Saturday, June 30, 2012

Be Submissive and be Thankful (Psalm 100:3-5)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

6/30/2012 8:53:13 AM



My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  Psalm 100 PT-2



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                      Reference:  Psalm 100:3-5



            Message of the verses:  We will continue to look at the short 100th psalm that we began to look at in yesterday’s SD.  We learned that the 100th Psalm goes along nicely with Ephesians 5:18-20 and also Colossians 3:16-25. 



The Following is the Lyrics to the “Old Hundredth”



All people that on earth do dwell,

Sing out for peace 'tween heav'n and hell.

'Tween East and West and low and high,

Sing! peace on earth and sea and sky.



Old Hundred, you've served many years

To sing one people's hopes and fear,

But we've new verses for you now.

Sing peace between the earth and plow.



Sing peace between the grass and trees,

Between the continents and seas,

Between the lion and the lamb.

Between young Ivan and young Sam.



Between the white, black, red and brown,

Between the wilderness and town,

Sing peace between the near and far,

'Tween Allah and six-pointed star.



The fish that swim, the birds that fly,

The deepest seas, the stars on high,

Bear witness now that you and I

Sing peace on earth and sea and sky.



Old Hundred, please don't think us wrong

For adding verses to your song.

Sing peace between the old and young,

'Tween every faith and every tongue.



All people that on earth do dwell,

Sing out for peace 'tween heav'n and hell.

'Tween East and West and low and high,

Sing! peace on earth and sea and sky.






Submissive (vv. 3):  “3  Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

            Verse three begins with the word “Know” and this word means to know by experience, and it also carries the meaning of “acknowledge.”  In the book of 1Kings and chapter 18 we see the very famous story of Elijah’s conflict with the prophets of Baal.  In verse 39 we read the following “When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.’”  The people were acknowledging that the Lord is God after they saw the fire coming down from heaven to burn up the very wet sacrifice that Elijah had set out for the Lord.

            At the end of his commentary on this section Dr. Wiersbe writes, “This verse is a simple statement of faith:  Jehovah is God, Creator, Redeemer and Shepherd, and we are submitted to Him.  If the sheep do not submit to their shepherd, they will stray into danger.”  When speaking of the “sheep of His pasture,” the psalmist was speaking of the nation of Israel, which is seen many times in the Scriptures.  I believe that this can also mean the Church for Jesus spoke of this in John 10; and also in John 21:16-17 where He instructs Peter, “16  He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." 17  He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep.”



            Thankful (vv. 4-5):  “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 lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.”

            We can just picture many people coming in through the gates of Jerusalem and breaking out into praise to the Lord for the Lord is Good, which is one of His attributes and thus is deserving of our praise.  The Lord does not change, God will always be good, and God will always be faithful to all generations.  God will always show lovingkindness to those who are His, but God will show His justice to those who reject His offer of salvation.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes, “If we are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God and the holy Word of God, we will reveal it in the way we worship God.  Instead of imitating the world, we will be led by the Word and the Spirit to be joyful in the Lord, submissive to the Lord, and thankful to the Lord and the world will see the difference.  Finally, note that a spirit of thanksgiving helps us overcome some of the ‘sins in good standing’ that too often invade our lives:  complaining (v. 1), idolatry (v. 2), pride (v.3), and ingratitude (v. 4).  It was when our first parents became ‘unthankful’ that the human race began that terrible descent into sin and judgment (Rom. 1:18-32; not v.21).  Instead of being thankful for what they had, Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lie that the Lord was holding out on them (Ge. 3:1—‘every tree’), and this led to their sin.  A thankful spirit is a triumphant spirit.”



            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  (1Thes. 5:18)  The 100th Psalm is a song of thanksgiving and teaches me that I am to be thankful and the verse in 1Thes teaches me to give thanks in everything for this is God’s will for me.  This is not easy to do.



My Steps of Faith for Today:  Remember to give thanks in everything for the Lord loves me and will not do anything to harm me even though it may seem so at times.



Memory verses for the week:  2Peter 1:1-3, “Simon Peter a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:  2. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord; 3. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.



6/30/2012 9:57:37 AM



PS  The song that I have quoted here is sung to the tune of the Doxology.


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