Twenty-Third Sunday After Trinity (B C P). Series

Psalm 44:1-8, Isaiah 11:1-10, Philippians 3:17-21, Matthew 22:15-22.

A). OUR BOAST IN GOD.

Psalm 44:1-8.

It is well if we base our appeals and cries for help to God not upon ourselves (our own good name, what we imagine we have achieved, and what we have done or not done); but rather upon His good name (PSALM 44:5; PSALM 44:8), what He has done in the past (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12), and upon the relationship which He has with us through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 19:30; 2 Corinthians 5:18). Then, and only then might we make our humble complaint (cf. Psalm 142:2) and bold appeal unto Him (cf. Hebrews 4:16).

PSALM 44:1. This verse teaches us not only of the faithful teaching of godly fathers (cf. Exodus 10:2), but also of the attentive listening of their sons (cf. Matthew 13:9; Revelation 3:22).

PSALM 44:2. It is all about what God has done (cf. Exodus 15:17; Psalm 80:8)!

PSALM 44:3. Not them, but Him (cf. Joshua 24:11-12). And all because He had a “favour unto them” (cf. Deuteronomy 4:37-38).

PSALM 44:4. Literally, “He that is King, O God.” The petition is for “deliverances for Jacob.” Deliverance for God’s ancient people, Israel; deliverance for the church; deliverance for individual Christians. Deliver us from evil, deliver us from hard testing; ‘save to the uttermost’ those who come unto thee through our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 7:25).

PSALM 44:5. There is no self-reliance here: it is only “through thee” that we will push down our enemies. The image is of a bullock, pushing with his horns (cf. Deuteronomy 33:17) and trampling underfoot (Romans 16:20).

PSALM 44:6. An individual speaks here: “I will not trust” in anything or anyone but you to “save me.” I will not trust in my own righteousness, nor my own strength, but the righteousness of God through our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). My only weapon is ‘the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’ (cf. Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).

PSALM 44:7. “Thou hast saved us,” and dost save us. Our hope is in the LORD (cf. Psalm 33:22; Titus 2:13).

“And hast put them to shame that hated us.” Through the shame of the Cross, Christ has put to shame all His enemies (cf. Colossians 2:15).

PSALM 44:8. So our “boast” is not in ourselves, but in our God (cf. Jeremiah 9:24). It is God who has planted the church in this world, and God who will sustain it. Our boast is that we are ‘in Christ Jesus, who is God over all, and who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption: that according as it is written, let him that glories glory in the Lord’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

"Selah." Think on these things.

B). A SHOOT FROM THE ROOT.

Isaiah 11:1-10.

The reference to “the stem of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1) sends us back to the origins of Messiah’s dynasty. Not just to David: but to his father, Jesse. David was the youngest son of Jesse, and probably the last person anybody expected to be anointed king (1 Samuel 16:6-13).

However, with the passage of time the house of David became so decimated as to be left with just a stump. Yet out of this root there would spring a shoot which would grow up into the expected righteous Branch (cf. Jeremiah 23:5). The reference to the coming of the Spirit of the LORD upon “Him” (Isaiah 11:2) points us to Jesus, the Messiah.

This anticipates His baptism, when the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon Him ‘like a dove’ (Luke 3:22). It is also indicative of the opening of His ministry (Luke 4:18-19), in which He took Isaiah 61:1 as the text of His sermon: ‘the Spirit of the LORD is upon me…’

Isaiah 11:2 speaks of the manifestation of “the Spirit of the LORD” in Jesus’ life in several different ways. Of these, wisdom and understanding together touch upon the intellect. Counsel and might pertain to practical ability. Knowledge and the fear of the LORD are gifts of piety.

1. The Spirit of the LORD is the source of all God’s thoughts.

2. The Spirit of Wisdom enables us to think God’s thoughts after Him.

3. The Spirit of Understanding helps us to understand His thoughts.

4. The Spirit of Counsel helps us choose the right course for godliness.

5. The Spirit of Strength empowers us to do God’s will in our lives.

6. The Spirit of Knowledge sees God’s thoughts manifested in our lives.

7. The Spirit of the Fear of the LORD is a reverent walking in His way.

The Syriac reads, “He shall be resplendent in the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:3). The fear of the LORD is the very air that Jesus breathes. There is possibly a play on words between Spirit and breath, which are both the same word in Hebrew. He breathes in the sweet savour of – or takes delight in – the fear of the LORD.