Daily Devotional for Monday, September 23

The Twofold Invitation

“For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: 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.

This same passage is found in 1 Chronicles 16 when David sang it in celebration of the ark of the covenant coming into Jerusalem (verses 25, 26). It is so easy to sing praises to the Lord when something good happens, when the path of life is smooth. Everything in this psalm speaks truth about who God is. Should it only be said when life brings a blessing?

God is worthy of praise all the time. In the good times and bad. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created,” (Revelation 4:11). The Lord deserves your praise in times of trials, heartache or affliction just the same as in the good times.

During difficult times, people seek things to make them happy. This psalm is a remedy to lift your own heart up. Giving praise to God will give you joy because your focus is on Him. “For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:4).

Focusing on the Lord and praising Him is a form of fearing Him. He is to be feared above all other gods because all other gods are not gods. Man tends to make gods out of things because he is not focused on the only God. Whatever man is focused on to satisfy him, that is his god.

As a child of God, your focus should be on Him. This psalm gives a few reasons why. He made the heavens, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary, He alone is due glory, His name alone is great. The Lord reigns and other gods do not.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Is your focus on God in good times and in bad times?

Karry Irizarry