Focus: “Psalm 114 PT-3” (Psalm 114:2b-8)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/17/2012 9:44:57 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                    Focus: “Psalm 114 PT-3”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                   Reference:  Psalm 114:2b-8

 

            Message of the verses:  In Today’s SD we will try and finish this short, but very meaningful psalm by looking at the last two sections, God Is over Us, and God Is before Us.

 

            God Is over Us (v. 2b):  “2 Judah became His sanctuary, Israel, His dominion.”

 

            We must remember what Dr. Wiersbe writes about the names Judah and Israel in this psalm: “’Judah’ and ‘Israel’ refer to the whole nation and not to the two kingdoms that formed after the death of Solomon.”

 

            When we talk about God being over us we are talking about the covenant that He had with King David, for this covenant between God and David assured that the descendants of David would rule over Israel, and eventually over the entire world from Jerusalem through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Even though Judah went into exile the descendants of David continued all the way to when the Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem for both Joseph and Mary were descended from David and we can see Joseph’s line in the book of Matthew and Mary’s line in the book of Luke.

 

            Israel did not do a great job in being a witness to the Gentile nations around her but actually began to worship the gods of the Gentile nations and thus the Lord had to punish all of Israel because of the idols that they worshiped.

 

            God Is before Us (vv. 3-8):  3 The sea looked and fled; The Jordan turned back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, The hills, like lambs. 5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? 6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, Before the God of Jacob, 8 Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of water.”

 

            This larger section of Psalm 114 speaks of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt as the psalmist writes about how both the Red Sea and the Jordan River were dried up so that Israel could pass through on dry land.  God provided water from the rock and manna from heaven for food and water as Israel marched for forty years in the wilderness.  In doing all of this we can see that God went before His people in order to care for them and provide for them.  Dr. Wiersbe writes that there are two different words for rock (KJV) in verse eight, in the NASB one is translated rock and one flint.  He writes, “The first refers to Exodus 17:1-7 and the second (flint cliff) refers to Numbers 20:1-13, one at the beginning of their journey and the other near the end.”  He goes on to write, “It is likely that the mountains and hills mentioned in verses 4 and 6 were in Canaan, and the picture is that of God removing all obstacles from before Joshua and the victorious Jewish army.”

 

            “If God be for us—and with us—and over us—and before us—who can be against us?”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There are times in my life when I think that there are things that are against me, but after being reminded in this psalm that “who can be against us” it has renewed my faith.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to abide (remain) in the Vine so that I can receive my marching orders from the Lord as I go through life living for the Lord.

 

Memory verses for the week:  2 Peter 1:8-10

 

            8  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his 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;

 

8/17/2012 10:35:49 AM

             

“Psalm 114 PT-2” (Psalm 114:2a)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/16/2012 7:38:38 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                   Focus:  “Psalm 114 PT-2”

 Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference:  Psalm 114:2a

 

            Message of the verses:  In Today’s SD we will look at the second verse of this wonderful, short psalm that was probably written after the Jews returned from the Babylon captivity.  The psalm is about the Exodus and was probably read before the Passover meal while Psalms 115-118 were read after the Passover meal.  Dr. Wiersbe writes at the end of his introduction ‘the psalm is about God and reveals His gracious relationship to His own people.”

 

            God Is with Us (v. 2a):  “2 Judah became His sanctuary, Israel, His dominion.”  This is the entire verse, but in this section we will just look at the first half.

 

            When God brought Israel out of Egypt He separated Israel from Egypt, but He also separated Israel unto Himself.  Israel belonged to the Lord as they were His people and His treasure and His inheritance.  Dr. Wiersbe points out that “Judah” and “Israel” refer to the whole nation and not to the two kingdoms that formed after the death of Solomon.  We know that after the tribes conquered the Promised Land that eventually the temple of the Lord was built by Solomon and remained in Jerusalem until the Babylonians destroyed it in 586 BC.  This temple had the presence of the Lord in it, unlike the empty temples of the nations around it.  We see in the book of Ezekiel that the glory of the Lord left the temple before it was destroyed and then the glory of the Lord was presence in the Lord Jesus Christ when He came.  God does not dwell in houses any more as Steven reported to those who were about to kill him in Acts 7:48-49, but God, in the person of the Holy Spirit does dwell in His people today, (1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 2Cor. 6:14-18: Eph. 2:19-22).  We also know that Jesus is “Immanuel, God with us.  In Jeremiah 31:31 and following Jeremiah prophesied that God would be with His people in a new way and the author of the Hebrews picked up on this.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  In his commentary on the books of Ruth and Ester Dr. Wiersbe asks a question at the end of one of the chapters “If the Holy Spirit was taken out of the Church in the United States today would it make a big difference in the way we are?”  Unfortunately the answer that he gave was no, and this saddens me.  The Holy Spirit is in all believers to help the believer grow in the Lord, to guide them and to help them understand the Bible, the key to our spiritual growth.  I believe that the Holy Spirit guides us into doing the work that was set aside in eternity past by God the Father, and for this God will receive glory from those works we do.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to abide in the Vine and to be available to do the work of the Lord that the Holy Spirit directs me to do for the cause of Christ.

 

8/16/2012 8:02:37 AM

“Psalm 114 PT-1” (Ps. 114:1)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/15/2012 9:42:44 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                   Focus:  “Psalm 114 PT-1”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                        Reference:  Psalm 114:1

 

            Message of the verses:  We will begin to look at the 114^th Psalm in Today’s SD by looking at several introductions from different Bible Commentators.

 

            “This psalm is the one most explicitly related to the Exodus (Ex. 12-14).  It recounts God’s response to a captive nation (Israel in Egypt) in order to honor His promises in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 28:13-17) given to Jacob (cf. 114:1, ‘The house of Jacob’, 114:7, ‘the God of Jacob’).”  (The John MacArthur Study Bible)

 

            “In beautiful poetic language, this psalm describes Israel’s exodus from Egypt, God’s provision for their journey, their entrance into the Promised Land, and their conquest of their enemies.  The psalmist used striking poetic metaphors to teach history and theology, and this approach reaches the imagination and stirs the heart.  When Jewish families sing this psalm at Passover, it must be very meaningful to them.  But the psalm is about God and reveals His gracious relationship to His own people.”  (Warren Wiersbe)

 

            This sublime SONG OF THE EXODUS is one and indivisible. True poetry has here reached its climax: no human mind has ever been able to equal, much less to excel, the grandeur of this Psalm. God is spoken of as leading forth his people from Egypt to Canaan, and causing the whole earth to be moved at his coming. Things inanimate (lifeless) are represented as imitating the actions of living creatures when the Lord passes by. They are apostrophized and questioned with marvelous force of language, till one seems to look upon the actual scene. The God of Jacob is exalted as having command over river, sea, and mountain, and causing all nature to pay homage and tribute before his glorious majesty.”  (Charles H. Spurgeon)

 

            God Is for Us (v. 1):  “1 When Israel went forth from Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language.” 

 

            The story of the Israel’s exodus from Egypt is mentioned in many of the psalms, and the reason for this is that this was Israel’s national birthday.  As mentioned in one of the introductions God had prophesied in the book of Genesis to Abraham that this was going to happen to his family.  In Genesis chapter fifteen where God is confirming His covenant with Abraham with the blood of different animals He tells Abraham, “"Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.”  This is preciously the way that it happened, for this was God’s plan for Abraham’s offspring.  However Abraham also has a spiritual offspring and I want to quote from Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on how the Exodus speaks to us as well as it did to the children of Israel.  “In terms of ‘biblical geography,’ Egypt represents the world and the bondage of the sinner to its evil forces (Ephesians 2:1-3 ‘1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.’)  It was the blood of the lamb applied to the doors that protected the Jewish firstborn from death, just as the blood of Christ, God’s Lamb, saves us from sin and death.  God’s power in opening the Red Sea liberated Israel and separated them from their cruel taskmasters.  This is a picture of the resurrection of Christ and the believer’s participation in it (Ephesians 2:4-10 ‘4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.’)”  So just like Israel we as believers have a heritage in the Exodus also. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  When I look at the verses that were quoted from Genesis fifteen and then look at Ephesians 2:10 I see that just as God had a plan for the offspring of Abraham, He also has a plan for me, and just as He fulfilled the plan for the children of Israel I can have faith in Him to fulfill the plan that He has for me too.  We serve an all knowing God who knows the beginning from the end.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I desire to remain (abide) in the Vine, to stay in the Word of God so that I can understand the plans that the Lord has for me to do for the glory of His Son.

 

Memory verses for the week:  2 Peter 1:8-10

 

            8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his 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.

 

8/15/2012 10:23:31 AM

 

“Psalm 113 PT-3” (Ps. 113:7-9)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/12/2012 7:18:34 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                   Focus:  “Psalm 113 PT-3”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                     Reference:  Psalm 113:7-9

 

            Message of the verses:  We will look at the last three verses in Psalm 113 in Today’s SD, remembering the words that Warren Wiersbe wrote at the end of his introductory commentary on this psalm:  “The psalm opens and closes with ‘hallelujah’ (‘praise Jehovah’) and gives us three wonderful reasons for praising the Lord.”  We will look at the third reason for praising the Lord that comes from Psalm 113 today.

 

            God’s Love Is the Kindest (vv. 7-9):  “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 makes the barren woman abide in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!”

 

            I want to quote ten verses from 2 Samuel, chapter 2 which goes along with the verses seen here in Psalm 113:  “1 Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 “There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3 “Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed. 4 “The bows of the mighty are shattered, But the feeble gird on strength. 5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes. 6 “The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 “The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. 8  "He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, And He set the world on them. 9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail. 10  "Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed.’”  These ten verses come from the mother of Samuel, Hannah, and they are also quoted by Mary when she praises the Lord over the conception of Jesus which is seen in Luke 1:46-55.  “46 And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 50 “AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53 “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. 54 "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.”

 

            Let us think about some of the women that are found in Scripture who were barren until the Lord opened up their wombs.  The first would be Sara, the wife of Abraham who gave birth to Isaac at the age of ninety.  Then we think of Rebekah, the wife of Isaac who was barren until she became the mother of Jacob and Esau.  Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, but his favorite wife Rachel was barren for a long time until she gave birth to Joseph, whom God used to protect Israel when they first arrived in Egypt.  We have seen the story of Hannah who was the mother of Samuel, the priest and prophet of Israel, along with being a judge in Israel.  In the New Testament we see the familiar and similar story of Elizabeth who became the mother of John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus Christ. 

 

            Let us think a moment about the words “ash heap” that is found in verse seven, and we will find this concept in the book of Job, chapter two and verse eight, “And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.”  The ash heap was where the ashes were and the sun would warm the ashes during the day and this would keep the poor people warm during the night.  It was a place where few people wanted to visit because of the poverty found there.  Our God visits places like this for Psalm 113 speaks of this.

 

            Dr. Wiersbe writes the following as it speaks of the love of God, “The love of God and the grace of God make our God stoop to our level, especially when He sent Jesus Christ to become one of us and die for us on the cross (Phil. 2:1-11).  In John 8:6 and 8 and 13:1-11, Jesus stooped to forgive a sinful woman and to wash His disciples’ feet.  But His greatest demonstration of grace was when He died for us on the cross.  He condescended to become like us that we might become like Him (1Cor. 1:26-29; Eph. 2:1-10).  One day the Lord will visit ‘barren Israel’ and bless the nation with many children (Isa. 54:1-3; 66:8-11).  No matter how dark the day or impossible the circumstances, our God is able to do the impossible (Eph. 3:19-20).” 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am thankful that the Lord stooped down and saved me from the ash heap of life.  The psalmist writes in Psalm 40 “2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. 4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.”  Yes, I am thankful to the Lord for saving me and this I will praise Him for throughout eternity.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I desire to abide in the vine as seen in John chapter fifteen, so that I can get my marching orders from the Lord in order to do the works that He has planned for me to do in eternity past.  (Eph 2:10)

 

Memory verses for the week:  2Peter 1:1-10

 

            1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, 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 own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

    5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render your neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore brethren, be all the more diligent to make sure of His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

 

8/12/2012 8:02:34 AM