Saturday, September 5, 2026

2025 12 24 Psalms XXXI Psalms 65 and 66

 {Disclaimer: these are my rough teaching notes I use in my Mishkan Katan weekly broadcasts. There will be "typos". Proceed at your own risk, lol.You can find all my Mishkan Katan video teachings on my YouTube channel: genahood2818 . Look on the playlist called Messianic LAMB TV Network.}

Boker TovThe theme today is “Miracles and Mighty Works”. This morning we are in Psalm 65 and we’ll see how many psalms we can cover today.  When I begin my planning to teach a psalm here, I always know I have an hour to fill, but I don’t know how long it will take to teach each psalm.  Depending on content and number of verses, some take longer than othersI am studying along with you, you knowIt’s a new adventure, every week! I think we’ll be in both Psalm 65 and 66. 

Ok, so turn with me in your copy of the Scriptures to Psalm 65This psalm was composed at a terrible time in Israel’s history, a time of national disaster, even.  The events referenced in this psalm are recorded in 2 Samuel 21We are not going to read those verses this morning, but you can read them later if you likeSuffice it to say that the nation had been struck with a terrible famine, because of the ungodly actions of King Saul. 

Once upon a time, there was a people group of the Amorites, called the Giv’onim, or as it is probably listed in your translation, the GibeonitesWhen Joshua was busy conquering the Canaanite peoples, in Joshua 6-9, the wily Gibeonites devised a tricky scheme.  They disguised themselves as a poor, transient people from far away and asked Joshua to make a treaty with them.  Here’s the important part: without consulting Hashem, Joshua and the Israelite leaders did soThey swore an oath to protect themThese Israelites, realized how serious it was to swear an oath before the Lord.  So, even after they found out they had been deceived, they honored the oath.  However, Joshua decreed that these people would serve as the most common laborers within Israel, never rising above the status of, basically, a slaveThey and their families served in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, performing menial laborThen, later, King Saul got the idea to put almost all of them to death which, of course, violated the sworn oath made generations earlier, to protect themThis offended the Lord God greatlyAnd, that is why he sent the famine, during David’s reignIn an effort to right this great wrong, the Gibeonites were given 7 descendants of Saul to put to deathAnd, after this, Hashem restored the land and ended the famine. The land of the Gibeonites was eventually subsumed by the tribe of Benjamin, ironically enough, Saul’s tribeWe are not told why he “turned” on them; maybe he wanted them out of his family’s tribal landsHard to tell. 

The other day, I went to the grocery store, only to discover that the special they were running on salted sticks of butter had caused them to run outI was able to find everything else on my list, but had to leave without Kroger salted butter for $2.99 a box, that’s four quarters, for you out there who are not cooks.  At any rate, it got me to reflecting on how we can just go to a large building and almost magically, food is presentWhat a gift(Pun intended!). This is a phenomenon that has only been manifest in our modern world, within the last 100 yearsEven so, it’s not a worldwide phenomenonThere are still places in our world where famine still existsHowever, most of you listening to this broadcast have never experienced famineYour biggest food problems are usually, 1.  Should I eat that, because it’s not really good for my health or 2. What do I feel like having for dinner? 

Of course, in the days of the Bible, mankind was totally dependent on what the earth produced, for their very survivalAnd, the earth was not the determining factor; God wasIn most cases, the people worshipped some false god, some demonic entity masquerading as a deity who had control over the winds, rains, the sun, etc.  In truth, Father Hashem, has been and is in total control of all the workings of the weather, the earth, and all it produces.  David knew this quite well, having been born and raised on a working farm. 

The sages maintained that in its original created state, the Earth was created to be entirely self-sustaining, without man having to “turn a hand”, so to speakIn Hashem’s original master plan, that is, mankind would have been released from those types of mundane pursuits, so that he could concentrate fully on the service of HashemHowever, as we know, the earth became corrupted by the sin of Adam and Eve, and since that time, the earth has been falling further and further away from that original master plan. 

A famine, then, was indicative of man being severely off-mission, off-courseAt those times, God would further impede the earth from its pattern of productivity, in order to send a message to people that they were in need of a serious course-correctionSuch was the case in 2 Samuel 21 and in other instances of famine in the BibleOnce the people returned to the pursuit of godliness, to drawing near, to their ordained purpose, the earth would then be healed and return to its normal course of action. 

The commentator, Ibn Ezra, maintains that at the same time Israel was going through this famine, the nation was also being invaded by a foreign nation’s armiesSo, Israel was experiencing a “double whammy”, attack from inside and also from outsideIt was a tough time, indeedAnd, if you were the king of such a beleaguered nation at that time, you surely got the blame, whether you deserved it or not. David was in dire straits.  Things looked so bad that David in this psalm longs for Messiah to come, because David believed only Mashiach could straighten this mess out. 

Verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 65 now. 

  1. To you, God, in Tziyon, silence is praise; 
    and vows to you are to be fulfilled. 

  1. You who listen to prayer, 
    to you all living creatures come. 

How interesting to hear the prolific psalmist, David, at a loss for words.  There are times, when words simply do not sufficeI was reading a beautiful meditation today on the Incarnation, and my comment was that it is simply unfathomable to contemplateIt seems David felt the same way about this situationHe had come before the Lord, and words failed himYet, he affirmed here that we can praise the Lord even in our silence, when we cannot manage to form the words.  As Rashi says, it is impossible, utterly futile, to capture fully in words all of Hashem’s amazing attributes anyway. Another way of looking at it is that when we are in the presence of our Creator, being fully aware of our own inadequacies, this is the most eloquent testimony to His magnificence.  In Megillah 18a, of the Talmud, we are told that if one word is worth a silver coin, then silence is surely worth two. 

As David meditated/prayed in silence, he reflected on how important it is to fulfill our vows made to HaShem.  This has a two-fold application, according to the sages. First, obviously, Saul’s breaking of the vow previously made to the Gibeonites is relevant hereBut, secondly, the entire nation, the people of Israel, are said to have gathered, fasted, prayed and made vows to Hashem, because of the droughtThese vows hearken back to the first vow they made to Him, back at Sinai, in Exodus 24:7 “We will do, and we will hear.”  In other words, “we don’t have to fully understand, yet still we will obey your commandments, statutes and precepts.” 

Oh heeder of prayer . . . the Jewish sages teach that Hashem hears the prayers of all people, regardless of spiritual condition, or physical heritageSome theologians say that Hashem does not hear the prayers of the unrighteous.  However, as He is capable of all things, including the miraculous, He can hear literally billions of prayers coinstantaneously.  Does he grant all petitionsNo.  But, He hearsHe listensHe is open to those who draw near with a humble, soft heart, as opposed to one that is prideful, hard and insensitive. 

Verse 3 

  1. When deeds of wickedness overwhelm me, 
    you will atone for our crimes. 

Here, David is acknowledging that Saul committed a terrible, national sin when he slayed the GibeonitesIt was definitely a “deed of wickedness”.  Aren’t we thankful that Hashem has atoned for the sins of His people? 

Verse 4 

(4) How blessed are those you choose and bring near, 
so that they can remain in your courtyards! 
We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, 
the Holy Place of your temple.  

This verse reminds me of the psalm, “Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere!”  That is from Psalm 84, which we will study in a few short weeks.  It also reminds of the Jews who are living outside the land of IsraelEven now, Hashem is choosing those He is bringing to His “courtyards, although there is currently no earthly Temple, with accompanying courtyards.  Although our free will is also a player in the drama of life, because we cannot draw near without personal repentance on our part, there is no doubt that Hashem chooses who He wills.  It is a mystery of the highest order how that all works together. 

One translation uses the word “sated” in verse four, to express the highest degree of satisfaction, like when you are so parched with thirst (to hearken back to last week) and you drink gulp after gulp of cold water, until you are completely, fully restored with satisfactionHe is the Water of Life, and in His presence we find our every need met. 

  1.  It is just that you answer us with awesome deeds, 
    God of our salvation, 
    you in whom all put their trust, 
    to the ends of the earth and on distant seas. 

This verse refers to the people in exile, that no matter where God’s people live, whether in the sacred land of Israel or abroad, they will receive Hashem’s answer and are just as much His as those who live in the land.  David says that Hashem’s answer begins with us contemplating His strength, manifested in awesome deeds of the past on His people’s behalfAnd, then, David goes on to list those.  Let’s read the remaining verses to see which ones David lists, because like God’s characteristics of greatness, they are innumerable. 

(6) By your strength you set up the mountains. 
You are clothed with power. 
(7) You still the roaring of the seas, 
their crashing waves, and the peoples’ turmoil. 
(8) This is why those living at the ends of the earth 
stand in awe of your signs. 
The places where the sun rises and sets 
you cause to sing for joy. 

(9) You care for the earth and water it, 
you enrich it greatly; 
with the river of God, full of water, 
you provide them grain and prepare the ground. 
(10) Soaking its furrows and settling its soil, 
you soften it with showers and bless its growth. 
(11) You crown the year with your goodness, 
your tracks overflow with richness. 
(12) The desert pastures drip water, 
the hills are wrapped with joy, 
(13) the meadows are clothed with flocks 
and the valleys blanketed with grain, 
so they shout for joy and break into song. 

 

Verses 9-13 are what David and the people of Israel were longing to see, when Hashem would bring the famine to an end. The people would have repented, returned, made teshuvah as we say in Hebrew, followed by shouts of joy and songs of praise. They were praying for a miracle, and God came through. 

Hashem has continued to do and continues to do awesome deeds for His peopleWe just finished celebrating Hanukkah, which commemorates the miracle of the one night of oil for the Great Menorah, in the Temple’s Holy Place, lasting for eight nights, instead of just one, for example.  The miracle of the oil highlighted, if you’ll pardon the pun, the miracle of the ragtag Maccabees defeating the idolatrous Greeks who had formerly ruled over Judea. 

But, the greatest miracle Hashem ever did was to send His Son, our MashiachThis is the season that many celebrate Mashiach’s birthOh, yes, and I agree with you - - the date is very likely wrongThere was a lot of paganism mixed in with the celebration of His “tabernacling” among us. (That should give you a hint of when I believe He was born.) But, I think it is good to celebrate His coming, while also shunning the paganism associated with the IncarnationAfter all, the book of Luke records Anna the prophetess celebrated His arrival, as did Simeon, another old-timer at the Temple, when Mariam and Yosef brought the merely days-old infant Yeshua to the Temple for presentation of Him and His mother to the priests, at the end of her time of ritual impurity. These two elderly tzaddikim rejoiced to see the birth of the long-awaited Mashiach! Should we do less? 

The indisputable fact that the only true, thoroughly indescribable, unfathomable Elohim poured His essence into human form, is a true story too good to suppress, even if the date is wrong, even if there is all this extraneous, erroneous fa la la la la associated with itDon’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Hold this beautiful truth of Scripture close in your heart and Oh, come, let us adore HimHold this truth closeRejoice in it!  

It is impossible to mention this morning all of them, but I think we should take a moment and look at a few of the miracles He did during the recent 2-year war between Israel and Gaza, because our God of very God is still in the miracle-working business. 

 

1. The Hezbollah Walkie-Talkie Operation 

In mid-September 2024, a major intelligence operation unfolded. 

 

A 27-year-old Israeli intelligence analyst reviewing post-battle data noticed Hezbollah fighters consistently wore walkie-talkies directly over their chests, above their hearts. 

 

She proposed embedding explosives inside the devices so they could be detonated remotely. 

 

Israeli intelligence approved the idea. 

 

A shell company was created in Germany and partnered with a legitimate communications supplier in Taiwan that sold equipment globally. 

 

Through this setup, Israel intercepted Hezbollah’s supply chain. 

 

Small amounts of C4 and remote detonators were inserted into every walkie-talkie. 

 

Thousands of Hezbollah fighters unknowingly wore these devices for nearly ten years. 

 

2. The Pager Switch and First Mass Detonation 

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah later feared Israeli surveillance. 

 

He ordered Hezbollah to abandon walkie-talkies and switch to “low-tech” communication. 

 

He chose pagers, a technology so obsolete that sourcing even dozens would normally be difficult. 

 

Israeli intelligence anticipated the shift. 

 

Three days after pagers were restocked, a request arrived for 5,000 units. 

 

All pagers were supplied with embedded explosives and detonators. 

 

After October 7, Nasrallah ordered fighters to store pagers together with walkie-talkies. 

 

Later, an instruction was sent to pager holders: 

 

Hold the pager as close as possible to the eyes 

 

Press two buttons simultaneously to reveal a classified message 

 

The stated purpose was to bring the device close to the brain. 

 

Israel detonated the pagers. 

 

Results: 

 

42 fighters killed 

 

Over 3,000 fighters permanently injured and removed from combat 

 

Israeli soldiers involved: zero 

 

3. Second Wave: Walkie-Talkies at Funerals 

The following day, Israeli intelligence monitored Hezbollah funerals. 

 

Nasrallah ordered remaining fighters to wear walkie-talkies again to communicate. 

 

Israeli intelligence detonated the devices remotely. 

 

25 additional Hezbollah fighters were killed. 

 

Israeli casualties: zero 

 

4. Third Wave: Elimination of Hezbollah Command 

On Thursday, Nasrallah ordered the remaining 20 senior Hezbollah commanders to avoid technology and meet in person inside an apartment. 

 

Three F-15 fighter jets took off from Ramat David Air Force Base. 

 

Three missiles were fired directly through the apartment window. 

 

All 20 commanders were killed. 

 

Over three days (Tuesday–Thursday), Hezbollah ceased functioning as a military threat. 

 

Israeli soldiers lost in the entire sequence: zero 

 

5. Collapse of the Syrian Military 

 

With Hezbollah removed, attention shifted to Syria. 

 

Syria had been in civil war for over a decade. 

 

President Assad had been protected by Hezbollah and Syrian forces. 

 

Over 48 hours, Israel launched approximately 350 air missions. 

 

During that period: 

 

Every Syrian Air Force jet was destroyed 

 

Every Syrian Navy vessel was destroyed 

 

Every Syrian general was assassinated 

 

All nuclear weapons scientists were killed 

 

All chemical weapons scientists were killed 

 

Southern Syria was seized as a buffer zone. 

 

Israeli soldiers lost in Syria operations: zero 

 

6. Iran Air Campaign - “Mechanical Impossibility” 

Israeli leadership planned for unavoidable losses. 

 

F-35 jets cost approximately $235 million each. 

 

Each hour in the air requires roughly eight hours of maintenance. 

 

Standard air-force readiness averages around 50%. 

 

The plan involved: 

 

200 aircraft’s 

 

Four-hour flight to Iran 

 

Extended operations under stress and anti-aircraft fire 

 

Four-hour return flight 

 

Standard engineering models predicted: 

 

Mechanical failures 

 

Aircraft losses 

 

Pilot deaths 

 

None of those occurred. 

 

Israel experienced: 

 

No aircraft losses 

 

No pilot deaths 

 

No significant mechanical failures 

 

Mechanical engineers and American officials reportedly stated the outcome was not unlikely, but impossible. 

 

U.S. officials reportedly could not file reports explaining how it happened. 

 

7. Covert Operations Inside Iran 

(“Operation Narnia” and “Operation Red Wedding”) 

 

Simultaneously with the air campaign, Israel conducted two covert operations inside Iran. 

 

These operations eliminated Iranian generals and weapons scientists. 

 

Israeli forces reportedly operated inside Iran for years. 

 

Drone production facilities were reportedly run inside Iran. 

 

Israeli soldiers lost in Iran operations: zero 

 

8. Iranian Missile Strikes With Minimal Casualties 

Iran launched massive missile attacks on Israel. 

 

Contrary to public claims that most were intercepted, missiles landed and caused severe damage. 

 

Examples cited: 

 

A missile landed near an office in Tel Aviv, shutting it down for two months 

 

A missile hit a 30-story building in Tel Aviv, collapsing half the structure 

 

No one was hospitalized from that strike 

 

Soroka Hospital: 

 

A director identified one vulnerable building 

 

Ordered it evacuated 

 

The next day it took a direct hit 

 

No one was inside and no one was hurt 

 

U.S. estimates predicted 80,000–100,000 Israeli deaths. 

 

Actual Israeli deaths nationwide: fewer than 40. 

 

American engineers reportedly stated the casualty outcome could not be explained. 

 

9. February 20, 2025 - Bus Bombing Failure 

 

On February 20, 2025, multiple buses exploded in a parking lot. 

 

A woman discovered a bomb under her seat on another bus. 

 

All buses nationwide were ordered to stop. 

 

Another bomb was found. 

 

The intended plan: 

 

Five buses exploding in downtown Tel Aviv 

 

Approximately 1,000 Jews killed 

 

Thousands injured 

What occurred: 

 

All bombs were set for 9:00 PM instead of 9:00 AM 

 

The error occurred five times in a row 

 

The buses exploded empty. 

 

Israeli casualties: zero 

 

10. Sinwar’s Aborted Master Plan 

 

Captured plans revealed October 7 was not intended as a standalone attack. 

 

The coordinated plan included: 

 

Hamas attack from Gaza 

 

Hezbollah firing 50,000–100,000 rockets from the north 

 

Iran firing ballistic missiles 

 

Palestinian uprisings in the Shomron 

 

Expected outcome: 

 

Millions of Jewish deaths 

 

Collapse of the State of Israel 

 

For unknown reasons, Yahya Sinwar launched the attack early without coordination. 

 

What was intended to be Israel’s end became a salvation. 

 

11. The Land Becoming Fruitful Again 

 

The land of Israel, described as desolate for centuries, is now producing in abundance. 

 

This transformation is presented as fulfillment of prophecy. 

 

12. Ingathering of the Exiles 

 

Approximately 7.5 million Jews now live in Israel. 

This represents the largest Jewish population in the land in 2,000 years. 

 

13. Miraculous Wars With Minimal Losses 

 

Across multiple conflicts, Israel has survived wars with disproportionately low casualties. 

 

This contrasts with historical precedents where major victories involved massive loss of life. 

 

14. “On the Wings of Eagles” 

 

Some awaited a final miracle symbolized by “eagles.” 

 

The company owning El Al Airlines is identified as “Kanfei Nesharim,” meaning “Wings of Eagles.” 

 

Flying to Israel on El Al is described as arriving “on the wings of eagles.” 

 

Simply astounding aren’t they, these miracles of HashemThey are indicative of a verse from our next psalm, Psalm 66:5 Come and see what God has done, 
his awesome dealings with humankind. 
 

 

Allright, let’s move on to Psalm 66 nowPsalm 65, not directly quoted in the New Testament, was composed in David’s heyday, in the prime of his reignBut, Psalm 66 was composed as his reign was beginning to wane, in the twilight of kingship. Despite the years separating the writing of these two psalms, they have common themesPsalm 66 was written during a time of relative peaceHashem had given David rest from his enemies, and this freed David up to dream about the future, of the coming Messiah, who David had been promised would arise from his bloodline. David begins by recounting Israel’s glorious past, replete with wonders and miracles.  The sages believe that the miracles and events of the past are a foreshadowing of the future, when Mashiach comes to rule and reign, albeit on an even grander scale.  This psalm is designated as the Song of the Day for the 6th day of Passover/Pesach, because the psalm is a marvelous lead-in to the redemption at the Sea of Reeds (aka the Red Sea), which occurred on the 7th day after Passover on the 15th. 

This psalm is longer than the ones that came just before it, having 19 versesLet’s read verses 1-3 (CJB). 

1 Shout to God, all the earth! 
2Sing the glory of his name, 
make his praise glorious. 
3 Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds! 
At your great power, your enemies cringe. 
4 All the earth bows down to you, 
sings praises to you, sings praises to your name.”(Selah) 

 

At the end of verse 4 we have a “SelahI can just imagine these four verses as the refrain of a lovely psalm, can’t you?  As a matter of fact, many worship songs and at least one notable hymn were inspired by the praise lyrics of Psalm 66The hymn is “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”. Other notable songs are: “Come and See” by Shane and Shane, Robbie Seay’s adaptation called “You are Great” and othersNo wonderThese verses are magnificent! 

There is a grammatical “anomaly” in verse 3In the Hebrew language, the “number” of the adjective that describes the noun must “agree” with the nounIn simpler terms, if you have a plural noun, you need to use a plural adjectiveHere, however, the adjective translated as “awesome” is singular, whereas “deeds” is pluralRashi suggests that the vast number of Hashem’s works does not detract from the significance of each individual magnificent deedEvery one of them is awesome in its own right. When these types of grammatical aberrations show up, they are not accidentalThey are employed to communicate extraordinary meaning. 

Verse 4 is prophetic and reminds me of Zephaniah 3:9, which says, “Then I will transform the nations to a pure lip, that they may all call upon the Name of Hashem, to serve Him with one consent.”  It is from this verse in Zephaniah that my friend and Hebrew teacher named her ministry, Pure Lip Hebrew School. 

This transformation will take place in two stagesFirst, as mentioned in verse 3, all the nations of the earth will be soundly defeated by the Word of His Mouth (Revelation 19:5) at the end of the ageThen, after being totally crushed, their bowed heads will be lifted in songs of praise, as a result of them recognizing Hashem’s supremacy and majesty! 

 

In Verses 5 through 7, we have another passage that ends with Selah.  So, let’s ponder these three verses as a set also. 

5 Come and see what God has done, 
his awesome dealings with humankind. 
6 He turned the sea into dry land. 
They passed through the river on foot; 
there we rejoiced in him. 
7 With his power he rules forever; 
his eyes keep watch on the nations. 
Let no rebel arise to challenge him.(Selah) 

Verse 6, of course, refers to the splitting of the Sea of Reeds, just after The Exodus.  Right? The sages say that this awful incident on the part of Egypt, how they treated the Hebrew people, forever drastically changed that once-mighty nation’s spiritual essence and it’s role in God’s divine orderThe sages go on to say that its governing angel, its “principality” was put to death.  And, truly, if you look at Egyptian history, the nation began to wane from that point onNo other dynasty after that point achieved the magnitude of the days of Moses.  

But, waitBefore we leave this verse…when else did the Hebrew people pass through the waters on dry landDo you remember when they were entering the Promised LandThey crossed the Jordan River, and yes, it parted to allow them to pass through on dry landJoshua 3:14-17. A “mini-reenactment” of the Sea of Reeds!   

 

Verse 7 - - and some of you are not going to like this, but you know that secular Christmas song, “Santa Claus is coming to town?”  Well, it has its roots in verse 6Yes, you know that part, “He sees you when your sleeping, he knows when you are awake”.  Santa Claus is watching you, that is.  Who is actually watching us at all times?  Hashem, of course! So, we’d better check ourselves, divest ourselves of our pride “at the door”.  Those who challenge Him do not stand a chanceTake heed, you rebels! 

 

8 Bless our God, you peoples! 
Let the sound of his praise be heard! 
9 He preserves our lives 
and keeps our feet from stumbling. 
10 For you, God, have tested us, 
refined us as silver is refined. 
11 You brought us into the net 
and bound our bodies fast. 
12 You made men ride over our heads; 
we went through fire and water. 
But you brought us out 
to a place of plenty. 

 

The Jewish sages have this belief that true faith MUST be tested and tried, “fire and water.  They don’t believe that proselytes will be accepted in the Messianic age, because of the fear that the convert will be insincere of heart, merely converting to share in Israel’s glory. They believe that converts must do so while Hashem shows no undue favor to Israel, although I’d like to debate the sages on that pointIt is true that this mere 0.2% of the earth’s population is unduely persecuted and maligned. In that sense, it seems the Jews receive no special treatmentHowever, I refer you back to the long list of miracles over the past two years in that horrible Hamas war. 

 

Concerning verse 10, “as silver refined” is the name of a book our ladies class has just finished studyingIt speaks of the refining process, the afflictions of love, which the follower of Hashem/Yeshua endures, often in the form of discouragement and other ailments of the heart brought on by the trials of this life.  The book was written by Kay ArthurA great book, if you get a chance to read itVery encouraging. He never fails to bring us out to a place of plenty, as it says at the end of verse 12, even when the world cannot see it. 

I was reading about former Senator Ben Sasse today. He just revealed that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which he flatly called “a death sentence”The thing he said that struck me hard was that he had to tell his young daughters, the youngest in middle school, that he will never get to walk them down the aisle”.  Broke my heartBut….GodBen gave such a powerful testimony to the grace of His SaviorHe  knows Yeshua, he says, and I believe Yeshua calls him one of His own tooBen has no fear of the future because he knows the One who holds it.  He is in a “place of plenty” right now, people, and he is headed to a place we cannot even begin to imagine, in the presence of the One who loves him most. 

 

Let’s “round third base and head for home” with this psalm nowWe return to the theme of vows in the next 3 verses. 

 

13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings, 
I will fulfill my vows to you, 
14 those my lips pronounced and my mouth spoke 
when I was in distress. 
15I will offer you burnt offerings of fattened animals, 
along with the sweet smoke of rams; 
I will offer bulls and goats.(Selah) 

 

Another SelahThis psalm asks us to stop and ponder a lot, doesn’t it? 

We can’t physically make these offerings todayThere is no physical TempleHowever, each of is a Mishkan KatanWe are each a little tabernacle, if we carry within us the Spirit of the Living God, the Ruach HaKodeshAnd how do we receive Him within usBy confessing that Yeshua is Lord, to the glory of God the FatherSo, we can bow our heartsWe offer the sacrifices of a contrite heart, which Hashem does not despise. We can fulfill the vow we made to follow Yeshua, when we received Him as our MashiachWe can prove our love and allegiance by rejecting the ways of a pagan world and adhering to His commandments, walking the way our Messiah walked, following His example. 

 

Now, let’s bless His holy nameThe final verses, 16 through 20. 

16 Come and listen, all you who fear God, 
and I will tell what he has done for me. 
17 I cried out to him with my mouth, 
his praise was on my tongue. 
18 Had I cherished evil thoughts, 
Adonaiwould not have listened. 
19 But in fact, God did listen; 
he paid attention to my prayer. 
20 Blessed be God, who did not reject my prayer 
or turn his grace away from me. 

Verse 18 is directly quoted in the New Testament by the blind man whom Yeshua healed, as recorded in John 9:31.  That’s the only direct quote of this psalm in the Brit Chadasha. 

What a glorious psalmCan’t we all testify to the amazing grace of God in our lives, His marvelous goodness to usWe are called to tell our stories of amazing grace, of redemption, of restoration, to invite others to “Come and listen!”  Because Hashem listened and He actedHe responded to my prayer“He took my feet from the miry clay”, as the gospel song says, “and set me on a rock to stay”.  He did not reject meHe did not turn His grace away from meBlessed be His Name, forever. 

 

 

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