Psalm 95 gives us three different instructions. The first, found in verses 1-5, is to come and praise the Lord, referring specifically to our "corporate" or public worship.
1O COME, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!2Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!3For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights and strength of the hills are His also.5The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.
We've covered all of these Hebrew words previously on this blog. We are to "sing" = "ranan" = to cry out for joy, to give a ringing cry in joy and exaltation, to be overcome, to sing. Then we are to "make a joyful noise" = "ruwa" = to blow an alarm, to shout a war cry, to split the ear with sound! We're to come before His presence "with thanksgiving" = "towdah" = praise, thanksgiving, adoration. Why? BECAUSE He IS Who He IS - the great I AM! He is worthy of ALL praise and honor and glory!
Then verses 6-7a:
6O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker [in reverent praise and supplication].7For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.
These verses tell us to "worship" = "shachah" = to bow down, to prostrate ourselves, to do reverence. Then to "bow down" = "kara`" = to bend the knee, to bow down, to kneel. Then we're told "let us kneel" = "barak" = to kneel, to bless God as an act of adoration. Do you get the picture? It sounds like we are to be on our face in worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! This is intimate time spent with Him and it also involves paying attention to what HE wants to say to YOU!
Then in verses 7b-11 we see something that isn't always included when people talk about worship, but it is vital to any complete worship of Him. That is to hear and obey His Word!
There are so many good stories in Luke 7! Which should we talk about and where should we begin? I have always enjoyed the story of the Roman centurion who sent for Jesus to heal his servant boy. First of all, you know that he was a good man because he was concerned about his servant boy to begin with. But not only was he a kind and considerate man, he was a man of great faith! In fact, he had more faith in the Lord Jesus than the people who had watched Him grow up in His own home town! Remember that He could do no mighty work there because of their unbelief! Not only did the centurion realize that Jesus had the power and authority to do this, he also knew that Jesus didn't have to be present to exercise that power! Understanding the authority YOU have because of Who lives IN you, will cause such great faith and boldness to rise up on the inside of you!
I also really enjoy reading again about what Jesus did for the widow who had just lost her son. Such care and compassion Jesus had to stop what He was doing and give that son back to his mother, who was now all alone! I have to ask myself if I operate in that kind of compassion that will cause me to stop in my tracks at the needs of another and see to it! It is sobering to think on the awesome responsibility that our awesome freedom and authority bring! YOU CAN DO IT! AMEN!
Numbers 33 is a review and summary of all of the places where the people of Israel had traveled from Egypt through the wilderness! Chapter 34 is addressing the division of the lands and the leaders of the tribes. If you don't get anything else out of Numbers, please realize the outstanding order and precision of our God! Nothing is left up in the air! He has continued to make known every minute detail of all that He required of His people. Knowing that he is FIRST OF ALL a God of ALL LOVE, we know that every commandment given here is for the benefit and blessing of His people! HE wants blessing and prosperity for you even more than you want it! Thank You, Jesus! AMEN!!!
Shalom in Him!
