Shalom,
Psalm 97:1 sums up the whole of this Psalm!
1 THE LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the multitudes of isles and coastlands be glad!
The Lord (Yahweh, Jehovah) is THE ONE Who reigns over all the earth! No matter what things look like on the earth, we need to remember that GOD IS IN CONTROL! He knows the end from the beginning and has a divine plan for all of creation! He gives US the right to make the deciding choices for our own lives, which result in either blessing or cursing, according to the Word of God! But His plan WILL be carried out in the earth and it WILL be in His perfect timing! So relax and enjoy the part He's given YOU to play and do it with your whole heart! Then we can DO verse 12:
12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous (upright and in right standing with God), and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
Remember that His holiness means set apartness! He is set apart from the world and the world's way of doing and being right; and set apart unto God and God's Way! You are, too! Rejoice in THAT! AMEN!
In my study of Luke 18, I learned an interesting new word! We read the story of the widow who kept after the unjust judge until he granted her request! Verse 5:
5 Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me.
Now THAT'S an interesting translation! The word I learned came from the Jewish New Testament Commentary. The word is "nudnik"! It is a Yiddish word that means: someone who persistently bores, pesters or nags! This was the word they used to describe what this judge was experiencing from this widow! She NEEDED to do this in order to get the unjust judge to do his job! But I would say to YOU: Don't be a nudnik! At least not to other people. Use it on the devil! AMEN!
Luke 18:17 says this:
17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not accept and receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] shall not in any way enter it [at all].
How DOES a little child accept and receive something good? They have absolute trust and fullness of joy! Check out the promises of God in His Word to YOU! Now receive them just as though you were a little child again! That pleases God!
We know that Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. He was so sorrowful over the coming destruction to Israel and Jerusalem because of the idolatry of the people. He wept over them and delivered the message he didn't want to deliver! Look at Jeremiah 4:22:
22 [Their chastisement will continue until it has accomplished its purpose] for My people are stupid, says the Lord [replying to Jeremiah]; they do not know and understand Me. They are thickheaded children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge [and know not how].
I have never envied the prophets, or wanted to live during their time! I am SO blessed to be alive right now, in this particular time in God's plan! Remember to receive the things of God with the joy of a child, but NOT like the "thickheaded child" that Jeremiah spoke of! Be open to the instruction of the Spirit of God as He teaches God's Word to you, then become a DOER of that Word! THAT is our God-given destiny!
Shalom in Him!
