God is the King of all the earth

 Psalm 47:1–9 (ESV):  

1  Clap your hands, all peoples! 

Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 

2  For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, 

a great king over all the earth. 

3  He subdued peoples under us, 

and nations under our feet. 

4  He chose our heritage for us, 

the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah 

5  God has gone up with a shout, 

the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 

6  Sing praises to God, sing praises! 

Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 

7  For God is the King of all the earth; 

sing praises with a psalm! 

8  God reigns over the nations; 

God sits on his holy throne. 

9  The princes of the peoples gather 

as the people of the God of Abraham. 

For the shields of the earth belong to God; 

he is highly exalted! 

When you recall the works of God and His character, how can you not get excited?! 

What has God done in your life, family, amongst your friends, in your country, or even in history that you celebrate and are joyful about? If the answer is nothing, then look again. For God has been there and working throughout, ask Him to show you what He has been doing, allow yourself to become joyful at what God has done and believe Him for whatever circumstances may come. 

In this short palm we read how God has; made himself King over all the Earth, he has quieted oppression, caused the nation of Israel to be victorious, he gives a secure future, an inheritance, plus He loves and owns everything on Earth! This God spoken about in this psalm is the same God we worship today. He is still victorious, loving, blessing his people, and He continues to promise a secure and certain future for those who become His people. Are you rejoicing in the character and nature of God today? 

This psalm reminds us that God is ‘our King’. Wherever you are, God is King. He is not a king that is confined to a specific area or time, but He is an eternal, omnipresent king and so is king of all creation, every area, throughout all history, in the present and future. It does not matter of what generation or earthly kingdom you are a part of, you can know God as king of your place, time and situation. 

Kings are powerful, have authority and are responsible for leading their kingdom in safety, justice and freedom. Some earthly kings do that better than others, but God always leads His kingdom in truth, love and justice. You may not always understand what He is up to nor understand His tactics, but He is always working for His kingdom to be victorious, for that is the best thing for His people. ‘God is King of all the earth’ - there is no place, situation or person that He is not king of, He ‘reigns over the nations’. God is always in authority and in control and is working for His kingdom to expand. So, take comfort and assurance in all situations that God is present and reigning even if it doesn’t look like it to you. See how God has changed nations before, how He has transformed people and places and thank God that He can do it again. Remember just what it means for God to be King and allow your praises to overflow to Him. He is worthy of worship so; rejoice, be glad, sing, hope, worship, adore and extol God as King today. He deserves it! He deserves to hear us clapping, singing and shouting in adoration as, 'he is highly exalted'.

‘Sing praises to God, sing praises! 

Sing praises to our King, sing praises!’

What do you have hope and security in?

 What do you have hope and security in? 

Whatever it is that you trust or hope in, whether it be money, job, intellect, family, nature or health, at some point these things are going to let you down. One day there may be; a financial crisis, business may go bust, people will fail you, a natural disaster or illness will occur that destabilises your hope and security because they were never intended to give you the hope and security you need. The things of life that can be gained and enjoyed cannot be depended upon to stand the test of time and cannot be guaranteed and they do not last forever. They can be enjoyed and appreciated, but if they are aspects of life that you have security and hope in they are going to fail you as they cannot the tests and trials that life brings. It does not matter how much money you have if you get an incurable disease, and it does not matter how healthy you are if an earthquake destroys your town. Yet we can all rely on these things to help us and provide stability to life as they are tangible and seem attainable. It is a relief to have enough, an encouragement to have a prospering business and a happy family, and it is good to appreciate and value such things. Yet they do not make good sources of hope or security and they are certainly not very good gods. These aspects of our lifestyle were never meant to be all that your life is about. They should not be your only endeavour or end goal, and you need to be mindful how much of your time, talent and treasure is absorbed by such things so that they do not dominate your life. As when these aspirations fail you, or you fail to gain them, then what? Does your whole world crumble? Do you question your sense of self, your worth and purpose? If so, then these enjoyable elements of life have become far too important to you. One day beauty, money, health, family and friends will wane, and what will your hope and security be in then? Life does not need to depend on such fragile and temporal things. There is something else you can trust in that will never let you down. There is someone that will never fail you, and will always be there, that will give you eternal purpose and security that is not based on any of these fallible things - Almighty God. The creator and sustainer of the universe is willing and able to become your hope and security. The One who created all of the things you desire in life and outlives them all can provide you with; security, hope, refuge, assurance, confidence and belonging - forever.  Are you putting all of your hope and security in Him?

Psalm 46:1–11 (ESV):  

1  God is our refuge and strength, 

a very present help in trouble. 

2  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, 

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 

3  though its waters roar and foam, 

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 

4  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 

the holy habitation of the Most High. 

5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; 

God will help her when morning dawns. 

6  The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; 

he utters his voice, the earth melts. 

7  The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

8  Come, behold the works of the Lord, 

how he has brought desolations on the earth. 

9  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; 

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; 

he burns the chariots with fire. 

10  “Be still, and know that I am God. 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth!” 

11  The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

God can fulfil any need or desire that you have. He can conquer any battle you face. He has power over; nature, nations and cities! He is strong and capable to completely shatter and to build. God can bring you peace when ‘the mountains tremble’, He can be your refuge when ‘the nations rage’. Are you depending on Him? Is He your hope and security?

For ‘he utters his voice, the earth melts.’! What a powerful and beautiful truth - God just speaks and the earth can melt! Just as His voice brought light and life to creation, He can also speak to melt things away. This is true on a universal scale as well as an individual one. Whatever needs to cease or start in your life, God can bring it into being. He has the capability and the power to do it. Nothing is too small or too big for God - remember He reigns over nature, cities and the universe! So, what are you asking Him to challenge and change? 

Whatever you have had hope and security in before, can it even compare with this?!

Reading through this psalm reveals something of the power and nature of God. This is the God who also wants to be your Father and friend. You can have this Almighty and powerful God impacting your life, giving you permanence and purpose. You can know His strength and great love for you when you choose to follow Him and put your hope and security in Him. You can have; refuge, strength, confidence, assurance, peace, security, promises, a home, victory and His presence for all eternity if you choose to live a life knowing and honouring God. You can know and grow relationship with the One whose words cease and start things, with the One who is stable through every natural occurrence, who brings wars into insignificance and can melt the earth away. 

Can you really afford to live without Him? 

Other things in life that seek your time and attention cannot promise you all of this! They are nice to have and should be appreciated if you have them, but they will eventually let you down, disappoint and disillusion you. So why live your life relentlessly pursuing temporal matters that will falter and fail you, why live life for less when you can have the God of the universe as your hope and security?

Why not do as the psalmist tells us in verse 10; ‘Be still, and know that I am God’. That is a command to stop! Stop doing what you are doing, settle yourself down and remind yourself exactly who God is. God is enough, ‘behold the works of the Lord’ and see. He can sort out nature, He can conquer cities, and He can even cause the Earth to melt, so surely He is worth considering and pursuing in your life. Surely, it would be dangerous not to consider Him? So, today, take time to think about what you are chasing after in this life and if it is really worth it. Where is your hope and security? Then ‘Be still’, and consider God. 

What can you rely on and hope in Him for?

Becoming the bride of Christ

 Psalm 45:1–17 (ESV):  

1  My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; 

I address my verses to the king; 

my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 

2  You are the most handsome of the sons of men; 

grace is poured upon your lips; 

therefore God has blessed you forever. 

3  Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, 

in your splendour and majesty! 

4  In your majesty ride out victoriously 

for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; 

let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 

5  Your arrows are sharp 

in the heart of the king’s enemies; 

the peoples fall under you. 

6  Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. 

The sceptre of your kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness; 

7  you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. 

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you 

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 

8  your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. 

From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 

9  daughters of kings are among your ladies of honour; 

at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. 

10  Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: 

forget your people and your father’s house, 

11  and the king will desire your beauty. 

Since he is your lord, bow to him. 

12  The people of Tyre will seek your favour with gifts, 

the richest of the people. 

13  All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. 

14  In many-coloured robes she is led to the king, 

with her virgin companions following behind her. 

15  With joy and gladness they are led along 

as they enter the palace of the king. 

16  In place of your fathers shall be your sons; 

you will make them princes in all the earth. 

17  I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; 

therefore nations will praise you forever and ever. 

Written about Solomon, the wisest and richest king that ever lived, we can see the honour and love which the nation had for him. They see the favour of God upon him, possibly more so than his father, David, as Solomon lived in the goodness of the victories that his father had won. Although this psalm has been written to honour and commend king Solomon to his new bride, it can also clearly be applied to Jesus and his bride, the church. For a man other than Jesus cannot display these qualities as magnificently as the Son of God. So, as we read and consider this piece of writing, take into account the fact that this writer not only commends marriage between man and woman, but also commends the greater calling of us being united in love to God.

The psalmist recognises the splendour of the groom - not just in appearance, majesty or riches but in character and worth. These attributes are far more attractive than any physical beauty or financial benefit. This psalm recommends the groom to his bride by showing how he is; kind, courageous, meek, gracious, capable and honest. On this basis the writer encourages the bride to be all in on this marriage. The groom seeks her beauty and she in return will benefit from his loving, generous and kind nature. If she gives herself fully into the arms of her husband and embraces his kingdom then she will prosper as a wife. The psalmist is encouraging this marriage and shows concern and desire for this marriage to be successful as they can see the future benefit of such a union. This is true for the marriage of Solomon and his Egyptian wife as well as for Jesus and His bride, the church. 

The reality of marriage is that although it is a joyous time that people gather to celebrate, it also contains a terrifying reality for the bride. She has to leave all she has known, her family, her nation, culture, associated faiths and beliefs in order to become a wife. She has to give up what she has known in order to become a bride and then a wife. Yet as the psalmist assures, ' In place of your fathers shall be your sons'. Although the requirement for marriage is a giving up and forgetting of the previous way of life, the promise is for fruitfulness and prosperity. Is not the same true if you desire to become a follower of God and part of the bride of Christ?!

If you follow God and are ‘all in’, then you too will prosper in His kingdom. Your life will be fruitful and splendid if you live to serve and honour Jesus. Yet you too have to turn away from the things that have previously been important in your life. Things need to change and your reliance given over to the groom if you are to be a successful wife. God desires you to be part of His kingdom, but are you prepared to make the sacrifices that are required? It is tough, so you should, ‘consider, and incline your ear’. The requirement is that you 'forget your people and your father’s house’. Those that you once depended upon for love, guidance, fun and fulfilment cannot have the same level of influence any more if you are living as a follower of God. If you have decided to become the bride of Christ then your focus and your priority is your groom, Jesus. Everything else needs to be in light of that. If there are relationships that do not honour your union with God then you need to ‘forget’ them. This is painful. The psalmist recognises this, and this is why they call the bride to ‘consider’ the reality of becoming a bride. However the benefits of becoming a bride far outweigh the sacrifices that you’ll need to make, but it is still a life change and one you should be realistic about.

When you see your groom, what do you see? 

His; beauty, majesty, splendour, grace, meekness, righteousness, power, honesty, courage, victory and riches? If you decide to live your life with Jesus, you are partnering with one who has all of these attributes. Would you like to be meaningfully partnered with someone like that? If so, consider the things that you need to exchange in your life in order to become a faithful bride of Christ, and then enter into a relationship with God in, ‘joy and gladness’. A wedding is a celebration, a joyful and happy occasion. Yes it signifies difference and an ending of a previous life, but the promise is that you will leave a legacy that can impact the generations to come when you invest in your relationship with the King of heaven.

Are you faithful through the trials?

 Psalm 44:1–26 (ESV):  

1  O God, we have heard with our ears, 

our fathers have told us, 

what deeds you performed in their days, 

in the days of old: 

2  you with your own hand drove out the nations, 

but them you planted; 

you afflicted the peoples, 

but them you set free; 

3  for not by their own sword did they win the land, 

nor did their own arm save them, 

but your right hand and your arm, 

and the light of your face, 

for you delighted in them. 

4  You are my King, O God; 

ordain salvation for Jacob! 

5  Through you we push down our foes; 

through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. 

6  For not in my bow do I trust, 

nor can my sword save me. 

7  But you have saved us from our foes 

and have put to shame those who hate us. 

8  In God we have boasted continually, 

and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah 

9  But you have rejected us and disgraced us 

and have not gone out with our armies. 

10  You have made us turn back from the foe, 

and those who hate us have gotten spoil. 

11  You have made us like sheep for slaughter 

and have scattered us among the nations. 

12  You have sold your people for a trifle, 

demanding no high price for them. 

13  You have made us the taunt of our neighbours, 

the derision and scorn of those around us. 

14  You have made us a byword among the nations, 

a laughingstock among the peoples. 

15  All day long my disgrace is before me, 

and shame has covered my face 

16  at the sound of the taunter and reviler, 

at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. 

17  All this has come upon us, 

though we have not forgotten you, 

and we have not been false to your covenant. 

18  Our heart has not turned back, 

nor have our steps departed from your way; 

19  yet you have broken us in the place of jackals 

and covered us with the shadow of death. 

20  If we had forgotten the name of our God 

or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 

21  would not God discover this? 

For he knows the secrets of the heart. 

22  Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; 

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 

23  Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? 

Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! 

24  Why do you hide your face? 

Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? 

25  For our soul is bowed down to the dust; 

our belly clings to the ground. 

26  Rise up; come to our help! 

Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

This psalm seems to have four sections to it:

- Firstly, verses 1-3 recall the works of God in Israel’s history. The testimony of what He has achieved for His people.

- Verses 4-8 are a response to the greatness of God, a recognition of God as king and worthy of extolling

- Then verses 9 -16 are the outpouring of disappointment and pain over the present turmoil and perceived rejection of the people by God.

- Verses 17 - 26 are then pleading for compassion, God’s justice and power to once again save and restore His people. A call for God to act due to the persecution of His innocent people.

It is important therefore to consider the whole perspective when faced with challenges. The people of God who inspired and wrote this psalm do, and having this format helped them through the trials and torments they were facing. As they recalled the might, power and love of God even in troublesome times they could pour out their experiences and emotions to Him, knowing, trusting and believing that God is good, just and loving and that He WILL bring hope and salvation even in the most dire situations.

I love that this psalm is a congregational response, not an individual one, but concerned with the community of God’s people as a whole. The church is the collection of God's people, and sometimes they go through difficulties, so it is good to remember that sometimes it is not just individual families or people that suffer, but at times the church is persecuted, and can feel alone and abandoned. Although this psalm is about the collective of God's followers being harangued, this is not the main focus. Instead this psalm is a beautiful summary of God’s power and majesty, and the reliance of God’s followers on Him as they encounter trouble. The people that wrote this have not been sinful or disobedient, yet they, ‘are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered’. Innocent, peaceful, obediently following their God, but afflicted and oppressed by those around them. Therefore it is a bit of a warning too, that even when you're doing the right things, disaster can strike, and then what do you do? When you follow God, you can expect suffering to be part of the journey both personally and corporately. It may not seem fair, especially when you live life doing the best to honour God and keep away from the ways of life that would lead you astray. Yet this is the reality. This world is not fair, and you have to live in it! There is an enemy to those that follow God, and people, powers and principalities will to try to destroy the gospel. This should be no surprise to any of us, as God’s people have been persecuted since the beginning, but I think that generally we focus on the fact that if you live following God, everything will be fine and you will be blessed. Of course, it is true that you are blessed to always know the joy of salvation, a relationship with God and His faithful, steadfast love like these psalmists express, yet it is also true that life will involve suffering, persecution and death. 

No-one likes to think of this; that God’s people suffer, especially for no just cause. When you have troubled times you like to know that there is a reason, a purpose, but you may not know what it is. So you have to learn to suffer well, as the writers of this psalm did, without any answers. They did not understand what was happening or why, yet they were assured that because God, ‘knows the secrets of the heart’, He could see their innocence and the way they were living even through the trauma. They demonstrated dedication and faith, community and love throughout this time even when they felt abandoned and forgotten. These people still reminded one another of how to live pleasing God, and of the victories of the past. They recalled that God, ‘afflicted the peoples and them you set free’. God does both - He restricts and He gives freedom. The people were reminding themselves that God is indeed in charge of all situations, including the one they are in right now. Do you accept that God is in control with whatever is going on in your life, in the life of the church, your community and even the country you live in? Even when circumstances seem dire and difficult, do you honour God and remain dedicated to following Him alongside other believers?

The frustration of the writers of psalm 44 is not really that times are difficult, but that they feel overlooked by God and like He has abandoned them. So they recall the scriptures and the stories of God and are assured because history proves that God has a plan and does not abandon His people when they follow Him. It is just His plan doesn’t make sense to them right now. Therefore this people cry out, ‘why are you sleeping, O Lord?….Do not reject us forever! …why do you forget our affliction and oppression?’. These cries can still be repeated and resounded across the globe. People of God are suffering for their faith today. Individuals and churches, communities of believers around the world are feeling afflicted and oppressed. If you recognise this in your faith-filled groups and feel like bursting out with such cries then that is ok, you are in good company, people have been crying out for thousands of years about injustice, pain and persecution. It is good in fact to cry out to God as He is the only one that can do anything about it! Just make sure that you do not solely cry out, but also remember. Call to your memory the times of breakthrough, the miracles, the wonders, the joy, prophetic words, and remember God is still the same. God hears your pleading cries for mercy. He hears and knows, yet He does not always act as you deem best because He has a different plan, a bigger one and a better one. So dig in, keep going, look at Him and encourage one another to remember all He has done before, because He can do it again.

If you’re still struggling with the reality and purpose of suffering then look at Jesus. Of all the people in all the Earth that have ever lived, he could rightly claim innocence, purity and lack of sin. Yet consider his suffering. Ponder upon the heartache, physical torture and the degrading death that he endured. He, surely, deserved rescue? He implored Father God to rescue him, to end his torment, to allow him to escape the fate he knew was coming. Yet he had to go through it. He asked God for relief and rescue yet it did not come. He probably felt abandoned, disappointed, alone, unheard and confused too. Yet he continued to obey and honour God, patiently enduring and suffering. Jesus did not know the purpose of all he went through but he trusted God. We now know that God's best plan was for His only Son to suffer and die even though Jesus did not want to. It was not the best or the easiest for Jesus, but it was the best for all people. Jesus life, death and resurrection has meant salvation, restoration and hope are available to ALL people. His suffering was for our good, for the good of those who would never hear his voice or see him in person on Earth. God's plan was too big for even Jesus to understand and to desire at the time, so do not be concerned if you do not understand or desire the circumstances you find yourselves in. Sometimes terrible, heart-wrenching, painful and degrading things happen to those who follow God. It is natural to desire relief and help like Jesus did, and to feel abandoned, disappointed and confused, like Jesus did. Yet Jesus still trusted, honoured and followed God. Remembering who God is and being assured that God somehow had purpose through it all, you too can take comfort and confidence in the fact that even in the midst of pain and despair, God has a plan. Even when torture and death come, God is not oblivious nor does He lack care, power or control. That is why it is important for you to speak to other believers, remembering God's goodness, sharing cries of pain and prayers of deliverance together.

You see, the problem is not with God, it is with us humans. We like to know what is going on and to be rewarded for our loyalty and dedication for living faithful lives. We believe we deserve good things if we do good things. So, when unexpected, unwanted and troublesome times come, we do not like it. However, living life following God does not guarantee a hassle-free life - You do not have to read the Bible for long or to know many christians to see that! At no point does God promise that all our troubles will be over when we trust and believe in Him, instead the Bible has many examples of just the opposite! Life following God will not be easy, but you will always have hope and salvation. Plus you can grow in strength and peace when you continually honour God with your life. Bad stuff happens at times, but do not let that dictate your trust and reliance in God. God is not determined or swayed by circumstances whether good or bad, so your faith in Him and your dedication to Him should not be either. The people who wrote this psalm are great examples of those following God who remained committed to do so despite the hardship. They felt that they were suffering undeservedly, and felt abandoned and forgotten, but they also understood that their motives and plans were not God’s. They show commitment, steadfastness and deep-founded faith. Do you? Or is it easy for you to wander off and chase other things when you feel like God is not answering your prayers or coming through for you in the way you want Him to? 

God is not your butler. He is not there to make life easy for you or to anticipate your needs and wants, sheltering you from issues. He is your Master, your Lord and King. Your duty is to serve Him, not the other way round. When you believe and follow God as these people did, you follow His directions, complete His commands and keep doing so no matter the difficulty or reward. A king must be obeyed otherwise it is treason. The Israelites understood this. They were confused by their treatment and lack of blessing, however they remained faithful servants of the Most High God as He is still King. They faithfully served Him, even though it was difficult and confusing. The result of this faithful, committed mindset was that they knew they could approach their King with their troubles and they grew in faith and steadfastness. They understood that even when they were fleeing, endangered and deserted that God could still come through for them. They did not give up believing, trusting and hoping in their King. instead they patiently, painfully waited, recalling the stories of previous victories of God as they cried out to Him, ‘Rise up; come to our help!’. The Israelites realised that they serve the King of creation, and they have the privilege of being His people no matter the circumstances. We have the privilege of knowing some of the stories, seeing the results of others' faithful service and steadfast service through battles, exile and persecution. What do you want the story of your life as a believer and as a part of a community of believers to demonstrate to the world around you?