Transcript:
Hi!
Welcome to Psalms for End Times, Episode 5. Today I’m going to be looking at Psalm 14.
My name is Annette Bell, and I’m the host of Overcoming the Tribulation, which is mostly focused on preparing our hearts for the return of Christ. If you haven’t already subscribed, I invite you to hit the subscribe button. And if you want to get notifications, also click on the notification bell. Thank you.
The Fool
OK; so, Psalm 14. I’m going to read the first three verses.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
God’s Word says that those who deny His existence are fools.
I remember hearing a testimony from a pastor who said that reading this chapter as a young man, he was an atheist, and when he read it, it confronted him with the truth, and he ended up becoming a Christian.
And he has a vibrant ministry today. So, I just think that’s a cool story.
Romans 1 says that all people know that He exists because of what He has made– because of the creation; that His invisible qualities are clearly seen by what has been made. But the ones who say they’re atheists, they are suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.
In my last video, “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?” I read portions of Isaiah 59, which indicts the human race for our sin problem–about how we are completely incapable of reconciling ourselves to God, making ourselves right in His sight by the works of the flesh. But God’s arm is not too short to save! Amen. And if you haven’t watched that video, I encourage you to take some time to watch it. It’s a lot longer than I normally do, but it’s very important, and so that’s why I spent the time to do it.
The Evildoers’ Dread
Now I’m going to read Psalm 14, verses 4 through 6.
Will evildoers never learn—those who devour My people as men eat bread, and who do not call on the LORD? There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.
Eventually, the evildoers will learn, but many of them will not repent. One of the good things about the Tribulation is the glory God is going to get when He teaches the nations that they are but men. The overwhelming dread that David writes about is because of the confidence of the righteous in their salvation that is expressed through the actions of not being afraid when people oppose them.
It talks about it in Philippians 1. I’m going to read this, verse 27 and 28.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God.
The ability to be fearless in the face of opposition from wicked men is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t come naturally to men, which is why it makes the wicked tremble, because they observe the power of God in us. This is going to be incredible.
I mean, it happens everywhere whenever people are persecuted for their faith, and the wicked see it, but it will happen much more in those days. I think about Revelation 6, where it talks about the wicked going into the earth and asking the rocks to fall on them and hide them from Him who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb and His wrath, for His wrath has come, and who can stand? These guys are not atheists! They know about the One who sits on the throne. They know about the Lamb and His wrath. Why do they know all those details? Probably because of our bold witness. Because we’ve been, by the time of the sixth seal, we will have been killed for awhile, and so our testimony about the Lamb will show the world who He is. But the testimony of our faith, of not being afraid under persecution is what is going to really convince them–not just our mouths. So. But, they still won’t want to follow Him, but that’s their decision. Many of them won’t, but that’s their decision.
Hope for Zion
I’m going to read the last verse–verse 7. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
This may not appear as an end times prophecy at first glance, but it actually is, and I’m going to read from Romans 11, verses 25 through 27, about how Israel responds when Jesus returns.
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’
Paul is quoting Isaiah 59. The Deliverer will come from Zion. This is Jesus. He will bring salvation to Jacob.
Joel also speaks of the deliverance of Jacob in Joel chapter 2.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD, and everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
I think the second half of the phrase in Psalm 14:7 is a little more accurate in New King James version, so I want to read that.
When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
So, He’s talking about captivity, and this is actually prophesied in–future captivity, and this is actually prophesied in Joel chapter 3. You can read it by yourself. I think it’s verses 2 through 6 talk about future captivity for Israel, which sounds really devastating. And it’s very sad, but thankfully, God will preserve a remnant through that, keep them alive and help them to come to Christ through the painful experience that they go through.
I also want to read just a small portion of Isaiah 26 and 27. Isaiah 27 describes exactly what happens when Jesus returns. And then in Isaiah 26, verse 15, it talks about the glory, the praise that Israel will praise Him with because of the things that He’s done. I’m going to read [Isaiah] 27:12-13, and then 26:15.
27:12-13: In that day, the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one. And in that day, a great trumpet will sound. Those who are perishing in Assyria and those who are exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
And 26:15: You have enlarged the nation, O LORD; You have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for Yourself; You have extended all the borders of the land.
And if you didn’t catch it, if you go back to Genesis 15, those borders, of the wadi of Egypt and the river Euphrates, those are exactly what God promised in the covenant to Abraham, of the dimensions of the land of Israel. They’ve never truly held them, but they will on the day that He comes back. And they will glorify Him, and know that He is God, that He is the LORD, and they will worship Him henceforth from that time. Praise the LORD!
I hope thinking about this day makes you excited as I am, but as we see the world getting darker and darker, I pray that the LORD would take away our fears of men and equip us to be His holy faithful witnesses, filled with the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge His presence in everything. Praise the LORD.
Thank you for watching my video on Psalm 14. If you liked it, please click the like button. Also, I welcome your comments and shares. God bless you! Have a great day.
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