From Knowledge To Power
Tremendous Blessings From Responding To The Voice Of God
The Holy Scriptures brilliantly bristle with truth on many levels. Find out about the deeper meanings of Mounts Tabor and Hermon, along with a few more shimmering facets in a portion of Psalm 89!
Yes, I know the warning, “No User Serviceable Parts”, is there to protect people from harm (and the manufacturers from lawsuits), but I am of the opinion it is there for at least one more reason. Aside from protecting the consumer and staying out of lawsuits, some manufacturers do not want to miss a dollar by letting us fix some of our own things. Years back I learned how to repair some electrical gadgets on my own, saving money and time. But I feel the buyer saving money is contrary to making money on the part of some companies.
Generally, for most people, the more you know the better off you are. Despite the fact I have seen people that cannot count change or even read, hopefully most people learned about fulcrums and levers. With that knowledge you can steady a very heavy teetering object by carefully raising it up and putting a block of wood under it.
Knowledge like that opens the door to power, the ability to do things some might think cannot be done.
Provided one does it through Christ, the more one knows, the more spiritual power they will have. Psalm 89 declares it so in verses 11 to 18. Let us take a look at that portion in the following way.
I. Realize Gods Sovereignty 11-12
“The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all it contains, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.”
Personally knowing and trusting in the sovereignty of God through Christ brings tremendous peace and strength in our inner man. One that truly knows Christ can have the peace of God no matter who rules their nation, what flag flies over it, or who threatens to overthrow it. Whether it is an issue like that, or something simply personal, it is good to have faith and trust God to work things out according to His will. We might suffer earthly harm and loss, but as we remain steadfast in Christ, we have eternal gain and blessing.
The heavens could refer to the atmosphere with its clouds above the earth, the celestial heaven, or the spiritual heaven. Given the fact it is rendered here in the plural, and considering the context, I would be inclined to think it is all three. Also notice that the Holy Spirit moved upon the psalmist to use earth and world. This can be taken to mean the physical earth and, for the spiritual realm, the world system.
Regarding north and south, the Holy Spirit did not have Ethan to say the typical phrase, from Dan to Beersheba. So I sensed this speaks that though satan {1} is the prince of this world (John 16:11), God is certainly the ultimate sovereign.
One would think that if north and south are mentioned, then east and west should be next to denote Gods geographical dominion, but that is not how the Holy Spirit directed Ethan. Instead Mounts Tabor and Hermon are presented. Hermon is just north of the territory that would belong to Israel’s tribe of Dan. Tabor lies just east of Nazareth, in the northern portion of Israel. So, in using Hermon and Tabor the Holy Spirit was not indicating north and south (since much of Israel lies south of Nazareth), and east and west are certainly not indicated.
Of all the mountains pertaining to Israel, just Tabor and Hermon were selected. I felt led of the Holy Spirit to investigate {2} the meaning of the names Tabor and Hermon. Tabor means mound, which in turn makes me think of that little stone made without hands (Daniel 2:34-45) that represents Messiah Himself that will cause the kingdoms of the Gentiles to crumble and Messiah’s kingdom to fill the whole earth. Mount Tabor is not far from Nazareth where Messiah grew into manhood. In part, Mount Tabor mentioned here would then represent the vicarious life of Christ.
Hermon being just north of where Dan was situated was at the edge of Syria. The area nearby would be a great place for Israel’s enemies to surge into. However, Hermon means sanctuary, so I sense that God is saying that as we fully trust Christ, He becomes our sanctuary even when spiritual enemies arise against us.
II. Realize Gods Qualities 12g-14
“. . . Your name. 13 You have a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”
God’s sovereignty is always something to trust and praise Him for. So are His qualities (attributes) mentioned from the very last part of verse 12 to verse 14.
The sacred name of God expresses His blessed Being which we can grasp to a degree as He unveils Himself in His numerous attributes. Verse 13 speaks of His power, authority and dominion. In verse 14 we see He is not only just, but will effectively render judgment in due time. No one really gets away with murder or anything else. Mercy (rendered lovingkindess in the NASB) and truth going before His face speaks that as the Kingdom of God goes through all the earth, all of us sinners are confronted with the fact we do fall short of Gods glory, but mercy is found in His Son if we truly commit to Him.
III. Know 15a
“How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!”
When someone truly surrenders to God through Christ, they do so being led by the Holy Spirit of God. From that first touch by the Holy Spirit they then learn to be led by the Holy Spirit. This is how one hears the Good Shepherd speaking to them (John 10:27) {3}.
This is knowing the voice of God by direct experience, not just knowing in our minds what God would say. And whatever sense we experience it will never be contradiction to the written Word of God, nor the incarnate Word dwelling within, if we are truly redeemed. The longer one walks with God in Christ, the more they will better know the voice of God.
IV. Show 15b
“O YHVH, they walk in the light of Your countenance.”
There are blessings now and for eternity when we obey the direction of the Holy Spirit. One of those blessings is pleasing God. The light of His countenance suggests to me that the more we obey God, things and situations become more clear whereby we are more able to sense danger or safety, destruction or edification as well as what action to take, if any.
Walking in the light of God’s countenance means that the true disciple will be sensitive as to whether or not our heavenly Father is pleased or displeased as we go about life here. We should be sensitive to Gods countenance in regard to what thoughts we permit to enter into our mind or soul.
V. Grow 16-18
“In Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And by Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to YHVH,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.”
We grow in strength by rejoicing in God and walking in Christ, our righteousness. Our authority is increased by pleasing God through loving obedience to Him, through Christ, the righteousness of God, dwelling within.
For You are the glory of their strength should remind the true Christian that our spiritual strength is not of ourselves but is of God. As we enter into the victory life of Christ our authority in Him grows stronger as we progress in His faithfulness that is within, which becomes our faithfulness.
In personally knowing God, with Christ within and we in Christ, we have an ongoing defense against the kingdom of darkness. We have peace and Eternal Life when He is our King. Satan wants you either spiritually dead or at least spiritually stymied. Do not let him stunt your growth. Know more of God by studying His Word, communing with Him and obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit.
If you have not surrendered your life to Christ, or if you did and have grown cold, know God in a most personal Way by repenting, forsaking sin, and making a full surrender to Him through Christ, establishing Christ as King in your life. Intimate Godly knowledge is power to live a godly life unto Eternal Life.
Notes:
{1} Not capitalized on purpose. Experts Column gives me the freedom to express myself in that way.
{2} Information on the meanings of Tabor and Hermon was derived from an electronic version of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong.
{3} Please read, To Hear The Voice Of God, at http://holybibletreasures.expertscolumn.com/article/hear-voice-god .
You may hear this message as it was delivered to Cornerstone Assembly Independent Pentecostal by selecting a link at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M64 .
Unless otherwise noted all Holy Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates and adding “(The Existing One)” to readily express the meaning of His Name without making repeated explanations in articles. * = For other versions the spelling of some words is updated for our time in addition to changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates. Usage of the NASB does not mean I condone the entire work of the NASB. I use the NASB in articles partly because its Copyright directives are less cumbersome than those of the New King James.
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