Small Saplings Became Towering Trees – Psalm 104:1-18

“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. You cover Yourself with light as with a garment, and stretch out the heavens like a curtain.” Psalm 104:1-2

In Isaiah 64:7, the prophet lamented that no one was calling upon the Lord’s Name. No one was taking hold of God. Where were the “Davids” whose souls bless the Lord?

I am very thankful to live in a time and place where many souls bless the Lord. I appreciate the worship songs that are being composed and led by skilled musicians. Within 5 minutes of my house there is a church that holds nearly 1,000 people, and it has three worship services per weekend full of people. It is only one of many Christ exalting church in our area. “Thank You Heavenly Father for raising up so many worshippers and lovers of You in the St. Louis area!”

Besides the churches in my area, there are also many worship services available online. Two of my daughters’ husbands (Todd Fletcher and Chris Stevenson) pastor a church in Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado, called Chapel in the Hills. The Lord has anointed Chris with the gift of worship leading and preaching, and Todd is the senior pastor. He preaches extremely well-prepared, Scripture-based Christ-exalting messages. I attached the link to the Chapel’s website below. [1]

What surrounds God? Honor and majesty! He is worshipped by millions in heaven and on earth.

David describes God’s greatness using images associated with earthly kings, showing that even the most magnificent rulers pale in comparison to Him. [2]

Kings display greatness by wearing royal garments. What royal garment does God wear? He “covers Himself with light.” Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world.” In James 1:17, we read, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Light helps us to see things clearly. God is a revealer of truth. In His light, we can discern between right and wrong.

“He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, who makes the clouds His chariot, who walks on the wings of the wind, who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” Psalm 104:3-4

Kings display greatness by living in palaces. God’s palace is heaven itself. He “stretches out the heavens like a curtain.” The waters above the heavens are held firmly in place by His power. [3]

Kings display greatness by riding in splendid chariots. God “makes the clouds His chariot” and He “walks on the wings of the wind.” God travels on a super highway in the sky above obstacles and steers the wind as a driver steers a car.

Kings display greatness by delegating important matters to their servants. God’s angels are on fire to serve Him. They are swift, powerful, and pure. They carry out His commands with perfect obedience. The tasks that He gives them to do are righteous, holy and beneficial.

“You laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever.” Psalm 104:5

Paul wrote of Jesus in Colossians 1:17, saying, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Jesus keeps creation from falling apart. This truth is echoed in Hebrews 1:3, which states that Jesus upholds all things by the Word of His power.

Personally, I can say that Jesus has kept me from falling apart. I have had my heart broken numerous times, but Jesus healed it and made it stronger afterwards. Thus, I bless His Name!

“You covered it [the earth] with the deep as with a garment. The waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled. At the voice of Your thunder, they hastened away. They went up over the mountains. They went down into the valleys, to the place which You founded for them. You have set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they may not return to cover the earth.” Psalm 104:6-9

God also demonstrates His power by setting boundaries for the sea. At creation, the waters covered the earth, making it unsuitable for human habitation. But in Genesis 1:9, at God’s command, the waters retreated and dry land appeared. The waters fled at His rebuke to the place that He had assigned them. They obeyed God immediately and completely. [4]

We too can obey God immediately and completely by the power of His Spirit and Word working in us. In Acts 5:32, Peter testified that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. In 2 Peter 1:3, he wrote, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”

“He sends the springs into the valleys. They flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them, the birds of the heavens have their home. They sing among the branches.” Psalm 104:10-12

The oceans contain vast amounts of water, but the saltiness of the water makes it unfit to drink. So, our Heavenly Father kindly provides fresh water springs and streams to flow from hills into valleys. [5] Thus, He quenches the thirst of panting beasts, braying donkeys, and chirping birds.

“He waters the hills from His upper chambers. The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart.” Psalm 104:13-15

God waters the hills from His heavenly storehouses. He fills the clouds with moisture, and then, orders them to rain upon the earth. Lands neglected by rivers are refreshed by rain.

The abundance of fresh water on earth is a great mercy. Without it, much of the world would be uninhabitable. Blessings that are common are often overlooked, but their very necessity makes them all the more valuable. [6]

I enjoy listening to birds sing their joyful melodies as gentle raindrops begin to fall. I have seen them take playful baths in puddles. They appear to be so happy. God takes care of them.

The Lord refreshes cattle, crops, vineyards and orchards with water so that we people have an enjoyable variety of foods to keep us happy, healthy, and strong.

“The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted, where the birds make their nests. The stork has her home in the fir trees. The high hills are for the wild goats. The cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers.” Psalm 104:16-18

“Bless the Lord O my soul because He makes small saplings grow into towering trees!” He gives to us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that we “may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3)

“Bless the Lord O my soul because He provides safe places for creatures of the earth!”

Storks, wild goats, and rock badgers cannot easily defend themselves against vicious predators. Tall fir trees, high hills, and mountain cliffs are places of safety for them. [7]

“Bless the Lord O our souls because God provides care for lesser creatures of the earth, and He provides care for you and me who are made in His image!”



[1] Livestream: https://youtube.com/@chapelinthehills1957?si=cwigQqhRRaW_2Jc4

Website: www.chapelinthehills.org/sermons

[2-7] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Bless the Lord O My Soul – Psalm 103

“A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2

David told his soul to bless the Lord and not to forget all His benefits. My experience is that when my soul is satisfied with abiding in Christ and proclaiming His Name, the rest of me is happier, and less hungry for that which is not good for me. As John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease.” One Christian chorus puts it this way, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

“He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:3-5

Bless the Lord because He forgives, heals and redeems us. In 1 Peter 1:18-19, Peter reminds us that we were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from our aimless conduct received by tradition from our fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

“He heals our diseases.” 1 Peter 2:24, says that Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” The mother of all diseases is sin. Sin yields disease and death. Christ took our sin upon Himself, and thus, has a legal base to heal us. In Acts 10:38, Peter preached that Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is still healing people today.

Jesus crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies by giving us His Spirit. The Holy Spirit satisfies our mouth with confessions of Christ. He renews our youth by giving us eternal life. Think of it! No matter how old you are now, once you receive eternal life in Christ, you are a young person again. Even 100 years old is young when you have eternal life.

The eagle was thought to regain strength and vigor as it renewed its feathers. [1] Jesus renews humankind’s original strength and vigor by filling us with His Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

The redemption of the soul is beyond anything we could accomplish ourselves. Thus, we bless the Lord for His gracious work in our lives. [2]

“The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” Psalm 103:6

God’s goodness is revealed when He intervenes on behalf of oppressed people. It is His glory to humble oppressors and lift up the oppressed.

“He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.” Psalm 103:7

One of God’s greatest gifts is His revelation. By making Himself known, He restores us to fellowship with Him. Through His Word, He teaches us who He is, how He works, what He requires of us, and what we may expect from Him. [3] He also reveals to us our purpose.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.” Psalm 103:8-9

Psalm 103:8-9 basically repeats what God revealed to Moses about Himself. In Exodus 34:6, the Lord passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”

Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children. Instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Our Heavenly Father’s goal is not to exasperate us. Daily, He comes alongside of us by His Spirit and instructs us in His ways.

How thankful we should be that God does not constantly rebuke us! If He dealt with us as harshly as we deserve, we could not stand. [4]

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:10-11

God does not punish us according to our sin when we receive His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus took the wrath that our sin deserved and gave to us the righteousness of God. It is “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned when I am in Christ... this is what it means to be justified by faith in Christ.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

When God forgives, He removes our sins completely. They are no longer charged against us or brought up in judgment. They are gone beyond recovery. This is why we ask God to forgive us.

In Micah 7:19, we read, “You [God] will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

“As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13

Like a loving father, He instructs His children when they lack understanding, bears patiently with their weaknesses, comforts them in suffering, lifts them when they fall, forgives them when they repent, and defends them when they are wronged. [5]

The reason for this compassion is that He knows our frailty.

“For He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14

God knows how fragile our bodies are, and how imperfect our understanding can be. Therefore, He deals with us gently and mercifully. [6]

“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.” Psalm 103:15

Our current bodies are like grass or flowers that flourish briefly and then fade away. Being ever mindful of this keeps us humble, less attached to this world, and more mindful of eternity. [7]

“For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children – to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.” Psalm 103:16-18

Though human life is short, God’s mercy is eternal. God’s mercy extends beyond this present life. It reaches back into His eternal purposes and forward into His everlasting glory. Death cannot shorten or diminish the blessings He has prepared for us who love Him. [8]

God’s mercy continues to 1,000 generations of those who love Him. In Deuteronomy 7:9, He said, “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19

God does not miss anything. In Matthew 10:29, Jesus said that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from our Father’s will. In Matthew 10:30, Jesus told us, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” He is all knowing. Before AI, it was hard for us to imagine that one database could hold and intelligibly compute so much information, but God is greater than AI.

“Bless the Lord, you His messengers, who excel in strength, who do His Word, heeding the voice of His Word. Bless the Lord, all you His army, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.” Psalm 103:20-21

David urged all God’s messengers to keep on blessing the Lord. What does God do for His messengers? He gives us strength to hear His voice and do His pleasure. In Philippians 2:13, Paul wrote that “God works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.” Praise the Lord!

“Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Psalm 103:22

All creation displays God’s glory, but amidst all created things, nothing else more clearly reflects God’s image than you and me. Thus, we should not let stones or any other created thing render more blessings to God than we do.

In Luke 19:40, when a multitude of His disciples joyfully praised God and shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord,” the Pharisees in the crowd asked Jesus to rebuke and quiet them down. Jesus answered them, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” [9]

David ends this Psalm as he began it, by singing, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!”


[1-8] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[9] gotquestions.org/rocks-cry-out.html

Faithful to All Generations – Psalm 102

“A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.” Psalm 102 introduction

Psalm 102 corresponds with the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:28, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” Prayer is an opportunity to cast our burden on the Lord. God invites us to speak freely to Him. In Psalm 55:22, we read, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.”

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You. Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble. Incline Your ear to me. In the day that I call, answer me speedily.” Psalm 102:1-2

We can pray with confidence. God invites us to seek Him and promises to answer our prayers. Jesus encouraged us to be persistent in prayer. I like the option here of praying for a quick reply.

“For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth. My heart is stricken and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. Because of the sound of my groaning my bones cling to my skin. I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. My enemies reproach me all day long. Those who deride me swear an oath against me. For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, because of Your indignation and Your wrath. For You have lifted me up and cast me away.” Psalm 102:3-10

The enemies of God cannot tolerate anyone who is like Him. In John 1:10-11, we read, “He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”

The religious leaders in Jerusalem vehemently opposed Jesus. In Matthew 15:13-14, Jesus advised His disciples concerning them, saying, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” They grieved the Lord to the point of exasperation.

In Philippians 3:18-19, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”

When devotion to God is treated with contempt, it grieves those who love Him.

In Psalm 102:3-11, the bones of the Psalmist are burning. His heart is dry. He has lost his appetite. He is thin. He feels like a lonely pelican, owl or sparrow. His enemies have hit him with continuous waves of insults. His tears are flowing. He’s thinking that even God is against him.

Jesus experienced such grief. In Matthew 27:46, He cried out from the cross, saying, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” According to Isaiah 53:4, Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows but was esteemed by people as a person stricken, smitten and afflicted by God.

Isaiah 53:5 assures us that, “He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

“My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass.” Psalm 102:11

Finally, he sees himself as a dying man. [1]

“But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your Name to all generations.” Psalm 102:12

He rejoices that God lives forever. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus assured us that the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church. Antichristian politicians, philosophers and popular stars will fade away, but our resurrected Savior Jesus Christ and those who love Him live forever and ever.

“You will arise and have mercy on Zion for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come.” Psalm 102:13

The psalmist rests in God’s grace and timing. God’s deliverance does not happen randomly, it happens at the appointed time. The seventy-year captivity in Babylon illustrates this truth. When the appointed time arrived, God restored His people to the Promised Land. [2]

For us who trust in God today, let us remember that the same God who hears a farmer’s prayer for rain, hears our prayer for a rainless day. He takes all things into consideration and does what is best for all who are involved, and does so at the right moment.

“For Your servants take pleasure in her stones and show favor to her dust.” Psalm 102:14

God’s servants loved Zion so deeply that they cherished even its scattered stones and dust. Their affection did not disappear when the temple was destroyed. True love for God’s Church remains steadfast in times of suffering as well as prosperity. Such concern in the hearts of God’s people is a sign of His Spirit moving among them. [3]

“So the nations shall fear the Name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory.” Psalm 102:15

As people of nations realize that God defends and blesses His servants, their attitudes toward Him change. Some will even be drawn to join themselves to the Lord, say with the words of Zechariah 8:23, “We will go with you, for we have seen that God is with you.” [4]

“For the Lord shall build up Zion. He shall appear in His glory.” Psalm 102:16

After Jesus died upon the cross for our sins, those who loved Him placed His body in a tomb. Those who hated Him assigned guards to ensure that His dead body remained in the tomb. However, the prophecy that the Lord shall build up Zion and appear in glory must be fulfilled, so three days later, the Lord appeared to His disciples. He ate with them and allowed them to touch His hands and side. It is this good news that builds up Zion. Jesus makes Himself real to us who believe in Him, and we give to Him GLORY!

“He shall regard the prayer of the destitute and shall not despise their prayer.” Psalm 102:17

Earthly rulers often overlook the poor, but God does not. The Lord listens carefully, and answers their requests. When they express fear, God assures them that He is with them and loves them.

God assures us in 1 John 2:1, “If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” In Hebrews 4:15, we read that Jesus Christ is the High Priest that is touched with the feelings of our infirmities because He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.”

“This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” Psalm 102:18

God preserves the Bible. He wants all people to hear the Gospel and be saved.

“For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary. From heaven the Lord viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death, to declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem.” Psalm 102:19-21

When God’s people were captives in Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, He heard their cries. He restored His scattered people to the Promised Land. [5]

The fulfilled prophecies of God to Israel encourage us that He will keep His promises to us as well. In John 14:1-3, Jesus promised us, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

We proclaim and praise the Name of the Lord because He keeps His promises to His people.

“When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.” Psalm 102:22

When God gathers His people, others are often drawn to join them. The above passage points beyond the Old Testament to the gathering of Jews and Gentiles into the Church of Christ. [6]

Christ sets captives free. Through His Gospel, people from every nation have come together to worship the Lord and praise His Name.

“He weakened my strength in the way. He shortened my days.” Psalm 102:23

When the ten tribes disappeared into Assyrian captivity and the remaining tribes were nearly destroyed in Babylon, the nation’s strength seemed broken and its future cut short. In Ezekiel 37:11, they cried out, “Our hope is lost. We are cut off.” How could God’s promise of Messiah be fulfilled if the people of Israel ceased to exist? [7]

“I said, ‘O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.’” Psalm 102:24

God’s people must not be cut off before the promised Messiah arrives. Though Israel deserved judgment, she pleaded for mercy because of the blessing still contained within her. As God commanded in Isaiah 65:8, “Destroy it not! For a blessing is in it.” [8]

The promise of Messiah must be fulfilled if anybody is to inherit eternal life.

“Do not take me away in the midst of my days.” We want to live forever with God. Thus, we hold to the promise that Christ made to us in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure. Yes, they will all grow old like a garment. Like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.” Psalm 102:25-28

The Apostle Paul applies these verses to Christ in Hebrews 1:10–12. [9] The world, as we know it now, will pass away, but Jesus Christ remains forever and so do those who serve Him.

As Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

His years cannot be shortened. His purposes cannot fail. [10]

The day is coming when the present heaven and earth will give way to a new creation. Like an old garment cast aside, the present order will be replaced by a new heaven and new earth.

Psalm 102 concludes with a comforting promise: “The children of Your servants shall continue.” Thus, we can release our burden for our children to God. He will be faithful to our future generations! Praise the Lord!


[1-10] Material edited and developed from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

A Committed Follower of Christ – Psalm 101

“A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and justice, to You, O Lord, I will sing praises.” Psalm 101:1

David sang praises to the Lord. God was the “action” hero who provided for him mercy and justice. The evil one sought to destroy him throughout his life, but as Paul later wrote in 2 Timothy 4:18, it was also true for David: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Thus, David reserved his praises for God alone.

Paul also wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We should thank and praise God whether He is pruning us or allowing us to flourish. God is working all things together for good for us who love Him and are called by Him. He promised us this in Romans 8:28.

“I will behave wisely in a perfect way. O, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Psalm 101:2

David began this Psalm with singing praises to the Lord. After worshipping the Lord, he considered his daily routines. Was he behaving wisely? Were his actions saying, “I love You Lord” or “Not now Lord – only come to me on Sabbaths?” Was his heart pursuing God? David wanted the Lord to come to him daily. His behavior during weekdays was also worship to God.

David pursued excellence for God’s glory both in the work place and at home. He willingly submitted to the disciplines of the Lord. [1] He conformed his lifestyle to God’s ways. He was a disciple of the Lord.

David prayed, “Oh, when will You come to me?” He did not want to hide from God as Adam and Eve did after they sinned. He desired God's presence in his home. He wanted God to come to him. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” We must have God to have a godly home environment.

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away. It shall not cling to me.” Psalm 101:3

Years ago, I learned that there is a Bible verse in the King James Version of the Bible about TV. In Psalm 119:37, there is a word that begins with “T” and a word that begins with “V.” “Turn away mine eyes from beholding Vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way.” The New King James Version of this text is, “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.” So much of what is on TV is vain and worthless. Those who walk wisely will not let a TV spew forth blasphemy and vulgarity into their homes.

David was careful about those he allowed into his household and government. He would not encourage sinful people, give them influence, or allow them to spread corruption. [2]

“A perverse heart shall depart from me. I will not know wickedness.” Psalm 101:4

In Job 1:8, the Lord said of His servant Job, “There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” In Job 31:1, Job declared, “I have made a covenant with my eyes. Why then should I look upon a young woman?” In Matthew 5:28, Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” A TV show or theater movie does not have to be rated, TV14, PG, R or X to be perverse in nature. If the images evoke perverse thoughts, or if God’s name or if a slang for God’s name is used like “Gosh” for “God” or “Gee” for “Jesus,” it is good to shun such evil and to honor God.

Do we have a “high place” that we refuse to purge? “High places were locations outside of the Jerusalem Temple where Israelites went to offer sacrifices and worship, often intermingling Canaanite idolatry with the worship of the Lord.” [3] Solomon built them for his pagan wives.

Personally, I refuse to honor Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Halloween. God alone deserves the glory for sending His Son into the world to save us. God alone keeps us from evil and causes our fields to produce generous crops of food for us to eat. Yes, people can chemically enhance plants and livestock, but some chemicals are harmful, and it is never good to partake of poison.

The Bible notes that some good kings failed to purge Israel of its high places. “Kings as good as Asa, whose heart was “wholly true to the Lord all his days,” did not remove the high places (1 Kings 15:14). Jehoshaphat and Jotham did “what was right in the sight of the Lord,” and “Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places” (1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 15:34-35). These stubborn centers of idolatry were a perpetual stain in Israelite worship.”

“Overall, high places plagued Israel off-and-on right up until the exile. The list of those who had the courage and wisdom to remove them for a generation is short. Only kings Hezekiah and Josiah tore them down (2 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 23:19).” [4]

Which “high places” have remained among us for generations with no one willing to remove them? David not only avoided wrongdoing. He hated it. Zeal for God consumed him.

“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy. The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure.” Psalm 101:5

Slanderers tarnish people’s image. This is what many news stations do. They seek for bad stories about people, and if they cannot find one, they create one. Such people create conflict because their motive is selfish in nature and not motivated by God’s love.

David opposed haughty looks and proud hearts. So did Jesus! In Matthew 23:4-7, Jesus called out the Pharisees for doing their works for self-serving purposes. They loved the best seats in the synagogues and special greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, “Rabbi.” Jesus taught, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

“My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me.” Psalm 101:6

David sought trustworthy and godly people to serve with him. He looked for people who loved God and people. Godly character mattered more to David than surface attractiveness.

Christ welcomes faithful servants into His presence. In Matthew 25:21, Jesus said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

“He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house. He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” Psalm 101:7

Unlike rulers who used deceit to accomplish their goals, David removed liars from his presence.

Jesus said of Satan in John 8:44, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” The devil’s destiny is the lake of fire.

“Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.” Psalm 101:8

David’s concern extended beyond his own household and court. He wanted righteousness to spread throughout the nation. He acted quickly against proven wrongdoing. He enforced justice without delay. His goals included the honor of God and the purity of God’s people. [5]

A nation is weakened and destroyed by persistent wickedness. Therefore, everyone should do what they can in their own sphere of influence to promote righteousness and oppose evil. [6]

David’s efforts point forward to the day when Christ purges heaven and earth from evil. Nothing sinful will exist in New Jerusalem. [7]

Psalm 101 is about being a disciple of Jesus. There is a difference between being a “Christian” in name-only and a committed follower of Christ. A committed disciple wants the Lord to mentor and fill him or her daily with His Spirit. He or she wants others to see Jesus in his or her life.



[1] Material edited and developed from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] www.bcne.net/articles/tear-down-the-high-places, article by Rick Harrington
[4] Ibid
[5-7] Material edited and developed from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Know that the Lord is God – Psalm 100

“A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands.” Psalm 100:1

True to its title, “A Psalm of Thanksgiving,” Psalm 100 invites people from every land to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Joy to the world comes when the Gospel is preached and believed. I experience joy when I share the Gospel with people. And people who need and want to know that God loves them also experience joy when they hear this Good News.

Psalm 99 focused on Israel’s privilege to rejoice in God’s reign. Psalm 100 focuses on the privilege of all people everywhere to rejoice in God. Psalm 100 may have been written especially for the Gentile converts who came from many lands to worship the God of Israel. [1]

“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!” Psalm 100:2

In Colossians 3:23-24, Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” In Acts 13:22, Paul quoted the words of the Lord about David, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” David served the Lord with gladness and singing because he saw beyond the task at hand to final outcome, that is, to be forever with the Lord.

In Genesis 29:20, we read, “Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.” One way to make our time seem to pass quickly here on earth is to spend our days being filled with love for God and people.

In 1 John 2:17, John wrote, “The world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.” In Romans 8:18, Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” In a little while, we who love the Lord, will behold His face, and enjoy being with Him forever.

God welcomes us to come into His presence with singing. What does that say about God? Do you welcome people to come into your presence with singing? Would an earthly king or president welcome anybody coming into His presence with singing? We come to God in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ with confidence to sing unto Him because we know He will receive us. Most Christian worship services begin with singing praises and giving thanks to the Lord.

God delights in the praises of His people.

“Know that the Lord. He is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3

The Holy Spirit gives blessed assurance to our souls that the God of the Bible is God. He assures us through God’s words in the Bible that we did not come into existence by accident. Each of us reflect God’s image. Our appearance reflects His glory. What’s more, He did not abandon us after He made us. He calls us His people and the sheep of His pasture. These are terms of endearment. He identifies with us. He is committed to protecting, sustaining and loving us.

Only the Lord God is worthy of worship. Unlike the idols of the nations, which are products of human imagination and craftsmanship, the Lord God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

We are the sheep of his pasture. Every good gift comes from His hand.

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His Name.” Psalm 100:4

We come before God “with singing.” We “enter into His gates with thanksgiving.” God is gracious to grant us access to come before Him! The Creator and Sustainer of the universe listens to our prayers and to our rejoicing before Him.

Under the Old Testament system, ordinary worshippers could not enter the Holy Place. Only the priests could do that. Nevertheless, the people were privileged to gather in the courts of God’s house and worship Him there. They did so joyfully. [2]

“For the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5

God does good for us because He IS good. The grace that flows from His throne never runs dry. Throughout eternity, we, His redeemed people, will be testimonies to the wonders of His love.

In Psalm 136, the refrain “His mercy endures forever” is repeated 26 times. The Hebrew word “Chesed” (חֶסֶד) is often translated as “mercy” or “loving kindness.” The repetition of this refrain throughout the psalm emphasizes the never-ending and unchanging nature of God’s love. [3]

“His truth endures to all generations.” God has watched over His Word to ensure that it remains available and unchanged. Various kings and dictators have tried to destroy it, but all failed.

In Matthew 5:18, Jesus assured us, saying, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” “A ‘jot’ refers to the iota (the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet) and the ‘yodh’ (the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet). A ‘tittle’ is the tiny pen stroke or horn that distinguishes one Hebrew letter from another. Jesus mentioned these microscopic marks to confirm that no detail of God’s Word will be lost.

The reliability of God’s truth is further reason to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” Let us thank God and bless His Name. Amen!


[1] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] GotQuestions.com
[4] Jerusalemperspective.com/2062/

Outstanding Leaders Like Christ – Psalm 99

“The Lord reigns. Let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim. Let the earth be moved! The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples.” Psalm 99:1-2

The Lord commanded ten plagues on Egypt, and Egypt yielded and bowed to His mighty power. The proud Pharaoh and his mighty army learned that the Lord reigns over all kings. In Exodus 5:2, the Pharoah said to Moses, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” In Exodus 12:32, the Pharaoh said to Moses, “You and the Israelites must leave my people at once. Go, worship the Lord as you asked.”

In Revelation 6:12-17, after Messiah opens the sixth seal, the earth quakes, the sun turns black, the moon turns red, stars fall, and mountains and islands move. “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?’”

In Hebrews 10:31, we read, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

The Lord brought His people to Mount Sinai, and gave them His laws. The giving of the law at Mount Sinai was a genuinely terrifying experience for the people of Israel. In Exodus 19:18, we read, “Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.” [1]

“He dwells between the cherubim.” The cherubim are winged beings... angels. In Revelation 5:11, John saw myriads of myriads and thousands and thousands (millions) of angels around God’s throne. In Revelation 5:12, they said with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

The most iconic part of the Ark of the Covenant are the two cherubim that form the Mercy Seat. [2] They faced each other, one from each end of the lid with the Mercy Seat between them. The Mercy Seat was where the High Priest poured the atoning blood of a lamb to atone for the sins of the people. God’s presence could be felt there. The Mercy Seat represented Christ.

After Christ paid for our sins on the cross, and after He was buried, later on the third day, when Mary showed up to anoint His body, He was not there. Instead, she found two angels, one at the head and the other at the feet where Christ had been placed (John 20:11-18). This is the imagery of the Ark of the Covenant which Christ fulfilled.

“Let them praise Your great and awesome Name—He is holy.” Psalm 99:1-3

In Mark 16:20, we read that after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the disciples “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” In Acts 4:24, they glorified the Lord, saying, “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.” In Act 4:29-30, they prayed, “Grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” They wanted everyone to know the greatness and awesomeness of the Name of Jesus.

When I was in Hong Kong, I prayed for many days that God would work signs and wonders in the Name of Jesus. Afterwards, an American short-term missionary suffered a head injury while playing soccer with prisoners at a detention center. He said, “My arm! My leg are paralyzed!” An ambulance was called. The Holy Spirit assured me a that he would be healed. After some persuasion, I was granted permission to lay my hand on him and pray for him. After I placed my hand on his leg, and spoke the Name of Jesus, he was healed and testified, “I’m better! I’m okay!” By the time an ambulance arrived, he was standing and walking. Glory to God!

“The King’s strength also loves justice. You have established equity. You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool—He is holy.” Psalm 99:4-5

Jesus, our King, loves justice so much that He was willing to fill the gap that existed between our unrighteousness and God’s righteousness. In Romans 7:24-25, the Apostle Paul wrote, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” In other words, there was no hope that Paul’s righteousness, nor yours, nor mine would ever measure up to God’s acceptable standard, so Christ took our sins and gave us His righteousness when He died on the cross and resurrected for our resurrection.

“You have established equity. You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” In Deuteronomy 4:7–8, Moses declared that no other nation on earth had a God so near to them or laws so righteous as those given by the Lord to His people. [3]

“Worship at His footstool.” In Luke 10:38-42, while her sister Martha was busy hosting and preparing meals, Mary chose to sit and quietly listen to Jesus’ teachings. Meditating on God’s Word is a way to worship Him. Jesus commended Mary for sitting at His feet, and for choosing the good portion that would not be taken from her. In ancient times, sitting at someone’s feet was a posture that indicated an intent to be a dedicated disciple. [4]

“He is holy.” In Isaiah 6:2–3, the angels themselves veil their faces before Him and cry thrice, “Holy, holy, holy.” Since angels honor God’s holiness with great reverence, we too should honor God with awe-filled adoration. [5]

“Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His Name. They called upon the Lord, and He answered them.” Psalm 99:6

God provided for Israel three outstanding leaders in Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. These men were renowned for their faith in God. They honored God by leading Israel to serve the Lord.

God formed Israel into a nation via Moses and Aaron. [6]

During the time of Judges, Israel began to worship idols. Every man began doing what was right in his own eyes. Then, God spoke to and through Samuel to them. In 1 Samuel 3:19, we read that as “Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” God used Samuel to revive faith in God and to prepare Israel for the rule of King David.

Samuel’s name means, “heard of God.” His mother was a woman of prayer. Samuel was born after she prayed for a son. In 1 Samuel 7:5-10, when the Philistines mobilized to attack the Israelites, Samuel cried out to the Lord. In response to his prayer, God sent thunder to scare the Philistines away. In 1 Samuel 12:23, he told the people of Israel, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” Samuel was a man of prayer.

“He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar. They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.” Psalm 99:7

In Exodus 16:10, we read, “As Aaron spoke to the entire congregation of the sons of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.”

In Exodus 33:10-11, we read, “Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. ...So the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.”

Moses, Aaron and Samuel kept God’s testimonies and obeyed His ordinances. Exodus 40:16 says of Moses, “Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.” Aaron and Samuel likewise sought to faithfully follow the Lord and to help others do the same.

The psalmist reminds Israel of their blessings to strengthen their faith in God. [7]

“You answered them, O Lord our God. You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds.” Psalm 99:8

God responded to the mediation efforts of Moses, Aaron and Samuel on behalf of Israel.

In Psalm 106:23, we read, “had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them (Israel).” In this way, Moses was like Christ.

Jesus Christ went to the cross to absorb the wrath of God that we deserved for our sin.

In Numbers 16:47-48, we read that Aaron took a censer as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly... he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living, so the plague was stopped.”

In 1 Samuel 7:9, we read, “Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then, Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.”

In response to the mediation of Moses, Aaron and Samuel, God forgave Israel. Though He disciplined them for their wrongdoing, He did not utterly destroy them. [8] God was gracious toward the people for the sake of those faithful servants who pleaded on their behalf.

These events stand as powerful examples of God’s gracious rule over Israel, demonstrating His unique relationship with His covenant people. [9]

Thus, the psalmist calls people to...

“Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill, for the Lord, our God is holy.” Psalm 99:9

God’s holiness is displayed not only in His law but also in His gracious work of redemption. [10]

Like Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus, let us quiet ourselves before the Lord, let us hear what His Spirit is saying, and then, worship and serve Him. He reigns! Glory, blessing and thanksgiving be unto our God forever and ever. Amen!


[1-10] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Professing Faith in Christ – Psalm 98

“A Psalm. O, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation. His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Psalm 98:1-3

Psalm 98:1-3 celebrates the first coming of Christ. He is the One who sat at the righthand of the Father. He is the One who came down from heaven and conquered sin, death and the devil. He is the One who commissioned His Church and baptized us with His Spirit so we can make known His salvation to the nations. We declare His righteousness. God credits the righteousness of Christ to the account of all who profess faith in Him.

Paul wrote in Romans 4:21-22 that when Abraham demonstrated faith in God, God credited his faith as righteousness.

Paul wrote in Romans 4:24-25, “It [the righteousness of Christ] shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification..” Thus, we have great cause to rejoice. Christ paid the price for our righteousness. Our part is to profess faith in Him.

Mary sang a new song after the angel Gabriel and later her cousin Elizabeth confirmed to her that she would give birth to the Messiah. Some of her song’s words correlate with Psalm 98.

In Luke 1:49, she sang, “He who is mighty has done great things for me.” In Luke 1:51, she sang, “He has shown strength with His arm.” Psalm 98:1 says, “His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.”

In Luke 1:54, Mary sang, “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy.” Psalm 98:3 says, “He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel.”

Even before Christ was physically born into the world, God birthed spiritual prophecies about Messiah through David. His psalms are filled with prophecies about Christ.

Zechariah’s words in Luke 1:72 correlate with the words of Psalm 98:3. Zachriah prophesied, “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant.” Psalm 98:3 says, “He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel.”

In Luke 2:10, the words which the angel spoke to the shepherds... “I bring to you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people.” ...correlate with the words of Psalm 98:2. So do the words of Simeon in Luke 2:39-32, he prophesied, “My eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Psalm 98:2 says, “The Lord has made known His salvation. His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.”

Psalm 98 contains a mini version of the Gospels and Acts. First, the righteousness of God was proclaimed. Second, people understood it and were changed by it. Third, the converts took this good news to all nations, so that “all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God.”

The birth of Christ into the world confirms that God remembers His mercy and truth. Every promise made to Abraham, David, and the prophets finds its fulfillment in Jesus. As Zacharias declared in Luke 1:72, God sent Christ “to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant.”

Salvation is not earned by human merit but was fulfilled in God’s covenant love and faithfulness.

A new heart produces a new song. When believers experience the grace of God through Christ, their worship changes because their joy has changed. The redeemed sing not merely because circumstances are favorable but because Christ has accomplished salvation, won the victory, revealed the gospel, and fulfilled every promise of God.

Even now the Church sings new songs, and we will continue to sing new songs to the Lord in heavenly Jerusalem... always praising the Lamb who was slain and who lives forevermore.

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn. Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:4-9

This passage reveals the way in which the people of God impact the world for Christ. We shout joyfully to the Lord. We break forth into songs, rejoice and sing praises. We employ wind and string instruments to enhance the beauty of our songs. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

When I worked with Youth for Christ in Hong Kong, we did rallies in secondary schools... high schools... with teenagers. The format of the programs always began with joyful music including singing, standing, clapping and choreography as well. This prepared the hearts of young people to hear what the messenger of the Lord had to say about Christ. Evangelists like Billy Graham also use this format to prepare the hearts of people to hear the Gospel.

Singing is not merely an expression of joy but also a means of proclaiming Christ’s reign to others. We announce His triumph with the sounds of stringed instruments and trumpets.

Our rejoicing is to God alone. Our worship is filled with gratitude and reverence before Him.

As humankind praises the Lord, the “sea roars,” “the floods clap their hands,” and “the hills are joyful together before the Lord.” Creation already declares the glory of God, but as people praise the Lord, creation begins to really rock with joy.

In Romans 8:19-21, creation is portrayed as waiting for the sons of God to be revealed because humankind’s sin cursed creation, but humankind’s turning to Christ reverses the curse. Galatians 3:13-14 declares, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Christ took the curse of sin. He gave the blessing of God to believers in Him.

In Jeremiah 4:23–26, Jeremiah uses language reminiscent of Genesis 1:2 to describe imminent destruction. He sees the earth reverting to a state of being “without form and void,” where the lights are gone, the mountains tremble, the land is barren, and all the birds have fled, all caused by the Lord’s fierce anger. Jeremiah directly connects environmental suffering to the wickedness of its inhabitants. In Jeremiah 12:4, he laments how the land mourns, the grass withers, and the animals and birds die out because of the evil deeds of the people. In Jeremiah 2:7, God recalls giving His people a rich and bountiful land to enjoy, but instead, they entered it and “defiled” it through their sins, turning it into an abomination. In Jeremiah 2:13, God’s people committed “two evils.” They forsook God, “the fountain of living waters” and instead dug for themselves “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Departure from God yields curses.

Whoever cares about the environment should repent of sin and give God glory. That’s what Revelation 16:9 indicates to do: “Men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” When people repent of sin and give God glory, He lifts the curse and brings the blessings.

Psalm 98 concludes with the return of Christ: “with righteousness He shall judge the world.”

In Revelation 19:11-16, John received a vision of Christ’s return. He wrote, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” This is what Christ will look like when He throws the antichrist into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

It is vital for every soul to profess faith in Christ because Revelation 20:15 says, “Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” How is anyone’s name entered into the Lamb’s Book of Life? They profess faith in Him. So, let us profess faith in Christ. He is the Lamb who was slain, and took away the sin of the world. He is worthy of our faith and worship!

Reason to Rejoice – Psalm 97

“The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of isles be glad!” Psalm 97:1

The earth and its many islands have reason to rejoice and be glad because Christ reigns. He is righteous, gracious, faithful, generous, and compassionate. He gave the skin off His back and the blood in His veins to redeem us from our sins. How many kings have done that for us? In Christ, the curse of humanity’s sin that negatively impacts the earth and the isles is lifted. He is the One who makes things new. Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords brings His followers into paradise.

“Clouds and darkness surround Him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalm 97:2

The clouds and darkness speak of the Lord’s wrath forming against sin. He is righteous and just, and thus He hates what evil does to people. He is determined to eradicate it. [1]

The clouds and darkness also allude to the fact that no one can see the Lord except those to whom He chooses to reveal Himself. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul wrote, “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” In Matthew 16:16-17, after Peter professed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus said to Peter, “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

“A fire goes before Him and burns up His enemies round about. His lightnings light the world. The earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods.” Psalm 97:3-7

Psalm 97 contains a warning to the enemies of Christ. They shall be burned up. [2] In Matthew 13:30, Jesus likened wicked people to weeds (tares) in a field, explaining that at the end of the age, they will be gathered in bundles and completely burned up. In Mark 9:48, Jesus warned of hell, describing it as a place “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” In Matthew 25:41, Jesus spoke of the unrighteous being told to depart “into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels”

In Luke 19:12-27, Jesus told a parable in which people hate their Lord and don’t want Him to rule over them (v. 14). They think of Him as a miser and an unfair master (v. 21). These people are brought before Him and slain (v. 27). Jesus told this parable as an indictment against the religious leaders in Jerusalem. They rejected Him, and instigated His crucifixion on the cross. In John 11:48, the religious leaders said to one another, “If we let Him [Jesus] go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” But it was the rebellious and defiant nature of these priests that brought the Romans to Jerusalem to destroy it in A.D. 70. [3]

God’s wrath against sin is extremely hot! His lightning lights up the night sky. The earth shakes before Him. The mountains melt like wax in His holy presence. When real and only true God makes His glory known, all imposters are exposed as fakes. Those who honor idols will be ashamed. Thus, the Psalmist calls the gods (the idols of the pagans) to honor the true God. [4]

The spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire and the decline of pagan worship are viewed as partial fulfillments of this prophecy. Thus, we who believe in Christ rejoice because He reigns. Christ’s authority extends over heaven and earth. [5]

Remember what happened to Jericho on the seventh day when the seven priests, blew their seven trumpets, after they had marched around the city seven times? The people of Israel shouted to the Lord, and the Lord brought down the walls Jericho (Joshua 6:12-20).

The day is coming when the seventh angel of Revelation 11:15 will blow His trumpet and it will be declared, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

“Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments, O Lord. For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:8-10

The reign of Christ brings fear and judgment to those who oppose Him, but gladness, rejoicing, and thanksgiving to those who belong to Him. Jesus saves our souls. He delivers us from the plots of the evil one against us. In 2 Timothy 4:18, Paul testified, “[Christ] will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.” This promise is sure for everyone who believes in Jesus. [6]

“Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy Name.” Psalm 97:11-12

Like seed hidden beneath the soil, God’s blessings may seem delayed, but they are certain. Seasons of sorrow are not the end of the story for us in Christ. In John 16:20, Jesus promised us that our sorrow will be turned into joy. The harvest of gladness will come in due time. [7]

When circumstances are difficult, it is good to remember what 1 Corinthians 2:9 says: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

We do well to follow the example of Moses as recorded in Hebrews 11:24-27: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

In Christ, we have reason to rejoice. In Revelation 3:14 and 19:11, Jesus is referred to as “Faithful and True.” In Revelation 21:5 and 22:6, His promises are referred to as “Faithful and True.” Christ does not let us down. He brings to pass what He has promised. Praise the Lord!


[1-7] Material edited and developed from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

He Is Coming – Psalm 96

“O, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His Name.” Psalm 96:1

True worship overflows from a heart that enjoys the greatness, glory, and salvation of God.

We honor God with songs. Three times in a row the Psalmist exhorts us to sing to the Lord. Joy to sing to the Lord is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s work in one’s life.

I’m so glad that there are tens of thousands of songs to the Lord that have excellent lyrics and very enjoyable music accompaniment. When I was a teenager, I was unaware and unexposed to contemporary Christian music, so I often listened to hymns that were written hundreds of years ago. In Psalm 96:1, God’s Word says to “sing to the Lord a new song.”

Before I learned of contemporary Christian music, my music collection consisted of rock music. Rock stars did not sing to God. They sang songs to women who made them feel good, to cars and clothes that impressed them and to the thrills of destructive behavior. The Holy Spirit inspired me to purge godless music from my collection, and replace it with music to the Lord.

A “new song” to the Lord arises from communion with God. His mercies are new every morning. His Spirit inspires writers and composers to publish new and relatable tributes to God. A new song celebrates the blessings we have in Jesus Christ.

When we sing love songs to the Lord, we need not worry that He will break our heart as earthly lovers are apt to do. In Deuteronomy 7:9, Moses wrote, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” In Psalm 91:14, the Psalmist wrote, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high because he has known My Name.” The Lord is faithful to those who love Him.

“Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” Psalm 96:2-3

Worshippers of God look beyond their nation’s borders. We want to “show forth His salvation from day to day.” We want to “declare His glory among the heathen.” The Good News about God is not something to hide or be silent about. It is to be proclaimed. Thanks to Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and the subsequent work of the Holy Spirit, good news that was once largely confined to Israel is now proclaimed to all nations. We honor God by singing His praises and by proclaiming His good news to other people.

“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him. Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” Psalm 96:4-6

The Lord is great and greatly to be praised because He is not the invention of someone’s imagination. He is not an image made of stone, wood or precious metal. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He exists in a beautiful and holy place that is undefiled by hatred and death. Numerous angels love and serve Him. His house is filled with peace, joy and love.

We look to the Lord to keep our minds out of the gutters where false religions and sinful behavior thrives. We want to soar as on the wings of eagle to the heights where the real God is praised and worshipped.

In Romans 12:1, Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

God’s majesty inspires reverence. His beauty attracts our hearts. He is worthy of our praise.

“Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His Name. Bring an offering and come into His courts. O, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns. The world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved. He shall judge the peoples righteously.’” Psalm 96:7-10

Psalm 96 is a prophetic celebration of the reign of Jesus Christ and the spread of the Gospel to all nations. Its central theme is that Christ reigns as King, governs righteously, and will ultimately bring joy, justice, and restoration to the whole creation. [1]

This was the heart of the apostolic message. In Acts 17:24-31, Paul proclaimed, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being... We ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, silver, or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Unlike earthly rulers, Christ governs in perfect righteousness. His reign is characterized by just and holy laws, faithful administration, truth that enlightens minds and directs consciences, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit within believers. [2]

In John 18:37, Jesus told Pilate that He came into the world to bear witness to the truth. His kingdom advances not merely by power but by truth working in human hearts. [3]

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord.” Psalm 96:11-12

The Psalmist summons heaven to rejoice and earth to be glad. He invites sea and field to be joyful so that trees will rejoice before the Lord. It was on a tree that Christ was crucified to pay the price for humankind’s sin. Humanity’s sin brought a curse on creation. But in Galatians 3:13-14, we learn that Christ took our sin’s curse upon Himself while hanging on a tree so that we who are in Christ would receive His Holy Spirit.

In Romans 8:19-23, Paul wrote of how the earnest expectation of creation awaits the revealing of the sons of God. The creation was subjected to futility due to humankind’s sin. Created things want to be delivered from corruption. “We know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Both created things and we “who have the firstfruits of the Spirit” groan as we eagerly await for the Lord to restore people to paradise.

“For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.” Psalm 96:13

The incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ is in a sense a judgment of God. The judgment was that there was no one among us who could redeem us from our sins. Our human kings, priests, prophets and judges all fell short. We needed the Son of God to become flesh and dwell among us. To live a sinless life among us! We needed a sinless Messiah to atone for our sins, and Christ did that! Praise God!

In Matthew Henry’s Commentary, he connects the hope expressed by Paul in Romans 8 for people with the desire of created things to become incorruptible.

The practical application of Psalm 96 for us today is to proclaim Christ’s kingship to others. Trust His sovereign rule when circumstances seem unstable. Submit to His righteous rule in our daily lives. Live in hope of His return. Rejoice in His kingdom and invite others to do the same. [4]

Psalm 96 reminds us that history is moving toward a glorious conclusion: “All creation will rejoice under Christ’s righteous rule.” [5]

The twice repeated phrase, “He is coming” assures us of Christ’s return. Though centuries have passed, God’s timing is perfect and His promises are sure. [6]


[1-6] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Rest Rich Worship – Psalm 95

“O come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3

Yes, let us do it! Let us sing and shout joyfully in God’s presence with thanksgiving! Not just think about it, do it.

“I worship You Lord! I shout to You joyfully! You are GREAT! You are exalted above the seas, the earth and the heavens!”

For Christians, “the rock of our salvation” is Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer. Through His death and resurrection, He became the foundation of our salvation and our eternal hope. The “Rock” symbolizes His invincibility and reliability.

“In His hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:4-5

The phrase, “In His hand are the deep places of the earth” symbolizes His omnipresence. “The heights of the hills” symbolize His stature being above what common and ordinary. In Hebrew literature and in the ancient Near Eastern world, the “sea” frequently symbolizes chaos, danger, death, and opposition to divine order. God works all this for His glory.

“His hands formed the dry land.” In Genesis 1:9, “God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear,’ and it was so.” The dry land was God’s gracious provision for people and animals to have ground beneath their feet.

“O come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:6-7

We sing, shout joyfully, give thanks, bow and kneel before God. The kneeling may happen as we take communion or as we pray. God is our Maker, Provider and Shepherd. He loves us.

We come before God with confidence because He loves us, yet with humility because He is infinitely greater than we are. Bowing and kneeling reflect the reverence that is in our hearts for God. We don’t hide our feelings. We physically and verbally demonstrate our need for Him. [1]

The repeated phrase “Let us” reminds us to worship together with others who love God.

No earthly king, government, or false deity can compare with God. He is not merely Creator in a general sense. He is our Creator personally. Our lives, abilities, opportunities, and every breath come from His hand. [2]

Psalm 95:7 gives us one of Scripture’s most tender descriptions of God’s people. “He is our God. We are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” God cares for us in a very personal way just as a loving shepherd cares for each sheep in his flock. [3]

Praising and blessing the Lord is a choice that God has given us the power to make. Just like we can say, “I WILL eat” or “I WILL not eat.” In Christ we can say in the words of Psalm 34:1, “I WILL bless the Lord at all times. His praise SHALL continually be in my mouth.”

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me. They tried Me, though they saw My work. For 40 years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’” Psalm 95:8-10

The latter portion of Psalm 95 is an exhortation not to neglect your relationship with God. The phrase, “Today, if you will hear His voice” emphasizes the urgency of the moment. Dive in! Be whole-hearted! Think of all that God means to you! Think of all He has done for You! Imagine enjoying an eternal paradise with God and His people forever!

In 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul wrote, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

The heavenly Promised Land is going to be perfect in every way. God is inviting us there by His Spirit and His Word. We need not wait until we get there to begin the celebration.

“Harden not your heart...” A hard heart refuses to listen, trust, worship, praise and thank God.

In Exodus 17:1–7, the Israelites contended with Moses over water instead of trusting God to provide. God did provide water for them, but was grieved that they had questioned, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” God had been leading them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He brought them out of Egypt with many mighty miracles.

The Israelites experienced God’s miraculous intervention in their lives, but many complained and disowned God due to unfulfilled fleshly desires. Where was there love? For what were they living? Only themselves? If they had focused on loving God, loving one another, and being God’s ambassadors to the world, their souls would have been full and their hunger satisfied.

Let us seek God’s help not to sin as Israel sinned, but when we do, let us be quick to repent.

“So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Psalm 95:11

Unbelief prevents people from entering God’s rest. The Exodus 17 generation that is referenced in Psalm 95 complained against God. They failed to enter the Promised Land due to unbelief. In Hebrews 3-4, God applies the warning of Psalm 95 to us who follow Christ.

We enter God’s rest through faith in Christ. In Hebrews 4:3, we read, “We who have believed enter that rest.” We rest when we know that God is God. We lack rest when we doubt God. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The greatest promise that Christ made unto us is the promise of eternal life with God. He verified this promise to us by resurrecting from the dead and by appearing to over 500 witnesses during a period of 40 days. They ate with Him. They walked with Him. They watched Him ascend into heaven. Then, 10 days after He ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to baptize His disciples with power, and they spoke with new tongues.

Knowing that God loves you and that He has given you eternal life in Christ is vital to entering “the rest.” You come to know that God loves you by listening to and believing His Word. Paul was horribly treated by many, but enjoyed rest in his soul due to his faith in Christ.

In Romans 5:6-9, Paul wrote, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

In Romans 8:31-32, Paul wrote, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

In Romans 8:38-39, Paul wrote, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Such rest in the soul is a rich seedbed from which worship and shouts of joy spring forth to God!


[1-3] Material edited and developed from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Just and True are God’s Judgments – Psalm 94

“O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs—O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth, return [שׁוּב] a recompence [גְּמוּל] to the proud.” Psalm 94:1-2

Malicious people came against God’s people in the Old and New Testament times. In the Book of Esther, one man named Haman wanted to eradicate all Jews from existence because one Jewish man failed to pay him proper homage. In Acts 14:2, unbelievers poisoned the minds of people against Paul and his ministry team. In Acts 14:19, a group of people persuaded a mob to stone Paul. They dragged him outside the city, and left him for dead.

Christians are persecuted, abused and killed in various nations of the earth today.

In Revelation 12:17, we read that Satan (the dragon) makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Thus, we know that persecution of believers in Christ will continue until the Lord returns and tosses the devil in the lake of fire.

Psalm 94:1-2 is a prayer for God to shine forth with vengeance upon the proud. It is an appeal to the righteous Judge of all humanity for a just judgment upon them. Thankfully, we do not need to repay our enemies. The Lord says in Romans 12:19, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay.”

“Lord, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph? They utter speech and speak impudently. All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the fatherless.” Psalm 94:3-6

The Psalmist asks God to hasten the defeat of the wicked. Likewise in Revelation 6:9-10, those who had been slain for the Word of God, ask the Lord, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

Sin’s servants spoke impudently against God and His people. They assumed wrongly that God would not hold them accountable for the evil that they were doing. They had afflicted and shattered the lives of godly people. And what did they do to foreigners, widows and orphans? They killed them.

“Yet they say, ‘The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand.’ Understand, you senseless among the people, and you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.” Psalm 94:7-11

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, Paul prophesied of the antichrist as a lawless one whose works are of Satan. He will use unrighteousness to deceive those who perish. They will perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” And in verse 12 of this chapter, he wrote, “They will be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Believing lies, denying the truth, and running with outlaws does not end well.

According to Church history, the Apostle John lived longer than the other eleven disciples of Jesus. He witnessed not just one antichrist, but many. In 1 John 2:18, he wrote, “Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”

Even as the number of followers of Christ grew during John’s life, so grew the number of those against Christ. John said we are in the last hour, meaning the Lord’s return is imminent. It has been nearly 2,000 years since John wrote this passage, but 2,000 years in eternity is like an hour.

In 1 John 2:22, John wrote, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” In 1 John 4:3, he wrote, “Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” And in 2 John 1:7, he wrote, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

The key characteristic of antichrists is that they want to replace Jesus Christ with someone or something else. In John 5:43, Jesus said, “I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not receive Me; if another person come in his own name, him you will receive.” Thus, we need to beware of personality cults and hero worship. We should never exalt someone other than Jesus as Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Chosen and Anointed One of the Father to save us.

Some common errors in this regard include the exaltation of Mary, the saints, the pope, super talented people, a president, a king, a queen, Santa Claus and Easter Bunnies.

God made the ear. He hears. God made the eye. He sees. No one should mistake God’s patience for indifference. Judgment delayed is not judgment denied. The Judge of all the earth sees, knows, and will correct injustice. In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

“Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.” Psalm 94:12-13

In the past, the Holy Spirit has led me to dig down and root myself in God’s Word during times of persecution. I was blessed to rest and be instructed by the Lord. While others hardened their hearts to God’s Word and rejoiced to do evil, the Lord reminded me of the parable of the wise and foolish builders. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus said that a wise man builds his house on the rock of hearing and applying God’s Word to himself. The foolish man builds his house on the sand. Building one’s house on the sand is a metaphor for building one’s life on a bad foundation. It is foolish to build on any other foundation than the Word of God. Only those who build their life on Christ will enter paradise after they die.

“For the Lord will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” Psalm 94:14-15

Once the wicked one gains power, he wrongly assumes that his crime network will never be brought down. He is deceived. God may allow His people to experience defeat for a time so that they get serious about seeking Him, but in due season, God will flip the script.

In Revelation 13:7, we read, “It was granted to him [the antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” The Lord allows this so that His people will draw near to Him. But later, in Revelation 19:20, we read, “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet... These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Jesus taught in Matthew 25:31-46 that when He returns all the nations will be gathered before Him. He will separate the sheep from the goats. He will say to the sheep, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” He will say to the goats, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. They will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, ‘My foot slips,’ Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:16-19

Who will rise up for God’s man or woman? God will!

In Acts 7:54-56, when evil persecutors like ferocious lions bit Stephen with their teeth, and when they prepared to stone him to death, he was full of the Holy Spirit. Stephen “gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Stephen was standing up for Jesus, and Jesus stood for him. Stephen remarked, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

In 2 Timothy 4:17-18, Paul spoke of the Lord rising up on his behalf. “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

The Lord’s mercy held Stephen up as he was slain for the sake of Christ. The Lord’s mercy held Paul up by delivering him from death. In both incidents, God’s comforts delighted their souls.

“Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous and condemn innocent blood. But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought on them their own iniquity and shall cut them off in their own wickedness. The Lord our God shall cut them off.” Psalm 94:20-23

The downfall of Haman in the Book of Esther and the downfall of the antichrist in the Book of Revelation are examples of wicked men being brought down by God. These men condemned the innocent. God preserved the life of Esther, and He will preserve the lives of many saints in the future. In Revelation 20:4, John saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness for Jesus. They had not worshiped the beast or his image. They had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. “They lived [again] and reigned with Christ.”

In Revelation 16:5-6, amidst judgments being released on the wicked, an angel declares, “You are righteous, O Lord. The One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And in Revelation 16:7, John hears another angel saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

The central message of Psalm 94 is simple yet profound. When the wicked gain power, God is the place of refuge for His people. The safest place to be is close to God. The Lord comforts us who trust in Him, and He executes justice on the wicked.