Today at church, we had a guest preacher: Dr. Dennis Magary of Trinity Evangelical Theological Seminary. He preached a relevant and spiritually challenging message from Psalms 1 and 2. In each of these Psalms, according to Dr. Magary, we are presented with a question, the answer to which will make all the difference in our lives as we enter a new year.
Psalm 11Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
In Psalm 1, we're confronted with the question, "Who are you going to listen to?" In 2007, will we be self-instructed or God-instructed?
Psalm 21Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, 3"Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."
4He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."
7I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
10Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
In Psalm 2, we're confronted with the question, "Who is going to be in charge?" In 2007, will we run our own lives, or will we acknowledge God's rule over our lives?
If we choose to be God-instructed and God-ruled, the psalmist is clear: We shall be blessed (Psalm 1:1 and 2:12b).
If we choose to be self-instructed and self-ruled, the psalmist is equally clear: We shall perish (Psalm 1:6 and 2:12a).
May God grant that, in 2007, we would submit to His teaching and rule over our lives.
May you have a happy and blessed New Year.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment