The text below summarizes the introduction I made to our Adult Bible Study group as I began this lesson series last Sunday. The paragraphs try to present a context for “next” – the idea driving these lessons. In a culture that is increasingly secular and a church that is dynamically different than what we were used to, what path must we take to preserve sound doctrine and prepare individuals to be faithful teachers and students? What are we to do next?

A sermon I heard at the end of June encouraged us to ready ourselves for the next phase or season of God’s blessings. The sermon was titled, “Live Your Next.” The truth of “living our next” took on a very personal nature for me. This explanation provides a bit of context for that reaction.

For quite some time, a concern of my heart has been for the nature and future of our Adult Bible Study group. Are Bible studies the appendage in the church for our age Christian that will one day fade away?

The Cause for Concerns

I think about our Bible study group all the time.

I have always been concerned about the content of what we study. In many ways students in this class are a “cream of the crop.” Not only are you seasoned Saints, but you have also demonstrated for years what it means to be committed and serving in a local church. You should be learning more about Scripture than most. You need to be hearing applications of the truth to life in a more pointed way.

I am also concerned about the class because of me. In less than two months I will be 66 years of age. I already have lived longer than any male on the known May side of the family. There will come a day when I will not be teaching any longer.

I am concerned about the class because of you. I am one of a handful of the youngest members of this group. In a congregation that talks about the importance of Bible study, the method of studying the Bible on campus on Sunday outside of the preaching environment – which right now is pointed toward non-believers – is not a priority.

What is the context for next?

Is there a “next” for this class?

Under our circumstances there is a next only if we choose to take it. If we hesitate, if we postpone deciding, if we are unsure of the direction to take, the opportunity to decide may pass us by.

During the month of July, we are going to talk about what our next steps need to be in four distinct areas of personal discipline and spiritual growth. The value of Scripture, prayer, encouragement, and passing the mantle of study will be presented, studied, and reflected upon. Each week you will be encouraged to participate in putting the principles into practice. You will be prepared for God’s next season of blessing in this area of study.

We must be open to God’s blessing. Numerical growth and “passing the mantle” will be left to God’s desire and leading.

The story of Elijah passing the mantle to Elisha (1 Kings 19:16-21) provides an example for us to follow. From city to city the two travel together. Elisha continues to press on with his master, despite Elijah’s repeated admonitions to turn back. Finally, Elijah casts the mantle and Elisha picks it up.

Therefore, let’s ask people to follow. Here’s a link to proceed to the first lesson, “Ground in the Word.”

Blessings.

We are looking at ways we can prepare our hearts for spiritual renewal and growth. Our studies have emphasized a commitment to God’s Word, to prayer, and to encouraging one another. Today we turn our attention to passing the mantle of faith.

 
We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power and the wonders He has done.

Eli Stanley Jones is credited with saying, “God doesn’t have any grandchildren.” Each individual has the opportunity and responsibility to become a child of God.

The Scripture presents the truth of handing a godly legacy from this generation to the next generation. The story of Elijah passing the mantle of leadership to Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21) provides a biblical example for passing on the faith. The lessons involve the cloak and the call.

First, the cloak makes the individual distinct. Elisha’s call presents the idiom “take up the mantle” which means to pass leadership from mentor to student. There was nothing magical about Elijah’s cloak but was powerful because of what and who it represented. The “hairy” robe was so distinctive that King Ahab recognized Elijah from the description alone (2 Kings 1:8). By the time of Zechariah, the cloak had become the signature of the prophet (Zech 11:3, 13:4). We are clothed with a relationship with Christ, distinct from the world.

Second, there is a call to leadership and a deeper commitment of faith. More than an invitation for salvation, the call may come from God but most often comes from someone willing to be a mentor to a student. Ultimately, the leadership of Elijah, who cast the mantle, is not passed along until Elisha picks it up from the ground.

Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 

2 Kings 2:7-15 NIV

 

Your Cafeteria of Commitment

Pray these twenty people will love God’s Word twice as much as you do.

Next Lesson | God Orders Our Steps

“Carols and the Christ” from the lesson series Music of Christmas, December 2021

our Scripture

Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God

(Luke 2:13 NIV),

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our Lesson

We could not discuss the music of Christmas without spending a serious amount of time talking about carols and the Christ. Christmas carols celebrate the birth of Jesus. The earliest Christmas carol seems to date back as far as 129, when a Roman bishop presented a song to be sung during a Christmas service in Rome. The term “noel” is also used, especially for carols of French origin.

 

The word carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy. Carols used to be written for all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing carols at Christmas has carved its place in history. Popularity of carols would ebb and flow during the years, but by the Middle Ages – around the 1200s – most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas at all.

 

This changed in 1223 when St. Francis of Assisi started his Nativity Plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or canticles that told the story during the plays. Sometimes the carols were in Latin, but most of the time they were written in the language that people would understand.

 

The carol had as its beginning the vocal accompaniment to a dance. The unique feature of the carol was a chorus that was sung at the beginning of the dance and then again after each stanza. Dancers would sing the chorus as they danced. The stanzas were performed by a soloist while the dancers rested.

 

In the eighteenth century, hymn singing was introduced into English worship services. Hymnists like Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley wrote texts that focused on the incarnation. While properly known as hymns, the songs have become known as “carols” because of the Christmas nature of their message.

 

Carols cross boundaries. They transcend cultures, ethnicities and even religious divisions. The carol forms the best known group of religious music in the United States and the world. Carols do not have a special role to play in the liturgies of worship services. The carol just replaces the singing of hymns during the Christmas season.

 

At one point in American history, “caroling” provided a reason for friends to get together and served as a form of the group’s entertainment. The practice of going from house to house has become less frequent as culture has become more urbanized and more influenced by technology. In addition, society has become busier and people have become more isolated and insulated from their neighbors.

 

The “house-to-house” tradition actually began in England in the seventeenth century. Town musicians, known as “waits,” were officially permitted to solicit and collect alms in the weeks before Christmas. Alms were gifts of food, clothing or money. The impoverished people could collect alms in exchange for the singing of Christmas carols.

 

Most Christmas carols prior to 1930 had a traditional religious theme. The time of the Great Depression brought a flood of songs which underscored the more secular traditions of Western culture. Most of these songs were focused on children, emphasizing gifts and Santa Claus. Their popularity spurred sentimental songs performed by favorite singers of the era for adults.

 

Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is the best-selling single song of all time, while Elvis’ Christmas Album is the best-selling Christmas album of all time. The Time magazine website researched the most-recorded Christmas song since 1978, encompassing songs from “Jingle Bells” to “O Holy Night.” The website collected data on every Christmas album recorded through the US Copyright Office since that year. In a landslide victory, almost doubling its nearest competitor, “Silent Night” is the most popular carol with 733 copyrighted recordings. “Joy to the World” came in second.

 

Carols have several features that set them apart from other types of songs, including hymns. Let’s think about two characteristics that make them unique. First, for at least a month carols can be heard not just in churches, but in elevators, on the radio and across loud-speakers in shopping malls. You cannot imagine “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” being played on a secular FM radio station.

 

In addition, the Christmas carol is one of the few areas of American culture where public religious expression is still allowed and accepted. Nativities, Scripture readings and even prayers have been banned in the public square, but the carol can be heard or sung during the Christmas season by anyone anywhere.

 

The church may not have a better means of teaching the message of the Gospel to an “un-churched” world than through Christmas carols. Let’s allow our verse of Scripture today to direct our thoughts to the Greatest Story Ever Told. As the shepherds are being told the good news of the birth of the Savior, Luke records a simple verse.

 

The Bible uses the phrase “heavenly hosts” on several occasions (Psalm 148:2, 1 Kings 22:19-22, 1 Samuel 1:3, Psalm 24:10, Isaiah 22:14, Malachi 2:16, etc). The heavenly host are heavenly messengers, not bound by time and space as those of us on earth. The word “host” means “army.” The Lord of hosts is the Lord of the army. R.C. Sproul called them a “veritable army of angels” whose primary purpose is praise.

 

Is there a better weapon than this?

 

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matthew 1:18-24 NIV).

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them (Luke 2:4-7 NIV).

And he gave him the name Jesus (Matthew 1:25b NIV).

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them (Luke 2:8-18 NIV).

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

“Songs of Reflection” from the lesson series Music of Christmas, December 2021

our Scripture

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19 ESV).

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our Lesson

If there is a theme threading through this year’s lessons, it should become more than crystal clear during these thoughts. Our passage considers a portion of Luke’s account of the gospel story. While the Christmas season is a time of celebration, it is also a time to treasure and to ponder. There are several interesting concepts in this phrase in this short verse. Let’s consider some important things first.

The word that many translations render “treasured” has a military flavor. In many contexts, the word would be translated “guarded,” as a prisoner is guarded preventing escape. Mary exerted intense mental effort to store information in order to have continual access to it.

Do you keep scrapbooks? We kept photo albums and scrapbooks for all of our children. We have records of the births of each child, pictures of birthdays and celebrations, along with mementos of significant events along the way. We don’t want our memories to escape.

The tense of the Greek verb is the imperfect tense, which means that action is on-going. Mary continued guarding all of these things. She may have said nothing, but she continued pondering them in her heart. The verbs are in a participial form, again stressing the continued actions.

The verbs have a prefix with them that stresses “together with.” The idea is that Mary is throwing these things together in her heart, comparing one thing to another, letting one thing explain another. She begins to see everything through a particular lens, and the lens grows and changes with every event.

“Ahh, this explains everything! Now this makes sense!”

The phrase is interesting and fun to think about. If it had only occurred once, we would grin at the thoughtful and perceptive writer that Luke was proving to be. But he uses the phrase a second time down in verse 51. Luke wants us to pay attention to what is happening.

Notice also the events that occur between the two verses. I do not think it is an accident what the Scripture records after it tells us that Mary treasures and ponders the things of Christmas.

First Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple for ceremony required by Law (Leviticus 12:2-4). Forty days after the birth, a purification ceremony was required for Mary. At the same time, if the child were the first-born male, a special ceremony of dedication and sacrifice was required (Exodus 13:2). Mary and Joseph were trying to follow the Law.

Simeon, perhaps the attendant priest for the day, looked for the restoration of Israel because he was a righteous and devout individual. Upon seeing the baby, Simeon broke into praise and blessing to God, declaring that he has seen the salvation of the Lord. Simeon provides incredible information for Mary to “guard” – claiming that Jesus would be a revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for the people of Israel.

Mary and Joseph are amazed at was Simeon said. But Simeon is not finished. “Listen carefully,” he continued. “This child is destined to be the cause of the rising and falling of many in Israel. He will be a sign that will be rejected. He will be a sword that will pierce your own soul as well” (Luke 2:34-35 NIV).

Anna, a widow in the temple, continued the events that amazed Mary and Joseph. She began to speak of the child, giving thanks to God. She was thankful and excited that the Lord was finally bringing about the redemption of Jerusalem.

But Luke tells us about a third event in this setting. The event takes place twelve years later. It is the only biblical record we have of an event in the childhood of Jesus. Luke reminds us that Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem every year. We would expect such dedication from Mary and Joseph. They were meticulous in keeping the Law when Jesus was born. We would expect the same fervor throughout. There were three pilgrimage festivals which were kept by the faithful. At each setting, when possible the faithful would return to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Passover was one of those feasts.

When the feast was over, Mary and Joseph along with others, began the journey to return to Nazareth. They had traveled a day away from Jerusalem when they noticed they had not seen Jesus. They looked for him among their relatives and friends. They returned to Jerusalem looking for him, and found him in the temple courts, talking and listening to the rabbis. Luke adds the commentary, “All who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:47).

Mary and Joseph did not completely understand what Jesus was doing or saying, but Mary “guarded” all of these things in her heart.

I wonder what Mary treasured.

Think about the things the Scriptures have recorded for us about the events to this point. Mary has had lots to treasure.

  • Mary had to consider how God was working in her life. From angelic messages to confirmation from family, Mary had to be reflecting on God’s sometimes miraculous intervention in her life, especially regarding the birth of her son.
  • Mary had to consider the amazing things that people were telling her about Jesus. Respected individuals were using words like salvation, redemption, and Messiah. Even at this early an age, the message was filled with conflict. Jesus would bring some together, but would cause others to stumble. There would be great joy, but there would also be great pain.
  • Finally, Mary had to be amazed when she considered God’s greater plan. Faithful Jewish people had long awaited the coming Messiah. Understanding that she was playing a role in God’s larger plan must have been a humbling, yet thrilling experience. Mary was being used by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I wonder what sense Mary made of what was happening. I wonder how often she thought about the things she was guarding in her heart.

What do you treasure about your Christmas? How do those treasures fit into God’s scheme? Is all that you put in your scrapbook pictures of the presents? Or do you pause to remember what God has done for your family through the presence of His Son? Do you notice how the Lord has been weaving the events of your lives into the tapestry of His will?

Not everything that God does at Christmas is “merry and bright.” Some of the events pierce deeply to our soul. Christmas does not ignore our pain; neither does it allow us to wallow in them. Treasure the events and the people; guard their memories in your heart.

Don’t let the Savior and His work in your family be nothing more than a page in your scrapbook that gathers dust.

“Songs of Santa” from the lesson series Music of Christmas, December 2021

our Scripture

Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works

(Ecclesiastes 9:7 NASB).

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our Lesson

Does it strike you strange that a Christmas lesson for a group of believers in a conservative church would be titled, “Songs and Santa?” I thought so. Let’s explore this a little by wandering back to an Old Testament book, and maybe by doing so, we will understand that God is not opposed to us singing songs about Santa during the Christmas season.

The Old Testament book we need to consider is the book of Ecclesiastes. Hebrew scholars attribute the book to King Solomon, but the author identifies himself as “the Preacher, the song of David, the king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:1). I believe there is a great deal of the book that has been misunderstood or misinterpreted. Let’s try to examine a few teachings in the book, before we discuss a specific passage.

Santa and Ecclesiastes

Seven times in the book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher encourages the reader to pursue joy (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, 3:12-13, 3:22, 5:18-20, 7:14, 8:15, 9:7-10, 11:7 – 12:1). Being joyful seems to indicate an individual finds sincere contentment and pleasure in God and His blessings in both time of pleasure and times of pain, in moments that are sacred and moments that are secular.

The book contrasts the ways of the world with the ways of the Kingdom. He uses imagery of light and darkness, the ways of the wise as opposed to the ways of the foolish, and the way of life as opposed to the ways of judgment.

The Preacher says, “Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Ecclesiastes 11:9). The words are startling because Moses in the Torah characterized the people as “stubborn, unbelieving and rebellious” (Numbers 14:11, Deuteronomy 9:6-7) and scolded them, “not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes” (Numbers 15:39).

But the context here is different. Here the Preacher is speaking to the wise, not the fool. The context of Ecclesiastes helps us understand the Preacher is not encouraging unrestricted pursuit of pleasure. The wise see the sun as a manifestation of God’s goodness (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12). The wise “will know the proper time and the just way” (Ecclesiastes 8:5). If the wise heart is leaning toward God, your heart and your eyes will lead you in the right direction.

There is a stated caution with the words. Every step, every decision, every purchase, every television channel, every click of the mouse can lead you into judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:9). All things are permissible, though not everything is profitable.

If you are among the wise, if you have tasted that the Lord is good, do not hesitate to follow your eyes and your heart in your celebrations. Solomon’s words in our text guide our thoughts. If you want to sing songs of celebration about Santa during the season that celebrates the coming of the Savior, sing your songs in happiness with a cheerful heart. God enjoys seeing you smile.

But don’t lose sight of the real reason that you sing and are happy. You have not been saved by Santa. As you robustly sing the songs of Santa, let every note, every crescendo, every stanza remind your soul:

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in time of trouble (Psalm 59:16 NIV).

 

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25 NIV).

 

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, an in your name I will lift up my hands (Psalm 63:3-4 NIV).

 

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7 NIV).

 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts (Colossians 3:16 NIV).

 

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples (Psalm 108:3 NIV).

 

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – I whom you have delivered (Psalm 71:23 NIV).

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord praise His name, proclaim His salvation day after day (Psalm 96:1-2 NIV).

Do not let a song of Santa ring through the air that you do not remember the evening when Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, in the city of David.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:13-14 ESV)!

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come (Revelation 4:8b NASB).

 

Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created (Revelation 4:11 NASB).

 

Peace on earth will come to all, if we just follow the Light.

Let’s give thanks to the Lord above.

Santa Claus comes tonight.

“It’s the Celebration Season” from the lesson series Music of Christmas, December 2021

our Scripture

The Lord said to Moses,2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

3 “‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

4 “‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times (Leviticus 23:1-4 NIV):

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our Lesson

The holiday season is upon us. With the start of November, we begin the annual two-month journey through the grandest of seasons. Our days and weeks slowly meander through rituals of decorations, apparel, food and gifts. Parades and promotions watch with anticipation as the temperatures systematically march by on their way to freezing. We are working our way to Christmas!

The time before the holiday helps us prepare for the celebration of the event. Shopping, music, baking and parties get our hearts and spirits ready for the festive day. Has our celebration become too secular, too commercial? Should a Christian take part in enjoying the festivities of Santa and the holidays?

There are several principles believers should remember.

Celebrations have always been an integral part of the life of people of faith. The Jewish faith celebrated several annual feasts and festivals. The major festivals were Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). Three of these feasts were pilgrimage, when the entire nation was to return to the Temple. After the exile, Israel added Purim and Hanukkah, as well as a memorial for the fall of Jerusalem. The feasts and festivals of the Jewish people were times when Israel could remember the magnificent ways that the Lord redeemed His people.

In addition to the annual festivals, the people were required to hold a weekly feast – a Shabbat – to observe God’s rest.

OT Feasts and Celebration

Leviticus 23 describes the seven appointed feasts, four held in the spring and three in the fall. There are three phrases in this short passage that we need to consider. The first is the phrase, “These are my appointed festivals.” When we think about celebrations, including our Christmas time, we usually think that these are our times to remember God – specifically the coming of His Son. But God says these celebrations are appointed by Him. His blessing is upon our time and our remembrance. This is not just something we are pondering on our own.

The second phrase is “proclaim.” When we hold celebrations like this, we proclaim several things to an unbelieving world. We are declaring the mighty acts of God, and how those acts touch our lives. But we are also proclaiming our allegiance and service to the Lord.

Finally, we need to look at the words, “sacred assembly.” When we gather to celebrate and remember, the time we spend is sacred. We are worshiping God when we sing our songs, when we enjoy our food, and when we give our gifts. This is a time when we understand the holiness of God.

Through the feasts, the people of God celebrated their history, their faith and the blessings which God had provided for them. Each feast looked forward to the coming Messiah, and the hope found in His person and work.

Celebration of Christmas

So let’s turn our thoughts to the Christmas story and our celebration of the season. Please look at a verse in Matthew’s gospel.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about (Matthew 1:18a):

 

In that tiny passage, we are reminded that the birth of Jesus was a part of a much larger plan put together by God. Since the fall in the garden, God had been orchestrating the development of a plan of salvation through which not only the Jewish people, but all men could be saved.

Paul realizes God’s involvement in this plan and writes, “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5 NASB).

John crystalizes it this way, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NASB).

Some Truths for Today

So, can a Christian celebrate the season of Christmas in the way that Christmas has evolved today? Yes, but there are a few principles that we must always remember that harken back to the lessons from Leviticus:

  • First, the celebration is appointed by the Lord. The season and its special nature is not ours, but the Lord’s. Tinsel and trees and presents and legends are nothing more than ornaments adorning the real reason we celebrate. If we let our festivities become “the other way around,” we have fallen to the temptation to idolatry. The Christmas party at the office does not have to begin with prayer, but you should probably pray before you go. Keep things in their proper perspective.
  • Second, the way we celebrate makes a statement, a proclamation to the unbelieving world. How do you prepare for Christmas? How much of your celebration is spent at church and with Christians? What and to whom do you give gifts? How do you celebrate on Christmas Day? At the heart of our celebration is the remembrance of God’s ultimate gift of His Son to the world. The gift was given to those of us who were alienated from Him, strangers to His way. The gift was given to those who could not offer anything back to God in return. Do people around you see that you understand what the celebration is all about?
  • Finally, our celebration is sacred. In a real sense, we worship God throughout the season – by the movies we attend, by the parties we enjoy, by the places we go and by the people with whom we celebrate.

How do we worship in a culture that is so far away from the sacred in how it enjoys the season?

Do you remember Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians? It seems that the Corinthians faced the very same problem that we face. How do you weave being Christian into a very non-Christian, non-religious culture? When the Corinthians tried to combine the two, the result was drunkenness and gluttony at fellowship dinners and during times of remembering the Lord’s Supper.

How do you celebrate this season? How do you weave your faith into the culture? How do you wait in line at the store? Are you the first in line when alcohol is served at the party? Do you take your slice of cake and two pieces of pie as well? How much of your food is thrown away? Are your gifts only given to people who can give back to you?

How we celebrate the season proclaims who we celebrate this season. The time is appointed by the Lord.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Music is different things to different people. Music can make us think, emote and behave. Music can provide the backdrop for deeply meaningful thought or it can be mindless entertainment. Music can exhilarate or provoke. The music of Christmas challenges and encourages our faith.

The brand Spotify is the world’s most popular audio streaming service. Spotify offers a free and a premium product with 365 million users, including 165 subscribers, across 178 markets in over 50 different languages. Their marketing efforts reveal how personal music is to each of us. They also showed how the music created a community with life connections that went deeper than just a love for a particular artist.

Researchers at the University of Westminster and City University of London discovered the music we listened to between the ages of 10 and 30 defines us for the rest of our lives. Music from this period of our lives connects us to people, places and events that are significant to our identities.

Music defines us, molding and shaping our minds and our souls. If these things are true – and they are – then music must also touch my spiritual being. Does the music I listen to define my spirit? Let’s listen again to the Music of Christmas.

Lesson Web Pages
Lesson One: It’s the Celebration Season Lesson Two: Songs & Santa

Lesson Three: Songs of Reflection

Lesson Four: Carols & The Christ
Lesson Handouts
[doc id=5829] [doc id=5835] [doc id=5836] [doc id=5837]
Christmas Music Trivia
Mediterranean Moments
Mediterranean Moments Mediterranean Moments Mediterranean Moments Mediterranean Moments
Royal Psalms

“Great is the Lord” from the lesson series Royal Psalms, October 2021

our Scripture

Sing a new song to the Lord;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to Yahweh, praise His name;
proclaim His salvation from day to day.
3 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonderful works among all peoples.

4 For the Lord is great and is highly praised;
He is feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name;
bring an offering and enter His courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness;
tremble before Him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations: “The Lord reigns.
The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken.
He judges the peoples fairly.”
11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and all that fills it resound.
12 Let the fields and everything in them exult.
Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy
13 before the Lord, for He is coming—
for He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with His faithfulness.

Psalm 96:1-13 NET

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

NASB Psalm 96:1-13 NASB NIV Psalm 96:1-13 NIV NLT Psalm 96:1-13 NLT NCV Psalm 96:1-13 NCV MSG Psalm 96:1-13 MESSAGE
KJV Psalm 96:1-13 KJV NKJV Psalm 96:1-13 NKJV HCSB Psalm 96:1-13 HCSB ESV Psalm 96:1-13 ESV SPANISH Psalm 96:1-13 RVA60

 

our Lesson

Singer/songwriter Michael W. Smith has made his impression on the world of Christian music for decades. One of the first worship songs that he wrote was titled, “Great is the Lord.” Composed in 1982 with his wife Debbie, Smith was an active member of the Bethel Church in Nashville at the time. The inspiration for the lyrics were drawn from the Psalms, especially Psalm 145:3 and Psalm 96:4.

 

Great is the Lord

He is holy and just

By His power we trust in His love

Great is the Lord

He is faithful and true

By His mercy He proves He is love

 

Debbie told the story of the writing of this song. “Sometimes at night we would light a candle and would open the Bible and God would inspire our hearts with a particular passage of Scripture. We wrote many praise choruses and worship songs during these evening sessions. In 1982, God led us to a particular passage of Scripture that we both thought would be the base for a good song. I wrote a few lines of the lyric as Michael was working on the music. We worked very closely together and the words and the musical setting came together at the same time.”

Great is the Lord!

 

Chronicling the Context

No doubt the life of David was filled with moments of joy and jubilation. There probably was no greater incident than when the Ark of the Covenant was brought from its resting place in the house of Obed-Edom. Thousands of people were assembled. Priests dressed in fine, white linen were gathered. There were choirs and orchestras. As the priests brought the Ark, each step was announced by blaring sounds of ram’s horns and trumpets, clashes of symbols, and music from harps and lyres. This is the occasion for which David danced before the Lord.

 

He composed a psalm for the occasion, found in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33. The psalm David wrote is also used in parts of Psalm 105 and Psalm 106. It was common for Jewish leaders to combine portions of psalms to build their own psalm for a special occasion.

 

In the Chronicle version, the psalm (probably all three) are attributed to David. The heading of the Septuagint contains the same inscription. David is appointing some of the Levites to minister before the Ark of the Covenant. Some theologians see this combination being used again at the rededication of the Temple after Babylon.

 

Ultimately the psalm looks ahead to the Kingdom when the Messiah reigns among the Gentiles. The Psalm is a prophecy that a day is coming when God will judge the entire world in righteousness. David saw the coming of the Ark as a pledge by God that He would come in the future to reign as King over all the earth. H.C. Leupold (1892-1972) writes that the psalm “throbs with the hope of the Lord’s coming.”

 

The Lord Reigns

While the words “the Lord reigns” are not mentioned, the concept of God’s place as King is evident throughout. The position of God to us becomes evident as we approach God. We notice immediately that He is worthy of our worship. There is a sense that we need to proclaim His salvation everywhere that we go, day after day. In addition, we should declare God’s glory to everyone, as well as telling his marvelous deeds (compare also Psalm 98:1).

 

Many theologians see a relationship between Psalm 96 and Isaiah. Themes in both this psalm and Isaiah include teaching against idolatry (Isaiah 40:18-31, Isaiah 41:21, Isaiah 44:6-8), creation (Isaiah 40:22, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 45:12), nature responding to God’s redemption (Isaiah 49:13, Isaiah 55:12) and the nations (Isaiah 45:20, Isaiah 49:7, Isaiah 56:3-8, Isaiah 60:9-12).

 

Notice the command in verse 10. We are to proclaim among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” Denying God’s existence breaks this imperative.

 

Sounds of Glory

Three psalms start with the same words – “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 96:1, Psalm 98:1, Psalm 149:1)! Isaiah tells us the same thing (Isaiah 42:10). Psalm 33:3 encourages us with a similar message. The psalmist adds, “I will sing a new song to you, O God” (Psalm 144:9).

 

Why is there such an emphasis upon singing? There may actually be a context found in Psalm 40.

 

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;

He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him (Psalm 40:1-3 NIV).

 

The psalmist describes the circumstances of life. We pray to the Lord for deliverance and then wait. Sometimes patiently, sometimes frantically. Our timetable is often far from God’s. Of course, God hears us immediately, but sometimes His answer seems to tarry. God rescues us.

 

A New Song

It is at the moment of rescue that God puts a new song in the mouth. The evidence of God’s continuing expressions of grace should prompt us to sing. There is no “oldies music” when describing the providential care of God. The story may be old, but the melody in our heart is fresh and inspired.

 

In Hebrew, this psalm is known as Shiru Lashem (“sing to the Lord”). The word “sing” is repeated three times and signifies the three daily prayers when Israel sings praises to God. The Shacharit is the morning prayer and corresponds with verse one. The Mincha speaks to the afternoon prayer and the Maariv is the evening prayer.

 

In Christianity, the psalm is a part of the liturgies of many denominations. The Latin conclusion, “Laetentur caeli” is used during the Christmas night liturgy. Matthew Henry (1662-1714) believed that verses 10 to 13 provide instructions for what preachers should preach, what anyone who shares the gospel should present.

 

Six Imperatives

There are six imperatives in the first few verses of the Psalm 96. There are three commands to “sing” to the Lord – twice in verse one and once in verse two. In addition, we are called to “praise” His name (verse two), to “proclaim” His salvation day after day (verse two), and to “declare” His glory (verse three).

 

It is interesting that we are first to praise His name, and then we are to proclaim His name. G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945) wrote, “If the song of the Lord begins in the heart, it always grows into the chorus in which others are included in the music.”

 

Martin Luther once said, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.” Songs are a critical part of the experience of life.

 

The Hebrew word for worship means to prostrate oneself, to fall flat on your face to the ground. This understanding is so different than what the English word worship conveys. Probably your image of worship is standing and lifting your hands in praise to God. Praise is a part of the Hebrew concept, but it is a praise that falls in reverence and awe before the Father.

 

Glory: Great is the Lord

Glory is a difficult word to define. It represents a majestic aura of the amazing presence of God, but that seems to only grasp a portion of the word. There is something of weight and impressiveness about the glory of God. Indeed, in some way, what we do is to “give” God glory.

 

Giving God glory recognizes God for who He is and what He has done. When we understand God as Creator, rather than explaining the universe as a result of random chance, we are giving God glory. When we recognize Jesus as God’s Son, our Savior and the promised Messiah rather than a good teacher or prophet, we are giving God glory. As we apply God’s truth and apply it to daily decisions rather than making choices on our own, we are giving God glory.

 

In this psalm, we are to declare his glory to the nations. We are to ascribe glory to God, as well as proclaim His glory to others.

 

John Piper, preacher at Bethlehem Church in Minneapolis, says “Jesus Christ has been the key and goal of all the Psalms. They are not complete without Him.”

 

Ascribe Glory

The repetition of a word three times impresses upon us the urgency and importance of the command. Like singing, we are given an imperative to “ascribe.” The word “ascribe” means to attribute a quality to a cause or a person. When we ascribe glory to the Lord, we are saying glory belongs to Him. Glory is defined by Him. Notice the similarities with the 1 Chronicles 16 passage and Psalm 29.

 

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
30     Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved (1 Chronicles 16:28-30 NIV).

 

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness (Psalm 29:1-2 NIV).

 An Invitation

The invitation extends to all nations to come to God’s sanctuary, bring a sacrifice, and worship Him. The Psalms (Psalm 65:4, Psalm 84:2, Psalm 92:13, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 116:19, Psalm 135:2) clearly demonstrates this concept. The people who worship God can expect Him to cleanse them before they worship Him (Hebrews 10:19-25). We approach God through the righteousness through Christ Jesus.

 

A very important theological concept dictates the teaching presented in this verse. We are to give God the glory that is due His name. Several of the Ten Commandments stress the importance of God’s name. To even use the name in a frivolous manner fails to give God glory. Putting another god on the same level as God fails to give God glory.

 

Proclaim Glory

We are to proclaim among the nations “The Lord reigns.” Let’s look at three things that the psalmist says that God’s people – you and I – should do among the nations.

  1. First, we are to declare to the nations the truth about God’s glory and works and salvation. What is the heart of the message? We proclaim “the Lord reigns” by our words and our obedience. The story may be personal – what is God doing with me, how do I live because I understand that the Lord reigns.
  2. Second, we are invite the nations to praise God with us. We begin by gently showing the world the presence of God as a Creator. We then help them see that God’s glory can be seen throughout His creation. Explain to them the role of the Messiah in God’s covenant with us.
  3. Finally, we help the nations see that God is eventually going to judge the world. His judgment – even to those nations – will be fair and necessary. He judges people with equity (verse 10).

 

What to Speak to the Nations

Declaring God’s glory among the nations” is a vital command. What content do we need to include? How do we go about presenting a message when the task is so great? Here are a few ideas:

 

  • Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into the harvest (Matthew 9:38). The task is huge and will need divine assistance.
  • Count the cost of being a disciple (Luke 14:25-33). Culture has made membership at a church little more than membership at the YMCA. Understand the cost that Jesus paid for your membership dues.
  • Place Jesus at the center of any message that you present. People will not receive salvation because their name was on the record at your church. The gospel is good news because a relationship is restored – theirs with the Creator. The mediator making peace between the two parties is Jesus.
  • Begin to declare to the nations by serving others, start with your local congregation. Actions speak louder than words.
  • Keep joy in your heart (Psalm 100:2).

 

The New Testament Fulfills an Old Testament Dream

This truth is not simply an Old Testament dream. Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans.

 

I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised (the Jews) to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles (the nations) might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written:

 

I will praise you among the Gentiles (nations), and sing to your name. Again it is said, Rejoice, O Gentiles (nations), with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles (nations), and let all the peoples extol him. And again, Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles (nations); in him will the Gentiles (nations) hope (Romans 15:8-12 ESV).

 

Who Are the Nations?

Who are the nations? The group “The Joshua Project” claims 1569 groups of people stand unengaged (no missionaries or churches in their area). Another 6747 areas of the world qualify as barely reached (less than 2% evangelical). Make these statistics come alive in your area. How many unchurched or unreached people live where you live? How will you reach them – since a sign indicating that your church is “user-friendly” probably does not even catch their attention?

 

Maybe singing a new song means genuinely finding new ways to sing to the Lord in a way that the nations will still hear. As culture slips further away from the truth and from God, your song doesn’t need to blend in with what the nations are singing. Your song needs to stand out.

 

Coming in Glory

Let’s conclude our thoughts on this psalm by looking at a phrase in the last verse: “For He comes, He comes to judge the earth.” Through the Old Testament, God’s people looked for the coming of a Messiah. The New Testament anticipates the Messiah coming again.

 

A Triumphant Return

The king comes. The prophet Zechariah foretold the king was coming. It is easy to see the arrival of the baby in the manger. The words from the prophet fit snuggly into the narrative of the Christmas story. The passage can fit into the story of the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

 

Rejoice greatly, people of Jerusalem!
Shout for joy, people of Jerusalem!
Your king is coming to you.
He does what is right, and he saves.
He is gentle and riding on a donkey,
on the colt of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9 NCV).

 

The 96th Psalm celebrates the kingship of the Lord throughout its verses. The concept stands joyfully before us once again. The king comes to judge the earth. The people did not often see impartial and righteous judges. Corrupt judges accepted bribes in order to assure a particular decision.

 

A Coming Judgment

Some people see the judgment of God as a reason for fear. If you were concerned about the integrity of the judge, if you knew you were guilty, or if you did not have the amount of money necessary to bribe the judge toward your favor, there would be ample reason to fear the appearance before a judge.

 

To a point, we stand before God in that kind of dire need. We ARE guilty. But we don’t stand before the judge with guilt. The atonement of Jesus washes the books and the heart clean of guilt. The believer stands before God, given a righteousness that none of us deserve.

 

We also stand before a judge who acts with righteousness and faithfulness. Bribery fails to sway this righteous Judge. I imagine that Satan has already begun to try to bribe God. We trust God’s integrity, but also His love. We are to celebrate and anticipate the coming judgment from God because we are confident of the outcome.

 

Great is the Lord

As we read through the Royal Psalms in general, and through Psalm 96 in particular, an appreciation of the majesty of God permeates the teaching. Our response to this quality of God is to proclaim, “Great is the Lord” and we bow to the reign of the Lord. We ascribe glory to Him by acknowledging what He has done, and looking ahead to His return.

Royal Psalms

“Rock of Our Salvation” from the lesson series Royal Psalms, October 2021

our Scripture

Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord,
shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving;
let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.

3 For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.
4 The depths of the earth are in His hand,
and the mountain peaks are His.
5 The sea is His; He made it.
His hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
and we are the people of His pasture,
the sheep under His care.

Today, if you hear His voice:
8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
9 where your fathers tested Me;
they tried Me, though they had seen what I did.
10 For 40 years I was disgusted with that generation;
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray;
they do not know My ways.”
11 So I swore in My anger,
“They will not enter My rest.”

Psalm 95:1-11 NET

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

NASB Psalm 95:1-11 NASB NIV Psalm 95:1-11 NIV NLT Psalm 95:1-11 NLT NCV Psalm 95:1-11 NCV MSG Psalm 95:1-11 MESSAGE
KJV Psalm 95:1-11 KJV NKJV Psalm 95:1-11 NKJV HCSB Psalm 95:1-11 HCSB ESV Psalm 95:1-11 ESV SPANISH Psalm 95:1-11 RVA60

 

our Lesson

There was a time in human history when men believed that the earth was the center of the universe. From what they could observe, they thought all of the planets were actually in orbit around the earth. Modern technology has shown this perception was seen in error. The belief tells a great deal about the thought processes of human. Man wants to believe that everything revolves around himself. We want to be the center of our universe. 

 

Psalm 95 opens our eyes to a bigger picture than our own world. We are challenged in this psalm to not only see God as the center and creator of all things, but to worship Him in an appropriate manner. Psalm 95 continues the series of psalms known as Royal Psalms. These psalms have certain characteristics that we will notice in today’s study. To refresh your memory on these traits, please consult the article, “Characteristics of the Messianic Psalms.”

 

The powerful psalm is quoted and considered in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 3:7 – 4:13).

 

The Hebrew writer, possibly Paul, says that it is a psalm of David (Hebrews 4:7), although it is not noted as such in the Hebrew text. Charles Spurgeon believed that almost every psalm had been written by David. James Montgomery Boice observed, “This is probably the most thorough citing of an Old Testament passage in the New Testament.”

 

Some theologians see Psalm 95 as an introduction to several psalms about worship. From our standpoint, we see the psalm as a part of our understanding of the Lord reigning over all through His Anointed One. Today we will reshape our understanding of worship. We will see it as through the eyes of the steadfast nature of God and our obedience and reverence to Him. 

 

The Lord Reigns

Though the words “the Lord reigns” are not found in the psalm, its truth and meaning permeate the verses. The Lord is the great God. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The Lord has the whole world in His hands. God is the rock of our salvation. Hear His voice. Keep your heart open. Don’t let your mind talk you out of it.

 

Come, let us bow down before Him in worship.

 

John R.W. Stott (1921-2011) served as rector for All Souls Church in London. He wrote, “True worship is the highest and noblest activity which man, by the grace of God, is capable.” Are we worshiping God in such a way in our churches?

 

A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) offered these thoughts on the issue of worship.

 

Thanks to our splendid Bible societies and to other effective agencies for the dissemination of the Word, there are today many millions of people who hold “right opinions,” probably more than ever before in the history of the church. Yet I wonder if there was ever a time when true spiritual worship was at a lower ebb. To great sections of the church, the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the “program.” This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us.

 

Psalm 95 bids us to worship. The psalm turns us to the rock of our salvation. The psalm calls us to worship; it explains how we should worship, as well as explaining why we worship; and it warns of what happens if we do not worship and thus harden our hearts.

 

Thoughts of Theologians

Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) suggested worship “has about it a ring like that of the church bells, and like the bells, it sounds moth merrily and solemnly, at first ringing out a lively peal, and then dropping into a funeral knell as if tolling at the funeral of the generation which perished in the wilderness.

 

The church has used the first part of the palm as a call to worship since about the fourth century. In many churches it is known as the Venite, from the Latin for “come.”

 

There are several ways to worship. There are times in our lives which prescribe certain methods of worship: mourning, silence, even with resolute sighs. But the natural, comfortable way to worship is with enthusiasm and joy. There is a spirit of celebration as the faithful approaches the throne.

 

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) called worship an “appetite” for God.

 

These old poets (the psalmists) do not seem to think that they are meritorious or pious for having such thoughts; nor, on the other hand, that they are privileged in being given the grace to have them. They are at once less priggish about it than the worst of us and less humble – one might almost say, less surprised – than the best of us. It has all the cheerful spontaneity of a natural, even a physical desire. It is gay and jocund. They are glad and rejoice (Psalm 9:2). Their fingers itch for the harp (Psalm 43:4), for the lute and the harp – wake up, lute and harp (Psalm 57:9); let’s have a song, bring the tambourine, bring the “merry harp with the lute,” we’re going to sing merrily and make a cheerful noise (Psalm 81:1-2). Noise, you may well say, mere music is not enough.

 

Worship Demands a Response

Psalm 95 suggests some of the ways that we can worship. Singing heads the list from the psalmist. We are encouraged to shout aloud in our worship. Few of us participate in this way, though we should probably be less hesitant to at least affirm what we hear by saying “Amen!” or at least nodding our heads in agreement.

 

Shouting draws our attention – to the message and to the presentation of the message. There are many ways to shout that do not include the voice. If David had a stage with lights and smoke, I am confident he would have used them. The danger – with any worship – is that it becomes a performance. Isn’t that the trap that the Pharisees fell into? The trap isn’t about the stage or the setting, but about the heart.

 

The psalmist also challenges us to worship in “music and song.” This probably builds a distinction between vocal and instrumental music. Although instruments are not mentioned here, they are in many psalms (Psalm 150).

 

Worship Starts with Listening

Please notice one last thing is mentioned in the call to worship. Look at the last phrase in verse seven: “Today, if you hear His voice.” Words are an important part of our worship. God has spoken and we are to listen. This, of course, speaks to God’s revelation – through the prophets, but ultimately through His Son. The proper response to hearing God’s words is obedience. We should come to worship with a spirit of obedience, pointing to what we have offered to God in the past, looking forward to how we will bow our knee in the future.

 

There is a warning in these verses of the psalm. The message from God, whether delivered through the prophets of old or the messenger in the pulpit today, always stirs a response. We can obey, or we can harden our hearts, like the Israelites did at Meribah and at Massah (Exodus 17:7, Numbers 20:13, Deuteronomy 32:51, Psalm 81:7, Psalm 106:32).

 

Worship begins with listening. Today – if you hear God’s voice. Worship without obedience is pretend. It has no substance. It is not real. Worship affects behavior. It changes lives.

 

Let Us Sing

There is an old saying, “Don’t die with the music still in you.” During times of loss, music can be compared to listening to an empathetic friend who understands your feelings. Listening to upbeat music improves your mood and boosts your happiness. Some research is finding that listening to music actually decreases the sense of pain experienced before, during and after surgery.

 

Music has also been proven to have positive, lasting effects in treatments for depression, anxiety, stress, dementia, autism and several other illnesses which touch the mind. Many medical programs have music therapy as a legitimate course in their study.

 

Music Speaks

Hans Christian Anderson wrote, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Ludwig van Beethoven claimed, “Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.” “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 98:4). Music goes beyond the spoken word in expressing moods and feelings. Music unites people at the deepest, most human level.

 

Lou Rawls once commented, “Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.”

 

In Psalm 95, the psalmist first mentions worshiping God by honoring Him with song and doing so in community. Both aspects are vital in our understanding of honoring God. Music is not the only way to honor and worship Him, but it is certainly an important way.

 

Not a Quiet Moment

This is not a quiet, somber moment. The invitation to praise in the first two verses of this psalm presents a picture of celebration and festivities. Shrill cries of gladness, loud shouts of praise and songs with musical accompaniments ring through the Temple courts.

 

People wonder about the appropriate nature of music in today’s worship service. Although worship is to cover a broad spectrum of emotions, joyful celebration with loud music is a integral part.

 

James Montgomery Boice (1936-2000) says, “Singing expresses human thought emotionally, and Christianity is a feeling religion. More particularly, singing expresses joy, and the Bible’s religion at its heart is joyful.” The Christian understand joy even in the midst of sorrowful circumstances.

 

Spurgeon commented, “It is to be feared that very much even of religious singing is not unto the Lord, but unto the ear of the congregation. Above all things, we must in our service of song take care that all we offer is with the heart’s sincerest and most fervent intent directed towards the Lord himself.”

 

The Rock is Refuge and Rescue

God’s people have much to shout joyfully about. Somber, reflective spirits have a place in worship, but probably not a dominant place. Derek Kidner (1913-2008) says, “Before making ourselves small before Him (as we must, see Psalm 95:6), we greet Him here with unashamed enthusiasm as our refuge and rescuer.”

 

The word “sing” appears in the Scriptures over 400 times. At least 50 of the instances are imperative or commands. Let’s get even more specific with the application.

  • Where are we to sing? We are to sing in the assembly (Psalm 149:1).
  • What are we to sing? We are to sing the word of Christ and the wisdom of Christ (Colossians 3:16).
  • How are we to sing? We are to sing with a thankful attitude, sincerely, or from the heart (Colossians 3:16).

 

Music Unites Us

People sing together in the strangest places. Have you ever been dining at a Mexican restaurant when well-meaning, but musically challenged servers surround a table, placing a festive sombrero upon the head of the person of honor? Everyone in the party is cheering and excited, except for one face who is now the center of attention, burying itself inside the palms of their hands, hoping to somehow hide the ever-spreading blush which is now a deeper red than the color of the tablecloth. Soon the thrown-together choir begins to serenade in at least four different keys, Feliz cumpleaños a ti !

 

Suddenly throughout the restaurant, musically challenged and Spanish-language challenged patrons join in the universal anthem to celebrate the birthday of someone that most in the crowd do not even know. Feliz cumpleaños a ti ! Music unites and joy abounds.

 

Amidst the sixty folks in the restaurant, three real musicians were even able to end the chorus making a harmonic chord.

 

Why do we do this? We sing at Christmas parties, rock concerts, weddings, funerals and ball games. Something happens inside when we sing.

 

Can’t You Imagine?

You know as well as I do that if you began singing in an assembly of Christians, regardless of language, in spite of nationalities or ethnicities,

 

“Then sings my soul, My Savior, God to thee.”

 

The entire congregation would join you on your note, in your key, with tear-filling eyes, and unbelievably sincere smiles,

 

“How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art!”

 

In the stillness of my night, in the quiet moments that allow my soul to meditate on the God who reigns, may I every now and then, faintly hear the amazingly perfect harmonies coming from the angelic and saintly choir that surround the throne. May I grasp the words of the anthems of their praise. May I get goose-bumps from the reverberations of the harps and keyboards and guitars and percussion and orchestra and smooth wailing of the sax.

 

And may I never be the same.

 

A Piece of the Rock

The comparison of the rock is a comparison with biblical and experiential meaning. It points to the solid foundation that God provides for our lives and future, but also to the sense of His presence. We do not lift our voices to an empty space. There is a real connection between God and His people.

 

Adam Clarke observed three things regarding verses 1 through 3. The Supreme Being has three names here, EL, JEHOVAH, and ELOHIM.  He adds that we should apply none of these names to false gods. The first implies the strength of God; the second name speaks to His being and essence. The third name describes the covenant relationship that He has with His people.

 

There are many who believe that even today we should be very cautious about using the name of God. Often Jewish publications will write “G-d” without using the “o.” The Torah (Deuteronomy 12:4) prohibits erasing, destroying or desecrating the name of the Lord. There are seven names for God in Hebrew which they consider holy and thus forbidden to destroy or erase.

 

The faithful Jew sees it has no big deal to use a dash instead of the vowel, and everyone understands its meaning. Many Jews and Jewish organizations use it as their standard practice to write “G-d” in all their publications, emails and web posts.

 

Understanding the Scriptures

There are two verses in this Psalm that need our further consideration. The first is found in verse one.

 

Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord,

Shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!

The Old Testament, especially the collection of psalms, refer to God as a rock. The metaphor conjures several important truths in our mind. First, the image stresses God’s strength. A rock provides security, a place to build the fortress. God as a rock provides protection (Psalm 18:2).

 

There is an interesting use of the metaphor in Psalm 62:2. The rock provides salvation and shelter from either the heat of the day or the powers of a soaking thunderstorm.

 

Other Old Testament Scriptures which reinforce this imagery and truth are:

  • Psalm 18:1-3 NLT
  • 2 Samuel 22:2
  • Psalm 71:3
  • 1 Corinthians 10:4 ESV
  • Psalm 62:7-8
  • Psalm 31:3-4
  • Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV
  • Psalm 144:1-3
  • Psalm 95:1

 

Notice the application that Jesus makes to the image in His teaching in the New Testament.

 

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV).

 

“And they remembered that God was their rock” (Psalm 78:35).

 

A Time to Rest

The psalm ends with a warning that goes back to the time when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness on their exodus from Egypt into the Promised Land. The passage is also highlighted in New Testament quotations (Hebrews 3:7-11, Hebrews 3:15). There is an interesting comparison made, in light of the illustration of the wanderings.

 

The references to Meribah and Massah help provide a historical context for the verses. “Meribah” (“contending”) and “Massah” (“testing”) are places which rather summarize the nature of the Israelites who wandered the edge of faithlessness throughout their generations (Exodus 17:1-7, Numbers 20:1-13, Deuteronomy 6:16, Psalm 81:7). Even though they had witnessed the mighty works of God (Exodus 19:4), the people grumbled, complained and challenged the Lord.

 

The wanderings were a result of their response to the time Moses spent at Sinai receiving the commandments. Moses was warned by God about the extreme danger of seeing God’s face. “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20). God commanded Moses to hide himself in a cleft of a rock.

 

An Invitation from the Rock

The contrast of that image should be seen against the psalm’s opening word of invitation. The word “come” signifies “to go to meet God face-to-face, to be in His presence.” Believers can be in God’s presence through the work of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-25). The psalmist sees a day when we don’t have to relate to God from a distance.

 

The second verse in this Psalm that needs our attention before we close our study briefly states this phrase.

“Today” if you hear God’s voice (Psalm 95:7)

This phrase stresses the urgency of our response, but also speaks of the wording of the New Testament. The writer of the book of Hebrews shares this thought.

 

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end (Hebrews 3:12-14).

 

The idea of God’s rest has more than one meaning. In relationship to the wandering and the exodus, it meant the land that God had promised to them. They were to settle and subdue it. They were to be granted the peace to enjoy it (Genesis 49:15, Psalm 132:14, 1 Kings 8:56). The people understood and practiced rest each week, as they learned God’s Sabbath rest. But the rest ultimate speaks of the state of being and relationship provided to us by the saving work of the Messiah. We no longer churn and struggle because of sin. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

 

Royal Psalms

“God Will Avenge” from the lesson series Royal Psalms, October 2021

our Scripture

Lord, God of vengeance—
God of vengeance, appear.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;
repay the proud what they deserve.
3 Lord, how long will the wicked—
how long will the wicked gloat?

4 They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
5 Lord, they crush Your people;
they afflict Your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the foreigner
and murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it.
The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.”

8 Pay attention, you stupid people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
9 Can the One who shaped the ear not hear,
the One who formed the eye not see?
10 The One who instructs nations,
the One who teaches man knowledge—
does He not discipline?
11 The Lord knows man’s thoughts;
they are meaningless.

12 Lord, happy is the man You discipline
and teach from Your law
13 to give him relief from troubled times
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 The Lord will not forsake His people
or abandon His heritage,
15 for justice will again be righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who stands up for me against the wicked?
Who takes a stand for me against evildoers?
17 If the Lord had not been my helper,
I would soon rest in the silence of death.
18 If I say, “My foot is slipping,”
Your faithful love will support me, Lord.
19 When I am filled with cares,
Your comfort brings me joy.

20 Can a corrupt throne—
one that creates trouble by law—
become Your ally?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord is my refuge;
my God is the rock of my protection.
23 He will pay them back for their sins
and destroy them for their evil.
The Lord our God will destroy them.

Psalm 94:1-23 NET

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

NASB Psalm 94:1-23 NASB NIV Psalm 94:1-23 NIV NLT Psalm 94:1-23 NLT NCV Psalm 94:1-23 NCV MSG Psalm 94:1-23 MESSAGE
KJV Psalm 94:1-23 KJV NKJV Psalm 94:1-23 NKJV HCSB Psalm 94:1-23 HCSB ESV Psalm 94:1-23 ESV SPANISH Psalm 94:1-23 RVA60

 

our Lesson

Let’s remember the pattern of information that we are noticing in the Royal Psalms. First, we are looking for evidence of the reign of Almighty God. “The Lord reigns” is seen as a theme through these psalms.

 

We also notice the rage of the nations. The nations represent the people who do not necessarily follow God. The makeup of this group of people ranges from those who simply do not care to those who violently oppose God’s people and ways. In the Old Testament, the nations were literal, but the meaning applies in a figurative way as well.

 

Next we look for the presence of the Lord’s anointed one. Israel’s concept of the anointed one was tied completely to the king and kingdom. From the time of Saul forward, God’s chosen king was anointed. Remember, there are two spiritual concept tied to this imagery. God himself fulfilled the role of King for Israel. He also promised that a day would come when His own anointed one – the One He would call His Son – would reign.

 

Finally we look at the blessings that come for the people who take refuge in the Anointed One. God does not abandon His people. They are more than just members of a kingdom. They become adopted into His family.

 

Psalm 94

This particular psalm is a prayer of the individual who calls to the Lord for help against the enemy. The interesting thing about the setting of this psalm is the enemies are not foreign nations, which is so often the case. The enemies in this psalm easily could be the leaders in Israel (see Psalm 94:4-7, Psalm 94:20-21). The circumstance certainly puts an interesting twist upon the usage of the psalm.

Because of the stark contrast in the subject matter that seems to shift between verses 15 and 16, there are some that feel there are two different psalms that for some reason have been joined together. While the first fifteen verses stand on their own, the personal nature of the subject speaks to how quickly life’s circumstances can change.

The psalm opens with an appeal to God to act.

The Lord Reigns

Although the psalmist does not use the exact term, the implication of the Lord reigning is the same. A God who is able to avenge is a God who reigns. The vengeance of God is a theme throughout the Scriptures. We tend to use the word “avenge” to speak of justice, while we use the word “revenge” to speak of someone getting even for a wrong committed.

 

Here are some relevant Scriptures on how a just and righteous God promises to avenge.

  • Deuteronomy 32:35
  • Nahum 1:2
  • Romans 12:19
  • Hebrews 10:30
  • Jeremiah 51:56
  • Psalm 99:8
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:8
  • Leviticus 26:25
  • Jeremiah 51:11
  • Jeremiah 5:29
  • Isaiah 47:3
  • Ezekiel 25:14
  • Micah 5:15

 

Understanding God’s Need to Avenge

There is a difference between saying that “God is a God of vengeance” and saying that “God is vengeful. We tend to associate vengeance with displays of hatred and cruelty. Those who are vengeful are filled with an impassioned drive to right circumstances and spite people. This drive cannot be extinguished. It appears to be unreasonable.

The Scripture uses vengeance with a different meaning. It is a term that it applies only to God. God wields vengeance because He is the Judge of the heavens and earth. God will avenge when He exercises divine judgment. In fact, we are told to avoid vengeance, for the process to avenge belongs only to God. Vengeance is the righteous expression of the justice of God.

 

A Message from Paul to the Ephesians

Although we tend to compartmentalize, one should never think God’s capacity to avenge without also thinking of the mercy of God. Yes, God judges sin, but because He is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4).

 

The image of mercy that Paul paints in Ephesians 2:1-7 shows the huge contrast between sin and life.

And although you were dead in your offenses and sins, 2 in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the domain of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— 6 and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-7 NET).

We are like the people of the nations. Our trespasses left us dead in our sins. We followed the course of the world, disobeying God and pursing our own interests. The most important pursuit of our lives was to walk our own path. Such a lifestyle produces nothing but rage (Psalm 2:1). But because of His love for us, God breathed life into dead bones simply because we acknowledge the offer of redemption made by the Anointed One. It is by grace we are saved, and the riches He has in store for us are immeasurable.

 

A Message from Paul to the Romans

When we think about the vengeance of God, we must also remember Paul’s instruction to the Romans. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God (Romans 12:19 ESV). Paul’s words use the foundation of the Old Testament as he quotes Deuteronomy 32:35. Let’s look at them in a little more detail:

 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21 NIV).

There will be times in life when people treat us poorly or when circumstances do not seem “fair” by our standards of judgment. When we see injustice or we experience its pain, we will naturally want others to be given the same measure of injustice and evil. We are indeed to “act justly” but we are also to “love mercy” (Micah 6:8). Judgment – the Scripture term of “vengeance” – is God’s job, not ours. God will avenge.

 

Sin Without Redemption Causes Tension

This tension between a world filled with sin and desire for justice answers the question of the psalmist, “Why do the nations rage?” The world considers justice without mercy. It lives in a state of sin without redemption.

 

Let’s continue to think about Paul’s words to the Romans.

 

Wrath connects God’s response to something that deserves judgment or vengeance. God says, “I will repay.” God’s wrath is payment for something that man has done. The wrath of God is God’s settled anger toward sin – a committed act or an atmosphere of injustice – expressed in suitable punishment of vengeance upon the guilty. The connection between anger and wrath is strong. The Bible uses the two words together over 100 times.

 

The terms are used in such a parallel manner that it becomes difficult to distinguish between the two.

  • Psalm 6:1
  • Psalm 90:7
  • Hosea 13:11
  • Romans 2:8

 

The wrath of God is never out of control. It is not served against the innocent. It is meticulous. His wrath is just, suitable, and proper. This is an avenging God.

 

How Long Until You Avenge, O Lord?

Along with Psalm 10, Psalm 14, Psalm 73 and Psalm 92, this psalmist deals with the apparent triumph of the wicked. The helpless and weak are treated with injustice and disdain. It is not foreign leaders who were guilty, but their own leaders. Perhaps the psalm came out of the sufferings inflicted during the reign of King Manasseh (2 Kings 21) whom the Lord blamed for the destruction of Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:1-4).

 

If there is a burning question that covers the first pages of Genesis through the last paragraph of Revelation, it is the pondering, “How long, O Lord?” How long will you be patient with sinful people? Will long periods of time elapse before you enact vengeance? How long will you leave the score unsettled?

 

The psalmist here becomes even more pointed. “How long will you allow the wicked to be jubilant?” There is something telling about the question, isn’t there? Doesn’t it seem to imply, “because I want to be the one who is jubilant.” We must be so careful to not allow the sin and injustice to cause us to rage.

 

The Psalmist Ponders

How long will the wicked be allowed to pour out arrogant words? Jewish syndicated columnist Don Feder wrote, “Christians are the only group Hollywood can offend with impunity, the only creed it actually goes out of its way to insult. Clerics, from fundamentalist preachers to Catholic monks, are routinely represented as hypocrites, hucksters, sadists, and lechers. The tenets of Christianity are regularly held up to ridicule.”

 

How long will the wicked be allowed to crush God’s people? In a story covered by the BBC News on May 3, 2019, “Christians were the most persecuted religious group” according to their study. The review found that one in three people suffer from religious persecution. At the time, concerns were expressed over persecutions in China, Sri Lanka, and Palestine. “In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the United Nations.”

 

How long will the wicked oppress the most vulnerable – the widow, the foreigner, and the fatherless? Both the Old and New Testaments speak of the groups that cannot protect themselves. Scripture encourages their protection and provision (Exodus 22:22-24, Deuteronomy 10:18, James 1:27).

 

How long will it seem that You aren’t paying attention?

 

What a Fool Believes

The fool believes that the Lord does not see. The fool believes that the God of Jacob is not paying attention. Often the fool concludes that God does not even exist. David writes, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good” (Psalm 14:1 NIV).

 

As a result, the wicked use arrogant words (Psalm 94:4) because they believe that God does not see or notice them. The verb literally means to gush out – like water from a fire hydrant. The word may denote words of the wise (Psalm 78:2, Psalm 119:171, Proverbs 1:23, Proverbs 18:4) or the words of folly (Psalm 59:7, Proverbs 15:2).

 

Did you ever notice that plans were being made by someone and you knew the plans would not work? “Sorry, it is not going to happen.” Sometimes we see the misdirected ideas from our children, sometimes from our workers in business. Even though you offer advice, the individual must try it themselves to understand why the plan will not work.

 

The foolish not only have convinced themselves that God does not notice, they believe with all of their hearts that God will not punish. Do we not hear questions, “How could a good God send people to hell?” They pretend to not believe in God’s existence, yet they call Him good and understand that He will judge.

 

Rest from the Days

The promise for the Lord’s people comes in the midst of the rage of the wicked. Blessed is the man whom the Lord disciplines. Don’t think of discipline here as punishment. The word used describes the strengthening of the athlete. The psalmist thinks of himself. The Lord’s discipline – His plan and His ways – provides the reason that the faithful do not rage. God cares enough to set boundaries and our direction. This man understands the blessing of God.

 

The disciplined man taught the ways of the Law will find “relief.” The Hebrew verb describes a quiet, undisturbed place. The KJV – and many other translations – use the word “rest” to capture the idea.

 

Hebrews tells us God has prepared a Sabbath’s rest for the faithful (Hebrews 4:1-11).

 

The Rock of My Refuge

The Lord makes promises to His people. The day will come when judgment will again be founded upon righteousness. While the world has turned right and wrong upside-down, a day is coming when God will right the order of justice. “Vengeance is mine,’ says the Lord, “I will avenge.”

 

The raging of the nations takes a toll on the faithful. They look to God for their help. When the righteous falter in their steps, comfort and strength from the Love of God support their efforts. “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul” (Psalm 94:19).

 

I can rest assured that God will not allow the wicked to prosper. God will avenge His name, His kingdom and the dignity of His people.