These next four Psalms (103-106) are psalms of praise to the LORD. Each psalm emphasizes different reasons to praise Him! Psalm 103 speaks of the benefits of God toward His people. That's us! There are no request made of God in this psalm, just praise to Him. Verses 1-6 express personal praises. Verse:1:
1 BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the LORD, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy Name!
Verse 2 says not to forget even ONE of ALL of His benefits! They are:
- Forgiveness
- Healing
- Redemption
- Love
- Satisfaction
- Renewal
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.
That alone is reason enough to praise Him for the rest of eternity! DO IT!
Luke 24 is ALL about the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead! It was imperative that Jesus actually died on that cross, so that He COULD BE the payment for OUR sin! It was equally imperative that Jesus rose from the dead! If He hadn't risen from the dead, he would be no different than any other "god" that had died! But He DID rise from the dead into NEW LIFE, which means that WE CAN, too! The Resurrection from the dead is the foundation of all of Christianity! That is why the enemy has come out strong against the Truth of it from the beginning!
Also notice that it is the women who were first to get to the tomb on the first day of the week! They returned and reported this to the men. Verses 8-9:
8 And they remembered His words. 9 And having returned from the tomb, they reported all these things [taken together] to the eleven apostles and to all the rest.
The women came back and told what they had seen and heard. Now notice verses 11-12:
11 But these reports seemed to the men an idle tale (madness, feigned things, nonsense), and they did not believe the women. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths alone by themselves, and he went away, wondering about and marveling at what had happened.
What? The women TOLD him (THEM) what had happened, but they didn't believe the women. It's not covered in Luke, but do YOU remember the story of "doubting Thomas" ? Well, we should just give old Thomas a break, don't you think! Just like when Peter walked on water and all that anyone mentions is that he fell, we ALWAYS hear about what a doubter Thomas was! He was in good company! But Jesus DID reveal Himself to them ALL before He ascended to Heaven! And now, we await His soon appearing in the air for us! Come quickly Lord Jesus! AMEN!
In Jeremiah 14-15 we see Jeremiah AGAIN interceding on behalf of the nation because they had AGAIN turned away from following after God. Judgement was coming and Jeremiah tried AGAIN to persuade the LORD to change His mind. God was having none of it, though, because these people had already had ample opportunity to change their thinking to agree with God! Instead, God promised THIS to Jeremiah:
19 Therefore thus says the LORD [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give this mistaken tone of disgust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God's faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece. [But do not yield to them.] Let them return to you -- not you to [the people].
No matter what anyone else in the entire world is doing right now, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? We are individually responsible for our lives and what we allow into it! Make the RIGHT choices and you will be completely successful and GOD will get the glory! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
