The Importance of Christians Knowing and Appreciating God’s Marvellously Created Universe!

Psalm 104:33.         I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Well, thankfully, unlike Wednesday, Thursday has opened bright and sunshiny, though somewhat cool. For the sparkling rays of the sun always tend to lift our spirits even in the most difficult of times. That’s because they are the miraculous rays of LOVE, grace, mercy and compassion emanating from the depths of our heavenly Father’s heart, who created it to shine down on us and provide light  during the day time so that we could walk without fear of the darkness. It’s the same way He created the moon and the stars to watch over us with a quiet and peaceful sense of comfort and safety when we’re at rest during the night.

That’s the kind of wonderful God we serve my people! One who’s only had our best interests at heart, right from the very beginning of creation. Just look at all the great things He’s created in His universe basically for our use and enjoyment. It’s like the palmist explains in Psalm 104 – God’s Marvellous Creation. ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his (upper) chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers (servants) a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys (the mountains rise up; the valleys sink down) unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound (boundary) that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.’ (Ps. 104:1-9)

Oh, what wonderful things our God has created my people! And I like that last comment about putting up a boundary for the waters so that they would not overrun the earth. That reminds us of God’s promise never to overrun the earth again with water (Gen. 9:11) like He’d done through the flood that destroyed mankind because of his abominable and overbearing iniquity, with only Noah and his family surviving in the Ark to populate the earth afterwards. (Gen. 6-9) At that time, God also made a sign of His covenant with all flesh of the earth; that’s the presence of the rainbow in the sky. (Gen. 9:12-17)  

And the wisdom and compassion of our God shows up further in how He arranges for everything to enjoy the blessedness of His creation. Listen to the psalmist explain: ‘He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses (donkeys) quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his (upper) chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb (vegetation) for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks (cliffs) for the conies (rock badgers).’ (Ps. 104:10-18)

Wow friends! Everything God made, He provided for! And we spoke about the sun, moon and stars earlier on, now hear what the psalmist says about them. ‘He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until evening.’ (Ps. 104:19-23)

Yes mih bredrin; everything has it’s place and purpose. No wonder the psalmist could declare: ‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches (possessions). So is this great and wise sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable (teeming things), both small and great beasts (living creatures). There go the ships: there is that leviathan (a large sea creature of unknown identity, but usually refers to whales) whom thou hast made (formed) to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That (what) thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.’ (Ps. 104:24-30)

The Lord has it all planned out, from birth to death and then renewal of His universe. Consequently the psalmist concludes: ‘The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.’ (Ps. 104:31-32) And we see that in the earthquakes and volcano activity. However, despite all of that, he still assures: ‘I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah).’ (Ps. 104:33-35)

And that’s exactly how it ought to be with us my fellow believers; words of praise and blessings are what ought to emanate from our hearts and mouths. And to encourage us even further in that direction, let’s declare our Thursday Blessings, undeserved, but nonetheless generously bestowed upon us by the Lord so that we can do His earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!

I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Hin like we do! Much LOVE!

…only Jehovah God…could build such a magnificent, interwoven universe…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Truly Reverencing God and Offering Him Much Heartfelt Praise!

Psalm 103:1.          ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.’ 

Oh my fellow believers, it’s another cold Sunday in the northern climes, but what else is new eh?  (smile) And all we are expected to do is to gather in a sanctuary on this the Lord’s Day and fellowship with other believers, giving praise and thanks to our wonderful God, while receiving His awesome strength and grace to go out and face another week of work in this evil and ungodly world. 

And today, as always, (smile) we have a wonderful song of worship to offer up to our most worthy heavenly Father. It’s a fairly new one, written by Matt Redman and Steve Angrisano in 2013, most appropriately titled ‘Ten Thousand Reasons – Bless the Lord Oh My Soul.’ And do we ever have more than ten thousand reasons to bless the Lord! That’s for certain sure! So, without further ado, let’s offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a mid-tempo, soulful, scintillating version of the song, letting the whole world know that it’s coming sincerely from our hearts. 

Opening with the chorus, we sing: ‘(Chorus) Bless the Lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy Name Sing like never before Oh my soul, I’ll worship Your Holy Name). The sun comes up It’s a new day dawning It’s time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass And whatever lies before me Let me be singing When the evening comes (Chorus) Bless the Lord oh my soul……I’ll worship your holy name) You’re rich in love And You’re slow to anger Your name is great And Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons For my heart to find. 

(Chorus: Bless the Lord oh my soul…I’ll worship your holy name) And on that day When my strength is failing The end draws near And my time has come Still my soul will sing your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore… forevermore. (Chorus: Bless the Lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy Name Sing like never before Oh my soul, I’ll worship Your Holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy Name Sing like never before Oh my soul, Jesus, I’ll worship Your Holy name, worship your holy name…yes, like never before…I’ll worship Your Holy name…’ 

Ah mih bredrin, that was indeed a beautiful rendition, and all who heard it know that we sincerely meant it, because there are innumerable reasons for which to thank Almighty God! And the greatest of which is obviously the sending of Jesus to redeem our sinful souls. And where in the Bible do we find those words? As for so many other things, we find them in the psalms, specifically Psalms 103 and 104.  

And what do the words ‘Bless the Lord Oh my soul mean?’ It’s basically means to give not just the words of our mouth, but our very lives – our very souls – back to Him in praise, adoration, and worship. And Bruh David uses it very powerfully in Psalm 103, titled ‘Bless the Lord’s Holy Character,’ when he unequivocably declares: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.’ (Ps. 103:1) 

Yes friends, God alone is worthy of such praise. And according to this commentary from Dawn Hill, “For David to say, “Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name,” is to praise God completely and with the whole heart. This is not only an emotive expression outwardly nor is this merely an emotionally charged experience, but this includes praising God inwardly.” Now that makes complete sense, for we know that the Lord doesn’t merely accept the words of our mouths, or our outward actions, but searches the motives of our hearts before accepting our praise and thanks. 

As we recently saw Him tell Samuel when he went to anoint the second king of Israel amongst Jesse’s sons, and Samuel fell for the good looks and physical appeal of the first son Eliab. ‘But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused (rejected) him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam. 16:7) 

And that ought to be a timely reminder for all of us, as we offer up praise and thanks to Almighty God. (smile) Meanwhile, Psalm 104, titled ‘God’s Marvellous Creation,’ gives God praise from a different perspective. It opens thus: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.’ (Ps. 104:1) And the psalmist goes on to list God’s wonderful creations, which are important, but in Psalm 103 however, Bruh David was more down to earth, instead remembering what God does for mankind. 

He continues: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-KINDNESS and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s… The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous (abounding) in mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS). He will not always chide (strive): neither will he keep his anger for ever. 

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS) toward them that fear (reverence) him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear (reverence) him. For he knoweth our frame (understands our constitution); he remembereth that we are dust.’ (Ps. 103: 2-5; 8-14) 

And friends, if reading all of that, you cannot find many reasons to thank and praise, to bless the Lord, then I don’t know what to say, but get back to the drawing board and learn the numerous blessings that we have to be thankful for from our Creator, Jehovah God! Much LOVE!

…only a fool or madman…refuses to acknowledge and accept…the many blessings of God… 

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien