Verse 1 Eastern text: "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the way of the ungodly nor abideth by the
counsel of sinners, nor sitteth in the company of mockers."
Verse 3 "And he shall be like a tree planted by a stream of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its
season; and whose leaves fall not off. And whatsoever he beginneth, he accomplishes."
Verse 2 Eastern text: "The kings of the earth and the rulers have conspired and have taken counsel
together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying."
Verse 3 Eastern text: "Let us break their bands asunder, and let us cast away their yoke from us."
(Tape 56 - Side 2 - Index 273)
Verse 4 The Lord shall have them in derision. It means that the Lord shall not mock at them.
Verse 6 Eastern text: "But I have appointed my king over Zion (Jerusalem), my holy mountain."
Verse 7 To declare my promise. Eastern text: "To declare my promise, the Lord hath said unto me...."
Verse 9 If you break a potter's vessel it can't be fixed, a new pot has to be made. So God destroys a
nation, He would do so as a man breaks a potter's vessel which cannot be put right.
"Break them with a rod of iron." Eastern text "Thou shalt shepherd them with a rod of iron, thou
shalt break them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
Verse 12 The word "from" should be "in." "...Perish in the way; in a little while his wrath will be
kindled." "Kiss the son" means "get right with him." Here it means kiss the feet, which is symbolic of
repentance and willingness to be reconciled.
(Luke 7:36,38; Psalm 56:8). She kissed his feet. Easterners are entitled to greet one another with a
holy kiss—a kiss on the hand, forehead or cheek which shows respect and affection. It was significant
that she kissed his feet instead because it meant that she was ready to confess her sins to him. It is an act
of asking for forgiveness. (Psalm 2:12) She showed a desire to be reconciled.
See also: Job 9:32,33.
Covenant of salt. Our daysman is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 6 Eastern text: "I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have surrounded me and set
themselves against me." Thousands are better than a limit of ten thousand.
Verse 7 "Arise, O Lord my God, and save me..."
Verse 1 Eastern text: "When I have called thee thou hast answered me, O my God and Savior, my
righteousness; thou hast comforted me when in distress. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer."
Verse 2 Glory of God. Eastern text: "Men, how long will ye cover my glory? How long will ye love
vanity? Do you want deception forever?"
Verse 4 Be angry and sin not. "Be angry and sin not; commune with your own heart and meditate upon
your bed."
Verse 6 "There are many that say, 'Who can show us a good man so that he may shine upon us the light
of his countenance.'"
Verse 3 Eastern text: "...and in the morning will I prepare myself and see thee."
Verse 5 "Foolish" should be "proud."
Verse 12 Righteous. "For thou will to bless the righteous, O Lord thou hast adorned me like a perfect
Verse 7 "Anger." Eastern text: "Mine eye is diseased because of anger, and I am troubled by all my
Verse 10 "Enemies." "Let all my enemies be ashamed and defeated; let them turn back and be
destroyed suddenly."
Verse 9 "O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and establish thou the righteous, O thou searcher
of hearts and kidneys." Kidneys and hearts represent affections.
Verse 10 Eastern text: "O God who saveth the upright in heart, O righteous God, help me."
Verse 11 "God is a righteous judge, He is not angry every day." (Translation)
Eastern text: "God is a righteous judge, yet He is not angry every day."
Oriental translation: "God is righteous judge, yea, He is not angry every day."
Verse 12 Eastern text: "If he turn not from his anger, he will whet his sword and bend his bow and
make it ready."
Verse 2 Babes and sucklings. Eastern text: "Out of the mouth of young men and infants hast thou
made thy glory because of thine enemies that thou mightest destroy the enemy and avenge it."
Verse 4 Eastern text: "...Thou hast sat on the throne O thou righteous judge."
Verse 6 Eastern text: "My enemies have been annihilated by the sword forever. And thou hast
destroyed the villages and their very memory has perished."
Verse 1 Eastern text. "Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? And deny thy care in time of trouble?"
Verse 3 Lord is angry when wicked are blessed. Eastern text: "For the ungodly boasteth of his own
desire and the Lord is angry when the wicked are blessed."
Verse 9 Snare. Eastern text: "He lieth in wait to snare the poor by the baiting of his net."
Verse 10 "Croucheth." Eastern text: "He shall be humbled and overthrow and in his bones there shall
be sickness and pain."
Verse 13 "Wicked." "Why doth the wicked provoke God? He saith in his heart, 'God doth not seek vengeance.'"
Verse 18 "Fatherless." Eastern text: "execute justice to the fatherless and to the afflicted; so that man
may not be destroyed from the face of the earth."
Verse 5 "Wicked." Eastern text: "The Lord trieth the righteous and the wicked but his soul hateth him
that loveth violence."
"Salvation; poor." Eastern text: "because of the oppression of the poor, and the groans of the needy,
now will I arise saith the Lord, and I will bring salvation openly."
Verse 8 "Wicked." Eastern text: "For the wicked walk on every side, like lustful pride of the children
of Edom."
Verse 6 "Salvation." Eastern text: "I will sing unto the Lord because He saved me."
Verses 5 and 6 Land lordship, lines and lot. Land lordship. Some Easterners own extensive lands, even
up to 200,000 acres. Cannot farm all of it alone. Two or three acres are enough for the family. They
have a special method of agriculture. Suppose a man owns 5,000 acres. He rents lots to other people.
There is early rain and later rain. When early rain comes it is time to plow. .After the rain, there is an
announcement that there will be a division and renting of land. Anyone who wants to rent land goes to
his farm. They all sit down on land with rope (line) for measurement. A person states how much land he
wants and it is measured off with the rope. Some land is better than other land. If the land which a man
receives is not very good, he must still cultivate what is good of it.
See Psalms 129:4
Lines, lot. Hindus. Majority of eastern people live by agriculture. Every family had a home handed
down from father to son and a piece of land to till and produce food for family. In India, 75% had land
handed down to them—Hindus are the majority and also the upper class of Hindus. Out of 450 million
Hindus in India, about 60 million are the Indians (natives) of India as the American Indians are here. The
390 million are the Hindus. The Hindus conquered India and took India from the Indians. So they got all
the land and had all the money. Out of the 390 million Hindus are four classes.
The first three are high caste: Last one low caste, but all are Hindus. Arians who came from Persia.
The first three are the majority: 1) Priest, 2) Ruling, 3) Business (these three are high caste, own land,
lead country and parliament) and 4) Working man.
Out of the first three groups, every person has his own land and home. Sometimes a man has so
much land he doesn't know what to do with it (he got this land by inheritance). Say he can't cultivate the
land. Some Indians don't own any land at all. These come to this big man with property during seed
sowing time and ask if they can work on the land, produce, give a share to the owner and keep some for
When the flood season comes, the owner tells the propertyless people to come to the fields. This is
the first rains, they call it. The field, say 1,000 acres, may be divided into 100 acres. This is where you
get Foxes' field, Johnsons' field in the Bible. These landless people go by groups led by one man. He'll
take a group of say ten people; another man takes a group of ten and so on. They all come and find out
who is in charge of a certain field. They then write a ticket out for that man and that field. They then put
the lot of paper in a bag and get a little boy to draw lots to pick one. They all stand in a line and the little
boy hands one out of bag to first man and so on down the line. Say Foxes' field falls to you. Then you
divide the land among the 10 people who are brought to the land. Within your group of men two men
will hold a rope (a measuring rod/tape). This is called a "line" in the Bible. This man proceeds to divide
the land equally to his people. Some land may be better than other lots. By the grace of God, other lines
are fallen to us by Christ Jesus. There are no rocks in our places, no thorns or thistles. We are in pleasant
places. (The portion of our inheritance is the same as the Lord Jesus Christ's inheritance—we are joint heirs).
Spiritual application: All religion is thorns and thistles to me—the lines are not fallen to me. When
I came to Christ, the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places—joy and peace, love and comfort. God
planted us here as witnesses. The gospel is the land of milk and honey. To give us good land, Christ
came. A goodly heritage equals a crown that fadeth not away. Incorruptible riches; unexhaustible riches.
This is regarding farming in the East. The majority of land is owned by the rich people. The latter
rain is usually in October, the former rain starts in April. After the former rain, they start plowing and at
that time the landlord will announce, "Tomorrow my land will be leased to those who will be present and
who care to have some of the land." On the appointed day then they take the measuring rod and the
landlord will say, "How many people do I have that care to cultivate my land?" He will find out and then
he will divide his land accordingly. The fields always have a name in the East. For instance: foxes field,
potter's field, etc. and they measure them off into lots. The measuring tape is called a "line" in the Bible.
After they have measured the land off they write the name of all who come on a stone and then they mix
them all up. The stones are collected and then the men choose and the number they get is their lot. Often
times the lots fall on rocky ground, bad ground, etc., but here in the Psalms it says, "The lines are fallen
unto me in pleasant places...." God maintained it. The word "cup" means "mighty of all." Reins are
always thoughts in the Bible. During the night season much thought arises.
Verse 6 "Pleasant places" are good land. Now the lines (ropes) are fallen to us in pleasant places. Our
lot is maintained by God. In Christ, now, we have all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. In him we have
salvation, fruits of the spirit, prosperity, joy health, etc. These are our portion and our pleasant places. All
these good things which are our lot are maintained by God. We are heirs of God and sons, we have a
good measure.
Verse 11 Eastern text: "They have praised me and now have compassed me; they have determined to
bury me in the ground." This is what God says referring to us.
Verse 14 Belly. Aramaic version: "From the dead that die by thy hand, O Lord, and from the dead of
the grave, divide their possessions among the living, fill their belly with thy treasure so that their children
are satisfied and have a portion remaining for their own children."
Verse 24 "From the dead that died by thy hand, O Lord, and from the dead of the grave, divide their
possessions among the living, fill their belly with thy treasure, so that their children are satisfied, and have
a portion remaining for their own children." (Translation)
Verse 8 Eastern text: "There went out a smoke out of his wroth, and fire flamed from his face, and
coals were kindled by it."
Verse 12 Eastern text: "Out of the brightness of his shadow, his cloud rained hailstones and coals of fire."
Verse 5 "...And in the name of our God we will set up our banners...." Banners is the wrong word. It
should be "canopies," because a banner is just a flag. This story comes out of the old practice. Supposing
John murdered a member of Jim's family. Jim's family has been getting instructions for four or five
generations, that anytime John's family murders a member of Jim's family, you should kill him. This is a
tradition which is still practiced in some of the Oriental countries. Supposing James got a member of
John's family about three generations later in a corner. John did not know anything about what his
grandfather did to Jim's family at all. But Jim's family has been handing down the story and telling the
boys that one of their duties is to have revenge on the blood of John's family. If he says he is sorry, that
won't save him. But if he says, "In the name of Mahatma Ghandi, I beg pardon," and holds up both hands
at the same time, he will not kill him. He may also run to one of the six cities of refuge and the other man
cannot get in. If the man does not recognize the name of Mahatma Ghandi and kills him anyway and the
dead man's family goes to Ghandi and tells him, he may take his army and go to the family and tell them
that Jim did not respect his name and that he is going to fight them. That is a tradition that they have in
some parts of the Oriental countries today. But, supposing the Jim forgave him and sat down with John
and became his friend. When John went home, he could not keep quiet. He told his family so they
decided to go to Ghandi and take him gifts. Then they say they want to honor him and he must come with
them to their town. But he doesn't want to go. But John's family says they want to show their
appreciation. Then they hold a canopy about six or eight feet long of white cloth, about two feet wide.
Two people hold the corners at the front and two at the back. Ghandi walks under it. The man who was
saved by his name walks in front of him and the rest walk on the sides. They beat the drums and tell
everyone that John is what he is because of this man's name. When they are married, they walk under a
canopy to the banquet hall. Only the bride and the bridegroom walk under the canopy. The bride holds
the bridegroom's hand. Eastern people walk hand-in-hand, not arm-in-arm.
Banners, canopies, witness marriage, avenging of blood. It is not a banner; they go into the banquet
house under a canopy. The canopy is about five to six yards long and about two yards wide. Two people
at the front and two at the rear hold the canopy up. Only the bride and groom pass underneath this
canopy, and they do it hand-in-hand. People who are born again rejoice in their salvation. They rejoice
and set up their canopy.
In the East there is a law among the hill tribes concerned with the "avenging of blood." If John
murdered Bill, then Bill's family will be looking for an opportunity to murder someone from John's
family for four or five generations. When Bill's family finds a member of John's family, the Bill-man
says, "Are you a John-man?" "Yes," he responds. Bill-man, "Well, I am an avenger of blood; your greatgrandfather
murdered my great-grandfather. It has been handed me by birthright to avenge the blood."
John-man says, "I know nothing of this." Bill-man says, "I don't care if you know it or not. I have you
now." The John-man can do one of two things: He can go to one of the six cities of refuge, and stay
there awhile; or he can hold up both hands and cry for mercy. He will mention the name of a person well
known and well respected by Bill-man and the rest of the community (in India, possibly Mahatma
Ghandi's name would be used). Bill-man would have to forgive John-man on the merits of the man's
name used. So Bill-man says, "All right, you are free now, I have fulfilled my purpose of avenging
blood. Because you have called on so-and-so's name, you are free now." Then Bill-man goes home and
so does John-man.
When John-man gets home he tells the entire story to his family, and says that he would be dead and
buried now had he not called on that name. The family rejoices in the fact (salvation) and celebrates.
They go to the man's home (whose name was used) and thank and praise him and give him gifts and then
they call him out to the street and have him walk down the street. They put garlands around his neck and
raise the canopy over his head. The John-man, saved walks in front of the canopy, making much noise
and saying, "Come and see this man by whose name I am saved. I am what I am because of him." This is
"rejoicing in our salvation and set up our banner."
We rejoice in our salvation. We were lost in sin and degradation. We were lost BUT called on the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose name is above every name; but are we setting up our canopy and
telling people about it? Are we shamed of what has saved us from sickness, death, etc.? Are we taking
this truth and making it known? James 1:22.
Be doers of the Word, not just comfortable seat sitters. Declare what the Word of God has done for
you. Don't argue. Just do as the blind man of John 9: "I was born blind, now I see." They could not
argue it. Prove the truth that we have been taught by our fruits. Set up your canopy. Witness! Don't try
to teach it all. Just witness to the truth. This way they will want it, too.
"Who will set up our banners." "Banners" should be canopies, could be either a small banner or a
canopy, depending upon the context where it is used.
If a man (A) is revenging a murder committed by (B) or someone in (B's) family, then (B) can have
two ways of escape: 1) raise his hands and call on name of a well-respected person; 2) He can run to
one of the six cities of refuge. If (B) uses #1 then he goes to the respected person and sets up a canopy in
this man's name and the man walks under it with the saved person going in front rejoicing his salvation.
The canopy is the protection which saves the man's life. The man calls upon the name of the respected
person. (Revengers of blood, Numbers 35:6ff, are mentioned in the above teaching.)
Spiritual application: We call upon the name of God and He is our canopy. We testify to our
salvation just as the man walks before the canopy praising the name of respected person with overflowing joy.
"To set up a canopy for someone" is an idiom which means that we witness to the greatness of that
person. The more we witness the Lord Jesus Christ, the more joy we experience. Not witnessing will
stagnate the believers.
God forbade the revenging of blood and it is only practiced by hill country people in southern India.
"Set up our banners," canopy. "Banners" should be "canopy." We who have been saved call upon
the Lord, the name God honors and set above all others. Then we should set up our canopy; we should go
on telling anybody, everywhere, testifying, witnessing that we are saved through his name. Tell
everybody about it. Best testimonies are "what the Lord has done for you since you were saved."
Marriage (set up canopy)— related to salvation. Banner—canopy. During marriage ceremony,
couple walks under white sheet canopy four or five feet long and about three or four feet wide, supported
on posters by two people in back and two in front. A banner would be much smaller. Rejoicing is one
thing. Setting up a canopy is another. If truly rejoice in salvation, we will set up a canopy in the name of
God. (Song of Solomon 2:4—"banner" = canopy. People don't walk under a banner.)
There is a law for avenging of blood in East. If John murdered James, James' children would look
for John's children for three or four generations to kill them. John's children have two ways of escape: 1)
can put up hands before James' children and call upon name of most respected person, "I ask your pardon
in the name of Mahatma Ghandi,"; 2) He can run to one of the six cities of refuge for protection until the
priest of that city is dead. No reasoning or argument will save him. After begin saved on merit of a great
name, he goes home and tells everyone about it. Then they all go to the house of the man of the respected
name and tell him they would like to proclaim the incident to the whole city by having him walk under a
canopy. The boy who was saved runs before, beating drums, and declaring that he was saved by this
man's name. Everyone rejoices and bows down to this man.
We are saved by calling on the name of Jesus Christ. After salvation we must "set up a canopy" for
him—proclaim our salvation. Testify to it so others may also partake. We either declare it or deny it.
We must get heart knowledge rather than mental assent.
We are bound to tell if we have really experienced the joy of salvation. We cannot raise a canopy for
Jesus Christ if there is no hunger in our hearts. Christ and the Word must be living and real to us. If a
person has nothing, he has nothing to say.
"...set up our banners." (canopy) Must check word "banner" and decide whether it should be
"canopy" or "banner." In this instance, it's "banner." A canopy is about 45 yards long; 2 yards wide.
Men carry it with posters in front and bride and bridegroom walk under this canopy when marriage
ceremony is over and going to the Banqueting House.
Set up banners (canopy). Banner = canopy. It is about 4-5 feet wide, 6-7 feet long, supported by
two posters in front; two in back. You must tell whether it is a banner or canopy by context. It is like a
sheet. (A banner is not that big.) There is an old tradition in the East which is condemned by law and by
religion that "iniquity shall be from children to children" for several generations. For example, if John
murdered James, children of James will be looking for the children of John for many generations to
avenge the blood of Jaeras. Suppose that one day John's offspring ran into James' offspring who held a
knife and said, "I am the true avenger of my grandfather James whom your grandfather murdered." John
has two alternatives for escape: 1) he can flee from James to one of the six cities of refuge where he
would be safe until the high priest of that city died; 2) He can throw up his hands and ask pardon in the
name of a well-known, and well-respected person. In India, perhaps it would be Mahatma Ghandi.
James would answer, "On the merit of Mahatma Ghandi, you are free. I have avenged the blood and my
duty is done." After that, James and John become friends. Then they go to Ghandi's house to tell him
that John was saved by calling on the name of Ghandi. They set up a canopy for Ghandi to walk under
and they put garland around his neck. John walks in from beating a drum and proclaiming what had taken
place and how he was saved. Everyone rejoices.
We have been saved by calling on the name of the Lord. We should proclaim it. In this age of grace
we are saved by the name of Jesus Christ. We should set up a canopy and tell people how he saved us.
verse 1 "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" The Oriental translation is, "My God, my
God, for what has thou spared me? you have kept my salvation far away from me, because of the folly of
my words." Salvation means "saved me from the present trouble." "Lama" means "for this purpose."
"Swabatami" means spare, preserve, alone, permitted. Refer back to Matthew 27:46. Psalms 22:1, he
gives the idea he would rather have died. "Eli" means God. Eloi means Elijah.
The Easterners believe that when death is near, God is closer to them. Even a condemned sinner
won't cry out in defeat because they all believe God is closer to a man who is dying. That is why the Jews
don't believe that Jesus cried out in despair. The Roman soldiers did not understand the language Jesus
spoke. Everyone has sympathy for a man who has murdered someone and is to be hanged. He himself is
My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? Oriental translation: "My God, My God, why hast
thou let me to live? And yet thou hast delayed my salvation from me because of the words of my folly."
This should read, "My God, my God why hast thou let me live?" This is the Psalmist's cry to God.
Verses 1-17 have to do with the psalmist David. Verse 18 applies to Christ also: "They parted my
garments." "My vesture"—this is symbolic of authority. This authority cannot be divided.
Verse 29 "All they that are hungry upon earth shall eat, and worship before the Lord. All they that are
buried shall kneel before him. My soul is alive to him." (Translation)
Hungry. Aramaic version: "All they that are hungry upon earth shall eat and worship before the
Lord. All they that are buried shall kneel before him. My soul is alive to him."
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." The shepherds love and protect their sheep. They love their
sheep very much and take care of them carefully. They protect their sheep from animals and thieves.
"He prepareth a table before me" They also provide them with food—in case there is no pasture, the
shepherd takes his staff or crook and pulls down leaves from trees so the sheep can eat. They will not let
them be hungry. They do not want—if a sheep should get hurt (breaks a leg etc), the shepherd carries the
sheep on his shoulder and keeps talking to the sheep—always attends to its wants—crook provides the
food—staff protects them (only those in the fold).
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters." Eastern sheep
will not drink from running water, so the shepherd puts stones in the stream, to stop the water from
running so fast—this makes a quiet pond where the sheep can drink.
"Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." When a sheep is hurt and the shepherd has to carry it on
his shoulder, he keeps talking to the sheep to comfort him. The shepherd will say, "You are in this
condition because you would not listen to me. I did not make it so—you did—because you disobeyed
me." Also the rod and staff that the shepherd carries are used to protect his sheep from thieves and animals.
Note: Those accepting Christ and born again are in His fold. No matter what difficulties we face—
we keep our eyes on God. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
The sheep are always looking for a patch of better grass and goes two or three miles looking for
better grass. They never take their eyes from the ground—just looking. (Like some people who are
always looking for a better standard of living.)
"Thou anointest my head with oil." When shepherd returns to the fold with the injured sheep, this is
the first thing he does, if a sheep gets cut or hurt the shepherd takes oil and puts it on the wound and
bandages it.
Note: Like Jesus—heals us despite our disobedience. He still loves us.
"My cup runneth over." When the sheep reach the sheepfold in the evening, each sheep has a
wooden bucket of his own. It is filled with water till it overflows (pours abundantly).
Abundant of all things. That is what Jesus Christ gives us if we would let him and believe him.
Note: the shepherd trusts only himself to take care of his sheep—he loves them so very much. He
lies down (cross ways) in the passage of the fold to protect them. The Eastern shepherd acts as the door
to their sheep.
We are the sheep of His pasture. We are in the fold. We belong to His fold. We are secure.
When they return to the sheepfold, sometimes there is a little water to cross of three or four feet
across. The sheep will not walk in the water. So the shepherd will lift one across and then the others will
follow (like people following the crowd).
Jesus Christ is the door of our life and we are the sheep of His pasture.
He maketh me lie down n green pastures. The sheep don't have green pastures all the time, only
sometimes. They specially cultivate a green pasture to preserve some sheep.
"He leadeth me beside the still waters." The sheep do not drink water that is flowing. The shepherds
dig a little pit in the sand where you get the water quickly, about four feet in diameter and about two feet
deep. This is called still water.
"Thy rod and staff." The rod is called a crook (has a bend in the end). Has a sharp knife-like edge.
Staff is like a stick 18" long made of wood as thick as my wrist. He hangs it in his belt. When there
is no green grass, the shepherd uses the rod to cut the branches of the green trees. The rod provides food.
The staff is for protection to defend himself and the sheep.
"Thou preparest a table..." When there is no green grass to eat at all, the shepherd provides green
branches for them to eat. The sheep like the leaves.
" the presence of mine enemies." Their enemies are lions, bears, etc. They are starving because
they do not have anyone to provide for them. When there is nothing around at all for us, our shepherd
still provides for us.
"My cup runneth over." There is a wooden bucket for each sheep for water. The shepherd pours the
water into the bucket until it overflows. He doesn't pour for measurement. When we give, God pours.
Provision is made abundantly.
"Thou anointest my head with oil." If a sheep falls on a rock and breaks his leg, the shepherd carries
the sheep back home. The first thing he will do is pour oil in his wound and bandage it up.
There is a passage in sheepfold, but no door. In the morning the shepherd will take his crook (five
feet long and with a bend at the end, with a sharp blade fixed up to it at the bend). And, he takes a rod
with him—18" long made of wood) that hangs in his belt. The rod is called the staff.
In India, the Bishops use the crook to bless people in the church because they're supposed to be
shepherds appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ. They carry the crook in the left hand; lift right hand and
bless people. Will take a few smooth stones from the seashore and put in his belt. The example of
David—he used them to kill Goliath. All shepherds carry the smooth stones in their belt. They also carry
a sling and a flute made of a reed, and some food for himself for the day. Then he goes out. He calls the
sheep to come out and they do. They follow him as he goes before. They will only follow the shepherd's
voice—not a stranger's. They only accept the authority of Jesus Christ—just as we should accept no other
voice other than His Word.
He searches until he finds a patch of grass, maybe a mile or two away. Then he lets them all graze
together. Sheep always look down—never up as goats do. Sheep look for better grass all the time.
(Numbers 32:24) Better standard of living. People constantly seek after this. There is no peace or joy in
anything except the Lord Jesus Christ.
One sheep will go out looking for more grass. The shepherd will take his sling out, and say to the
sheep, "John, John, I'm going to hit you, I'm sorry. Your safety depends on your abiding in the fold.
Your eyes are on better grass only—not on lions and tigers that might attack you. You might break your
neck—so come back, John or I'm going to hit you." We as Christians answer, "don't worry, I'll be in
church Sunday," or "I'll be there in my spirit." "Let me alone."
The shepherd slings the stone, after several remembrances, and aims it so as not to hit the sheep at
all, but pass right in front to the sheep's mouth. The sheep is scared and comes back to the fold. The
shepherd says, "next time I'll hit you; this time I let you go."
When we go out and look for "better grass" and forget Christ and don't stay in the fold—the stones
pass on us. The smooth stone always warns us to come back before we get hurt. Come back to Christ,
depending on God.
Thieves will come to rob the sheep sometimes—the shepherd will defend the sheep with his staff.
Sometimes food is scarce and can't find any grass anywhere—especially summer, green grass is hard
to find. Shepherd can't let sheep starve so he gathers leaves of certain trees to feed them. He uses the
crook to bend the limbs, cuts off the leaves and feeds the sheep. "He preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies." The shepherd provides for the sheep. When the whole world is starving, our
God shall feed us. When the world produces nothing, nothings grows; no matter how many depressions
the world presents. Our shepherd's crook stands for authority—He'll feed us from heaven. He did it for
Israel and will for us as long as we abide in the fold—the rest will starve.
"Thy rod and they staff they comfort me." The crook provides the food. The staff defends you—
only when you abide in the fold. (Not just a member of a denomination, but to walk in his ways; seek
Him first.)
"He leaded me beside the still waters." Sheep never drink flowing water. You have to dig a little pit
in a sandy place—makes still waters.
If the sheep has not obeyed the shepherd's voice and gotten hurt, say broken a neck, the shepherd
will put the sheep on his back and carry him on his shoulder. He then talks to the sheep. "John, you
wouldn't listen to me-It's your fault, you make it so you chose to make it so. You broke your leg because
of disobedience. You stepped into the pit. To the Eastern man, the sheep is like a son. He treats them as
his own children. Therefore, the shepherd takes care of them personally.
Sometimes will have to cross a small canal on the way back to the fold. Sheep won't get his feet
wet—won't walk in it. The shepherd tosses one across. Then all the sheep stop—none will get wet—they
follow the crowd rather than Christ; follow the Smiths and the Joneses all the time. When he gets home
with a hurt sheep, he puts oil on it. That what it means when it says, "Thou anointest my head with oil."
He supports and defends us and answers our prayers.
"My cup runneth over." Each sheep has a bucket. He fills them with water (to overflowing). God
gives us a spiritual abundance of everything.
Back to John 10—No doors, only a passage in a sheepfold. Only shepherd can lead sheep to green
pastures. Sometimes, he must go for miles before finding grass. He knows where they are and sheep do
not. Sheep cannot fight the shepherd or dictate to him. Church is not a democracy, but a theocracy. God
rules by way of the man of God. God ordains him and he should have authority. The man of God has
authority over all of the offering received. It is his responsibility to use it wisely for his needs and the
needs of the church. It is not the responsibility of the "sheep."
Eastern shepherd usually has a beard, wears a long robe and has a crook (wooden rod about 4 feet
long with bend on end and a sharp blade attached to the bend), and a staff (wooden) about 18 inches long,
and a few smooth stones from the seashore which he carries in a leather bag on a belt and a flute to
comfort and cheer the sheep and a sling. The shepherd does not drag the sheep, but leads them. Each has
a name which shepherd remembers. He knows them by sight. The sheep are concerned with the grass
only; but the shepherd watches out for wolves and other dangers.
Analogy to the church: The pastor must ward off false doctrine, etc. The sheep are always looking
down (eating). Do not see all that is going on. If a sheep is straying into danger and will not heed the call
of the shepherd, he slings a stone which lands right by the sheep's mouth. If still does not heed, he will hit
the sheep with a smooth stone. Must be smooth so it will not harm the sheep. This is chastening it to
bring it back to the flock and fold. Outside is danger. Inside is prosperity, security and peace.
In the East, sheep do not like to drink flowing water. The shepherd digs a small pit and water
springs up. It is still water and the sheep will drink from it (Psalm 23:2). If they must cross a water
canal, shepherd carries one across and others follow even though they do not like to get their feet wet.
They won't go until he does this. How much we follow people and not Christ!
Every Eastern monarch must go after the sheep for six months. If he can govern the sheep, can
govern the people because much alike. David did that.
If no grass available, there are certain leaves which sheep love. So the shepherd uses his crook (rod)
to bring down leaves. He prepares a "table" for them even when enemies about are starving. (Psalm
23:5) God can provide food for us even when it seems none is available—even if it must be brought from
The rod symbolizes authority. The rod and staff are a comfort to the sheep (Psalm 23:4). Staff
defends; rod provides. Christ is our shepherd.
If the sheep does not heed the shepherd and gets hurt, the shepherd will carry him home on his
shoulders and lecture the sheep. He soothes him with oil and a bandage (Psalm 23:5). At evening, when
they get home, each sheep has a wooden bucket. The shepherd fills it to overflowing. We must learn to
give as a shepherd. We should give freely and abundantly. When we ask for something, he doesn't say "I
have yesterday."
Shepherds do not trust a door or gate on the sheepfold. Someone could open it during the night. The
shepherd's wife or son acts as the door while he goes to eat. Someone that the shepherd trusts (never a
stranger or hireling) lies across the opening of the fold and acts as the door. Does not sleep (Psalm
121:3,4). Christ presents us blameless and without spot or wrinkle before God. Shepherd gets very little
sleep. God is always watching us—never sleeps.
In the East, one of the greetings is to put thumb and two fingers together and touch forehead and
mouth and heart while saying, "Peace be unto you." It means, "I wish you peace in my mind, mouth and
heart." This greeting is people's peace and they don't have it. We have Christ's peace given unto us.
The priests would take a three-pronged flesh hook (trident) when an offering is brought to the temple
the priest's servant would reach in with the flesh hook and what he took was his. He is responsible to
God. (I Samuel 2:13-14) You don't need an auditor to keep track of how he spends it.
"Green pasture" The shepherd knows where the green grass is. He leads the sheep to that place.
Your pastors are called shepherds (pastors) (pastures). Pastor—one who feeds the sheep; leads the sheep.
Israel was led by Moses—people were all right—but the people wanted a king as other people had.
God told them, the king will you to serve him—he will do you no good. I (God) will be your king. As
soon as they got a king, they got in the soup. Starts preaching, talking—
Verse 6 Wash mine hands in innocency. They do this in the Roman Catholic Church. When they break
the break the bread in communion, and there's a prayer for it, the priest washes his hands on the altar and
says these words. He must cleanse himself from defilement of sin. Pontius Pilot did this—means freedom
from guilt.
When the people in the east walk out of their house, they always wash their feet upon re-entering the
house. It cleans them from dust and defilement. Same here. The priests cleanse themselves from
defilement of walking in the world.
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin not just water. We are cleansed from all
Verse 12 Vessel, broken. A vessel was made of clay. The potter burns the clay. Then he checks to see
if the vessels are broken by knocking or rapping on the pot. Broken vessels are cracked, broken before
usage. (It would have a slight crack through which water would leak). So the broken vessels are set
aside. People used these broken vessels to store junk at home, or to empty dirt, mud and such. Like a
family rummage bin.) Only good enough to hold junk. David felt that he was like where all the despised
and junk was thrown, and was only good enough to hold junk. I am a good for nothing man, a despised
person, a contaminated person; this is taken from the custom of the broken vessels in the East and how
they were treated.
"A broken vessel." A broken vessel is used (if the piece is large enough) to hold dirt, and dirty rages
in the home (sort of like a wastebasket). This means "all the dirt and filth of the world is stacked or piled
on me."
(Ezra 9:8). Speark, pots repaired in the way. "Nail" is a speark, symbolic of the permanency of the
Word of God and God's faithfulness. This originated in the East. Broken pots in the junk pile in the
Eastern backyard. These are pots which leak, at a potter's home. All the cracked pots are put in piles.
Ones which cannot be repaired are available for the public to take. The public puts the broken pots in
their garden, where junk is kept. They are hung to the wall, arranged on a spear; all of the junk can be put
on it. David says he's a broken vessel. It cannot hold water, it is thrown in the backyard as junk. (Psalm
31:12) It is in the company of rags and dirt and filth. David felt he was a broken vessel. The broken
vessel is not to be just any place. This is why "a nail in a sure place" = "a constant and sure abode."
Verse 1 "The unjust conceives wickedness within his heart, for there is no fear of God before his eyes."
Wickedness. Aramaic version: "The unjust conceives wickedness within his heart for there is no
fear of God before his eyes."
Verse 2 Flattereth. Aramaic version: "For it is indifferent to him to see his sins forgiven, or to hate them."
Verse 35 Green bay tree. No such tree. Any kind of tree which grows quickly in its own soil is such a
tree. Any man who prospers quickly in his own business is referred to as a "green bay tree." "Oh, he's
under the juniper tree" means, as a figure of speech, he is defeated and frustrated. Should not be in
agreement with the wicked. God then sent a lion to slay his disobedient servant. We today, choose to
suffer ourselves. People today are wicked more than any other period. Why?
Green bay tree. Any tree which grows up very quickly in its own soil is called a "green bay tree."
Any man who makes money all night by his wicked methods and deceptive plans is a green bay tree.
("Fly by night") He doesn't last long.
"Jonah's Gord"—kept Jonah in protection—it is a casteroil plant. Wide leaves, grows quickly—
wonderful shade. Green bay tree is similar. They also die quickly. Diseases usually start in the mind.
They filter into the body because the mind is sick. All sickness begins in the mind. There are only two
ways to go—God's way, the way of life. The Devil's way—the way of death—darkness.
Verse 6 (Romans 1:4). Branded. In the temple on the altar are coals of fire. This along with a hot
needle is used to mark their ear for dedication (higher classes only). Called the mark of dedication—take
a red hot needle and bore the ear lobe—marks you out as a Son of God. David said, "Mine ear thou has
bored" Psalm 40:6 (quoted, not stated). (King James reads "opened" in the text it is "bored" or digged.")
He was ear marked to serve God. "Come out from them and be ye separate," saith God—you're ear
marked to serve God, not to serve the Devil and the flesh.
"Initiated." You will continue to do this until you are 12 years old. At 12 you are initiated, twice
born, ear marked, marked out, branded. Before you are 12 you are not supposed to be able to understand
how to believe in God. So you cannot be born again. You must be of age to answer God in baptism; able
to believe; then you are baptized. How can you believe as a baby? You can't. People were baptized by
emersion years before Christ.
Verse 5,6 and 9 Go abroad, gossip. Deuteronomy 23:12-14. Go abroad, paddle. "If he..." the enemy,
the Devil, who comes in numerous ways. The enemy is in our heads. Verse 5—our enemies say the
same thing, "when will he give up this confessing Christ? When will he give up this testifying and study
of the Word?" This is what the enemy works on us. Verse 6—"...his (the enemy's) heart gathereth
iniquity to itself..." he always tries to scare us, frighten us. "When he goeth abroad, he telleth it."
Most Eastern people live in one of the villages (India has 750,000). Those who live in the cities have
bathrooms, just as in the United States. In the villages, they go outside the city walls to go to the
bathroom. Women go to one area; men to another. The place must have a water conveyance because
Eastern people do not use toilet paper, they wash (to be arguing between the East and the West is caused
by lack of understanding of differences. We are not anxious to change Easterners to Western culture as
we are merely to understand their background). "Goeth abroad" means he has gone to the fields to
answer the calls of nature. (See Deuteronomy 23.)
If there is no running water, the people carry a jug of water with them.
Verse 9 "Familiar friend" means "a man of my peace," or "a man with whom I am in peace." A man
can be familiar and not be in peace, spiritually and politically. First, he was a man in peace with him;
second, he was his friend; third, he trusted in him; and fourth, he ate bread with him. A man can be in
peace without being a friend.
"...he telleth it," men gossip or women gossip at the toilet. Example, "my enemy is sick; I hope he
will never recover." That is why it says here, Deuteronomy 23:12-14: "without the camp"—outside city
wall; "go forth abroad" — toilet. Verse 13—"thou shalt have a paddle," something to dig with. Dig a
hole; remove the waste and then cover it up.
The life of Eastern people is in the Bible, the way they live in every detail of their life. Psalms 41:6:
If the enemy speaks to psalmist, it is vanity, so he usually talks about it at the toilet. Verse 9: "Hath lifted
up his heel against me"—he will turn against you, acting against you. (Genesis 3:15) a familiar friend;
"who did eat bread"—was eating salt, a trust; if it is not honored, it is considered a breech of trust. We
eat the bread of Christ Jesus every day because he gives us food, power to earn bread—and we do not
walk in accordance to His will. We lack loyalty and faithfulness yet we eat His salt.
Speak evil of me. India has 750 thousand villages—it deals with the village life. To know India you
must understand village life. Means his enemies talk; gossip about you when they go abroad.
(Prophecy of Judas Iscariot) covenant of salt—he ate my bread. Fulfilled in John 13:18. It is bad
culture to hurt the one you eat with (his salt). "Lifted his heel" means he hurt me. We eat the salt of the
Lord Jesus Christ all the time, we make the money, but who gives us the power to do it, the strength,
grace to do it? Christ. Are we not eating salt? Do we not betray Him? Yes, we deny Him before men,
we dishonor Him in our tithes and offering, we neglect Him—we don't seek Him first. We lie to Him,
deceive Him—we say and don't do—we are all Judases. How thankless we are, not concerned about
Christ. He gives me health, grace, life—in spite of myself—He gives me salt. We don't have time for Him.
We suffer loss when we do this—we have salvation, but lose in our walk; concerning health,
prosperity, etc.
If you eat His salt—seek Him first!! Do the will of God, do the Word. (Be not hearers only, but be
doers of the Word). We are arrogant, stiff necked people—stupid.
"Did eat my bread, lifted up his heel." Whenever you eat food, there is salt in it. To lift up your heel
is to do harm. This is prophecy concerning Judas Iscariot.
See Matthew 26:22,23.
Verse 7 Deep calleth to deep. At the call of the waterspouts. "Noise" should be "call." "Deep calleth
unto deep" means one trouble follows after another and each one gets a little worse. "Waterspouts" are
flows of water. Water that flows very quick and thick. These are the waterspouts of God. "Waves and
billows" are afflictions. I am full of troubles and the troubles are going over me. He was stating his
numerous difficulties. See verse 8, as God's grace and power kick into gear. Maintain peace and power
in these times.
Solution is to change our thinking, renew our minds, look unto the Lord, cast our burden, to find
peace, contentment, and fearlessness. It is not wrong to get into difficulties, opposition and trails. It is
wrong to stay in that condition. Don't be affected by the conditions round about us. Circumstances
cannot determine our state of mind. Dependence on God only to have a stable peace. We are not like the
world getting scared in circumstances. Our God is able to deliver (peculiar people).
Verse 19 "For thou hast humbled us a second time in the land, and covered us with the shadow of
death." (Translation)
Shadow of death. Aramaic version: "For thou hast humbled us a second time in the land and
covered us with the shadow of death."
Verse 13 Veil, "All glorious within." Veil worn by single women. She also wears many jewels which
are covered by the veil. She is "all glorious within." Much gold is used in clothing (sari). Our glory now
is within because of Christ. The jewels are the fruit of the spirit. When the veil of our heart is lifted, the
jewels are seen. Our salvation is demonstrated outwardly. "Education" means to bring something out
from within. (See Latin word for it.) Bishop teaches here to look within for answers because of holy
spirit. When Christ in you is a living reality, you have joy.
Bishop: an elder; an overseer of the church.
Pillai teaches to pray tonight that God through his spirit in us will write upon the tables of our hearts
what we have learned tonight so that the knowledge will spring up in his like fountains of water in times
of need.
Easterners pray before a burning lamp which symbolizes the presence of God. Never feel that God is
far removed. He is within each Christian. The resource is within the Christian. When Mohammedans
pray, they stand on a high place, put their fingers in their ears so they will hear nothing else and call upon
God with a loud voice. Hindus pray while sitting quietly and cross-legged on the floor, lifting spinal cord
and talking to God whom they believe is within.
The King's daughter is all glorious within (within the veil)—At the end of 10 days of marriage, the
bridegroom gives her a silver cord. We say, "With this ring I thee wed;" they use the cord in its place:
"With this cord I thee wed." The silver cord in a beautiful jewel. The groom makes a covenant of salt
with the bride; then someone lifts the veil so he can put the silver cord around her neck. After he does
this, he sees his wife for the first time. He lifts the veil wondering what he's going to find now. (That's
what we think.) "How can a man love a woman of sin? It's a spiritual background culture that counts—
not her face. Have you ever seen Christ? Do you love Him? Same thing. Marriage is based on culture—
After lifting the veil he's seen her face now. Then he puts her veil on his shoulder assuring everyone
and his bride that her substance and protection will be on his shoulder from now on.
"all glorious within". This refers to the daughter being covered with a veil. "Within" means inside of
the veil. The husband at the wedding will remove the veil and place it on his shoulder signifying that the
protection of the bride now rests on his shoulders.
Verse 11 "Their graves shall be their only habitation forever, and their dwelling place throughout all
generations." (Translation)
Graves. Aramaic version: "Their graves shall be their only habitation forever, and their dwelling
places throughout generations. Their marked graves will be their only remembrance on earth."
Verse 13 "This their way is their folly: in the end, demanded they will graze like cattle." (Translation)
Folly. Aramaic version: "This their way is their folly; in the end, demented, they will graze like
Verse 6 "These people no longer recognize evil, they have absorbed my people as bread, they have no
respect for God."
Workers of iniquity. Aramaic version: "These people no longer recognize evil; they have absolved
my people as bread. They have no respect for God."
Verse 8 "my tears in thy bottle" David knew that God was keeping a record of his deeds so he did not
need to keep a tear bottle.
Tear bottles. A woman in Luke 7:38 washed Jesus's feet with tears from a tear bottle. The Eastern
people keep tear bottles in their home. Anytime the person weeps or cries or something to do with God or
the spiritual vain, then they put the tears in this bottle, and preserve them. When the person dies, this
bottle is buried with them. They believe that every tear that is shed for the glory of God will give them a
reward. This is why tear bottles are so precious in the East. It is a disgrace to be buried without one.
Any person who uses the tears before they are dead must do it in one of these situations: 1) If they
love the person, or 2) If they think of a person as a holy man; somebody who can forgive their sins and
give them heavenly assurance here and now. For these reasons will an Easterner pour out his tears and
wash their feet. This is an oriental custom of sin-confession.
Kissing the brethren is an oriental practice. When guests come in, they kiss each other. Kiss of
affection and tenderheartedness and hospitality, and friendship. Get orientalism first, then people will
come along with an understanding of the spiritual application.
(Luke 7:36,38) Tears; washing the feet. How could the woman stand behind Jesus and wash his feet
and kiss them? It is because Easterners do not sit in chairs like Westerners do. They sit on the floor. The
woman could stand by his side and reach his feet.
Why did she bring a gift (alabaster box of ointment)? In the East, a person would never go empty
handed to visit a doctor, priest, sick person or pregnant woman. In this case, the woman was visiting her
How did she get enough tears to wash his feet? She could never accumulate enough by crying just
once. Easterners keep "tear bottles" in their homes. Whenever they cry for something concerning God
for which they expect a reward, they collect the tears in the bottle and preserve them there. These are
tears from weeping and praying. Each member of the household has his own bottle which is buried with
him at his death. It is a disgrace among some Easterners to be buried without the bottle. They believe
that the bottle goes with them to heaven and they will receive a reward for each tear in the bottle. If a
woman sacrifices her tear bottle, it is more than giving all the millions of dollars in the world. It is a
custom to do for a holy man that one respects very much.
See Psalm 56:8—David was telling God that whatever he did for God was recorded in God's book.
He did not have to bring the tear bottle to remind Him.
In Luke again, the woman wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. An Eastern woman's hair is her glory and
is very long. She was showing her humility and submission. She was saying that her glory was good
enough only to wash his feet.
Tears into thy bottle. There is a tear bottle in each home, six inches by two inches preserved in the
home. Before they cry, especially about spiritual matter, they cry into these bottles. These bottles are
buried with them. They are supposed to get a reward for the tears they shed for the glory of God. It is a
heathen practice. David says don't do this tear bottle trip; it's all in God's Book.
David is using a figure of speech to say "God records my rewards in His book and I have no need for
a tear bottle.
It is a sacrifice to wash feet of holy men with a tear bottle. The woman made her sacrifice to Jesus
Christ to have his forgiveness rather than rewards in heaven. Most Hindu women have long hair—glory
of her head. She demonstrates humility by using her hair.
"Kissed his feet" means to confess sin with a willingness to be reconciled. It is a sign that she is
asking for forgiveness.
See also: Luke 7:36-38,48,50 and Tape 64, Side 1, Index 758.
Verses 4 and 5 Snake Charmer. There are plenty of snake charmers in India. There are huge snakes
that live in the walls of people's houses. The people feed them. They believe if you feed them they will
not hurt you—if you kill them, they will kill you—especially a cobra. They will chase you for
generations and kill you (avenging of blood).
If they want to get rid of a snake, they pay a snake charmer to come in and charm the snake and take
it away. They will not kill it. In verse 5, some adders do not respond to the voice of charmers. The
wicked are so bad, and poisonous, they are like the adder that will not listen to the charmer. This wicked
will not listen to any truth.
Verse 8 "As the wax which melteth, and drips before the fire; let them be destroyed: fire hath fallen
from heaven and they did not see the light, the truth has been given and they did not understand."
they may not see the sun." "Snail" means "wax"—wax will melt. "Like the untimely birth of a woman"
means "like a stillborn babe of a woman" (one that is dead before birth—will never see the light of day).
This verse is speaking of wicked people, who are born spiritually dead and remain ignorant of spiritual
things. They will always live and act ignorant, (will melt away like wax—never seeing light.)
"Snail"—wax melteth.
"Lit"—like the stillborn baby of the woman (untimely birth of a woman). Wicked people are like
this, live this way and the curse of God shall be upon them. They are spiritually dead. They melt away
like was, they are ignorant. But once we come to the Lord Jesus Christ, we find all we need to know
about ourselves—our friends. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. Christ is our justifier.
Verse 9 "Thorns" should be translated "heat."
Verses 8 and 9 Snail which melteth. "Snail" should be "wax." "Untimely birth" should be "stillborn
birth." Because it is dead it will never see the sun. The ungodly people used this idiom to pass
In verse 9, pots were made of clay (the one the poor people used). The rich people used brass pots.
It was a disgrace to use aluminum. Silver and gold used for drinking vessels. The poor people used clay
pots on a frail oven made of three stone about five inches high. Burn grass of fields—thorns—for fuel.
Could not use wood because they were poor. The thorns burn very quickly. "Before your pot can feel the
thorns" (heat). Application: no chance to escape. Will be taken away before have time to straighten
things out. Takes too long, cannot depend on thorns—no permanency. Shows uncertainty.
Wax. Eastern text: "Like the wax that melteth and drips before the fire, let them be destroyed..."
Snail, untimely birth. Snail = wax. Woman that produces a stillborn baby (dead in womb of
woman) = untimely birth.
Snail. Aramaic version: "Like the wax which melteth and drippeth before the fire, let them be
destroyed: Fire hath fallen from heaven and they did not see. The light of truth hath been given and they
did not understand."
Pots feel the thorns. They have crude ovens where they place their pots. They do not have fuel gas
for their cooking. They go to gather thorns of the field. Grass of the field the Bible says. Where you
light these thorns under the pot, they burn quickly. There's not much strength in it. It takes a lot of this
grass to get the pot heated. The wicked people will be taken away before the pot can feel the warmth.
This is called "crackling thorns" in some other passages. So, before the pot can get warmed up, the
wicked shall be taken.
Verse 8 "Moab is my wash pot, over Edom will I cast out my sandals." "Wash pot"—this is a defeated
person. Moabites and Edmoties were defeated people. This is based on the customs of greeting people
into an Eastern home as in Isaiah 52:15. To be accepted by the host, the guest must be washed and
sprinkled, we are washed by the blood of Christ and sprinkled by the holy spirit. The guest is under the
protection of the host as long as he is in the home.
Moab is my wash pot. Wash pots are kept on the porches of the houses. On the porch, there is a
servant who receives your sandals. Then he washes your feet and you can then walk into the house. This
phrase, "moab is my wash pot," means Moab has been conquered. Wash pot and shoe taker is only a
hired servant. Moab was subjugated in a war by David, conquered long ago. Same with Edom.
Wash pot. As a visitor in the East, get their feet washed on the porch by the servant (wealthy
person's home) who has a tub of water with a wash cloth. Throw your sandals at him, he holds them or
puts them next to the tub; then you get in the tub, the servant washes your feet and wipes them with a
towel. This is the first thing. No guest can be accepted as a guest in the Orient unless his feet are washed
first. As a poor man in the East, you present the guest with a jug of water and let him wash his own feet.
Moabs and Emodites were enslaved in a war (subjugated in a war by David). So "Moab is a wash pot" is a
statement symbolic of subjugation. Only slaves, servants wash feet. He is a menial servant. When Jesus
took the towel and washed his disciples' feet, it implied that He was taking the place of the menial (John
13:5). Keeping this practice in the East, Moabites (Ruth was one) and Edomites were enslaved,
subjugated and are menial servants as nations. In the East there is a question and response: "Do you know
so and so?"—"Oh, he's only my wash pot, my slave." Which means he is NOBODY, a person of no
"Moab is my wash pot;" "Over Edom will I cast out my shoe." If I want to say that a nation is
defeated—you say it is my wash pot. The wash pot is where guests wash their feet. There were three
kinds of servants in the East: 1) High servants; 2) Poor relatives and 3) Slave servants. The lowest is
the slave servant, and they wash the feet of the guests.
Subjugated people were called "wash pots."
"Cast out my shoe"—also subjugated people through ward. Every time people come in from outside,
they wash their feet. The Hindus wear sandals. They believe you won't kill bugs as much by wearing
sandals as you would if you wore shoes, and killing bugs is killing to them. This is the same reason why
they don't eat meat. God gave them life.
Bishop talks about the importance of understanding about the Eastern way of life to be able to
understand the Word. We must live with the people.
Moab my wash pot—over Edom cast my shoe. In homes of rich people in the East, on the porch is a
wash pot. There is a man servant there on the porch with the wash tub (wash pot). You throw your
sandals to the servant and then step in the tub. The servants wash the feet of the guest and wipe them
with a towel. In the first room, they sprinkle rose water on your head. The guest is received only when
washed and sprinkled. That's why in Isaiah it says, "The Lord shall sprinkle many nations."
Isaiah 52:15—The man who washes the feet is the servant of whoever casts his sandals. This is a
figure of speech here. This man is the lowest man in the family-dirtiest job. Both Edom and Moab are
subjugated; enslaved.
Wash pot, cast out shoe. At any home in the East there is a man on the porch with a wash pot. He is
the servant who washes the feet of guests. As the guest approaches the servant, the guest throws his
sandals (not shoes) at him to be kept by the pot. Then the guest may enter the house.
"Moab is my wash pot"—a conquered people was likened to the wash pot. Moab was a nation
conquered by David. It is a term used to refer to any subordinate or used to make anyone look like a
"Over Edom will I cast out my sandal"—Moabites and Edmoites were sons of Lot. The man that
takes the sandals was just a servant—another subjugated person. Used to refer to people defeated in war.
"Moab is my wash pot, Edom will I cast my shoe." Anybody who is subjugated in a war and made
slaves, are likened unto the wash pot and the man who carries the shoes. Moabites and Edmoties were
conquered in a war and subjugated, enslaved by David. So they were likened to wash pots and the slave
men who wash the feet.
"Moab is my wash pot" Moab and Edom were defeated peoples and they are likened unto the
servants who wash the feet and catch the sandals at the house of a man. A person is only a good and
acceptable guest when he has been washed and sprinkled; once this is done the host will keep the guest in
his protection as long as the guest stays in the house.
We have been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, sprinkled with holy spirit and are protected as
long as we remain in the house (temple - body of believers; staying in fellowship)
"Shoe"—sandal. Moabites, Edomites—Children from Lot and his daughters; they were disapproved
and despised because of their ancestry. David defeated them in battle and made them slaves to wash feet
and to pick up sandals. Defeated ones were called wash pots. They were equivalent to servants who
wash feet and catch shoes.
Verse 3 See Judges 5:24.
Verse 12 "Then the king of armies shall be defeated, and the household of God shall divide the spoil."
Spoil. Aramaic version: "Then the kings of armies shall be defeated: and the household of God
shall divide the spoil."
Verse 13 This saying is still in usage. The books they enage, although they may be their relatives, are
doing a sort of menial task for them. Some of the Oriental kitchens are not as modern as ours. They don't
have any place to keep their pots and pans in order. Sometimes they sleep there. That's what "lien among
the pots" means. They are mixed up with the pots. "Lien" means "lying about." It should read, "although
you are laying..." Most of the cooks that cook for them sleep in the kitchen. They don't know any outside
culture; they only know pots and pans. The cook puts the food just outside the kitchen on a table and one
of the ladies comes and takes the food to the table. The cooks can't even bring the food to the table
because that is their way.
The doves were the first tame bird, easily attainable and faithful. They send messages and they bring
them back. Nobody hurts them because of their peacefulness. They are pets also and some people tie up
their wings with some silver coins to beautify them. They don't have dogs and cats for pets, but doves
and peacocks. They decorate the feathers and flowers with yellow gold. It is not real gold, but inferior
gold. It is very cheap. Ophir gold is real gold. Yellow gold is used for decoration. In this case, silver is a
symbol of strength. It means, "God will bless you, lift you up." As the doves are decorated, so will you
be. Doves are so well accepted and loved by everybody. You will be like that.
Wings of a dove, covered with silver, feathers with yellow gold mote. (Referred to Matthew 7:3-5
about finding the small faults in someone else's life, yet ignoring the huge problems in our own life).
"Though ye lie among the sheepfolds yet ye shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her
feathers with yellow gold." The sheepfolds are where the children of Israel sat between them as where an
ass would sit. Anyway, every morning when the sheep are led away from the sheepfold, there are always
some servants there to sweep away the dung, and all of the trampled grass, etc. With the waste grass, they
toss it outside the sheepfold. The ass, rather than getting his own fresh grass, waits lazily on the old grass.
(Israel). You are now living in the mud and muck and dirt and dung of this world by being in the
sheepfold means that they are tied up with the materialism and prosperity of this world which never
In spite of where Israel was, the psalmist says they will live a long life like a dove, etc. Peace,
strength and prosperity. Christ takes us away from the mud, muck and dung (Egypt) to the land of milk
and honey (Christ within). He put peace within, gave us a song of joy in us, gave us strength and glorious
liberty as the sons of God. In spite of their enslavements, God delivered them from Egypt. Materialism
(religion too) could only put misery, fear, dread, lack and want in us. Christ Jesus lifted us and gave us a
song and a joy and stability and peace, contentment, liberty, prestige, honor—all of these were added.
Christ took us away from the sheepfold and delivered us to the land of Canaan.
Verse 14 Salmon is a mountain. "When the Almighty scattered kings for her...." For the Church and
the people. The Salmon Mountain is always white. So it will be when God deals with a sinner; He lifts a
person from the pots and pan, the smoke and dirt and He will lift them up white as snow. These two
verses mean the same thing.
Verse 18 Captivity. Aramaic Version: "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast carried away captives.
Thou hast blessed men with gifts. But the rebellious men shall not dwell before the presence of God."
Ephesians 4:8 is taken from this verse but is not exactly the same.
Verse 4 "...hairs of mine head..." means his enemies are too numerous to count. "...then I have to restore
that which I took not away." This means because my enemies are too many and mightier than me, they
made me come and give back that which I had not taken. He was helpless.
Verse 20 "O Lord, heal my broken heart; and bind it: and I looked for some to take pity, and there was
none; and for comforters, and I found none."
Heart. Aramaic version: "O Thou, heal my broken heart and bind it. And I looked for some to take
pity and there was none, and for comforters and I found none."
Verse 22 "Table become a snare"—usually while eating, covenants are made. If table becomes a snare
it is because they are planning evil at the table and someone at the table goes and tells the man whom they
are going to harm. Then this man sets a trap for the conspirators.
Table become a snare. In the East, no tables and chairs used for dining. People sit on cushion on
floor and eat from little individual desk-like table. Sometimes a person will plot against another person
and involve several people, one of which remains secretly faithful to the person plotted against. He
replays the information and prepares the man to meet the danger. Then the man plotted against gets a
group together and wipes out the schemer who planned to harm him. His table (his planning) became a
snare to him. "Table" means his planning because they plan while they eat. He had made plans while
eating and the very plan destroyed him. He reaped what he sowed. The law of karma is "what you sow
you reap." Philippians 4:8: "Whatsoever you even think is returned to you. Psalm 37:4—Delight in the
Lord and receive the desires of your heart. Don't delight in anything bad. It takes the same breath to say
good or bad. Whatever you want to be, think those thoughts. Thoughts are seeds. If you don't get what
you sow in this life, Hindus believe you will get it in the next. Buddah said don't desire and you won't
come back to this world.
Table be a snare. Table stands for food. They have no tables in the East—not like ours anyway. If
people in the East want to plan something, they will come together and talk about it. They will talk first,
then eat. If they ate while they talked, they would be salted. Example: If a group is planning to ruin
somebody. One man doesn't eat with them. This man runs and tells the man that the plot is against. So,
this man plans on cutting their throat before they cut his. Therefore, their table becomes a snare for them.
They will talk something for the ruination of someone else and it becomes a trap because the man that
was with them goes and tells the man about it and he plans to get them before they have a chance to get him.
Whatsoever a man thinketh, that shall he be. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap. What we
think is a seed. What we think becomes reality. Delight thyself in the Lord and He shall grant thee the
desires of your heart. The man who went to tell the plan of the group of men did not take the covenant of
salt—wasn't bound.
Verse 5 "Thou knowest this as exalted one who sits on high, they have hewn down doors with axes as
they would cut the trees of the forest." (Translation)
Axes. Aramaic version: "Thou knowest this, as the exalted one who sits on high, they have hewn
down the doors with axes as thou would cut the trees of the forest."
Verse 11 "Bosom"—You lift part of the front part of your robe and make it into a pouch. Then you fill
it with corn and hold it. In this case it means another thing. In the robe they wear, there are two pockets,
one on the right hand and the other on the left. That's what the bosom is in this case. "Madiyaiel" means
the pockets which are in his robe just on his waist. He puts his hand in the pocket there. It is symbolic
that his hand is closed down. His right hand of power is hidden in his bosom.
Verses 10 and 11 Right hand. Literal: "Why do you keep your right hand closed? Bring it out and
destroy the wicked." People who do not want to help will cup hand in bosom and close the hand. The
psalmist is saying that because they did not act, the wicked were reproaching the name of the Israelites.
Verse 1 I cried unto God.
Verse 2: "Sore" should be "hand." They raised up their hands in surrender to God. When you pray,
take your time until you have the assurance on the inside that God has heard your prayer, until you have
comfort on the inside.
"My soul refused to be comforted." He would not stop praying until he was sure that he had the
comfort on the inside. There is great fun in driving the mind.
Verses 1 and 2 Sore ran in the night. "My sore ran"—my hand went up. When an Easterner puts up his
hands toward heaven, he is signifying full and complete surrender as a servant. This custom has been
carried over into oath taking officials and "hands up" command in war. They signify complete surrender
to serve by raising the hand. I Timothy 2:8, surrender to God without any doubt. Refuse to be converted
(unless God answered prayer), we must remain surrendered to God.
My hand ran in the night. "Sore"—hand. Should say, " hands went up in the night while they
were in the bed. Putting up your hands is like when a soldier is captured. It means complete surrender.
"My soul refused to be comforted," until they were satisfied that God had comforted their soul, and God
had accepted their surrender. That's why we should take our time when we pray. If we believe when we
pray, we have comfort before we receive the answer. We know we believed because we have spiritual
assurance in our hearts.
Lamentations 2:19: "Arise, cry out in the night: (because you can do it better) in the beginning of
the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord, pray earnestly): lift up thine hands
toward him for the life of thy young children (Psalm 77:1,2), that faint for hunger in the top of every
street. When the starvation, poverty, hunger comes, lift up your hands before God. And "for the children
who faint in the top of every street" is during a lack in anything, lift up your hands before God and refuse
to be comforted until God hears your prayer and the children are released from the famine.
Verse 2 "In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord: I lifted up my hand before him all night, ceasing
not to think on him: yet my soul refused to be comforted." (Translation)
Many of the Eastern people pray on their bed. They lie on their back and use two, three or four
pillows to keep their head up and stretch their arms and legs and keep them limp as if they don't belong to
you. Then you can lift your mind easily and then pray. After your mind is clear, you raise your hands.
Hands up is a sign of surrender to God. Before you lift your hands, you must get right with God. When
you put your hands down, you go to sleep, " sore ran in the night,..." means "I kept my hands lifted
up toward God." They pray until they have the evidence that God has heard their prayer.
"Ceased not" means to "never cease but always fully surrender." "My sore ran in the night, and
ceased not" means you put both hands in prayer and when you do this, you aren't keeping anything behind
you, but you completely surrender to God. You are fully dedicated to God, in spite of anything or any
They would put up both hands to signify complete surrender to God in prayer—fully dedicated to
God in spite of everything. Sore—hand. And ceased not to be fully surrendered to God.
A Hindu prays first thing in the morning and last thing at night. He lifts his hands to pray and does
not stop until he finds peace with God and is sure God heard the prayer. See Psalm 77:2. "Sore" should
be "hands." Hands were not taken down until peace found. "My hand went up in the night and did not
cease...." Indians ruled self for about 6,000 years from time they came from Persia to India. They then
ruled all of Asiatic world except China and Japan. They never went out to conquer other nations.
(Nehemiah 8:6) Amen, lifting up their hands. "Amen" existed long before Christianity. It is the
Word of confirmation, "Let is be so." Lifting up hands (and handkerchief ceremonies are Western ideas)
means a surrender, persistence. The idea is, "Lord, here I am with both hands raised to receive surrender,
persistence, intensity and absolute helplessness." In the East, at night when the Oriental prays, he lifts up
his hands to pray while in bed.
"Sore"—hand. The practice is to keep the hands raised until the Lord heard the prayer. "Refused to
be comforted" should say, "was not comforted." He longed to be comforted. There is nothing to doubt
when you pray with your hands raised. One of these private prayers links you up with God right away.
Start day off this way!!
" sore (hand) ran in the night...." My sore should read, "my hands went up in the night."
Eastern people pray until they fall asleep. Put up both hands to God. Full and complete surrender to God.
Continued keeping hands toward God until comforted.
Verse 58 "For they provoked him to anger by sacrificing in high places, and made him indignant with
their graven images." (Translation)
Images. Aramaic version: "For they have provoked Him to anger by sacrificing in high places and
made Him indignant with their graven images."
Verse 63 See Judges 11:30-40.
"Maidens were not given to marriage." If a girl reaches the age of 30 without being married, she is
considered to be cursed. Here the maidens not given to marriage indicates the absence of God's blessing.
They believe marriages are made in heaven. If there is no marriage in heaven, then there is none on earth.
Maidens not given in marriage. The Eastern people are anxious to get their daughters married,
starting around 14. They look for a mate for her. They like to get her married before 16-18. After she
passes 18, her parents always tell people she's 18, even if she's 25, etc.
Why are they in a hurry to get daughters married off? So they can enjoy married life. If they're not
married people will think God did not bless that girl. They think God put a curse on her. This is
punishment for disobeying.
Fire consumed them. The whole 78th chapter tells of God's wrath against the disobedient. As a
result of the wrath of God, the young men were consumed, because of their disobedience and maidens
were not given to marriage. Disobedience brings punishment or a curse; fruit of disobedience. If
daughters are not married by the age of 13 to 16, it is considered a curse. (Fire is anything that consumed
Verse 10 "Open thy mouth wide" is a figurative, not literal statement which means that we should ask
largely and God will bring it to pass—God will fill it.
"I am the Lord thy God, open thy mouth wide." "I am the Lord thy God" means He is as certain as
His promise. As sure as I am, my Word is. Egypt was a land of poverty, disease, oppression, depression,
crisis, chaos, fear, worry and all. He brought us out of all this. Anything outside of Christ is the land of
Egypt. "Open thy mouth wide" means ask largely, believe for great things. There is no limitation with
God. The reason we fear is that we don't believe.
"Open thy mouth wide." This is a figure which means to ask largely, ask great things of God.
"Open thy mouth wide." Ask largely of God, ask for great things.
"Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it." Means ask great things and I'll fill it. We don't think we
can believe that big. God is able to grant all grace. (II Corinthians 9:8)
Verses 5-7 "Ye are gods." Most Orientals believe that all human beings are gods (got a spark of the
divine). That spark of God is dead in some people because of sin. In order to get it back, fasting, prayer
and living godly sober life is necessary. "Although I have said you are gods, and children of the Most
High, you shall die like men because of sin." Enjoy your liberty in this land as opposed to the negative
and fear connected with the land of Egypt.
Verse 6 Ye are gods. God lives in the people—Eastern philosophy, understanding. We're all children
of God, Eastern philosophy. All made in likeness of Him. God is our father for mercy, not salvation.
We're sons of God by second birth.
Verse 13 "O my God, make them like a 'whirlwind'" (not wheel). Make them completely blown away,
utterly destroyed, this is what "whirlwind" means.
"Make them like a wheel." "Wheel" should be whirlwind. This means make the people to be
nowhere so they cannot be found.
"Make them like a wheel." "Wheel" means whirlwind. This means to blow the people away after
the judgment of God so that they cannot be found.
Verse 5 "Blessed is the man whose help is from thee; and in whose heart are the ways."
Heart. Aramaic version: "Blessed is the man whose help is from Thee, in whose heart are Thy ways."
Verse 10 A doorkeeper is a position of respect in the East. There are doorkeepers for temples, palaces,
the houses of God. This is not a sign of humility (Western idea). A better translation would read: "I
would rather sit at the threshold of the house of God, than live in the tents of the wicked."
Beggars sit on both sides of the doorways. This is an attitude of humility, not necessarily poverty.
They hope that God will hear and answer their prayers and supplications. In the third chapter of Acts
Peter and John knew what the lame man really wanted—new legs. Thus, they ministered to him
accordingly. To sit on the threshold shows humility and an attitude of begging at the house of God—
willingness to supplicate to God. Often princes and wealthy men sit and beg in this manner.
"Tents of wickedness" means the wealthy, sinful living of the wicked in the sight of God. The
Psalmist says that he would rather be humble before God than to live with these sinful people.
Doorkeeper. Many think that doorkeeper is lowly position. But it is a very honorable position. The
text should read, "I would rather sit at the threshold of the house of God, which is a humble position. It is
a place of beggars. They sit there waiting for God to heal them. Many generals and high officials are
"Rather be a doorkeeper." To be a doorkeeper is a position of honor and respect. There is no
humility in this position. This verse really says, "I would rather sit at the threshold of my God."
The beggars in the East and those who are there for healing sit at the threshold of the temple. "Tents
of wickedness" are the homes of rich and sinful people.
"Be a doorkeeper." In the East, the doorkeeper position is one of honor and respect. Beggars
looking for healing will sit at the temple gates. Should read—"I would rather sit at the threshold in the
house of my God" (Acts 3:2). To sit in the gate of the temple is a humbling thing. "Tents of wickedness"
are households of rich, sinful people of high social prestige.
Doorkeeper. Not talking about a doorkeeper here. People think it is a humbling job. Many
doorkeepers in India are princes in the palaces. What about a doorkeeper in a church? It's not
humiliating. "I would rather sit at the threshold of the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of
wickedness." (Literal.) To sit at the threshold of the house of God is more than a humble position. It is
where the beggars sit. Example, Peter and John came into the temple and the lame man was sitting there.
I would rather be a beggar in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Doorkeeper. Western people think this is a position of humility. (Like our ushers.) Yet in the East,
in the temple, princes are the people who greet. Literal—"I would rather sit at the threshold of the house
of my God, than to sit in the tents of the wicked." Beggars in the East are at every temple; they sit on
both sides of the road. Some come and sit in the threshold of the temple (inside); but the beggar who is
suffering from a greater disease is always brought and kept at the threshold. So it really says, "I would
rather be a beggar than dwell in the tents of the wicked." This means humility, extreme humility. Not a
church usher.
Doorkeeper of the house of God. "I would rather sit at the threshold of the house of my God" Not
"doorkeeper." In the East, the beggars sit on both sides of the passageway up the threshold to beg alms.
Only beggars sit at the door of the house of God.
Doorkeeper of the house of God. Should be: "I would rather sit at the threshold of the house of my
God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Beggars sat at the thresholds of houses. David said he
would rather be a beggar in God's house than to prosper in the tents of the wicked. This verse is not
talking about a doorkeeper.
Doorkeeper. Western people think this is a position of humility. (Like our church ushers.) Yet in
the East, in the temple, princes are the people who greet.
Verse 47 "Remember me from the time I was created: for thou hast not created all men in vain."
Vain. Aramaic version: "Remember me from the time I was created, for Thou hast not created all
men in vain."
Verse 10 See Acts 9:17, 18.
Verse 1 "Secret places of the most high God, green tree." "Secret places...God" means in the bosom of
the Father, the Father's affection, which is known to us through Christ. Which is abiding in the shadow of
the Almighty (just as people in the East abide under the heavenly tree for their protection). The shadow
of the Almighty spreads everywhere.
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty." If you are in Christ Jesus, which is secret place of Almighty, and if he is in you, you are
dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty. How much greater is shadow of Almighty than tree which
can spread one to three miles wide. God Almighty shadows all over the world. Wherever you go, you
are abiding under His shadow. He is our heavenly tree, and in Christ we are abiding in Him wherever we
go. Never alone. Sleep—don't sleep.
Secret place of the most High; the bosom of God. Today we must ask personally. No matter where
we go, we are in the shadow of the Almighty. The Lord Jesus Christ is our secret place, and the
confidence we have in him.
Verse 11 See Psalms 125:1.
Verse 12 (Matthew 22:8-14) Robe of righteousness, marriage. Writers of the Bible were Eastern and
used their customs and ways of thinking, etc. to illustrate and get ideas conveyed.
In Psalm 92:12 it reads: "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." The Word also says that
there is no one righteous, no, not one. Then who are the righteous? Good works are not righteousness. It
cannot be earned. Righteousness is imputed to us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Self
righteousness is a filthy rag and not acceptable to God.
At marriage ceremony in the East, every guest is given a robe and must wear it to be accepted. We
must put on God's robe of righteousness given us by Him. At a wedding of royalty, must wear robe
issued by king. Cannot wear own robe. In other weddings can wear robe handed down through own family.
Palm tree (righteous flourish as a palm tree). Everybody says they are, but the way to tell if you are
righteous is if your flourish as a palm tree. See "palm tree" for details—same tape.
Palm tree. Prayer. See "robe of righteousness" also.
Way to tell if righteous is to see if flourishing as a palm tree. Shall know them by their fruit. We all
(Christians) have righteousness by faith through Jesus Christ. Are we flourishing as palm trees?
American palm trees are not the same as Eastern palm trees. Several kinds in the East. Plantan palm
(banana). More than one kind of Eastern banana. American banana is apology to it. Date palms and
coconut palms. There are a couple of kinds of all these three, but only one kind of this: THE palm tree
which is distinct from all other varieties.
"Righteous shall flourish as the palm tree." Coconut palm and the palm tree are about the same
height (80-90 feet). Coconut is cultivated while the palm grows wild. Takes long time for coconut to
grow and produce fruit and it requires much labor. No labor is required for growth of the palm. If
someone throws ten seeds, they become ten trees. Therefore, no one owns them because it is God's labor
alone which produces them. Waters them and sustains them, therefore anyone can eat from the palm no
matter whose land it is on. Coconut varies in thickness from bottom to top while the palm does not.
Spiritual person does not vary—same on Sunday as Saturday.
There is a bend at the end of the coconut palm and insects bore into the trunk. No crookedness in the
palm and worms and insects cannot make holes in it. Same with righteous person: no crookedness,
strong, no varying, no holes in him. Says what he means and means what he says.
The palm is used for good of man from roots to leaves. Everything use for medicine, building, food,
etc. Stronger material in trunk and the roots are for medicine. Palm leaves are for writing material.
Leaves are about 2" wide, 4-5 feet long and 1/8" thick. Cut green leaves and soak in water three or four
days. Then they are white. Write with a "piece of iron" by impressing on white leaves. Put back in water
and writing becomes green. Never fades for thousands of years. Writing on paper does not last long. Job
said he wished his words could be graven with an iron pen (Job 19:24, not stated). In the East, when
someone had hardships he wanted to write it with an iron pen as a warning. The warning will not fade
away and no worm would eat it. In Hindus temples now there are records on palm leaves. Leaves also
used for roofing. House built of teakwood (strongest wood) but would not last more than ten years
because of termites. If beams and rafters are made of palm tree, the white ants (termites) will not destroy them.
The fruit of the palm tree is shaped like grapefruit—little bigger and it lasts all year. The first
quarter of year (January-March) you can break it and drink milk. Second quarter break it and eat meat,
like coconut. Third quarter, peel it and eat it like an apple. Fourth quarter, eat it like a plum. Same fruit
in different stages. Grow in bunches. When picked, grows back in week or so—abundantly produces.
Always has food. If a person could not reach the fruit or climb for it, there were certain people who
would climb up like monkeys and help people get the fruit. If these people were offered a tip, they would
say, "No, God gave it freely—I give to you freely also."
Like the palm tree, a righteous person should be useful in service from head to foot. Comes from
dedication to God. We should abundantly produce and be giving all the time. If you go to the palm tree
one day and again the next, the tree does not say, "Oh, are you back again? I already gave and must save
some for myself." Palm trees gives to everyone who asks. "Give to him that would borrow from thee."
We have power to produce as the palm tree through Jesus Christ and the power and wisdom of God.
The palm tree is never uprooted by any amount of wind or storm. It bends and comes back up. So must
the Christian be. God sustains us from falling, as He does the palm tree. Our source of supply is Jesus
Christ, unlimited. Our inheritance is eternal, inexhaustible and incorruptible. Can always draw from the
power of God.
In prayer stay mind on God by filling with positives of Word. Keep self linked with God by
renewed mind so can draw from Him as resource. Can manifest peace and joy in any situation and give
glory to God because of Christ in us.
Most people when praying have wandering minds because it is un-renewed. Put His promises in
mind and drive out all fears, despair, depression, lack of confidence, etc. Think on abundance and
security, love, etc. A prayer with un-renewed mind goes no farther than the ceiling. Our mind and heart
must be one with the Word and then will not have wandering thoughts but will be centered on God.
Negative thinking drags us here and there. We magnify the Devil by saying, "He caused this and he made
me do that." Feast on the Word.
Righteous, palm tree. The righteous are those to whom righteousness is imputed by grace through
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 4:3) We believe Romans 10:9, then we become righteous. No
one is "naturally" righteous. If a man is righteous it cannot be seen by his works. It can only be seen by
his fruit, for, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree...." Date palm coconut palm, and plantain
(otherwise called "banana") are different kinds of palm trees. However, the palm tree is different from
every other kind of palm. Coconut palm is cultivated. The palm tree is not cultivated. It is as large as the
coconut tree, yet it grows haphazardly. God plants, waters and cares for the palm tree. He by His grace
allows it to produce fruit. A believer who is made righteous by the grace of God which makes up a new
creation, like the palm tree. We have no righteousness in itself.
The palm tree is public property, despite whose property it is on because the owner of the land did
not plant them. The coconut tree also is 60-70 feet high. The trunk circumference is sporadic. The palm
tree is absolutely uniform all the way up. Palm leaves have been used for thousands of years as writing
materials. The leaves are 4-5 feet long and two inches wide and one inch thick. Put them in watch and it
becomes useful. Writing is done with a pen of iron. The palm tree produces fruit in abundance. The
first quarter cut the coconut, drink its milk; second quarter eat the meat of the coconut. Third, peel it like
in eating of an apple. Fourth, peel and cut it like a plum. The character of a palm tree is to be fruitful 24
hours a day. The palm tree is a tree of protection to those seeking shelter and protection.
See also: Job 19:24; Jeremiah 17:1; Psalm 128:3.
Palm tree. The palm tree produces fruit all through the year. The fruit is a little larger than
grapefruit. From January through March one can climb to top of tree and drink milk of the fruit like
coconut milk. During second quarter, it can be eaten like a peach, during third quarter it is like an apple,
during fourth quarter the inside can be eaten like a coconut. Palm trees produce fruit all year around
(same fruit in different stages) and anyone can eat from them freely, no matter where they are. Hindus
cannot climb the trees but the Indians can.
If a man wants some fruit but cannot reach it, he may ask an Indian to get it for him. The man who
climbs for it will accept no money for his service. He says, "God freely gave it, so it would be wrong for
me to charge anything."
The Christians should be as the palm tree. His life is for the benefit of others. We should always
produce fruit and freely give it; and, as the palm tree, the more fruit we give, the more we produce again.
We become fruitless, joyless, powerless, by trying to satisfy ourselves with things. Only the spirit
satisfies, and through the spirit we have an unlimited resource to draw from. The righteous shall flourish
as the palm tree.
The palm leaves are about two inches wide, four to five feet long, one eighth of an inch thick.
Before paper was invented, palm leaves were prepared in a special way and used in record keeping. The
leaves are cut to a certain length. An iron pen is used for the writing. There is an art to it. (When parents
are arranging a marriage, the girl's father asks the boy's father, "What can your son do? Can he write on
palm leaves?" If he can, he has all the spiritual qualifications.) With the iron pen a man writes on the
leaf. It is then soaked for three days, after which the leaf is white and the writing is green and it always
will be—for hundreds and thousands of years. Job mentioned writing with the iron pen and how what is
written is preserved.
Palm beams are used for house roofs. The white ants do not eat palm trees. Wooden houses would
not last 10 years in India because of white ants. The roots of palm are used as medicine for many things.
They are ground to a powder.
The palm tree is used for mankind from top to bottom. They stand strong against hurricanes because
of their roots. They stand straight, free from crookedness. They never die unless cut down. The
righteous (us) shall flourish as a palm tree. Palm trees can grow where no other tree can grow. We who
believe in Jesus Christ shall never die.
Different kinds of palm trees:
1. Date palm;
2. Banana Palm (Plantain)
3. The Palm tree;
4. Coconut Palm.
The palm tree is distinct from all others. We do not have this in the Western World.
We can't earn righteousness, it is given to us by the grace of God. All our self righteousness is like a
filthy rag. (Isaiah 64:6 deals with filthy rags, mentioned but not stated or taught.) (Some of palm tree
teaching is lose here in going from side one to side two.)
No birds or inside will make holes in wood. God's own tree is the palm tree (there are other trees
which are God's trees). Coconut tree produces fruit every six mouths or so. Palm tree flourishes the
whole year round—fruit is a little bigger than a grapefruit.
January to March—break fruit and drink milk and then throw it away. Second quarter to year—
break it and eat the meat inside of it, like the coconut meat. Third quarter—you peel it and eat it like an
apple. Fourth quarter—you eat it like a plum, it has a big seed in it. The more you cut the fruit, the more
it produces. Leaves of Palm tree are used for roofing of the poor people's mud huts. Used also for
writing material. Leaves are four to five feet long, about two inches wide and one eight of an inch thick.
Leaves are cut to right size and then put in water and it will turn white. It remains forever always fresh.
Engrave upon it with iron pen—this is an art and it is required for a person who wants to be a Hindu.
After you write on it with an iron pen, then the writing becomes green and leaf remains white.
The leaves never get eaten by worms or germs. Temple records kept in palm leaves.
Righteous flourish like a palm tree. A palm tree is a very distinct word in the Eastern language. The
palm tree looks like a coconut tree, but the coconut tree must be cultivated, cared for. God cultivates the
palm tree. It grows wild in places where no other tree would grow. When birds or man eats the fruit, the
seed will fall to the ground (this is how God plants the seed). They are 80 to 90 feet high. It has fruit
throughout the year. January—March the fruit is eaten like a peach; April—June the fruit is eaten like an
apple, it is pealed and eaten; July—September the fruit is eaten like a coconut, break it and eat the inside;
and October—December the fruit is eaten like a vegetable.
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." Palm tree:
different or several kinds of palm trees—coconut, date, banana and plantain. The palm is a kind different
and distinct from the rest.
Who are the righteous? Word has said all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and there
is none righteous, no not one. No one can become righteous by their own deeds. All our self
righteousness is a filthy rag. If you can't become righteous yourself, and there isn't any one in the whole
world righteous, then who are the righteous and where are they? God gave us the way through Jesus
Christ our lord. To whoever receives him may put on the robe of righteousness. Have been made
righteous by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever receives Jesus Christ and becomes the
sons of God. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. May become
righteous only one way and that's God's way by accepting Jesus Christ as own personal lord and savior,
then righteousness imputed to you by grace through faith (believing). Not of works lest any man should
boast, but only redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is his blood that cleanses us and makes us
acceptable and righteous in the sight of God and it's all of grace.
The righteous and the righteous alone shall flourish like the palm tree. Differences in palm trees:
Coconut palm: takes time and trouble in cultivating. Palm and Coconut—80 to 90 feet high. Coconut
tree is planted, man waters and helps it to grow. Palm tree grows wild, nobody plants, seeds or waters it
or helps it grow. God plants the seed, waters it and helps it grow. Both have same size trunk, about 13
inches in diameter. But in coconut tree the trunk size varies even 10 inches or so. But the trunk size of
the palm tree does not. So, a believer is righteous not by own effort, anymore than palm tree grows by
own effort. God plants and waters. A believer who has been made righteous does not vary at all because
Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and Christ lives in the believer. Coconut tree—some
bends, crooked and worm holes, also holes by other insects. Palm tree—no bends, no crookedness and no
worm or insect holes. So a believer—no crookedness about him—should be even and have his lips (what
he says) agree with his heart. We should be perfect because of Christ within by grace of God.
All of palm is used for the good of mankind, it does not live for itself. Thus, we should do all for the
kingdom of God, and not do things for ourselves, but for the good of mankind. We are not saved to live
for ourselves, but for the kingdom of God. Question: living for God, Christ, salvation of man or for
yourself? Examine yourself.
Bishop asking people if they are saved to raise their hands, but said these could be none, because
none are flourishing like the palm tree and not can flourish but shall flourish. Absolutely!
Roots are used for uncurable diseases. Inside trunk, sponge like stuff, used in medicines. Leaves—
always green about four to five feet long, about two inches wide. One eighth inch thick. Soak in water
(after cutting to size you want) for couple of days. It becomes white and engrave writing on leaf with pen
of iron. Leaf is like wax, so engrave and not use pen. Put it back in water and writing becomes green and
the white (the leaf remains). This will never change. It is forever and will never fade away. Paper and
ink will face. All records in Hindu temples are kept on palm leaves. That which was written thousands of
years ago looks fresh as yesterday's. Reason because it is God's tree, it will not fade or be destroyed.
Believer can compare self to palm tree to see if you are righteous or not. If you are not flourishing
like the palm, there is no way of proving it. Leaves also used for roofing for poorer people. Fruit
produced throughout year. First quarter (January through March) cut fruit and drink its milk; Second
quarter (April through June) fruit can be cut and eaten like coconut meat; Third quarter (July through
September) can peel and eat like an apple; and Fourth quarter (October through December) can eat it like
a plum. No other tree produces fruit of this kind—it's like four different kinds. The more you cut it, the
more fruit it puts out, brings more fruit almost immediately. So as a believer gives, because as you give it
will be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together and running over, because if we don't give, we
don't prosper. Palm tree produces more, the more it is picked. The palm never refuses—neither should
the Christian—"I gave last year, are you here again?" Word says to give to everyone who asketh of you
and don't turn him away. Carnal mind will tell you, you will go broke. But that's not the truth, it's a lie
from the Devil. God says as you give it will be given unto you and you shall prosper—absolutely! Palm
never refuses, or says I can't afford it. People who say they are Christian but have not been made
righteous why never produce fruit. Palm never grumbles because God's own tree, never refuses. Believer
is God's own man because God saved you and gave you power to grow and to prosper, to flourish.
If send young boy up to get fruit for you, he will not accept tip because believe that you freely have
received, so freely give and so do not charge for labor. In India, wooden houses last only about 10 years.
If in teak, which is best, will last 30 to 40 years but no more because worms will eat up the wood. Why
they use bricks and stone for building materials. Use palm trunk for rafters and beams because no worms
will touch it, no insects eat it up. It remains forever. Believer is saved eternally because of Christ in us.
Because he lives in us, we live also. Palm tree never retires, never stops producing fruit as long as it is
standing on ground. Possible for believer to live forever! Can live until over 100!
Believer, live the way God wants you to believe, says because Christ lives in me eat the right way,
simple life, you will remain strong and vigorous in your life.
Righteous person—there should be no old age, no retirement, continue to give and produce fruit
forever. Christ in us gives us all things (gives us courage, all the grace, all the strength) that we need to
keep producing fruit like the palm tree does. Palm tree never dies, only when cut down! It is never
uprooted in great storms, bends and comes back up. It is never defeated or frustrated. Christian should
never be defeated or frustrated. Can go through any storm, economic storm crisis of any kind, any
depression, any distress, can go through anything and still you are more than a conqueror. You stand up,
you may be in it, but you are not of it. You may go through fire of persecution but you are never defeated
or frustrated because of Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christ pulls us up and out and you can stand
unafraid, more than a conqueror. Just as a palm tree stands.
We all go through trouble and trials more so then people of the world because we can trust in God.
Others are talking negatives and bad days to come and they are afraid and scared to death about what's to
come. Believer can be in the midst of it smiling and rejoicing, because he knows in whom he has
believed and has this confidence in his Master who is in him and gives him power to stand up on both feet
A believer goes through storms as a palm tree—no uprooted or defeated. He is more than a
conqueror because one man with Christ makes a majority. While others fall in misery and despair, the
believer who is made righteous he alone has the power to stand through it all. When he does, Christ is
glorified and God is honored and people will look at you and ask how you can smile while everyone else
is crying. Christ gives me courage, he gives me strength, he gives me love and peace. I stand because he
is in me.
This is the way all believers should all flourish as a palm tree. Jesus Christ said by their fruit ye shall
know them, not by their words or church membership or hymns or prayers—all good, but that's not the fruit.
Our fruit is love, joy, peace, meekness, gentleness, faith. Man made righteous by God and has the
perfect love, the perfect peace that passeth all understanding in the midst of all storms and depressions.
He has a joy in his soul, through a faith in his master.
Palm tree. In the East there are many more fruits and vegetables grown than in the United States.
The palm tree in the East is like the coconut tree. It grows wild. It grows in places where no other tree
would grow. Nobody plants it; it grows to 80 to 90 feet high. It has fruit through the year, about the size
of a volleyball. They have the same fruit with four grads: January-March, eaten like a peach, throw the
pits out; April—June, eaten like an apple, peal it and eat; July—September, eaten like a coconut; break it
open and eat it; and October—December it is all like a vegetable, used as a vegetable.
There are four grades of fruits from the production of one tree! "The righteous shall flourish like the
palm tree..." is immense. Men don't plant this tree, they grow wild. God plants it, God waters it, God
fertilizes it, God produces fruit all through the year without any man's support. If we are righteous in
Christ Jesus then we produce fruit all through the year. The palm tree gives all the time; therefore, it
produces more fruit all the time. The Christian can flourish like this; the more he gives, the more he can
get. This is linked with prosperity, too. We must give to receive.
Verse 7 Sparrow. When a sparrow is in difficulty, a crisis, he doesn't go mingle with the other
sparrows. He waits until he works out his problem, alone on a housetop where there are no people all the
time, and no danger. They are waiting on God on the housetop. It must be a terribly difficult time,
though. Alone, depending on God, all by himself.
Verse 9 "Ashes" are put on after bathing. Symbolic of the forgiveness of sins and the protection of
God. The merit of the sacrifice which has been made. Holy men may put ashes all over body. Most
people put them on the forehead only. To the Easterner, the ashes have the same power as the blood does
to the Westerner. You sit in dust to show God you are willing to go down and that you have gone down.
That is why they pray sitting on ground, on deerskin. Lowest type of humility.
Sackcloth is made of camel or goats hair. It is rough material and a sign of mourning and fasting.
They don't only put ashes on forehead, but after prayer they eat a little to cleanse and purify within. "I did
not cease to cleanse my insides." (Translation) Weeps so much that he is clothed in his drink. Show
contrition. Usually mingle one or two drops of tears with drinks if they want to know something. Refer
to note on Isaiah 44:20.
Ashes. Hindus and Jews both have ashes. Hindus make them out of cow's dung. Jews make ashes out
of the cow. The significance is the same—salvation through sacrifice. Put ashes on body for "protection."
When sit in ashes, a man is sitting on the sacrifice and relying on its significance. Some people eat ashes,
signifying putting the soul and heart under protection of ashes.
David was saying that he was continually putting his soul under protection of God. Leaned hard on
God, deep in meditation on Him.
"Mingled my drink with weeping" means wept hard over confession of sins, broken hearted over sin.
As he drank, his tears fell into his cup. We should be always concerned and dependent on God,
constantly abiding in His protection.
Ashes, mingled my drink with weeping. Ashes are symbolic of salvation through sacrifice. The
kings sacrifice horses, they make ashes out of them. In the morning when one prays he applies ashes on
the forehead, the arm and the chest. This is when they pray before breakfast. They're placing their body,
soul and mind under protection of the ashes which is salvation by sacrifice. It's the same thing with the
blood. They place themselves under the blood. Just as the Jews have the Passover because of the blood,
so do the Indians have it. They pledge their heart, mind and spirit—everything inside is placed under the
protection. They don't place their bodies under this protection, only the spiritual aspect. You place the
ashes on your tongue. This means that you are protected both inside and outside. You are constantly
devoted to God. I am always abiding with God. I am constantly devoted to God. "Mingled my drink
with weeping," means constantly repenting of sin and faults. The tears roll down cheeks and into the
water he is drinking. Both these mean he never forsook God. Always engrossed, devoted to God.
Always look to Him, rooted and grounded. It's a walk.
Verse 5 Youth renewed like the eagles. When the eagle's feathers become burdensome, after five years,
feathers become frail and weak. They must abandon their feathers and become youthful. They drop
themselves down from the tops of the trees into the water, beak first. When they enter the water, they
have lost their old feathers, but when they come up, they've lost all their feathers. The birds are helpless
now, can't fly or swim, struggle to shore. Takes six weeks to grow back. People care for the birds. Thus,
their youth is renewed. They shall walk and not faint. Run and not be weary because their youth is
renewed as they abandon their old feathers and wait on God for their new ones. Firstly, to renew their
strength, they lose their old feathers. Secondly, by waiting. Then they gain their feathers and are strong again.
Renewed like eagles. "Who satisfieth my mouth," who—God. Strength of the eagles is in their
feathers. We should be strong, youthful all the time. Renew your mind. Don't confess negatives; don't
talk yourself into sickness. "Whatsoever a man thinketh, so is he," Jesus said.
Eagles that every five years they abandon themselves with their heads down and their feet up and by
the thousands dive down into the water. They do this themselves. They dive down almost in despair. As
they go into the water, the religious people watch them as "holy eagles." When the eagles come out of the
water, there is no feather remaining. For six weeks they begin waiting for new feathers, people feed
them. Eagles lose all of their old feathers first. Then they wait. They do this voluntarily. We are not
saved by anything we do. We are saved by grace and faith in the finished work of Christ. (Old feathers
are like PRIDE. Bartimaeus threw off his pride as evidenced by throwing down his robe.) We are not
saved by traditions or customs. Nevertheless, if you understand these customs, you will see more easily
what God's emphasis is. Preaching on giving up feathers.
Verse 28 Ate sacrifices of the dead. When dead is buried, food is not cooked in the deceased house,
someone bring food. That which is left is put into one bowl and taken to the grave and put in the grave of
the dead person. This is called sacrifice to the dead. Today they believe when someone dies they are an
angel for two to three days that visits and watches things. This was the case when Peter was imprisoned
and escaped and knocked at the door.
At the third day, they go to the grave and pour milk on the grave. They believe he's still around.
People will go and eat this food, a great crime in their society. Only the lowest will do this. This is to eat
the sacrifice of the dead.
Verse 45 In the Bishop's translation it says he felt sorry for them. The word "repent" is not used in
Verse 9 Giving. Eastern people believe that to earn righteousness that you will become prosperous, that
you will be on top in the world by giving to the poor. This is referred to as "dispersing." Easterners give
much time to this. This is why there are more beggars and bums than anywhere. They believe only by
giving to the poor (God loves the poor), God will honor us, give us good health and good home and good
prosperity, good honor; our horn shall be exalted means our present honor. Like a cow has horns; our
honor will be multiplied and exalted in the community by giving. This is one of the Eastern traits... give,
give, give to the poor. They believe salvation is only by good works.
Verse 7 See Mark 9:43-47.
Dunghill. (The poor would get up early in the morning and get any food that had been taken there.)
The fire is set, it is always burning, it is never quenched. And in the dunghill there is a red worm, a "fire
worm" which is in the dunghill and never dies.
Verse 15 Precious. Death of his saints. Precious means costly. We are all saints. Living saints. Not
canonized. A saint is a forgiven sinner, saved by the grace of God and remade a new creation in whom
Christ dwells. He is a saint. You could have done more here on earth for God when alive, not while dead.
It's costly for God to lose an ambassador. You cannot do anything for God once you're dead.
Verse 105 They Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. So we should walk in the light
of God's truth, not in the sparks that we kindle. Our sparks are symbolic of man walking in sense
knowledge. If we walk that way, we are sure to stumble because flesh is contrary to the spirit. The
wisdom of man (flesh) is foolishness before God, that's walking by the sparks that we kindled. Walking
by God's truth we shall never stumble in darkness because there is no darkness. Walking by senseknowledge
is symbolic of walking in the self-made sparks. Christians who walk this way are "lying down
in sorrow"; defeated, frustrated, unhappy, depressed, oppressed, etc. This happens because man chose to
reject God's Word and walk by his own senses. As long as sense knowledge is the same as God's Word,
it's okay.
Verse 83 Bottle in the smoke. Bottle—made of goatskin tanned inside. Cut of leg skin at knee and sew
up knees. Pour water in at neck and tie it up with piece of rope. Men carry this on back. Women carry
water in clay pitcher on head. Never interchange. Mark 14:13, if Jesus had said that they would meet a
woman bearing a pitcher of water, they might have met 100 of them. But this was a man with the goatskin
bottle, a very clear cut sign.
The Hindus almost all have own house and land—greater percentage than any other people. Handed
down in family. Every Hindu has own well on land. The poorer people must beg water for drinking
when city water is de-plenished. Must buy at market sometime during drought. Carries it in goatskin
bottle to his small mud hut. No good ventilation for cooking smoke to go out. His animals live with him
too. Must crawl into the low hut. Crude stones form an oven. Heated by grass of the field—crackling
thorns which do not burn long. Much smoke results from thorns burning. No chimney so the skin water
bottle which is suspended from ceiling is blackened by smoke and heat. Becomes useless after a while. It
cannot defend itself or speak for itself. It is helpless. (Matthew 6:30; Luke 12:28)
Such is a man in a helpless situation. God alone can deliver. Seek God first because He can deliver
when no man can help.
Bottle means skin bottle from goats skin. Woman's work is to carry water in pitchers. Men's work is
to carry water in goatskin bottles. Poor people in low mud huts will hand up bottles (skins) of drinking
water. Wife does cooking over fire and all smoke goes up to bottle and the bottle becomes black and
discolored. The bottle cannot fight back, just hangs there helplessly being covered and scarred. Wife
uses thistles and thorns for fuel.
Idiom means man is in tremendous crisis and cares when he refers to himself as "bottle in the
Luke 22:10—"A man bearing a pitcher of water." This was a real sign post of the men because it
was a strange thing to see a man carrying a water pitcher.
Idiom—"Like a bottle in the smoke." Background: Eastern bottles are made of goatskins. (Skin
goat, turn it inside out and tie off the legs, sour water into the neck, holds two or three gallons of water.)
Poor people who don't have a well will take this bottle to town and buy water. Women carry water in
pitchers on their heads, men carry water in skin bottle on their back. Unusual for man to carry water in
pitcher on head.
"For I am become like a bottle in the smoke, yet do I not forget thy statutes." Bottle in Bible—not
bottle of glass. Made of skins. Skin a goat, turn it inside and sew up knees of four legs, pour water
through the neck and tie neck with rope and carry on your back. Might hold two to three gallons of water.
Men carry water in bottles on back and women carry water in pitchers on their heads. Women never
carry on back and men never carry on head. Disgrace for man to carry on head and visa versa for women.
"...Yet do I not forget thy statutes." In the midst of it all, the mess I was in and nobody could help
me, yet I did not forget thy statutes. Still seeking and looking for God. Seeking kingdom of God first,
relied on God, trusted in God, honored God, obeyed God. Did all what God commanded him to do. He
knew that only God could help him, that no man could. Looked to God, relied on God and God changed
the whole situation for him. We get in that and begin to grumble about situation from beginning to end.
Talking about and looking at troubles and have not turned to God. The moment you turn to God,
deliverance will come.
Can't say, as soon as I get out of what I'm in I'll do something. Example: Tithing. Do it now, while
in midst of it, not saying wait until I get out of troubles I'm in and then.... God will help, only when you
seek him. Won't help when you won't seek Him. Do His will. Must first approach Him and begin to do
His will. The deeper we go into own troubles, the less concerned we are about the kingdom of God. God
will intervene, will deliver us. He lifts us up from that condition, puts a joy in our hearts and even peace
that passeth all understanding.
Only when we can say I am...bottle in smoke yet...In spite of everything I will do God's will. Seek
ye first the Kingdom of God. Honor Him. Difficulties will disappear by themselves because God takes
care of us. God's way is Jesus' way. Things only seem to be impossible when we don't look to God. We
are more than conquerors provided we begin to live and move in Him and become conscious of the fact
that He is in us and He is greater than all and this confidence will lift you up and make you happy and
content, rejoicing while you are still a "bottle in the smoke." If you seek the kingdom of God and do His
will, walk uprightly with Him and do His blessed will in all things.
Bishop relates how grandfather wouldn't for anything take money that had been set aside for tithing.
Let own wife die!! Just dare not touch. If you are honoring God, God will give you what you need. But
if you cheat God, you are a thief. God will destroy you. Better to die doing the will of God than outside
the will. Put Christ first—salvation—day of deliverance—brings all joy, success and victory. God does
not enter this way into our culture. Christ has no room in the Christian's life because we don't give him
room. We don't give him place and that's the reason why we are what we are. We should honor God in
everything we make, give preeminence to Christ in all things.
In India, ladies up at four, have a prayer meeting, start cooking. Men up at 5:00, then do the same
things. We call heathen and pagan, but have a better culture than Christians have because they are taught
to seek kingdom of God at all times, in all circumstances. Children are taught to get up early.
In America, stay up late. Saturday night is Devil's night. Could not get up! Sought Devil and flesh,
not kingdom of God. Little wonder—nervous, frustrated, defeated. Because there is no peace and not
God in everything. Seek God's way and see how prosperous you become and what a witness, what a joy.
No doctor bills. God will take care of you in every situation and details as you seek him and honor Him
and bless His name and praise Him in all things. We Christians have a mighty shelter—the Lord Jesus
Christ. Do not have to grumble and complain. Hindus—training thinking from culture to be calm and
peaceful in the midst of conflict. Christians who are born again and who don't rely on Christ would not
trust in Christ, would not do his will or seek him first, therefore we run on our own and get into trouble.
Look to God and Jesus Christ. A Christian solution is not from outside. Education means that you bring
something from within.
Bottle in the smoke. Look within yourself at the spirit of God. Stay your mind on God. Trust God
in every situation and don't look at the sense-knowledge situations around you.
Bishop talks about how he was a bottle in the smoke when he became a Christian. His parents
forsook him, he had no money, no relative would have him, no hotel would have him, not even if you
pay. No restaurant will let you eat there. You are excommunicated, considered dead to them. Christians
and untouchables were barred from these things. There was no welfare. American people don't need
God. They push a button and they have what they need. Some never work in America. If they break the
law, they go to jail and are fed. In India, not so. In India if you become a Christian, nobody will have
you—you starve to death. Bishop never starved no matter how bad the situation looked. He was worse
off than the bottle in the smoke. God supplied all his need. He opened the doors, brought people across
his path and they helped him. As Bishop clung onto God, he became a living reality. Rely on the Word of
God. There was nowhere else to go. The Lord is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. If you
don't seek Him diligently, He cannot be your rewarder, your substance, your help. He becomes your help
in time of trouble, He becomes your refuge in time of persecution. He becomes our all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)
Jesus did it all for me. For this reason we can be in the trouble, but not of the trouble; who in this
world can be persecuted but inside be full of joy, peace. It's Christ in you. He'll never leave you nor
forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
When we fully trust in God, rely on Him living with Him, behaving our being in Him, being
conscious He'll never leave us nor forsake us, having a constant assurance of His presence, nothing can
frighten us even though we're as a bottle in the smoke.
In America, it means nothing to be a son of God. Our major concern is to join the church if the
weather is good—shame religion. We become as dead hearts. We drag this dead heart day after day. We
say praise God I'm saved! Saved from what? They don't know what they're saved from.
Fear keeps us from walking out on the promises of God, before we ever turn the key to see if the car
will start. Christianity should be a way of life. The truth shall never let us down. The Word only is truth.
We need not struggle in life, only believe. The moment we start doing the Will of God as revealed by
Christ in the Bible, we become triumphant. That moment our believing rises and we start living. If you
take God and His Word, your life will be victorious. God's can't change you unless you will to change—
your free will is involved. Let yourself be lost in the power of God. You must know what's available to
claim it. Example: Bishop on ship with another Hindu man who didn't know what his ship far included,
so he hadn't eaten for 21 days or had a bath. He could have used everything if he had known what was
included in the fare. If we don't know what we have in the new birth, we can't claim God's promises to us
either. Your father knoweth what things ye have need of.
Why starve spiritually? When you do all you have is agony and fear. When you don't starve
spiritually, you have peace that passes understanding. People are starving spiritually, that's why they're
fearful at every turn and don't know where to go. (Isaiah 45:22) As we turn ourselves over to Him, He
becomes our lord and master and we should keep doing His will from there on, regardless of our
condition in life. And, He will take care of us and He will see us through. He said that we were the apple
of His eye. He said heaven and earth shall pass away, but His Word shall remain forever. All may
forsake us, but God will not forsake us. This one assurance we have. If we only believe this much, this
will lift us up and make us joyous although you may be as the bottle in the smoke. Still you can enjoy the
peace of God. This is the victory.
We must put on the Word; the mind of Christ. Believe what we have. People carry their dead hearts
around day by day. Just as the man pushed the car along instead of turning the key to see if it ran, so do
Christians today walk around without the reality of God in their life because they fail to believe God's
Word. We must walk with Christ Jesus moment by moment and He must become a reality in our life.
Look away from your troubles and look unto God. When we look to the redemption work in Christ,
we're lifted as a bottle out of the smoke.
Bottle is goatskin. Carry the water in it. They skin their goat and tan it inside properly. Tie the four
knees and pour water in the neck and tie neck with rope. This is for poor people who can't afford to have
well of water of their own. They have to buy water when theirs runs out. They fill their goatskin bottle
and hang it in their ceiling of their small hut. They cook with a crude oven and use the grass of the field
as kindling to cook with—a space about 10x10. They cook, eat, sleep, live in it. The roof is a low thatched roof—can't stand erect. The bottle is hanging from ceiling and gets covered with smoke. It can't
speak—or defend itself or send for the union to fight for it.
Just as the bottle in the smoke was in a situation—helpless, full of crisis, so was David. He had no
control over the circumstances nor could he come out of it by himself.
"Yet do I not forget thy statutes." Although I'm in tremendous crisis, helpless, yet I do not forget
God. He knew only God could lift him up, deliver him. We say let's wait till everything is successful
before we give to the Lord. David said I'm in a situation that's humanly impossible to be delivered out of,
yet I did not forget God. Seek the kingdom of God first and He'll lift you from any crisis. God will help,
be your strength.
"Bottle in the smoke." Bottles in the East are made of leather. They skin a goat, tan it inside, take
hair off of skin, cut legs off at knees and sew up the four knees. They put water through the neck of the
skin and tie it up with a rope. Men carry these water bottles on their backs. Poor people cannot afford a
well in their yards, so when the city water supply fails, they must buy water at someone else's well. The
wells of wealthier people are handed down through their families for thousands of years.
Many poor people live in mud huts about 10x12 inches (?) with roof made of hay or coconut palm
leaves. There is no chimney. The man lives there with his family and goats and chickens, etc. One must
bend down to enter the hut through a small entrance. The wife cooks in one corner in a crude oven made
of stones. Crackling and heat fills the house because there is no chimney. The skin water bottle hangs
from the ceiling and looks like a goat when it is full. The bottle, hanging helplessly, becomes charred and
scarred and begins to leak in a few years. To say that one is like a bottle in the smoke is to say that he is
in great crisis which he cannot escape from or control. (A similar Western expression is "up against the
wall.") In the midst of this suffering, David went on to say, "...yet do I not forget thy statutes."
Whenever we seek God, He delivers us. Must think of God and Christ and the promises, not about
the problem. We are "above only" because we are spiritual. We are joyous and liberated people because
we know God whom we have believed. Knowing Him delivers us. The more trouble is thought about,
the more trouble grows.
Verse 122 Surety is like collateral or a cosigner at the bank. Surety stands only while you repay the
loan. God is a surety for good. Security forever (for good).
Verse 1 (Psalm 125:1) Mt. Zion; paganism. All the hairs of head are numbered because they belong to
God who is in you. And no plagues shall come nigh they dwelling because Christ in you, you are the Mt.
Zion. He'll keep His angels charge over you that your foot slip not, because He keeps an eye on you.
You are the Mt. Zion, He wants you. He sought you, He bought you, He loves you. He wants you.
Everything concerning you concerns Him because you are Mt. Zion. (Just as the people take care of this
mountain where their temple is, so God through His angels takes care of us who are the Mt. Zion. Let
Christ come into you and abide in you; his is how you become Mt. Zion. People cannot come nigh you
because you belong to God as Mt. Zion. This kind of security is available when we become the Mt. Zion
and He lives in us. Because God lives, we live.
This hill where the gods lives. "Should I lift up mine eyes to the hills (because there is a temple
there)? Whence cometh my help come?" Not from the temples—from the Lord. Pagans only look to the
mountain in times of desperation.
Translators mistake. It should read "Will I lift up mine eyes unto the hills? From whence cometh my
help." Only heathens look unto the mountain.
"I will lift up mine eyes." This should read "shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills? from whence
cometh my help?" The pagans thought that God was only in the temple on the mountain.
The hills are where the pagan temples were built. If a person is involved in a crisis, he will look for
a hill with a temple on top. He will stand near it and beat his chest, complain verbally of the crisis, "Lord
what have I done to deserve this?" The psalm should be, "Shall I lift up mine eyes to the hills?" This is
what the pagan people did, thinking their god could only be in that temple. David asks if he should do
this. "Whence doth my help come?" Answer—"My help comes from the Lord (not from a mountain,
temple...from the Lord"). God, today, is where there are believers.
Lift up eyes unto hills; temples. Should be two questions: "Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills?
From whence should my help come?" In the East, many of the temples are built on top of the hills. The
people look up to the hills where the temples are because they think God lives in the temples. We do not
have to look to the hills or temples, we look to the Lord. That is what David was saying (verse 2). The
Hindus believe that having a monument helps keep mind stayed. We are masters of our minds and can
learn to discipline our minds. God gave us the faculties and we are the masters.
Verses 1 and 2 Temples, lift up mine eyes. Should read "Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills? From
whence does my help come?" Two questions in first verse. Answer in second: "My help comes from the
Lord...." Most temples or places of worship were built in hill or mountains by the heathens. They sought
God there as if He lived there. David did not want to follow that practice because he knew God is a Spirit
and did not dwell in a particular place.
In the East many temples are built on top of some of the mountains. There is one on top of seventh
hill. Many people walk from great distances to go there.
Mountain, pagan worship. This psalm is upside down. In the East, many temples are built on
mountain tops. People look up at these hills with great veneration and respect. They believe that the
mountain belongs to God, who is on top in the temple. In time of danger, when sad news is received, the
people go to the foot of this hill and cry, "Oh, Lord, why did you allow me to suffer this," because they
feel God is sitting in the temple within the four walls. This is done only to mountains which have temples
on them. There are two questions inverse one and the answer is in verse two. "Shall I lift up mine eyes
unto the hills? From whence cometh my help?" NO! This was what the pagans did. David said, "My
help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." David's help did not come from the
mountain, it came from God. We must be looking at God and not to the churches or temples or
Reeds are in abundance in the East; it belongs to the sugar cane family. Reed grows wild in the
marsh Land. They are about 4-5 feet long. In the daytime they bow down to the ground. In the evening,
when the East wind comes, they all raise up tall. It is a beautiful sight and many people go to watch them.
Matthew 11:7. Jesus asked what people went to do in the wilderness. To see John the Baptist or a reed
shaking in the wind? Did they go to keep their eyes on John or the reed shaking in the wind rising up in
the evening? The same here in Psalm 121.
"I will lift up mind eyes unto the hills...." Shall I...? From whence...? Both are questions to
himself. Shall I look to the hills like the heathen? Think God is there.
My help cometh from the Lord who made haven and earth. Heathen—anyone who doesn't worship
true God. No one can go to God without Christ, no matter if as religious as the Hindu's (most religious
people on this earth.) Salvation doesn't come from hills, or temples made with hands, but from God.
That's where our help comes from.
"Lift up mine eyes to the hill." When Easterners receive bad news, they go to the temple and cry to
their god whom they believe dwells in the four walls of the temple. These are the pagan religions. So
David asks here (literal): "Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills? From whence cometh my help?"
These should be questions. The temples are always located in the hills. Then David answers in verse 2,
"No, my help comes from the Lord." David did not practice the heathen custom. (Acts 17:24)
Verse 6 In the East, people sleep covered from head to toe. Face covered so sunlight or moonlight will
not strike the eye.
Sun and moon. When the Eastern people go to bed, they will always cover their faces so that the
moonlight will not strike their eyes.
"Sun shall not smite thee." The heat of the sun in the East is very terrific and the light of the moon is
very bright. When they sleep outside at night, they will cover their heads.
Sun, moon. In the East, the sun's heat is very terrific. They believe that the light of the sun and the
moon would blind. Whereas in Christ Jesus, God is our shade, God is our light, protection, refuge,
strength, our all. Full protection is assured. They always covered their eyes.
Verse 2 "...Eyes of servants...." Servants always stand with loins girded so their loose robes would not
hinder them when they ran at a moment's notice. They have their hands folded and shoes on their feet,
always ready to go. The servants have a special place where they must stand and watch their master.
In the Orient, instructions are given by the clapping of the hands and different signs given with the
hand. Therefore, the servant must always be in position looking. He must look keenly or else he may
miss his master's signal. The hands are folded for readiness to be used for the master's service at a
moment's call.
Eyes of servants look unto hand of their masters. In East, the servants are not spoke to at certain
times when on duty at home. They get their instructions when their master claps his hands. The masters
make signs by their hands. Servants should look at master's hands at all times to receive instructions.
They must keep their minds stayed on their masters as to get all their instructions that they might carry
them out. If you don't get the instructions, you can't act on the instructions. If you don't act on the
instructions, you become a disobedient service so you're fired. As eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her
mistress (same as above).
Spiritual application: Just as the servant's eyes wait upon their masters, so should we wait upon the
Lord our God. We have to look to Him and to His Word for instructions. If we don't look to God, we'll
fail. We must keep our eyes on the Lord. We must wait upon Him to find His will. Then we must act on
the Word. You can know the solution to a problem but not act and the problem will never be solved. The
more we act on the Word (will of God), the more power we'll get. The closer you walk and practice the
presence of God, the more you'll operate the power of God in your life. Keep your eyes upon God and act
upon His Word. Only when you act upon it shall it come to pass. Walk on the Word and let it hold you
up. If do this, you'll have peace.
Eyes of servants—hands of their master. In the larger houses, the master gives instructions by hand
claps rather than by words. The servant responds quickly if they are watching very carefully. So, "The
eyes of servant look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her
mistress," so that they may receive instruction and obey orders. So our eyes must wait upon God...not on
things but on Him so He may guide us into all the truth. We may follow His instruction, His still small
voice and as we hear, we will follow; as we follow, we will have the victory and solution to our problems.
The name of Jesus heals our wounds and drives away our fears.
Gates of hell—fear, worry, anxiety; shall not prevail against the church. If we are in Christ Jesus,
fear, worry and anxiety cannot prevail against us. They try, but cannot. I John 4:4. If they do prevail,
there is nothing wrong with God. There is something wrong with our renewed mind. We must ACT,
believe that Christ Jesus did what he says he did.
Job 19:16. Servants. The nobles of the East do not talk to their servants. They clap their hands.
The servants wait in every room at every entrance. The servant stands with loins girded, sandals on feet,
turban on head and arms folded. The servant always watches the master. Instructions are given with
clapping signals. Servants, when called by a clap, look to the master's hands, not to his face, for further
Jesus Christ is our master and our eyes should always be on him so that we can follow easily.
"Eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters." Servants are not spoken to but hand signals
are used instead. (Loins girded means ready to go at any time.)
"Hand of their masters." Taught but not stated. The servants look for directions from their master's
Eyes of servants look unto hands of their masters. In East people don't talk to servants. They give
instructions by clapping hands. So, the servant must always look to master's hand to get their instruction.
So, our eyes should look to God.
Verse 1 Mt. Zion, temples. Jerusalem called Mt. Zion. It is also called, "Zion, hill of God." Jerusalem
is built on mountain. Any mountain on which temple is built is called Mt. Zion. "A mountain where God
Fig tree; Mt. Zion; temple. Whenever you read "Mt. Zion" in the Bible it does not always just mean
"Jerusalem." It can mean any mountain with a temple on top of it. Zion, hill of God, is Jerusalem. The
city is built on top of a mountain and has a temple there. Hence, any mountain with a temple on top is
Mt. Zion. Almost all religions built their temples on mountain tops. On such a mountain or hill there is a
low whitewashed fence running around it about 50 feet from the foot. The gates are always left open and
people go up to worship night and day. Many wild animals live within the gates, but they never molest
any worshippers. The people believe that God has shut the mouths of these lions, tigers, etc. Within the
gates are fruit trees. People may pluck the fruit and eat it immediately, but they cannot carry any away or
it would be stealing. No one can destroy any tree on the mountain. Everything within the fence belongs
to God: trees, grass, stones, animals. The fig tree is especially sacred. They believe that if one cuts the
fig tree with a knife (even in gathering fruit) or if one curses the fig tree so it dries up, he will bleed in his
nose and drop dead. (That is why Peter was so astonished when Jesus cursed the fig tree; it withered and
he did not drop dead—Mark 11.) Everyone in the town near the mountains help to care for it. The
women, especially, carry water to the trees during the dry summer. No one asks them to do it but they do
it because they love God. Everything on the mountain belongs to God.
In Psalm 125:1 it says that those who trust in the Lord shall be as Mt. Zion. We become the Mt. Zion
from head to foot. Everything that concerns us concerns Christ in us. It is a joy to be the Mt. Zion which
God in Christ dwells in. We then belong to God as we trust Him and accept Jesus Christ as our savior.
As the people care for the literal mountain so carefully, God cares even for every hair on our heads. All
of our needs are supplied because we belong to God. Psalm 91:11 says, "For he shall give his angels
charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." God in Christ abides in the heart which is the top of the
mountain. He is healer, provider, defender. He does not slumber or sleep. Any mountain can be
removed except one with a temple on it because the people will not allow it. We are as Mt. Zion which
cannot be removed because our protector will not allow it. We abide forever because we believe in Christ
who died and rose again.
Temples in India built on mountains. Mt. Zion means mountain where God dwells. There is a
temple on top. People around it take care of the mountain, water the trees, etc. Wild animals never hurt
worshippers. When we are born again, God dwells in us so we are Mt. Zion. "Cannot be removed,"
cannot be destroyed.
Jerusalem is called Mt. Zion. Custom—Mt Zion is any mountain with a temple, a mountain where
God dwells. Every tree, every blade of grass belongs to God. Everything on this mountain belongs to
God. You never destroy any tree.
"Shall be as Mt. Zion...." Jerusalem is called Mt. Zion because temple built on mountain and God
dwells there. Also, any city that has a temple on top is called Zion. Means a mountain where God
dwells. Bishop talks of going to Hindu temple when he was young. Long walk over seven hills. Now a
road. Went with several Christian friends. In India since 1947, no segregation or untouchables.
Thousands of people going to temple. No membership or tithing. Yet look at all those coming and giving
money or collection. Throw money in treasury that is tied up to ceiling, hangs like a lamp. It is a brass
vessel made of five metals—represents the five senses. Can only reach to put in and no one can see how
much you put in—humanly impossible!
High caste Hindus give freely of their money, do not need to be asked. They put God first and
people give the best that they have. St. Thomas—first missionary to Indian in 30 A.D. Built church on
mountain called Thomas Mt.
Any mountain that has temple on top, people take care of it. All and everything on mountains
belong to God. Grass, stones, animals—nobody dares to take anything. Very well groomed. Trees,
flowers, gates always open. If a drought, thousands of people bring water to save the trees of the Lord.
They do it themselves, no one has to ask them. They are taught seek ye the kingdom of God first, so
everything else comes second. In times of distress, go and cry unto mountain with temple on top because
believe that God is there.
"...Shall be as Mount Zion which cannot (returns to) be removed, but abideth forever." Man is able to
remove and dig up mountain with machines. It's not that they couldn't do it. "Cannot" here does not
mean impossible, but something else.
Mountain has temple on top, the people look after like the apple of their eye. They won't let anyone
touch a stone because it belongs to their God. Only touch a stone on the dead bodies.
Spiritual aspect: If you let Christ come into your heart, then you are the Mt. Zion from head to foot.
He dwells in us by His spirit. All that I am belongs to God who is in me. He protects me. So know as
Christ is in us will keep his charge over us. He will supply our need (Take care of us as heathen do their
mountain top temple and grounds—so that they are willing to give their lives). Every item of our life is
taken care of by him who is in us. Neither shall any man pluck us from out of His hand. We are rooted
and grounded in Him. (John 10:28)
Mt. Zion. Jerusalem is called Mt. Zion. Mt. Zion means any hill with a temple on top; a mountain
where God dwells. These mountains are taken care of by the people who worship there. It is like the
apple of their eye. Every tree, herb, fruit tree, animal is precious to them because they belong to God.
The animals never bother the people; they are tame-like. There is gold and silver and diamonds on their
idols inside; there are golden stairs to the temple. Inside no one ever steals. All trees on the mountain are
called "trees of the Lord." When they die or begin to die from a draught, all of the women carry water up
the mountain (on their head) to water the trees, without being asked. They believe they are serving their
god. Not allowed to cut any tree or chisel any stone on this mountain either. They belong to God. When
building an altar, stones must come from these mountains, yet cannot be chiseled.
So, anything that confronts you as a Christian cannot bother you. You are "the temple of God," and
you are as Mt. Zion, nothing can touch you.
Weeping. Opens in talking about the current witnessing program in India. He advocated that $30
per month is what people should put aside to aid in this program. They work hard holding forthe the
gospel and they go over very rough terrain. They love Christ so much that they give away their last dollar
to the cause of Christ, rather than save it for milk for their starving children. They weep because they do
it for milk for their starving children. They weep because they do no save the dollar, but give the dollar away.
"Weeping" is to go without.
Tells of his friends who believed. These men went out sowing precious seed and reaped bountifully.
They went to strange countries without anything. God blessed them.
Verses 3,5 and 6 Why is "weepeth" in there. In the East, poor man has a small piece of land and they
have concentrated farming. These people are mostly in debt to money lenders who come and collect
interest. He must save some seed for next crop. He cries because he must sow the seed and cannot give
any to his starving children.
Spiritual application: We as Christians bear the Word as the precious seed. We may weep when we
give away our last dollar for the ministry. We weep when making sacrifices for the ministry, yet we shall
receive rewards. We are willing to do anything for the ministry even if it will hurt. If a believer is sold
out and willing to give away his last dollar for the ministry, God would never let him get down to his last dollar.
Verses 5 and 6 Sow in tears. Reap in joy. They save their seed from year to year; they plant some and
save part, instead of eating it. They save it for next year's crop, next year's sowing. So, for a while (a
short period before the planting of the seed) there is a time when they leave very little food, if any; and he
that weepeth is weeping because he won't go to that seed to eat; for he must have it to sow. Even if we
are to starve and weep in order for others to have a chance to hear the Word (by giving your last dollar),
for the truth to be spread everywhere and for others to open up our understanding. Give even if it means
you cannot pay for food (which may bring tears). Give so the ministry may go forward that the whole
world might know what the truth is and that Christ may be glorified. If you do so, you will come back
rejoicing. God will honor you. God will make good for every sacrifice you make. God will make us
richer, spiritually, financially, physically and every way. This is how we come back rejoicing, bearing
sheaves. Demonstrate the power of God. Step on it! Walk on it. See the power of God made manifest in
our life to greater measure in our giving, in our loyalty, in our faithfulness, in our solidarity, the truth in
all our ways. Now, Eastern farmers live in the village, not on the farm. So each day they "go forth" when
they go to work. Precious seed is the seed to be sown.
Verse 6 Precious seed. Eastern farmers do not live on the farm but in the village. They go in the
morning and work all day, then bring oxen, implements, etc., home in the evening. "He that goeth
forth"—he must go forth because he does not live there on the land. Many of the poor people do not own
land and must rent it. Why does he weep as he goes forth? They must pay the rent, cultivate the land,
sow the seed, harvest, in order to get enough to feed their families. Many of them are deep in debt. A
landowner does not have to pay rent. The renters must pay by the seed and borrow money for it.
There is a very high interest charged by the money lenders. They must also engage laborers. At
harvest time the money lender comes to the field and takes his share first. Not much is left for the
family. Some of the seed must be saved for the next planting season. The family may be starving, but the
seed must be saved. As he carries the seed to sow in the land, he looks at his starving family and weeps.
He comes back "rejoicing, bringing his sheaves."
Our business is to sow the seed so that others may be saved. The seed is the Word. If we cannot go
we may help someone else who goes. We may have to go without some comfort to send the sower. It
may cause weeping until we rejoice at seeing the harvest. Pillai gives a wonderful example of as incident
from his life to illustrate this point. He has phenomenal believing!
Precious seed. India produces mostly rice, then wheat. Rice is India's staple food. Each person has
own home and land handed down from parents. Largest number of homeowners in world. Indians who
aren't Hindus are untouchables. No unemployment except in cities where people do not want to dirty
their hands. Idea of Hindus is that education is not just to get a job. Even those with degree often go
back to work on farm. Rice is grown: plow land, fill with water, plow in water, fill again with water half
inch on top of ground, very muddy. Rice called paddy. Leave thin brown husk on paddy to sow it. Soak
paddy for three days in water in barrel. When paddy sprouts in water, it is ready to be sown. Psalm 126:6
speaks of the precious seed.
Goes forth from village to farm. Live in villages, not on farms. If have excess of land, lend it to
poor people to cultivate and receive one third of their produce. Landless people are in a sad condition.
Live from hand to mouth. Family is hungry. That is why he weeps. We should go out bearing the
"precious seed" of the Word and come back bearing fruit and rejoicing.
Almost every Eastern city is walled round about. The upper classes live together. The lower class
lives in a different style of house. Each village used to have an "untouchable section" attached to it. The
untouchables did menial tasks.
Women arise at 4:00 a.m., bathe and have devotions and start breakfast. Servant washes floor
because they believe it is unclean to cook when floor is dirty. Men arise at 5:00 a.m., bathe, have
devotions and eat breakfast (till about 7:00). In upper classes, women do very little work. Have servants.
Different castes for different tasks. Washer man caste comes to homes and picks up dirty clothes,
washes them and returns in evening. This service is free because the village has given the washer man
land. Same with other castes which perform various tasks. This practice occurs in villages. If you
understand the village life of a country, you will know something about the country. Can't go to Chicago
to understand America. Must go to small town.
When Mohammadens pray, they put their fingers in their ears so they will not be distracted. They
make noise when they pray—speak loudly.
Verses 4 and 5 Children of thy youth. These are children born to young women, maybe 16 years old.
These children are stronger, fresher blood. Orientals get married early because they believe their children
will be stronger.
"Quiver" is what they carry arrows in. The idiom here means that the man has many sons.
"Gate" is the place where the elders are. Disputes are taken before the elders to be settled.
Children of thy youth are children born to the young people (16-18 years when they become
parents). They are stronger as youth; they have ''fresh blood" in them. This is the reason Easterners get
married sooner than we do. The children will have more vitality, be stronger, more powerful, they are
freer from fear and giving their life for protecting the parents. Then "a quiver" is a sheath designed to
hold arrows. A quiver full of arrows means "happy is a man with plenty of sons, children." They shall
not be ashamed to stand in the gate to speak with the enemy if the enemy attacks them (and their parents).
They are stranger. The gates are where the doors are shut in the evening, opened in the morning. The
place where the courts are and the elders of the gate reside. If anyone wants to fight you, you go to the
gate and face him. "Your name is good in the gate" means, at the gate where all of the hundreds of people
meet, pass on till they speak about you... your public opinion of you is high (in favor). These children can
face the public.
Verse 5 Quiver - children, family. They will stand for their father against enemies.
Verse 3 The vines from the vineyards are planted everywhere, in the temple courtyard by the sides of
the homes, in gateways. It is symbolic of God's presence and also of prosperity. Some vines do not bear
much fruit and others do. As the vines by the side of the house which are beautiful to look at, are
prosperous, so your wife shall be prosperous bearing much fruit. All the children and grandsons, etc. eat
together. Before the olive plants get old, a lot of olives shoot up from the roots by themselves. There is a
bush or plant around the trunk of the olive tree which holds it up and keeps it from dying. So the children
in the East are round about the parents. When the parents can't support themselves, the children are like
olive plants and support the parents.
Vineyard, olive plants, fruitful vine. In the courtyard, grapes are grown, as are figs. The vines are
always growing up the house and onto the roof and bear fruit. "Fruitful vine," vines grown in the
courtyard are always fruitful, are always sumptuous, always prosperous. So the good wife will be so
prosperous to the family just as the fruitful vine in the vineyard. "Olive plants" bring forth fruit up to 80
years, before they become old. Small chutes come up around the trunk of a barren olive tree, just as the
chutes grow up to produce fruit for the barren adult tree and strengthened the old. Our children must be
so. When the son in the East is old enough to work, the father no longer works. If the father worked it
would be a disgrace to the son. Sons never leave parents before father and mother are dead. An Eastern's
train of thinking: mother—father—wife—God—this is the order of prominence, responsibility. The son
would be stoned to death for not honoring (supporting) his parents.
The Eastern homes are built with a courtyard in the middle. There they plant fruit trees and vines.
The vines creep up to the housetops and bear fruit. They do this because they believe that wherever the
vines are, the presence of God is. The vine that brings forth fruit year round is referred to as the "fruitful
vine on the sides of your house"—symbolic of prosperity and presence of and blessing of God in the
home. This is what the wife is. The children like olive plants about the table. Olive tree brings forth fruit
for about 80 years. It begins to retire after that, bearing no more fruit. About that time, little sprouts
come up from the roots, all around the tree, maybe 20 to 30 of them. They begin to bear fruit; they hold
up the parent tree, which has retired, by standing around on the roots strengthening it and producing fruit
for the parent tree. This is how the well-trained children are!
The children uphold the parents, they love their parents, they do everything for the parents. There is
no retirement for the believer, just like the palm tree keeps bearing fruit.
Background: Eastern house has a courtyard. There you find grapevines on the wall. Spiritual
application: Grapes are a symbol of presence of God. Wife shall be as beautiful and graceful as the
presence of God. This wife will be as good and generous as this fruitful vine.
Says that the wife will be like fruitful vine. If anyone is sick with an incurable disease then a leaf of
a branch is engraved on a piece of gold and this is put in the nose. This is done by people who have
committed a lot of sins or people who are going among thieves because they think if they do this God will
be with them.
Vines, olive plants, fruitful. Most Eastern houses are built with a courtyard in the middle. There
they plant olives and the vine. The creepers of the vine fall on the roof. They plant these because
presence of vine signifies the presence of God to them.
Fruitful means graceful as well as producing children. Blessed, joyous, graceful, charming and
loving are characteristics of the vine. Wife is like the vine—always peaceful, calm, quiet, restful,
gracious; she smiles and receives guests as unto God, feeds him; blesses him and her home is
everybody's. Her children follow their mother—not angry, spiteful, resentful, gossip; these do not belong
to "fruitful vine." The olive tree produces fruit for 80 years. During this time, all around the olive plant,
20 or 30 trees sprout up and begin to produce fruit and also hold up the parent tree that it may not fall. So
our children must do—produce food, bring money in by earning wages, support the parents, obey the
parents, help them, hold them up, love them, respect them. This is the way the Eastern children are
Verse 3 Plowed upon my back, persecution. Talking about the persecution it was like people plowing
up on his back.
See Colossians 3:3; John 10:28. "Plowers plowed." Figure indicating the distress and difficulties
and persecution from enemies; something enemies did, said not wrote which is hard to bear.
"Made long their furrows" means the persecution is continued over and over for a long time,
"The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows." Simple idiom: People
persecuting another; a man is trodden down by enemies through persecution; oppressed. Enemies
walking over enemy. Leaving absolutely no chance to get out.
Verses 3-7 Plowed furrows; cut cords of wicked; grass on housetops.
Verse 3: The persecutors persecuted so much that his problems are as wide as furrows. Burdens are
carried on the back. "Plowed" made furrows (problems) wider and deeper.
Verse 4: "Cut asunder the cords of the wicked." A cord is a line or rope for measurements of land to
obtain inheritance. The wicked will receive no inheritance when their cords are cast asunder or cut.
Micah 2:5; Psalm 16:6; Isaiah 57:21.
Verse 5: "Grass on housetops." The roofs are flat cement floors. If mud collects in corners, plants
grow. When the owner discovers it, he pulls the grass up. The grass is destroyed before it grows up.
Likewise, the wicked do not last long.
Grass is said to wither in the evening because that is when Easterners gather it to feed their livestock.
They bundle it in huge bundles that are so big they almost cover the man who carries them on back. Only
the legs can be seen. He can hardly see the road. Mark 8:24—they looked like trees because of the bundle
on their heads.
Verse 6 Grass on housetops. Grass grows on the housetops in the East in the cracks or space or corner.
A small bit of grass will grow. Yet it dies before evening. So a wicked person, unbeliever, shall be like
this grass. It has no roots and no one to water it. (Green bay tree.)
Grass upon the housetops. The housetops have cracks in it—grass grows and withers soon. This is
like a curse.
Verse 1 Brethren dwell in unity. Eastern men take an oil bath on Saturday and women take one on
Friday. Olive, coconut or linseed oil. A massage is given. The oil is poured all over the body and then
take a hot water bath with soap nut which comes from a tree in East and the soap nut takes off the oil. It
makes a person calm and peaceful.
"Skirts"—the underwear worn during the massage.
When oil is dropped on body and massage and bath, then all tension is gone, there is calm and
quietness. What has oil got to do with unity? The consequence of the oil is to bring you peace,
Verses 1 and 2 Every Friday have an oil bath. The poor women pour oil on the head of the woman and
shampoo, wash whole body. Last for about an hour and a half. The oil runs down and over body, soaks
in for another hour. After that, they go to sleep. Sleep about two hours. When they get up, they are
renewed. Feel great, peaceful, cleansed in soul and mind. Then you can work hard till next Friday.
Women don't loose their hair because of the way they care for themselves. They also use a bitter herb for
their teeth to protect them. They take time to care for themselves. They eat right foods, too. No sweets.
The Eastern people believe their body was given to them by God and they are responsible to keep God's
house. God dwells in them—God's house.
They believe man can live as you want. For us, Christianity has become a religion and not a way of
life. Every hour of the day has to be a walk with God.
The men have their bath on Saturdays. They oil themselves for hour. Then they bathe with the soap
nut, eat dinner, sleep a couple of hours. Then they awake and are relaxed; as light as a feather, nerves at
ease. Can do any kind of work now because they have a delightsome body and mind.
Oil bath, dwell together in unity. The Eastern countries, the Hindus everyday the women bathe three
times a day prior to meals. They believe God dwells in their bodies and that for that reason they are
responsible for keeping it clean. In addition to these three baths, daily, on Friday the women bathe in a
different way. They get perfumed oil, a special servant, hair shampoo and soak in oil. After an hour or so
of soaking, they take soap nut which cleans faster than our soap. Then dinner is eaten, then they rest.
This brings peace and contentment to the soul. The men also bathe Saturday. They also clean the teeth
with a bitter herb for about half an hour. The Easterners take time to do these things. This is the custom.
When clothing (like bathing suit) gets bathed, the oil goes down to the garment. This peacefulness which
comes during this oil bath makes one restful. So when you dwell together in unity with the brethren, it
will be poised, restful and peaceful to us. It will be like this man who took the oil bath; resting
peacefully, no hatred, no animosity, no nagging, no spitefulness; peace, calm, quietness, dignity, poise,
power in our soul—so will the unity of the brethren affect us. When the inside is in tact, the outside is in tact.
"Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Key is first verse; the
unity is like the precious ointment.
Must know about precious ointment, head and beard. In East, one special bath a week. Men bathe
Saturdays, women on Fridays. Called oil bath. Man comes with oil and pours it on head as a shampoo—
works on head, neck, nerves—massages so well! Oil runs down from head (no skirt) just towel.
Massages all over with oil—oil ears, eyes, feet, takes out all the dirt. Let soak in, then hot bath, no soap,
a nut from a tree. Washes oil off faster than soap does. After bath, dinner, nice sleep, get up, calm, light
as a feather. Calm—peaceful mind and body! Pleasant, gracious, lovely—lasts for a week. No more
troubles, not irritable, all vanished away. Most don't loose hair cause of this bath. Clean teeth with bitter
herbs. Kills germs—no dentists in India. They take time in India, spend time, cause body is given to
them by God. God dwells there. I'm a steward of body.
Lightness and delightfulness of body the way it is for believers to dwell together. Happiness,
goodness, gentlemen, no animosity, no hatred, no problem if together as brothers and sisters in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Oil bath. After a person has been annointed with oil (given a massage with oil) he is bathed with
soap nut which is power when mixed with hot water it becomes soap. This soap will take off the oil very
quickly. Women take oil baths on Friday, men on Saturday, but for the guests it is done when the guest
comes on the first day.
Brethren dwell together in unity. Ointment upon the head. On Friday, the women bathe, oil bath,
shampoo. They use olive oil, linseed oil. A woman comes and pours oil all over her; eyes, ears, entire
body. It takes about an hour. They don't use soap here. They use soap nuts from that tree. They grind
these nuts and make a powder. They mix this with hot water on the head and it becomes soapy—cleans
out oil very quickly. Afterwards they put on some thin clothes, eat a nice meal and go to sleep. They got
up about 3 o'clock and are as light as a feather—no anxiety or agony—they're rested. Saturday the men
do the same thing.
The "skirts of his garments," is a towel they wrap around their waist while they're being washed with
oil. This treatment "gets you together—at peace." This is how the brethren ought to dwell together in
unity. We should bathe each other in the love of God in manifestation.)
Weekly bath ointment upon the head, soap nut tree, Aaron' beard. Second verse is an explanation of
how precious it really is. The Eastern people take their time to do everything. They brush their teeth with
a bitter herb (margosa). The bitterness kills all germs. Crushed ends of twig of magosa tree used as
toothbrush. Children of Israel spend time on this matter. They ate their Passover with a bitter herb
(Exodus 12:8). They never lost hair in the East because they took very good care of the hair. Every
Friday, all women in the family have oil bottles, a trained servant woman gives massages (on the head) to
soothe all of the hair. The oil is running from the head, through the cheeks and then all over the body.
Every week they are trying. They pour oil in the ear and eye to get the dirt out. On Friday, they soak for
half an hour in oil and then they take a hot bath. They do not use soap. They use soap nut tree nuts. The
nut is ground up into some powder. Soap nuts help roots of hair. After bathing they eat and sleep. They
awaken fresh and as light as a feather, refreshed, soothed, nervous system is relaxed. Women do this on
Friday. Men do it on Saturday. Men had a towel down around their loins, not a garment or robe. They
used coconut oil, linseed oil, peanut oil and olive oil (expensive). The soap nut tree has a black nut with
many seeds inside. When they are ripe they dry up and then the custom is to make them into powder. A
little powder and water makes much suds. Mentally they keep in peace by this practice. (However the
peace of heart they are missing. This peace comes with the forgiveness of sins.) If men are like this bath,
it should be good and soothing and positive and pleasant. There are no backbitings, animosities,
gossiping, negativism, running down one another. Peace of heart and mind is possible. If you have the
peace of God (Christ in you the hope of glory), your fellowship with other brothers will be good and
pleasant, as if a man takes this bath, eats and rests. He can wake up refreshed and last the entire week.
He can think intelligently because the oil has soothed his mind (the oil is symbolic of the holy ghost—
Pillai) it heals the mind and drives away fear. We have the resources of heaven operating in us; we
should be the best people. "Aaron's beard."
"Precious ointment." The Eastern people take time to do things like clean their teeth with a bitter
herb—Margosa tree has twigs which are used as a toothbrush. They spend 25-30 minutes brushing their
teeth. The hair is taken care of also by pouring oil on it; oil is poured in the ears and eyes. Coconut oil,
olive, peanut, linseed. The oil is cleaned off with soap from the soap nut tree.
Verse 5 Snare. A snare is a trap; with a string attached to it (the cord) you stand hidden somewhere.
When the enemy, bird or animal comes near it, then the bait (gin) on the inside lures people into the snare.
Then the cord is pulled. The enemies are referred to here. A net is a wider snare. The proud today is our
mind affected by the Devil becoming submissive to the Devil. The snare is a trap to our thoughts.
Verse 5 Excellent oil. Righteous will only smite you to correct you. Excellent oil—green olives before
they've ripened. They crush it and get the oil out of it. This is called green oil, fresh oil or excellent oil.
It has these three names. All kings are consecrated with this oil.
If the righteous man reproves me, it'll be as excellent oil, it'll soothe, heal me, it'll soothe my sorrow.
You should not be offended if a righteous person criticizes you, but what he says is out of love for our
own good not to break our head.
Verse 7 "Stretch forth thine hand from above; deliver me out of great water, from the hand of the
ungodly." (Translation.)
Aramaic version: "Stretch forth thine hand from above. Deliver me out of great waters from the
hand of the ungodly."