SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 6/26/2012 8:59:38 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 98 PT-2
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 98:4-9
Message of the verses: In the last SD we looked at the introductions from several Bible Commentators for Psalm 98 and then we looked at the first three verses of the psalm. Today we will look at the remaining verses.
A Joyous Celebration (vv. 4-6): “4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, With the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD.”
Dr. Wiersbe states that this section is similar to what the prophet Isaiah wrote about when he spoke about the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. We know from the reading of many different Scriptures from the OT that Israel’s worship of the Lord was made up of singing to the Lord along with joyful praises given to the Lord. Let’s look at one of the passages that speaks of this type of worship to the Lord by Israel: “10 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel. 11 They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.” (Ezra 3:10-13)
I can look at the celebration that the psalmist is writing about and also think of a time in the future when the Lord Jesus Christ will return to earth, which is described in the 19th chapter of the book of Revelations, and once He finishes separating the sheep from the goats, and the temple is then built and the earth is restored by the Lord, He will begin to reign in Jerusalem and all the earth will worship and celebrate having the Lord on the throne. I believe that there will be the kind of celebration that is written by the psalmist at that time.
A Glorious Expectation (vv. 7-9): “7 Let the sea roar and all it contains, The world and those who dwell in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy 9 Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity.”
In Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on this section he states that this section also points to the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also speaks of when the Lord delivered Israel from the time they spent in Babylon.
In the first section of this psalm we saw the psalmist write about the Lord as Deliverer and then King, and now he writes about the Lord as the Judge of all the earth, the One who will judge the world with righteousness. When I think of righteousness I cannot help but think of what I believe is the most unfair, but also the best trade that can be given. I am speaking of when the Lord Jesus died on the cross and took my sin upon Him and in exchange for my sin He gave me His righteousness so that when God sees me He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It cannot get any better than that.
We see in this section great praise given to the Lord from not only the people on the earth, but also from God’s creation as well, as we see the rivers and seas clap their hands in praise to the Lord along with the singing of the mountains. One of the most peaceful things a person can encounter is going to the seashore and listen to the waves come in, and in this the sea is praising the Lord according to the psalmist.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I realize that we live in a world that is cursed from the fall of man, but according to what Paul wrote to the Romans one day that curse will be gone and the earth is waiting for that to happen. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:22-26) One day soon we will see the Lord come in the clouds to receive His bride and take her to heaven and then in a short time after that He will return to earth with His bride and we will rule and reign with the Lord on this earth for 1000 years. We will see the curse lifted from the earth as the Lord will remake the earth into something that will be similar to when He first created the earth. All the earth at that time will praise the Lord. What a day that will be.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to abide in the vine in order to produce the fruit that God has prepared for me to produce in eternity past.
Memory verses for the week: 2Peter 2:1-3:
1. Simon
Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To
those who have received a faith of the same kind as our, by the righteousness
of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our
Lord; 3. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining
to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His
glory and excellence.
6/26/2012 9:36:37 AM
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