Our world is marked by division, conflict, and strife. Where do we find encouragement? The psalmist tells us: “Know that the Lord is God!”
Scripture:
Hosea, chapters 13-14; Psalms 100, 102; Hebrews, chapter 5
Psalm 100 (CEB):
Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with celebration! Come before him with shouts of joy! Know that the Lord is God – he made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his own pasture.
Enter his gates with thanks; enter his courtyards with praise! Thank him! Bless his name! Because the Lord is good, his loyal love lasts forever; his faithfulness lasts generation after generation.
Observations: Shout Triumphantly to the Lord
Psalm 100 begins with the challenge to shout triumphantly to the Lord. The problem is that when we look around us, we focus on things that don’t cause us to shout triumphantly. Anger and division dominate our cultural discourse. Social media give people a platform to say whatever they want with few, if any, consequences. What is there to shout triumphantly about?
Know that the Lord is God
The psalmist tells us in verse 3: Know that the Lord is God. Although many want to deny it, there is an underlying, ultimate truth: the Lord is God. He created this world; He sustains it moment by moment. He made us; we belong to him. Whether we acknowledge it or not, that is the truth. This world is not some big cosmic accident. We are not here by chance, but by the willful decision of the Creator. Know that the Lord is God!
Some people respond, “but why is there such pain and suffering and evil in the world? How do you harmonize the reality of this current world with the belief in an all-powerful God?” I believe that God created us with free will – the ability to choose whether to obey or disobey Him. That free will would be illusory if disobedience had no consequences. So God created a good world, and entrusted it to humanity. Humanity’s sinful choices have consequences, and now we live in a broken world.
But one day, God will set everything right. We don’t know when that will happen, but we believe that it will. Why? Because the Lord is good, his loyal love lasts forever; his faithfulness lasts generation after generation. God’s plan is to prepare us for eternity in His kingdom, where all things will be made new (Revelation 21:3-5). In the meantime, God calls us to walk in His way. Jesus has shown us that way; he is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He promised to be with us always, to the very end of the age. Shout triumphantly to the Lord…Know that the Lord is God!
Application: Encouragement for Tough Times: “Know that the Lord Is God”
How can we find peace in a world of fear and conflict? Know that the Lord is God. Because He is God, He is responsible for results. We are simply responsible for our obedience. God does not promise us “happiness” or “success” on the world’s terms. Contrary to what some claim, God does not promise to make us wealthy in human terms. He promises to supply everything that we need, spiritually and materially, if we seek first His kingdom.
The problem is that what we think we “need” is colored by cultural expectations and human selfishness. We think that we “need” big houses and new cars. Our desires (and consumption) of food far exceeds what we “need.” We chase money and fame and pleasure, thinking that we “need” those things to be fulfilled.
What we really need is God. God created us to be in relationship with Him. No one else and nothing else will satisfy that need. Each of us has a God-shaped hole in our hearts, and only God can truly fill that hole. When we acknowledge God – Know that the Lord is God – we find that we can respond to the psalmist’s call to shout triumphantly to the Lord. Our joy is not grounded in our present circumstances; it is grounded in the promise of God. And his faithfulness lasts generation after generation!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for reminding us that our peace comes from knowing you. As our world spins more and more out of control, we look forward to the day when your kingdom comes in its fullness. Help us today to walk in your way – to do your will on earth as it is done in heaven. As we do that, we can trust in your faithfulness, because you are good. Help us today to remember that you – and you alone – are God. Amen.
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