Psalms 84:10 (NIV), A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right. 12 O LORD Almighty, happy are those who trust in you. What a blessing it is to be a part of God's family! We who live in our Father's House always live better than those who have the so-called "good life" in wicked places. Quality of life is not measured by how much stuff one has, but by our connection to the Lord. Because we are connected to God, we have access to all His stuff! As the text says, "No good thing will he withhold from those who do what is right." Reflection Question: What do you appreciate about being in the house of God? My Action Item Based on Understanding:
Psalms 19:9, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.” There is “good” fear and “bad” fear. Bad fear is feeling a sense of terror or doom. This kind of fear is expectation of danger and harm. Most fears are imagined, but some are real. The only good thing about bad fear is that you are motivated to take action to avoid danger. Driving in snow and ice produces a healthy kind of fear that keeps you alert and cautious. On the other hand, the fear of the Lord is “good.” Good fear is a dread of displeasing the Lord. It is a mindset that says, “I want to please God and not allow my actions to bring Him displeasure.” Honor and godly fear are foundational to living a victorious life. Authority flows in a line, or what the military calls a “chain of command.” Those who function in the fear of God place a high value on having a right relationship with God and people with whom they relate. They are “clean” or “pure,” not only because foul things are removed. They are clean/pure because it has already been decided. Reflection Question: How is the “clean” fear of the Lord helping to change your life and please God? My Action Item Based on Understanding:
Psalms 8:1 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all thing sunder his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent isYour name in all the earth!
This Psalm begins and ends with the same words,”O lord how excellent is your name in all the earth.” God's name represents his authority, power, and unique abilities. God can do things that no other can do.
The Psalm continues explaining what God can do. Verse two reads, "Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength." God alone can bring strength of weakness and immaturity.
Whatever or whoever of which God becomes a part immediately gains His advantage.
The Psalm continues explaining the heavens as the work of God's fingers including the moon and stars the he created. Then the focus shifts directly to people, God's power is also focused on you and me.
The question from verse 4 is found in the book of Hebrews chapter 2, "What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?" The New Century Version says, “Why are people even important to you? Why do you take care of human beings?
Here is the answer to why God cares so much about us: The text says we are made "a little lower than the angels." The Hebrew reading of that text literally means we are "made a little lower than God." You are made in God's image and likeness, so He has a LOT invested in you!
You more important than any other part of God's creation! This is why God pays so much attention to us and sent Jesus to redeem us and help us. I think about the first round draft pick of basketball or football teams and how much focus and development they place on top players. They have made a significant investment and have placed their hopes on that player to held them win. How much more important is it to made in Gods image than an athlete?
Verse 6 reads, "You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all thing sunder his feet," God intended for your to live in dominion over your possessions and circumstances. However, the book of Hebrews states that we do not see all things under our dominion. This because our sin nature brought us to a place of defeat.
Then we read this: "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9)
Jesus came to fulfill your destiny and restore your purpose! The reality that God can make something great of our lives is one of his greatest miracles.
As the final verse says, “O Lord how excellent is your name, your power, and your ability and all the earth!"
Reflection Question: What things can you do through Christ that you could not do without Him?
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. Reflection Question: What is your delight, desire and passion? My Action Item Based on Understanding:
