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One of the greatest myths of the 20th century is that God intends only to snatch a few individuals from the global dictatorship of "The New World Order," taking them off to heaven while all of culture goes to hell. The modern "gospel" is that I get to go to heaven, ME, ME, ME, the big Numero Uno, I get to go to heaven while the nations around me collapse.
There are more promises in the Bible about the salvation of entire nations than there is about the salvation of one single selfish individual. God is more concerned about the Salvation of a culture, of an entire society (which is composed of many individuals, the sum of which is in some ways greater than the parts).
Strong's Dictionary has the following entry for the Hebrew word commonly translated "salvation":
3444. yeshuw'ah, yesh-oo'-aw; fem. pass. part. of H3467; something saved, i.e. (abstr.) deliverance; hence aid, victory, prosperity:--deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.
These words are physical and this-worldly. Under the influence of "neo-platonism," modern Christians have reduced "salvation" to a completely other-worldly, non-physical status. All the blessings of Biblical salvation are ignored. This has had two disastrous effects.
Let's look at some of the occurrences of the word "salvation" and learn more about the mind of God. (If your favorite commentator has a helpful observation on any of the passages below, please email it to us.
| Genesis 49:18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD! | The 1599 Geneva Bible notes, "Seeing the miseries that his posterity would fall into, he bursts out in prayer to God to remedy it." Cultural miseries require a cultural salvation. |
| Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to
the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation
of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the
Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more
forever.
Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him. |
The "Salvation" spoken of was for the nation of Israel, at the expense of Pharaoh and his entire army, who were drowned in the Red Sea. When God gives "salvation" (victory) to His people, He (by definition) gives reprobation ([military and cultural] defeat) to His enemies. |
| Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. | |
| 1 Samuel 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. | Hannah's song (vv. 1-10) reflects the heart of someone who understands the meaning of "salvation." |
| 1 Samuel 14:45 But the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great salvation in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. |
|
| 2 Samuel 22:51 He is the tower of salvation to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore." | This verse is the culmination of the chapter, a long list of God's salvation-acts. The salvation David talks about is social, political, military, and eventually cultural (v.45). |
| 1 Chronicles 16:23 Sing to the
LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation
from day to day. 1 Chronicles 16:35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise. |
In the verses before v. 23 the Psalmist (Ps. 96) talks about God giving His people the Promised Land. The giving of the land involved repeated deliverances, which is what today's Department of Defense promises us. The salvation talked about in the Bible is now expected from the State. God has been relegated to the "spiritual" and the afterlife. |
| 2 Chronicles 20:17 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." | We worry about "national security" because we do not understand the Biblical doctrine of "salvation." |
| Job 30:15 Terrors are turned upon me; They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed like a cloud. | There is usually a Biblical pretext for heresies; here, the "prosperity gospel." Let us throw out the heresy without throwing away the pretext. |
| Psalm 3:2 Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah | What kind of "help" was David hoping for? During the American Revolution, strategies for many of the decisive battles were mapped out in churches. Would David find "help" in most churches today? |
| Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah | Those who do not understand "salvation" also do not understand "blessing." |
| Psalm 9:14 That I may tell of all Your praise In the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. | The entire psalm is about holistic salvation. |
| Psalm 13:5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. | Psalm 13:2-4 how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? {3} Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: {4} Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; |
| Psalm 14:7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad. | |
| Psalm 18:50 Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore. | Salvation is "granted to the king in whose wealth our happiness stands." (Geneva, 1599, at 20:5) When the king is saved, the nation is saved. |
| Psalm 20:5 We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. | "Banners" are the military ensignia or flags set up by the conquerors. |
| Psalm 21:1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! | Salvation = victory over enemies |
| Psalm 21:4-5 He asked life of
thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and
ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty
You have placed upon him. Psalm 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." |
Longevity is also part of God's salvation |
| Psalm 28:8 The LORD is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. | "The anointed" is the king. |
| Psalm 35 {1} Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. {2} Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. {3} Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. {8} Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. {9} And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. | Very common in the psalms. |
| Psalm 44:3-5 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. {4} You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. {5} Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. | More than one victory; more than one salvation. |
| Psalms 53:6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. | |
|
Psalms
62:1
[To the chief Musician
, to Jeduthun,
A Psalm of David.]
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. Psalms 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalms 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. |
|
| Psalms 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. | |
| Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah | Salvation comes daily. |
| Psalms 69:29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. | |
| Psalms 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. | |
| Psalm 74:12 For God is my King of old, working salvation {h} in the midst of the earth. {13} Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the {i} dragons in the waters. {14} Thou brakest the heads of {k} leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be {l} meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. |
|
| Psalm 78:19-22 Yes, they spoke against God: They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? {20} Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, And the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?" {21} Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel, {22} Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation. | "Give us this day our daily bread" is a prayer for salvation. |
| Psalm 80 1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. 3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. 4 O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? 5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. 6 Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. |
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| Psalm 98:2-3 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. {3} He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. | The interpretive principle of Hebrew "parallelism" instructs us that "salvation" is the same as "righteousness" in verse 2. The concept is "justice," as when an evil, attacking nation goes down in defeat, meeting its just deserts. The "salvation" of Israel was witnessed by all the nations. It was not something seen only after death |
| Psalm 116:13 I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. | The Psalmist sings a psalm of praise for salvation received, possibly saving his life from sickness or military attack. It is not salvation received after death. |
| Psalm 118:14-15 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. {15} The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. | God's "right hand" is most frequently seen in battle (vv. 10-13). Salvation here is military and political. |
| Psalm 118:21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. | verse 9 is key: It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes. |
| Psalm 119:123 My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. | Those who seek salvation seek God's Word. |
| Psalm 119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. | No one who ignores God's Word truly seeks His salvation. |
| Psalm 119:166 LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. | God promises salvation to those who obey Him. |
| Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight. | God's Law is God's Grace |
| Psalm 140:7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. | |
| Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. | The humble are those who surrender to God's Word |
| Isaiah 12:2-3 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'" {3} Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. | After predicting judgment, Isaiah predicts the deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib. |
| Isaiah 25:9 And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." | |
| Isaiah 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. | |
| Isaiah 26:18 We have been with child, we have been in pain; We have, as it were, brought forth wind; We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen. | |
| Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious to us; We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble. | |
| Isaiah 33:6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure. | |
| Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'" | |
| Isaiah 49:8 Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; | |
| Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished. | |
| Isaiah 51:8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation." | |
| Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" | |
| Isaiah 52:10 The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God. | |
| Isaiah 56:1 Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. | |
| Isaiah 59:11 We all growl like bears, And moan sadly like doves; We look for justice, but there is none; For salvation, but it is far from us. | |
| Isaiah 59:17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. | |
| Isaiah 60:18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise. | |
| Isaiah 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. | |
| Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." | |
| Habakkuk 3:8 O LORD, were You displeased with the rivers, Was Your anger against the rivers, Was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? |
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