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Tag: Psalms

A Psalm of Thanksgiving – Psalm 100, Psalm 50

Psalm 100

Who is giving thanks? And to whom? “For what do we give thanks on Thanksgiving?”

The New International Version tells us it is For giving grateful praise. The New King James Version calls it, A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People and the English Standard Version, borrowing from its text reminds us, His Steadfast Love Endures Forever.

מִזְמֹור לְתֹודָה

A Psalm of Praise, in Hebrew, תּוֹדָה, towdah, a common theme in the Psalms, means, thanksgiving.

“Thanksgiving, done proper, is worship of the Lord God.”

Psalm 100 for the year of our Lord, 2016

A select version of verses 1-5

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,

And His truth endures to all generations.

תּוֹדָה tôwdâh -a definition:

תּוֹדָה tôwdâh, to-daw’; from H3034; properly, an extension of the hand, i.e. (by implication) avowal, or (usually) adoration; specifically, a choir of worshippers:—confession, (sacrifice of) praise, thanks(-giving, offering).

give praise to God
thanksgiving in songs of liturgical worship, hymn of praise
thanksgiving choir or procession or line or company
thank-offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving
confession

An extension of the hand

Psalm 100, though written for the Hebrew people speaks to all. Make a joyful shout, a joyful noise, a celebration unto the LORD, all you lands, all people, all of His creation, all of the earth. And why not? Has the Lord God not been gracious to many peoples of many lands, most especially US?

This should be a time of joyful songs, not quiet personal celebration of what we have done. We have food, we have shelter, most of us have not been driven from our homes, like those so oppressed in lands of conflict. We are blessed!

“Is it not appropriate for us to extend our hand of thanks to the Lord who has provided for us so abundantly?” Thanksgiving is an extension of praise and worship to our One Provider.”

The long tradition which precedes Thursday’s annual holiday is worship, acknowledging the Lord who provides the fruits of the harvest. At times some have no food, yet even these learn to rely on the graciousness of God – all the more reason to say more than grace over our meal.

What is our problem with God?

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. Even if sinful man points to a big bang without cause, reason or likelihood, we like to take credit for everything we do – all we accomplish, even the very act of creation, cell from cell or primate from amphibian. Some even would imagine alien intelligence (yet who created them) before humbly considering a God greater than man. We don’t want to be sheep and certainly resist being led by a God or a King or even someone of an opposing political persuasion.

Know that the Lord, he is God! Acknowledge that the Lord is God! We know it in our hearts, but a certain humility must bow down to worship the One we do not understand with all power and mercy we cannot comprehend.

Perhaps you never thought of this as a time of worship or a place to have your hands extended in praise and thanksgiving to your creator who knows each synapse of your thoughts and every pulsing of your heart. Though you resist any as King over you, even a most benevolent Lord over all of our provision, the King of the heavens and earth welcomes you through the gates of the eternal place of worship and into the courts of loving worshipers saved in the blood of His own Sacrifice for our sins.

The LORD יְהֹוָה Yĕhovah

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Do you need a reason to make the Lord the center of your celebrations? It’s really quite simple: He is good. The LORD is good.

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever… Not only is the Lord good – the only One – God’s love endures. Whose love in your life has endured more than a season? Who truly loves you until your death… and beyond, can a mortal soul love your flawed flesh forever? The Lord will when you extend your hand in worship.

His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Praise the Lord with what words the Spirit will share. God is good.

Mark this, then…

Psalm 50:22-23

“Mark this, then, you who forget God,
lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”

November 24, 2016
until he brings justice to victory

The death of justice occurred not a week ago, but in centuries past.

Justice..

such a noble ideal. Yet what is justice, but a separation of evil from good?

This world and this country, the unseen victims of our streets and countless peoples fleeing violence are destined to suffer injustice since the fall of man (adam). Why should it surprise us that a crisis of justice once more brings darkness to a people with failing light?

The law of the land is no longer just. The nation of hope is no longer light to the nations. Those once free are sold to our debt and the lords of the land lend by usury.

Psalm 89:14 KJV

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

The LORD is higher than the laws of the nations.

His justice hears the appeals of the downtrodden,

His judgment is feared by the judges of injustice.

He will make right wickedness done to the poor.

RH

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3

Dare we build yet higher walls between billionaires and the penniless? Do millions of poor not gamble their futile futures in towers of sin built by the greed of a handful of arrogant rich?

Can a nation be bought or a people negotiated?

Where is justice in the lands from which millions flee for their lives?

Where is justice for the unwanted child? Where is justice for victims fleeing from war?

The perversion of justice is not a new thing under the sun.

Isaiah 59:

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
2 but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood
and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies;
your tongue mutters wickedness.
4 No one enters suit justly;
no one goes to law honestly;
they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,
they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Why this sounds like the accusations of a political race with rumblings of iniquity heard all over the world. Yet the prophet Isaiah wrote this in the 8th century Before Christ.

… Their works are works of iniquity,
and deeds of violence are in their hands.
7 Their feet run to evil,
and they are swift to shed innocent blood;
their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
desolation and destruction are in their highways.

8 The way of peace they do not know,
and there is no justice in their paths;
they have made their roads crooked;
no one who treads on them knows peace.

Judgment and Redemption

14 Justice is turned back,
and righteousness stands far away;
for truth has stumbled in the public squares,
and uprightness cannot enter.

15 Truth is lacking,
and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.

+

The short terms of political power and temporal rulings of Justices, powerless before the Throne of Judgment, will not prevail in this age any more than in forgotten times of fallen empires with nameless leaders, mortals whose legacy is dust and whose souls will be called to account at the victory of Christ, when soon the Lord will return in power upon the clouds.

On a Cross in Jerusalem the Righteous One was crucified for our sins. Christ Jesus offered us mercy for the wickedness of our hearts and deeds of our sins.

Even the Prophet Isaiah looked forward to a time of Jesus Christ:

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. – Isaiah 59:20

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 KJV

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,

and this mortal shall have put on immortality,

then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,

Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

February 22, 2016
Israel’s First King – 3
And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. – 1 Samuel 12:21

Good advice for an aspiring politician (prospective leader of the people), is it not?

A young Saul is anointed King of Israel and the heavy mantle of leadership soon burdens Saul’s shoulders.

1 Samuel 13

[Readers may view the entire chapter in another tab by clicking on the link above.]

Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel.
- King for one year
- Raises an army of of 3000 in year two.
- 2000 men with Saul in Michmash in hill country of Bethel [v.2]
- 1000 men with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin
³Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” ⁴And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.
- a garrison is troops stationed in a town to defend it, typically a small number of the entire army.
5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven.

Imagine that after a short time in office and you announcing a great victory (really, a small battle won by your son in a border town) that you discover that your neighboring enemy, Philistia, is bringing an army of 30,000 men and 6 thousand chariots against your army of 2000 men who are mostly shepherds.

What next? Saul is in danger of immediate defeat.

⁶When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, ⁷and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

God’s great nation of Israel is fleeing the heathen Philistines and Saul leads those who do not desert to temporary safety.

⁸He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.

Can a dead King defend the towns of Israel from the caves of the hills of Benjamin?

King Saul is practically impatient. Saul has had instructions from GOD through Samuel. What are they? WAIT! Wait seven days.

Could the LORD who parted the waters of the sea and crumbled the walls of Jericho not defeat a mere army of men and horses?

Yet Saul does not believe Samuel and the LORD are true to this time to redeem the threatened nation.

… And he offered the burnt offering.

10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?”

Can a King, President, Premier or Prime Minister lead without God?

Yes. Throughout recorded history it happens daily and in many places.

Yet no nation can claim God without obedience to God’s will.

Saul has forsaken the word of the Lord. Saul has rejected the promises he made before the Lord’s Prophet, Samuel, and the people of Israel who follow him as King. Saul seeks to intercede as Priest before the LORD, usurping Samuel’s lawful role and his sworn allegiance to the will of GOD.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue.

The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart,

and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people.

It is clear from history and scripture that Samuel speaks of the anointing of David, a servant in Saul’s household, yet more importantly, ‘a man after God’s own heart.’

15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
- 30,000 Philistines on foot and
- 6000 Philistine charioteers stand ready to attack
- Samuel and his men left for Gilgal
- King Saul now has only 600 men.
- The small army of Saul departs for the battle at Gibeah
- None of Saul’s men have spears or swords, only Saul and Jonathan! [v.22]
What a predicament! Saul is surrounded. He is stripped of his kingdom. The King has few followers. AND GOD is NOT on his side.

Yet in spite of all that, GOD wins the battle by the hand of Jonathan. You can read about it in 1 Samuel 14.

The book of First Samuel is essentially the story of King Saul. David now enters in the later chapters. The timeline of Saul is approximately:
- 1043 B.C. Saul becomes King
- 1041 B.C. Saul’s War with the Philistines & Jonathan’s Miraculous Victory
- 1028 B.C. Saul’s Disobedience and Samuel’s Rebuke [ch.15]
- 1024 B.C. David anointed King [ch.16] & David kills Goliath [ch.17]
- 1011 B.C. Saul Slays the Priests of Nob [ch.22], David flees Saul, Samuel dies
- 1010 B.c. Saul consults a witch at Endor [ch.28]
- 1010 B.C. David flees to the Philistines, is sent away & defeats the Amalikites
- 1010 B.C. Saul & his sons killed in battle 1 Samuel 31
A question of Legacy for Leaders

What will be your legacy:

O King or Premier,

Honorable President, Prime Minister?

What will be your legacy:

Frail leader of men,

Lowly servant of all?

Compare King Saul to David, a man after God’s own heart:

Psalm 18: KJV

[[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,]]

I will love thee,

O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

A thousand years after Saul, a captive Jerusalem looked for a King like Saul to redeem them from Rome. Rather, a King of the Jews entered the gates humbly and redeemed our souls on a cross.

Three thousand years since King Saul and war still looms large in the hills near to Jerusalem. The war of ungodly men still seeks to destroy both the power and the mercy of God.

Christ Jesus has led the captives of sin right up to these last days.

Our Lord and God has conquered death and calls us to an eternal New Jerusalem.

Question to a Sinner Redeemed

Fellow sinner redeemed,

Will you bow down to Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior?

Blessed be God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

Who is and was and will be forever.

Amen.
October 3, 2015