The wilderness is quiet, but there is always a faint, low rustle or murmur. Listening is an art to be cultivated; and the symphonies of the desert or the forest demand a finer ear than do the symphonies of the composers.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Broken Gun)
“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
–Proverbs 1:33(NKJV)
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Steven Lawson said that, “One’s understanding of the flow of world history is dependent upon seeing that God is sovereignly building His kingdom upon the earth to reach the world.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues in this vein, “The key to the history of the world is the kingdom of God.” The world is in God’s hands, and it revolves around redemption–the redemption of mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ. When we look at the world, with its issues and problems, we must keep in mind God’s purpose and that He is in control. “God is always working through His people to effect the flow of the entire world.” (Lawson)
As we look at Psalm 105 in the next few weeks, keep in your thoughts the invisible hand of God upon the many events, circumstances, movements, and causes of history. Know that He is not distant, but up close, actively involved in the affairs of men. (Lawson) Here, at the beginning of Psalm 105, we are exhorted to worship the Lord because He rules over history.
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!
2 — Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works!
3 — Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
4 — Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore!
5 — Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
6 — O seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
7 — He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
8 — He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded for a thousand generations,
9 — The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac,
10 — And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant. (NKJV)
As you go through life, where is your focus? We have been for the last few decades involved with what is known as “seeker churches.” Congregations seek out the seeker. “The trend has spawned more entertaining worship services (for good or ill) and friendlier church lobbies.” (William J. Petersen) Now, here is the question: Are we seeking a church or God? Are we seeking God as we should?
Steven Lawson writes that there are ten imperatives as this psalm begins: 1) give thanks to the Lord, 2) call on His name, 3) make known His deeds, 4) sing praises to God, 5) tell of His wonderful acts, 6) glory in His holy name, 7) rejoice in Him, 8) look to the Lord and observe His strength, 9) seek His face–pursue the truth of God, and 10) remember the great things that the Lord has done.
Our circumstances may be confusing; we may not understand the absurdity of what is happening on earth; then terror and fear may strike at us. And here is the problem, we focus too much on our situations and do not remember what the Lord has done, not only for us, but throughout history. We, in our troubles, may forget what God has done in the past, but He doesn’t forget us. God is faithful to us just as He was to those in the Bible and the saints that have followed throughout history. May we take to heart verse 4, “seek the LORD” or as the NLT translates it, “search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.” We must strive to know more and more about the God whom we serve and who seeks a growing relationship with us.
“Spread, O spread, thou mighty word
Spread the Kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe’er His breath has given
Life to beings meant for heaven.”
–Jonathan Freidrich Bahnmaier
——————————————
Steven Lawson said that, “One’s understanding of the flow of world history is dependent upon seeing that God is sovereignly building His kingdom upon the earth to reach the world.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues in this vein, “The key to the history of the world is the kingdom of God.” The world is in God’s hands, and it revolves around redemption–the redemption of mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ. When we look at the world, with its issues and problems, we must keep in mind God’s purpose and that He is in control. “God is always working through His people to effect the flow of the entire world.” (Lawson)
As we look at Psalm 105 in the next few weeks, keep in your thoughts the invisible hand of God upon the many events, circumstances, movements, and causes of history. Know that He is not distant, but up close, actively involved in the affairs of men. (Lawson) Here, at the beginning of Psalm 105, we are exhorted to worship the Lord because He rules over history.
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!
2 — Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works!
3 — Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
4 — Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore!
5 — Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
6 — O seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
7 — He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
8 — He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded for a thousand generations,
9 — The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac,
10 — And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant. (NKJV)
As you go through life, where is your focus? We have been for the last few decades involved with what is known as “seeker churches.” Congregations seek out the seeker. “The trend has spawned more entertaining worship services (for good or ill) and friendlier church lobbies.” (William J. Petersen) Now, here is the question: Are we seeking a church or God? Are we seeking God as we should?
Steven Lawson writes that there are ten imperatives as this psalm begins: 1) give thanks to the Lord, 2) call on His name, 3) make known His deeds, 4) sing praises to God, 5) tell of His wonderful acts, 6) glory in His holy name, 7) rejoice in Him, 8) look to the Lord and observe His strength, 9) seek His face–pursue the truth of God, and 10) remember the great things that the Lord has done.
Our circumstances may be confusing; we may not understand the absurdity of what is happening on earth; then terror and fear may strike at us. And here is the problem, we focus too much on our situations and do not remember what the Lord has done, not only for us, but throughout history. We, in our troubles, may forget what God has done in the past, but He doesn’t forget us. God is faithful to us just as He was to those in the Bible and the saints that have followed throughout history. May we take to heart verse 4, “seek the LORD” or as the NLT translates it, “search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.” We must strive to know more and more about the God whom we serve and who seeks a growing relationship with us.
“Spread, O spread, thou mighty word
Spread the Kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe’er His breath has given
Life to beings meant for heaven.”
–Jonathan Freidrich Bahnmaier