Status of My Relationship

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 29. Here is what I learned.

The Lord’s voice ·makes the lightning flash [strikes with flashes of lightning]. Psalm 29:7 (EXB)

The psalmist here sets forth God's dominion in the kingdom of nature. In the thunder, and lightning, and storm, we may see and hear his glory. Let our hearts be thereby filled with great, and high, and honourable thoughts of God, in the holy adoring of whom, the power of godliness so much consists. O Lord our God, thou art very great! The power of the lightning equals the terror of the thunder. The fear caused by these effects of the Divine power, should remind us of the mighty power of God, of man's weakness, and of the defenceless and desperate condition of the wicked in the day of judgment.  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Respect. Honor. Fear. Awe. Terror. The power of God can evoke many emotions. 

If my soul is right with God, then the power of God produces honor, respect, awe, and yes, even comfort. Knowing that God is all-powerful, that means nothing is out of His control. 

If, however, I have sin in my heart, the power of God produces fear and terror. A Holy, all-powerful God, becomes Judge. Sin is an abomination to God. I’m very grateful that God provided a way of forgiveness and I have restored fellowship with God. 

The power of God is real. The status of my relationship with God determines if His display of power creates awe, respect and honor, or fear and terror. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure the status of my relationship with God is good standing, according to His standard. 

Recipient

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 96. Here is what I learned.

·Worship [Bow down to] the Lord ·because he is holy [in the splendor of his holiness]. Tremble before him, everyone on earth. Psalm 96:9 (EXB)

Worship the Lord in his holy splendor. Tremble in his presence, all the earth! Psalm 96:9 (GW)

Bow down to the Eternal, adorned in holiness; lay awestruck before Him, trembling, all people of the earth. Psalm 96:9 (VOICE)

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before and reverently fear Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9 (AMP)

"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." This is the only beauty which he cares for in our public services, and it is one for which no other can compensate. Beauty of architecture and apparel he does not regard; moral and spiritual beauty is that in which his soul delighteth. Worship must not be rendered to God in a slovenly, sinful, superficial manner; we must be reverent, sincere, earnest, and pure in heart both in our prayers and praises. Purity is the white linen of the Lord's choristers, righteousness is the comely garment of his priests, holiness is the royal apparel of his servitors.

"Fear before him, all the earth." "Tremble" is the word in the original, and it expresses the profoundest awe, just as the word "worship" does, which would be more accurately translated by "bow down." Even the bodily frame would be moved to trembling and prostration if men were thoroughly conscious of the power and glory of Jehovah. Men of the world ridiculed "the Quakers" for trembling when under the power of the Holy Spirit; had they been able to discern the majesty of the Eternal they would have quaked also. There is a sacred trembling which is quite consistent with joy, the heart may even quiver with an awful excess of delight. The sight of the King in his beauty caused no alarm to John in Patmos, and yet it made him fall at his feet as dead. Oh, to behold him and worship him with prostrate awe and sacred fear! The Treasury of David

As I think of the holiness God and the ugliness of my sin, I should tremble in fear. I’m thankful that I’ve accepted God’s gift of mercy and grace so that I can boldly enter His presence. But I still need to live in the awe and fear of the Almighty, Holy God. 

To create a positive day, I need to live my life in awe and fear of God, remembering to that I’m a recipient of His mercy and grace. 

Awe and Respect

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 33. Here is what I learned.

Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him. Psalm 33:8 (GW)

All the earth should ·worship [fear; hold in awe] the Lord; ·the whole [all the inhabitants of the] world should ·fear him [hold him in awe]. Psalm 33:8 (EXB)

"Let all the earth fear the Lord." Not only Jews, but Gentiles. The Psalmist was not a man blinded by national prejudice, he did not desire to restrict the worship of Jehovah to the seed of Abraham. He looks for homage even to far-off nations. If they are not well enough instructed to be able to praise at least let them fear. There is an inferior kind of worship in the trembling which involuntarily admits the boundless power of the thundering God. A defiant blasphemer is out of place in a world covered with tokens of the divine power and Godhead; the whole earth cannot afford a spot congenial for the erection of a synagogue of Atheism, nor a man in whom it is becoming to profane the name of God. "Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." Let them forsake their idols, and reverently regard the only living God. What is here placed as a wish may also be read as a prophecy: the adoration of God will yet be universal. The Treasury of David

Fear: stand in awe of.

Awe: admiration, apprehension, astonishment, consternation, dread, esteem, fear, fright, horror, regard, respect, reverence, shock, stupefaction, terror, veneration, wonder, wonderment, worship.

I was driving to my Chiropractor appointment, and heard a police siren. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw that the Police car was a few car lengths behind me. As my heart beat increased, I automatically took my foot off the gas and looked at the speedometer. No, I wasn’t speeding... I pulled over to the far right, and watched as the police officer drove on past. I took a deep breath and continued on my way. 

Why was my reaction one of fear, when I heard the siren? I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Yet, the respect I have for the Police, filled me with fear... and dread because of what I might have done wrong, I was fearful of the consequences. 

As I thought about Psalm 33:8, I’m the fear the Lord, not necessarily because of the consequences of disobedience, but rather because of WHO He is. The fact the God is God Almighty, should instill a sense of awe and respect. And that awe and respect should motivate me into obey and honoring God in all I do and say. 

To create a positive day, I need to fear God and that awe and respect should motivate me into obey and honoring God in all I do and say. 

Little Things and the Big Things

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 150. Here is what I learned.

Praise him for his strength; praise him for his [abundant] greatness. Psalm 150:2 (EXB)

Praise Him for His great works! Praise Him for all His greatness! Psalm 150:2 (NLV)

"Praise him for his mighty acts." Here is a reason for praise. In these deeds of power we see himself. These doings of his omnipotence are always on behalf of truth and righteousness. His works of creation, providence, and redemption all call for praise; they are his acts, and his acts of might, therefore let him be praised for them. "Praise him according to his excellent greatness." His being is unlimited, and his praise should correspond therewith. He possesses a multitude or a plenitude of greatness, and therefore he should be greatly praised. There is nothing little about God, and there is nothing great apart from him. If we were always careful to make our worship fit and appropriate for our great Lord how much better should we sing! How much more reverently should we adore! Such excellent deeds should have excellent praise. The Treasury of David

“There is nothing little about God, and there is nothing great apart from him.” I like that. Nothing little about God.... and nothing great apart from Him. Wow. 

When I think of the “little” things that God has done and continues to do in my life, I’m overwhelmed with praise and awe. He is a God of details. Nothing is too small for Him to take care of... but He, Himself is not small. 

Then when I think of the “big” things God has done and continues to do in my life, I’m overwhelmed at God’s generosity and goodness towards me. And once again, I’m filled with praise and awe. 

God is great, magnificent, powerful..... but He’s also loving, kind, and shows great attention to the “little things” in my life. That’s why I praise God!  

Taking notice of the little things and the big things that God does, produces praise and that in turn creates a positive day!