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Psalm 22b - For He has done it

Psalm 22b

 For He has done it

 I'll skip through the introduction and summary, if you really want to see it again read the previous post.

For he has done it - this is the very last line of this Psalm. More or less, it sums up the whole reason for everything here.

Now, the biggest reason as to why all this happens, is found in the previous post. Because of Christ, all this occurs.

So let's look at what David has proposed in his positive side of the Psalm.

1. God is enthroned as the Holy One and is the praise of Israel
- David first establishes the holiness and greatness of God

2. In you our fathers put their trust, they trusted and you delivered them
- David points out that the fathers of Israel trusted God, and were delivered by Him. Notably, to this time, the major personnel who David would be thinking of are Abraham and Moses - as they are similarly mentioned all through the Bible after this.

3. You made me trust in You, even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you, from my mother's womb you have been my God.
- David obviously believes in predestination - the choosing of God's people by God, in His divine sovereignty.
Romans 8:29-30
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
4. David will declare God's name to his brothers, to his congregation, to his nation. He will preach God as Savior and revere Him.

5. All the nations will know God and serve Him, even for generations unborn.

Takeaway
1. Trust in God wholly. Abraham trusted God to the extent that he was willing to give his only son Isaac up for God, despite God promising Abraham that his descendants will be countless. Having found favor with God, God blessed Abraham richly.

2. There are 4 types of people in this world.

  • Those who are Christian now, and are predestined to be Christian.
    • For these people, they have been chosen by God, and are given the opportunity to do right for all the days of their lives they have - starting now. Eventually, Type4 people will end up here too. Read the rest of the points for how to respond!
  • Those who are non-Christian now, and are predestined to be non-Christian
    • These people reject God outrightly, from start to end of their lives. In return, God shows them no mercy - never pulling them to Him, and judging them on the last day. God's judgement seems hard - but remember - as Creator, God is sovereign over our lives, and He does with us as He pleases. As rebels against His will, naturally we ought to be destroyed.
  • Those who are Christian now, but are predestined to be non-Christian.
    • Here's where it gets tricky. What is a Christian predestined to be non-Christian? The Bible tells us that in the last days, many will turn away from the faith. It also describes false teachers rising up from within the congregation. Then of course, we have many people who profess to be Christian, yet along the way, find "a better religion", or that "God is not good to me".
    • Let me call you back to the focus of religion. Or rather, the focus of Christianity. The Bible, the world, the society - is not focused on me. Everything we have, everything we know, is focused on God. If God is the true focus of our lives - there will never be a better religion - it doesn't exist, because there is only one true God! God will never be "not good" to you, in offering us salvation through Jesus Christ, He has already given the ultimate act of grace and love. There will be no false teachers, nobody turning away from the faith due to trials, because God is the one truth that will never fade, and if we are truly focused on Him then there is no motivation to turn away.
    • Therefore, the Type 3 people are actually Type 2... Just hidden behind the pretense of being Christian.
  • Those who are non-Christian now, but are predestined to be Christian.
    • Many people only come to accept Christ on their deathbed. We never know to what extent they accept Him, whether it is out of true love for Christ, or out of desperation to find something on the other side of life. We don't even know if we'll see them again someday. Nevertheless, we don't know who these people are. We don't know when they'll accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. We must continuously share with them the Good News of Salvation - For He has done it, and all we have to do is freely accept it.
3. To declare God's name, God's glory, and God's workings in our lives - to the people around us, to the congregation. The term congregation here is loosely used as a gathering of saints - any form of church gathering, Christian gathering - will qualify. The public preaching of the Word cannot be compromised in any Christian setting.

That's all I have for this long and rich Psalm. I've found my devotion book!

Both dreading and eager to do Psalm 23...
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