20141217 Wednesday, December 17 2014
Psalm 026: Where Is The Congregation of Evil Doers Headed?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked"

The greatest irony of the Exodus may be that nearly all of the people who were liberated from their slavery never arrived at the Promised Land because they misused their freedom to rebel against the LORD - instead of ever rebelling against their slave masters, they rebelled against their Savior. They made themselves into an "evil congregation" of people who nevertheless still claimed the LORD as their God. So, instead of arriving in the Promised Land about fourteen months after the Exodus, they were given to wander in the Sinai for forty years - until the entire generation of adult rebels had died in the wilderness (see The Israelite Wanderland). It was their children and grandchildren who later entered the Promised Land under the command of Joshua (see Why A Book Of Deuteronomy In The Bible?).

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) didn't surrender Himself to the demands of the evil congregation.

"14:26 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

14:27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 14:28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 14:30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

14:31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

14:32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. 14:33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. 14:35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die." (Numbers 14:26-35 KJV)

The spirit of rebellion that destroyed the deliverance of the people of the Exodus has continued on through the centuries, right into the present day. Much of the Christian-professing world, Church of Rome and "Protestant" (doctrinally, there was no "Protestant Reformation" against Rome's anti-Biblical heresies and abominations) has chosen to go its own way, in Christ's Name, while expecting their deliverance to the ultimate Promised Land to happen regardless of what they do (see Why Call Me, Lord, Lord, and Do Not The Things Which I Say? and Will Jesus Christ Obey Your Christian Religion?).

What did the Messiah say to those who do as they please, while expecting Him to obey them with their "my Jesus" and "my church" fantasies?

"7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:13-27 KJV)

King David was a wise man of God who "hated the congregation of evil doers." He knew that salvation will be found only by those who truly repent and truly obey the LORD (The Way To Eternal Life and The Messiah's Rod Of Iron; also Truly Uplifting and Your Life Preserver).

"26:1 A Psalm of David.

Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 26:3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 26:4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 26:5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 26:8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

26:9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 26:10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

26:12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD." (Psalm 26:1-12 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why is evil attracted to good, while true good is not attracted to evil?
See Why Is Evil Attracted To Good? and Follow Not That Which Is Evil, But That Which Is Good: also Why Is Violating The True Christian Sabbath As Evil As Murder?