Make Us One

Talking about examples, not only do we have JESUS, our great High Priest as our primary example, but we also have King David, the son of Jesse, surely a man after Gods own heart, as an example to follow.

And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their King; to whom also He gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.  Of this man’s seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: (Acts 13:22-23)

Let’s take a look into the life of David and try to understand what indeed made him a man after Gods own heart. Of course, prior to David, Israel had rejected the Lord as their king; they wanted a man to rule over them like the other nations.  In answer to their cry God gave them Saul.

Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired!  And, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.  If ye will fear the LORD, and serve Him, and obey His Voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the Voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the Hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.  (1 Samuel 12:13-15)

There it is again.  Our relationship with God hinges on obeying the Voice of the LORD and keeping His commandments.

Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in Mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.. And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.  And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

Do yall see that?  All Israel heard that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines. Did we not just read that it was Jonathan that smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba? Now somebody has gone to lying or bearing false witness.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. (1 Samuel 13:5-7)

And this is exactly what happens when we try to do things our way, instead of God’s way.

And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. (1 Samuel 13:8-10)

Now what was Saul doing making sacrifices? He was not a priest.

And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which He commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. (1 Samuel 13:11-14)

Let’s look at what Samuel said again . . . Because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. Sisters and brothers, the Lord is looking for those that hear His Voice, and do what He has commanded us to do. Surely we know that we will not dot every *i*, nor will we cross every *t*, but God is looking at our heart, and inspecting it to see if our hearts are pure. Even when we mess up, and we will mess up, as long as we are in this flesh body, but will we be ready to admit our *sin* and fall on our faces to God, and get back on course. That’s what David did, the man after Gods own heart, even when he messed up and broke the commandments of God, he repented to God, and came before Him with a broken and a contrite spirit. Let’s look at one of his psalms that he wrote after Nathan the Prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:1-17)  

That’s good news my friends. God will not despise a broken and contrite heart. Not only did David stand ready to repent and admit to his sin, but David was also a mighty warrior, a shepherd, a musician, and he was one who loved the Word of God. He was one who kept the commandments of God, ever before him. Let’s examine this in Psalm 119. Throughout every verse, and there are 176 verses, there are 10 expressions which corresponds to the 10 commandments, except for one verse . . . and that verse is 122. Another interesting thing about this acrostic psalm is that there are 22 sections comprised of 8 verses. Each of the 22 sections commences with the 22 successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet: i.e. the first eight verses begin with Aleph (=A), the second eight verses begin with Beth (=B) and so on, making 176 verses in all (i.e. 8 X 22), ending with Tau. We know Jesus, our soon and coming King is the First and the Last . . . He’s the Alpha and the Omega . . . He’s the Beginning and He’s the End. We shall examine this further a little later, but for right now, let’s look at how important the Ten Commandments were to David, so much so that he chose to make mention of them in every verse of Psalm 119, except for one. These are the 10 expressions that he used, and their meaning, which corresponds to the Ten Commandments.

1.               Way – To tread with the feet, walking, journeying

2.               Testimonies – To turn back again, to go over again, to reiterate, to testify

3.               Precepts – To take oversight or charge, mandates enjoined on others

4.               Commandments – Constitutional commands

5.               Saying – To bring forth to light, to say

6.               Law – To point out, to show

7.               Judgement – To judge

8.               Righteousness – Rightness

9.               Statutes – To decree, or ordain

10.          Word, Words – To set forth in speech

So now my sisters and brothers, as we look at some of these verses, you’ll be amazed at the importance, or emphasis David, the man after Gods own heart, placed on keeping Gods commandments. And as we’ve seen in a previous lesson, keeping Gods commandments is what makes us righteous before God.

My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.(Psalm 119:172)

Put your seatbelts on. We’re getting ready to walk through portions of this awesome acrostic psalm, which covers all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, from the beginning to the end. Let’s begin with Aleph. Remember David mentions the commandments in every verse.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. (Psalm 119:1-8)

**Beth**

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy Word. (Psalm 119:9-16)

**He**

Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy Word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. (Psalm 119:33-40)

**Mem*

Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy Word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy Words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:97-104)

**Num**

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy Word. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end. (Psalm 119:105-112)

**PE**

Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. (Psalm 119:129-136)

**Schin**

Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word. I rejoice at thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil. I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them. LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. (Psalm 119:161-168)

**Tau**

Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy Word. Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy Word. My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of thy Word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. (Psalm 119:169-176)

Oh like the psalmist David, we don’t want to forget the Lords commandments. Listen to what King Solomon had to say about it.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

But better yet . . . Let’s hear what JESUS had to say about the matter.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plaques that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:12-21)