When we first hear a news story, it might be a good idea to wait a little before we comment on the role that we believe “God” (or should we say “god”) had in the event. Many people speak of things that they believe the Creator is/was doing when in fact it may very well be the “god of this world/the prince of the power of the air” and not God Almighty. We have unfortunately been quite lax at explaining some very fundamental Biblical scriptures which lead to the character assignation of Yahweh. While it is best not to be harsh, simply put, people should not accuse Yahweh of doing things he may not be doing. Instead it would be better, especially if we have to explain to the unlearned, that there is a god of this world who blinds the minds of the children of darkness, who Jesus called the “prince” of this world. After waiting for all relevant information to be revealed, it is up to us to approach Yahweh and ask Him what the story is before we announce our opinions to the world. I am specifically speaking of a recent virus spreading around the world and people’s opinions of said virus. This is not a plague from Yahweh.
Today we have a virus that was likely manufactured in China, in a lab for testing on bat immune systems, and their adaptation to viruses. This coronavirus also has an HIV component that responds to HIV medications. While we may not ever know motives and intents of the people involved, what we do know is that there are many brothers and sisters in China who are dying. It is our obligation to invoke the courts of heaven on their behalf to stop this biological weapon. It is not Yahweh’s design to kill people, man invented this virus. The satan has accusations against leaders and rulers and has obviously been granted the judgment. It is our opportunity to offer intercession, invoking Yahweh’s name, and sacrifices of praise on behalf of the innocents. Psalms 116 will help us in prayer, invocations, and praise, in our times of death and near death. But we have a fundamental problem with our understanding of the Bible as the word plague is not in the original text. Let’s explore.
Our own finite understanding of scripture has caused us to err. There are alterations to Biblical text. Why would someone change the words in the Bible? Is there a spiritual influence that wants to distort the truth? One such example of distortion is the word plague. Someone decided to change several words in the Bible to “plague”. In one case, the translation should actually be “signs and wonders” or “miracles”. Is it possible that there is a spiritual influence that wants us to think that Yahweh is unjustly harming people? There is always fair and balanced justice from Yahweh. What we hear from people who disregard the Bible is that they cannot reconcile a God who creates the world then unjustly harms everyone in it. This has been an on going concern for many who have not been taught the truth that there is a god of this world who is not Yahweh the Creator. Another truth so quickly misunderstood is the function of the courts of heaven, who it is that accuses, and who it is that grants judgment.
The word plague, translated from the Greek to English, is used 31 times, but the word does not mean what we think it means. It simply means “death”. What we call plague is a word that we use to describe sweeping death or disease, but there is no word for plague in the Bible. Our modern translators did use this word liberally to describe all sorts of things. Sometimes calamity is translated as “plague”. Calamity is a blow or a stroke. Sometimes infection is called a plague, but is really a “ligament or band”. This idea of infection as a ligament, as something that fastens, is generally used in regard to leprosy. Technically, this is very correct as leprosy is a falling off of the skin. In other words the bands holding the skin on, break. There is a word for disease used as “infirmity”, which is a “weakness”. It is used in various ways, but not as we would describe as a plague. Scourge is used as meaning “whips”, but mistakenly used as plague. Why have these words been changed to plague? Doesn’t it muddy the waters when we misunderstand the text?
We also use the term “the ten plagues of Egypt”, but Yahweh calls them “signs and wonders”. It is not that there weren’t ten events that happened to the Egyptians, but they were for signs and wonders so that the people would believe that Yahweh, via Moses and Aaron, could lead the people out of captivity. The signs and wonders made Yahweh known.
Exodus 7:3 And I will harden the heart of Pharao, and I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
Exodus 7:3 G1473 But I G1161 G4645 will harden G3588 the G2588 heart G* of Pharaoh, G2532 and G4129 I will multiply G3588 G4592 my signs, G1473 G2532 and G3588 the G5059 miracles G1722 in G1093 the land G* of Egypt
We see that we have a problem. Yahweh calls the things he did in Egypt “signs and wonders” or “miracles”, but our society calls them “plagues”. What we try to infer is that Yahweh was punishing the Egyptians, however in the same sentence Yahweh says he will harden the heart of Pharaoh. Let’s understand the picture here. Pharaoh’s heart is hardened so that Yahweh can bring signs and miracles to Egypt via Moses and Aaron, and so that Moses and Aaron and all the Hebrews will know that Yahweh can take care of them when he leads them out of Egypt. What are the signs and miracles?
Exodus 7-10
- 1.The water turns to blood and the fish die and it smells
- 2. Frogs everywhere
- 3.Gnats/Lice everywhere
- 4. Flies everywhere
- 5. Disease on the livestock of the Egyptians
- 6. Boils on men and animals
- 7. Hail everywhere
- 8. Locusts everywhere
- 9. Darkness for three days
- 10. Death of the first born unprotected by the blood of a/the lamb
These are the ten plagues of Egypt, but as we saw, the Bible calls these signs and wonders/miracles. A couple of these events are specifically called calamities. What if we started calling these the ten signs and miracles of Yahweh as better terminology? It would start to bring into clarity the fact that we have a Father, a Creator, and the Holy Spirit, and we have a god of this world who negotiates against us in the courts of heaven. The Holy Spirit is our advocate, our defense attorney, and the prosecuting attorney for us. On the other hand, the devil and his fallen cohorts accuse us day and night.
Last week we looked at David’s numbering of the people. When Yahweh tells David of his three choices for punishment, one choice is recorded by English translators as plague. It is however simply “death”.
1 Chronicles 21:11 G2532 And G2064 Gad came G* G4314 to G* David, G2532 and G2036 said G1473 to him, G3779 Thus G3004 says G2962 the lord, G1586 Choose G4572 for yourself!
12 G2228 Either G5140 three G2094 years G3042 of famine; G2228 or G5140 three G3376 months G5343 fleeing G1473 G1537 from G4383 the face G3588 G2190 of your enemies, G1473 G2532 with G3162 the sword G2190 of your enemies G1473 G2614 pursuing G1473 you; G2228 or G5140 three G2250 days G4501 of the broadsword G2962 of the lord, G2532 and G2288 plague G1722 in G3588 the G1093 land, G2532 and G32 the angel G2962 of the lord G1842 utterly destroying G1722 among G3956 all G2817 the inheritance G* of Israel. G2532 And G3568 now, G1492 behold, G5100 what G611 [2should I answer G3588 3to the one G649 4sending G1473 5me G3056 1word]?
2288 LSJ Gloss:θάνατος death
Dodson:θάνατος death death, physical or spiritual.
Thayer:
1) the death of the body
1a) that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended
1b) with the implied idea of future misery in hell
1b1) the power of death
1c) since the nether world, the abode of the dead, was conceived as being very dark, it is equivalent to the region of thickest darkness i.e. figuratively, a region enveloped in the darkness of ignorance and sin
2) metaph., the loss of that life which alone is worthy of the name,
2a) the misery of the soul arising from sin, which begins on earth but lasts and increases after the death of the body in hell
3) the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell
4) in the widest sense, death comprising all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth, to be followed by wretchedness in hell
θάνατος
thanatos than'-at-os From G2348; (properly an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: X deadly, (be . . .) death.
This word, thanatos, is used 366 times, but the Hebrew translates thanatos 11 different ways. If that wasn’t bad enough, English translators of the Septuagint have used thanatos as plague 31 times. Again thanatos simply means death. Let’s go on.
1 Chronicles 21:13 G2532 And G2036 David said G* G4314 to G* Gad, G4728 It is narrow G1473 G4970 exceedingly, G1706 I shall fall G1211 indeed G1519 into G5495 the hands G2962 of the lord, G3754 for G4183 [3great G3588 G3628 1his compassions G1473 G4970 2 are exceedingly]; G2532 but G1519 into G5495 the hands G444 of men G3766.2 in no way G1706 should I fall.
14 G2532 And G1325 the lord appointed G2962 G2288 plague G1722 in G* Israel. G2532 And G4098 there fell G1537 of G* Israel G1440 seventy G5505 thousand G435 men
11325 LSJ Gloss:δίδωμι to give
Dodson:δίδωμι I offer, give I offer, give; I put, place.
Thayer:
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
2a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
2a1) to bestow a gift
2b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
2c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
2d) to give over, deliver
2d1) to reach ou
δίδωμι
didōmi did'-o-mee A prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternate in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection) KJV Usage: adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Notice what this says, Yahweh appointed/grants plague/death.The word for appointed is didōmi, “grant or give”. That is simply a different perspective than “appointed”. He granted death. Yahweh granted who the order of death? Yahweh granted the devil/the satan the judgment of death in Israel.
We have to broaden our understanding of who is advocating for harm to Israel. The satan. Why? Because Israel was supposed to be teaching the nations about Yahweh. David had a tabernacle and was also going to have Solomon build a temple. Why? Does Yahweh need a big building? No. Moses carried the tabernacle and the ark all over the desert for forty years. The permanent structure would be a point known in the world throughout the ages, even after it’s destruction. Who would it point to? Yahweh.
1 Chronicles 21:1 G2532 And G450 [2rose up G4566 1Satan] G1909 against G* Israel, G2532 and G1977.3 stirred up G3588 G* David G3588 G705 to count G3588 G* Israel.
The satan stood up against Israel and influenced David into doing the wrong thing, accused David of doing the wrong thing, and then demanded punishment be given against Israel. Not only did Yahweh grant death, the devil took the opportunity to send the destroyer angel against Israel as well. If we recognize that we are constantly scrutinized by the enemy, regularly accused by the enemy, always targeted by the enemy, then if we do something wrong, we are certainly attacked by the enemy, we will make sense of what we see in the world. Those people who have walked away from the Lord due to this misunderstanding, can be taught if someone is willing to take the time to teach them.
This word death encompasses two different kinds of death, physical and spiritual.
Genesis 2:17 G575 but from G1161 G3588 the G3586 tree G3588 of the G1097 knowing G2570 good G2532 and G4190 evil, G3756 you shall not G2068 eat G575 from G1473 it; G3588 but in whatever G1161 G302 G2250 day G2068 you should eat G575 from G1473 it, G2288 to death G599 you shall die
Immediately the adam dies a spiritual death, but within the day, counted as one thousand years, the adam died a physical death as well.
Jesus tells us in his letter to the church at Smyrna to be faithful or trustworthy unto death. Jesus is saying that we should remain faithful all the way through life until we die. The people in Smyrna were a targeted group, being persecuted by Jews. Jesus knows however that they are really not Jews even though they themselves think they are. Jesus knows and points out that they are not worshippers of Yahweh, but the satan. The people of Smyrna don’t know that the persecuting Jews are worshippers of the satan. Is it possible that today we may not realize that a political or religious group of people may be worshippers of the satan?
Revelation 2:10 G3367 Do not G5399 fear G3739 the things G3195 you are about G3958 to suffer! G2400 Behold G1211 indeed, G3195 [3is about G906 4to throw G3588 1the G1228 2devil] G1537 some of G1473 you G1519 in G5438 prison, G2443 that G3985 you should be tested. G2532 And G2192 you shall have G2347 affliction G2250 [2days G1176 1ten]. G1096 Be G4103 trustworthy G891 unto G2288 death! G2532 and G1325 I will give G1473 to you G3588 the G4735 crown G3588 G2222 of life.
11 G3588 The one G2192 having G3775 an ear, G191 hear G5100 what G3588 the G4151 spirit G3004 says G3588 to the G1577 assemblies! G3588 The one G3528 overcoming, G3766.2 in no way G91 should be injured G1537 by G3588 the G2288 [2death G3588 G1208 1second].
Those who overcome are not harmed by the second death either. What does that mean? There is a physical death and a spiritual death, as the definition shows us. The physical death is the immediate death, the white throne judgment is the second death. By that time, almost everyone being judged has died a physical death, the second death is a spiritual death where the potential of dying the second time is in the lake of fire.
Jesus has some very strong words for the church at Thyatira.
Revelation 2:23 G2532 And G3588 G5043 [2her children G1473 G615 1I will kill] G1722 by G2288 plague; G2532 and G1097 they shall know G3956 in all G3588 the G1577 assemblies G3754 that G1473 I G1510.2.1 am G3588 the one G2045 searching G3510 the kidneys G2532 and G2588 hearts; G2532 and G1325 I will give G1473 to you G1538 each G2596 according to G3588 G2041 your works. G1473
Jesus says that he will kill or put to death Jezebel’s “children”, her disciples of evil, with what translators claim is plague. It is the same word death. It may be that this Jezebel has many disciples, but they are not “struck with a plague” they simply die. We could make up all kinds of ideas regarding the mistranslation of plague, such as all Jezebel’s disciples get a disease, or a sickness, or they all end up in calamity like the Egyptians, or with leprosy, but that is certainly a stretch. There is no indication that Jezebels disciples all die the same way. They may in fact die in different ways, at different times. The clue here is Jesus is searching the reigns/kidneys (our emotions) and our hearts, (our center for thoughts). If every person died the same way, specifically for each different act of sin, we could point to the type of death as the punishment for that sin. However that does not happen. Jesus tells us something else.
Revelation 1:18 G2532 and G3588 the G2198 living one, G2532 and G1096 I became G3498 dead, G2532 and G2400 behold G2198 I am living G1510.2.1 G1519 into G3588 the G165 eons G3588 of the G165 eons. G281 Amen. G2532 And G2192 I have G3588 the G2807 keys G3588 G2288 of death G2532 and G3588 G86 of Hades.
Jesus says that he has the keys to death. What if someone mistranslated this as plague, wouldn’t that be awkward? Absolutely. It is far more important to look at each word and find out what each word means, rather than rely on translators who may have had a bias or an opinion. Jesus has the key to death. No one can open the door of death except the one with the key.
The word thanatos shows up in Psalms 116 three times. We do not know who wrote this Psalm, but the writing and wording is a little different from David, so we might infer that it was not David. This is a Psalm of the Deuteronomy Psalms and is considered one of the Passover Psalms. When we read this Psalm we notice that it could be known as the “death and deliverance Psalm”. The Psalmist is near death and invokes Yahweh. He makes the comment that Yahweh tears out his soul, out from death.
“Praise ye Jah!”
Jah means Jehovah in Hebrew. Hallelujah is an interjection, an abrupt declaration. Praise Yah!
Psalms 116:1 G25 I loved G3754 that G1522 [2shall listen to G2962 the lord] G3588 the G5456 voice G3588 G1162 of my supplication. G1473
“Love that hearken Yahweh sound my prayer.”
The Psalmist loves that Yahweh hears his prayer. He hears our prayers too. While most of us in the free world take this for granted, there are those who cannot pray freely in their own countries, so they must pray covertly. Yahweh hears our covert and hidden prayers.
Psalms 116:2 G3754 For G2827 he leaned G3588 G3775 his ear G1473 G1473 to me; G2532 and G1722 during G3588 G2250 my days G1473 G1941 I shall call upon him .
“Because bend his ear me and in the day in invoke.”
Yahweh bends his ear in the day that the Psalmist invokes the courts of heaven. In boldness we should approach the courts of heaven. We have every right to be there and face our accusers. The Psalmist uses the word epikaleomai, “invoke”, four times in this Psalm. He might be trying to tell us something. Epi means “over or upon”, and kaleō means “call or call aloud”. It is the idea of calling aloud by name or calling upon. It also could be thought of as “over call”, as if using a microphone to summon someone in a crowd, over the noise, calling aloud. Every shy person’s nightmare is for someone to call their name over the loud speakers in a big box store, asking them to meet their party at customer service.
Psalms 116:3 G4023 [3compassed G1473 4me G5604 1 The pangs G2288 2of death]; G2794 the dangers G86 of Hades G2147 found G1473 me; G2347 [2affliction G2532 3and G3601 4grief G2147 1I found].
“Encompass me, severe agony, death, peril Hades I discover. Persecution and pain I find.”
The Psalmist calls, in his invocation, for Yahweh to surround him as the agony of death and perils of Hades found him. He is near death and has been hurt. He feels Hades breathing down his neck and has found persecution and pain. Generally speaking the children of the Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Father are persecuted by the children of the devil on the earth, regularly. In severe agony, the Psalmist calls out for Yahweh to encompass him.
Psalms 116:4 G2532 And G3588 the G3686 name G2962 of the lord G1941 I called upon. G5599 O G2962 lord G4506 rescue G3588 G5590 my soul! G1473
“And the name Yahweh invoke. Oh! Yahweh deliver my soul.”
The Psalmist feels he is close to dying and invokes the name of Yahweh. He calls for Yahweh in the courts of heaven to deliver his soul. Invoke means to “call on”, or it can also mean “to appeal, as in a court of law”. If I am invoking Yahweh I am calling on Him. If I am invoking the name of Yahweh, I am appealing to the courts with His name. His name is being put into effect on my behalf. It is like using Yahweh’s authority to enter a back stage event. The Psalmist invokes the name or character of Yahweh, then calls for Yahweh to deliver his soul. This is the first of three times he tells us to invoke the name of Yahweh.
Psalms 116:5 G1655 [3 is merciful G3588 1The G2962 2 lord] G2532 and G1342 just; G2532 and G3588 G2316 our God G1473 G1653 shows mercy.
“Merciful Yahweh and righteous, and my Eloim has mercy”
The Psalmist says that Yahweh is merciful and righteous and his Elohim (three or more) show divine grace. The Psalmist makes the distinction between Yahweh, and his Gods, the Elohim. Heavenly rulers under the Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Father, have divine grace. He is invoking everyone and anyone associated with Yahweh to deliver his soul, knowing that they are merciful.
Psalms 116:6 G5442 [3 is the one guarding G3588 4the G3516 5infants G3588 1The G2962 2 lord]. G5013 I was humbled, G2532 and G4982 he delivered G1473 me.
“Keep watch and ward the infant Yahweh. Humble and save me.”
The Psalmist sees himself as an infant or an unlearned child who does not speak yet. He asks for Yahweh to watch and ward, or guard and separate, him, and then asks for Yahweh to humble and save him. Think about this, the Psalmist understands his position. He may not be as mighty of a man of God as David or Asaph. He may recognize that he is still immature. This may be his first or second time invoking Yahweh in the courts of heaven. He asks to be humbled. Yahweh certainly obliges when we ask to be humbled. He also asks to be saved. He is not talking about a spiritual salvation, but a physical salvation. He feels Hades wanting to take him, and he invokes Yahweh’s help.
Psalms 116:7 G1994 Return, G5590 O my soul, G1473 G1519 to G3588 G372 your rest! G1473 G3754 for G2962 the lord G2109 benefited G1473 you.
“Turn back my soul into His rest because Yahweh you do good deeds.”
The Psalmist asks for his soul to be turned back, away from death, to rest. He knows that he can ask this because Yahweh does good. This sentence should connect to the next one.
Psalms 116:8 G3754 For G1807 he rescued G3588 G5590 my soul G1473 G1537 from out of G2288 death; G3588 G3788 my eyes G1473 G575 from G1144 tears, G2532 and G3588 G4228 my feet G1473 G575 from G3643.2 a slip.
“Because tear out my soul from out of death, my eye away from tears my foot away from slip.”
“Turn back my soul into His rest because, Yahweh, you do good deeds because tear out my soul from out of death, my eye away from tears my foot away from slip.”
Yahweh does good things such as tearing his soul out from death, his eyes from tears, and his foot from slipping. Yahweh has the final judgment to tear someone’s soul out of death. Who has the key to death now? This is the same word thanatos. Who had the authority over thanatos? Today, who has the authority over thanatos?
Psalms 116:9 G2100 I should be well-pleasing G1799 before G2962 the lord G1722 in G5561 the place G2198 of the living.
“Gratify entirely in the face of Yahweh in land living.”
Standing before Yahweh’s face in the land of the living is entirely gratifying, as opposed to being grabbed by death and Hades. The phrase “land of the living” is used several times to describe living on the earth.
Psalms 116:10 G4100 I trusted, G1352 therefore G2980 I spoke; G1473 but I G1161 G5013 was humbled G4970 exceedingly.
“Have faith wherefore I speak but humiliate very much.”
The Psalmist had faith to speak, but was humbled or humiliated. Isn’t that what the Psalmist asked for as noted in verse 6? So we see an answer to his invocation.
Psalms 116:11 G1473 And I G1161 G2036 said G1722 in G3588 G1611 my change of state, G1473 G3956 Every G444 man G5583 is a liar.
“I but say in my bewilderment all manface deceiver.”
Humans are deceivers. All humans are liars. The Psalmist says this like he is surprised. Maybe dishonesty was hidden better in his day, but in our day it is largely celebrated. If someone can “get one over” on another, they are applauded for their cunning. Yahweh doesn’t look at it that way though. Evil people on the earth will always persecute the children of Yahweh and they will die permanently. The children of Yahweh will live eternally, this earth is not the end for us.
Psalms 116:12 G5100 What G467 shall I recompense G3588 to the G2962 lord G4012 for G3956 all G3739 which G467 he recompensed G1473 to me?
“Anyone repay Yahweh concerning all that I repay”
“Is there anyone who repays Yahweh like me?”, is the Psalmists’ question. Now that Yahweh tore out his soul away from death, this Psalmist repays Yahweh. There are many ways to repay Yahweh, one is to be his servant, another is to lead others to him, and still another is to encourage those enduring tough times. But in a normal course of a day, we can enter into the courts of the Lord on behalf of those who are in need and stand before the Lord for them.
Psalms 116:13 G4221 The cup G4992 of deliverance G2983 I shall take; G2532 and G3588 the G3686 name G2962 of the lord G1941 I shall call upon.
“Drinking cup salvation receive and the name Yahweh invoke”
The Psalmist advocates others to drink and receive from the cup of salvation and to invoke Yahweh’s name. As intercessors of Yahweh we are to always drink from his cup of deliverance and invoke Yahweh’s name. The Psalmist tells us to invoke Yahweh’s name a second time. He recognizes how important it is to use Yahweh’s authority in the courts of heaven.
Psalms 116:14 G3588 G2171 My vows G1473 G3588 to the G2962 lord G591 I will render G1726 before G3956 all G3588 G2992 his people. G1473
“My prayer Yahweh give back in the presence of all his people”
Yahweh gives back what the Psalmist prayed in the presence of His people. What the Psalmist prayed is for deliverance for his soul from death. The Psalmist brings up death again. This may be a verse we have heard read at funerals.
Psalms 116:15 G5093 Esteemed G1726 before G2962 the lord G3588 is the G2288 death G3588 G3741 of his sacred ones. G1473
“Valued in the presence of Yahweh death his beloved of God”
The people who are beloved of God, that yet die, are valued in the presence of Yahweh. What is the qualifier? The people who are the beloved. The disciples of Jezebel are not beloved of God. They have rejected Yahweh. In other words, the beloved of God are not forgotten, dismissed, or not known. Yahweh knows all the beloved. He does not view our death as we view our death. As Jesus told us ‘be faithful unto death and you will receive a crown of life’.
Psalms 116:16 G5599 O G2962 lord G1473 I am G1401 [2servant G4674 1your]; G1473 I am G1401 [2servant G4674 1your], G2532 and G5207 a son G3588 G3814 of your maidservant. G1473 G1284 You tore up G3588 G1199 my bonds. G1473
“Oh! Yahweh I thy male slave. I thy male slave and son your female slave. Tear asunder my chain.”
The Psalmist declares that he is Yahweh’s servant. He repeats it twice. Remember we noted there are ways to repay Yahweh for what he has done for us. The Psalmist claims he is a male servant, the son of a female servant of Yahweh. His mother was a follower and servant of Yahweh. He then claims the tearing down of his chains.
Paul talks about being in “bonds or chains” quite a bit as physically he was bound in chains, but he was also a bond servant of the Lord. If we remember, the Psalmist asked to be guarded and warded like an infant. We understand that a servant who is young may not want to serve. Although that one makes a commitment, that one is not given the keys to the whole kingdom, so to speak. But there is a crossover point when one wants to serve and no longer needs to be watched or warded. That servant does not need chains because that servant will not leave. He is convinced of his master’s goodness.
Psalms 116:17 G1473 To you G2380 I shall sacrifice G2378 a sacrifice G133 of praise, G2532 and G1722 [2in G3686 3 the name G2962 4 of the lord G1941 1I will call].
“I sacrificed a sacrifice praise and in name Yahweh invoke.”
The Psalmist sacrificed a sacrifice of praise. One of the hardest times to bring praise is in the middle of a battle, when things don’t look good. However, while it may seem contrary, it is an offering, something being given when it takes everything we have. It is unbelievably hard to praise the Lord when a loved one has passed for example; however, the Psalmist told us that the death of the beloved is valuable to Yahweh. Our perspective is what needs to change. Then when we sacrifice a sacrifice of praise we are to invoke Yahweh’s name. This is the Psalmist’s third time advocating for us to use the name of Yahweh. We are to use the name, character, and authority of Yahweh in the courts of heaven.
Jeremiah records the Lord as saying:
Jeremiah 33:11 (KJV)
11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
After the seventy years of captivity the people would bring a sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. A large public worship service brings attention to Yahweh, but it is not a requirement to be in a public setting. Yahweh knows the emotions/reigns and hearts, and he knows the conditions we all live under.
The writer of Hebrews admonishes us:
Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
We can do this all day long, under our breath so to speak. We can praise Him anywhere at anytime, and in places where Christianity is banned, we can still praise him in secret. Maybe there is another benefit to wearing a mask to repel viruses.
Psalms 116:18 G3588 G2171 [2my vows G1473 G3588 3to the G2962 4 lord G591 1I will render] G1726 before G3956 all G3588 G2992 his people, G1473
“My prayer Yahweh give back in the presence of all your people.”
The Psalmist then invokes Yahweh again and says return or repay my prayer in the presence of Yahweh’s people. This sentence should connect with the next phrase.
Psalms 116:19 G1722 in G833 the courtyards G3624 of the house G2962 of the lord, G1722 in G3319 the midst G1473 of you, G* Jerusalem.
“In courtyard house Yahweh in middle you Jerusalem”
“My prayer Yahweh give back in the presence of all your people in courtyard house Yahweh in middle you Jerusalem.”
The specific place the Psalmist wants to see a recompense of his prayers is in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh in the middle of Jerusalem. What he wants is for the people to see the blessing of Yahweh. It would be an encouragement and an inspiration for anyone to see the signs and wonders of Yahweh.
Clearly this Psalmist was facing death in an agonizing way. Yet he invokes the name of Yahweh. What is this Psalmist trying to tell us? Call out to Yahweh, invoke his name, then praise Him. In difficult times where we see so many innocent people dying, we can understand from this Psalmist that the innocents and beloved are valued and valuable to Yahweh. This does not mean Yahweh wants people to die, but to the children of the Most High God, death is not an enemy but instead a new beginning. Jesus has the key to death, and the beloved who are faithful through death receive a crown of life. The agony of losing loved ones is the pain that we experience on the earth. At this time of difficulty bringing a sacrifice of praise is not easy until we remember that Yahweh is not harming people but he values people. There is no word for plague in the bible in the original Greek text and any illusions to that are simply man’s incorrect opinions. Yahweh does not send a plague to murder people, but the devil uses men to create chaos and death on the earth. However, Jesus has the key to death. No one dies without Jesus knowing about it. Therefore our perspective should be that the beloved of God have served their time well on the earth and their burdens of persecutions are now over. Praise Yah!
