Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

of the scriptures. The nation is using this psalm to exalt the Lord over all gods who are worshiped on earth.

“The Lord does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lighting with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.” (6, 7) God stands sovereign over all of creation, he is not ‘reacting’ to the events history but is causing them to fulfill the pleasure of his will. “For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” (Rev. 4:11) The three realms of creation; heaven, earth and the depth of the seas all await his direction and commands in bringing about his purposes for mankind. God directed the stormy sea and winds during Paul’s journey to Rome; “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Cae- sar!’” (Acts 27:22-24) From this point, Paul was the deciding voice in the directions of the journey. God released his winds and rain upon the vessel until the Captain and crew obeyed the pleasure of his will. ‘He makes lightning for the rain, so that the rain is announced.’ 4 ‘In the Syrian–Canaanite mythol- ogy it is Baal who hurls lightening bolts and sends storm and rain across the land…’ 5 but this passage clears up all controversy concerning the sovereignty of God over the acts of nature. The song recounts the last and most devastating plague first; the slaying of Egypt’s firstborn dis- playing Yahweh’s sovereignty over death. Egypt was a culture that was completely obsessed with the preparation for the after-life and the power of their gods to control their eternal destinies. The God of the Israelites broke their core belief into spiritual shambles. The miraculous signs and wonders point to the New Testament era where God confirmed the message of Jesus’ sovereignty over spiritual and natural forces: “A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.” (Acts 2:43) ‘ …by no means intended of a powerful number, but of powerful might.’ 6 The nations that Israel con- quered were so powerful it was obvious to themselves and the surrounding peoples that Yahweh was intervening to bring about the victory. As the church takes the good news of Christ to every nation it is strengthening to be reminded that there is no political, economic or religious regime that is greater in power and might than our God. • “Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan. (11) Sihon and Og were both powerful kings who ruled over the countries on the east side of the Jordan river from the Dead Sea to Mount Hermon in the north. Sihon, the king of the strong Amorites, would not allow Moses to pass through his land on their way to Canaan but attacked Israel. “But King Sihon re- fused to allow you to pass through, because the Lord your God made Sihon stubborn and defiant so he could help you defeat them, as he has now done.” (Deut. 2:30) Og ruled the country to the north of Sihon, he too foolishly attacked the Israelites and was completely defeated: “But the Lord told me, ‘Do not be afraid of him, for I have given you victory over Og and his army, giving you his entire land.” (Deut. 3:2) God was building confidence into his people before they crossed the Jordan to confront the many kingdoms in the land of Canaan. Og was also one of the ancient race of giants; “(Incidentally, King Og of Bashan was the last of the giant Rephaites. His iron bed was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide.” (Deut. 3:11) • “…and all the kings of Canaan. He gave their land as an inheritance, a special possession to his people Israel.” “He struck down great nations and slaughtered mighty kings–“ (10) III STRUCK DOWN GREAT NATIONS - 8-14 Supreme Over Nations • Egypt- “He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home, both people and animals. He per- formed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt; Pharaoh and all his people watched.” (8, 9)

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