Daily Digest

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

I believe, one of the most challenging things that a Christian can explain to non-believer is that Jesus is living, alive and I have a relationship with Him. That I can pray to Him and that he speaks to my life and my heart. Some people may believe that Jesus was a person that was alive more than 2000 years ago and died and there is no way that He could be in contact with anyone. 

Others may believe that the church is an ancient place, a place of ritual and routine, not a place that is contemporary, dynamic and truly alive. Whereas, I emphatically believe that Jesus lived, died and rose again and lives forever (Amen!) and that He has a permanent priesthood (v24). He is able to save completely those who come to the Father through Him, because He always intercedes for them (v25). When Jesus has interceded for me in the past I can hardly even speak about it. The ways that Jesus has addressed the concerns and needs of my heart in those exact moments has been so incredibly personal it has often made me speechless. How could He have known what I needed at that exact moment? How was it that He went before me to manage everything that I was to face so that I was not alone?

It is truly because He made me, He knows me. I am His. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for your permanent and alive Priesthood. Thank you that you make a way for us to have a relationship with you and that you intercede for us. Help us to understand that you are a loving God that is always wanting us to be near you and to learn from you. 

Amen

Written by Susannah Ware

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

The writer of Hebrews is trying to paint a picture of how Jesus fits into things that would have made sense to the readers. He has just spoken about the unshakeable hope that we can have in Jesus and what He did for us. Just the same way that Abraham found hope in the blessing of Melchizedek.

Unshakeable hope. Such an interesting thought at this shaky time. Unshakeable. Is that where you are with your relationship with God? It is very tricky to be unshakeable. Even the ground, which seems so solid, is not unshakeable given the right circumstances (earthquake etc). But God says we can have unshakeable hope in Him and His promises. What an idea. That God is always trustworthy even when circumstances don’t support that view.

What are your circumstances at this moment? Listen to what God is saying to you regardless of those circumstances. He loves you beyond imagining, Jesus was sent to give you salvation, He is always with you – always. There are so many other promises. Grab a hold of them today.

Thank you, Lord, that you are the place of unshakeable hope, that you are trustworthy in all things and that your promises are available to me. Please help me get those ideas into my head. Build a strong foundation in me so that I am unshakeable even in the midst of something that shakes me like an earthquake. Give me a picture of HOPE that I can carry with me always. Amen.

Written by Therese Manning

9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

The picture of the Christian life in verse 10 is powerful.  A church devoted to hard work to put into practice the love which is at the centre of real Christian faith, serving one another and all God’s people in every way possible. There was solid evidence that their beginning was real, that they are God’s people; and, according to verses 9 and 10, that God has already seen what they’ve been doing.  At the same time just because God will not forget what they’ve already done, they must continue to make every effort, avoid all temptations to be lazy, and continue with the life of faith and patience ‘until it be thoroughly finished’.  This is the heart of Christian perseverance.

So, what does this mean for us?  It means we are not to give up, we are to press forward, in faith to see God’s grace at work in us and in all who surround us!  We should remind ourselves – God is watching, with pleasure, our pursuit of Him!  This should be both a point of reflection and motivation to keep going.

Father, help each of us to reflect well on what you are doing in us and enabling us to do as well as stay motivated to keep on keeping on!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

This is not a good place to be in – to be told “you should be teaching others, yet you need teaching yourselves”. Ouch!  So, what are the symptoms of spiritual dullness and how do we get out of it? Firstly, am I able to discern right from wrong or am I unsure and “double-minded”? (v14) If we are Christians, we have been given Jesus’ mind (1 Corinthians 2:16) and the Holy Spirt who gives a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). If I’m constantly confused, I am spiritually dull and missing out on God’s peace (Philippians 4:7) and His leading in my life (Isaiah 30:21). So how do I fix that?

1. Admit I need help

2. Find someone to “sharpen” my dullness (see Proverbs 27:17)

3. Commit to the long haul. It’s going to take effort and “training” but it will be worth it. And it will never happen unless I start.

Thanks Lord, for giving us everything we need to grow in our faith, to be sharp and on fire for You. Help me have the courage to start the journey today.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

In my post resurrection gentile protestant existence I feel somewhat removed from the concept of a God appointed high priest who then deals with God over the issue of my sin.

Jesus is my ‘High Priest’ who dealt with that once and for all. He was called by God to mediate and sacrifice himself for us so that we could be acceptable to God. I love that He is able to be gentle ‘with ignorant and wayward people’ (NLT), because as fully man he understands my weaknesses. As fully God he knows what is required to erase my sin. I am always surprised when people express the view that God is mean and exclusive towards mankind. So many do not know or understand that God has gone to every length, literally to hell and back, so that relationship with Him is possible for every man and woman. That call of God on the life of Jesus was present in all that that He did.

So, I am left with 3 questions. What call has God placed on my life? How far am I willing to go to be obedient to that call? Are my plans for my life more important than God’s plan for me? It seems to me that a spiritual call should have a practical ‘real world’ outworking. My everyday life needs to mesh with my faith journey, not be separate from it.

Heavenly Father thank you for the call you have placed on me. Help me to be faithful to your call and to live it out with integrity. Help me to be like Jesus and put you first in my life. Thank you for the great sacrifices that were made by your Son so that I would no longer be separate from you. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.

Written by Christine Knight

12 For the word of God is alive 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. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Scripture is alive in so many ways: I can read the same passage later and be made aware of new insights, I can make more connections as I become increasingly familiar with the Bible, I can be changed to my core by a passage that had little effect on me before.
And should I be surprised? What did I expect from the words of the author of the universe, sustainer of all things? How rich is the Word of God; filled with wisdom, history, poetry, teachings, and the story of salvation!

This passage clearly expresses how God’s word pierces to the heart of a person. There is no hiding from God. When naked in the garden, Adam and Eve had no chance of hiding. God sees everything as plainly as one looking through a window. I am reminded to keep His word active and alive in me! To be sustained by his word instead of the words of the world. Knowing that all must give an account before God allows me to trust in His justice and mercy.

Father, you are the Holy One to whom all must give their accounts. We thank you for the gift of your Word that is alive and active to this very day. Jesus, as the author and perfector of our faith, we thank you for the amazing grace given to us. When we give our account to God, who sees the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts, we thank you for your redeeming work over us. In your precious name, Jesus. Amen

Written by Sven Bessesen

7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Today!  It’s said three times in this passage. Not tomorrow, next week, next year, when we’re out of lockdown but today, this is urgent!  Don’t let your heart get hardened today!  The Holy Spirit is telling us when you hear His voice respond.  Unbelief is equated as sin.

I know there have been many times when I have debated with the ‘still small voice’ of the Holy Spirit and with what I’m reading in the Bible, or worse ignored altogether what God is asking of me. I have hardened my heart, which this passage tells us turns us away from God, v12.

But, don’t you love the ‘but’s’, v13.  We can encourage each other; this is where the community of believers is so valuable. Stay connected, encourage each other, keep your heart soft. I know I’m writing to myself.  We have a saviour, a High Priest v1, Jesus who intercedes on our behalf, who forgives our sin, when we turn to Him.  Can I encourage you today, keep your heart soft, talk to Jesus, rest in Him.

Lord Jesus, forgive my unbelieving heart.  When I have not listened to the Holy Spirt, when I have made decisions to do things my way and not yours, when I haven’t believed that it was your voice speaking to me. Lord, thank you for your mercy, forgiveness and rest.  Amen

Written by Suzie Hodgson

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Catholic priest Maximilian Kolbe volunteered to be starved in the place of Franciszek Gajowniczek (died 1995), a Polish army sergeant, in Auschwitz concentration camp.  Kolbe at the age of 12, had a vision from God.  He was given 2 crowns, one white and one red and was asked does he accept these crowns, he replied YES.  The white = I should live a life of purity.  The red = I would be martyred for my faith.

Kolbe went on to study, become a priest, serve on the mission field in Japan, China and India and returned to Poland in 1938.  He set up a radio station and monastery when WWII broke out.  His monastery became a WW2 hospital and where he hid more than 2,000 Jews.  As a result, was sent to Auschwitz. 

He was sent to die in the starvation cell as punishment, here he taught his cellmates to pray.  He was the only one who survived and eventually was given a lethal injection.  Today, in Auschwitz, this cell holds a memorial.

This scripture reminds us that Jesus chose to become like us – “he had to be made like them (you and me), fully human in every way”, in order to fulfil His purpose – to become the sacrifice for you and me. 

Each of us are called to live a life of sacrifice to God, by giving our lives in service for Him. 

At times when I want to complain or say “why me”, I remember Jesus who gave His all for ME (and for you).  Matthew 16 v 25:  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

In sharing the story of Maximilian Kolbe, I ask myself a question: What does sacrifice look like for me?

Lord Jesus, you gave everything for us, because you love us.  Lord, help me, help us to live a life of sacrifice.  May we hold nothing back from you.  Help us Lord to live the way you want us to live.  We want others to see Jesus in us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Jesus was made a little lower than the angels so as He could fulfill the plan and purpose of God in dying a substitutionary death for us.  As an angel Hs could not have entered the human existence fully, He, Jesus, had to come as a human, what we know as the incarnation, so that He could pay the price for our individual sins and for humanity’s sin.  These verses remind us that we live in the kingdom of God, which is here and yet still coming.  That is, we experience elements of the kingdom breaking through in our lives but we are not yet fully living under Jesus rule and reign on the earth.

Death has been defeated, the King is here and is coming and when He is fully here, we will experience the full benefits of the kingdom – so we pray – Maranatha – come Lord Jesus.

Father, may we all accept the substitutionary death of Jesus that we will live in Your Kingdom for eternity.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” 8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” 13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

In our current culture, you don’t hear too much talk about angels, even in church. But the Bible actually talks quite a bit about angels. 

According to Google, angels are referenced 273 times in the Bible. Angels are represented in scripture as more glorious and powerful than humans. Even so, great care is taken in this passage to show the supremacy of Jesus over all of creation, including angels. Only God Himself is higher than the angels, and this passage makes it clear to us that Jesus is vastly superior to angels in every way, and that Jesus is, in fact, God.

As a beautiful final side note, we are told that angels are sent forth by God to minister to His people. What a privilege and honour that God cares for us so much to send the protection and care of His angels to watch over us.

Take comfort today in this promise from Psalm 91 – “He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go”.

Written by Shelley Witt

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. 5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. 7 I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. 9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11 They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” 12 Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. 13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all. 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. 17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. 19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? 20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. 22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. 24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.

I love the constant sense of how much the writer of this Psalm is hoping in God. He appeals to God in God’s own righteousness to rescue and deliver him. God since youth had been the Psalmists hope and confidence. His reliance was on God. And this seems to climax in the declaration in verse 14: “As for me, I will always have hope.” What a powerful statement of assurance. How can he be so assured? Because of a long history of hoping in God, even in the trials of life, that has proven true.

Lord, it’s not about me and my righteousness that will get me through this life. It is left for me to choose to settle my hope in you, and keep it always there. For you, in your righteousness, shall be faithful, generous, and good to me. Hallelujah!

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. 1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. 3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. 4 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. 5 You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. 6 Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. 7 For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. 8 I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children; 9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. 10 When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; 11 when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. 12 Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. 13 But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. 14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. 15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. 17 Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. 18 Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes. 19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. 20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. 21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. 22 May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. 23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. 24 Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. 25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. 27 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. 28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. 29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me. 30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. 31 This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. 32 The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! 33 The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. 34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, 35 for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; 36 the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.

As I read this Psalm, I can’t help but notice how David writes down all his emotions. He pours his heart out. Every last drop.

It’s actually a good practice. Too often we either ignore, bury or minimise our emotions. But here we see David take the time to slow down and let it all out before God in prayer.

I’m imagining that he is in a quiet space somewhere, where he has the freedom to express what he is truly feeling. He is totally overwhelmed. He’s sinking and he’s calling out for help. He wants revenge, he wants God to punish his enemies. Blot them out Lord! There. He said it. He said what was really on his heart.

Do you know what’s interesting?

This psalm is written down but it’s written to a tune. David is singing this. It seems strange to consider his heart ache as an offering to the Lord.

Have you ever considered the same could be said for you? That as you express your true emotions before the Lord, He doesn’t despise them or reject them but receives them. He receives your emotions. He receives your heart.

And look what happens after the Lord receives David’s heart: there’s a noticeable change. We can see in the last part of this Psalm, from verses 30-36, David is now praising God. He knows that God has heard him and his heart is filled with hope again.

Lord, I thank you that we can come to You. May we be honest with ourselves and You about our emotions, even the ones that are uncomfortable. As You take my emotions, fill my heart with Your hope and peace again.

Written by Gab Martin

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. 1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— 2 so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. 5 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 6 The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. 7 May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

As I read this Psalm, I think to myself – how timely! In the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of global disasters, as wars rage on and it seems almost logical to despair – the question arises, what’s the answer to it all? What purpose or goodness could there be in the midst of such vast calamity?

Here the Psalmist gives us the answer – God Himself! God is the One who saves, God is the one who is just, God is the One who blesses and guides. Sometimes we might know this in our heads, but it is when we open up our hearts to Him in praise and thanksgiving that we actually experience these truths.

And so, what a timely reminder it is – that as we face lockdown and all sorts of personal and communal challenges – that God Himself is the answer to our woes. It is as we praise Him and open our hearts to Him that we find His blessing and favour pouring into our lives.

God, thank You that You are good. Thank You that You are in control. Thank You for caring about the smallest details of each of our lives, even in the midst of much bigger problems. We praise You for who You are, we trust You with all our hearts, and we ask that You would continue to have your way in our hearts and in this world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Written by Ps. Matt Samperi

For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song. 1 Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. 2 You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. 3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. 4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. 5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. 9 You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. 10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. 11 You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. 12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. 13 The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

I love how this psalm describes the power and majesty of God. We are shown how God is the promise keeper and sustainer of all things.

I read in the first part of the psalm how God is the one who answers prayer, allows vows to be fulfilled, and forgives our transgressions. It is such encouragement to know the spiritual might of God reflected here. I need to remind myself that the unseen things like vows, prayers and sin have an impact on my life which can outwardly manifest in the physical world. I should not ignore them but instead bring them before God, knowing He is the one who blesses, answers, fulfills, and forgives.

The remainder of the psalm shows how God is the almighty Creator. It demonstrates His wisdom and works in keeping the earth alive and sustained. Everything on the earth serves the purpose of glorifying and making God known. It’s filled with His wonders and deliberate purpose. He is the potter, maker, creator, author, designer, originator, producer, initiator, composer, ordainer and much, much more.

How should I respond to all this? By glorifying God; making him known to all around me through praise and love. As the old saying goes ‘it is not the gift of the lover we only consider, but the love of the giver.’

Thank you, God, that you are the promise-keeper and sustainer of all things. We give you praise and long to draw near you. Thank you for all creation that you have set in place. Forgive us when we forget to reflect your just love to others. Help cleanse our hearts of everything not for You. As we see the world around us and know how much you care for it, may our hearts turn towards you. In your precious name, Jesus.  Amen.

Written by Sven Bessesen