Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 7:9-10

9 Oh let the malice of the wicked come to an end: but guide thou the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. 10 My defense is in God, who preserveth the upright in heart.

Brethren:

Continuing in Psalm 7 the psalmist prays and seeks an end to the hatered and lies that have been said of Him. He places his supplications to our Creator and pleads his innocence of that of which he had been accused. He says that God should search his heart (Read Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 8:27; Revelation 2:23) and as a result shall find that he is a just and honorable man.

And so we should do likewise daily. Ask the Lord to search our hearts, and show us what and where we are going wrong, and to guide us in the path of His righteousness. Know too that our righteousness is not by our own hands, but is imputed unto to us through Christ Jesus. - Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

“The affirmation of God as "righteous" and as one who "searches" is no cause for the righteous to be afraid. They have taken "refuge" in his grace. Their faults are not hidden from his sight.” Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Ed.)

“ Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end: Which will not be till the measure of it is fully up, and that will not be till the wicked are no more; for, as long as they are in the world they will be committing wickedness, and like the troubled sea continually cast up the mire and dirt of sin; and they will remain to the end of the world, till the new Jerusalem church state shall take place, when all the Lord's people will be righteous, and there will not be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts, nor a pricking brier or grieving thorn in all the land; for, in the new earth will no sinner be, but righteous persons only; and for this state the psalmist may be thought to pray; however by this petition and the following he expresses his hatred of sin and love of righteousness: some choose to render the words, "let wickedness now consume the wicked"; as in the issue it will, unless the grace of God takes place; some sins consume the bodies, others the estates of wicked men, and some both; and all are the means of destroying both body and soul in hell, if grace prevent not; this may be considered as a declaration of what will be, being a prophetic petition

But establish the just: Or righteous one; meaning himself, and every other who is made righteous, not by his own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed to him; and who needs not to have his righteousness established, which is in itself stable, firm, and sure, and cannot be more so; it is an everlasting one, and cannot be abolished, but abides for ever, and will answer for him in a time to come; but his faith to be established more and more in its exercise on this righteousness: nor do the persons of the just need establishing, or can they be more stable than they are, as considered in Christ, as they are the objects of God's everlasting love, secured in the covenant of grace, and built on Christ the foundation; but the graces of faith, hope, and love, need daily establishing on their proper object, they being weak, fickle, and inconstant in their acts; and the saints need more and more establishing in the doctrines of the Gospel, and in their adherence to the cause of God and Christ and true religion; and it is God's work to establish them, to whom the psalmist applies; ( Read 1 Peter 5:10 ) ;

For the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins; he is righteous himself in his nature, and in all his works, and he knows who are righteous and who are wicked; he knows the hearts, thoughts, affections, and inward principles of all men, and the springs of all their actions; he looks not at outward appearances, but at the heart; and as he can distinguish between the one and the other, he is capable of punishing the wicked and of confirming the righteous, consistent with the truth of his perfections.” - John Gill 17^th Century Theologian

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 7:7-8

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return on high. 8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge thou me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine innocency that is in me.

Brethren:

Today’s commentary is an excerpt from Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible

“He prays: Return thou on high, maintain thy own authority, resume thy royal throne of which they have despised the sovereignty, and the judgment-seat of which they have despised the sentence. Return on high, that is, visibly and in the sight of all, that it may be universally acknowledged that heaven itself owns and pleads David’s cause. Some make this to point at the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, who, when he returned to heaven (returned on high in his exalted state), had all judgment committed to him. Or it may refer to his second coming, when he shall return on high to this world, to execute judgment upon all. This return his injured people wait for, and pray for, and to it they appeal from the unjust censures of men.

He prays again: Judge me, judge for me, give sentence on my side.” To enforce this suit. He pleads that his cause was now brought into the proper court: The Lord shall judge the people He is the Judge of all the earth, and therefore no doubt he will do right and all will be obliged to acquiesce in his judgment. He insists upon his integrity as to all the matters in variance between him and Saul, and desires only to be judged, in this matter, according to his righteousness, and the sincerity of his heart in all the steps he had taken towards his preferment. He foretells that it would be much for the glory of God and the edification and comfort of his people if God would appear for him: So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about; therefore do it for their sakes, that they may attend thee with their raises and services in the courts of thy house. First, They will do it of their own accord. God’s appearing on David’s behalf, and fulfilling his promise to him, would be such an instance of his righteousness, goodness, and faithfulness, as would greatly enlarge the hearts of all his faithful worshippers and fill their mouths with praise. David was the darling of his country, especially of all the good people in it; and therefore, when they saw him in a fair way to the throne, they would greatly rejoice and give thanks to God; crowds of them would attend his footstool with their praises for such a blessing to their land. Secondly, If David come into power, as God has promised him, he will take care to bring people to church by his influence upon them, and the ark shall not be neglected, as it was in the days of Saul. (Read 1 Chronicle 13:3.).”

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 7:3-4

3 O Lord my God, if I have done this thing, if there be any wickedness in mine hands, 4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that had peace with me, (yea I have delivered him that vexed me without cause.)

Brethren:

Consider this morning that it is written that we should not repay evil for good, nor seek vengeance or retribution. (Read Proverbs 17:13; Romans 12:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9-11). Henceforth let us go about our days being humble and peaceful servants of our Creator, for in this we do Him service by being His proxies here on this temporal plane wherein we remain blameless and give no cause for others to speak against us. (Read 1 Peter 2;11-14). Likewise we prove the glory of His merciful providence to all men. - Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

“ He makes a solemn protestation of his innocency as to those things whereof he was accused, and by a dreadful imprecation appeals to God, the searcher of hearts, concerning it. Observe, in general: When we are falsely accused by men it is a great comfort if our own consciences acquit us ‘Hic murus aheneus esto, Nil conscire sibi’. Be this thy brazen bulwark of defense, Still to preserve thy conscious innocence.—and not only they cannot prove their calumnies (Read Acts 24:13), but our hearts can disprove them, to our own satisfaction. God is the patron of wronged innocency. David had no court on earth to appeal to. His prince, who should have righted him, was his sworn enemy. But he had the court of heaven to fly to, and a righteous Judge there, whom he could call his God.

He was charged with a traitorous design against Saul’s crown and life, that he compassed and imagined to depose and murder him, and, in order to that, levied war against him. This he utterly denies. He never did this; there was no iniquity of this kind in his hand. He abhorred the thought of it. He never rewarded evil to Saul when he was at peace with him, nor to any other. Nay, as some think it should be rendered, he never rendered evil for evil, never did those mischief that had injured him. What evidence he produces of his innocency. It is hard to prove a negative, and yet this was a negative which David could produce very good proof of: I have delivered him that without cause is my enemy. By this it appeared, beyond contradiction, that David had no design against Saul’s life—that, once and again, Providence so ordered it that Saul lay at his mercy, and there were those about him that would soon have dispatched him, but David generously and conscientiously prevented it, when he cut off his skirt (Read 1 Sam. 24:4) and afterwards when he took away his spear (Read 1 Sam. 26:12), to attest for him what he could have done. Saul himself owned both these to be undeniable proofs of David’s integrity and good affection to him. If we render good for evil, and deny ourselves the gratifications of our passion, our so doing may turn to us for a testimony, more than we think of, another day.” - Matthew Henry - 17^th Century Theologian

A Seventh Special Plea

by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

Fellow citizens, brethren countrymen;

Each day, we’re reminded that we are to pray for all mankind. This should be particularly applied to our own nation. Pray for leaders that are lead by the Holy Spirit. Men and women that realize that for them to be the greatest among us they must take on the mantle of humble servant, and become the least among us.

Again this in no way implies that we should seek a theocracy. No Christian should even dream for it happen, for we are as mentioned sinful creatures by nature and habit. It was Lord Acton who once stated in his letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

As such, we should never seek such power, but allow men, who are of good moral character, and sound mind to be selected to not so much to lead but to follow the will of the citizens of our nation. Likewise should we never take joy in those that would perish, for God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that all come to love and worship Him. (Read Ezekiel 18:23, 32; Joel 2:12-13; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)

Hear you then the words of God to Jonah in Chapter 4 verse 11, who apparently was displeased that our Creator spared the city of Nineveh. It seems that he felt, that the wickedness of it’s inhabitants should be punished even though they had repented. (See previous chapter).

“And should not I spare Nineveh that great city, wherein are sixscore thousand persons, that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?”

My brethren, let us continue to pray for the repentance of our nation that it should return to our Creator.

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 7:1

O Lord my God, in thee I put my trust: save me from all that persecute me, and deliver me

Brethren:

As we had read in yesterday’s study, the psalmist calls upon the Lord for his deliverance from persecution. However, make note, that first he makes praise by stating that in the Lord he puts his trust. Additionally, he makes it known that the Lord is his God. There is no mincing of words therein above. David, is certain that God will hear, and that he will deliver. And so it is with us as well. We can expect our Creator, when called upon to hear our cries. He will deliver us from divers tribulations in His way, and in His time.

There is a saying that God will never give one more than one can handle. However, it is the belief of this editor that the exact opposite is true, and as such puts forth the proposition that He indeed does do so. If we were able to handle ALL of our own problems, and trials, then what need would one have for Him? As such, our miseries are so great (by each of us in our own reckoning), that we have no recourse but to seek His divine intervention. For who can we turn to except to Him? - Dr. Riktor Von Zhades - Servant of Christ

“David trusted the Lord to protect and save him. When today people falsely accuse us and create problems for us, we should follow David’s example and find refuge in the Lord. But let’s be sure that we are suffering wrongfully and not because of our own foolishness or disobedience ( Read Matthew 5:11-12; 1 Peter 3:13-17).” - Warren Wiersbe - American Pastor and Theologian

“The psalmist expresses his interest in God as his covenant God, and his trust and confidence in him; and with these he sets out as the stay of his soul, and his bulwark against the fears of his enemies; and he does not say that he had trusted in God, or would for the future trust in him; but that he did trust in him, and continued to do so. And God is to be trusted in at all times; in times of affliction, temptation, and desertion; and these the psalmist premises to his petition, which follows, as an encouragement to him to hope for success, since God was his God, and none that ever trusted in him were confounded.

Persecution is no new thing to the people of God; David had his persecutors, and many of them; the Church, in Jeremiah's time, had hers; the saints, in the times of the apostles, and in all ages since, have had theirs. Every one that will live godly in Christ Jesus must expect persecution in one shape or another; and there is none can save and deliver from it but God, and he can and will in his own time, ( Read 2 Corinthians 1:10 ) . David was sensible of this, and therefore applies to him, and him only; and not to an arm of flesh, to his friends, or to neighbouring princes and powers.” - John Gill

Postscript - Also for today’s meditation consider likewise Psalm 31;1, 15; 71:1 – Dr. RVZ

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 6:8-9

8 Away from me all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receive my prayer.

Brethren:

In the late 1960‘s Jim Morrison opened the song “The Soft Parade” with a sermon stating that one could not petition the Lord with prayer. Unfortunately for Mr. Morrison, such a supposition is far from correct. Even though in various translations the exact word “petition” is not used, other words are in place that convey the same meaning. Words such as supplication, request, pleading, plea, and many others prove beyond doubt that God does indeed hear prayer and if it be within His will will graciously, grant all requests.

Therefore friends make note that it is written that we can go boldly to the throne room of grace (Read Hebrews 4:16, 13:6), and that likewise we have an advocate (Read 1 John 2:1), that will speak on our behalf. Likewise we read that if we ask the Father in the name of Christ we will be heard. (Read John 14:13-14) - Doktor Riktor Von Zhades - Servant of Christ

“When he was in the depth of his distress, 1. He was afraid that God’s wrath against him would give him his portion with the workers of iniquity; but now that this cloud of melancholy had blown over he was assured that his soul would not be gathered with sinners, for they are not his people. He began to suspect himself to be one of them because of the heavy pressures of God’s wrath upon him; but now that all his fears were silenced he bade them depart, knowing that his lot was among the chosen. The workers of iniquity had teased him, and taunted him, and asked him, ‘Where is thy God?’ (Read Psalm 42:3, 10; 79:10; Joel 2:17), triumphing in his despondency and despair; but now he had wherewith to answer those that reproached him, for God, who was about to return in mercy to him, had now comforted his spirit and would shortly complete his deliverance.

He assures himself that God was, and would be, propitious to him, notwithstanding the present intimations of wrath which he was under. He is confident of a gracious answer to this prayer which he is now making. While he is yet speaking, he is aware that God hears (Read Isaiah. 65:24; Daniel 9:20), and therefore speaks of it as a thing done, and repeats it with an air of triumph, ‘The Lord hath heard’ By the workings of God’s grace upon his heart he knew his prayer was graciously accepted, and therefore did not doubt but it would in due time be effectually answered. His tears had a voice, a loud voice, in the ears of the God of mercy: The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. Silent tears are not speechless ones. His prayers were cries to God: ‘The Lord has heard the voice of my supplication, has put his Fiat—Let it be done, to my petitions, and so it will appear shortly.’ Thence he infers the like favourable audience of all his other prayers: “He has heard the voice of my supplication, and therefore he will receive my prayer; for he gives, and does not upbraid with former grants.” - Matthew Henry 17^th Century Theologian

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 6:5-7

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall praise thee? 6 I fainted in my mourning: I cause my bed every night to swim, and water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is dimmed for despite, and sunk in because of all mine enemies.

Brethren:

In today’s reading recall if you will the words in the Book of Jonah chapter 2 verse 7;

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came unto thee into thine holy Temple.”

Friends, even when we are in utmost despair due to divers tribulations or when our iniquities weigh heavily upon our hearts we can take comfort from both David and Jonah. For they were certain (in the former as will be revealed later in the psalm) that God would hear their cries for assistance and mercy. For such is the love of the Father, who chastises, but does so in love. - Doktor Riktor Von Zhades - Servant of Christ

“David had more courage and consideration than to mourn thus for any outward affliction; but, when sin sat heavily upon his conscience and he was made to possess his iniquities, when his soul was wounded with the sense of God’s wrath and his withdrawings from him, then he thus grieves and mourns in secret, and even his soul refuses to be comforted. This not only kept his eyes waking, but kept his eyes weeping. It has often been the lot of the best of men to be men of sorrows; our Lord Jesus himself was so. Our way lies through a vale of tears, and we must accommodate ourselves to the temper of the climate. It well becomes the greatest spirits to be tender, and to relent, under the tokens of God’s displeasure. David, who could face Goliath himself and many another threatening enemy with an undaunted bravery, yet melts into tears at the remembrance of sin and under the apprehensions of divine wrath; and it was no diminution at all to his character to do so.

True penitents weep in their retirements. The Pharisees disguised their faces, that they might appear unto men to mourn; but David mourned in the night upon the bed where he lay communing with his own heart, and no eye was a witness to his grief, but the eye of him who is all eye. Peter went out, covered his face, and wept. Sorrow for sin ought to be great sorrow; so David’s was; he wept so bitterly, so abundantly, that he watered his couch. The triumphs of wicked men in the sorrows of the saints add very much to their grief. David’s eye waxed old because of his enemies, who rejoiced in his afflictions and put bad constructions upon his tears. In this great sorrow David was a type of Christ, who often wept, and who cried out, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, (Read Hebrews 5:7).” - Matthew Henry 17^th Century Theologian