Shalom,
While studying Psalm 98, I found this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
From this psalm Isaac Watts found the inspiration for his popular hymn "Joy To The World", often classified as a Christmas carol but more accurately identified as a "kingdom hymn". Watts described Christ's second advent and not His first, the Messianic Kingdom and not the manger. Verse 1:
1 O SING to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.
The marvelous things that were done, and the salvation and victory that were obtained, were a result of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and NOT by His birth! The rest of this Psalm speaks of the joyous celebration that will take place at the second coming of Jesus of Nazareth! Even creation is excited for that day! Verses 7-8:
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the world, and those that dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; together let the hills sing for joy 9 Before the Lord for He is coming to judge [and rule] the earth; with righteousness will He judge [and rule] the world, and the peoples with equity.
Soon and very soon! AMEN!
Do you remember when we read yesterday that in order to please God we have to come to Him as a little child? That is exactly what Zacchaeus did! Verses 2-4:
2 And there was a man called Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, and [he was] rich. 3 And he was trying to see Jesus, which One He was, but could not on account of the crowd, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass that way.
Why do I think this was childlike faith? I read this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
In the East it is unusual for a man to run, especially a wealthy government official, yet Zacchaeus ran down the street like a little boy following a parade. And he even climbed a tree! ..... Perhaps more than anything else, it is pride that keeps many "successful" people from trusting Jesus Christ.
Don't ever let pride keep you from running towards God and His Word with everything within you! That is the only way to truly BE successful!
When Jesus was approaching Jerusalem His disciples began to rejoice and praise God for all that they had witnessed. The Pharisees didn't like it and wanted Jesus to silence them. Jesus replied with this in verse 40:
40 He replied, I tell you that if these keep silent, the very stones will cry out.
Don't let YOUR voice be replaced by a stone! Let your praise for Him ring out until the sound of your praise reaches Heaven and joins with the praises of all those there! GLORIOUS!
In Jeremiah 5-6 we see, again, the results of a nation that turned away from the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! In Jeremiah 5:23-24 we read:
23 But these people have hearts that draw back from God and wills that rebel against Him; they have revolted and quit His service and have gone away [into idolatry]. 24 Nor do they say in their hearts, Let us now reverently fear and worship the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the autumn and the spring rain in its season, Who reserves and keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Do you think that this sounds like some in our nation today? Thomas Jefferson said this in his "Notes on the State of Virginia" over 2 centuries ago:
"Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever".
Don't stop praying for the leaders and those in authority in this nation! The patience that God has shown for the USA is a direct result of the prayers of HIS people! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
