Final Instructions

Mark 16:9-20

When your boss is going to be gone for a while, maybe on vacation, he usually leaves a set of instructions of what he wants you to be doing while he is away.  Teachers and parents leave the children with instructions of what they want done.  In our Gospel reading today, St. Mark not only gives some brief accounts of things that happened right after the Resurrection, but also includes some specific instructions that the Lord gave before He ascended back into heaven.  Let’s take a look at what these are.

As our Scripture passage opens, Mark briefly relates some post-resurrection appearances that the Lord Jesus made.  The first one he speaks of was to Mary Magdalene (vs. 9-11).  She was one of a few women who had initially come to the tomb to anoint the Body of Jesus.  They each saw and heard the angels’ message, and the others hurried back to the disciples.  Mary Magdalene, though, remained at the tomb.  It was there that she saw Jesus, and He spoke with her.  However, when she returned to the disciples and told them, they did not really believe her.

Mary Magdalene was a woman who Jesus had cast out seven demons (Luke 8:1-3).  We don’t know what had happened that opened the door for her to become possessed, but after her deliverance Mary Magdalene became a devoted disciple.  God delights in transforming broken lives, and using them for His glory.  The Lord chose her to be the first person to see the risen Savior.  He often uses the unlikely or overlooked to accomplish His purposes.

Next, Mark relates the Lord’s appearance to a couple who were traveling out of Jerusalem to their home in the village of Emmaus (vs. 12-13).  This parallels the account that Luke gave in Luke 24:13-35.  These two were also disciples, and were returning home, downcast and discouraged by all that had happened the last few days.  On the road they met a stranger, who happened to be Jesus, but they didn’t immediately recognize Him.  Later they did, and they hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples, who again did not believe.

Continuing on in our passage, we read that Jesus then later appeared to His eleven apostles, and reproves them for their unbelief and hardness of heart (vs. 14).  They should have been expected to believe, as Jesus had shared with them numerous times what was to have happened - that He would be betrayed, turned over to His enemies, crucified, and on the third day rise again.

In verses 15-16, Jesus gives them His commission to go out into all the world and preach the Gospel, a commission that most of us are familiar with from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 28:16-20).  Their upcoming ministry was to be universal, “preach the Gospel to every creature”, not to stay put and tell only their friends and relatives.  Instead, they were to go tell all nations.  Those who believe and follow Jesus will be saved, those who don’t will be lost.

Jesus then instructs them in some miraculous signs that will follow those who go forth proclaiming the Gospel (vs. 17-18).  They will be able to cast out demons, speak in new tongues, have protection from deadly harm, and heal the sick.  These signs were real, supernatural, and gave clear evidence to the apostles' message in the early Church.  None of these should ever be done with the intent of testing God - deliberately picking up poisonous snakes because “God will protect me”, or deliberately drinking poison because “God will protect me.  St. Paul unknowingly picked up a deadly snake, but God protected him from any harm (Acts 28:1-6).  These were the instructions that Jesus gave His followers.  They should preach the Gospel to everyone, and signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence, signs that bring praise and glory to the Name of Jesus, will follow.

Then in the presence of His disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven, where He is seated at God’s right hand (vs. 19).  His ascension affirms His deity  and authority.  Whoever is seated at a powerful ruler’s right hand not only has his favor, but also has his ear.  Jesus is at God’s right hand, and what a blessing for us, He is interceding for us to the Father.  His position at God’s right hand guarantees the success of the Gospel mission.  We serve a risen, reigning, sovereign Lord.

Mark wraps up this Scripture passage, along with his Gospel by stating that the disciples did exactly what the Lord commanded.  They went out preaching the message of salvation, with the Lord working through them, confirming the Word with signs and wonders (vs. 20).  Obedience to the Lord will bring divine empowerment.  God will always confirm His Word. He does not leave His servants without help.  The same Lord who empowered the apostles, empowers believers today through the Holy Spirit.  We should also remember that God uses ordinary people - Mary Magdalene, doubting disciples, and believers today.

The King Ascends, The Church Advances

Acts 1:4-11

Thursday of this week marks the Feast of the Ascension in the Christian calendar, the day, approximately forty days after Easter, when Jesus ascended back into heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.  We will read the account of this in our Scripture today, where we see the risen Christ commission His church, give the promise of the Holy Spirit, ascend into heaven, and we are given a guarantee of His return.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus had taken His disciples out of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, nearby the village of Bethany, which is just a couple of miles from Jerusalem (Luke 24:50-51).  Though Jesus had told them before that He would be returning to the Father, I don’t believe they knew what was going to happen that day.  He had instructed them that they were to be His witnesses, bringing the Gospel message to the world.  Now, as they were on the Mount of Olives, Jesus told them that they were to return to Jerusalem.  They were to wait, not work, until they received the promised power of the Holy Spirit (vs. 4-5).  This was a command, a divine directive, and not a suggestion.  They were not to proceed further until they had the power of the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist had baptized with water, but they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  This shows a clear distinction between John’s preparatory ministry and Jesus’ empowering ministry.  This baptism of the Holy Spirit would occur about 1 ½ weeks later, at Pentecost.  However at this time they did not understand or know.  This would empower them for the ministry of spreading the Gospel.  God’s work must be done in God’s power, not with just human enthusiasm.  They were to wait on God.

As the disciples were gathered with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, they were still expecting an immediate political kingdom, a restoration of the kingdom of Israel, bringing them out from any type of foreign control (vs. 6-7).  Jesus, though, redirected their focus to the spiritual mission they had.  Their expectation was rooted in Old Testament prophecy.  It was Biblical, however their timing was off.  Jesus did not deny the future restoration of Israel, He simply said that the timing is the Father’s business, not theirs right then.  Times and dates are set by God.  We too should not be trying to set dates for when Jesus will return.  Our calling is to spread the Gospel message, seeing people come to saving faith in Jesus, not in date-setting.

Verse 8 is the mission of the Church, and is basically the outline of the entire Book of Acts in a nutshell.  The disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit would come upon them, and then they were to be witnesses for Jesus, not debaters, politicians, or philosophers.  Their mission was to expand outward.  It would start in Jerusalem on Pentecost (local), and was to proceed to Judea (regional), then also into Samaria (cross-cultural), and outward to the end of the earth (global).  God made us for a purpose.  We are to take the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ into the world.  The Lord desires us to reach others for Him.

It took a little while for the early Christians to move outward, beyond Judea, beyond their own nationality and culture, to witness to Gentiles and welcome them into the Church.  But the Holy Spirit moved with events and His conviction and encouragement, and He ensured it happened.  The Church’s mission is proclaiming the risen Savior Jesus, and the power for this comes from the Holy Spirit.  Every believer is called to be a witness.  The Gospel is to move outward.  If we are not reaching outward, we are resisting the Holy Spirit’s design.

Following these instructions, Jesus physically, visibly, and bodily ascended into heaven (vs. 9-11).  Jesus was taken up bodily, this was not symbolic or spiritualized.  A cloud received Him, which is often a symbol in the Bible of God’s glory.  Two angels then appeared, bringing the disciples a message.  They asked why the disciples were just standing there, gaping up into the sky.  Their implication was to stop staring and to start obeying what Jesus had just told them.  They proceeded to then tell them that Jesus would return.  In His return He would come down from heaven, visibly and bodily.

Jesus is now exalted, seated at the Father’s right hand.  There He is our Intercessor, our High Priest (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34).  Ascension Day calls us to worship Jesus as our exalted Lord and trusted Intercessor.  We are to serve Him as we await His return.

As we take a final look at the disciples in our Scripture for today, we see that none of these men were well-traveled before Jesus called them.  Their ways were not sophisticated.  They had little formal education.  They didn’t have a lot of humility, as several tried to grab positions in Jesus’ kingdom.  Peter tried to get Jesus to avoid the cross.  They fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Yet Jesus chose them and commissioned them to bring His message to the world.  You may not think that you have what it takes to be a witness for Jesus.  Or some other people may tell you the same, that you’re not smart or qualified.  Just remember, God doesn’t call the qualified.  He qualifies those He has called.

The King Over All The Earth

Psalm 47

Ascension Day is on Thursday of this week, the day when the Lord Jesus left earth and returned to heaven.  Our Scripture for later this week will go more into that event.  However, since that event commemorates more than just His return to heaven, but also His exaltation as Lord, and His enthronement at the right hand of God the Father, let’s look at another Scripture that speaks of God as King, reigning over the world.

Psalm 47 is one of several psalms written by the Sons of Korah.  Korah was a man from the tribe of Levi who led a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16:1-40).  God judged Korah and those in rebellion with him by opening the earth, which swallowed them alive.  However, his children and descendants weren’t harmed.  Later they worked in the Temple, particularly with worship music, and also writing several of the psalms.

Our psalm speaks of the universal kingship of Yahweh, how He is the sovereign King over all the earth, and how one day all nations will submit to His rule.  This will happen when Jesus returns and sets up His Millennium reign.  This psalm is both present - God reigns now, and prophetic - Jesus will reign visibly and universally in the future.

The Sons of Korah begin their psalm by calling out to everyone to clap and shout their praises to God (vs. 1).  These are to be expressions of victory for the Lord.  This is a call to everyone, not just Israel.  God’s kingship is not tribal or regional.  He is God of everyone, everywhere, and there is a day coming when all nations will acknowledge Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

The reason to shout and praise Yahweh is that He is awesome, inspiring wonder and worship (vs. 2).  He is also totally worthy of reverence.  God is not just Israel’s King, He is King over all the earth.  Most of the pagan gods worshiped in that time and place were regional deities.  They were the gods of this or that mountain, plain, or river.  They might have power over some specific weather event.  However, Yahweh’s dominion, power, and rule is absolute and universal.

The Sons of Korah look into the future with a prophetic promise (vs. 3).  This verse looks forward to the Millennial Kingdom, when Jesus rules, and His people are restored to a place of prominence (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zechariah 14:9, 16-17).  It is God Himself, not any human effort, that will bring the nations of the world into submission to Him.  We do not win people to the Lord by force, but the Holy Spirit’s intervention does.

Continuing on, we see that God gives His children their inheritance (vs. 4).  It is not self-earned.  His choices are rooted in grace, not in our own merit.  We can rest in the knowledge that God’s love for us is faithful, and all of His choices for us are perfect.

Now we come to the verses that relate to the Ascension (vs. 5).  This is royal coronation language, picturing God ascending to His throne after victory.  Prophetically it points to Jesus’ ascension spoken of in Acts 1:9-11, and then later to His return with the sound of the trumpet (I Thessalonians 4:16), and His enthronement in the Millennium.  Jesus is the victorious, exalted King.  Continuing, we are told five times to sing praises to God (vs. 6-7).  We are to be joyful to the Lord.  Our praise should be with understanding, intelligence, not just random babble, and it should be directed to God, not to ourselves, any preacher, or to any singer or musician.

As the Sons of Korah bring this psalm to a close, we see that God reigns over the nations of the world (vs. 8-9).  His rule is holy, not random or by chance.  Even now, though many nations are in rebellion against Him, He is still sovereign.  His reign is not threatened by human rebellion.  And in the future, Jesus will rule visibly and perfectly.  All earthly rulers and their people will gather to worship Jesus.  Their “shields”, which symbolize their authority, power, and military strength, will be given to God, as they ultimately belong to Him.

Approximately forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended and returned to heaven, where He is seated on His heavenly throne.  This psalm was one that anticipated His literal, earthly kingdom, where He will rule from Jerusalem.  God is not some tribal deity, but rules all nations, all peoples, and the whole universe.  Some may wonder where God is in all the mess that is happening throughout the world, and may wonder if He has somehow lost control, or has stepped back and is not involved in anything anymore.  We can trust God’s plan for the future.  History may seem like it is spiraling out of control, but it’s not.  It is moving towards the visible reign of Jesus Christ.

Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:9-14

When many people think of the Book of Daniel they immediately think of the account of Daniel in the lion’s den, or of his three friends being thrown into the fiery furnace and coming out unharmed.  Those are certainly the most familiar parts of the Book of Daniel.  However the majority of the book contains prophetic visions Daniel had, or interpretation of dreams that he gave of future events, particularly end-time events.  Today’s portion of Scripture from the Book of Daniel is one such passage.  It reveals the heavenly courtroom where God, the Ancient of Days, will judge the kingdoms of men, and will grant everlasting dominion to the Messiah, the Son of Man, who is clearly identified in the New Testament as Jesus Christ.  Let’s see what God’s Word has to say.

Chapter 7 begins with describing a dream and visions that Daniel had.  First he described four Gentile empires which would come.  Then, as our portion of Scripture describes, the vision moves from earth to heaven, where God will judge these kingdoms, and establish His own.  This Scripture gives a divine perspective on world history - that human empires rise and fall, but God’s kingdom is eternal.

As our Scripture begins, Daniel had a vision of God seated on His throne as the divine Judge (vs. 9-10).  Daniel used the name “Ancient of Days”, a name for God the Father which is found only in the Book of Daniel.  This name emphasizes His eternality.  The white hair symbolizes God’s wisdom, and His white clothes show His purity and holiness.  His fiery throne shows God’s majesty and authority.  A fiery stream comes forth from God’s throne.  When we read of fire in the Bible, it often symbolizes judgment (Hebrews 12:29), purity, and holiness.  Surrounding God’s throne of judgment are multiple thousands of angels.

The books of judgment are brought to God and opened.  God keeps a record of all that we as individuals do, and also what the nations do.  His judgment is deliberate, righteous, and final.  Later, in another book of the Bible which describes end-time events we read of the Great White Throne judgment where all mankind is judged (Revelation 20:11-12).  However, here we are focused on the judgment of world empires.  God is the sovereign Judge over all nations.  No empire will escape His scrutiny.  Everyone will be held accountable.

As we read on, we read about the fourth beast, which will be the ruler of the final Gentile empire before the Lord’s return (vs. 11-12).  This leader will have immense power in the world, and speak boldly and pompously.  However, this ungodly world leader’s destruction will be sudden and final.  He will be toppled and destroyed, not by any human effort, but by divine intervention.  We see that all human kingdoms, no matter how big or powerful, are only temporary.  God’s kingdom alone is eternal.

Daniel moves on in describing the vision he had, speaking about the Son of Man (vs. 13-14).  This is not an angel, nor merely a human.  This is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in His glorified humanity.  Jesus used this title for Himself more than any other, over eighty times in the Gospels.  He is described as “coming with the clouds of heaven.”  The Bible has frequently described God and the Lord Jesus as being surrounded by clouds, accompanying His presence (Psalm 104:3; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).

This is not describing the Second Coming of Jesus to earth.  This is His heavenly coronation, where He receives authority from the Father.  Some parallel passages that also describe this are Psalm 2:6-9; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 28:18; and Revelation 5:6-14.  We see that the Lord Jesus will receive absolute authority and dominion, divine honor and glory, and a literal, earthly, and everlasting kingdom.

There are several characteristics of Jesus’ kingdom.  First, it is a universal kingdom, with people from all nations and languages.  It is also an indestructible kingdom, which shall not pass away.  Finally, Daniel described it as an eternal kingdom that shall not be destroyed.  This part of the prophetic vision will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6), and then in the Eternal State (Revelation 21-22).  Jesus Christ is the rightful King of all creation.  His kingdom is literal, future, and everlasting.

As we close our study in Daniel 7, we should keep in mind that even when world events seem chaotic, as they certainly were in Daniel’s day, we must remember that God is on the throne.  Daniel lived under pagan empires, yet he remained faithful, and so must we.  We can endure suffering, knowing that Jesus will reign, and His justice will prevail.  We know that Jesus is our Savior, but we must also remember that He is the eternal King who deserves our obedience and our reverence.  Since Jesus is the coming Judge and King, we should do our best to warn others, inviting them to trust in Him now.

Which Way Leads Us Home?

John 14:1-11

Many years ago I used to work in downtown Chicago.  Since I lived in one of the city’s many suburbs, I would take a commuter train to and from work.  When I would leave work to return home, I would go to the massive train station where numerous trains were lined up on dozens of tracks.  It was very important that I would get on the correct train.  If I didn’t, I would end up miles from where I wanted to be.  The trains looked very similar, but only one was the correct train.  The same would be if I were to take a bus home.  Only the correct bus would get me to my destination.  Contrary to the popular saying that all roads lead to heaven, there is only one way to heaven.  As we look into our Gospel passage today, we will see what that one way is.

Our Scripture is part of the Upper Room discourse, a series of final teachings that the Lord gave His disciples on the night that He was betrayed.  The disciples were rather shaken at this time, as Jesus had just predicted His betrayal (John 13:21), Judas had abruptly left, Peter was told that he would deny Jesus, and He said that He was going away.  Jesus proceeded to comfort the troubled disciples by revealing three foundational truths - He is preparing a real place for believers, He is the exclusive way to the Father, and He is the full revelation of the Father because He is truly God.

Jesus begins by telling us to not be troubled, agitated or shaken by what is happening in the world (vs. 1).  When circumstances shake us, Jesus calls us to trust His character, not our understanding.  Here He places faith in Himself on the same level as faith in God, an implicit claim to deity.

Next He gives us one of the most comforting promises in the Bible (vs. 2-3).  Jesus promises His believers that He has prepared a place for them in heaven.  Heaven is not a vague spiritual state.  It is a prepared, permanent home for us, a real place, not just something symbolic.  Jesus has a place prepared for each one of us in heaven.  Our home here on earth might be quite humble, it may not be secure from month to month, it may have leaks and be drafty, too hot or too cold.  However, we can trust that the place that Jesus has for us will be perfect for us.  Jesus gave this promise and we can believe it, and wait confidently for that day.

Jesus said that we would know the way to where He was going.  Thomas then asked Him a question, that if we didn’t know where He was going, how could we know the way (vs. 4-5).  He wasn’t doubting, but seeking clarity.  His question set the stage for one of the most important statements that Jesus ever made.  He clearly stated that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to God except through Him (vs. 6).  This is exclusive - there is no other path that leads to God.  Jesus doesn’t just show us the way, He is the way.  Salvation is through Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone.  No other religion or faith can give us a valid path to truth or salvation.  Jesus is the only way.

Every major religion claims it is the only way, but only one can be right.  Absolute truth is absolute.  When religious truths conflict with each other, only one can be correct.  Even a cursory study of the various religions show that the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and various pagan gods are different in character and purpose.  We are not all worshiping the same God.  These other religions are taking their members in a completely different, and wrong direction, rather than to heaven.  Only Jesus will get us to heaven.  Jesus took our place for the punishment of sin by suffering and dying on the cross so that we can have eternal life.  Apart from Jesus and His saving work on the cross there is no way home to God.  Look to the cross, and it will lead you home to God.

Philip then asked Jesus to show them the Father.  The Savior responded that those who see Him have seen the Father (vs. 7-9).  Jesus is not merely a representative of God, He is God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15).  Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God.  If we want to understand God’s heart, look at Jesus.  Everything that He did was an exact representation of His Father.

The last verses of this passage show the unity of the Father and the Son (vs. 10-11).  Jesus’ words are the Father’s words.  His works are the Father’s works.  God the Father is in Jesus, and He is in the Father.  They share the same divine nature.

In closing we see one of the clearest affirmations that Jesus is fully God.  They share one divine essence while remaining distinct Persons.  We also read the truth that salvation is exclusively through Jesus.  There is no other way.  When our heart is troubled, we need to anchor our faith in Jesus’ character.  We can be comforted with His promises of His peace, especially knowing that He has a place prepared personally for us in heaven.

His Chosen People

I Peter 2:1-10

Have you ever felt like you did not fit in with others, either at school or maybe at work?  Maybe you felt like you just weren’t wanted around by others.  Some people were an unwanted child, and ended up in an orphanage or foster home.  For others, though their parents kept them, they let them know they weren’t wanted.  Some children are the last to be picked for a team, or are never invited to join a club.  This sometimes continues on into the workplace or in social groups.  However, there is Someone who is eager to choose you for Himself.  This is one of the subjects that the Apostle Peter touches on in our Scripture today.  Let’s see what God has to teach us today.

In his first general letter to believers, Peter instructs us to put away sin from our life, to desire God’s Word, and live as His chosen people, built upon the Lord Jesus, the Cornerstone.  He begins by listing five sins for believers to get rid of in their life (vs. 1).  We might think that big things like murder, harming children, or robbing a bank would top the list.  However what he lists are malice (a desire to do evil), deceit, hypocrisy (pretending to be spiritual while hiding sin), envy, and evil speaking (slander and gossip).  These destroy our fellowship with God and our spiritual growth.  Contrary to what some may think, these are not respectable sins, and must be rooted out of our life in order to grow as a Christian.  God’s love for us should motivate us to reject these behaviors.

What will help us grow as Christians?  Newborn babies desire milk, which helps them grow.  For a believer, our “milk” is God’s Word (vs. 2-3).  We should be desiring it just like a baby does his milk.  Reading the Bible shouldn’t be something we just check off of a list of things to do.  We should want to get into God’s Word every day.  Peter says to desire the “pure milk of the Word”, which is the Bible, not just other “spiritual” literature.  They cannot replace the Bible, and one must be especially careful that they aren’t teaching false doctrine.  Just as a good mother is extremely careful of what her baby eats, so must we be very careful with what we take in spiritually.

As Peter continues, he speaks on how as believers we have come to Jesus, the Living Stone (vs. 4).  He was rejected by men, but was chosen by God.  He is “living”, emphasizing His resurrection.  A stone is strong, stable, and is used to build a foundation, which Jesus is in our life.  As believers, we share in His life as lively stones (vs. 5).  We are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering to God spiritual sacrifices, such as worship, obedience, and praise.

Peter then quotes from Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.  Believers who trust in Him will not be put to shame.  Unbelievers will stumble because they disobey the Word of God.  Just as a building’s foundation is built on a strong rock so that it won’t move, our spiritual life needs to be built on the strong, solid foundation of Jesus.   Christ divides humanity into two groups - those who believe and are built upon Him, and those who reject Him and stumble into judgment.

As we continue on, Peter gives four titles for believers who follow Jesus - a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own special people (vs. 9).   You may be ignored or rejected by others, but when you follow Jesus, He has chosen you to be His redeemed people.  We are a royal priesthood, priests with kingly dignity, and access to God, with authority to represent Him.  As a holy nation we are set apart from the world, and as such we should be following God’s Word and not cultural trends.  As Christians we are God’s special people, His treasured possession purchased by the Blood of His Son.

As this Scripture passage comes to a close, Peter alludes to the first two chapters of the prophet Hosea.  We were once alienated from God, but are now adopted by Him (vs. 10).  We were once without mercy, but now we are recipients of His abundant mercy.

As we look back over these verses from I Peter, let’s be sure to continue growing as Christians, and not stay as babies.  We do that by taking generous portions of God’s Word each day.  We should also remember that none of us has to ever feel unwanted, abandoned or rejected, because God has called our names.  He has chosen us for His family.  Remember who you are in the Lord.  It is only when we remember who we are that we can call others out of darkness and into the light of Jesus.

Come and See

Psalm 66

When something special has happened to you, or you have seen something very special and exciting, one of the first things you want to do is tell others, and possibly also show them.  If they are doubting, you might urge them on by saying, “Come and see!”  There are some things that are just too good to keep to oneself.  Our unknown psalmist of today’s psalm felt that way.  He had much praise and worship for the Lord God that he wanted to share with everyone, which we can read today in our psalm.

Psalm 66 begins with universal praise of Yahweh from the whole earth.  Then it moves to national remembrance where the nation of Israel recounts God’s deliverance of them from captivity.  The psalm ends with the psalmist’s personal testimony of answered prayer in his life.  Each of these were things he wanted to share with others, calling them to come and see what God had done.

As our psalm opens, the author gives a universal call to worship Yahweh (vs. 1-4).  God deserves global worship, not just from Israel, but from all nations.  The praise is vocal and public from people, as they sing out and make His praise glorious.  God’s works show us exactly what His character is like.  His deeds are so mighty that even His enemies will eventually submit themselves to Him.  We don’t see that now, but there is coming the day when Jesus returns to earth, and then all nations will bow before Him (Philippians 2:10-11).

The psalmist next calls upon his people, the nation of Israel, to remember what God has done for them (vs. 5-7).  Two events that he particularly points out are the crossing of the Red Sea, and then forty years later, the crossing of the Jordan River, each time where God parted the waters, allowing the people to cross on dry land.  Some people believe that God is a remote God, who does not get involved in human events, and that after He created everything He just left that creation to get by on its own.  However, God is actively involved with all creation. He acts in history, He delivers His people, and He rules eternally.  We see this most personally with the Lord Jesus, the Son of God who came to earth, born as a human, to die upon the cross for our sins.  As the psalmist said, “Come and see!”

The next section of our psalm shifts from God’s mighty acts to that of His disciplining and refining His people (vs. 8-12).  Precious metals are put through a refining process to remove impurities, making the metal more valuable.  The same holds for believers.  God will often put His children through similar processes in order to remove sin.  He will test us, bringing us through figurative fire and water, in order to refine us just as silver is refined.  This discipline is purposeful, not punitive.  These trials are not signs of abandonment, but of refinement (Hebrews 12:5-11).  God allows us to go through times of testing to toughen our spiritual muscles and endurance.  He teaches us to rely on Him, and purifies us to be holy, so that we become more like Christ.  God will preserve us, purify us, and bring us to a place of abundance.

Proceeding on, the psalmist next speaks of his personal worship and vows that he had made to God (vs. 13-15).  Some time in his recent past he had made some vows to God in prayer for deliverance from various troubles that he was in.  Many people make vows and promises to God when they have problems in their life, or when they seek healing from a critical illness, but then when He delivers or heals them, that promise is forgotten.  Not so with our psalmist.  He brings his offerings to the Lord in sincere gratitude.  That should be the case with every Christian.  If we ever make a vow or promise to the Lord, we should be certain to fulfill those vows, and not conveniently forget.

Lastly, the psalmist gives a personal testimony of answered prayer (vs. 16-20).  He reminds the reader that if there is sin in one’s heart, God will not answer.  However, that is not the case with him, as God heard and answered his prayers for help.  God does not find worship acceptable from believers who cling unrepentantly to sin (vs. 18).  Some people choose to live in ungodliness, even after salvation.  If this is our choice, God will not respond to our prayers.  This doesn’t mean we can never make a mistake.  God understands our frailty.  But we must repent of all known sin, and avoid continuing in it.

How often are we, as Christians, calling upon others, both fellow believers and the unsaved, to come and see what mighty works God has done?  He deserves our praise.  Our testimony just might open up some lost person’s eyes and heart to the Lord, leading them to one day call upon the Lord Jesus for salvation.