As part of the 5th and final book of Psalms (107-150) the dominant tone is the issue of perfected worship, as we focus on JEHOVAH our redeemer KING. Book 4 (psalms 90-106) has a central thread of submission in worship to JEHOVAH as the governing KING. In a world of false pride, temporary fame, and an overabundance of fabricated human accolades (which lead to disappointment, disorder, dishonour and dissent), we need to remember that The KING is worthy of our total submission. This however is only half of the truth. Submission without love is duty, and in Christ... grace , compassion and mercy makes us want to love and submit, with completely glad and joyful surrender.
In our worshipping we receive total blessing, as our Saviour and redeemer brings us into ever increasing reality of what he has done, is doing, and will do for us. As the old hymn reminds us, if we trust him going into 2023 we are being changed "from glory into glory", until in heaven we take our place (2 Cor 3:18). Our GOD is in the change business, of making all things new. Every aspect of GOD we discover not only transforms us, but blesses our lives and through us blesses others. The extent of what GOD has done for us, and can do through us (to bless others) will only be revealed when the veil is ultimately removed. This throws a completely different perspective on our lives as we look into 2023.
Our existence now has the shades down, the blinds partly drawn. We see the glory in Christ and our full certain salvation, but not all the ramifications of it. In the fallen world around us His glory is but a marred reflection in humanity. Society, culture and even the culture of church and the new community is not all it should be. Our humanity and all our relationships display a brokenness which does not honour him in the way it should. However beautiful, creative, and fulfilling these things get for us on a daily basis, they are only a fragmented portrait of how things are to be. Even as redeemed people we struggle (Romans 7:15-20) in our human capacity and consistency to follow and comply with the work of sanctification in us. Even when our desire is to comply with all that God has for us we fail ourselves and Him. We need him so much as we go into 2023, our lives and worship of Him are in desperate need of his ongoing work of redemption.
However, on The day of culmination, we'll see ourselves, our habitat, our relationships, in the light of his perfect glory and fulfilled redemption. This should be our perspective for life now, a reality which gathers momentum for those who fix their eyes on him. Christmas and some festive joy may be over, but we are one sleep nearer being with him forever, and that is incomparably greater. We live with this in mind, and so it transforms our perspective of each day as the sun comes up.
Psalm 111 and 112 form a close twin-ship, and have the dual themes of GOD's greatness and his grace. The two are always in balance. One of the aspects of God's perfection (Holiness) is that His attributes are always in perfect balance. This brings total "frazzleisation" to my mind.
1) THE GOD OF ULTIMATE STABILITY IS OUR STEADINESS INTO 2023.
As human beings we are prone to imbalance. On a bad hair day our fuse is shortened, our generosity is shrunken, and our perspective is more for ourselves. This in turn relationally impacts all those around us and the future events of our lives. Part of God's glory is his unchanging solidity to be the same yesterday, today and forever. This is especially seen in his balance of justice and generosity. The GOD of infinite power and ability is able beyond our understanding. He alone is able to deal with our SIN in such a gracious and full justice way, that He is able to remove our sin from us as far as the East is from the West. Whilst North and South are fixed points, the writer needs that infinite measurement to deal with both God's mercy and his justice. We may think of consistency and steadiness as a vanilla (boring?) characteristic in people, but in God this is far from the truth. His character, plans, purposes, progress and accomplishments of redemption are utterly unwavering. In this our lives are included and changed and aligned to the same. Knowing my own many failings, and inconsistencies this is breathtaking, and gives me so much joy and expectation into the new year as I follow Christ and live under his loving authority.
In Psalm 111, the Hebrew there are 10 verses of 22 lines, the first 7 lines dealing with God's greatness, the following 12 his graciousness and the final 3 the wisdom of fearing him appropriately because of the above. Our God is matchless in honour, majesty in righteousness.
Psalm 112 displays the blessedness of trusting and fearing such a GOD.
There are so many encouragements which can radically impact daily life as we go into 2023:
2) HIS UNCONTAINABLE BLESSING BECOMES THE STAPLE OF OUR LIVES:
In PS 112 notice it is assumed that blessedness is the appropriate way to live a life before GOD:
Blessing is inevitable for those who fear God. The fear of JEHOVAH is the beginning of all wisdom (Ps 111v10, and also the foundation of blessing 112:1)
Notice that the words which describe GOD in 111, become the expression of our lives of blessing in 112.
- Because the righteousness of GOD endures forever, so as we fear him our righteousness endures forever.
- Because GOD is gracious and full of compassion, so as we live, our way of faith demonstrates the same relational beauty as his character. The SPIRIT of CHRIST lives in us and others see it.
The simple summary is that we become like the one we worship.
3) Hungry for more we pray that our focus on Christ and worship/ devotion of him will grow in 2023. Pray that now we will see him and be like him.
All people have faith, but not all trust in what is trustworthy. All worship but not all objects and destinations are worthy of it. People may say... "I wish I had your faith", as if it is a gift of our human qualities to be able to trust in GOD, but ultimately it is not the will or even quantity of our faith which is the primary issue, it is the destination and focus of it. He enables us, he opens our hearts, he plants the seed of faith, he waters and grows it, until roots are deep in Christ.
I don't find the command / idea to have New Years' resolutions in my bible. In many ways the ritual of resolutions is a human endeavour, for a human goal, for human satisfaction. When we are the objects of our worship, we are destined to be disappointed. This is the rationale which perpetuates the human attitude all around us this Christmas, as people seek to be "the best me possible". Whilst it may reflect the honour of the created being after the image of God, it gives him not even a sideways glance, and so there is diminishing glory, as faces turn from Him who is altogether glorious and live for self idolatry.
I do however note how many who grow in wisdom make appropriate vows to GOD. As He becomes the sure bedrock on which daily habits, attitudes, ambitions, yearnings, acts of love are built, we see more and more the wisdom of fixing our eyes on our Saviour (Heb 12:2. Phil 1:6). There is so much wisdom in bowing in submission these few days before the new year starts. This is especially so as we see his power, promise and desire to fulfil all that which he calls us to submit to and commit to in Him. We can vow in faith and confidence in Him.
4) We live in the certainty and content knowledge that those who live life anchored to rock solid character of GOD will not be budged (v6)
In a world with so full of so many uncertainties...
- Remember your GOD, the living one who loves you and gave himself for you.
- Remember your GOD whose power never fails, and whose wisdom is always available.
- Remember your GOD whose compassion is as great as his justice, whose righteousness outlasts all seasons and experiences of the human condition.
- Remember your GOD and pray that he will equip you to fix your eyes on him in 2023 whatever it may hold.
- LORD we trust in you alone, and look for your character to change ours. May your heart be seen in ours, your instincts become ours, your balance be ours, your steadfast HESED love be the anchor of each waking and active moment.
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;[a]
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
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