Psalms finale

About two and a half years ago i started studying the psalms, and now we reach the final one. It has been illuminating for me. I used to think the psalms were a bit lovey-dovey, how i was wrong! They are powerful outpourings of different emotions and passionate faith! It has been inspiring to research and consider each one week be week to find out the hearts of those who wrote them, and the level of trust and hope they each had in God. They have inspired me to keep holding on, to know that steadfastness is key, and that there is always, always hope even in the most desperate situations when God is in the picture! He has triumphed over enemies, hearts, cities, the heavens, He reigns supreme and will never let you down. He is worthy to be praised always. 

So, without further ado, let us read the final psalm;

 Psalm 150:1–6 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens! 

 2  Praise him for his mighty deeds; 

praise him according to his excellent greatness! 

 3  Praise him with trumpet sound; 

praise him with lute and harp! 

 4  Praise him with tambourine and dance; 

praise him with strings and pipe! 

 5  Praise him with sounding cymbals; 

praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 

 6  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! 

  Praise the Lord! 

How fitting that the last psalm focuses on praising God in a multitude of ways. Bearing in mind all of the psalms that have come before, the culmination of the heartache, triumph, despair, joy, patience, confusion and victory is to praise God!

No matter where you are, what you are doing or experiencing, or what you have about you - use that to praise God! If you are amongst a group of people or alone, are having an easy or a tough time, you can ‘praise him for his mighty deeds’. The things God has achieved are incredible no matter who is around or what you are doing or what is happening. God deserves to be praised because He is great! His character is perfect, steadfast, considerate, loving and powerful even when you are not feeling it or recognising it. 

Over the years when i have felt tired, downcast, overwhelmed, confused and upset, when situations have been unfair and difficult, choosing to worship has been powerful. It is often a difficult thing to do, to put aside emotions and mindset and decide to praise, but listening to worship songs, choosing to pray positively, or dancing around the kitchen, may not change the circumstances, but it has changed me. Setting your mind to praise God even when you don't feel like it is good for you. God deserves it for He is still good even if things around you aren't! 1 Thessalonians 5 says; '16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' God's will is for you to praise Him no matter what, and it does you good for it changes your focus and your thinking, God expects you to rejoice and give thanks 'in all circumstances'! God knows what is good for you, praising Him brings joy and hope as you remember who He is. Your circumstances and emotions need to be put into perspective, and worshipping God does that. You can always, ‘praise him for his excellent greatness!’ You can always do that. For God never changes, He is always excellent and great!

You can praise God in many ways and with many things. If you play an instrument, use that to extol God, if not, you can use whatever you have; your own body in dance, your voice to sing and pray, and you can even praise God by crashing cymbals together - it doesn’t even need to sound pleasant to anyone else! Even if, like me, you do not have a singing voice that others enjoy, God loves to hear it - so sing loud as your praise is for God’s ears, not for others. Get over being embarrassed - that is concern for the opinion of others rather than the heart of God, so sing for HIm. He wants you to sing, dance, play music, he enjoys to see and hear you do that in praise of Him. Parents like to see and hear their kids do these things, even if it is a 'joyful noise' (psalm 100). So, as a child of God, show Him your love, make a noise for Him, move your body for Him, crash cymbals for Him, for He loves it! It is the heart of praise that the Lord loves to hear, so let your heart for Him come through as you worship God in your own intentional way. 

Think about God. ‘his mighty deeds’ and ‘his excellent greatness’ and let these truths lead you to overflow in worship. 'Everything that has breath' has cause to praise the Lord, so what are you praising Him for today?

Praise wins!

 Psalm 149:1–9 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  Sing to the Lord a new song, 

his praise in the assembly of the godly! 

 2  Let Israel be glad in his Maker; 

let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 

 3  Let them praise his name with dancing, 

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! 

 4  For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; 

he adorns the humble with salvation. 

 5  Let the godly exult in glory; 

let them sing for joy on their beds. 

 6  Let the high praises of God be in their throats 

and two-edged swords in their hands, 

 7  to execute vengeance on the nations 

and punishments on the peoples, 

 8  to bind their kings with chains 

and their nobles with fetters of iron, 

 9  to execute on them the judgement written! 

This is honour for all his godly ones. 

  Praise the Lord! 

The praise of God should be unrestrained. This psalm encourages us to be unhindered in our praise of God and to express worship wherever we are and whoever we are with. There are many ways we can worship God, and this psalm encourages the use of sung and musical worship as it is an expression of joy. 

When you are happy, you might skip, dance, or sing, as well as when you hear some music that you like. This should be how you respond to God too. For He is worthy and good. He is a great King, a kind Lord and marvellous Maker. Do not hold back your praise, or anyone else's. Instead, allow your joy to overflow whether it be; singing of new songs, using instruments or dancing. 'For the Lord takes pleasure in his people'. What a marvellous thought that as we are enjoying God, God is enjoying seeing our happiness expressed through worship. When you take pleasure in God, God takes pleasure in you. 

Do not limit the use of sung praise to a specific place. You can glorify wherever you are, whether you are amongst other believers or not, and when you are in bed (v5)! There are no restrictions to lifting God up, showing your joy and gratitude in Him. It is good for you to show your appreciation of God, He sees and hears what you do with your mouth and your body, how you use what is in your hands - so use them to glorify Him.

There is an interesting tone change in this psalm when you get to verse 6, ‘Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands’. The worship of God is not an end in itself, although God certainly deserves praise and honour. It is also a humble posture before God, and a preparation for you. It demonstrates your devotion to Him and equips you for the battles to come. God gives you a ‘two-edged sword’ when you devote your life to Him. He empowers you and equips you for the work and battle that is coming. He gives you a powerful weapon to use to vindicate His people and destroy evil. Yet it all starts with praise to Almighty God. As you worship Him and keep Him high in your mind - not the concerns of life or the power of enemies, He gives you not just any old sword, but a double-edged one! Twice the sharpness and power. God equips you and invites you into being a powerful force in His army when you serve and honour Him with your praise. You have an important part to play, so, ‘let the high praises of God’ be found coming from your mouth. This is the way you train for any battle that you face, how you overcome enemies and how you fulfill God’s purposes in your life. If you want to be an effective part of God’s Kingdom - ‘Praise the Lord!’ So, worship Him, unrestrained and honour Him with how you use your body, as you do are are giving pleasure to God, and He is preparing you for victory!

Praise the Lord!

 Psalm 148:1–14 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  Praise the Lord from the heavens; 

praise him in the heights! 

 2  Praise him, all his angels; 

praise him, all his hosts! 

 3  Praise him, sun and moon, 

praise him, all you shining stars! 

 4  Praise him, you highest heavens, 

and you waters above the heavens! 

 5  Let them praise the name of the Lord! 

For he commanded and they were created. 

 6  And he established them forever and ever; 

he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. 

 7  Praise the Lord from the earth, 

you great sea creatures and all deeps, 

 8  fire and hail, snow and mist, 

stormy wind fulfilling his word! 

 9  Mountains and all hills, 

fruit trees and all cedars! 

 10  Beasts and all livestock, 

creeping things and flying birds! 

 11  Kings of the earth and all peoples, 

princes and all rulers of the earth! 

 12  Young men and maidens together, 

old men and children! 

 13  Let them praise the name of the Lord, 

for his name alone is exalted; 

his majesty is above earth and heaven. 

 14  He has raised up a horn for his people, 

praise for all his saints, 

for the people of Israel who are near to him. 

  Praise the Lord! 

What should give praise to God?

Everything! Any creature in heaven, anything that has been created by Him, the angels and all who are in God’s presence in heaven. The; sun, moon and stars, the sky and the ‘waters above the heavens’, anything on Earth from the biggest to the smallest, and the deepest sea creatures. All sorts of weather, tall mountains to small hills, fruitful and non-fruitful trees. All animals; the scary, cute, ugly, walking, slithering and flying ones. The greatest of all people, to the least and the young men, women and children. 

All have a duty to praise God. 

I do not know about you, but I have never thought of the wind or fire praising God. Yet they can and do, isn't that marvellous?! If you are not sure how you can you praise The Lord today, take a look around you; Is it windy or sunny, dark or light, are there any type of creature? Can you feel the fire or wind? Do you see hills, mountains, seas, trees, fire or creatures? Are there people of any gender, age or station near you? Take a look, and consider, each one was made to point to and praise God. Whatever your situation and wherever you are, you are surrounded by reminders of the greatness of God. So why not consider the things you are aware of to honour and praise The Lord today. They are, just by existing, so why not join with them and praise His name. All things were created to, ‘Praise the Lord!’ So make sure you also are joining in with the praise of creation today too.

Where and when do you worship?

 Psalm 138:1–8 (ESV):  

1  I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; 

before the gods I sing your praise; 

 2  I bow down toward your holy temple 

and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, 

for you have exalted above all things 

your name and your word. 

 3  On the day I called, you answered me; 

my strength of soul you increased. 

 4  All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, 

for they have heard the words of your mouth, 

 5  and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, 

for great is the glory of the Lord. 

 6  For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, 

but the haughty he knows from afar. 

 7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, 

you preserve my life; 

  you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, 

and your right hand delivers me. 

 8  The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; 

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. 

Do not forsake the work of your hands. 

Where and when do you worship?

King David, the author of this psalm worships in the face of other religions, in the temple, when he needs help, when he is desperate, and when he is grateful. He is not bound by a set routine as his life overflows with worship to God. He even lifts God up ‘before the gods’! In the face of idols and other things with supposed power, David praises The Lord! Are you so aware of God’s love, power and presence everywhere, that you worship Him in the midst of darkness and depravity, when surrounded by other things that people extol?

It is not just in these places and at these times that David worships though. He also does so in the house of God, recognising the significance and privilege of being able to join with God’s people in His presence to honour, love and worship together. 

Also, David understands that worship is not just through singing and listening, but through submission to Him as he also bows down. He humbles himself before God. For even as a mighty and powerful king, David acknowledges and accepts that there is a higher authority than himself. David knows what it is like to be exalted as a man; once a shepherd, now a king, through the hand of God. He knows firsthand how God exalts, and so he exalts God in return as he acknowledges God as in greater authority and power than he is. David could deem himself powerful, strong and faithful, but he knows these are merely attributes bestowed by God. He couldn’t do what he is doing without God as he admits, ‘On the day i called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased’. David depends on the strength of God in his life to live the life God has given him. When David’s internal strength had been knocked, he felt weak and incapable, so where did he turn? Not to drink, women, money, work or friends, but to the only One who truly understands the internal state of man. He went to The Lord. Where do you go? Do you call to God and allow Him to strengthen your soul? Is He the source of your wonder and worship even when you feel low and weak? Do you approach The Lord in humility, with your body and mind bowed down to Him? This is real worship.

Putting God first in your life and making Him the first One you go for strength, peace, restoration, hope, and joy is how you live a life of worship as David did. It is not about the songs you sing, the way you dance or music you make, it is about how you live your life, what you trust in and bow down to. David made God the most important One in his life when he had the capacity and opportunity to do and extol many other things, even himself. David knew that only God can give what he needed; materially, physically and internally. Therefore, it did not matter where David was, who he was with, or what he was doing. If he was with other kings or the lowly, at the temple or not, before God or idols, when he felt weak or strong, sad or joyful, David worshipped and sought God. He desired and searched for God’s presence in every aspect and moment of his life, do you? Does how or if you praise Him depend upon where you are, what you are doing, or who you are with? It shouldn’t. God is the same wherever you are, whoever you are with, and whatever you are doing. If you truly want to live a life of praise and honour to God worship Him wherever you are, whoever you are with, and whatever you are doing. Then you will be living a life of worship far more beautiful than any song.

Do not forget

 Psalm 137:1–9 (ESV): 

By the waters of Babylon, 

there we sat down and wept, 

when we remembered Zion. 

 2  On the willows there 

we hung up our lyres. 

 3  For there our captors 

required of us songs, 

  and our tormentors, mirth, saying, 

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 

 4  How shall we sing the Lord’s song 

in a foreign land? 

 5  If I forget you, O Jerusalem, 

let my right hand forget its skill! 

 6  Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, 

if I do not remember you, 

  if I do not set Jerusalem 

above my highest joy! 

 7  Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites 

the day of Jerusalem, 

  how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, 

down to its foundations!” 

 8  O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, 

blessed shall he be who repays you 

with what you have done to us! 

 9  Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones 

and dashes them against the rock! 

The people of God have a sorrow that no-one else understands. The things that are lost when people and nations turn away from the truth of Scripture is heartbreaking. Throwing away teaching the principles and stories of the Bible in favour of 'new' thinking, or because some truths are uncomfortable as society accepts ways that the Bible does not. These things cause the people of God to lament. 

I think of how in my lifetime England has changed. Hymns, prayer and biblical teaching were an everyday part of primary school life. Teaching Biblical stories and principles commonplace in the home and community, like; treating others as you want to be treated, honouring your parents and those in authority. These were unwritten rules that you were expected to abide by, it was the same for everyone, and even unknowingly, communities and families were embedding principles and guidance from Scripture into their children's lives, in the workplace, and wider community. Alongside this culture, the laws of this land once reflected the truths of the Gospel, just like in Israel before this exile. Then men started to be persuaded that God’s way wasn’t as good as other ways. Other nations lived differently and had new ideas and ideals, so the law of the land changed to deviate from the truth of God. Kings desired divorce, men desired men, and women, women. Lying is acceptable if you are a politician or salesperson, sex before marriage no longer outrageous but expected. Children not expected to be in submission to parents or authority, instead expected and supported to rebel. Free speech is no longer free, even people who silently pray can be arrested. What has happened?! As a person of God, does this not cause your heart to grieve? 

Such recollections must have caused the grief that penned this psalm. For Israel, their nation had not only deviated from Scripture, but as a result they had been kicked out! Their nation was defeated and the people captured by the Babylonian empire. Yet even through the taunts of their enemy, Israel remembered the joy of Jerusalem, and the privilege of singing praise and making music to their God. They could no longer do this as grief had replaced joy because they were away from the centre of God’s presence (Jerusalem), so their hearts were heavy. They could not even pick up their instruments. As they were dragged into exile ‘we hung up our lyres’ and ‘sat down and wept’ demonstrating the level of grief they experienced. Is your heart aggrieved for the condition of your nation? 

Although the Israelites grieved what was lost, and lamented it, they did not conform, but they continued as best as they could to live as Israelites in this foreign land. Their God was still their God, they remembered the storied of deliverance, the commands, followed the laws, and taught each generation about The God of Israel. They made an effort to remember, to recall the songs, the teachings, the joy of Jerusalem, and they prayed for deliverance. Are you doing the same? 

When Christianity was the main religion of England, schools and hospitals were created, and charities founded. It is because of christians putting their faith into action through caring for others that these institutions exist. How much have those sectors deviated from their roots and the truth! How sad that their history is hidden, and the truth of God removed from those settings. It is like being in a foreign land where God is not known. How can the beautiful truth be forgotten? (v5-6). As people of God, let us not forget. Let us not forget the foundations of faith, the importance of the values of the Kingdom of God. For even if it feels that we are in a foreign land like the Israelites were, we can still live by and apply the truths and laws of the Kingdom of God. For though the Israelites were taken into exile, it did not stop them being Israelites! They knew they were still the people of God, no matter where they were. They still carried songs of praise in their hearts and poured out their hearts in grief to Him. They still remembered the goodness of God and the greatness of worship, and so can you. The Israelites said, ‘Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if i do not remember you’. Therefore recall the goodness of God. Remember the times when God was made known and extolled where you live, and teach the younger generation. Show them what God has done and teach them to hold onto the truth even in a foreign land and era. Do not forget ‘my highest joy’!

Even though times, culture, and laws have changed, and expectations, behaviours and language may seem foreign to you, do not forget. God is still God, even if you feel like a stranger or an exile as the Israelites did. They felt downhearted and distraught, but they could not forget the truth of God. They did not forget the songs of joy, hymns of faith, or the praise and worship of the temple. They would remind each other and encourage one another to remember and pray. They knew that one day, the situation would change, so they had to remember and teach their young ones what to look forward to. One day, like Babylon, this godless age is ‘doomed to be destroyed’. God’s people and His kingdom will once again ‘sing the Lord’s song’ in joy and unity! So remember, wait, and seek the return of God’s reign wherever you are right now. God will repay evil, and He will also repay righteousness. So are you remembering who He is and what life with God is like for yourself, your community and nation? Are you teaching the generation to come about God and how to worship Him? For they will need to know, and they need to be prepared. Even in a dark and disparate nation, people need to be told and encouraged that better times are coming, that there is joy beyond a nation, a situation and beyond this life! The highest joy is that there is a God that loves and cares, who is powerful and kind, who is King and who deserves to be remembered and honoured. Are you remembering Him, and sharing that joy with those around you? 

Is your help in the name of the Lord?

Psalm 124:1–8 (ESV):  

1  If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— 

let Israel now say— 

 2  if it had not been the Lord who was on our side 

when people rose up against us, 

 3  then they would have swallowed us up alive, 

when their anger was kindled against us; 

 4  then the flood would have swept us away, 

the torrent would have gone over us; 

 5  then over us would have gone 

the raging waters. 

 6  Blessed be the Lord, 

who has not given us 

as prey to their teeth! 

 7  We have escaped like a bird 

from the snare of the fowlers; 

  the snare is broken, 

and we have escaped! 

 8  Our help is in the name of the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth. 

You wouldn’t be where you are right now if it were not for God’s intervention. You wouldn’t have; survived, been as successful, as peaceful, as whole, or as strong as you are right now, if it were not for God’s hand upon your life. 

You may not feel strong, whole, mighty, free or at peace, but can you imagine what your life would be like if God wasn’t looking after you? Imagine what a mess you’d be in. You could be defeated, destroyed, in greater pain and distress, encompassed by sin, bound and swallowed up by anger. What kind of life would that be? Yet, ‘the snare has been broken’ and you have not been ‘swallowed up alive’! Not because of luck, your own quick thinking or actions, but because The Lord has been on your side. He has saved you from the ‘raging waters’, the full force of people’s anger, and you have escaped being prey ‘like a bird’ because your ‘help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’

Therefore, thank God! Thank Him that He is on your side, and that He helps you, and all of His followers. He has not allowed you to be overcome or defeated, He has facilitated your escape from trouble on this Earth, as well as rescuing you from the wages of sin for eternity - ‘the snare is broken and we have escaped’! What an incredible promise! It is God who has done this, all of it! It is not your own ideas or capability, strength or knowledge that has helped you out of trouble, but God has saved you. God has healed you, protected you, recused you, intervened for you and saved you from the wages of sin! He has helped you in more ways than you can count. 

So, simply and honestly, all you need to do is thank Him. Show your gratitude, sing praise, give to him, tell stories, shout and cry in triumph if you want to! Store up the stories. remember and tell others of the times you have ‘escaped like a bird’.  Acknowledge that God is the greatest help you have. You wouldn’t be the person you are today, having accomplished and survived what you have ‘if it had not been the Lord who was on our side’. Hallelujah!

What do you get excited about?

Psalm 122:1–9 (ESV):  

1  I was glad when they said to me, 

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!” 

 2  Our feet have been standing 

within your gates, O Jerusalem! 

 3  Jerusalem—built as a city 

that is bound firmly together, 

 4  to which the tribes go up, 

the tribes of the Lord, 

  as was decreed for Israel, 

to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 

 5  There thrones for judgment were set, 

the thrones of the house of David. 

 6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! 

“May they be secure who love you! 

 7  Peace be within your walls 

and security within your towers!” 

 8  For my brothers and companions’ sake 

I will say, “Peace be within you!” 

 9  For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, 

I will seek your good. 

It is clear that this psalmist is excited to have travelled to Jerusalem, and to be given the chance to go into the temple - look at how they marvel in verse 1 about standing just inside that city's gates! Is there anywhere that gets you excited like that? This writer recognises that Jerusalem has been a place of pilgrimage for generations of every tribe of Israel. A place where the whole nation gathers to remember and worship God. Not only that, but David chose Jerusalem to be his home when he was King of Israel, so the city has housed kings for centuries. For David there could be no better place to live than the holy city, the place where God is worshipped. Therefore Jerusalem became not only a spiritual centre, but also a political one. It became a city that draw together the earthly and the heavenly powers. No wonder the writer was excited to enter into this place of great renown and significance! They felt honoured to be there, and acknowledged the weight of significance of this city, which has been much fought over and written about. Their response to being in such an awe-inspiring place is to pray. 

They pray for this city to know peace, every part of it; the walls, towers, Israelites, friends, the house of the Lord and even unknown people who love what Jerusalem stands for. This person prays that this place, and the people who love God, should be marked by peace and security. How wonderful that this believer was so inspired and excited about being in the holy city, that they prayed. They prayed for it's peace and security, for the physical city and for those within it. 

How do you feel when you enter a place where people gather to God? Do you feel peaceful, safe, excited? The history of faith, the battles fought, and the triumph of God's kingdom should influence how you approach a place of worship. Some places are admittedly, more impressive and beautiful than others with their architecture. Yet does the thought that people of faith have entered into this place before you, sometimes for generations inspire you? Do you get excited by the faithfulness of God and His people that have impacted the city, town or village where you worship?

I wonder how you respond to the inspiring testimonies of faith, the history and faith displayed there. This psalmist prayed. He prayed that the city and the people would know peace and security. What a wonderful response to their excitement! What is your response to where you worship or live? 

Why not take some inspiration from this psalmist and start to pray for where you worship, ask God for His peace and security for this place and people. Even if you don't really like the location you can still pray, pray that ‘For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.’ Desire good for the place and the people and pray for it, if not because you want to, because you love and honour God and His presence. Pray for the area, every part of it; the buildings, businesses and believers. Pray that where you gather will be a place where people come in joy, anticipation, security and peace, because the Lord has built His house there, just like He did in Jerusalem.

Loved eternally, beyond measure and mistakes

 Psalm 117:1–2 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord, all nations! 

Extol him, all peoples! 

 2  For great is his steadfast love toward us, 

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. 

 Praise the Lord! 

Short and sweet this psalm, a mere two verses. Yet, take the time to consider their focus and you can spend hours letting them lead you to worship the God they speak of!

Firstly, there is an invitation for all people to worship God, all people! Written at a time when Israel was the only holy nation, the only people with the ark of the covenant, or a temple to the Living God. When specific stipulations and cleansing rituals had to be completed before entering this temple, the psalmist uses his few lines to tell ALL people to honour, love and praise the same God. God has always wanted everyone to come to Him. From all walks of life, all nations of the Earth, young and old, rich and poor, no matter how perfect or imperfect, capable or not, intelligent or not, healthy or not, all people are invited and welcomed to praise the Lord! You do not have to be perfect, sin-free or righteous to approach God, just willing to say yes because you’ve been invited! God loves you so much, He wants to meet you and for you to get to know who He is.

This psalm states, ‘For great is his steadfast love toward us’. Are you seeking to be loved? God’s love is so great that He can invite all people to share His heart and His love. His love is big enough to include everyone into His family. His love is so strong and secure that He can accept and forgive anyone and everyone, no exceptions. No matter what - His love never fails, never wears down, never fades, never gets fed up, never has enough and never walks out on you. His love instead is, 'steadfast' and ‘endures forever’! 

Do you want to receive this kind of love today? To know that you are;  loved unconditionally, without compromise or conditions and welcomed whether you have had a good day or not, behaved well or not. This love is available to you. It is available to all people and can only be found in one place. The Lord our God loves you like that. Stop seeking for this steadfast love in other places, other people and other things, they will only disappoint you, they cannot love you like this. Only the Living God can provide you eternal, steadfast love. His love is available right now, do you accept it?

You can accept and revel in being loved beyond measure, beyond mistakes and successes, beyond background and culture, beyond yesterday and today, for great is His steadfast love towards you. Praise the Lord!

The one leper

Psalm 116:1–19 (ESV): 

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard 

my voice and my pleas for mercy. 

 2  Because he inclined his ear to me, 

therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 

 3  The snares of death encompassed me; 

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; 

I suffered distress and anguish. 

 4  Then I called on the name of the Lord: 

“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” 

 5  Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; 

our God is merciful. 

 6  The Lord preserves the simple; 

when I was brought low, he saved me. 

 7  Return, O my soul, to your rest; 

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 

 8  For you have delivered my soul from death, 

my eyes from tears, 

my feet from stumbling; 

 9  I will walk before the Lord 

in the land of the living. 

 10  I believed, even when I spoke: 

“I am greatly afflicted”; 

 11  I said in my alarm, 

“All mankind are liars.” 

 12  What shall I render to the Lord 

for all his benefits to me? 

 13  I will lift up the cup of salvation 

and call on the name of the Lord, 

 14  I will pay my vows to the Lord 

in the presence of all his people. 

 15  Precious in the sight of the Lord 

is the death of his saints. 

 16  O Lord, I am your servant; 

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. 

You have loosed my bonds. 

 17  I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving 

and call on the name of the Lord. 

 18  I will pay my vows to the Lord 

in the presence of all his people, 

 19  in the courts of the house of the Lord, 

in your midst, O Jerusalem. 

  Praise the Lord! 

Has God ever rescued you?

If you trust and believe in Him, have given your life to honour and worship Him, He has, and probably more than once. He first rescued you when He saved your life through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus by rescuing you from sin. I am sure there are other situations when God has intervened, that you can look back on like this psalmist, and recognise that God ‘has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy’. 

It is important to acknowledge, accept and bring honour to God for the work He has done in your life. For the way He has broken through, for how He has sustained and rescued you, provided for you, delivered you from harm, transformed situations, and turned enemies away from you. Do not take His love and power for granted, but give God the praise and gratitude He deserves and has earned. Are you good at that? Thanking and praising God for what He has brought you through and saved you from? Or do you struggle to see His work and find yourself complaining to Him about the next thing? 

Be like the one leper out of the ten that was healed by Jesus and turned back to show gratitude. For, ‘he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks’ (Luke 17:15-16). Be like that. Nine out of the ten people in that situation took their healing and left. Only one said thank you and acknowledged that God had done a great work in them, and thought to praise God for transforming his life. Be like that one, and this psalmist. It is easy to take God’s work and intervention for granted, to get on with life healed, situations resolved and provision given. Do not forget how those things changed. Honour God and reflect on this, ‘what shall i render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?’ For all that God has done in your life, He deserves your worship, your gratitude. When you do something well, or help someone out, you expect a thank you. God has not only helped you out, but He has saved your life and rescued you from hell as well as the everyday matters He intervenes in. How much more should you be chasing after Him like that one leper to show your gratitude! He ran to Jesus, was loud in his praise and fell at Jesus feet in honour. Is this how you respond when you see God has worked in your life?  

You too can say to God, ‘you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling’. Think about it, God has delivered you from eternal death to eternal life, He has saved you from some heartbreak and there are times when He has intervened when you could have got hurt or gone wrong. Acknowledge those times and give glory to God for His work, do not keep your testimony and praise private - the leper ran and was loud! He didn’t care who saw or heard him, he just needed to show how grateful he was, and he was honoured by Jesus for it. Let your praise and gratitude be loud because you are not trying to bring attention to yourself but to the God who has done so much for you. He has transformed your life, given you hope, so show your gratitude.

Through demonstrating your praise and thankfulness, who knows who you could encourage or inspire. Your stories of hope, breakthrough, healing or provision can influence others simply by expressing joy about God’s power in your life. God has given you salvation, He has delivered you, poured out blessings upon you, loosed your bonds, given you salvation, healed you, protected you, exalted you, forgiven you and saved your life! Therefore thank Him. Honour Him and give to Him. Then tell others about how great He is. He deserves your thanksgiving. 

Are you like the one leper who went out of his way to turn back and show gratitude, or are you like the 9 who accepted God's blessing and just got on with life? Be like the one to whom Jesus says, “Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19).

Praise the Lord!

 Psalm 113:1–9 (ESV): 

113 Praise the Lord! 

Praise, O servants of the Lord, 

praise the name of the Lord! 

 2  Blessed be the name of the Lord 

from this time forth and forevermore! 

 3  From the rising of the sun to its setting, 

the name of the Lord is to be praised! 

 4  The Lord is high above all nations, 

and his glory above the heavens! 

 5  Who is like the Lord our God, 

who is seated on high, 

 6  who looks far down 

on the heavens and the earth? 

 7  He raises the poor from the dust 

and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 

 8  to make them sit with princes, 

with the princes of his people. 

 9  He gives the barren woman a home, 

making her the joyous mother of children. 

Praise the Lord! 

When should you worship?

It can be easy to think that worship is for a gathering of believers, and it is often associated with singing, but here we are told, ‘From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!’ God certainly deserves to be worshipped all day long, so what is this form of praise that we can continue all day, for surely no-one can be expected to sing to God all day?! 

To praise something means to express approval or admiration for. So praise can take many forms. It can be in the way you; talk about others/God, express gratitude, read the Bible, dance, play music, listen to teaching, think about God, pray, behave, and the way you carry out tasks. As you can see there are many ways that you can praise God. It involves what your mind is doing, and what your motivation is for what you are doing. You can wash dishes and be admiring God, or take out the rubbish and be considering God’s words. You can even be doing something that you don’t like doing, but you know that it will bless others, so you do it as a sacrifice of praise because that is your motivation. This is how it is possible to praise God throughout the day. You can display your admiration and approval of God in your workplace, community, area of study, at home, around family, friends and strangers, from the moment you wake up til you go to sleep. For true praise means that you carry the concern of honouring God in your life in every area of it. So, during your daily life, are you praising God? It is normal to think of other things too, not every thought will be directed to Him, the dishes do need washing and the rubbish needs dealing with, work needs to be done and people cared for. Yet you can carry out these activities with an attitude of praise to Almighty God. For this psalm doesn't just invite or encourage God's praise, but it commands it. For someone who follows God, worshipping Him is not optional, this psalm tells you to; Praise the fact He is Lord, praise His name, praise His glory, praise Him because He is above all things, praise Him as He transforms lives of poverty and barrenness to honour and fruitfulness. However you do it, praise Him. God deserves it. Even if you consider one aspect of God, one verse, or one thing He has done, it will lift your spirit and you will be directing praise to where it is due, to The Lord. How about considering that, ‘The Lord is high above all nations’ or, ‘who is like the Lord our God’ throughout your day? I wonder what will be revealed to you in the process and how grateful and in wonder you will be of Him. 

When you set your mind to admire God in your day, you are joining with people all over the Earth in praising Him, as well as the hosts of heaven to consider the greatness of God! You are not alone in your praise. God is getting approval and admiration from across the World and beyond. There are many who are lifting Him up, extolling Him and honouring Him, remembering Him and enjoying thinking about Him. From princes to the poor, the childless to parents - they all praise the Lord and have reason to be joyful because of Him. Are you joining with them in praising God, 'from the rising of the sun to its setting'?

Wondrous works

 Psalm 111:1–10 (ESV): 

1 Praise the Lord! 

 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, 

in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 

 2  Great are the works of the Lord, 

studied by all who delight in them. 

 3  Full of splendour and majesty is his work, 

and his righteousness endures forever. 

 4  He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; 

the Lord is gracious and merciful. 

 5  He provides food for those who fear him; 

he remembers his covenant forever. 

 6  He has shown his people the power of his works, 

in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 

 7  The works of his hands are faithful and just; 

all his precepts are trustworthy; 

 8  they are established forever and ever, 

to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 

 9  He sent redemption to his people; 

he has commanded his covenant forever. 

Holy and awesome is his name! 

10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; 

all those who practice it have a good understanding. 

His praise endures forever! 

If you find it too much to consider God and His character, why not start by considering His works? This psalmist repeats the fact that God has performed works which demonstrate who He is and what He cares about. For the things that you; do, give your time to, and put effort into, show what you care about, and something of who you are. If someone were to study what you do and how you do it, they would get a good sense of who you are and what you value. The same is true for the works of God. If you study them, then you will get a good idea of who God is and what He is concerned about. 

This psalm shows us that the things God does are wonderful, great, and are sources of delight for those who consider them. The works of God are ‘full of splendour and majesty’, ‘faithful and just’. When you think about them you cannot fail to see power, love, consideration and perfection in them. Consider; healings, breakthroughs, miraculous provision, overthrowing of evil practices, unmasking of deception, defeated powers that quash the people of God, both in the past and in the present. What do these things show of who God is? For me, it shows that God is powerful, He can overrule any power of nature, interrupt any process and perform incredible, mighty acts of restoration and destruction that no-one could foresee. It shows me that I can trust God with the big and small things because He has influence and can do greater things than i can imagine. God is reliable, kind, and cares about the long-term for His people. He is not interested in short-term gains like we often are. God is not concerned with our comfort but our faith and the benefit of His people as a whole.  These are just some of the conclusions i can draw from the works of God that i have seen and read about. What do you see of God from what you have seen or heard Him do?

When we contemplate and talk about the deeds of God, they inspire praise and awe of Him amongst His people for ‘He has shown his people the power of his works’. It is important that we remind ourselves and others of His works, even sharing the same stories as they help us see God’s nature. By so doing we can help others realise that God is trustworthy, faithful, good, wise, noble, fair, righteous, caring and has great foresight. So, when was the last time you shared a joyful story about what God has done? It can be your story or someone else's or one from scripture that has inspired you. God, 'has caused his wondrous works to be remembered', these stories and experiences are not just for you, but to be shared in order to encourage and build up other brothers and sisters of faith. Recalling what God has done will build faith, joy, hope and bring a natural overflow of praise. It does us good to look at and consider His works. This psalmist tells us that God’s works cause His people delight so that they overflow with gratitude - are you thankful today for the things God has done? For His works are; great, splendid, incredible, majestic, righteous, wonderful, powerful, faithful, just and upright!

This psalm concludes, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!’ Considering the works of God should fill you with awe of Him. The fear of the Lord is a wonder at how great and mighty He is. So as you consider God and the things He does, allow awe and wonder build, as you see and share His wondrous works. Then you will begin to taste what wisdom is.

Living a life of worship

Psalm 101:1–8 (ESV):  

1  I will sing of steadfast love and justice; 

to you, O Lord, I will make music. 

 2  I will ponder the way that is blameless. 

Oh when will you come to me? 

  I will walk with integrity of heart 

within my house; 

 3  I will not set before my eyes 

anything that is worthless. 

  I hate the work of those who fall away; 

it shall not cling to me. 

 4  A perverse heart shall be far from me; 

I will know nothing of evil. 

 5  Whoever slanders his neighbour secretly 

I will destroy. 

  Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart 

I will not endure. 

 6  I will look with favour on the faithful in the land, 

that they may dwell with me; 

  he who walks in the way that is blameless 

shall minister to me. 

 7  No one who practices deceit 

shall dwell in my house; 

  no one who utters lies 

shall continue before my eyes. 

 8  Morning by morning I will destroy 

all the wicked in the land, 

  cutting off all the evildoers 

from the city of the Lord. 

David, the author of this psalm is concerned with loving God well and becoming a just king under God’s authority. The opening sentences show that David’s aim is to bring worship to God with his life. He knows that he can sing and play music to honour God, but true worship is about living the way that God desires by discovering ‘the way that is ‘blameless’. This is a more beautiful sound to God and more evident of a heart for Him than any well sung song or well played tune.  

David has the desire to be all in with God, giving Him glory with his life. So he considers; his conduct at home, what he looks at, who he spends time with and the character of those who he knows. In order to truly worship God, David recognises that how he behaves, and the choices he makes about what he does and who he spends time with are important. Wanting to live a life of integrity requires you to put God first in the whole of your life, making ruthless decisions about your conduct, what company you keep, and what activities you get involved with. It is not about attending christian gatherings, reading the Bible, or singing worship songs, although these are natural responses to loving God and wanting to live His way. Your heart of worship is seen in your interactions with others and by what you choose to do with your time. Your interactions with family, neighbours, friends, people of faith, unbelievers, and the wicked all need to be assessed for their value in living a life worthy of worshipping God. This, along with the activities you do and don’t get involved with show whether you are living a life of integrity or not, they show if you really are a worshipper. 

David is ruthless, he says that he ‘will not endure’ the arrogant and proud, he ‘will destroy’ those who falsely accuse their neighbours and those who lie shall not ‘continue before my eyes’. David makes decisions to cut out people like this from his life because they harm his life of worship. They damage his ability to live life with integrity before God, so they have got to go. Are there people in your life that have too much influence or who lead you astray? Is there anyone that you are spending time with who damages your ability to live life well before God? Living a life following God is not easy, and it is harder when you have people around you of poor, ungodly character who; lie, are proud, gossip, and put others down. So carefully consider the relationships you are investing in, who and what you are listening to, are they really worth it? Or are there some whom, like David, you will no longer endure? (v5)

Those David wishes to have influence in his life are the ones, ‘who walks in the way that is blameless.’ He says that he will allow these people to ‘minister to me’. These are the ones he can trust, it takes time to find them, yet it is worth it. Their advice is solid, they are honest and trustworthy. They can give true comfort even when they say things you don’t like, because they are truthful and want the best for you. They will lead you in the way that is blameless so that you can live a life of worship to God. Who are those people in your life and do you intentionally spend time with them? 

You get to choose who you follow and who has influence upon you. If you want to live a life following God, then it requires you to purify your life. This means that you need to consider who you are spending time with, what you are watching and how you are behaving. Think about who is in your life, what you are doing with your time and your behaviour. Do these things honour God? For being a person of integrity demands that your conduct is the same wherever you are, whoever you are with, and whatever is happening. David is an inspiration in this, as he desired to live a life of integrity even when he felt distant from God. As he wrote this psalm he asks God, ‘Oh, when will you come to me?’ (v2). David, even when he didn’t feel like God was near him, was still seeking to follow God’s ways. Some people when they hit a time in life like this where it seems that God is absent start to doubt Him, drop their guard, and make decisions that do not honour God. This could be through the activities they partake in, their behaviour and the company they keep. These are the ones who ‘fall away’ (v3). David though remains faithful and uses this time to reflect and consider how he can honour God more in his life. He thinks about what he does within his household, his relationships, and how he spends his time. For he knew that every area of life should be impacted by his love of God, even when God does not seem close. God should be the one influencing how you behave, the decisions you make and the people you trust and spend time with. Do not just do what everyone else expects, but do what God would say is right even when you do not know where He is. For God desires a set apart people. If you desire to be part of His kingdom then you need to live your life in purity and with integrity. You have no time or space for distractions no matter how nice or attractive they may be. You are responsible for deciding what you are living for, so do not let anyone else influence your life other than Jesus and those whose lives demonstrate that they are honouring Him always. Like David, you need to be ruthless about who your friends are, your behaviour, the activities that you participate in and the people you allow to influence you. Is there something you need to change in your life today? Is there a relationship that is unholy? Activities that you participate in that do not honour God? Behaviours you need to stop? Do you live with integrity across every area of life? It is not enough to worship God with song and music, He requires your life to be one of worship.

Why live your life for less?

 

Psalm 97:1–12 (ESV): 

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; 

let the many coastlands be glad! 

 2  Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; 

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 

 3  Fire goes before him 

and burns up his adversaries all around. 

 4  His lightnings light up the world; 

the earth sees and trembles. 

 5  The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, 

before the Lord of all the earth. 

 6  The heavens proclaim his righteousness, 

and all the peoples see his glory. 

 7  All worshipers of images are put to shame, 

who make their boast in worthless idols; 

worship him, all you gods! 

 8  Zion hears and is glad, 

and the daughters of Judah rejoice, 

because of your judgments, O Lord. 

 9  For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; 

you are exalted far above all gods. 

 10  O you who love the Lord, hate evil! 

He preserves the lives of his saints; 

he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 

 11  Light is sown for the righteous, 

and joy for the upright in heart. 

 12  Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, 

and give thanks to his holy name!

it is so easy to live your life for other things. To have idols and gods that you worship rather than The Lord of all the Earth. This psalm speaks into this by referring to God and gods. The One God who is the maker and sustainer of all things, and the gods which we put in positions of power in our lives - the things that consume your thoughts, time and budget. The things or people that you are proud to know about or be involved with and aspire to have more of can become idols, it is easy to worship those things that are not God. Yet they really have no power or influence at all, just the power and influence that you give them. They don’t even have a capital letter, for they are but gods! However you can place them as major influences in your life. It could be anything for example; relationships, wealth, health, food, hobbies, work, TV, people. Anything that you choose to structure your life around and live for. None of these things are bad, unless you turn them into gods. So be careful about what you allow to direct your actions, finances and time. The things that you are passionate about can easily become idols in your life as you give yourself to love, revere and admire them in preference to God. It is then that they have undue prominence in your life, and you will end up structuring your life around these idols rather than God. For He is the only One that your life should revolve around. He should be your major influence, have your love and time and direct your relationships and money, not the other wat around. Other things should be competing for the time and influence that God has in your life, not ‘God-time’ being something that is squeezed, sometimes into your schedule. The reality is that these minor gods that will never give you long term satisfaction, peace or love, God can and does, so why live your life for less?

When you become interested in something that is not God, whether it be a music artist, an activity, or a person, watch out. Ensure that these things are put in their rightful place -  under God, and so have an appropriate amount of your attention. Do not let them become something you worship or live your life for. Enjoy them in good measure and keep God at the centre of your life. For things other than God are ‘worthless idols’, and one day, they will put you to shame (v7). So put your life in right order now and consider where your time, money, hopes and thoughts go. Is there something other than God that has become an idol in your life? 

There will be a day when everyone will see that, ’the heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory’. One day, God will reveal Himself in a way that is undeniable to all. When that day comes there will be two responses; Some will rejoice because they have lived their life with Him as their God and they know He has come to judge the earth (v12). The rest who have honoured other things and disregarded God will ‘be put to shame’ as what they have lived for will be shown up as ‘worthless idols’. No matter how important, valuable or powerful other things or people may seem, they are worthless when you compare them to The Lord God. He alone is enwrapped in light and clouds with the authority to cause mountains to melt. It doesn’t matter how good or great other things appear, nothing else has established it’s power and kingdom through righteousness and justice as He has. 

Those who worship only God are patiently waiting, knowing that this awesome day of The Lord is coming - The day when God will reveal Himself to everyone and everything will declare God’s glory. They anticipate the joy, righteousness and fulfilment that He will bring, awaiting to join heaven in proclaiming His holiness. Those who love Him look forward to His glory being revealed and look out for it now. For they know God has created and still rules the seas, earth and heavens. So they wait. They set themselves apart to honour and love Him now, not allowing anything else to take their focus, and they wait excitedly to see His glory. They are eager to hear of His arrival and await for Him to exert His righteousness and justice across all of creation. If you are one of His, if He is your God, keep waiting. Don’t be distracted by other gods, for the day of the Lord is approaching! Think about how that will be, imagine God’s appearance; wrapped in cloud, firing out lightning, consuming wickedness with fire. Remember what God has promised, and keep living with hope for it is God’s assurance that justice and righteousness will prevail. There are no gods that can give you anything like what God does, so why live your life for less? 

Sing, Ascribe and let

 Psalm 96:1–13 (ESV): 

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; 

sing to the Lord, all the earth! 

 2  Sing to the Lord, bless his name; 

tell of his salvation from day to day. 

 3  Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvellous works among all the peoples! 

 4  For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; 

he is to be feared above all gods. 

 5  For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, 

but the Lord made the heavens. 

 6  Splendour and majesty are before him; 

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

 7  Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, 

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 

 8  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; 

bring an offering, and come into his courts! 

 9  Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness; 

tremble before him, all the earth! 

 10  Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! 

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; 

he will judge the peoples with equity.” 

 11  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; 

let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

 12  let the field exult, and everything in it! 

  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 

 13  before the Lord, for he comes, 

for he comes to judge the earth. 

  He will judge the world in righteousness, 

and the peoples in his faithfulness. 

There seems to be some repetition in this psalm, with the instructions to ‘sing to the Lord’, then ‘ascribe to the Lord ‘and ‘let’. So we will focus on those three elements today as we study this scripture.

- ‘sing to the Lord’; a new song, all the earth, and bless His name. These are the aspects attached to the action of singing. It is a powerful thing to sing about something. Someone has thought about a tune, instruments and the lyrics and put them together to build something memorable and repeatable. Songs can help us recall things and change our mood, therefore is important to consider what you are singing about. The instruction here is to ‘sing to the Lord’, and you can sing to Him about multiple things; the earth, His qualities and salvation. You will never run out of things to sing about if God is your topic. Singing to God is far more powerful than singing about your favourite team or alongside secular music. The instruction in this psalm is to sing something new to God and to bless Him through song, and the whole earth somehow joins in this celebration of who He is. So, whenever you sing, consider who you are singing for and about, does it do good to God’s ears? Songs are an opportunity to declare God's glory, remind people of His marvellous works and to tell of His salvation. Is that what you do when you sing?

- ‘Ascribe to the Lord’ - ascribe means to regard something as being. When the psalmist says to ascribe to God glory and strength, it is not to say that we need to treat God as if He is glorious and strong, for He is. It is us who struggle to comprehend the reality and extent of His glory and strength. Therefore the encouragement is, even if you don’t feel it or fully believe it, practice thinking of God as glorious and strong. Keep telling yourself the truth that He is even when your circumstances, emotions or thoughts tell you something different. Keep applying the truth about God to your heart, mind and spirit, and inspire others to see it too. None of us will ever know on this Earth the extent of God’s glory and strength, so we need to keep reminding ourselves to 'ascribe' these qualities to God. As you choose to see God as glorious and strong, as verses 8 and 9 suggest, it will lead you to worship through generous giving and joy. Plus your eyes will be opened to see something more of how awesome God is.

‘let’ = allow, permit, give freedom to. The verses that repeat the word ‘let’, v 12-13, talk about allowing the different facets of creation express joy. You may wonder how we can do that, for we ourselves are created and have no control over the seas roaring, trees singing or the fields exulting. So, i think there are two messages in this. One is that when we look at the heavens, seas, fields and the trees, do you look at them and feel happy? Do they remind you of the One who made them? When the natural world looks beautiful or sounds terrifying, do you consider how awesome the One who made them is? That is how we can allow nature to declare it’s joy. By choosing to see God in and through it all and declaring His goodness in it. Take time to allow nature to declare God’s vastness, beauty, creativity and power to you. Do you ever do that? Do you just allow the complexity of a tree show you something of God’s ingenuity? Does the power of the waters signify God’s power to you, or what the roar of His voice must be like? I encourage you, take time to consider what God has made. Even just one flower, rock, or blade of grass. These things declare His joy, glory and strength, so take time to listen to what they can reveal of Our God. The other aspect of allowing nature to bring joy is, do you respect and protect the natural world? Doing your bit to tidy up creation, stop pollution, and not cause damage to what God has made allows these things to continue to bring revelation and joy for generations to come. This is how you can permit the skies, earth and seas continue to display God’s beautiful splendour, by ensuring that you do your part to appreciate and protect them. Allow them continue to show others the joy and beauty of God, for they too were created to worship. So let the trees continue singing, fields exulting and seas roaring, and join in with their praise to the Lord.

Israelites, sheep and faith

 Psalm 95:1–11 (ESV): 

95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; 

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 

 2  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; 

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 

 3  For the Lord is a great God, 

and a great King above all gods. 

 4  In his hand are the depths of the earth; 

the heights of the mountains are his also. 

 5  The sea is his, for he made it, 

and his hands formed the dry land. 

 6  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; 

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 

 7  For he is our God, 

and we are the people of his pasture, 

and the sheep of his hand. 

  Today, if you hear his voice, 

 8  do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, 

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 

 9  when your fathers put me to the test 

and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 

 10  For forty years I loathed that generation 

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, 

and they have not known my ways.” 

 11  Therefore I swore in my wrath, 

“They shall not enter my rest.” 

At the beginning of the psalm you may notice the repetition of the phrase ‘let us’. Yet this is not used to ask for permission to do something, but rather the Israelites are encouraging one another TO do something. They are calling each other to worship God. Reminding one another that God is Lord, He is Saviour and He is worthy to be thanked and praised because, ‘the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods’. There is no-one and nothing like Him. He is supreme. He alone created the deepest and highest parts of the world, no-one else has. He also made the seas and the land, all the expanse that we see, and that we do not - God crafted it all. Therefore how can any other power or person ever have authority over Him?! He is ‘a great King above all gods’. Other things may claim power, seem great, make great boasts or be assertive and convincing, but none can even stand before the great King of all. It is good for us to remind ourselves of this. and to encourage one another to worship the One who deserves it. It is easy to lose focus, get distracted or feel down about circumstances and so not feel like worshipping. At times you need other godly men and women to call you to worship to say to you, ‘let us sing’, ‘let us make a joyful noise’, ‘let us come into his presence’, and you need to do this for others too.. There is no reason great enough for you to withhold worship to ‘the Lord, our Maker!’. Who keeps you to account and keeps calling you to worship God? ’the Lord is a great God’ all of the time therefore you can sing, dance, pray, praise and be joyful always because that truth always remains. The fact the God is great is so powerful and strong a truth, that when you really think about it you cannot help but ‘make a joyful noise’!

God is the Maker, He not only made all of the Earth, but he also made you. Therefore He is THE God and He is YOUR God - the only One in supreme authority, plus He makes it personal, He is your God, for you and with you plus you can have relationship with Him. Yet the relationship is not equal - He is your shepherd for you are like a sheep before Him - helpless, fluffy and vulnerable. You need looking after, guiding, carrying, and even telling off sometimes. Do not be like the Israelites by becoming stubborn and hardening your heart (v8). You are vulnerable and weak before God, you do need Him. Do you allow God to guide, correct and carry you? Or are you too intent on doing things your own way? You were never meant to sort all your problems out or make all the decisions independently. A sheep that does that wanders off, gets lost and injured - they don't even know where the best grass is or where the dangers are, that's why they need the shepherd. The Israelites kept forgetting that they were sheep. God provided and guided them, and He urged them to be obedient, but they did not adhere to His words in the big or small things. Instead God says they hardened their hearts and went, ‘astray in their heart’. They didn’t do what they were told, they didn't follow their shepherd. Can the same be said of you? When you hear God’s voice, do you listen and obey, even when it is something you don’t want to hear? Or do you allow your heart to go astray as the Israelites did when they encountered testing times? 

Two notable times that we can see that happening are in Meribah and Massah. These were areas that the Israelites came to during their 40 years in the wilderness where they felt they were not adequately provided for by God as they had no water. This is a big problem. Humans cannot survive more than a couple of days without water. Plus they had cattle to care for, so they were rightly concerned about this. Their response was that they moaned at each other and complained that they had been better off in Egypt. They feared for their lives because they did not have the basics for survival. When that happens it is natural to be concerned and to try to find a solution as something essential is missing from your life. However, the Israelites did not seek their shepherd. They did not trust Him or turn to Him. Instead they complained to one another, then blamed Moses as their earthly leader. The Israelites did not pray. They did not seek God. They did not worship. Instead they moaned to one another about their situation, becoming increasingly fearful that they would all die. When Moses heard about it, he and Aaron approached God. This was their first response, unlike the people, Moses and Aaron demonstrated great leadership and loyalty to their shepherd and ‘great King’. They trusted that even when death stared at them, God could do something. So they prayed, and at both Massah and Meribah, they witnessed God’s miraculous solution as water gushed forth from a rock! These separate situations occurred almost 40 years apart. So we can see that God was giving the Israelites the chance to learn from their previous mistake and lack of faith. He was inviting them to have a different response, but they didn’t. Despite the amount of times that God had healed them, won their battles, guided them with fire and smoke, stopped their shoes from wearing out and provided manna for them each and every day. Despite these miracles, these proofs of God’s power and presence, the people failed to appreciate that God could fulfil every need. They still did not trust Him or surrender to Him. They failed to comprehend that God can do anything, you just need to ask! The Israelites happily accepted God’s daily blessings but seem to see them as something they had a right to, rather than seeing them as a beautiful expression of His love and care for them. Even though they had a lot to be thankful for, and a history of God’s provision and power, their response to this lack of water the second time demonstrated their lack of faith and trust in God. They had not learnt, they had not allowed the mighty miracles and the everyday blessings from God to influence their hearts or faith. The Israelites made the same mistakes and made the same complaints previous generations had. Yet God still provided. Two men had enough faith to approach God, Moses and Aaron. They talked with Him, and God provided, again, miraculously. God acted for the whole nation on the faith of two. Do not underestimate the power of prayer because it does not depend on who is praying, but on the One who hears!

God says of the nation of Israel, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways’. It was easy for them to enjoy the benefits of the safety and care that God gave on a physical level, but they did not have the internal security, confidence and joy of knowing God as their King and Saviour. On the surface they accepted that they were God’s people as part of Israel, but internally their thoughts, desires and mindset were not aligned with God and did not demonstrate any allegiance to Him. When times got tough they did not talk to Him about it. They did not trust that as He is Maker, King and Lord that He could and would do something about their troubles. They just complained. Are you the same? Do you follow God out of habit, duty, or because others do? The fruit of faith is seen when you encounter difficulty. What do you do when life gets hard? When people let you down, disaster occurs, or something life threatening happens, what is your first response? For that shows if you are a sheep faithfully trusting in your shepherd or not. Do you call out to God, let Him know what has occurred and invite Him to show up and change things, or do you go around moaning to whoever will listen? You could approach God, recalling that God has been great before, and trusting that He still is and will be again. This is what Moses and Aaron did unlike the rest of the nation. The people had not really given their lives to God, they only wanted Him to give them what they wanted. Yet they were not obedient, trusting or loving towards Him. Only Moses and Aaron trusted God. When there was a problem, they knew who to go to. They knew there was only One who could solve any issue and bring transformation, the ‘great King above all gods’. So they went straight to Him, and they were involved in some great signs, wonders and miracles because they were all in, are you?

God's promises are secure whether you like it or not!

 Psalm 89 is a long one and seems to have 4 parts, so we will look at each of them;

1  I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; 

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 

 2  For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; 

in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” 

 3  You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; 

I have sworn to David my servant: 

 4  ‘I will establish your offspring forever, 

and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah 

 5  Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, 

your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! 

 6  For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? 

Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 

 7  a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, 

and awesome above all who are around him? 

 8  O Lord God of hosts, 

who is mighty as you are, O Lord, 

with your faithfulness all around you? 

 9  You rule the raging of the sea; 

when its waves rise, you still them. 

 10  You crushed Rahab like a carcass; 

you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 

 11  The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; 

the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. 

 12  The north and the south, you have created them; 

Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. 

 13  You have a mighty arm; 

strong is your hand, high your right hand. 

 14  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; 

steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 

 15  Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, 

who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, 

 16  who exult in your name all the day 

and in your righteousness are exalted. 

 17  For you are the glory of their strength; 

by your favour our horn is exalted. 

 18  For our shield belongs to the Lord, 

our king to the Holy One of Israel. 

• God is worth worshipping forever for His steadfast love, righteousness, justice, faithfulness and strength. He is always worthy to be praised and made much of for He is the source of love and joy and He displays His glorious might through guiding, loving and protecting those who love Him. Those who follow God can see how God has demonstrated His power, justice and righteousness not just in their own lives, but before and beyond their existence. What characteristics of God are you seeing today?

20  I have found David, my servant; 

with my holy oil I have anointed him, 

 21  so that my hand shall be established with him; 

my arm also shall strengthen him. 

 22  The enemy shall not outwit him; 

the wicked shall not humble him. 

 23  I will crush his foes before him 

and strike down those who hate him. 

 24  My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, 

and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 

 25  I will set his hand on the sea 

and his right hand on the rivers. 

 26  He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, 

my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ 

 27  And I will make him the firstborn, 

the highest of the kings of the earth. 

 28  My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, 

and my covenant will stand firm for him. 

 29  I will establish his offspring forever 

and his throne as the days of the heavens. 

 30  If his children forsake my law 

and do not walk according to my rules, 

 31  if they violate my statutes 

and do not keep my commandments, 

 32  then I will punish their transgression with the rod 

and their iniquity with stripes, 

 33  but I will not remove from him my steadfast love 

or be false to my faithfulness. 

 34  I will not violate my covenant 

or alter the word that went forth from my lips. 

 35  Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; 

I will not lie to David. 

 36  His offspring shall endure forever, 

his throne as long as the sun before me. 

 37  Like the moon it shall be established forever, 

a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah 

• Here the psalmists proves how God has delivered on His promise over David. God has; anointed him king and strengthened him, protected and fought for the nation of Israel, extended the nations boundaries, developed an intimate relationship with David (v26), been honest and revealed what will happen if David’s descendants turn their backs to Him. Isn’t it incredible the promises given to one man and his family?! Due to David’s trust and faith in God, God gave him incredible promises not just for his life, but for generations to come. Promises of steadfast love, peace, and a legacy. I wonder what promises God has given you. For He will surely be faithful to every single word He has spoken. God wants to bless you and your family for generations to come - are you getting close enough to Him to hear His voice and His promises?

38  But now you have cast off and rejected; 

you are full of wrath against your anointed. 

 39  You have renounced the covenant with your servant; 

you have defiled his crown in the dust. 

 40  You have breached all his walls; 

you have laid his strongholds in ruins. 

 41  All who pass by plunder him; 

he has become the scorn of his neighbours. 

 42  You have exalted the right hand of his foes; 

you have made all his enemies rejoice. 

 43  You have also turned back the edge of his sword, 

and you have not made him stand in battle. 

 44  You have made his splendour to cease 

and cast his throne to the ground. 

 45  You have cut short the days of his youth; 

you have covered him with shame. Selah 

• The tone radically changes in these verses. The psalm abruptly veers from one of joy, worship, praise and acknowledging God’s power and steadfastness, to the reality of disobedience. For God keeps His promises when we are faithful and when we are not. The anointed king, still a descendent of David, has become an object of wrath as they did not follow the ways of God. So, God fulfilled His promise that, ‘if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,  32  then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes’. God keeps ALL the promises He makes even the ones we don’t want Him to. If you ignore God, break His commandments and are disobedient, then although His steadfast love will last, you will be; cast off, experience God’s anger, become ‘breached’, lose the strength you once had, see enemies elevated, and be ‘covered with shame’. This is as much a promise of God as the fact that when you delight in God, bless Him, worship and follow Him, you will enjoy the benefits of living in His favour.It is like a child that leaves home; they no longer have access to all the household has to offer for they have distanced themself from it. It is not God being cruel, it is a choice you make in how close you choose to live to Him - in His household following His ways, or outside of it. There are promises for what life will look like in both circumstances. Take some warning from this psalm. We see that the tone abruptly changes from joy, peace and contentment of godly leadership, to one of defeat and descent as the kings desert God. So, today, which promises of God are you living in? The promise of favour due to obedience or the promise of disobedience - being cast off and rejected?

46  How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? 

How long will your wrath burn like fire? 

 47  Remember how short my time is! 

For what vanity you have created all the children of man! 

 48  What man can live and never see death? 

Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah 

 49  Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, 

which by your faithfulness you swore to David? 

 50  Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, 

and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, 

 51  with which your enemies mock, O Lord, 

with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed. 

 52  Blessed be the Lord forever! 

Amen and Amen. 

• How long will the wrath of God not only be poured out on the king, but also the nation? This is the question the psalmist now asks. The whole nation of Israel was suffering due to the lack of godliness within the king. The psalmist is a faithful follower of God, as are many others, but they are still oppressed and distressed because of the consequences of the king not following God. Innocent people suffer when there is ungodliness. The king’s decisions, values and actions affect the whole nation, not just himself. Do you know that the same is true for you? You are probably not a king, but whether you choose to follow God or not, this decision has consequences for not only yourself but those around you too. The disobedience of the king led to the suffering of the whole nation - the godly and ungodly people. In the same way your obedience or disobedience affects your family, friends and community - you have wider impact than you realise. There are wide reaching consequences in your decision to live a faithful or unfaithful life. 
• It is clear that the psalmist clearly does not like the situation they are in, and he is not afraid to say so to God. Although he acknowledges that this suffering is due to disobedience of leadership, he does not like the fact that the steadfast love of God and faithfulness seem to be missing in his lifetime as he sees fellow believers mocked and downtrodden. So, he asks God to remember this suffering and to remember, ‘how short my time is!’ I like this, it is like the writer is trying to hurry God up into bringing about a change so that he can know some relief and joy in his life. Although the writer acknowledges the reason for this hardship, he does not accept that nothing will change because he knows the power, might and love of God. So why should he and the fellow faithful ones put up with this suffering?! Yes, the king has walked away from God’s ways, but there are still faithful people within the kingdom, so what is God going to do for them? It is good and right to seek God’s intervention, grace, love and favour for your life and those around you. Even if you are not someone with much power or authority like a king, you do know the One who holds it all. So do not be afraid of seeking His favour for yourself and those around you. Ultimately it is God is who reigns and is faithful. So even if there are things happening around you that you know are due to someone else’s disobedience, you can still ask God to demonstrate His steadfast love to those faithful to Him. Why not ask Him to remember how short your life is and seek Him to show you joy, peace and love?! ‘Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.’