April 24, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in selections from Psalms? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalms 96-97 (NIV)
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
Both these psalms remind me how much I love to praise God. I love to worship and sing praise to His name. In a dark time or a time of fear I sing and thankfully it is always a sweet sound to Him (despite the actual vocal ability lol)
These chapters speak of His love, glory, wisdom and they are just proclaiming all that is good and all that He has done. There is no better remedy to a troubled heart than a song of thanksgiving and praise reminding us who is in control of our situation!
Don’t fear demons, fear the Lord. I heard that last week, and here again in Psalm 96. With today’s image of God, it’s counterintuitive to fear the loving and gracious God and logical to fear scary demons. But His wrath, past and future, is just and deserved, even if we don’t care to look at it. From Daniel, our faith will protect us, and our fear will guide us.
The last section of 96 brings to me a vision of what creation was like in those first moments and days, singing and crying out with joy, but here creation is singing and crying out with joy for God’s return, judgment and the end of days. A dichotomy to be joyful at the end of days. But the righteous will rejoice.
What an awesome God to make the broken right with Him.
Reading psalms 92-97. To think of reading this and try to imagine who God is would be overwhelming. So comforting that we have Jesus. The exact replication of who God is. What an awesome God we serve. Had an electrical problem today. Electrician showed up. Amazing how God cleared things so it was just him and I. Like honey it flowed from my mouth. Was able to share testimony and the gospel with him. It was the furthest thing from my mind this morning. Our God is so good. Willing to use us to share. Thank you Jesus. Pray for Ryan
Praise the Lord all the earth. Excellent praise psalms.
Psalm 96 starts with singing a new song unto the Lord. We are to show forth His salvation from day to day. To declare His glory among the heathen. In other words we are to tell people about Christ`s salvation so they may be saved. He is to be feared above all gods for He is great. We are to worship the Lord not only amongst ourselves but to give Him glory and honor even in our daily lives amongst the unbelievers. Psalm 97 starts with the Lord reigneth. A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about. [ verse 3]. Often in scripture He is with flaming eyes showing His power and presence. It says that the hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. [ verse 5]. His presence is so great that one can be blinded by His light. His glory is not to be taken lightly. The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. [ verse 6]. We know that angels sing before God and declare Him. But is something more here / Is it the order of the universe that it all has it`s purpose. For He created the stars on the forth day of creation. Earth was created on the first day. The sun and moon also on the forth day along with the other lights in the heavens. [ the universe]. All of these things shows how God is a God of order. As a side note I heard a few times over the years that there is a gospel message in the stars. That what we here about the meaning of the stars is actually a corruption of the true meaning. If this is true then Satan has found another way to tell lies. Can anyone answer this/ Pastor Peter if you can please address this. Is there any truth to it/
I have heard it but have never read anything that validates it…
Psalms 96-97
There are so many reasons to praise God and so many vehicles through which God is praised! It is fascinating to me to think that we join creation (or vice versa) when we praise God. They know who has created them and who is true…and when we praise Him, we do too. How foolish to worship an idol the someone has to build. Far better to praise the God who creates and His handiwork is seen in all that He has made. And yet Psalm 97 reminds us not to be familiar with Him as well. He is surrounded with clouds and thick darkness and He is powerful and mighty. We are wise not to be His enemy because He certainly will take care of them. And knowing Him and worshipping Him leads us to a fuller knowledge of right and wrong and motivates us to do what is right. And God then rewards us for doing so, which flows naturally from the kind of God He is….reenforcing His will by the way He acts towards those who follow it….
Sing to the Lord, let the heavens rejoice, let the earth and everything in it be glad. Because the Lord is worthy of praise, the world is firmly established, people will be judged with equity, and he will be faithful to his people. Praise the Lord!