Praise In The Sanctuary (Psalm 68: 28-35)

2007.12.07

 

28 Summon your power, O God ; show us your strength, O God,

    as you have done before.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.

30 Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves

    of the nations. Humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations

    who delight in war.

31 Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah

33 to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.

34 Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power

    is in the skies.

35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power
    and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

 

>Reflection
I like to draw. Sometimes I sketch the beauty all around me and the mountains,
but when it is done, it just does not do the scene justice. God has painted too
many skies more beautiful than my replicas. So, I like to go for long hikes, and see what God has created. I see how He has made everything so intricate and beautiful. And when I sit there on the mountain top, I know that this is indeed the works of God¡¯s hands and feel compelled to praise to Him.

A vast picture of God¡¯s power and authority over all nations is painted in this
passage. There are nations following God Almighty (v. 27) and other nations being humbled, being scattered, and submitting to God (v. 30-31). Then there is this huge picture of God riding ¡°ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice¡± (v. 33).
In this moment, what does that picture mean to you? And do you hear His voice thundering? Maybe it has been a long time since you really sensed God's voice in your life. You may have stopped really being open and available to God, even though you still pray at the table before meals, go to church services faithfully, and give through tithes and offerings. But you know deep down, that you have lost your praise, the very essence of your heart of worship unto God Almighty. If so, then reflect here for a long moment. See how God brings nations to Him. He rebukes them, humbles them, and they submit in the end to Him. Is this something that you can relate to and you know God is doing in your life right now? Or maybe you see it on a much bigger scale within the Church or nations right now in our world?

Let¡¯s give praise to God in this moment. He wants us to praise Him for His mighty works and His eternal plan for all of creation.
God¡¯s power is very real. He is able to do more than we know or can think possible at this moment. Where there are giants, they always fall. Where there are evil kings, God sprouts a righteous king. He is constantly redeeming the nations of our world.

He desires for us to praise Him in this. So, let us go for it. Let us praise Him like the Word says in verses 34-35, ¡°Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!¡±

 

>Application

- What have you learned from today¡¯s passage? Take time to be still and know
that He is God. Journal what comes to mind.

- Praise God and thank Him for what He is doing in your life right now and write
a bit of what you long to see Him do in your nation and the nations of the world.

 

>A Letter to God

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the LORD of all the earth. That You seek out
men and women in all nations and You long to see all peoples come to You. I pray that You would give Your heart for all people. That we would love each other, the way You love us all. Thank You Jesus for being our example.

Thank You Father for wanting us and pursuing us and blessing us as we humbly come to You and obey You at Your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

 

 

Words :

 

rebuke : to speak to someone severely about something they have done wrong
reed : °¥´ë

replica : an exact copy of something, especially a building, a gun, or a work of art

sprout : ½ÏÀ» Æ·¿ì´Ù. 

Psalm 47:1~9

 

Clap your hands, all you nations ;shout to God with cries of joy.

 

How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth !

 

He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.

 

He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.  Selah

 

God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

 

Sing praises to God, sing praises ; sing praises to our King, sing praises.

 

For God is the King of all the earth ; sing to him a psalm of praise.

 

God reigns over the nations ; God is seated on his holy throne.

 

The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings of the earth belong to God ; he is greatly exalted.

 

 

Sermon :

 

We sing praises to God because God is so sovereigning over our lives.

 

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

It works in a way we cannot see.  God makes you prosper in your place.  God did wonderful things. 

 

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

1. God is working in your lives.

2. God's plans for you are good and for good.  Just trust Him.  He's gonna proper you in your place.

3. for all thing God's working for good.

 

Application :

 

Do I live my life based on the knowledge that God is the King and Owner of all the earth?  Or do I live acting as if my time, possessions, money, and life is my own?

Is my life characterized by praised?  Have I become focused on myself and lost sight of the supremacy of God?

 

 

Prayer :

 

Lord God, You are King over all the earth !  The reality of You is far too much for my finite brain to comprehend.  Begin to open my eyes to the wonder that You are.  Remind me daily  of Your Kingship and ownership of my life.  Let my life be on that is characterized by Your praise. Give me grace to turn to You in all the battles I face in this life so that You may receive all thepraise and glory.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

 

 

 

subdue : to defeat or control a person or group, especially using force