God is talking. Listen in.

 Read Psalm 50. 

All day long, God is speaking.  He is not silent.  The message of this Psalm is clear, blunt, and firm.  

What is He saying? (vv.1-4) 

1. Concerning the Owner (vv.5-11)

Everything belongs to Me.  What you are offering to Me is only what I gave you. 

2. Concerning the Offering (vv.12-15)

I am self-sufficient.  I do not need anything.

What I want from you are expressions of your appreciation and thanks.  Then, your offerings will mean something and your prayers will be answered. 

3. Concerning the Others (vv.16-21)

Because of your rejection of Me and your sinful behavior, you have no rights.  Therefore, I rebuke you and charge you in judgment. 

4. Concerning the Options (vv.22-23)

If you continue to disregard Me, there is only severe and eternal punishment waiting.

If you choose to live a life of thanksgiving to Me for who I AM and what I have done, there is eternal deliverance for you. 

Are you listening?

What money cannot Buy

 Read Psalm 49. 

The psalmist was bothered by some people of wealth who had cheated him.  Evidently, they thought they could buy their way out of any difficulty.  Money had given them power. 

So, this song was written to provide a perspective of wisdom and understanding to life.  Money cannot buy and control everything.  Exhibit A is the end of life.  At that final moment, it will not matter who the person was or what they had accumulated.  Like all living things on earth death is certain. 

Therefore to build one's life on temporal values that one day will all be left behind is called "foolish confidence" (v.13 ESV).  In Hebrew that means stupidity, folly, silliness.  Why would anyone place their faith in things that will not last?  There is not a shred of wisdom in ignoring eternity and accountability to God! 

Wise people know better.  "But God" (v.15).  He stepped in and paid the price of our ransom from the captivity and bondage of sin.  "In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace..." (Ephesians 1:7) 

The root problem with all man-made faith systems is pride.  Some put their faith in government.  Some choose to trust philosophies.  Some depend upon religious traditions.  All think they know better than the One who created them.  All of them willfully choose to ignore their sin problem and that with certainty they will stand before the LORD.  There will be no excuses then. 

Job reminds us, "Naked I came from my mother' womb, and naked shall I return."  Hebrews 9:27-"And just as it is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment." 

We have this one life to do what is right and respond to God's love and forgiveness.

Take a look Around

 Read Psalm 48. 

The praise continues into this song.  But what or who is being praised?  The view moves back and forth. 

1. Taking a temporal look.

The beauty and setting of the city of Jerusalem literally stopped people in their tracks.  The writer tells of enemy forces marching against the city from as far away as Tarshish (Spain).  But when they came to the mount and look up, the shear splendor of the walls, towers, and structures caused them to turn back.  The nation sang about the blessings they enjoyed.  They praised God for their buildings. 

2. Taking an eternal look.

Yet, it was not the bricks and mortar that thrilled the people of Jerusalem.  They knew that all the walls in the world could not protect them.  It was the unbelievers who saw only the temporal things.  The believers in the LORD had a spiritual perspective.  They praised the God of heaven for His provision of the beautiful structures, but even more they exalted His power and authority that protected them.  The LORD had made Himself known in their city (v.3). 

3. Taking a personal look.

Prior to the historical incident involved, they had heard of the power of God, but now they had seen it with their own eyes (8).  What they had heard was true.  He is all-powerful, no one can successfully come against Him.  He puts to flight every false way.  He is worthy of praise.  But their concern did not stop there.  They wanted to be sure the next generation knew and placed their faith in the LORD. 

Look around today. Where have you seen God's protection?  Where has He provided?  Be sure to let others know about it.

 

 

3 good reasons to be Loud!

 Read Psalm 47. 

This is going to get loud.  For generations, clapping and shouting were not considered a part of traditional worship.  But as Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is a time and place for everything.  The very first verse of this song exhorts the congregation physically and vocally to respond with joyful volume! 

Why?

1. "For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared..." (vv.2-4)

Those who refused to respect and respond in obedience learned the hard way.  God "subdued" them at His command.  The people who fear God enjoy His love.  Clap and shout for joy! 

2. "For God is the King of all the earth..." (vv.5-7)

He is sovereign and in control of this world.  "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." (Proverbs 21:1)  It may not seem like it as we view world events, but the worsening turmoil is leading to a climax and the revealing of the King of kings (Revelation 19).  We can read the end of the Book and know how the story will turn out.  Clap and shout for joy! 

3. "For the shields of the earth belong to God..." (vv.8-9)

In the meantime, the LORD is our protection.  This world, including us, is His property.  "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1)  Our security is assured by the One who loves us and gave Himself for us.  This is worthy of some clapping and shouting! 

Make some noise for God today.

Oh, how we need Him!

 Read Psalm 46. 

A mighty fortress is our God.  He is our refuge and strength.  The need for protection causes us to seek a refuge.  Weakness motivates us to find a source of strength.  Without problems, we will not sense a need for those things. 

We say our trust is in God.  We believe that God is sovereign and in control.  We sing the songs of our confidence in Him.  But, how we respond when disaster strikes is the real proof of our faith. 

The psalmist claimed that even if the entire physical world crumbled and went into upheaval, his faith would stand firm.  Politically, morally, spiritually, economically our world is crumbling day by day.  War and violence are escalating on every continent.  Peace talks for the most part only allow factions to rearm themselves.  Increasingly, around the world people are being killed only because they are Christians. 

Where is the peace?  Where is the fortress? 

Dr. Crawford Loritts presented the following simple outline of this Psalm to grasp its message:

1. We need help

2. We need hope

3. We need Him 

Our help and our hope are not in negotiated world peace.  Our help and our hope are not in the improvement of our circumstances.  Regardless of what our culture and even the devil himself may throw at us, our eternal confidence is in Him. 

"Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Here comes the Groom

 Read Psalm 45. 

The songwriter is bubbling over with excitement and he cannot wait to tell about it.  This psalm anticipates a royal wedding. 

The Groom. (vv.2-9)

In western culture the attention at weddings is on the bride.  In eastern tradition, all eyes are on the groom.  How handsome he is!  How blessed by God he is!  He is a mighty warrior, motivated by truth, humility and what is right.  He is referred to as God.  In the historical context, those in ultimate authority were to serve in God's stead.  They were to rule and make judgments as God's representatives on earth.  In several places human judges and kings are referred to as God (Elohim); see Exodus 21:6. And, this "God" has a God in heaven who has appointed him to this position of king (v.7). 

The Bride. (vv.10-15)

She is beautiful and told to leave her father's house to become the desire of her husband.  Bowing and submitting corresponds to Ephesians 5:22. The young woman is colorfully dressed, wearing gold jewelry.  It is a joyous occasion. 

The Future. (16-17)

They look forward to a large family that will carry on the royal dynasty in praise "forever."  In Samuel 7, the Lord made such a promise to David. 

But the Bible does not stop there.  Jesus was born in the royal line of David and has a right to the throne of Israel.  The writer of Hebrews details who Jesus truly is in the opening verses of chapter one.  He is fully God in the flesh.   Then, in 1:8-9, he quotes Psalm 45:7 and states that Jesus is the fulfillment of that verse.  The Apostle John wrote that one day Jesus will enter as a groom for His bride, the Church, and celebrate in a marriage feast (Revelation 19). 

Get ready for the wedding!

 

 

Failure is not Final

 Read Psalm 44. 

It is easy to praise the LORD when everything is going well.  But what we think, say, and do when circumstances do not turn out in our favor demonstrates our true faith. 

In the middle of this Psalm we learn of a national defeat.  The enemy triumphed.  Embarrassment, confusion, and humiliation were the emotional results.  In addition, their very lives were at risk.  Weren't they God's people?  Were they not doing what He wanted them to do?  The answer to both questions was, "Yes!" 

Then, why weren't they experiencing victory?   Verse 22 provides the most graphic description of their plight.  "Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 

That verse is quoted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:36 to remind believers that life is not always health, wealth and happiness.  Real life is full of challenges.  The greatest tests are beyond the physical, financial and emotional tough times.  How we respond to God in the midst of difficulties is a test of faith. 

Exhibit A of this truth is that fact that this same verse is quoted two additional times in Scripture to refer to Jesus!  In Isaiah 53, the prophet predicted that the Messiah would suffer and die for "the iniquity of us all" and quoted Psalm 44:22.  When Philip spoke with the Ethiopian official in Acts 8, he explained that Jesus fulfilled what Isaiah predicted. 

So, how can we do more than endure tests of faith?  How can we actually grow through them?  Here are three things we can do today.

1. Remember God delights in you. (vv.1-3)

Self-esteem and self-worth can hit bottom in the middle of a test.  Psalm 44 opens by remembering that God delivered His people because He delighted in them.  When the LORD delivered David out of a tight spot, he wrote, "He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:19)  As believers, we are children of God.  We are members of the family of God.  God not only loves us, He likes us! 

2. Remember all the good things God has done for you already. (vv.4-8)

Speak about how we came to faith in the first place.  What has God done since  we placed our faith in Him?  Let others hear us giving thanks to the LORD "continually." 

3. Remember God knows our hearts. (vv.17-21)

Stay true to your commitment to the LORD.  The Psalmist could say, "we have not been false to your covenant.  Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way."  Refuse to give in to temptation just because you feel bad. 

The cross was not final.  In His sufferings, Jesus knew that resurrection was coming.  He trusted the Father to bring Him through it.  And so can we.  Our deliverance is on its way.