Psalm 6:6,7

 A psalm of David.
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

A footnote in the Life Application Study Bible summarizes this psalm as a prayer where David accepted God’s punishment, but begged God not to discipline him in anger.  David knew if God treated him with justice alone without mercy his judgement would be death.  In this prayer I also see how David is praying to God to deliver him from those who have taken advantage of God’s judgement on David to destroy him.   

These verses remind me of the prayer that Christ prayed before his trial and arrest that is recorded in Luke chapter twenty-two and Matthew chapter twenty-six.  The portrait we are given in these verses is of Christ being in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.  When Christ prayed this prayer in the garden of Gethsemane it was a prayer that he already knew the answer, but he still prayed these words three times “O my Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou will.”  His soul was exceeding sorrowful and very heavy, even unto death during this time.  However, unlike David’s prayer, this prayer was not for God’s mercy from the punishment of his sin, but for the sins of the entire human race.

Most people live for the present-day events in their life as they travel along their journey on this earth; and it is only in a moment of crisis when all hope is lost that they either turn to others for help and when that has failed they at last turn to God.  At first this moment of crisis that comes into most people life seem huge, but once the crisis is over they look back and see that this event was only a bump in the road of life.  In life we have these up and downs which we believe are major crisis but once they are over we just get back on the road of life and start the routine of living everyday life again.  Often this new direction will bring us closer to God, but sometime we just put God on the shelf until we need Him again. 

However, once we experience a life changing events in which the outcome is not our desire but God’s intervention to change the course of the direction of our life’s journey do we come to the realization of “not my will but thou will be done”.  It is during this experience that the real presence of God in our life.  This is an experience that we only share with the Lord himself.  It is the inner peace that God gives us that even in times of difficulties God will carry us through the fire.  It is a “footprints in the sand” moment where we recognize afterwards that it was God that carried us through.  

Studying the several examples of David’s prayers found in the Psalms, some which were prayers caused by his own sin and other prayers caused by the sins of others we witness a brokenness of spirit that causes great pain to the body itself.  As I study both of these examples I see a very deep desire for God to come and restore the broken personal relationship and heal the physical pain that was lost because of sin.  David prayed in Psalm fifty-one “create in me a clean heart, renew our spirit within me, do not banish me you’re your presence, restore the joy of your salvation.  It is in these dark moments that David’s desire was for the restoration of his relationship with God.   David accepted God’s punishment but truly desire God’s presence in his life and a renewing of the joy of his salvation. 

This relationship was something that Cain did not desire.  He hated the punishment and did not desire to renew God’s presence in his life.  In Genesis chapter four we are told that Cain said unto the Lord that his punishment was greater than he could bear.  In fact, in verse sixteen “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod.” Cain made the decision to leave God’s presence instead of praying for God not to banished him.  The decision of desiring God’s presence in one’s life is a personal one.  He has already provided the way through Jesus, which leaves the decision of having God’s presence in your life up to you to make.    

Psalm 5: 1-4,12

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up.  For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.  For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.  (KJV)

In Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, one of the daily devotional books I read throughout the year, he writes this statement about two different views of God in his January second devotional Woe Is Me. “An exalted view of God brings a clear view of the sinful nature within me and a realistic view of darkness of sin.  A diminished view of God brings a reduced concern for sin and an inflated view of self.”  In this devotional he discuss how we need to be careful when we compare our righteousness to the righteousness of the ungodly.  This type of righteousness is one that has a diminished view of God to create an inflated view of self.  The more time we spend time in front of the mirror of God’s Word the more the Holy Spirit convicts of our sinfulness. 

An exalted view of God grows within us as we abide in him and keep his commandments.  In Psalm 119:9-16 we are given the instructions on how to live a clean or pure life: 

1. By guarding it according to thy word.
2. With my whole heart will I seek thee.
3. Let me not wander from thy commandments.
4. I have laid up thy word in my heart.
5. LORD, teach me thy statutes.
6. I declare all the ordinances of thy mouth.
7. I delight in the way of thy testimonies more than riches.
8. I will meditate on thy precepts.
9. I will fix my eyes on thy ways.
10. I will delight in thy statutes and will not forget thy word.

The more we stay in the Word and study God’s commands, his statues, his ordinances, and precepts the more we shall see our sinfulness and the holiness of God.  It is only when we truly grasp the exalted holiness of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice that we see the total darkness of the sinfulness of the nature that is deeply embedded within us.  Once we reach this stage we can cry out as Paul wrote in Romans 8:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death.”  Thanks be to God who gave us his son that whosoever believe on him will be saved.   

God sees our hearts and delights in our uprightness

Psalm 4:3-5

3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

In I Chronicles 20:17 David states that he knows his God sees his heart and delights in uprightness, and that in the integrity of his heart God see that he willingly made his offering to help build the house for ark of the covenant and for the Lord’s name.   Studying David’s life, I realize how much of his life was guided by one principle and that was by staying in God’s Word.  Psalm one hundred and nineteen gives us an understanding of the guiding principles of David’s life.  In Psalm one hundred and nineteen eight key words are used to describe God’s Word:  law, precept, testimony, commandment, ordinance, promise, statue, and way.  These principles were probably taught to David at an early age following the instructions given to the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”  These words from the book of Deuteronomy as well as the other books of Moses probably laid the foundation for the guiding principles in David’s life.

In Ephesians 5:8,9 Paul states that we are to walk as children of light in all goodness and righteousness in all truth which is the fruit of the Spirit.  As a new creation our desires should no longer be for the things of the flesh (darkness), but the things of the spirit (light).  In Ephesians chapter five Paul gives us several examples of this walk: walk in love, avoid all uncleanness, have not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, walk circumspectly, redeeming the time, and most important speaking to yourself in psalms, and hymns and spiritual sounds, singing and making melody in your heart.   We should heed the words of David from verse four “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still.” 

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 Lord how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (KJV)

Reading this psalm, I recall the verses that recount the story of David and Absalom.  Absalom was David’s third son (II Samuel 3:3) and the half-brother to Ammon who was David’s oldest son but whom also had raped Tamar, Absalom’s sister.  In II Samuel 13:21 we are told that after being informed of this event David’s only reactions to Ammon was that he was very angry, or very wroth.  Many commentaries have been written about David’s decisions on how no other action was taken by David against Ammon for this sin that he committed against Tamar David’s daughter.  However, I believe that most commentaries do not look at verse one of this chapter, to see the timestamp of this event.  This event probably happen soon after the death of Uriah, and also the death of David’s first son by Bathsheba.  It would probably have been hard to make a judgement against your own son, when your sin had given occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme and question David’s own judgment.  Also, I believe that David probably was still recalling the words of Nathan the prophet “that God would raise up evil against him from his own household” during this time.  Against this backdrop of this event I believe that David waited on the Lord instead of making this decision himself.  

This is different from the approach that many would take today.  Even in our fallen state men are quick to measure out judgment even when they themselves are guilt of sin in their life.  If fact I know of many that have taken the first steps that David did in covering up his sin (by having Uriah come home so the pregnancy of wife would be by him) and when this first cover up failed they tried other means to cover up the sin.  And then when everything came to light they would blame others or even deny the sin.  

Sometime we need to be careful on passing judgment on the actions of others when we are not sure of all the facts.  When we study David’s reaction to raping of Tamar by her stepbrother Amnon from the scriptures all we are given of David’s reaction is found in verse twenty-one and that reaction was “he was very angry”.  As I study David’s life I believe that David’s understanding of God’s mercy was changed by his sinful events that lead to the death of Uriah and the son that Uriah’s wife born to him.  Before David’s commitment of these sinful acts David was usually praying for his own protection against those that sought to harm him, now he was the one that had sinned and took the life of an innocent man.  Nathan words to David “the Lord has taken away your sin, and you shall not die” revealed to David how great God’s mercy was to an undeserving individual.  As a believer the words of the Lord’s prayer reveals the true mercy that God has provided toward us is the also the same mercy, we are to apply to those that sin against us.  “And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our dedtors.”

The belief that God takes care of those who take care of themselves is a belief that carries over to almost every aspect of our life. We are living in an age where we must make things happen, and when it does it must be God’s will.  The idea of waiting on the Lord I believe has really been forgotten in this age of instant gratification. Reading these verses gives me a glimpse at David’s response to the trial he is going through. He is trusting in God as his shield and as the one that gives glory. He will rest and lie down because the Lord sustains him. He will not fear because from the Lord will comes deliverance. David knew how to trust God. As we measure the battles, we fight in the fleeing moments of this life they are nothing compared to the victories we will have with him for eternality. 

The phase “May your blessing be on your people” reminds us to walk in the way of the Lord. Remember there is only one way and he is the way, the truth, and the life, so walk in this way and be blessed.

Here we see David the father of Absalom running from his son. When studying David’s life, the main theme I have realized is his personal relationship with the Lord and how this relationship changed David. In I Kings 15:3-5 David’s character is described as having a heart that was wholly devoted to his God. The only blemish on David’s life was the case of Uriah the Hittite. David’s examples of how he lived his life reflects a man who was truly a man after God’s own heart. He was not a man who was searching for God, but a man who walked in the way of God who waited on God’s transforming power to make his heart like God’s heart. This is reflected in the way he handled himself at the death of his son Absalom. He wept. Joab and Israel could not understand this weeping, just as the world today cannot understand the love and patience of God as Peter wrote about in II Peter 3:9. Just as the thought that David had in his heart as he walked in his chamber “O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! Would I have died instead of you.” is the same love God has for us his children. In fact, that is why Christ died on the cross for us. With his death and resurrection, he made a way to restore the broken relationship between God and man. So, when you study the psalms as well as all scripture wait on God to open his Word to you. Then you will start to see God’s transforming work in your heart as he makes you into a child of God. Stop searching for God in your way and start walking and growing in his way by studying his Word and letting it speak to you. Let your walk be characterized as a man or women who is walking with the Lord and enjoying sweet communion with Him. Let your communion with Him be a candle that sheds light to those who are searching for God.

Blessed are they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what is made, so that men are without excuse.

A story was told of a man who life’s purpose was to seek after truth but after he found it, he turned and walked away and followed the sinful desires of his heart.  This is the story of the men that Paul describes in Romans chapter one.  Paul’s purpose was to present the gospel of God to all, but not all believe.  As we go forth on our journey in this life, we must realize that all men and women will be without excuse on the day of judgment.  We must present the simple truth of the gospel as Paul writes in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

What happens to those that reject the gospel and does not put their trust in Christ the King?  Their life becomes their own, they become the one who controls every aspect of their life. They become wise in their own eyes, but their hearts become darken and they become fools before God.  God then gives them over to the sinful desires of their hearts.  To me this means God steps out of their life.  Paul describes this person in Romans 1:26-32 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,backbiters, haters of God, spite fullest, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Another story was told of a man who life’s purpose was to seek after truth, and when he found it, he realized his sinful ungodly nature.  But he also found the way of salvation offered by God’s gift of salvation to mankind through his son Jesus Christ.  He could now be made righteous by placing his faith in God’s son.  This was why he now lives a daily lifestyle that reflects Christ in him as our hope in glory.  This was the decision that Paul made on the road to Damascus.  If we follow this Paul’s example then we should also walk in the spirit and see a life that will reflect the fruit of the Spirit “love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  The saints that have taken God’s gift of his son Jesus will strive to live a life that has been crucified to the flesh with its affections and lusts; and live in the Spirit.  There is only two ways.  As in Psalm chapter one there is the way of the Righteous or the way of the wicked.  Which story will reflect your life?  The choose is yours.

Choosing the right path

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night. 

Paul probably read this opening Psalm several times in his life.  He probably believe he was protecting the law of the Lord as he was traveling to Damascus to arrest any man or woman who belong to the Way.  Act 9:1 “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” reveals how much he believed they represented the way of the wicked.  Yet on this trip Paul is confronted by the very one who made the claim that he was the way, the truth, and the life.  In Acts 9:5b Jesus reveals to Paul who he was really standing against, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutes:  it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”  Jesus revealed himself to Paul as the way of the righteous revealed in Psalm one.   

Acts chapter nine as well as Acts chapters twenty-two and twenty-six Luke gives us three accounts of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.  In verse five of chapter nine Luke paints a picture of what all mankind must face at some point in their life.  Do we repent from our ungodly ways and remain on the path of ungodliness, or do we repent and turn toward the way of God?  This decision rest on what we believe about Jesus.  Is he the Savior of the world, or just a figure from history?  We must all face this kicking against the pricks in our life.  Our conscience (pricks) must wrestle against the truth that we are ungodly and not the god-like creation that God formed in the garden.  All of us are in need of a Savior, the one who could pay the price for our sinful nature.  Once we accept this gift of salvation and come to the realization that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light then we can start the journey of delighting daily in the law of the LORD, and meditating on it day and night.

In Acts 26:15-18 Paul describes his encounter with Christ not only as his need for salvation but also as his call to make him a minister and a witness to preach the gospel the Gentiles.  The purpose of his message was to open the eyes of all who hears, and to turn them from darkness to light and from Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiven of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that in Christ.  Before this encounter Paul as a religious leader of the Jews was protecting his religion from the false teaching of Jesus as the promise Messiah.  In I Corinthians 15:9 Paul writes “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”  He justified his actions as protecting the faith.  This encounter with Christ open Paul’s eyes and caused him to turn from his wicked ungodly ways, which he had in the past justified as godly. 

So, when I read and study Romans 1:18-32 about the wrath of God being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness, I have came to the realization that all of mankind fall in this group.  Christ was the gift of God to the world to open the eyes of all mankind to their ungodliness and unrighteousness and provided us the way to turn from darkness to light.  So, then we accept Jesus and let the Spirit of God work in our lives, God will make known his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption unto us.  This is revealed to us by his Spirit that we might know the truth that is given to us freely by God.  So as Christ stated in Luke 13:5 ” I tell you, Nay:  but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.”  God has provided the way; we must choose the path.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if any praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you.  (Philippians 4:8,9)

As I look forward to the next year may I strive to follow Paul’s example of knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, and being made conformable unto the death of self, may I forget these things which are behind and press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  So as this year is about to come to an end and as I look forward to the start of a new year I should strive to keep at least one resolution for next year and that is to mediate on God’s word both day and night.  By striving to stay in God’s word daily and letting the Holy Spirit lead and guide me in the process of applying these words to my daily meditation; I hope I can become a vessel of honor sanctified and meet for the master’s good work, adequate, and equipped for every good deed that God has prepared for me as I make on our journey upon this earth.   I must keep on remembering that the key to my daily life to let others see Christ in me.   May this be the goal I set for the new year “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.”.

In II Timothy 2:8-12 Paul writes to Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, who has saved us and has called us to an holy calling for his purpose.  Paul also writes to Timothy in verse twelve that he was not ashamed, for he knew whom he had believed and was persuaded that Christ was able to keep that which Paul had committed unto Christ against that day.  These verses points to Paul’s desire not only for his ministry, but also for the life he lived daily.  In this letter to Timothy Paul gives his beloved son his final words of encouragement as well as a warning to fight the good fight for the gospel. These words that Paul wrote to Timothy over two thousand plus years ago can also be used by us as we strive to fight the good fight as we strive to fulfill the great commandment of our Lord in Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

During the question-and-answer section of my ordination process I had to give my life verse and explain why I choose this verse.  My life verse at that time was Romans 15:20 “Yea, so I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:”.  Before I could give the reason one of the professors ask me what version of Bible I was using.  I told him the King James Version.  He looked it up and stated that in all his studies of Paul he had never recalled this verse.  He asked me the reason I chose this verse, and I told him my desire was to preach Christ name to those who have not heard the gospel.  For in Romans 15:21 Paul writes to the Romans the words of Isaiah 52:15 “They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.”  That was over fifty years ago, and I can see now how much more the words that Paul wrote to Timothy can related today to the preaching of gospel. 

Paul writing to the Romans of his striving to preach the gospel to where Christ’s name had not been preached also took on an added changed to his charge to Timothy during the final days of the life of Paul.  The charge that Paul gave to Timothy was to preach the word in season and out of season: to reprove, rebuke, exhort, and with longsuffering teach sound doctrine, as he sat in a Roman prison awaiting his final days.  For Paul saw in these final days of his ministry the great falling away of the faith into an apostasy that centered around men being lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.  They have a form of godliness, but deny the power and resist the truth, even learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  So as the new year approaches, we as believers should have two messages; preaching the gospel to the lost and striving for the prize of the high calling of God by not walking in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful, but delighting ourselves in the law of the Lord. 

Psalm 150

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)

Reading this psalm, I hope you will stop and realized that everything in your world is not “All about Me”. However, as you look at this psalm you will see that we are to praise the Lord. As you look at these verses you will get the picture of a modern church service:

• Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet
• praise him with the harp and lyre
• praise him with tambourine and dancing
• praise him with the strings and flute
• praise him with the clash of cymbals
• praise him with resounding cymbals
• Let everything that has breath praise the LORD

Why Praise God?

       For his acts of power.  For his surpassing greatness.  What is this surpassing greatness? Paul answers this in Ephesians 1:3-14.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him unto a dispensation of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say, in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worked all things after the counsel of his will; to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,– in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

As I finish another reading of the Psalms and Proverbs today, I realize that this month is almost over another month is almost upon me. A few years ago, I seasoned my daily readings with the daily devotional by Charles Swindoll title Wisdom for the Way. I found this devotional at the Goodwill store where I buy some of my books. On the inside cover I discovered these words “For Lindsey From the Craig’s May 2001”. The subtitle of this devotional is Wise Words for Busy People. How this book came from the Craig’s to Lindsey and then to me is a mystery, but as I look to the surpassing greatness of God, I realize how God can use a book to influence a person.

On page 62 of this devotional Charles Swindoll starts off the reading by writing “The only way we can come to terms with reality-is by trusting God, regardless.” As I continue to read this devotional, I noticed there were only two paragraphs. The first paragraph that centered on the words I and me. It is a matter of if I am trusting him, or if I do or don’t allow God in my world as I face each and every issue in my daily routine. The second paragraph centers on the word we. We can’t wait for conditions to be perfect, instead we must go on trusting. This gift of the Craig’s to give Lindsey was probably given as a treasure to help her along the way is an example of their trusting God to work in her life. Sometimes it might appear that we have fail, however because of the surpassing greatness of God their gift might produce fruit elsewhere. As this simple devotional starts with an individual, the end result because of the surpassing greatness of God will be a group result.

Verse six “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” forces the reader to one conclusion and that is we are to praise the Lord. The journey that begins with the first breathe that a child takes at birth to the last breath we take before we pass from this life to eternity must include the process of praising the Lord.

Psalm 149

1 Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.

7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people.

8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron.

9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.  (KJV)

As we study God’s Word some concepts are hard for us to understand. As I study the attributes of God and focus on His goodness and kindness as well as His great mercies that He has impart not only on my behalf but on to all who call on his name, it sometimes becomes difficult for me to picture God as the One who will inflict vengeance and carry out the punishment of the sentence that is written against the those that have not called upon his name.  That is why I believe in the message of Romans 1:32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.”  And except for the grace of God no one on this earth could escape this judgment.

Thankfully for me the message I must give to the world is not this message of the future judgment of God against the wicked of this world, but a new song a message of a way of salvation to all who will believe. Studying these verses, I must realize that there will be a time of judgment ahead, but until then there is hope for anyone that still wants to come to Him. In Jude’s book (the second to the last book of the Bible) in verses twenty-one through twenty-four we are told to keep ourselves in the love of God and have mercy on those who doubt. So, when I am confronted by others to explain how a loving God could be such a God of vengeance, I will explain to them that I am only beginning to understand the workings of God and that some concept about God is still beyond my understanding. I can compare my understanding of the complete nature of God to that of a 3rd grader’s understanding of calculus. Some things are just beyond my understanding. However, by reading Psalm ten I get a picture of how wicked the evil man truly can be.

This psalm ends with a plea for God to arise and take action against the wicked and evil man and call him into account for what he has done. Then this happens to the evil it will become the glory of all his saints. This day will come when the Lord returns. Why the delay? Peter answers this in II Peter chapter three “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. How then should we live “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you”.

But why don’t the wicked see their coming judgment? Paul’s conclusion is found in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As I study this psalm, I realize the truth found in Hebrews 2:3 “how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?

Psalm 148

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

6 He hath also established them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

14 He also exalted the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)

Praise the LORD.  The theme of a believer’s walk should center on praising the Lord.  This psalm focus on all of God’s creation praising Him.  For his name alone is excellent and his glory is above the heaven.  May your walk today be on praising the Lord.  In Job chapter two verse nine his wife gave him this advice “curse God and die”.  His reply to her was that she spoke as one of the foolish women speak.  He told her “What shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?  In all this did not Job sin with his lips.  His words found in Job 1:21 “Naked came I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither:  the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Knowing the nature of God is absolute and we are his creation and that his name alone is excellent, we can rest assure in his hands and praise Him as Lord. 

Studying David’s life through the Book of Psalms and I Samuel, II Samuel and I Kings we are given one of the most complete insights of the deep emotions of any of the Biblical characters.  His life is a testimony of the high and lows an individual will face during their time of this earth.  But through David’s life we can also study the lives of those that did not walk in the way of God.  Paul has given us the best example of those that reject God’s way in Romans 1:16-32 “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:  who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  and likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (KJV) To the believer (those that accepts the gospel) our life should be full of praise for God.  To those that reject the gospel

God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:  who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator.  These all those that walk not in the way of God.  The chose is ours to make.