Willing to be ignorant "Dumb on purpose"

Ps 33: 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Ps 33: 9 For he “spake”, and it was done; he “commanded” and it stood fast.

“Let all the earth fear the Lord”- this refers to how all that dwell upon the earth have “the responsibility” to fear – to honor and to respect their creator 

“let all the inhabitant of the world stand in awe of him” refers to how we can obviously see God’s handiwork in everything around us . . . 

we can see these things UNLESS we have chosen to “bind” our heats and our minds to willful ignorance as those we read about in II Peter 3 have done . . .

3 ¶ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

The last days refer to the time of history just before “the end” of the age . . . 

A scoffer is nothing more than a false teacher (one who does not promote the truth)

“To walk after their own lust” refers to “the course” or to “the journey of life” that these false teachers had chosen to become the guiding influence in their lives.

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

The attitude of these false teachers is that the power of God is not the constraining force in our world nor in our lives . . . but that there is a little bit of good in all of us – and we are in charge of our own destiny . . . it is our responsibility to let the good rule in our world and it is God’s responsibility to reward us for that good . . .

On the surface - This type of attitude sounds good to us . . . but beneath the surface . . . it is just another lie that Satan has told with the intent of causing us to take our eyes off of the goodness of Jesus - and to focus instead upon our own "supposed" goodness.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

The reference here – is to the great flood in the days of Noah . . . and how that as an act of judgment - “the world” was destroyed by that great flood which was brought about by Gods' Power over His creation.

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the “same word” are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men . . .

This tells us of a “future judgment” upon the world . . . a judgment that is similar to that which God spilled upon the earth in the days of Noah . . .

It points to a judgment that is reserved for that generation of men who just like in the days of Noah – are men who have become “unreachable” because of how their minds/hearts “only evil continually”.

To be “willingly ignorant” of how God’s hand is “the power” that controls “the natural forces” of our world and universe . . . literally means that we have chosen (decided) to be DUMB or stupid “on purpose”.  

The idea being that because “the power of God” as it is revealed around us “is so OBVIOUS” – that to be willingly ignorant actually means that we have “counted the cost” of accepting the Truth into our lives as being so disruptive to our life style . . .

that we have chosen to try “really hard” to become blind to the Truth and to avoid “seeing God” in everything around us (with the false reasoning) that 

if we deny God’s power in our world – then we can also deny His power to judge our world - and to judge our lives of sin.

To be blind to everything that God IS in the present – and to be blind to everything that God has done in the past – and to be blind to everything that God will do in the future . . . 

to be blind to these things – a man must determine or purpose in his heart – to simply close his eyes and close his heart . . . to all of the evidence that God has so graciously placed before us in His creation . . . 

The way of nature is to grow old and to decay . . . not to become new and
to be restored . . . the way of nature is to become scattered and chaotic not to unite and become uniform . . .

After the creation . . . our earth and the universe which contains it – did not begin to “get better” but rather it began dying “the instant” that God
spoke it into existence . . . 

and to be willingly ignorant of the power of God in creation – is simply a subconscious desire for us to avoid judgment before God “as our creator” . . . if we can deny God’s power in creation – then we can deny God’s power to judge us AS His creation . . .

   Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the   judgment . . . to convince ourselves that God is not our creator - is to also convince ourselves that God is not our judge . . .

“For he spake and it was done” – God’s WORD brought all of creation into existence . . . “he commanded and it stood fast” – God set the universe in order - and that order is constantly maintained (not by mother nature – but) by His divine Power . . .

The spoken word of God is “the power” that put creation “in order” . . . 

After sin entered into our world . . . It was the spoken word of God that gave “His creation” the hope of redemption . . . which refers to the hope of a savour named Jesus Christ who (because He loved His creation 

{specifically mankind}) He would die on the cross in an effort to “save” that creation from eternal loss.

God is all powerful – but God has a desire to be loved.  God created man in His own image.  God created man with a soul that would remain alive
for all eternity . . . 

In the Garden of Eden Satan became jealous of the relationship that God had with man . . . so Satan tempted “man” to betray the love that he had shown toward God in the Garden of Eden . . . and to disobey God’s Word so that “the fellowship” or the relationship which man had with God would be broken . . . 

Satan was successful in leading man AWAY from God – but God’s love for the man who had betrayed Him was so great . . . that God was willing to die – in order to give those who did not believe in Him an opportunity to be SAVED or “restored” to fellowship with God through faith.

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

To Rejoice in God's Power

  

   Ps 33: 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
   2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

   3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

   4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

   5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 

   6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

    7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

    8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

    9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

   Beginning here in verse #6 we are told that everything that was made . . . was made or brought into being – by the spoken word of God.

   In the book of Genesis during the seven days of creation . . . God SAID “let there be ____ “ and there was ____”

  To gather the waters of the sea together as an heap – refers to how that it was “the power of God” that formed the seas – This describes how God simply “commanded” the dry land to appear (when in the days of Genesis) He gathered the waters together to form the sea . . .

    This should not appear to be strange to us . . . for in Mark 4 we read where Jesus commands both the wind and the sea . . .

    Mark 4: 35 ¶ And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

    36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

    37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

    38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

    39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

    40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

    41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

   To answer the question of “The kind of man that Jesus is” . . . we are told here in the 33 Psalm that He is the kind of man that should be praised . . .

   Jesus was present during the days of Genesis . . . we are told in John 1: 1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    2 The same was in the beginning with God.

    3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

    4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

    5 ¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

   And in verse 14 of this same chapter we are told that this WORD became the literal flesh of the man we know in the scriptures as Jesus Christ.

    14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

   This passage teaches us WHY Jesus had the power in Mark 4 to command the wind and sea . . . Jesus had the power to command them . . . because just a few years before this (about 4000 before) He was with God in the beginning . . . 

   In fact in the days of Genesis He WAS God . . . and all things were made by Him . . . Psalms 33:7 contains the phrase “to lay up the depth in storehouses” . . . this refers to the layer of water that is found under the earth – to what we refer to today as the “underground” water table – 

   In the days before the flood of Noah – it is believed that the continents actually floated on layers of water the way we know they today “float” on layers of molten rock called magma . . . and the flood resulted when “the 

   fountains of the deep were broken up” and this vast layer of underground water that God had caused to be “laid up in the depth in storehouses” was suddenly released . . . and the result was the Great Flood of Noah.

   Gen 8: 1  And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

   2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

   If the heavens and the earth came into being by the word of God – then this same God still has power over His creation . . . and if we are Indeed His   creation – then we have a responsibility to fear, to honor and to respect our creator . . .

   Pr 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

  To deny God as creator – is to give man no reason to fear God – and without a reason to fear/respect God . . . a man will never find knowledge – wisdom

  – or understanding . . . knowledge of God as creator teaches man the wisdom of seeking God (we seek God in order to avoid the pain of being separated from God) . . . eternal separation from God is what occurs in a place called HELL as a result of condemnation.

   and knowledge of condemnation – this is what teaches man to “understand” the consequences of what it means to reject God . . . Wisdom allows us

   to see “the difference” between right and wrong . . . knowledge is what puts "a face" on the truth so that it can be recognized through wisdom . . . and 

   then there is the motive for seeking knowledge and wisdom . . . and that motive is called “understanding” as we realize the consequences of walking through life blind – without any idea of God’s definition of what is truly right or wrong . . . 

   the fool is guided through life by HIS OWN concept of right and wrong . . . while the man who fears God is guided by how his creator has defined right and wrong . . .

    Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

   Wisdom teaches us that the right thing to do is to obey God . . . knowledge teaches us WHO God is (He is Holy – He is our creator) . . . understanding

   teaches us that the smart thing to do . . . is to give in (or surrender) to the one who has power over the wind and the sea and to allow Him to also have power over our lives . . . 

The goodness of God

    Ps 33: 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

   In a previous lesson – we determined that it was appropriate for “the righteous man” to have a thankful attitude toward God . . . and that the song of the righteous man’s
heart “for which God desires to hear from His people” is a song of praise . .  . 

   the type of song which God desires to hear from our heart is a “song of humility” – a song of thanksgiving . . . 

    and to play such a song “skilfully with a loud noise” refers to the fact that “as God’s people” we have become accustomed to a life of humility – and that we

    have NOT forsaken obedience to the commandment of God that we live in humility and forsake pride . . . so that as we become friends with humility and the enemy of pride . . . we

    also become strangers to rebellion against “God’s will for our lives” . . .  

   To be skillful and to play loudly – indicates that we have learned to allow our lives to be guided by a

    thankful attitude toward God . . . and that this attitude “speaks” from our lives so loudly – that “pride” and “haughtiness of spirit” are no longer part of our lives . . .

    Having learned to put God upon the throne of our lives . . . we now understand (and practice) the scripture in Pr 3: 6 which tells us . . . In ALL THY WAYS acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

    For the Word of The Lord is right . . . and all of the works of God are “according” to (or follow along the path of) His Truth . . . 

   The Bible teaches us that . . . God loves “to forgive” . . . and every man’s life (from Adam to the present) has been filled with “God given opportunities” to seek God’s eternal forgiveness of the sin of unbelief . . .

    John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is NOT condemned: but he that believeth not IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, “because” he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

    The Psalmist continues . . . For “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” which means that the world is full of the mercy and the kindness of God . . . 

   we see this in how God extends His hand of forgiveness to ALL men . . . we see the impartial goodness of the Lord as He allows it to rain upon the just as well as upon the unjust – we see this in God’s patience toward each of us 

   every time we are overtaken by rebellion . . . we see the goodness of God in how God upholds the governments of the world to maintain order among mankind (the countries of the world that are God fearing as well as those who have forsaken God – we share equally in this blessing) . . . 

    we see the goodness of God in the spring time which gives ALL men hope for the future . . . 

   We see the goodness of God in the Summer time which gives ALL men the strength/opportunity to work toward their dreams . . .

   

   We see the goodness of God in “the fall” which reminds each of us (or it should) that the strength of our youth is something that will one day end . . .

   We see the goodness of God in the winter of our lives which reminds us of God’s love – God’s patience – of our mortality – and of the reality of the eternal hope that we have in Christ.

   As we continue now with Ps 33: 6 we learn that . . .
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them (were created/made) by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

   It was not by the “chance of evolution” . . . but it was “By the word of the LORD” (that) the heavens (were) made; and all the host of them (also being
made) by the breath of his mouth (His spoken Word when He said in Genesis . . . Let there be ____ and there was _____ . . .

   this knowledge of our creation is simply an expansion of how the goodness of God is in all the earth . . .

This refers to how the heavens above us were literally created (not by changing or reforming what was already in existence) but that all of these
things were literally brought into being by the spoken Word of God . . .

    Gen 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
6 And God said . . . and it was so . . .

   This is the goodness of God as shown to us in the creation . . . As His creation . . . we are not an accident of nature but we belong to God . . . 

   and God has A PURPOSE for each of our lives . . . and part of that purpose – is to be REMINDED that we have a creator who loves us and who wants to forgive us

PS 33: 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

When we speak of the creation – and specifically of God as the creator - I am reminded of what we read in II Peter 3: 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

You see – the point to denying God as creator – is simply a convenient way to avoid the realization of judgment . . . 

   

   if there is no intelligent design then there can be no intelligent “designer” . . . or no-one – or no power to which we can be held accountable – which infers that there is NO JUDGMENT . . . 

   we will end this lesson here – with the idea that if Satan is successful (by any means at all) in convincing any man that there is no Judgment . . . 

   then Satan has gained possession of that man’s soul . . . Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

   If this one verse in The Bible is not true . . . then none of the remaining verses should matter to us at all . . . Are you prepared for the day of judgment that awaits you after this life is over?

Rejoice in the Lord

   Psalms 33: 1-7
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

   In verse #1 we read . . . Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

  We are told here to rejoice or to be joyful “in the Lord” which refers to how we (as a righteous man) should be grateful (or happy) about our relationship with the Lord.

We also learn that this idea of "rejoicing" is specifically directed toward those who are righteous (which refers to the man who is living within the boundaries of God’s law). 

The idea being – that the man who has forsaken God’s Law – is a man who doesn’t have much to rejoice about . . . running from God is not a pleasant experience in any man's life.

This first verse ends by telling us that "praise" which is talking about (confession – and thanksgiving) are things that are appropriate (suitable - or fit) to be found in the life of a just man (a man whose “path of life” is not perfect but straight or directed within God's will).

Ps 33: 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

“Praise the Lord” simply refers lifting the Lord up – it means to put God in His proper place in our lives by living with an attitude of thankfulness an humility . . . to praise

the Lord with harp – with the psaltery – or with an an instrument of ten strings – and for us to sing . . . refers to how we sometimes express the joy in our heart with song and music . . . 

  

  I think what we are being taught here – is simply that it is entirely appropriate (in our worship of God) to sing praises unto God from a thankful heart . . .

The new song that is referred to here - is the idea singing a fresh song (or singing with a renewed since of thankfulness) . . . and when we are told to play skillfully – this does not mean that (in our worship) God wants us to be “professional grade” musicians . . .

   What He is telling us – is that God desires our “songs of praise” to be beautiful (not necessarily in melody) but in respect to how our songs should reflect a thankful heart – a heart that really does
love and admire God . . . this is the “fresh sound” for which God listens – this is “the type of song” that god is hoping to hear among his children . . .

4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

“The word of the Lord” – is a phrase that can properly be considered as "how" God has chosen to provide for us . . . We learn here that the provisions which God has provided for us – are things that are good, they are things which are right – and they are just exactly what we need . . .

Everything that God does is steady – everything that God does is true – and everything that God does is “right down the line”.

Ps 33: 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

At first glance – the phrase “For God to love righteousness AND judgment” appears to contradict one another . . . why would God love judgment when for the most part "judgment" means pain – injury – death . . .? 

  2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

You see – the idea that God loves judgment – does not mean that

  God loves condemnation – but it means that God loves the idea of extending a pardon – to those who repent.

In our first verse the word “Righteousness” refers to the description of a man whose character is upright – just – or virtuous . . . a righteous man . . .

We can easily understand why God would love this type of character . . . But now let’s consider the word “Judgment” as it is used here . . . this is actually a legal term – it literally refers to a verdict – or to being sentenced in a court of law – it actually refers to “the act” of
justice or to the ultimate concept of being “fair” according to the dictates of the law (in this case God’s Law) . . .

  This concept of abiding by The Law is good for those on the right side of God’s Law . . . Now this does not refer to the ability to live a sinless life (because this cannot be achieved) – but it does refer
to the willingness to live in humility and obedience as we admit our faults (confess) our faults and repent . . . 

   But this concept of justice or being fair is not a good thing for those who live on the wrong side of the law . . . referring to those who live in pride such that they refuse to see their faults – they refuse
to admit any guilt and they never seek the forgiveness of God’s pardon . . . 

  which should cause each of us to consider the question of "which side of God’s law have we chosen to live our lives on . . ."

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

“Mercy” is related to the idea of compassion – while “the judgment” referred to here in James is related to condemnation (damnation).

God loves mercy – God loves to find the character of righteousness (humility) within the lives of His Children . . . 

   In keeping with our text verses -- it is suitable – it is appropriate – it is expected that God will find an attitude of “thankful praise” in such a man’s’ life (that is in the life of a righteous man).

God does not love condemnation – but God does love “the verdict of forgiveness” which is rendered (given/applied) in respect to those
who are washed in His blood through faith and repentance.