Psalm 117
Let All Peoples Praise the LORD
1 Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!
Consider that the call for this Psalm, particularly in verse 1, is for Gentiles (that’s most likely mean you and me) – in a time where we understood that the Lord was more fixated on the nation of Israel. Here’s actually one rare moment where both of Pastor Joseph Prince’s words apply: That the Bible is written FOR us, and the Bible is written TO us.
And we, the Gentiles, are called to praise and laud the Lord, joining with all peoples, tribes and nations… why?
2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Indeed, here’s a word for us here and now, for today, with all that’s going on – that no matter how merciless the world is, God’s merciful kindness is not only great, but also toward us. Fixated to us. And I dare say, His merciful kindness, His lovingkindness is greater than all we encounter in this world – Safety to run to, as much as it is power to run with.
We give praise to the Lord of Lords, all glory and worship to the King of Kings. Regardless of what is happening and what will happen, His truth as is His lovingkindness, in that while all things in this world persist, the truth of the Lord endures forever.
I trust in God,
My Savior, the One who will never fail,
He will never fail.
This is my cry, beyond all the cobwebs of my mind, beyond all the trepidation and the pull of this world to just do whatever you want, instead of doing what you should be doing.
I mean, I’ve been honest with trusted folk – and now you, I suppose – that the part time job I’m signed up with is taking a little more from me than I expected… BUT I give thanks to God, because in the time that I DO have left for myself, I still get things done and I do get more than my fair share of relaxation.
I give thanks to God, because His truth prevails – His truth, that is, which states that He is faithful to cause all things to work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I’ve been quoting that a whole lot more these days, these weeks and months, simply because I’ve realized a whole lot more that comprises of ‘all things’ – things beyond my control, things beyond my reach, things beyond my comprehension, things I’m struggling to explain; God causes all these and more… to work, simply for the good.
Not necessarily MY good, take note, but there’s still great peace to be gathered from knowing that it God causes it all to work for good according to His perspective and definition. And, really, I’d rather have it that way instead of my own limited expectations.
I trust in God,
My Savior, the One who will never fail,
He will never fail.
So I trust in Him – WE in the body of Christ, we trust in Him. Oftentimes I say He is worthy of all praise and worship… but I suppose we ought to keep reminding ourselves that He is worthy of our trust and belief.
Pastor Poppo talked about repentance from idolatry yesterday, and I wanted to chime in, except we were strapped for time. We were on the same page in saying that idolatry is placing our trust in something else besides God, and I wanted to expand or expound(?) on that further by saying that idolatry is placing out trust in creation – or, anything else besides our Creator.
And, sure, while this comprises of the obvious statues and icons, I’d also like to add that we’re to repent, or rather, change our mind regarding the supremacy of concepts and ideas.
Examples: I’ve oft told myself, ‘are you in love with that person, or are you in love with your idea of that person?’ What with all the love songs we have out there, we probably would do well to do some differentiation – between loving people ‘just the way they are’, and loving what they do to us, what we do to them, what we give them, what we get from them, and everything in between. There’s a difference between loving someone and loving what we get from them. And, yes, that was from experience.
In church, I’ve told people time and again – ‘Are you making it about Christ, or are you making it about you making it about Christ?’ And with that mentioned I dare say that we play a dangerous game in idolizing religion, more than truly believing and trusting the One we say we venerate.
And before you go ahead and say I’m speaking from my high horse, guess what – I’m just as vulnerable as the next guy in falling for idolizing the so-called methods and rituals of Christianity… But, also, understand, just like you (and the next guy) we ALL have the faithful Holy Spirit constantly reminding us of the supremacy of the person/deity of Christ HIMSELF, more than our insistence of copying Him (which is insistence in vain).
We have the Holy Spirit to remind us, as I remind myself now, to trust in God – not what we do which we think ‘gets’ Him.
I trust in God,
My Savior, the One who will never fail,
He will never fail.
So I keep this in mind, here and now.
A little update on my condition – Power’s been back on here and consistently ever since the departure of that last super typhoon… but now it’s the internet service provider we’re having issues with. With that said, I’m needing to relocate and work elsewhere.
The self-imposed stress related to work is still there… but it just gives me more reason to give God the glory. It’s in Him that I trust, in Him that we trust – He guides us, He direct us, just as He also causes things to work for good. And there’s that other song to keep me at peace:
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working
…Causing all things to work for good. So while I’m focused on the job, and constantly on the ready for any call or text that comes in… God is on the move. Working on all we’re concerned with – that is, He is working His eternal glory, His infinite goodness, and His everlasting love in anything and everything that involves each and every one of us in the body of Christ, and all that involves our families as well.
It is for this that we give thanks, and for this we CONSTANTLY give thanks and express gratitude. What a wonderful God we have. What a faithful God have I. What a good and great and glorious Father. What an absolutely awesome Savior… What a faithful and true Spirit we enjoy.
To Him be all glory and praise, now and forever. Amen. Halleluyah.
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