David’s psalm concludes with a beautiful chorus, urging the Lord to exercise His own strength, to put it on display, so that all can see Him lifted up to the highest place. David commits his fellow worshipers to always sing and give verbal praise to God’s omnipotence and demonstrated power.
Is anyone in trouble? Call on the Lord. But by what name should one call? Call out to Jesus. “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Act 4:12). For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).
How many have been “led astray” by alcohol? The one who is normally thoughtful and well-spoken becomes a “mocker” when intoxicated. The peaceful one becomes a “brawler” when under the influence. How many families have been torn apart, how many friendships broken, how many fortunes lost because of alcohol? Be wise. “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
King Abijah of Judah, the great grandson of David, urged Jeroboam and his Northern tribes not to fight against them because they would be fighting against the Lord Himself. But Israel’s armies outnumbered Judah’s 2-to-1, so Jeroboam was over-confident and surrounded Judah to attack. Yet, God fought for Judah and Israel was soundly defeated. Abijah tried to reason with Jeroboam to avoid bloodshed, but he depended on the Lord to defend him and his army when conflict came.
Sometimes conflict is inevitable in this fallen world. On whom do you depend in such times?
The spared and spoiled child grows up to bring shame and blame on his parents. He squanders his father’s inheritance and puts his own mother out of the family home in her old age to fend for herself. Make no mistake, God sees such a one and holds him accountable for breaking the commandment to honor his father and mother.
In Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple, he wondered whether the God who filled the heavens could “dwell with men on the earth.” His prayer was that God would keep His eye on the Temple where He had agreed to put His name. The Lord heard Solomon’s prayer and chose the Temple for Himself as a house of sacrifice.
Yet, Solomon’s question went unanswered until Jesus, the Living Word of God came: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
David’s psalm anticipated the reality of going to sleep in this world and awaking to the righteous face of the Lord in the next. The Spirit inspired him with expectation of a day when he would be fully “satisfied” to be found in the Lord’s “likeness,” made righteous and fit for living in His presence.
This “face” and this “likeness” belongs to none other than the Lord Jesus. For as the apostle Paul wrote, “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). And as the apostle John revealed, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
Can you join with David in saying, “As for me…”?
Solomon built the Temple on “Mount Moriah” where his father, David, had instructed. This was the place that the Lord had relented from His judgment for David’s sin in taking a census of Israel (2 Sam. 24:16). The Lord had told David to erect an altar on that very place where the Lord had heard David’s prayer and relented, which was the threshing floor of Ornan (Also spelled “Araunah”). So, David purchased the place and built an altar there.
This was also the area where the Lord instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Gen. 22:2).
The “land of Moriah,” which became known as Jerusalem, was also the place where Jesus, Son of David, Son of God was offered as the Lamb of God for our sins. The Lord was merciful on Abraham and on David, yet He poured out the judgment that belonged to us upon His only Son, Jesus.
There is a short window of time for teaching children obedience. During this time there is hope that parental discipline might become the child’s own self-discipline. It may seem a lot of work to discipline a child of ages 2 through 6, but it becomes nearly hopeless for the parent who waits until they are 12 through 16 before starting to correct their behavior. Chasten a child while they are young and when they are older, they will have learned to respect and obey. And be certain to aim past the behavior to the heart. For the child is more tenderhearted than the teen. Teach the child about sin, repentance, and forgiveness through Jesus. For the child is more receptive to spiritual things than the adult. Do this important parental work while there is still hope.
The Lord looks. The Lord sees. The psalmist uses anthropomorphic language to describe the Lord’s intense interest in humanity. Some men may doubt God’s existence, but the Lord knows all things about man. He looks at the heart. He searches for those that search for Him.
As God has said, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).