Those Who Are Raised Up on High

Those Who Are Raised Up on High

“Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; thus says the man raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel: ‘The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: “He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”’” 2 Sam. 23:1-3.

God raised up David on a high, spiritual plane, a place which God thought was worthy of him in relation to his humility and uprightness of heart. David was an anointed person to whom the Lord could speak by His Spirit, and He put glorious words on his tongue. In his spirit David could look far into the future, and in several of his psalms we see how clearly he wrote about the Messiah; he rejoiced and sang about Him. In his last words, which he received grace to speak, he saw the Messiah as a ruler over people, a just ruler in the fear of God. V. 3. Everything would be different if today’s Christians would see Him like this. Usually they only see Christ as someone who atoned for them and who forgives them, because they themselves are neither God-fearing nor just. However, Paul also saw Christ clearly, and he wrote that “if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:17.

Paul was also an anointed man of God who was raised up on a high and holy plane and who had exceedingly precious and glorious words put on his tongue. He loved Christ and believed in the power of His grace for victory over sin. He was crucified with Christ—he was dead to sin—and Christ lived in him.

God, who raised up David and the apostles, gave them anointed words that were living. He will also raise us up and give us grace in the ministry by the Word and by wisdom according to our humility and faithfulness of heart.

Just as Jerusalem’s collapse was awesome, so the religious world has sunk to a very low level. Almost every kind of sin rules in their midst, yet they still reckon that they are children of God.

When Paul speaks about the last days, he writes that the condition among religious people will be such that they will have an appearance of godliness yet deny its power—in other words, the power to live and rule with Christ over all conscious sin.

For the most part, people then will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

We who are alive today can confirm that Paul saw clearly and was a true prophet. When you look at conditions at the average place of employment and at schools, you can see that insolence and ungodliness have sunk to a very low level. The words people have on their tongues have been put there by evil spirits. Song and music have also been dragged down to a low and terrible level. All of this is on its way to the pit.

On the other hand, how blessed it is when the opposite is true! Brothers and sisters are separated from all this wretchedness. They cleanse themselves and purify themselves and rise from one degree of glory to another. Good, useful, and edifying words are on their tongues, and the greatest variety of gifts is manifested, to the glory of God. The result is festive and blessed on all sorts of occasions in this pure, good, and spiritual atmosphere in which songs and melodies are born that are alive. “He has put a new song in my mouth . . . .” Ps. 40:3.

Let us guard our hearts and the words that proceed from our mouths. The tongue is a terrible weapon if evil powers get to use it. However, if the Spirit of Christ rules over it, it becomes an exceedingly great blessing. David became the sweet psalmist of Israel because of all the glory that God put in his mouth.

The strong, destructive powers that rule in the world today will drag us down if we are not watchful and do not fight the good fight of faith. However, we can be kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Pet. 1:5.

Let us take a close look at the sins that Paul lists in 2 Timothy 3:2-5, which will have such power in the last times. Let us be watchful that not the least of any of these sins will ever gain power over us.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.” Ps. 20:7-8.

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” John 8:23. May this testimony truly be our testimony as well. God can make good use of us if we are in this state. Christ will enter an eternal covenant with us on this high and holy plane. He will order and make secure all our salvation and our future, and He will let everything grow that is good. 2 Sam. 23:5.