Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

Berean Baptist on May 15, 2017

 

Psalm 87:3

The New Testament gospels speak frequently of the Second Coming of Christ. However, the Old Testament has far more references to the millennial kingdom which Christ will establish than it does to His First Advent. Old Testament prophecies blend into one on this subject which is the reason for much confusion when Jesus came in the first century. He said He was the Son of Man, the Messiah who would sit on the throne of David, but no physical kingdom gushed forth from His claims.

Psalm 87 is another of the prophecies of the magnificent kingdom to come. In this psalm, the prominence of Jerusalem is mentioned: “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.” Zion is Jerusalem (v.2) the city of God. Few today can scarcely believe Jerusalem will become the capital of the world. If you travel to the Middle East, you might name much more suitable locations for the seat of worldwide government. The Arabs have built the magnificent city of Dubai that glistens in the sun with more splendor than the imagination can conceive. Jerusalem pales in comparison if not for beauty then certainly for location.

Dubai is just one example but it serves as a good one because of the billions of dollars that have been spent to build it gleaned from the sales of oil. By contrast, one wonders how such riches could be so near to Israel and yet there are no oil fields in the country or other highly valuable resources in great quantities. Natural gas has been discovered, but who builds cities like Dubai on the back of natural gas?

If you want a taste of minerals in Israel (literally!) go to the Dead Sea and take a swim. You will wear Israel’s minerals in a yucky coating on your skin. The point is there is no attraction for Jerusalem. It has its tourist trade because of its history and connection with Christ, but little more. It has no strategic value for any of the world’s governments.

When Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon, there were no kings that said, “We must rebuild this city!” When a decree was made to rebuild the temple, it was soon shut down because of opposition from those who remembered Jerusalem as more a thorn in their sides than anything. They reasoned another temple in that city meant nothing but rebellion.

Why does the psalmist say, “Glorious things of thee are spoken?” The reason is for what Jerusalem will become. No one would choose this city, but God did. God chose the land and gave it no oil fields because He intends its riches will flow from heaven, not from the ground. Never has Israel been great for natural resources, vast population, or powerful armies. God needs none of these. He always told His people to come to Him for their help.

Our God intends to have a glorious city that will have a new temple gleaming with the brightness of the glory of His Son. All nations will come there and bow before Him. It is required and all will come to render obeisance. Jerusalem will be a lifetime destination made so by the God who chose her.

It is a strange thing when today you cannot even land a commercial airliner anywhere near the city. It is a travel destination that travelers have difficulty reaching, but it will change. All roads will lead there in the great Messianic Kingdom. Glorious things of her are spoken—not now but then.

 

Pastor V. Mark Smith

 

Menial Tasks for Meek Christians

Berean Baptist on April 17, 2017

Psalms 84:10

Most Christians are familiar with Psalms 84:10:  “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” We recognize the reference and have heard it many times in sermons. However, we might not be too sure of the reason this verse was written.

Many of the psalms came out of the period of captivity experienced by Judah when the people were carried away to Babylon. The Jews have always been a people identified with their land, and we see the desire for their land in Israel today. There is a fight for land and has been in modern times since the formation of Israel as a state in 1948. Today Jerusalem is zigzagged with barriers to separate Jews from others with each claiming the land belongs to them. The temple mount is a good case in point as it is claimed by Jews but occupied by Muslims.

Israel has always longed for the land God promised them, and this small patch of land has been a battleground since the time Joshua crossed over the Jordan to Jericho. Scripture often speaks of the restoration of the land to its rightful owners, which of course is Israel. The era of the millennium is the time of this regeneration (Matt. 19:28) when Israel will own all of the land, and will push its borders outward in a sort of payback for centuries of occupation.

The author of this psalm remembered Jerusalem and compared it to his present living conditions in Babylon. Babylon was a great, wealthy kingdom with many desirable things, but there is nothing like being at home. In his mind, being the lowest attendant at the house of God was better than the best place he could find in Babylon where the people did not know the one true God.

I believe there are many lessons to be learned from this psalm, but two stand out particularly in my mind. The first is that as a church we should cherish what we have. God is to be praised for giving us a place to learn His Word. We should be thankful this church has not gone the way of the world to become a place of entertainment and a social venue for games and ball teams. The Bible is still taught here with a desire that we will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We desire this because we believe our one purpose is the glory of God.

Ask some that have left for whatever reasons about their success in finding another church like ours. Most are terribly disappointed, and some have given up looking. I am sad to say some have been away so long without a good church that their Christian lives are wasted and no longer amount to much. Consider what you have before thinking you can easily replace it.

The second lesson is about service. The most insignificant job you can have in church is better than the best employment of the world. God’s service does not actually have any insignificant works or workers—all are needed to make the body function. However, if you seem lower on the scale than others, just ask yourself what you would do if you did not have the service you have now. Is it better to sit on the sidelines or is it better to have a meaningful part helping the church do its work? I suppose the best way to look at it is that every work must be done and every work needs a worker to do it. If we are too good for our work, which Christians should we choose that are beneath us to do it?

Be thankful for the place God can use you. If you esteem others better than you (Phil. 2:3), no one is beneath you. A doorkeeper in God’s house looks really good—better than a city with no house and no doors to keep.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

 

 

It’s the Economy, Stupid!

Berean Baptist on January 26, 2015

 

…Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come. (Revelation 18:10b)

During the middle to late 1980’s our country experienced a period of great economic success under President Reagan. When George H.W. Bush was elected in 1988, we began a period of slight economic decline which enveloped the country in a period of recession. During the campaign of 1992, the buzz of people and politicians was the economy, so that all attention was paid to the different plans that would bring us out of recession and help us back to the economic success that was previously enjoyed. Bill Clinton ran for president that year and campaigned with the slogan, “It’s the economy stupid!”

Our country was in the throes of many problems and still is, but the single issue that seems to attract more attention than any other is the economy. Today we consider candidates for office without regard to their decency and morality. Their personal beliefs no longer matter. Qualifications are not really too much of a concern either. The most important position to consider is “Where do they stand on the economy?” To many American Christians, it does not matter if the candidate promises to keep abortion a viable option for birth control, it does not matter if gay marriage is a part of the platform, it does not matter if constitutional rights are trampled—the most important problem we have is money for more conveniences and nicer houses and bigger bank accounts and greater luxuries.

Revelation chapter 18 shows how our country is immersed in political and ecclesiastical Babylon. It is not difficult to see how the Antichrist will come to power when America’s agenda for the most part is the same as the Antichrist’s. He will come to power at a time of political chaos and in a time of economic distress. He will make many promises about how he can improve the economy and since this is what we are most concerned about, this one issue will dominate all other concerns so that recovering prosperity will be the ticket to worldwide support. America is immersed in Babylon. Politically and religiously Babylon is much preferred to Zion.

It may seem surprising to you but God is very much in control of what is happening. True believers need not concern themselves that we are hopeless and helpless in the face of the rising tide of immorality. God has a plan to purge the world of sin and it will come at the expense of those that have sold out to moral decadence and the love of money. Revelation 18 depicts the sudden demise of Babylon. The sorrows of destruction will envelope it as people weep and wail when they see the smoke of her burning (18:18-19).

Those that put their trust in such things will lose everything. They enter into a compact with the devil to preserve their riches and prosperity. They will discover in a most fearful manner the truth of Jesus’ words, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” This is a question all of us need to answer. There is nothing more valuable than your soul and God holds the destiny of yours in His hands. What will He do with your soul? Take account of your life and see where you stand. Preserving the best of the world is nothing in comparison to the riches of the inheritance of God. You cannot have both. Either you live forever with God or you die forever in Babylon.

 

Pastor V. Mark Smith