"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." (Psalm 85:10)







The words "mercy" (Hebrew checed, also often translated by "kindness" or "lovingkindness") and "truth" (Hebrew emeth) occur more often in the psalms than in any other book. In face, "mercy" occurs more in the psalms than in all the rest of the Old Testament put together. Though at first these two concepts seem opposed to each other (for how can God's truth, which abhors sin, be compatible with His mercy, which forgives sin?), nevertheless they are "met together," for "his salvation," according to the previous verse, "is nigh them that fear him" (v9).

"Mercy and truth" (or "lovingkindness and truth") are brought together at least sixteen times in the Old Testament, including ten times in the psalms. And when God's eternal truth can be united with His Loving mercy, both medicated through His Holy word, there is great blessing indeed! "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies" (25:10). "I will worship toward the holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name" (138:2). The first time the phrase is found in the Bible is in the prayer of Abraham's servant, thanking God for "his mercy and his truth" (Genesis 24:27).

God's mercy and truth, of course, are really met together only in Jesus Christ, through whom God can both "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26). He is "our peace" (Ephesians 2:14) and is "made unto us...righteousness" (1 Corinthians 1:30). He is "the truth" (John 14:6) and will show in the ages to come "the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness us through Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7). HMM

"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23)

 

 

A nineteenth-century poet boasted: "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." The twentieth-century Humanist Manifesto proclaims: "No deity will save us; we must save ourselves." A popular son proudly asserts; "I did it my way!"

 

 

The fact is, however, that humanism has failed. Whether exercised at the level of government paternalism or individual self-sufficiency, the notion that any man or group of men can make decisions and go their own ways with no regard to the will of their Creator is arrogant foolishness. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

God does have a will for both men and nations. "In times past [He] suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.... And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 14:16; 17:30). It would make a tremendous impact for world peace and national happiness if only our national and world leaders would formulate their policies in accordance with the revealed will of God, through His Word.

But this ideal may never be approached until Christ Himself returns. In the meantime, He has promised guidance in each individual life when that life is truly yielded to His will. No man can really "direct his steps," as our test points out, but "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and... none of his steps shall slide" (Psalm 37:23, 31).

God's will is always in accordance with His Word, of course, for He cannot contradict Himself. We can therefore confidently act on His promise: "In all the ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6). HMM

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand" (Revalation 1:3)

 

 

There seems to be an increasing interest in biblical prophecy in recent years, but the great majority of professing Christians (especially in the so-called mainline denominations) continue to reject or ignore the great portions of the Bible dealing with the prophetic future. This is most unfortunate because there is genuine blessing in the study of these prophecies. It is significant that only the book of Revelation makes a specific promise to this effect. Not only in its opening verses as above, but also in its final chapter is such a blessing promised: "Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth [i.e., 'guardeth'] the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7).

 

 

Note also the exhortation in Peter's final epistle, just before his martyrdom. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day down, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19)

For those who ignore these prophecies concerning the Second Coming, Christ's rebuke to certain disciples who had failed to believe the prophecies concerning His first coming may well come to be appropriate again: "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 24:25). The book of Revelation ends with an even more serious warning: "If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy [note, not just the concepts, but the words!], God shall take away his part out of the book of life" (Revelation 22:19). It is clearly very important that Christians read, understand, believe, and obey the divinely inspired prophecies, as well as all the other revelations of the Holy Scriptures. HMM

I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors." (Psalm 119:121)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hebrew word mishpat is one of the eight terms used in Psalm 119 to identify the Word of God. The psalmist used mishpat in the opening of this stanza (Psalm 119:121-128) to declare obedience to God's "judgments" - especially regarding those who oppress the Lord's people.

Sometimes the Lord seems to delay action against those who rebel against truth. The prophet Habakkuk lived during such a time:

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!... for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and
contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wickeddoth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. (Habakkuk 1:2-4)

 

 

 

During such times, we need "surety" (Psalm 119:122) from God to strengthen our minds. Paul warned Timothy of "perilous time" (2 Timothy 3:1) ahead, but also reminded him of God's pledge: "They shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was" (2 Timothy 3:9).

After Pleading his case, the psalmist stated: "It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law" (Psalm 119:126). He expressed his love for the commandments - exceeding his desire for wealth - and concluded: "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:128). May our hearts be as resolute and as strong amid our opposition. Make it so, Lord Jesus. HMM III

I am thankful for Jesus Christ














WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

"This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men." (Daniel 4:17)

 

 

If ever a man had reason to boast of his accomplishments, it was King Nebuchadnezzar, who wrote the above words. He had built the world's most beautiful city and developed the greatest empire the world had ever seen. He had even conquered God's chosen nation and destroyed its magnificent temple. "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" he gloated (Daniel 4:30)

 

 

But God has warned: "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Lucifer, the most glorious being in all creation, had been lifted up with pride and soon lost his exalted position (Ezekiel 28:17). If the highest angel and the greatest emperor could not afford to be proud, the who are we? "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? no if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Let all kings and presidents, all celebrities and dignitaries, rich men
and beautiful women take not. Even pastors and evangelists, Christian speakers and musicians, and others are in constant danger of falling. Nebuchadnezzar had to suffer seven years of deep humiliation, but then he could say: "Now I... honour the King of heaven... those that walk in pride he is able to abase" (Daniel 4:37). It is probably the hardest - yet the most important - of all lessons we need to learn. "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefor under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6). HMM

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8)

Several words are used in Scripture to imply spiritual watchfulness and each has a slightly different meaning. Only as we compare and combine these words do we get the full force of the Scripture exhortations to watchfulness.

 

 

One such word is the Greek word agrupneo, translated "watch." In Mark 13:33 we read, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. "The word literally means to be sleepless and comes from two Greek words meaning "to chase" and "sleep." It implies a purposeful and active state of awareness.

More commonly used is gregoreo. It is a stronger word, meaning to arouse oneself and shake off lethargy, implying activity as on the part of one who is fully awake. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith" (1 Corinthians 16:13), and "continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2). "Watch ye, therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh" (Mark 13:35).

 

 

A third word is nepho, which literally mean to abstain from drink which would produce stupor, as well as sleep, and therefore conveys the additional idea of sobriety. By combining the teaching of those three words, we are instructed not only to keep awake but to keep active and to avoid the intoxication of this world's seductive pleasures.

In our text, we see that we are not only to be sober (nepho) and vigilant (gregoreo), but we also see the reason why. Our "adversary the devil" is a vicious oppenent. He stalks us both day and night with brutal cunning. We dare not underestimate him by figuratively closing our eyes in sleep or dulling our senses with intoxicants. "Wherefore grid up the loins of your mind, be sober" (1 Peter 1:13). JDM