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Psalm 141: Christ as the Incense of Prayer

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INTRODUCTION

We now come to the final decade of psalms. We first began this series almost twenty years ago—when some of you young marrieds were still pre-school. This might make us feel odd in all sorts of ways, but one thing it should remind us of is the fact that Scripture is a vast storehouse of treasures, and one lifetime doesn’t even begin to touch it. 

THE TEXT

“Lord, I cry unto thee: Make haste unto me; Give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties. Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: And let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: In thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape” (Psalm 141:1-10). 

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

The psalmist is in real trouble, and he cries out to the Lord, urging the Lord to hurry up (v. 1). He asks the Lord to treat the prayer as incense, and the lifting of his hands as the evening sacrifice (v. 2).  He prays that God would set a guard over his mouth. This could be taken generally, but remember that he is the middle of praying (v. 3). He asks the Lord not to incline his heart to wickedness, or to become a companion of iniquitous men. He doesn’t want to share in their dainties (v. 4). He would rather a righteous man strike him than for a wicked man to feed him caviar (v. 5). A righteous blow would be a kindness. The psalmist prays against the wicked (v. 5). When their judges are thrown off a cliff, they will hear David’s words (v.  6). As when someone plows up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol (v. 7). This is likely the trouble that occasioned the psalm in the first place. But he still looks to the Lord, expecting deliverance (v. 8). His adversaries are cunning, and so he prays that he not fall into their traps and engines (v. 9). Not only does he seek deliverance, he asks that their wicked stratagems backfire on them (v. 10).

PALACE INTRIGUES

We cannot say definitively, but this psalm is likely from before David was king, when he was out in the wilderness, and Saul was still on the throne. David was out there because of Saul’s paranoia, and because of various lies told about him at court (1 Sam. 26:19). The fact that he wants his outstretched hands to serve as the evening sacrifice indicates that he is being kept away from the place of worship. The scattered bones around the mouth of Sheol some take as scattered bones because of the words of Saul, referring to the slaughter of the priests by Doeg the Edomite. Surrounding all of this, we can see that the plots David is concerned about here is appear to be schemes in the plans of the wicked party in Israel. The cause of God looks to be hanging by a thread.    

THE BLOWS OF A HAMMER

The ungodly could overthrow David in two ways. First, their plots and traps could work. Courageous men do not fear open battle, but they despise secret plots. One of the ways they could work is by provoking David into an exasperated and unguarded response. This is why he asks Jehovah to set a guard on his mouth. He does not want to be goaded into saying something stupid, which could be then twisted around and used against him. 

But he also knows that the reason for their antipathy is because he is on the Lord’s side. They could overcome him through an enticing and flattering bribery. Come, sit with us. Come, eat with us. Here is a platter filled with dainties. The temptation here is to turn coat, and David asks for protection from all of it—whether hostility or seduction. 

He knows the antithesis. When he says, “let the righteous strike me,” the word for strike is a forceful one, like a hammer blow (Is. 41:7). He would rather have that than to have a butler in the mansions of the wicked offer him a delectable delicacy. Rebuke a wise man and he will love you (Prov. 9:8). He knows the antithesis. When the tables finally turn, and the evil judges he is dealing with are thrown off a cliff, he knows that his words will be validated then. The word for overthrow is the same word that was used for pitching Jezebel down from the balcony (2 Kings 9:33).    

INCENSE RISING

The comparison of prayer to rising incense is made in various places in Scripture. “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints” (Revelation 5:8). “And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:4).

Following the suggestion of John Owen, if we compare our prayers to the offering of incense, we can take four spiritual lessons from it. 

First, the incense needed to be ground, crushed, or pounded before it was used. Don’t offer up wholesale prayers. Prayer must proceed from a contrite heart. Second, the incense is of no use whatever unless there is fire under it, and it needs to be fire from the altar. Third, the incense was designed to ascend into the heavens. Set your minds on things above. And last, it resulted in a sweet aroma before the Lord.

Christ is our ultimate prayer, and He was crushed for us (Luke 22:44). Christ came to earth to cast fire (Luke 12:49). Christ ascended into the heavenly places, there to intercede for us (Acts 1:9). And He was offered up to God as a sweet-smelling aroma (Eph. 5:2). We pray in the name of Christ because Christ is our ultimate prayer.

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How to Be a Christian Kid #3

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INTRODUCTION

One of the best ways for a Christian child to honor his father and mother is to surpass them. If a child outgrows his parents in love for Christ, in knowledge of the Bible, and in a true grasp of what the gospel is all about, no one who truly loves God can begrudge it. And there is a paradox involved in it. One of the best ways to surpass your parents is to make sure you look up to them. The first will be last, and the last first.  

THE TEXT

“Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; Who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God” (Psalm 78:1–8). 

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

This psalm contains much that we could consider, but I would like to draw out one basic lesson from the first eight verses. This passage outlines for us how a younger generation might surpass their parents in spiritual maturity. Asaph begins by exhorting the people to listen to the words of his mouth (v. 1). The next verse is cited by Matthew (Matt. 13:35) as an explanation for why Jesus taught in parables. Here is it “dark sayings of old,” and in Matthew it is things “kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Whatever else this is, it is big. The people have heard and known about them (on the surface at least) because their fathers told them (v. 3), and the sayings will be passed on to the generation to come (v. 4). What will be passed on? The answer is the praises of the Lord, His strength, and His wonderful works (v. 5). A testimony was established in Jacob, and a law in Israel, which was a command to “our fathers” (v. 5), that they might teach their children (v. 5). This was so that the next generation would know, and in turn instruct their children (v. 6). To what end? That they might hope in God, not forget the works of God, and keep His commandments (v. 7). This would have the good effect of enabling them to not be like their fathers—stubborn, rebellious, wobbly, and with a spirit that was not steadfast (v. 8).

In sum, the fathers hand down the memory of God’s mighty works so that their children might learn to not be like them. Honor your parents. Respect them. Look up to them. Listen to them. And do not imitate their frailties and sins.   

NO HUMAN AUTHORITY IS ABSOLUTE

The Bible teaches us that human authorities are true authorities. They have been given this position by God. This is true of civic authorities (Rom. 13:1-7), it is true of church leaders (Heb. 13:7, 17), and it is true of parents (Dt. 5:16). God has established these three institutions directly, and He commands us to honor them all.

At the same time, Scripture also teaches us that this is a fallen world, and so it has to be recognized that no human authority is absolute. There are times when all these authorities must be disobeyed and disregarded. Their authority is not absolute. This is true of civic authorities (Acts 5:29), it is true of church authorities (3 John 9), and it is true of family authority (1 Sam. 25:25). And this means, children, that your parents do not have the authority to require you to sin, and they do not have the authority to require you to be silent about their sin against you or your siblings (e.g. if there is real abuse). Of course, check your motives before resisting. But how do you do that? One of the best ways is to be as obedient as possible in all the areas where there is no conflict between your family culture and Scripture. 

HOLDING YOU TO YOUR BAPTISM

The fact that you are still young does not set aside the requirements of Christian discipleship. When the apostle Paul wrote the book of Ephesians, he wrote to all the different kinds of members. He wrote to husbands and wives. He wrote to slave owners. He wrote to slaves. And he wrote to kids. You are part of this. It is not the case that you are not called to be diligent Christians only after you get to a certain height or weight. The name of Christ is on you now.

You are not old enough to have long-established habits of reading the Scriptures and praying to God. That might seem like a disadvantage, but if you flip it around it means you have the great advantage of establishing these habits while the concrete is still wet. You are in the same position that Timothy was in. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). The word for child here is brephos, which would be better translated as infant. Timothy heard the Scriptures from infancy.

But as you do, make sure you grasp the inner logic. Make sure you learn the secret that was hidden from the foundation of the world. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; And he will shew them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14). 

BRING IT ALL BACK AROUND

In the sixth chapter of John, the Lord Jesus has an encounter with the people that illustrates how the dark sayings of old both hid and transmitted a knowledge of God. Jesus saw that the people were going to make Him a king by force (John 6:15), and so He evaded them. They tracked Him down at Capernaum, and Jesus said they were as interested as they were because “they did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (v. 26). Don’t labor for that kind of food, but rather for the food that lasts forever, Jesus said (v. 27). They asked Him what they should do in order to work the works of God (v. 28). Jesus told them that they should believe on the one who was sent (v. 29). The people replied by asking for a sign, quoting our psalm as they did so (Ps. 78:24). And Jesus said that Moses did give them bread from Heaven, but what they really needed was the true bread from Heaven (vv. 32-35). And He was that true bread. 

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Salvation Belongs to the Lord (King’s Cross)

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A Universal Song from A Particular Situation
Psalm 3 in Light of 2 Samuel 14-19

The Four Step Movement of Psalm 3

1) Tell God What’s Happening
2) Remember Who God Is and What He’s Done For You
3) Face Your Fears, Trust in God, and Ask Big Things from Him
4) Praise God for His Salvation and Blessing

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The Messiah’s Speech – CCD

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INTRODUCTION

The first two Psalms form a sort of introduction to the Psalter. Where Psalm 1 introduces us to the contrast between the blessed life of walking with God and the miserable life of walking with the scoffers and evildoers, Psalm 2 presents an eschatological vision. The first Psalm tells us how to live in the here and now, and the second Psalm goes on to lay before us the glorious future under the global reign of the Messiah.

THE TEXT

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.

Psalms 2:1-12

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

This Psalm pits mankind’s word against the Word of God’s Messiah. This song opens with the question which often confronts God’s people (v1). Why do the goyim rage? Why do the people have brains full of daydreams? Earth’s kings & rulers have called a war-council to determine what to do about Yahweh & the one He has Anointed (v2); they issue the results of their council: “let us overthrow the Almighty (v3).”

How does God respond to this challenge? He laughs (v4). Then He replies with the Word of His wrath (v5). What judgement shall these rebels bring forth upon themselves? How will He vex them? Despite their raging, despite their protests, despite their vanity, His anointed King shall reign from Zion (v6).

The Messiah then speaks. He reveals to the nations God’s decree. This Christ is Yahweh’s begotten Son (v7; Cf. 2 Sam. 7:14). This Sonship comes with the right to ask of the Most High for an inheritance of nations (v8, Cf. 1 Kg. 3:5, ); the Anointed Son might shepherd the nations firmly to either obedience or damnation (v9). He has every right to crush the nations into powder. But He holds out wisdom to the kings of the nations (v10). Obey His imperatives. Serve Yahweh with joyful reverence (v11). Kiss His Son in humble love, and so His lawful wrath might be removed (v12). This done, all the covenant blessings of Eden & Sinai held out in Psalm 1 are offered to these nations by trusting in the Christ of Yahweh.

 

AN APOSTOLIC FAVORITE

At the Apostolic Psalm-sings this second Psalm was likely a crowd favorite. It is one of the most cited Psalms in the NT. After Peter and John’s examination before the Chief Priests, after healing the lame man, the early Christians lift up a prayer with one accord. This congregational prayer quotes this Psalm and applies it to Herod, Pilate, and the threatening of the chief priests and elders (Cf. Acts 4:24-31). The wicked opposition to Christ had been foretold by David’s Psalm, and this emboldens the early church to stand courageous even in the face of the threatenings of those same rulers. A sort of second Pentecost takes place at the offering of this prayer.

Verse 7 is cited three times, once in Acts13:33; and twice in Hebrews (1:5 & 5:5). In Acts the thrust is that Christ’s resurrection was a new birth which affirmed that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and therefore the heir of all the earth. While Hebrews asserts that Jesus total ministry was a proof of His Sonship, and thus a better ministry than the Angels or Aaron. Luke also records two moments where the Father declares the Sonship of the Christ, at Jesus’ baptism and at the transfiguration (Lk. 3:22, 9:35). Jesus baptism, an anointing of sorts, is immediately followed by the temptation in the wilderness, where one of Satan’s temptations was offering Jesus all the nations (Cf. Ps. 2:8).

Finally, verses 8-9 are either alluded to or directly cited by John as He describes the just wrath of the Lamb upon unbelieving Israel (Rev. 2:26,27; 12:5; 19:15). John saw the judgement on Jerusalem as an example of how the Ascended Christ was fulfilling His calling to break the nations and rule them with an iron scepter.

THE MESSIAH’S WISDOM

It should be plainly seen that the way God vexes rebel kings, the way He subdues raging nations, is by the Word. The Father sent the Word, in the Flesh, and now that Word issues His Word to the nations.

Jesus offers true wisdom, not just for kings & rulers, but for all mankind. He is depicted as a Shepherd King alike to David. The LXX translates “breaks” the nations as rule/shepherd the nations. The Good Shepherd is not a pushover. He will shepherd the nations to adhere to His commandments. It is apparent that for the Apostles, they viewed this Psalm as being fulfilled in Christ’s ascension. 

This means that as the body of the Anointed our proclamation of the Word is an outworking of the Good Shepherd’s commission to us to teach and disciple the nations. This Psalm inspired great missionary movements, going to all the ends of the earth to serve the Shepherd King in gathering His flock from every nation. So, what are the missionaries, according to Psalm 2, tasked with teaching the nations? To come near to Christ. To learn the wisdom of this better Solomon. To rejoice while trembling.

THE INEVITABLE

Christ reigns from Zion. This is not a far off dream. This is not a description of some day in eternity. The kings & rulers sought to thwart the coronation of Christ Jesus by slaying Him, but by His resurrection He displayed that God’s eternal purpose was not derailed. Christ arose from the grave. So not even death can stop the inevitable reign of Christ over all nations and distant isles.

This brings a great deal of implications for all spheres of human life. If Christ is the King of all nations, He is reigning over them now, He is shepherding them now. All of His commands pertain to all people from all nations. His commands to husbands to cherish their wives as they do their own body is not confined merely to Christian husbands. Parenting is not a clinical or medical proposition, for Christ commands fathers and mothers to raise their children in the nurture of the Lord; for parents to refuse to do so is to bring down the fierce wrath of the Lamb upon themselves. And what of a nation that doesn’t wince at aborting their offspring en masse?

Indeed, the scope of Christ’s jurisdiction is both global and personal. He is Lord of all, and He is Lord of you. There are two options, and only two, be Shepherded by the Shepherd who laid down His life for the flock, or be dashed to pieces by the Potter who can dispose of malformed vessels as He sees fit. What you can’t do is ignore this Anointed One which God the Father has enthroned in Zion. Here, in the gathering of the saints, Christ reigns, Christ feeds us, Christ Shepherds us, and sends us forth to bring all nations to enjoy the promised blessing of trusting in Him.

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