Long Live the King! (Psalm 20:4–5)

May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!… May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

– Psalm 20:4-5

Photo by Sebastian Voortman on Pexels.com

Before we assume these verses apply to us, we must look at the broader context of this psalm. Psalm 20 is a Royal Psalm, written to the king, and this is evidenced clearly by verse 9, which says: “O Lord, save the king!” So when we read verses 4 and 5, we cannot insert ourselves into the “yous” and “yours.” No, the psalmist is speaking about the king, asking God to grant all of the king’s desires, petitions, and plans. Of course, this does not prohibit us from asking God for our heart’s desires (see Ps 37:4): only that this psalm specifically is written for the king.

My heart is so anxious to show you how these verses point not to ourselves—but to Jesus. All Scripture finds fulfillment in Him (Lk 24:27). What the psalmist addressed to an earthly king, the Holy Spirit spoke of our eternal King—Jesus, the Son of David, come into the flesh, as one of us. When we see Jesus as the true Messianic ruler promised to the line of David, these verses become wonderfully full. Through the Holy Spirit, the author of this psalm asks God the Father to grant these requests to God the Son. Let us see how Christ fulfills each of these:

Jesus, may God your Father grant you your heart’s desire!

What was the heart of Jesus? Compassion for sinners: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36).

What was the desire of this beating heart? For us to come to Him: “Come to me…and I will give you rest…for I am gentle and lowly in heart…” (Mt 11:28–29).

What does He do when we come to Him? He heals us: “and with his wounds we are healed” (Isa 53:5).

Jesus, may God your Father fulfill all your plans!

What were the plans of Jesus? To do the Father’s will: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (Jn 6:38).

What was the Father’s will? To save us: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45)

How did He save us? By giving His life freely: “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (Jn 10:18).

Jesus, may God your Father fulfill all your petitions!

How did Jesus pray while He was on the earth? With fervent tears: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears” (Heb 5:7).

Who did our High Priest pray for with loud cries and tears? You and me: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word” (Jn 17:20)

What did He pray for in His most trying hour? Our eternal salvation: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (Jn 17:24).

How does Jesus intercede for us now? As our Mediator in heaven: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

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How wonderful the truths our Savior has fulfilled! Do you see how this psalm is made complete in Him? Lord Jesus, may we see your glory as you now reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords. May your name be glorified in us. May the desires of your heart to seek and save the lost be accomplished among us with great glory and power. We praise you for being our Great High Priest who always lives to intercede for us. Long live the King! Amen.

Your Inheritance in Christ (Psalm 16:6)

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance

Psalm 16:6

In this verse, David references the physical property of one’s inheritance, specifically relating to the time in Israel’s history when the 12 tribes entered the Promised Land and divided the land according to tribal “lines” (see Josh 13-19). In this way, David spiritualizes the historic, physical inheritance of the nation Israel to speak about a current, spiritual inheritance he now has in his relationship with the Lord. The central premise of Psalm 16 is that because David has banked his entire refuge in the Lord (v.1), he now lives a life of joy in God’s presence (v.11). This is David’s “beautiful” inheritance: God’s presence forevermore.

Reader, how often do you meditate on the “glorious inheritance in the saints” you now possess in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:18)? Now, in light of the coming of Christ, this inheritance motif takes on profound depth and beauty. Paul picks this up in Ephesians 1 when he declares how our gracious God and Father “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3). The believer’s inheritance, guaranteed by Christ’s death, resurrection and the sealing of the Holy Spirit, is this: we have already received every spiritual blessing in Christ, yet we eagerly await the final day of our inheritance when he returns. Theologians speak of this dynamic as the “already but not yet.” We have already received salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness, power and glory; yet we long for the renewal of all creation when Christ returns in glory.

So what is our inheritance in Christ? What are the spiritual blessings we have already been given? Following Ephesians 1, Paul tells how we were chosen “before the foundation of the world…to be holy and blameless before him” (v.4) Think about this: God, in his sovereign goodness, before we did anything good or bad, orchestrated and decreed our salvation. Before you were created the cross was in view, the Son of God setting his eyes in love to become the sinless sacrifice for your sin. What wonder and grace!

Paul also tells us “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ” (v.5). In his sovereign foreknowledge, God decreed he would claim us as his own. The language of adoption is deeply intimate and abundantly rich—we are not impersonally granted an inheritance like a business interaction; no, we are warmly embraced as a son into God’s family. This is not a distant salvation; if you are in Christ, you are united to the Father as a son, enjoying all the privileges of an heir in the house of God. Hallelujah!

Next, Paul tells us that in Christ “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (v.7). Here is the pinnacle of our inheritance: salvation. Christ shed his precious blood to purchase our redemption from the bondage of sin. We once were slaves, dead, lost without hope, rebels against our Creator. But Jesus Christ, the glorious King and good Shepherd, laid down his life for his enemies and his sheep. An undeserved act of mercy in sparing us. An unimaginable act of love in giving us his righteousness. What an indescribable gift! The perfect Son dying in the place of rebel sinners, pouring out his own blood to cover the debt of sinful man!

Finally, while we could marvel at every word in this passage, we will highlight one last spiritual blessing. No Christian can stand without it; no saint can claim any of it his own. It is the bedrock of the Christian’s complete life and joy, the ground and completion of our inheritance. What is it?

Grace. “The riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us” (v.7-8). As the song says, “Grace, grace, God’s grace / Grace that is greater than all our sin!” Grace is the lavish favor God pours out on us; the motivated, unrelenting, implacable bend of his will to save, sustain, and secure his sheep forever; the power which grants us a new life, a new love, and a new longing for Christ; the preserving force of his love to keeps us secure in Christ. Our inheritance is grounded in grace alone. Your life has been stamped with the signature of grace. The Christian life is wrapped up in this very reality—the reality which you own, right now, in Jesus Christ.

This and so much more is our “glorious inheritance in the saints.” Let us marvel at everything that our Father has already accomplished for us in Christ, guaranteed to us by the Spirit, and lavished upon us by grace. Like David, we sing: “Indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance!”

“Jesus My High Priest” – A Poem on Hebrews 2:17

Recently I feel in my heart I have succumbed to the sin of unbelief, forgetting God’s personal mercies and grace in my life. Yet in God’s providence I have been reading Hebrews along with the book Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. Why do I stray so far from a pure and sincere devotion to Christ like I had in my youth when He first saved me? It’s because I don’t dwell on who He is for me. This poem is a reflection on Hebrews 2:17 – “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” By His grace alone I feel the fire stir within me once again. Draw near to the heart of Christ today.

Like me in every way
Still without sin or stain
Jesus my High Priest
You understand my frame

So many times I doubt
And other times I’m proud
Jesus my High Priest
You cover all my shame

When I so poor and frail
My wounds of sin prevail
Jesus my High Priest
You took upon the nails

Oh to see you there!
Bloody, spotless lamb
Jesus my High Priest
By your stripes I’m healed

I come by faith alone
To trade these dirty robes
Jesus my High Priest
Your Righteousness I own

So help my unbelief!
When I don’t have the faith
Jesus my High Priest

Do guard my soul today
Don’t let me fall away
Help me rest in perfect grace 
And keep me all my days

Let God Test Your Heart (Psalm 7:9)

Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous—you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!
Psalm 7:9

The elements in this verse should serve as frequent prayers for those who love the Lord. We will explore three ways to pray like David:

First, we should pray: let the evil of the wicked come to an end. In the Hebrew the request is more emphatic: “please let it cease!” David’s enemies were close around his neck; at any point those who disregarded God might have their way with his life. While we may never cross such direct evil or threats against our lives, there has always existed in man’s hearts a rebellion against those who seek after the Lord. Christ himself was no stranger to this evil. But what did he do in the face of his persecutors, the ones who sent him to the cross? He “did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten” (1 Pt 2:23). Are you tempted to enact revenge for yourself today? Like David you must entrust the evil in the world to the justice of God: Oh Lord, only You can make it cease once for all! But please, we pray, Your kingdom come!

Second, we should pray: God, may you establish the righteous! For David, righteousness meant a heart which sought the Lord and kept its way blameless—not necessarily perfect, but nonetheless sincere. Such an attitude of God-seekers can be found in Psalm 27:4: “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life…” Oh, how this prayer should be ours! God, establish in me a heart purely devoted to pursuing you. Keep me blameless in my love; rid my heart of any blemish which threatens a sincere and pure devotion to Christ! And when we fail in this regard, as those who stand on the other side of the cross and empty tomb, we trust that Christ’s perfect life has been accounted to us as righteousness. Oh God, establish more of your people who will seek and honor you in righteousness!

Lastly, we should pray for God to test our minds and hearts. This dual phrase “mind and heart” means the deepest parts of our being, the places where no one else can go but God. Therefore praying this last prayer will truly discern whether we are in the first category (the wicked), or the second (the righteous). To ask God to search your heart is indeed a frightful prayer—who knows what will be exposed? But it is necessary, for those who truly love Christ cannot stand their own sin; they need it exposed and eradicated by the cleansing power of the blood. Praise God the fountain is open and flowing full of grace!

Sadly, the wicked alway seek to hide their sin as one who obscures his deeds in the late hours of the night. As Paul says, “it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret” (Eph 5:11). Oh reader, please hear! God cannot be fooled. Either we run to the cross, bringing our darkness to light, knowing our sin separates us from a loving God yet Christ reconciles us; or we attempt to conceal it, standing under the judgment of a righteous God, avoiding the piercing eye of our Creator who calls all to account for everything said and done. Please do not be the latter. If there is sin in your heart today, let it be exposed.

I assure you, if you confess your sin, he is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9).

What to do when God feels hidden (Psalm 27:9)

Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
Psalm 27:9

Oh how there are times in our lives when we feel as if God is hidden from us! We try to pray, only to find a concrete wall as thick as our doubts. We go to church, only to question why others seem able to muster praise when we cannot. We try to read the Scriptures, only to be pierced by our endless shortcomings. Whatever the cause may be, take heart, struggling Christian! You are not alone in this agony. David felt this way too, and you can make his prayer your own today.

First, reach out to God: O Lord, please do not hide your face from me! Don’t cast me away! Don’t forsake me! This prayer is based in faith. You long for God; you are weary of life without His joy, presence, and peace. Take heart! If you find yourself praying this, you are a true believer—those who know Christ desire to be with Him, experience His presence, and seek His face (Ps 27:4). Though our fallen bodies and minds often make us feel otherwise, we are secure in Christ.

Second, remember His character: O you who have been my help! Notice this: you can only pray the first prayer above because this second phrase is true. God has been your help. Look back on your life. What has He delivered you from? What prayers of desperation has He answered? What gracious provision have you seen from His hand? Take heart! “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Mt. 6:8). Surely He sees you now—and He knows why He is allowing you to experience these feelings of forsakenness.

Finally, rest in His salvation: O God of my salvation! Whenever you feel forsaken by God, look to Christ. On the cross Christ was forsaken so you would never have to be. If the Father sent His Son as the most precious, costly gift to secure your salvation, then He will not turn His face from you now. Though there are times when your circumstances are grim, or your emotions speak lies, the bloody cross and the empty grave are the two greatest proofs of God’s love for you. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rm 8:1). If God gave His best to save you at your worst, there’ll never be a day He goes back on His word.

God will never forsake those whom He has chosen in Christ. Though you may feel forsaken, He is indeed very near. Take the gospel by faith today; grip these truths with all your spiritual might. And when the tempest of our emotions or the shipwreck of our circumstances attempt to pry our weary hands away from Christ—Oh believer!—Christ’s hands hold you tighter still.

Enter His House (Psalm 5:7a)

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house…
Psalm 5:7a

Everyone has a manner in which they approach God. Some offer quick requests in the face of dire circumstances. Some bring their list of long deeds and their perceived worthiness. Still others come stuck in a state of shame or condemnation, never believing the gospel.

But David teaches us the right way: we come through the abundance of His steadfast love. The Hebrew word behind “steadfast love” is qesed, the covenantal favor and kindness of God towards His people. This is the same word found in the other psalm which refrains, “His steadfast love endures forever” (Ps 136). It is a strong love, based upon God’s character—not on our present feelings or actions.

So the manner we are to “enter” God’s house is through His abundant, never-ending, secure qesed love. Later in the New Testament we find proof of His love towards us: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:4-5). This is our standing as children of God: we are secure. We have forgiveness of every sin. We are lavished with grace. We are given the Holy Spirit. This is all because of God’s great, unshakable, glorious love for us in Christ Jesus.

But we cannot stop here! We can recognize this love, we can view it from afar, peering into the house from the outside—but all of this does us no good if we do not enter his house for ourselves. David knows his soul would be bereft if he could not go into the temple of God for himself. He needs to be with God. So too for us, the love of God in Jesus invites us to come, abide, dwell, and glory in God’s house. Because we know that He is “able to save to the uttermost those who draw near” (Heb 7:25), we trust that we—by the gracious, firm, declarative favor of God poured out on us in Jesus—can draw near. And when we do, we go boldly to the throne room of grace, “that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). I leave you with two applications:

First, there is never a reason why you cannot go to God in prayer today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. Condemnation is removed through Jesus. He took your shame upon His shoulders. Bring to God your empty works, and trust in the finished work of Christ. Go through the abundance of His love.

Second, there is never a time when you cannot enter his house. You do not have to schedule an appointment with God; His door is always open. If the gospel is true on your worst day, then every day is an opportune time to draw near. Whether in a time of need, praise, confession, or intercession, the abundance of His steadfast love assures you that He always has an ear for you. We can never deplete His grace, so we return to receive it as He has given it: freely, in abundance.

All this is yours in Christ Jesus. Do you believe that this morning?

Podcast #17 – The Veil is Removed (2 Cor. 3:12-16)

Text: “12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” -2 Cor 3:12-15

Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/17-the-veil-is-removed-2-cor-3-12-16/id1628176611?i=1000581373940

Podcast on Spotify: