6. No Escape for Unrepentant Sinners! Psalm 33:16-17

Text:  “But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.”

                                                                                                                      Job 11:20.

Good morning, Christian soul set Eternally free!  By God’s Sovereign grace alone, and through the full Atonement Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, you are totally escaped forever the wrath of Almighty Lord God against all unrepented sin.  Hallelujah!  Free at last!  Jesus Christ, Truth Personified, has set us Eternally free!

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth (Jesus Christ) shall make you free.”     (John 8:32)

However, for unrepentant Christ-rejecters, there is no escape from God’s fearful wrath which will be poured upon all those who have rejected Christ, and God’s only way of receiving pardon from sin’s curse and Eternal Salvation through Christ’s Cross.  Armies, and missiles, and nuclear submarines and state of the art war-planes cannot save sinful souls from an angry and Holy Lord God.  Christ-rejecters, be very afraid!  Repent, while it is yet the day of God’s Sovereign and merciful grace.

Verse 16.  “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host.  Mortal power is a fiction, and those who trust in it are dupes.  Serried ranks of armed men have failed to maintain an empire, or even to save their monarch’s life when a decree from the court of Heaven has gone forth for the empire’s overthrow.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 164)

History lists the national leaders, kings, and dictators who sought to establish empires by the diktat of their own human will, yet were brought down and vanquished by forces outside of their puny comprehension.  God’s will is a Sovereign will and will be done.

“At the Battle of Arbela, the Persian hosts numbered between five hundred thousand and a million men, but they were utterly put to the rout by Alexander’s band of fifty thousand; and the once mighty Darius was soon vanquished. 

“Napoleon led more than half a million of men into Russia, but the terrible winter left the army a mere wreck, and their leader was soon a prisoner on the lone rock of St. Helena.  All along the line of history, this verse has been verified.  The strongest battalions melt like snowflakes when God is against them.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 164)

Verse 16.  “A mighty man is not delivered by much strength.  The Philistine giant, Goliath of Gath was slain by the boy David armed only with his slingshot and one smooth stone from the brook.  Samson, who slew one thousand Philistines with the jaw-bone of an ass, fell down into Delilah’s arms, then further down into blindness and a Philistine prison-house.  Once an individual or a nation dares to go outside the revealed will of Jehovah Lord God, that individual or nation greases the slide down into failure, defeat, and Eternal ignominy.  ’Pride comes before a fall’

The required Spiritual strength will only come to those of us who take the time to be obedient to the Lord God of all things, in Christ Jesus.  He has admonished us in His revealed will, His Word: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”     
   (2 Timothy 2:15-16)

If ‘…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God…’, then our vital need is to be found gaining vital faith studying our Bibles; metaphorically digging for the deep treasures of God’s Word, and seeking to apply the knowledge/guidance we find to every aspect of our lives for Christ Jesus.  Being found constantly in God’s Word, we will not be found wanting when Spiritual strength and wisdom are required to serve the risen Christ.

Verse 17.  “An horse is a vain (useless) thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.  Many seek to run from God’s wrath by use of natural modes of transport - horses, cars, trains, boats, and aeroplanes - yet there is no possible escape from the wrath of our Living Lord God, except via the way He Himself has ordained: the Cross of Jesus Christ.  There is forgiveness and grace for all who come to God through the Atonement Sacrifice of Christ Jesus.  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jonah fled down into Joppa, but once outside the will of the Lord God in his disobedience - his journey took him all the way down into the belly of the great fish, and then further down to the depths of the mountains of the ocean. 

Repentance in the fish’s belly, brought him Supernatural deliverance and renewing of power, so much so that 160,000 souls at Nineveh were saved through his eight-word sermon!  (Jonah 1-4)  Nothing is impossible in the will of Almighty Lord God.

Kings, Presidents, Emperors, and the entire nations they govern within the natural realm - if they be the elect of God - can all be saved by faith in Christ and the Sacrifice He has made for sinners at Calvary’s Cross.  God’s grace and mercy are ever offered and ever given to those sincerely seeking to repent from sin and place faith and trust in Christ.  Repentance is, itself, a vital gift from our gracious Lord God.  Turn, if you will, sinner, and be Eternally saved from the wrath to come!

Thought:  “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.”  (Deuteronomy 7:9)

5. The Lord is Not Asleep! Psalm 33:13-15

Text:  “The Lord looketh from Heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men…He considereth all their works.”

                                                                                                              Psalm 33:13-15.

Good morning, God-conscious Christian!  Not for you and I the lackadaisical attitude of many in this increasingly apostate and unfaithful 21^st Century ‘church’ of Jesus Christ.  No!  We are not living our lives as though the God of the Bible has somehow fallen asleep; has somehow began to wink at sin; somehow strangely forgotten His wrath against vileness and gross disobedience to His Commandments.  No!  Praise God, you and I are very conscious that the Lord God Almighty cannot fall asleep, nor can He forget His own perfect Holiness and wrath against all that falls short of perfect Christlikeness.   He has spoken, and His Word remains absolute truth.  Hallelujah!  Our God never changes, ever!

“God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent (change His mind): hath He said, and shall He not do it?  Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?  Behold (look and see clearly), I have received commandment to bless: and He hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.”  (Numbers 23:19-20)

God detests all sin!  God loves Holiness and obedience to His Word!  God will not suddenly fall asleep or change His mind about mankind’s gross sin against Him.  Fact.

“And I will come near to you to judgement; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the Lord of hosts.  For I am the Lord (Jehovah), I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.  Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from Mine ordinances (Commandments), and have not kept them.  Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.  But ye said, Wherein shall we return?”  (Malachi 3:5-7)

God-conscious Christians are genuine, obedient, faithful Christian people - sinners saved (Spiritually regenerated) by God’s grace, manifested in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, and trusting completely in His one-time perfect Sacrifice for our vile sins on the Cross at Calvary, over two-thousand years ago. 

Christianity, in practice, is defined merely as being Spiritually regenerated to be like Christ, to the very best of ones’ abilities, in the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit and according to God’s written Word.  Simple as that!  What is YOUR Christianity like?  What is MY Christianity like?  Are we Bible-based Christians at all?  Take heed!

Verse 13.  “The Lord looketh from Heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men.”  Think not that God is mocked, fooled, or bluffed by mere outward appearance Christianity - the Lord God looks, and continues to look and examine our hearts.  Nothing short of the real deal Spiritually regenerate Christian faith will stand the test.

“A man may have his name set down in chronicles, yet be lost; wrought in durable marble, yet perish; set upon a monument equal to a Colossus, yet be ignominious; inscribed on the hospital gates, yet go to Hell; written in the front of his own house, yet another come to possess it; all these are but writings in the dust, or upon the waters, where the characters perish so soon as they are made; they no more prove a man happy than the fool could prove Pontius Pilate happy because his name was written in the Creed.

“But the true comfort is this, when a man by assurance can conclude with his own soul that his name is written in those Eternal leaves of Heaven, in the book of God’s Election, which shall never be wrapped up in the cloudy sheets of darkness but remain legible to all Eternity.”  (Thomas Adams 1614) 

God’s own Word is always more concise on this vital matter: “But as He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (entire lifestyle); because it is written, Be ye holy for I am Holy.”  (1 Peter 1:15-16)

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man/woman shall see the Lord.”  (Hebrews 12:14)

Will the great Creator of the human brain fail to understand the thoughts, motives, and actions it manifests?  Never!  The Creator Lord God knows ALL our most secret motives and is in continual, unending surveillance of all whom He saves.

Verse 15.  “He considereth all their works.  Two men give to the poor, one seeketh his reward in Heaven, the other the praise of men.  Thou, in two, seest one thing; God understandeth two.  For He understandeth what is within, and knoweth what is within; their ends He seeth, their base intentions He seeth.  ‘He understandeth all their works.’”  (Augustine 354-430 AD)

As the Lord looks upon your heart and mine today, professing Christian believer, what does He see there?  Are our motives pure and Christ-seeking, or are they tainted with the sin of selfishness and self-promotion?  Sobering thoughts on this new day, what?

Thought:  The Lord God never slumbers nor sleeps - He is in full surveillance mode.  What act of obedience can you and I do to please Him today?

4. God Blesses His Nations Psalm 33:12

Text:  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (Jehovah); and the people whom He hath chosen for His Own inheritance.”

                                                                                                                   Psalm 33:12.

Good morning, God-blessed Christian!  One theme runs constant throughout Holy Scripture - God blesses those to whom He has chosen to reveal Himself; He promises a sure blessing to all among whom He chooses to dwell. 

Show me the nation - even in this increasingly apostate 21^st Century - who were established by Godly principles from the Holy Bible yet are devoid of blessing? 

Christian nations, in spite of our current disobedience to God’s Word, are the most blessed nations throughout the world.  When such nations, founded upon the Word of God, repent and turn again to the Lord in sincere sorrow for our sins, He will begin to prosper us afresh and lead us in new National righteousness in Christ Jesus. 

I pray that the great Christian nations such as Britain and America will soon return to the paths of righteousness, and receive God’s full blessings of peace and Salvation.  We have God’s own Word on this serious matter.   We must take heed to it NOW!

“If My people, which are called by My Name (Christian), shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The Lord God cannot bless disobedience, apostasy, and sin; nor can He fail to punish it.  It’s not that He will not bless disobedience - it is a fact that He can’t! 

Therefore, while it is still the day of His Sovereign grace, our once strong Christian nations must return to the old paths of Biblical righteousness; make laws based on Holy Writ; and cease from wallowing in the sins of the flesh and embracing the errors of false religions, and open Sodomy!  We must promptly turn from this path of Spiritual suicide!

“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and forth generation to them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.”  (Exodus 20:3-6)

Definition of Sin:  An offence against God’s Holiness.  Falling short of the glory of God; God’s Holy expectations of life and behaviour; any word, thought, or deed that is less than Christ’s perfection, morality, purity, and Holiness.  UnChristlikeness!

Today, there is a wicked indifference to sin,  no guilt for committing it; and a total neglect of the consequences that must be faced on God’s Judgement Day. 

Every man/woman is doing what seems right in their own eyes, and running sin-blind into a Christ-rejecter’s Hell.  Much of what is termed ‘the church’ worldwide seem to be fast asleep, completely unaware that countless souls are teetering on the edge of Hell’s chasm.  Any church that fails to address and contend with SIN, falls short of the Bible’s standard for Christianity.  Christ only came to save sinners from sin!

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  (Luke 19:10)

“Christianity addresses itself only to sinners. Its Founder himself declared that he did not come to call the righteous but sinners; and its chief expounder (Paul) declared with energetic emphasis that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  The open secret of the indifference of men of all classes in all ages to Christianity, so far as that indifference has existed, lies in the indifference of men to sin, and their consequent indifference to salvation from sin. Christianity makes no appeal to men who do not feel the burden of sin.”   (Dr B.B. Warfield ‘Christianity and Our Times’ 1851-1921)

Sin separates individuals and entire nations from a thrice Holy Lord God.

“…Your iniquities (sin) have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.  None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth; they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.”  (Isaiah 59:2-4)

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”  (Psalm 66:18)

But the Lord God thoroughly blesses the individual and nation that sincerely owns Him as Saviour and Lord.  God blesses those whom He Himself has chosen to save!

“Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you…” (John 15:16)

An unfit man/woman seeks to revisit the gym; seeks to begin to take care of his/her body again with stringent exercise and diet.  The unfit ‘church’ must repent from our sin; seek a new filling of God the Spirit; begin to preach/teach and live God’s Word.

Thought:  Christian!  Admit that ‘the National church’ is broken - and get God to fix it NOW!  Repent!  The Lord Jesus Christ returns real soon!

3. Our Wise, Sure & Steadfast, Lord God Psalm 33:9-11

Text:  “Now unto the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory forever and ever.  Amen.”

                                                                                                              1 Timothy 1:17.

Good morning, Sure and steadfast Christian!  In the depths of your soul and mine, even in the face of grave and sore troubles and bitter struggles - against the world, our own weak flesh, and the Devil - down deep within our souls, we are sure and steadfast, yes, Eternally sure and steadfast, in Christ Jesus and His full Victory at Calvary’s Cross!  Hallelujah!  We are secured Eternally, by our wise, sure and steadfast Lord God.  Give praise to His Holy and Almighty Name!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord God!

Verse 9.  “For He spake, and it was done.  “And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.”  (Genesis 1:3)  No waiting time with our Lord God, no ifs or buts, or maybes.  He speaks, and all His Creation obeys.  Our God is an Almighty Lord God.

“In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.”  (Genesis 1:1)

“In the beginning was the Word (Christ Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.  In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”  (John 1:1-4)

Our Lord God has no beginning or end - He is all-sufficient and Eternal Lord God.  He is all wise; ever sure; and completely Rock steadfast.  Truly awesome!

Verse 9.  “He commanded, and it stood fast.  Happy is the man who has learned to lean his all upon the sure Word of Him Who built the skies!”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 163)

So many nations and peoples today, in this increasingly apostate 21^st Century, put their trust in armaments; in economic advantages; in the strength of the Pound or the Dollar; and in the ‘counsel’ and understanding of science and mere sinful men.  That is why our world is currently plagued by wars, and terrorist activities, men doing what is right in their own eyes; as the most powerful and greedy grab all that they can from each other.  Oh that nations would turn to the Living Lord God for His wisdom and counsel.

Verse 10.  “The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught.  The more the Pharisees of old and their successors, the prelates of later years, opposed the truth, the more it prevailed.  The Reformation in Germany was much furthered by the Papist’s opposition; yea, when two kings (amongst many others), wrote against Luther, namely Henry V111 of England and Ludovicus of Hungary, this kingly title being entered into the controversy (making men more curious to examine the matter), stirred up a general inclination towards Luther’s opinions.”  (Richard Younge’s Christian Library 1655)

Verse 10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought. “While his own will is done, he takes care to anticipate the wilfulness of his enemies. Before they come to action he vanquishes them in the council chamber; and when, well armed with craft, they march to the assault, he frustrates their knaveries, and makes their promising plots to end in nothing. Not only the folly of the heathen, but their wisdom too, shall yield to the power of the cross of Jesus: what a comfort is this to those who have to labour where sophistry, and philosophy, falsely so called, are set in opposition to the truth as it is in Jesus.”  (C.H. Spurgeon 1834-1892)

Verse 10.  “He maketh the devices of the people of none effect.  Their persecutions, slanders, falsehoods, are like puff-balls flung against a granite wall - they produce no result at all; for the Lord overrules the evil, and brings good out of it.  The cause of God is never in danger: infernal craft is outwitted by Infinite wisdom, and Satanic malice held in check by boundless power.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 163)

Because the Lord intervenes in this manner in all situations, ‘His people’; all of us who are born again of Him, are constantly protected against evil oppositions - temporal and spiritual enemies!  The Lord makes ‘…ALL things to work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28) (Matthew 1:21)  Hallelujah!  Now, this is something to get excited about, brethren!

Graven on the palms of Christ’s hands, He can never forget us; and at all times, our defence walls are upheld by Him.  We who are truly saved, are truly and Eternally secure in Christ Jesus.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.  Behold (look!), I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands (nail-prints); thy walls (defences) are continually before Me.”  (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Verse 11.  “The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.  The wheels of a watch or a clock move contrary one to another, some one way, some another, yet all serve the intent of the workman, to show the time, or to make the clock strike.  So in the world, the providence of God may seem to run cross to His promises; one man takes this way, another runs that way; good men go one way, wicked men another, yet all in conclusion accomplish the will, and centre in the purpose of God, the Great Creator of all things.”  (Richard Sibbes  1577-1635)

Thought:  Let us listen constantly to God’s wise counsel; open our Bibles daily to discover His will for each day of our lives.  This is true Christian fellowship with God:  We speak to Him in prayer, He speaks to us through His Word.