Kingdom of God in the Psalms

We're getting closer and closer to the end of the Feast, and also it means that as the fulfilling of the Millennium takes place, we're getting closer and closer and closer to the end of the Millennium. And of course, there will be events that will take place, some things that we need to understand, how God is going to do it, and we can see what the end of the Millennium is going to be like. But we're examining in the book of Psalms, and see the Kingdom of God and the Millennium in the Psalms. We've seen it has a lot to do:

• with our job
• with our purpose
• how we get there
• the whole world worshipping God
• the whole world serving God
• the way that God blesses the whole world

We saw a tremendous thing of how we are going to worship God in the beauty of Holiness as spirit beings. A complete and profound and absolute perfect worship of God that we cannot experience until we're resurrected from the dead and are spirit beings and come to the presence of God Himself to worship Him. Now that is going to be awesome, indeed! That is going to be something!

These are the things that God wants us to keep our minds on. One of the things that is always important for us to do is this: Always keep our mind on the goal; and always keep our mind on the Kingdom of God! Anything that comes along, put it into perspective; put it into God's hands to work out for you. Always remember that 'all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.' That's why, even in times of trouble and distress, don't get worried, don't get fixated on the trouble and distress.

• keep focused on the goal
• what we're going to do
• where we are going
• how we are going to do it
• Who God is
• Who Christ is
• what His plan and purpose is
• that we are an integral part of it

He has personally chosen us to reveal these things to us, to give us knowledge and understanding, and to create in us His very character to prepare us for these times of living in the Millennium and on into all eternity. God has greater things for us. God has fantastic things for us to do. We need to keep our mind on that, and that is one of the reasons we have the Feast of Tabernacles every year. So we can get refocused on what God is doing.

Let's understand that because of this, it's not like it was in the past, the Feast of Tabernacles is to be an enjoyable spiritual time in fellowshipping with the brethren and not converted into a carnal vacation of games and drinking and things that has happened in the past.

Psa. 72 is quite a Psalm. Here, again, we are going to see how it emphasizes God's judgment—He's going to judge the whole world continuously—and how His righteousness is always going to be upheld and used to help, to teach, to inspire, to uplift.

Psalm 72:1: "Give the king Your judgments…" How do you think we're going to operate and judge during the Millennium?

• by God's judgments
• by His laws
• by His commandments
• by His Spirit
• by His purpose

"…O God, and Your righteousness to the king's son; that he may judge Your people in righteousness and Your poor with justice. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness" (vs 1-3). Righteousness is going to flow down!

Can you imagine what the world is going to be like when there is no crime, there are no criminals, there is no one devoted to evil. That God is leading, guiding and doing His greatest work of creation with the human race, all during the Millennium. Bringing into the Kingdom of God billions of sons and daughters! He's doing that because when New Jerusalem comes down to the earth, then there's the vastness of the universe, which even men are beginning to understand is still being created. We're going to figure in that one way or another. So, always keep your mind on that.

Verse 4: "He shall judge the poor of the people; He shall save the children of the needy and shall crush in pieces the oppressor…. [won't be around any longer] …They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure throughout all generations" (vs 4-5). All through the Millennium!

It says in Rev. 21 that the 'New Jerusalem has no need of the sun or moon to shine in it,' because the glory of God lightens it! But that doesn't mean that there is going to be no sun or no moon. It just doesn't need it. Here is the 'moon unto all generations.'

Verse 6: "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass… [this is God's Spirit leading] …like showers that water the earth…. [water, righteousness, serving] …In His days the righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace until the moon be no more" (vs 6-7).

I don't know if the moon's going to be gone forever or whatever, but if it is I tell you how we're going to find out: you be there so you'll know.

Verse 8: "He shall also have the rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." Never has been a time like that!

I could have brought this up as well, too, that the prophecies haven't been fulfilled. This has never been fulfilled. When is it that they have worshipped God; He has the 'rule from sea-to-sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth'? Never has been!

Verse 11: "Yea, all kings shall prostrate themselves before Him…" That's part of our worship, too! Imagine what it's going to be like when we worship God in the 'beauty of Holiness' and prostrate ourselves down before God.

Verse 12: "For He shall deliver the needy when he cries, and the poor with the one who has no helper. He shall have compassion upon the weak and needy, and shall save the lives of the needy. He shall redeem their life from oppression and violence; and their blood shall be precious in His sight" (vs 12-14). That's going to be a tremendous thing that's going to happen; the Millennium and all eternity is set before us!

Verse 16: "May there be an abundance of grain in the earth upon the top of the mountains; may its fruit wave like Lebanon, and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth."

All extolling God! This is talking about peace, prosperity, love, righteousness, goodness, the right God, the right judgment, everything to uplift the mind, the heart, the soul, the being of everyone.

Verse 17: "His name shall endure forever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun; and men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed…. [hasn't happened, yet] …Blessed is the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who alone does wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name forever; and all the earth is filled with His glory! Amen and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended" (vs 17-20).

Isn't it interesting how many of these Psalms relating to the Kingdom that God gave to David, a man after His own heart, and the first king to really be a righteous king. Saul flunked out because of vanity. Unfortunately, Solomon got corrupted!

Let's see some more of the motivation of coming into the presence of God and what we need to do, and how we need to look at being able to be in the Millennium to live with God, to dwell with God; that's going to be fantastic!

Psalm 84:1: "How lovely are Your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!"

• city of Jerusalem
• city of the King
• the new temple that He's going to build there

with the pillar of cloud by day and the fire by night! The only ones to go into Jerusalem will be those who are spirit beings.

"How lovely are Your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!" We can't imagine how beautiful it's going to be. We're going to see part of it when we come to the Last Great Day and we do our step into eternity (Rev. 21 & 22). From there on, we don't know what it's going to be, but it's going to be something!

Here's how our desire needs to be toward God; v 2: "My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

This is what it means to love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength.

Verse 3: "Yea, even the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house… [we're going to dwell there, talking about New Jerusalem] …they will still be praising You. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in You…" (vs 3-5). Not himself, not his vanity, but in God!

• for His righteousness
• for His Truth
• for His Spirit
• for His love

"…Your ways are in their hearts… [the spiritual creation of God within us] …Who passing through the valley of weeping make it a place of springs… [completely change it] …yea, the early rain also clothes it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appearing in Zion before God" (vs 5-7).

Can you imagine? There's going to come a set time when we're going to come before God the Father and Jesus Christ personally! Can you imagine what that's going to be like? But it's going to happen! I can't imagine it, but I tell you what, in going through the Psalms here, I have a little greater inkling of what it's like to look through a glass darkly and to see some of the images of these things start to become a little clearer in my mind.

Verse 8: "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed, for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness, for the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You" (vs 8-12).

That's what it needs to be with us. This is a tremendous Psalm of our desire depicting the earnestness and the longing and the really fainting, as it were. It leaves us weak and breathless to contemplate the greatness of God and to be in His company.

Psalm 86:8: "Among the gods there is none like You, O LORD…" He's talking the gods of the nations on the earth at this particular time

"…neither are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O LORD, and shall glorify Your name" (vs 8-9).

They're going to do this every Sabbath and every Holy Day! That is going to be an amazing thing. We're going to be a part of directing that and supervising that and making sure that it happens and all of this to the glory of God. What happens when that happens? God is pleased and His blessings flow and His Spirit comes and His love is poured out! The intents and purposes of God are disclosed to everyone. God is pleased. These are things that please God!

Verse 10[transcriber's correction]: "For You are great and do wonderful things; You alone are God."

Verse 11 shows what it's going to be; this is why we're going to be teachers: "Teach me Your way, O LORD…" We need to have that right now in our lives every day!

• God, teach me!
• God, help me!

One of the things that's so important for us to realize is that we are totally dependent upon God for everything:

• everything physical
• everything spiritual
• every breath we draw
• every bite of food we eat
• everything that we see
• the houses that we live in
• everything comes from God

On top of that, He has blessed us so tremendously with His Spirit and with His love and the knowledge of His Word! That becomes the greatest and most important thing.

Verse 11: "Teach me Your way, O LORD, I will walk in Your Truth…"—as a way of life! We have to come to the point that our yes is yes and our no is no. In particularly, not just to what you verbalize to other people, but in your heart toward God; and in your heart in dealing with other people as well:

• that what you say is the truth, and you will stand behind it
• that what you will tell someone you will do, you will do
• that what you tell God you will do, you will do

There are certain things that we have to come to in our lives and just cease from doing it. We have to say, 'Yes, God, this is what I am going to do,' and continue to do it. That your word is truth, and that it will be done. Not going out, as it says there in one of the Proverbs, when you vow a vow and then you look at it and think, 'Well, now I better change my mind.' That your yes is not yes, and your no is not no.

"…I will walk in Your Truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O LORD my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore… [this tells us how to do it] …for great is Your mercy toward me…" (vs 11-13).

Think of the great mercy that is given to us, that is going to happen when we are resurrected; when we are changed from flesh to spirit. God is going to reach down and He is going to call us out of the grave. Think of all the saints that are in the grave right now, in their place of safety, waiting for the return of Christ and the resurrection—it's going to be something!

"…and You have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave…. [that has got to be the resurrection] …O God, the proud have risen against me… [v 15]: But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and Truth" (vs 13-15).

That could also be mercy and Truth. These are the characteristics of God, that He wants us to learn; that He wants us to develop as He molds and shapes our spiritual character.

There are several Psalms in a row that have to do with the reign of God on earth. Again, for all of those who think all prophecy has been fulfilled, what do you do with this:

Psalm 93:1: "The LORD reigns…" If He's here on earth and reigning, where is He? Well, Jesus said, 'If they say He's in the wilderness, don't go forth. If they say He's in a secret chamber, don't believe it.' He's going to return in a spectacular and fantastic way that we've already covered in the events leading up to Pentecost.

"…He is clothed with majesty…"—because He's a spirit being and His countenance shines as the sun! His visage is the full strength of the sun and even His feet as if they burn as brass burning in the fire; and His eyes are a flame of fire.

"…the LORD is clothed with strength. He clothed Himself and the world also is established; it shall not be moved" (v 1).That's how He's going to solidify everything during the Millennium! No one's going to go against Him. Now at the end of the Millennium there will be those who will want to.

Verse 2: "Your throne is established of old; You are from everlasting…. [think of that] …The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voices; the floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the thunders of many waters, yea, mightier than the mighty waves of the sea" (vs 2-4).

We're going to have love and honor and respect, and we'll see the great power of God in everything that we see. That's going to be something for all people.

What I want you to do the next time you watch the news with all of the crime and all of the stupidity on it, think about the comparison and the contrast to what we are covering here during the Feast of Tabernacles. Think about that! Think what the difference is going to be! Then maybe you will understand 1-John 5:21 where He says, 'The whole world lies in wickedness.'

Now the other night I got up and I turned on the television, because I wanted to check and see if there was any late-breaking news on anything concerning the fires and so forth. I did a channel-surf. I went through all 82 channels, every one. Guess what I saw on every one? Sin, sin, sin! I thought to myself, this is incredible! We're reaching the days like it was in the days of Noah. That the thought of every man was only 'evil continually'! I just couldn't get over it. So, next time you watch the news, keep these things in mind and see if you don't agree with me.

Psalm 96:1: "O sing to the LORD a new song…" Compare that with the music of the world is today, which is evil, especially to drive in the hearts and minds of young people and get them thinking on evil, wretchedness, death, doom and gloom, witchcraft, the occult and all of those things. Now think of the world totally changed:

"…sing to the LORD, all the earth" (v 1). Again, put yourself in that place just above the earth and as the earth turns, what's it going to be like to hear all these praises coming up from people every day and every Sabbath and every Holy Day? It's going to be magnificent! They're all going to be able to sing, I think, at that time there won't be too many making a joyful noise because God is going heal all of the people who have trouble singing so they can sing praise to God. Now, that's my own personal opinion.

Verse 2: "Sing to the LORD, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people" (vs 2-3).

That's going to happen every single day. That's why it says in Isa. 10, that the earth is going to be 'full of the knowledge of the Lord as the oceans cover the earth.' Here's part of it how it's done:

Verse 4: "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods… [it'll be all outmoded at that time] …for all the gods of the nations are idols… [there won't be any around during the Millennium] …but the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O you kindreds of the people; give to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth" (vs 4-9).

There's going to be a "…beauty of Holiness…" that people will worship Him in, and there will be a "beauty of holiness" which we, as the sons and daughters of God, will worship God with. It's going to be magnificent all the way around.

Verse 10: "Say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns, and the world shall be established; it shall not be moved; He shall judge the people with righteousness.'"

No evil, no underhandedness, none of the sins that people have today which they just take for granted as normal. None of that!

Verse 11: "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness of it. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy" (vs 11-12).

We don't know exactly how that's going to be, but I can tell you this: when plants are taken care of in a right way, they respond, and they produce. I don't know how a plant is going to rejoice, but I tell you what, I want to stick around and see how that's going to be. I know they're not going to talk and answer back. It's not going to be like that stupid movie Talk to the Animals. You're not going to talk to the plants. 'Oh, tree tree, how are you?' I'm fine, thank you, give me a little more water. I don't think it'll be anything like that. But it's going to be so fantastic that that will happen.

Verse 13: "Before the LORD; for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth; He shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with His Truth." Amazing!

These are called the Lord reigns Psalms. Every one of these have to do about the reigning of God. That has to be during the Millennium. Look at all these Psalms that tell us what is going to happen. This is why carnal 'Christianity' today—and that's really the right name to call it, because the 'carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be'—is 'enmity against God'!

If you have a Christianity that says there are no laws, no commandments, that all these things have been fulfilled, no wonder they have to throw in this stupid doctrine of going to heaven, you're an immortal soul. They don't ever read these Psalms and have any understanding as to what they mean. But we who keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days and Feast of Tabernacles, we can learn if we get in and study and put it all together.

Psalm 97:1: "The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of islands be glad. Clouds and darkness are all around Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. A fire goes before Him and burns up His enemies round about" (vs 1-3).
There won't be any enemies to burn up. Well, if someone commits the unpardonable sin, yeah, they're going to be devoured. But I wonder what it's like when God says, 'Ok, I'm going to leave Jerusalem and I'm going to come and visit this part of the earth.' Will He come in this manner? What's it going to be like to see God coming from Jerusalem, and His cherubim and it lands down wherever they're going to land. That's going to be something!

Verse 6: "The heavens declare His righteousness… [Psa. 19 says 'His glory'; shows the glory of God] …and all the people see His glory." That's going to be something; absolutely magnificent! Then they have the inset verse here:

Verse 7: "All those who serve graven images are ashamed who boast themselves in idols…" We're going to know the absolute foolishness of idols! You can read there in Isa. 41, 42, 43 & 44 about the stupidity of people who make idols.

Verse 8: "Zion heard and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Your judgments, O LORD, for You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted high above all gods" (vs 8-9).

So what it is now, Christ comes to the earth, He's going to be on the earth.

Verse 10: "You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones, and praise His Holy name" (vs 10-12).

So there again, quite a wonderful, wonderful Psalm depicting the Millennium and the reign of God on earth with the kings and priests under Christ to bring it about.

I just want you to stop and think about all that we've covered and I want you to think about the foolishness of the leaders of this world. And the foolishness of people who think that man—I don't care who he is, where he is, what country he is in, I don't care what his race is, how tall he is, how short he is or whatever—no one can, by political means, solve spiritual problems! We need to keep that in mind.

These are Psalms of degrees and each one sort of adds to the other and puts together a complete picture.

Psalm 98:1: "O sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand… [we have a song in the hymnal of this] …and His Holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations" (vs 1-2). Not today!

Satan the devil is deceiving them. They are blinded. They can't understand. God said that He has blinded them and ultimately, as we know, for the fulfillment of the Last Great Day, that He can save them. That's a wonderful thing to understand.

Verse 3: "He has remembered His steadfast love and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel… [spiritual and physical] …all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God…. [that has never happened] …Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre, and the voice of a psalm. With silver trumpets and sound of a ram's horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD" (vs 3-6).

There still will be joyful noise. I can see where the rams horn makes a joyful noise, because it sounds so awful. If you've never heard a ram's horn, that's nothing like a silver trumpet. This is just a blast, and it's kind of like a big blast going out, so that's the only joyful noise you can make before the Lord your God.

Verse 7: "Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it, the world, and those who dwell in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy together before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth; with righteousness He shall judge the world and the people with equity" (vs 7-9).

I tell you, by time you get done with this, you're going to see… We could do this in all parts of the Bible; we could get some things out of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers—every book—there is something to do with the Kingdom of God, even in the histories of the tribes of Israel and Judah, because they were the physical Kingdom of God on earth. So, there are things we can get out of that.

Then we have all of the Prophets and the Psalms. Then we have the New Testament; in that we have the Gospels and Acts, the General Epistles, the Epistles of Paul and the book of Revelation. The Bible is literally saturated with the understanding and knowledge of God, that God is going to reign and the Kingdom of God is going to prevail above everything! That is really quite something for us to know and to understand.

Notice it carries right on, Psalm 99. So we have all of these Psa: 93, 96, 97, 98, 99 and even on into Psalm 100. All having to do with the Lord reigning on the earth!

Psalm 99:1: "The LORD reigns; let the people tremble. He sits between the cherubim; let the earth quake. The LORD is great in Zion, and He is high above all the people. Let them praise Your name as great and awesome; Holy is He. The strength of the King also loves justice; You established uprightness; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob" (vs 1-4).

Yes, all the world, as we have seen through all of these Psalms!

Verse 5: "Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool, for He is Holy. Moses and Aaron were among His priests… [now resurrected] …and Samuel among those who called upon His name… [this tells us they're going to be in the Kingdom of God] …they called upon the LORD, and He answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them. You answered them, O LORD our God; You are a forgiving God to them, though You took vengeance for their deeds…. [it shows the restoration of Israel during the Millennium] …Praise the LORD our God and worship at His Holy mountain, for the LORD our God is Holy" (vs 5-9). Tremendous, brethren!

I don't know about you, but in just going through and preaching this, I'm very inspired about what God is going to do and our part in it, and how fantastic it's through all the Psalms.

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Let's continue on in this marvelous study about the Kingdom of God in the Psalms covering the Millennium, the Kingdom of God, some of the time leading up to the establishing of the Kingdom and on out into all eternity.

The Word of God is absolutely tremendous and we learn things from the Word of God because of the Spirit of God that He's given to us. We have more understanding every time we read it because these words, as Jesus said, 'are spirit and they are life.' Though we read the words and it's printed on physical paper with physical ink. The meaning of it, combined with God's Spirit and to give us understanding, is something that is spiritually discerned. That is a great blessing that God has given us to understand His Word and we need to really rejoice in it and always remember that.

Psa. 100—a very short Psalm, but it has to do with eternal life and the Millennium and on beyond that.

Psalm 100:1: "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth." Notice how many times we have read:

• all the earth
• the whole world
• all peoples
• all nations

Verse 2: "Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God. He has made us, and we are His…" (vs 2-3). That's in both ways: in the flesh, first; and in the resurrection, in the spirit!

"…we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; give thanks unto Him and bless His name" (vs 3-4)—in the spirit of Holiness as a spirit being, in the presence of God, prostrating down before Him!

Verse 5: "For the LORD is good; His steadfast love is everlasting; and His faithfulness endures to all generations."

When Christ returns we're not going to change the Truth. He's not going do away with anything. He's going to expand it! He's going to give us greater and greater understanding; even to the people, during the Millennium, to make what we know today really look like kindergarten and sandbox when we come to understand it.

But at the same time, after we're resurrected and are spirit beings, we're going to continue to be taught by God. We are going to grow in grace and knowledge and expand through all eternity in our knowledge and understanding and worship of God and the things that He wants us to do. Isn't that something?

So, if you are suffering from physical things right now; if you are weak because of old age; if you have a problem and difficulty because of an accident; if you've had troubles and difficulties in your life; look to what God is going to give you beyond! This is what He's talking about here.

Psalm 102:12: "But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever…" Doesn't mean He sits on His throne forever, because there are times when He gets up from His throne and gets in His cherubim and does other things, that's true. You need to understand that. But that means no one is going to overthrow God!—forever! You see, when Satan rebelled, he thought: 'Well, I can get rid of God. I'm as good as God. I want to be like the Most High.' Well, it didn't happen, did it? No, he was cast down to earth.

"…and Your name is unto all generations. You shall arise and have mercy upon Zion…" (vs 12-13). That applies to the children of Israel and the Jews! But we read in Heb. 11 about Mt. Sion in heaven above. So, this also applies to us!

"…for it is time to be gracious to her; yea, the appointed time has come" (v 13). What is an appointed time? The Sabbath and every one of the Holy Days are appointed times that God has set for us to come and meet Him, fellowship with Him and learn of Him. Here's an appointed time for Israel in the flesh and Israel in the spirit!

Verse 14: "For Your servants take pleasure in her stones…"—that are there in the foundation of New Jerusalem and you can expand it out from there!

"…and favor her dust. So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your glory…. [and we will be the kings of the earth] …When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory" (vs 14-16).

That's going to be something; we have that to look forward to! That's really great when we understand it and put it together.

Psa. 104—again, this gives us an inkling of what it's like to be a spirit being, what it's like to be God. We read in one place already that He is clothed with majesty.

Let's see God's challenge to Job, who was as perfect as a man could be in the letter of the Law and in serving God; but one thing we always need to remember, which is this: All the good that you do, even according to God's laws, He requires of everyone in the letter of the Law. Salvation is a special calling! Salvation is a special creation that God is working out now, which is done mysteriously, as far as the world is concerned; because it is done spiritually. The only way to understand that there's something going on is to realize that this person is different from other people. Other than that, only God knows the work and the creation that He is doing within each one of us.

Job had to learn that lesson. He got so righteous that he said, 'Oh, God is unfair in doing this and doing that to me. I just want an umpire between us and he can settle the score.' And he said, 'Oh, I wish God would talk to me. Oh, I'm suffering so bad! Why did God do this! Let me talk to God.

Let's see God's challenge to Job, to show the difference between the flesh and the spirit; and how that keeping the laws and commandments of God in the letter alone… A lot of people in the world today, who are not in the Church, keep some of the Ten Commandments of God and are upright, upstanding, reliable, dependable people, who are wanting to raise their family and live a decent life. But that's not salvation! Job had to learn that lesson. Now, not many people have had God come and directly talk to them and point out what their faults are.

Job 38:1: "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?…. [just spouting off at the mouth, blither] …Now gird up your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and you shall answer Me'" (vs 1-3).

So, whenever we get all big and puffed up in our own stupidity and carnality and our great importance, let's look at the questions that God asked Job:

• you think you're so good
• you think you're so important
• you think you're so righteous
• you think you're so special to God

You are, as God makes us special to Him, not because of who we are, carnally speaking!

Verse 4: "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare it, if you have understanding!…. [of course, he wasn't there] …Who has determined its measurements if you know? Or who has stretched the line upon it? On what are the foundations fastened to? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (vs 4-7).

Hey, the earth was created after God had created the angels. This probably gives us a good inkling as to why Satan and one-third of the angels rebelled; because God probably also revealed to them His plan for mankind, and that kind of put man—in his ultimate destiny—above the angels.

Now, He goes on, all the way through Job 38 & 39

Job 40:1: "And the LORD answered Job and said, 'Shall he who contends with the Almighty instruct Him?'…" (vs 1-2). Tie that in with Isa. 41:12:

• Who's been God's counselor?
• Who told Him how to build the earth?
• Who measured the mountains and the dust and the balance?
• Who instructed Him?

"…'He who reproves God, let him answer it'" (v 2).

Like some people say—when one man tried to point out to his son-in-law, 'Well, you know God does require us to keep the Sabbath.' And he said, Well, when God comes down here and tells me personally, I'll keep it. That's an excuse, because he knows God isn't going to come down. Now, if God came down and talked to him, He'd do just like He did here with Job. But the truth is, God has come down and the knowledge of the Sabbath is in the Bible, and He does tell us to keep it along with His Holy Days, too, see. So, we've got to keep all of that in perspective as well.

Now, Job was beginning to get the point, v 3: "And Job answered the LORD and said, 'Behold, I am vile!….'" (vs 3-4).

Here's another good point. This is the place where Job repented. He saw himself for what he really, really, really was, and he began to understand that in spite of the good things that he did, the darkness of human nature and the evil of human nature, he knew was in him. This the is first point that he began to see that he was not really righteous from the inside out, but he was merely righteous on the exterior.

Verse 4: "Behold, I am vile! What shall I answer You? I will lay my hand on my mouth" After you read the book of Job you'll say, 'Hooray! It's about time!'

Verse 5: "'Once I have spoken; but I will not answer; yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.' And the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 'Gird up your loins now like a man. I will demand of you, and you declare unto Me. Will you even annul My judgment?….'" (vs 5-8).

Every Protestant minister better listen up and pay attention! When you say that God has done away with His laws for your lawless convenience.

"…Will you condemn Me so that you may be righteous?" (v 8). Hey, Job, let's see how powerful you really are! You've got a big mouth and you're sitting there covered with boils from head to toe, all scabby and covered with dust and ashes and flies all around, so many flies that you had maggots crawling in your skin. You even said, '…though worms eat this body.'

• Aren't you mighty, Job?
• Aren't you powerful, Job?
• Aren't you something special?

God continues, v 9: "And have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?" [Job, let's see you do this: If you're so righteous]: …Deck yourself now with majesty and excellency, and array yourself with glory and beauty" (vs 9-10). Now that you've done that, let's see the power of your correction toward other people.

Verse 11: "Cast abroad the rage of your wrath; and behold everyone who is proud, and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in darkness. Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you" (vs 11-14). Quite a lesson!

We're talking about the Being and existence of God, which He challenged Job. 'Now, if you're really righteous, are you like Me.' Well, he had nothing to say, but repent!

Psalm 104:1: "Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a garment, and stretching out the heavens like a curtain, Who lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters. He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; He makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire. He established the earth on its foundations; so that it should not be removed forever" (vs 1-5).

Goes right back to what God said to Job: 'Where were you, Job, when I did these things? Well, you didn't even exist, and you came into being via the process that I made of pro-creation between husband and wife. One day you were conceived, and one day you were born; and now you have grown up to be a full man, have your own family and now you proclaim yourself to be as righteous as Me?' Never happen! Never happen!

Psa. 105—here's what we're going to do all during the Millennium; because there are going to be a minimum of ten generations during the Millennium, perhaps some more. But there will be ten periods of 100 years to mark off the Millennium.

Psalm 105:1: "O give thanks unto the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people."

They're all going to know about God! They're going to know about God past, present and future. So, by time we get to the people who reject salvation, they're going to know. They're going to be like Job: without excuse!

Verse 2: "Sing to Him, sing praises unto Him; talk of all His wonderful works." That means we're going to have great understanding of how God has done things!

Verse 3: "Glory in His Holy name; let the heart of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore. Remember His marvelous works, which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, O you seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob His chosen" (vs 3-6).

Where does all of this start with us? Back in Gen. 15 and the covenant that God made with Abraham. Very few people understand it. That is truly the origin of the Passover—Gen. 15—not Exo. 12.

What did Paul say in Gal. 3? 'If you are Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.'

Not only did He promise Abraham a physical kingdom for his children, but He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—the two main descendants of Abraham—the Kingdom of God as well. Jesus told the Pharisees this very thing, He said: 'Many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down in the Kingdom. When you shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom, then you're going to know you really messed up.'

Verse 7: "He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He has remembered His covenant forever…" (vs 7-8). We just discussed that covenant encompasses the physical seed and spiritual seed!

"…the word which He commanded to a thousand generations" (v 8). If a generation is 25 years then that's 25,000 years!

We are nowhere near 25,000 years of human history, and that's why He says 'a thousand generations.' If it's 40 years, it's 40,000 years. That's to show that God is going to complete His plan the way that He is going to do it; and His blessings will extend way beyond people's physical lives.

Verse 9: "The covenant, which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac; and He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant" (vs 9-10). Paul talks about the 'everlasting covenant' in Heb. 13!

Psalm 113:1: "O praise the LORD! Give praise to the LORD, O you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed is the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down, the LORD'S name is to be praised" (vs 1-3).

Now think of all the things that we said. If you're up in the air, high enough so you can see the earth pass, and you see people coming to Sabbath services and Holy Day services and they begin each day with a morning prayer and the songs, and these things all go up to God. Think of this, this is what's going to be happening daily, from the rising of the sun continually, till it's going down.

Verse 4: "The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, Who looks down low upon the heavens and upon the earth? He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the dunghill" (vs 4-7)—because He chooses the least!

That's why we are here. We are the least. We are the weak. We are the rejected of the world. We are those that nobody else likes or cares for or loves; because we truly love God; and He loves us. This is how then we can always remain humble and yielded to God and not get carried away in our own vanity and stupidity. That's really something, isn't it?

Psa. 122—this is quite a Psalm, because this talks about the thrones for us during the Millennium. Let's think of this as being spirit beings and we are coming to the temple that we described earlier, and we are going to have a visit with Jesus Christ:

Psalm 122:1: "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD.' Our feet shall stand within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is all joined together as one where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD… [we're spiritual Israel] …unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD, for there were set the thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David" (vs 1-5).

Isn't it interesting that the Apostle James, Jesus' brother, likened the Church to the tabernacle of David that had fallen down? That means us! 'thrones of the house of Jacob.' That's also a part of the Millennium and what we're going to be doing as spirit beings.

Verse 6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you prosper. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.' For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, 'Peace be within you.' For of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good" (vs 6-9).

Psa. 148, 149 & 150 are really tremendous Psalms and they finish off all the praise and honor and glory to God. We are all included in this. This is really tremendous, brethren. These Psalms are just fantastic that they conclude the book of Psalms. Because what it's doing, it's praising God for His completed work; praising God for His creating of all of the spirit beings. These are the Psalms then that we can attach to Rev. 21 & 22.

Psalm 148:1: "O praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts" (vs 1-2).

I just wonder if there's going to be a time when we have a Holy Day of all spirit beings—we're all together. And the whole earth filled with those who have entered into the Kingdom of God, and we have a great and we have a fantastic and almost unbelievable worship of God—much like Rev. 5 where there are 10,000 times 10,000 angels which say, 'Worthy of honor and blessing and riches and wealth and glory into the ages of eternity.' So, here we have it. Think of this when we're reading this.

Verse 3: "Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light. Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created" (vs 3-5). All the universe now in complete harmony and joy with God!

Verse 6: "He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which shall not pass away. Let praise be to the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters, and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy winds fulfilling His Word, mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars, beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds, kings of the earth and all people, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children; let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and the heavens. And He has also lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. O praise the LORD!" (vs 6-14).

That is magnificent! I tell you what, that really uplifts me and inspires me, just to think of time when that is going to be. And remember, we are going to be there.

Psalm 149:1: "O praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker … [not only just physical Israel, but spiritual Israel] …let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the drum and lyre, for the LORD takes pleasure in His people… [That means we please Him.] (Now notice what He's going to do): …He crowns the meek with salvation" (vs 1-4).

• that we will have glory
• that we will have honor
• that we will have majesty

of lesser degree, of course, but as God!

Verse 5: "Let the saints be joyful in glory…" I wonder what it's going to be like, as a spirit being? We can wish wherever we want to go. Of course, we're going to have to be righteous so we use it for a good purpose. Isn't that going to be something?

"…let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand… [because that's how we're going to rule with Christ] …to execute vengeance upon the nations and punishments upon the people, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with iron bands, to carry out upon them the judgment written—this honor have all His saints. O praise the LORD!" (vs 5-9).

This is why Psa. 149 applies to the time when we are on the Sea of Glass—when we are first resurrected—and the seven last plagues are poured out upon the earth, and we see the vengeance of God.

Not only that, we help carry it out when we return to the earth with Jesus Christ, and with Him, put our feet on Mt. Zion. You read Zech. 14. The very first thing that's going to happen is God is going to make them keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Just imagine all of the Muslims—now ex-Muslims, hopefully—keeping the Feast of Tabernacles: rejecting Allah, rejecting all of their hatred and their killing, and come like humble, repentant children and worship God and keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Now, if they don't do it, God's going to have some plagues come upon them as He says there in Zech. 14.

Now let's look at a couple of other Psalms before we come to Psa. 150; I want to finis there. It's like we started with Psa. 1, Psa. 150 closes it with great finale. When we think about what God is going to do, let's think about it in these terms:

Psalm 31:19 "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You before the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plottings of man…" (vs 19-20).

That's why I said what God is doing and creating in us is a mystery and the world can't see it. But God is literally doing with His Spirit, in our heart and in our mind.

"…You shall hide them in a shelter away from the strife of tongues. Blessed is the LORD, for He has shown His wondrous loving kindness in a besieged city…" (vs 20-21). Isn't that something?

Verse 23: "O love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud doer. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD" (vs 23-24).

This is what is so great about what God is doing; and for us to understand and realize and grasp and keep in our minds continually. God has called us to the absolutely the greatest thing that we could possibly ever attain to. Nothing can ever be attained in this world that way—NOTHING!

Psalm 37:27—here's what we are to do: "Depart from evil and do good, and live forevermore. For the LORD loves justice and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off" (vs 27-38).

Don't worry about the people in the world. Don't envy them for what they have. Don't envy them for anything at all, because v 29 tells us—and here's a promise:

Verse 29: "The righteous shall inherit the earth and dwell in it forever"—because that's where New Jerusalem is going to be, new heaven and new earth!

Verse 30: "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The Law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide" (vs 30-31)

Psalm 8:1: "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have ordained strength because of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and the avenger" (vs 1-2).

We're the 'babes' in Christ! We are the 'suckling,' we are the off-scouring of the earth. Yet, God has chosen us!

Verse 3: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? For You have made him a little lower than God and have crowned him with glory and honor" (vs 3-5),

At the resurrection God is going to raise us up to His level of existence. Not in power, not in authority, but to His level of existence and share the glorious inheritance of Jesus Christ with all the saints.

Verse 6: "You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands…" Expand that out, that we're going to have dominion, rulership, over all the earth, under Christ!

"…You have put all things under his feet…" (v 6). Then it talks about the physical creation. That's going to be true.

We're going to have rulership and dominion and teaching and being able to help people to learn about God and love God and also, to show them how to take care of the animals, how to take care of the land, how to take care of everything!

Verse 7: "All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the birds of heaven, the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" (vs 7-9).

Now let's see the grand finale of the great calling that God has given us, and the great opportunities that He has laid before us—awesome and magnificent beyond description. But as we have gone through the Psalms to see about the Millennium:

• what we will be like
• how we will serve God
• how we will see God

All of that now culminates in this last Psalm. Now just picture this: all of God's plan completed. All of the wicked burned up in the Lake of Fire. New heavens and earth being made, and here is what we are going to do:

Psalm 150:1: "O praise the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the ram's horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. Praise Him with the drum and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and pipes. Praise Him on the loud cymbals; praise Him with the resounding cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the LORD. O praise the LORD!" (vs 1-6).

I can just, at this moment, have just a little inkling: I wonder if this is going to be the first thing we're going to do when New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven from God?

So, brethren, this is why we're here for the Feast of Tabernacles. That we can know and understand God's way and His plan, our part in it, where we're going, what we're doing and to know that God loves us. He loves you and He has called you for this magnificent purpose!

Scriptural References:

from the book of Psalms:

• 72:1-8,11-14, 16-20
• 84:1-12
• 86:8-15
• 93:1-4
• 96:1-13
• 97:1-3, 6-12
• 98:1-9
• 99:1-9
• 100:1-5
• 102:12-16

• Job 38:1-7
• Job 40:1-14

from the book of Psalms:

• 104:1-5
• 105:1-10
• 113:1-7
• 122:1-9
• 148:1-14
• 149:1-9
• 31:19-21, 23-24
• 37:27-31
• 8:1-9
• 150:1-6

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 21; 22
• 1 John 5:21
• Isaiah 10
• Psalm 19
• Isaiah 41; 42; 43; 44
• Hebrews 11
• Job 39
• Isaiah 41:12
• Genesis 15
• Exodus 12
• Galatians 3
• Hebrews 13
• Revelation 5
• Zechariah 14

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8-13-08
Reformatted/Corrected: 11/2019