May 25, 2011
"Where does my help come from?" Not from man's wisdom, power, strategies, or strength. Our help comes from the LORD. THE Lord! THE God! The God who made the heavens and the earth. Not a god of many gods—THE God.
Our human minds cannot even begin to fathom who/what God is and the unfathomable depths of His love and power. We have put the God of creation into a box that our simple minds have constructed. This is one of the areas where "Praise" has changed our lives. Praise, not thanks. Praise is an act of acknowledging who and what God is. Thanks is typically about the individual and what God has done for you. Praise is about God, and God alone. The more you praise God the more you understand about God. The more you get a glimpse of who He is the more in awe you are, and you realize that you really know nothing about His "surpassing greatness." (Psalm 150)
GOD—the creator of the heavens and the earth:
Psalm 123 talks about total dependence on God. Just as a slave is dependent on their master, we need to be dependent on our master and WAIT for Him to show us mercy. "Have mercy on us, LORD. Have mercy on us, because we have been insulted (NIV says "endured much contempt). We have suffered many insults from lazy people and much cruelty from the proud." (NIV says ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.)
The Israelites were going to the temple for their annual feast and this is what they were saying:
- we don't like the situation we are in
- we call upon the LORD for help
- we acknowledge who God is
- we recognize that only He can save us
- we are happy to be going to the temple of the LORD
- we are dependent on you
- we ask you for mercy
- we will wait upon you
We would do well to respond in the same way when we face the daily trials of life. They didn't become angry. They didn't quit going to the temple. They were honest about their feelings. They understood their situation and they didn't try to deny, avoid, or hide the truth. No matter what they were facing, they went to the temple. They sought God's help and then they waited. We will do the same!
Next Entry: Psalm 124:1 – 127:5
"Where does my help come from?" Not from man's wisdom, power, strategies, or strength. Our help comes from the LORD. THE Lord! THE God! The God who made the heavens and the earth. Not a god of many gods—THE God.
Our human minds cannot even begin to fathom who/what God is and the unfathomable depths of His love and power. We have put the God of creation into a box that our simple minds have constructed. This is one of the areas where "Praise" has changed our lives. Praise, not thanks. Praise is an act of acknowledging who and what God is. Thanks is typically about the individual and what God has done for you. Praise is about God, and God alone. The more you praise God the more you understand about God. The more you get a glimpse of who He is the more in awe you are, and you realize that you really know nothing about His "surpassing greatness." (Psalm 150)
GOD—the creator of the heavens and the earth:
- will not let you be defeated
- will guard you at all times
- will never leave you
- never temporarily abandons you to rest or sleep
- guards you and keeps you from all harm
- protects us from all danger
- guards your life (from beginning to end)
- guards you as you come and go
Psalm 123 talks about total dependence on God. Just as a slave is dependent on their master, we need to be dependent on our master and WAIT for Him to show us mercy. "Have mercy on us, LORD. Have mercy on us, because we have been insulted (NIV says "endured much contempt). We have suffered many insults from lazy people and much cruelty from the proud." (NIV says ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.)
The Israelites were going to the temple for their annual feast and this is what they were saying:
- we don't like the situation we are in
- we call upon the LORD for help
- we acknowledge who God is
- we recognize that only He can save us
- we are happy to be going to the temple of the LORD
- we are dependent on you
- we ask you for mercy
- we will wait upon you
We would do well to respond in the same way when we face the daily trials of life. They didn't become angry. They didn't quit going to the temple. They were honest about their feelings. They understood their situation and they didn't try to deny, avoid, or hide the truth. No matter what they were facing, they went to the temple. They sought God's help and then they waited. We will do the same!
Next Entry: Psalm 124:1 – 127:5
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