Category: Journey through Psalms

A walk through of Psalms with commentary.

Prepare for Deception: Strengthening Faith in Troubling Times

Prepare for Deception: Strengthening Faith in Troubling Times

Deception is afoot! Ready your body, mind, and soul for what is coming. Are we in the last days? It sure feels like it. I know people will say, it has been like this from the beginning. They aren’t wrong, so why would this be different? Simply, it is different by the sheer number of differing events all coalescing at once. The big one being aliens. I don’t believe in aliens, let me make that clear. Not in the sense that they come from a galaxy far, far away. I do however believe in created beings, other than human. The Word calls them angels and demons, as well as a hybrid race known as nephilim.

How does one prepare for such a thing? One prepares by immersing themselves in the Word of God. Let me draw a parallel here with Matthew 28:19-20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.” The word baptize simply means to immerse, or saturate. Read that meaning into Matthew 28. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Immerse them in the Word of God.

Maybe you are unaware of what is going on with aliens and the impending deception. Here is a link to an article carried by MSN from the Daily Mail, “Religious leaders told ‘prepare now’ for UFO disclosure to unleash Bible-changing revelations.” The only revelation we need to prepare for is the one already written in Scripture. Prepare yourself by immersing yourself in the Word (ALL OF IT) so that you are not deceived. Yahoshua warns in Matthew 24:4 “. . . ‘See to it that no one deceives you.'” What is coming upon the earth is going to shake the very foundation of your faith. Yahoshua continues in verse nine. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will k*** you, and you will be h*ted by all nations because of My name.” This is Yahoshua (Jesus) telling His followers about things coming to those who bear His name, that being Yahoshua.

As you try to hold out your faith it will be tested. Many will look at you and say, ‘there is no hope for you.’ Family and friends may turn on you. Are you prepared for that? It may even come from those within your church. Jeremiah writes, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Stand by the way and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘we will not walk in it.”” Paul also writes a warning in line with the idea of holding fast to Scripture and the Ways of Elohim. Colossians 2:8; “See to it that no one takes you captive through mans philosophy and empty deception. According to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Messiah.”

David the writer of Psalm 3 shares a heart felt declaration. Written while his very own flesh and blood attempted to rip the Kingdom from him. David flees the city in order to avoid his son Absalom. This is what he pens. “Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no deliverance for him in God.'” “Selah.” (Psalm 3:1-2) Here David cries out in distress, his adversaries have increased, even from his own home. He is feeling the weight of their accusations and curses, ‘there is no deliverance for him in God.’ David pauses here with the word ‘Selah.’ The Hebrew word doesn’t translate and the meaning is debated among learned men. Some say it is simply a marker for musical interludes. Others will say it is a reflection point of praise, or of deep introspection. A pause where the writer and the reader reflect on life and their relationship with Elohim.

If it is a simple musical interlude one could still hold the idea that it is a place of either praise or reflection. Just listen now to music whether spiritual or secular and a musical interlude occurs. Where does your heart or mind go if you are a true music lover? It will be drawn to reflection of either joy or sorrow or mystery depending on the lyric. In this Psalm of David I would say that this “Selah,” denotes one of sorrowful reflection, “where did I go wrong?” And “Help me Adonai!” An acceptance of here I am and I need Your help Yahweh! Feeling alone and defeated, yet, he doesn’t stay in that place and neither should we.

“But You, Yahweh, are a shield about me. My glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to Yahweh with my voice, and He answered me from His Holy Mountain.” “Selah.” (Psalm 3:3-4) Where does our salvation come from? Our salvation comes from Yahweh! Remind yourself of that when things look bleak, when it seems the world is against you, if family or friends turn on you. Your salvation is found in Messiah Yahoshua and not in anyone or anything else. Stand in that promise, Selah!

The world is in a weird place right now. Many wrapped up in the news are finding themselves in anxiety, worry, doubt and fear. It is easy to do. Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, volcanoes, famine, riots, and deadly viruses, to name a few things raging at the moment. Of course then there is one’s own life, bills, gas prices, sickness, brokenness, feelings of being alone, abandoned, forsaken even. The love of many has grown cold, people are different. What is one to do? How does one gain shalom (peace)?

I will close this one out with the last four verses of Psalm 3. In the midst of any struggle remind yourself that Salvation belongs to Yahweh and He gives freely to those who call on His name and choose to walk according to His ways. Psalm 3:5-8 “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for Yahweh sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Yahweh; save me, O my Elohim! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to Yahweh; Your blessing be upon Your people!” “Selah.”

Selah,
You are loved,
cj

Understanding Psalm 2: The Kings of Earth and God’s Authority

Understanding Psalm 2: The Kings of Earth and God’s Authority

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against YHWH and His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!‘” Psalm 2:1-3

Sounds like this was written yesterday. It is true what Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun, all is vanity.” The Psalmist begins with a question we should all be asking, “Why . . .” Ask ten people and you are sure to get eleven different answers. In the end does any of it really matter if the victors do not honor YHWH Elohim? If not they will once again follow mans ways and go after false gods. Our King is coming and when He does He will make all things right. Until then we are here and we must live within the society but we do so as foreigners. For the ways of man are foolishness to God.

“He who sits in the heavens laughs, Adonai scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, but as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 2:4-6

Yahoshua (Jesus), came first as our redeemer, He will return as King. He will come in the clouds and every eye will see Him. And He is coming with a rod of iron and judgment. The world is being set up now for a one world government. The actors are all working together, the world is a stage. God’s plan will unfold. Do not put your hope in princes or presidents especially if they are not living according to the Word. There is a false king coming, a ruler robed in peace but beneath the service, violence and destruction.

“I will surely tell of the decree of YHWH: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron You shall shatter them like earthenware.” Psalm 2:7-9

Yahoshua said, He only does and says what the Father instructs. He came as the living Torah, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. This is how John describes it in John 1:14. If it is true for the King it should be true for His people. The law of the Kingdom of Elohim is the Torah. We should be practicing it. The one coming in mans delusion is as the Word describes, lawless, he is without Torah. He will not be living according to the instruction (Torah) of Elohim the Father or of His Son Yahoshua, our King.

“Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship YHWH with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way. For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 2:10-12

Take refuge my friends in Him, the Living Word, He is our Instruction. He is our redeemer and King. He comes to establish the Law, the Torah, of the Kingdom. What side are you on now? Are you waiting for the king of lawlessness? Are you waiting for The King in lawlessness? We are called to as John writes in Revelation 14:12 – “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Yahoshua.”

This is the Way of the Rabbi. The road is narrow and it is growing increasingly shorter as the edge of the Kingdom draws near. Come our of lawlessness and into the refuge of the Word of God and in His instruction.

You are loved,
cj

The Impact of Influencers in Today’s 24/7 News Cycle

The Impact of Influencers in Today’s 24/7 News Cycle

When I was just a boy, I had a paper route. Everyday when I would get home from school I folded my papers and started out delivering the news. Imagine, waiting until 3 or 4 O’clock to get your news! It is hard for me to even imagine it and I delivered the paper. Today, we live in a 24/7 news cycle and instant updates. It is hard to keep up. Every morning I get an email from a news organization. It is their ‘Morning Brief’. They highlight five or six stories to bring one up to speed on the happenings around the world. Yet, even then some of the stories have changed considerably by the time I open the page. Time is moving at a extremely fast clip, it is hard to keep up, if you blink you might miss something.

This 24/7 news cycle with updates at your fingertips can lock you in and it is hard to take a breath. Yet, with news so in your face these days there are some still who are oblivious to what is going on in the world. Oh they have their phone in their hands but they are playing games and scrolling Tic Tok. Their algorithm is full of cat videos and silly dances being performed by people they don’t know but follow and like and comment as if they do. Everyone is influenced by something or someone. You have news anchors who influence your opinion based on what network you prefer. As well if you aren’t into the news you are influenced by social media influencers. There are even ‘Christian’ influencers out there influencing the mind of their followers. The question is what or whom influences you?

I only want One influencer, the Ruah ha’Qodesh, that is the Holy Spirit. His role is to influence us towards the Word of God. To meditate on it day and night. Soak in it like a sponge. So that when others are around us they too end up under the influence of the Living Water of the Word. When you take a sponge full of water from the sink it drips everywhere, that is how we should be. So saturated by the Word that wherever we go we leave a trail behind us of living water. The Holy Spirit through us influencing those around us by our word and deed. When others bring us news our filter should be the Word. When others bring us ‘entertainment’ our filter should be the Word. When others bring us the ‘Word’ our filter should be the Word.

Let us consider together Psalm 1 . . .
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Torah of YHWH, and on His instruction he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.” If you honestly desire to know YHWH in His fullness you must know His Word, His Torah, His Instruction. Not only to know it but to believe it and to obey it.

Psalm 1 continues . . .
“Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For YHWH guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” The wicked do not delight themselves in the Torah.

Is it only the wicked that turn their back of God’s instruction?

How would the Berean’s receive this statement?

Those in Brea were limited to the ‘Old’ Testament, we have the writings of the Apostles too. What can we find about “winds of doctrine”?

What are the implications?

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj