Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

His faithful love endures forever. And the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.” (7-9)

On the 4th day of creation God made the lights mentioned in this psalm. “The greater one, the sun, presides during the day; the lesser one, the moon, presides through he night. He also made the stars.” (Gen. 1:16, 17) The ‘lights’ of the visible universe; the Sun, moon and stars, point us to the glorious light of Jesus who said; “I am the light of the world.” (Jn. 8:12) When we see the lights of the natural heav- ens it is a reminder of his love for us and that we can deepen our relationship with him by thanking and praising his name.

II

STRONG HAND AND POWERFUL ARM - 10-16 Deliverance

“Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever.” (10-12)

God offered Pharaoh and the Egyptians his mercy 9 times before this horrible judgment fell upon them. “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, for they must go out into the wilderness to hold a religious festival in my honor.’” (Ex. 5:1) Pharaoh’s stubbornness and resistance to the true worship of God caused the strong arm of the Lord to intervene with the 10th judgment: “And at midnight the Lord killed all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the captive in the dungeon.” (Ex. 12:29) The Egyptian oppressors experienced the severity of God while the Israelites were delivered by his unfailing love. This psalm is thought to be a Passover celebration hymn 8 because of these verses reminding us of his covenant mercy.

“Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever. But he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the sea. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever.” (13-16)

The Hebrew language describes the parting of the Sea as ‘cutting the sea to pieces.’ 9 We are not told how he led Israel through the sea but there was a tangible presence of God guiding their every step. Pharaoh judged himself when he attempted to follow them into the water; ‘He that goes down into the midst of the sea asks to be drowned.’ 10 The judgment of God is a two-edged sword providing grace to the obedient and disaster to the self-willed. We are never to forget these miraculous events as they have deep spiritual significance for the New Testament believer: “I don’t want you to forget, dear broth- ers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them…” (1 Cor. 10:1) The wilderness was not a destination for God’s people but a training ground for the future conquest of the Promise Land.

III

STRUCK DOWN MIGHTY KINGS - 17-22 Conquest

“Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever. He killed powerful kings¬– His faithful love endures forever. Sihon king of the Amorites, His faithful love endures forever. And Og king of Bashan. His faithful love endures forever.

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