~ Twelfth Section ~
LAMED = Shepherd's Staff
Means:
Teach ~ Yoke ~ Bind
Introduction ...
In 1 Samuel 17:40 we are told:
As a shepherd boy ... David
... "took a 'staff' in his hand before he chose the 5 stones"
... for his sling
... when he went out
... to engage the giant in warfare.
It is significant to note that after he had decided to face the giant
... but before choosing the specific ammunition he was going to use
... David took up his:
"staff"
[H4731]
= walking .. striking .. guiding
= used for "divining"
"divining"
[H7080]
= evil divination
.. fortune telling
. . . OR . . .
(as discerning)
[H5172]
= guide
.. (instruct .. educate .. lead)
= learn by experience
= diligently observe
Let's consider how "LAMED" ... the title David gave to this section of Psalms 119 .. relates to God's use of the "staff"
...to "educate" him in warfare
...to "guide" and "lead" him
.. to "experience" ... by "diligently observing"
... how the "staff" could help him shepherd the sheep.
... and through his preparation for warfare against the enemy ... he presents us with a picture of ... God's purpose for the "staff."
We see that before David's encounter with the giant ... he had already discovered ... that the "staff" could:
... "teach" him that its purpose was to serve as:
(1) .. a "yoke" to rescue sheep from danger
(2) .. an instrument to "bind" sheep to the Voice and guidance of the shepherd.
(3) .. as well as a weapon to "bind" attacks from wolves and other enemies that prey on sheep.
The Twelfth Section = #12
[H12]
Illustrates "End Times" as it speaks of:
= destruction
= perishing .. slaughter
[H6]
Connecting in Hebrew to H12 .. as H6 refers to "man":
= perish .. vanish .. go astray
= be destroyed .. die
= put to death .. exterminate
= be lost .. strayed
= put to death .. exterminate
= be lost .. strayed
= blot out .. divine judgment
= no escape
[Lexicon]
= lost wandering sheep
= be ready to perish
= to destroy
= to destroy
.. (picture of judgment
.. and wrath)
.. and wrath)
(while at the same time)
= escape .. flee .. take
.. (picture of Rapture
.. of the faithful sheep)
Through shepherding the sheep ... and his experiences in the use of the "staff" ... David has come to understand
... the eternal value of God's "staff" when he prays:
89
For ever, O LORD,
thy word
is settled in heaven.
"For ever"
"forever"
[H5769]
= from ancient times
= always .. unending
= eternity .. into the future
The lessons David is learning are being acknowledged as ... "forever" ... "unending" lessons ... something he is going to carry into "eternity" ..."into the future" ... with him.
These are lessons from God's:
"word"
[H1697][H565]
= speech .. utterance
= sayings .. Voice of God
= sayings .. Voice of God
= chronicles
= commandments
= commandments
= Book .. communication
= counsel .. decree
= judgment .. message
= promise .. provision
= sentence .. thought spoken
The "Word" of God IS the "Voice" of God.
Every "Word" ... "utterance" ... "saying" ... God has brought forth to convey to His people (the "sheep" of His pasture) ... serve as "chronicles" ... "commandments"
... which can be found in His "Book" ... the Holy Bible ... which is the very "Word" ... "Voice" of God.
These are Words used to "decree" "judgment" as well as establish His "message" of "promise" for "provision" ... through every "sentence" and "thought spoken."
God's "promise" ... not only pertains to our life experiences on earth ... but is designed to last throughout "eternity" and is therefore:
"settled"
[H5324]
= to stand .. be set .. upright
= established .. placed
= be appointed .. stand firm
= to be fixed .. be determined
= to be stationary
By observing the functions of God's "staff" ... we can see His "promise" to His "sheep" ... regarding His eternal "Word" that cannot be altered
... but created to "stand" ... to "be set" as being "forever" "upright" ... "established" and "placed" within this unfailing "promise"
... "appointed" to "stand firm" and "fixed" ... eternally "determined" by our Father to be "forever" "stationary" ... "forever" sealed in:
"heaven"
[H8064]
= dwelling place of God
= universal
= affecting all
.. of heaven and earth
The credibility and existence of the "Word" of God ... is "forever" "settled" in "heaven and earth" ... serving eternally ... as God's "staff" ... to "teach" ... "yoke" ... "bind" His "sheep" to Himself
... and "bind" His adversaries in fetters ... for the day of "divine judgment."
90
Thy faithfulness
is unto all generations:
thou hast established
the earth,
and
it abideth.
"faithfulness"
[H530]
= firmness .. fidelity
= steadfast
= steadfast
= steadiness .. truth .. office
= faith .. stability .. security
[Lexicon]
= fulfilling promises
God's "faithfulness" is constant ... "steadfast" ... its "steadiness" grounded in "truth" ... reflecting the preeminent "office" He exclusively possesses
... an "office" that defines "faith" ... through His own example of "faithfulness" ... while it provides emotional "stability" and spiritual "security" ... as God is "fulfilling His promises" ... throughout:
"generations"
[H1755]
= period of time
.. of habitation
.. of habitation
= age .. (length of dwelling)
= (characterized by quality
.. condition
.. class of people)
.. class of people)
[Lexicon]
= circuit of years of life
This "faithfulness" of our Father is extended to all "generations" throughout history covering every "period of time" ... as long as the earth has been mankind's "place of habitation"
... throughout every "age" ... and their "length of dwelling" ... under every "condition" ... affecting every "class of people" during their specific "circuit of years of life."
God is the Creator ... the One who:
"established"
[H3559]
= be firm .. be stable .. secure
= enduring .. fixed
= determined
= morally steadfast
= morally steadfast
= prepared .. ready
= arranged
= arranged
= settled .. set up
= accomplish
= accomplish
= make firm .. furnish .. order
= restored .. make provision
[Lexicon]
= to exist .. turn one's mind to
= God's creation .. He forms
= appoint .. direct
.. (as warfare weapon)
= apply one's mind to
.. do something
.. do something
= care for .. direct the heart
= make ready like food
.. (Word of God)
= rise up .. stand fixed
= steady .. true .. sincere
= steady .. true .. sincere
= constant .. consistent
When God creates something ... He builds it to last ... so the thing "established" will continue to "be firm" ... "stable" ... "secure"
... "enduring" because it is "fixed" ... in its proper place ... "securely determined" to carry out its specific purpose ... while it remains "morally steadfast."
This was our Father's intention ... when He designed the:
"earth"
[H776]
= land of the living
= whole earth
= ends of the earth
= world .. nations
This place we call "home" ... this "earth" ... was fabricated to be a "land of the living" ... the "whole earth" to meticulously support every type of life ... and enhance human life ... to the far "ends of the earth" ... the entire "world" ... all of the specific "nations" ... built to last ... assuring that it:
"abideth"
[H5975]
= to stand .. remain .. endure
= take one's stand
= stand still .. stop .. cease
= to tarry .. delay .. continue
= persist .. be steadfast
= hold one's ground
= be upright
= be upright
= arise .. appear .. rise up
= to stand with
= be appointed
= be appointed
= grow .. maintain
= go before the king
= ordain .. stay .. wait .. dwell
= be employed
= repair .. serve
= repair .. serve
[Lexicon]
= minister .. stand by
= defend
= defend
= keep covenant .. stay alive
= persevere
To accomplish all of God's purposes and plans the "earth" had "to stand" the test of time ... to "remain" and "endure" ... for thousands of years.
It had to "continue" ... to "maintain" dependence on its Creator to "repair" as needed ... while functioning over time ... to "serve"and "minister" to the needs of all living creatures
... to supply everything required to physically "stay alive"
... and "preserve"
... perpetual "generations"
... perpetual "generations"
... and
... the "earth"
... His uniquely designed
environment
environment
... where these "generations" would dwell.
For this reason:
91
They continue this day
according to
thine ordinances:
for all
are thy servants.
Evidence of God's faithfulness in maintaining the "earth" and His specific plan for each of these "generations" can be seen even to this very day
... as "generations":
"continue"
[H5975]
= to stand .. remain .. endure
= abide .. be steadfast
= arise .. appear
= come on scene
= come on scene
= be appointed .. ordained
= establish .. be present
[Lexicon]
= to serve .. minister
= to defend .. persist
= to keep covenant
= remain among living
= to destine .. impose law
= set in office .. or function
= confirm the vision
.. (like Daniel)
.. (like Daniel)
= arouse .. stir up
= set in place .. remain
"Generations" "continue" "to stand" as they "remain" ... "endure" ... to "abide" "steadfast" and each is seen to "arise" ... "appear" ... "come on the scene" at the "appointed time" to fulfill God's purposes which He has specifically "ordained"
... to "establish" ... to "be present" at each exclusive time in history
... to carry out all that is required to "serve" His total plan for mankind's earthly experience and "minister" to every need necessary to "defend" human existence
... to persist ... in the "keeping of the covenant" He has made ... that it might "remain among the living" ... "destined" "to impose law" ... the totality of His Word
... which God "set forth to function" even prophetically
... (as in the time of the
prophet Daniel)
prophet Daniel)
... to accomplish His prophetic plan ... designed to "arouse" mankind to watch developing end time events
... to "stir up" the hearts of the inhabitants of "earth" ... as these events are being "set in place" for the final fulfillment on "earth" of every:
"ordinance"
[H4941]
= judgment .. justice
= act of deciding a case
= place .. court
= seat of judgment
= seat of judgment
= process .. procedure
litigation
litigation
= case .. cause
= sentence .. decision
.. (of judgment)
.. (of judgment)
= execution (of judgment)
= right .. rectitude
= decision (in law
/commandments)
/commandments)
= privilege legally due
= proper .. fitting measure
= custom .. manner .. plan
= discretion according to law
"Ordinances" are legal rules of "judgment" God has set forth in His Word and Law ... regarding how He defines and determines "justice."
While we are not saved by works or by the keeping of God's Law
... His Word and Law ... do specify how we are to be saved
... and are written "ordinances" ... that establish the specific ... only "Way" ... we can legally ... according to God's Law ... be saved.
... His Word and Law ... do specify how we are to be saved
... and are written "ordinances" ... that establish the specific ... only "Way" ... we can legally ... according to God's Law ... be saved.
That "ordinance" tells us that Jesus Christ is the only "Way."
Jesus has paid the price and followed the Law's ... requirement ... fulfilling the "ordinance" ... for us ... so now salvation ... comes about through repentance ... turning from sin ... changing our direction and focus in life
... by making God and His Holy Word our preeminent priority ... being submitted to His Authority ... by coming into agreement with the Word/Law of God
... accepting what the Lord Jesus Christ has done on our behalf ... and turning from sin ... to follow Him ... His Word ... and His commandments
... becoming "followers of the Way" ... which Christians were called ... before they were called "Christians."😊
So Jesus Christ obeyed the Law/"ordinance" for us ... paying the penalty for our sin at the cross
... but even though the ceremonial "works of the law" are no longer necessary or need to be kept
... (because Jesus' Blood sacrifice sufficiently covers all that is required)
... He did not completely do away with His Word ... Law ... and commandments ... but sustains them now ... as a way to "measure" the condition of one's heart.
God is a God of order ... not chaos ... therefore His Word commands us to:
"Let all things be done
decently and in order."
(1 Cor.14:40)
The Word and Law were established by God to "measure" what is "fitting" ... "right" ... and necessary to maintain decency and "order."
Our obedience to His Word ... Truth ... "ordinances" ... and Law ... now stands as evidence ... of having a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ ... that proves we genuinely love Him and value all He has suffered on our behalf.
23
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24
24
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."
(Jn.14:23-24)
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
(John 14:15)
Therefore ... these "ordinances" (commandments) are absolutely necessary to ... define and identify ... a genuine salvation experience
... but
... are also absolutely required to protect human existence.
... When ...
God's Word and Law
are legislated away
it is
the beginning
of the end
of a civilization.
The "ordinances" of God are extremely important to every life on "earth"
... because they function as:
"servants"
[H5650]
= slave .. worshipper of God
[H5647]
= laborer .. worker
[H5646]
= builder
King David understood how God's "ordinances" were like God's "staff"
... used as "servants" to "teach" ..."yoke" ... and "bind" God's people to Himself ... as God's sheep
... so they could know Him ... walk and work with Him ... experiencing all of the benefits and blessings of being eternally bound to Him.
The genuine sheep of the Shepherd love Him and His "ordinances"
... because they understand ... as David did ... that:
92
Unless thy law
had been my delights,
I should then
have perished
in mine affliction.
David was able to conclude from experience
... that life is sustained by God's:
"law"
[H8451]
= direction .. instruction
= prophetic teaching
= interpret Word of God
[H3384]
= like "Water of the Word"
= pour .. cast .. throw
= like rain
= teach .. instruct
Our Creator's law was established to give us a clear path of "direction" for our life and the "instruction" needed to successfully fulfill God's intended purpose for our existence
... as well as blessing with "prophetic teaching" ... as the Holy Spirit would "interpret the Word of God" ... drawing our attention ... to end time events as they unfold in the last generation.
For this reason ... in God's Law ... David:
"delights"
[H8191]
= enjoyment .. pleasure
David finds "enjoyment" and "pleasure" in knowing that God has provided everything He needs in life ... through God's Law and Word ... to discover his purpose in life ... and his "prophetic" ... "eternal future" ... preparation for his own specific "generation."
... And today "faith (to be saved) comes by hearing ... and hearing by the Word of God."
... And today "faith (to be saved) comes by hearing ... and hearing by the Word of God."
David understands that it is his "delighting" in God's Law and Word ... that has given him the power to "endure" his "afflictions."
If it had not been for the preliminary "pleasure" he found in his study of God's Law ... and the "direction" and "instruction" gained from it ... he knows that he would surely have:
"perished"
[H6]
= vanished .. gone astray
= be destroyed .. died
= be lost .. killed
= have failed
It was the joy David experienced in God's Word that ... like the "staff" ... kept drawing him back to the Word ... to hear the Voice of God.
As one of the Father's valuable sheep ... David ... by being drawn back ... time after time ... to hear his Shepherd's Voice
... had ... over time ... been sufficiently prepared to "endure" his time of:
"affliction"
[H6040]
= poverty .. misery
= trouble .. depression
[H6031]
= oppressed .. browbeaten
= put down .. force
= mishandle (persecute)
Because of the power accessed through the Word of God ... King David says:
93
I will never forget
thy precepts:
for with them
thou hast quickened me.
David has discovered mankind's preeminent priority in life
... vowing never to:
"forget"
[H7911]
= ignore .. wither
= cease to care
= not remember
= cause to forget
= be forgotten
= be forgotten
The "staff" will always remind him of the immeasurable value the Word of God possesses
... and the importance of listening for His Voice.
Therefore ... he will never "ignore" ... "cease to care" about ... "not remember" our Heavenly Father's:
"precepts"
[H6490]
= totality of Law
.. Word of God
.. Word of God
= statute .. commandments
= mandate of God
(official order .. authorization)
[H6485]
= judgment
= recorded testimony
= recorded testimony
= for purpose of attending to
= pay attention to .. need
Our God has preserved the "totality of His Law" and "Word"
... "totality" ... being the eternal focus
... because ... to remove any Word out of its proper context ... or to tamper with our Creator's Holy Word ... in any way ... brings severe judgment.
Thankfully genuine followers of Christ today have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to lead ... "teach" ... expound the Word of God for us
... letting the "totality of the Word" .. interpret the Word
... that we might personally understand God's intention and be:
"quicken"
[H2421]
= have life .. sustain .. grow
= live forever .. save
= be restored to life .. health
= revive from:
.. sickness .. discouragement
.. faintness .. death
= to preserve life (health)
= nourish up .. (nurture)
= deliver from destruction
[H2331]
= to breathe
[H2324]
= show how .. interpret
= tell .. declare .. explain
[Lexicon]
= cause to grow
= restore to life .. refresh
= repair .. flourish
First of all ... "quickened" to a new "born-again" experience in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit
... "quickened" ... spiritually ... to live out our new life in Christ
... and ... physically ... "quickened" ... to remain alive as our Creator continues to give wisdom and His power to "sustain the life" He has given us ... that we might "live prosperously" by following His Holy Word.
David loves the Word of God ... therefore has the confidence to pray:
I am thine,
save me;
for I have sought
thy precepts.
When the sheep genuinely belong to the Shepherd ... "LAMED" ... the "staff" ... exists to remind them
... that they are in a position to request to "be delivered" ... and can expect to be "liberated" by the One who "helps" those who have no "help."
So David prays that by the "staff"
... the Shepherd would:
"save"
[H3467]
= be delivered .. liberated
= victorious .. salvation
= help .. preserve
= avenge .. defend
= rescue .. keep safe
[Lexicon]
= deliverance from danger
= set free .. to aid
= to conquer
.. (Jesus conquering death)
Our Father promises to "preserve" ... "avenge" ... "defend" ... "rescue" and "keep His people safe" ... using many methods
... often enlisting other members of the family of God to assist
... sometimes arranging circumstances that help
... and sometimes ... by other means ... we might call ... "miraculous."
= deliverance from danger
= set free .. to aid
= to conquer
.. (Jesus conquering death)
Our Father promises to "preserve" ... "avenge" ... "defend" ... "rescue" and "keep His people safe" ... using many methods
... often enlisting other members of the family of God to assist
... sometimes arranging circumstances that help
... and sometimes ... by other means ... we might call ... "miraculous."
David appeals to God's Word to "deliver from danger" ... "set free" the one who belongs to Him ... and "conquer" his enemies
... all valuable promises David discovered when he diligently:
"sought"
[H1875]
= seek .. enquire
= require .. dig for
= frequent .. (a place) of God
= seek in prayer .. consult
= investigate .. study .. ask
= practice .. search
= allow God to enquire
.. question self
When David invested the time and work required to "dig for" ... "seek" ... "frequently" commune with his Creator "in prayer" ... to "consult" God regarding Truth
... "investigate" ... "study" ... and "ask" for an interpretation and application from God's heart ... regarding what he was learning and experiencing in life
... he was able to put into "practice" all he discovered through his diligent search
... and then "allow God to enquire" ... question him ... about the condition of his own heart.
David could feel confident in asking for God's "help" ... because throughout his life ... he was loving God's Word and searching out God's:
"precepts"
[H6490]
= totality of Law
= Word of God
= Word of God
= statute .. commandments
= mandate of God
(official order .. authorization)
[H6485]
= judgment
= recorded testimony
= recorded testimony
= for purpose of attending to
= pay attention to .. need
And the Word of God proved to be a very valuable resource ... as affirmed
...when he said:
95
The wicked
have waited for me
to destroy me:
but I will consider
thy testimonies.
Those who "lie in wait" to destroy God's people
... are the:
"wicked"
[H7563]
= criminal .. law breaker
.. guilty
.. guilty
= hostile .. rebellious
= against God or man
= ungodly .. condemned
The "wicked" ... are "criminals" ... who hate God's Word and Law ... they are "lawbreakers" who ... in an attempt to avoid feeling "guilty" ... or pay for their crimes ... work hard to legislate contrary "laws" ... that protect them when they are "hostile" or "rebellious" "against God or man."
Nevertheless ... the "ungodly" are "condemned" by God and will surely pay the penalty for their wickedness.
David observed how the "wicked":
"waited"
[H6960]
= to wait .. look for .. hope
= expect
= look eagerly for
= to lie in wait for
= to wait for .. linger for
= to collect .. bind together
= to be collected
The "waiting" of the "wicked" involved "looking for" ... "hoping" ... and "expecting" to see their victim
... so lie in "wait" to:
"destroy"
[H6]
= perish .. vanish .. go astray
= be destroyed .. die
= put to death = exterminate
= be lost .. strayed
= put to death = exterminate
= be lost .. strayed
= blot out .. divine judgment
= no escape
[Lexicon]
= lost wandering sheep
= be ready to perish
In King David's case ... the "wicked" wanted David "put to death" ... to "destroy" him.
What a horrible thing for David to have to deal with on a daily basis ... knowing someone is "waiting" .. and wants him dead.
But David sufficiently handled his situation ... because of the preparation God had provided in His Holy Word ... so he was able to:
"consider"
[H995]
= to discern .. understand
= perceive
= to discern .. understand
= perceive
= know (with the mind)
= observe .. mark
= give heed to .. distinguish
= observe .. mark
= give heed to .. distinguish
= insight .. intelligent
= discreet .. teach .. instruct
= attentive
= consider diligently
= prudent .. regard
= cause to think
= discreet .. teach .. instruct
= attentive
= consider diligently
= prudent .. regard
= cause to think
= view .. deal wisely
When in trouble ... the best advice will come from the Word of God.
"Considering" what our Father has to say will help "discern" and "understand" options and actions that need to be taken ... also leading the sheep to "observe" and "give heed to" developing circumstances that should be "considered diligently" ... with "prudent regard" ... in order to "deal wisely."
When trouble comes ... it is within the Word of God that we find His:
"testimonies"
[H5713 .. H5715]
= legal witness
.. (ref. divine law)
= precepts .. Laws of God
= revelation .. by Holy Spirit
[H5707]
= evidence recorded
= Word of God
[H5749]
= repeat .. affirm .. exhort
These "testimonies" embody God's divine Laws bringing "revelation by the Holy Spirit" ... and "evidence recorded" ... that can "repeatedly" be used as a "legal witness" ... and applied to every situation
... which David validates by saying:
96
I have seen an end
of all perfection:
but thy commandment
is exceeding broad.
"end"
[H7093]
= at the end of (of time)
= end (of space)
= border
= infinite
= after (utmost)
= process
What does David mean by "an end of all perfection?
"There is "an end" to every thing ... even "an end" to what we might call:
"perfection"
[H8502]
= completion
= completeness
= completeness
[Lex]
= hope
= confidence
"Perfection" defines (perfectly) "complete" ... as it can relate to "hope" and ... or ... "confidence"
... BUT ... there is something very different about His:
"commandments"
[H4687]
= law .. precept .. ordinances
= judgments .. rule
= code of wisdom
= best course in life
= God's direction and will
= totality of Word of God
[H6680]
= assignment
= specific God-given
.. appointment in life
= God's direction and will
= totality of Word of God
Our Creator's "Laws" of "life" and all of creation ... are under His personal ... interactive "wisdom" ... "direction" ... and "will."
This makes His "commandments" something that goes beyond "perfection" to being:
"exceeding"
[H3966]
= much .. substantive
= might .. force
= abundance .. great degree
= diligently .. good .. properly
= vehemence .. wholly
= speedily ..utterly
= very ( much, sore)
The Shepherd's intentions ... found in His "commandments" for His sheep ... seen in the "staff"... actually take them beyond "perfection"
... because they are:
"broad"
[H7342]
= wide .. large .. proud
= liberty .. roomy
= at liberty
= wide .. large .. proud
= liberty .. roomy
= at liberty
... By following the Shepherd's "Voice" ... "Word" and ... these "broad" "Commandments"
... we can only begin to experience the "broad" ... "liberty" His "Word and Law" ultimately provide
(btw ... this is the true liberty ... prosperity ... and protection from evil ... that our country enjoyed in the beginning ... under "Blackstone Law" ... law founded on the Word of God ... the Holy Bible ... taught in every school ... America's first textbook ... that built righteousness into the fabric of our nation.)
... we can only begin to experience the "broad" ... "liberty" His "Word and Law" ultimately provide
(btw ... this is the true liberty ... prosperity ... and protection from evil ... that our country enjoyed in the beginning ... under "Blackstone Law" ... law founded on the Word of God ... the Holy Bible ... taught in every school ... America's first textbook ... that built righteousness into the fabric of our nation.)
... through the ... "broad" ... endless applications of God's laws that made America great.
* * * * *
To access the power of the Word and Spirit of God and receive eternal life with Christ ... our Shepherd and His flock:
(1)..Scroll
..to the top of this page
(2)..Click on
..the gift wrapped
..in gold
..in the left column
(3)..Follow the directions
..with a sincere heart
♡♡♡
* * * * *
To access the power of the Word and Spirit of God and receive eternal life with Christ ... our Shepherd and His flock:
(1)..Scroll
..to the top of this page
(2)..Click on
..the gift wrapped
..in gold
..in the left column
(3)..Follow the directions
..with a sincere heart
♡♡♡
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