(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)
(Psalm 147:1-20)
1 Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is beautiful.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord supports the afflicted;
He brings the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre;
8 It is He who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass sprout on the mountains.
9 It is He who gives an animal its food,
And feeds young ravens that cry.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His faithfulness.
12 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your sons among you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
16 He showers snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls His ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?
18 He sends His word and makes them melt;
He makes His wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares His words to Jacob,
His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
20 He has not dealt this way with any other nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
Praise the Lord!
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is beautiful.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord supports the afflicted;
He brings the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre;
8 It is He who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass sprout on the mountains.
9 It is He who gives an animal its food,
And feeds young ravens that cry.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His faithfulness.
12 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your sons among you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
16 He showers snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls His ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?
18 He sends His word and makes them melt;
He makes His wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares His words to Jacob,
His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
20 He has not dealt this way with any other nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
Praise the Lord!
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
When we consider the nation of Israel and the unique relationship and covenants that they have with the Lord, keep in mind that Israel as a nation was meant to be the light to all other nations. Anyone could immigrate to Israel and become one of them. As well, before Jesus came in flesh, anyone anywhere in the world could believe in Him and be saved. (Galatians 3)
The relationship with God is the same now with anyone who believes in Jesus and His work on the cross. When we put our faith in Him, we become children of God with a special and close relationship with the Lord, who promises to keep us forever. And just like Israel, God wants us to be a light to other people, so that others can find and have that close relationship with Him.
It might be a scary thought to stand out and be a light, but it really is simpler than we think. It is all about living for God. Fearing people is to put them ahead of God. Fearing God is to show Him the respect that He deserves by putting Him first in our lives. Waiting for the Lord is to trust that He will help us live for Him. And because of everything He has done, is doing, and will do for us, we should be praising, singing and thanking the Lord. As we are doing these things, we will be a light for Him!
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