The Second Psalm:
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [Psalm 2:1 KJV]
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His anointed, [saying], [Psalm 2:2 KJV]
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. [Psalm 2:3 KJV]
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [Psalm 2:4 KJV]
Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. [Psalm 2:5 KJV]
Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion. [Psalm 2:6 KJV]
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou [art] My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. [Psalm 2:7 KJV]
Ask of Me, and I shall give [Thee] the heathen [for] Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] Thy possession. [Psalm 2:8 KJV]
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. [Psalm 2:9 KJV]
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. [Psalm 2:10 KJV]
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [Psalm 2:11 KJV]
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in Him. [Psalm 2:12 KJV]
In the second verse does the Lord's anointed speak the third verse against the kings of the Earth or is the opposite true. And, should this verse read, His Anointed One. This would definitely affect the interpretation of the word "saying" at the end of the second verse, and who it sets as the speaker.
Also, the capitalization of the passage lifted from the "blueletterbible" would be completed differently, seeing that it did not follow this pattern, when copied.
So mindset and one's perspective can effect his understanding of scripture. And, this is why questions when accepted, elevated through the appropriate hierarchy, and presented in an orderly manner, have value for the edification of His Body. Sincere communication and a search for truth, and an equitable understanding, cannot be established with "bottom-line" summaries, five-second microwave synopses, or elevator-pitches. And, most disheartening, yes-no answers for those expected and unexpected questions from a legal system composed of alumnus from the same Law program, both prosecution, defense, and judge, in the "bling, swift" execution of justice results in the imprisonment and murder, via capital punishment, of some innocent men. Say not, read the Harmony of the Gospel and the trial therein. 1 John 4:1-3 (KJV).
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [1 John 4:1-3 KJV]
- the punctuation has not been corrected, if needed.
And, in conjunction with Psalm 4 (KJV), the sincere, ruminating reading thereof, one could draft or write a 'purposeful and meaningful" theme on many social dysfunctions, found in empires, since Jezebel was kibble and Esther made a King's heart tap, with a fervent patter.
Most importantly, 1 John 4:7-21 (KJV):
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
[1 John 4:7-21 KJV]
- the punctuation has not been corrected, if needed.
This is a short message for someone who perspective in life, the author thought that he would never see:
Finally, this is the foreword for The first epistle of John, given in the Zondervan Bible, ISBN 0-310-93363-3.written by, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (21:20,24),
Now probably an aged man, the apostle John wrote a letter to Christians, in general. Judging by the points he emphasized, it seems that John too was concerned with the encroachments of Gnostic philosophy into Christian faith, particularly, 1) the opinion that Christ only appeared to have a body but did not really have one, and 2) the opinion that the deeds we do with our bodies (which are inherently good).
Many teachings offering a truth beyond what one can find from reading upon one's own and often inconsistent with the established written scriptures have arisen in history. Gnosticism is one! And, sadly that pendulum swing, if not properly halted before breaching a "wise-bound" results in Agnosticism, and the semantic argument of what "knowing" someone really means.
And, agnosticism is defined, as such:
noun
1.a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God,and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, orthat human knowledge is limited to experience.
Synonyms: disbeliever, nonbeliever, unbeliever; doubter, skeptic, secularist, empiricist; heathen, heretic, infidel, pagan.
2.a person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledgein some area of study.
3.a person who holds neither of two opposing positions on a topic:
Socrates was an agnostic on the subject of immortality.
adjective
4.of or relating to agnostics or their doctrines, attitudes, or beliefs.
5.asserting the uncertainty of all claims to knowledge.
6.not taking a stand on something, especially not holding either of twousually strongly opposed positions (often used in combination):
On the issue of Gnosticism and the typecasting of a character, without this sounding like the sycophantic slitherrings of a serpent in search of one's soul and material sustenance, take a moment and look past the "jokester's" barrage of humor and see someone smarter and more "well-read" than one could imagine. Escaping the "David Allen Grier" mark of comedic excellence is far from easy, although he is hailed as a great Elizabethian actor.
So, if an African-American male can play Lear with such force the one can fully see this king shine through in ways that one has never expected, being a leader who planted the first tree in a sea that might be well dressed with a few Mulberries or Crabapples is the first step in changing that undeserved "one-dimensional" perception. So, as one of those friends who tried encouraging you years ago said, "Keep it up!" It takes a while shedding those brands we receive in life, whether deserved or not.
And, the author might be a bigger "class-clown" than one might realize. Did he say something smart?
And, on a more serious note, if you have not gotten up yet! Get up! The righteous falleth down seven times and rises up again! Be wise enough that you rise with what strength that you might have as high as you can! It is not over until they paramedics carry all of us, God-fearing, out of the ring!
And, finally, at least, in terms of the Trinity, as defined within Christianity and the author's life's experiences, for others the Creator of all that is physical and the spiritual realm beyond, the journey on a shore, within the short stretch of the sands of time, occasionally with only a single, instead of a pair of footprints, is worth the time spent walking, talking, the sunshine and the rain.
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