Psalm 17:15
15 As for me, I will behold [chazah] thy face [paniym] in
righteousness: [tsedeq] I shall be satisfied, [saba`] when I awake, [quwts] with
thy likeness. [tamuwnah]KJV-Interlinear
15 As
for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy
likeness when I awake. NASB
As for me, is a phrase
that sets up the contrast between the spiritually mature believer versus, those
who see the world as their domain and portion of life.
In the previous verses,
we studied people who look to themselves and the world for their contentment
and satisfaction. We know from the
scriptures that the world and any self-effort cannot fulfill these needs or
desires.
The immature believer or
the negative believer, and certainly all unbelievers, look to the world.
The spiritually positive
believer and especially the spiritually mature believer, looks to God for the satisfaction
of meaning and purpose and fulfillment in their life.
In righteousness, is a
reference to Gods perfect righteousness. This is a part of Gods essence and
character. And our only access to His
essence is through the written word which He has provided for us. We read, we study, we are taught, and
therefore we learn and grow up in understanding and wisdom and come to
understand the difference between the worldly and the spiritual sides of life.
The believer receives
satisfaction while the unbeliever, or the spiritually negative believer does
not.
But what is in view here
is not satisfaction in this world per se, but in the next life.
When I awake, is not a
reference to any given morning when you wake up after a good nights sleep, for
no one grows up spiritually by sleeping.
This wakening is from death into the next life, or the resurrection.
With thy likeness,
clarifies the resurrection aspects of an awakening.
No one can go to sleep
here and now, and wake up with Gods likeness.
Even if you study and grow up in your spiritual life, the best you can
do is be mature, but you are still in this physical world. You can have a learned understanding likeness
of Christ within your soul, but will not be like Him until the resurrection,
wherein then, we will have resurrection bodies like His.
At that time, in the next
life, after our resurrection, after the Judgment Seat of Christ, after our
individual evaluation and reward, then and only then, will there be the
ultimate satisfaction, that will go on and on, forever.
You cannot ever gain this
or anything like it, from this world.
E-Books, E-Book Reader
Your Comments
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Subscription Options
