Psalm 57 was written when David was on the run from Saul. We can identify with the way that David felt sometimes! Verse 4 is especially appropriate for anyone who stands up for the Word of God and what is right to do for the USA:
4My life is among lions; I must lie among those who are aflame--the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords.
The things that some in the media are saying about Christians in particular, and conservatives in general, cause us to fit right in with this verse! They ARE acting like fierce lions and their tongues are most definitely like swords and their teeth like spears! You get the idea that if they could lash out at us with poison tips on those spears, they would! Remember ALWAYS that it is NOT people that are the real problem. They are just ignorant vessels for the REAL enemy to use! They are being duped by the master deceiver to do and say what they do and say! Ephesians 6:12:
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
AND 2 Corinthians 10:3-4:
3For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
What SHOULD we do then? We should pray for laborers who will share the Gospel with them. The we should be doers of verse 7:
7My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody.
"Fixed" is the Hebrew word "kuwn", which means: firm, established, secure, steadfast, stable, securely determined, directed aright, to be prepared, to be ready! David declares it twice in this verse! I believe that we need to be double determined to do what's right no matter what the cost! Jesus threw over the tables of the money changers because IT WAS RIGHT! Jesus also preached the Gospel because IT WAS RIGHT! He also healed the sick because IT WAS RIGHT! He set the captives free because IT WAS RIGHT! You and I DO know what is right for us to do, so let's do it! AMEN! And do it with praise, thanksgiving and worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible continually flowing from us! We cannot fail!
In Mark 7 Jesus is dealing with the religious leaders that aren't coming to Him to find out how they, too, can help set the people free and release the captives from bondage! No, they are coming to find out why He and His disciples don't wash their hands like they do! Doesn't that sound like a vitally important matter? No? Jesus didn't think so, either! This is what He said to them in verses 6-8:
6But He said to them, Excellently and truly [so that there will be no room for blame] did Isaiah prophesy of you, the pretenders and hypocrites, as it stands written: These people [constantly] honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far distant from Me. 7In vain (fruitlessly and without profit) do they worship Me, ordering and teaching [to be obeyed] as doctrines the commandments and precepts of men. 8You disregard and give up and ask to depart from you the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men [keeping it carefully and faithfully].
Then Jesus explained this to the people in verses 14-16:
14And He called the people to [Him] again and said to them, Listen to Me, all of you, and understand [what I say]. 15There is not [even] one thing outside a man which by going into him can pollute and defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him and make him unhallowed and unclean. 16If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening [and let him perceive and comprehend by hearing].
When His disciples questioned Him further, he said this:
18And He said to them, Then are you also unintelligent and dull and without understanding? Do you not discern and see that whatever goes into a man from the outside cannot make him unhallowed or unclean, 19Since it does not reach and enter his heart but [only his] digestive tract, and so passes on [into the place designed to receive waste]? Thus He was making and declaring all foods [ceremonially] clean [that is, abolishing the ceremonial distinctions of the Levitical Law]. 20And He said, What comes out of a man is what makes a man unclean and renders [him] unhallowed. 21For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, 22Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness). 23All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed.
How do those things get IN us in the first place? They come in as thoughts! If you can control your thought life, you can keep yourself from these things! Remember 2 Corinthians 10:5:
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
When thoughts try to come into your mind and heart that are contrary to God's Word, then you must cast them down! We say: REJECT AND REPLACE! Reject the evil thoughts and replace them with God;s Word! Training yourself in that way daily will enable you to walk free from the BONDAGE of sin! You will still make some selfish decisions that are contrary to God's Word and must confess them according to 1 John 1:9, but you won't be bound up by that sin when your thoughts are right!
Isaiah 27:1-3:
1IN THAT day [the Lord will deliver Israel from her enemies and also from the rebel powers of evil and darkness] His sharp and unrelenting, great, and strong sword will visit and punish Leviathan the swiftly fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting and winding serpent; and He will slay the monster that is in the sea. 2In that day [it will be said of the redeemed nation of Israel], A vineyard beloved and lovely; sing a responsive song to it and about it! 3I, the Lord, am its Keeper; I water it every moment; lest anyone harm it, I guard and keep it night and day.
IN THAT DAY refers to the Day of the Lord! That is the time when Messiah will come to Earth for the second time to conquer the forces of darkness and to rule and reign for 100o years! I cannot believe that THAT DAY is too far off! I know that it is at least 7 years, but can it REALLY be that much longer? COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
