Tomorrow is the Lord’s day — Sunday, and I’m excited!
A lot of people just think of Sunday as the first day of the week, but for those who Jesus has saved, it reminds us of that Sunday millennia ago when Jesus rose from the dead. That day secured our salvation and gave us an unshakeable hope. As we gather to worship Jesus tomorrow, that unshakeable hope in Jesus alone is what we are going to sing about!
One of the passages we will be reading in worship, Psalm 62:5-8, reminds us of that hope:
5For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. 6He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
David’s words here from Psalm 62 are a powerful reminder to us that, no matter what uncertainties we face, God is our refuge and firm foundation. In a world that is as changing as shifting sand, Jesus alone us unmovable and unshakeable. Our salvation, security, peace, and hope rest in Him. We can trust Him and pour out our hearts to Him always and at all times.
Tomorrow, as we gather at Christ Community, we will lift our voices in songs that proclaim this beautiful truth. We will sing of the steadfast hope we have in Jesus — hope that is not fragile, not fleeting — but firm and eternal. We will raise our voices and encourage one another to trust in Jesus alone. As always, John will open God’s Word and point us to Jesus.
Won’t you gather with us?
Here are our Scripture and songs:
Scripture | Psalm 103:8-14 —
8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; 12as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. 13As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him. 14For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
5For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. 6He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
*Sometimes we see the need to changing the wording of a song for doctrinal reasons (meaning the lyrics contain theological inaccuracies or fail to align with clear biblical teaching).
In the case of “The Truth”, look at the original lyrics for the chorus:
The truth is I am my Father’s child I make Him proud and I make Him smile I was made in the image of a perfect King He looks at me and wouldn’t change a thing The truth is I am truly loved By a God who’s good when I’m not good enough I don’t belong to the lies I belong to You — that’s the truth
Here are the lyrics as we have changed them:
The truth is I am my Father’s child I make Him proud and I make Him smile I am made in the image of a perfect King He saved me and changed everything The truth is I am truly loved By a God who’s good when I’m not good enough I don’t belong to the lies I belong to You — that’s the truth
While the sentiment of the original lyrics is that we come to God just as we are, it is inaccurate to say that He wouldn’t change anything about us. He takes us just as we are, but if He saves us, He transforms us (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:2) from His enemies to His friends (Romans 5:10, John 15:15), from far off from Him to brought near (Ephesians 2:12-13), from dead in our trespasses and sins to alive in Christ by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:1-8). He takes sinners and gives them new life in Him (Colossians 2:13-14), and — as the lyrics just before it say, “I am made in the image of a perfect King”, we recognize that if God has saved us — again, transforming us from lost in sin to saved by and through Him — He takes the image of God married by sin (Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23) and makes us new, creating us “after the likeness of God” (Ephesians 4:24) by conforming us “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29)!
If we don’t want to “belong to the lies” and know what it is to belong to Christ, we need to realize that we need Him to change us — that the beauty of Him being willing to accept us in our sin is that He loves us enough not to leave us in it. That’s the truth, and that’s good news!
Greetings, Sojourners, and welcome to this week’s Refresh & Restore Bible study!
We’re kicking off a new study today through the book of Revelation, but it’s not going to be a typical study of the book of Revelation. I’ll be going through it conversationally with Jamie Harrison, and we’re calling it The KING is Coming.
Today, we’ll be opening with Revelation 1:1-8 to introduce and open the study:
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”[1]
Keith Harris: Jamie Harrison is with us, and he’s going to talk to us about the book of Revelation. We will be doing this, as I said earlier, conversationally. I am as curious as any to see how this is going to go.
Jamie Harrison: Same here.
Keith: So, Revelation – The KING is Coming….
Jamie: Revelation. I love the fact that you say Revelation and not RevelationS. That’s a common misconception with the book of RevelatioN. If you look, and I’m pretty sure any translation of the Bible, it’ll say Revelation is singular.
I love the way John MacArthur puts it in his Revelation Bible study. He says,
“Revelation depicts Jesus as the risen, glorified Son of God, ministering among the churches as the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of Earth as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, as the first and the last, as the Son of Man, as the one who was dead but now is alive forevermore, as the Son of God, as the One who is holy and true, as the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as the Lamb in heaven with authority to open the title deed to the earth, as the Lamb on the throne, as the Messiah who will reign forever, as the Word of God, as the majestic King of kings and Lord of lords, returning in glorious splendor to conquer His foes, and as the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star.”[2]
What does all that mean? That the Revelation is Jesus.
I think it’s important to start off with the fact that the book of Revelation is oftentimes misunderstood as a book of something we’re supposed to guess about and put together conjecture….
Keith: …a code to break….
Jamie: That’s right. And draw pictures of what this might be and what that might be.
The book of Revelation is about Jesus. The whole Bible builds up to this book, right?
Keith: Which is why it’s last in the canon[3] – because it’s supposed to be.
Jamie: That’s correct!
A couple of things before we get started, just so everyone knows what we’re not doing in this study. We’re not speculating about whether Jesus might come back on this day or on that day. We’re not debating on which theory is right or wrong. We’re not getting into the whole pre-, mid-, post-trib thing – anything like that; we’re going to present those as common approaches as to when Jesus is going to come.
Keith: Acknowledge them, but if I remember when we first talked about this, the goal was a verse-by-verse study of the book of Revelation, like one studies the other sixty-five books of the Bible.
Jamie: That’s correct. I think that’s it.
I think the best approach to the book of Revelation, because so many people that listen to this and so many of the conversations I’ve had with people over the years we’ve been doing this study at our church – if you have pre-conceived notions of anything in the book of Revelation, I genuinely pray that you approach it with the Holy Spirit as our teacher (John 14:26). We must have total dependence on Him. Total. Dependence. On Him.
Keith: I think this is a good time to reference that as we do these Bible studies, as we seek to be refreshed and restored – not just in the Revelation study but in all of them, this is not self-help; it’s not a magic pill or some sort of sorcery or incantation. The Holy Spirit is your teacher if you have faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Him alone. If He has saved you, He is your teacher.
If not, we invite you to confess Him as Lord, to believe in your heart that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day, and that by putting your faith in Him by asking – calling out – to Him, trusting that He will save you (Romans 10:9-13, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
If that’s the case, the book of Revelation will be good news. If it’s not the case, there will be several places in this study that will not be good news.
Jamie: That’s correct. One of the things that has kept coming up in our Bible study at church is that, man, it seems Revelation is full of bad news all the way through, but then, all of a sudden, you know, if you really pay attention every time something “bad” is given, it is followed up by something that’s awesome!
Keith: The King IS coming! That’s what all the “bad” is going to culminate in – the most awesome.
Jamie: And He’s coming whether you want Him to or not.
The last thing before we get into it is to talk about the timeline of Revelation real quick, just because a lot of times when you read Revelation, you automatically think: OK, well, we’re reading this in order – you know this happens, then this happens. But the fact is, the timeline of Revelation is what John saw next.
A couple of examples of that is in ch. 1:12 (CSB)[4], it says,
“Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands….”
So that’s what he saw when he turned. It doesn’t mean it was in order (chronologically) of what he just said. Chapter 4:1, another good example:
“After this I looked….”
So, after what he had just talked about – after he had received the letters to the churches, he looked and there in heaven was an open door. It doesn’t mean that he received the letters and, then, that’s what happened next. This is what he saw next.
Keith: A timeline for us to plan this all out isn’t part of the goal.
Going back to what you said earlier, the goal is for us to see Jesus Christ revealed – as He revealed this to John.
Jamie: That’s it. That’s correct. Just don’t get caught up trying to figure out when Jesus is coming. The fact is…we don’t know. And if anyone tells you different, they’re a liar – a false prophet.
Keith: Because Jesus says it cannot be known (Matthew 24:36).
Jamie: That’s right. The only inclination we’re given is in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 where we’re told that believers will be able to tell that the tribulation is happening. They will understand it by things that are going on because they’ve read the Bible and they’re filled with the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t mean they’ll know when Jesus is coming. That just means they’ll understand the times that are going on.
Keith: When you look at a lot of the people who are trying to narrow it down to a date – that’s often for their own glory. You think of Harold Camping who had one date, then other date, and then kind of just goes into relative obscurity because he didn’t get (it right) or the glory he was looking for. It’s about the coming of Jesus, not the one who can pinpoint the date. It’s about Him, not setting up some fruitful and enriching – monetary or otherwise – eschatology[5] ministry for people who are afraid to kind of twist them or turn them whichever way (2 Timothy 3:6-7, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Peter 2:1-3, Jude 4, Ephesians 4:14).
Jamie: That’s right.
Now, with all of that being said, let’s jump into it.
Keith: Sounds good.
Jamie: So, we started in v. 1. And this is to just reiterate how we started, it says:
“The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place.”
According to v. 1 – let me see how to phrase this – the Bible gives all the answers, right? If you can’t find the answers in the Bible, then the answer is “I don’t know”.
Keith: Right, and that’s a very good answer because it’s always better – and especially if people ask you, dear Sojourners, something that you don’t know, it’s better to tell them that you don’t know and that you’re willing to seek it out in Scripture than to make something up. (Making up answers) has never served Christ well or built up His Church. So, Jamie and I are fans of “I don’t know”.
Jamie: Yes, big fan. Those are three of my favorite words actually.
So, v. 1 gives us the answer to this revelation is an unveiling of. Revelation is an unveiling, a revealing, of all these things we are about to read about. There was what these people looked like and these animals look like and all these things – what in the world is that? None of that, in the end, matters. What matters is the unveiling – the revealing – of the revelation of Jesus Christ. We’re given that answer right here at the beginning.
The next thing we find here is the chain of communication. We’re told how it was made known to the rest of us. There in v. 1 it says He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John. Who sent it to the angel? God did. So, God sent the revelation to the angel, the angel gave the revelation to John, and John gave the revelation to us.
Keith: To the seven churches and then to the rest of usthrough John.
Jamie: That is also an important thing to look at because people will say that this was just a man writing this book. Who is he? Why should we believe what he says? We’re told right from the beginning that this revelation comes from the mouth of God, as does all Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Keith: That’s the argument that people commonly want to make. Oh, a man wrote this. Part of the Holy Spirit being our teacher if we are saved is believing that the Bible doesn’t contain God’s Words, it is God’s Word that He breathed out through these people who wrote it down, and He is faithful.
Jamie: Amen.
Off of that, who is this revelation for? This is written to seven specific churches. Is it for them, us – who is it for? Again, the Bible gives us the answer. Look at v. 3:
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.”
Again, the Bible gives us the answer. Who is this for? It is for those who read it aloud, those who hear the words of the prophecy and those who keep what is written in it.
That’s who it’s for: everybody. If you read it – if you keep it, it’s for you.
Keith: And, I do think it’s important to clarify since there are so many – you can almost throw a rock in some towns and hit a church that’s “preaching” through Revelation – but so much of it is about their theories and conjectures. It needs to be important that, even and especially with our words, our commentary, our discussion of this, that it’s the words from the Bible that hold the power, that hold the weight.
And you don’t hear that in some of these eschatology, end-time studies. They are promoting their view.
Jamie: That’s such a big word you used there. What does eschatology mean?
Keith: Eschatology is the study of the end times – of what is to come.
Jamie: [joking] That’s for us simple-minded people.
Keith: I’ve seen over the last few weeks on social media – ads of various big-name, popular preachers – where you can get their fold-out guide to the apocalypse or you can get their timeline where they lay it out and say “This is the only way….” It’s free, but you click on the link and you’re selling a lot of stuff. Jesus’s revelation was freely given – good news and bad news – for the churches, for us to take heed of.
Jamie: So, we’re not selling this Bible study?
Keith: No, this is not a money-making venture. That has not been my experience.
Jamie: Apologies, I thought we were going to get rich quick.
Keith: No. In fact, I was hoping some money would fall out of your pocket while we were recording – that was my only chance.
Jamie: Coincidentally, I left my wallet in the truck.
Keith: So, we digress…back to the revelation.
Jamie: Here in vv. 4-6 we get to a description of the Trinity. It says,
“John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, Who was, and Who is to come, from the seven spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
So, you get this really awesome description of the Trinity here, the One who is, was, and is to come. Obviously referring to God the Father from the seven spirits before His throne, referring to the Holy Spirit. That seven number there, Keith, I don’t know I you want to hit on it or just for our purposes say seven means (represents) fullness?
Keith: Right. Completion.
Jamie: That’s right. That’s the idea there. And then, finally, from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. I do think that’s important to talk about real quick. Faithful witness, meaning that if he says it you can take it to the bank. Everything Jesus has ever said – when He was here on earth or things that He’s revealed through His Spirit – has been accurate, has been true. And not only that, He’s a faithful witness because He was there from the beginning.
Keith: I think that’s very important to say because, a lot of the time we see the word “witness” in the New Testament, it’s the Greek word from which we get our word “martyr”. He was faithful with His life from before the foundation of the world all the way to His incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, and always will be because he’s an eternally faithful witness because He was and is and is to come.
Jamie: That’s right. John 1 speaks to that. It says in John 1:14:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed His glory, the glory as of the One and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
So, the Word became flesh. Ok, now watch this. John 1:1:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
He was with God in the beginning, so John 1:14 tells us the Word became flesh – obviously referring to Jesus – He was there from the beginning. When creation happened, Jesus was there. And don’t get that confused. He wasn’t somebody randomly created along the way.
Keith: He is God because He wasn’t created.
And don’t expect a explanation of the Trinity here because, well, let’s be honest. If someone could fully explain all of who God is then somebody made Him up. I think it’s C.S. Lewis – what’s that book we read? Mere Christianity. He said the way the Bible presents things is just odd enough that man couldn’t have made it up.[6] It’s so different – and in some places unexplainable that dome dude didn’t think of it. That’s good news!
Jamie: It is. Amen.
The other part here, of vv. 5-6, that I want to point out is you get this spontaneity of praise that happens. It’s just this seemingly random, you know, we’re getting a description here when all of a sudden he goes into this praise moment where he’s like “the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth”. Think about that for a second. “To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood”. This moment of praise for salvation for being made into a kingdom and priests to God – “glory and dominion forever and ever”. Amen. What I want to point out about this is when we’re going through our everyday life – when we’re going to work, when you’re dealing with whatever, all the issues, all the problems, whatever, we should have moments every day where we stop and for whatever reason it just hits us and we stop and say thank you to Him. Now, I’m not saying you’re in the middle of Walmart and you all of a sudden start shouting and running the aisles and doing all that. That would be glorifying yourself not the Lord.
Keith: Attention to you rather than Him.
Jamie: That’s right. What I’m talking about is a moment where you just sit back and you go, “Thank you, Lord, for saving me. Thank you for choosing me. Out of all the people in the world, you chose me.”
Keith: And those won’t be moments where you’ve done something great. I know when they come in my life that it’s done that is boneheadedly stupid – sin that I know better than to commit, or that I willingly committed knowing full well it was sin, and then it hitting me, the impact that He has freed us from our sins by His blood that…. Was it Romans 5:8?
“…but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
It’s that realization that I can’t believe He would want to love me. It’s just such a…. It’s that He is praiseworthy. Not because of what He’s done for us, but because He and His character would do something like that for people like us.
Jamie: That verse always reminds me of that movie about emotions. [Inside Out] In the movie joy and anger and all those things, they’re trying to get back to the headquarters because Riley, the main character is going through puberty or whatever and has moved. She’s about to, you know, her emotions are going crazy – much like my middle school students I work with every day. Anyway, that verse reminds me of that because it says [in Romans 5:8-11]:
“God proved His own love for us, and that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been [declared righteous] by His blood, will we be saved by Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.”
It reminds me of [Inside Out] because there’s all these fake people in their head – it’s an imagination thing – where these characters in her head would like die for Riley…. My point is the Bible [in Romans 5:7] asks how often someone would really be willing to die – even for a just person. Maybe for a good person somebody might die….
Keith: Somebody who you dearly love and has significance to you personally.
Jamie: But not some random person on the street who’s done you wrong. That’s the enemy – the language it uses in Romans 5:10-11. We’re talking about the person who hates you – strong word, but hates you and you know they do. Maybe they’ve messed you out of a job or whatever. You know they did something to you. Christ died for them.
Keith: I mean, that’s the context back in Revelation 1:7 – some of those He is “coming with the clouds” to get will include “even those who pierced Him”. There’s some bad news that there are “tribes of earth” that will wail on account of Him, but just like the Centurion standing at the foot of the cross who was one of the ones presiding over His execution (Matthew 27:54, Mark 14:39, Luke 23:47) said, “Surely this was the Son of God!”
Jesus saves sinners. Prior to coming to Christ, enemies – everyone is affiliated. There’s no unaffiliated random innocent person out in some jungle. All “have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). There’s enmity between us and God because of our sin, and He, willingly, because of His great love and mercy, died for even me.
Jamie: And that’s the second half of v. 5: “To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood”.
A couple of cross-references for you real quick – I’d be remiss to not give these. Verse 7:
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth, will mourn over him.’ So it is to be. Amen.”
Some cross-references for that are Isaiah 19:1, Zechariah 12:10, John 19:34-37, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 28:14, Zechariah 14:17. I just encourage you to go through those and read those because the Bible confirms the Bible. There’s nothing in the Bible that’s not going to be confirmed by something else in the Bible. And, if you’re reading something in the Bible and you think it means something that cannot be confirmed through other Scriptures, you might want to rethink that.
Keith: And you can look in the footnotes as well as in the parenthetical (in parenthesis) references and check what we say. You don’t need to take our word for this.
I’m not saying we’re not trustworthy. I’m saying we are fallible. We can misspeak and misunderstand from time to time. But God’s Word that is infallible.
Jamie: Before we finish up, here are some other verses from the spontaneity of praise in vv. 5-6. Y’all check out Revelation 4:9-11, 5:13, 7:11-12; Ephesians 3:20-21; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 24-25. There’s a whole lot more; that’s just some. But as you’re reading the Word every day, there should be this moment where you just stop and praise the Lord. Like, [reading His Word] overwhelms you and His being Almighty.
I think one of the big questions from vv. 1-8 should be whether reading the Word leads to a moment of praise. And if it doesn’t, then we need to rethink and maybe rework why we’re reading the Word (and the way we’re reading the Word). You know, I like to turn my Bible plan on and hit play and listen to it while I’m getting ready in the mornings, but if that’s not leading me to a moment of praise then I need to rethink how I’m doing it because it’s not getting through, I’m just playing it to play it.
Keith: You’re getting through the Bible, not getting the Bible through you.
Jamie: That’s it.
Then, finally, the last two verses – what we just read in v. 7 and then in v. 8. I love this v. 8. In it, Jesus says,
“I am the Alpha and the Omega…the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
This is a cool moment. The Lord introduces Himself as the Alpha and the Omega – which means the beginning and the end, the first and last letters (of the Greek alphabet – essentially the A-Z), the one who is, who was, and who is to come. The Almighty.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
So, the way Revelation starts is the way Revelation ends, letting us know that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega.
Keith: Letting us know He is the God who has always been. He is the God who is speaking, and as we’ve said throughout, He is the King who is coming! That gives me chill bumps!
Jamie: Yeah, and it’s not cold in here.[7] That’s a Holy Spirit bump, I would say.
Keith: Don’t miss this as we wrap this study. This is the first of however many it takes for us to get through this.
Jamie: Hopefully not as long as it’s been [in the church study].
Keith: As I’ve said, Jamie, it takes what it takes, but the idea here is to keep our focus on Jesus returning, Jesus coming back, because He has promised that He is.
Jamie: Hey, let’s talk about that for a second – just for a second. In vv. 7-8, talking about He’s coming back and we know He’s coming. We’re told at the end of v. 3 “because the time is near”, and I know everybody looks and they freak out because this was way back then the time isnear. All that means is God’s time frame is near because God’s time frame and our time frame are two different things, ok? You know, just keep that in the back of your mind.
I want you to understand that from the beginning of the Bible in Genesis to the end of the Bible in Revelation, it all leads up to this moment: He is coming, coming as the conquering King. He is coming as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
And, I’m sorry – I’m going off on a little thing here, but y’all just really think about this for a minute when it says every, single one, I want you to think about all the people around the world. Right? People – we always go to political leaders and stuff, and I was trying not to name drop anybody because, I just don’t like doing that, but I guess I’m about to anyway. But just think of people like Vladimir Putin – who is an atheist, right? Totally against God, and, man, when Jesus comes back, his knees are going to bow, his tongue is going to confess.
I think of – what was the real famous atheist that just died? The science guy in the chair? Stephen Hawking. He was totally against God – and clarified that he was going into nothingness. His knees are going to bow. His tongue is going to confess.
Keith: And I think that’s a good spot for us to get to today, not timewise but just thoughtwise. Sojourners, while we are recording this podcast, my nine-year-old (at the time) son is sitting in our living room is waiting on someone to pick him up – a friend who has asked him to hang out. And he’s been up there – it’s currently 10:15 in the morning, and he’s been up since before 7:00a in expectation – because it’s something he’s looking forward to. He is not anxious. He’s not disappointed in the wait. There’s an expectation, though.
And so we talk about every knee bowing, what you have to ask yourself is what heart-position is going to accompany your bowed knee. When it says that we know Jesus is coming as the conquering King, are you kneeling in subjection, in recognition that you have been conquered because the King of kings and Lord of lords has won the day? Or are you doing it in worship of the King who you have longed for His return – that He who is on the throne is coming, and there will be a Day when you get to stand before Him? When He pulls you from your knees. When He exalts you as it says in 1 Peter 5:6 by the mighty Hand of God and get pulled into an embrace. That’s the expectation. Or if that’s not it, then we definitely have some soul searching we need to do.
[6] Mere Christianity publication info and actual quote?
[7] Fun story: it really was not cold the morning we recorded this first Bible study for Revelation. In fact, we didn’t know it but my air conditioner when out while we were recording!
7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him for you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions – if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hieropolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
We have made it – the end of our study of the book of Colossians! I have enjoyed getting to study and write about this letter and hope it has been helpful for you. It is good for us to spend time studying His Word and especially good for us to truly understand that Jesus is indeed over all.
Our passage today is often just tacked on at the end of an expository book study (preacher language for preaching and teaching through a book, verse-by-verse) as a sort of wrap up. But I want us to see that this passage, like all of Scripture, is breathed out by God and profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). I think it serves as a good reminder that this was an actual letter to a real church. The church at Colossae – and all of the churches in all of the cities Paul visited on his missionary journeys and wrote to – was a real church filled with real people. Paul’s close to this letter is similar to the rest of his letters as he and those present with him greet the recipients of the letter. There are also specific greetings, similar to how in modern speech, say a phone call to family or friends you haven’t seen in a while might say, “Tell your folks I said, ‘hi’” or “tell Aunt So-and-So I love her”. It’s personal.
At the same time, this letter – and the other letters/epistles in the New Testament – are more. They are Scripture because, as I mentioned above, the Holy Spirit breathed out this letter through Paul. He chose to use Paul’s writing to this church, to these real people, to write to our churches and all the churches in the years between and beyond until Jesus returns to gather His people to Himself. In a sense, these letters are as much from God’s Spirit to His people as it ever was Paul’s to the church and people he cared for in Colossae.
So we are going to look at a couple of the guys Paul mentions at the close of his letter and find some application for our lives. Before we do that, though, I want us to briefly review some big takeaways from our Jesus Over All study of Colossians.
Nine Takeaways from Our Previous Bible Studies in Colossians
Each of these takeaways come from early Bible studies in our Jesus Over All study and serve to help us wrap our minds around the whole book in context. Let’s dive in.
Jesus is enough, and His gospel transforms lives (1:1-14).
Paul reminds us that Jesus is sufficient to save and especially against all false teachings. When He saves people, His gospel bears fruit of that salvation in their transformed lives. This is the kind of growth we should seek after, and it should drive us to pray, rely on God’s power, and exhibit gratitude for our redemption in Jesus.
Jesus is supreme over all creation and reconciles sinners to God through His blood on the cross (1:15-23).
Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He is both Creator and Redeemer, holding all things together. His being preeminent as well as the Savior who sacrificed Himself for our sins forms the foundation for our faith, securing our hope in Him alone and calling us to believe what His Word says about Him.
God can use suffering to strengthen His Church, and His Word is the foundation for spiritual maturity (1:24-2:10).
Paul’s endurance for the gospel challenges us to view our own trials and difficulties as a means of growing in Christ. If we are rooted in Him and His truth, we will – through His power and Spirit – be able to stand firm against deception and grow in our faith, walking in Him with gratitude and confidence.
Jesus frees us from spiritual captivity and forgives sin through His victory on the cross (2:8-15).
False teachings seek to deceive us, but Jesus seeks to give fullness of life and freedom. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus cancels the debt of sin and triumphs over the forces of evil, securing an eternal salvation that cannot be taken away.
True faith rests in Christ alone, not human traditions of religious practices (2:16-23).
The equation is simple: Jesus + nothing = everything! Paul warns against adding rules and regulations to the gospel, reminding us that only Jesus can save. False teachings want distort and confuse, but they lack the power to bring any true or lasting change.
Believers are called to set their minds on Jesus and live for His Kingdom (3:1-4).
Having been raised with Jesus, our focus shifts. We no longer need to be distracted by things on earth because our eyes (and lives) should be focused on the eternal hope of Christ in glory. Our identity is not wrapped up in earthly things but hidden in Christ. This means that our lives should reflect Jesus’s rule over us – He is Lord, after all.
Be killing sin in your life, or it will be killing you (3:5-11).
Sin in our lives needs to be put do death, reminding us that Jesus’s redemption frees us from sin’s power. Being born again in Jesus means living as new creations and calls us to cast off our old selves and embrace being renewed in His image.
Christlike character leads to unity, love, and peace in the church and is exhibited in worship that exalts Christ, is rooted in His Word, and overflows into real, every-day life (3:12-17).
As God’s chosen people, we are called to put on compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and love. These are more than mere actions because they are fruit of having new life in Jesus. They are part of our worship of Him. Worship, then, is more than personal preference because it is shaped by His Word, instructing our hearts and all we do in His name – every word, song, and action.
Every aspect of life – home, work, and speech – should reflect Jesus’s rule in our hearts (3:18-4:6).
We see here again that Jesus saving us is to impact our real, everyday lives – how we live in all aspects of our lives. Whether in our families, jobs, or conversations with people, those Jesus saved are to live in a way that honors and points to Him. Walking in wisdom, speaking with grace, and serving others faithfully are a few ways Paul uses to show how our lives are to display Jesus’s lordship in all things.
One Final Takeaway: Learning from the Lives and Legacies of Mark and Demas (vv. 10, 14)
All of the people mentioned in this last section mattered to Paul. He wasn’t idly name-dropping or merely recognizing acquaintances. These were men who were involved in Paul’s ministry or had specific messages for the Colossian church. The emphasis in Colossians 3:1–4:6 on how being in Christ should impact real life was not just religious talk—it had shaped Paul’s life, and it was shaping the lives of those he wrote to as well.
Tychicus and Onesimus (vv. 7-9) hand-delivered this letter to the Colossian church. They had additional information about Paul’s circumstances and were sent to serve and encourage the believers.
Aristarchus, Mark, and “Jesus who is called Justus” (vv. 10-11) were with Paul in his imprisonment. They were the only Jewish believers remaining in Rome with Paul, ministering to him and taking part in the kingdom work happening from his prison cell. Paul says that they were “a comfort” to him, and they sent their greetings to the Colossians.
Epaphras (vv. 12-13), the Colossian church’s pastor, also sent greetings. Though he was on mission in Rome, ministering to Paul, he was still “struggling” for the Colossians in prayer, asking that they “may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (v. 12). Paul testified to his continual labor in prayer, not only for his own church but also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis (v. 13).
Luke, “the beloved physician” (v. 14)—who would later write the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts—also sent his greetings, along with Demas.
Paul extended his greetings to the church at Laodicea, particularly to Nympha and the church meeting in her home (v. 15). Though this letter was addressed to the Colossians, it was meant to be read in Laodicea as well. Paul also had a specific word for a Laodicean believer named Archippus, encouraging him to “see that [he] fulfill the ministry [he had] received in the Lord” (v. 17).
These were real people whom Paul loved and cared about. He wanted them to know that, which is why this final section was written with great effort in his own handwriting, even as his hands were bound in chains (v. 18).
So, what does this mean for us? Paul didn’t mention any of you dear sojourners who I care about today. There were no personal greetings to future churches in yet-undiscovered or unsettled regions of the world. What are we supposed to take from this?
I’m glad you asked.
Our final takeaway from this study in Colossians is to consider the lives of two men Paul mentioned in this section: Mark and Demas.
Mark, also known as John Mark—the writer of the Gospel that bears his name—had a complicated history with Paul. That’s why Paul included specific instructions that the Colossians should welcome him. Mark’s cousin, Barnabas, had been Paul’s partner in his first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-3), and Mark had joined them. But after facing hardships, Mark abandoned the mission and returned home (Acts 13:13). Paul took this seriously. So, when Paul and Barnabas were preparing for their second journey, Barnabas wanted to bring Mark again (Acts 15:37). Paul disagreed, believing it was unwise to take someone who had withdrawn from the work (Acts 15:38). Their disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas parted ways—Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas and continued elsewhere (Acts 15:39-41).
Yet here, years later, we see Mark restored. Not only was he no longer a liability, but he was one of the few Jewish believers standing with Paul in his imprisonment. The same man who had once quit now endured alongside Paul in even greater trials. God had grown and matured him. The Holy Spirit had worked in him, and Paul recognized that. Paul wanted the Colossians to know that Mark was no longer the same man he had once been—he was to be welcomed as a fellow laborer in the faith.
Then, there was Demas.
We don’t know Demas’s backstory, only that at the time Paul wrote to the Colossians and to Philemon, Demas was counted among his fellow laborers (Philemon 24). Paul took seriously those who ministered alongside him, and Demas had been part of his team. Like Luke, he had the privilege of sending greetings to the churches.
Yet, by the time Paul wrote 2 Timothy—his final letter, written as he awaited execution—Demas had abandoned him. But unlike Crescens, Titus, and Tychicus, who had left to serve elsewhere (2 Timothy 4:10-12), Demas had left for another reason: he was “in love with this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).
Read that again. Paul was on death row, awaiting execution, and Demas deserted him—not because of a call to another ministry, but because of love for the world. This wasn’t just a personal disappointment for Paul—it was recorded as Scripture, meaning the Holy Spirit moved Paul to write it (2 Timothy 3:16).
But in that same chapter, we see something else. Paul, who had once written Mark off as unfit for ministry, now told Timothy, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).
What a contrast!
Wrapping Up
I suppose this is where we try to bring everything together, but in truth, the contrast between Mark and Demas does much of the work for us. Their lives illustrate the heart of what we’ve seen throughout Colossians—Jesus is over all, but will we live as if that’s true?
Both of these men participated in ministry and mission. Both walked alongside Paul. Both had moments where they turned away. But what set them apart was not just their failures—it was where they turned afterward. Mark, despite quitting early on, was restored. He grew. The same gospel that Paul proclaimed in Colossians transformed him, matured him, and drew him back to faithfulness (Colossians 1:6). By the end of Paul’s life, Mark was a trusted and needed partner in ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).
Demas, however, loved this present world. That love pulled him away. We don’t know how his story ended, but we do know that he abandoned Paul in his greatest hour of need (2 Timothy 4:10). And that leaves us with a question: when trials come, when the cost of following Christ feels too high, when the comforts of the world beckon—who will we be? A Demas, in love with the world? Or a Mark, restored by the grace of God?
The entire book of Colossians has pressed us to consider the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ. We have seen that Jesus is enough, that His gospel transforms lives (Colossians 1:13-14), that He holds all things together (Colossians 1:17), and that His rule should be evident in our everyday lives (Colossians 3:17). We have been reminded that true faith rests in Christ alone, not in religious performance (Colossians 2:16-17). We have been challenged to put sin to death (Colossians 3:5), to walk in wisdom (Colossians 4:5), to love and serve in His name (Colossians 3:12-14), and to set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2).
So, as we conclude, the real question is this: Do we believe it? Is Jesus truly over all in our lives—not just in theory, but in how we live, work, worship, and relate to others? When hardship comes (Colossians 1:24), when the world entices (Colossians 2:8), when following Christ requires sacrifice (Colossians 3:3-4), what will our response be?
I don’t know your story, but I do know this—God is faithful. He is patient. He is at work in you just as He was in Mark, just as He was in Paul, just as He has been in all who are His (Philippians 1:6). The same Jesus who rules over creation rules over your life (Colossians 1:18), and He is able to strengthen you, sustain you, and keep you until the end (Jude 24-25).
Sojourners, it has been a privilege to study Colossians with you. I pray, like Epaphras prayed for the Colossians, that you “may stand mature and fully assured in the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). May we live as people who truly believe that Jesus is over all. And may He be glorified in our lives, both now and forever.
Lord willing, we will gather together Sunday morning as a faith family and worship Him. We will lift our voices in song. We will submit our hearts to His Word preached. We will give Him our focus and praise.
It’s good practice and preparation for when we stand around His throne and worship Him together one day.
It’s a beautiful shadow of the substance that is coming when we see our King face-to-face and pour out our hearts in grateful praise for who He is and all He has done.
Sunday is good news for the believer because it points us back to that first resurrection Sunday when Jesus walked out of His borrowed tomb, risen just as He had promised.
Sunday is good news because it points forward to the day (not necessarily a Sunday on the calendar) when He will return and gather His bride – His Church – to Him.
Sunday gatherings are good news in the present because they represent His grace and mercy toward people who still have the opportunity to turn from their sin to Christ, confessing Him as their Lord and King. But there is coming a day when the opportunity to call on Him will be over. This is why the Scriptures urge us to be mindful of the time and call with urgency for people to repent and turn to Him. Look at how the prophet Isaiah put it:
“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
Similarly, Paul said,
“Working together with Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
God will not wait around in His “divine forbearance”, passing over “former sins” (Romans 3:25) forever. He is coming. That’s what He said at the end of Revelation, isn’t it? “And behold, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:7). But look at the way He said it the final time in Revelation 22:12-13:
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
He’s coming and doing what? Could “bringing…recompense” mean what it says? Simply put: yes.
So, the urgency of seeking the Lord while He may be found is underscored – underlined – highlighted and bolded for emphasis. Those who call upon the name of the Lord, those who confess faith in Him and submit to Him as Lord and Savior do not receive the just recompense for their sin because Jesus took that wrath and punishment on their behalf. But for those who have not, the full weight of the wrath of God awaits. It’s a startling prospect. I would definitely categorize that as not-good news.
It does not have to be though. There is grace enough for all who come to Him.
Jesus doesn’t end His revelation with the bad news. He also offers an invitation. “Come” say the Spirit and the Bride. “Come” says those who have heard the Word of God and responded to Jesus in faith. Those who are thirsty can come and receive from Jesus the “water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).
So, I echo that invitation to you, beloved: “Come”. Or as Philipp told Nathaniel, “Come and see” (John 1:46). Come, and meet with Jesus. Come, and lay your burdens down. Come, and call upon Him while He is near. Simply, come.
This is not about coming to church but coming to Jesus. This is not about religion but extending an invitation for relationship. This is about the God of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords, extending an invitation for those who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him (Matthew 11:28).
As I said earlier, Sunday is coming and there is an opportunity to gather and worship Jesus. Won’t you come and join us? Won’t you lift your voice with ours? There’s no time like the present.
Just know that YOU are invited. YOU are wanted. YOU are welcomed.
11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
8And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:5-6a, 11; 43:5
Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 are deeply connected, forming a single lament that expresses the struggle of a soul longing for God in the midst of despair.
Psalm 42 opens with vivid imagery: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” (v. 42:1). There is a beautiful hymn based on this image, but for those who are crying out to the Lord, it is often anything but beautiful. Picture a deer being hunted, running from a hunter or predator, panting and out of breath and seeking a cool stream to provide sustenance and relief. Such is the plight of the sons of Korah in these psalms. They are spiritually thirsty, longing for the presence of the living God (v. 42:2), yet instead of refreshment, they find themselves overwhelmed by sorrow, being fed by tears (v. 42:3) and haunted by the taunts of people mocking their faith by asking “Where is your God?” (vv. 42:3, 10)
This spiritual turmoil is compounded by distance from the place of worship or from the joy accompanying better times of leading God’s people in His praise and worship (v. 42:4). They remember what it was to joyously lead God’s people in worship at His tabernacle but now feel cut off and alone. The lament deepens as they describe being overwhelmed by waves of suffering, described a waves of the sea crashing over them (v. 42:7). Yet, even in their distress, they cling to this foundational truth: “By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me” (v. 42:8).
Psalm 43 continues their cry for deliverance, shifting from lament to pray to God for vindication. They plead for God to “send out [His] light and…truth” to lead them back to worship at His altar, where they may rejoice in Him again (vv. 43:3-4). But there is beautiful solace to be found in their refrain found in vv. 42:5, 11 and 43:5 that not only asks their own souls “why” they are “cast down” and “in turmoil” within themselves but points to the refreshment they know their panting souls will receive by saying, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”
This refrain teaches us the discipline of preaching the truth to ourselves in the face of despair. Instead of passively listening to their own troubled thoughts, they preach to their own souls, reminding themselves of who God is and where their hope must rest. This does not change their circumstances but points them to the God who provides hope in the midst of circumstances. He is faithful. He provides rest. He provides solace. He IS their hope.
Seeing Jesus in Psalms 42 & 43
These psalms find their fulfillment in Jesus, who fully experienced the anguish of a downcast soul. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus echoed the sons of Korah when He said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death” (Matthew 26:38). On the cross, He endured the mockery of His enemies jsut as they did (vv. 42:3, 10; Matthew 27:39-43). Yet, even in His suffering, Jesus fully entrusted Himself to His Father’s will and endured the full weight of God’s wrath against sin – our sin – that we might never be truly abandoned.
The sons of Korah longed for God’s presence, and through Jesus, that longing is ultimately fulfilled. Jesus Himself is the “light and truth” that leads us to God (v. 43:3; John 8:12, 14:6). He is Emmanuel, God with us, who will never leave nor forsake His people. And because of His resurrection and promised return, we can confidently hope in God, knowing that no matter our circumstances we too will “again praise Him” (v. 43:5).
Reflection
Can you identify with the sorrow and despair found in Psalms 42 and 43? If so, I hope you see the promise of hope and relief found in Jesus. He bore our shame and sin and adopts us into His family.
There is coming a day when the tears that flow ever so easily here in this fallen world will be wiped away for the last time by His nail-scarred hand when He comes to dwell with His people – where death will be nothing more than a fading memory – where there shall be no more “mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).
In the meantime between that promise and its fulfillment, there is a lot of despair and downcast souls and pain and sorrow. There is a lot of panting for streams of relief. But, oh, there is so much hope to be found. May we not be left in the question of why our souls are downcast but let us preach the beautiful truth of the psalmists refrain: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God”!
Here’s a song inspired by Psalm 42:
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
By this I know that You delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. But You have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in Your presence forever.
Psalm 41:11-12
Psalm 41 is a psalm of both confidence and lament, showing David’s trust in God even as he faces sickness, slander, and betrayal. It begins with a blessing on the “one who considers the poor” because the Lord will deliver him in “the day of trouble” (v. 1). David knows that God sees and cares for those who show mercy, and he clings to this truth as he cries out to God for grace and healing (v. 4).
David’s suffering at the hands of his enemies is worsened by the betrayal of a “close” and “trusted” friend, one who he once shared meals with (v. 9). His foes whisper in the shadows about his downfall, waiting for him to die and be forgotten (vv. 5-8). In his distress, David prays, “O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that i may repay them!” (v. 10). His hope doesn’t rest in his strength as he clearly has none and cannot overcome his foes on his own. His only hope is in God’s strength and faithfulness; he trusts that the Lord will uphold him and not allow his enemies to triumph over him (vv. 11-12).
The psalm ends with a beautiful doxology (formula for praising the Lord) that we can echo today: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and amen.” (v. 13) This shows that, despite his suffering, David praises the Lord and exalts His name and that no matter what, God’s justice and mercy will prevail.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 41
Psalm 41 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the true and greater King. David’s words about the betrayal of a close friend in v. 9 are quoted by Jesus in reference to Judas Iscariot (John 13:18). Judas, who had walked with Jesus and shared meals with Him, turned against Him and handed Him over to His enemies.
Like David, Jesus was surrounded by those who whispered against Him, mocked Him, and plotted His demise (vv. 5-8, Matthew 26:3-4). Yet, unlike David, Jesus did not pray for deliverance from death but submitted to His Father’s will and plan by willingly enduring betrayal, suffering, and the cross for our salvation. Though His enemies thought they had triumphed, God raised Him up in victory (v. 10), exalting Him to His rightful place at the Father’s right hand (Philippians 2:9-11). And through His resurrection, Jesus secured ultimate healing, restoration, and vindication for all who have faith in Him.
Reflection
For those who have faced betrayal, affliction, or opposition, Psalm 41 offers a reminder that God sees, sustains, and vindicates His people. It is tempting to try and vindicate ourselves or to give up in the face of overwhelming circumstances, but Jesus has made a way for us. He endured so that we may have eternal life, leaving us with the reminder that this world is not all there is. For those who have confessed Him as Lord and believed He is risen from the dead (Romans 10:9), He saves not only from our sin but forevermore!
Even when we are afflicted, betrayed, or opposed, God remains faithful. He will sustain us. Follow the example of David in Psalm 41, and trust that the Lord delights in His people – that He delights in saving us.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Psalm 40:1-2
Psalm 40 is a testimony of God’s faithfulness in deliverance in David’s past and a plea for help in his present troubles. David recalls how the Lord rescued him from the pit of destruction – which he describes as a miry bog (think quicksand) – and placed his feet on a rock, giving him a new song of praise (vv. 1-3). But even as he celebrates God’s faithfulness, he finds himself once again in need of God’s delivance.
This psalm teaches us a powerful truth about living out the new life we have in Christ: it is a cycle of waiting, deliverance, and renewed dependence on the Lord. We live these out over and over, and God is faithful over and over. David is not relying on God’s past deliverance alone, though; he continually puts his trust in the Lord rather than in earthly sources (v. 4). He recognizes that God’s plans for him and His wonders are beyond measure (v. 5) and that true obedience is worth more than religious sacrifices (vv. 6-8).
David’s worship is more than religion, too. He says that in the “scroll of [God’s] book” will be written that he delights to do the will of God and that His law is “within [his] heart” (vv. 7-8). He has not held back in telling people “the glad news of deliverance” and God’s righteousness (v. 9). He has not been silent about God’s faithfulness or His salvation, especially being vocal about His steadfast love (v. 10). And because of this, David is confident that God will not hold back when it comes to His mercy, steadfast love, or faithfulness (v. 11) in the midst of his current troubles from his own sin (v. 12) and his enemies (vv. 13-15).
Even in the midst of trials, David ends with confidence: “You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!” (v. 17). God did not delay to deliver and was not about to start then. Like David, we can hold fast to the Lord because “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23)!
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 40
David’s words in Psalm 40 foreshadow and point to Jesus. The writer of Hebrews 10:5-7 applies vv. 6-8 to Jesus, showing that He is the true fulfillment of this psalm. He came to do the will of His Father, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
And because of Jesus’s resurrection, our hearts should be consistently bursting with “new song” (v. 3) to give testimony for how Jesus saving us and giving us new life – His consistent track record of deliverance, even from death, moving our hearts to praise Him!
Reflection
We can trust, as David did here in Psalm 40, that God hears our cries, rescues us in His perfect timing, and will never forsake those who put their trust and hope in Him. Consider the following questions to help you see where you need to trust the Lord:
Are you in a season of waiting on the Lord? What have you seen in Psalm 40 and in your own life that helps you trust His timing?
How have you experienced God’s faithfulness in the past? How does remembering it give you confidence in Him today?
Look to the Lord. Cry out to Him from whatever miry bog of despair you find yourself in, and trust that He will put you firmly on Jesus, our rock and our redeemer (Psalm 19:14)!
Here’s a praise song to help you apply and praise the Lord with Psalm 40:
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.
Psalm 39:7
In Psalm 39, we see David wrestle with just how brief human life is. He begins with a determination to guard his tongue (v. 1), but his inner turmoil grows as he begins to consider how short and fleeting life truly is. This psalm echoes themes we see in the book of Ecclesiastes, reminding us that life is like a breath (v. 5) and that accumulating wealth and worldly status is ultimately futile (v. 6).
Yet David does not fall into despair. He anchors himself to a greater hope, saying to the Lord, “My hope is in You” (v. 7). We have seen that in the face of life’s uncertainties, suffering, and even divine discipline, David looks beyond this world to the God who holds all things together.
David’s prayer in v. 10 acknowledges that God’s discipline can feel overwhelming, but he does not view it merely as punishment – rather, it is God’s refining work in his life. So, he confesses his sin (v. 8) and pleads for God’s mercy (v. 12). He ends the psalm with a sobering plea (v. 13): “Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!” He is weary. His suffering makes him long for relief. He is enduring God’s divine discipline. But his trust in the Lord leads him to wait for the day when the glares of godly discipline turn to glances of God’s grace.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 39
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 39. He, too, was silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 27:12-14). He did not lash out when mocked, just as David sought to guard his tongue. But unlike David, Jesus did not plead for relief – He endured the full measure of God’s wrath for our sake (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is through His suffering that we have access and opportunity for the eternal hope given to those who trust in Him.
Reflection
Life is fleeting. Our time on earth is short. Reading Psalm 39 should lead us to ask some frank and honest questions.
What/who are we living for?
Are we storing up earthly treasures or living in light of eternity?
In what/whom do you find your hope?
Life is too short to spend it chasing after anything but Jesus. Let your hope be found in Him alone. That is a hope that echoes into eternity!
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O LORD, my salvation!
Psalm 38:21-22
Psalm 38 is a penitential psalm – a psalm that expresses sorrow for sin, a desire for repentance, and a plea to God for mercy and forgiveness. In it, David pours out his heart, overwhelmed by the weight of his own sin. He is experiencing physical suffering (vv. 3-8), emotional distress (vv. 9-10), and opposition from enemies (vv. 12, 19-20). But perhaps worst of all, he feels distant from God because of his own iniquity.
David is not suffering unjustly as he has in other psalms. He confesses that he is sorry for his sin (v. 18). It is clear his guilt is crushing him as he says, “My iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me” (v. 4). This is a clear picture of what being convicted of sin by God’s Spirit looks like: deep grief from knowing that your sin has dishonored God.
Yet in his distress, David doesn’t run from God – he runs to Him! He doesn’t blame others or make excuses but cries out to God asking Him not to forsake him or be far from him (v. 21). Even when feeling abandoned, he knows that he can trust God alone to save him.
Part of what David feels is the effects of God’s discipline. He disciplines His children not in wrath but love (Hebrews 12:6). He isn’t eager to destroy His people but to restore them. Like a loving Father, God corrects His children so they may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).
Psalm 38 ends with a plea to God for mercy – a reminder that our only hope is being saved by the Lord. That’s good news! Saving people is His speciality.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 38
David’s prayers and pleas in Psalm 38 are answered fully in Jesus. He bore the ultimate weight of sin on the cross, crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), so that we would never be forsaken. Though He never sinned, He took our sin upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). The arrows of God’s judgment that David felt (v. 2) ultimately fell on Jesus. He endured isolation, agony, and opposition so that we could be reconciled to God. Because of Him, we can pray (and praise) with confidence: “O Lord, my salvation!” (v. 22)
Reflection
No matter how far we have fallen, the Lord is ready to restore those who seek Him in repentance. He is our salvation.
Maybe you have experienced God’s discipline as David did. Do you recognize it as a sign of His love and not rejection? When conviction comes, do you run from God or run to Him in repentance?
The good news is that He saves those who call on Him (Romans 10:13). So, take a good, healthy look at your life and your sin and see if it’s time for a penitential psalm of your own.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
Psalm 37 is David’s wisdom-filed encouragement to God’s people who struggle when they see the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. He urges believers to trust in God’s justice, wait on His timing, and pursue faithfulness rather than being envious or anxious about worldly success.
He begins with a direct command to “fret not yourself because of evildoers” (v. 1). When we see those who reject God thriving, it’s tempting to envy them or question God’s justice, but David reminds us that whatever success the wicked has is temporary as the wicked will “soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (v. 2). In contrast, those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (vv. 9, 11, 29).
Instead of worrying, believers are called to delight in the Lord (v. 4), trust in Him to do good (v. 3), and commit their ways to Him (v. 5). These are active faith responses that shape our desires and keep us aligned with God’s will. He never promised instant gratification, but He assures us that righteousness will be vindicated in His time (v. 6).
The second half of Psalm 37 emphasizes God’s care for His people: He upholds them (vv. 17, 24), He provides for them (vv. 19, 25-26), and He preserves them forever (v. 28). This shows us that God, in His justice, will ultimately remove the wicked and establish the righteous in their eternal inheritance with Him.
David’s final exhortation (a Bible word that is a mix of encouragement and warning) is for believers to wait for the Lord and keep His way (v. 34). Justice will come in His timing. The wicked may seem to be deeply rooted in the moment (v. 35), but in the end the wicked will pass away and be “no more” (v. 36). The future is reserved for those who trust in the Lord.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 37
Jesus echoes this psalm in His Sermon on the Mount when He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Jesus Himself was the perfect example of one who trusted His Father rather than fighting for (or against) worldly power. Though He suffered, God exalted Him (Philippians 2:6-11).
And through Jesus believers will receive an eternal inheritance – a greater “land” than David imagined (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Reflection
It is easy to be tempted to envy those who reject God because they seem to prosper, but Psalm 37 gives us a better, more eternal perspective. We need to ask ourselves a few questions to test whether our perspective is formed from earthly things or from the Word.
Do you truly delight in the Lord, or do your desires focus on temporary things?
What would it look like for you to trust, commit to, and wait on the Lord?
God is faithful. Learn to trust Him and rest in the beautiful truth that He has established your steps!
Just Keith Harris 