Awesome God

Psalm 68

This psalm by David was written most likely in response to the Ark of the Covenant being brought into Jerusalem. Remember that the Ark was in custody by the Philistines for some time and then it was brought back to the house of Obed-Edom (2nd Samuel 6:12). This Psalm can be broken up into 2 parts, the Ark’s journey and then why that is important.

As I read this psalm I am reminded that God is living and also God for the world. We see that even those in Egypt or Cush will know who God is.

Awesome God

In the closing of this psalm, David finishes up with what the focus is all about. It is that God is an awesome God and blessed be God (vs35). David showed that God is living and brought the Ark from the wilderness, provided for the people of Israel in the wilderness, through the power of God enemies would flee. God is living and mighty and also is the great provider and protector. In vs 19 David sums it up as God as his Savior, his salvation.

One thought that I had when reading this was, God is awesome. When you read through the Bible and you see God’s attributes displayed throughout history, I am amazed. He has been active and still is. As Jesus was asked about the resurrection by the Sadducees he responded with, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living?” God is of the living and he is alive. God is Awesome-Amen.

God our Salvation

Psalm 65

What do you think of the word “salvation”? As a Christian we associate that word to Christ but outside of that what do you think other people think of when they hear that word? Do they think of being saved from harm or death? Maybe they associate that word with being rescued from a dangerous situation. All of these show the picture of the salvation we have from sin but only to a degree. The truth is that we have been rescued from not physical death but spiritual death, from a dangerous and hostile situation into the presence of God and his grace.

In this psalm David writes about God being his salvation and that is based on God, not that David offered a sacrifice or did such in such to earn that salvation.

God Alone

In psalm 65 we read that it was God alone that saves and in this psalm, David praises God for his salvation. In verse 3 it says, “When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.” We see that David knew that it was God that covers the sin. The atone means, to make right and cover over and to advert punishment. That means, Christ took the punishment of our sin on the cross and through that our sins are covered and made right before God. David realized that it was not based on him or his fixing, but that it was all based on God. Just as Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved through faith in God’s grace and not on our own works but that it is a gift of God. A true gift that is priceless! It did not cost us anything and yet we receive salvation and advert the punishment of hell.

Praise in that

Just as this psalm was one of praise for the mighty works of God we too should have this praise from our lips as we can say, “We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” Being in God’s presence should bring upon us praise. As David wrote about lifting up his hands to God, may we also lift our voices and hands and lives up to God as praise. It is easy to take for granted what Christ has done for us on the cross. Remember that it is not on your terms but God has done it all. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 63

Today I decided to do a quick video for today’s devotion. Psalm 63 is a great psalm to read and just see the need we should have towards God.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In You do I Trust

Psalm 56

This psalm was written when David was endangered by the Philistines (see 1st Samuel 21:10-15). One thing I love about David when he wrote his psalm, he would usually show his human reaction and then how God has shown himself and delivered him from the trouble that he faced. This psalm could be for many of us today as we maybe are in some troubled situation and we may start with some kind of panic but then we realize that God is in control and our trouble turns to thanksgiving.

When I am Afraid…

In verse 3 David starts by saying, “When I am afraid.” He had enemies around him and he felt oppressed by them. But he does not say, “When I am afraid, I want to curl in a ball, or hide in a cave.” He says, ‘When I am afraid I put my trust in you.” Then he goes on to say, “In God I trust; I shall not afraid. What can flesh do to me?”  As David is honest and is afraid and has fears and worries, he is quickly reminded that God is over him. God is his tower and refuge and his strength. In verse 11 he also says, “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Many people just stop at the fear part and panic through their trouble. We need to take hold of our fear and know that God is bigger and in charge of this trouble. In him we need to trust. Trust that he has a purpose and will show himself in it. God showed himself to David time and time again and he does the same for us today. May we just be quicker to realize this instead of worrying about it and making things worse.

Ransom

Psalm 49

This psalm can be taken from the Exodus account of Israel. The first ransom for Israel was paid through the first born Egyptians and the 1st passover for Israel (see Exodus 12-13). The focus of this psalm is to show what really matters, not wealth or riches because a rich person leaves all of his possessions when he dies. He can not take them with him. The point of this psalm is to point one to God who saves souls.

Ransom

In verses 7-8 the sons of Korah write, “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice. A good definition I saw of a ransom was, the redemption of a prisoner, slave, or a captured person, for a price. The psalmist wrote that a man could not ransom the soul of another man, it is too costly, and our payment can never suffice or add up. This is the look of us and sin. Because of sin, we are a prisoner, a slave, and one that has been captured to sin and the devil. Hebrews 12:1 talks about how sin easily entangles us. In Romans 6 we see that we are slaves to sin. We need to understand that we were captured through the seed of Adam to sin. There was no hope, we were in a pit and we could not get out. Mankind could try to please God on their own, to try to pay the cost of sin, but it was too costly and mankind could never pay it off or set themselves free. There needed to be a permanent payment for that debt and that was Christ.

The first passover was a shadow of the ultimate passover. The first ransom that these psalmist were talking about was for freedom in a land, the 2nd passover was for freedom from sin. Christ died as payment for the ransom to sin. In him is our only hope, in him is our strength. In verse 15 we see that this was true, “God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol (death), for he will receive me.” God did ransom our soul from the power of death, and that was Christ. God in flesh dying on a wooden cross, being buried but conquering death and sin and the grave, and rising again in 3 days.

I pray Lord that we all would realize that price for our soul which mankind no matter how rich could never pay, it had to be you. Thank you!

Praise to the King

Psalm 47

This psalm may have been written when the ark of the covenant entered into the temple as it was absent for a long time (see 2nd Samuel 6:17-19). Whether this psalm was written for that specific time or just in general for God as the ark symbolized God’s presence on earth.

Praise to the King

The writer starts by saying, clap your hands, shout to God with loud songs of joy. This is a celebration that God would be with us. You know in the movies that when a king would come in the town or come back from a battle, they would have a celebration. Here the writer is saying, God is our King and their should be a constant celebration of praise to God.

In verse 6 he says, “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises.” Sing praise to the King. When we come to church there is worship being sung, then we go to his word. But worship and praise to God should not just be then and there. It should come and pour out of our mouths all the time. We praise God for his mighty works, we praise God for his grace, we praise God that he is active in our lives, we praise God for his Son, we praise God because he is King, we praise God we can serve Him, and we praise God because he is worthy of it and that is what we should do. Our lives work, desires, and being should be to glorify God.

How do you praise the King? I challenge you today to praise Him in all you do and to think about God in all things and let me know what happens?