For today, One Year Bible Online links here. We are approaching the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. Let us seek to serve God in all that we do in the New Year.
A wife of noble character is worth more than any amount of money or precious gems. I wish I had taken this proverb to heart when I was single. It would have made my dating life much simpler. Fortunately, God was gracious to me and gave me such a wife anyway. I will tell all the young men of my acquaintance to seek after a woman as described in this passage.
Young women, I encourage you to model yourself after the woman described in this passage and avoid men who are not looking for these things in a wife.
Yet another psalm which reminds us to praise God with all the strength that we have. This psalm reminds us of the importance of praising God in the presence of those who faithfully serve Him. There are times in everyone’s life when they need a reminder that God does great and wonderful things. Let us be the person who provides that spark to our fellow believers.
There is more to this psalm. It reminds us to praise God with enthusiasm, with dancing, and tambourine, and harp. There are times when we need to get excited about praising God. We yell and scream when we go to sporting events, or concerts, even sometimes to movies. Let us show the same enthusiasm as we worship God.
The description from John’s vision which we read today goes so well with today’s psalm. The universe as we know it, the universe which has been corrupted by mankind’s sin and rebellion will be completely wiped away. God will create a new heaven and new earth. God will live among His people. He will wipe away every tear that we have ever experienced. Yes, we have that to look forward to, the day when there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain. No one will suffer ever again. This is why the psalmist calls us to so exuberantly praise God.
There will be no need for a temple in the City of God because God Himself will be there and we will worship directly in His presence. There will be no need for sun or moon, or any other source of light because God will radiate all of the light we will need to see clearly. There will be no evil in that place because evil is the absence of good, just as darkness is the absence of light. As I read this, I am filled with joy. The psalm leads right into this reminding us of the joy that comes from worshiping God and being in His presence.
As I read this passage it reminded me of the other side of the joy of praising God, the pain when He rejects our worship. Why would God reject our worship? This passage tells us clearly, because we substitute inferior goods for what we promised to give. Instead of giving of our time when we are fresh and enthusiastic, we put in time when we are tired and worn down. Instead of offering new clothes, or other goods to those in need, we give the clothes we have worn out, or won’t wear because they aren’t stylish.
However, these are only minor compared to an even more serious infraction. Are we faithful to our spouse? Our society has many ills, all of which generate from this one source.
Can it be any more clear than that?
There is one more thing for which God condemns us. When we say that those who do evil are good in God’s sight and that He is pleased with them. Then we turn around and wonder where the God of Justice is. If we want to please God, and have Him accept our worship, let us be faithful to our spouse and refuse to call good the actions of those who do evil.