Isaiah and Family, We visited with him in 2010, Isaiah grew up along side of our son Steve at Sabon Gida Akwangwe, Nigeria, where his Father Nahum served as pastor. Isaiah is the Pastor at Tatin Ndoro, on the Baissa road. We thank God.
# 46 2020 Dev. Psalm 99:2. Be an Example! Read all of Psalm 99. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 99:2 “The King is mighty, he loves justice—you have established equity; In Jacob you have done what is just and right.”
Psalms 90 through 100 are a series of 11 Psalms that open and close with “Lord” (Adonai) or “the Lord” (Yahweh). Psalm 99 is a song about God’s justice and is the example for leaders of the people. “Moses and Aaron… Samuel… they called on the Lord and he answered them.” The song is divided into four stanzas; First, “The Lord reigns; second, justice; third, the witness of Scripture; fourth, the Lord exalted.
Vs.1-3 introduces God’s universal reign, His power, His judgment, His holiness and His impact on the world. These verses beg the question: does God impact the world? If so, how? How many people ask that important question? When you really think about that, what is your answer?
Vs. 4,5 expands on God’s power and justice: He “established equity…done what is just and right.” Is there anything as important as justice and law and order in our country today? Do you really believe all the riots and killings are over?
Vs. 6,7 answers some of our questions and introduces reality into our national and personal lives: here we have the example of leaders, who “called on the Lord and he answered them.” Leaders not only called on God but “they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.” That is the answer and the reality of God’s presence in the world: it is through national leaders, it is through churches, church leaders, but God’s greatest impact is through every day people who call on His name, those who are His witness in their daily lives. For those who do not acknowledge God and do not call on His name will have the government they deserve.
Vs. 8,9 culminates what the Psalmist introduced in the first three verses. God is addressed in the first person: “you answered them” assuming all, and I do mean all who call on you. You are “a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.” The footnote on v. 8; Or God / an avenger of the wrongs done to them. Forgiveness and punishment is what makes God just. It always was the hallmark of the national justice system: they work together: not in this way, no forgiveness no peace, no punishment no peace, rather no forgiveness no justice, no punishment no justice, no justice no freedom. That is why calling on God and “in God we trust” is the only way to preserve our freedom. What the Psalmist is telling us in our time: God reigns! Call on His name! Accept his forgiveness and punishment! Apply all this to our own lives and be free! Keep on praying!
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