The title of this article leaves a question…what about the stars? “Even the stars…” leaves me to think that they are included with something else, but what? First of all, we know that as God’s people we are called to praise Him. But in reality, all creation is called to praise Jehovah God. But in our limited thinking, do we draw a line as to who can praise the Creator of this world? With no limits to the vastness of the universe we only need to read and know that there is no limit as to who and what can (and will) give Him praises!
Pick up your Bible and turn to Psalm, chapter 148. This scripture has been turned into one our favorite songs in the brotherhood. And, if the truth be known, when we sing this song, we’re singing a ‘psalm’ that is almost a word-for-word account from the chapter. From the hills and mountains to the beast and cattle, we sing this song of praise. So whether you see yourself as a young man, a maiden or an aged man; whether you’re a child or a king we must all be praising God. As a matter of fact, take a closer look at who/WHAT the Psalmist says will praise God. All His angels, the sun and moon, sea creatures or monsters or dragons depending on your translation, fire, snow, vapors and hail, beast, birds and cattle; all created things will praise the Creator! And the reason why is found in the 13th verse, “…for His name alone is exalted.” Do you praise God or, in your life, do you have other things that are exalted?
Read the words to this ‘psalm’ and then compare the song we sing on Sunday to the words written in the 148th Psalm…
“Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, from the heavens praise His name; Praise Jehovah in the highest, all His angels praise proclaim. All His hosts together praise Him, sun, and moon, and stars on high; Praise Him, O ye heav’n of heavens, and ye floods above the sky.
Let them praises give Jehovah, they were made at His command, Them forever He established; His decree shall ever stand. From the earth, oh, praise Jehovah, all ye floods, ye dragons all; Fire, and hail, and snow, and vapors, stormy winds that hear His call.
All ye fruitful trees and cedars, all ye hills and mountains high, Creeping things, and beasts, and cattle, birds that in the heavens fly. Kings of earth, and all ye people, Princes great, earth’s judges all, Praise His name, young men and maidens, aged men and children small.
Refrain: Let them praises give Jehovah, For His name alone is high, And His glory is exalted, And His glory is exalted, And His glory is exalted, Far above the earth and sky.”
It is a clear that all created things will praise God. So let me encourage you to sing and to give your praise to God. The stars are praising Him, so be careful that you don’t let the creation in heaven, or on earth for that matter, out sing your praise to Jehovah!
Continuing the thought from Lamentations, we’ll look again at Jeremiah the prophet as he spoke about God’s mercies, “…they are new every morning.” When times are difficult and we can’t seem to see any hope, what is our response? Do we fall into despair or do we reach for higher, brighter days?
We have a tendency to question God’s rule. We, like Job, have questions and seek to understand God’s providence. If we were to stand before God, can we truly expect anything less than what He said to Job? As God spoke, He asked Job, “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place…?” The obvious answer is ‘no,’ we have no control over this world, the sunrise, the sunset, the sunshine or the rain. God is the Creator, and this is His world. So rather than question His work, we should take comfort in knowing He rules this earth and guards His people. The Creator of the universe, the One who ‘commands the morning’ is also our refuge and strength (Psalm 46). And even though ‘the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea’ children of God have no reason to fear. We know, as His creation, that we have a promise, “God is in the midst of her (His people), she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns…” Psalm 46:5. The psalmist is literally telling us that God will help His people at the turning of the morning. Could there be any greater comfort in knowing that the Maker of heaven and earth watches over His people at the dawning of each day? Though we might not have blue skies every morning, we know Who controls those skies. With that knowledge we have to reflect upon our attitude. What will we do when dark clouds gather? How will we deal with the devastating storms that strike our land? Will we take them in stride anticipating a new tomorrow, or will we look to place blame, bemoaning our current state of affairs? Ken Young once penned the words to a contemporary song entitled, Richly Blest. Within that message there is a thought that all Christians should champion. Throughout our days, regardless of our circumstances, whether things are good or bad, my God blesses me!
“Bluest skies, cloudy day, whether it’s good or bad that tends to come my way. From the highest hill or deepest valley I will claim His rest, for the One who loves me makes me richly blest.”
And just in case we come away thinking we have no responsibility in these ‘turning days,’ we must never forget God’s word as He spoke to His people in Deuteronomy 23. “Since the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you.” When God looks into our lives, what does He see? Is our camp filled with things of this world or are we striving to keep our lives holy, as He is holy? God is with His people at the turning of the day, but only we will determine if we are among His people, walking as children of Light. Consider all the more the words of Paul as he wrote to the church in Ephesus, “…there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or course jesting, which are not fitting…Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience…walk as children of Light.” Ephesians 5:4-8. How can we expect to be richly blest if we harbor worldly behaviors? If our words and actions resemble the world, we will continue to live in darkness.
Though we may not know what tomorrow holds, we know who holds tomorrow. We have hope in what we cannot see; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. We can find assurance in a brighter tomorrow even when today looks awfully dark. On this earth we’re never guaranteed another dawn, nor do we have assurance tomorrow will be sunny. But by maintaining our faith in Him and following His word, we have confidence in knowing…The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. As a matter of fact…they are new every morning!
n, when we sing this song, we’re singing a ‘psalm’ that is almost a word-for-word account from the chapter. From the hills and mountains to the beast and cattle, we sing this song of praise. So whether you see yourself as a young man, a maiden or an aged man; whether you’re a child or a king we must all be praising God. As a matter of fact, take a closer look at who/WHAT the Psalmist says will praise God. All His angels, the sun and moon, sea creatures or monsters or dragons depending on your translation, fire, snow, vapors and hail, beast, birds and cattle; all created things will praise the Creator! And the reason why is found in the 13th verse, “…for His name alone is exalted.” Do you praise God or, in your life, do you have other things that are exalted?
Job, “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place…?” The obvious answer is ‘no,’ we have no control over this world, the sunrise, the sunset, the sunshine or the rain. God is the Creator, and this is His world. So rather than question His work, we should take comfort in knowing He rules this earth and guards His people. The Creator of the universe, the One who ‘commands the morning’ is also our refuge and strength (Psalm 46). And even though ‘the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea’ children of God have no reason to fear. We know, as His creation, that we have a promise, “God is in the midst of her (His people), she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns…” Psalm 46:5. The psalmist is literally telling us that God will help His people at the turning of the morning. Could there be any greater comfort in knowing that the Maker of heaven and earth watches over His people at the dawning of each day? Though we might not have blue skies every morning, we know Who controls those skies. With that knowledge we have to reflect upon our attitude. What will we do when dark clouds gather? How will we deal with the devastating storms that strike our land? Will we take them in stride anticipating a new tomorrow, or will we look to place blame, bemoaning our current state of affairs? Ken Young once penned the words to a contemporary song entitled, Richly Blest. Within that message there is a thought that all Christians should champion. Throughout our days, regardless of our circumstances, whether things are good or bad, my God blesses me!
the words of Paul as he wrote to the church in Ephesus, “…there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or course jesting, which are not fitting…Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience…walk as children of Light.” Ephesians 5:4-8. How can we expect to be richly blest if we harbor worldly behaviors? If our words and actions resemble the world, we will continue to live in darkness.