Now this evening our study is
taken from Psalm 76. Psalm 76. Now I'm entitling this
message from the words found in verse 10. And the title may
seem to some to be a strange title. But I'm calling this title,
The Wrath of Man Shall Praise the Lord. For it says in verse
10, surely of a truth, surely, truly, this will happen. The
wrath of man shall praise the Lord. And the remainder of wrath,
God will restrain it by his power. Now one old preacher of the past,
Charles Spurgeon, many of you are familiar with his writings,
on this particular verse, these words he penned for us. The devil blows the fire, melts
the iron, and then the Lord fashions it for his own purposes. He said,
let men and devils rage as they may. They cannot do otherwise. than to serve God's divine purpose. Even the wrath of men serves
the divine purpose of God. This verse teaches us that even
the most vile of sinners is under the absolute and sovereign control
of the Lord, and He will use them and overrule them unto his
own purpose and his own glory. Now, a prime example of that,
find Romans chapter nine. A prime example of that is Pharaoh. All you familiar with Pharaoh,
how he would not let Israel go from Egyptian bondage. But it
says here in Romans nine, verse 17, For this, for the scripture saith
unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose, God said, I've raised
him up. that I might show my power in
him, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth."
God raised Pharaoh up for God's own particular purpose. And even
in Pharaoh's hatred and wrath against God, it was made to serve
the purpose of God, the Lord of glory. is so absolutely in
charge of all things, all men, all events, that even the wickedness
of men serves the eternal purpose of God. That's so. We read in
Romans 11 verse 36, the verse that you're most familiar with,
for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom
be glory both now and forever. And then the last word of that
verse says, amen. So be it, so be it. So even the
wrath of man shall praise the Lord and serve God's eternal
purpose. Now, let's go back to the beginning
of this psalm. Some think this psalm was given
to Israel when the Lord bared his mighty arm and gave Israel
a great victory over their enemies, such as in the time of King Hezekiah,
when Jerusalem was surrounded by the Syrian army, had no way
to defend themselves. They were helpless to defend
themselves when Sennacherib, the king of Syria and when Rabshakeh,
his general, came against Israel, surrounded the city and sent
a messenger saying that we're going to kill you, you just might
as well give up and surrender. Well Hezekiah cried unto the
Lord. You can read about 2 Kings 19.
Hezekiah cried unto the Lord and the Lord sent one angel,
one angel out and killed 185,000 soldiers of the enemy. Israel
didn't lift up a finger, didn't shoot an arrow, didn't wield
the sword. They just looked to God and God
provided the victory for them. What a glorious victory. 185,000
soldiers. They went out the next day and
there were dead people laying everywhere. Who did that? God Almighty. One angel. One
angel. We read in the Revelation about
the heavenly host 10,000 times, 10,000 and thousands of angels
that serve God's purpose. Now we can certainly consider
this Psalm with delight. And that's a picture, those Old
Testament stories show us over and over again that God is God
and He's a conquering God, the victorious God. No one can defeat
Him or change His purpose. But in this psalm we can also
certainly consider this psalm with delight as we see the Lord
Jesus Christ. defeating all our enemies and
giving us the victory through His blood and through His righteousness. It says in Revelation 6 verse
2 that our Lord Jesus Christ is a conquering King. He goes
forth conquering to conquer, never has known defeat, just
absolute victory. We read in Colossians chapter
2, Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and his victory and salvation
Having defeated all principalities and powers having spoiled them.
He made a show of them openly Triumphing over them and it says
in himself by himself with himself and I like the blessed promise
that's given by the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15 where it
says Thanks be to God Thanks be unto God, who has given us
the victory. We have the victory over sin,
in that He put it away. We have the victory over death,
in that He defeated and conquered death. He said, I am He that
liveth and was dead. Behold, I'm alive forevermore.
And in John 14 verse 19 talks about, our Lord said, because
I live, You shall live also. In Him we live and move and have
our being. He's given us the victory over
all our enemies. And just as Israel that day,
they sat there looking to God, expecting God to deliver them. And you know what? He did. They
didn't fight, they didn't work, they rested in God. And that's
what we're to do. Our salvation is not brought
out by the works that we have done. It's God who has done the
work for us by his almighty grace. Now, with that introduction,
let's look at verse one of Psalm 76. In Judah, in Judah, among
God's people, in Judah is God, he's known, he's known. Judah
in the Lord's people and his name his name is great his name
is great among the redeemed of the Lord those blessed by God
Almighty in that covenant of grace among the redeemed of the
Lord our God is our God and Savior and who is our great God, and
he is known among his people. We know him. He's no unknown
God, is he? He's known among his people.
Find over here 2 Timothy chapter one. He's known among his people. Our Lord said, I, the foundation
of God stand assure having a seal, the Lord knoweth them that are
his. He knows them, and you know what? By His grace, we know Him. We know Him. 2 Timothy, look
at chapter 1. Verse 12, for the which cause
I also suffer these things, nevertheless, Paul suffered for preaching the
gospel. He said, I'm appointed a preacher, an apostle, a teacher.
For the which cause I suffer these things, nevertheless, I'm
not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day. You see what he's saying back
here in this Psalm? In Judah, God is known. Among his people,
he is known as the true and living God. And among his people, his
name is great. Now how was God made known unto
his people? Well, I'll give you several things.
He's made known in the preaching of the gospel. where we go for
declaring who He is and what He has done. He is known among
His people by the mighty deeds of His grace, when He does that
work of grace in our heart. You remember what Paul said to
the Philippians, God who has begun a good work in you? You
see, salvation is a heart work. It's God working and revealing
Himself to you in your heart. And he's made known by the revelation
of the Holy Spirit. For it takes God to reveal God. You remember what the Lord said
to Peter? Turn over here to Matthew chapter 16. Matthew chapter 16. It takes God to reveal God. God is known. Among his people
and his name is great Matthew chapter 16 verse 13 when Jesus
came in the coast of Caesarea Philippi He asked his disciples
saying whom do men say that I am? Now a lot of people have different
opinion as to who this one Jesus of Nazareth is some said well,
he's John the Baptist come back from a dead some said well, he's
Elijah one of Jeremiah one of the other prophets and People
have different opinions on who the Lord Jesus Christ is, but
he's known among his people. Look what he said here. He said
unto them, but whom say he that I am? And Peter answered and
said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. And the
Lord answered and said, blessed art thou Simon Barjona. for flesh
and blood hath not revealed it unto you, but my Father hath
revealed it unto thee. Turn back to Matthew 11, verse
25. You remember this verse? Matthew
11, 25. At that time, Jesus answered
and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hath
revealed them unto his people revealed them unto babes for
even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight look at verse
27 of Matthew 11 all things are delivered unto me my father and
And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth any
man the Father, save the Son. And he to whomsoever the Son
will reveal him." Salvation, my friend, is a revelation of
God in our heart, revealing who the Lord Jesus Christ is. God
is known by the one also who sprang out of Judah, came out
of Judah. Who is that one? Remember his
name in the Revelation? The Lord Jesus Christ is the
Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David that has prevailed. to win the victory for us. God is known among his people.
Turn over here to 2 Corinthians chapter 4. God is known among
his people through the preaching of the gospel. We know God only
as we see God revealed in Christ Jesus. For we preach not ourselves,
2 Corinthians 4 verse 5, we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus
the Lord. And ourselves your servant for his sake. For God
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shined in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God, where? In the face, the person of the
Lord Jesus Christ. So God is no, among his people
in Judah, And through Judah, in Christ, the line of the tribe
of Judah, God is known. God is known, he's no unknown
God unto his people. And among his people, look at
the second part of verse one, his name, his name is great. His name is great. God has highly exalted him and
given him a name which is above every name that at that name,
Every knee should bow, every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Do you remember
that same verse over there we read a moment ago in Acts chapter
four, back in verse 12? When Peter and John were questioned
as to the miracle that this man who was crippled was healed,
by whose name and by whose authority had you done this? You remember
what they said? Let it be known unto you this
day That through the Lord Jesus Christ, this man is healed. Neither,
neither is there salvation in any other. They didn't only say
that in the name of Christ, this man was made to walk, but I want
you to understand this. There's salvation in no other.
Neither is there salvation in any other than the Lord Jesus
Christ. No other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved. You see, God is known
among his people and he's great. His name, his name, wonderful
counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince
of peace. You know, everything about him,
everything about his name, everything about his person, everything
about his work is great, isn't it? It's great, it's great. He's
our great savior, is he not? He's our great high priest. who
obtained eternal redemption for us. He's the great prophet risen
in Israel to reveal God unto us. He's a great king who rules
and reigns sovereignly over us. Add to that, he's the great shepherd
of the sheep who laid down his life for the sheep. His works
of mercy are great, which he has accomplished for us. He has
accomplished for us. You know what salvation is called
in Hebrew chapter two? What kind of salvation is it?
So great salvation. How should we escape if we neglect
so great salvation? You see, everything about our
gospel and everything about our God, everything about our Savior,
He is great. His name is great in Israel. Now look at verse two. in Salem
or in Jerusalem also is his tabernacle, his dwelling place in Zion. This is his gospel Zion, his
gospel church. The Lord God, you remember back
when they dwelt in the tabernacle, when they rather dwelt in the
wilderness and God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle where
God, the visible presence, dwelt in that tabernacle. The Lord
God dwelled among his people in a tabernacle in the wilderness
and in Solomon's temple later on, around the mercy seat in
the Holy of Holies where atonement was made. But what's that tabernacle
a picture of? What is that temple a picture
of? What is that priestly work a picture of? It's all about
the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ who tabernacled
among us in the body of flesh, who as our great high priest
actually accomplished atonement with his own blood. All that
is a picture of Christ dwelling among his people in the body
of flesh prepared by God, the true tabernacle which God pitched,
not man. For indeed the word was made
flesh. dwelt among us, that word there is tabernacled among us.
And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth. God dwells among his
people as he dwells in the God-man mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to look at this scripture
here, Revelation 21. God dwells among his people today. And He will dwell among His people
forever. Look at Revelation 21. In the New Jerusalem, in the
Old Jerusalem, God dwelled among His people. And in the Gospel,
the Lord dwells among His people. And in the New Jerusalem, Revelation
21 verse 1, And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first
heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no
more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared at
the bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out
of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God There's the
Lord Jesus Christ. The tabernacle of God is with
men. He will dwell with them. They
shall be his people. God himself shall be with them
and be their God. That's covenant language all
the way taken from Jeremiah 33, 32. God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes and there shall be no more death, no more sorrow,
no more crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the
former things are passed away. God dwells among His people. He did in the tabernacle of old
and in the temple. He dwells among His people in
the gospel revelation concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and in
the new Jerusalem. He shall dwell among His people
forever and ever. Now look back at Psalm 76 verse
3. Psalm 76 verse 3. There There in the gospel, where the
Lord dwells, there break he the arrows of the bow, the shield,
and the sword, and the battle. There is where God defeats his
enemies. Sennacherib and that Syrian army
were defeated by the powerful, unusual miracle of God as they
came near Jerusalem, outside the gate, outside the city. Even so, the Lord Jesus Christ
suffered for our sins, where? Outside the gate, outside the
city at Calvary, and conquered all of our spiritual enemy, made
peace with God for us by a powerful and glorious miracle of His grace. There he break the bow, the shield,
the sword, and the battle. There he conquered Satan. There he put away our sin. Now, listen to this scripture
in Romans chapter eight. Let's turn and read that in Romans
chapter eight. God who spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all. Remember in Romans chapter 8
verse 32, if God be for us, if God be for us in that covenant
of grace, if God be for us in that he saves sinners by his
grace, if God be for us, then who can be against us? He that
spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died. Yea, rather, is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also He makes intercession
for us. There, at Calvary, He break the
arrows, the bow, the shield, the sword, and the battle. He
won the victory for us. If God be for us, who can be
against us? It says in Isaiah 54, no weapon
that is formed against thee shall prosper. No weapon that's formed
against thee shall prosper. God is for us. the covenant of
grace that none can be against us. Look at verse 4. Thou art more glorious and excellent
than the mountains of prey. Now who gets the glory for salvation
accomplished? Who gets the glory? God alone. You read through the Revelation,
it's all about the lamb who was worthy, the lamb that was slain. Worthy is the lamb to receive
all honor and glory, blessings and power both now and forever. Who gets to glory for defeating
the enemy, for putting away our sin? Look at verse four, thou
art more glorious and excellent than all kingdoms of the earth,
mountains of prey. God alone gets to glory for salvation
accomplished, does he not? Christ, who is God over all,
blessed forever, is glorious. Glorious, you see that? Glorious. Now that word, you know what
it means? Bright. He's glorious, he's bright, he's splendid. Glorious
in his divine nature, or it says in Hebrews 1, being the brightness
of the Father's glory, the express image of his person. Glorious,
brilliant, bright in his divine person. Doesn't he deserve all
honor and glory? He does, doesn't he? And he's
excellent, more glorious, bright, and more excellent. He's excellent
in all of his, he's glorious in his person, and excellent
in all of his office. Now he's a savior who really
saves his people from their sin. He is the mediator, the only
mediator, between God and men, and that is the God-man, the
Lord Jesus Christ. He's excellent in his office.
He's glorious in his person. He's the advocate of the covenant,
isn't he? Remember what John writes? My
little children, these things I write unto you that you sin
not, but when you do, well, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous. He's excellent in his office
as savior, as mediator, as intercessor. He's able to save to the uttermost
all that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
what? Intercession for us. He's glorious
in all of his office. Savior, mediator, advocate, intercessor. How about prophet, priest, and
king? He's a prophet to reveal God unto us. He's a priest to
represent us unto God, and he's our king who rules and reigns
over us. He's excellent in all of his
redeeming work, brilliant and glorious in his person and work. Exalted to the Father's right
hand, far above all principality and power and might and dominion,
signified here by the mountains of prey. Exalted above all, isn't
he? Christ is above all. And you
know what? All men must answer to Him. He is Lord. He is Lord. It says in Acts 17 that God has
appointed a day in which He will judge this world in righteousness
by that man, the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus
Christ is most glorious and excellent in all of His person, in all
of His work. Look at verse five, Psalm 76
verse five. Thou art more glorious and excellent
than the mountains of prey. Verse five, the stout hearted,
the strong hearted, the man lifted up with pride and arrogancy.
The stout hearted are spoiled. Defeated, brought down. Who can
bring down the high and lofty look? Who can humble a man like
old Saul of Tarsus and put him in the dust and make him to cry
out, Lord, what will you have me to do? And make that man go
and preach the gospel that he once despised. That's transforming
grace, is it not? That's grace that really grips
a man's heart, changes his life, his thoughts. The stout-hearted
are spoiled. They have slept their sleep.
And none of the men of might have found their hands to fight
against God." It's a useless battle to fight against God. He breaks the rebel before him,
the stout-hearted like Rabshake and Sennacherib in that story
there in 2 Kings 19. All their enemy, all their army
was slain and none escaped the wrath of God. But how much more
is this so among God's people who by nature are rebellious,
sinful before God? The Lord does find them in their
rebellion, and he will cross their path, being his sheep. The Lord does break them and
mold them to his image. He makes them willing in the
day of his power. As I mentioned a moment ago,
Saul of Tarsus is a prime example of this. But so is every sinner
saved by the grace of God. Where do you find you? Steeped
in religious idolatry full of a religious pride and self-righteousness. That's where he found all of
us Fighting against the God who is God and you what he does when
he finds us. He takes the fight out He conquers
us the stout-hearted are spoiled by his grace the Lord in his
grace does slay us and And then you know what he does? He slays
us and he puts us in the dust. He strips us and then he clothes
us. He puts us in the dust, he brings
us down and then he lifts us up and shows us what we are in
Christ Jesus. He makes us by his grace new
creatures in Christ Jesus. The stout-hearted are spoiled. They have slept their sleep dead
in sin. And none of them, none of the
men of might have found a way to defeat God, and they won't.
He's almighty. He's the almighty God, and He
will spoil the stout-hearted. He will rebuke those that are
His in saving mercy and saving grace and cause us to have the
same testimony as Saul of Tarsus. In his last letter, while he
sits in prison waiting to be executed for the gospel, when
he writes back to his dear beloved brother Timothy and said, Timothy,
don't be ashamed of me or of the gospel. Remember, Timothy,
it's God who saved us. It's God who called us with a
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to God's
own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the foundation of the world. Thank God for his conquering
grace. Look at verse six. At thy rebuke,
O God, O God of Jacob. Now that's repeated throughout
the scripture. God, the God of Jacob. God of
Jacob. God sovereignly loved Jacob. God chose Jacob. At thy rebuke,
O God, God of Jacob. Both the chariot and the horse
are cast into a dead, dead sleep. at the rebuke of God. Just a
word from the Lord. Just a word from the Lord. It
says in Ecclesiastes 8 verse 4, if you want to jot this down,
where the word of the king is, there's power. Where the word
of the king is, there is power. Just a word from the Lord and
the enemies fall backward and are slain. Remember what the
Lord gave to Moses when Israel was up against the Red Sea? Pharaoh
and his army coming down upon them. They could not go to the
right or to the left. They could not go back, and in
front of them was that sea. How are they going to get across
it? Remember what the Lord said? Stand still and see the salvation
of the Lord. At thy rebuke, the enemy is conquered. It's conquered. Stand still and
see the salvation of the Lord. He rebukes his children out of
love. Says in Revelation 3, as many
as I love, I rebuke and I chasten, saith the Lord. He chastens us
as a father, loving father chastens his children. At thy rebuke,
O God. He rebukes his children out of
love, but he rebukes his enemies out of wrath, and none are able
to stand against God. Do you remember over here in
Psalm 45? Turn back over there, Psalm 45. Verse five, thy arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king's enemy, whereby the people fall under
the king's arrows are sharp. in the heart of the king's enemies. When God shoots us with a word
of grace, he takes the fight out. Just a word from the Lord, and
the enemies are conquered, and we are subdued unto him. Thy people shall be winning in
the day of God's power. Our God is the God of Jacob.
He said, I'm the Lord, I change not, therefore you sons of Jacob
are not consumed. Our God is able to do above all
we ask or think, the God of Jacob, able to save to the uttermost,
able to keep us from falling, able to perform all things that
he has promised for us, the God of Jacob now, God who is God. He is able to do above all we
ask or think according to his glorious, glorious power. At
thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and the horse are
cast into a dead, dead sleep. He conquers his enemies just
with a word, a word spoken in power. Look at verse seven. Thou,
even thou art to be feared. Thou, even thou art to be feared. God is to be feared. Do you remember
there was a sports slogan years ago? You young people will remember.
Hunter will remember this maybe. But there was a sports company
who had a large advertisement campaign. Remember it was, no
fear, no fear. Remember? They wrote it on everything. No fear, no fear. I tell you
that's the attitude. of most folks today, no fear
of God. But it says here, thou even thou
art to be feared. Tell you what, if you don't fear
God, it's because you don't know Him. You don't know Him. God is to be feared. He's to
be held in awe and reverence among His people. Who may stand
in thy sight when once thou art angry? God is to be feared among
his people. Go on here to Psalm 111. Psalm
111. The true and living God is feared
among his people, reverence with godly fear because of his greatness
and because of his goodness. Look at Psalm 111, verse nine. He sent redemption unto his people. He commanded His covenant forever. Holy and reverent is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom. A good understanding have all
they that do His commandments. Believe His gospel. His praise
endureth. His glory endureth forever. In Proverbs 16, verse six, it
says, by the fear of the Lord, men depart. from evil. He wants a healthy thing to fear
God. To have a reverence God Almighty in your heart. You see
the fear of man, the fear of man is a snare unto us. But the
fear of God is a great virtue unto His people. God is to be
feared continually and only. And since believers do fear God,
you know what? We have no need to fear man.
Fear not man what he can do unto you. We fear God. Who may stand
before God in the fear of his anger? We can be sure of this. You see that question in verse
seven? Who may stand in thy sight? when
once thou art angry." Who can stand before God justified? We can be sure of this. There
is no standing before His holy justice at His judgment seat
with boldness and confidence so as to succeed and come off
acquitted and not guilty without having on and being found in
the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Lord our righteousness. How blessed believers are to
be able to stand before God in Christ with no condemnation,
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. I'll jot it down here,
Psalm 130. Who may stand? Who may stand? Psalm 130, turn over there. Psalm 130, look at verse one.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear
my voice. Let thine eyes be attentive to
the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquities, count all my iniquities, hold me accountable. If thou
shouldest mark my iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Can
I put away my sin? Could I do anything to atone
for my sin? If thou, Lord, shouldst mark
all my iniquities, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness
with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord.
My soul does wait in his word, I do hope. My soul waited for
the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. I say,
more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope
in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy. In the Lord I
can stand. With Him is plenteous redemption.
He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. In Christ Jesus. Now back to
the text. Psalm 76 verse 7. Thou even thou
art to be feared. Who may stand in His sight? Who
may stand? Those forgiven in Christ Jesus.
None will stand Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Who
shall stand in His holy place? None but Christ and those that
are in Him. Psalm 24. Look at verse 8. Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven. The
earth feared and was still when God arose to judgment to save
all the meek of the earth. Now this is what happened when
the Lord Jesus Christ came. Judgment was heard from heaven.
It pleased the Lord to bruise Him in our room and in our stead.
The Pharisees judged Him. The Romans judged Him. But judgment
came from heaven. Thou didst cause judgment to
be heard from heaven. The earth feared." Remember,
there was darkness over all the earth. and was still. What a
tremendous undertaking when God made Christ to be sin for us
who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of
God in Him. When God arose to judgment, when
my sin, the sin of God the elect, was judged in Christ, when God
arose to judgment, what happened? Did He make salvation a possibility?
If you do certain things, meet certain conditions, No, call
his name Jesus. He shall save his people from
their sin. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the son of man, the son
of God. Turn over to Luke 19. When he arose in judgment, he
came to save his covenant people. Luke 19, Luke 19, when God arose
to judgment to save, to save, how did he save? Through Christ
crucified. Look at verse 9 of Luke 19. It's the story of Zacchaeus. And Jesus said unto him, this
day is salvation come to this house. for as much as he is also
a son of Abraham. Now, just not a natural son,
but a special son, a spiritual son of Abraham. For the son of
man has come to seek and to save his lost people. All we like sheep have gone astray.
We've turned everyone to our own way and the Lord laid on
him the iniquity of us all. When God arose to judgment, what
did he do? Well, He saved His people from
their sin, to save all the meek of the earth. Now, they're not
meek by nature, are they? But they're meek in grace, meek
by grace and meek in Christ. Look at verse 10. Surely the wrath of man Surely
even the wrath of man shall praise the Lord, and the remainder of
God's wrath he will restrain. Let men and devils rage as they
will. Even the wrath and hatred of
the rebel will serve the greater glory of Almighty God. You ever seen this scripture
before? Turn over here to Proverbs 16. Proverbs 16. Look at verse 4, Proverbs 16
verse 4. The Lord hath made all things
for himself, yea, even the wicked, for the day of evil. Isn't that amazing? The Lord
hath made all things for himself. The rebel, the devils, those
that rage against God, all serve his greater purpose. He works all things at the counsel
of his own will, doesn't he? I'll give you two examples of
that. You remember the story of young Joseph? Jacob had those
12 sons, and Joseph, one of the youngest sons, and his brethren
were jealous of him, remember? Sold him into slavery, remember? And it says in Genesis 50 verse
20, that they intended nothing but evil against Joseph. Their
whole malicious intent was evil. Nothing good but evil. But you
remember what it said? The Lord meant it for good, to
save much people alive. God raised up Joseph to be a
king in Egypt, provided corn for Israel, and eventually deliverance. And then the second, Joseph is
also a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He's a personal type
of Christ. In the second prime example, when the wicked hatred
for the Lord Jesus Christ, when in wicked hatred they crucified
the Lord of glory, didn't they? Now, did they do what they wanted
to do in that day? They hated him. They delighted
to kill him. But they unknowingly fulfilled
the divine purpose of God. He uses the wicked Malicious
intent of those wicked men and God used that to accomplish his
own eternal purpose and glory We read a moment ago in Acts
chapter 4 the kings of the earth stood up And the rulers were
gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ were
of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom thou has anointed
both Pontius Pilate and the Gentiles and the people of Israel were
gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand thy counsel determined
before To be done. Now I can't explain that. I believe
it to be so. Even the most furious and frantic
evil is under the complete and absolute control of God Almighty.
Let me show you another scripture. Turn over here to Isaiah 45.
Isaiah 45. Look at verse five, I am the Lord. I am the Lord, and there is none
else. There is no God beside me. I girded thee, though thou
hast not known me, that they may know from the rising of the
sun from the west that there is none beside me. I am the Lord,
there is none else. I form the light. See verse seven?
I form the light. I create darkness. How does God
create darkness? He withholds the light. I make
peace. I create evil, calamity, disaster,
adversity. Now God is not the author of
sin, and that's not teaching that. But God uses even the wicked
and evil intentions of men for his own purpose. I the Lord do
all these things. Absolute control of all things. Now look back to text again.
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee. What about the remainder
of wrath? God will restrain it. God will
restrain it. The excess of man's wrath that
does not serve God's sovereign purpose shall be muzzled like
a dog on a chain, like a lion in a cage. Thank God for his
restraining and governing grace over all things. It's not as
bad as it could be. What would happen? What would
happen if God just removed the restraints? off all creatures. I tell you, by sundown, we'd
all murder one another. You just look back through human
history, man's a monster left to himself. You go to study of
human history, you go back and study world history, U.S. history,
what do you study? Wars! It all revolves around
wars! I tell you, man's a monster left
to himself. Thank God for the restraining
grace of God Almighty. Verse 11 and 12, thou and pay
unto the Lord your God. What do we owe the Lord? Everything. Worship, honor, glory. That all that be round about
him bring presence unto him. What do we bring? Sacrifices
of praise, sacrifices of worship. Unto him that ought to be feared,
that ought to be worshiped, he shall cut off the spirit of the
princess. He is terrible to the kings of the earth. One more
psalm, over here, Psalm 2, on that last verse. Look at verse 10. Be wise now,
therefore, Psalm 2, verse 10. Be wise now, therefore, O you
judges, O kings, O kings, be instructed, you judges of the
earth. Serve the Lord with fear. Rejoice with trembling. 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, in him. He shall cut off the spirit of
those who rise in opposition against him. He is terrible to
the kings of the earth.