Do you ever feel alone, like God isn’t anywhere to be seen? Does He seem distant? Absent? If so, this Psalm is for you. David begins in despair and then ends in delight. He goes from feeling abandonment to adoration. Will God ignore forever? Not on your life. He will always be with you and not forsake you. His silence does not mean His absence.
In Psalm 8 David invites us to praise God, to look at the vast expanse of His creation throughout the universe and extol His majesty. But then, after a sobering look at all He has made with His finger, to stop in humility and ask ourselves why God would even take a look our way. In the grand scheme of His creation what is man that God would consider us. We are created in His image. We are created to glorify him. We are loved by Him, the reason He sent His son, Jesus, to die for us. Why would God look our way? He considers us of great value. That’s worthy of our praise.
What do you do to get someone’s attention? David wanted to get God’s attention and tell him a bit of what he’s going through. I’m sure there are times you feel the same way, that you need God to listen. David points out the ways of the wicked, but also considers the attributes of God, foremost here is His holiness and mercy. If it weren’t for God’s mercy, we would all wind up experiencing His justice and judgment. God will one day, punish the wicked, but until then, He extends mercy giving them the opportunity to repent.
When life falls apart, what do you do, where do you go, to whom do you turn? In Psalm 3, David tells us where he goes. He was facing a lot of enemies, but he trusted in God for his deliverance. He knew that mounting problems demand confident faith.
God thinks you’re very special. He thinks so because He made you. He thinks so because He thinks about you all the time. You are precious in His sight. He is aware of you. He is around you. He is almighty toward you.
Who do the nations of the leaders of nations think they are that they can defy or deny the authority and sovereignty of God? That’s what the psalmist wants to know. The answer is no one. This psalm not only teaches us that God is in control, but that we can fully trust God that nothing will thwart His plans, even when things around the world or in our world seem out of control. The conclusion of the psalmist is that the person who trusts in God’s sovereignty will be blessed. Do the events around the world make it seem like God is not in control? They shouldn’t because He is. Eventually they will all bow before Him and be subject to Him.
Life is full of choices. Many of those choices come from those who would give us advice. Psalm 1 is about both a choice and advice. Will you choose to be travel the path of the wise or the path of the wicked? Psalm 1 provides compelling reasons why the person who travels the path of the wise is blessed. It begins with a choice about who you hang out with and about your commitment to God’s Word. What a challenge for the new year.
What does the new year hold? In our passage, we are considering the gift God has given to the church in order for the body of Christ to serve and mature in faith. The result of growing spiritually is serving intentionally. How will you serve the body of Christ in this new year?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” To think that God came to live with man so that man might be able to live with God.
Our text for this message is one in which we learn a great deal about Mary. She leaves us an incredible example to follow in her courage, faith, faithfulness, willingness, servant heart, obedience, and joyfulness. She was willing to obey the Lord and do what He asked of her even though she didn’t quite understand all it would mean. She was willing to be obedient even though she knew what was asked of her would be difficult. She is an example to follow. Are we willing to step out with the same kind of faith? Are we willing to obey, even though it may mean trials and hardships? Are we willing to be used by the Lord and express a worshipful spirit? We need to emulate the life of Mary in our service to the Lord, because it is the Lord who asks us to do it. Because we know that the strength we lack will be given to us by the Lord, whose grace is sufficient to endure whatever we may be asked by the Lord knowing that He who asked us is with us. May we respond as Mary – “I am the Lord servant.”