Looking Unto Jesus

Psalm 119 verse 49 says, remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou has caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me. The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from thy law. I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night and have kept thy law.

This I had because I kept thy precepts." as we said this almost before, speaking to God to where it says, remember thy word unto thy servant, that God does not need to be reminded of the covenant or those promises made in eternity past, but I think as much of the meaning of remember it to me, that I remember these things.

And in that regard, We're going to look a little bit today about how this is speaking of the Lord himself. These verses are the one that it's truly speaking about in the scriptures. I think as we saw in Luke there where he expounded to those two in all of the scripture concerning himself, that every passage, and I think literally the whole scriptures as we've seen before, speaks of him, even when it speaks to us, it's speaking of him, I believe. And I'd like to read a couple of verses to start with, and that would be in the book of Hebrews. In the book of Hebrews, a couple of passages that are very familiar to us, but I think that they do indeed speak here to Psalm 119 in this one section, and that would be Hebrews chapter 11, in just verse one, it says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for. the evidence of things not seen. And this we know, this is a gift of God, as we've seen in other places, that faith is the gift of God. It's not something that is brought up in ourselves, but is instilled in his people by God himself.

And then verse two, it says, for by it the elders obtained a good report. And then we go down through the whole chapter, chapter 11, those that we have record of, of the faith that was given to them and how they were counted as righteous in God's eyes because of that faith that he had given them. And quite a roll call there, and down through there, and we're pretty familiar with that, of the ones it speaks of. in various ways showed that by faith they did certain things that we have record of. And then chapter 12, after that, I think, and this goes along with it, chapter 12, bring the first three verses.

It says, wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness, Let us lay aside every weight and sin which so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. And here as it speaks about that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. There's more to it than just a wishful thinking. And it says the evidence of things that we don't see.

And here it's speaking about, The Lord himself, where it says, verse two, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And in Psalm 119, where we're looking at, we're putting mind that the Lord himself would stand in the promises of the everlasting covenant. We're going to look to some things that he said about that and says about that in the name of God the Father. And we're going to look in a couple of places that he speaks to that. And that we might as well, as is worded here, that we humbly plead the Father of all the covenant mercies in Christ to keep us mindful of them, of those things that we have in mind.

And Christ looked to those things and looked to the Father and looked to, as it said, the joy that was set before him to endure the cross and the things that he endured here while he was in the flesh here. and indeed the separation from the Father that came about because of our sin, as we see in Isaiah 53, the details of what he did for his people physically and spiritually, that the covenant is what we plead, those promises that we have.

And we're gonna look at a couple of places in Psalm 22, The Psalms, there's a few Psalms that people say speak about the Lord, but there's a lot of the Psalms that speak directly of him. But in Psalm 22, could read all of this Psalm here, but, It starts out with saying that we've heard before in the New Testament, but it's where it says, verse one, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring? And that looking into what he did for his people and that he was indeed in Psalm 53 says that he was indeed suffered and was forsaken because of us for that time period. And then, but down here in Psalm 22, starting with verse seven. It says, and they that see me laugh me to scorn. They shoot out the lip. They shake the head saying, he trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him. Let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb. Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breast. I was cast upon thee from the womb. Thou art my God from my mother's belly.

Be not far from me for trouble is near for there is None to help. and the situation that he was in here where it speaks about laughing to scorn and mocked and the different things that he was called and questioned about indeed in our behalf. And he was, we, as it says here in Psalm 119, those that scorn and we look at it and ones that have us in derision, pretty light, pretty light things compared to what the Lord went through here on earth and the humbling and setting aside his, who he was in some ways while he was here, the outworking of it at least in the physical body and in the, in the, the world that he was in that was 100% contrary to him and held him in derision except for God having his own and putting flesh hearts in some. Other than that, the world held him in scorn and derision and had no regard for who he was at all.

And that in Psalm 119, it speaks to the, those things, remember your covenant, remember those things. And we plead those things in him, in the Lord himself, those promises. And he himself prayed to God about the promises of the covenant. And that because of those things and those people that were given to him, that he went through what he went through as the Lamb of God. And he knew that. long before he was physically here on earth. He knew that and had that position and it weighed heavily on him when he was here. And we have record of his prayers and stuff that was not a light thing. The Lord himself looked to the Father and the covenant.

He was always about the Father's business and the scripture calls him, as a servant of the covenant for his people. And he indeed was the servant of the covenant in the fact that he was the one that was carrying out those things that were needful. in the everlasting covenant for his people. He was the one that carried those out, had to do those. And when he spoke on the cross and he said, it's finished, those things that were required to be done, he had fulfilled them. He had done all that was required by doing that.

And then in Psalm 20, turn back just a little bit to Psalm 20, And speaking again of the Lord himself, David or God's people speak these words in physical and spiritual straits and things, but these also speak about the Lord himself. And it says, Psalm 20, verse one, the Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend thee, send thee help, from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Zion.

Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice, Selah. Grant thee according to thine own heart and fulfill all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation and in the name of our God will we set up our banners, the Lord Fulfill all thy petitions. Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Verse eight, they are brought down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright. save Lord, let the King hear us when we call.

And here, these things and troubles, and David was in physical troubles and spiritual troubles too, obviously, as all God's people find themselves. But this is also speaking about the Lord himself and the situations that he had to do and had those things he had to do to redeem a people and to carry out the terms of the everlasting covenant. As I said, he always looked to God the Father in those things that needed to be done. In Psalm 89, Psalm 89, and these are just, some thoughts on all of what the Psalms and rest of scripture say along these things, but Psalm 89. Starting with the first verse, And it says, Maskell of Ethan, the Ezraite.

Verse one, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, mercy shall be built up forever. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen. I have sworn unto David, my servant. Thy seed will I establish forever and build up thy throne to all generations, Selah.

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord, thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? 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. O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee, or to thy faithfulness round about thee. Thou rulest the raging of the seas, when the waves thereof rise, thou stillest them.

Thou hast broken Rahab, or Egypt, it is actually what that is referring to, in pieces as one that is slain. Thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, and the earth also is thine. As for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south hast thou created them.

Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm, strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength, and in thy favor our horn shall be exalted.

For the Lord is our defense, and the Holy One of Israel is our King. And here it speaks of the mercies and the everlasting mercies and faithfulness of God himself to his people and the Lord himself as he prays later and as he faces what he's going to do physically and on the cross for his people. prays and remembers the faithfulness of God to his, not only to his people in physical ways that he had been, as in Egypt and others, but in the everlasting way of having a people and having an everlasting covenant and being faithful to that covenant and that firm foundation, or that solid rock, as we've talked about, that song we sang, as was mentioned earlier, that he is, that everything is built on him, and we're gonna see that in him that the covenant stands. And in the same Psalm 89 here, in verse, down at verse 26, and I looked at several places, and they would give one word, Look at this, just verse 26, and then you read the rest of that and it says so much more. But starting in verse 26, it says, he shall cry unto me, thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also will I make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments, if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments, Then will I visit their transgression with a rod and with their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break nor alter the things that are gone out of my lips. Once I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David, his seed shall endure forever. and is thrown as the sun before me.

It shall be established forever as the moon and as a faithful witness in heaven, Selah." Here, speaking of both the mercies of God in redeeming his people and the faithfulness that Christ is that surety of the covenant, that it will take place. And he's down here where it says, that if they forsake my law and they break my covenants and not keep my commandments, that says I will visit them, but nevertheless, where's that? Verse 33 is, nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not take from him, nor suffer my faith to fail, faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break. or alter the thing that has gone on my lips.

So he's, that covenant is sure promises and sure things that God has declared and will keep. And the Lord himself is the surety of that covenant. He's the, as we said, the servant of the covenant. He's the one that makes sure those things were done and accomplished that needed to be done.

We must see Jesus Christ as the whole of the covenant, and we can't claim any of the promises of the covenant apart from him. We can't claim that apart from what he has done, and they're not separable. The covenant isn't a freestanding covenant. It was a covenant based on those things that Christ would do for a people, that he would, that lamb slain before the foundation of the world for those people that were given to him.

All the covenant is only fulfilled in and by him. We can't fulfill any of that. There was requirements that he do, that only he can do, and we have no standing before our God except in him, the one who has finished all required, all things required by the everlasting covenant. In 1 Corinthians, in the book of 1 Corinthians, The first chapter of 1 Corinthians. Okay, 1 Corinthians, first chapter, starting with verse 18.

It says, for the preaching of the crosses to them of foolishness, for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God.

It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. And it says up here, We preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness, but to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. And everything, as the Lord said, all the scriptures speak of Him and to Him and declare Him. And all the promises that we have are in Christ. He is where those promises are fulfilled and speak to us.

In verse 51 of Psalm 119, Psalm 51, it says, the proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from thy law. I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself. as it says here, the proud or the greater ones, the ones that are great maybe of this world or situation, had greatly in derision.

Well, David can say that, and God's people can say that what they believe is held in derision, but the derision greater is the Lord himself. When he was here, the Lord himself, Christ was called, encountered as a blasphemer, a friend of publicans and sinners, a Sabbath breaker.

And it said that the publicans and the drunkards had a song about him as far as making him a derision. He was held in the highest derision and by those that had, are spiritually dead, cannot see anything. And it speaks of him being held in derision, not just us. And he indeed, his whole physical life on this earth was in a terrible spot for him to be in.

He's God Almighty and surrounded by sin on all corners and all areas and stuff. except for him having his own at the time there, even, that he opened the eyes of, they were the only ones that didn't hold him in derision. And then their sinfulness showed up even when they were with him, when they denied him.

They said, we'll never deny you. We know you. they proved him right in that they did indeed do that. And so by nature could not see him any other way. And only a new heart can change the view of who he is. And yet he, as it said, that he, through the joy that was set before him of the fulfilling the covenant for his people, that he endured these things, endured the shame and the derision of that. And only in him can we, as we said, can we make claim to the promises or to the everlasting covenant.

And in John 15, section two thereof, he is the true vine and we're the branches and have to be in that true vine. or there's no life other than in that true vine. And we are tied to him. And we think of the passage where it says also that he who hath the son hath life. He who hath not the son hath not life. And we are tied to him in that manner and not separate from him.

We don't know but an inkling of what being held in derision is like compared to what the Lord had. And we see in Isaiah 53 those things that he indeed endured for us and in our stead. And those were Things that we've read many times and we see some of what that speaks about. In the book of Hebrews, one more time while we're nearby or fairly nearby. In chapter four of Hebrews. Okay. Chapter four of Hebrews.

It says in the previous chapter, it speaks about those, the disobedient ones and the ones that perished in the wilderness because of unbelief, it says. And that's why it says, that's the ones that fell into wilderness because of unbelief. And in chapter four, It says in verse one, it says, let us therefore fear, lest a promise left us of entering into his rest. Any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For which we who have believed do enter into rest, as he said, as I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, and God did rest the seventh day from all his works. and in this place again if they shall enter into my rest seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein and they to whom it was first preached entered not because of unbelief again he limiteth a certain day saying and david today after so long a time as it is said today if you will hear this voice harden not your hearts for if joshua would have given them rest, then would he not afterwards have spoken of another day.

There remaineth therefore, verse 9, a rest to the people of God. For he that has entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his. And this ties into what we're seeing there that David, the psalmist, and us as we read that portion there of reminding and having God remind us of the covenant and of those things that were accomplished and finished, we enter into that rest because he entered into rest. He got those things, as he said, it is finished. And by faith, God gives us faith to believe that those things were finished and that the covenant has been accomplished, has been done. There remaineth a rest for God's people. The Lord rested in the everlasting covenant in his father's love to him and his people. And Luke, it speaks to that. In John 17, he prays for us in his stead to the Father that he keeps us in according to the covenant.

And I'd like to, in closing this, this section of it, and reread those things in Psalm for yourself and spend time in the, that portion of scripture. And I'd like to read a quote from a short paragraph by Brother Hawker. And I think that I've appreciated so much of looking and seeing what people say that sections of scripture say, and pointing out words and phrases and participles and things. But I've appreciated what Brother Hawker has said about different passages. I just enjoy it a lot and I would like to read this little passage in his thoughts on this in closing.

And he says, so reader, let us take these statutes founded on the love and made sure to Jesus and his people by the oath and promise of Jehovah and make them our songs also in this house of our pilgrimage. This will give us sweet remembrance from the Holy Ghost, the remembrancer in the night. And this we shall assuredly enjoy because our great law fulfiller, both in his obedience and death, has secured the everlasting salvation of his people. And in that, as you said, the remindering us at those times that he's the one we stand in. And he is, as he says here, the great law fulfiller and has secured the everlasting salvation of his people. And that's a pretty good spot to be in and to be reminded of. And with that, I thank you for your attention today and next time we'll look at the next section there, Psalm 119. Thank you and be free.

Looking Unto Jesus

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Looking Unto Jesus

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