Pause to admire God’s creation and meditate on His righteous Judgments.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 8-9

 

Psalm 9:19-20

Arise, O Lord,
Do not let man prevail;
Let the ^[m]nations be judged in Your sight.
²⁰ Put them in fear, O Lord,
That the ^[n]nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah

(NKJV)

 

There is a pause button on most of the devices we use to listen to music or watch television. If we need to step away from our device for a moment, we can pause the music or program and resume it when we return. Life and the busyness of the world can be like a soundtrack continually playing in our head, leading to one being too busy for time with God in prayer, Bible study, or going to Church. As believers, we must take time to hit the pause button on the world and spend time with God.

 

In Psalm 8, David takes time to praise the glory of the Lord’s creation. He begins with praising the excellency of the name of the Lord and His glory above the heavens (Psalm 8:1). David then says that the Lord ordains strength out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants so the Lord’s enemies are silenced and avenged (Psalm 8:2). David then compares the majesty of God’s creation with man and wonders why the God of creation would be mindful of him (Psalm 8:3-5). However, God has given man dominion over His creation (Psalm 8:6-8). David concludes by declaring how excellent the Lord’s name is in all the earth (Psalm 8:9).

 

David begins Psalm 9 where he left off in Psalm 8 by praising the Lord with his whole heart, telling of the Lord’s marvelous works and praising the name of the Lord most high (Psalm 9:1-2). David then reflects on how his enemies have fallen and perished in the presence of the Lord and how the Lord has maintained his right and cause (Psalm 9:3-4). In the Lord’s righteous judgments, the nations are rebuked, the wicked destroyed, and their name is blotted out forever and ever (Psalm 9:5). The memory of David’s enemies has perished, but the Lord shall endure forever and judge with righteousness and uprightness (Psalm 9:6-8). The Lord is also a refuge for those who know him and place their trust in Him (Psalm 9:9-10).

 

David encourages us to sing praise to the Lord who dwells in Zion and declare His deeds that avenge their shed blood because the Lord does not forget the humble (Psalm 9:11-12). David pleads for the Lord’s mercy and for Him to consider his trouble from those who hate him so he can tell of all the Lord’s praise and rejoice in His salvation (Psalm 9:13-14). The nations that have forgotten God are caught in the snare of their own wickedness, but God does not forget the needy and the expectations of the poor (Psalm 9:15-18). David concludes by asking the Lord to arise and not let man prevail, judging the nations and putting them in fear so they know they are but men (Psalm 9:19-20).

 

We live in a fallen world of wickedness, evil, and chaos, like David experienced, with David showing us the importance of taking time to praise the glory of God’s creation and His righteous judgments. In Psalm 8, David offers praise for the excellent name of the Lord and His glory above the heavens (Psalm 8:1). He praises the majestic creation of God and wonders why the God of this creation would even consider sinful man. Yet, God has given man dominion over God’s creation. Considering this, all David can do is praise the excellent name of the Lord over all the earth.

 

In Psalm 9, David prays and offers thanksgiving for the Lord’s righteous judgments. These righteous judgments have led to the perishing of David’s enemies, the rebuking of nations, and the destruction of the wicked. The Lord, the righteous judge, will endure forever and judge with righteousness and uprightness. The righteous judge is a refuge for those placing their trust in him, something David experienced when escaping death by Saul before becoming king (1 Samuel 19). The righteous judgments of the Lord show that the Lord reigns with those judged by God as men in the sight of God.

 

Like David, we must take time to hit the pause button of life and admire God’s glorious creation, meditating on the day when Jesus returns to administer righteous judgment on the earth. This seems like something simple to do, but in our busy world, we can become easily distracted and forget to take time each day in prayer and study of scripture. We need to prioritize the practice of spiritual disciplines as disciples of Christ and ensure this time is part of our daily routine. In the parable of the sower, Jesus used the illustration of seed sown among thorns with the thorns springing up and choking the word (Matthew 13:7). In His explanation of the parable to the disciples, Jesus explains the thorns as the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches that make the word unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). This applies to our lives and is a caution not to allow the busyness of this world to choke off daily time spent with the Lord in prayer and Bible study or time in Church. We must make sure to take time to pause each day to spend time with God in prayer and in His word, and make gathering together in Church a priority (Hebrews 10:25).

 

If you are reading this and have not made a commitment to making the Lord Jesus your Savior, I encourage you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.