Tag Archives: gods

Before Gods and Kings

16 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in Psalm 138, Psalms

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Reading:                                         Psalm 138

Of David

(Verses 1-5)

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me.

May all the kings of the earth praise you, LORD,
when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great (NIV)

Reflection

David was wholehearted in all that he did, so it should not surprise us that he begins Psalm 138 with this assertion: I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.

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Walking in a winter wonderland — photo by David Kitz

David, the shepherd king, wasn’t shy or reticent about offering praise to the LORD. He knew his God and was quick to give Him praise. He would even praise the LORD before foreign gods. Elsewhere in the psalms we see this declaration: For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens (Psalm 96:4-5).

During David’s time each nation had its own national god. These national gods were represented by carved idols of wood, metal or stone. But Israel had no idol. They were strictly forbidden to make any image or likeness of the LORD (Yahweh). See the First Commandment, Exodus 20:3-6. This prohibition set Israel apart. They were the people with no visible god.

But why settle for a visible god, when you can have the invisible God who fills the entire universe? Why settle for a national god, when you can have the LORD who created the heavens and the earth? Inevitably, if we fashion our own god, we will create a god who is far too small. The true God is far bigger, far wiser, and far more just, and compassionate than we can ever imagine. How can we as finite creatures begin to fathom the infinite power and glory of God?

By His great mercy the LORD reveals Himself to us. He does that best through His Son. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). Jesus helps make the infinite God comprehensible to us, so we can join with David’s anthem of praise. May all the kings of the earth praise you, LORD, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

Response: LORD God, I praise you for your unfailing love and your faithfulness. Thank you for answering my prayers. You give me courage and greatly emboldened me to carry on. Amen.

Your Turn: How big is your God? Is He bigger than your problems?

I will bow down

26 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm

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I will praise Him!

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Prairie sunset near MacNutt, Saskatchewan — photo by David Kitz

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;
    before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    and will praise your name
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.
When I called, you answered me;
    you greatly emboldened me.

(Psalm 138:1-3, NIV)

“Gods” on a Pedestal

15 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Psalms

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Reading:                                       Psalm 82

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the “gods”:

 “How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.”

Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance (NIV).

Reflection

How high is the pedestal you are standing on? Are you standing taller than the fellow beside you?

Most of us would answer that we are not standing on a pedestal, but is that the truth. If we are honest with ourselves, I think we all can admit that we have looked down on others at times. We have considered ourselves superior to some of our peers.

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The upper portion of the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty — photo by David Kitz

Here in Psalm 82, God sets us on a pedestal. He calls us gods. This is a rather backhanded compliment, because after calling us gods, the Most High calls us to account. And what must we account for? We need to account for how we treat the weak and the poor among us. Here are the actions the LORD expects from us: Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Are we doing these things? Far too often I spend my time jacking up my pedestal—trying to get a bit of elevation over the fellow beside me. I’m too busy to help someone else who has fallen off their pedestal or the poor clod who can’t find one to stand on. You have to pity these folks—the ones who don’t have a pedestal. How can they hold their head up if they’re superior to no one?

Paul, the apostle, writes, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

God will have the final say with mortals like me. This “god” needs to learn to serve in humility.

Response: LORD God, you are the Most High. Help me to stop comparing myself with others. All I have comes from you. Today I want to get off my pedestal and help someone else. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you compare yourself with others? Are you polishing your pedestal?

Foreign Gods

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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Don’t worship foreign gods or bow down to gods you know nothing about (Psalm 81:9, CEV).

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Early morning glory — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is bowing.

With each passing year it becomes more apparent that we live in a global village. My friendly neighbors across the street speak Arabic and were born in Lebanon. My barber is Chinese. My favorite restaurant serves Indian cuisine. My wife’s best friend is indigenous. The truth is we live in a multicultural society and to be frank, I like it that way.

What are we then to make of this injunction from the Psalms:

Don’t worship foreign gods or bow down to gods you know nothing about (Psalm 81:9, CEV).

In Psalm 81 the LORD, Yahweh, was addressing the wayward people of Israel, who had turned their backs on Him. They were chasing after other gods, rather than the LORD who had saved them from bondage in Egypt.

For many of us who live in countries with a Christian heritage, this command from the Psalms rings true. As a society we too have abandoned the Lord Jesus, who saved us from a cesspool of sin and corruption. I have met many foreigners and immigrants who are more zealous for the Lord Jesus than those who were born here.

When I was born again by the grace of the Spirit of God, I became a citizen of an eternal kingdom that transcends race and national borders. Today I bow before the King of that kingdom.

Response: LORD God, I want to be true to you, worshipping only you. Help me reflect your love to others today. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you a multicultural Christian?