December 5
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MAY MY PRAISE BE PLEASING TO HIM
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
May the LORD rejoice in His works;
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my praise be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall rejoice in the LORD.
35 May sinners be removed from the earth
And may the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, my soul.
Praise the LORD! Psalm 104:31-35
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This psalm is an exaltation to the Lord. The psalmist declares God’s glory that lasts throughout eternity. It is a declaration of God’s mighty deeds and his power. In verse 32, it gives us a picture of how everything is under God’s control: the earth and mountains all are only able to follow what He wants done. In verse 33, the psalmist models what all believers ought to do, to sing praises to the Lord Almighty, who is worthy of all praise. He declares his choice to be loyal to only bring God the glory. He made a promise that while he still has breath, he will only be faithful to Him. Verse 34 is another declaration of his reverence for the Lord. How he ensures that his worship will be in accordance to God’s preferred adoration. He prays in verse 35 that those who habitually sins be annihilated from this earth. He pleads God to watch his soul prosper and continue to praise Him.
According to enduringword.com commentary, the psalmist understood that God is also worshipped by our thoughts. What we choose to set our mind on is a measure of what we truly value. Knowing the greatness and goodness of God as revealed in creation, the psalmist wanted his thoughts to be pleasing to God.
May sinners be consumed from the earth: This seems a strange and solemn declaration in this psalm. Yet it is the logical consequence for those who reject God as Creator. Paul later developed this thought in Romans 1, speaking of the guilt and consequences due to those who reject God as Creator and worship the creature rather than the Creator.
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REFLECTION
• How can the way we worship God be displeasing to Him?
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IN WISDOM, GOD MADE ALL THINGS
December 4
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IN WISDOM, GOD MADE ALL THINGS
LORD, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your possessions.
25 There is the sea, great and broad,
In which are swarms without number,
Animals both small and great.
26 The ships move along there,
And Leviathan, which You have formed to have fun in it.
They all wait for You To give them their food in due season.
28 You give to them, they gather it up;
You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.
29 You hide Your face, they are terrified;
You take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust.
30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the ground. -Psalm 104:24-30
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In this psalm, the psalmist addresses how God created all things in wisdom. Each and every thing he made has a purpose. The Lord made all things for Himself. He carefully thought how each of his creatures will live and every detail of their existence is well planned. In verse 25, the psalmist especially mentions the bodies of water that God has placed many different mammals and creatures to live in it. Leviathan, a sea monster is mentioned here just as Job 40 talks about this same creature. In verse 25, the psalmist says that God put Leviathan in the sea to have fun in it. Each of these creatures just wait on God to provide for them so they can continue to exist and be part of God’s plan. But, I wonder why God created Leviathan which also brings so much havoc on mankind as his spirit dwells on us and casts so much destruction. In Job 38-39, we learn that in order for creation to live and thrive, the Lord explains to Job that there must be room for the random and uncanny. I quote this from a commentary from massbible.org.
In verse 29, the psalmist recognizes the fear of not having God’s presence and how it will terrify them immensely if God abandons them. They are completely dependent on God for their lives. In verse 30 we clearly see that God is the source of life and all creation.
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REFLECTION
• Why the fear the Lord the beginning of all wisdom as Proverbs 9:10 says?
GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS CREATION ILMA’S VLOG
December 2
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GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS CREATION
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the labor of mankind,
So that they may produce food from the earth,
15 And wine, which makes a human heart cheerful,
So that he makes his face gleam with oil,
And food, which sustains a human heart.
16 The trees of the LORD drink their fill,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17 Where the birds build their nests,
And the stork, whose home is the juniper trees.- Psalm 104:14-17
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According to a commentary, the psalmist continued his thoughts on nature, seeing how God provides grass for animals and vegetation for the service of man. Spurgeon says “Divine power is as truly and as worthily put forth in the feeding of beasts as in the nurturing of man; watch but a blade of grass with a devout eye and you may see God at work within it.” God designed the ecology of the world so that with work, man may bring forth food. Under God’s blessing and man’s work, the food brought forth is wonderful. God’s earth gives us wine, oil, and bread – each with their own blessing and goodness.
Clarke comments on verse 15 that “Wine, in moderate quantity, has a wondrous tendency to revive and invigorate the human being. Ardent spirits exhilarate, but they exhaust the strength; and every dose leaves man the worse. Unadulterated wine, on the contrary, exhilarates and invigorates: it makes him cheerful, and provides for the continuance of that cheerfulness by strengthening the muscles, and bracing the nerves. This is its use. Those who continue drinking till wine inflames them, abuse this mercy of God.” In verse 16, The psalmist had a vision of how healthy and vigorous nature is. He thought of the mighty cedars of Lebanon and how, in their sap-filled health, they give a place where the birds make their nests. They are the trees of the LORD in the sense that no human hand planted them; He planted these mighty trees.
What a wonderful tribute to God’s provision! He thinks of every detail. He always has humans and other creatures in his mind and ensures that they are all cared for. I love trees and each time I look at them, I marvel at God’s wondrous creation.
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REFLECTION
• How can we develop a grateful attitude towards God’s provisions?
THE EARTH IS SATISFIED WITH THE FRUIT OF GOD’S WORKS ILMA’S VLOG
December 1
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THE EARTH IS SATISFIED WITH THE FRUIT OF GOD’S WORKS
He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;
11 They give drink to every animal of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky dwell beside them;
They lift up their voices from among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.- Psalm 104:10-13
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According to enduringword.com, in the previous section, the psalmist referred to what God did with the waters of the earth after the flood in Noah’s day. Now he considers how God distributed waters across the land, sending springs into the valleys to give drink to every beast of the field. The psalmist considered how the water, plants, and animals of the earth each find their place in God’s plan and order. The wild donkeys drink their water, the birds have a home so they may sing among the branches. He saw a good, harmonious world in nature and knew Yahweh was responsible for it. According to Poole, Wild donkeys are mentioned by the psalmist partly because they are dry and thirsty creatures; and partly because they live in dry and desolate wildernesses, and are neither ruled nor regarded by men, and are most stupid creatures, and yet are plentifully provided for by the care and bounty of Divine Providence.” Horne says that birds sing among the branches: “If these little choristers of the air, when refreshed by the streams near which they dwell, express their gratitude by chanting, in their way, the praises of their Maker and Preserver, how ought Christians to blush, who, besides the comforts and conveniences of this world, are so indulged with copious draughts of the water of eternal life, if, for so great blessings, they pay not their tribute of thanksgiving, and sing not unto the Lord the songs of Sion!”
How can humans take for granted the provisions of the Lord when the animals appreciate how God provides for them? Is it the free will given to us that corrupts humankind from being grateful? We become to busy with so many trivial things that we fail to see the beautiful things God created and how they all depend on God for everything and just patiently wait for God’s provision.
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REFLECTION
• What stops you from seeing the many provisions God has given you regularly?
COVER YOURSELF WITH LIGHT AS WITH A CLOAK
November 29
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COVER YOURSELF WITH LIGHT AS WITH A CLOAK
Bless the LORD, my soul!
LORD my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks on the wings of the wind;
4 He makes the winds His messengers, flaming fire His ministers. – Psalm 104:1-4
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According to a commentary, “Bless the LORD, O my soul” is repeated three times in the previous psalm, this phrase is a call to worship God in spirit and in truth, and to do so from one’s inmost being. barak. The Hebrew for blesse is the verb “barak” which means to kneel as seen in Genesis 24:11. However, when written in the piel form it means to show respect as seen in Genesis 12:2. When the psalmist say this, he means to give praise to God. Sadly, many of us today do not know how to worship God in spirit and truth. We worship him according to our limited minds which may have been corrupted by religion and other worldly system. Enduringword.com comments that the psalmist worshipped Yahweh as his God, and as the great One who is clothed with honor and majesty. The idol gods of the nations were often described as crude and shameful in their conduct, but Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, is known for His honor and majesty. God’s honor and majesty are as apparent as a person’s clothing, and so is the light-like purity of His being. Just as the creation in Genesis begins with describing the creation of light, so the psalmist first mentions light.
In verse 2, God’s honor and majesty are as apparent as a person’s clothing, and so is the light-like purity of His being. Just as the creation in Genesis begins with describing the creation of light, so the psalmist first mentions light in 1 Timothy 6:16 which says God dwells in unapproachable light. Perhaps this is another description or allusion to light as a garment. Spurgeon comments “If light itself is but his garment and veil, what must be the blazing splendour of his own essential being! We are lost in astonishment, and dare not pry into the mystery lest we be blinded by its insufferable glory.”
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REFLECTION
• How can we cover ourselves with God’s light?
• How can we worship God in spirit and in truth?
ASCRIBE STRENGTH TO GOD ILMA’S VLOG
November 28
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ASCRIBE STRENGTH TO GOD
Rebuke the animals in the reeds,
The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling the pieces of silver;
He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.
31 Messengers will come from Egypt;
Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord,
33 To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, He speaks with His voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel,
And His strength is in the skies.
35 God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God! – Psalm 68:30-35
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According to a commentary, reeds mentioned in verse 30 were often associated with the Nile River. David prayed that God would keep them safe against the Egyptians and Ethiopians. He asked God to do that until they, like all the nations, come in submitted tribute to Jerusalem. In another commentary, VanGemeren says that “the ‘beast’ and the ‘bulls’ denote the oppressors, troublers, and seducers of the nations. They must come to an end, as the nations that have loved warfare and tribute will be ‘humbled’.” In verse 32, knowing the ultimate victory of God, David invited the nations to worship Him now. It was far better for them to do it now out of a willing, surrendered heart than to do it later as conquered enemies of God. Spurgeon comments in this verse as “We have too much sinning against God, but cannot have too much singing to God.” In verse 34, David invites people to credit the God of Israel, who gives strength and power to His people: The God who is actively involved in the life and victory of His people is worthy of praise.
David ends this psalm with summons to credit all our strength and victory to the one and only true God, who is faithful to deliver, protect and let his beloved people win over the enemies. In our current world today, do we ascribe strength and victory to the Lord? Many power-hungry people take credit for what only belongs to God Almighty.
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REFLECTION
• Why do humans take credit for something that belongs to God?
GOD HAS COMMANDED YOUR STRENGTH ILMA’S VLOG
November 27
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GOD HAS COMMANDED YOUR STRENGTH
They have seen Your procession, God,
The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went on, the musicians after them,
In the midst of the young women beating tambourines.
26 Bless God in the congregations,
Even the LORD, you who are of the fountain of Israel.
27 Benjamin, the youngest, is there, ruling them,
The leaders of Judah in their company,
The leaders of Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali.
28 Your God has commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, God, You, who acted in our behalf.
29Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
Kings will bring gifts to You. – Psalm 68:24-29
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Matthew Henry comments on these following verses. The victories with which God blessed David over the enemies of Israel, are types of Christ’s victory, for himself and for all believers. Those who take him for theirs, may see him acting as their God, as their King, for their good, and in answer to their prayers; especially in and by his word and ordinances. The kingdom of the Messiah shall be submitted to by all the rulers and learned in the world. The people seem to address the king, verse 28. But the words are applicable to the Redeemer, to his church, and every true believer. We pray, that thou, O God the Son, wilt complete thine undertaking for us, by finishing thy good work in us.
In this psalm, David paints a picture of God’s people worshiping Him, marching and singing praises to their God. They always point to the Lord for all their strength and how they are only able to do things because the Lord is always on their defense and looking after their own welfare. God has granted them that desire to bring glory to himself by doing all these miracles in the lives of the Israelites. It is only fitting that they bring all the praise and adulation to the God who is always faithful and loving.
In this world we live in, it is easy to claim credit for God’s work. David reminds us of the importance of remembering what God does in our lives. Are we able to remember all that He has done for us and do we thank Him enough?
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REFLECTION
• How can we manifest worshiping God and thanking Him in our modern day lives?
GOD IS OUR SALVATION AND VICTORY ILMA’S VLOG
November 26
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GOD IS OUR SALVATION AND VICTORY
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation. 20 God is to us a God of salvation;
And to GOD the Lord belong ways of escape from death.
21 God certainly will shatter the heads of His enemies,
The hairy head of one who goes about in his guilt.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 So that your foot may shatter them in blood,
And the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.” -Psalm 68:19-23
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Verse 19 is praise to God for keeping up with our fallen nature. David recognizes that only in the Lord God it is possible for us to free and receive our redemption. Verse 20 according to enduring.com commentary speaks much of the ark coming to Jerusalem, but that only happened after David defeated Israel’s surrounding enemies. David thought of how God rescued him in those conflicts. In doing so He used the somewhat uncommon but wonderful phrasing of Yahweh Adonai (GOD the Lord). Verse 21 gives an illustration of God’s victory. David used an image from Genesis 3:15 where God promised that the Messiah would strike a fatal head wound against Satan. The victory would be total, with God’s people walking as winners over the field of battle. Poole comments on verse 21 regarding hairy head because in ancient times, many people used to wear long and shaggy hair, that their looks might be more terrible to their enemies.
Studylight.org comments on verse 22: David remembers God’s promise that the Israelites will be delivered and recovered from the depths of the sea, which means great danger. Numbers 21:33 mentions the great conflict with Og of Bashan and Exodus 14:22 illustrates the passage through the Red Sea.”The depths of the sea” is a proverb for imminent risks. Maurer, taking this view, makes the sea mean the Mediterranean on the west, as Bashan is on the east. Amos 9:3 then explains the language. But it is plainly Israel that is brought “from the depths of the sea” by ‘the God of salvation, her God, unto whom belong the issues of death’ (Psalms 68:19).
All the people of God must remember that we cannot take salvation in our own hands and bear all our burden. God is the only source of our salvation and victory.
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REFLECTION
• Why do we humans often think that we have any contribution in our salvation?
LIKE THE WINGS OF A DOVE COVERED WITH SILVER ILMA’S VLOG
November 25
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LIKE THE WINGS OF A DOVE COVERED WITH SILVER
When you lie down among the sheepfolds,
You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with glistening gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered the kings there, It was snowing in Zalmon.
15 The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of God;
The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.
16 Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks,
At the mountain God has desired as His dwelling?
Indeed, the LORD will dwell there forever.
17 The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands;
The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
18 You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among people,
Even among the rebellious as well, that the LORD God may dwell there. – Psalm 68:13-18
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Enduringword.com comments on verse 13 as: The people of God come from humble circumstances (they lie down among the sheepfolds), but they share in God’s great victory over their enemies and are graced with great blessings and gifts. “The wings of a dove, flashing silver and gold, have been taken to refer to Israel basking in prosperity (Delitzsch), to the enemy in flight (Briggs), to the glory of the Lord manifested at the battle (Weiser), or even to a particular trophy seized from the enemy.Verse 14 mentions snowing in Zalmon which is another name for Mount Ebal in central Israel, which many would consider more of a high hill than an actual mountain. The meaning of this line is not entirely clear and has been the source of much speculation.VanGemeren comments that “According to Judges 9:48, Zalmon (‘the Dark One’) is one of the mountains by Shechem.” “A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan which was an impressive mountain. Yet it and the other mountains seem to fume with envy when they see how God has favored Zion where He seats Jerusalem. Paul quoted Psalm 68:18 and applied it to Jesus, in Ephesians 4:8. Paul applied this to the ascension of Jesus into heaven and His sending of the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to His Church. David reflects on God’s great generosity to His chosen people. He equips them all with gifts for His kingdom.
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REFLECTION
• How are we using God’s gifts to further His kingdom?
GOD THE PROVIDER ILMA’S VLOG
November 24
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GOD THE PROVIDER
God, when You went forth before Your people,
When You marched through the desert,
8 The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You made plentiful rain fall, God;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched.
10 Your creatures settled in it;
In Your kindness You provided for the poor, God.
1 The Lord gives the command;
The women who proclaim good news are a great army:
12 “Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will divide the spoils!”- Psalm 68:7-12
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Enduringword.com comments on this psalm: David continued his thoughts on God’s presence with and care for Israel through the wilderness on the way to Canaan. You went out before Your people emphasizes the idea that God was with Israel; He did not abandon them despite the many ways they provoked Him. Spurgeon comments “We may speak, if we will, of the ‘wanderings of the children of Israel,’ but we must not think them purposeless strayings; they were in reality a well-arranged and well considered march.” Verse 8 says that the earth quaked As God was with Israel in the wilderness, they were protected. His might was on their side. No other nation could defeat them when they walked with God. Verse 9 mentions that as God was with Israel in the wilderness they were provided for. They would never suffer hunger or thirst as they walked in God’s presence. As part of that provision, God sent them a plentiful rain in a needy time. This care for them was a way God confirmed the special place Israel had in His heart and plan. They were His inheritance.“ Kidner says that verse 8’s allusion to Sinai is from the Song of Deborah in Judges 4:8. According to Horne for verse 12: Thus, in the spiritual war, apostles, confessors, and martyrs went out to the battle, fought and conquered…the benefits of victory extended to thousands and millions, who, without being exposed to their conflicts and torments, have enjoyed the fruit of their labours.” This psalm praises the Lord and give thanks for all His provision to His people.
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REFLECTION
• Why is praising the Lord and thanking Him important in our lives?