In the Bible, the Old Testament particularly, the noun “horn” can mean three things. Literally, the horn of an animal, an ox for example. Secondly, a musical instrument, often made out of the horn of such a dead animal! Then thirdly, a symbol for “POWER.”

The horns of a mighty goat or ram (as in Daniel 8:5-6) expedite their strength and ability, exponentially!

Our Verse this morning (I write a Lesson here every other day now and record a Bible Study Video on the alternating days) features the noun “horn” as used in the third way I enumerated above.

“All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off,” God has just spoken in Psalm 75:10.

Yes, we all realize (us old fashioned Christians anyway, Bible lovers) that wickedness now rules the earth! Sadly, including the United States, especially according to God’s Criteria in Romans 1:18-32.

I mean Satan has governmental power now! The executive, legislative and judicial branches of our republic are seeped in iniquity, nearing (if not already there) the “reprobate” stage. (Thank God for the few exceptions, a handful of men and women still standing for godliness!)

But, the Bible promises, one day God will “cut off” (whatever that means) the POWER of those wicked entities! God will judge such rebellion against His Name, His Word.

Did anyone ever wonder why the United States is not mentioned in Bible Prophecy? Could it be that there will be no United States in the future? That she will be overrun, conquered by some God-appointed enemy? I wonder, I really do.

But, having said all that, the rest of Psalm 75:10 comes to mind! “All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; BUT THE HORNS OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE EXALTED.”

Amen!

Right will prevail!

Truth will some day (again) reign on this earth!

When?

Let’s let this Prayer give us the answer. Our Lord speaks first the John petitions Him. “Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Oh Yes!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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We are living in wicked days!

And while I realize some of these Lessons are read around the world, America (my home country) is rushing down the path to reprobation! (If she has not already arrived there.) I no longer call this Nation the “United States,” because she is not that any more.

God has long ago been shelved, as far as the national consciousness is concerned. Ignored! Belittled! Blasphemed more and more!

The only real “Prophets” I hear are sounding their voices from (not the pulpits of the great Churches of the Land, as it should be, and as it used to be) … but from a very few media outlets, and authors of little-recognized Books, and online “Blogs” echoing from the wilderness.

Things are now so bad that (at least in my opinion) only God Himself can rectify the situation.

Enter Psalm 74 into our discussion …

“Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.” (Psalm 74:22)

What a Prayer!

Turning the whole rebellious mess (the entire world) over to the Lord God of the universe. Whether He is acknowledged to be so or not!

Yes, this is clearly a prayer … “Arise O God!” Rousing God to action, as per His many Bible Commands!

Commands like this one: “Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Concerning the work of my hands command ye me.” (Isaiah 45:11)

Our Text for today again … “Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.”

The verb “to plead” is spelled “riyb” in Hebrew. A legal word implying a lawsuit! God challenging mankind in court! God the Plaintiff!

Actually the noun “cause” is again “riyb,” indicating contention, a struggle, a controversy! With a “courtroom” environment implied!

The verb “reproached,” certainly still accurate these 3,000 years later … means “scorned!” Or “shamed” or even “rebuked!”

In essence here Asaph (the Psalmist) is “telling” the Lord (out of respect for His Glorious Name) how humanity has been abusing Him! Cursing Him! Turning his righteous burden over to God, that is what Asaph is doing!

Asking God (since no human seems to be doing so) to defend Himself!

To call mankind into judgment!

To honor His Own Integrity and His Person!

To validate (if not vindicate) the Truth of the Scriptures, God’s Holy Word!

Wow!

What a prayer.

What a wise prayer!

“Tell it to Jesus,” as the old song says!

I think it is time to pray this one again (and again).

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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It’s a simple Statement, written by the Psalmist Asaph long ago: “But it is good for me TO DRAW NEAR to God.” (Psalm 73:28)

So true, yet so hard-to-communicate to Christians today.

Many Believers in Jesus are simply satisfied that they are already near (enough) to God. After all, they have been saved? Right?

Yet the Bible often has Sentences like this: “Draw NIGH to God, and he will draw NIGH to you.” (James 4:8)

Maybe getting closer to God would help our prayer lives. “And Abraham DREW NEAR, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23)

Read this verse too … “The LORD is NIGH unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)

Another Instance … “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; TURN ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will TURN unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3)

Malachi 3:7 even … “RETURN unto me, and I WILL RETURN unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Getting nearer to God, via His Grace, the Shed Blood of Jesus! “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we DRAW NIGH unto God.” (Hebrews 7:19)

Yes Calvary is our “means” of drawing nearer!

Here’s an Invitation … “Let us DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:22)

The chief sin of Jerusalem, of Israel … “She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she DREW NOT NEAR to her God.” (Zephaniah 3:2)

Another example of getting near to God and him reciprocating! “When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he DREW NEAR to behold it, the voice of the Lord CAME UNTO him.” (Acts 7:31)

Dear friend this morning, are you seeking to live a life near (then yet nearer) to the Lord?

We all should be!

But in closing, WHAT can keep me from drawing near to the Lord?

Isaiah 59:2 answers this vital question. “Your iniquities have SEPARATED between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you.

Oh, to live nearer Him today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Psalm 72 ends with these words: “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.”

These divinely inspired Lines actually gave me the “seed thought” for today’s Lesson.

“Let THE WHOLE EARTH be filled with His Glory!” Psalm 72:19, King James Version.

The “whole earth,” not just a continent or two!

And that verb “filled” translates “male” in Hebrew, meaning “to the greatest extent, wholly saturated, to the point of overflowing!”

And God’s Glory, is It definable??

“Kabod” has here the sense of all God’s Attributes, combined! In other words, the very Presence of God Himself!

Yes, a very big Prayer!

The earth that is now worshipping the devil! Who has no intentions of giving up his domain!

Already I see a war of epic proportion in the future! Armageddon, Gog and Magog, Revelation chapters 19 and 20!

And our Lord will prevail, gloriously!

Now if we read Isaiah 6:3 properly, our prayer just became a reality! The angels declare: “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the WHOLE EARTH is full of his glory.”

The Psalmist agrees! “The HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the FIRMAMENT sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1

The Old Testament Prophets see a yet brighter Day ahead! “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the GLORY of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

Big thoughts!

But an even greater (bigger) God!

So, back to my initial thought, let us pray big prayers! They will be answered when voiced in the Will of God!

Here is God inviting us to pray like that: “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: OPEN THY MOUTH WIDE, and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In our King James Bible the Words do not form a question, but a bold Statement of Truth! At least that’s the case based on the punctuation used.

“O God, who is like unto thee!” Psalm 71:19

Let it be noted that every other Bible “Version” that I could find on-line this morning places a question mark (?) at the end of our Text! The only exception (again, that I could locate) was the Webster Bible of 1833. This is Noah Webster, by the way.

Of course I am taking Psalm 71:19 as it stands in my Bible. “No questions asked!”

God is that great, none like Him!

Exodus 8:10 … “That thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.” Moses speaking to pharaoh!

Deuteronomy 33:26 … “There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun (which means “upright one” and implies Israel here), who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.”

2 Samuel 7:22 … “Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” David at prayer!

1 Chronicles 17:20 … “O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” David again!

Psalm 86:8 … “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.”

Now here is God Himself testifying! Isaiah 46:9 … “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.”

Jeremiah 10:6 … “Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.” The Prophet Jeremiah preaching.

Other such Verses exist, though maybe worded slightly differently. It is beyond doubt, beyond question … GOD IS SUPREME IN EVEY WAY!

So back to today’s Text … “O God, who is like unto thee!”

Leave the exclamation point!

Wonder of wonders!

Our great God!

WORSHIP HIM TODAY.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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