Psalm 99 The LORD Reigns

Psalm 99

What to do when God is in charge?

Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean - not the former Archbishop of Canterbury, so easy to get those two mixed up!) does a routine "introduction to hell" where the Devil is arranging torment for the damned souls after the final judgement.
One group mentioned are the Atheists - "I bet you feel a right bunch of Charlies right now"

In the Psalm the LORD reigns, let the nations tremble - he sits enthroned between the cherubim, (a group of angels), let the earth shake.

Great is the LORD in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name - he is holy.

As Christians we believe that God is holy, Just and true, yet full of compassion and mercy.

The King (of the earth) is mighty, he loves justice - 
You have established equity; In Jacob you have done what is just and right.

The Psalm mentions a few of the characters we have met 
Moses and Aaron, Samuel
Samuel was among those who called on the name of the LORD.

God, we believe, does answer prayers, even from ordinary people like me!


Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

God however does not respect or overlook evil and hatred - he rebukes and educates his people in the right ways, however those who absolutely refuse are punished and cast out from the presence of God.

I admire characters like Abraham, Samuel and David that we have met so far in our tour of the Bible - they had a relationship with God that was very much 2 way. I believe that anybody can have that relationship with God. All you have to do is turn to him.

Psalm 98 To a God who does marvellous things

Psalm 98

This psalm has no author attributed.

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things 
His right had and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

In my view this Psalm has a point - because, through the Bible so far, we have seen God's love and care for the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants despite how they went out of their way to ignore the good advice and laws that God had put in place.

However it is from Israel that we non jews have faith in one God and the knowledge of salvation.

Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.
Make music to the LORD with the harp (guitar if you want), with the harp and sound of singing with trumpets (note modern trumpets are only about 300 years old - the valves were not around in biblical times - probably the trombone is more related to the biblical trumpet - spoken as a trombonist!)

There is one occasion where Jesus is coming into Jerusalem and is instructed to tell the people who were close to rioting in their excitement - Jesus tells the authorities that if the crowds are silent, the stones will break out into song.

In the Psalm all of nature is shouting with Joy, let the sea resound and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands and the mountains sing together for joy.

There is an assurance in the Bible - For he (God) comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the people with equity.

The church seems to have got the idea into its head that the last judgement is a thing to scare people into following the churches teaching without question

In the Psalm the coming of God is an occasion of celebration and joy - not one of doom and disaster.

For me te Bible is the story of the salvation of God and his interaction with humanity.

  

Psalm 97 Your God?

Psalm 97

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad, let the distant shores rejoice.

One thing I have been told when talking bout my faith is that people in effect say (though generally not is as few words as this) "Shut up, go away, you go and do your religion stuff and let me carry on as I was!" 

In this Psalm God is ruler over all the earth, surrounded by clouds and darkness, with righteousness and justice at the foundations of his throne.

Here God's enemies are consumed by fire from the presence of God and all people see God's glory.
Even those who do not believe in him - those who worship false gods realise the falseness of their beliefs.

For God is the Most High over all the earth, exalted above all gods
Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Let me mention here the Christians around the world lose their lives, but I dont think that this Psalm is entirely wrong - I believe that those who die for and in faith are not afraid as Jesus put it "Of those who can only destroy the body" 

Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

I believe that God will one day call everybody to account, but if I am wrong what have I lost?
If I am right though, what can I gain?

Psalm 96 - Modern music

Psalm 96

Sing to the LORD, a new song; Sing to the LORD all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name.

If there is one thing about Church and services that is controversial it is the music - for as long as there has been music in church - there has been complaints about music in church.
Music likes and dislikes are pretty much a matter of taste and what enthuses you may not excite me.

Personally I love many of the traditional hymns, but there is also a place for modern church music as well - the tradition of church music is one where changes are continual - there are some old hymns and chants that bore my socks off and there are some modern songs that leave me wanting a lot less!

One modern song, and sorry if this is one of your favourites is by Graham Kentrick and is called "Heaven is in my heart" - the sentiments and tune are (in my opinion) cringe worthy.
I am going to choose that song for that funeral - it'll literally be sung over my dead body!


Anyway, back to the Psalm!!

Proclaim his salvation day after day, declare his glory among the nations his marvellous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise. He is to be feared above all gods.

Let me talk about that for just a moment - fearing God is not the same as being AFRAID of God.
I'll nick a bit from C.S. Lewis Narnia books - When Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are told about the great Aslan 
"Is- is he a man?" asked Lucy
"Aslan a man!" said Mr Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the woodand the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the sea. Don't you know who is the king of beasts? Aslan is a lion, the Lion, the great lion"
"Ooh!" Said Susan, "I'd though he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."
"That you will dearie, and no mistake" Said Mrs Beaver, "If there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly"

In the books (which I have loved since I was at Primary School) Aslan is not safe, but he is good, just and fair.
Aslan is the image CS Lewis uses for Jesus in the books.

In the Psalm the gods of the nations are all just idols, but God has made the heavens.

Let the heavens rejoice, the the earth be glad.
Let the sea resound and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy, let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes,

he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

I expect my knees will be trembling a bit on that day - but then I'm (hopefully) not plain silly, nor (probably) braver than most!

Psalm 95 What are you waiting for?

Psalm 95

"Come, let us sing for joy to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."

Consider that an invitation! 

Why should we worship God? 
Well I will ask why not? 

I was watching a video on you tube the other day of Tony Hawks (the comedian not the skateboard guy!) Somebody asked him what he does when he is feeling less than happy.
He replied "I ask myself, who am I thinking about now?".
Tony went on that when he finds himself there he is thinking about himself.
He makes a concious effort to think of others.
Sometimes shifting your attention to God makes you feel better about yourself. It certainly beats wallowing in self pity!

God, after all, is the great God, king above all gods.
In his hands God holds the earth and sea, the mountain peaks belong to him as their maker.

One thing we tend not to do in church is bow down in worship, though sometimes we do kneel before God.

God is our God and we are his people, the flock under his care.

The Psalm takes a slightly darker turn here - with advice that if you hear God's voice, don't ignore it 
The people of Israel did that at Meribah and at Massah in the wilderness.

Despite the fact that they had seen and heard God, they ignored him and angered him.

So much that God kept them out of the promised land for 40 years.
With an oath "they shall not enter my rest"

Psalm 94 The God of the Bible is vengeful?

Psalm 94

The LORD is a God who avenges - well you heard it here last - Richard Dawkins and his like have been saying it for years

But are they right?

In this Psalm God is asked to pay back the proud what they deserve.

How Long LORD will the wicked ,how long with the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your inheritance, they slay the widow and the foreigner, they murder the fatherless.

Personally I think people who go around doing this sort of thing are not very nice. Notice that foreigners, orphans and the vulnerable in society as his inheritance.

They say that God does not see them and takes no notice of what they do if he does.

If you think and believe that God does not care or see what you do I'd say all bets are off and the wickedest pits of human depravity can run rampant!

If God is against people like this, 

When I said, my foot is slipping your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me your consolation brought me joy.

In my experience the proud and arrogant are not likely to respect God but God welcomes with open arms those who are weak, humble and powerless.

Psalm 93 God Vs Coastal erosion

Psalm 93

"The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty: the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with stength......You are from all eternity."

"The seas have lifted up, LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice:the seas have lifted up their pounding waves, Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea."

Coastal erosion can be devastating, over time houses once a long way from the sea gradually get closer to the cliff tops - eventually the sea claims the house and the investment is destroyed.
I actually went to school in a town where the opposite has happened - it used to be an island, but now is nearly 2 miles inland!

Over the period of Earth's existence mountains have risen and fallen, continents have split and collided, yet Christians believe that God is creator and sustainer of the planet and its inhabitants.

Holiness adorns God's house for endless days and his statutes stand firm for days without end.

  

Psalm 92 A day well spent

Psalm 92

This Psalm was written for the Sabbath.

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,
Proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

Sometimes I get really into the moment, at work, in a game making a You tube video, at church, playing my Euphonium or Trombone.

Particular times that are amazing is when I am playing in worship and I kind of enter heaven on earth.
There is a line from the Blues Brothers 2000 - I've used it before "No pharmaceutical product can match that feeling you get when the music is playing and the crowd is jumping and the joint is rocking"

The same applies in church when the spirit of God most high feels close.

When I am , to quote a hymn, "lost in wonder, love and praise" I feel like I would like to stay there forever.

"The Righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in the house of the LORD.

Flourishing in the courts of our God they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming "The LORD is upright - he is my rock, and there is no wickedness in him."

Psalm 91 Living with God

Psalm 91

This is one of my favourite Psalms,
In the opening 2 verses 4 Hebrew names are used for God - in the New Jerusalem Bible they are used

Whoever dwells in teh shelter of the Most High (Elyon) will rest in the shadow of the almighty(Shaddai).
I will say of the LORD (Yahweh) he is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust.

Interesting fact, Satan quoted from this Psalm when he was tempting Jesus -
verse 11 - For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways: they will lift you up in their hands so you will not strike your foot against a stone.

In the Psalm God saves from the snare of the fowler, and the deadly pestilence....
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence or plague.

That is not to say that we are immune from plague or pestilence (or war if it comes to that), but faith and trust in an almighty God means that we don't have to fear them.

I was heartened to hear of nurses and doctors going to East Africa during the recent ebola epidemic, taking as few risks as possible, but helping out as best they could despite the risks.

There was a British nurse who contracted Ebola. He recovered and went back out there.

Or the German politician in the news today who has invited to refugees into his house and helped them to find work locally. After he met them at church.

Because he loves me, says the LORD, I will rescue him, I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. 

I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honour him, with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Wouldn't it be a really inspiring lead if our politicians, instead of moaning and preaching at us, used their (ample) salaries and (state subsidised) housing to help refugees and actually get to know these people, perhaps give a meal to the hungry?

Psalm 90 From Everlasting to Everlasting

Psalm 90

This is the start of part four of the book of Psalms.

This is attributed to Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations
Before the mountains were born or you bought forth the whole world.
From everlasting to everlasting you are God.

In the eyes and hand of God we are little more than dust and breath.
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

Life is fragile in this world, one only has to look at the news to see that.

I personally do not believe that God is cruel and capricious, things happen be they caused by human activity or natural forces. I believe that how we respond to illness and disaster is more important than blaming God or seeking compensation - stuff happens.

Psalm 89 God's great love

Psalm 89

This is quite a long Psalm, at 52 verses.
It is a Maskil or Ethan the Ezrahite - whatever that means and whoever he was!

I will sing of the Lord's great love for ever:

There was a song we used to sing at church many, many years ago which was at least in part inspired by this psalm.

In the Bible, God promised to David that he would never fail to have a descendant on the throne, if his descendants would follow the commands of God.

Reading the story of David, his life was full of turmoil, and politically he was probably not that strong, yet his faith made him strong in God - the strength of God in this Psalm.

In the middle of the Psalm they recall that David's descendants did not keep the law and God renounced his promise.

Yet as a Christian I believe the the Lord Jesus is sitting on the throne in heaven - as a descendant of David.