Surrendering to God
Surrendering to God’s sovereign reign.
Today’s Reaching: Psalm 101-205
Psalm 103:19, “the Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules overall. Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His Word, obeying the voice of His word!”
At the core of our sin nature there resides a desire to usurp God’s sovereignty and set ourselves up as king. We strive to conform God to our perspective. Instead of conforming our moral truth to God’s word, we conform God’s word to our moral perspective.
Woven through these five Psalms is the affirmation that God resides in heaven, clothed with splendor and majesty (104:2). The starting point of our understanding of God is the recognition that He is the sovereign ruler of the whole universe. In Psalms 103, David begins with a call to proclaim the majesty of God’s character. He reminds us to stop and reflect upon all the benefits and blessings that God has given us. How easily we forget. He pardons our sin and brings us healing from the broken world in which we live. While there are times of difficulty and trials, God’s lovingkindness and compassion remain constant. The greatest blessing He gives us is His compassion and grace, in which He forgives our sins and restores us to right relationship with Him (verses 1-8). David compares God’s lovingkindness to the heavens above. Just as we cannot begin to explore the expanse of heaven, so we cannot even begin to explore the depth of His love for us. He has forgiven our sins and cleansed us of our toxic guilt. In speaking of the depth and extent of God’s forgiveness, David states that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us.” In other words, the guilt of our sins is completely removed, so it no longer affects our relationship with God. When we seek his forgiveness, God holds no grudges against us for the sins we have committed against Him. His love for us is eternal (vs 17).
Having highlighted the blessing and lovingkindness of God, the psalmist then reminds us of the sovereign rule of God (103:19). We want a God who forgives our sins but not one who makes demands upon us or requires us to live according to His moral law. We want heaven but deny the existence of hell. We accept His grace but not His reign. However, in verse 19 the Psalmist reminds us that God is enthroned in heaven, and He maintains His sovereign rule over the whole universe, including humanity. Therefore, just as the angels obey Him, so we are also to obey Him in all things. We are to praise God for His love and grace, which brings salvation to those who accept His grace, but also, we are to praise God for His judgment upon sin and those who live in rebellion against God (Ps. 104:25).
This praise of God leads to obedience. In Psalm 105, we read of God’s work in the history of Israel. In the triumphs and tragedies of Israel’s history the one constant was God and His purpose. But God’s activity is not arbitrary. All that God did throughout the history of Israel was to teach them to keep His commands and observe His laws (Ps. 105:45). The same is true for us. The ultimate question we must ask is this: Do we accept God for who He is rather than who we want Him to be? Do we worship God for grace and forgiveness as well as His holiness and justice brings judgment upon the world? We do not want an earthly king, but do we also reject God as our heavenly king? We want a God who saves but not one who controls. These Psalms remind us that we are to not only accept God’s grace but also accept His sovereign rule over our lives. In asking for the forgiveness for our sins, may we also ask Him for His sovereign rule in our life so that we, like the angels in heaven, may obey the voice of His word and serve Him by doing his will!
Today’s Reaching: Psalm 101-205
Psalm 103:19, “the Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules overall. Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His Word, obeying the voice of His word!”
At the core of our sin nature there resides a desire to usurp God’s sovereignty and set ourselves up as king. We strive to conform God to our perspective. Instead of conforming our moral truth to God’s word, we conform God’s word to our moral perspective.
Woven through these five Psalms is the affirmation that God resides in heaven, clothed with splendor and majesty (104:2). The starting point of our understanding of God is the recognition that He is the sovereign ruler of the whole universe. In Psalms 103, David begins with a call to proclaim the majesty of God’s character. He reminds us to stop and reflect upon all the benefits and blessings that God has given us. How easily we forget. He pardons our sin and brings us healing from the broken world in which we live. While there are times of difficulty and trials, God’s lovingkindness and compassion remain constant. The greatest blessing He gives us is His compassion and grace, in which He forgives our sins and restores us to right relationship with Him (verses 1-8). David compares God’s lovingkindness to the heavens above. Just as we cannot begin to explore the expanse of heaven, so we cannot even begin to explore the depth of His love for us. He has forgiven our sins and cleansed us of our toxic guilt. In speaking of the depth and extent of God’s forgiveness, David states that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us.” In other words, the guilt of our sins is completely removed, so it no longer affects our relationship with God. When we seek his forgiveness, God holds no grudges against us for the sins we have committed against Him. His love for us is eternal (vs 17).
Having highlighted the blessing and lovingkindness of God, the psalmist then reminds us of the sovereign rule of God (103:19). We want a God who forgives our sins but not one who makes demands upon us or requires us to live according to His moral law. We want heaven but deny the existence of hell. We accept His grace but not His reign. However, in verse 19 the Psalmist reminds us that God is enthroned in heaven, and He maintains His sovereign rule over the whole universe, including humanity. Therefore, just as the angels obey Him, so we are also to obey Him in all things. We are to praise God for His love and grace, which brings salvation to those who accept His grace, but also, we are to praise God for His judgment upon sin and those who live in rebellion against God (Ps. 104:25).
This praise of God leads to obedience. In Psalm 105, we read of God’s work in the history of Israel. In the triumphs and tragedies of Israel’s history the one constant was God and His purpose. But God’s activity is not arbitrary. All that God did throughout the history of Israel was to teach them to keep His commands and observe His laws (Ps. 105:45). The same is true for us. The ultimate question we must ask is this: Do we accept God for who He is rather than who we want Him to be? Do we worship God for grace and forgiveness as well as His holiness and justice brings judgment upon the world? We do not want an earthly king, but do we also reject God as our heavenly king? We want a God who saves but not one who controls. These Psalms remind us that we are to not only accept God’s grace but also accept His sovereign rule over our lives. In asking for the forgiveness for our sins, may we also ask Him for His sovereign rule in our life so that we, like the angels in heaven, may obey the voice of His word and serve Him by doing his will!
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Who do we listen to?God's Patience and the Certainty of JudgmentThe Present Implications of the FutureAcknoweldgement, Confession, and ForgivenessThe Mark of a Genuine DiscipleThe Unchanging WordThe Lost ARt of DiscernmentA Life that Pleases GodThe Subtle Danger of Spiritual PrideContending for the FaithThe Judgement of False TeachersKeep Our Faith in a Fallen WorldSecurity in a Insecure WorldThe God who Controls HistoryThe Terrifying Majesty of ChristThe Majesty of GodThe Praise of God's JusticeHaving Right Priorities in Life
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The Autobiography of GodThe God who CreatesThe God who RecreatesThe God Who Gives Us SignificanceThe Blessing of God's PlansTrusting in the Timing and Plan of GodThe God who ProvidesGod's Sovereignty and GraceThe King of Self or the King of KingsThe Exclusive Worship of GodHas God Forgotten?The Wonder of God's Plan and TimingGod's Sovereignty and Forgiveness
March
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April
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May
Fear and FaithVictory and DefeatThe Justice and Mercy of GodThe Long Term Consequences of Incomplete ObedienceThe Danger of Spiritual ComplacencyMan's Fickleness and God's FaithfulnessGod's Power on DisplayUnlikely HeroesThe Danger of Self-delusionThe Grace and Holiness of godThe Danger of Cultural AccommodationThe Failure of Disobedience20/20 Spiritual VisionWhenn Life Does Not Go as PlannedFaith, Fear, and Divine ProtectionGod's Sovereignty and Humanh FrailtyA Lesson in God's Holiness and Grace
June
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July
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