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PSALM
50:1-15 (Amplified Bible)
A psalm of Asaph
1.The Mighty One, God, The Lord, speaks and calls the earth from
the rising of the sun to its setting.
2.Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3.Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before
Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages.
4.He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge
His people;
5.Gather together to me My saints (those who have found grace in
my sight), those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.
6.And the heavens declare His righteousness (rightness and justice),
for God, He is judge. Selah (pause, and calmly think of that!)
7.Hear, O my people, and I will speak O Israel, I will testify to
you and against you, I am God, your God.
8.I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings
are continually before me.
9.I will accept no bull from your house nor he-goats out of your
folds.
10.For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand
hills or upon the mountains where thousands are.
11.Iknow and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains, and
the wild animals of the field are Mine and are with Me, in my Mind
12.If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all
its fullness are mine.
13.Shall I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14.Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows
to the Most High.
15.And call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and
you shall honour and glorify me.
This Psalm is directed to Asaph… or
for Asaph… either way, Asaph was one of David’s three choir leaders.Psalm
50 is quite renowned for its titles and names for God. There are
seven throughout the Psalm proclaiming His royal position.
Verse 1 is one of those verses that make you so aware that our lives,
and the fabric of the entire universe rest under the command of God
Himself. The fact that God summons humanity from east to west is
a powerful statement.And from Mount Zion, heaven’s counterpart here
on earth… God shines forth!! From the most Holy place, God manifests
His glory… He comes… and will not be silent!
Last night I gave an interview to a Netherlands Christian Women’s
magazine.She was asking about our outward expression of worship,
our outward manifestation of loving our God, to which I replied, ’when
you meet Jesus, you will show it one way or another! You simply cannot
enter relationship with the creator of the universe and remain the
same.’This scripture reminds me of that thought…’perfect in beauty,
God shines forth!!’
Do you allow the Lord to shine through you?? Old Testament temple,
in Zion, the Holy place… all knew that God resided there.New Testament,
Jesus living IN us, us as the temple… do all know that God resides
there??
The Word then goes on to talk about the judgements of God, as He
calls and gathers to Himself all those who have committed their lives
to God, making a covenant with Him by way of sacrifice.
It’s interesting then to think that God, who asks for sacrifices,
and unblemished ones at that, starts to talk about the fact that
He does not need the sacrifice. What He is looking for however, is
the sacrifice of the heart.Israel had always brought ample sacrifices,
in verse 8 God says He does not rebuke their sacrifices. But Israel
was always tempted to think that their sacrifices were of the utmost
importance, as though He depended on them. But as you’ll see, God
desperately wants Israel to acknowledge her dependence on Him, by
giving thank offerings for His mercies, calling upon His name in
the day of trouble, never wavering, never doubting, ever thankful!!
The word is straight talking… ’if I were hungry, do you think I’d
tell you??’ Here’s the thing… God doesn’t NEED our worship, He WANTS
our worship… because He wants us.We make it hard, the Lord keeps
it simple… ’love and obey me, fulfil your vows to me, call upon me,
and I will deliver you.’
So lovely people, what does this teach you??No matter what you do
FOR God, it can never come close to the worth He places on who you
are, simply you before Him… scary??? Yes… Glorious?? Yes……
I find the sacrifice for me is often found in the process of being
obedient.‘Sacrifice has always been associated with the worship of
God‘. Saint Augustine explains that God is not benefited by sacrifice
but accepts such offerings as evidences of a contrite heart.
He goes on to explain… ’A sacrifice, even though it is done or offered
by man, is something divine – which is what the ancient Latins meant
by the word ‘sacrificium.’
For this reason, a man himself who is consecrated in the name of
God and vowed to God is a sacrifice, inasmuch as he dies to the world,
that he may live for God.If then the body, which is less than the
soul and which the soul uses as a servant or tool, is a sacrifice
when it is used well and rightly for the service of God, how much
more so is the soul when it offers itself to God, so that, aflame
in the fire of divine love, and with the dross of worldly desire
melting away, we are literally transformed. More of Him, less of
us.’
Wow!! This is what the apostle says… ’be not conformed to this world,
but be transformed in the newness of your mind, that you may discern
what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of the Father.’
Allow the sovereignty of God to affect you today… He wants us so
much… sacrificed from the inside out… living for Him, not for sale,
not swayed by the wooing of the world we live in.
Love you so much…….Darls
PS:Phil Pringle is our guest at our retreat… make sure you book in
tonight!!!
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