Psalm 110

 Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord,

Sit thou at my right hand,

until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (quoted Matt 22:44; Mk 12:35 Luke 20:43; Heb 1 and 10)

2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion:

rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness

from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent,

Thou art a priest for ever

after the order of Melchizedek. (quoted Hebrews 5 and 7)

5 The Lord at thy right hand

shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies;

he shall wound the heads over many countries.

7 He shall drink of the brook in the way:

therefore shall he lift up the head.

This Psalm describes what The LORD, God the Father, declared about my Lord Jesus. The Lord has declared him to be a priest forever.

Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Jesus is our high priest, ordained to offer for us the spiritual sacrifice which he provided. Our part is repentance and faith in the offering he made. He dwells our high priest forever!

Reverence and Holiness

Reverence and Holiness

Lev 19:30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.

Ps 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

The holiness of God is not a light thing. When Holiness encounters the unclean there is a reaction where the darkness is swallowed up by the light. We see this in a negative sense in the following Holiness Encounters which did not end well.

Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10/Num 3)

Achan (Josh 7; 22:20)

Uzza (1Chr 13)

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts5)

Because of the blood of Jesus we have had all our uncleanness removed and only the holy exists in our lives. This allows us to enter into the holiest place by the blood and through the flesh of Jesus Christ. The key part of reverence is to honor the Lord and those things which belong to him, this ultimately includes even the least of the brethren. Hold in reverence the holiness of God and do not treat it as a light thing, but for what it is, an intense light which no man without the new creation in Christ Jesus can approach unto.

God's Blessings through Balaam

These are the blessings which God caused Balaam to utter when he was hired to curse Israel. This is a companion piece to the post on Balaam

Balaam's first blessing of Israel

Num 23:6-10

"Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!"

Balaam's second blessing of Israel

Num 23:18-24

"Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain."

Balaam's third blessing of Israel

Num 24:3-9

"Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee."

Balaam's final blessing of Israel in the last days

Num 24:14-24

"And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

Balaam, the full story

The story of Balaam is extensively referenced in the Bible. Most children have heard about the donkey talking to him, but do you know how important this story is to be referenced so often?

The first mention of Balaam is in Numbers 22:4-5, and you can read his full story in chapters 22-25, and 31.

"And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people"

Pethor is best identified with a city on the river Euphrates. This makes him separate from the people of Israel, and while we know his Father's name, we do not know what people he is descended from, though he is mentioned to be of Mesopotamia in Deut 23:4 "Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia"

Balak asks Balaam to curse this people who have come up out of Egypt. Balaam is known by Balak to be able to curse or bless (vs 6) and the price of divination is sent (vs 7).

God forbids Balaam to go with them (vs 12), Balaam sends the princes away and that would seem to be the end.

Balak does not give up, and sends even greater princes, leading to God telling Balaam he can go, but warning him to speak only what he is told. (vs 20) Balaam saddles up and takes his two servants, and goes with them (vs 21)

Here is the story most children remember, though interestingly his two servants who went with him are rarely mentioned.

"And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him." (vs 22)

In verse 20 God had agreed he could go, yet now stands against him. Three times the ass veers away or falls to stop the encounter of the sword of the angel with Balaam. God opens the mouth of the donkey to speak about being so cruelly treated by Balaam, and then God says this to Balaam:

"And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:" (vs 32)

It seems that God is making it clear to Balaam that he is against this errand, even to allowing him to go and demonstrating in no uncertain terms, with an ass speaking, that this is not his will. The encounter ends with a repeat of the admonition of verse 22.

"And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak." (vs 35)

Balaam seems inclined to follow the command of God, he at first obeys the command not to go and then declares he can only follow the word of God as he is directed.

"And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak." (vs 36-38)

The story continues into chapter 23 with Balaam instructing the princes of Moab to build seven altars and make sacrifice upon them as he goes to seek the Lord God.

The result is glorious blessing upon the people of Israel; these blessings are compiled in the post on God's blessings through Balaam.

"And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?"

Balak was quite upset, but he tried again, let's get a different view angle, maybe we will get a different result. He didn't. Balak, a very persistent ruler, tried a second time, and a third time, the result again was the same.

Balak tells Balaam he would have made him great in the earth and Balaam prophesies greatness in Israel for a fourth time!

Num 24:13 "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?"

This story is mentioned again in Deuteronomy:

Deut 23:3-6 "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee. Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.

It is read in Nehemiah's day:

Neh 13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

It is retold in Joshua

Josh 24:9 "Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand."

Micah prophesies regarding this story as well:

Micah 6:5 "O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD."

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What follows in Numbers 25 is the sin of Israel with the Moabite and Midianite women, but Balaam is not mentioned here. We learn that Israel committed great sin, It is the incident of Baalpeor, or Peor.

Num 25:3 "And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel"

And again noted in Deuteronomy

Deut 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. 4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

We learn detail of what happened from Num 31. Moses last great task before being gathered unto his people is to avenge them upon the Midianites.

Num 31:8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

This is retold in Josh 13:21-22 "And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country. Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

Finally the final sin of Balaam is declared:

Num 31:15-16 "And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD."

Here is where we understand what Balaam had done, he counseled Moab and Midian how to curse Israel by causing them to sin. This is the story related in Num 25. It also seems that there was a confederation which included Moab, Ammon and Midian. Because of the greatness of their sin, they were to be cut off from the congregation of Israel. Balaam becomes a representative for loving the wages of unrighteousness and overthrowing others for gain:

2Pet 2:13-16 "And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet."

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Ballam is listed with Cain and Core (Korah) as outstanding examples of corrupting oneself.

And lastly in the letters to the church in Revelation we find this:

Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Men corrupting themselves, selling others into sin in order to get gain, in all of its various forms is condemned, using Balaam as an example.

So in conclusion we see two stories involving Balaam, though they are related to one another. First, he was hired to curse Israel, going greedily after the wages of unrighteousness, but could only bless in the end, and second, He taught Balak (Balac) how to curse Israel by getting them to sin. Learn the lesson of Balaam, and let not yourself be greedy for the wages of unrighteousness, nor be involved in causing others to sin.

Take it by Force

☝Matt 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Presseth into it and suffereth violence are translated from same Greek word, biazo, "to force", crowd into.

Mal 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Watch Here

Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed (pursue press toward) not after righteousness, have attained (Seize, possess) to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed (pursue press toward) after the law of righteousness, hath not attained (arrived at) to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Rom 14:23b; ...whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

☝Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Strive (John 18:36; 1Cor 9:25; Col 1:29; 4:12; 1Tim 6:12; 2Tim 4:7)

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.