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(Last Day Unleavened Bread 2022)
Fred R. Coulter—April 22, 2022
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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to the seventh day, the last day, of the Feast of Unleavened Bread! I hope you've had a good Feast, and I hope you've taken the time to draw close to God:
- in prayer
- in study
- in repentance
- in coming to resolve whatever needs to be resolved in your life
And God helping you to do that!
Here we are on the seventh day, and we're told in Lev. 23—and we always turn there on the Feast days—because this is where God has given the Feast days in sequence with the numbered day according to the Hebrew calendar and the Hebrew months.
Leviticus 23:6: "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD…."
It's not a Jewish feast, though the Jews keep it. But they keep it with all their traditions and their Seder meal. We keep it because Unleavened Bread pictures the righteousness of God that we put into our lives, through prayer and study and God's Spirit. It's much different than what the Jews do.
Verse 7: "…You shall not do any servile work therein, but you shall offer a fire offering to the LORD seven days…." (vs 7-8).
This is a combination of the temple sacrifices, and whatever sacrifices that the people would bring. As we have seen, in Deut. 16 those Passover offerings are actually the offerings to redeem the firstborn! They have nothing to do with Passover Offerings.
They're called Passover Offerings because they were offered on the day portion of the Passover. Then they had the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
"…In the seventh day is a Holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein" (v 8).
We have the offering, we take up the offering and it is what God would want us to do. In fact, as we have seen, He commanded it in Deut. 16, which we covered on the first day.
We come before God in thanksgiving and rejoicing to be able to participate in His Feasts.
(pause for the offering)
This Feast, and the offerings that were given, and also the firstborn redemption offering:
Exodus 13:16: "And it shall be for a token upon your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes, for the LORD brought us out from Egypt by strength of His hand."
This is the theme of this day, of how God acts in our lives:
- to help us
- to strengthen us
- to guide us
- to lead us
in everything!
Our journey is not wandering through the Sinai desert as the children of Israel did. Out journey is living in the world, but at the same time we worship in and serve God ands not the world!
So, we see—beginning in v 17—that the adversary Pharaoh, who is a type of Satan the devil, had second thoughts about having let the children of Israel go. So, let's continue the story:
Verse 17: "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines although that was near, for God said, 'Lest the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.'"
People always look for the easiest way out. Sometimes that doesn't work very well. Here's what God did. He didn't take them straightaway to the land:
Verse 18: "But God led the people toward the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had strictly sworn the children of Israel, saying, 'God will surely visit you, and you shall carry my bones away from here with you'" (vs 18-19).
Verse 20: "And they moved from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, to go by day and night" (vs 20-21).
God was showing that He was close! That cloud everyone could see. God wanted the children of Israel to trust in Him. He had to bring about the circumstances so that they would have no choice but to trust in Him! That choice is also set before us today!
Verse 22—this is for the full 40 years that they wandered: "He did not take away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people."
- God is the One Who is leading
- God is the One Who is giving the instructions
Exodus 14:1: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal Zephon. You shall camp before it by the sea'" (vs 1-2).
This was a narrow strip of land on the western shore of the Red Sea. God deliberately put them there because He knew what He was going to do. The people didn't, but this was going to be a lesson for the people!
He also did it for another purpose, because he wanted to take care of Pharaoh and eliminate Him completely. Remember, God said that He would harden the heart of Pharaoh, so here's how He did it:
Verse 3: "For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are trapped in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.' And I will harden Pharaoh's heart that he will follow them. And I will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army, so that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.'…." (vs 3-4).
God wants to prove His existence also to the world! You would think that the Egyptians already learned that lesson with all the plagues and the killing of the firstborn. So, here we have it.
Verse 5: "And the king of Egypt was told that the people fled. And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people…."
If you have slaves doing all your work, as I've said on occasions, just like with us. How many things do we have in our house, which if we didn't have electricity, would have to be done by people: slaves, servants. That's what the children of Israel did for the Egyptians. Here they were: no one to wait on them, no one to bring them water, no one to bring them food, no one to watch their children, no one to watch whatever that they would do. The slaves were gone. The land was empty and quiet.
When Pharaoh found out that they were by the Red Sea by this narrow strip of land, he figured that he was going to go get them and bring them back. Lots of times Satan will come after us, after we're converted, because he wants to get us or God's control, blessing and Spirit, and take us back into the world!
How many brethren did that? They didn't pass the test!
"…And they said, 'Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?' And he made his chariot ready and took his people with him. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he pursued the children of Israel, and the children of Israel went out with a high hand" (vs 5-8).
When the going gets tough, the lesson we're going to learn today is: We need to rely on God! God will help us!
We don't need to accuse God because things are not going right. We don't need to blame God because it's a difficult situation. He knows! But He will help you out of it!
Verse 9: "So, the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army. And they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And behold, the Egyptians marched after them. And they were very afraid. And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD" (vs 9-10).
Think about what they should have learned with all the plagues brought upon the Egyptians, killing the firstborn and bringing the Israelites out.
Here's what we need to realize: When problems come and difficult times come, don't blame God! They will come and all of these will be tests to see if we believe God! Jesus said in John 16:
My peace I give you, not as the world gives you. In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good courage—so you trust in God—I've overcome the world!
That means that Satan the devil, the world and all the forces that are in it, Jesus overcame!
Here's what happened; they went to Moses and complained!
Verse 11: "And they said to Moses, 'Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness because there were no graves in Egypt? Why have you dealt this way with us to carry us forth out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this word in Egypt, saying, "Let us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians?" for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness'" (vs 11-12).
Looking at it in purely a carnal way. I don't think they were telling him these things the way that they were relating here, because they were crying and sighing under the burden of the slavery that they were in. God sent Moses and Aaron to bring them out of it!
When they left Ramses, they left with a high hand! Cheering and praising God! Singing songs, a wonderful time! Here seven days later they're complaining! Here's the heart and core; the next three verses sum up the whole meaning of seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
We need to look at these things and understand not to give in to carnal thoughts and accusations against God. Why is God doing this to me and why am I going through this? Whenever a difficult time comes, this is what to do, just like Moses said:
Verse 13: "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not!…."
Don't be afraid! Isn't that what Jesus said, 'Don't fear what men can do to you.' They can take your life. But after they've taken your life they have nothing more that they can do! Then we know that your spirit goes back to God and you await the resurrection! They weren't offered that under the covenant with Israel. But the same thing applies.
"…Stand still…" (v 13).
Don't run around and try and figure out what you can do, stand still with God in prayer and study!
"…and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today, for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again! : The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall be still" (vs 13-14).
That's what God is going to do. That's why Paul said that regardless of the circumstances that I am in, I'm always looking to God. He experienced a lot of terrible things to go through. Read 2-Cor. 13 and see all things that the Apostle Paul went through and suffered.
God told Paul when He called him, that he would 'suffer for Me,' and he did!
Verse 14: "'The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall be still.' And the LORD said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward'" (vs 14-15).
When God gets ready to do something, you don't need the weapons of men! God will do it!
Verse 16: "And you—lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And behold, I am about to harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. And I will get honor for Myself upon Pharaoh, and over all his army, over his chariots and over his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen" (vs 16-18).
Fast-forward 40 years! Those in Jericho were afraid of the children of Israel because they knew what God did with the Red Sea. Forty years later that was still known as a fearful event for those in Jericho. They knew that their city was destined for destruction, and that God would be the One Who would do it.
Back to the children of Israel by the Red Sea:
Verse 19: "And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved. And he went to the rear of them…. [here's a narrow strip and He went to the rear of them] …And the pillar of the cloud went from in front of them and it stood behind them."
Here's the pillar of cloud and here are the children of Israel.
Verse 20: "And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. It was a cloud of darkness to one, but gave light by night to the other, so that the two did not come near one another all night."
Look what God is going to do. Think about it this way: Look what God is going to do with all the saints, the patriarchs, the prophets and some of the kings! He's going to resurrect them all! Think about what an astonishing even that will be. But here He's saving the children of Israel.
Verse 21: "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. And the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided."
They were camping in their long column that they were marching in, because it was a very narrow strip of land by the sea. So, to open up the Red Sea for them to walk through, it was a gigantic opening! I don't know how long the column of the children of Israel was, but it could have been as much as ten miles long. We don't know. But that's how wide it was to open the sea.
Let's understand that nothing is impossible for God! Think about what this represented. Think about what this was throughout all the other countries in the Middle East when they found out what God did for the children of Israel. Remembered 40 years later by those in the city of Jericho!
Verse 22: "And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground…. [it had to be a quick journey across] …And the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the middle of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch it came to pass that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and the army of the Egyptians was thrown into confusion" (vs 22-24).
That's what God does! Look at how many times when they were conquering the Canaanites in the land of Canaan that God had given them for an inheritance. God fought with them as along as they trusted in Him! He would cause them [the enemies] to be confused! At other times he would cause the battle to be where the soldiers would turn one against the other and kill each other.
So, God has many ways of working out His purpose and power! Here's what God did:
Verse 25: "And He loosened their chariot wheels… [they came off; think about that] …and made them go heavily, so that the Egyptians said, 'Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.'"
There's no escape for them! When they got to that point, think about this, the chariot drivers were coming down full gallop with the horses, and they get right in the middle of the Red Sea and then God makes it all into mud down there, very heavy. Their wheels come off! There they are, the horses can't go any further! The chariots can't go any further! They're really stuck in the mud!
Then what did God do? He told Moses to raise his staff and close the sea! BOOM! Killed them all!
Verse 26: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.'"
- Talk about a fight!
- Talk about a rejoicing!
Read about all of that in Exo. 15! They had dancing, singing, and they were collecting all of spoil that was thrown into the water along the edge of the sea after the waters closed down. That was quite a thing!
I want you to think about your life!
- What is the greatest thing that God has done for you?
- Is it not calling you out of this world?
- Is it not giving you His Holy Spirit?
- Is it not helping you to understand His plan and purpose?
- Is it not that we're going to be like God as His sons and daughters?
What a great thing that is going to be!
When the resurrection takes place, and that's the next Holy Day—Pentecost—that's going to be something for us to really rejoice in.
We're going to spend a lot of time with the Psalms, because David was a man after God's heart! But David had trouble after trouble after trouble! The reason he was a man after God's heart is because he always trusted in God! Likewise with the Prophets and the Patriarchs.
Psa. 73—this happens to all of us. Most of the rest of the time will be in the Psalms, because here we find God's promises to help us, to intervene for us. This is quite interesting the way that it starts out. And notice what he admits. Sometimes these things happen to us in a very similar way.
Psalm 73:1—a Psalm of Asaph, one of the priests: "Truly God is good to Israel, even to those who are pure of heart."
Notice v 2, and you can probably identify with this, because when you go through a trial and you're not trusting God, you get to it the same way that Asaph did.
Verse 2: "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped."
Why? Because he wasn't looking to God! He was looking at the circumstances out here. Today, with as much wealth and everything that we have today, that's an easy thing to do. A lot of us can identify with what he says. Why did his steps nearly slip?
Verse 3: "For I was envious at the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
Isn't that true? Look at the elite and the super-rich, and those who are in Satan's system and he protects them from having to give account or be tried and be put into jail!
But people who trust in God, even today, some of them are being put into prison right now. Over in Finland, if you try and confess Jesus Christ you may end up in jail. Well, it's going to come here (to the U.S.) too!
Verse 4: "For there are no pangs in their death, and their strength is firm." No one can get rid of them, or convict them!
Verse 5: "They are not in trouble like other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore, pride is as a chain about their neck…." Doesn't that describe Hillary Clinton completely?
"…Violence covers them like a garment… [yes, they can kill and get away with it] …Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than the heart could wish for. They scoff and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression" (vs 5-8).
Isn't that what we have seen going on in Canada, before the Feast of Unleavened Bread? An amazing thing!
Verse 9: "They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore, waters of abundance are drunk by them. And they say, 'How does God know?….'" (vs 9-11).
They're all looking to themselves as 'God'! all looking to have now the 'post human'; human beings that are connected to computers! It's becoming a reality!
Look at how great we are! We're 'God'! There's no God, look at what we'redoing!
"…'How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?' Behold, these are the wicked, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Surely I have made my heart pure in vain…" (vs 11-13).
'Is it really worth it being a Christian?' we could express it today with all the difficulties we go through?
"…and washed my hands in innocence, for all the day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning" (vs 13-14).
Seems like it won't let up! Sometimes it goes that way! Well, that's why we need to trust in God! But look at what Asaph was doing. Remember where we started, he was looking at the people in the world, comparing himself with them, rather than looking to God! So, Asaph complained:
Verse 15: "If I say, 'I will speak thus'; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me" (vs 15-16).
A hard thing to think about, the difficulties that he was going through. A lot of people in the Church go through, also! Why? Asaph gives the answer; here is what you do:
Don't look at the world and how things are and think somehow that all that I'm going through is not fair. Why can't God give me a little relief? He will!
Verse 16: "When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me until I went into the sanctuary of God…" (vs 16-17).
A priest going right into the sanctuary. Today we go into the sanctuary in heaven above by getting on our knees and praying to God! That's what you need to do! Instead of thinking about what appears to be unfair about all these evil people in the world prospering, and here we are struggling day-by-day to grow, change and overcome. It seems like an impossible task! The key to understanding is get right with God by coming to Him!
"…then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down into destruction. How have they been brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors, like a dream when one awakens; so, O LORD, when You awake, You shall despise their image, for thus my heart was grieved and I was pricked in my reins" (vs 17-21).
- here is repentance
- here is change of attitude
- here is coming to God to make it right
Asaph confessed his sin and said:
Verse 22: "So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You." He had a lot of attitude change to work on!
Verse 23: "Nevertheless, I am always with You; You have held me by my right hand. You shall guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (vs 23-24).
Now then, he gets the connection between God and him personally. That's what it's all about! We need brethren and those we associate and fellowship with. Pray for one another, help one another, all of those things. That's all coming into the mix in this, as well.
Verse 25: "Whom have I in heaven but You?…. [God the Father and Jesus Christ] …And besides You I desire none upon earth."
That's something! That's the perspective and the way!
Verse 26: "My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the Rock of my heart and my portion forever."
We are in this for eternity! That's why we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That's why we come to God for God to give us of His righteousness, His Truth and to give us the strength to overcome the sin:
- to put it out
- to be convicted
- to have knowledge
- to have understanding
- to have the kind of faithfulness to God and trusting Him
Verse 27: "For lo, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all who go a whoring from You." That's going to be in the Lake of Fire!
Verse 28: "And me, it is good for me to draw near to God…"
That's the solution; not complaining like the children of Israel, but this is the solution:
"…I have made the LORD God my refuge, that I may declare all Your works" (v 28).
That's quite a thing, and a great lesson that Asaph went through so that we can know and understand what we need to do today! That's why the Word of God is so great, so wonderful and so powerful!
That's why we need to really study it and pray; draw close to God, especially in these days that we can do it before the troubles come. The troubles are going to come,and we're going to have to have the trust in God! We're also going to have to have the mind of Christ, where our mind is set as a flint!
We may even have to become militant to the point of declaring the power of God, and what God is going to do!
(break@42:43)
Let's continue with the theme of the last day of Unleavened Bread, that:
- God will help us
- we can trust in Him
- we can look to Him in everything
Don't look to the world and what is out there, because what God has to offer is so much greater!
As you go through some of these Psalms, and study the Psalms. Especially when you pray, it would be a good idea to open the Psalms so you can read them and help you be able to begin your prayer to God. That will really connect you:
- God's Spirit in you
- God's Word that you're reading
- what you're praying
All work together for good!
Psalm 54:1: "Save me, O God… [that's where salvation comes from] …by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might."
This could very well have been a prayer of Jesus, a prophetic prayer of what He would have prayed!
Verse 2: "Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth, for strangers have risen up against me, and violent men seek after my soul; they have not set God before them. Selah" (vs 2-3)—think on that!
These are all things that we need to have in our heart and mind so that we can have the strength when difficult times come and we turn to God and we look to God.
Verse 4: "Behold, God is my helper; the LORD is with those who uphold my soul." That's an amazing thing, isn't it?
Verse 5: "He shall reward evil to my enemies."
Think about all the things that are going to happen—as recorded in prophecy in the book of Revelation—to the enemies:
- to those who hate God
- to Satan the devil
- to the demons
- to the elite
- to their armies
- to their governments
God is going to take care of them!
Verse 6: "I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good, for He has delivered me out of all trouble… [not just a trouble or some troubles, but all troubles] …and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies" (vs 6-7). We will be able to see that the same way!
Psa. 57—here is how we are to pray to God and look to God. This is why the Word of God is so great and wonderful. It conveys to us spiritually what God has put into it so that we can be encouraged and inspired. So we can have that connection with God, and look to Him for everything!
Psalm 57:1: "Be gracious unto me, O God, be gracious unto me; for my soul trusts in You…" Not our own devices, not other people, but in God!
"…yea, in the shadow of Your wings…" (v 1).
When you're in the shadow of God's protection, people can't see that protection! But you experience it!
"…I will make my refuge until these great troubles pass by" (v 1)—and they will!
Look at all the things that you have gone through, and they will all pass by!
Verse 2: "I will cry to God Most High, to God Who fulfills His purpose for me."
Think on this: God the Father and Jesus Christ have a specific purpose for each and every one that He calls. We won't realize the fullness of that until the resurrection and we're all on the Sea of Glass. Then we will know! God is a God of purpose, and purpose for each one of us individually!
Verse 3: "He shall send from heaven and save me; He rebukes him who would swallow me up. Selah…." He does that! I can tell you that by personal experience.
"…God shall send forth His mercy and His Truth" (v 3).
That's what we need! God's mercy and God's Truth in everything that we do! That's why we pray, study, fast and draw close to God.
Then David talks about all the enemies that were after him. But in spite of all of that:
Verse 7: "My heart is fixed…"—not going to change:
- it is fixed
- it is established
- it is strong
"…O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise: (v 7). That's something!
Just think about what it's going to be like at the resurrection when we're all on the same Sea of Glass. We're going to sing and bring praises to God. What is that going to be like? All of us with all the saints, patriarchs, apostles, all of our brethren down through the centuries! All of us gathered together singing praise to God!
Remember what it says in Rev. 19? We sing Hallelujah! It says that three times!
Verse 8: "Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I myself will awake the dawn. I will praise You, O LORD, among the people; I will sing of You among the nations, for Your steadfast mercy is great even unto the heavens and Your Truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the earth" (vs 8-11).
Think about what that's going to be like during the Millennium, and what we're going to be doing during the Millennium to bring these things about.
Psa. 37 is a tremendous Psalm, with praises, promises and all of those all mixed in together. Also, how we can have the right attitude in the middle of all of this:
- have confidence
- have knowledge
- have trust
- have belief
Psalm 37:1: [1]"Do not fret yourself because of evildoers…"
Don't look at what they do, and they're prospering as we found in Psa. 73
"…and do not be envious against the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass; and wither as the green herb" (vs 1-2). Don't have anything to do with the way of the world!
Verse 3: "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cherish faithfulness."
See how that all works together. IFyou cherish it, love it and love God, there it is!
Verse 4: "Delight yourself in the LORD…"
- be happy
- be thankful
- be grateful
- for God's love
- for God's grace
- for God's intervention in you life
- for understanding His Word
- for Him giving us of His Spirit
"…and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (v 4).
He won't hold back any good thing! A lot of this comes at the resurrection.
Verse 5: Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in Him…"—just like we just read:
My heart is fixed! My heart is fixed! Unmovable!
"…and He will bring it to pass" (v 5). God will make it happen! We can count on it, because God cannot lie! His Word is true!
Verse 6: "And He shall bring forth your righteousness like the light, and your judgment like the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him…" (vs 6-7).
Notice again, a little warning. Notice how this is all intermixed in this tremendous Psalm!
[2]"…do not fret yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of him who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; [3]do not fret yourself… [don't be frustrated] …it leads only to evil" (vs 7-8). God is going to take care of it!
Verse 9: "For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."
Verse 11: "But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." We're going to bring peace to the whole world!
Here's what we need to understand, because if you are in contact with God—with prayer, study, fasting, yielding to Him—and you look out and see the world and all of these people prospering, remember this:
Verse 16: "Better is the little that a righteous man has than the riches of many wicked."
Here it is again in v 22; these are promises and God can't lie. We can rely on them and be inspired, encouraged and uplifted.
Verse 22: "For those blessed of Him shall inherit the earth; and those cursed of Him shall be cut off."
Here's what we are to do, and this is the whole theme of Unleavened Bread:
Verse 27: "Depart from evil…" During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, during these seven days, leaven is a type of sin:
- pride
- arrogance
- selfishness
- sinfulness
- vanity
All of that!
"…and do good, and live forevermore" (v 27)—that's the goal, eternal life!
Verse 28: "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. The righteous shall inherit the earth and dwell in it forever" (vs 28-29)
How many times does David say that we will inherit the earth? Think about that!
It tells us in Rom. 8 that if we are heirs, we're joint heirs with Jesus Christ! The whole earth!
Verse 23: "The steps of a good man are made firm by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the LORD upholds him with His hand" (vs 23-24).
That's something! That's true! In this next verse, I can say that I can identify with it. A lot of us, because there are a lot of gray hairs out there.
Verse 25: "I have been young…"
We look back to when we were young and now we look at ourselves:
"…and now I am old… [seen everything that goes on] …yet, I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread. All the day long he deals graciously and lends, and his children are blessed. Depart from evil and do good, and live forevermore. For the LORD loves justice and does not forsake His saints… (vs 25-28).
He is with us to help us and to guide us, regardless of how dire the circumstances may appear!
"…they are preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the earth and dwell in it forever" (vs 28-29).
He says this several times; that's a statement, indeed!
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).
These are really some Psalms, the words of God given through His servants—David and some of the priests—so that we can read them and understand. So that we can have hope in them! So that we can look to the plan and purpose of God, that He will carry it out!
- God is true
- God is love
- God cannot lie
These things will take place! It's going to be a wonderful, glorious day when they do!
Verse 34: "Wait on the LORD and keep His way… [never give up, even though it's tough] …and He shall exalt you to inherit the earth; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it."
This whole Psalm is really a wonderful thing! All the Psalms that we're covering are these things:
- to inspire us
- to help us
- to give us confidence
So that we can go forward! Remember that Jesus said that the times ahead of us are going to be the worst that has never been this bad since the beginning of the world!
- we need God's Spirit
- we need God's help
- we need His strength
- we need His Word
Verse 38: "But the sinners shall be destroyed together… [in the Lake of Fire] …the prosperity of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble" (vs 38-39).
And we will face it; Jesus said we would!
Verse 40: "And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them because they take refuge in Him."
See how good that is! One of the reasons David was 'a man after God's heart' is because he understood that without God He was nothing! He understood that everything came from God. That's why when the sin of Bathsheba occurred, God really had to correct David.
Look at all these Psalms that have been put together telling about the close relationship with God, and then he slipped and let that happen! That's another whole subject!
Psalm 70:1: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD."
Sometimes we need help immediately! God is there to do it!
Verse 2: "Let them be ashamed and confounded, those who seek after my soul; let them be turned backward and put to confusion, those who desire my hurt."
Everyone was after him! Even rebellion by his offspring to see who would be the successor to David when he died.
Verse 3: "Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame, those who say, 'Aha, aha!'…. [now we've go him] …Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say without ending, 'Let God be magnified.'…. [all comes from God] …But I am poor and needy; make haste unto me, O God; You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, wait no longer!" (vs 3-5).
That's quite a thing! We could go through other Psalms that cover more of these things. In Isa. 41 we have the same thing, over and over again, that:
- God is there
- He will help us
- He will be with us
- He will lead us
- He will guide us
Think about this from this point of view:
God has given His Holy Spirit to us! Jesus said that 'the one who loves Me—which we do, we love God with all our heart, mind, soul and being—will keep My Word'! The Father will send the Holy Spirit and WE—God the Father and Christ—will make Our abode—dwelling place—with him/her, individually, from God!
So, we have God the Father and Jesus Christ in us! In our mind! United with the spirit of man that God gave us at conception! Now we're being created in the likeness and image of God to be spirit beings, as God is God!
That's why even in troubles and difficulties, we need to rejoice! We need to think on how much God has done for us—called us and taught us—and given us all these things that He has given freely!
Isaiah 41:8: "But you, Israel… [just put your name there] …are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen… [we're the called, the chosen and the faithful] …the seed of Abraham, My friend."
Everything in the Bible comes from Abraham (Gen. 15). We're all connected with that!
Verse 9: "Whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called you from its uttermost parts. And I said to you, 'You are My servant; I have chosen you, and have not cast you away.'"
Think about that individually to you, because you put your name there!
Verse 10: "Do not fear; for I am with you… [even in the most stark and trying times] …be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will strengthen you…"—because we need to fight against:
- Satan
- the world
- self
"…yea, I will help you…" (v 10):
- spiritually
- mentally
- emotionally
- through His Word
- through His Truth
- through circumstances
"…yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness" (v 10).
Then He talks about the wicked and they're not going be around anymore. That's the day we're looking forward to.
Verse 13: "For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'"
That is really tremendous! We know that there's nothing going to hold us back!
Verse 14: "'Do not fear, you worm Jacob and men of Israel; I will help you,' says the LORD and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
This is quite a thing that we can count on and look to. We can understand and realize that God is with us, and that there is nothing, nothing that is going to separate us from God. We fix our heart so that we're always right with God through Christ!
Rom. 8—you know where I'm going and what I'm going to read, because this is the theme of the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Here's how Paul put it. Of course, he was familiar with all the Psalms and had a close relationship with God. He had visions from God. God revealed to him tremendous things for the New Testament that we need to understand, because these are the words of eternal life!
Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…"
That's why it's important everyday to pray about the first and greatest commandment: loving God with all your, mind, soul and strength, and that He will help us to do that! Lead us to do that!
"…to those who are called according to His purpose" (v 28).
As we read, God is working out His purpose for each one of us!
Verse 29: "Because those whom He did foreknow… [that's us before the resurrection] …He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His own Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren."
Notice that God looks forward to the finished product, because He knows that it's going to be.
Verse 30: "Now, whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified…"
- through the sacrifice of Christ
- through the forgiveness of sin
- through the shed blood
- through everything about the life, death and resurrection of Christ
"…and whom He justified, these He also glorified" (v 30)—prophetic perfect, yet to come!
We have a temporary glory now with the Spirit of God in us, but when we're resurrected, we'll have the fullness of glory!
Verse 31: "What then shall we say to these things?…. [these are awesome thing, indeed] …If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Jesus said, 'Fear Him Who can take life and cast you into Gehenna! But don't fear those who are against you.'
Verse 32: "He Who did not spare even His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also grant us all things together with Him? Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God? God is the One Who justifies" (vs 32-33).
- It doesn't matter what they say about us
- It doesn't matter what they think about us
- It doesn't make one bit of difference
- God is the One Who justifies
- God is the One Who saves
- God is the One Who is going help
Verse 34: "Who is the one that condemns? It is Christ Who died, but rather, Who is raised again, Who is even now at the right hand of God, and Who is also making intercession for us. What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation…" (vs 34-35).
Think about what Paul went through (2-Cor. 11)—all those things, the tribulations, trials, beatings—everything that he had to go through.
"…or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (v 35).
All of those are terrible things to contemplate! But if our heart is fixed, we'll get through it; God will help us! He's promised that!
Verse 36: "Accordingly, it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter.' But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us" (vs 36-37).
That's quite a thing! God loves us! Christ loves us! They want us in the Kingdom. That's why They have these Holy Days! That's why They've given us Their Spirit!
Verse 38: "For I am persuaded that neither death…"—because you'll be resurrected!
"…nor life…"—nothing in this life is going to take us away from God!
"…nor angels…"—demons are not going to get after us and take us down!
"…nor principalities, nor powers…"—those things of Satan the devil!
"…nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 38-39).
Remember, Jesus said, 'I will help you, I will never leave you or forsake you!'
That's the meaning of this day, the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread!
Scriptural References:
- Leviticus 23:6-8
- Exodus 13:16-22
- Exodus 14:1-26
- Psalm 73:1-28
- Psalm 54:1-7
- Psalm 57:1-3, 7-11
- Psalm 37:1-9, 11, 16, 22, 27-29, 23-31, 34, 38-40
- Psalm 70:1-5
- Isaiah 41:8-10, 13-14
- Romans 8:28-39
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Deuteronomy 16
- John 16
- 2 Corinthians 13
- Exodus 15
- Revelation 19
- Genesis 15
- 2 Corinthians 11
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3/13/22
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