Monday, January 12, 2015

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - January 12, 2015 - Day 149 - Psalm 149


There seems to a natural repulsion in most of us to change. We like things to be constant. We get settled in our ways. Maybe this is why so many avoid becoming a Christian and why so many of us Christians become stale in our walk. Christianity is about change; radical change. Jesus is pretty clear about what it means to be His disciple. He said this in John 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'” How much more change could there be than there is being “Born Again”? Psalm 149 begins with change.

Psalm 149:1
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!

There is a new song to be sung. If we decide to follow Jesus then cannot sing the same old stuff we sang before.

Psalm 149:2-3
Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

Like Israel was chosen by God to be the special nation in a special land, the church has been chosen to a special people with a special journey. Sometimes it is hard as we walk this life to act special. It can be hard to remember to praise God.

Psalm 149:4-5
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.

Where do we turn so often when depression and despair hits? It is our beds. They can become that place we think we can escape and where we can sleep away our troubles. But the medicine for our despair is to sing for joy on our beds. It is praise that must be flowing out of us as we go to bed, if we awaken in the night with insomnia, and when we first wake up.

Psalm 149:6-9
Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD!

The world looks hopeless. All the stuff every night we see on the news is just heavy and sad. It is easy to see Satan and his evil minions are busy as they lead people away from God. But for us who are willing to trust God there is a fact. Jesus is coming back and when He comes there will be radical change. Hear the prophecy of this coming day.

Revelation 19:11-16
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus is coming back and when He does there will be change the like no man has ever seen. So we can praise God for we know one day soon injustice will become justice and this world of lies will become a world of truth.

Until Jesus comes with this Sword there is still work for us to do. The same Sword by which He will judge the world is in our hands right now. We can use it to make radical change in our own lives. It is the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

As Christians we need to sing a new song, but to do that we need change. God’s Word is all we need to do that. Why not open His Word this very moment and let Jesus divide your soul and your spirit. Then we can praise the LORD! We can sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!

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