Deuteronomy 3; Psalm 85; Isaiah 31; Revelation 1

Our first chapter today is one which seems strange to our modern ears.

You can listen here:

Deuteronomy 3; Psalm 85; Isaiah 31; Revelation 1. (King James Version)

Since we are beginning in the Book of Revelation, let me remind you of the two good studies that Pastor Dilday has online covering this book.His current class:From Reformation to Reformation

And his earlier sermons on the first half of the book:

The Book opens with these words…

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

As for the severity of God’s judgment at the beginning of Deuteronomy 3 my only comment is to note old John Gill’s from the prior chapter.

Deuteronomy 2:34

And we took all his cities at that time,…. As Heshbon, and others mentioned in Num 21:25,

and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones of every city, we left none to remain; for the Amorites were one of the seven nations who were devoted to destruction, the measure of whose iniquity was now full, and therefore vengeance was taken.

I do note that even Moses’ prayer at the end of the chapter was given a strong rebuke.

Deu 3:23  And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,

Deu 3:24  O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?

Deu 3:25  I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.

Deu 3:26  But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

More than a half of millennium later Psalm 85 gives us another prayer.

Revive Us Again

Psa 85:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Psa 85:2  Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

Psa 85:3  Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

Psa 85:4  Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

Psa 85:5  Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

Psa 85:6  Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Psa 85:7  Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.

Psa 85:8  I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

Psa 85:9  Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psa 85:10  Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psa 85:11  Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Psa 85:12  Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

Psa 85:13  Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.