Page 26 - Living light - The Psalms

Friday June 28 - Keeping God’s commandments
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – with those who
keep his covenant... Psalm 103:17-18
Yesterday we focused on God’s compassion and forgiveness. Today, David reveals more about the nature of God's unfailing love and righteousness; an unfaltering expression of his warm- heartedness towards those who are obedient to his Word, which extends to the generations to come. We don’t hear the word righteousness spoken of very often in normal conversation, but it is used 540 times in the Bible! In the Psalms it’s clear that the source of all righteousness is God himself: ‘The Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face’ (Psalm 11:7).
David highlights that those who honour God, keep his covenant and obey his principles, are the ones who know his loving-kindness and righteousness. We need to remind ourselves that obedience is not purely an obligation, but a response of love and thankfulness for God’s grace.
We read about God’s commandments in Exodus 20:1-17; Isaiah 58:13-14 and Matthew 22:36-40. I encourage you to look at all these scriptures, which I see as gifts, not rules! The gift of God’s commandments is to reveal, teach, counsel, challenge, reinforce, encourage and transform. When we learn to apply them, they become ingrained in us because we value what they represent. In time we naturally express the charisma that each command communicates. Subsequently they create in us the character of Jesus, and we naturally begin to live the values he embraces.
Lord, thank you for the gift of your commandments, which teach me about your values and offer a transformed life. Amen.
Saturday June 29 - His kingdom rules over all
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over
all... Praise the Lord... you his servants who do his will. Psalm 103:19 & 21
Psalm 103 concludes with a universal call to praise God whose ‘kingdom rules over all.’ We also see this very clearly in the book of Revelation: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). In today’s scripture David affirms the concept of God's sovereignty, dominion, power and authority. He is Lord over all and it’s not only us who should praise the Lord, but his angels and heavenly hosts too. ‘Praise the Lord, you his angels... praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will’ (vv 20-21). Do you ever think about angels, who God has created, as being greater than us? (Psalm 8:4-8).
This week has the title, ‘Praise the Lord, my soul’. We are each reminding our soul to praise God, but maybe we need to stop and think about a broader understanding of the word ‘praise’? It means worship, admiration, exhortation, devotion and esteem. Spend some time now praising God for his goodness, grace, love, mercy, faithfulness, patience, kindness, gentleness, power and strength.
David concludes this beautiful song of praise by telling himself: ‘Praise the Lord, my soul’ (v 22). Let’s tell ourselves to do likewise, and to hold on to the truth that ‘...in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).
‘Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me’. Amen. (Psalm 119:175)
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY