March 6, 2015 – Friday

Start Time: 6:09 AM

End Time:   6:51 AM

Title: A Song.  A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Scripture: Psalm 48-:1 – 14

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

→ What an amazing worship chapter 48 is.  The writer clearly is in awe of the greatness of the Lord.  He started by declaring "great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, His holy mountain."  Now I want to drill this first verse down.  This writer declared, "Great is the Lord...and most worthy of praise!"  We all know this to be true from the time we have witness the amazing works of the Lord in our lives and the lives of others.  But let me ask you if we feel this to be true every day of our lives?  For the pass few days, the Lord has been impressing in my devotional the importance of Praise and worship.  It is said that praise and worship remains even through eternity.  Evangelism is only good for a moment because a time will come when the Lord returns that evangelism will stop!  Same is true with teaching, prophesying (maybe), or any other works or ministry we have on earth but praise and worship will remain throughout eternity.  So here we have the writer saying, "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise."  Do we really understand and know the value of this verse?  Can we truly say that God is most worthy of our praise each day of our lives?  Moreover, do we praise Him daily then?  I know I am guilty of this.  Yes I am grateful to God, I am in awe of His wonders and I do praise Him but to praise Him daily as if it is a need or the source of my life...I don't know about that.  But here the writer spoke of God being most worthy of praise.  Do we truly understand what it means?  It means that He deserves it!  He deserves our praise in a daily basis.  In fact, it is life to us for in our Praise, God rises up and reveals Himself.  And every day, we want Him to walk with us side by side, right?  So where's the praise?  Are we then able to make praise a habit, a routine of our daily lives?  We better!

The writer spoke of God's Holy city.  The city that God has shown Himself as her fortress.  As I meditate on this, I realize that this city is not just any city!  IT is God's dwelling place for He has established Himself as a fortress for this place.  And the Bible clearly says that we are God's temple, His dwelling place!  So this could mean that we are the city that God has made Himself as the fortress! 

I love how the writer spoke of the enemies of this city, in short, our enemies...could be our troubles, problems, trials, or literally a person but ultimately the Devil himself.  The writer spoke of kings joining forces againts the city, yet when they saw her, they fled in terror; they were trembling with pain like that of a woman in labor, for God destroyed them like ships by an east wind!  Hallelujah!  Now that's amazing!  Know that your problems, all the trials, all the people who fight against you or the Devil himself, trembles at approaching you because God is our fortress!  Woohoo!  Can you imagine, a trouble coming our way but upon seeing God by our side, just walks away?  Well, to be more precise, runs the hell out of our way!  Now, that's an amazing view or scene to see.  And yet if we truly open our eyes, we do get to witness this amazing battle that God won for us and that takes faith.  However most of the time, we have our eyes closed.  We only see the problem coming our way but we don't see the rattled problem, or the trembling problem walking in pain like a woman in labor :)  So don't be alarmed or worry, whenever you can see problems coming your way.  Know that this problem is shaking in fear knowing that God is our fortress!  Hallelujah!  So we can be still, know that God is God and exalt Him!

In verse 8 the writer assured us that God makes her (the city) secure forever.  So we are safe at all times because God will keep His words true.  So put your trust and faith in Him alone. 

Also note that in verse 9, the writer spoke of what we should do.  We are to meditate on God's unfailing love.  Again, the key to praise and worship...God's undying love for us.  Let's remember this at all times.  We have established on the previous chapter that if we're in trouble, we ought to praise Him by remembering His great love for us.  Again, the word of the Lord has been consistent ever since.  So remember God's love and His wondrous works in your life and out of your mouth, will come praise; your body will naturally flow in worship to the King!  Remember His love!  And note that by verse 13, the writer spoke of considering well her ramparts, her citadels, he is speaking of the greatness of the City because God has made it great!  So consider all the achievements you receive because God gave them to you so you may tell or testify or declare of them to others!  For God lives forever and ever and He will be our guide even to the end for HE lives even then!  Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, great and mighty God.  Help me Lord to be still, to be silent and meditate on Your great love for me...for us all.  Remind me Lord of the wondrous deeds You've done and continue to do in my life that i will burst into praise and worship to You daily.  Give me the commitment Lord to make praise and worship a routine in my life, the same way that I have made my devotional time with You a habit.  Thank You for such great wisdom on the value of praise Lord and may I apply it in my life every day.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!