SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/12/2012
5:43:22 PM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm
148-PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 148:1-6
Message of
the verses: We are fast coming to the end of the book of
Psalms with only three remaining. This
study began on December 10, 2012 and so it will take more than one year to
finish the study of these 150 psalms. We
will begin to look at Psalm 148, which is another psalm of praise, and as we
have been doing in the past we will look at several introductions from different
Bible commentators on this psalm.
“This psalm is a most solemn and earnest call to all
the creatures, according to their capacity, to praise their Creator, and to
show forth his eternal power and Godhead, the invisible things of which are
manifested in the things that are seen. Thereby the psalmist designs to express
his great affection to the duty of praise; he is highly satisfied that God is
praised, is very desirous that he may be more praised, and therefore does all
he can to engage all about him in this pleasant work, yea, and all who shall
come after him, whose hearts must be very dead and cold if they be not raised
and enlarged, in praising God, by the lofty flights of divine poetry which we
find in this psalm.
“
I. He calls upon the higher house, the creatures that are placed in the upper
world, to praise the Lord, both those that are intellectual beings, and are
capable of doing it actively (#Ps 148:1,2), and those that are not, and are
therefore capable of doing it only objectively, #Ps 148:3-6.
“ II.
He calls upon the lower house, the creatures of this lower world, both those
that can only minister matter of praise (#Ps 148:7-10) and those that, being
endued with reason, are capable of offering up this sacrifice (#Ps 148:11-13),
especially his own people, who have more cause to do it, and are more concerned
to do it, than any other, #Ps 148:14.”
(Matthew Henry)
“The song is one and indivisible. It seems almost
impossible to expound it in detail, for a living poem is not to be dissected
verse by verse. It is a song of nature
and of grace. As a flash of lightning flames through space, and enwraps both
heaven and earth in one vestment of glory, so doth the adoration of the Lord in
this Psalm light up all the universe, and cause it to glow with a radiance of
praise. The song begins in the heavens, sweeps downward to dragons and all
deeps, and then ascends again, till the people near unto Jehovah take up the
strain. For its exposition the chief requisite is a heart on fire with reverent
love to the Lord over all, who is to be blessed forever.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“The word ‘praise’ is used thirteen times in these
fourteen verses. The psalm begins in the
highest heavens and ends with the little nation of Israel. If any psalm reveals the glory and grandeur
of the worship of the Lord, it is this one, for it is cosmic in its dimension
and yet very personal in its intentions.
How anyone could trivialize the privilege and responsibility of worship
after pondering this psalm is difficult to understand.” (Warren Wiersbe)
The Heavens Praise the Lord (vv. 1-6): “1 ¶ Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the
heavens; Praise Him
in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His
angels; Praise Him,
all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of
light! 4 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that
are above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the
LORD, For He commanded and they were created. 6
He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree
which will not pass away.”
We see the word “praise” nine times in these six short
verses. The Hebrew word that is
translated “praise” is found 117 times in the KJV and it is also translated glory
14, boast 10, mad 8, shine 3, foolish 3, fools 2, commended 2, rage 2,
celebrate 1, give 1, marriage 1, renowned in the KJV. Praise and fools do not seem that they could
come from the same Hebrew word, but they do:
“2c) (Pual)
2c1) to be praised, be made
praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
2d) (Hithpael) to boast,
glory, make one’s boast
2e) (Poel) to make a fool
of, make into a fool
2f) (Hithpoel) to act
madly, act like a madman”
The psalmist begins his praise in the heavens and then
moves to the angels and all the hosts (armies of heaven), which means angels
and planets and stars and all of these praise the Lord. When we look in the Bible we see few descriptions
of praise and worship, but we do see it in Isaiah chapter six, Daniel 7:9-10;
and also in Revelations 5:11-14.
As believers we praise the Lord who made the heavens and the earth and all that
is seen, but there are times when the unbelievers worship the things that are
made on this earth, things like idols that have ears that do not hear, and eyes
that do not see, and a mouth that cannot speak, and also a nose that cannot
smell anything.
The psalmist speaks of the waters that are on the earth
and those that are above the earth, and this can be seen in Genesis 1:6-7 and
7:11.
Dr. Wiersbe finishes his commentary on these six verses
with these words, “Why should the hosts of heaven praise the Lord? Simply because He made them and gave them the
privilege of serving Him and His people and bringing glory to His name. We have many more reason for praising Him,
and yet too often, we do not do it.”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: Psalms 145-150
all speak of praising the Lord and I am glad to be studying these psalms
because that is one thing lacking in my walk with the Lord.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Praise the Lord, continue to learn
contentment, and continue to memorize and study God’s Word so that my mind will
be transformed from the inside out.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 130:1-8
1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD. 2 Lord,
hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3
If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is
forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen
for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel,
hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is
abundant redemption. 8 And He will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
12/12/2012 6:16:28 PM
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