August 21, 2018 Tuesday

“1 ¶  Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. 2  The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. 3  His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. 4  He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. 5  He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. 6 ¶  He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations. 7  The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. 8  They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness. 9  He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. 10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:1-10 NKJV)

            The psalmist offers us an amazing view of God displaying why we should fear God.  We see not only see the power and glory of what God does but also in who God is!

            The Hebrew word for fear does mean fear but also to be in awe of someone and to revere them. The word fear is more than a feeling but a continuous action of our soul which calls us to follow and become like God.

            This psalm also shows the balance of the righteousness of God but also grace and mercy.  God’s righteousness demand we be righteous to be able to come to God but our sin breaks our relationship with God and we live without protection.

            God also is merciful and as the hymn “Victory in Jesus” says God “sought us and bought us with His redeeming blood”!  Being without sin Jesus could be the perfect sacrifice that redeemed us and by fulfilling the law made us righteous!

            Jesus bore not only our sin but our grief’s and sorrows!  Try to imagine every sin, sorrow, grief and sickness which Jesus bore for every person was, is and will be!  Think about the suffering Jesus not only bearing our sin but even became sin for us allowing us to be in the presence of God as Jesus for the first time was cut off from the Father!

“« To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. » My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?” (Psalm 22:1 NKJV)

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”” (Matthew 27:46 NKJV)

            Jesus usually referred to God as Father but here as Jesus experienced our being cut off from God there is this guttural scream as Jesus was on the cross!

            What does the horrific pain of Jesus being cut off from God say to you!  Do you accept the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus or are you still trying to do it yourself? As a Christian in your pain and suffering do you believe God has forsaken you?