When we were very little children, many of us had children’s books that helped to teach us the alphabet. The book would go through the alphabet with big bright pictures of something that began with each letter - A is for Apple, B is for Bear, etc. As we grew older, we learned some other alphabetic memory devices to help us learn things. I still remember one I learned in early grade school - “My very efficient mother just sent us nine pies” which helped to learn the nine planets (we counted Pluto as a planet back then!). As we got older, we learned other alphabetical devices to learn other things. Some of the psalms were written that way, as acrostics, with each verse starting with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which might have helped Hebrew young people memorize and learn God’s Word. Our psalm today is one such psalm.
As we read through this somewhat short psalm, most of us are not reading it in Hebrew, so we miss the acrostic or alphabetical aspect. We read it in our native language. However the same message comes forth, that of God’s greatness, righteousness, and His faithfulness. His works are sure, He is unchanging and faithful to His covenants, and His Word should be the primary and final authority in our life. This was something that the unknown author was trying to teach the readers. Whether they were children or adults, it is something that we all need to learn.
As our psalm begins, the psalmist instructs us to bring praise to the whole heart, especially during our worship services, “in the congregation” (vs. 1). Both in the days of the Old Testament, later in the New Testament, and including today, both public and personal worship and praise to the Lord should be a vital part of our Christian life.
One thing that the psalmist believes we should be praising the Lord for are His great works (vs. 2-6). He tells us to study and learn about them, and how we go about doing that is by reading His Word. In the Bible we read over and over again the great things the Lord in creation and for His people. In addition, we can share with our Christian brothers and sisters in and outside of church, the things that He has done for us personally, how He has watched over us and provided for our needs. As believers, we need to be studying and meditating on God’s Word, and sharing with others the mighty works He has done for us, including His righteousness (vs. 3), His grace and compassion (vs. 4), and His provisions (vs. 5).
As the psalmist continues with his acrostic teaching, he specifically instructs his readers, and us as well, that God’s Word, the Bible, is absolutely true (vs. 7-8). They will stand fast forever, and will never change. Many men and women, and certainly many governments over the ages have tried to stamp out and destroy the Bible. Throughout many times in history it has been illegal to read or own a copy of the Bible, including in some places today. However, no one has ever succeeded in destroying it. It stands fast forever! And the truths that we find therein are unchanging. What was true back when it was written is still true today, regardless of the passing of time or changing cultures. God and His Word does not change.
It is through God’s Word, and through those who teach us His Word, that we learn of redemption, that God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, and that by accepting Him as our Savior, we have salvation (vs 9). That promise is one that will last forever. Until Jesus returns to set up His millennial kingdom, everyone, as long as they are alive, have the opportunity to come to Him for salvation through His holy and awesome Name.
Our psalm closes with the reminder that if we want wisdom (and who doesn’t?), that we need to have a good fear of the Lord (vs. 11). This fear of the Lord means having a deep reverence and respect for God, respect for His power and authority, and obedience to His Word. Genuine believers will have a healthy fear of the Lord, which leads to respect for His commands, precepts, and principles, and we will have a reverent awe of God’s majesty that will lead to righteous living.
No comments:
Post a Comment