When faced with trouble or challenges that are daunting to me, I remember what my mentors have always told me, “where God guides, He provides”. If we are following God’s instructions “down to the letter”, as the Psalmist writes, God does the heavy lifting and with a mere word He solves the crisis while providing all we need–just as He promised. “He is God, our God, in charge of the whole earth”…and He remembers what He promised. So, we sing the verses of psalmist’s praise to our God, the One and Only God!
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
This psalm focuses on the God of the covenant (promise), who works out His divine purposes in human history. “Tell everyone you meet what he has done!” is the major theme, referring, of course, to God’s mighty acts on behalf of Israel. The psalmist saw the hand of God in the events of Jewish history, and this was the kind of encouragement the struggling remnant needed. He reminded the Jews that they were God’s chosen people and that God worked according to His schedule. Beginning with Egypt, the Lord had already revealed His power over the Gentile nations, and He will always keep His promises. Remembering these truths can bring God’s people encouragement at any time in history!
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
God kept the promise He made to Abraham and gave his descendants the land, helping Joshua and his army defeat the enemy on every side. God’s people live on promises, not explanations, and it is “through faith and patience” that we see these promises fulfilled (Heb. 6:12).
But God’s keeping His promise meant much more for Israel than victory over the enemy and the acquisition of riches. It meant accepting the responsibility of obeying the God who had been so faithful to them. Before his death, Joshua reminded the people what the Lord had done for them and commanded them to serve the Lord and not turn to idols (Josh. 24:1-28). When we consider all that the Lord has done for us, we find we have the same obligation.
Raise a hallelujah to God first, God alone, for only He is worthy of our full attention and praise. He always keeps His promises. Be still and let go of the world and know that He is God. Leave all the earthly idols behind to decay and return to dust. Trust and obey what He tells us to do. Learn from God and follow His instructions “to the letter”. This is the best way to live for it is God who has the best way for us.
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 104, The Message
1-6 Hallelujah!
Thank God! Pray to him by name!
Tell everyone you meet what he has done!
Sing him songs, belt out hymns,
translate his wonders into music!
Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,
you who seek God. Live a happy life!
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
be alert for signs of his presence.
Remember the world of wonders he has made,
his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered—
O seed of Abraham, his servant,
O child of Jacob, his chosen.
7-15 He’s God, our God,
in charge of the whole earth.
And he remembers, remembers his Covenant—
for a thousand generations he’s been as good as his word.
It’s the Covenant he made with Abraham,
the same oath he swore to Isaac,
The very statute he established with Jacob,
the eternal Covenant with Israel,
Namely, “I give you the land.
Canaan is your hill-country inheritance.”
When they didn’t count for much,
a mere handful, and strangers at that,
Wandering from country to country,
drifting from pillar to post,
He permitted no one to abuse them.
He told kings to keep their hands off:
“Don’t you dare lay a hand on my anointed,
don’t hurt a hair on the heads of my prophets.”
16-22 Then he called down a famine on the country,
he broke every last blade of wheat.
But he sent a man on ahead:
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They put cruel chains on his ankles,
an iron collar around his neck,
Until God’s word came to the Pharaoh,
and God confirmed his promise.
God sent the king to release him.
The Pharaoh set Joseph free;
He appointed him master of his palace,
put him in charge of all his business
To personally instruct his princes
and train his advisors in wisdom.
23-42 Then Israel entered Egypt,
Jacob immigrated to the Land of Ham.
God gave his people lots of babies;
soon their numbers alarmed their foes.
He turned the Egyptians against his people;
they abused and cheated God’s servants.
Then he sent his servant Moses,
and Aaron, whom he also chose.
They worked marvels in that spiritual wasteland,
miracles in the Land of Ham.
He spoke, “Darkness!” and it turned dark—
they couldn’t see what they were doing.
He turned all their water to blood
so that all their fish died;
He made frogs swarm through the land,
even into the king’s bedroom;
He gave the word and flies swarmed,
gnats filled the air.
He substituted hail for rain,
he stabbed their land with lightning;
He wasted their vines and fig trees,
smashed their groves of trees to splinters;
With a word he brought in locusts,
millions of locusts, armies of locusts;
They consumed every blade of grass in the country
and picked the ground clean of produce;
He struck down every firstborn in the land,
the first fruits of their virile powers.
He led Israel out, their arms filled with loot,
and not one among his tribes even stumbled.
Egypt was glad to have them go—
they were scared to death of them.
God spread a cloud to keep them cool through the day
and a fire to light their way through the night;
They prayed and he brought quail,
filled them with the bread of heaven;
He opened the rock and water poured out;
it flowed like a river through that desert—
All because he remembered his Covenant,
his promise to Abraham, his servant.
43-45 Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy;
his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out!
He made them a gift of the country they entered,
helped them seize the wealth of the nations
So they could do everything he told them—
could follow his instructions to the letter.
Hallelujah!
TRUTH: “He’s God, our God, in charge of the whole earth. And he remembers, remembers his Covenant—for a thousand generations he’s been as good as his word.
Proverb 31:8-9, The Message
“Speak up for the people who have no voice,
for the rights of all the misfits.
Speak out for justice!
Stand up for the poor and destitute!”
WISDOM: Is knowing WE are the misfits and Jesus Christ stood for us, in our place, and redeemed all who believe.
Abba Father,
Thank you for showing us how you work from day to day, how you keep your promises, how you love us, and how you provide a way out when we think all is lost. Thank you, Jesus for bringing justice to all who believe in You, for redeeming us from all our sin, and for teaching us the right and best way to live for God and with each other. Thank you for life eternal. Thank you for guiding and providing through all generations.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 