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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
archive.is/John314-16.com/Psalm_63-1_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Psalm_63.html
archive.ph/John314-16.com/Psalm_63-1_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Psalm_63.html
web.archive.org/*/John314-16.com/Psalm_63-1_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Psalm_63.html
Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.
While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2026 would occur during October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in April. Also, if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in February, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of August 12th, 2026, at 12:25 P.M. – August 16th, 2026, at 1:49 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, and if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in March, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset. The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon. The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verse of the day for October 7th is Psalm 63:1. Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Psalm 63.
Psalm 63:1
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead, You are my 'El [AYL] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power]. I seek You early/betimes/earnestly/diligently. My soul has thirsted for You. My flesh has yearned / has longed / has fainted with longing for You in a dry and weary/languid/faint/exhausted/thirsty land where there is no water.
Note: Some psalms have superscriptions. In the context of the structure of the psalms, a superscription is an inscription at the top of a psalm. Psalm 63 has a superscription. Regarding the content of the superscription of Psalm 63, a number of translations contain notes indicating what parts of the Bible that that particular inscription might be referencing. It should be noted that unspecified in the Bible is what other part or parts of the Bible reference the occasion that is referenced in the superscription of Psalm 63. In that regard, David was in the wilderness of Judah on more than one occasion, and unspecified in the Bible is what specific occasion the superscription of Psalm 63 references.
The word Judah in this verse refers to the region where the tribe of Judah was located rather than to the Southern Kingdom that existed after Israel was split into two nations. That split of Israel into two nations occurred after Davidʼs son King Solomon died. After Solomonʼs death, ten tribes formed the Northern Kingdom, which kept the name Israel and is also known as Ephraim. Two tribes formed the Southern Kingdom, which is also known as Judah. The twelve tribes of Israel are listed as follows, in order of birth of the sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Joseph. Also, the tribe of Joseph is subdivided into the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. In that regard, Joseph has a double portion. In some parts of the Bible, the tribe of Ephraim is referred to as the tribe of Joseph. The two tribes of the Southern Kingdom are Judah and Benjamin.
Regarding the usage of the word Judah in this verse to refer to the region where the tribe of Judah was located, below is a link to a map of the locations of tribes of Israel. Absent from the map is any reference to the land of the tribe of Levi. The land of the tribe of Levi consisted of forty-eight cities and nearby land within the lands of other tribes. The topic of the cities and land of the Levites is covered in the content of Joshua 21. The reference to the total of forty-eight cities and associated land is in the content of Joshua 21:41–42.
https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/ot4.jpg
If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.
https://NETBible.org//media/images/maps/ot4.jpg
The Hebrew verb translated as “seek You early/betimes/earnestly/diligently” in this verse is אֲשַׁחֲרֶ [pronounced ah-shah-khah-REH and can be transliterated as ashachare]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) That verb is an inflected form of the root word שָׁחַר [pronounced shah-KHAHR and can be transliterated as shachar]. Regarding the verb shachar, that verb can be used to refer to literally being up early in order to do the seeking. In that regard, the verb shachar can be used with a connotation of seeking earnestly or seeking diligently. Regarding the English adverb betimes [bih-TIGHMZ], that word is a synonym of the adverb early. In the context of Psalm 63, Davidʼs seeking refers to David learning the Word of God.
The Hebrew noun translated as “weary/languid/faint/exhausted/thirsty” in this verse is עָיֵף [pronounced ah-YAYF and transliterated as `ayeph]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word עָיֵף [pronounced ah-YAYF and transliterated as `ayeph]. Regarding the usage of the Hebrew noun `ayeph in Psalm 63:1, the reference to the land being weary/languid/faint/exhausted/thirsty is a metaphorical reference.
Psalm 63:2
I have seen You in the Sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.
Note: The Sanctuary referenced in Psalm 63:2 is the Tabernacle (the First Temple was built after David died). The usage of the verb seen in Psalm 63:2 is a metaphorical reference. In that regard, the Tabernacle was a tent structure, one third of which was behind a veil near the back of the Tabernacle. The section of the Tabernacle outside the veil is known as the Holy Place. The section of the Tabernacle behind the veil is known as the Holy of Holies, the Most Holy Place, or the Holy Place inside the veil. In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant (also known as the Ark of the Testimony).
The below link shows the cross-shaped layout of the items in the Tabernacle and in the associated courtyard with the eastward direction pointing downward. The opening of the courtyard and the opening of the Tabernacle both faced eastward, which is the direction where the sun rises. With the eastward direction pointing downward, the cross-like layout can be seen from the perspective of an upright cross.
https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/02Exo-5.jpg
Only the high priest of Israel could enter the Holy of Holies, and he could only do so on one day per year: the Day of Atonement. Because the Israelites lived a nomadic lifestyle at times, the Tabernacle and the contents thereof needed to be moved. It is unspecified in the Bible how the Tabernacle was disassembled. When it was disassembled, the Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers. Also, the Ark of the Covenant was carried into battle by the Israelites. The Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers on such occasions also.
When the Tabernacle was assembled, if anyone other than the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies, that person would die. Likewise, if the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on any day other than the Day of Atonement, he would die. In addition, when the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to follow specific procedures; otherwise, he would die. Leviticus 16 covers the matter of the high priest and entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. In that regard, Mosesʼs brother Aaron was the first high priest of Israel. Also, in Leviticus 16, the Holy of Holies is referred to as the Holy Place inside the veil.
Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the budding rod used by Mosesʼs brother Aaron, and a pot of manna, the food that was available for the Israelites to collect six days of each week during the Israelitesʼ time in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
Above the Ark of the Covenant, God the Son manifested His glory. The form of this glory in the Holy of Holies is unspecified in the Bible. Outside the Tabernacle, God the Son appeared to the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. In English, the manifestation of the Lord in the Holy of Holies is known as the Shekinah Glory [shuh-KIGH-nuh GLOR-ee]. The English noun Shekinah is related to the Hebrew verb שָׁכַן [pronounced shah-KAN and transliterated as shakan]. Regarding the Hebrew verb shakan, below are quotes from the Strongʼs Definition section of the webpage at https://www.BlueLetterBible.org/lexicon/h7931/nasb95/wlc/.
“to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)”
“abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up)”
Below is a Bible passage referencing the glory of God the Son being manifested above the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was a box that was approximately 3.75 feet long, approximately 2.25 feet wide, and approximately 2.25 feet high. The Ark was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. The lid of the Ark is called the Mercy Seat, which was made from pure gold. The Mercy Seat had a design that involved two cherubs (also known as cherubim) with wings. The exact appearance of the cherubim on the Mercy Seat is unspecified in the Bible. The below passage involves Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One speaking to Moses. Inside the square brackets below, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.
Exodus 25:17
“You have made a Mercy Seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits [i.e., one cubit equals approximately 18 inches] long [literally: its length] and one and a half cubits wide [literally: its width].
Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have made in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. That use of the perfect tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used for the purpose of giving a command? Doing so can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father. In other words, the importance of obeying the command is emphasized.
Exodus 25:18
“You have made two cherubim of gold. You make them of hammered work at the two ends of the Mercy Seat.
Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have made in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. Also, the use of the present tense in the phrase You make is for the purpose of giving a command. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense in order to give a command can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine the obeying of that command as though the reader or hearer is watching the obeying of that command as it occurs.
Exodus 25:19
“Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you make the cherubim with the Mercy Seat at its two ends.
Note: The use of the present tense in the phrase You make is for the purpose of giving a command.
Exodus 25:20
“The cherubim have had wings spread upward, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings and their faces toward one another; the faces of the cherubim are toward the Mercy Seat.
Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have had in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. Also, the use of the present tense in the phrase are toward is for the purpose of giving a command. Regarding the directions that the cherubim face, the content of this verse indicates that the cherubim were to be fashioned in such a manner that they would be pointed toward each other and that their faces would be looking downward at the Mercy Seat.
Exodus 25:21
“You have put the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark, and in the Ark you put the testimony which I give to you.
Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have put in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. Also, the use of the present tense in the phrase you put is for the purpose of giving a command. The use of a present tense in the phrase I give in this verse is a reference to what will occur in the future. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
Exodus 25:22
“There I have met with you, and from above the Mercy Seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the Ark of the Testimony, I have spoken to you about all that I give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.
Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the phrases I have met and I have spoken in this verse are references to the future. Such uses of the perfect tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will happen in the future? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.
The use of a present tense in the phrase I give in this verse is a reference to what will occur in the future. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
Below is another Bible passage referencing the glory of God the Son being manifested above the Ark of the Covenant.
2 Samuel 6:1
Now David again gathers all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
Note: In this verse, the use of a present tense is a reference to what has occurred in the past. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
2 Samuel 6:2
David arises and goes with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah [i.e., Kiriath-jearim], to bring up from there the Ark of 'Elohiym / the Godhead which has been called by the Name, the very name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One of hosts / armies / tsaba' [tsah-VAH] / צָבָא Who dwells—the cherubim—above it.
Note: In this verse, the uses of a present tense in the phrase arises and goes are references to what has occurred in the past. Regarding the phrase Who dwells—the cherubim—above it, the Hebrew content of this verse has the verb translated as “dwells,” then the plural noun translated as “cherubim,” then the preposition translated as “above,” and then the singular pronoun translated as “it.” While the noun translated as “cherubim” is plural and the pronoun translated as “it” is singular, the pronoun it can refer to the object that consists of the two cherubim. In that regard, a translation that would involve a word order without a need for em dashes would be Who dwells above it, the cherubim. As mentioned in Exodus 25:21, the cherubim were on the top of the Ark; therefore, the glory of God the Son was manifested above the Ark.
Getting back to David and Psalm 63:2, if David had entered the Holy of Holies, he would have died. In that regard, it is possible that Davidʼs reference to being in the Sanctuary refers to being in the section of the Tabernacle known as the Holy Place or to being in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. In that regard, it is possible that David refers to the entire tent structure of the Tabernacle as the Sanctuary or to the entire tent structure of the Tabernacle and the area of the courtyard collectively as the Sanctuary. Also, it is possible that Davidʼs reference to seeing is a metaphorical reference to seeing in the sense of perceiving.
The content of Psalm 63:2 is repeated below for reference.
Psalm 63:2
I have seen You in the Sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.
Psalm 63:3
Because Your khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love is better than life, my lips praise You.
Psalm 63:4
Therefore, I bless You as long as I live. I lift up my hands in Your name.
Note: The Hebrew verb that is translated as “lift up” in this verse is אֶשָּׂא [pronounced VEH-sah and can be transliterated as vesa]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word נָשָׂא [pronounced nah-SAH and can be transliterated as nasa']. In this verse, the reference to the lifting up of hands refers to a gesture that involves showing respect for God the Father. Absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is what was the exact form of the gesture that involved the lifting up of hands. Furthermore, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is whether Davidʼs head was pointed upward, downward, or in some other direction. Sometimes, when someone is beseeching someone to do something, the person doing the beseeching might stretch out his or her hands toward the other person while looking at that other person. If a person were beseeching God the Father, it is logical that the person doing the beseeching would stretch out his or her hands skyward and look in the same direction that his or her hands are outstretched.
Psalm 63:5
My soul is satisfied as with fat/grease/marrow and the fatty ashes of animal sacrifices, and my mouth praises with joyful lips.
Psalm 63:6
When I have remembered You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Note: A night watch was a period of time during the night. The terminology is related to guards performing watch duty during different parts of the night. The reference to meditating on God the Father in the night watches is unspecific in terms of length of time. Logically, it would be physically impossible for David to remain awake through all of the night watches every night without catching up on sleep during the daytime, and absent from the content of Psalm 63 is anything indicating that David was catching up on sleep during the daytime. What this verse is indicating is that there were occasions on which David was on his bed during the nighttime, and on such occasions, David meditated on God the Father. In that regard, David meditated on God the Father rather than meditating on nothingness, David himself, or something else.
What can be applied from this verse is that if a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ wakes up during the night, that believer can think about principles from the Word of God, including principles related to the Trinity. For example, a believer could think about the characteristics of the essence of the Members of the Trinity. Below is the essence of the Trinity categorized into ten characteristics.
|
Sovereignty |
Omnipotence |
|
Righteousness |
Omniscience |
|
Justice |
Omnipresence |
|
Love |
Immutability |
|
Eternal life |
Veracity |
Sovereignty: The Members of the Trinity have authority over all creation.
Righteousness: The Members of the Trinity are perfectly good.
Justice: The Members of the Trinity are perfectly fair.
Love: The Members of the Trinity have perfect goodwill toward creation.
Eternal life: The Members of the Trinity have always existed and will always exist.
Omnipotence: The Members of the Trinity are totally powerful.
Omniscience: The Members of the Trinity know everything.
Omnipresence: The Members of the Trinity are everywhere.
Immutability: The Members of the Trinity never change.
Veracity: The Members of the Trinity are always truthful.
In addition, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who wakes up during the night could say prayers to God the Father then.
Psalm 63:7
Certainly, You have been my Help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
Note: The reference to wings in this verse is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm]. An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the Trinity. The anthropomorphism involving wings in this verse is a metaphor that calls attention to the protection that God the Father provides.
Psalm 63:8
My soul has stayed close following after / close behind / close beside You. Your right hand has upheld me.
Note: The reference to a right hand in this verse is an anthropomorphism. The anthropomorphism involving a right hand in this verse is a metaphor that calls attention to the power of God the Father. Also, the reference to what Davidʼs soul does is a metaphorical reference to David being loyal to God the Father.
Psalm 63:9
Those who seek my life/soul to destroy it go into the depths / lower parts of the earth.
Note: The content of Psalm 63:9 refers to people trying to kill David and those people experiencing physical death.
Psalm 63:10
They pour him out onto the power of the sword. They are a portion for jackals.
Note: Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is to whom the pronoun They in the phrase They pour him out refers. Regarding to whom the pronoun him refers in this verse, absent from this psalm is any usage of the pronouns he, him, or his in reference to David. Instead, David refers to himself by means of the pronouns I, me, and my in this psalm. In that regard, it is logical to conclude that the pronoun him as used in this verse refers to someone other than David. Because the content of the preceding verse references enemies of David, it is logical to conclude that the pronoun him as used in this verse refers to those enemies. In that regard, the singular pronoun him could be used to describe the enemies collectively or to describe each individual one of those enemies. Regardless of whether David was using a description that focused on the group of enemies without focusing on a depiction of each individual enemy or whether David was using a description that focused on a depiction of each individual enemy, David indicated that the enemies referenced in the previous verse would be metaphorically poured out onto the power of the sword.
The metaphor of pouring out onto the power of the sword refers to dying as a result of fighting. In that regard, the absence of any specifying of to whom the pronoun They in the phrase They pour him out refers calls attention to the fact that unknown to David is who would kill the enemies referenced in verse 9. In that regard, Davidʼs focus is on the fact that the enemies referenced in verse 9 would be killed rather than on who would kill those enemies.
The Hebrew noun translated as “jackals” in this verse is שֻׁעָלִים [pronounced shoo-ah-LEEM and can be transliterated as shuw`aliym]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word שׁוּעָל [pronounced shoo-AHL and transliterated as shuw`al]. Depending on the context, the Hebrew noun shuw`al can be translated as “fox” or “jackal.” The translation jackals fits the context of psalm 63:10 because jackals feast on carcasses.
Psalm 63:11
The king rejoices in 'Elohiym / the Godhead. Everyone who swears / takes an oath by Him glories, for the mouths of those who speak lies are stopped.
Note: The king mentioned in Psalm 63:11 is David himself. In the context of this verse, the reference to swearing / taking an oath refers to swearing allegiance to God the Father. In that regard, the context of this verse is such that the glorying referenced in this verse refers to giving glory to God the Father.
In the context of Psalm 63, the people who were speaking lies were motivated by selfishness to do the deceiving, and that deceiving was for the purpose of harming David. In that regard, those people who were doing that deceiving were malicious liars. Regarding the foregoing, the context of this verse is such that the glorying about God the Father referenced in this verse involves David and others who swear allegiance to God the Father being pleased about God the Father stopping the malicious liars from continuing to communicate their lies.
The fallen angel Satan is a malicious liar. Satan is also known as the devil. Satan distorts the truth, mixing lies with it; the resultant mixtures are lies. Also, Satan can be subtle in his distortions. Likewise, other malicious liars can distort the truth by mixing lies with it and can be subtle in their distortions.
In contrast to the focus of the content of Psalm 63:11, the content of Joshua 2 covers the matter of two Israelite spies in the land of Canaan being protected by the woman Rahab at Jericho. In order to protect those innocent Israelites, Rahab hid them and lied to people who were working for the king of Jericho. Rahab thereby deceived those people who were working for the king of Jericho. In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of Rahab for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.
The content of 2 Samuel 15:31–37 and the content of 2 Samuel 17:14–16 cover the matter of King Davidʼs friend Hushai deceiving Davidʼs evil son Absalom and people who supported Absalom in his revolution against David. The content of 2 Samuel 15:31–36 covers David requesting that Hushai engage in that deception. The content of 2 Samuel 15:37 and the content of 2 Samuel 17:14–15 cover Hushai engaging in that deception. The content of 2 Samuel 17:16 covers the matter of that deception being for the purpose of protecting the innocent. In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of Hushai for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent. Likewise, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of David for requesting that Hushai engage in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.
The content of 2 Samuel 17:17–22 covers the matter of a woman protecting two men who were working for David in Davidʼs struggle against Davidʼs evil son Absalom and the people who supported Absalom in his revolution against David. In order to protect those innocent men, the woman hid them and lied to servants of Absalom. That woman thereby deceived those servants of Absalom. In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of that woman for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.
In contrast to the aforementioned examples of people attempting to deceive in order to try to protect the innocent, Satanʼs attempts to deceive are motivated by selfishness. Satan is a narcissist. Other narcissists are also motivated by selfishness.
Regarding believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and the matter of trying to deceive, if a believer who is trying to deceive is motivated by selfishness, then that believer is sinning. If one is unable to determine whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception, one can analyze whether one feels content or discontent. Another way to determine whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception is to analyze whether circumstances beyond oneʼs control are occurring and whether those circumstances are discipline from God the Son. God the Father does the planning, and God the Son carries out the plans of God the Father. If one is uncertain whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception, then one should refrain from engaging in that particular deception. Also, in such a case, one should—in accordance with 1 John 1:9—confess/acknowledge to God the Father that engaging in deception: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” While a believer might be uncertain about whether or not something that that believer thinks, says, or does is a sin, if that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father what that believer thought, said, or did, and if what that believer thought, said, or did was indeed a sin, God the Father will forgive that believer for what that believer confessed/acknowledged to God the Father, and God the Father will forgive that believer for all of those of the believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer. The phrase and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness in 1 John 1:9 references God the Father forgiving a believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer when that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins.
Regarding deception motivated by selfishness, below is a link to a list of deception-related words that are in the Bible. The list contains thirty-seven words. Twenty-four of those words are in the Old Testament, and thirteen of those words are in the New Testament.
https://www.BlueLetterBible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=decei&t=NASB95&lexcSt=2#s=s_lexiconc
At the above link, the Hebrew noun that is translated as “lies” in Psalm 63:11 is listed with the Strongʼs number H8267. The word Strongʼs refers to Strongʼs Concordance. That concordance is a list of words of the Bible. Each word in Strongʼs Concordance has a number associated with it. The Hebrew noun translated as “lies” in Psalm 63:11 is שָׁקֶר [pronounced SHAH-kehr and can be transliterated as shaqer]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) That noun is an inflected form of the root word שֶׁקֶר [pronounced SHEH-kehr and can be transliterated as sheqer].
The content of Psalm 63:11 is repeated below for reference.
Psalm 63:11
The king rejoices in 'Elohiym / the Godhead. Everyone who swears / takes an oath by Him glories, for the mouths of those who speak lies are stopped.
Sincerely,
John
