Faith / Trusting God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Psalms, Submitted / Servant

Is God’s Law A Burden? (Psalm 119, Part 2 of 4)

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This post is the second in a series of 4 about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God.

Read and digest all that it claims about the Law of God and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? or does it describe it as quite different than that?

Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 119:41-88

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Vav.

     41May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD,
Your salvation according to Your word;

      42So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.

      43And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I wait for Your ordinances.

      44So I will keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.

      45And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.

      46I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings
And shall not be ashamed.

      47I shall delight in Your commandments,
Which I love.

      48And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,
Which I love;
And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Zayin.

49Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.

      50This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.

      51The arrogant utterly deride me,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

      52I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O LORD,
And comfort myself.

      53Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
Who forsake Your law.

      54Your statutes are my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.

      55O LORD, I remember Your name in the night,
And keep Your law.

      56This has become mine,
That I observe Your precepts.

Heth.

57The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.

      58I sought Your favor with all my heart;
Be gracious to me according to Your word.

      59I considered my ways
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

      60I hastened and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.

      61The cords of the wicked have encircled me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.

      62At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

      63I am a companion of all those who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.

      64The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

Teth.

65You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD, according to Your word.

      66Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.

      67Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

      68You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.

      69The arrogant have forged a lie against me;
With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.

      70Their heart is covered with fat,
But I delight in Your law.

      71It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

      72The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh.

     73Your hands made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

      74May those who fear You see me and be glad,
Because I wait for Your word.

      75I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

      76O may Your lovingkindness comfort me,
According to Your word to Your servant.

      77May Your compassion come to me that I may live,
For Your law is my delight.

      78May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie;
But I shall meditate on Your precepts.

      79May those who fear You turn to me,
Even those who know Your testimonies.

      80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
So that I will not be ashamed.

Kaph.

     81My soul languishes for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.

      82My eyes fail with longing for Your word,
While I say, “When will You comfort me?”

      83Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget Your statutes.

      84How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?

      85The arrogant have dug pits for me,
Men who are not in accord with Your law.

      86All Your commandments are faithful;
They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!

      87They almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.

      88Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Just to reflect on a few of the things God’s word says about the law: I trust in Your word, I will keep Your law continually forever and ever, I will walk at liberty because I seek Your precepts, I shall delight in Your commandments which I love, I will lift up my hands to Your commandments which I love, I have remembered Your ordinances and comfort myself, Your statutes are my songs, I shall give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances,  the earth if full of Your lovingkindness teach me Your statutes, I delight in Your law, and better than gold and silver.

None of this sounds like the description of a burden, or something I can’t wait to get rid of, which is how many Christians describe or talk about following the law. It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more… both in their original context and with regards to how they still apply to my life today. Psalm 119, if we let it, can really be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us to know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some of the elements of the law (e.g. ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified while there is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught just because we can’t do it perfectly?

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Father / Yahweh, Parenting, Traditions / Holidays

Yahweh Is A Good Father: Let Us Honor Him

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As we celebrate Father’s Day, it is good to focus on our Creator and Father in addition to celebrating good earthly fathers. Take time to prayerfully and thoughtfully reflect on who He is and what He has already done for You.

Respect and honor who God is. Take a few moments to be still before God. Contemplate the character of God:

  • The Great I Am
  • Creator of All
  • All-Knowing (omniscient)
  • All-Powerful (omnipotent)
  • Present In All Places at All Times (omnipresent)
  • Unchanging (immutable)
  • Eternal (without beginning or end)
  • Incapable of Making a Mistake (flawless)
  • Infinite (without limit or boundaries)
  • Holy (worthy of devotion as one perfect in goodness)
  • Just (behaving according to what is morally right and fair)
  • The Beginning and the End (Alpha and Omega)

In Ephesians  1:18-19 Paul prays, “…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

Reflect on the greatness of God’s power toward you as God the Father. He is Father, Provider, Shelter, and Protector.

Honor and glorify His name. God’s name is to be separated from the world. To do this, we must separate from the world and focus on God. Focus on the Biblical names for God.

Focus on God’s character, praise Him, and be thankful. His character should be reflected in our character.

  • Compassionate
  • Gracious
  • Humble
  • Pure (in body and mind)
  • Merciful
  • Giving (in time and resources)
  • Slow to anger / Patient
  • Filled with love
  • Truthful
  • Forgiving
  • Kind
  • Faithful
  • Wise
  • Servant’s heart
  • Disciplined (self-control)
  • Joyful
  • Holy (set apart from sin; set apart for God’s purpose)
  • Just (e.g., justice)

Consider picking one or more of God’s characteristics, starting with the one you understand the least, and study its meaning, including a study of application in scriptures. This activity will renew your mind in that area and, in turn, transform your character to be more like God and our Lord Jesus Christ. After completing this, consider doing the other character traits over time, perhaps one a week.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for being such a wonderful Father. Thank you for caring for me even when I may not understand why I experience certain things that are difficult. You are worthy of praise. You are the model for the father I should strive to be. Please help me (and/or pray for fathers in your life here) to become more like You. Amen. 

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Psalms

Is God’s Law A Burden? (Psalm 119, Part 1 of 4)

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This post is the first of a series of 4 about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins with one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph-bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God. Read and digest all that it claims about the law of God, and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? Or does it describe it as quite different than that?

Does it make sense that the Christian church has completely turned its back on the law of God? Even today, the church continues to turn its back further and further on even the last remaining of the 10 commandments. Some pastors now even want to define God’s instruction to “love each other”. Let us explore what scripture says rather than what others may teach that it says.

Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply. Don’t worry for now about what the full content of “the law” is, but instead let us just try to understand better if scripture reveals it to be burdensome or something else.

Perhaps we start with what Yeshua said about the law and then proceed to the first part of Psalm 119. All of the law is based on loving God and loving others. The law shall not pass away before heaven and earth pass away.

Matthew 22:34-40

  34But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Yeshua also clearly stated that He did not come to abolish the law and that heaven and earth shall pass away before the law. He emphasized that we are not to annul even the least of these commandments.

Matthew 5:17-19

  17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

With this in mind, that Yeshua said the law is not abolished nor does any of it pass away until heaven and earth pass away, and that the law is based on loving God and loving one another, let us read through and try to fully digest what else His word says about the law in Psalm 119. Due to the length of this Psalm, and the fact that I want you to be able to reflect meaningfully on the content, I will break it up into a series of posts. Obviously, you can read the whole thing by clicking the embedded link to Psalm 119 below.

Psalm 119:1-40

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Aleph.

     1How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the LORD.

      2How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.

      3They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.

      4You have ordained Your precepts,
That we should keep them diligently.

      5Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!

      6Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look upon all Your commandments.

      7I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.

      8I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!

Beth.

     9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.

      10With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

      11Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

      12Blessed are You, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

      13With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

      14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

      15I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.

      16I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

Gimel.

     17Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.

      18Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.

      19I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.

      20My soul is crushed with longing
After Your ordinances at all times.

      21You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,
Who wander from Your commandments.

      22Take away reproach and contempt from me,
For I observe Your testimonies.

      23Even though princes sit and talk against me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

      24Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.

Daleth.

    25My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.

      26I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.

      27Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.

      28My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.

      29Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your law.

      30I have chosen the faithful way;
I have placed Your ordinances before me.

      31I cling to Your testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!

      32I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will enlarge my heart.

He.

     33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end.

      34Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart.

      35Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

      36Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain.

      37Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways.

      38Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You.

      39Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good.

      40Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.

To reflect on a few of the things God’s word says about the law… you could add quite a few more even from this first section of Psalm 119: righteous, blessed, do not be ashamed, teaches me, meditate on it, do not forget it, do not go astray from it, keep statutes, pure, treasured, rejoice, delight…

The law sounds wonderful as described here. It is not a burden from which we need to be set free, as so many teach today. If it were, would not Yeshua have said so? Yeshua would have told us the law was abolished or obsolete. The law described here is something which helps us, something in which we can rejoice and delight, something we can treasure. It is not followed out of obligation or for salvation any more than obeying any other instructions of Yeshua.

It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more, both in their original context and with regard to how they still apply to my life today. Psalm 119, if we let it, can be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously, to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some elements of the law (e.g., ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified. There is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught and demonstrated just because we can’t do it perfectly? Is that how we would teach our children to approach our guidance to them?

For many, this is difficult to consider, as it contradicts so much of what is taught in churches today. However, we must decide what is the unchanging record of God’s instruction… the Bible or the word of man?  We can be sure that Yeshua referred to the scriptures as the source of truth for the law of God, not the laws of the Pharisees.

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Peace / Rest, Sabbath / Rest, Traditions / Holidays

Remember the Sabbath

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Sabbath can be a very interesting topic to study within the Bible. YHWH had a lot to say to his people about the Sabbath. In fact, a seventh-day rest is recorded from the beginning, with the example of YHWH as he completed creation. We can also perhaps see where Sabbath rest foreshadows the rest we find in Yeshua as Messiah, for it is through him and his death and resurrection that we are saved. We need not try to be made righteous through our works, though our works should still be righteous. We can also see the foreshadowing of the rest we find when we die and go to be with the LORD, and also when the LORD returns and begins his millennial reign on Earth. Further, the Sabbath is a part of the holy days of YHWH set out in Leviticus 23 and was intended to be part of our relationship with him, and was intended to help us.

Sabbath is rich in meaning, but unfortunately, today most Christians act as if Sabbath is obsolete and has no meaning. I have seen it disappear in my lifetime. Where businesses were shut down for the Sabbath in the past, albeit on Sunday, now most are open. People no longer rest but rather remain very busy on basically every day of the week. People go about their agenda in their own way. They have lost the Sabbath.

My family and I rediscovered the Sabbath in recent years and have started setting it aside as a day of rest. It is a significant change and may even seem inconvenient at times as you adjust, but it is genuinely worthwhile to pursue. It is important to YHWH, and he created it for our benefit rather than his own.

We can, and perhaps should, have a robust discussion about how to celebrate Sabbath today, but let us take time today to simply review some of what YHWH has said and demonstrated about Sabbath. Once we help to establish its importance, I encourage each of you to continue studying Sabbath and seeking to begin living it in your own lives. Keep growing and learning on this subject. There is much that has been lost for which we should endeavor to recover.

A good and simple place to start as you read through scripture is to recognize that the main theme is that his people should not work and should not cause others to work on the Sabbath. It is to be kept as a sign of our covenant with him, and he created it for us. Interestingly, I can not find instructions specifically to go to synagogue or temple (or church) on the Sabbath day; however, it was clearly an accepted custom that even Yeshua demonstrated.

YHWH set an example for us from the very beginning as part of creation to observe a day of rest on the seventh day, after our work has been done.

Gen 2:1-2       1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

Did YHWH say anything about when his people should stop celebrating the Sabbath?

Exod 31:16-27 16‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

YHWH gave guidance to his people to work in the first six days and rest on the seventh, which is consistent with his example during creation. (The seventh day would be Saturday by our current calendar.) He also instructed us not to cause others to work.

Exod 20:8-22    8“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Leviticus 23:3    3‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.

YHWH intended us to recognize Sabbath even during pressure to get work done or accomplish an important task (like handling Yeshua’s body after he was crucified).

Exod 34:21    21“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.

Luke 23:54-56     54It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

YHWH intended the rest to be more than just not doing the work for which we get paid. One can have quite an engaging dialogue in defining “work”, recognizing that some of the literal activity which YHWH specifically called out in scripture could arguably not really feel like work in today’s environment/technology. (e.g., lighting a fire, etc.) He also specified not buying things offered for sale on the Sabbath

Nehemiah 10:31 31As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

When does Sabbath begin?

Leviticus 23:32 32“It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”

This would be consistent with the Hebrew calendar observed by God’s people in Biblical times, where a day started with sundown and ended with sundown. In today’s calendar, this would be Friday night at sundown through Saturday night at sundown. (Learn more at Hebrew4Christians.com or 119Ministries.com.)

Is Sabbath casual or important to YHWH? You can probably already tell it is important based on how much YHWH had to say about it to his people and the fact that he set the example during creation.

Exod 20:8    8“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

Ezekiel 20:20 20‘Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

Deuteronomy 5:12    12‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.

Exodus 31:13      12The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14‘Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Tell the Israelites, “Surely you must observe my Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Why is the Sabbath important to YHWH?

Exod 31:17 17“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

What example did Yeshua set for proper observance of the Sabbath?

Luke 4:16  16And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

Matthew 12:9-15

      9Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 10And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. 11And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12“How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

      15But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,

John 9:13-14   13They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 14Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

Mark 2:23-28       23And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 24The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; 26how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” 27Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28“So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

In order to make the Sabbath day a day of physical rest, we must prepare ahead of time. The sixth day was referred to as the day of preparation.

Exodus 16:5 5“On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Exodus 16:22-26       22Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26“Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.”

Mark 15:42-43   42When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

Luke 23:54-56     54It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

For whose benefit is the Sabbath? Man or God?

Mark 2:27   27Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

We should prayerfully reflect on what the Lord has to say about the Sabbath and how we should observe it still today. Invest time to continue studying and begin trying to adjust your lifestyle to incorporate Sabbath. Don’t be overwhelmed trying to “get it all right” and do so overnight. Instead, allow yourself to learn and apply, and then continue to learn more and apply that, and so on.

I am convinced the Lord is pleased when his people pursue living according to his instruction by pursuing something in our lives as important as the Sabbath.

Some additional resources to consider:

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your concept of Sabbath joyfully. Give me the courage to turn away from the world’s ways and toward Yours. Thank You for creating Sabbath for us! Amen. 

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, Father / Yahweh, Parenting, Traditions / Holidays

Guided by YHWH: Embodying the Qualities of a Good Father

Good fathers should pursue Christ and be spiritual leaders in their families. They should put YHWH first, their wife next, and then the children in their priority list, and then actually live their lives according to that standard. YHWH has said much about what it means to be a good father. It need not be a mystery.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Psalm 103:13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Luke 11:11-12 “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? “Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?

Joshua 24:14-15 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Perhaps some scripture does not explicitly call out “fathers”, but as in Joshua 24:14-15, he demonstrates the role of a good father as a strong leader for his family committed to serving YHWH even if others refuse to do so. Psalm 127:3-5 shows a good father feels blessed to have received the gift of children.

There are many more such scriptures. I encourage you to do an internet search for “Bible scriptures about good fathers” and invest time to dive deeper. In fact, YHWH gives us the metaphor to think of Him like a Father, and He is perfect. Thus, we can learn much about being a good father from studying how He relates to His people.

Good fathers are not perfect… There is only one perfect Father. On behalf of all those fathers out there who are trying to lead, protect, and provide for their families, we appreciate your grace and forgiveness when we get it wrong, and we welcome your prayers and encouragement on our behalf so we may become better and better at what YHWH has called us to be… fathers.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for the righteous fathers who strive to lead their families in Your ways. Please help and encourage fathers to actively lead and love their families. Help fathers reflect Your character traits and be a light to others who do not know You and a godly example to their children. Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Obeying God, Revelation, Satan

Holding to God’s Truth and Messiah (Revelation 12:13-17)

What kind of people does Satan most fiercely oppose?

Key Verse:
“So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” —Revelation 12:17 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 12, John is shown a dramatic picture of the spiritual battle that has unfolded throughout history. A woman gives birth to a male child, a great dragon seeks to destroy them, and God repeatedly intervenes to protect and preserve His purposes.

The woman is commonly understood to represent Israel. The imagery of the sun, moon, and twelve stars points back to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37 and the covenant people through whom God would bring His promises into the world.

The dragon is explicitly identified as Satan.

The male child is Messiah, Yeshua, the One who is destined to rule the nations.

After repeatedly failing to destroy God’s plans, Satan turns his attention to another group described in Revelation 12:17.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 12:13-17

      13And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Reflection on Revelation 12:13–17:
One of the most encouraging truths in Revelation 12 is that Satan never succeeds in accomplishing his ultimate goal.

He seeks to destroy Messiah.

He fails.

He persecutes the woman.

God protects her.

He attempts to overwhelm her.

God intervenes.

Throughout the chapter, the dragon is active, but God remains sovereign.

This is an important reminder for believers today. Satan is real, and spiritual warfare is real, but neither occurs outside the authority and control of God.

After failing in his attacks against the woman, the dragon becomes enraged and turns his attention toward “the rest of her children.”

John then gives a very specific description of who these people are.

They are those:

  • who keep the commandments of God
  • and hold to the testimony of Jesus

Notice carefully what Scripture says.

It does not say:

  • those who keep the commandments of God or
  • those who hold to the testimony of Jesus

It says:

  • those who keep the commandments of God and
  • those who hold to the testimony of Jesus

Throughout history, people have often attempted to separate these two ideas.

Some focus heavily on God’s commandments and instruction while rejecting Messiah.

Others focus on faith in Messiah while treating God’s commandments and instruction as largely irrelevant.

Yet Revelation presents a different picture.

God’s faithful people embrace both.

The phrase “commandments of God” is much broader than simply the Ten Commandments.

Throughout Scripture, God’s instruction reveals His character, His wisdom, and His desire for how His people should live.

When Yeshua was asked about the greatest commandment, He replied:

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

And:

“YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

Then He added:

“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37–40)

The entire Law and the Prophets point toward these foundational truths.

God’s instruction is not merely a collection of rules.

It teaches us how to love God and how to love others according to His design.

Many people associate this emphasis on God’s commandments, instruction, and covenant faithfulness with Judaism.

Likewise, many people associate the testimony of Jesus with Christianity and faith in Messiah.

Yet Revelation 12:17 does not separate these themes.

Instead, it joins them together.

God’s faithful people are characterized by both.

They embrace God’s instruction.

They embrace God’s Messiah.

They seek to obey God and follow Yeshua.

This same description appears again later in Revelation:

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

The repetition should catch our attention.

God is not looking for half of the picture.

He desires a people who trust Him, obey Him, love Him, and follow His Messiah.

Perhaps this also helps explain why the dragon is enraged.

Satan is not threatened by fragments of truth.

He opposes the complete witness of God.

The enemy seeks division, compromise, and separation.

God calls His people toward unity in His truth.

Revelation 12 reminds us that faithful believers may face opposition, but they do so under the protection and sovereignty of God.

The dragon may make war against God’s people, but he cannot overthrow God’s plans.

He cannot stop God’s kingdom.

He cannot nullify God’s promises.

And he cannot separate God’s people from the God they serve.

The faithful remnant described in Revelation is not defined by perfect performance.

They are defined by a sincere commitment to both God’s truth and God’s Messiah.

That is the complete witness Satan opposes.

And that is the witness God calls us to embrace.

Application:

  • Pursue both faithful obedience to God and faith in Yeshua.
  • Study God’s instruction to better understand His character and His ways.
  • Resist attempts to separate God’s commandments from God’s Messiah.
  • Remember that genuine faith should produce a desire to obey God.
  • Stand firm when opposition comes, trusting that God remains sovereign.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Word and through Messiah. Help me to love You with all my heart and to love others according to Your instruction. Strengthen my faith in Yeshua and deepen my desire to walk in Your ways. Guard me from compromise and help me remain faithful to both Your truth and Your Messiah. Thank You that no attack of the enemy can overcome Your purposes. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Revelation, Satan, Spiritual Warfare

Behind the Curtain, the Battle Rages (Revelation 12)

Have you ever felt like there was more happening behind the scenes than what you could see with your eyes?

Key Verse:
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come…” —Revelation 12:10 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 11:15–19, heaven celebrated the certainty of God’s coming kingdom and the ultimate reign of Messiah.

Now in Revelation 12, John is shown a vision that pulls back the curtain on a larger spiritual conflict. Rather than continuing the chronological flow of judgments, the chapter provides a panoramic view of the conflict between God’s purposes and Satan’s opposition throughout history.

This chapter introduces three major figures:

  • a woman
  • a child
  • a dragon

And through them, God reveals the larger spiritual battle unfolding behind earthly events.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 12

The Woman, Israel

      1A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan

3Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

The Male Child, Christ

5And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

The Angel, Michael

7And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12“For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

      13And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Reflection on Revelation 12:1–17:
Revelation 12 is one of the most symbolic chapters in the entire book.

While believers differ on certain details, the major message of the chapter is remarkably clear:

There is a real spiritual battle taking place.

John sees a great sign in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars.

He then sees a great red dragon seeking to destroy the child she is about to bear.

The dragon is later identified plainly as Satan.

Unlike some symbols in Revelation that require careful interpretation, Scripture leaves no doubt about his identity.

From the beginning, Satan has opposed God’s purposes.

He opposed:

  • God’s people
  • God’s promises
  • God’s Messiah

The dragon waits for the child to be born so that he might destroy Him.

This immediately reminds us of numerous attempts throughout biblical history to prevent God’s redemptive plan.

Yet every attempt fails.

The child is born.
The child rules the nations.
The child is caught up to God and His throne.

This points clearly to Messiah.

One of the encouraging themes of Revelation 12 is that God’s plans cannot be stopped.

Satan opposes.
Satan attacks.
Satan deceives.

But he cannot overthrow God’s purposes.

The chapter then shifts to a heavenly conflict where Satan is cast down from heaven.

Again, the focus is not on Satan’s power but on his defeat.

Notice the declaration that follows:

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God… have come.”

Heaven celebrates because the accuser has been thrown down.

For believers, this is deeply encouraging.

Satan is often described as an accuser.

He seeks to condemn, discourage, and attack God’s people.

But Revelation reminds us that his authority is limited and temporary.

The victory belongs to God.

Verse 11 contains one of the most beloved statements in the chapter:

“They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony…”

Notice what brings victory.

Not human strength.
Not human wisdom.
Not human effort.

Victory comes through:

  • the blood of the Lamb
  • faithful testimony
  • perseverance

This connects beautifully to themes we’ve already seen throughout Revelation.

God’s people overcome by remaining faithful to Him.

The chapter concludes with the dragon continuing his hostility toward God’s people.

Even after suffering defeat, he persists in opposition.

This reminds us that spiritual warfare remains a reality.

Believers should not be surprised by opposition, temptation, or spiritual struggle.

But neither should we be fearful.

The overarching message of Revelation 12 is not that Satan is powerful.

It is that God is greater.

The dragon appears throughout the chapter.

But he never controls the outcome.

God remains sovereign.

God preserves His people.

God accomplishes His purposes.

And God’s victory is certain.

This chapter encourages believers to view life through a larger lens.

The struggles we see around us are often part of a bigger spiritual reality.

Yet through it all, God’s people can remain confident because the Lamb has already secured the victory.

Application:

  • Remember that spiritual battles often exist behind visible circumstances.
  • Trust that God’s purposes cannot be defeated by Satan’s opposition.
  • Stand firm in the victory provided through the blood of the Lamb.
  • Remain faithful in your testimony regardless of opposition.
  • Take comfort in God’s sovereignty and ultimate victory.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding me that You remain sovereign over every battle and every circumstance. Help me to see beyond temporary struggles and remember that Your victory is certain. Strengthen me to stand firm through the blood of the Lamb and the testimony of my faith. Give me courage to trust You when opposition comes and confidence that Your purposes will never fail. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Complaining, Doubt / Lacking Faith, Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Provider

From Praise to Complaining (Exodus 15:22-27)

Key Verse:
“There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them.” —Exodus 15:25 NASB

Background Context:
In Exodus 15:1–21, Israel celebrated God’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. The people sang, worshiped, and praised the Lord for defeating Pharaoh and rescuing them from slavery.

But the journey was not over.

In Exodus 15:22–27, Israel faces its first major challenge after crossing the sea. What follows reveals an important truth about faith, testing, and learning to trust God beyond moments of victory.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 15:22-27

The LORD Provides Water

      22Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25Then he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet.
There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. 26And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”

      27Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.

Reflection on Exodus 15:22–27:
One of the most surprising things about this passage is how quickly the situation changes.

Only days earlier, the people were singing songs of praise and celebrating God’s mighty deliverance.

Now they are thirsty.

After traveling three days in the wilderness without finding water, they finally discover water at Marah.

But there is a problem.

The water is bitter and cannot be consumed.

The people’s response is immediate:

They grumble.

This is the first of many wilderness tests.

And it reveals something important.

It is often easier to trust God during a miracle than during the waiting that follows.

At the Red Sea, God’s power was obvious.

At Marah, faith was required.

The people had just witnessed:

  • the plagues
  • Passover
  • the pillar of cloud and fire
  • the crossing of the sea

Yet a new difficulty quickly caused them to forget God’s recent faithfulness.

Before judging Israel too harshly, we should recognize how often we do the same thing.

God answers a prayer.
God provides for a need.
God carries us through a difficult season.

Then a new challenge arises and suddenly we become anxious, fearful, or doubtful again.

This passage reminds us that every new trial presents a choice.

Will we focus on the problem?

Or will we remember the God who has already proven Himself faithful?

Moses responds differently than the people.

Instead of complaining, he cries out to the Lord.

God then shows him a tree, which he throws into the water, and the bitter water becomes sweet.

The miracle itself is important, but so is the lesson behind it.

God was not merely providing water.

He was teaching trust.

Scripture specifically says:

“There He tested them.”

When we hear the word “test,” we often think of God trying to make life difficult.

But biblical testing is usually about revealing and strengthening faith.

God already knew what was in Israel’s heart.

The test helped reveal it to them.

The Lord then gives a promise.

If they will listen to Him and walk in His ways, He will be their healer.

This introduces an important aspect of God’s character.

The God who delivered them from Egypt was also the God who would sustain them in the wilderness.

Deliverance was not the end of their dependence on Him.

It was the beginning.

The passage ends at Elim, where there are:

  • twelve springs of water
  • seventy palm trees

What a contrast.

First bitterness.

Then abundance.

First testing.

Then refreshment.

This reminds us that God often allows seasons of testing, but He also provides seasons of encouragement and renewal.

The people could not see Elim while standing at Marah.

But God already knew where He was leading them.

The same is true for us.

Sometimes we stand in the middle of a difficult circumstance and cannot see what God is doing.

Yet He already knows the destination.

He remains faithful in both the bitter waters and the refreshing springs.

Application:

  • Remember God’s past faithfulness when facing new challenges.
  • Bring your concerns to God in prayer rather than responding with complaint.
  • View trials as opportunities for God to strengthen your faith.
  • Trust that God is working even when circumstances seem bitter.
  • Remember that God often provides refreshment after seasons of testing.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to trust You not only during times of victory, but also during seasons of testing. Forgive me for the times I focus more on my problems than on Your faithfulness. Strengthen my faith and teach me to bring my concerns to You in prayer. Help me remember that You are with me in both the bitter waters and the refreshing springs. Thank You for always being faithful. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Sorrow Can Make Us Wiser (Ecclesiastes 7:1-6)

Why do some of life’s most valuable lessons often come through seasons we would never choose for ourselves?

Key Verse:
“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every person, and the living takes it to heart.” —Ecclesiastes 7:2 NASB

Background Context:
In Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon reflected on the emptiness of pursuing satisfaction apart from God. Wealth, success, honor, and long life cannot fill the deepest needs of the human heart.

Now in Ecclesiastes 7:1–6, Solomon presents a series of statements that seem surprising at first. He compares sorrow to laughter, mourning to feasting, and even speaks of the value of reflecting on death. Yet beneath these difficult sayings lies an important lesson about wisdom, character, and spiritual growth.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7:1-6

Wisdom and Folly Contrasted

      1A good name is better than a good ointment,
And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.

      2It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.

      3Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

      4The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

      5It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man
Than for one to listen to the song of fools.

      6For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:1–6:
At first glance, this passage can feel uncomfortable.

Solomon says:

  • a good name is better than costly perfume
  • the day of death is better than the day of birth
  • mourning is better than feasting
  • sorrow is better than laughter

These statements seem completely opposite to how most people naturally think.

But Solomon is not teaching that joy is bad or that sadness is inherently good.

Rather, he is teaching that difficult experiences often teach lessons that comfort and celebration cannot.

Consider the contrast between a funeral and a party.

A party is enjoyable.
A funeral is painful.

Yet Solomon says it is better to go to a house of mourning because it causes people to reflect on what truly matters.

Funerals remind us:

  • life is temporary
  • time is limited
  • relationships matter
  • eternity is real

They force us to ask questions that are easy to avoid during seasons of comfort.

In this sense, sorrow can become a teacher.

Many believers can look back and identify seasons of loss, disappointment, or hardship that ultimately drew them closer to God.

The experience itself was not pleasant.

But the spiritual growth that came from it was valuable.

This theme appears throughout Scripture.

Romans 5:3–4 teaches that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope.

James 1:2–4 reminds believers that trials help develop spiritual maturity.

God often uses difficult seasons to shape us in ways that comfort never could.

Solomon also warns about the danger of surrounding ourselves only with voices that tell us what we want to hear.

“The rebuke of a wise man is better than the song of fools.”

Most people prefer praise over correction.

Yet loving correction often provides more benefit than empty compliments.

A wise friend who speaks truth may help us grow more than a hundred people who simply tell us what we want to hear.

Solomon compares the laughter of fools to the crackling of thorns under a pot.

It makes noise.
It flares briefly.

But it produces little lasting value.

In contrast, wisdom may sometimes come through uncomfortable conversations, painful experiences, and difficult truths.

This passage challenges a common assumption.

We often assume that the best seasons of life are the easiest ones.

Yet many of the qualities God values most:

  • humility
  • perseverance
  • compassion
  • dependence on Him
  • wisdom

are often developed through adversity.

That does not mean we should seek suffering.

Nor does it mean we should celebrate pain for its own sake.

Rather, it means we can trust that God is able to use even difficult seasons for our good and His purposes.

Solomon reminds us that wisdom often grows in places where comfort would rather not go.

And when we allow God to teach us through those seasons, hardship can become a tool He uses to shape us into the people He desires us to be.

Application:

  • Allow difficult seasons to draw you closer to God rather than away from Him.
  • Reflect regularly on what truly matters in light of eternity.
  • Receive wise correction with humility rather than resisting it.
  • Remember that spiritual growth often comes through challenges and trials.
  • Trust that God can use hardship to develop wisdom and character in your life.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to trust You during difficult seasons and to learn the lessons You desire to teach me. Give me wisdom to see beyond temporary circumstances and to focus on what truly matters. Help me receive correction with humility and grow through every trial I face. Thank You for using both joyful and difficult seasons to shape me into the person You are calling me to be. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Psalms, Submitted / Servant, Wise

The Beginning of Wisdom (Psalm 53)

What happens when people choose to live as though God does not exist?

Key Verse:
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” —Psalm 53:1 NASB

Background Context:
Psalms 53 closely parallels Psalm 14 and presents a sobering assessment of humanity apart from God. David reflects on the condition of people who reject God’s authority and choose their own path rather than His.

This psalm is not merely addressing intellectual disbelief. It is describing the practical consequences of living as though God has no rightful place in our lives.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 53

Folly and Wickedness of Men.

For the choir director; according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.

      2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.

      3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.

      4Have the workers of wickedness no knowledge,
Who eat up My people as though they ate bread
And have not called upon God?

      5There they were in great fear where no fear had been;
For God scattered the bones of him who encamped against you;
You put them to shame, because God had rejected them.

      6Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores His captive people,
Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Reflection on Psalm 53:
David begins with one of the most well-known statements in Scripture:

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

This verse is often applied only to atheism, but David’s point reaches further than intellectual belief.

The fool is not merely someone who claims God does not exist.

The fool is someone who lives as though God does not matter.

A person may acknowledge God with their lips while rejecting His authority through their choices.

Throughout Scripture, wisdom begins with reverence for God. Conversely, folly begins when people place themselves at the center instead of their Creator.

David describes the result:

“They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good.”

This does not mean every person is as evil as possible. Rather, it highlights the universal problem of sin.

When humanity turns away from God, corruption follows.

Why?

Because God is the source of truth, righteousness, and moral authority.

When people reject Him, they are left to define right and wrong according to their own desires.

This is exactly what we see throughout history.

When people abandon God’s standards, selfishness and sin inevitably grow.

The problem is not complicated.

God created the world.
God established what is good and what is evil.
God gave His instruction so that people could walk in His ways.

Yeshua summarized God’s instruction in Matthew 22:37–40 by teaching that the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor.

When people reject God, they eventually reject His definition of love as well.

The result is a world increasingly shaped by self-interest rather than obedience.

David then says that God looks down from heaven to see whether anyone understands or seeks after Him.

His conclusion is sobering:

“Every one of them has turned aside.”

This theme appears again in Romans 3:10–12, where Paul quotes this psalm to emphasize humanity’s need for salvation.

The message is clear:

None of us can claim righteousness on our own.

All have sinned.
All need God’s grace.

Yet Psalm 53 does not end in despair.

David looks forward to God’s salvation:

“Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!”

This points toward hope.

Humanity’s problem is real.

But God has provided an answer.

The salvation David longed for ultimately finds its fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah.

Psalm 53 reminds us that every person must choose a path.

Scripture repeatedly presents this choice.

Deuteronomy 11:26–28 describes a choice between blessing and curse.

Matthew 7:13–14 describes a broad road leading to destruction and a narrow path leading to life.

The question is not simply whether we acknowledge God’s existence.

The question is whether we are willing to follow Him.

And that choice is not made only once.

Every day we decide whether we will walk in His ways or pursue our own.

The good news is that God continues to call people to Himself.

He offers forgiveness, restoration, and life through Messiah.

The fool rejects God and follows his own way.

The wise person trusts God and walks in His.

Application:

  • Examine whether your daily choices reflect submission to God’s authority.
  • Remember that wisdom begins with reverence for God.
  • Guard against defining right and wrong according to personal preference.
  • Choose God’s path even when the world’s path appears easier or more popular.
  • Thank God for the salvation He provides through Yeshua.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for revealing Your truth and showing us the path that leads to life. Help me not only to acknowledge You with my words, but to follow You with my life. Guard me from the folly of trusting my own wisdom above Yours. Give me a heart that seeks You daily and walks faithfully in Your ways. Thank You for the salvation You provide through Yeshua. In His name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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