Sunday, July 22, 2012

Final Discipline (Psalm 106:47)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/22/2012 8:43:26 AM



My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  Psalm 106 PT4



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                      Reference:  Psalm 106:47-48



            Message of the verses:  We will look at the last two verses of Psalm 106 in today and so it would be good to remember that this psalm was probably written after Israel returned from captivity in Babylon, and it was written about the history of Israel in order to help these young Jewish people about how their distant realities lived their lives in order to help them to not make the same mistakes as they did.  It also shows the grace and mercy of God in keeping the covenant that He made with Abraham many years before.  It is also good to remember that the covenant that God made with Abraham is still in effect as we once again see Israel back in the land that God has given to them.  On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation in one day just as the prophet Isaiah wrote many years ago, and so did the prophet write about this regathering of Israel in chapters 36-37 of Ezekiel’s prophecies.



            Final Discipline (v.47):  “47  Save us, O LORD our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name And glory in Your praise. 48  Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the LORD!”  (I have included verse 48 also.)



            First let me quote what Dr. Wiersbe writes about verse 48:  “The last verse, written by and ancient editor, brings to a close the Fourth Book of the Psalms.”  We have seen this type of thing happen in the closing of the other books in the Psalms.

            Israel had broken the conditional covenant with God by the worshiping of Idols, playing the harlot and so after Solomon died the kingdom was split into two parts, ten tribes in the Northern Kingdom, and two in the Southern Kingdom with Judah being the main tribe in the south.  In 722 the Assyrians captured the people of the Northern Kingdom and then absorbed these ten tribes into their own empire.  Then from 606-586 B. C. Babylon captured the Southern Kingdom and destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple and deported some of the choice people to Babylon.  Then in 539 B. C. Cyrus the king of the Medes and Persians, according to the Word of God that was written by the prophet Isaiah in chapters 44-45 allowed those who wanted to return to Judah from the Jews to return.  Not all returned for some had grown comfortable living in Persia.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes “The psalmist closed with a prayer that the scattered children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would one day be gathered together so that they might worship Jehovah and give glory to His name.”  In 70 A. D. Titus and his Roman Legions destroyed the second temple of God and the Jews were once again scattered around the world until May 14, 1948.  (See my introduction)

            It was on the 10th of December, 2011 that we began the study of the book of Psalms and today we have concluded the forth book in the book of Psalms.  We still have a long ways to go in order to finish looking at Psalms, but by God’s grace we will complete this study in His timing.  I am looking forward to this fifth book, especially the long 119 Psalm which will take many days to go over.



            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  God will always keep His covenants and promises that He has made even though at times I don’t see this happening.  God is faithful and worthy of all praise and glory.



My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to work in my life, and continue to memorize the first eleven verses in 2Peter chapter one so that I can begin to meditate on them in order to be more like my Lord and Savior.



Memory verses for the week:  2Peter 1:1-7



1.       Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as our, by the righteousness of our

God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 2. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God of 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.  4. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

            5. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6. and in knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance godliness, 7. and in your godliness brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.



7/22/2012 9:32:11 AM  

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