Psalm 9 and the Antithesis – Pastor Patrick Hines Podcast

My last three posts are about events that are presently unfolding in our society; the two posts on Curtis Bowers’ Agenda Weekly, touched on the topic of the Nashville shooting by identifying underlying factors (the last of those, addressing the ‘Mess’ this country is in, showed the Nashville victims and covered the event differently than the other AW post).

This post covers aspects of the “antithesis” which is at the root of the conflict between God’s people and people of the world more specifically, using Psalm 9.

Pastor Hines’ podcast is about Psalm 9, the ‘antitheses between God’s people and people of the world. He noted that Satan subtly works to soften or remove the antitheses (apparent in Psalm 9 and in God’s word in general) and promote an emphasis on commonality. Such can be seen in the ecumenical movement touted by religious leaders like the Pope, Rick Warren and many others: therein, they want to throughout anything that divides (doctrine, mostly) and circle ‘round the campfire together.

The pastor uses scripture to show why such movements are wrong. The Nashville targeting and killing of three Christian adults and three children is central to his discussion.

He also emphasized why Christian congregations should be singing from the book of Psalms. And he noted that hymnals, especially of mainstream mega churches, do not inform the conscientious of Christians adequately on the necessary antithesis that must exist between a Christian and a citizen of the world.

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS [bracketed statements, emboldening and underscoring are mine]:

He discussed the singing of Psalm 9 at church recently and also how he used it in family worship
Antithesis: the fundamental conflict between the people of God and the people of the world
Or, between the people of God and God’s enemies
The Nashville shooting revealed to any who did not know, that the trans ‘community’ hates Christians
He spoke briefly about an SBC minister who preached on his acceptance of homosexuality [there seem to be many such ministers in all denominations currently]
One of Satan’s most effective strategies in the church is to remove the antithesis
He moves church leaders to emphasize commonality instead [the ecumenical movement, for example, is a perfect example of this strategy of Satan]
In reading Psalms, you see the antithesis in living color – he explained
The contemporary church wants the world to like it
[Think of all the church leaders that push ecumenism, acceptance of LGBTQ, acceptance of CRT which derives from the Marxist, anti-God, pro-‘state-as-god’ ideology; all of which scream, the church is like the world]
Some areas of FUNDAMENTAL CONFLICT BETWEEN THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH:
Worldview [consider the difference between the theory of evolution and the biblical view of creationism]
Who the world and the church serve: the world serves self / Satan; the church serves God and is loyal to King Jesus [Christians, ideally, progress in that direction from their initial selfishness]
The Christian is marked by engaging in warfare against sin and self
[The citizen of the world is all about indulging self]
Satan has attempted to erase the antithesis from the beginning
He rarely engages in a frontal attack against the church
Pastor Hines began reading Psalm 9 from the NKJV
Link to Bible Hub Psalm 9 NKJV: https://biblehub.com/nkjv/psalms/9.htm
9:3 When my enemies turn back,They shall fall and perish at Your presence. 4 For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. 5 You have rebuked the [b]nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
Can any such verses be found in a contemporary church book of singing?
He referred to Deuteronomy 29:19 regarding those who heard the covenant promises and curses, saying in their own heart they would do as they pleased
29:19 and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.
Link to Bible Hub Deut. 29: https://biblehub.com/nkjv/deuteronomy/29.htm
God excludes people who do not repent and forsake their sin
He made a reference to R C Sproul saying that it was a lie, the common saying that God accepts you just as you are when you come to Christ
God demands that you repent; that you give allegiance to Him and turn your back on sin, the world, the flesh and the Devil
If you don’t, then you don’t belong to Him
God judges people for their sins (he said, after reading verses 3b and 4 of Psalm 9)
Then he stated that God will accept no excuses:
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [e]guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Link to Romans 3 at Bible Hub: https://biblehub.com/nkjv/romans/3.htm
[The following is MacArthur’s commentary on Romans 3:19 — After introducing the righteousness which comes from God (Rom_1:17), a theme Paul develops at length (Rom. 3:21-5:21), he presents the overwhelming evidence of man’s sinfulness, underscoring how desperately he needs this righteousness that only God can provide. He presents God’s case against the irreligious, immoral pagan (Rom_1:18-32; the Gentiles) the religious, outwardly moral person (Rom. 2:1-3:8; the Jews); and concludes by showing that all people alike deserve God’s judgment (Rom_3:9-20).
Pastor Hines read Psalm 9: 6-12
We praise God because He takes vengeance for us; we are never to take revenge
The trans ‘community’ just had a ‘day of vengeance’ they later substituted the phrase, ‘day of visibility’ to soften their initial violent stance against any who oppose them; do not accept them
He read verse 13 of Psalm 9 and talked about the marks of the Christian church
Luther added the mark: persecution [which is biblical, one place wherein Jesus stated such is in Matthew 5 just after the beatitudes]
He read verses 14-15 and stated that it was a description of current America; he also cited Ps 34 and Prov 8
He commented after reading verses 16-17; then 17-20
Psalm 9:20 Put them in fear, O Lord, That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah
His comments were that LGBTQ and others in America think they are gods: they believe they can determine reality; have their own truths; can change the gender which they were given by God….
The creation, truth and reality are stubborn things that cannot be changed by men….
If you’re a Christian, then you must be set apart and sanctified by God’s truth so that you’re not absorbed into the cultural collapse that is all around us