat, where we learn elsewhere in Scripture that he will grant them rewards in his eternal kingdom based on their good works that they did while alive in their bodies (Matt 5:19; 2 Cor 5:10).

Psalm 50:5, Made [or cut] a covenant…by sacrifice. This refers to the method by which covenants were made in ancient times between two parties. This same ritual occurred when YHVH made (or cut) a covenant with Abraham in Genesis chapter 15 except in that instance YHVH took all the responsibilities for fulfilling the covenant upon himself, for Abraham was asleep when this covenant was cut (Gen 15:9–10, 12). 

What is the lesson in this for us? Simply this: this is the model for salvation. All Abraham had to do was to have faith in YHVH and all the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant would fall upon him (Gen 15:6). We know from Paul’s discussion in Romans chapter four that the Abrahamic Covenant is the original biblical model for how an individual can receive salvation from Elohim. We know from Paul’s discussion in Romans chapter four that the Abrahamic Covenant is the original biblical model for how an individual can receive salvation from Elohim. 

We also know that when YHVH made his covenant with Abraham, the vision Abraham had while he was asleep prophetically pointed to Yeshua’s death on the cross and his initiating the new or renewed covenant as prophesied in the Tanakh (e.g. Jer 31:31–33; also see my notes at Gen 15:12–21). 

Moreover, Yeshua at his last supper and subsequent crucifixion fulfilled this ancient prophecy as well as the spiritual types and shadows discussed in Psalm 50:7 and Genesis 15:9–21. At his last supper, Yeshua made a new covenant with his disciples through his body (the bread) and blood (the wine), which redeemed believers now commemorate when they take communion. 

And as they were eating, Yeshua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matt 26:26–28)

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (1 Cor 11:24)

Prior to his death on the cross, Yeshua’s predictively explained the significance of his broken body and spilled blood as it relates to covenantal agreement between him and those who would place their faith in him (as Abraham did in Gen 15).

35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.…47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.…50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.…58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:35, 47, 50, 53, 58)

In the context of the Passover service when the saints through the ritual of communion annually commemorate Yeshua’s “cutting” the new covenant with his saints and then ratifying that covenant through his death, Paul has the following to say about the significance of Yeshua’s body:

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (1 Cor 11:26–29)

Those who carelessly take communion are literally disrespecting not only the high value of the covenant that was made (or cut), but the tremendous price of making a covenant with Elohim (i.e. it cost Yeshua his life, and the believer must also die to himself as he accepts, unconditionally, Yeshua as his Lord and Master). Moreover, careless partakers of communion are not only underestimating the cost of their salvation, but the value and the benefits of that salvation, which is spiritual rewards including eternal life. Elohim is not only not duty bound to give immortality to such people, but would be foolish to immortalize people who don’t sufficiently recognize and appreciate the cost and value of covenantal agreement. In doing so, he would risk having another rebellion on his hand at some point in the future.

So when Yeshua died on the cross, he become the sacrifice that was cut (i.e. his body was brutally mutilated prior to and during his crucifixion) to which this verse in this Psalm 50 makes allusion. 

Moreover, Abraham not only had faith in YHVH, but he had to walk out that faith the rest of his life, for faith without works is dead (Jas 2:14–26). Similarly, those who place their faith in Yeshua must also back up that faith by doing his words (John 5:24), doing good (John 5:29; 3:21), loving him and keeping his commandments (John 14:15), coming to the light of Elohim’s truth (John 3:20–21), and showing that they are overcoming the word, the flesh and the devil resulting in eternal life and great spiritual rewards in the world to come (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). 

At the same time, those who don’t place their trust in Yeshua by accepting the covenant he “cut” through his death on the cross and then by backing that faith up with good deeds, or those who have “accepted” Yeshua, but lightly esteem him, will have a terrible price to pay.

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Cor 11:29–30)

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28–29)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)

Psalm 50:8, Continually before me. Yeshua the Great High Priest is continually before the throne of Elohim interceding on behalf of his people (Rev 7:9, 10, 17).

Psalm 50:12, The world is mine. The earth belongs to YHVH, but the cosmos (the kingdoms of this world and their man-made systems) belong to Satan (Matt 4:8–9).

 

The Blessings of Having YHVH in Your Life—Meditations on Psalm 34

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Psalm 34:7, The angel of YHVH encamps [or surrounds, encompasses]. Those who fear YHVH by worshipping and obeying him have the promise of divine protection. The angels are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb 1:14), and YHVH “shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Ps 91:11–12).

Psalm 34:9, Fear of YHVH…no want [or lack]. Elsewhere, Scripture reveals that the fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Why should people with these attributes have any worry of lack? When we not only fear YHVH reverentially, but dread the thought of sinning by going against his Torah-instructions in righteousness, which are there for our good and, if followed, bring nothing but blessings upon us, why should we experience any physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual lack of anything?

Psalm 34:15, The eyes of YHVH. What are the eyes of YHVH? We find this same phrase in Psalm 33:19. This phrase can mean “in the mind or opinion of YHVH” (e.g. Gen 6:8; Deut 13:8; 1 Sam 16:24; 2 Sam 15:25; et al). 

Now to expand on the meaning of this phrase, elsewhere in Scripture, “the eyes of YHVH” seems to have a deeper meaning, for we read in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of YHVH run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Similarly, our verse under study, Psalm 34:15, would indicate that “the eyes of YHVH” refer to more than just his opinion. Perhaps YHVH’s are searching for information upon which to make an opinion about men whether it be a good (Ps 34:15) or bad opinion (2 Chr 29:6), for we read in Proverbs 15:3 that “The eyes of YHVH are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good,” and in Proverbs 5:21 that “the ways of man are before the eyes of YHVH, and He ponders all his paths.” What are the eyes of YHVH that search the earth and the heart of men? Revelation 5:6 gives us a clue: “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim sent out into all the earth.” Likely these seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim, relate to the seven Spirits of YHVH in Isaiah 11:1–2 which are:

  • The Spirit of YHVH
  • The Spirit of wisdom
  • The Spirit of understanding
  • The Spirit of counsel
  • The Spirit of might
  • The Spirit of knowledge
  • The Spirit of the fear of YHVH

Psalm 34:18, Broken heart. This could be understood to be a circumcised heart rather than a heart broken by grief. This calls to mind the words of Yeshua in the beatitudes: “blessed are the poor [or helpless and crippled] in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom,” and “blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:3–4).

Psalm 34:19, Many are the afflictions. It is part of the human condition for both the righteous and the wicked to experience trials, afflictions and difficulties in life. This is, in part, is a result of the fall of man and the curse of sin that came on all humans as a result thereof. Some of our afflictions are a result of the bad choices that we make, or due to circumstances beyond our control. Other times, heaven allows afflictions to come upon us for our spiritual growth and development (e.g. Job; or Deut 8:2–5; Heb 12:3–11). But there is a difference between the afflictions that come on the wicked and the godly. The former, who either ignores or has rejected Elohim, is left to circumstantial fate. Maybe they will come out of the afflictions better off, maybe not. However, for the godly, the sovereign and all powerful hand of YHVH is on their lives, for he is guiding and directing all that happens to them for their ultimate good as a father toward his children (Heb 12:3–11), or as a potter working with a lump of clay to fashion from it something useful and beautiful (Isa 29:16; 45:9), and, because of this, we know that “all things work together for the good of those who are called according to his purpose…[that we may be] conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:28–29).

 

A Message to Senseless Fools Who Are Unsaved—Meditation on Psalm 49

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Psalm 49:1–14, This psalm is an evangelistic message to the unsaved. This entire psalm is a good basis for a sermon to the unsaved or spiritually lost.

Psalm 49:4, Dark sayings [or riddles] on the harp. Harp is the Hebrew word kinor from an unused root word meaning “to twang.” Poetic music is a though provoking way to “preach” the gospel; it touches the heart of man in a special way. This is because music is capable of bypassing the innate defensiveness of the mind and can go straight to the heart.

Psalm 49:7, None…can…redeem his brother. In that all men are of equal value before Elohim, a man can’t redeem his brother from the penalty of sin, which is death. One can only atone for his own sins by dying, and once dead, there is no more possibility of living, since the wages of sin is death. So there is no possibility of a man atoning for his own sins, much less those of another; this verse makes this truth clear. 

Even if a man could live a sinless life, he could at best save only one other individual—that is, give his life in exchange for only one other sinner. Only Yeshua who was the Creator of all humans life (Col 1:16; Heb 11:3) could exchange his sinless life for all humanity, since common logic tells us the one who creates something is of more value than the sum total of all that he creates. This is why verse eight states that the redemption of men’s souls is costly, since it cost the life of the Son of Elohim, the Creator of all things. Only this costly sin sacrifice could redeem men from the pit of the grave and give men the gift of eternal life (verse nine).

Another point to consider in this discussion is that since Yeshua was born of a virgin and not of the seed of man, his nature wasn’t polluted or defiled by Adam’s sin nature. If he had not been born of a virgin, this would have disqualified him from being the perfect and blemish-free Passover lamb sin offering for the remission of men’s sins before the judgment seat of Elohim. Since the life of man is in his blood (Lev 17:11), and man’s blood was defiled by Adam’s sin nature, and since Yeshua’s blood didn’t derive from man, but from his Father in heaven, Yeshua’s blood was acceptable to a holy Elohim as the required atonement for the redemption men’s souls (Lev 17:11 cp. Isa 53:10). No man except Yeshua has ever met these criteria, thus no man other than Yeshua is qualified to atone for another man’s sin. 

Because Yeshua was the blameless and sin-free Passover lamb, those who spiritually identify and unite with his atoning death through faith and the ritual of baptism for the remission of sins can now be presented as blameless as well before Elohim in heaven (Col 1:21–23).

Psalm 49:8, The redemption of the soul is costly. Indeed it is, for it cost Yeshua his life.

Psalm 49:9, Continue to live. In other words, the soul is not immortal.

Psalm 49:10–20, The senseless person. That which the world esteems is an inversion of the truth and reality and is, therefore, anathema to and enmity with Elohim (Jas 4:4). The redeemed are those who have come out of the confused mixture of light and darkness or good and evil (called Babylonianism) of what worldly people esteem (1 Cor 6:17; Rev 18:4), and who no longer esteem that which the unsaved foolish or senseless people esteem (i.e. wealth, the houses and monuments they create to last forever to honor their memory, as well as the lands they name after themselves, v. 11). This is the way of the senseless and foolish person (v. 12). The wise person knows that all humans death comes to all humans, and all die like common animals (vv. 11, 20). Only Elohim has the power to redeem our non-immortal soul from the grave (v. 15), so that a person will see the light of life again (v. 19) at the resurrection of the righteous dead.

Psalm 49:15, Redeem my soul. This verse tells us that the soul (i.e. the mind, will and emotion) is not immortal, but dies along with the body. Ezekiel confirms this truth when he declares that the soul that sins will die (Ezek 18:4, 20). Moreover Yeshua’s soul died as well, making atonement for man’s sin when it went into the grave (Isa 53:10–11) in fulfillment of Leviticus 17:11 which says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”

Shall receive me. To be received of YHVH Elohim as his a resurrected, glorified and immortalized child is a far greater reward than all the wealth, possession, fame, honor and glory this world has to offer a person.

“But Elohim will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.” This is a generic reference to the resurrection of the righteous dead. Using a kal v’khomer or light and heavy (a fortiori) rule of logic (or Hillel’s first law of Biblical hermeneutics or interpretation), we can reason that if the righteous dead are resurrected how much more so YHVH’s righteous Messiah?

Psalm 49:19, Light or light of life (see NKJV marginal reference). This is a Hebraic idiom for the resurrection of one’s dead body (cp. Ps 56:13; Isa 53:11).