Down an Unfamiliar Road

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

by Dr. Robert R. Seyda

PREFACE

Over my half century of studying God’s Word, I became more and more appreciative of understanding the time, era, culture, tradition and conditions Jesus had to deal with when He came as the Messiah. My interest sparked when I acquired a used copy of the Jewish Babylonian Talmud, followed by the Jewish Mishnah, where I began to understand what they taught in their synagogues as the truth, and what Jesus encountered when He came with His message. Since the Gospel writers did not quote these resources, it made it hard to spot them in the arguments of the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees.

This helped me understand that Jesus came to His own people, the children of Abraham. But they were prisoners in their own land, the one once called the “Promised Land.” The Romans occupied Jewish territory and made the Jews subservient to foreign laws and authorities. The Jews had a king, but he proved to be nothing more than a figurehead, put in place by the Romans. Even their High Priest received his appointment through political means. So our Lord did not come to a nation and people who were worshiping their heavenly Father the way the Creator desired. That’s why He came to tell them what His Father wanted from them.

They were expecting a Messiah, but not a lowly prophet from the hinterlands of Galilee with no formal religious training. The written Word had given way to verbal teachings, built on the commentaries and teachings of hundreds of Rabbis over the centuries. Not only that, but, unknowingly, from the day He came into this world in a manger, they were only some 75 years away from losing their Temple for good. They wanted a deliverer, a religious warrior, to over-throw the Romans and set them free again. Even though Jesus did not fit their ideal Messiah, the timing of His first coming proved perfect. Had he appeared earlier during the period of revolt against the Romans, He would have easily been identified as a rebel rouser, and suffered the execution carried out by the Romans on the Maccabees, rather than being sacrificed on the altar as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. And had He arrived after 70 AD, there would have been no Temple for Him to teach in or clean out in His Father’s name. Also, Peter and John would have not had the opportunity to heal the crippled man to draw attention to the power of Christ. Paul would never have been arrested there to stand trial. The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and others would have been scattered to the far corners of the earth. There would have been no Pontius Pilate, no Golgotha, and no tomb of Joseph to be buried in.

So when the three Magi showed up in Herod’s court in Jerusalem looking for the new king, they were not celebrated as having brought good news. And when Jesus came down from Galilee to the eastern side of the Jordan River to be baptized by John, none of them were there to meet Him and pledge their allegiance to Him.

He chose a number of illiterate fishermen from Galilee to be His disciples, and added to them a tax collector, a zealot, a doubter, and a betrayer. There were no skilled Jewish teachers, Rabbis, Scribes, Pharisees or Sadducees among these twelve. He began to point out their misunderstanding of the Messiah because they were depending on their verbal teachings rather than the Written Law to guide them. Jesus kept pointing back to what His Father had said to Moses and the Prophets, not what their venerated Rabbis taught them.

The more I read and studied about the environment, with its biases and expectations, in which Jesus lived and taught, the more I began to appreciate staying with the written doctrines of the Bible rather than acquiescing to the oral doctrines that were becoming popular in my day. I kept reminding myself of who the people were that Jesus addressed. What did His words mean to them based on their background and understanding of written Scripture and spoken law? He could not come preaching and teaching some doctrine, especially a gospel they had no inkling of, what it meant and how it applied to them. They would have considered Him an outsider, not a part of their heritage.

This may seem like a contradiction to what the writer of Hebrews said: “In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. But now, in these perilous times, He has spoken to us through His Son, to whom He has given ownership of everything and through whom He created the universe.”¹ But when we hear what Jesus said: “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but bring them to fruition,”² and put them together, we see the context in which both were said, we can see it more clearly. In other words, from the beginning God spoke to His people by way of Moses, the interpreters and the prophets about the coming Messiah and the new covenant in the Kingdom of God. But over the centuries the teachers of the Law have complicated what God said with their own interpretations so that the people were walking around in darkness. So God sent His Son as a light to explain more clearly what He meant in the words He gave Moses, the interpreters and the Prophets, and to show them by His own example the fulfillment of those words and promises.

Therefore, to better see the disagreements, debates and discussions that took place between the Word in the flesh when He came to explain the written Word, and those who adopted the verbal teachings instead, it is best to examine first: what did God say through Moses and the Prophets; then what did the teachers of the Law interpreted God as saying through Moses and the Prophets; followed by what Jesus said God really meant. That way we get deeper insight into the disagreements that took place, and why John came out and said: “He was the true light, who gives light to everyone entering the world. He was in the world — the world came to be through Him — yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own homeland, yet His own people did not receive Him.”³

For me, it proved critical to take what Jesus taught and then give it a practical or spiritual application for listeners to understand and accept as guidelines and doctrines. Therefore, I have endeavored to share in this commentary those things that helped me comprehend what Jesus taught, so that others may do the same. I did not want to become a preacher and teacher of the gospel who kept the flock uninformed and misinformed simply because I also followed the example of the teachers of the Law in Jesus’ day by substituting oral doctrines and popular dogmas for the true meaning of the Written Word as Jesus taught it.

INTRODUCTION

The following are three main Jewish documents used in tracking the verbal teachings of the Rabbis that the Jews lived by, and what Jesus encountered during His ministry. By giving you a better understanding of where these verbal teachings came from, you will be able to see what the people believed by the time Jesus arrived. Here is a short synopsis of each one:

FIRST: THE MISHNAH (“Verbal Repetition”)

According to the Tractate found in the Mishnah titled “Aboth,” Chapter 1:1-18, in addition to the Written Law of the Ten Commandments, Moses received these Verbal Teachings as well, which were then passed down orally by teachers to teachers of each successive generation. First, they went from Moses to Joshua, from Joshua to the Elders, then to the Prophets, to the ‘Men of the Great Synagogue’ (the body of teachers who administered and taught the Law after the time of Ezra), to Simeon the Just, one of the last members of the Great Synagogue, to Antigonus of Soko, the leading disciple of Simeon the Just; then to five “Pairs of leaders” – Jose ben Joezer and Jose ben Johanan, Joshua ben Perahyah and Nittai the Arbelite, Judah ben Tabbai and Simeon ben Shetach, Shemaiah and Abtalion, Hillel and Shammai. These last two were the ones whose teachings were in vogue when Jesus arrived on the scene. Thus the chain of tradition reached the threshold of the Christian era. Here is a list of those Rabbis that lived and taught before, during and after Christ arrived here on earth. So when you see them quoted in the Mishnah or Talmuds, you can tell which ones taught prior to our Lord’s birth; those who were His contemporaries; and those who lived and taught after His ascension until the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. When specific dates were found they posted them, otherwise the time period during which they were quoted:

Simeon the Just: 300-273 BC	Ben Bukri: 10-80 AD
Antigonus of Soko: 200-140 BC	Dosetai of Kefar Yatma: 10-80 AD
Admon ben Gaddai: 200 BC – 10 AD	Eleazar ben Dalai, Abba: 10-80 AD
Ben Bag-Bag (Johanan): 200 BC – 10 AD	Hananiah ben Hezekiah ben Gorion: 10-80 AD
Hanan ben Abishalom: 200 BC – 10 AD	Hanina, Prefect of the Priests: 10-80 AD
Johanan the High Priest: 200 BC – 10 AD	Johanan ben Gudgada: 10-80 AD
Jose ben Joezer: 170-100 BC	Johanan ben ha-Horani: 10-80 AD
Jose ben Johanan: 170-100 BC	Johanan ben Zakkai: 10-80 AD
Judah ben Tabbai: 164-63 BC	Joezer of the Birah: 10-80 AD
Nittai of Arbela: 134-104 BC	Jose Holi Kufri, Abba: 10-80 AD
Hillel the Elder: 110 BC to 10 AD	Judah ben Bathyra: 10-80 AD
Me’asha: 110 BC – 10 AD	Menahem ben Signai: 10-80 AD
Baba ben Buta: 100-40 BC	Nahum the Mede: 10-80 AD
Simeon ben Shetah: 100 – 60 BC	Nahum the Scrivener: 10-80 AD
Abtalion: 100-30 BC	Nehunya ben Gudgada: 10-80 AD
Onias ha-Me’aggel: 80 BC – 10 AD	School of Hillel: 10-80 AD
Menahem: 70 BC – 10 AD	Simeon ben Gamaliel I: 10-70 AD
Shemaiah: 65-31 BC	Simeon of Mizpah: 10-80 AD
Shammai the Elder: 50 BC – 30 AD	Zechariah ben ha-Kazzab: 10-80 AD
Akabya ben Mehalaleel: 40 BC – 10 AD	Zechariah ben Kabutal: 10-80 AD
Gamaliel the Elder: 10-70 AD

As you can see, whenever any of these names are mentioned in the Mishnah it reflects their teachings being taught by some during the time Jesus of Nazareth lived here on earth. We do not know how many of them were part of those who argued with Him, quizzed Him, rejected Him or came to believe on Him. By the time Jesus the Messiah arrived, these Verbal Teachings had replaced the Torah – the Written Word – as well as the Prophets as the guide for all practicing Jews. They finally put the Mishnah into writing around 200 AD, compiled mostly by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi.

SECOND: THE JERUSALEM TALMUD (“Instruction”)

Even before this process began in Babylon, in the land of Israel, another set of discussions took place and the end result became known as Talmud Yerushalmi or Jerusalem Talmud. (Incidentally, they did not write the Jerusalem Talmud in Jerusalem; they penned it in Tiberias, the last place where the Sanhedrin sat, but they called it the Jerusalem Talmud in deference to that being the Sanhedrin’s rightful home.) Due to persecution of the Jewish community in Israel, the Jerusalem Talmud, compiled in mid-fourth century AD, never reached full completion or editing. The Jerusalem Talmud wound up being much shorter (it contains only four of the six sections of the Mishnah), more cryptic, and harder to understand than the later Babylonian Talmud. The Jews in Babylon lived in a much more stable conditions than the Rabbis in Palestine. Also, in Babylon they gave much more time to editing and explaining the subject matter. They identify one of the main Rabbis as Nehemiah, a mathematician who lived circa 150 AD. Another, Rabbi Aha (or Achah), a Jewish Amora (Interpreter), lived in Israel after the destruction of the Temple. They begin to make copies around 200 AD, as commentary on the Mishnah.

THIRD: THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD (“Instruction”)

During the centuries following the completion of the Mishnah and Jerusalem Talmud, the chain of transmission of verbal teachings were weakened as a result of a number of factors: Economic hardship and increased persecution of the Jewish community in Israel caused many Jews, including many Rabbis, to flee the country. Many of these Rabbis emigrated to Babylon in the Persian Empire. The role of the Rabbis of Israel as the sole central authority of the Jewish people drew to an end. This decentralization of Torah authority and lack of consensus among the Rabbis led to further weakening of the transmission process. It became clear to the sages of this period that the Mishnah alone no longer proved clear enough to fully explain the Verbal Teachings, which were written in shorthand fashion and in sections seemed very cryptic. This came about because of its concise nature, written under the assumption that those persons reading it already knew the subject matter. So these Rabbis began to have discussions about it and write down the substance of these discussions. These Rabbis in Babylon possessed copies of the Jerusalem Talmud while working on their text. Later on, when disputes erupted between the wording of the two Talmuds, the Babylonian Talmud reigned supreme. Both because Babylonian Talmud seems more authoritative, and because the Jerusalem Talmud appeared more difficult to study. Jewish students pouring over the Talmud in Jewish institutions chiefly used the Babylonian Talmud. During this period a significant portion of the Jewish population lived in Babylon which laid outside the bounds of the Roman Empire. Since the Rabbis put together their discussions in that location, the end product became known as Talmud Bavli, or, Babylonian Talmud. The first copies appeared around 500 AD. Jesus and the disciples are mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud, but often under cryptic names and titles. In my commentary they will be pointed out to you, so take note of the names of the rabbis or teachers involved and that will give you a better idea of what they really thought of Jesus of Nazareth. – (To be continued tomorrow)

LET’S HEAR YOU SAY IT, HALLELUJAH! –

The compilers of the Psalter wanted the pilgrims to have a closing hymn that would both serve as a crescendo of praise, as well as a benediction. So they chose this psalm written by a returned exile that could not contain himself because of his desire to praise the LORD Eternal in every way possible and by every means available. He uses words that expose a broad spectrum of human emotions revealed by a variety of musical instruments. In so doing the psalmist teaches the pilgrim that every experience in life offers an opportunity to activate one’s heart and mind to accept a new awareness of God’s goodness. Man’s soul should not remain insensitive and silent. No! No! Let the soul shout praises to God for who He is, what He is, and why He is.

“Say, Hallelujah! Let us celebrate the LORD in His holy sanctuary; let our celebration ascend into the heavens. Let us celebrate Him for His miracles; let us celebrate Him because He is awesome. Let us celebrate Him with the trumpet blast, and with piano and guitar. Let us celebrate Him with the tambourine while we shout. Let us celebrate Him with stringed and wind instruments; let us celebrate Him with tympani’s and cymbals! Yes, let everything that lives and breathes celebrate the LORD! Say, Hallelujah!” Psalm 150:1-6

Reflection: Georg Frideric Händel was born in Halle, Germany on Monday, February 23, 1685 to a local barber and his wife. He began to play the organ in church by age 17. A year later he played violin and harpsichord in an opera house. He rose to such prominence that Ludwig von Beethoven once stated, “Händel is the greatest composer who ever lived. I would gladly bare my head and kneel at his grave.” On day Händel suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed on his left side. But he continued on with his music, and was invited to give a series of concerts in Dublin, Ireland to benefit various charities. While there, Händel decided to write a new piece of music. So, for the next 24 days he labored to complete a composition which he simply entitled, “Messiah.” It turned out to be his greatest work. One of the most remembered parts remains the Hallelujah chorus at the end of the second movement. Its repeated refrain gains such volume and pitch, that when sung it usually brings people to their feet. Händel died in London on Saturday, April 14, 1759. Eighteenth Century music historian Dr. Charles Burney said of this work, Messiah: “It has fed the hungry and clothed the naked, fostered the orphan and enriched succeeding directors of Oratories more than any single musical production in this or any other country.” This final psalm provides a similar chorus to that which completes the sacred hymnbook of the Psalms. What better way to close out such a beautiful collection of prayers, songs, and praises to God’s heart. It helps focus the soul, mind and spirit, channeling them into a joyous act of praise and worship to an all deserving Creator God. So when you may feel low and the troubles of the world seem to weigh you down, join the psalmist and Händel by singing that inspiring chorus again and again: “Hal-lelujah! Hal-lelujah! Hallelujah, Hallelujah; Hal-le-lu-jah!” Yes, let everything that lives and breathes, praise the LORD! 07/02/13

– The End –

THIS COMPLETES THE “NUGGETS OF WISDOM” FROM THE PSALMS

Adapted from “To God’s Heart, The Psalms for Today: An interpretive paraphrase and study guide for those seeking God’s guidance,” by Robert R. Seyda, New Global Publishing, 2006

If you wish to start over with Psalm 1, please go to “Archives,” then “January 2015” and scroll to the bottom of the page. The Lord bless you for your dedication to God’s Word.

BE STRONG TO STAND STRONG –

The days of celebration in Jerusalem were coming to an end and the feast was being concluded, so the compilers of the Psalter wanted to give the pilgrims a song to sing that would encourage and strengthen them in their resolve not to let anyone or anything deter them from making God first and foremost in their lives and conduct. So they chose a psalm written by a rejoicing exile that once again was able to stand in the sacred court of a rebuilt Temple after returning from captivity; they wanted pilgrims to have a new song celebrating the God who will carry out His purposes and accomplish His plans. Our Redeemer God did His part, now it was the believer’s turn to do their part.

“Shout, Hallelujah! Compose a new song for the congregation to sing and praise the LORD Eternal; yes, so His children can rejoice over Him as their Creator and King. Let them celebrate Him for who He is with dancing and singing hymns to Him with the tambourine and strings; for the LORD Eternal delights in blessing His people and grants healing to those who are suffering. Let the saints rejoice for this honor; yes, let them praise the Sovereign God with exuberance as they lift up their two-edged swords in their hands. Let them stand against the vengeance of unbelievers and retribution sought by residents of the land; let them bind the hands of the people in power trying to carry out the verdict announced against them. Let every believer should consider this an honor. Shout, Hallelujah!” Psalm 149:1-9

Reflection: In 2005, Michael Higgins, Australian tribunal judge in the State of Victoria, ruled that two evangelical pastors, Rev. Danny Nalliah and Rev. Daniel Scot, apologize to the Muslim community or go to jail for comments they made at a seminar on understanding Islam; that they take out newspaper advertisements to the value of $68,690 which summarized the judge’s decision. They were also made to promise they would never repeat their comments anywhere in Australia or on the internet. The judge ruled that Reverends Scot and Nalliah spoke in ways that he deemed essentially hostile, demeaning, and derogatory to all Muslim people; to their god Allah, and their prophet Mohammad. However, both pastors remained committed to their mission of preaching the truth regardless of how people interpreted what they said, and were willing to go to jail if necessary. Eventually Danny Nalliah successfully defended the case brought against him by the Islamic Council of Victoria and was awarded damages. In this landmark case, along with his colleague Daniel Scot, they were found not to have incited hatred under Victoria’s then-new religious vilification laws, especially since the delegates from the Islamic Council had accepted invitations to be at the seminar. Truly these two servants of the LORD took the psalmist’s words to heart that suffering for the gospel sake is a privilege. After all, it’s not what we say but what God says. This helps us understand the double-edge sword concept. Sometimes the Word of God heals and sometimes it wounds. Often it’s used to unite, and then again it may be the cause of separation. But in the end, it’s the Word of God that will stand even when heaven and earth may pass away. The Word must never be used in anger or to intentionally hurt and maim. But it should be used to cut away the bonds of evil-minds that attempt to bind us, the cords of sinful thinking that try to encumber us. So the next time you find yourself confronted with a skeptic or someone trying to demean you, just point to the Word of God and let it speak for you.

So often we start our day frustrated, demoralized, tired and weary, and things only get worse as the day progresses. Many times this is caused by the fact that when we show up for work or begin the morning we are still carrying the weight of what happened yesterday or the day before, plus we’ve already piled on the burden of what needs to be done tomorrow or the next day. That’s why there is so little room left for what each new day brings. There is nothing wrong about learning from the past, but what is done, is done! Stop trying to fix what can’t be repaired. And there is no reason not to plan for the future, but not to the point of building bridges for rivers you may never have to cross. Jesus said, handle the opportunities and options for today, and you will often see that those lessons of the past and dreams of the future will fall into place. – Dr Robert R Seyda

A pastor and his wife were returning from a funeral, when the wife said to her husband, “We ladies notice that whenever a minister’s wife passes, the minister is usually remarried within a very short time. We think it’s because he already has a replacement picked out. Do you have someone in mind to take my place?” The husband muttered that she was being ridiculous. “Does she play the piano like I do?” the wife asked. “I wish you’d stop this nonsense,” said her husband, “I don’t spend time thinking about who might replace you.” The wife continued: “Would she sing in the choir like I do?” “Stop it!” blurted out the husband, “Why are you talking like this?” “Would she be able to cook your favorite meal like I do?” inquired the Mrs. “For heaven sake!” said her husband, “What’s with you all of a sudden? How can you be asking these questions?” “One more thing,” quizzed the wife said softly, “Would she be able to use my beautiful set of golf clubs when you two go golfing?” “No,” said the husband without thinking, “she’s left-handed.”

ARE YOU SOLD OUT TO GOD –

It would not be uncommon for many pilgrims to leave the Holy City and return to their everyday life without expecting God to continue blessing them and showing them with His favor. So the compilers of the Psalter wanted to include a song that would make all pilgrims stop and think about the fact that they already owed Him everything for who they are and what they have received in their lifetime. So they chose this psalm written by a weary exile that came back from captivity to see the city and temple rise again from the ruins. They wanted this to become a message of unity for all God’s people, to help them in times of chaotic fragmentation in the world; in their society; and in their families. They must realize that everything around them, whether good or bad, helpful or hurtful, all play a role in what our Creator God has planned for His people and their eternal good.

“Say, Hallelujah! Come on everybody, let the heavens, the universe, the angels, the armies of heaven, the sun, the moon, the shining stars, the atmosphere and the stratosphere, let them all celebrate the LORD Eternal for the great God He is. After all, He is the One who spoke them into existence; He’s the One who insures that they will last forever, and issued a command that they never be moved! Yes, celebrate the LORD Eternal all over the earth and throughout the ocean depths; including the lightning and hail, the snow and mist, the stormy winds who follow His commands, the mountains and the hills, the fruit trees and the cedars, the animals – wild and tame, the insects and birds, earth’s rulers and all the nation’s governors and judges, the boys as well as the girls, the elderly along with the young. Let them all celebrate the LORD Eternal for the great God He is; for His fame is unique and unparalleled; impacting the earth and sky in a spectacular way. He is the One who increased the stature of His people; the One who made His saints well-known; His chosen people, a people near and dear to Him. Say Hallelujah!” Psalm 148:1-14

Reflection: In the 1980 movie, “The Jazz Singer,” starring Laurence Olivier as Cantor Rabinovitch, who admonishes his son, Yussel Rabinovitch, played by Neil Diamond, a jazz singer, for not following in his footsteps as a Synagogue Cantor. It led to them not talking to one another for over a year. In one scene, Neil Diamond, as Yussel, says to his father, “God doesn’t pay so good Pop. This is a poor synagogue, they pay what they can but I can’t live on that.” Olivier responds angrily, “God doesn’t pay so good! The debt you owe to God, you can never repay!” Sounds like Canto Rabinovitch was familiar with the contents of this 148^th Psalm, called Tehillim in Hebrew, which means “Praises.”

In this case the psalmist implores all creation to begin praising their Maker, for who He is, and what He has done, and what He continues to do for them. They owe their very existence and continued survival to Him; what they are, what they represent; their very purpose in the universe. How can we then not join in, seeing that we owe Him everything because of Christ. There is a hymn by Ellis J. Crum that goes like this: “He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay.” That’s why we praise Him, not out of forced obligation or guilt, but out of sheer love for who He is and what He has done. In fact, He has already done so much for us, it would take several lifetimes to thank Him for what He’s already given without receiving another blessing.

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS SEEN –

The compilers of the hymnbook portion of the Psalter wanted to give the pilgrims something with which to praise and worship their Creator. Especially, when their time in the Holy City was coming to an end and they would soon return home to face the everyday cares and worries that needed to be handled with faith and courage. So they wanted the pilgrims to learn how marvelous it was to contemplate that the same hand that created the universe and nourished the earth, also reached out to guide and hold those who love Him, making them feel safer in the world He made. So they chose the song of a believer who had been forced to live in exile under bondage in a heathen society, but to whom the Lord showed mercy and set him free to worship God once again on holy ground.

“Say, Hallelujah! Our One True God always enjoys a good song that lifts Him up in the praise that He deserves. Yes, the LORD Eternal is the one who rebuilt the Holy City and gathered His people from places they were forced to live. He’s the one who mends the brokenhearted and treats their wounds. He’s the one who knows how many stars there are and gave each one of them their name. How great is our Divine Master who possesses unlimited power; whose intelligence is beyond our comprehension. This is the LORD Eternal who lifts up the downtrodden, but forces the evil-minded to their knees. So let’s shout to the LORD Eternal with songs of thanksgiving, and make music to our One True God! For He’s the one who causes clouds to billow in the sky to provide the earth with rain, so grass can sprout on the hillsides. He’s the one who provides food for the animals; even to baby ravens when they cry out. So He is not impressed with a horse’s stamina, nor is He awed by the swiftness of a runner’s legs. But the LORD Eternal is enthralled with those who revere Him; those who wait patiently to receive His unconditional love. Say, Hallelujah!” Psalm 147:1-11, 20b

Reflection: A number of years ago a group of volunteers from Atlanta, Georgia showed up to renovate an apartment building in New York City so it could house nineteen families in need with decent accommodations. Those who passed by didn’t see anything special about one older gentleman hammering away inside, wearing a dark blue baseball cap, a light blue denim shirt, with a red bandanna tied around his neck. It wasn’t until later that they learned that man was none other than a former President of the United States, once the most powerful man in the world. Now the residents of that building proudly point to the walls and others areas and say, “The President of the United States put that nail there; one of the most powerful men in the world painted that wall. No wonder the psalmist was awestruck and gave thanks and praise for being able to point to evidence of the involvement and finished handiwork in his life and proudly proclaim, “The King of the Universe did that for me!” And if anyone wanted to see other wonders performed by this most powerful being in the universe, he pointed to the beauty of the heavens and the wonders of the earth. Sometimes believers begin to think of God as an unseen being who looks much like some giant human, sitting high in the heavens looking down on earth as He watches what’s going on. On occasions He might get involved, but only after they have spent hours pleading with Him and begging Him to do something so their faith might be increased. But the psalmist chose to look at what God had already done and by faith take it for granted that He would make sure things turned out according to His will and purpose for his life. If you’re not sure, just go out on some clear night, look into the sky and say to yourself, the One who lives inside me did all that. Since I can see evidence of His design for the universe, why should I fear about His design for my life!

A DIFFERENT PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –

The compilers of the Psalter wanted to make sure that before the pilgrims left to return home, they pledged to God their loyalty and dedication as His messengers of good news. They wanted to make sure that the pilgrims did not fall into the trap of becoming so dependent on the good graces of those in power that they begin to rely on them and shift their dependency and loyalty to them instead of to God. So they chose this psalm written by an exile who returned home to help rebuild the Holy City, making it a place where God was worshiped once again as the ruler over all the earth. This would make them real devotees of God who did not seclude themselves from all appearances of evil in a self-absorbed lifestyle. Rather, they would walk by faith and not by sight; they would not shy away from encounters with evil. So they chose this psalm that begins and ends with a ringing, “Hallelujah!”

“O Hallelujah! Yes, let my soul praise the LORD Eternal my God. As long as I can breathe I will celebrate the LORD Eternal; yes, as long as I’m alive I will sing songs of praise to my One True God. Don’t make a mistake by putting your trust in political big shots to save you, they have no such power. After they die they end up in the grave, and the promises they made expire with them. Count your blessings if you are one of those who have placed their hope in the LORD Eternal, and your Sovereign God is your benefactor; the One who made everything and owns everything and can be trusted for eternity; the one who seeks justice for the downtrodden and gives food to the hungry; yes, the LORD Eternal who sets loose those that are bound; the LORD Eternal who restores sight to the blind; the LORD Eternal who lifts the burden of those bent over with cares; the LORD Eternal who loves those who live right; the LORD Eternal who watches over those who’ve lost their way; the LORD Eternal who gives encouragement to the orphaned and the widowed, but does not keep the evil-minded from becoming despondent; the LORD Eternal who will reign forever, the One True God of all believers, generation after generation. O Hallelujah!” Psalm 146:1-10

Reflection: In 1892, a Baptist minister named Francis Bellamy, assistant editor of “The Youth’s Companion,” a national family magazine published in Boston, Massachusetts, wrote out a pledge to be used one time at an upcoming Columbus Day event. It went like this: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Thirty-one years later, in 1923, the National Flag Conference of the American Legion liked his pledge so much they expanded the word “Flag” to read “Flag of the United States of America.” In 1942, at the beginning of WWII, it was formally adopted by Congress as a pledge, and in 1945 when WWII came to an end it was given the official name of “The pledge of Allegiance.” Then in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill that added “one nation, under God.” But the Pledge of Allegiance now faces unprecedented opposition from atheists, liberal civil rights groups, and activist progressive judges because they see it as a religious pledge. They accuse the government of violating the mythical separation of church and state provision which does not exist in the constitution. No doubt the psalmist faced similar opposition in his day, but he remained unshakable in his commitment and loyalty to God, making this psalm a candidate for today’s believers to put their hands over their hearts and say, “I pledge allegiance to the cross of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to the kingdom for which it stands. One body, under God, in Christ, with salvation and eternal life for all who believe.” The psalmist refused to accept any so-called benefits offered him by way of compromise, violating his beliefs. Through the Spirit he saw into the future and made the decision to go with God. So the next time you face a similar moment of truth, just remember: you can invest your life into something that’s designed only for the short run, or in something that guarantees it for eternity.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS –

The compilers of this hymn book portion of the Psalter wanted the pilgrims not only to thank the good LORD for what He had done in the past, but to focus on how they would carry on serving Him in the future. No one wanted to walk out of the holy sanctuary to head home and not think about how good God is and why they need Him so much until it’s time to come back. They wanted to make it a daily exercise in praise and worship. So they chose this praise song of David that he composed to give God glory for bringing him through victoriously time and time again.

“Every day of my life I want to lift up my One True God and King of kings; to praise and worship Him for who He is. The LORD Eternal is magnificence, and His glory exceeds our imagination, that’s reason enough to exalt Him. Each generation should tell the next generation all about His miraculous accomplishments. That is why I continue to describe the glorious magnificence of Your splendor and Your miraculous accomplishment; so that mankind will talk about the effects of Your awesome works, and proclaim how great Thou art. I want them to celebrate the memory of Your abundant goodness, and sing about Your kindness and mercy. For the LORD Eternal is so gracious and compassionate that He rarely gets angry because His lovingkindness is overwhelming. The LORD Eternal is good to everyone and merciful to everything He created. That’s why Your greatest creation should praise You, O LORD Eternal; yes, Your saints should heap praise on You. They should testify about Your fantastic power and the beauty of Your everlasting kingdom again and again. For Your kingdom will never end; You will remain on Your throne generation after generation. That’s because You, O LORD Eternal, stand behind every promise You make, and every promise You make is done out of love. For You, O LORD Eternal, reach out to the fallen, and hold up those about to stumble. That’s why everyone looks to You with expectancy because You always shows up at the right time with the right thing in Your open hand. For the LORD Eternal is just and kind and merciful in everything He does. The LORD Eternal is never far away from those who confess Him as their Lord and are sincere in their relationship with Him. He grants those who revere Him the desires of their heart, and His heart is touched by their calls for help. The LORD Eternal looks out for those who really love Him, but frustrates the plans of habitual sinners. I will publicly praise the LORD Eternal as long as I live, and continue to tell everyone I meet about His unparalleled reputation.” Psalm 145:1-21

Reflection: Dr. Samuel Johnson was a towering figure of 18^th century English literature. He once wrote an essay concerning the prospects of finding someone to trust and believe in. He stated that one may live a long, long time before finding a friend who is understanding, with integrity, one could fully trust and whose opinions one values as being just and sincere. He concluded that a passive person, no matter how honest and well-intentioned, finds it hard to judge a friend; while a positive and outgoing individual, no matter how insightful, do not always give the best counsel. We often choose friends because they like what we like. Therefore, they minimize our faults because they have the same ones, and don’t want to point an accusing finger at themselves. Friends can be very sympathetic, and unwilling to cause us pain. Although they are concerned about what we are doing or the way we are conducting ourselves, they don’t want to offend us with criticism. King David had plenty of friends, but he knew of only One who did not hesitate to tell him if he was right or wrong; someone who left no doubt concerning things as they really are. Furthermore, he knew that his God did not make-believe or pretend. So no matter how much it hurt, he always got a straight answer from His Heavenly Father.

But David also recognized that he must reciprocate with the same honesty and sincerity in order to keep his relationship with God alive and healthy. As Dr. Johnson indicated, sometimes people we call friends will not always tell us the real facts. They must learn that in order to be considered genuine friends, they should be honest without being hurtful; they must be open without being obnoxious. So ask yourself, the next time you go to God in prayer do you want Him to treat you like a real friend and tell you the truth, or would you rather that He made excuses?

TRUST GOD’S WISDOM –

Not only did the pilgrims who arrived in the Holy City feel blessed and fortunate to celebrate and worship their One True God, but they also acknowledged that for many of them this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They knew that when it was all over they faced a long trip back home; back to where God’s presence was seemingly missing and people lived their lives as though He didn’t exist. They could wish for nothing more glorious than for the Lord to reach down while they were worshiping, and carry them off into His presence forever. So the compilers of the Psalter chose this psalm of David for their hymn book so the pilgrims could use David’s words to express what he felt many times when trouble surrounded him and he longed for God’s rescue into His eternal abode.

“O LORD Eternal, why do You bother with or care about ordinary human beings? Mankind’s lifespan is like one short breath or flickering shadow. O LORD Eternal, when You descend from heaven let the mountains smolder when Your feet touch them. Let Your descent be accompanied with a blaze of glory, causing sinners to run and hide. Then use Your drawing power and force them to face You. At the same time, reach down to snatch me away; yes, pluck me out of the rising flood of troubles. Then, O One True God, I will sing a new song to You; yes, while I play my ten-stringed harp I will sing hymns to You; to the One who delivers His anointed; who will snatch His servant away from impending disaster. So again I ask You, snatch me away from unbelievers who don’t want to acknowledge the truth, and who say one thing but mean another. So let all those who believe Him count their blessings; yes, count your blessings if you’re one of those who believe that the One True God is the LORD Eternal.” Psalm 144:3-11, 15

Reflection: Years ago in a small town a 10 year old lad climbed onto a stool at a local ice cream shop and asked the waitress, “How much does an ice cream sundae cost?” “Fifty cents,” the waitress quickly replied. The boy pulled out a handful of change from his pocket and slowly started counting. The waitress became impatient because she had other customers waiting to be served. After finishing his count, the young tot asked, “How much is a bowl of plain ice cream?” The waitress responded irritably, “Thirty-five cents!” Again the boy counted and finally said softly, “May I have a bowl of plain ice cream, please?” When the waitress returned later to clear the bowl, she picked it up and got a lump in her throat. The boy had left two nickels and five pennies underneath it. She realized then, that he had exactly the right amount of money to buy the sundae, but he gave it up in order to leave her a tip. Perhaps David had a similar encounter with God. The Almighty always uses His divine knowledge and intellect to deal with man’s needs and problems. Sometimes we don’t understand why His actions do not fit conventional wisdom. We even question Him, and can’t figure out why He doesn’t see things the way we do. But David realized that God knew things he didn’t know. So he simply decided to trust God’s wisdom and accept His input. Both David and that little boy offer us examples of giving God credit for knowing what’s best. So the next time you want answers from God for some dilemma, don’t be startled if He does it in a way that ends up leaving you an extra blessing as a surprise.