Tag: God

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Let’s praise the Lord, together! Psalm 34:1-3

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

I will bless the LORD at all times:
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:
the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together.

Psalms 34:1-3

Explanation

Psalm 34 is an incredible song of praise to God that is meant to be song in a communal way.  This is not just a individual song to the Lord.  The focus of verses 1-3 is that the worship of God by the individual will influence the praise of everyone that can hear.

God certainly is worthy to be praised, not just with our lips, but with our lives. This is a theme in the whole song. To praise with one and not the other does not reflect who God is. It is not right to praise the Lord on Sunday, and live like the devil the rest of the week. It is also not right to try to live by the will of God throughout the week and not open our mouth and praise Him, either.

This is certainly the concern of the first two verses. When does He desire to bless the Lord? “At all times”. How often does he praise? “Continually”.

If there is something to boast about, it is not in our individual accomplishments or abilities. It is in the Lord. This reminds me of Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 

Jeremiah 9:23-24

When the psalmist blesses the Lord, praises the Lord, and boasts in the Lord, then others who have the right mindset will hear this praise, blessing, and boating and “be glad”. 

This prompts verse 3.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

There is a recognition of who God is that comes as we recognize who we are. We are not supposed to be worshipped. We are to worship. We are not to worship one another, or fear one another the way we worship and fear the Lord. He is to be worshipped because He is Lord. We are not. 

Application

Praise and Worship, done in a way to truly honor the Lord, takes genuine humility. It’s not about us, but it shoudl be done by us. It’s not about me, thought it should be done by me. It is about Him. He is to be magnified. His name should be lifted up.

Worship is good for us because, rightly done, worship right sizes God and ourselves in our hearts. God is to be magnified, and we, His people, submit to Him.

Response

Father God, may my worship of you be loud. Let it be done in humility, and may it cause others to worship You today. Amen

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Tell Someone About God’s Forgiveness. Psalm 130:7-8

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment


Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

(8) And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7-8

Explanation
We see here a transition from talking to God and asking for His help, to proclaiming to those who need the same deliverance where it can be found.  Our hope for deliverance is in the Lord.  Why?

  • With the Lord there is mercy.
  • There is an abundance of redmeption.
  • God is able to redeem Israel from all “his iniquities”.

This is a declaration to everyone in the nation that God has more than enough mercy, forgiveness, and redemption to go around.  

Application
When we have sinned, then cried out to God, and experienced His forgiveness and deliverance, we should take one more step.  We should declare that God is a forgiving God.  We should proclaim that there is hope in Him.  The lost can be saved when they go to God for mercy.  They can be forgiven just like we can.

Response
Heavenly Father, who in my life needs to hear about the abundance of mercy that is found in you?  Direct me to them this week.  Help me to love them through bold proclamation of your forgiveness.  Amen.

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Good Dads Discipline Their Kids. Hebrews 12:7-8.

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Highlight: 

Hebrews 12:7-8

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Explanation:

This text points to a clear practical experience that relates to our relationship with God. A good father corrects his kids. A good father disciplines his kids. A good father uses a little stinging of the backside to keep his children from permanent damage. This is not abuse. In fact, it is abuse not to utilize some form of discipline. If a father does not correct his kids, then he is not being loving to them. God is a loving father, so God must correct his kids. Verse 8 tells us that if we never experience correction, then we are kids without a father. 

Paul gives fathers further instructions in Ephesians 6:4.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

This instruction given to fathers is exemplified by our Father. God does not ask us to do something as Fathers that He is not doing as our heavenly father. He admonishes and nurtures His kids. If you are not experiencing that, then you may not be his kid.

Application:

What is needed when I experience chastening?

Prayer and Introspection

It is so important to learn from the chastening of the Lord. If you are experiencing difficulty, the question that you need to be praying is, “Lord, what are you trying to teach me?” Psalm 51 is particularly helpful in this sense.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12

Repentance and Submission

When sin is pointed out by the Holy Spirit, then repentance and obedience are what is necessary. Again, Psalm 51 is helpful.

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 51:16-17

Response:

God, please give me the strength today to obey. Give me the awareness of my own walk with you to respond the way you would have me to respond. I don’t want to waste the time trying to serve you and be effective for you and doing it apart from you because of sin in my life. Without you I can do nothing. Amen

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Our God is Creator- Isaiah- Week 8- Day 3

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Isaiah 40:23-26

Explanation:

“That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

Princes and Judges are examples of some of the most notable and powerful of the earth have no strength compared to God.

“Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.”

The word “They” here continues to refer to the princes and judges. When it says they “shall not …be planted…be sown…take root in the earth” it is saying that they are not eternally strong or rooted in their going against God.
Notice this picture of God’s action against them. He could “blow upon them…and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble”. A person’s breath is not the strongest thing about them. The breath of God makes the strongest person whither. The whirlwind created by His breath will blow the strongest around like leaves, twigs, and dust.

In verse 25 he poses this question:

“To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”

What is the correct answer? No one. He is unequaled in the universe and beyond. He is unequaled in both His strength and in His Holiness.

Isaiah then gives this command.

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”

Isaiah recommends for us not to find our strength in the created thing. Rather, we must look to the God that created everything. His strength and power are unequaled.

Application:
It is not a wise thing to go against the Creator God of the universe. It is in our best interest to submit to Him. The good news is that He loves us. The command given in verse 26 is instructive. We should “lift up” our “eyes on high and behold who hath created these things”. When we look to other things for strength, drive, motivation, or reason for living, we will find ourselves lacking at some point. We will find ourselves going against the Creator God. Our question should be “God, what do you want?”.

Response:
Make a list of the things God has made for which you are most thankful.