Who Do You Think Jesus Is?

Matthew 16:13-19

Sometimes in life we are faced with very important questions that we have to answer.  It might be while we are in school or college.  Perhaps we are called as a witness in a court case, and the prosecuting attorney questions us.  In our Scripture today from St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus asked His disciples a very important question, which Peter quickly answered.  That question is of vital importance to us today, as well.  Let’s take a look.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus has taken his disciples to the city of Caesarea Philippi, which was about 25 miles north of the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, at the far northern edge of Israel.  Caesarea Philippi was a very Greek influenced city, filled with pagan idols, shrines, and worship.  It was also a very important site of worship to the Greek god Pan, a pagan nature god, and god of sheep and shepherds.  In this spiritually dark setting, Jesus asked the most important question that we all must one day answer.

First, Jesus asked the disciples who the people are saying He is? (vs. 13-14).  They respond by saying that some said He was John the Baptist.  Others said He was Elijah, or Jeremiah, or some other great prophet.  These answers showed that though the people admired Jesus, and thought He spoke a message from God, they did not see Him as the divine Messiah.

Today we see that is the case with so many people.  If you were to take a survey of people’s thoughts on Jesus, many would say that they admire Him as a great teacher or moral example.  However, having respect for Jesus is not saving faith. Unless they acknowledge and confess Jesus as Lord and Christ, they will remain lost, as lost as the pagan or atheist.

Then Jesus turned the question on His disciples there with Him.  He asked them who they thought He was (vs. 15-16).  This is the dividing line of eternity.  Every soul who has or will ever live must answer this question.  Peter was the first to respond, saying that he believed Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, and that he believed He was the Son of the living God.

Peter’s confession contained two important doctrines, beliefs that are essential for genuine salvation.  First, Peter believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Greek word meaning “Anointed One”.  It means the same as the Hebrew word Messiah.  This meant that Peter believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies.  Peter also believed that Jesus is the Son of the living God, that He was not merely a prophet, but that He was divine. The apostle didn’t believe that Jesus was merely a good teacher, but that He was God in the flesh.  This confession is the foundation of saving faith.  Genuine salvation begins with recognizing who Jesus truly is.

Jesus followed up by saying that this spiritual truth was revealed to Peter by God the Father (vs. 17).  Human intellect cannot produce saving faith.  God must open the heart (John 6:44; I Corinthians 2:14).  True conversion is supernatural.  It is not emotionalism or human persuasion.  It is the work of God.  Peter’s confession showed that he had been born again.

In verse 18 Jesus made a serious statement, but also used a play on words.  He spoke to Peter, using his name, which in Greek is “Petros”, which means a rock or stone, something that a person can pick up with their hand.  Then Jesus said that upon this rock He would build His church.  The word “rock” He used here was the Greek word “Petra”, which means a large rock, crag, or large boulder, much bigger than a “petros”.  The rock upon which Jesus would build His church was the confession of faith that Peter had given, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.  Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church.  Hell cannot stop the advance of the Gospel, and Jesus guaranteed the church’s ultimate victory.

Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (vs. 19).  Keys symbolize authority, and He gave the authority of the Gospel message.  When believers preach the Gospel, they open the door of heaven to those who believe.  When unbelievers reject the Gospel, the door remains shut.  When a believer speaks the Word of God in the Name of Jesus, Satan and his minions know that they have to obey.

Accepting that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God, is Himself divine, is central to saving faith.  Peter’s statement is the foundation of the Church, and the Gospel message is the key that opens or closes the Kingdom.  Hell cannot stop the advance of Christ’s Church, so stand firm on the identity of Jesus and proclaim the Gospel to others.  Trust in Christ’s promise that the Church will prevail.

One final statement to all who read.  Jesus still asks the question to everyone - Who do you say that I am?  Your answer will determine where you spend eternity.

A Doxology of Praise

Romans 11:33-36

If ever you have written an important paper, or an article in a major publication, or did significant research for an important project, you undoubtedly wished to receive acknowledgement for your work.  You would have wanted some congratulations, some commendation of some sort.  That’s only natural, it’s only human to want that.  However, the Apostle Paul had accomplished some rather spectacular things, and instead of seeking praise for himself, we see him turning the praise over to someone else.  Let’s look at our Scripture for today.

Our Scripture is the last few verses of chapter 11 of the Book of Romans.  Up to this point in his letter to the folks at the church in Rome, Paul had been building a massive theological mountain.  In the first three chapters of Romans he had shown humanity’s universal guilt.  Then in chapters 3 through 5, he explains the doctrine of justification by faith.  In the next three chapters, 6-8, Paul explains sanctification and the believer’s union with Christ.  Then he concludes this first half of the letter with showing God’s sovereignty in election and Israel’s future in chapters 9-11.

In order to learn all of this, Paul would have had to do a lot of studying and research into the Bible, in addition to much praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Yet when he reached this point in his letter to the Romans, he didn't pause to congratulate himself.  He didn’t expect a lot of pats on the back for what a great scholar he was.  Instead, Paul falls down upon his knees in worship of God.  He hands all praise over to the Lord, not himself.  Sound doctrine produces reverential awe, not intellectual pride.

The Apostle Paul begins this short segment with giving praise to God’s wisdom, knowledge, and His judgments (vs. 33).  Instead of trying to point out how wise he was in writing those earlier chapters of theological doctrine, Paul points to God’s wisdom, that it is bottomless, abundant, and inexhaustible.  God’s judgments cannot be fully traced or analyzed, and His methods cannot be pulled apart to find out how they all work.  God’s power, authority, and control is not some sort of puzzle to be solved, but instead is a reality to be worshiped.  All of human reason bows before God’s divine mystery.

Paul continues in verse 34 by stating that God needs no counselor, no one to advise Him or give Him guidance.  Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:13).  God has never needed our advice or input on any matter, and He has never needed correction for anything He ever did.  We are not in any position to critique God’s actions, and He is certainly not accountable to our expectations, philosophies, or preferences.

God is never indebted to anyone or anything.  Paul gives another quote from the Old Testament to back this up, this time from Job 41:11.  No one has ever given God anything that obligated Him to them.  He owes no repayment to anyone.  The salvation we have received from Him is entirely by grace, and grace is always undeserved when given to us.  We do not earn grace by any human merit, or by any righteousness we have done, as we have no righteousness on our own.

Paul finishes this Scripture passage with proclaiming that God is the source, the means, and the goal of all things (vs. 36).  Everything begins with God, is sustained by God, and exists for God’s glory.  We owe God everything, and He has already given us more than we can ever repay.  Our greatest desire in life should be to give Him all glory.

Paul proclaims in these few verses, not his own wisdom or greatness, but that of the Lord’s.  Any intellect we have is miniscule compared to the wisdom of God.  Paul proclaims that God rules over all creation, salvation, history, and all nations.  We cannot fully comprehend His purposes.  Salvation was and is entirely His initiative, and all things ultimately serve His glory.  God’s ways are perfect, even when hidden, so we can fully trust Him.

What God Puts Above His Name

Psalm 138

Most of us would like to see our name treated respectfully.  We don’t want to hear bad rumors where our name is tossed in there.  We don’t want to hear our name linked with a curse.  We would much rather have our name spoken of with praise or admiration.  Reading through the Bible, we see that God is the same way. He values His Name, and He even made that one of the Ten Commandments.  We are not to take the Name of the Lord in vain.  However, there is something that God sets even above His Name, which we will read about as we study our Psalm for today.

Today’s psalm is one of many which King David wrote.  In it he praises God for answered prayer, for His covenant faithfulness, and for His unmatched supremacy over all earthly powers.  David was not one to give God half-hearted worship.  When he worshiped, he did so with his whole heart and spirit (vs. 1).  There was even a time when David broke out into an exuberant dance while worshiping God when he brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem (II Samuel 6:14-15).

David didn’t hide his worship of Yahweh, either.  He said that he would praise Him “before the gods”, all of the myriads of false deities that the pagan people living around them followed.  This shows his public loyalty to Yahweh even when surrounded by unbelief.  As Christians, we should not hide our devotion, either, tucking it away where others can’t see.  We should stand for the Lord and His Word publicly, even when surrounded by unbelief.

As David continues, he makes a statement in verse 2 that sticks out to me, which is that God has magnified His Word above His Name.  This is one of the strongest statements in Scripture about the supremacy of God’s Word.  It affirms the verbal inspiration of the Bible, and also its absolute authority.  It is also evidence that God binds His reputation to His Word.  God’s Name represents His character, and naturally that should be held in the highest esteem and regard.  Yet here God states that He places His Word, the Bible, even above that.  If God magnifies His Word, believers must do the same by reading it, obeying it, and defending it.

All throughout his life, King David knew that when he was facing a problem or trouble, he could cry out to the Lord, and He would answer him (vs. 3).  He could give many personal examples of when his prayers were answered.  God not only answers prayer, but He also gives strength for the situation.  David was confident that God would literally intervene for his needs, and he would depend on Him, rather than human solutions.

Next David indicated that God’s Word would go forth all over the world, as other rulers and kings would hear of Him, and thus be compelled to praise Him (vs. 4-5).  He foresees a future day when all earthly rulers will acknowledge the Lord.  This anticipates the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, when kings will literally bow before Him (Philippians 2:9-11).  We do not need to fear any earthly powers, as God’s truth will outlast every government.

God is infinitely exalted, however He cares intimately about each one of us, no matter how lowly we are (vs. 6).  Though God’s greatness is so high above us, He is near to each one of us.  He draws near to the lowly, but distances Himself from the proud.  Their pride keeps themselves from coming to Jesus for salvation and His help.

As we know from David’s life, he was often in the middle of some sort of trouble, especially as a young adult on the run from King Saul and his men.  He knew that God would revive or rescue him, protecting him and delivering him by His right hand (vs 7).  God actively protects and preserves His people.  No matter what our circumstances are, no matter how insurmountable the odds, God promises to save us in the very middle of our troubles.  God’s right hand will reach out and save us from our enemies.

David ended this psalm with a very comforting verse (vs. 8).  He states that God completes what He begins.  His mercy is everlasting, and He does not abandon His people.  God will finish the work that He has begun in us (Philippians 1:6).  Our life is not random.  God is actively shaping, guiding, and completing His plans for us.  I might wonder what plan God could possibly have for someone like me, however He has a unique plan for each of us that He has promised to fulfill.  We can rest in His promise to take care of us.  The Lord will fulfill His purposes for us.

This psalm is a reminder that God is both infinitely exalted and intimately involved in our lives.  He hears our prayers, strengthens our heart, and will complete every purpose He has for us.  Let His Word be your anchor, and rest knowing that His mercy is everlasting.

Angels in Flaming Chariots

II Kings 6:8-23

A theme that used to be common in many action movies was the enemy surrounding the main protagonist, and then, just in the nick of time, in swoops help.  Often in old Westerns it would be the cavalry riding in on their horses to save the otherwise doomed main character.  Sometimes we may feel like we are also surrounded by enemies, whether at work, in the neighborhood, or even in our family, and we would wish that there was a cavalry ready to ride in and rescue us.  In our Scripture today we will read of a time when one prophet of God and his servant desperately needed such help.

Our Scripture today is set in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, between the years 895 - 885 BC.  The king of Israel at this time was Jehoram, the son of the more famous King Ahab.  A major prophet at this time in Israel was the prophet Elisha, who followed in the footsteps of his mentor, Elijah.  Though King Jehoram was not a believer, he was not as antagonistic to Elisha as his father had been to Elijah.  During this time the king of Syria to the north, King Ben-Hadad II, was periodically making war and attacking Israel.

As we begin, the king of Syria was making plans for another attack on Israel.  As the king planned to set up camp at a certain location, the Lord revealed the plan to Elisha, who promptly told King Jehoram (vs. 8-12).  This seems to have happened before, as King Ben-Hadad was angry and frustrated, thinking that there was a spy in his royal court.  One of his courtiers explained to him that it was the prophet Elisha who knew whatever plans they made, and he told his king.

God knows every secret plan of the enemies of His people.  No enemy can outmaneuver the omniscient God, and He will protect His people through His Word.  Elisha gave the king the warning from God, and we have His Word with us today as our defense against any deception and danger.

This angered King Ben-Hadad, and he found out where Elisha was staying, and sent an army to capture the prophet of God (vs. 13-17).  The army surrounded the city he was in at night.  When morning came, Elisha’s servant saw the city was surrounded by the Syrian army,  and he panicked and despaired.  However, Elisha did not panic.  He learned well from his mentor Elijah, and fully trusted the Lord.  He responded with one of the most comforting verses in the Bible: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then he prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant to see the protection that God supplied, a mountain full of angels with flaming chariots, heavenly warriors protecting them!

Elisha’s servant was not walking with his spiritual eyes opened.  He could see the enemy, but not the host of angels protecting him and Elisha.  When our eyes are opened, we can see sin and rebellion against God, and we see that Jesus has already won the victory.  He already rules in heaven.  This world is in His hands.  We should have no fear, for we know He wins.  Spiritual reality is greater than physical reality. The servant saw danger, but Elisha saw deliverance.  Fear comes from seeing only the physical.  Faith comes from seeing the spiritual.  God’s angels actively defend His people.  Hebrews 1:14 tells us that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve believers.

Elisha then prayed to God to blind the eyes of the Syrian soldiers, and he led them into the capital city of Samaria, and right to King Jehoram (vs. 18-23).  The king wanted to destroy them, but Elisha instructed him to show mercy, feed them, and send them back home.  God can disable the enemy.  He blinds them, not to destroy them, but to display His power.  Elisha refused revenge and chose mercy, foreshadowing Jesus Christ’s teaching in Matthew 5:44.

Situations that seem hopeless are not always the way we perceive them to be.  Things are always better than they seem to be when we remember that God is on our side.  The servant momentarily forgot that until his eyes were opened and he saw God’s army.  Syria may have had an army of soldiers, but God’s people had angels in flaming chariots!!

Elisha had calm confidence.  He did not panic.  He did not retaliate.  Elisha trusted God’s power, obeyed His leading, and displayed His mercy.  God is always at work in ways we cannot see.  The armies of heaven are real.  God’s protection is real, and His mercy is real.  God rules over both individuals and over nations.

We are not alone.  We don’t have to be stronger or smarter than the challenge before us.  Jesus is with us, and His power is greater than all rivals.  We may be afraid of the enemy forces, but God provides protection and hope.  Our Savior will never leave us or forsake us.  He who is with us will always win the ultimate victory!

A Mother's Persistent Faith

Matthew 15:21-28

When we have a desperate need, and there is really only one source to go to for help, the last thing we want to hear is “No” for an answer.  This is especially true if the help we need is for a very dear loved one.  We will go to any length to help them, sometimes even refusing to accept that “No”.  In our Scripture today we will meet a mother who would do anything for her daughter’s health and well-being except to accept the word “No”.  We’ll see how the Lord Jesus tested her faith, and if she passed that test.  Let’s take a look.

As we begin, we see that Jesus and His disciples had gone to the region of the two Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon, right along the Mediterranean coast.  (Today they are in southern Lebanon).  This was Gentile territory, which would be significant as just earlier in the chapter there had been a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees about external traditions and internal purity.  The Jewish people at this time, particularly the Pharisees, considered the Gentiles impure, and being around them, talking to them, and particularly going into a Gentile’s home, would make one unclean.  A good Jew would avoid going to a Gentile city unless one had very urgent business.  However, this was where Jesus took His disciples.

While there, a Canaanite woman approached Jesus, crying out for Him to have mercy on her and her daughter (vs. 21-22).  She used Jesus’ Messianic title, “Son of David”, which was remarkable for a Gentile to use.  She based her desire for His help, not on any sense of entitlement as she knew she had none, but instead on the mercy that she had heard He had for those in need.  Her daughter was possessed by a demon, and she must have heard that Jesus had cast many demons out of people before.  This mother recognized that Jesus had authority over them, and now approached him with both humility and desperation.

Jesus, however, did not respond to her cries (vs. 23).  This mother must have followed Him around for hours, as after a while the disciples asked Jesus if He would just send her away, as she must have started to seem like a pest.  Why was He silent?  Some have had the audacity to say that this woman taught Jesus a lesson in compassion.  Our Savior does not need any lessons in compassion!  He was not being cruel!  Jesus was testing this woman, testing her faith by delaying His answer.  He was drawing her deeper, to reveal the sincerity of her heart.  God’s silence is not a rejection.  It is often preparation.

Genuine seekers who have not yet obtained the blessing can find comfort in this passage.  The Savior did not immediately bestow the blessing, even though the woman had great faith in Him.  Although it is true that faith brings peace, it does not always bring it instantaneously.  God may have certain reasons for faith to be tested rather than immediately rewarded.

When He did respond, Jesus clarified to the woman what His mission was (vs. 24).  He affirmed the order of God’s redemptive plan - Israel first, and then the Gentiles.  This does not exclude the Gentiles.  God initially went to the people of Israel with His message of salvation, and then they were to take it to the rest of the world.  Christ’s earthly ministry focused on Israel, but His ultimate mission includes all nations.

This mother was not going to be put off! (vs. 25).  Her daughter needed help, and she knew that Jesus was the only One who could help her!  Again, Jesus’ answer sounded a little bit harsh, however He was still testing her (vs. 26).  Dogs here refers to the small, household pets, not the wild scavengers that frequently roamed the ancient Middle East.  He was testing her humility, drawing out a confession of faith that aligned with God’s order, not insulting her.  This woman must accept God’s plan before receiving God’s blessing.

In response, she gave a humble, but brilliant response (vs. 27).  She agreed with Jesus.  She did not argue for equality, she argued for mercy.  She believed that even a crumb of Jesus’ power would be enough to heal her daughter.  This woman knew that Jesus was so fine a divine housekeeper that there would be plenty of bread on His table.  There would be such an abundance for the children that there would be crumbs to throw on the floor for the puppy dogs, and the children would fare none the worse that the puppies are fed.  Even though her daughter needed a demon cast out, she believed that Jesus was so powerful that it would be nothing for Him, only a crumb.

Jesus rarely said that someone had great faith, but He said that to this mother (vs. 28).  She persevered through silence, and accepted God’s order.  She trusted in His mercy and refused to let go until she received His blessing.  As a reward, her daughter was healed instantly, demonstrating Jesus’ authority over demons, and His willingness to bless Gentiles who come in faith.

People today get so easily offended all too often!  They are offended that Jesus seemed to call her a dog!  They close their eyes to the lessons that God wants to teach us.  Fortunately, this mother didn’t get offended.  She kept coming back, and Jesus rewarded that.  This mother opened her soul very wide, expecting great things of Jesus, and He filled it with His love.

Faith Comes Through Hearing

Romans 10:8-17

There is a way that many Christians today prefer to use in sharing the Gospel with others, and today’s Scripture from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans shows that this method is not God’s preferred method that He wishes us to use.  Let’s see what we can learn from Romans today.

The method of witnessing that I am referring to, one which I have heard countless people say is the only method that they ever use, is that of the “silent witness”.  In this method, they say that they let their actions, their lifestyle, be a witness to their neighbors.  They hope that their neighbor will “see Jesus” through their actions, and that will be enough for them to come to faith in Him, they won’t have to say a word.  What does the Apostle Paul say about this method?  The answer is in our Scripture passage.

Today we’ll start at the end of the passage, and work our way back to the start.  In verse 17 Paul states that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  Faith comes by hearing, not by seeing.  The Bible states here that faith is created by the Word of God - specifically the preached Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is not produced just by seeing someone live a good life, doing a few good deeds.  The lost need to hear the saving message of Jesus in order for them to come to faith in Him.  True, the way Christians are supposed to live their life is important, otherwise we will be considered to be a hypocrite if we say one thing but live the other.  However, speaking and telling others about Jesus, their hearing the Word of God is essential.

As we read in verses 14-16, the lost cannot call upon the Lord Jesus as their Savior if they don’t believe in Him, and they cannot believe in Him if they have not heard the message.  They won’t hear the message if nobody preaches or speaks to them about Jesus.  Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah by saying that the feet of those who bring the Gospel message to others are beautiful (Isaiah 52:7).  They are beautiful in the sense that they carry the message of peace and salvation.  Unfortunately not everyone believes, as Paul quotes Isaiah again (Isaiah 53:1).  But in order for anyone to believe, they first must hear the message.

Now let us return to the beginning verses of our Scripture, which will tell us what it is that one must hear in order to believe (vs. 8-13).  Paul begins here by quoting Deuteronomy 30:14, showing that God has made His Word accessible to everyone.  He has not hidden salvation.  The Gospel must be proclaimed by the mouth and believed in the heart.

The message that brings salvation is clearly stated in verse 9, that one must confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead.  This is not mere lip service.  It is a declaration that Jesus is Yahweh, the divine Messiah, risen and reigning.  The resurrection is the proof of Christ’s deity, His victory over sin, and the sufficiency of His atonement.  The heart believes unto righteousness, and the mouth confesses unto salvation.  Belief in the resurrection is essential.  If someone denies this, they have rejected the Gospel and cannot be saved.  The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Son of God who overcame death.  It affirms that God was satisfied with His Son’s death as the sacrifice for mankind’s sins.

Paul states plainly that there is no distinction, that salvation is offered to both Jewish people and non-Jewish or Gentile people alike.  Salvation is offered universally, but must be received individually.  Verse 13, which comes from the prophet Joel (Joel 2:32) teaches that those who call on the Lord will be saved.  Calling is the outward expression of the inward faith.  It is not a ritual prayer, but is the cry of a repentant sinner trusting in Jesus Christ alone.

In closing, we see through this Scripture passage that faith comes by hearing.  This shows that God does not want us to only be a silent witness for Him.  Yes, as mentioned above, we should live a good and godly life that is a testimony for Jesus, but we are also supposed to be a verbal witness, as well.  Others need to hear about Jesus.  Pagans and atheists can live a virtuous life.  If we are honest, how many people ever actually came to faith in Jesus because they saw that their neighbor was a good, upstanding fellow?  Some might be inclined to go visit a church, but it is there that they hear the Word of God and hopefully are saved.  Let us be faithful to the Lord, and tell those He brings across our path about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

God's Blessing is for Ministry

Psalm 67

When someone gives us some money or other resources, and tells us that it should be used for a specific thing, the proper thing to do is to use that money or resource for that thing.  If you give your son some money and tell him to go to the store and buy a certain item, you want him to come back with that item, not the latest computer game.  If your boss gives you certain resources to be used on a specific project, you should use it on that, not your own pet project.  Our psalm this week speaks of God blessing His people, but blessing them for a specific purpose.  Let’s see what we can learn from this psalm.

As our brief psalm begins, the unknown author prays for God’s blessing upon himself and the people, and for His face to shine upon them (vs. 1).  It is always nice to know that God’s face is shining upon oneself.  When someone’s face is “shining” upon you, you know that you have their favor.  It is a smiling, benevolent face, not an angry one.  Having God’s shining face would mean that He is looking towards and on you with favor.  God’s shining face is part of the blessing He commanded the priests to use for the people (Numbers 6:24-27).   In the light of God’s shining face, the people would be blessed and marked with His Name as His holy people.  Those who do not have God’s blessing, His shining face, face His terrible wrath (Psalm 34:16).  For those who have called upon Jesus as their personal Savior, we can have God’s face to shine on us.  That is because on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion the face of God turned away from Him while He was on the cross, bearing our sins.

The psalmist, though, is clear as to what the purpose of this blessing was to be (vs. 2).  God’s blessing here is to be evangelistic.  God’s blessing is to help us so that His ways will be known upon earth, so that we can go forth and tell others about the Lord.  There are plenty of preachers, many on television, who claim that God wants to bless us so that we can be rich, have all the material possessions we want - bigger houses, fancier cars, even so the TV preacher can add another jet to his fleet!  However, God’s Word says here that His blessing is so that we can make known His salvation, deliverance, and redemptive work so that others may come to know Jesus as Savior, not for our own personal wealth or prosperity.

As the psalmist continues, he prays that the people of the world will praise God (vs. 3).  This is universal praise, not just from the people of Israel.  This looks forward to the day when the Gospel message will be told all over the world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8).  God’s plan has always been for His message to go to all people throughout the world.

We read in verse 4 that God is the Judge of all the earth.  Yahweh is not a tribal deity, or the God of just one group of people who follow Him.  He is God, Lord, and Judge of all people everywhere, and in every time.  His rule is righteous, unlike the corrupt rule of human governments.  This verse also looks forward to the Lord Jesus Christ’s millennial reign, where He will rule the nations with perfect justice (Isaiah 11:3-5; Revelation 20:11-15).

The psalmist repeats verse 3 in verse 5.  This shows his urgency and longing for global worship of the Lord.  God deserves worldwide praise.  Continuing on he speaks of God’s physical provisions and blessings (vs. 6-7).  These are tied to His spiritual purpose, which is for us to tell others about Him.  God’s blessings are for us to give testimony to Him, so that others will come to know Him, praise, and fear or give Him reverence.  The psalmist ends his psalm with confidence that God will accomplish His global purpose.  This certainty is grounded in God’s promises.

Our psalm today teaches us that God blesses His people so that they can be a blessing to the world.  This is the same type of blessing that God gave to Abraham when He called him to follow Him.  God blessed him so that he would in turn bless others by telling them of Yahweh (Genesis 12:1-3).  Israel was meant to be a light to the nations, and the Church today continues that mission.  This psalm looks forward to the day when all nations will fear God, and Christ will reign in righteousness.

As we look back over today’s Scripture, we see that God’s blessings upon us are not specifically for our comfort, but for our usefulness in His kingdom.  We have a mission, and that is to give, go, pray, and witness to others for God.  Our life is meant to make God’s ways known to others who do not know Him.