Ps 18 6 In my distress I called to the LORD ;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet."
The Psalmist uses the words that explain our salvation in the context of war. The gospel is not a message that we receive in a class room setting and explain it so that other people can explain it. But the gospel is the power that destroys the enemy...its the power of God unto salvation...or being delivered from Satan and from this world. The gospel promises death to violators and eternal life to Gods elect. It is a gospel of God who responds to the helpless voice of sinners with the highest armies of heaven. The value of the gospel is shown but the extent God takes to deliver one person.
When we cry out the earth and the mountains shake, God becomes angry and responds with His eternal and universal wrath. Some people make the gospel fit into mans history or the quiet culture of America, the system of free markets by which we receive gifts , a message that we share, or offering Gods love.But the gospel is not our words that God responds too but its a display of His power. What kind of power?
You see here the gospel is the only message where all men are reduced to complete weakness. It is message that shuts mens mouths. 44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.45 They all lose heart;they come trembling from their strongholds". The gospel cries out against those who oppose it....you must be silent or you will suffer. We must realize that the gospel is Gods defense of His elect. Its the power of God to subdue all things. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;they fell beneath my feet".
If God promises that He will deliver us dont you think that He will do it on His terms with His vision and His power? And if you compared Gods power with human strength dont you think that the great gulf that exist teaches us that God will respond to our needs with unimaginable strength and wrath? How come we are always reducing the gospel to something that man controls that has no bite to it? You see if we do not accept the entire counsel of Gods description of His salvation then we will make it subjected to our power. But the gospel is Gods final victory over the city that has been completely destroyed. 39 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-
to the LORD , but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
45 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD ;
I will sing praises to your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet."
The Psalmist uses the words that explain our salvation in the context of war. The gospel is not a message that we receive in a class room setting and explain it so that other people can explain it. But the gospel is the power that destroys the enemy...its the power of God unto salvation...or being delivered from Satan and from this world. The gospel promises death to violators and eternal life to Gods elect. It is a gospel of God who responds to the helpless voice of sinners with the highest armies of heaven. The value of the gospel is shown but the extent God takes to deliver one person.
When we cry out the earth and the mountains shake, God becomes angry and responds with His eternal and universal wrath. Some people make the gospel fit into mans history or the quiet culture of America, the system of free markets by which we receive gifts , a message that we share, or offering Gods love.But the gospel is not our words that God responds too but its a display of His power. What kind of power?
You see here the gospel is the only message where all men are reduced to complete weakness. It is message that shuts mens mouths. 44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.45 They all lose heart;they come trembling from their strongholds". The gospel cries out against those who oppose it....you must be silent or you will suffer. We must realize that the gospel is Gods defense of His elect. Its the power of God to subdue all things. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;they fell beneath my feet".
If God promises that He will deliver us dont you think that He will do it on His terms with His vision and His power? And if you compared Gods power with human strength dont you think that the great gulf that exist teaches us that God will respond to our needs with unimaginable strength and wrath? How come we are always reducing the gospel to something that man controls that has no bite to it? You see if we do not accept the entire counsel of Gods description of His salvation then we will make it subjected to our power. But the gospel is Gods final victory over the city that has been completely destroyed. 39 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-
to the LORD , but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
45 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD ;
I will sing praises to your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
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