Warm hellos to you dear brethren, co-workers, spiritual family on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and scattered children of God, from here in the Philadelphia, PA area. My wife and I are here for a few days visiting scattered brethren, and enjoying a couple days of reflection upon our blessings.

Over the last few months, I’ve received quite a bit of correspondence in regards to my Friday evening pastoral letters. Many have mentioned, that they enjoy the scriptural references, open their Bibles and see ‘if these things be so’, and use them for welcoming the Sabbath. I am encouraged that God’s children are opening His Word especially as things continue downward all around us.

One of my favorite subjects of focus is the Kingdom of God and in particular within the Book of Daniel. There is another book also within the Word of God that you may not think of at first as referring to the Kingdom of God, and that is the Book of Psalms.

The Book of Psalms is multi-dimensional if you will. We find history, prophecy and the law of God among the subjects that are addressed. Psalm 22 is a well-known Psalm. It is a Psalm written by David. He was inspired to write some statements that also applied to the life of Jesus and in particular His crucifixion.

Part of Psalm 1:1 is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 27:46. Parts of Psalm 22:7-8 are verbalized by those who observed Jesus hanging on the cross as recorded in Matthew 27:39-43. The events described in Psalm 22:15-16 are fulfilled in the nailing of Jesus to the stake, His thirst, the dividing of and casting lots for his clothing, and the enemies taunting him as described in Matthew 27:35, 41-43 and John 19:23-24.

Psalm 22:23 continues to progress in a prophecy of the descendants of Jacob hearing God’s message and then responding to praise, glorify and fear the Lord. Verse 27 refers to various nations turning to the Lord and coming to worship before Him. “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.”

This sounds very much like the words of Isaiah. “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord . . .” (Isa 2:2-3)

Returning to Psalm 22:28 “For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.” The ultimate application of this statement is in the reign of Christ after His return to rule the nations.

So many keep saying “We’ll be great again!” Is our focus on what God desires to be great, or our own human wishes? A good question to ask ourselves and ponder.

There is so much discussion right now on this political party or that one, and which is better or worse.

Other Psalms speak of the “great King” and His future subduing and reigning over the nations. (Ps 47:2-5) Psalm 95 refers to coming before the “Rock of our salvation” and “the great King.”

It seems there is a Sabbath setting in this Psalm, when the convocation and worship takes place. Parts of the Psalm are quoted in Hebrews 3 and 4. Hebrews 4 looks forward to the 1000 year rest pictured by the seventh day Sabbath celebration.

The great King will reign on the earth (Ps 47:2; Zech 14:9; Rev 19:15-16) when He returns to set up the Kingdom of God and have the saints reign with Him (Rev 11:15-18).

No wonder the Kingdom of God was the focus of the message that Jesus and the apostles announced!

Now is a time in history dear family that we keep our focus more than ever on that new world that is coming. That new government, and King will usher in true peace. Oh how we desperately need that now more than ever.

This Sabbath, as I sit here in Philadelphia I hear the fireworks and noise associated with celebration of a nation. Is that one nation under God indeed under Him? Are we sincerely looking to the King of Kings and our Lord and Master?

Some more things to contemplate during these days between Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets, and as we look forward to God’s Kingdom being set up on His earth.

Let’s you and I stay strong, vigilant and focused on the God who has called us, allowing Him to live in us, looking forward to that coming Kingdom of God!

Arms up friends! Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.