Psalm 72

What a marvelous hymn we have before us, presenting the glories of our Lord and King, the Messiah, the Son of David, the One greater than Solomon.


How are we to understand this Song which is on the one hand said to be A Psalm of Solomon and yet the end of the prayers of David (v20).  It seems quite clear that these were the words of David late in life when he was unable to pen them himself.  Thus Solomon, who wrote many Psalms, was the writer but the words were David’s.  While this is the final prayer of David’s life there are several more Psalms of David recorded in this Biblical Hymnbook.


Is this Psalm Messianic?  Without question!  The opening verse indicates David’s concern for his son Solomon.  But the prayer clearly goes beyond him to David’s greater Son, the One who was greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31).  You can see this yourself as you read through it.  The testimony of the Jewish Rabbis is in agreement that this speaks of Messiah.  We would be surprised if David’s closing prayer did not recognize the promise of God that your throne shall be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16).  That promise is the backdrop for David’s prayer as he prays the will of God.


Consider the glories of Messiah’s kingdom in all its dimensions.

·        72:1: introduction.  A prayer for the king and the king’s Son.

·        72:2-4: His righteous reign.  The nature of His reign is righteousness and peace (Isa. 9:6-7; Isaiah’s prophecy is a thumbnail version of this Psalm).

·        72:5-7: His eternal reign (length).

·        72:8-11: His universal reign (breadth). 

·        72:12-14: His compassionate reign (depth).

·        72:15-17: His blest reign (height).

·        72:18-19: Benediction.  A great passage to commit to memory and to use when we pray Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.

·        72:20: Conclusion.

In a recent conversation a friend noted she had experienced the loss of several acquaintances to death.  It was a reminder that this matter of life and death goes on relentlessly.  Let us make the hand off, so to speak, as David has done here.  David, the son of Jesse (who has died) is praying for his son just before his own death.  Let us pray for and seek God’s blessing on our heirs.  But let us put our hope in the eternal kingdom of God.  Let us pray for God's rule in their own lives.  In so doing we will remind those close to us that they too are not the eternal ones.  Their good and only hope is to be in sync with the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16) who shall reign forever and ever (Rev. 11:15).

2 Peter 1:19-21; Jn. 16:12-15, REMAIN in God’s Word (2)

·        God’s Word: an inspired account, 1:19-21.

I have, on occasion, felt the need to remind people of the critical place of the ministry of the word of God that comes forth from the local church.  I have been a pastor and taught God’s word in churches of around 40-350 people.  Over the years I have sought to shepherd the flock with God’s word (that is what Pastors/Elders are supposed to do so this is not unusual).  But I have come across believers who doubted my ministry because “my church” (it’s not mine of course but that’s the way people talk) was not a mega-church or I was not preaching on TV.  More than once I reproved these folks, reminding them that the Spirit of God could use anyone who was faithful in using God’s word, the Bible.  I had to do this because I could see what was in their lives and doctrine, something their favorite TV preacher could not see.  And they needed to heed my words because it was God’s word being applied to their situation.


Perhaps Peter had a similar problem.  The “Bible” for Jesus and His disciples was, of course, the “Old Testament.”  But after Jesus’ ascension there were men (Apostles) who spoke and wrote what they said was God’s word.  The Church began to recognize the authority of these words that were written and were being read in local churches.  But I can imagine that there were occasional skeptics, wondering if Peter (or one of the others) considered his words to be on a par with Moses or one of the prophets.  Peter therefore assures them: we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place.  The words of the OT prophets had been fulfilled in Jesus and this truth was being announced and explained by Peter and the other Apostles.  It was important that those who heard what they said understand this; their salvation depended on it!


Thus on the one hand Peter says we were eyewitnesses.  But then he says his words are inspired by God.  In 1:20 Peter says, no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.  What does that mean?  It means that Scripture is never dependent on the man used by God to write it down.  I say never dependent by which we realize that the man must be faithful to pass on what God wants said; they must be holy men.  But again, Peter did not write cunningly devised fables; those are the ideas of men.  Prophecy (the true word of God) never came by the will of man.  None of the former writers (the OT) thought up their words; they were moved by the Holy Spirit.  And Peter is saying the same is true as he records what Jesus promised to give him through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:12-15).


The words here are so true.  The Holy Spirit carried them along.  It was not dictation.  God used the men, their personalities, their background and so forth.  But the Spirit carried them in such a way that they spoke words that perfectly declared God’s Word.  It’s important for us to know this today.  The Bible is fully trustworthy.  Rely on it at home, work, play, in every issue of your life.

2 Peter 1:16-21; Matt. 17:1-13, REMAIN in God’s word

Peter’s duty was to remind us of important spiritual truths from the Bible.  Our duty is to remain in these truths of the Bible.  We need to heed the light of Scripture until Christ comes for us (v19).  The dawning of the day is a reference to the return of Christ.  So is the arising of the morning star in our hearts.  Peter was aware that he was about to die, meaning it did not seem now that he would be on the earth when Christ returned.  The same could be said of those who were the original recipients of his letter and of many generations since then.  But Peter’s words (God’s word, the Bible) are for God’s people that they might be established until that day comes.


Therefore Peter wants to assure them that what he has written is, in truth, the word of God.  What he left behind as a reminder is both an eyewitness account (v16-18) and an inspired account (v19-21).  (We should note that these reassurances are also to provide a contrast with the doomed preachers that are the subject of 2 Pt. 2.)

·        God’s word: an eyewitness account, 1:16-18.

The event Peter refers to is, of course, the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13).  This was one of the time God audibly of His Son: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  Hear Him!  The words were in response to Peter’s suggestion they build three tabernacles for Moses, Elijah and Jesus.  In other words, Peter not only saw the majesty of Christ; he also received a rebuke from God for failing to recognize the uniqueness of Jesus, the Son of God.  Peter learned his lesson.  He speaks of the majesty (greatness) of Jesus and the excellence of the glory of God the Father.


Peter’s reference to cunningly devised fables is a rebuke of the preachers that were trying to draw away believers from their pure devotion to Christ.  Cunningly devised is the Greek word sophist referring to wisdom.  Peter did not record words that came from the imaginations of philosophers or men of wisdom.  Even though the event he speaks of is extremely unusual, with Jesus’ transformation into a Man of great glory, Peter actually saw this happen.  The strange and fantastic stories of Greek mythology that were part of the Gnosticism that attacked the Church were seen by no one; they were the product of men’s imagination.


Peter’s recollection of the transfiguration is critical.  It spoke of the power and coming of Christ.  In the next chapter he will note the false teaching that speaks of a supposed delay in Christ’s return.  It is a teaching that ultimately denied the Lord who bought them (2:1).  What Peter saw and heard on that occasion is a clear repudiation of the false teaching.  For us, living now almost 2000 years later, the attacks on the majesty of the Lord Jesus has not stopped.  We need this same assurance that the men God used to record Scripture knew what God wanted said.  What we call the New Testament has the same authority as the Old Testament on which Jesus put his own stamp of approval.  Jesus promised to bring the truth to the minds of His Apostles (John 16:13-16).  Peter is declaring that Jesus’ promise was fulfilled in his epistles.

2 Peter 1:12-21, REMINDERS of God’s word

This passage begins by saying for this reason.  We need to be growing in godliness (v5-11), using the things that God has given us (v2-4).  Thus Peter diligently reminds us (v12-15) of these truths, truths based in his eyewitness account of the life of Christ (v16-18), and thus producing an account that is inspired by the Holy Spirit (v19-21).

There is an interesting manuscript issue in 2 Pt. 1:12.  The KJV and NKJV, based on the Textus Receptus manuscript, read, I will not be negligent to remind you always.  Most newer translations, based on the Critical Text, read, I will always be ready to remind you.  The difference is the letter “a” at the beginning of the word.  The “a” makes it negative so “careful” becomes “careless” or “negligent.” The two manuscript traditions say the same thing but one puts it in the negative and the other the positive.  

We mention this as we come to this passage to demonstrate the accuracy of the Bible.  We believe that the original writings were inspired by God with the result that every word was exactly as God intended.  None of these originals are in existence but there is more manuscript authority for the Bible than any ancient writing.  What we have, even with these kinds of variations, is accurately called The Word of God.  We believe this to be the result of our faithful God who not only made sure by inspiration that the human authors recorded His word, but also by preservation He made sure His word has been passed on to every generation.

Let us consider both “negligence” and “diligence” by a simple word study.

·        Issues of “negligence.”  Jesus said the hireling neglected the sheep (John 10:13).  The judge named Gallio in Corinth did not care to make a judgment concerning spiritual issues (Acts 18:17).  Paul urged Timothy not to neglect his calling (1 Tim. 4:14).  Hebrews cautions us not to neglect our great salvation provided through Christ (Heb. 2:3).  Peter did not neglect any of these things.  He cared deeply for the sheep, reminding them of important spiritual matters; being faithful to his calling as an Apostle; and speaking of matters fundamental to our salvation. 

·        Issues of “diligence.”  Paul was diligent to spend time with believers all over the New Testament world (e.g. 1 Thess. 2:17).  He also encouraged Timothy to be diligent to study the word of God (2 Tim. 2:15).  Peter was being diligent here.  He believed he was near death, or as he calls it, his decease (Greek exodus, literally departing from the pilgrim way).  Peter speaks openly here about what Jesus had said to him, referring to Peter as dying the death of a martyr (Jn. 21:18-19).  Peter was diligent to always remind them (v12) and in such a way (by writing it down) that they had it even after he was gone (v15).  Peter was faithful to his calling!

Reminders are important.  One of the greatest impediments to learning is the comment, I already knew that.  In pride we often oppose being told something we already know.  But the Holy Spirit knows that even people who know and are established in the present truth (v12) need to be reminded.  Let us be open to being reminded.  Let us not be those who always want their ears tickled with things that are always new and exciting.  Let us thank God for His reminders.

2 Pt. 1:5-11; Heb. 12:12-17 Godliness Realized

We are called to partake of the divine nature, the very life of Christ.  On the one hand it means putting off the worlds corruptions that are the result of our sinful lusts.  We have been transferred from the kingdom of sin and death into the kingdom of grace and righteousness (Rom. 5:20-21).  That is justification.  In sanctification we are supplying faith, virtue, etc. each day that our lives might look like this more and more.  As Peter puts it: If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren new nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our knowledge of Christ is intended to bear the fruit of righteousness (Jn. 15:16; Phil. 1:9-11; Heb. 12:11).


Failure in this area is an indication we have forgotten what Christ did in our lives and why we were so open to it in the beginning.  We need to meditate regularly on God’s first work in our lives to bring us to Christ.  What did God do in that situation?  He created in us a deep longing for Christ, for freedom from our slavery to sin, from the effect of the corrupt world in which we lived.  I often think of the Pilgrim Songs in Psalm 120-134.  They describe this pilgrimage whereby we are drawing nearer to God.  It begins (Ps. 120) with the pilgrim’s holy discontent with Meshech, the world where he lives, where everyone is competing and fighting and lusting selfishly.  The frustration of this empty life drives the pilgrim to look to God.  So for us: we can never lose the deep realization that the former life was and always will be empty and miserable and dishonoring to our Creator.  This is why we are to regularly spend time at the table of the Lord lest we forget how He cleansed us from sin.


Our motivation is a “grace” motivation.  For the grace of god that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age … (Titus 2:11-12).


Keep this grace motivation in mind as we conclude with 1:10-11.  Peter uses an interesting, powerful and accurate (of course) phrase: make your call and election sure.  He is not saying: “make sure you are elect.”  That makes no sense since that is God’s work.  However he is saying, “confirm your election.”  This is the point here: 1:2-4 speak to what God has done in giving us all things for what He has called us to in Christ; 1:5-11 speak of the fulfillment of that calling in our lives.


Thus we are called to diligence (v5) and now to be even more diligent (v10) in terms of the eight qualities (these things in v10).  If we “add” (supply, v5) these things and abound in them then God also will “supply” (same Greek term, v11) our entrance into our Lord’s everlasting kingdom.  On the narrow path we will not stumble but will have a straight path for our feet (Heb. 12:12-13).

Peter clearly states that godliness matters.  Let us get started by faith in Christ who gave Himself for us.  Then diligently let us use what God has given, always remembering the cleansing that is ours through the cross of Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-11, Godliness Recognized

2 Pt. 1:5 begins: But also for this very reason.  Given the fact that we have great and precious promises by which we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the world’s corruption, Peter now encourages us to do that very thing: to grow and grow and grow in our likeness to Christ.  This is, to borrow a term, the normal Christian life.  Remember how God came to Abraham in Genesis.  First He said, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward (15:1).  Then He came to him saying, I am Almighty God (El Shaddai); walk before Me and be blameless (17:1).  So Peter has said: we have all we need for godliness; now let us grow in these things.

First, let us consider these eight traits that describe the life of the believer.

·        Faith: trusting God, believing His word, relying on His promises and provision. This characterizes all believers, describing not only our starting place but our walk.

·        Virtue: moral goodness, those things that are worthy of praise.  In other words faith is not merely a mental state; it involves lifestyle.

·        Knowledge: our minds are in gear, learning God’s word and its principles.

·        Self-control: mastering the sensual appetites, walking in the Spirit.  By knowledge we learn God’s truth; by self-control we live out that truth.

·        Perseverance: patience in trials.  The previous qualities are to be repeated over and over.  This faithfulness is in indication of genuine faith.

·        Godliness: a proper heart toward God resulting in a God-like lifestyle.  Peter used the same term in 1:3, referring to our Christian life as a whole. 

·        Brotherly kindness: friendliness, the love of equals.

·        Love: commitment to others, the love of sacrifice.  This is the summation and the enclosing bond of the life of godliness.

These qualities are in relationship.  Clearly there is progress from faith to love.  Our trust in Christ is where it must start and, as we noted, our entire life is a walk in faith (2 Cor. 5:7).  The two love terms at the end makes sense as well in that love is the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14).  We noted the progress of knowledge to self-control.  And when you continue to live that way (perseverance) the result is godliness.


At the same time it is clear that growth in each individual quality is also implied in the phrase, if these things are yours and abound (1:8).  Not only are we to have these things (remember that we have all things that pertain to life and godliness); they are to effect more and more area of our lives.  The translation add in 1:5 might be better supply.  It is not that we must have one in fullness before we can then move on to the next step.  It is a continual process of supplying these things day after day, trial after trial.


Let us seek the Lord in supplying these truths today.  And let us be diligent (v5)!

2 Pt. 1:1-4; Jn. 17:20-26, Great and Precious Promises

Let us continue our consideration of the amazing truths surrounding our great and precious promises.

Ø What Jesus gave them that night came from His divine power.  Jesus could do this because He was the Son of God!  What He gave them can be summarized as all things that pertain to life and godliness.  He gave them everything they would need to fit their calling.  And He even told them what they were getting would be better than if He, Jesus, were to maintain His physical presence with them (16:7).  

Ø The channel through which these promises are fulfilled is glory and virtue.  The specifics language of v3 is this: God called us “through” glory and virtue.  What does this mean?  What we are called to is holiness (Eph. 1:4) or Christ-likeness (Rom. 8:29-30).  Thus Peter is saying we achieve this goal through glory and virtue.  Does he mean the glory and virtue of Christ?  Certainly that is the case in Scripture.  It is the “divine” power of Christ.  That speaks of His glory.  The word “virtue” is the term used in 1 Pet. 2:9 when Peter said that we have been called to proclaim the “praises” of Him who called us out of darkness into light.  

However it is possible Peter is saying something different.  Remember that on that very night of His betrayal Jesus prayed that His people would share in His glory (John 17:22).  We are being transformed into the same image (of Christ) from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18).  Paul was speaking of this calling we have: increase in Christ-likeness means we are increasingly bearing the glory of Christ.  And it is believers who, in 2 Peter 1:5, are called to add to your faith virtue.


So which is it: the glory and virtue of Christ or the glory and virtue of the believer?  The answer is, of course, that both are true.  As Peter says in 1:1: what we obtain is obtained by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.  We have no glory of our own; it is only what Christ shares with us.  That’s why our sanctification is defined as putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14).  Sanctification is being renewed in the image of Christ (Col. 3:10).  Christ is our life; thus when He appears we will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4).  Remember: glory is not a place; glory is the reality of the believer when we stand with Christ in the resurrection.  No suffering is worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18).  We long for this day, when the virtues of our Savior are ours as well.

Ø The last phrase of 1:4 reminds us that putting on the Lord Jesus Christ always involves repentance.  We must escape the kingdom of death we entered when we were born the first time.  The lusts (flesh, eyes, pride; 1 Jn. 2:15-17) have corrupted this world and this corruption holds us captive.  We are slaves to sin.  In Christ we have escaped and thus are now fit to be partakers of the divine nature.  Thus we always remember that putting on the Lord Jesus Christ requires making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts (Rom. 13:14).