March 10, 2015 – Tuesday

Start Time: 12:42 NN

End Time:   1:06 PM

Title: A Psalm Of Asaph.

Scripture: Psalm 49-:1 – 23

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ The writer of this chapter sounds like he is speaking in behalf of God.  He spoke of God as someone who will not be silent; someone who will not rest until justice is served.  This is God's being!  He is a just God and when we are being oppressed, when the Lord sees the struggles and the sacrifices His people made, He will not be silent nor be kept hidden because God is a just God and He will bring justice to the earth.  He is our judge and He sees everything!  All the struggles and the pain; all the tears and shame that we had to go through; all the oppression that the wicked has passed onto us; God has taken note of these things and will pass judgment to everyone as he/she deserves!

In verse 7, the writer is now literally speaking in behalf of God.  God is telling us today that He is God, our God!  He did not come to bring us charges for the sacrifices we made or concerns on the burnt offerings or the gifts we give.  In short, the Lord has not come to be critical on the things we offered Him as He has no need for them.  But God said in verse 14, in fact, He urged us to sacrifice thank offerings to Him and fulfill our vows to the Lord, and call upon Him in our day of trouble for HE will deliver us and honor us.  Now let's drill this down.  God is saying, He has not come to check on the gifts we give Him; the money we give, or the work we do for the church or the ministry; or the service we offer for the church - instead, God urged us to offer not wealth or material things or anything we see of value, for to Him, nothing is more valuable than our praise of thanksgiving to Him.  So God wants us to testify in thanks to Him, fulfill the vow or the promises we made to God and to call on Him every time we are in need or in trouble for He is sure to come!  Hallelujah!  So our offerings will be our thanks and our commitment to fulfill the vows or promises we made to Him and to ensure to call on Him when we are in need and surely, He will come!  Thank You Lord!

In verse 16, God continued by letting everyone know that to the wicked, they have no right to recite the law or speak of God's covenant on their lips.  Wow!  This only shows that there are wicked who does this; who proclaim God's law with their lips and hold on to God's promises.  So there are hypocrites and God is rebuking them.  Those who hate God's words; those who do evil and associating themselves with thieves; their mouths use for evil to testify against his brothers and slander his own mother; they are fools to think that God is like them when God did not do anything while they do these wicked things; but time will come when God will arise and will accuse and judge them!

In verses 22 - 23, God reminded those who have forgotten Him and warned them that they will be torn to pieces with no one to rescue them but only those who sacrifice thank offerings honor Him and only to the blameless will His salvation be available! 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You because YOu are my righteousness and I am made blameless because of You.  Help me Lord to hold true to Your word even in tough times knowing clearly that You will come and will not be silent forever.  Lord give me the patience and understanding to handle things with wisdom coming from You.  Remind me always Lord that You seek a thanksgiving offering above all other offerings from us.  Help me to give thanks daily as part of my daily habit in walking with You every day.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!