Bible Lessons

Psalm 144
Verses 1 and 2 remind us how admirably and perfectly God meets the needs,—the wants of His people. He is their immoveable Rock, and if warfare be called for, either with flesh and blood as Israel will experience, or with the invisible power of Satan (Ephesians 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)) which the Christian has to contend with, God teaches the hands and fingers to fight. He is our blessed Preserver, our strength, our hiding place, He in whom we trust.
Verse 3 apparently repeats the inquiry of Psalm 8:4,4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:4) but the words in the original Hebrew are changed about; there it was Christ as Son of Man, here it is sinful man, frail and powerless, that is meant. So (verse 4) man is like to vanity, or a breath; his days are as a shadow that passes away. Judgment will overtake the wicked; there is no thought here of giving time for repentance, for the day of grace will then be over (verses 5-8, and 11).
The end is praise to God (verse 9) from a people of His here on earth, whose hopes and joys are connected with the earth (verses 12-16).
Many scriptures make plain that the Lord Jesus will have an earthly people, as well as a heavenly people eternally, but all of them redeemed with His blood, the fruit of the travail of His soul.
From here to the close of the Psalms, all is praise. We are reminded of Revelation 5:9-149And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. 13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:9‑14) and Isaiah 53:10-1210Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:10‑12). What infinite grace it is that has made it possible that poor unworthy sinners such as ourselves shall have part with Christ eternally.
Messages of God’s Love 2/21/1932