2 Samuel 7:1-17 - The Davidic Covenant

2 Samuel 7:1-17

When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up forth from you, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom. (verse 12-13)

Message: The Davidic Covenant

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: This is a significant chapter. Verses 4-17 are referred to as the Davidic Covenant. It follows David saying "I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains." Thus, the ark of God needs a better and more permanent place to dwell. 

Nathan speaks to David, having received a message from the Lord. That message mentions that the ark needs a house of cedar built for it. God had rescued his people. To David, "I took you" from grazing in a pasture to ruling the people of Israel. "I have been with you" and "I will make you a great name." God has been with David. He has cut off his enemies. His name is to be on par with the great names of earth. For the people of Israel, God "will appoint a place for My people Israel." God "will plant them." David thinks he is to build something but instead God is the builder. I think this is something always for us to remember. God is the builder. It is His doing. It is His grace which makes things happen. 

God "will give you rest from all your enemies." And "The Lord will make a house for you." God "will raise up your descendant after you" and this possibly is Solomon, David's son and "establish his kingdom." And "will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." 

It is also interesting, it says that "when he commits iniquity, I will correct him" and than it says, "Your throne will be established forever." Once again, this mentions God's grace. Iniquity will happen and correction, but God's permanent reward for His people remains the same. 

God's love continues and is prominent always with his people. The people go through difficulties, wanderings, iniquities, but God is still providing for them. Sometimes we don't see it in our current lifetime. God will take care of us many times on the way but sometimes it doesn't occur till later. This is hard. I want to see all things now, but we can await the promise and it will be fulfilled. 

Summary: God speaks through Nathan to David promising land forever, an unending dynasty and an everlasting kingdom. 

Promise: There will be a dwelling place for God and His people and in a permanent way, we are that permanent resting place with the Spirit in us. 

Prayer: God, you choose and you bless forever. Along the way there are struggles but you are present always with your people. You are forever and thank You God for bringing me along. Keep me focused on Your promises, these promises always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

2 Peter 1:3-8 - The Right Tools

2 Peter 1:3-8

3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Message: The Right Tools

Time: Written by Peter, he being influenced by the writings of Paul to Ephesus (Ephesians) somewhere between 62 and 63 AD. 

What the Lord is Saying: We had a guest speaker this morning at church and he did a message from 2 Peter on Right Tools. He used an example of fly fishing throughout his message to basically talk about the fact that God has given us Christians all the right tools that we need to carry out godliness in our lives. 

As is my pattern, I looked at the text and went back to verse 1 to understand a little bit better the context of this passage. Peter's message is written to those Christians that have the same understanding of faith or belief that he does. 

I noticed verse 1 says this faith is "by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." I wondered with that verse if Peter is linking God and Jesus or if God and Jesus are separate. On one hand, it sounds like he is stating that Jesus the Savior is God. But could he be stating that faith is of the righteousness of God and the righteousness of Jesus Christ?

In verse 2, he asks that "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." Here again, Peter is mentioning grace and peace because of those (verse 1) having a knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 

Even if Peter is not stating that Jesus is God, he is linking characteristics that are the same of the two - righteousness, grace, peace - all found in the knowledge of God and Jesus. 

Verse 3 - "His divine power." When I read this, that's what made me go back to verse 1 and 2 and think about who's divine power He is speaking about for His is singular and yet so possibly it lends itself to think that verse 1 and 2 and the words of God and Jesus are unified rather than separate. Yet, His divine power could be the last name spoken in verse 2 (remembering that punctuation and verse divisions were added later). But also here we then have Jesus being the one with divine power and God also has divine power. Thus, there is another linkage here with Jesus and God having the same attribute of divine power. 

This here is the point of the pastor's message yesterday morning and initially the first point of the text of 2nd Peter. That to the Christian, the fellow believer and Peter - that through Jesus, his righteousness and our knowledge, those Christians have "everything pertaining to life and godliness." The everything we have is because of the faith we have, the grace, and the peace. This is indeed a compelling statement. We have everything pertaining to life because we have faith "through the true knowledge of Him." 

And later in the text it states therefore, with the qualities mentioned in verse 5-7, namely "moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love -- we are neither useless nor unfruitful." Thus we have everything we need for life an godliness and because of that we will be fruitful and useful. 

This sounds like a promise. This takes me back to verse 4 - "For by these" where these seems to be "everything pertaining to life and godliness." Peter says, "these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature." 

Again, we have everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. We have qualities that we will supply to others and throughout life to be of use and fruitful. Thus, we become divine-like. 

But in this text then is a mysterious statement to me - "He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises." Promises. What are these promises? 

2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness..." There is a promise. 

2 Peter 3:13 says, "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth." 

We have everything we need for life and being Godly. We are those that have faith and knowledge of God and Jesus. We have been given qualities. We will be useful and bear fruit. We will be divine. And this is all according to His precious and magnificent promises. 

I find this interesting because Peter explains all of these outcomes which we have because of our faith, but doesn't specify the promises, and so his audience must have understood these promises. 

I don't know exactly what these promises are right now. I could look at commentaries and review the different ideas. I suppose for now I will focus on what I know - I have everything I need.

Prayer: God, you have done it. Through faith, I have everything I need to do everything pertaining to life and godliness. I want to discover this Lord. And believe this and trust in this. And help me to share this with others to encourage them. Give us all hope. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 14 - Samson Breaks His Vow

Judges 14

However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel. - verse 4

Message: Samson Breaks His Vow

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: This chapter starts with Samson traveling to Timnah. Timnah is not far from Zorah, 4 miles SW. He saw a woman there that looked very good to his eyes and he wants her (v.3). She is a Philistine. This would be a great disrespect to Monoah, his father, and those around him. It was the father’s business to arrange a marriage and the amount of the dowry. To marry a Philistine is not advisable. But verse 4 records that this marriage is of the Lord. The author of this book of Judges remarks a larger purpose present in this marriage. That God will do something because of this marriage. He has a divine purpose even though by appearance the marriage does not seem to be of the Lord. In 2 Kings 6:33 are the words, "Behold, this evil is from the LORD." God can use evil for His Glory, to carry out his purposes. 

Samson heads to Timnah with his parents. A lion comes upon Samson, but the author states, "The Spirit of the Lord" came upon Samson and he tore the lion in two (v. 6). These words again about the Spirit of the Lord mean that this individual, at this time Samson, will do something that is not possible for a simple man to do. The phrase has been used at other times, with Jephthah and Gideon, to name a few. He spoke to the woman of Timnah. She looks good to him. He later would come for her and coming back saw the lion he had killed and bees were around. He took the honey from the bees, giving some to his parents, but not telling them where it came from (v. 9). Numbers 6:6 says, "All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body." Numbers 6:3 also states, "he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried." Samson and his family had been told to keep a Nazarite vow to be set apart from the Lord for a special purpose (Numbers 13:4-5). And with that came stipulations that he would need to abstain from things. He broke that by going to the carcass of the lion and taking bee from it. And then broke it again, during the ceremony (14:10, 14:12) and feast refers to weeklong drinking party. 

Samson gives a riddle and his wife reveals the secret of it. Thus, showing her disloyalty to Samson. Following this, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samson once again to kill 30 of the men of Ashkelon given their clothes to the men that had solved the riddle (though the answer was given to them by Samson's wife). And then Samson loses his wife, as his wife's father gives Samson's friend to be her husband. 

Ultimately, in these verses we see the power of God and the work of the Spirit of the Lord in a man that had been given a vow but often broke it, but God still used him for his purposes. God works in unlikely people, but He still works out things for his good purpose. 

Summary:  Samson goes against the way of God multiple times but God consecrated him for a purpose and the Spirit of the Lord continue to come upon him to do His work. 

Promise: Our sin does not thwart God’s ability to work out His good plan, but it is better for us if He works out His plan through our obedience, not our misdeeds.

Prayer: O God, we are a people that fail you continually. We act in ways that are not becoming. And yet you continue to provide for us in ways we don't deserve. You bless me so much Lord despite the sin that we commit. Samson broke his vow and I know that I break vows as well. I ask and hope in me that I would be a person that would honor you. I am not sure if I made number one even this past weekend, as I celebrated with my classmates our reunion. I wrote that I want them to be in heaven, but bringing you up was not prominent in my speech. Instead I let someone else parade her views, her idolatry of fitness before me in the name of beauty. Lord, I do not know sometimes what is the best way or what I need to do. I am confused. I suppose I am like Samson. Bring me back to you, to wait on you. I need to trust in you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 10 and 11 - Jephthah Rises to Lead Israel

Judges 10 and 11

So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the Lord gives them up to me, will I become your head?” - Verse 9

Message: Jephthah Rises to Lead Israel

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: After Abimelech dies, 2 judges are mentioned - Tola and Jair. Tola judges for 23 years. Jair judges for 22 years. Not much is said of them but they are mentioned. They are part of the history. It is mentioned that Tola arose to save Israel. 45 years pass. A generation. The good news during this period is nothing bad happened. No news is good news. Things were rotten under Abimelech but now things are good. These two judges were good men, good leaders. 

Then verse 6 states, "The sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord." These same words have been said before - in 2:11, 3:7, 3:12, 4:1, 6:1. This has not been mentioned for 4 chapters. It was not mentioned under Tola and Jair. But now the people have fallen back into idolatry. The problem is they "exchanged the truth of God for a lie. (Romans 1:25)" They served other gods. They broke God's commandment to have no other Gods (Ex. 20:3). Today I think those gods are comfort, safety, riches, entertainment, health. Even a freedom from problems and trials. Anything that robs our personal quality of life I think at times is greater than what God speaks of in His word. I need those things in my life. I do. All of us do. In those times, the problem was they aligned themselves with the non-chosen people and the gods they worshipped. The people of the land that I saw previously that remained in the land - the Canaanites. But their are others. It is like we assimilate ourselves with the world and its ways. It is hard to stand out and be different and easier just to go along. 

Because of this falling away by the people of Israel (people of God), "the anger for the Lord burned against Israel" in verse 7. He sold them or as it says in Romans "gave them over." They were afflicted and crushed for 18 years. They had it good for 45 years, but now for 18 years they were embattled. 

"Then the sons of Israel cried out" (verse 10) stating they had forsaken the Lord. They were proud for a while, not admitting their sin. It took a revival of their hearts a while to occur. But here is the problem - God let them know that it isn't a formula. They turned on God and he rejects their plea. He tells them to go to the gods they have joined forces with. He says to them, "let them deliver you in the time of your distress." Look, you serve those gods, so rather than running to me now you are in distress, maybe you should run to them. Maybe this is a test. Maybe God is trying to test them to see what they will do. 

How do they respond? Verse 15, "We have sinned." That's it. They recognize their sin. Good for Israel. This is the right respond of people and what we are looking for, what God is looking for - people that recognize their sin. 

Yesterday, I read an article about Islam. They do believe that Allah will forgive sins (Sura 39:53). But Christ is not recognized. Instead, Sura 7:8 states: “As for those whose scale will be heavy with good deeds, only they will be successful.” Jesus is missing and as such, the atonement is missing. Even in the Old Testament, burnt offerings or atonements are mentioned. This seems to be missing from Islam. 

Are people simply bothered that bad things have happened or do they really have a desire for God? It almost seems like that what is occurring here. 

Chapter 11 begins and Jephthah enters. Verse 1 he is called a valiant warrior. Gideon was called the same in 6:12 although it was said of him, "The Lord is with you." 

The sons of Ammon are mentioned here. I am not sure what to make of these people. They seem to be adversarial in chapter 10 to Israel. Israel's evil ways in 10:6 includes serving the gods of the sons of Ammon. The Lord's anger resulted in Israel being sold into the hand of the sons of Ammon (10:7). Israel's 18 years of affliction took place in Gilead, a land of the sons of Ammon (10:8). The Lord mentions to Israel delivering them from people that included the sons of Ammon (10:11). But the author then mentions at the end of 10 that the leaders in Gilead would raise up for Israel someone to fight against the sons of Ammon (10:18). 

In Chapter 11 Jephthah is born as a Gileadite. But not by Gilead's wife, like his brothers, but by a harlot, which resulted in the brothers sending Jephthah away from them. Then these sons of Ammon are mentioned again as fighting against Israel (11:4). The elders of Gilead in response believe Jephthah to be the answer to lead the people (Israel not mentioned here) against the sons of Ammon (11:6). Jephthah is surprised he has been chosen (11:7). But the leaders confirm that Jephthah is the one to lead all the inhabitants of Gilead (among with I think the sons of Israel are as well) against the sons of Ammon (11:8). Jephthah makes a point that the Lord must be with him in this fighting and leading (11:9). Jephthah makes a statement to recognize that to defeat the sons of Ammon the Lord must be with him, and then the elders of Gilead would make him a leader. Back in 8:23 Gideon responded to leadership that God is the true leader of the people. But there the people make him head (11:11). 

Jephthah sends a message to the sons of Ammon wondering about the strife between them. The sons of Ammon respond that taking our land by Israel is the problem. Jephthah responds they didn't take the land, just wanted to pass through it and did not get permission. Since they were unwilling the Lord possessed all of the land of the Amonites through fighting (11:21). The Lord did this for the people of Israel (11:23). The sons of Ammon however rejected these words from Jephthah (11:28). 

Then the text mentions the Spirit of the Lord coming upon Jephthah (last mentioned towards Gideon, the previous judge in 6:34) as he heads to the son of Ammon (11:29). Jephthah then makes a vow to the Lord (11:30). If God will, then he will offer up "whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me" as a burnt offering to the Lord (11:31). The burnt offering shows a person's complete devotion to God. It is offering a spotless animal as atonement. And so the sons of Ammon were subdued (11:33). 

The chapter ends with a conversation between Jephthah, regarding his daughter. He returns from the battle and is greeted by his daughter with her celebrating his return (dancing with musical instruments) (v. 34). He remembers his vow, tears his clothes because he she is the one that has come out to greet him, not what he wanted because his vow to the Lord is to sacrifice the one who comes of the door first to greet him (v. 35). The daughter trusts her father though and tells him to do as he has vowed (v. 36). The vow the daughter and Jephthah agree to is not a burnt offering which is not allowed - see Leviticus 18:21; 20:2; Deuteronomy 12:31-32; 18:10-12. Instead the vow that is described as her not having any relations with man. I saw a Bible commentary online that said, "He was willing to give up his only hope of grandchildren and perpetuation of the family line, enduring a social stigma, in order to obey God."

Jephthah kept his vow, though the scripture renders the vow as a burnt offering. It seems possible that the burnt offering is a translation error. Burnt offerings are animals, not people. The daughter coming out was God-ordained. Thus, there is a little problem here with the text possibly. If he adheres to sacrificing the life of his daughter then he breaks the rules of the Law prohibiting sacrifice of humans. If he does what he did then the burnt offering described was wrong. And verse 29 starts with the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him. The bottom line though to me is he kept the promise for a sacrifice. 

Summary: Israel declares they have sinned and Jephthah rises to lead Israel. He makes a vow to the Lord and honors it by his only child and daughter being barren, a curse somewhat among the people to not have any offspring. 

Promise: Our promises to God are more important than societal and even religious traditions. We should be true to God, admitting our sin. 

Prayer: O my Lord, Father, Hashem - you are the one I respect and revere. I need to trust in You and I want to trust in You and be true to how you have called me to live and be. Thank you for these readings and that these records are preserved and the examples remain timeless. You continue to send leaders to instruct us and guide us, but ultimately it is only You that saves and You provide your Son Jesus to atone for my sins, forgiving me for all eternity. I confess I am a sinner. Lord, there are many in my life that I pray would see this - their sin and then the relationship with you that follows. Jephthah reminds me follow You true. What situations in my life would cause me to make a vow? To make a promise to You in order for you to get me out of a jam? I am not sure. But I can keep my word. When I take on a responsibility I can follow through on it and this is something I need to improve on. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 21 - Our Promise-Keeping Lord

Joshua 21

Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. (Verse 45)

Message: Our Promise-Keeping Lord

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: This chapter marks a culmination of a promise made to Abraham centuries earlier - Genesis 12:1-9. In verses 6 and 7 it reads, "Now the Canaanite was then in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And now in Joshua 21:45 it states, "Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." From the promise to the conclusion. Unfortunately, in a way, the way Israel gets the land is through domination and many people going to their deaths. God provides for his people Israel. Yet, we submit and surrender to God for his ways are not our ways. Israel would carry out God's commands. One people would receive His promise. One important lesson is that God is on the throne and we submit and surrender to His will. 

Levi did not receive the land provided to the tribes (of the 12 tribes, Joseph was separated into land for his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh). Levi instead ministered in the tabernacle and taught God's law and instead Levi was allotted cities as described in Joshua 21:1-40. Numbers 35:1-8 gives this promise of the cities to the Levites, also includes the cities of refuge spoken of in Joshua 20. 

Numbers 21:1-7 mentions how the Levites received their lands - receiving 13 cities from the tribe of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin; 10 cities from the tribe of Ephraim and Dan and half-tribe of Manasseh, 13 cities from the tribe of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and half-tribe of Manasseh, 12 cities from tribe of Reuben, Gad, Zebulun. 

Joshua 21:43-45 is really an exciting passage. It is quite the culmination of hundreds of years. "The Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give..." "And the Lord gave them rest on every side..." "Not one of the good promises...failed." God is faithful. He is our deliverer. He promises and carries those promises out. He provides rest to His people. And we celebrate the promise keeping God we have. 

Summary: God keeps his promises and comes through on all promises. He never fails and provides land for all the tribes of Israel, culminating here in cities given from each tribe to tribe of Levi. 

Promise: The Christian faith is founded on the promises of God. The Lord keeps His promises. 

Prayer: Praise God. Praise God for your faithfulness and providing land and cities to the tribes of Israel. You are a Great God and the one that never fails to deliver your promises. Only you are praised and adored and you receive all of our thanksgiving. You are faithful. You provide us rest and all that is good. You know what is best for us. The reality is not everyone yields your promises. You do indeed set aside your riches for those you choose. This is life. Forgive us Lord for writing a different way in life and not really understanding these truths. Let us be a people that is always submitting ourselves to You and You alone. And then may we be a people that carries out your tasks, protects people and looks forward to being united with You in heaven and earth for all eternity. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 1:1-5 - Joshua Commissioned to Lead Israel

Joshua 1:1-5

1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

Message: Joshua Commissioned to Lead Israel

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: Moses dies and the Lord now speaks to Joshua to cross the Jordan, himself and all the sons of Israel to the land God is providing them. God will be with them and will not fail or forsake them. 

God promised Abraham many descendants (Genesis 12:1-3) and the nation of Israel began or took root following God rescuing the children of Israel from slavery. This occurred about 1447 BC. God did promise the people the land of Canaan, but the people had to follow through on that promise and walk forth, going to the land. Unfortunately, they lacked faith that God would overpower the Canaanite forces. Only Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun believed. 

Moses was halted from entering the promised land because of his sin. This is chronicled in Numbers 20:1-13. At this time, the people were camped in Kadesh, the wilderness of Zin and there at the camp they lacked water, thus unable to produce fruit or grain. Moses and Aaron go to the tabernacle and speak to God about this and God tells them to speak to a rock to produce water. Moses responds by using his staff to hit a rock. Water gushes out. But the Lord states he is displeased with Moses and prevents Moses from going any further. It is not clear here what displeased the Lord, but His words are clear that Moses will not go further. 

In Numbers 27 verse 14 the Lord recalls this event in Numbers 20. And after Moses requests God to appoint a man to lead this group, the Lord appoints Joshua, with Moses commissioning him by laying his hands on him. 

Now it is Joshua and the commission or call from God to lead Israel to Canaan has been reinstated. He and the people are camped in the plains of Moab, just northeast of the Dead Sea and east of the city of Jericho on the other side of the Jordan River. 

God gives a gift of land to Canaan. They don't do anything to earn it, but they simply must walk into it and not be afraid, trusting God. In accomplishing the land, they must believe that God will provide it, in his way. 

In looking at this text there is striking language of God's promises. He says, "the land which I am giving to them" so it is clearly a gift. And then he also says that every step we take is a gift from him, "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you." That is great language and a great promise. Every step we take is a gift from God, granted by God. He gives us a promise, but also establishes our steps to that promise. All we must do is walk in them. And in verse 4 he pinpoints or spells out in even more detail all the places where he will walk with them. God will be with them. He will be their guide. "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life." God is with us. And his promise to be with us remains. As recorded in Matthew 28:20, "lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” And here in verse 5 the Lord says, "I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." These are indeed exciting truths. God is with us. He was with Israel and He continues to be with us - from dispensation to dispensation or time period to time period, he remains the same. 

Summary: After Moses' death, the Lord calls Joshua to lead Israel to the land of Canaan, promising to be with them every step of the way. 

Promise: God is with us, every step of the way; always. 

Prayer: O thank you God for your words of comfort, spoken to Joshua over 3,400 years ago and to Matthew 2,000 years ago and because of that I can know the promise that You will be with me as well, every step of my life, guiding me, directing me, taking me to a future glory, resurrected with You in paradise. You are near, always near to me. You are present, always present. Thank you for these stories that are real and continue to speak to people like me. You are the great one. You hold me near. You are the God of all and God of glory and I worship you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Nehemiah 10:28-29 - Oaths and Vows in Worship

Nehemiah 10:28-29 - Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;

Message: Oaths and Vows in Worship

Time: Nehemiah is the author and written from a first-person perspective. We meet him as an adult serving in the Persian royal court as the personal cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. It opens in the Persian city of Susa in the year 444 BC and concludes around 430 BC. Most of the book centers on events in Jerusalem. He was a layman not a priest and his life is a study on leadership. He gave God the credit for his successes.

What the Lord is Saying: What are oaths and vows and what place do they hold today in worship? This is a subject I have not ever considered. The Westminster Confession of Faith 21:5 mentions oaths and vows being a part of special occasions. The proof texts are:

Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Nehemiah 10:29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

Isaiah 19:21 And the Lord shall be known to Egypt,

And the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day,

And shall do sacrifice and oblation;

Yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

And then one more scripture from Jesus:

Matthew 5:33-37 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

As I look at these verses above, Deuteronomy 6:13 says to "swear by his name." Nehemiah 10:29 says "they entered in an oath." Isaiah 19:21 says "they shall vow a vow unto the Lord." Ecclesiastes 5:4 mentions "when you vow a vow unto God." But in Jesus' words he says to not make an oath at all. And James agrees maybe by saying do not swear no make an oath. 

Swear

I think to swear by his name it simply means to proclaim God as the only true God; believing in Him is the only way. Paul quotes in Romans 14:11 "that every tongue shall confess" from Isaiah 45:23 -- "Unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear." Thus, to swear is to confess. This type of vow seems proper and of good practice. 

Oaths

In these verses in Nehemiah 10:28-29 is the simple admonition that all the people that have chosen to live by the Law of God or who have separated themselves from the way of the world, it is these individuals that make an oath to walk in His law - to keep it and observe all that is written - but if one does not then they take on all the curses that are mentioned in this book of the law. Thus, on one hand is a promise to keep the law and conversely a curse if one breaks it. 

The only oath that I think is prevalent in society is the oath one takes when testifying in a court. In that context, it is a statement of fact or promise that the words one speaks will be true. At that time, it is interesting that one will place their hand on the Bible. It is not clear to me why the Bible is used. It seems to mean that if words are not true, then I have no defense. By placing a hand on the Bible I am stating that the Bible is true. 

Yet, Jesus says in Matthew 5:34 to make no oath at all. Is Jesus talking about all oaths here? He seems to be upping the ante as he often has been doing in these verses in Matthew 5, by looking at a principle from the law and then taking it to a new level. And yet in reading the passage, his statement does not end with "make no oath at all" but he clarifies that no oath should occur in the name of heaven or earth. 

There seems to be two views about what Jesus is saying here. Tabletalk and maybe other reformed thinkers don't think Jesus is outlawing all oaths. They think that Jesus is speaking to a specific issue among Jews that oaths that are sworn by anything other than the name of God do not have to be fulfilled. Jesus was therefore challenging the notion that one could get of keeping an oath if it was voiced by swearing upon something other than God. And so he is saying that as long as the oath is lawful it should be followed. And he ties this all up by saying, let your yes be yes and your no be no. By Jesus saying do not make an oath he is saying do not make light oaths that have no intention really of being kept. Thus, the ante that he is upping here is that all oaths, whether in God's name or not should be valid promises. The other view on this verse is that Jesus was in fact stating to never make an oath. But from the standpoint of what is mentioned elsewhere regarding the way he upped the ante on keeping commandments like adultery and murder it seems that this is also what he is doing here instead of repealing Moses' law.  

This line of thinking would be correct for Paul in Acts states that he was keeping a vow. Acts 18:18 -- Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow.

I suppose in this lesson I am stuck on these words -- oaths, vows and swearing. Perhaps I am not looking at the principle which seems to be that we need to be people of our word, but also we need to be making promises to God or commitments. Maybe this is what is kind of missing in our lives. I think a few songs by DeGarmo and Key on this idea. One song was called Man of His Word -- the lyrics go:

Never a syllable wasted
Each and every promise was true
Every commandment He spoke of
He proceeded to do

He was a Man of His word

Blessed is the man who swears to his own hurt
Do what you say be a man of your word

Interesting words there that Jesus kept his promises and are we keeping our promise. Am I making promises to act or be a certain way? Another song was the Pledge. 

It's a world of choices, patterned to confuse
Distracting little voices whisper what to do
Searching for the pieces, one step from the edge
Turn your heart to Jesus, make this solemn pledge

He died for me, I'll live for Him
He died for me, I'll live for Him

Above all lords and regents, He is King of Kings
I'm pledging my allegiance through these words I sing
Take this oath of service, write it on your wall
It's our only purpose for living life at all

Wow. Look. It is right there. "Take this oath of service." "Make this solemn pledge." Tabletalk also gives the idea that this is what we do often in our church services each Sunday as we gather and choose to sing - proclaiming truths and listening to the Word of God, agreeing with what is said and not simply stimulation understanding but wanting to follow God. 

I was just about to give up on this lesson, thinking that I don't know how it applies, but it does apply. It is rich. And It makes me wonder about my words and my commitments. Am I really making many commitments in my life? I think I do. Each morning I have been walking to pray and also to pray the words of the fruit of the spirit, committing to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

So that is my pledge, but what are my other pledges or oaths. I do want to live differently. Pamela and I made a pledge to not kiss till our wedding day, but we only made it to a few weeks after being engaged, succumbing to the pressure of others, like my dad. Maybe we made it a big deal when we should have kept quiet about it. 

Summary - In regards to oaths and vows in Worship, these are promises or pledges we make each Sunday as we gather, as we sing songs, about God but also about who we are in Christ. If we speak these words, may they be so in our lives. 

Promise: Our worship itself can be seen as a vow to serve God. That is one of the reasons why it should be taken seriously. Worship is a holy occasion on which we meet with our holy God to swear allegiance to Him. It is not a time for frivolity. 

Prayer: O God, you are Lord of All. I am stating this and swearing by this. Lord, help me in my words to be true to them and to be a man of my word and to be careful maybe about what I promise, but also to make sure that I am following through on what I am saying. I do often say things that people want to hear but then I don't back up those words with action. I need to be a man of my word at work, but also towards You. I pledge my allegiance to you. You died for me, I will live for You. I will live for You. I want to do this in my life. 

Matthew 16:18 - The Enduring and Conquering Church

Matthew 16:18 - And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. 

Message: The Enduring and Conquering Church

Time: Matthew, one of the 12 apostles, is credited with this book, despite the fact that he did not sign it. Dating it's writing is difficult, but most agree it to be AD 60-65 since it does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. A Jew, he includes 50 direct citations and many other indirect citations from the Old Testament. 

What the Lord is Saying:

As I write the summaries of the last 2 lessons, I notice that they are saying the same thing. I've had two lessons with basically the same idea - coming together and sharing in Christ's sufferings, exercising our spiritual gifts, for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ, and this is done by the way of Love. It is Love that we must be about. 

As I start this passage I see that church is something Jesus began. Had a comment from a person I correspond with recently who said Jesus never said to join a church, but he began church here in this verse is my thought. 

Tabletalk mentions that throughout history there have been various threats toward the church. Arianism - Alexandrian priest Arius (AD 256-336). Rather than Jesus being the same being as God the Father, assert that he was begotten or created for a specific time by God. Thus, not co-eternal with God. The closest belief system to this today is Jehovah's Witnesses though they don't pray to Jesus and they believe Jesus can fully know the Father. Other threats are communism and Islamic empires that have sought to kill Christians and their buildings. Secularization is transferring society from religious views to non-religious views with the belief that as society progresses and modernizes it becomes less religious. 

Yet these threats have not won. The church remains as do the people of God and the gospel continues to penetrate lives around the world. 

Today's passage citing Jesus' words on the church support this. The church will not simply endure but it will conquer (the gates of Hades shall not overpower it). Gates in ancient times were a defensive fortification for a city. As such the gates of Hades or Hell well not prevail against the church. Jesus promises this. 

Summary: It is true we are discouraged at times by what is happening in society, but the church continues and Christ's promise guarantees that it will conquer to the end. 

Promise: The church will never be finally defeated. 

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, thank you for stating that the church will prevail. It has and it will continue and I thank you for that statement that we can rest in. That the outcome for the church is sure. Thank you for this victory. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Purpose of the Church

Our Arena for Growth - It is being at church, present, that we are to be equipped, build one another up, in order to grow in maturity. Communion in Gifts and Graces - As believers joining in Christ’s sufferings we have community, exercising our spiritual gifts, in order to grow up the Body of Christ. Receiving and Giving God's Love - We come together because of His sufferings, but once we are together, we are to be about exercising our gifts to build up and grow one another, and it is done with love. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 20th - Can A Saint Slander God?

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. - 2 Corinthians 1:20

    Jesus told the parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 as a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacity. This parable has not to do with natural gifts, but with the Pentecostal gift of the Holy Ghost. We must not measure our spiritual capacity by education or by intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured by the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, before long we will slander Him as the servant slandered his master: "You expect more than You give me power to do; You demand too much of me, I cannot stand true to You where I am placed." When it is a question of God's Almighty Spirit, never say "I can't." Never let the limitation of natural ability come in. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be manifested in us.

 
    The servant justified himself in everything he did and condemned his lord on every point--"Your demand is out of all proportion to what you give." Have we been slandering God by daring to worry when He has said: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33)? Worrying means exactly what this servant implied--"I know You mean to leave me in the lurch." the person who is lazy naturally is always captious--"I haven't had a decent chance," and the one who is lazy spiritually is captious* with God. Lazy people always strike out on an independent line.

    Never forget that our capacity in spiritual matters is measured by the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether we have received the Holy Spirit.

From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

- Highlights and Underlines courtesy of Mom from her print edition. 

* Captious - fond of taking exception or raising objection

My Utmost for His Highest - November 17 - The Eternal Goal

By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing,…that in blessing I will bless thee.… — Genesis 22:15-19

Abraham has reached the place where he is in touch with the very nature of God, he understands now the Reality of God.

“My goal is God Himself…
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.”

“At any cost, by any road” means nothing self-chosen in the way God brings us to the goal.

There is no possibility of questioning when God speaks if He speaks to His own nature in me; prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says — “Come,” I simply come; when He says — “Let go,” I let go; when He says — “Trust in God in this matter,” I do trust. The whole working out is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.

God’s revelation of Himself to me is determined by my character, not by God’s character.

“Tis because I am mean,
Thy ways so oft look mean to me.”

By the discipline of obedience I get to the place where Abraham was and I see Who God is. I never have a real God until I have come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ, then I know that “in all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee.”

The promises of God are of no value to us until by obedience we understand the nature of God. We read some things in the Bible three hundred and sixty-five times and they mean nothing to us; then all of a sudden we see what God means, because in some particular we have obeyed God, and instantly His nature is opened up. “All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen. (2 Corinthians 1:20)” The “yea” must be born of obedience; when by the obedience of our lives we say “Amen” to a promise, then that promise is ours.

Mark 6:21-29 - Herod's Unlawful Oath

Mark 6:21-29

²¹ A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; ²² and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.

Message: Herod's Unlawful Oath

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus arrives in Nazareth, about a 3 day journey from Capernaum. He has made it to his hometown and he speaks in the synagogue. Many of his people did not accept him; he continued to heal, but maybe not to the extent that he could because of their unbelief. The message still goes out. Jesus commissions his disciples with the message of repentance. Many hear of Jesus and his message, wondering where he came from and who He really is: prophet, priest, king. Included in this wondering is Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist. John called out the sins of Herod Antipas and his wife and they responded with violence against John the Baptist. Yet, Herod Antipas was conflicted in his feelings about John the Baptist, feeling obligated to please his wife and yet also having fascination for the message that John brought to him.

The story of John the Baptist and Herod Antipas, the Roman ruler, continues in this passage. Herod had imprisoned John at Macherus, a fortified palace located east of the Jordan River. A celebration of some sort is given in Herod's honor, perhaps his birthday. At this celebration,  the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The words express that this dance was perhaps sensual which emphasizes still more the depravity of these people's lives whereby the daughter of Herodias, Salome, gave a dance that made everyone happy and pleased. In response to this performance the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” Here Herod makes a vow that he will have to uphold. Whatever is asked he will feel obligated to do as he will want to save his face before the dinner guests. Salome consults with her mother and it is stated I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. As has been discussed, Herod is trying to save the life of John the Baptist, but although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. The deed had been done. John had been executed. 

Herod was infatuated with John. He liked his preaching, but not to the extent that the preacher's words had an effect on him to change his works. People are moved by good preaching all of the time, but do the actions of our lives show any change. How now shall we live. I wonder about this often because I hear so many messages and I wonder how my life is being lived differently. I generally conclude that I am a slow person. Do I really believe that God is the one that changes hearts? I need to pray for this more.

Summary - After Herod Antipas tried to keep John alive, in prison, he gets caught in his own words and saving his own face by pledging to do whatever someone requests and the request that is made is to kill John. Because Herod simply had his ears tickled and never made a change of heart, he goes along with that which is in his own best interest: and John is killed. 

Promise: The Gospel Message is truth, but people receive it differently. Some are ready for it and some just take it as interesting fodder. John lost his life but he still had a great impact. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray that the message of the Gospel would continue to change lives. Lord, I pray that you would always be glorified. It hurts when people do not have a desire to follow you and glorify you, but we can still trust in You. Thank you for choosing John and that he is now safe in your care. Help us to stay eternity minded. Lord, I want to be a person of change, who is affected by the Godly messages I hear each day.

Psalm 132:11:18 - A Throne and Temple in Zion

Psalm 132:11:18

¹¹ The Lord has sworn to David a truth from which He will not turn back: “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.
¹² “If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I will teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever.”

¹³ For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation.
¹⁴ “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
¹⁵ “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread.
¹⁶ “Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
¹⁷ “There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed.
¹⁸ “His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown shall shine.”

Message: A Throne and Temple in Zion

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying: I enjoyed the first 10 verses of this chapter, thinking about worship and the sacrifice of David took in his life of building a temple and taking an oath to focus on a place of worship. Now, as a move through these verses, using the Phillips books I have on the Psalms, there are 4 Promises: Regarding the Scepter, the Sanctuary, the Saints, and the Site. 

The Scepter (the Lord will govern righteously and enforce righteous behavior)
The Lord has sworn to David a truth from which He will not turn back. Hezekiah had taken care of the temple, now he mentions the promise or oath the Lord had made to David's dynasty. It was a bold statement, for Hezekiah was making it at a time he was childless. 

Of the fruit of your body (David) I will set upon your throne. If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I will teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever. Hezekiah's father was not a good man (Ahaz). Ahaz reigned over Judah from 741-726. Ahaz was a man of idolatry. Hezekiah would reign for 29 years over Judah. In 2 Samuel 7:16, God's promise to David and his throne was unconditional, meaning David didn't have to do anything to get it. God made a promise to him without any work required of David, "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." (David was the 2nd king of Judah around 1000). After David was Solomon from about 970 to 931 BCE. Solomon's promise was conditional - And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life. - I Kings 3:14. Did Hezekiah wonder about this? David had 2 surviving sons from Bathsheba - Solomon and Nathan. Solomon's descendants included Hezekiah. Hezekiah's sons included Jeconiah (also called Jehoiachin and his name later shortened to Coniah). Jeconiah had 11 sons but none of them took on the throne and thus, the royal line to Christ though Solomon came to an end. Solomon's line is traced to Joseph. But David's other son Nathan, the legal line, is traced to Mary.

Could it be that Hezekiah, knowing what kind of father he had, wondered if the promise of God was still unconditional?

The Sanctuary
For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. Zion is the final resting place of the Ark, in Moriah. This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. God's resting place, as he states is Zion, not in a Muslim mosque. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. The result of this place will be abundant and complete satisfying (possibly pointing to the Messiah). 

The Saints
Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy. Here is a promise to the priests and that they would be made righteous, or have salvation. Before ministering, a man must be right with God and man. Again, these are now words from the Lord. Hezekiah makes this switch in verse in verse 14 and it continues to the end of this Psalm. God will make man righteous. He clothes them with salvation. And the response of man is singing with joy. 

The Site
There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. These verses continue to speak of the product of the temple residing in Zion, God residing in Zion: The Horn of David (The Messiah) will spring forth. A light or a lamp will shine forth for the anointed. I wonder what Hezekiah thought. He may have thought this would come from his seed. But, his seed would actually end this. Manasseh would come from his seed and Manasseh was not good. So these are words of confidence from the Lord, the Lord has prepared a lamp for His anointed.  

His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown shall shine. The dreadful things said of the Lord's enemies will be exposed and judged. There will be shame. Yet Jesus, the Lord, will be crowned. 

Promise:  This Psalm chronicles the Davidic covenant, as seen through Hezekiah and what Hezekiah put his hope and trust in. And it what I put my hope and trust in.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your promises, that they never end. You fulfill them, even if at times, we think they may come about in our own way. Thank you for salvation and making us right before You, making us righteous and clean. Thank you for your promise and how it is interwoven throughout time. Thank you for the anticipation of the Messiah, to take away the sin of the world. There is hope in You.