Psalm 111:2

Psalm 111:2

Great are the works of the Lord

It’s extraordinary how many people travel around this world with their eyes closed and their ears blocked. We live in beautiful countryside in North Essex, surrounded by trees, fields, hedgerows and wonderful skies. The lanes around us play host to numerous joggers and walkers, and it never ceases to puzzle me that many wear headphones that block out all external noise and fill their ears with other sounds. All around them birds are singing, the wind is sighing (or roaring) in the treetops, even the sound of silence is beautiful and therapeutic, but few notice it. The hearts of those who believe in the Lord are gladdened by His creation and His works provoke songs and exclamations of joy; as the Psalm says, let’s delight in His creative power and not block out the sounds He prepared for us. Let’s not walk around with blind eyes either, for all things were made for us to enjoy.

The Psalm defines those who delight in the Lord’s works, these are the ones who ponder all that He has done. It can be creation. It can be the revelation of Scripture and His great works of old. It can be His intervention in our own lives and those of our friends and family. It can be what He has done for us all through His Son and through His death, resurrection and ascension. It can be the pure joy of His Holy Spirit within and the transformative power of His presence. The list is a long one, but every one of these things deserves to be pondered and we should be delighted by them all. Imagine what it must be like to be a non-believer and be blind and deaf to it all; how sad, how pointless and how empty and dark the world must be. Knowing Him is the greatest privilege we will ever be afforded in this world, it changes everything! Great are Your works, Lord! Hallelujah! 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 106:13

Psalm 106:13 Do not forget We need to remember that Israel’s relationship with the Lord God was based on His laws and their obedience. It was possible for them to live lives that were highly blessed, that incorporated the provision of God in every tiny detail of their national and individual existence. God was prepared to give them everything they needed, He would provide food and water for them and their flocks. He would guide them on their journey. He would protect them from their enemies. He would inspire and direct their leaders. He would keep them from the heat of the sun and the terrors of the desert night. He would take them to the land that He had promised, in double quick time. There was no reason why they could not be in situ in just a few months. Everything they could possibly need was His to provide and He was willing to sacrifice anything to see them gratefully settled in Canaan.  There was just one snag, it all depended upon their obedience and faithfulness. God insisted
Read more

Psalm 51:4

Psalm 51:4 Deliberate sin In Genesis 20 we read the story of Abimelek and Abraham. The latter had passed off his wife Sarah as his sister and Abimelek had taken her with a view to her becoming his wife. The relationship was not consummated, and the Lord used a dream to reveal to Abimelek just what was going on. The insulted king pleaded innocence,  “I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands ” he said, to the Lord. And God agreed,  “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me.”  This is a big subject but there is clearly a difference between sinful intentions and deeds where the participant knows that he/she is doing wrong, and those occasions where an action is carried out in innocence.  David knew all along that every detail of his relationship with Bathsheba was sinful, as were his actions in the cover-up. Therefore, he sinned against the Lord God and broke the commandments which said that  “You shall not commit adul
Read more

Psalm 57:8

Psalm 57:8 Awake my soul! This verse calls on three different elements to wake up! It follows on from the previous statement that David intends to sing and make music. We can imagine him opening his eyes one morning and all is silent and dark. The first birds have not yet started to sing, and the eastern sky is not yet pink. In contrast to the days of despair and defeat David is ready for this day and he is going to celebrate. He may be living in a gloomy, dank cave but hope is at hand, God is with him and he will triumph over his enemies. Maybe some of his companions got a shock that morning as their leader launched his early morning praise assault on the kingdoms of darkness! ·        Awake my soul. ·        Awake, harp and lyre. ·        Awake – the dawn. Sometimes we have to address the inner man and let our minds take control of our emotions and our desires. The negatives can be defeated, the whispering doubts can be silenced, the tide of fear and trepidation can be driven back. A
Read more