Forgive the long title this morning. Actually it should be little bit longer! Paul might have been drawing from several Old Testament Texts in building his great martial (Christian soldier) Word Picture!

To be “girded” in Bible parlance means “to be wrapped around” with something, clothing. Like a belt, for example.

Paul thus asks us to be “encircled” with Truth as we fight the devil and his forces of evil. But in Psalm 93:1 we find God Himself “girded!”

“The LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself.” Psalm 93:1 (Paul began his Ephesians 6 Paragraph discussing “power,” the very Power of God! “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Three different Greek word stems for “power!” They are “dunamis, kratos” and then “ischus!”)

So what Paul simply teaches us, the Psalmist here turns into Poetry! God wearing His Power!

Here’s another “Idea” …

Paul (still in Ephesians 6) talks about the warrior’s boots, his combat boots! “Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Listen to Isaiah now … “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.” These two Preachers sound a lot alike, right?

Then “This” too …

Our dear Lord, a “Man of War” according to Exodus 15:3 … “Put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.” Quoting now Isaiah 59:17.

Wow!

Sounds much like Paul’s familiar “breastplate” and “helmet” and other battle gear! Do remember, Paul was an Old Testament scholar.

All I am saying this morning is that (even though Ephesians is a “Prison Epistle” and the Apostle was chained to a Roman soldier who was doubling as a guard) Paul well may have drawn his Inspiration for the “Whole Armour of God” scenario from (not his heathen surroundings) his Old Testament Scrolls!

I am thrilled!

God is our Model, the Prototypical Soldier, the mighty Warrior!

Incidentally, the New Testament is INDEED largely build upon (and then an exposition of) the Jewish Bible, the Old Testament! (The Law, the Psalms and the Prophets!)

The Bible is NOT two Books, but One!

And it can be encapsulated with four Words … “Thus saith the Lord!”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Though Psalm 92 does not specifically say so, David’s personality permeates its 15 verses! At least that’s my opinion.

David, with his “hunger” for the things of God! David, of whom the Lord Himself calls “a man after Mine Own Heart!” (Acts 13:22)

But David or not, Psalm 92:10 makes a thrilling Statement. Claiming (or praying) something for which all us Christian should aspire.

“I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

Wow!

Normally in Scripture “oil” (when used as a symbol or type) is a picture of God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Who (like the olive “oil” of long ago) enlightens a room when nightfall comes!

And warms a home when winter comes!

And prepares our food when hunger comes!

And makes our faces to shine during our hard times. (Psalm 104:15)

And reduces friction (brings peace) when rivalry begins!

The Holy Spirit Who can do all these thins above … can also come upon (“anoint”) us repeatedly!

For example, in Acts 2:4 (Day of Pentecost) the Believers in that upper room were all “filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:4) Then again only a few days later Peter was again “filled with the Holy Ghost!” (Acts 4:8) Repeated fillings!

And this constant filling of the Spirit, His Presence and Power and Fruit … is what the Psalmist has in mind in our Text today, in Psalm 92:10.

“FRESH OIL!”

O to have such a grand condition as a life goal, a moment-by-moment reality! To enjoy that “fresh Oil!”

That’s what I want (and need) in my life!

FRESH OIL!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The writer of Psalm 91 is testifying about his God. And he is doing a great job too!

Of the dozens of glorious Facts about God, the Psalmist began with these simple words: “I will say of the LORD …”

“I WILL SAY OF THE LORD … He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2

Today I would like to take those few words and ask you, what would … “You say of the Lord?”

Every Christin should be, must be … able to complete that Sentence in a competent manner.

And the way we might finish that Line might vary on the day of the week or the month of the year, depending on life’s circumstances at that given time.

But whatever the surroundings, we must be able to say some good things, wonderful things, about Him.

So … really … what would you say of the Lord right now?

Is He your Refuge?

Is He your Salvation?

Is He your Everyting?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Yes, Psalm 90:11 literally asks the Lord … “Who knoweth the power of Thine Anger?”

That’s a very interesting approach to any form of anger. To talk about its power.

I’ve heard of the intensity of anger. Or the depth of anger. Even the heat of anger. Or the duration of it. But the stark “power” of anger!

Maybe to get a better grip on this unusual Bible Question, we might should study the word “anger” for a bit. It is simply spelled “aph” in Hebrew. It is consistently translated “anger” of “wrath” (synonyms) over 200 times in the King James Version of Scripture. But, surprisingly, it is also translated “nostrils” or “nose” over two dozen times! It is furthermore rendered as “face” 22 times!

How can a word mean BOTH “anger” and “nostril?” Etymologically it depicts a kind of anger that is so patent, so demonstrable that one’s face gets red, one’s nostrils enlarge as he or she breathes heavily. He even changes colors in the face! That enraged!

Now, using these definitions to anthropomorphically describe our great God, He is so upset, bent on judgment, that His Face is affected. Look at Him (so to speak) and you will immediately notice He is incensed! (Not over anything trivial, but over blatant sin in the lives of His creation.)

Now let’s go back to the noun “POWER” in reference to God’s Anger. Spelled “oz” (pronounced “oze”), it means “strength, might, boldness” and even “loudness” 1 time.

Here’s the POWER of God’s Word … “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:3

Here’s the POWER of God’s Love … “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3 (And consider Paul’s Statement that nothing can separate us from the Love of God! It is that loyal, committed to its subject!)

Now finally, the POWER of God’s Anger … “And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their FLESH shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their EYES shall consume away in their holes, and their TONGUE shall consume away in their mouth.” Zechariah 14:12, just one of many Bible examples.

Wow!

Or Revelation 20:10 … “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the LAKE of FIRE and BRIMSTONE (molten sulphur), where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.” The Lake of Fire!

Wow again!

What’s the “point” of this Lesson, you may be asking by now?

I am concerned that America (the Country of my birth) might some day (sooner rather than later) see, experience this ineffable POWER of God’s ANGER!

Something I personally have never seen up close. I have never known. Nor has my generation.

This I do know … “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17, and that alone is a powerful Statement regarding the sheer Power of God’s Wrath!

Anybody listening?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Psalm 89:5 reads like this: “The heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.”

Two great Attributes of our Lord are mentioned here. They are His “wonders” and His “faithfulness.”

The first (“wonders,” spelled “pele” in Hebrew) has the idea of “marvelous” things. Really “miraculous doings!” The noun is derived from a root word that means “hard things!”

The second is God’s “faithfulness” (in Hebrew “emunah”) indicating God’s “Truthfulness” and God’s “Stability!” Never changing!

What a great God we serve!

But notice this too in today’s Verse. One of these Traits of God is highlighted in the “heavens.” The other among His “saints!”

His miracles aloft!

His faithfulness aground!

I would not be surprised that the stars above are (right now) in some way praising God for His POWER! Job 38:7 tells us that when God was creating the universe … “The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy?”

Wow!

And it is a certainty that here on earth, when God’s children meet together, we sing about His FAITHFULNESS! A God Who never fails! A God Who keeps His Promises!

This Verse does not mean that God is not faithful in the heavens or not powerful on earth! It merely accents which Qualities of our Lord are most pronounced there and here.

I love the Book of Psalms!

So (based on Psalm 89:5) today, look up and thank God for His POWER!

Then look around and thank Him for His FAITHFULNESS!

Then say HALLELUJAH!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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