Instead of offerings and burnt offerings now days we look to the final and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ of whom the former sacrifices foretold. We are covered by Him. He is risen therefore we stand upright.
A sure depiction of a literal hell for those who intended evil against God. One could say "wait, I didn't intend evil against God". That is for Him to judge, not us. What about a mischievous device unable to be performed?
This chapter has to be a Messianic prophecy, not David nor any other psalmist ever experienced these graphic details. The gospel accounts express more of details looking from the outside in. This expresses the same details but from the Messiah's view outward.
This is perhaps the most popular passage in the Bible. It simple and flowing and picturesque. It is comforting to the weary soul. How much more does it mean when we consider it along with the previous chapter about what the Shepherd had to go through to bring us to this place of calm peace; the cost to Him personally.
In three chapters Messiah has gone from Sacrifice to Shepherd to King of Glory. No one else could have ascended and entered into this, no one else has the clean hands and pure heart. He has received the blessing from the God of His salvation. Who is this Sacrifice/Shepherd/King? None other than the Lord of Hosts; not just any man or historic figure. This generation shall seek Him, seek His face.
We see that so much of what the psalmist beseeches from us has to do with seeking the person of God, being in relationship to Him and from that a framework of religion/walk develops. He is shewing. He is leading. He is turning. He is looking and considering, keeping, redeeming. We are fearing Him, ever looking to Him, repenting, following, proven and developed under and in Him. It would be good for us to pray our way through this psalm.
Who of us now is ready to be judged in this light and be so confident in the outcome? The Messiah could say it and mean it. It is because of who He is that we even have hope, because of the righteousness and sanctification He imparts, by His obedience. We should re-read this in this light to see if we are prepared for our examination.
Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Thy face will I seek. One thing... to behold the beauty of the Lord. You see that this is not mere religion, this is much more personal and tangible.
Without God's voice we are no different than those going to the pit. We can rationalize and intellectualize all that we want, but, it is His revelation and answers that separate us. That is not only true if He is silent but, if we are distracted or spiritually deaf. He shall (future tense) destroy them nor build them up. We often see that they do well for themselves on the backs of others; only for this time, they are not built up into the spiritual being that they will need to be in the next life. Where the Lord is everything to His people, He is nothing to them for now.
We forget the grandeur and awesome scope of our Lord; just how much He is involved in. He is so much more than we can grasp, so much more at every moment around us and within us. Microscopic and macroscopic everywhere and in everything. Strength enough? Are you kidding?
David has a Lord. David's Lord has a Lord. How can the Jew explain this? This intermediary Lord is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. He is waiting at His Lord's side until that Lord puts their enemies under this Lord's foot stool, Surely this Lord is not a human lord or king yet to be born for He sits there now and has sat there at least from the time of David. Compare this with kjv@Psalms:2
