Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 79
PART 3 of the MESSIANIC PROPHECIES – PART 3
Psalms 40 and 41
Okay, good to have you all back again. For those of you out in television, you don’t know what you’re missing. Come in some afternoon, and every thirty minutes you can go get another cup of coffee and another something to eat. We just have a good time all afternoon. Anyway, we appreciate everybody coming in. For those of you out in television, we just thank you again for your letters. My, how we feast on your letters and to know that the Lord is accomplishing more than we had any idea.
Okay, now let’s go back to where we left off in the last lesson. We’re still in the Messianic Psalms. We are presently working on Book 79. If you want to know how many programs are available for the next few years, multiply 79 times 12. And that’s pretty close to a thousand programs. So, if something happens to me, the program will keep right on going. We’ve got girls in the office that are handling all that. So if you ever have the question: what if something happens to me or both of us together? Why, everything will keep right on going as long as the Lord wishes it to be done.
Okay, back to Psalms chapter 40. We want to finish that before we go into the next one, which will be chapter 41. But come back to Psalms 40. We made reference to the Lord responding in His earthly ministry to the very things He spoke of here in verses 9 and 10. Now, let’s come down to verse 12, and all of a sudden there’s a different kind of language.
Psalms 40:12-13
“For innumerable evils (Now we’re talking about the other side of the coin.) have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head; therefore my heart faileth me. 13. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.” Now remember, this is still from the lips and the mind of the Lord Jesus as He is suffering there at the cross.
Now jump all the way up—and I think the best verse I can find to explain this, in the whole New Testament in this case, will be in Paul’s II Corinthians chapter 5. And get the picture here in Psalms. “Innumerable (uncountable) evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I’m not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of mine head; therefore my heart faileth.”
Well, what’s He talking about? Well, it’s not His own sin; it’s the sin of the world. Now II Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 and, again, it’s a verse, I think, that encompasses everything that we talk about—how that Christ suffered and died for our sins by taking them upon Himself.
Now a word that some Bible scholars will use is substitutionary. Christ became our substitute by taking our sin upon Himself. Even though it was 2,000 years ago, yet my sin was laid upon Him back there, as well as yours and anybody that’s still out in the future. And that’s beyond human comprehension. But, here we have it.
II Corinthians 5:21
“For he hath made him (Who has? God made Christ Jesus–) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; (He was sinless Himself, but God laid upon Him all of our sin, and He became our substitute. He took our place. And what’s the result?) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Okay, now Paul puts it so beautifully. Back up a few pages, if you will, to Romans chapter 3. I’m going to start at verse 20. We’ve done this before, but can it can never be repeated enough. That now we’re coming out from the system of Law, and we’re into Paul’s Gospel of Grace—which is unmerited favor. God became our substitute in the person of Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:20-21a
“Therefore by the deeds (or the keeping) of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: (No one. Why?) for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (The Law tells us what God’s mind is concerning our activity as humans.) 21. But now…” Now you remember we had a whole bunch of those—and I think it was a pretty good series, if I say so myself (Books 64-68).
Romans 3:21
“But now the righteousness of God (What righteousness? God’s righteousness—which is beyond human comprehension. God does not know how to sin. All right, reading on then.) without the law (See that?) is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (That’s why I’m doing these Psalms lately. It is to show that all the Old Testament writers, even though they didn’t understand what they wrote—it was back there. All right, so here it is as Paul now puts it.) witnessed by the law and the prophets;”
Romans 3:22a
“Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith…”
Now, I had an interesting little article come in the mail yesterday. I read it, and if it didn’t just confirm what I’ve always done here with that word faith in verse 22. The guy put it in the form of grammar that got me off the hook. Because so many times I have said when I teach this, I think the better way to understand this is to use the word faithfulness. And look at it in that light.
Romans 3:22a
“Even the righteousness of God which is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that (Keep the Law? No.) believe:…”
All right, now what the gentleman did with that word faith is he put it in an objective and a subjective mood. And then, of course, it made sense. But he confirmed what I’ve always said. Why is the finished work of the cross capable to fulfill our faith? Because Christ is faithful. He will never renege on His promises. We can rest assured that nothing will change. He is faithful, and we place our faith in the One who is faithful.
And I’ve used it over and over. When you came in this noon, you didn’t check the chair to see if it was capable of holding you, did you? Why? You knew you could trust it to hold you. The chair then becomes faithful, and that’s what Christ was when He finished the work of the cross and proclaimed it as God’s remedy for our sin. We can trust it because He is faithful. All right, back to the verse.
Romans 3:22
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith (Yes, the trust and believing in Jesus Christ and His finished work, but it’s also that Christ is faithful.) unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” Now—between Jew and Gentile, we all, in this Age of Grace, must come in because of our faith in the Faithful One.
All right, now then, I hope you didn’t lose my thought of II Corinthians. Christ took on all the sin of the whole human race from Adam to the end of time, however long it’s going to go. As long as man needs redemption, the work of the cross was sufficient for them. He took on all the sins.
Well, we can’t comprehend that. I can’t even comprehend all the sin of Tulsa, Oklahoma, being placed on One man. But the sin of the whole world? And not just for the present 10 years or a 100 years, but for all of human history? Now think about that. All of that was in the mind of God and poured out on that beloved Son of God on the cross of Calvary. And that’s exactly what the Psalmist is referring to. Now come back to Psalms 40, if you aren’t there. Verse 13:
Psalms 40:13-14a
“Be pleased, O LORD, (In other words, accept my work of redemption.) to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. 14. Let them…” Now we’re going back to the human race. And at that time it was primarily Israel that He was dealing with—the crowd of scornful, the crowd that was jeering at Him. What were they? Jews. Not Gentiles. It was His Own covenant people that were ridiculing Him.
Psalms 40:14a
“Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward…” Now, I don’t know if I’m being correct in that, but I had to think. Immediately, when they went to arrest Him in the Garden, what happened? Poof! Maybe that’s where these guys get it. I don’t know. But anyway, we know that those Roman soldiers were just smitten backward by the force of the Holy Spirit.
Now, I’m not sure that that’s what the Psalmist is referring to. But nevertheless, it’s certainly an indication that the power of God will at one point do evil to those who were scorning Him there at the cross.
Psalms 40:14b-15
“…let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.” In other words, a laugh of ridicule. And the prayer is, let them receive their reward. Did they? Israel has suffered for 1,900 and some years because of how Israel treated their Messiah.
Let’s just see how Peter puts it. Keep your hand in Psalms. We’ll be back, hopefully. Acts chapter 2 and, remember, this is Peter preaching shortly after the death, burial, and resurrection. However, Peter has no indication of the Age of Grace, or what we call Paul’s Gospel, that would come to those who believe that Christ died for them and was buried and rose from the dead. Remember, all Peter and Israel were expected to believe for salvation was the Gospel of the Kingdom—which was recognize who Jesus was. And who was He? The Promised Messiah! He was that Promised Redeemer who was to make atonement for their sin—which the animal blood could never do.
All right, so here we are on that Day of Pentecost, fifty days later. That’s only seven weeks. That’s not all that long. And Peter is pleading with the Nation of Israel. While you’re here, I’m going to again rehearse what we used in the last taping—how that all these things that I’m saying were David actually giving out the words of the Lord Jesus. Peter makes it so plain.
Now maybe you’ll remember it, and then we’ll go back to what I really wanted to do. But since we’re here, let’s look at it a minute. Peter has been rehearsing to Israel, again, who this Jesus that they’ve crucified really was. All right, verse 25 of Acts 2, Peter is quoting from the Psalms just like I’ve been doing now the last several programs.
Acts 2:25-26
“For David speaketh concerning him, (Jesus of Nazareth. And what did David say?) I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26.Therefore (David wrote) did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:” Now, Peter is quoting the Psalmist, who is quoting Christ.
Acts 2:27-28
“Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, (That’s how the words of Christ are put back there in Psalms.) neither wilt thou permit thine Holy One to see corruption. 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.” That was all from the Psalms, attributed to the Lord Jesus, and quoted by Peter. Now Peter explains how it all works. Verse 29:
Acts 2:29-30
“Men and brethren, (fellow Jews) let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, (David’s loins) according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his (That is on David’s.) throne;” All right, now verse 31, this is what ties it all together. So don’t take Les Feldick’s word for it. Take the Book. And this is what it says.
Acts 2:31
“He (David) seeing this before (way back a thousand years before it happened) spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul (His Spirit) was not left in hell, (the place of the dead) neither did his flesh see corruption.” And yet David wrote it all as if it was first person. All right, now I’m in verse 32, Peter goes on.
Acts 2:32-33
“This Jesus (Who was speaking to us through the prophet David in the Psalms.) hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Now verse 34, again comparing what David wrote in the Psalms—that it was actually the words of Christ merely prompted through David.
Acts 2:34-35
“For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Well, that wasn’t David speaking. That was God the Father speaking to God the Son.) 35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool.”
Acts 2:36
“Therefore let the whole house of Israel (This isn’t for you and me on Gentile ground. This is Jewish ground, and, oh, people can’t see it. They are blinded. This is Jewish ground.) know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, (Jesus of Nazareth, who walked with you for three years.) whom ye have crucified, (What?) both Lord and Christ.” He hasn’t diminished one whit because of His crucifixion. He is alive, and He is still part of that Eternal Godhead.
All right, as a result of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, these Jews who were surrounding the cross—probably some of them are here in Peter’s audience—are convicted. What did they cry out?
Acts 2:37b-38a
“…Men and brethren, what shall we (the Nation of Israel) do? (How are we to compensate for rejecting our Messiah. And what was Peter’s answer?) 38. …Repent, (Of what? Of rejecting their Messiah) and be baptized…” What does that mean? John’s baptism of repentance. That was the same baptism. So a baptism of repentance was necessary for Israel to make compensation for having rejected their Redeemer and Messiah. It all ties together.
All right, we’ve got a few minutes left. Come back with me to Psalms once again. Back to Psalms 40. My goodness, I thought I was going to get 40, 41, and 45 done today, but it doesn’t look like it. Psalms 40 verse 14—again, speaking of those Jews who were hissing at Him, laughing Him to scorn, and ridiculing Him. You know the things that they said. Well, if He’s the Son of God, let Him just call down fifteen legions of angels (or whatever it was) and let them take Him off the cross. See how they ridicule. All right, that’s all implied in here
Psalms 40:14-16
“Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, (an evil laughter) Aha, aha. 16. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.”
Now we come to those who were being convicted and repented and followed with baptism as Acts chapter 2 instructed.
Psalms 40:16b-17
“…The LORD be magnified. (through it all) 17. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.” All right, now that’s the end of the cry, then, of Christ in His work of redemption here in Psalms chapter 40.
All right, now we’re going to go right on into the next Messianic Psalm; where, again, we’re going to have Christ epitomized in the Psalms as the Son of God—the Redeemer and the Messiah of Israel.
Psalms 41:1a
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor:…” Now, you have to do a little word search. If you look up this word “poor” in the Hebrew, it usually meant, or was translated, “to be weak and sick.”
Now, that reminds me of something that I hadn’t thought of before. One of His parables, I’m thinking it might be when He changed the water into wine (John 2). But one of the parables actually indicated that very thing—that Israel was spiritually weak and sick. Spiritually!
Oh, they may have had all the energy in the world for the material, but spiritually they were weak and sick. And one of the miracles that Christ performed—I’ll have to go back and check it out. But the whole picture was that He was the remedy for their spiritual sickness. That’s easy enough to understand, isn’t it? He was the remedy. Had they just embraced Him and taken Him as the Messiah, they could have been blessed beyond imagination. But they would not. And you see this all through Israel’s history—where they reject God’s overtures, and they do it in unbelief.
Psalms 41:1
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: (who can understand sickness and weakness, because–) the LORD (the God of Israel) will deliver him in time of trouble.” Oh my, now what are we speaking about? What’s the time of trouble that all of Scripture is always bringing to the top like cream on a bottle of milk? The Tribulation.
The whole world is getting ready for it today. It’s coming. I’m not a date setter. But, my goodness, I just shared with the studio audience a little bit ago. Somebody came in a little while ago and had just heard on the news that because of all the financial garbage that’s going on, they’re starting to promote a world currency.
Well, that doesn’t surprise me. That’s just the next step to get the world ready. It’s coming in so fast. But all right, now here we’ve got Tribulation out in front of the Nation of Israel. Verse 2:
Psalms 41:2
“The LORD (Israel’s Jehovah) will preserve him, and keep him alive; (Now here I think the pronoun is referring to the Nation, not the Messiah, the Nation.) and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.”
Well, when will that happen? When Christ returns and sets up the Kingdom—then Israel will be able to come in and have rest from all her enemies. She’ll be blessed like no nation has ever been blessed.
In fact, let’s just go back. I’ll just give you a little taste of it—just a little taste of the blessings that are awaiting the Nation of Israel. That’d be back in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 28 and we can start at verse 1. Deuteronomy 28, see, this has never happened yet, but it’s going to. You know, Israel has been through chastisement and hatred and persecution for thousands of years. And I always remind my listeners; remember, it’s because Satan knows that if he can destroy Israel, then he defeats all of God’s purposes. So it isn’t that they’re so deserving, necessarily, as it is that Satan is just bound and determined to try and annihilate them. All right, but here is where we get a brief picture of the blessings that are awaiting them once the King and the Kingdom arrive.
Deuteronomy 28:1
“And it shall come to pass, (Hasn’t yet. We’re getting close. Remember, this is Moses writing to the Nation of Israel.) if thou (the Nation) will hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments (In other words, to become a nation of believers.) which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:”Israel is going to be the primary nation of the world in the Kingdom Age.
Deuteronomy 28:2
“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” It’s conditional. But we know that once they get into the Kingdom, it’s going to be a guarantee.
Deuteronomy 28:3-4a
“Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle…” In other words, it’s going to be a prosperous production of everything—children, livestock, fruit, and food. It’s going to be beyond human comprehension. All right, let’s come on down to verse 9.
Deuteronomy 28:9-11
“The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of the body, (just a repetition of that up above) and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers to give thee.”
And remember, that’s not just the little neck of land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. It’ll be the whole Middle East all the way out to the Euphrates River. And then verse 12:
Deuteronomy 28:12a
“The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure,…” Verse 13:
Deuteronomy 28:13
“And the LORD shall make thee the head, (That is of the Nations.) and not the tail; (As they’ve always been.) and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:”
So, all of these glorious blessings are awaiting the Nation of Israel—those that will become the believing remnant that goes into the Kingdom.