#832 Talking About a Resolution

I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

to you, O Lord, I will make music.

2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.

Oh when will you come to me?

I will walk with integrity of heart

within my house;

3 I will not set before my eyes

anything that is worthless.

I hate the work of those who fall away;

it shall not cling to me.

4 A perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will know nothing of evil.

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly

I will destroy.

Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart

I will not endure.

6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,

that they may dwell with me;

he who walks in the way that is blameless

shall minister to me.

7 No one who practices deceit

shall dwell in my house;

no one who utters lies

shall continue before my eyes.

8 Morning by morning I will destroy

all the wicked in the land,

cutting off all the evildoers

from the city of the Lord. Psalm 101 ESV

A Psalm of David that some have called a Psalm of Pious Resolution.

I will sing of steadfast love and justice - God is both merciful and just for He is perfect in all His rulings. Without Messiah God could not be just in His mercy, for what is it to be against sin if we are unwilling to confront it? Every breath is mercy, bought by the Word of God, knowing that what He said He would bring to pass. He chose from eternity those whom He would purchase and made a plan to rescue them, Christ fulfilled that plan and the Holy Spirit convicts men of the sin which made such redemption necessary. God's Holiness and justice are demonstrated in the cross, His love and mercy are also there made known. We should sing, it is beyond marvelous how much God hates sin, yet while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

I will ponder the way that is blameless - God had given the law unto kings  that they could meditate upon, to do justice and walk in truth. Men must spend much time considering these things, especially those that would lead. No matter how drunk you become on power, flattery and title, the only estimation of yourself that will matter is the one that comes from God. Christ has been made king above all kings, and we should not forget this at work, home or church. Any pastor that has not seen the pulpit as a call to holiness, to resolved and premeditated loyalty to God and His word, that man has deceived himself. God is not the author of such a call. 

- David longed for a more special and effectual visitation from the Lord before he began his reign. If God be with us we shall neither err in judgment nor transgress in character; his presence brings us both wisdom and holiness; away from God we are away from safety. Good men are so sensible of infirmity that they cry for help from God, so full of prayer that they cry at all seasons, so intense in their desires that they cry with sighs and groanings which cannot be uttered, saying, "O when wilt thou come unto me?" I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Piety must begin at home. Our first duties are those within our own abode. We must have a perfect heart at home, or we cannot keep a perfect way abroad. Notice that these words are a part of a song, and that there is no music like the harmony of a gracious life, no psalm so sweet as the daily practice of holiness. Reader, how fares it with your family? Do you sing in the choir and sin in the chamber Are you a saint abroad and a devil at home? For shame! What we are at home, that we are indeed. He cannot be a good king whose palace is the haunt of vice, nor he a true saint whose habitation is a scene of strife, nor he a faithful minister whose household dreads his appearance at the fireside. - C. H. Spurgeon

…8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal. 10 And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,… 2 Timothy 1: 8-10

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless - What will you resolve to do about the things which God hates? Will others, the culture, family, king or business decide for you, if so, it is to them that you belong. I have said a thousand times how much I hate the saying, "it's just business", but I say I hate it so much for fear that I myself may fall into it. Can I or any man justify an action that God has so plainly denounced? Is this humor before the Lord, is this proper for me to look at? Can the truth really be stretched or did I lie? Does the end justify the means? Your idols will always tempt you to down play the simple truths of God. I did this, but look, I became wealthy. I said this, but look, everyone laughed. I window shopped, but I did not steal, yet.

1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases. 2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.… Proverbs 21: 1-3

I hate the work of those who fall away - The truest sign of repentance is choosing to stay upon the path of righteousness, it is the turning away from sin, not just in the acknowledgment of it, but purposing in our hearts to give it not even a moments rest therein. Rarely, if ever, is anyone deceived in such things solely by the acts or words of another. No, we consent, and we do so in defiance of the Words of the living God. Those that know what God says and the way in which He says to walk, fall to such deceit because they first deceive themselves. It is unbelief, it is arrogance, to think that God is like men in that He would have this all written down without intent or purpose, to pick and choose as we will, rather than know it as God's will. 

…7 Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.… Isaiah 55: 7-9

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy - David had to know much of this, for Saul and others treated him in opposite fashion to the character he showed them and the anointing that God had placed upon him. Why should a man ever have to defend his good name, if it is good then there should never be a reason for defense, unless it is the words of one whose name should be taken away from them. This is a common thing, that we go around and speculate upon the thoughts and hearts of others. We lower them in the eyes of others in order to lift ourselves up, to satisfy our envy and self esteem.

 

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#831 Not Unto Us

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

A Psalm of thanksgiving.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth - This is a fruit of the Spirit, joy, which shines upon the face, springs forth from the mouth. The smallest inkling of our salvation will become the seed from which the sapling of our praise grows forth. Oh that God has revealed what we could never find, and so the tree grows, our branches spread forth and the more we know Him, the more becomes our praise. Joy will not be guilty of ritual obeisance, of vane repetition, she comes of a will that has been set free, a heart that is anxious for the Lord's day. 

Serve the Lord with gladness - I have already taken all my dreary cares, every hurt, and sin I knew or have as yet not understood, and laid them before the Lord. For this, He has made me glad, that I may cast all my cares upon Him and now with gladness I come to serve. It is not a service of the lips, but my lips carry the praises of my heart. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. 

…19 Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’? 20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.… John 16: 19-21

Know that the Lord, He is God - From Spurgeon's treasury of David:

- Our worship must be intelligent. We ought to know whom we worship and why. "Man, know thyself, "is a wise aphorism, yet to know our God is truer wisdom; and it is very questionable whether a man can know himself until he knows his God. Jehovah is God in the fullest, most absolute, and most exclusive sense, he is God alone; to know him in that character and prove our knowledge by obedience, trust, submission, zeal, and love is an attainment which only grace can bestow. Only those who practically recognise his Godhead are at all likely to offer acceptable praise. It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves. Shall not the creature reverence its maker? Some men live as if they made themselves; they call themselves "self-made men, "and they adore their supposed creators; but Christians recognise the origin of their being and their well-being, and take no honour to themselves either for being, or for being what they are. Neither in our first or second creation dare we put so much as a finger upon the glory, for it is the sole right and property of the Almighty. To disclaim honour for ourselves is as necessary a part of true reverence as to ascribe glory to the Lord. "Non nobis, dominc!" will for ever remain the true believer's confession. - C. H. Spurgeon

Enter His gates with thanksgiving - This is not owned by the rich, not relegated to the strong, but the joy of everyone who comes to know God. That I may come to the gate and see the courts inside, this must cause the heart to break forth. No sickness, pain or struggle can ever take away my thanks, I am a freed man, one who has known God's mercy, and to know and love God is eternal blessing.

…5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. 6 And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.… Exodus 19: 5-7

4 As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”…

…7 To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the message— and to this they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.… 1 Peter 2: 4-9

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#830 Sanctus

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!

He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

2 The Lord is great in Zion;

he is exalted over all the peoples.

3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!

Holy is he!

4 The King in his might loves justice.

You have established equity;

you have executed justice

and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt the Lord our God;

worship at his footstool!

Holy is he!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,

Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.

They called to the Lord, and he answered them.

7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;

they kept his testimonies

and the statute that he gave them.

8 O Lord our God, you answered them;

you were a forgiving God to them,

but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

9 Exalt the Lord our God,

and worship at his holy mountain;

for the Lord our God is holy! Psalm 99 ESV

A Psalm of Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy).

The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble - He has accomplished what the eye cannot yet see, and has condescended to men of low estate, yet not without cost to Himself, but at such an incomprehensible cost as to leave His holiness intact. God remains holy and will reign in righteousness, and if the thought of One so pure, clean, eternal in all His attributes, has not yet caused you to tremble, then for you I am most sorry.

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.… Philippians 2: 11-13

He sits enthroned upon the cherubim - Be moved, for there is no one else that can sit here, and though the devil wanted to, he was instead cast down, fallen from the heavens, chained to his own delusion. This is the mercy seat and men had only seen replicas in the temple, yet God was so kind as to let His glory rest here on earth, veiled, but still a promise to the hope of all those who would believe.

…15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: 16“O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. 17 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.… Isaiah 37: 15-17

…21 Set the mercy seat atop the ark, and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark. 22 And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the Ark of the Testimony; I will commune with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites. Exodus 25: 21-22

Holy is He - 

- The Lord has not one glorious attribute alone, or in excess, but all glories are in him as a whole; this is the crown of his honour and the honour of his crown. His power is not his choicest jewel, nor his sovereignty, but his holiness. In this all comprehensive moral excellence he would have his creatures take delight, and when they do so their delight is evidence that their hearts have been renewed, and they themselves have been made partakers of his holiness. The gods of the heathen were, according to their own votaries, lustful, cruel, and brutish; their only claim to reverence lay in their supposed potency over human destinies: who would not far rather adore Jehovah, whose character is unsullied purity, unswerving justice, unbending truth, unbounded love, in a word, perfect holiness? - C. H. Spurgeon

The King in His might loves justice - His is not an abuse of power. His might does not make Him right, but rather His power is always used in righteousness, for again and again, He is Holy.

Moses and Aaron were among His priests - These were the men that met and spoke with God, who carried out His ordinances. They are the picture of, the shadow falling from the Mediator, Who is to come. 

Samuel also was among those who called upon His name - These men interceded on behalf of the children of Jacob, as we should ourselves pray without ceasing. Pray for the body of Christ wherever it be found. 

…22 Indeed, for the sake of His great name the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way. 24 Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.… 1 Samuel 12: 22-24

You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrong doings - Confess, for He is faithful and just to forgive, but if You are His child, He is also faithful to cleanse. For the Lord our God is Holy. 

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#829 Yeshua HaMashiach

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,

for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand and his holy arm

have worked salvation for him.

2 The Lord has made known his salvation;

he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

with the lyre and the sound of melody!

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

the world and those who dwell in it!

8 Let the rivers clap their hands;

let the hills sing for joy together

9 before the Lord, for he comes

to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98 ESV

A Psalm of victory.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song - This Psalm fits well in line with the preceding Psalms and Spurgeon puts this so well.

- We had a new song before (Ps 96:1-13) because the Lord was coming, but now we have another new song because he has come, and seen and conquered. Jesus, our King, has lived a marvellous life, died a marvellous death, risen by a marvellous resurrection, and ascended marvellously into heaven. By his divine power he has sent forth the Holy Spirit doing marvels, and by that sacred energy his disciples have also wrought marvellous things and astonished all the earth. Idols have fallen, superstitions have withered, systems of error have fled, and empires of cruelty have perished. For all this he deserves the highest praise. - C. H. Spurgeon

His right hand and His holy arm - What a bazaar picture of salvation, totally opposing the ways of men. Look back though, for those who doubt or think they know a better way, for the children did not by force or human might bring themselves out from under Pharaoh's rule. The King of kings did not come with a silver spoon, but was wrapped in swaddling clothes. He rode in upon a donkey, not a great war horse, and He all the while had the cross as is His aim. Victory in Jesus, this was God's doing and marvelous in our eyes, so marvelous that angels look in to these things. He did not come to wage war with men, set up a political system, scrub at the outer layer of the bark, no, He destroyed the tree at it's root. 

…6 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.… Philippians 2: 6-8

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.… Hebrews 4: 14-16

The Lord hath made known His salvation - From Genesis, where God promises that Satan's head will be crushed by the seed of the woman, all the way to the coming of Yeshua (deliverer, Messiah), who in English we call Jesus, God makes His plan for redemption known. 

- The Lord is to be praised not only for effecting human salvation, but also for making it known, for man would never have discovered it for himself; nay, not so much as one single soul would ever have found out for himself the way of mercy through a Mediator; in every case it is a divine revelation to the mind and heart. In God's own light his light is seen. He must reveal his Son in us, or we shall be unable to discern him. His righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. This word "righteousness" is the favourite word of the apostle of the Gentiles; he loves to dwell on the Lord's method of making man righteous, and vindicating divine justice by the atoning blood. - C. H. Spurgeon

All the ends of the earth have seen - Look at Pentecost in the light of this, God making His revelation known to the earth, the spreading of the gospel. This is about His Son.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Acts 2: 5-8

both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” Acts 2: 11 - 13

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

18 even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

20 the sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2: 14-41

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#828 Soli Deo Gloria

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;

let the many coastlands be glad!

2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him

and burns up his adversaries all around.

4 His lightnings light up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,

before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all the peoples see his glory.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,

who make their boast in worthless idols;

worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,

and the daughters of Judah rejoice,

because of your judgments, O Lord.

9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!

He preserves the lives of his saints;

he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous,

and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,

and give thanks to his holy name! Psalm 97 ESV

A Psalm of gospel proclamation.

The Lord reigns - Jesus is Lord, and all of the Bible points to and history depends upon His coming, His death as atonement, and His resurrection unto life.

…8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.… Romans 10: 8-10

- This is the watchword of the psalm-- Jehovah reigns. It is also the essence of the gospel proclamation, and the foundation of the gospel kingdom. Jesus has come, and all power is given unto him in heaven and in earth, therefore men are bidden to yield him their obedient faith. - C. H. Spurgeon

Let the many coast lands be glad - God has not revealed Himself as a locality, but God over all, everywhere, and beyond time and mortal capacity.

Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him - Now we see through a glass dimly, but then face to face. No man of reason would think himself able to kiss the sun, and for certain he would not survive the journey. Shall we presume upon God's great mercy, His grace and love, that He is no longer holy, or that He will not judge in righteousness? We treat it lightly, in a conversational fashion, that this was back then. Nadab and Abihu were the sons of the high priest, yet were killed by God when they offered strange fire. Obedience to His directions would have been the cloud to conceal themselves under, and taking His every word as instruction unto life, would have made the clearest night to gaze upon the stars of His revelation. Only humility can ever gaze upon the glory of God and live, because it is founded most safely inside of Christ. Oh Lord, that I may tremble at the thought of Your disappointment.

Nadab and Abihu

- This passage should teach us the impertinence of attempting to pry into the essence of the Godhead, the vanity of all endeavours to understand the mystery of the Trinity in Unity, the arrogance of arraigning the Most High before the bar of human reason, the folly of dictating to the Eternal One the manner in which he should proceed. Wisdom veils her face and adores the mercy which conceals the divine purpose; folly rushes in and perishes, blinded first, and by and by consumed by the blaze of glory. Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. There he abides, he never departs from strict justice and right: his throne is fixed upon the rock of eternal holiness. - C. H. Spurgeon

Fire goes before Him - This is a horrible thing in sin, but in Christ we are refined.

- Reading this verse in reference to the coming of Jesus, and the descent of the Spirit, we are reminded of the tongues of fire, and of the power which attended the gospel, so that all opposition was speedily overcome. Even now where the gospel is preached in faith, and in the power of the Spirit, it burns its own way, irresistibly destroying falsehood, superstition, unbelief, sin, indifference, and hardness of heart. In it the Lord reigneth, and because of it let the earth rejoice. - C. H. Spurgeon

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord - There are no obstacles to Him, they all must yield way, for what He says that will always come to past. Don't flee to the mountain, it will give way, nor say to the rocks, "fall on us", for they will not conceal you. 

…19 Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” … Matthew 17: 19-20

…16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”… Daniel 3: 16-18

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”…

…31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you. 32 You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like cattle. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wishes.” 33 At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.… Daniel 4: 28-33

…5 One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name of Israel.” 6 Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me. 7 Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.… Isaiah 44: 5-7

All worshipers of images are put to shame - No things, no governments, systems, works, everything made by man must bow before the Creator. Ideas, feelings, emotions, epiphanies, whatever men think great, must be checked against the Word of God. 

- A man who worships an image is but the image of a man, his senses must have left him. He who boasts of an idol makes an idle boast. Worship him, all ye gods. Bow down yourselves, ye fancied gods. Let Jove do homage to Jehovah, let Thor lay down his hammer at the foot of the cross, and Juggernaut remove his blood stained car out of the road of Immanuel. If the false gods are thus bidden to worship the coming Lord, how much more shall they adore him who are godlike creatures in heaven, even the angelic spirits? Paul quotes this passage as the voice of God to angels when he sent his Son into the world. All powers are bound to recognise the chief power; since they derive their only rightful authority from the Lord, they should be careful to acknowledge his superiority at all times by the most reverent adoration. - C. H. Spurgeon

Oh you who love the Lord, hate evil - Let me hate what You hate and love what and how You love.

8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.… Romans 12: 8-10

…5 Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. 6 But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.… Revelation 2: 5-7

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#827 The Lord Reigns

96 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.


7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!


10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”


11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness. Psalm 96 ESV

A Psalm of God's glory of which parts are seen in 1 Chronicles 16

Oh sing to the Lord a new song - Every day of the Christian walk is fresh and new, and if we are growing in the Lord then we are moving away from repetition. We no longer sing on cue because we are supposed to or it is that time, but so much more like a spring, that wells up from within, and then pours out like a stream, singing from every rock and ripple of a brook. 

All the earth - There is only one God, and when the people were scattered at Babel they made their own religions, but this is a call, an invitation from the people of God, to sing together, unified in the truth. 

Tell of His salvation from day to day - Are you saved? If you are then you have much to sing about, that hope that is within you, that once you were lost but now found, blind but now you see. I was a sinner with no works, no gifts fit for such a king, but He has manifested His love to me in that while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me. I was bound by pride, the lust of life, self centered and full of me, but He has so graciously set me free. 

Declare His glory among the nations - Don't hide this great thing, and he who has such light and life will also have compassion, he will not forget the lost, no matter where they may be.

…18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”… Matthew 28: 18-20

His marvelous works among all the peoples - What has the Lord done? The Psalmist goes on, He is God, all other gods are worthless idols, made of men's vanity. People swear today that they are too advanced to make such shrines, yet they do another way. We worship ourselves, self esteem, when the Bible tells me I think to highly of myself to begin with. Men worship money, pleasure, material things, feelings, emotions, experiences, political power, prestige and the praise of other men. We say the ancients were barbaric in their sacrifices, like those who sacrificed their children to Molech, but we do the same. It's different though we think, because we have technology and words like viability, but these are all sacrifices to the self, sacrifices to sensuality, to lust, to greed, under the guise of compassion, but blind to reality.

The Psalmist goes on, there are more reasons, God is the Creator of the heavens, and not many people have that on their resume, I dare say none.

In the splendor of Holiness - No one has this of their own self either, all fall short, there is none righteous. 

Tremble before Him all the earth - There is nothing so worthy of fear, no one so holy, just, whose ways are so unlike our own. He is worthy of much consideration, but here we are debating over dead things, temporal things, afraid of silly superstitions, afraid of losing a life that was already in forfeit, blind to eternity.

…9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.… Proverbs 9: 9-11

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.… Philippians 2: 11-13

He will judge the peoples with equity - No more trying to win a case at the cost of truth, for nothing is hidden from the Lord that will not be revealed. It is all before His eyes, and He is sovereign over all. The infinitely just will bring true justice. 

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy - 

…36As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road. 37And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: 38“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”…

…39But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” 40“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.” 41As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it… Luke 19: 36-41

…9Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster! 10You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and sinning against your soul. 11For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.… Habakkuk 2: 9-11

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#826 Massah Kiss

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.


6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your fathers put me to the test
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways.”
11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,
“They shall not enter my rest.” Psalm 95 ESV

A Psalm of the Provocation.

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord - This is the invitation, and singing is a talent in some for sure, but this is not a call to entertainment, it is a call to return to the Lord that which belongs to Him with what He made. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and so this is also not vain repetition, not disconnected from the mind. Those, who worship Him, must do it in Spirit and in truth. We know this because it is not in drudgery, but rather in the next verses we find it is in joy with thanksgiving. No one can have this or do this for me, let me sing with my heart, my mind and my voice. I have so much to be thankful for, whether at the President's table, at work, at home, sick or healthy, in prison and in death. Praise the Lord.

- We should shout as exultingly as those do who triumph in war, and as solemnly as those whose utterance is a psalm. It is not always easy to unite enthusiasm with reverence, and it is a frequent fault to destroy one of these qualities while straining after the other. The perfection of singing is that which unites joy with gravity, exultation with humility, fervency with sobriety. - C. H. Spurgeon

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods - People are easily impressed especially those that are not sound in their doctrine, who have not come to know the Creator of all things. He is not bound by borders, nations or the whims of man. If men see a man with God given talent, a great speaker, or anyone who tickles their ears, that man will to them be a god. There are beings above men, angels, those that exalted themselves fell from heaven and those that are elect angels refused to be worshiped. God is above all things, worship Him, for He alone is worthy.

Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker - Now it is an invitation, while you are still alive and can hear, but one day every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. It is a proud and deluded mind that thinks it will stand before the One Who made His feet, no, every knee will bow.

Today, if you hear His voice - "I will someday", you say. 

Do not harden your hearts - You say wrong and right, yet when confronted about your sin you close your ears. I have outright lied of a thing I held but did not want to admit, because I knew it was wrong, but I feared men rather than God. I have justified in myself things that I saw as wrong in others. You have sat under good preaching, you have come to a knowledge of God's being, but you have no fear of His holiness, that the Lamb was already slain, and the Lion is the One Who is coming next. Wake up!

…9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.… Psalm 51: 9-11

- They put the Lord to needless tests, demanding new miracles, fresh interpositions, and renewed tokens of his presence. Do not we also peevishly require frequent signs of the Lord's love other than those which every hour supplies? Are we not prone to demand specialities, with the alternative secretly offered in our hearts, that if they do not come at our bidding we will disbelieve? True, the Lord is very condescending, and frequently grants us marvellous evidences of his power, but we ought not to require them. Steady faith is due to one who is so constantly kind. After so many proofs of his love, we are ungrateful to wish to prove him again, unless it be in those ways of his own appointing, in which he has said, "Prove me now." If we were for ever testing the love of our wife or husband, and remained unconvinced after years of faithfulness, we should wear out the utmost human patience. - C. H. Spurgeon

Meribah and Massah - 

Meribah and Massah Rock

For forty years  I loathed that generation - 

- To such base treatment was the tender Shepherd of Israel exposed, not for a day or a month, but for forty years at a stretch, and that not by here and there an unbeliever, but by a whole nation, in which only two men were found so thoroughly believing as to be exempted from the doom which at last was pronounced upon all the rest. Which shall we most wonder at, the cruel insolence of man, or the tender patience of the Lord? Which shall leave the deepest impression on our minds, the sin or the punishment? unbelief, or the barring of the gates of Jehovah's rest against the unbelievers? And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. Their heart was obstinately and constantly at fault; it was not their head which erred, but their very heart was perverse: love, which appealed to their affections, could not convert them. The heart is the main spring of the man, and if it be not in order, the entire nature is thrown out of gear. If sin were only skin deep, it might be a slight matter; but since it has defiled the soul, the case is bad indeed. - C. H. Spurgeon

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