24 February 2014
Exodus 37
Psalms 96; 97; 98; 99
1 Corinthians 7
“THE LORD REIGNS; LET THE EARTH REJOICE”
The four Psalms included in our readings today appeal to us as being, in many parts, hymns to be sung in the kingdom age when “the LORD reigns,” and, as a result, “let the earth rejoice.” [Psalm 97:1]
Imagine the time imagine the words of Psalm 95 (we read yesterday) being spoken, “Come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving …” Then Psalm 96 starts, “O sing to the LORD a new song, sing to the LORD all the earth” What a contrast this will be to the nature of many songs today! “Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!” [Psalm 96:7] ‘Ascribe’ is not a word we regularly use these days, it means to ‘attribute to as the source or cause of something.’
Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!” Of what value is it to be holy today? This is not holiness in a sanctimonious sense! Something “holy” is something set apart, genuine believers set their lives “apart” to God as much as they can creating opportunities to do so.
We also meditated on the opening verses of Psalm 98, “O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation … in the sight of the nations.” [Psalm 98:1-2] Jesus is the “right hand and holy arm” of the Creator we will see this even more clearly when we come to Psalm 110, quoted several times in the New Testament as referring to the work of Jesus, “The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations.” [Psalm 110:5-6] How much is that judgment deserved!
Let us have a genuine relationship with Jesus now and then, our experiences “when the earth rejoices” will be wonderful; with what joy will we raise our renewed and immortal voices and sing and “rejoice in the Lord.”
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- DC
Thought for the Day
24 February 2014
"Earth’s most searching need, the one thing above all others which shows the hopeless inadequacy of men, is how to be right with God. It is the one soaring need demanding an act, costly even to the Father of all. And He delivered him up for us all."
- Charles Mason
If God be for us ... (1967)
Exodus 37
Psalms 96; 97; 98; 99
1 Corinthians 7
“THE LORD REIGNS; LET THE EARTH REJOICE”
The four Psalms included in our readings today appeal to us as being, in many parts, hymns to be sung in the kingdom age when “the LORD reigns,” and, as a result, “let the earth rejoice.” [Psalm 97:1]
Imagine the time imagine the words of Psalm 95 (we read yesterday) being spoken, “Come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving …” Then Psalm 96 starts, “O sing to the LORD a new song, sing to the LORD all the earth” What a contrast this will be to the nature of many songs today! “Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!” [Psalm 96:7] ‘Ascribe’ is not a word we regularly use these days, it means to ‘attribute to as the source or cause of something.’
Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!” Of what value is it to be holy today? This is not holiness in a sanctimonious sense! Something “holy” is something set apart, genuine believers set their lives “apart” to God as much as they can creating opportunities to do so.
We also meditated on the opening verses of Psalm 98, “O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation … in the sight of the nations.” [Psalm 98:1-2] Jesus is the “right hand and holy arm” of the Creator we will see this even more clearly when we come to Psalm 110, quoted several times in the New Testament as referring to the work of Jesus, “The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations.” [Psalm 110:5-6] How much is that judgment deserved!
Let us have a genuine relationship with Jesus now and then, our experiences “when the earth rejoices” will be wonderful; with what joy will we raise our renewed and immortal voices and sing and “rejoice in the Lord.”
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
24 February 2014
"Earth’s most searching need, the one thing above all others which shows the hopeless inadequacy of men, is how to be right with God. It is the one soaring need demanding an act, costly even to the Father of all. And He delivered him up for us all."
- Charles Mason
If God be for us ... (1967)
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