Tag Archives: praise

The God who Stoops Down

06 Sunday Jul 2025

Posted by in Psalms, Psalms Alive!

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 113:4-9

The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
He seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home
as the happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD!

You might have a picture of yourself like this. You know the kind. It’s less than flattering. It provides a great view of your backside as you are bent over. Or better yet, someone has caught you in the classic plumber position, with your head under the sink and your opposite end in full view.

I know what to do with photos like that. I toss them in the garbage. I erase them from my hard drive. If I can wrestle the mobile-phone camera from the photographer, I’ll hit the delete button faster than the shutter speed for that priceless Kodak moment.

Who wants to embarrass himself and then keep the evidence for posterity? Apparently, God does. In fact, the LORD has been doing it since time began. The proof for this assertion can be found right here in Psalm 113.

The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Who indeed? Why would the exalted One, the enthroned One, stoop down? How undignified! Doesn’t the LORD know that kings and potentates don’t bend over or stoop down? They certainly don’t do that sort of thing in public—not where they can be seen by others. Rulers rule from the seat of authority. They sit; they don’t stoop down.

But our God stoops down. If the truth be told, it’s even worse than that.

The LORD doesn’t just stoop down; He plays in the mud. He has been playing in the mud for years now, ever since he shaped us from the dust of the earth. I would go so far as to say that this behavior—this playing in the mud—has become an obsession with him. It’s a divine obsession. He just keeps right on doing it.

Art by Hult –www.biblicalarchaeology.org

I’m not sure how the LORD justifies his behavior. From a perfectly logical point of view, it simply doesn’t make sense. After all, I would hardly call the LORD’s first experience with mud sculpture a glowing success. Sure, Adam looked handsome enough, and Eve was pretty sweet, but that breath of life idea was a complete disaster.

And what thanks did God get for his efforts? Well, the dear little mud clods disobeyed him. They disobeyed their Maker at the first opportunity, or so I’ve read. What a show of gratitude! But then, I suppose that’s what you get for stooping down and playing in the mud. It goes to show what you can expect from quickened mud clods.

After that experience—that catastrophe run amuck—you would think, the LORD would know better. He should know better by now. But no, not the LORD! He keeps right on going back to the mud holes. He insists on stooping down and rescuing these little, living, breathing, dirt bags.

Let’s take David for example. Let’s call him exhibit, “A.” But rather than listen to me go on about the LORD’s absurd behavior, why not hear David’s own testimony:

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 the mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD (Psalm 40:1-3).

Well David, this is all fine and good for you to say. But remember, you’re the one that got yourself into that mess—that mud and mire—in the first place. Have you given even a moment’s thought to the LORD’s dignity? I think not. He has a whole universe to rule, and there you are interrupting him with your pathetic pleas. The LORD has to leave his contemplations, get off his kingly throne and rescue you—rescue you from a mud hole! I am sure God has better things to do than to chase after the likes of you.

And David, this new song of yours—this hymn of praise—let me give you some advice. Pull the plug on it. Why would you want to broadcast your own failings? Why would you want the world to see how dependent you are on the LORD? It’s time to grow up. Learn to stand on your own two feet.  This running to the LORD for everything has got to stop. Don’t you realize He has a whole world to run?

Samuel anoints David

Worst of all David, if you go ahead with this new song, it will turn out just as you say. Many will see how the LORD has rescued you. They will put their trust in the LORD. And what will happen then? Well, I’ll tell you what will happen. Next thing you know, the LORD won’t have a moments rest. Every slime ball on the planet will be calling out to him.

And exactly how will the LORD respond? Well, if past performance is any indicator, He’ll be right out there, big time. He’ll be pulling slime balls out of mud holes all over the world. Like I said earlier, it’s an obsession—a divine obsession.

Take this psalm, Psalm 113, for an example. Have a look at this quote. Let’s call it exhibit, “B.”

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as the happy mother of children. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 113:7-9, NIV)

Why doesn’t He stay seated? Why doesn’t the LORD just stay on the throne? Why does He insist on stooping down and getting his hands dirty? You can’t possibly lift people out of dust and ashes without getting your hands dirty.

And why does the LORD keep elevating people? Doesn’t He know that they are the source of all the problems in the world? If He must interact with humanity, He should at the very least pick his contacts more carefully. Why associate yourself with the poor—the scum of the earth? Go for the cream of the crop. If the LORD is so high and mighty, why doesn’t He stick with the high and mighty? He keeps diving below his rank—well below his rank.

To be honest with you, the LORD seems to be completely out of touch with how this messed up world operates. When it comes to the LORD, it’s like we’re dealing with some kind of heavenly dumpster diver. He keeps finding treasures in the trash.

But what I find most disturbing about this passage is the statement about the barren woman. Help the woman, if you must, LORD. But turning her into the happy mother of children is a terrible mistake. I’m not sure we need more of these snivelling, whining, God-needing, God-dependent creatures. Things will only get worse with more of them around. The LORD will never have a moment’s rest—not with them bawling around for help. I can see it all now—even more stooping, more bending over mud holes. He’ll spend even more time saving the incompetent from themselves.

Photo by Laura Garcia on Pexels.com

This obsession with creatures of dust, and extracting them from mud holes, has gone totally out of control. It has completely taken over the mind of the LORD. That’s what obsessions do. How else can you explain what happened next?

He decided to have a Son by one of these daughters of earth. You might even say the LORD decided to become one of them. I know it’s incredible, absolutely incredible. I call it a case of divine insanity.

And the poor woman He had this child by, what a mess He left her in! First of all, you think that the LORD, who “is exalted over all the nations, who sits enthroned on high” would choose a partner of noble birth, but not the LORD. No, He chooses some poor humble servant girl, at the bottom rung of society. Granted Mary comes from royal stock, but this lineage of David that you read about, meant absolutely nothing in practical terms. It didn’t put food on the table, or clothes on her back, or boost her social status.

Yes, you heard right. Mary is from the thousand-year-old line of David—the same David that the LORD pulled out of the mud and the mire, way back then. Not exactly a proud legacy, in my opinion.

So, the LORD “who sits enthroned on high” got Mary pregnant, and then He left her. He left her high and dry—stranded. He didn’t even hang around to explain himself. He let Mary do the talking. He let her explain this whole mess to Joseph, her fiancé.

Mary Comforts Eve

“Who is like the LORD our God?” Who indeed?

Then to top off this public relations fiasco, this descent from the heavenly realm, we have the actual birth of the Son of God. What a botched, low budget affair that was! Unbelievable! Born in a stable. The Son of God placed in a manger—a feeding trough for slobbering cows! Incredible.

When the LORD stoops down, He really stoops down!

The lack of coordination in this whole event simply defies description. Was any thought put into this at all? Why this last-minute rush? Why have the baby born in Bethlehem? Why not Jerusalem, the holy city, the capital?

And then there’s that disaster with the angels. As far as I’m concerned, they showed up in the wrong place entirely. Why announce the Savior’s birth to a few, poor, lowlife shepherds? They have no influence—no means to spread the news beyond a small circle. I can only assume the lead angel somehow got his coordinates mixed up and landed in the wrong location.

The heavenly choir was a nice touch. Here at last was some pomp and ceremony—some razzle dazzle and celestial fireworks, befitting the birth of a heaven-sent king. But it was all wasted on those shepherds. Like I said, it happened in the wrong place. The LORD would have had far more bang for his buck, if the angels had put on their show over Jerusalem.

Then, there are the Magi. Nice try wise guys. Too bad you arrived almost two years after the fact, and your blundering ineptitude almost got the Son of God killed.

No, this whole experiment in cross-cultural communication—heaven to earth communication—did not start well. Is it any wonder that things went quickly downhill from there?

As for the Son of God, well he’s just like his Father—the very image of Him! He has the same character too. He’s always hanging around with the bottom end of society, with the harlots, the tax collectors, the sinners. He does a lot of stooping down too, and He plays in the mud. He spit on the ground and made some mud once. He used it to heal a man born blind (John 9:1-12). And then, there’s that time he pardoned the adulteress. On that occasion, He stooped down and did a lot of writing in the dirt (John 8:1-11).

Does any of this sound familiar? Well, they are familiar all right. As I said, the Son is just like the Father, and the Father is just like the Son. (See Colossians 1:15.) As for this divine obsession with creatures of dust—this divine insanity—what did it lead to? It led straight to the cross—the Son’s death on the cross.

He was pierced for our transgressions.

As I said, you can’t possibly lift people out of dust and ashes without getting your hands dirty. Well Jesus, God’s Son, couldn’t lift people out of dust and ashes without getting his hands bloody. He got his hands pierced. I guess that’s what the LORD gets for stooping down and playing in the dirt.

How do you explain all this? There are some things we will never fully understand. I am sure that this is one of those things. We cannot fathom this—not in a million years.

They say love is an obsession—a case of temporary insanity. That is the only explanation that I can think of for this outcome. He has a bad case of love; the LORD has a terminal case of love. And in His case, it never has stopped; He has never gotten over it. He fell in love with us from the first time He saw us—from the moment He formed us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16).

Still, I keep wondering why anyone would stoop so low? Why would the One, who sits enthroned on high, stoop so low for me?


Bringing Life to the Psalms

  1. Jesus’ earthly family members were not numbered among the rich and famous of the land. Read James 5:1-6. Our LORD’s brother has some strong words for the rich and powerful. In the struggles of life, who do you identify yourself with, the wealthy or the poor?
  2. Do you stoop down? Plan an activity that aims to help the poor or the disadvantaged. What are you doing to help the orphan or the widow, whether next door or on the other side of the globe?
  3. Read the account of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9:1-12. Note the similarities with the creation of Adam as recorded in Genesis 2:4-7.
  4. Simply take some time to thank the LORD for his incomparable love. Verbalize your thanks to him.

Today’s post is Chapter 19 from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.

 

The Name of the LORD

29 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalms, Psalms Alive!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 113:1-3

Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forever more.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

At the time of this writing another Christmas has come and gone. I am sitting across from our family Christmas tree as I write this chapter. Snow is gently falling outside my living room window. It’s that relaxing time of year, the festive interlude between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It’s a time to get your spiritual battery recharged, before the onslaught of the work routine returns along with the coming of a new year. As long as I can avoid big box stores and shopping malls, it’s a peaceful time. I can spend extra time with the LORD and with family.

Praise the LORD!

Yes, praise the LORD for those relaxing times, when the pace of life slows down. We live in a rushed world, where quiet times and silent moments get crowded to the margins of our existence.

Silence? Silence is a rare experience in our rapid fire, entertainment-hyped world. I wonder if Silent Night is such a popular carol, because silence is a commodity we rarely experience, but inwardly we long for it.

The people of the ancient world knew silence. It surrounded them like a huge comforting blanket. They did not awaken to the blare of the radio or the din of urban traffic. But even so, they purposefully set apart times to get away and seek the LORD. Even the Son of God needed those times. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus did not throw a party with his disciples to celebrate his miracle. No, we read that “he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray (Matthew 14:23).

Jesus longed to commune with his Father. He needed silent nights for that. He needed alone times.

How about you? If Jesus needed those quiet times—alone with God times—I know I most certainly do. And the starting point for any meaningful time with the LORD is the point of praise. We are to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4).

That is precisely how Psalm 113 begins. It starts with praise:

Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forever more. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

And who precisely are we to praise? Both in Psalm 100 and Psalm 113 the admonition is crystal clear. We are to praise the name of the LORD. Shout to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs (Psalm 100:1-2).

Now it must be noted that the psalmist did not instruct us to praise the name of the Lord. He instructed us to praise the name of the LORD. Did you catch the distinction? There is a huge difference between the words, Lord and LORD that we can easily skip over or dismiss.  

With enough money and influence, almost anyone can become a lord—a British lord. Conrad Black, the newspaper baron, renounced his Canadian citizenship in order to become Lord Black of Crossharbour. Along with the title of lord, comes a seat in the House of Lords in the British Parliament.

In this world there are many lords, and would-be lords, but there is only one LORD. The LORD is the Lord of both the heavens and the earth. His kingdom reign has no beginning or end; it is eternal. His dominion knows no bounds. The LORD is truly Lord of all, including Crossharbour. His seat, the throne of the universe, lies beyond the highest heavens. His glory never ceases. It is never tarnished by scandal, never debouched by sin. He is without peer. He is the LORD of lords.

In most Bible translations the word LORD is actually a kind of acronym. The capitalized letters of the word LORD stand for the Divine Name, the Hebrew language “Tetragrammaton.” The Hebrews considered the Name too sacred to be spoken—a practice which is still followed among worshipping Jews today. An exact transliteration of the Hebrew word for LORD into English would yield YHWH. Biblical scholars and experts in linguistics agree that with the addition of Hebrew vowel markers, this word would most likely be pronounced Yahweh. However, instead of speaking out the word Yahweh, Hebrew speakers would substitute the word Adonai, which means Lord. The name Yahweh was deemed too holy to be spoken by human lips. In deference to this tradition, and in honor of the sacred Name, modern translators have substituted the capitalized word LORD for YHWH.

Accordingly, the opening verses of Psalm 113 could also be rendered thus:

Praise YHWH! Praise, O servants of YHWH, praise the name of YHWH. Let the name of YHWH be praised, both now and forever more. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of YHWH is to be praised.

How sacred is the name of the LORD to you? Does it roll off your tongue with little meaning, or in your mind and heart is it truly linked to the LORD of Lords? Do you reverence His Name as his chosen people do? His glory and his character are resident within his Name, the sacred name of the LORD. Do you speak his Name thoughtlessly?

This is after all, the LORD, whose name means I AM. He is the self-existent One, without beginning or end. He is the One, who when asked, declared his identity to Moses. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you'” (Genesis 3:14).

It was this same Moses who came down Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments etched on tables of stone. One of those commands reads as follows:

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name (Exodus 20:7).

In the spirit realm invocation is a power laden term. To invoke someone’s name simply means to give voice to that name. If you call out my name in a public gathering, you will quickly get my attention. Our ears are always tuned to hear our own name. I may be surrounded by indecipherable babble but toss my name into the midst of that babble, and I’ll pick up my ears every time—not only that—I’ll come right over to find out what is being said about me. That is the power of invocation.

The same is true in the spirit realm. We even have a common saying to express this truth, “Speak of the Devil, and he’ll show up.”

If the power of invocation works with me, and it works with the Devil, who is not omnipresent, then you can be certain that it works with the name of the LORD. Speak his Name, and He will show up. In Psalm 35, David declares, “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.” And David goes on to assert, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15, 17).

The prophet Joel takes this truth one step further, while speaking of the troubled times before the LORD’s return, he states, “And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 2:32).

Amid this world’s babble, the LORD will always hear his name. He will show up. He will eavesdrop on every conversation, when his name is mentioned. He will hear every whispered prayer. He will stop by every meal, where grace is spoken. He is there, by your side, even when death comes knocking. Just speak his name.

This is the power of invocation; it is the power resident in his name—the name of the LORD. Therefore, it behoves us to use his name aright, not flippantly or as swear word. That is the Devil’s game, and we play on his side when we besmirch or desecrate the holy Name. I have no time or respect for those who misuse my name. Why would we expect the LORD Almighty to be any different?

But my ears are always open to praise. It puts a smile on my face. Would it be any different with the LORD? When we gather to praise the LORD, He will be present at the mention of his name. A variant reading of Psalm 22:3 declares, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”

I rather like the thought of making a place for the LORD among us. As we praise his name, He comes to be with us. He pulls up a chair and sits with us for a time. He is enthroned on our praise. Through our praise we make room for Him in our lives. Our praises, whether spoken or sung, form an open invitation to Him. It is as though we are saying, “LORD, come sit with us for a while. Come be enthroned among us.”

The Lord is on his heavenly throne — photo by David Kitz

So let his praise resound. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forever more.

 Our praises join with others to form a continuum of praise for the LORD. It is a continuum that stretches back to the dawn of time. Can you imagine Adam waking on that first morning to a beautiful dawn in the Garden of Eden? He stretches, and then in thanksgiving he raises his hands and his voice in praise to his Creator. We join our voices with Adam and Eve, our first parents, when we too praise our Creator. We join our voices in praise with Abraham, the father of all who are justified by faith. We join with David, who danced before the LORD with all his might in celebration of the mercy of God. We blend our praise with the prophet Isaiah, who saw the LORD high and exalted, with six-winged seraphs calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

 This eternal praise continuum extends back to include all the heavenly hosts from before the earth took form. It encompasses all of creation, both past and present, the birds, the animals and the sea creatures. It draws all of life into worship. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD (Psalm 150:6).

It includes the women, who Jesus met on the best morning since creation—resurrection morning. Jesus greeted them, and then these women “came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him (Matthew 28:9).

Oh, what a moment of praise! It still resounds. It will resound throughout history. We are united in our praise with Thomas, who touched the wounds of the living Christ. Then overwhelmed, he exclaimed in humble worship, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Our praise for the LORD unites with the praises of the martyrs throughout the ages. It echoes from the catacombs and the arches of the Roman Coliseum, through the Middle Ages and the Reformation, right onto the back pages of today’s newspaper. We bow our knees in unison with all these who suffer for his Name. We bow with them in worship. We bow to the King of kings and the LORD of lords.

In praise to the LORD, we join with Handel to declare that our Messiah has come and his Kingdom reign will never cease. Praise the LORD! Strike up the chorus. Hallelujah! He is our Ode to Joy.

Purple stars bring backyard joy — photo by David Kitz

The glory of his name is not bound by the confines of time and place. It supersedes national boundaries. The LORD, who parted the Red Sea, also parted the Iron Curtain. He took his own special sledgehammer to the Berlin Wall. He is LORD of the nations, whether they acknowledge him or not.

In the face of Christ, we see the LORD. In his name we have redemption. The apostle Paul declares, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Now we join with the psalmist and declare, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.”

Yes, praise the LORD! Praise his name. Praise Deity clothed in humanity, who in the temple courts confessed his name, “I tell you the truth… before Abraham was born, I AM!” (John 8:58).

On bended knee we confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Yes, He is LORD!

Bringing Life to the Psalms

  1. Were you aware of the distinction between the words, LORD and Lord, before you read this chapter? Does this knowledge affect your use of the name of the LORD?
  2. The great, “I am,” statements of Christ recorded in John’s Gospel are a direct link to Yahweh, who is the Great I AM. John’s Gospel most clearly portrays the deity of Christ. Take a moment to read Jesus’ bold confession of his deity in John 8:48-59.
  3. We are instructed to pray in Jesus’ name. Take a moment to read those instructions afresh as found in John 14:5-14.
  1. Are you aware of the power of invocation? Be assured the LORD has ears to hear and He will show up. He will honor his name.

Today’s post is Chapter 18 from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.

 

 

The LORD Rules over All

22 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalms, Psalms Alive!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 103:19-22

The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the LORD you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the LORD all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Psalm 103 is a sandwich, or if you prefer, a big beefy hamburger. By that I mean this psalm begins with a personal call to praise the LORD, and it ends, as we see from the passage above, with what amounts to a universal call to praise the LORD. Between these calls to worship, we find a great big helping of God’s goodness. In between we discover the why—the reasons why—we should be overflowing with praise to the LORD.

David experienced God’s saving grace, goodness, love and forgiveness over and over again. Consequently, his heart was full to bursting with praise. Herein is the why of praise; the reason for praise rests in God, not in us, or our circumstances.

But Psalm 103 is not just a beefy hamburger. It is also an express train—a big steam locomotive. There is a distinct momentum to this psalm, which can be missed by breaking it into sections. It begins with David addressing his soul. It would appear, at the start, to be a sluggish soul that is somewhat reluctant to praise God. But this reluctance begins to melt away as David recounts the LORD’s great goodness. One by one David declares the character qualities of the LORD. As each attribute is portrayed, David’s sense of awe and his desire to praise God picks up momentum. By the end of this psalm, David’s praise has become an express train, loaded with divine purpose and headed full speed for glory!

Shinkansen (bullet train) photo by David Kitz

His final call to worship in the above stanza is a great cry for all to get aboard this express train of praise. Now with a full head of steam, in exultant praise, I can hear him shouting, “Hop on board, one and all. Praise the LORD! We are heaven bound!”

Many see praise and worship as a purely cathartic response to the manifest goodness of God. Something good happens to us. Unexpectedly, we get a thousand-dollar payment in the mail. Quite naturally our response is praise to God.

For many people, praise to God never progresses beyond this natural, cathartic level. If God does not bless, no praise is forthcoming. Our praise for the LORD becomes or simply remains circumstance dependent. But that was not the case with David. His praise extended beyond simple catharsis. He taught his soul to praise the LORD in all circumstances. True biblical praise and worship is after all a spiritual exercise, a discipline we grow in, just as we grow in the discipline of prayer.

The LORD, the object of our praise, does not change with our circumstances. He is forever the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is constant, hence our praise and worship of him should be constant, unaffected by weather conditions, world events, the gyrations of the stock market, our swings of mood or our personal situation.

Of course, this constancy in praise is something the natural man simply rebels against. Our world needs to be right in order for us to praise God aright, or so we reason. The only problem with this logic is that the world has never been right since the Fall. Death, disease, war and misery have been raining down on the children of Adam, since wilful disobedience to God first took root among us. And this is one weather forecast, for all humanity, that is not about to change—not until Christ returns.

If we are waiting for a perfect world before we lift our voice in praise to God, we will never praise Him. In fact, if our eyes are on the world, or on ourselves, there will always be grounds to withhold our praise. But then, the whole purpose of praise and worship is to lift up our eyes. We desperately need to get our eyes off ourselves, off the world, and onto God our Maker.

Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com

Martin Rinkart was a man who could be forgiven for cursing God. But rather than cursing his Creator, or withholding worship, he composed the ageless hymn of praise, Now Thank we all our God. Pastor Rinkart (1586-1649) was caught up in the horrors of the Thirty Years’ War. For a full year his hometown, Eilenburg in Saxony, was besieged as war raged round about. The triple scourge of war, disease and famine ravaged the community. Death was everywhere. The walled city was swamped by destitute refugees. Three times it was overrun by pillaging armies. As the crisis worsened, Rinkart’s pastoral colleagues succumbed to the plague; only he was left to conduct the funerals. In that horrific year, 1637, he conducted more than 4,000 funerals, as many as fifty in a single day. One of those funerals was for his own dear wife.

Yet it was this man, Martin Rinkart, who composed these words of praise:

            Now thank we all our God
            With heart and hands and voices
            Who wondrous things hath done
            In whom this world rejoices;
            Who from our mothers’ arms
            Hath blessed us on the way
            With countless gifts of love
            And still is ours today.

Martin Rinkart did not live in a perfect world. But his eyes saw beyond the death and destruction that lay before him. He lifted his eyes above the world, and beyond himself. And when he did, he beheld God. He saw Him as LORD over all, and a God to be thanked and praised for countless gifts of love. Amid the most desperate situation imaginable, Pastor Rinkart fixed his gaze on the LORD his Maker. Then this humble pastor did a most remarkable thing—a Spirit-directed thing. He raised his voice in praise to God.

In a world run amok, the first casualty all too often is our faith in God. The chaos of disaster leads us to question the very existence of God. The god of order and control would not—should not—unleash tsunamis of war and disease on this world. We reason, “What kind of god is this? Why would an all-powerful god permit this? Why would he not spare those dear to me?”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

But Martin Rinkart the hymnist, and David the psalmist, knew the true God, a god who exists beyond our narrow definitions of order and control. Both these men knew the LORD of all the earth. Here in Psalm 103, David declared, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

That divine rule, and that eternal kingdom, truly encompasses all, including disasters. Yes, He is LORD over disasters too, over war, over hurricanes, over floods and droughts, over both feasts and famines, joys and sorrows. He is LORD of all.

This declaration of God’s kingdom rule collides head on with my own preconceived notions of how the world should be. In my world death should never steal a friend away. In my world abundance should be a preordained right. In my world sickness should have no foothold, cancer should hold no sway. In my world all stories should have happy endings.

I want an ideal world like that. I want the real world to conform to my desired ends. And when God does not meekly comply, by granting me my ideal vision of the world, I stamp my foot and shake my fist at Him. In reality, when I do that, I am announcing that I want to be God. I want to be LORD. A refusal to bow in worship before God, is a declaration of my desire to be the sole ruler of my life, and the Creator my own world apart from God.

In a world run amok, Martin Rinkart did not stamp his foot and shake his fist at God; he lifted his voice in praise. Praise to God in the midst of tragedy aligns us afresh with the LORD of the universe. It re-establishes and reasserts his direct rule over us. Along with David we declared, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

God in His wisdom has not given me my ideal world. He has given me His world—the real world—where sorrow mingles with joy, where the curse and the blessing of Eden coexist, where life and death dance nimbly together.

Man praying to God.

Prayer is my attempt before God to change this present world. And this world is in desperate need of change. God and I are in agreement on that point. That’s why He sent His Son. The world can be changed by God through prayer. What an astonishing truth! My prayers can change the world. God can as a consequence of my prayers, intervene and stunningly alter the natural course of events. I have seen Him do astonishing miracles. He is after all, who says He is. He is LORD.

But if God does not intervene, if my prayers are not answered, if no miracle comes, He is still LORD. He is still to be praised. This inalterable fact remains, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

After 4,000 funerals, after his hopes and dreams lay buried, for Martin Rinkart, God was still God. He was still LORD over all. He was still worthy of all praise and so he wrote:

            O may this bounteous God 
            Through all our life be near us,
            With ever joyful hearts
            And blessed peace to cheer us;
            And keep us in his grace,
            And guide us when perplexed,
            And free us from all ills
            In this world and the next.[1]

How shallow is your praise? Do you believe your world needs to be right before you praise God? Lift up your eyes for a moment. Lift them to the One, who was lifted up for you. Lift your eyes to the Father, who did not spare His Son, but sent him into a messed-up world to die upon a cross. Fix your eyes on Him, the bloodied fount of redemption. Fix your eyes on the one who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Then, lift your voice in praise to God.

How shallow is your praise? Do you believe you need to feel right in order to praise right? After all, wouldn’t we be hypocritical if we were outwardly exuberant in praise to God, but our heart was not in it? Now in this instance, when we are speaking of our heart, we really mean our feelings. But if we see praise as a biblical command, our feelings are inconsequential. We are to praise God regardless of our feelings. Feelings come and go, but the goodness of God stands secure and unchanging. 

As residents of North America, we are a pampered lot. We live in affluence, materially rich, but mired in deep spiritual poverty. Gratification must be instant. Personal comfort trumps all other considerations. What do we know of hardship? In this sheltered atmosphere, praise for God grows like a spindly hothouse plant. Untested by hardship or the cold winds of adversity, our faith lacks depth. Our worship remains shallow.

If the music isn’t right on Sunday, we are incapable of praise. What an outrageous affront to God! True worship is so much more than a lip-synced ditty. It goes deeper. It flows higher. It breaks through our emotional indifference and reaches the heart of God.

The deepest praise is sacrificial. It floats heavenward on a sea of suffering. It confounds all logic and rises above whim or emotion.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name (Hebrews 13:15).

True worship is born of the Spirit. Along with David, it invites all of heaven—all of creation to join in the chorus of praise.

Praise the LORD you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul!  

Bringing Life to the Psalms

  1. What does it mean to offer a sacrifice of praise? Have you faced times of hardship when you found it difficult to praise God? Were you able to offer praise?
  2. Read a biographical portrait of Martin Rinkart. There are several internet sites that provide a closer look at this man who knew how to praise God through adversity.
  3. Read or sing Rinkart’s great hymn, Now Thank we all our God. It’s a wonderful way to set free the wellspring of praise within you.
  1. Reread Psalm 103. Is it a hamburger, an express train, or both? Can you think of another metaphor that helps our minds to capture the magnificence of this psalm? What is God saying to you as you read this psalm?

[1] Now Thank We All Our God, words by Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), 1636. Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), 1858 MIDI: Nun danket alle Gott (later form of melody by Johann Cruger, (1598-1662).


Today’s post is Chapter 17 from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.

 

I Will Sing Praise to You

22 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalm 101

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

I will praise the LORD!

Wild iris — photo by David Kitz

Psalm 101:1-4

Of David. A psalm. 

I will sing of your love and justice;
    to you, LORD, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
    when will you come to me?
I will conduct the affairs of my house
    with a blameless heart.
I will not look with approval
    on anything that is vile.
I hate what faithless people do;
    I will have no part in it.
The perverse of heart shall be far from me;
    I will have nothing to do with what is evil. *

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Enter His Courts with Praise

21 Saturday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalm 100

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

I will praise the LORD!

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. *

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Jesus, the Rock That Saves

20 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 118:22-29
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever (NIV). *

A tree growing around a giant rock, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
This final reading from Psalm 118 contains one of the most profound messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. The opening sentence carries great significance: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes (v. 22-23).

The apostle Peter identifies Jesus as the stone the builders rejected. He adds that this rejection was due to disobedience and unbelief, and he quotes Isaiah 8:14 to prove his point. “[Jesus is] A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:8-9).

Our reading from Psalm 118 paints a metaphoric picture of Christ’s Passion Week. When Jesus arrived triumphant in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was greeted by the crowds chanting this line from Psalm 118: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9). But later, Jesus, the rock of our salvation, was rejected by the religious leadership. Metaphorically, he was taken up to the horns of the altar and there on a cruel wooden cross, the Lamb of God became our sacrificial offering.

But… but praise be to God! The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This same Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, and now he offers forgiveness and salvation for all those who put their faith in him. He is our living rock—the rock that accompanied Israel through the wilderness. See 1 Corinthians 10:1-5. Jesus is the rock on which you can build your life—your cornerstone.

Response: Father God, I thank you for your prophetic word because it points to Jesus. Lord Jesus, you are the rock-solid foundation of my life. I give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! Amen.

Your Turn: Are you building on the Rock, which is Christ? What building materials are you using?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Snares of Death Confronted Me

19 Thursday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalm 118, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.


Reading: Psalm 118:15-21

Father God,
extend your right hand of blessing over me.
Work on my behalf.
Show me your mercy,
your power and glory.
Again and again,
I will give you thanks,
for you answered me.
Amen.

— — — —

He [David] said:

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
    from violent people you save me.

“I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
    and have been saved from my enemies.
The waves of death swirled about me;
    the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death confronted me.
“In my distress I called to the LORD;
    I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
    my cry came to his ears.
(2 Samuel 22:2-7 NIV)*

 

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Iran, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Breaking Religious Exclusivity

16 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 117
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD (NIV). *

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Reflection
Psalm 17 is the shortest of all the psalms. It reminds me of tabasco sauce. It’s concentrated; you don’t need much to set your mouth on fire.

What’s so great—so powerful—about Psalm 117 you ask? Well in 29 short words, it sums up the call and global appeal of the entire Bible.

Let’s consider this opening sentence: Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. This call to worship is for all people; it’s universal. The message of the Bible is for all people. It’s not limited to a single nation, race, or people group.

This call for universal praise is unusual because it draws all humanity into a common faith in the LORD. The Jewish faith was and is a very exclusive religion. This is the faith of the chosen people—God’s chosen people. They did not choose Him, but rather they were uniquely selected by God to bear His name before the nations of the world. Throughout the Old Testament we have a clear sense that God was dealing with his own special people, and they were to walk separate from the nations. They received God’s laws and were the guardians of His word. They were instructed not to intermarry with other nations, nor be polluted by them and their idol worship. The worshippers of Yahweh were an exclusive group, a unique people, but they were not evangelistic. They kept the message to themselves.

But here in Psalm 117 the constricted, exclusive God of the Old Testament appears to break out of His narrow nationalist cocoon. We see that He is a God for all nations, not just for the descendants of Abraham. Here we catch a glimpse of the big picture—the global perspective. All the nations of the earth are to praise Him. The longstanding intent of the God Israel is that every people group should know his ways and experience His salvation.

But why should all nations praise the LORD? The second verse of this miniature psalm provides the answer. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Where did the LORD demonstrate His great love for us? We see God’s love most vividly on the cross. There the Son of God poured out His blood to redeem men and women, boys, and girls, from every nation under heaven. There love flowed down in a crimson stream. There God fulfilled His Abrahamic promise. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8). There the prophecy of John the Baptist was achieved. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Concentrated within the shortest Psalm is enough truth to set the world on fire.

Response: Father God, I just want to praise you. Thank you for your great love and faithfulness as revealed by Jesus on the cross. I love you, Lord Jesus. I am grateful that your love encompasses all. Amen.

Your Turn: Why is racism contrary to anyone who claims to love God? If God has a universal love for humanity, why do we sometimes try to put limits on that love?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Spiritual Defense

10 Tuesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 115:9-18
All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
You who fear him, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
he will bless those who fear the LORD—
small and great alike.
May the LORD cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
The highest heavens belong to the LORD,
but the earth he has given to mankind.
It is not the dead who praise the LORD,
those who go down to the place of silence;
it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore.
Praise the LORD (NIV). *

The LORD is my strength and my defense — Banff National Park — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
As a sharp contrast to placing our trust in the lifeless idols of this world, Psalm 115 calls us to place our trust in God. Today’s reading begins with a threefold call to trust the LORD. All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield. House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield (v. 9-11).

For those who are logically minded, there is a simple equation or formula at work here. Trust in the LORD results in help and protection—he is their help and shield. Our trust or faith in God brings a response from Him. The LORD’s response is both active and passive. He provides help; He intervenes by actively assisting us. From personal experience I know the LORD has been my help. In the nick of time, He has provided words of knowledge and wisdom. He has been my constant guide. When needed most, He has opened the windows of heaven and poured out blessings. He has sent help in various forms, and in ways too numerous to mention.

But the LORD is also our shield. He protects us from the slings and arrows of the evil one. He shields us from the enemy’s attacks, whether it is from physical harm and disease, or spiritual attacks that undermine our faith through faulty reasoning or deceptive philosophies. The LORD is our sure defense. We can draw strength from this promise: He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike (v. 13).

Response: Father God, I trust you to be my help and my shield. Keep me safe from the evil one. Thank you for all your help through the years. You have been faithful to keep your word. Amen.

Your Turn: Can you think of instances when God has helped you? Take time to thank Him for being your help and your shield.

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

The Humility of God

05 Thursday Jun 2025

Posted by in Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 113
Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, you his servants;
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD (NIV). *

Reflection
In today’s reading the psalmist has a question for you and here it is: Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? (v. 5-6)

Who indeed? Why would the exalted One, the enthroned One, stoop down? How undignified! Doesn’t the LORD know kings and potentates don’t bend over or stoop down? They certainly don’t do that sort of thing in public—not where they can be seen by others. Rulers rule from the seat of authority. They sit; they don’t stoop down. But our God stoops down. If the truth be told, it’s even worse than that.

The LORD gets His hands dirty. Actually, He has been getting His hands dirty from the very beginning. The LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). Now that was a failed experiment if there ever was one. Those living, breathing human dust bags showed no gratitude. They disobeyed God at the first opportunity and down through the generations, humanity has continued that pattern of disobedience and ingratitude.

Now in this psalm we read this: He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap (v. 7). Why would God show such affection for fallen humanity—humans who keep plunging deeper into the mire? There is no greater mystery. Our God keeps finding treasures in the trash—the human trash.

Still I keep wondering why anyone would stoop so low. Why would the One, who sits enthroned on high, stoop so low—low enough to die a criminal’s death on a cross? Why did the Lord stoop to rescue me?

Response: Father God, your love is beyond comprehension. Thank you for stooping down and involving yourself in my life. When I reach out to you, Father God, you lift me up. I praise you, LORD. Amen.

Your Turn: When did the LORD lifted you from the ash heaps of this life? How did that make you feel?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.