Reflection on “Shout for Joy in the Lord!”Psalm 33:1-4-October 22, 2024
Shout for joy in the Lord, O you, righteous ones. Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre, make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright. And all His work is done in faithfulness. Psalm 33:1-4.
Not only did God create the Heavens and the Earth, He made man in His own image.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Psalm 139:1-6.
Growing up, Sunday afternoon was a time for naps. I wanted to read instead. So I lay under the pink bedspread and I could read, until I felt guilty. I knew God could see what I did, so I asked Mother if God could see through the pink bedspread! When Mother assured me God could, I began to understand Who God is. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. I John 4 5-7.
The Fruit of the Spirit begins with Love. Jesus answered the question what is the most important commandment. (Galatians 5:22-23)
And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
When God created the World what was His agenda? To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 136:5-7.
Why should we worship God? Trusting God creates a binding relationship that becomes, lasts for an eternity and a steadfastness of belonging to God. Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:3-5.
We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. I Thessalonians 1:3.
What is our reality, one by one? It is the moment when we are called to meet Jesus. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. I Thessalonians 4:16-17.
This morning, I heard how to praise the Lord from Psalm 107. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing. Psalm 107:21-22.
Every knee shall bow. Oh, how the Israelites complained while in captivity in Egypt. “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20.
My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul. Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:1-4.