SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 8/22/2012 8:43:39 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm
117 PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm
117:1
Message
of the verse: We will begin looking
at the 117th Psalm in Today’s SD by looking at three introductions
from The John MacArthur Study Bible, Charles H. Spurgeon, and Warren Wiersbe.
“This Psalm, which is very little in
its letter, is exceedingly large in its spirit; for, bursting beyond all bounds
of race or nationality, it calls upon all mankind to praise the name of the
Lord. In all probability it was frequently used as a brief hymn suitable for
almost every occasion, and especially when the time for worship was short.
Perhaps it was also sung at the commencement or at the close of other Psalms,
just as we now use the doxology. It
would have served either to open a service or to conclude it. It is both short
and sweet. The same divine Spirit which
expatiates in the 119th here condenses his utterances into two short verses,
but yet the same infinite fullness is present and perceptible. It may be worth
noting that this is at once the shortest chapter of the Scriptures and the
central portion of the whole Bible.”
(Charles H. Spurgeon)
““Psalm 113-118 comprises a rich
6-psalm praise to God commonly called the ‘Egyptian Hallel’ (‘hallel’ meaning
praise in Heb.).
“The seal of redemptive trust is
bound up in this diminutive but seminal psalm—its profundity far outdistances
its size. This pivotal psalm exhibits 3
distinguishing features: 1) it is the
shortest psalm; 2) it is the shortest chapter in the Bible and 3) it is the
middle chapter of the Bible. That God
looked redemptively beyond the borders of Israel in the OT is made clear
here. This psalm looks back to God’s
intent for Adam and Eve in Eden (Gen. 1, 2) and looks ahead to the ultimate
fulfillment in the new heavens and earth (Rev. 21, 22)” (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
“An anonymous writer composed the
shortest psalm and in three brief sentences encompassed the whole world. The psalm is an invitation to people
everywhere to turn to the Lord and join with believers everywhere in praising
Him. A proper understanding of this
psalm will help us appreciate at least four privileges that belong to God’s
people.” (Warren Wiersbe)
Worshiping
God (v. 1a): “1 Praise the LORD,”
This short psalm begins and ends
with “Praise the Lord,” however there are two different Hebrew words that are
used. The first word is “Hallel” and
this gives us our word Hallelujah—praise the Lord.” The second “praise” is shavah, and this
actually means to “brag on Him.” In the
book of Acts we see very early in the life of the Church that people were
praising the Lord, “46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with
gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day
those who were being saved.” (Acts
2:46-47 italics added)
Dr. Wiersbe writes, “Worship and
praise are the highest occupations to which we can dedicate our voices, the
activities that will occupy us for all eternity!”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: I know
that I am to praise the Lord each and every day, but there are far too many
times when I fail to do this. I realize
the reasons that I do not do this and need to work on these reasons so that I
feel very comfortable to praise the Lord more than I do. All people have so many things to praise the
Lord for, but sometimes we forget or even think that we have done some of the
things that actually God is doing and so we don’t praise the Lord for
them. We breathe the air that He has provided
for us, and we eat the food that God had actually provided for us to eat, and
these are just two things to praise the Lord for. I suppose that the most important thing to
praise the Lord for is our great salvation provided for us through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
PRAISE THE LORD!
Memory
verses for the week: 2Peter 1:8-11
8
For is these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither
useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities
is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten the purification from his former
sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the
more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long
as you practice these things, you will never stumble, 11 for in this way the
entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be
abundantly supplied to you.
8/22/2012
9:53:02 AM
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