“For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” (Psalm 16.10, ESV)¹

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¹When David wrote about God not abandoning his soul in sheol* nor allowing his holy one to see corruption, he did not understand that he was talking about Christ, the Messiah to come (see 1 Peter 1.10-12).

What David wrote was a Messianic prophecy foretelling the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus and recorded in the New Testament.

Peter preached, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ ‘Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.’” (Acts 2.22-32, ESV)

If you are interested in learning more about Bible prophecy e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

* Sheol: the OT designation for the abode of the dead ("H7585 - shĕ'owl - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (KJV)." Blue Letter Bible. Web. 27 Mar, 2017. <https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7585&t=KJV>.)

“…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Tim. 4.2, ESV)¹

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¹Paul told Timothy to “preach the word”. Unfortunately, people do not like to hear God’s word. In fact, to keep people coming, many preachers and pastors preach jokes, funny stories, or feel-good-motivational-speeches instead of the word of God. Sadly, people leave having heard nothing more than fluff and “positive preaching*”.

Yet, Paul charged Timothy to preach the word “in season and out of season”; in other words, when they like it (Acts 2.37-41) and when they do not like it (Acts 7.51-60). Mixed with preaching is “reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience and teaching”. Interestingly, notice that there are two negatives (reproving, rebuking) and one positive (exhorting) included in preaching. One such reason is because God’s word is meant to prick us in the heart to do better (cf. Acts 2.37). Therefore, these things are necessary for our growth in the word (Acts 20.32; 2 Tim. 3.16-17; Eph. 4.11-16).

However, if we are not built up in the faith then we will no longer want to endure sound teaching, and having itching ears we will accumulate for ourselves teachers to suit our own passions (see 2 Tim. 4.3-4). For example, imagine a man who loves to smoke going to ten different doctors until he found one who will tell him that it is OK to smoke. He is simply seeking a doctor that will suit his evil lust. Paul says that once that happens men will wander from the truth into fables or myths.

If you’re interested in learning more about the truth of God’s word and avoiding religious error and myths, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

*This writer does not believe there is such a thing as “negative and positive preaching” as we are often told to “refrain from so much negativity from the pulpit”. If one was to distinguish between the two, both are necessary for the growth of the saint. However, every sermon that presents God’s word and causes a soul to repent of sin or remain faithful is positive. We ask: “Where’s the negativity in that?”