Psalm 102:26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Okay Friends, it seems like I’ll keep my promise and dig right into the Bit today, as the Spirit doesn’t appear to be leading me down any other path. And, fortunately, or unfortunately, you might not hear much of my opinion today, (smile) cause this Bit concerns some real powerful scriptures of powerful men of faith. Let’s begin by saying that the author of this Psalm is anonymous. It’s titled, ‘A cry in distress: A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.’ The psalmist cries out: ‘Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.’ (Ps.102:1-2) That’s nothing strange or new, since it’s the way we all want the Lord to handle our problems. Then the author goes on to list his woes. (vs.3-11) But after that, his spirit is reinvigorated and he begins to glorify his God instead. ‘But thou O Lord, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.’ (vs.12) The verse of immediate concern though is; ‘Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.’ (vs.25) That my Friends is the subject of the Bit; the changing nature, the destruction of the heavens and the earth by the Lord God in His chosen time. ‘They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax (grow) old like a garment; as a vesture (cloak, garment) shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.’ It’s a significant piece of scripture people because it not only magnifies the Lord’s longevity, but also His awesome power. He made the earth and the heaven, and like a garment, they will grow old, but just as simply and easily as we change our clothes, the Lord will change the heavens and the earth. The psalmist statement is sure, with no doubt implied. Even more importantly, it ties in to some significant prophecy re the eventual end of the world as we know it, to which several men of great faith have also testified. Let’s start with that man of outstanding vision, Isaiah. In talking about the Lord’s wrath on the nations, he declares: ‘And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all the host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold it shall come down upon Idumea (Edom), an upon the people of my curse, to judgement.’ (Isa.34:4-5) Later on, in saying that the faithful are called to courage, Isaiah is even more graphic. ‘Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.’ (Isa.51:6) But note Friends, though the heavens and earth are destroyed in whatever manner, the righteousness of the Lord shall endure for ever, and so shall all those who embrace Him in faith and trust, surrendering themselves to His good and faithful will. And if you don’t believe Isaiah, then listen to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only…Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come…Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.’ (Mat.24:35-36,42,44) Oh my people, how much plainer, more explicit can our Saviour be eh? Not much at all. I therefore implore us to get ready, set our houses in order RIGHT NOW, for anything is possible at anytime, and we definitely don’t want to be caught napping if the big moment suddenly comes in our time. Meanwhile, the apostle John, in his visions in exile on the island of Patmos claims: ‘And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.’ (Rev.20:11) Friends, another man of great faith testifying to the ultimate destruction of the heavens and the earth as we know them. I like John’s way of putting it though; ‘from whose face the heaven and earth fled away, and there was no place found for them.’ He doesn’t paint all the fearful drama of fire and brimstone. Then there’s Peter, who corroborates it all. He’s talking first about the great flood. ‘Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the day of judgement and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men.’ (2 Pet.3:6-7) He follows that up with: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.’ (2 Pet.3:10-12) That says it all my people. At the last day, which can be anytime, our world will disappear, but the righteous will be saved. So we should be always prepared; trusting, believing, living in righteousness and LOVE. Once you’ve heard the Word my Friends, there’s no excuse for missing that last train to glory, so please get a move on. Don’t you hear the whistle blowing and the wheels a clanking down the track? Much LOVE!…NOW…is the right time…to start planning for eternity…
Okay Friends, it seems like I’ll keep my promise and dig right into the Bit today, as the Spirit doesn’t appear to be leading me down any other path. And, fortunately, or unfortunately, you might not hear much of my opinion today, (smile) cause this Bit concerns some real powerful scriptures of powerful men of faith. Let’s begin by saying that the author of this Psalm is anonymous. It’s titled, ‘A cry in distress: A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.’ The psalmist cries out: ‘Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.’ (Ps.102:1-2) That’s nothing strange or new, since it’s the way we all want the Lord to handle our problems. Then the author goes on to list his woes. (vs.3-11) But after that, his spirit is reinvigorated and he begins to glorify his God instead. ‘But thou O Lord, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.’ (vs.12) The verse of immediate concern though is; ‘Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.’ (vs.25) That my Friends is the subject of the Bit; the changing nature, the destruction of the heavens and the earth by the Lord God in His chosen time. ‘They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax (grow) old like a garment; as a vesture (cloak, garment) shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.’ It’s a significant piece of scripture people because it not only magnifies the Lord’s longevity, but also His awesome power. He made the earth and the heaven, and like a garment, they will grow old, but just as simply and easily as we change our clothes, the Lord will change the heavens and the earth. The psalmist statement is sure, with no doubt implied. Even more importantly, it ties in to some significant prophecy re the eventual end of the world as we know it, to which several men of great faith have also testified. Let’s start with that man of outstanding vision, Isaiah. In talking about the Lord’s wrath on the nations, he declares: ‘And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all the host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold it shall come down upon Idumea (Edom), an upon the people of my curse, to judgement.’ (Isa.34:4-5) Later on, in saying that the faithful are called to courage, Isaiah is even more graphic. ‘Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.’ (Isa.51:6) But note Friends, though the heavens and earth are destroyed in whatever manner, the righteousness of the Lord shall endure for ever, and so shall all those who embrace Him in faith and trust, surrendering themselves to His good and faithful will. And if you don’t believe Isaiah, then listen to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only…Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come…Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.’ (Mat.24:35-36,42,44) Oh my people, how much plainer, more explicit can our Saviour be eh? Not much at all. I therefore implore us to get ready, set our houses in order RIGHT NOW, for anything is possible at anytime, and we definitely don’t want to be caught napping if the big moment suddenly comes in our time. Meanwhile, the apostle John, in his visions in exile on the island of Patmos claims: ‘And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.’ (Rev.20:11) Friends, another man of great faith testifying to the ultimate destruction of the heavens and the earth as we know them. I like John’s way of putting it though; ‘from whose face the heaven and earth fled away, and there was no place found for them.’ He doesn’t paint all the fearful drama of fire and brimstone. Then there’s Peter, who corroborates it all. He’s talking first about the great flood. ‘Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the day of judgement and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men.’ (2 Pet.3:6-7) He follows that up with: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.’ (2 Pet.3:10-12) That says it all my people. At the last day, which can be anytime, our world will disappear, but the righteous will be saved. So we should be always prepared; trusting, believing, living in righteousness and LOVE. Once you’ve heard the Word my Friends, there’s no excuse for missing that last train to glory, so please get a move on. Don’t you hear the whistle blowing and the wheels a clanking down the track? Much LOVE!…NOW…is the right time…to start planning for eternity…
SCRIP-BITS 