In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a] and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]
The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.
2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.[b] And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 3 On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. 12 For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
13 Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. 14 May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. 15 Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
16 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” 17 As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.
For You, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth: You are elevated above all gods.
Psalm 97:9
This verse by itself is a wonderful reminder that God, our God, is not just the Most High God over all the earth but that He is over all other gods. However, when we read it in the fuller context of what the Psalmist wrote we find descriptions in verses 1 through 7 – word pictures of His greatness and power not only over His creation but carved images and those who worship them. We see Him reigning, the earth having cause to rejoice. We get a glimpse of His throne made of righteousness and justice and when we look closely we will see His saving power as He is victorious over His enemies and His glory is revealed!
The light of His glory brings shame to those who create and/or worship other gods; and it reveals not only His power but the lack of power in all other gods, who themselves are subjected to worship Him, as the Most High God. It is this picture that leads us to understand the depth of the Psalmist’s words that acknowledge the LORD as the Most High, and assigning to Him preeminence over the earth and all other gods.
It is also this verse that sheds light on the words that follow and gives us cause to heed them –
You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of His faithful followers; He delivers them from the power of the wicked. The godly bask in the light; the morally upright experience joy. You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord. Give thanks to His holy name.
Psalm 97:10-12
Because God, our God, is the Most High God we are called to a higher standard. A standard that not only recognizes evil and avoids it but one that sees it as an offense to God and hates it. Our realization that He is the Most High God should equally spur us on to live faithfully for Him. We cannot just avoid and hate evil but we must choose righteousness – living and loving like Jesus. He faithfully loved God above everything else, He loved us more than self – even to the point of death, He served God and others, and did good so that others would see and glorify His Father in heaven. When we live and love like this we will know freedom from the power of sin, we will know protection from our enemies, and we will experience the joy that comes from walking in His light and we will rejoice – giving thanks to His holy name.
The Lord reigns. Let the earth be happy. Let the many coastlands rejoice. 2 Dark clouds surround him; equity and justice are the foundation of his throne.[b] 3 Fire goes before him; on every side[c] it burns up his enemies. 4 His lightning bolts light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The sky declares his justice, and all the nations see his splendor. 7 All who worship idols are ashamed, those who boast about worthless idols. All the gods bow down before him.[d] 8 Zion hears and rejoices, the towns[e] of Judah are happy, because of your judgments, O Lord. 9 For you, O Lord, are the Most High[f] over the whole earth; you are elevated high above all gods. 10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects[g] the lives of his faithful followers; he delivers them from the power[h] of the wicked. 11 The godly bask in the light; the morally upright experience joy.[i] 12 You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord. Give thanks to his holy name.[j]
Question of the Day: In verse 3 the Psalmist says that God gave Him a reason to sing a new song – a song of praise. Has God given you a reason to praise Him?
I relied completely[b] on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help. 2 He lifted me out of the watery pit,[c] out of the slimy mud.[d] He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.[e] 3 He gave me reason to sing a new song,[f] praising our God.[g] May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord.[h] 4 How blessed[i] is the one[j] who trusts in the Lord[k] and does not seek help from[l] the proud or from liars.[m] 5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us.[n] No one can thwart you.[o] I want to declare your deeds and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount.[p] 6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern.[q] You make that quite clear to me.[r] You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings. 7 Then I say, “Look, I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me.[s] 8 I want to do what pleases you,[t] my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.”[u] 9 I have told the great assembly[v] about your justice.[w] Look, I spare no words.[x] O Lord, you know this is true. 10 I have not failed to tell about your justice;[y] I spoke about your reliability and deliverance. I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.[z]
For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100:5
What blessed encouragement this verse is in these days and times we are living in. I just completed the Love God Greatly study of Hebrews, “Jesus Our Everything“, and I find myself both clinging to and delighting in the recently read passages referring to Jesus as our Hope and the Anchor for our souls. A friend, from a Facebook study group I’m leading, commented on this morning’s passage from Psalm 100, “I love Psalm 100. It’s straightforward and joyous. It just makes my heart glad.” I totally agree with her sentiment – it truly brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart to know that God is good, God’s faithfulness continues through all generations! Is it any wonder that the Psalmist encouraged the people of God to –
Shout with Joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are His. We are His people the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.”
Psalm 100:1-4
Such hope and peace come from knowing that regardless of what’s going on in our world or individual lives – His love never fails! His Truth and FAITHFULNESS bid me to worship Him. Knowing I am His brings me JOY and delight – for, as Jeremiah said: ” I am called by Your name of Lord, God of Hosts”, Jeremiah 15:16. I am blessed to be able to enter into His Presence through the blood of Jesus Christ and to know the indwelling Presence of His Holy Spirit. Knowing the depth of this blessing – I indeed enter with thanksgiving and praise and, with the Psalmist, I give thanks to His name.
I hope you’ll join me Monday for the Bridge! Love God Greatly has made it easier to stay consistent in our daily Bible study habit with a 2-week reading plan and SOAP passages. If you haven’t tried SOAPing the Word yet this is a great way and time to learn. It’s easy and it’s a great way to get into God’s Word and grow your faith. Tag me in the comments with any questions or simply reply “I’m in” if you want to participate. If you want to add someone to the group type their name and I’ll be happy to add them – everyone is welcome!
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.[a]2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”[b]
6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”[c]
7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
.10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle[d] have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make His people holy by means of His own blood. 13 So let us go out to Him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace He bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness,[a] for without it no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up[b] and causing trouble, and through it many become defiled. 16 And see to it that no one becomes[c] an immoral or godless person like Esau, who soldhis own birthright for a single meal.[d]17 For you know that[e] later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing[f] with tears. 18 For you have not come to something that can be touched,[g] to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind 19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words[h] such that those who heard begged to hear no more.[i]20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”[j]21 In fact, the scene[k] was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”[l]22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the city[m] of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly 23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator[n] of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.[o]
25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? 26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.”[p]27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. 28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. 29 For our Godis indeed a devouring fire.[q]
