PSALM 29 Ongoing Allegiance

Psalm 29:10 ESV
The LORD sits  enthroned  over the flood:
The LORD sits  enthroned as king forever.

"Enthroned";-  Sitting on a throne is a formal indication
of possession of an office invested with regal authority.

Adonai reigned over the flood,
Adonai will reign for ever.
Adonai  alone is King.

Psalm 29:11 ESV
May the LORD give strength to his people  
May the LORD bless his people with peace.

"His people";-  persons subject to the king
                         belonging to his nation,
                         those who owe the king their allegiance.

"King";- noble sovereign and ruler,
are titles of one who rules and governs ,
and who holds highest rank and authority

"Allegiance" ;- the tie of a subject to his sovereign.
From the point of view of the subject,
allegiance is the full recognition of the claims which
the king has to our respect and duty.

Psalm 96:10 
       Proclaim to the foreigners "Yahweh is king ! "
       The world is firmly established, it shall never be moved.
        He will rule his people with equity.

Psalm 97:1 ESV
       Yahweh is king!
            Let the peoples tremble!
       He sits enthroned between the cherubim!
            Let the earth quake. 

James 4:6-7
.......God opposes the proud , but gives grace to the humble
                       submit yourselves therefore to God.....

Matthew 6:33 NAB
Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness,
and all these things will be given you besides.

Hebrews 12:9 ESV
...we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and 
we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject
to the Father of spirits and live ?

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
for the greater glory of God

PSALM 29 The Name of God

Psalm 29:2  ESV
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name.

Israel was to  witness to the Name of God.
That does not mean that they were to let everybody know
that their God was called "Yahweh" .
They were not just to let everybody know the right name for God.
They were to witness to God's character , and who he is,
His nature , His power, and His substance.
When Christians baptize  people
in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
we act according to the command of the word of God,
in the authority of  THE TRINITY !!!
Genesis 1:3  ESV
And God said , " Let there be light "
         and there was light.                     
                 ......................... because God has that power and that authority.
Psalm 29:4  KJV
4     The voice of the LORD is powerful;
       The voice of the LORD is full of majesty
5     The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars;
       yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

8     The voice of the LORD shaketh  the wilderness
       The Lord shaketh the wilderness.

There can be no doubt about the sovereignty of the LORD.
Psalm 47:2 ESV
For the LORD,  the Most High, is to be feared,
      a great king over all the earth.

Who has the power ?
Who has the authority ?
Who has the power and authority of The LORD our God  ?

For Thine is the Kingdom,  and the power and the glory,
        for ever and ever.  Amen.

" In the name of Jesus"
means ;-  in the power and authority of
Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, and the only Saviour of mankind.
Mark 4:39  ESV
And (Jesus) awoke and rebuked the wind
and said to the sea " Peace,  be still ! "
And the wind ceased,  and there was a great calm.

We are able to attribute to God The Son
" the glory due unto his name"                    Psalm 29:2 NKJV
The Voice of God is remarkably powerful ,
so if you have in your heart someone who needs strength and peace,
acquaint yourself with Psalm 29:11 ESV
and know that this is the word of God .
Psalm 29:11 ESV
May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!

PSALM 29 The Voice of God

Psalm 29 1-2 English Standard Version.
Ascribe to the LORD,  O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness.

New English Translation of the Septuagint ( NETS ) version
Bring to the Lord, O sons of God,
Bring to the Lord glory and honor.

Psalm 89: 5-6-7 ESV
5    Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
           your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6    For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD ?
           who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD ?
7    a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones
           and awesome above all who are around him ?
8    O LORD God of hosts.

David's life is centered on God.
and his daily sustaining relationship with Him.
David became a "man after God's own heart" 1 Sam 13:14
In times of solitude and silence -- as a shepherd in lonely places
David spent days and nights with God.
His often solitary life was a life of prayer.

Psalm 42:8 ESV
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love
and at night his song is with me ,
a prayer to the God of my life.

In everyday life , we are to attribute to the Lord, the glory of his name.
We do this where we are, at home,  at work, and at leisure.
To actually ascribe greatness to the Lord
anywhere other than in a "church service",
would be a new adventure for many Christians.
The divine name "Yahweh" occurs 18 times in psalm 29.
which emphasizes that we are continually in His powerful presence.
The voice of the Lord is mentioned 7 times
which emphasizes that ( for those who listen )
the Lord speaks into our lives personally every day.
Our relationship with Him cannot be limited to a building or a meeting.
In our own everyday lives we stand with the whole body of Christ
in the Love of God the Father.
May the life of Christ within us , animate our days and direct our ways.
We are one in Christ with all those of the household of God
and all the heavenly host.

1st Thessalonians 5:16-17-18  ESV
Rejoice always,   pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances.
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The voice of the LORD continues to speak into the lives
of all who are putting this into practice. 
  

PSALM 28 The People of God

Psalm 28, first line ( E.S.V.)
               To You, O LORD, I call.
Psalm 28 is unequivocally addressed to Yahweh,  Jehovah ,
the self-existent, eternal, God of the Jews .  ( see STRONGS  H 3068 )

Psalm 28, second line  (E.S.V.)
                My rock be not deaf to me.
In Psalm 18 ( verse 44 ) the psalmist sings ;-
                 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock
                 and exalted be the God of my salvation.
and in Psalm 92 verse 15
                 ......the LORD is upright; he is my rock
                 and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Who God is, is paramount, because
at the heart of our prayer,
He is our God and we are his people.
Psalm 28 verse 1 refers to ;-  "those who go down to the pit"
Psalm 28 verse 9 refers to;-   "those who will be carried  by 
                                               the Good Shepherd , for ever"

David's choice is not to go down to the pit
but eternity in the arms of the Good Shepherd
In Psalm 28 verse 2 the psalmist sings;-
                   "when I cry to you for help
                     when I lift up my hands,  "
In this , Paul of Tarsus is at one with the psalms of David,
in 1st Timothy 2: 8
                               I desire then that in every place
                               men should pray lifting holy hands.....

We do need to cry to God for help                                     (verse 2)
The sting of injustice and pain caused by violence
needs to be taken  in prayer to the Lord, our strength and our shield (verse 7)
that He may deliver us from the wicked and from workers of evil (verse 3)
The people of God do not seek personal revenge in prayer,
We seek that painful oppression should come to an end.
Psalm 28:verse 5  "He will break them down and not build them up"
is a prophecy which tyrants should not ignore.

Psalm 28 verse 6  " Blessed be the LORD ! "
This line of praise is used in anticipation of answered prayer
by one whose heart is so full of trust that he is already singing
a song of thanks.
Psalm 91 verse 2 E.S.V.
It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD
to sing praises to your Name , O Most High.
Psalm 28 verse 8  E.S.V.
The LORD is the strength of his people
he is the saving refuge of his anointed .
and verse 9 is a prayer for all God's people
O save your people and bless your heritage.
Be their shepherd and carry them for ever.

PSALM 27 The Light of The Lord

Psalm 27:1   Revised English Bible
THE LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear ?

Ephesians 5:8-9  R.E.B.
Though you were once darkness,
now as Christians you are light,
Prove yourselves at home in the light,
for where light is, there is a harvest
of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Psalm 43:3 REB
Send forth your light and your truth
they will serve as my guide.

Psalm 36:9  REB
 for with you is the fountain of life,
and by your light we are enlightened.

1st John 1:5
......God is light, and in him there is no darkness.

Isaiah 60:1 AV
ARISE, SHINE ;  for the light is come,
and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Psalm 27:8 REB
"Come," my heart has said,
"seek his presence. "
I seek your presence, LORD;

Psalm 27:14 REB
Wait for the LORD; be strong and brave,
and put your hope in the LORD.

PSALM 27:13  REB
Well I know that I shall see the Goodness of the LORD
       in the land of the living.

1st Peter 2:9
......................you are a chosen people
                                    a royal priesthood ,
                                    a holy nation.
                                    God's special possession,
                      that you may declare the praises of him
                      who calls you out of darkness
                      into his wonderful light. 

We reflect on  Psalm 27 in the context  of the word of God
spoken elsewhere in the Psalms ( Ps 43 and Ps 46) and in Isaiah 60.
As Christians we look at Psalm 27 in the light of God's word in
the First Letter of Peter and the First Letter of John.
The People of God are supported by the Light of The Lord.
Although challenged by the darkness of evil,  In practice
God himself is our light and our guide into all truth;
And as we share the Light of the LORD,
  "light overcomes darkness "   ( Philippians 2:15 )

PSALM 26 Holiness

It is better to throw ourselves on the judgement of God

than to let ourselves be crushed by the judgement of others

1st John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness .

Romans 8:1  ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation

     for those who are in Christ Jesus.

This is the holiness and innocence we share before God.

Like the psalmist, our desire is to be upright

and sincere before God.

Our dedication is to God and to the will of God.

Psalm 26:3 NCV

For your kindness is before my eyes

and I am constantly guided by your truth.

Psalm 43:3 NCV

Send forth your light and your truth,

they will serve as my guide.

Psalm 86:11 NCV

Teach me to walk in your ways, O LORD

so that I may walk in your truth.

Hebrews 8:10 ESV

I will put my laws into their minds

and write them on their hearts .

We find joy in doing the will of God.
With His gentle prompting and strong enabling,

we continue to put this into action in everyday life.

Psalm 119:30 REV

30     I have chosen the the way of faithfulness  

         I have set your judgement before me.

31     I cling to your statutes , O LORD

         do not allow me to be put to shame.

32     I run in the way of your precepts

         for you have set my heart free.

Psalm 26:8 NCV

8      I love the place where you dwell, O LORD

        the place where your glory resides

12    My feet stand on level ground

        in the full assembly I will bless the LORD

We have chosen not to be motivated by self interest or evil and
we are looking forward to running in the way of God's precepts.

Now from the heart we make a vow of praise which we can fulfill
in the full assembly.

PSALM 24 The Will of God

Psalm 24:1-2  Revised English Bible
1    To THE LORD belong the earth and everything in it,
      the world and all its inhabitants.
2    For it was he who founded it on the seas
      and planted it firm on the waters beneath.

Just to put things in context, Psalm 24 is addressed to the
original chief executive and chairman, the Founder of the world.
All the inhabitants of the world are in his hands.
That is, totally inclusive.

Psalm 24:3-4  Revised English Bible.
3    Who may go up the mountain of the LORD ?
      Who may stand in his holy place ?
4    One who has clean hands and a pure heart,
      Who has not set his mind on what is false
      or sworn deceitfully.

The will of God is that each of us should have ;-
      "clean hands and a pure heart".
History has shown what happens to the individual
who sets his mind on what is false.
"I did it my way" has long been the boast of  self-interested,
 people who choose to defy the will
of God and choose a life of continual self indulgence.
People  with hearts open to God, who continually seek
 the presence of God, are those who know his will for today;
they will see the blessing of God in their own lives and in the lives
of those they pray for.
Reflective living is a prayerful way of seeking to do the will of God.

Psalm 24:5-6 Revised English Bible
5    Such a one shall receive blessing from the LORD,
      and be vindicated by God his saviour.
6    Such is the fortune of those who seek him.
      who seek the presence of the God of Jacob.

People have been selling "sectarian doctrine" for ages
as if it were an academic subject. But if people put their faith
in a doctrine as if it were the law, all they have is something academic.
Psalm 24:7 Revised English Bible
7      Lift up your heads , your gates.
        lift yourselves up your everlasting doors
        that the king of glory may come in.
When we lift up the gates and open the eternal doors to Jesus Christ
  he comes into our lives.
The contemporary meaning we give to " 24/7 " is quite appropriate..

Romans 7:6 Revised English Bible
But now, having died to that which held us bound,
we are released from the Law, to serve God in a new way,
the way of the Spirit, in contrast to the old way of a written code.

Our Good Shepherd is not a character in a book.
He is reigning in our heart, in our mind and 24/7 in our lives.

Psalm 24:10 Revised English Bible
10     Who is he, this king of glory?
         The LORD of Hosts, he is the king of glory.