When I read verses in the Bible like verse 7, that promise that we will be kept from harm, I have to ask, “Then why are his children harmed at times?” The Bible even says that we will suffer. Is there a contradiction here? Once again, I am helped by my favorite preacher/author, John Piper. There is a chapter in his book, Future Grace, where he expounds on Romans 8:32 (“He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him freely give us all things?). Piper says,
“…nothing will ever enter your experience as God’s child that, by God’s sovereign grace, will not turn out to be a benefit to you. This is what it means for God to be God, and for God to be for you…God reigns so supremely on behalf of his elect that everything which faces us in a lifetime of obedience and ministry will be subdued by the mighty hand of God and made the servant of our holiness and our everlasting joy in God. If God is for us, and if God is God, then it is true that nothing can succeed against us.”
Did you read that? EVERYTHING that faces us will be made the servant of our holiness and everlasting joy in God.
In the chapter, Piper also quotes John Flavel, a Puritan pastor,
“Surely if he would not spare this own Son one stroke, one tear, one groan, one sigh, one circumstance of misery, it can never be imagined that ever he should, after this, deny or withhold from his people, for whose sakes all this was suffered, any mercies, any comforts, any privilege, spiritual or temporal which is good for them.”
I don’t know about you sisters, but, this helps me have the confidence that though I will at times face difficulties, I can know that everything that enters my life is 1) filtered through God’s hands of love and 2) orchestrated by a God who will also cause them to benefit me.
O Lord, help me to believe this and to live in this reality!
Psalm 120
1 I call on the LORD in my distress,
and he answers me.
2 Save me, O LORD, from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he do to you,
and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom tree.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am a man of peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
When I read Psalm 120, I was struck by how the writer seems to feel so out of place in his culture/environment. Don't we sometimes feel the same way?
-Do you ever get discouraged about what is on TV?
-Have you ever had to explain abortion to a child?
-Have you stumbled upon pornography on the internet?
-Does your heart ever get heavy about how quickly people become angry and outraged?
Today, I want to encourage us that if we do feel out of step with our culture, we are probably on the right track as far as God is concerned. John 17:14 tells us (Jesus speaking) "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Other verses that speak to the topic of being physically in the world but not of it include: John 15:19, James 1:27, 1 John 2:15 and James 4:4.
Matthew Henry has an excellent commentary on these verses from Psalms 120: "It is very grievous to a good man, to be cast into, and kept in the company of the wicked, from whom he hopes to be for ever separated. See here the character of a good man; he is for living peaceably with all men. And let us follow David as he prefigured Christ; in our distress let us cry unto the Lord, and he will hear us. Let us follow after peace and holiness, striving to overcome evil with good."
Lord, help us to follow after peace and holiness amidst a fallen world and by doing so, spread your love and truth to others.
and he answers me.
2 Save me, O LORD, from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he do to you,
and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom tree.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am a man of peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
When I read Psalm 120, I was struck by how the writer seems to feel so out of place in his culture/environment. Don't we sometimes feel the same way?
-Do you ever get discouraged about what is on TV?
-Have you ever had to explain abortion to a child?
-Have you stumbled upon pornography on the internet?
-Does your heart ever get heavy about how quickly people become angry and outraged?
Today, I want to encourage us that if we do feel out of step with our culture, we are probably on the right track as far as God is concerned. John 17:14 tells us (Jesus speaking) "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Other verses that speak to the topic of being physically in the world but not of it include: John 15:19, James 1:27, 1 John 2:15 and James 4:4.
Matthew Henry has an excellent commentary on these verses from Psalms 120: "It is very grievous to a good man, to be cast into, and kept in the company of the wicked, from whom he hopes to be for ever separated. See here the character of a good man; he is for living peaceably with all men. And let us follow David as he prefigured Christ; in our distress let us cry unto the Lord, and he will hear us. Let us follow after peace and holiness, striving to overcome evil with good."
Lord, help us to follow after peace and holiness amidst a fallen world and by doing so, spread your love and truth to others.
Psalm 117
Thanksgiving.
This year I am thankful for so much. Family, friends, God's love for me... the list is long.
At this moment, I am thankful that my Psalm for today is 117 and not Psalm 119 (with its 176 verses!!!) I am sure that, considering how lengthy my posts can become, that all of you who read this are happy that I have Psalm 117 as well! Ha!
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol (laud) Him, all peoples!
For great is His steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
Praise--The act of expressing approval or admiration, commendation laudation, offering of grateful homage in words or song
Extol--To praise highly, to lift up, raise up
Laud--to praise, extol, applaud, honor
Steadfast--Firm, persistent and determined in one's endeavors
Faithful--Steadfast in affection or allegiance, loyal. Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty, conscientious, binding.
Endures--To carry on through, despite hardships. To bear with tolerance. To last, to continue in existence. To suffer patiently without yielding.
Forever--For everlasting time; eternally. At all times; incessantly. Without end.
Psalm 116
Happy Thanksgiving!
Please enjoy this link to Michael W. Smith's song. It is written with several psalms in mind, and is appropriate both to today's holiday and to the theme of these psalms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Bh0b3-JAg
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King
His love endures forever!
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever!
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
His love endures forever!
Please enjoy this link to Michael W. Smith's song. It is written with several psalms in mind, and is appropriate both to today's holiday and to the theme of these psalms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Bh0b3-JAg
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King
His love endures forever!
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever!
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
His love endures forever!
Psalm 115 ~ It's Not About Me
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness
Psalm 115:1
What if I lived with this verse as my focus? My life would look a lot different, I suppose. Nothing would be about me...everything would be about Him. This verse reminded me of the book that we read together as a team when serving in Mississippi one year, "It's Not About Me", by Max Lucado.
Bear with me as I include a lengthy quote:
Until Copernicus came along in 1543, we earthlings enjoyed center stage. Fathers could place an arm around their children, point to the night sky, and proclaim, "The universe revolves around us."
Ptolemy's second-century finding had convinced us. Stick a pin in the center of a map of the stars, and you've found the earth. Dead center...
But then came Nicolaus. Nicolaus Copernicus with his maps, drawings, Polish accent, and pestering questions. Oh, those questions he asked.
"Can anyone tell me what causes the seasons to change?"
"Why do some stars appear in the day and others at night?"
"Does anyone know exactly how far ships can sail before falling off the edge of the earth?"
"Trivial stuff!" people scoffed. "Who has time for such problems?"
But Copernicus persisted. Pointing a lone finger toward the sun, he announced, "Behold the center of the solar system."
What Copernicus did for the earth, God does for our souls. He points to the Son - His Son - and says, "Behold the center of it all."
When God looks at the center of the universe, he doesn't look at me...The world does not revolve around me. My comfort is not God's priority.
God does not exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of him. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's all about him.
It goes on to say that we are to be like the moon which, when properly positioned, reflects the greater light. "Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch-black rock."
Apart from Him, we are nothing. We are pitch-black rocks that shine no light at all. When God calls us to Himself and uses us to reflect His glory, we are as bright as the moon in the night sky! It's not about us!
In Matthew, Jesus tells us that we are the "light of the world". Verses 14-16 say, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
LORD, it's not about me...it's all about You. Thank you for choosing me as your instrument.
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness
Psalm 115:1
What if I lived with this verse as my focus? My life would look a lot different, I suppose. Nothing would be about me...everything would be about Him. This verse reminded me of the book that we read together as a team when serving in Mississippi one year, "It's Not About Me", by Max Lucado.
Bear with me as I include a lengthy quote:
Until Copernicus came along in 1543, we earthlings enjoyed center stage. Fathers could place an arm around their children, point to the night sky, and proclaim, "The universe revolves around us."
Ptolemy's second-century finding had convinced us. Stick a pin in the center of a map of the stars, and you've found the earth. Dead center...
But then came Nicolaus. Nicolaus Copernicus with his maps, drawings, Polish accent, and pestering questions. Oh, those questions he asked.
"Can anyone tell me what causes the seasons to change?"
"Why do some stars appear in the day and others at night?"
"Does anyone know exactly how far ships can sail before falling off the edge of the earth?"
"Trivial stuff!" people scoffed. "Who has time for such problems?"
But Copernicus persisted. Pointing a lone finger toward the sun, he announced, "Behold the center of the solar system."
What Copernicus did for the earth, God does for our souls. He points to the Son - His Son - and says, "Behold the center of it all."
God raised him [Christ] from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this., Christ rules the church. (Ephesians 1:20-22 MSG)
When God looks at the center of the universe, he doesn't look at me...The world does not revolve around me. My comfort is not God's priority.
God does not exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of him. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's all about him.
It goes on to say that we are to be like the moon which, when properly positioned, reflects the greater light. "Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch-black rock."
Apart from Him, we are nothing. We are pitch-black rocks that shine no light at all. When God calls us to Himself and uses us to reflect His glory, we are as bright as the moon in the night sky! It's not about us!
In Matthew, Jesus tells us that we are the "light of the world". Verses 14-16 say, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
LORD, it's not about me...it's all about You. Thank you for choosing me as your instrument.
Psalm 114
The psalmist here paints for us a vivid picture of the physical wonders that God performed during the exodus of the nation of Israel from Egypt. Before he does so though, he tells us that God’s intent was for Israel to become his sanctuary and his dominion (vs. 2). Israel was literally God’s sanctuary, or holy place, a place set apart by God’s presence in the form of the Shekinah glory that filled the wilderness tabernacle and later the temple of Solomon. Since God came not merely to be among but also to rule his people, the nation also became his unique dominion, or kingdom. No nation but Israel was ever a theocracy, that is, a nation ruled directly by God. And, no other nation was ever his sanctuary. At this point, I am reminded of the fact that “the Lord did not set his affection on you (Israel) and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Dt. 7:7-8) All that has been said thus far of Israel can also be said of the people that God is setting aside for himself in the current church age. As his body, we too are made God’s sanctuary and kingdom by the presence of God in our midst. And, it is being done, not because of anything in us, but, merely because of his grace in choosing. What a God!
Now, we turn to the miraculous wonders that God performed on behalf of his people Israel. In the second stanza the psalmist describes the events. In the third he asks the question, “Why did they happen?” And, in the forth he answers that it was the presence of God that caused these tremendous disturbances of nature. In the last stanza he warns the earth to tremble at the presence of the Lord. If these events are to cause the earth to tremble in awe, how much more so those created in his image? Yet so many today mock God. Even in Christendom God is lowered so close to the level of man that he is barely reverenced. The words of this psalm should help us to see God as he is, to put him in his proper place, and to tremble in his presence.
Now, we turn to the miraculous wonders that God performed on behalf of his people Israel. In the second stanza the psalmist describes the events. In the third he asks the question, “Why did they happen?” And, in the forth he answers that it was the presence of God that caused these tremendous disturbances of nature. In the last stanza he warns the earth to tremble at the presence of the Lord. If these events are to cause the earth to tremble in awe, how much more so those created in his image? Yet so many today mock God. Even in Christendom God is lowered so close to the level of man that he is barely reverenced. The words of this psalm should help us to see God as he is, to put him in his proper place, and to tremble in his presence.
Psalm 113
My notes indicate that Psalms 113-118 are traditionally sung in connection with celebration of the Passover. I thought it was kind of neat then that, for our study, these chapters fell during Thanksgiving week.
Psalm 113 is a song of praise. Verses 1-4 call on us to lift up the name of the Lord and recognize His exalted position:
Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. (NIV)
Verses 5-6 cause us to reflect on the uniqueness of our God who can simultaneously grasp the nature of our humble existence while maintaining His exalted stature:
Who is like the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth? (NAS)
Then, in the concluding verses, the author continues what seems to be a progression through the chapter from describing God in broad terms to describing God in very personal terms. The author does this by giving examples of the mercy God bestows on those in need of Him:
He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap, To make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD! (NAS)
Continual recognition of the magnitude of God's mercy toward us and our need for Him lays the foundation for developing a heart of love and gratitude thereby enabling us to engage in worshipful praise.
Lord, help me to be thankful for the grace and mercy you have demonstrated by creating new life in me through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Let my love for You reflect a heart of gratitude. Amen!
Psalm 113 is a song of praise. Verses 1-4 call on us to lift up the name of the Lord and recognize His exalted position:
Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. (NIV)
Verses 5-6 cause us to reflect on the uniqueness of our God who can simultaneously grasp the nature of our humble existence while maintaining His exalted stature:
Who is like the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth? (NAS)
Then, in the concluding verses, the author continues what seems to be a progression through the chapter from describing God in broad terms to describing God in very personal terms. The author does this by giving examples of the mercy God bestows on those in need of Him:
He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap, To make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD! (NAS)
Continual recognition of the magnitude of God's mercy toward us and our need for Him lays the foundation for developing a heart of love and gratitude thereby enabling us to engage in worshipful praise.
Lord, help me to be thankful for the grace and mercy you have demonstrated by creating new life in me through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Let my love for You reflect a heart of gratitude. Amen!
Psalm 110
I read this a few times and was mightily confused--hence the delay in posting....
Here are some things that helped me to understand more what was going on.
1. First, this is a Psalm that is clearly David writing "under the influence": these are words of prophecy inspired by the Holy Spirit. (see Mark 12:36). These words are divinely inspired. This is clear from the first verse beginning with the phrase "The LORD says to my Lord"...(NIV).
In The Message Bible, it reads "The word of God to my Lord."
The Amplified Bible reads, "The LORD (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah)"
American Standard reads, "Jehovah saith unto my Lord"
Young's Literal Translation reads, "The affirmation of Jehovah to my Lord"
Holman Christian Standard Bible reads, "The LORD declared to my Lord"
The Geneva Study Bible reads, "The LORD said unto my Lord"
This identifies the direction of the entire Psalm. Jehovah God is speaking to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah!!
2. The second thing to notice is the significance of the phrase "sit at My right hand" (Gen 48:14, Ex 15:6, Mt 20:20-28). Israel laid his right hand on Ephraim (Gen 48:14). The right hand of the LORD is majestic in power and shatters the enemy (Ex 15:6) The mother of the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus that her sons be allowed to "sit, one on Your right and one on Your left"(Mt. 20:21). It is an honor to be at the right hand of someone of power. It was true in Biblical times, and is also seen culturally today when we observe formal dinners (weekly at my house!! Ha!) and the arrangements of guests-- it is far more prestigious to be seated at the right hand of the host--the further away from the host, the less prestige...(Just for fun, look at a study on the differences between the left ear and the right ear -- http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090618_hemisphere-bias. This study indicates that requests heard through the right ear are more likely to be given attention. Notice that women used their right ear more frequently than men...)
3. In this Psalm, Jehovah is declaring the Messiah to be (v.4) "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek". Melchizedek was king of Salem (there are some differences of opinion as to what people "Salem" refers to) and priest of God Most High (El Elyon). In Gen 14:18-20, we see Melchizedek blessing Abram. Clearly the unusual combo of being both Priest and King is the main thrust here in Psalm 110:4.
4. Verse 4 reads, "The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind." Another way of reading this is "The LORD has sworn and will not be sorry." I wonder about this phrase. It is "so God". God is setting His Son on His right hand, He is giving Him the role of Priest and King, God is authorizing Jesus to "shatter kings"(v.5) and "judge among the nations (v. 6)". And God is saying He is sworn to this and He will have no regrets.
5. Then God concludes with verse 7: "He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head." (NIV)
The Message reads "The King-Maker put his King on the throne;
The True King rules with head held high!"
The Contemporary English Version reads "He will drink from any stream that He chooses, while winning victory after victory."
6. Finally, it is interesting how Jesus Himself used Psalm 110. Take some time this weekend and read the following passages: Matt. 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42 & 43, Acts 2:34, Heb. 1:13 (this one confused me).
Father, thank You that Your plan is so complete that the evidence of Jesus, His authority as King an Priest is indisputable. Amen.
Psalm 109
Ah, sweet revenge.
Or how about this one: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Then there's the motto of Scotland: 'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit', Latin for 'None shall provoke/injure me with impunity'.
And if you need help planning that revenge, www.thepayback.com is full of ideas.
In Psalm 109 we see that David had been offended and he knew just what he wanted to happen to the offender. I don't know whether David sat around and mulled over his pain and came up with his ideas, or whether he was so angry about it that these multiple ideas spewed out of his mouth, each thing trumping the one before.
And can you imagine this as a song?
Either way, David certainly has a plan. A plan for God. As though God needs His help. As though God doesn't already feel David's pain and have a plan to deal with the problem. As though God hadn't planned the pain as well as the solution.
As I read this psalm I chuckled. It just seems so overboard to me, like an angry, tattling child who wants to get his brother in trouble with mom because he called him a name.
And then how about toward the end, after David has told God how to deal with this liar, then David tells God to deal with the guy "for Your Name's sake"? Well, I laughed out loud there. David wants justice for God's sake? That's not the idea I got from the first 20 verses! But then he said, "Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it." (vs 27) and "I will praise [You], for [You] stand at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him." (vss 31-31)
And that right there sobered me. We have all been offended, wrongly accused, treated unfairly. And we all want curses to fall on the offender and his wife and his children and his dog and his…, just like David did. AND, we all have a God Who sees the whole thing, who already knows what happened, and has already planned to right the situation. For our good? Probably. For His glory? Definitely. That's one of the reasons he puts us in otherwise impossible situations—so that His power, His complete love, His "mothering" care can be seen, and He will be glorified.
So, what about us? (to borrow a phrase from Pastor John)
Are we willing to endure such injustices so that His Name will be glorified and He will get the credit?
Are we willing to acknowledge that God Himself has choreographed the whole situation for the bettering of ourselves (learning humility, appreciating God's power to right wrongs, stretching our patience)?
This hits hard at my pride, but I think that's the point. Once again, It's not about us; it's all about Him.
Or how about this one: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Then there's the motto of Scotland: 'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit', Latin for 'None shall provoke/injure me with impunity'.
And if you need help planning that revenge, www.thepayback.com is full of ideas.
In Psalm 109 we see that David had been offended and he knew just what he wanted to happen to the offender. I don't know whether David sat around and mulled over his pain and came up with his ideas, or whether he was so angry about it that these multiple ideas spewed out of his mouth, each thing trumping the one before.
And can you imagine this as a song?
Either way, David certainly has a plan. A plan for God. As though God needs His help. As though God doesn't already feel David's pain and have a plan to deal with the problem. As though God hadn't planned the pain as well as the solution.
As I read this psalm I chuckled. It just seems so overboard to me, like an angry, tattling child who wants to get his brother in trouble with mom because he called him a name.
And then how about toward the end, after David has told God how to deal with this liar, then David tells God to deal with the guy "for Your Name's sake"? Well, I laughed out loud there. David wants justice for God's sake? That's not the idea I got from the first 20 verses!
And that right there sobered me. We have all been offended, wrongly accused, treated unfairly. And we all want curses to fall on the offender and his wife and his children and his dog and his…, just like David did. AND, we all have a God Who sees the whole thing, who already knows what happened, and has already planned to right the situation. For our good? Probably. For His glory? Definitely. That's one of the reasons he puts us in otherwise impossible situations—so that His power, His complete love, His "mothering" care can be seen, and He will be glorified.
So, what about us? (to borrow a phrase from Pastor John)
Are we willing to endure such injustices so that His Name will be glorified and He will get the credit?
Are we willing to acknowledge that God Himself has choreographed the whole situation for the bettering of ourselves (learning humility, appreciating God's power to right wrongs, stretching our patience)?
This hits hard at my pride, but I think that's the point. Once again, It's not about us; it's all about Him.
Psalm 108
Today's Psalm brought 2 songs to mind. Here is a song by Third Day that I LOVE! I will have to dig out my older CD's and try to sneak in a song or two in the car in between "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "The Muffin Man", and "Jesus Loves Me".
In verses 1-5, David is praising God...praising Him in song! What better way to praise Him than to sing! Another song came to mind when I read verse 5:
Be Exalted
I will give thanks to Thee,
O Lord, among the people
I will sing praises to Thee
Among the nations.
For Thy steadfast love is great,
Is great to the heavens,
And Thy faithfulness,
Thy faithfulness to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the Heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth.
I will give thanks to Thee....
Be exalted O God above the heavens
Let Thy glory Let Thy Glory
Let Thy glory be over all the earth.
Singing and listening to songs is such a powerful way to worship and memorize Scripture. I can memorize almost anything if it's put to a tune. John and I were part of a Crown Financial Ministries small group 5 years ago. Our materials included a CD that had all of our Scripture memory verses put to music. It was such a great way to memorize and I can still sing the songs! If anyone reading knows of some good children's CD's that have Scripture songs, please let me know!
Knowing the Word is priceless. It is, "a lamp unto my feet" (Ps. 119:105); it is, "living and active" (Heb. 4:12); and it will, "never pass away" (Matt. 24:35).
In verses 1-5, David is praising God...praising Him in song! What better way to praise Him than to sing! Another song came to mind when I read verse 5:
Be Exalted
I will give thanks to Thee,
O Lord, among the people
I will sing praises to Thee
Among the nations.
For Thy steadfast love is great,
Is great to the heavens,
And Thy faithfulness,
Thy faithfulness to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the Heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth.
I will give thanks to Thee....
Be exalted O God above the heavens
Let Thy glory Let Thy Glory
Let Thy glory be over all the earth.
Singing and listening to songs is such a powerful way to worship and memorize Scripture. I can memorize almost anything if it's put to a tune. John and I were part of a Crown Financial Ministries small group 5 years ago. Our materials included a CD that had all of our Scripture memory verses put to music. It was such a great way to memorize and I can still sing the songs! If anyone reading knows of some good children's CD's that have Scripture songs, please let me know!
Knowing the Word is priceless. It is, "a lamp unto my feet" (Ps. 119:105); it is, "living and active" (Heb. 4:12); and it will, "never pass away" (Matt. 24:35).
Psalm 107
The commentary that I read pointed out that the setting of this psalm is a praise song of the regathered people of Israel after their Babylonian bondage. They are undoubtedly literal perils that God delivered his people from. I’m sure that each of us can recall physical perils from which we have experienced God’s deliverance. A big one that comes to mind for me is walking away, without a scratch, from an airplane crash. My husband, myself, two of our children, along with two of their friends, took off from the airstrip behind our house early one Saturday morning. A dog ran in front of the plane on take-off, hitting and damaging a section of the tail. When my husband tried to level the plane, the nose would not go down and the plane would only climb. Eventually the engine stalled, and we plummeted to the ground. We all walked away from the accident. The only injuries were minor ones to my husband.
But, I dare say, for the believer, the most significant deliverance has been our deliverance from the peril of the bondage to sin. God’s Word describes us as “dead in transgressions and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Somewhere we heard God’s life-giving words and we experienced a spiritual resurrection, just a Lazarus did when Jesus called him from the tomb (John 11:43-44). The lyrics to the following song, “To God Be the Glory” came to my mind after meditating on Psalm 107:
How can I say thanks
for the things you have done for me?
Things so undeserved
yet You give to prove Your love for me
The voices of a million angels
cannot express my gratitude
All that I am or ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee.
(Chorus)
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
for the things He has done
With His blood, He has saved me
by His power, He has raised me
To God be the glory
for the things He has done!
(Bridge)
Just let me live my life
and let it be pleasing, Lord to Thee
And should I gain any praise,
let it go to Calvary.
With His blood, He has saved me
By His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
for the things He has done!
How can I say “Thanks”? I can offer myself. The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1).
Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee.
But, I dare say, for the believer, the most significant deliverance has been our deliverance from the peril of the bondage to sin. God’s Word describes us as “dead in transgressions and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Somewhere we heard God’s life-giving words and we experienced a spiritual resurrection, just a Lazarus did when Jesus called him from the tomb (John 11:43-44). The lyrics to the following song, “To God Be the Glory” came to my mind after meditating on Psalm 107:
How can I say thanks
for the things you have done for me?
Things so undeserved
yet You give to prove Your love for me
The voices of a million angels
cannot express my gratitude
All that I am or ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee.
(Chorus)
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
for the things He has done
With His blood, He has saved me
by His power, He has raised me
To God be the glory
for the things He has done!
(Bridge)
Just let me live my life
and let it be pleasing, Lord to Thee
And should I gain any praise,
let it go to Calvary.
With His blood, He has saved me
By His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
for the things He has done!
How can I say “Thanks”? I can offer myself. The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1).
Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee.
Psalm 106 - Amazing Grace
Sin is generally not a popular topic. In our culture of moral relativism, some people maintain that "sin" is just an antiquated idea. Yet an understanding of what sin is and recognition of our own sin is essential before we can have heartfelt worship of a Holy God.
For the last two Sundays, our pastor has been teaching on John 4 where Jesus converses with the woman at the well. During the sermons, Pastor John has pointed out that Jesus first talks to the woman about her sin (John 4:17-18). When confronted with the uncomfortable topic of her sin, she tries to shift the topic into a discussion of religious nuances and formalities (John 4:20). Jesus keeps the conversation on track and ends going into great depth about true worship of the Father (John 4:24).
I see a similar pattern in Psalm 106. After an opening call to praise (v.1-3) and a short prayer (v. 4-5), the Psalmist goes through an extended confession of Israel's sin: their unbelief and grumbling by the Red Sea (vs. 6-12); their dissatisfaction with God's provision (vs. 13-15); their idolatry (vs. 19-23); their unfaithfulness (vs. 21-31); and, their rebellion and disobedience (vs. 32-46).
The recognition and confession of the nature and magnitude of Israel's sin leads the reader to a greater appreciation of the significance of God's mercy and grace when He did not punish them, but "relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness" (v.45). But God did not stop there, we are told that He made the Israelites "objects of compassion in the presence of all their captors" (v. 46). And, now that we understand from whence they came, we can revel in the worship evoked in the concluding verse:
"BLESSED BE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, FROM EVERLASTING EVEN TO EVERLASTING. AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE SAY, "AMEN." PRAISE THE LORD!" Woohoo! (ok, so I added the "woohoo"...)
Lord, thank you for your mercy and grace in saving a sinner like me. Please help restore my understanding of the price you paid for my sin so that I can worship you both in spirit and in truth.
For the last two Sundays, our pastor has been teaching on John 4 where Jesus converses with the woman at the well. During the sermons, Pastor John has pointed out that Jesus first talks to the woman about her sin (John 4:17-18). When confronted with the uncomfortable topic of her sin, she tries to shift the topic into a discussion of religious nuances and formalities (John 4:20). Jesus keeps the conversation on track and ends going into great depth about true worship of the Father (John 4:24).
I see a similar pattern in Psalm 106. After an opening call to praise (v.1-3) and a short prayer (v. 4-5), the Psalmist goes through an extended confession of Israel's sin: their unbelief and grumbling by the Red Sea (vs. 6-12); their dissatisfaction with God's provision (vs. 13-15); their idolatry (vs. 19-23); their unfaithfulness (vs. 21-31); and, their rebellion and disobedience (vs. 32-46).
The recognition and confession of the nature and magnitude of Israel's sin leads the reader to a greater appreciation of the significance of God's mercy and grace when He did not punish them, but "relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness" (v.45). But God did not stop there, we are told that He made the Israelites "objects of compassion in the presence of all their captors" (v. 46). And, now that we understand from whence they came, we can revel in the worship evoked in the concluding verse:
"BLESSED BE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, FROM EVERLASTING EVEN TO EVERLASTING. AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE SAY, "AMEN." PRAISE THE LORD!" Woohoo! (ok, so I added the "woohoo"...)
Lord, thank you for your mercy and grace in saving a sinner like me. Please help restore my understanding of the price you paid for my sin so that I can worship you both in spirit and in truth.
Psalm 103
Take out a sheet of paper. Write down your thoughts as you read the verses. Enjoy your time with Him today.
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Psalm 103
A psalm of David.
1 I will praise the Lord.Deep down inside me, I will praise Him.
I will praise Him, because His name is holy.
2 I will praise the Lord.
I won't forget anything He does for me. (What has he done for me?)
3 He forgives all my sins. (How many times has He forgiven me today?)
He heals all my sicknesses. (How has He healed me?)
4 He saves my life from going down into the grave.
His faithful and tender love makes me feel like a king.
5 He satisfies me with the good things I long for. (What do I long for?)
Then I feel young and strong again, just like an eagle. (Why an eagle, David?)
6 The Lord does what is right and fair
for all who are beaten down.
7 He told Moses all about His plans.
He let the people of Israel see His mighty acts. (List 3 mighty acts seen by Israel.)
8 The Lord is tender and kind. He is gracious.
He is slow to get angry. He is full of love.
9 He won't keep bringing charges against us. (Who does v. 9 & 10 remind me of?)
He won't stay angry with us forever.
10 He doesn't punish us for our sins as much as we should be punished.
He doesn't pay us back in keeping with the evil things we've done.
11 His love for those who have respect for Him
is as high as the heavens are above the earth. (wow)
12 He has removed our lawless acts from us
as far as the east is from the west. (there is no farther He could remove them!!)
13 A father is tender and kind to his children.
In the same way, the Lord is tender and kind
to those who have respect for Him.
14 He knows what we are made of.
He remembers that we are dust. ("Just look at where I came from")
15 People's lives are like grass.
People grow like the flowers in the field.
16 When the wind blows on them, they are gone.
No one can tell that they had ever been there.
17 But the Lord's love
for those who have respect for Him (How can I show Him my respect?)
lasts for ever and ever.
Their children's children will know
that He always does what is right. (What is my legacy to g.children/g.g.children who may not know me in person?)
18 He always loves those who keep His covenant.
He always does what is right for those who remember to obey His commands.
19 The Lord has set up His throne in heaven.
His kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels of His.
Praise him, you mighty ones
who carry out His orders and obey His word.
21 Praise the Lord, all you angels in heaven.
Praise him, all you who serve Him and do what he wants.
22 Let everything the Lord has made praise Him
everywhere in His kingdom.
I will praise the Lord. (Take a few minutes and praise Him.)
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
Copyright © 1996, 1998
I encourage you to go to www.biblegateway.com and read this Psalm in 3 or 4 different versions. (The version that I quoted here is a new version of the NIV called NIRV--New International Readers Version).
Psalm 102
“Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” Vs. 18.
That’s us. So, what is it that David wrote that will encourage us to praise the Lord?
Vss. 1-2. Well, he begins (yet again!) with a cry to God to hear his prayer, to not hide His face, to answer his plea. David’s repeated pleas to God have reminded me that people—sometimes me— feel discouraged or rejected, and calling to God and being reminded that He will hear and will heal is a good lesson to remember.
Vss. 3-11. David is feeling desperation. It has been surmised that he is suffering from a physical disease and is emotionally distraught as his body is in pain. You know how that is—when we feel bad or haven’t had enough sleep, we are emotionally burned out. Our tempers are short and our attitudes are bad. It seems hopeless.
Vss. 12-24 But David sees hope in God and His saving--Israel. I find this interesting because he’s not asking God to heal him physically, but He sees God healing His people. At this point in history, the country of Israel is equated with God’s people, so comments about Zion (Jerusalem) are references to the people, themselves. The nation equals the people.
David acknowledges that God is King, that His renown endures through all generations, and that because God will have compassion on His people, He will “hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death,…[then] the nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth will revere [His] glory….The name of the Lord will be declared…and praised.”
Vss. 25-28. The fact that God is Creator gives Him all authority and makes Him, and only Him, worthy of honor. The heavens and the earth will die away, but God will remain and ever be the same and-- here’s the best part—“the children of your servants will live in Your presence.” That’s us. Forever with Him. Hallelujah!
That’s us. So, what is it that David wrote that will encourage us to praise the Lord?
Vss. 1-2. Well, he begins (yet again!) with a cry to God to hear his prayer, to not hide His face, to answer his plea. David’s repeated pleas to God have reminded me that people—sometimes me— feel discouraged or rejected, and calling to God and being reminded that He will hear and will heal is a good lesson to remember.
Vss. 3-11. David is feeling desperation. It has been surmised that he is suffering from a physical disease and is emotionally distraught as his body is in pain. You know how that is—when we feel bad or haven’t had enough sleep, we are emotionally burned out. Our tempers are short and our attitudes are bad. It seems hopeless.
Vss. 12-24 But David sees hope in God and His saving--Israel. I find this interesting because he’s not asking God to heal him physically, but He sees God healing His people. At this point in history, the country of Israel is equated with God’s people, so comments about Zion (Jerusalem) are references to the people, themselves. The nation equals the people.
David acknowledges that God is King, that His renown endures through all generations, and that because God will have compassion on His people, He will “hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death,…[then] the nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth will revere [His] glory….The name of the Lord will be declared…and praised.”
Vss. 25-28. The fact that God is Creator gives Him all authority and makes Him, and only Him, worthy of honor. The heavens and the earth will die away, but God will remain and ever be the same and-- here’s the best part—“the children of your servants will live in Your presence.” That’s us. Forever with Him. Hallelujah!
Psalm 101
David's high expectations of himself as king are spelled out in this Psalm! He is dedicated to a life of holiness that's for sure. He pledges to live in obedience and to root out evil from his kingdom.
David's goals are:
~ to sing praises to the LORD (v.1)
~ to lead a blameless life (v.2)
~ to have a blameless heart (v.2)
~ to refuse to look at degrading things (v.3)
~ to have zero tolerance for the wicked deeds of men (v.3)
~ to have nothing to do with evil man (v.4)
~ to "take an active stance against evil within his sphere of authority" (v.5) (Bible commentary)
~ to look up to and work only with those who are faithful to the LORD (v.6)
~ to hire no liars/deceitful people (v.7)
~ to drive out the wicked from the city (v.8)
As we know, David did not live up to his own ideals. He was pretty much aiming for perfection in his life and the only one who has ever been perfect in obedience is Jesus. But, he confessed and was forgiven for his sins!
I am to strive to be obedient, as David did, and I have the assurance of forgiveness when I fail...and I will fail! 1 John 1:9 reminds me of this. It says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Thank you, Lord!
Lord, help me to be obedient to your Word. Forgive me of my sins and cleans me from unrighteousness. Thank you for being faithful, just and forgiving.
David's goals are:
~ to sing praises to the LORD (v.1)
~ to lead a blameless life (v.2)
~ to have a blameless heart (v.2)
~ to refuse to look at degrading things (v.3)
~ to have zero tolerance for the wicked deeds of men (v.3)
~ to have nothing to do with evil man (v.4)
~ to "take an active stance against evil within his sphere of authority" (v.5) (Bible commentary)
~ to look up to and work only with those who are faithful to the LORD (v.6)
~ to hire no liars/deceitful people (v.7)
~ to drive out the wicked from the city (v.8)
As we know, David did not live up to his own ideals. He was pretty much aiming for perfection in his life and the only one who has ever been perfect in obedience is Jesus. But, he confessed and was forgiven for his sins!
I am to strive to be obedient, as David did, and I have the assurance of forgiveness when I fail...and I will fail! 1 John 1:9 reminds me of this. It says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Thank you, Lord!
Lord, help me to be obedient to your Word. Forgive me of my sins and cleans me from unrighteousness. Thank you for being faithful, just and forgiving.
Psalm 100
I'm grateful for all of the psalms, but I am especially grateful for this one on this day. I have had one heck of a week and was not in a place where I was wanting to "shout for joy" (vs. 1) or "worship the Lord with gladness" or "come before him with joyful songs." (vs. 2)
Just to give you a little snippit of my week last week. I kept (and am still keeping) my two year old grandson while his mom went into the hospital to have her baby. While with me, he came down with a bad virus, fever and all. Two trips to the doctor, sleepless nights, etc...all of you young mothers know what I'm talking about...and all of you old mothers can reach back in your memory banks and know what I'm talking about. Then came to town one of my daughters with her two little ones to stay with Mimi and Pop Pop while Mommy and Daddy went to a high school reunion. One of those nights, 70 high school kids came to our house for an alternative to partying after the homecoming dance. Tired yet? Next, I got some disappointing news about another daughter that has kept me close to tears for the past day and a half.
But, then the words of the psalm reminded me that "the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture" (vs. 3) and, that "the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. ( vs. 5)
I took my eyes off of my circumstances and my tiredness and gazed at the beauty our God portrayed in this psalm and was able to "give thanks to him and praise his name" (vs. 4) He is so worthy of all praise and I am so underserving of his love and kindness!
Lord, thank you for your Word that points to you and your goodness to me.
Just to give you a little snippit of my week last week. I kept (and am still keeping) my two year old grandson while his mom went into the hospital to have her baby. While with me, he came down with a bad virus, fever and all. Two trips to the doctor, sleepless nights, etc...all of you young mothers know what I'm talking about...and all of you old mothers can reach back in your memory banks and know what I'm talking about. Then came to town one of my daughters with her two little ones to stay with Mimi and Pop Pop while Mommy and Daddy went to a high school reunion. One of those nights, 70 high school kids came to our house for an alternative to partying after the homecoming dance. Tired yet? Next, I got some disappointing news about another daughter that has kept me close to tears for the past day and a half.
But, then the words of the psalm reminded me that "the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture" (vs. 3) and, that "the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. ( vs. 5)
I took my eyes off of my circumstances and my tiredness and gazed at the beauty our God portrayed in this psalm and was able to "give thanks to him and praise his name" (vs. 4) He is so worthy of all praise and I am so underserving of his love and kindness!
Lord, thank you for your Word that points to you and your goodness to me.
Psalm 99 - God is Holy
As some folks know, I have a hard time keeping up with which Psalm I'm supposed to write on each week. Now that we are so far along in the Psalms, we are adding 90 to the day's date to arrive at the correct Psalm. To make a long story short, I prepared for the wrong Psalm today (98 instead of 99).
So, as I sat down to read Psalm 99 for the first time (yikes!), I quickly spotted a theme...God's Holiness. The word "holy" is used four times in the chapter (NAS). Thinking I'd borrow from our earlier study on the attributes of God, I went back through those posts and discovered that we did not specifically cover God's holiness when we went through that study.
To clarify for myself the distinction between holiness and righteousness (which we did cover), I looked up the definitions in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary and, to my surprise, the dictionary referenced back to Psalm 99:9! The word "holy" is defined as "exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness."
"Let them praise Your great and awesome name; holy is He." (v 3)
"Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; holy is He." (v 5)
"Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill, for holy is the Lord our God." (v 9)
Meditating on the holiness of God brings immediate perspective for me. So often, I get wrapped up in the personal nature of God's love that I fail to fully grasp and appreciate His holy nature, resulting in an inward focus on myself rather than an upward focus on Him.
Lord, help me to begin to grasp your holiness and thereby cultivate a humble and worshipping heart. Amen.
So, as I sat down to read Psalm 99 for the first time (yikes!), I quickly spotted a theme...God's Holiness. The word "holy" is used four times in the chapter (NAS). Thinking I'd borrow from our earlier study on the attributes of God, I went back through those posts and discovered that we did not specifically cover God's holiness when we went through that study.
To clarify for myself the distinction between holiness and righteousness (which we did cover), I looked up the definitions in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary and, to my surprise, the dictionary referenced back to Psalm 99:9! The word "holy" is defined as "exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness."
"Let them praise Your great and awesome name; holy is He." (v 3)
"Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; holy is He." (v 5)
"Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill, for holy is the Lord our God." (v 9)
Meditating on the holiness of God brings immediate perspective for me. So often, I get wrapped up in the personal nature of God's love that I fail to fully grasp and appreciate His holy nature, resulting in an inward focus on myself rather than an upward focus on Him.
Lord, help me to begin to grasp your holiness and thereby cultivate a humble and worshipping heart. Amen.
Psalm 96
DAVID'S ACTION TO GOD:
Sing to Him a new song.
Bless His name.
Proclaim His salvation.
Tell of His glory.
Tell of His deeds.
Praise Him.
Fear Him above all.
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Bring Him an offering.
Come into His courts.
Worship Him in Holy Attire.
Tremble before Him.
Say, "The Lord reigns."
Let the Heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice.
Let the sea roar.
Let the field exult.
The trees will sing for joy before the Lord
GOD'S ACTION TO THE WORLD:
For He is coming.
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness.
And the peoples in His faithfulness.
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Comments:
1. Notice, we are to sing a "new" song to God. A new song is current. It is not sung by rote, it is not repeated 15 times (God does hear us). It is not boring--to us or to God--it is fresh, different. This is the first of David's responses to God.
2. We are to bless, proclaim and tell everyone (the nations) about God's glory. How do I do that?
3. Praise. I can always give Him praise. Only He is worthy of praise.
4. How would our day be different if we only "feared" God? If our only measure of the success of our day would be in how closely we kept the knowledge of His presence to us?
5. How do I "come into His courts?" and How do I worship Him in "holy attire?"
6. When I consider Him, do I tremble? Would I be more in awe in meeting a famous person--popular, religious, or world respected--than I am when I meet with Him in prayer?
7. He is so awesome, that ALL of His creation acknowledges Him -- the seas roar, the fields exult, and the trees sing. Am I silent?
8. He is coming. Am I ready? Am I really ready today?
Psalm 95
This psalm is of two themes: worship and warning.
The first theme (vss 1-7) is a call to worship. “Let us sing…make a joyful noise…come before His presence with thanksgiving…worship…bow down…kneel.”
Why?
He is “the Lord…the rock of our salvation…a great God…a great King above all gods.”
“In His hands are the deep places of the earth…the strength of the hills…the sea.”
“He made [the earth]…the dry land…us, His people.”
Then He warns us to take a lesson from the Israelites (vss 8-11).
They “hardened their hearts...erred in their hearts…did not know God’s ways.” Therefore, God showed them His wrath and did not allow them to see the Promised Land.
Obviously, we prefer to think about the first half of this chapter, the joy we have in singing, worship, praising God for His incredible greatness. Surely we must ask God to keep our eyes fixed on Him, the “Author and Finisher of our faith.”
Some of you will remember a song the Maranatha singers recorded of this psalm. Below you will find a recording of it. It’s a soothing tune, and a nice one to have running through your head today.
“Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9liBXz1zJk&feature=PlayList&p=A2D5E55972C185CE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=25
The first theme (vss 1-7) is a call to worship. “Let us sing…make a joyful noise…come before His presence with thanksgiving…worship…bow down…kneel.”
Why?
He is “the Lord…the rock of our salvation…a great God…a great King above all gods.”
“In His hands are the deep places of the earth…the strength of the hills…the sea.”
“He made [the earth]…the dry land…us, His people.”
Then He warns us to take a lesson from the Israelites (vss 8-11).
They “hardened their hearts...erred in their hearts…did not know God’s ways.” Therefore, God showed them His wrath and did not allow them to see the Promised Land.
Obviously, we prefer to think about the first half of this chapter, the joy we have in singing, worship, praising God for His incredible greatness. Surely we must ask God to keep our eyes fixed on Him, the “Author and Finisher of our faith.”
Some of you will remember a song the Maranatha singers recorded of this psalm. Below you will find a recording of it. It’s a soothing tune, and a nice one to have running through your head today.
“Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9liBXz1zJk&feature=PlayList&p=A2D5E55972C185CE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=25
Psalm 94
This Psalm speaks of God as Judge and one who avenges. The psalmist calls on the Lord as Judge to bring justice to the evildoers who paid no attention to him.
I wanted to share some of the verses I was shown when meditating on these characteristics of the LORD.
"Oh LORD, the God who avenges" (v. 1).
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Romans 12:19
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and maintains his wrath against his enemies.
Nahum 1:2
"Rise up, O Judge of the earth" (v. 2).
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.
James 4:12
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.
Acts 17:31
...for judgment belongs to God.
Deuteronomy 1:17
The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the people with justice.
Psalm 9:7-8
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
Psalm 96:10
For he comes to judge the earth.
he will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98:9
I wanted to share some of the verses I was shown when meditating on these characteristics of the LORD.
"Oh LORD, the God who avenges" (v. 1).
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Romans 12:19
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and maintains his wrath against his enemies.
Nahum 1:2
"Rise up, O Judge of the earth" (v. 2).
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.
James 4:12
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.
Acts 17:31
...for judgment belongs to God.
Deuteronomy 1:17
The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the people with justice.
Psalm 9:7-8
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
Psalm 96:10
For he comes to judge the earth.
he will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98:9
Psalm 93
So many of God's attributes in one psalm!
Vs. 1 “The Lord reigns”: Ruler
“He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty”: Majestic
“and is armed in strength”: Powerful
“The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved”: Immutable
Vs. 2 “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity”: Eternal
Vs. 3 “The seas have lifted up, O Lord…the Lord on high is mighty”: “The sea with all its power is nothing in
comparison to the power of God" (John MacArthur)
Vs. 5 “Your statutes stand firm”: Trustworthy
“Holiness adorns your house”: Holy
What would my life look like if I really believed and lived like I believed all of this about God?
If I allowed God to have complete reign in my life as Ruler, then……my response to God’s plan for me, whatever that might look like, would be like Mary’s, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said”. (Luke 1:38)
If I really saw God as Majestic, then……like Job, my mouth would be shut when I saw his Majesty: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted…Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:2, 3) Or, like Paul: “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” (Rom. 9:20)
If I trusted God to be Powerful in my life, then……like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I would say, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.” (Dan. 3:17)
If I believed that Eternal God never changes (Immutable), then……the unchangeableness of God would give me confidence that everything that has been written in God’s word over 2000 years ago is still true today. God has promised me that I will spend eternity in his presence and because God said it is so, I have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Heb. 6:19) Therefore, like Moses, I would “choose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” I would regard “disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was (I am) looking ahead to his (my) reward.” (Heb. 11:25, 26)
If I trusted our Trustworthy God and His promises, then……it would be said of me like it was said of Abraham, “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise” (Heb. 11:11)
If I came face to face with the holiness of our Holy God, then……I would cry out like Isaiah, “Woe to me!...I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty”. (Is. 6:5)
I’m so grateful that God’s Word shows us these and so many more attributes of our God, as well as examples of people who believed them and lived accordingly.
Lord, give me grace to believe what you have said and let my life reflect that I believe it.
Vs. 1 “The Lord reigns”: Ruler
“He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty”: Majestic
“and is armed in strength”: Powerful
“The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved”: Immutable
Vs. 2 “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity”: Eternal
Vs. 3 “The seas have lifted up, O Lord…the Lord on high is mighty”: “The sea with all its power is nothing in
comparison to the power of God" (John MacArthur)
Vs. 5 “Your statutes stand firm”: Trustworthy
“Holiness adorns your house”: Holy
What would my life look like if I really believed and lived like I believed all of this about God?
If I allowed God to have complete reign in my life as Ruler, then……my response to God’s plan for me, whatever that might look like, would be like Mary’s, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said”. (Luke 1:38)
If I really saw God as Majestic, then……like Job, my mouth would be shut when I saw his Majesty: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted…Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:2, 3) Or, like Paul: “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” (Rom. 9:20)
If I trusted God to be Powerful in my life, then……like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I would say, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.” (Dan. 3:17)
If I believed that Eternal God never changes (Immutable), then……the unchangeableness of God would give me confidence that everything that has been written in God’s word over 2000 years ago is still true today. God has promised me that I will spend eternity in his presence and because God said it is so, I have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Heb. 6:19) Therefore, like Moses, I would “choose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” I would regard “disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was (I am) looking ahead to his (my) reward.” (Heb. 11:25, 26)
If I trusted our Trustworthy God and His promises, then……it would be said of me like it was said of Abraham, “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise” (Heb. 11:11)
If I came face to face with the holiness of our Holy God, then……I would cry out like Isaiah, “Woe to me!...I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty”. (Is. 6:5)
I’m so grateful that God’s Word shows us these and so many more attributes of our God, as well as examples of people who believed them and lived accordingly.
Lord, give me grace to believe what you have said and let my life reflect that I believe it.
Psalm 92 - A Resting Heart
Psalm 92 is a song of praise for the Sabbath day. As Charles Spurgeon eloquently states... "This admirable composition is both a Psalm and a Song, full of equal measures of solemnity and joy; and it was intended to be sung upon the day of rest. The subject is the praise of God; praise is Sabbatic work, the joyful occupation of resting hearts."
The "resting heart" phrase caught my attention. Some questions flooded my mind. What exactly is a resting heart? Do I have one? Does a resting heart only pertain to the Sabbath? How does a person get one?
The first four verses of Psalm 92 are instructive. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night, with the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands."
These four verses suggest some of the underlying components that give rise to a heart at rest: a thankful spirit; a praising tongue; constant recognition of God's love and faithfulness; and expressing joy in the Lord. If my heart is restless rather than resting, perhaps it is because I am neglecting one of these components. For me, neglecting to maintain a thankful spirit and refusing to continually recognize God's love and faithfulness propel me quickly into a state of restless anxiety.
This week I started reading a book by Paul Miller called "A Praying Life". His premise is that we are made to be in communion with our Father through prayer and, when we neglect to pray, we move into a state of restlessness. I'd like to share two quotes from the book relating to this theme.
"Anxiety is unable to relax in the face of chaos; continuous prayer clings to the Father in the face of chaos."
"Learning to pray doesn't off you a less busy life; it offers you a less busy heart."
Lord, help my heart to rest in You regardless of my circumstances. Amen.
The "resting heart" phrase caught my attention. Some questions flooded my mind. What exactly is a resting heart? Do I have one? Does a resting heart only pertain to the Sabbath? How does a person get one?
The first four verses of Psalm 92 are instructive. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night, with the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands."
These four verses suggest some of the underlying components that give rise to a heart at rest: a thankful spirit; a praising tongue; constant recognition of God's love and faithfulness; and expressing joy in the Lord. If my heart is restless rather than resting, perhaps it is because I am neglecting one of these components. For me, neglecting to maintain a thankful spirit and refusing to continually recognize God's love and faithfulness propel me quickly into a state of restless anxiety.
This week I started reading a book by Paul Miller called "A Praying Life". His premise is that we are made to be in communion with our Father through prayer and, when we neglect to pray, we move into a state of restlessness. I'd like to share two quotes from the book relating to this theme.
"Anxiety is unable to relax in the face of chaos; continuous prayer clings to the Father in the face of chaos."
"Learning to pray doesn't off you a less busy life; it offers you a less busy heart."
Lord, help my heart to rest in You regardless of my circumstances. Amen.
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