Posts Tagged ‘God’s glory’

Scripture reading for June 24th: Psalms 104-106

“Praise the Lord, O my soul.  O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps Himself in light as with a garment. . .” (Psalm 104:1-2a)

In Psalm 104, the psalmist begins to worship the Lord of creation for who He is.  This psalm mirrors the creation account of Genesis 1 and by careful observation one can find references to all 7 days.  The creation declares the glory and majesty of the Creator.  (Psalm 19)  God not only wrapped Himself in light, but He stretched out the heavens like a tent.  Light marks the sky by day and night and God sets the times and seasons using their consistent motions.

God also formed the earth and it’s atmosphere, making it a place fit for life, and filled it with all forms of life.  The waters of the sea, as well as the land, teem with every kind of creature!  Each creature looks to God for it’s life and provision. (Psalm 104:27)  God faithfully supplies for each one and they are satisfied.  When God takes away their breath, they die and return to the dust.  When God sends His Spirit, they are renewed!  Contemplation of the cycles of life brings one who is conscious of God to worship!

God provides for man especially.  He brings forth “wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.” (Psalm 104:15)   This verse struck me as more than just physical provisions, although the earth surely brings forth plenteous provision for mankind.  The wine speaks of the blood of Jesus Christ, which is able to purify the heart of man and make him eternally glad!  The oil speaks of the precious gift of the Holy Spirit which is the down payment of heaven, God living in us and revealing His glory through the Spirit’s abiding presence.  The bread represents the body of Jesus Christ, broken for us.  If any man eat this bread, he will live forever!  Praise the Lord for His wonderful provision!

The psalmist concludes his worship poem with these lines: “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works. . .I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.  May my meditation be pleasing to Him as I rejoice in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:31,33-34)

Dear Friends,

Shalom!  “Shalom” is a Hebrew greeting meaning “peace” to you in it’s greatest sense, peace in spirit, soul, and body.  Sabbath rest is a means God uses to restore “shalom” to our souls and make us holy.   We rest in His presence and the finished work of Christ, ceasing from our own labors and enjoying the peace that forgiveness can bring.

In our reading this week, Moses experienced God’s presence and saw a glimpse of His glory.  After the incident with the golden calf, Moses and Joshua went to meet with God in the tent of meeting outside the camp. (Exodus 33:7)  Moses asked God to teach him His ways so that he might know Him better and find favor to lead His people. “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)  Moses knew that it was the presence of the Lord that marked him and God’s people as different.  It is God’s Presence and peace that mark His people today as well!

God then declares that He will answer Moses’ prayer for knowledge of God.  Moses asks to see God’s glory!  (Exodus 33:18)  He is told by God that he will indeed see a glimpse of His glory, but that no one can see God’s face and live. “Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.  When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.  Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but My face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:21-23)

Moses is then told to return to the mountain and meet with God.  There God came down in a cloud of glory and proclaimed His name.   “And He 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.  Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished, He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

Moses’ response was to bow and worship!  May God bless you with revelation of His glory this week!

In His Love, Pastor John

Scripture reading for August 3rd: Isaiah 58-62

“”No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Isaiah 60:18-19

There’s a newer song out that uses the thoughts of these verses of Isaiah.  Chris Tomlin sings “My Deliverer” and I love the chorus about the walls and gates of the New Jerusalem!  This passage and chapter of Isaiah have many similarities with Revelation 21 and the vision of the Apostle John and it is exciting to see that God’s plans are firmly established and moving forward.

Our nation and world are in deep darkness.  The peoples of the earth for the most part are living in ignorance  of the Lord and His light.  It was the vision of Isaiah that as the world lay in darkness, a call to arise and shine would be given to God’s people.  (Isaiah 60:1-2)  This might refer to the rapture of the Church at the end of time as well as when Jesus first appeared.  The Glory of the Lord will rise upon the earth and nations will come to the brightness of that new dawning.  Jesus Christ came into the darkness of this world and proclaimed that He is the light of the world!  (John 8:12)  Whoever will follow Him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life!  We shine with the brightness of God’s light and reflect that light to a dark world. At the end of time we will shine like the brightness of heaven and the stars!  (Daniel 12:3)

From the witness of that light of God within His church, Jesus Christ is populating the New Jerusalem.  It’s walls are salvation.  We are protected by God’s saving grace through the gift of forgiveness.  We are saved from the penalty of our sins and eternal judgment in the lake of fire and outer darkness.  It’s gates are praise!  Those who enter come singing and praising the One who gave them life and eternal light!  God is their light and they have no darkness in them!  There are no more tears, crying or pain.  Eternal light from God’s glory fills the city and it’s inhabitants!

When this will happen is not known by any man.  But the Lord tells us that in it’s time, it will be done swiftly!  We must be ready and watching!  “I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” (Isaiah 60:22b)  “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon. (quickly)”  (Revelation 22:20)