De Catechisant
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Bank
- Psalm 145 and you (once more)
- Calvin on Psalm 141
- Psalm 143
- Psalm 147 and you (once more)
- Psalm 150 and you (once more)
- God the Father is worthy of all our honour and thanksgiving! His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is worthy of all our honour and thanksgiving!
- You in particular I want to specially thank for all your help!
- Psalm 150 / Psalter 430 (As reminder to Springford) Verse 1
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The Catechisant “Those that seek Me early shall find Me” 
Genemuiden, where The Catechisant in 1990 ‘was born’ December 2013 – 22e & last edition – nr. 12 The Catechisant and you When I in December 2012 thought about the 22nd Edition of The Catechisant, what I would write about, I did not anticipate that this edition would be the last. That my thoughts then were led to writing about the 150 Psalms had nothing to do with a kind of completion. But looking back I believe it is under God’s guidance that I may with this series conclude the writing of this youth magazine. The idea of having our own youth magazine and to write it, came from a free one year subscription of the Young People’s Magazine of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, given to me by Mr. and Mrs. Hilbrands. In the first number of this Youth Magazine (December 1991) I wrote: “The name De Catechisant points to the fact that in the first place it is meant to be instructive. In the hope that the spiritual instruction is for you at the same time relaxing. The prayer is: “LORD, do Thou bless it!”
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Twentythree years have passed. Every day (8400 days) our debt by God increased. Every day (8400 days) we, on account of the blood of Jesus Christ, had to and were allowed to pray: “Forgive us our debts.” Every day (8400 days) it was true: “For Thou LORD, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.” (Psalm 86 verse 5). ISO-PRINT, Antwoordnummer 21, 3350 VG Hardinxveld-Giessendam; fax 0183 678402; e-mail: info@isoprint.nl Bank: Rabobank Garderen, rek.nr. 32.14.43.128, t.n.v. De Catechisant e-mail : wpieters@kliksafe.nl Website: www.dswpieters.nl (see also: blog: http://hetlamoverwint.blogspot.com) This issue of The Catechisant is the last one. Translated in New Zealand by Dick Vermeulen Psalm 141 and you If there is one subject in the Book of Psalms that appears to be important, it’s praying, begging, calling upon God. The Psalmist is fully convinced that he cannot do without God, not even one day. This dependency is the life of the pious under the Old Testament, and no less also in the time after the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Those that have no desire to live in dependence will have no use for most of the 150 Psalms. Psalm 141 is no different to this main subject. The Psalmist begins immediately: “LORD, I cry unto Thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee.” How glorious that we receive this instruction. We are thereby encouraged to turn unto God every day and under all circumstances. He is not troubled when we come to Him again and again with all our needs. The Dutch translators write in the marginal notes on Isaiah 62 verse 7: Cease not to pray and beg, continue in prayer, yes, trouble Him as long that your prayer is heard. The Psalmist is considering the sacrifice that God Himself instituted, wherein the incense represents the prayers all the Israelites were allowed to pray. This made him bold. The Lord is happy when poor and miserable sinners bow their knees and tell Him all their need. What exactly this Psalm is about is difficult to say, but whatever the situation is, the Psalmist shows us (God Himself shows us) to look to Him, verse 8: “But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord: in Thee is my trust. Leave not my soul destitute.” The word ‘destitute’ has the meaning of being left without help or sustenance. Full of faith – as appears from these words – the Psalmist expects God’s help. And that, while the situation is quite dangerous. So it also appears at times in a spiritual sense that Satan is likely to destroy your soul. And to know then that you are in safety with the Good Shepherd, as He promised in (John 10 verse 28): “I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of My hand.” … 1 O Lord, I unto Thee do cry, do Thou make haste to me, And give an ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee. 2 As incense let my prayer be directed in Thine eyes; And the uplifting of my hands as th’ ev’ning sacrifice. 3 Set, Lord, a watch before my mouth, keep of my lips the door. 4 My heart incline Thou not unto the ills I should abhor. Psalm 142 and you From the place of Psalm 142 in the Book of Psalms it is evident that the Psalms were not placed in chronological order of time. In Psalm 72 you already read that the prayers of David are at an end, and now you read that he was fleeing from king Saul and had to hide in a cave. This Psalm is near the end of the book, while Psalm 57 is also headed: ”… when he fled from Saul to a cave.” It makes us remember how dark his way was from being anointed to being crowned king. He is likened herein to his great Son: Who was anointed as Prophet, Priest and King, but how dark was His way from the day of His crowning to His ascension! Whoever journeys with this Anointed King, must consider that he must also go the way of David: the way of fleeing and caves to the crown, the day of final victory. In this connection the Lord Jesus states honestly: ”Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of men has not where to lay His head.” For that reason it is good to count the cost as Jesus said about the sower: ”… when tribulation and persecution arises because of the Word, he by and by is offended.”
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them that love His appearing.” How is it with you? Do you hope that all will be well, not because you have such high thoughts of your ability and faithfulness, but because you expect everything from the Lord? He shall not disappoint you – if you do what you read in verse 5: “I cried unto Thee, O LORD. I said, Thou art my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the living.” 5 I cry’d to Thee; I said, Thou art my Refuge, Lord, alone; And in the land of those that live Thou art my Portion. 6 Because I am brought very low, attend unto my cry: Me from my persecutors save, who stronger are than I. 7 From prison bring my soul, that I Thy Name may glorify: The just shall compass me, when Thou with me deal’st bounteously. Psalm 143 and you What a wonder to have learned with the writer of this Psalm in verse 2: “Enter not into judgment with Thy servant: for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.” And what a wonder again, to understand that we being aware of this terrible thing, may plea with verse 1: “… in Thy faithfulness answer me and in Thy righteousness.” If you ponder carefully you would expect the Old Testament pious people to ask: “Hear me in accordance with Thy merciful kindness.” But it is ‘righteousness’. That word shows that God keeps His promises, because He is altogether faithful. What a rich life of faith, in order to be able as an unrighteous one to call upon God because of His promise. Which promise? Which is portrayed in the Temple service and sealed, just as in your baptism and in every Lord’s Supper, namely: forgiveness of sin and life eternal! The same what the Psalmist does in verse 1, is also in 1 John 1 verse 9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In verse 10 of this Psalm the Psalmist prays, and all God’s children of all centuries, places and cultures pray with him: “Teach me to do Thy will: for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good: lead me into the land of uprightness.” ‘To do Thy will’ means: to always will what God will and to have an aversion to everything that God hates. To be led in the land of uprightness, what does that mean? Among other things: to give the steering-wheel of your life into His hands. To allow God to decide what your life will be like. To give the Lord full authority over your future and to be in full agreement with whatever He does. The last verse asks that all His enemies be destroyed. Make sure that you know that there are two options. On the one hand to be led by the good Spirit of God, or on the other hand to be destroyed by God’s righteous vengeance. 8 At morn let me Thy kindness hear; for in Thee do I trust. Teach me the way that I should walk: I lift my soul to Thee. 9 Lord, free me from my foes; I flee to Thee to cover me. 10 Because Thou art my God, to do Thy will do me instruct: Thy Sp’rit is good, me to the land of uprightness conduct. 11 Revive and quicken me, O Lord, ev’n for Thine own Name’s sake; And do Thou, for Thy righteousness, my soul from trouble take. Psalm 144 and you In this new Psalm we arrive at comparable circumstances as in the previous four. Verse 1 is immediately about war and verse 2 about bringing people into subjection. And then in verse 3, as if it fell out of the blue sky: “LORD, what is man, that Thou takest knowledge of him! Or the son of man, that Thou makest account of him!” And the confession in the following verse: “Man is like to vanity: his days are like a shadow that passeth away.” The connection between these verses is not so simple, but it is at least clear that the war-faring Psalmist is not a strong man full of self-trust. He clearly understood how dependent he was upon the power and nearness of God in order to protect his people, in order to annex the heathen peoples to Israel and also to deliver his own life from all the dangers that he faced. In the last four verses we see what the amazing result is of God as the Protector of His people:
In a real oldtestamentish way different temporal gifts are mentioned. No, they did not become unimportant in New Testament times, but yet … The New Testament view of the new earth is not defined with ‘… where abundance lives’ but ‘… where righteousness lives’! Finally it is important to spend a little time to think about the last portion of the last verse: “yea happy is that people whose God is the LORD”. Or not? 3 Lord, what is man, that Thou of him dost so much knowledge take? Or son of man, that Thou of him so great account dost make? 4 Man is like vanity; his days, as shadows, pass away. 5 Lord, bow Thy heav’ns, come down, Touch Thou the hills, and smoke shall they. 6 Cast forth Thy lightning, scatter them; Thine arrows shoot, them rout. 7 Thy hand send from above, me save; from great depths draw me out. Psalm 145 and you Psalm 145 is an acrostic. That is: a song of which the first line of each couplet begins with the following letter of the alphabet (of course in Hebrew, that the Psalmist wrote). The Hebrew title of this Psalm is at the same time the title of the whole Bible Book: Tehillim. Our word ‘Psalm’ is Greek and means: to pluck the string. It points to the musical instrument wherewith the singing of these songs were accompanied, a harp or lyre, an instrument with strings. What is this Psalm about? In the first seven verses the believer shouts that he wants to magnify and praise God. From verse 8 on he gives the reasons why that is so. In the Psalm the verbs jump over each other wherewith the praises are done: ‘extoll’ ‘bless’, ‘praise’, ‘declare’, ‘speak’, ‘utter abundantly’, ‘sing’. In the reading of these verses and these verbs or words of action, it is good to understand that they often are in the first person singular: I shall … Therefore it is impossible to read it (to read it for our family-members) and not to do it. For that reason from verse to verse the questions jump out at you and say: “Do you do this too?” “Do you want to do this?” To use an example (verse 2): “I will praise Thy Name for ever and for ever.” With this glorious work you will never come to an end and this rich privilege never ceases. When just recently preparing a sermon on this Psalm, I every day of that week pondered the question: “How do I do this, praising God, extolling Him, etc.? Of course you do it with your tongue and lips, but how? With your heart too! O, the more I thought about this exuberant Psalm, the poorer and more miserable I became, because so little of it I do accomplish in my live. What about you? 1 I’ll thee extol, my God, O King; I’ll bless Thy Name always. 2 Thee will I bless each day, and will Thy Name for ever praise. 3 Great is the Lord, much to be prais’d; His greatness search exceeds. 4 Race unto race shall praise Thy works, and show Thy mighty deeds. 5 I of Thy glorious majesty the honour will record; I’ll speak of all Thy mighty works, which wondrous are, O Lord. 6 Men of Thine acts the might shall show, Thine acts that dreadful are; And I, Thy glory to advance, Thy greatness will declare. 7 The mem’ry of Thy goodness great they largely shall express; With songs of praise they shall extol Thy perfect righteousness. Psalm 145 and you (once more) An important way in which to come to praise and magnify God really is what the Psalmist does in this Psalm: to relate how good God is. When you more or less receive an impression of it, you just cannot do anything else but to praise Him. The first thing that is mentioned about this mighty King is: “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” The Psalmist did not discover that himself, but he found it in the Law, the second book of Moses, chapter 34 verse 6 – you read it. Consider that the Lord Himself made known these characteristics of His. And consider that He did this just after the children of Israel had made the golden calf … So it’s clear that His mercy, His gracious longsuffering and abundance in goodness and truth is also for an idolatrous boy and girl. And that you – even though you feel yourself to be so vile – may freely call upon God for these virtues and say: “Lord, Thou didst reveal Thyself as such a glorious God! O, prove that Thou wilt so be to me too …” Furthermore we read in (verse 14): “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Jesus puts it in this way: “Come to Me, all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
What does it mean that the Lord is near to us, now? That He offers us His help and favour. At the end: don’t forget the contrast in the second last verse: all them that love him <-> all the wicked. You are one of the two! 17 The Lord is just in all His ways, holy in His works all. 18 God’s near to all that call on Him, in truth that on Him call. 19 He will accomplish the desire of those that do Him fear: He also will deliver them, and He their cry will hear. 20 The Lord preserves all who Him love, that nought can them annoy: But He all those that wicked are will utterly destroy. 21 My mouth the praises of the Lord to publish cease shall never: Let all flesh bless His holy Name for ever and for ever. Psalm 146 and you A well-known marriage text we find in Psalm 146, namely verse 5: “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Why is that person really and continuingly blessed / happy? You see – if you read carefully – that it is about someone that is in need of help. Are you happy then? Yes, for sure: It is just when you can do nothing without God, then it is well with you. There is no other way! Which God is your Helper? The God of Jacob. This is where the covenant comes in, and grace. The covenant, because all the children of Israel are the progeny of Jacob. Grace, because it is not about the God of Abraham, but his grandchild, the deceiver of his father Isaac … O, that God is willing to be called by this Name, is a real encouragement! Now I dare call for help, I, who am no better than that deceiver! How well can this God help you? In the following verses there are a few of the characteristics and works mentioned of Him:
What do you think: is this God not worthy all your trust? What do you think: dare you trust Him? Again I ask your attention for the wicked. What sort of people are they? Not necessarily criminals. You could be one of them, while you are preparing for the Lord’s Supper … Search yourself; carefully! Prayerfully!
The believers where shown by symbols of the sacrifices, that their prayers were no less acceptable before God, than the loveliest incense and the most valuable sacrifices. Herein David finds the confirmation of his faith. Psalm 142 By verse 3 (then Thou knewest my path) we are taught: when we have tried every remedy and know not what to do, to rest satisfied with the conviction that God is acquainted with our afflictions, and condescends to care for us, as Abraham said — “The Lord will provide.” (Genesis 22:8.) Psalm 143 God’s justice means His goodness, whereby He is forced to protect His children. Psalm 144 God was David’s Instructor, Who taught him to fight, as we read in verse 1. In speaking in this way he acknowledged that he would not have been able to war, if he had not first become a new creation. What evidence of his acquaintance did he give when he fought against Goliath? The manner in which he attacked him. This could have been called ridiculous, if David had not been armed with the hidden power of God and had no need of man.
The prophet meditates on the wondrous wisdom and righteousness of God, which are here revealed, in the first place guiding the world, but especially in its upholding, protecting and ruling of the human beings. And so he arises to make known the praise of God. And after having praised His providence, he comes in the end to the particular mercy, which he shows to His believers David encourages himself and others in the duty of fruitfulness, so that all they that belong to God would praise Him. Because this is the purpose that he declares that God is He that blesses the human beings, so that He with holy thanksgiving should be honoured. He also calls upon them to continue in this way. For when God continues to bless us, it would not be right if we left off to praise Him. Psalm 146 The Psalmist says that they are blessed who are helped by God. He does not restrict those blessings of the believers to what they can feel or taste. As if there were no other way whereby they would be blessed, than when God in an open way testifies to be their Helper. But he says that their blessing is in their firm conviction, that they cannot be upheld except by God’s mercy. Psalm 147 This Psalm also invites the believers to praise God and that for two reasons. Namely because of His power, wisdom, goodness and other benefits that shine forth in the general guidance of the world and of heaven and earth. But above all because that He by particular mercy protects His church and maintains it and those that He had elected of His own free will. Yes, He raises those that are fallen, and gathers them that had been scattered abroad.
The more effectually to express how worthy God is to be praised in His works, he calls upon all creatures from above and below to sing His praises. He begins with angels, but immediately proceeds to address the brute creation and dumb elements, fire, hail, snow and ice, intimating, that there is no part of the world in which the praises of God are not to be heard, inasmuch as He everywhere gives proof of His power, goodness, and wisdom. He then comes to speak of men, whom God has constituted the proper heralds of His praises in this world. But as the unbelieving portion of them is both blind to the consideration of God’s works, and dumb to His praises, the Psalmist appeals to the children of Israel, who were privileged with a special discovery of God, as principal witnesses. Psalm 149 Although God’s people have nothing of the strength of the giant, and will not move a finger without Divine permission, and have a calm spirit, the Psalmist declares, that they have a splendid issue out of all their troubles. Psalm 150 As yet the Psalmist has addressed himself in his exhortations to the people who were conversant with the ceremonies under the law, now he turns to men in general, tacitly intimating that a time was coming when the same songs, which were then only heard in Judea, would resound in every quarter of the globe. And in this prediction we have been joined in the same symphony with the Jews, that we may worship God with constant sacrifices of praise, until being gathered into the kingdom of heaven, we sing with elect angels an eternal hallelujah. Psalm 147 and you According to the Psalmist, it is reasonable to praise God. It is suitable that we should praise Him. Why? The Psalm gives the answer:
O, reader of this Youth Magazine, I solemnly ask the question: is this God not worthy of your praise? Have you experienced that He is friendly and that He heals the broken in heart? That He is great in power and infinitely wise? That He delivers you, a lost one, and upholds you, burdened? Or is this all for you but words and ideas? Do they not make you remember the Divine characteristics? Do they not cause you to think what you have received from Him and experienced of His goodness? Again, I am asking your attention to point 9 (verse 6): the wicked. Who are they? The book of Psalms speaks so often about these people (From Psalm 1 and 86 times more). It’s time – near the end of a series of meditations on the Book of Psalms and nearly at the end of the publication of The Catechisant – that we ask ourselves: ‘Am I such a person?’ The Hebrew word has the meaning that someone is guilty and worthy of punishment. God’s Spirit convicts that we are guilty of breaking all God’s commandments and are worthy of eternal death! Don’t you see it like that? O, pray for the merciful work of God’s Spirit that you may see it as it is – and so to receive and desire forgiveness.
God has no delight in the strength of a horse or the legs of a man, verse 10 says. Strange, isn’t it? But when you read verse 11 as well, I think you will understand it more clearly. There is written: “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.” So it is not so much about the strength of the legs of men, or the strength of an animal. But it is about what people put their trust in. And here we see the crux of the matter of true worship:
You can also think of the confession of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 9. Jesus said to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” The apostle then writes: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” That is what God delights in: that you become weak, very weak. That you seek strength nowhere and from no-one, but (as Psalm 84 says) in Him. God magnifies His power in your weakness; His wisdom in your ignorance; His grace in your guilt. He magnifies all the work of His Son in miserable children of Adam. And … although it is not pleasant to be so weak, yet it is so good, so useful and in the end so rich, that I heartily wish that you may have all that. And while I am writing, I pray for myself too (and pray with me): “Lord make me poor, empty, weak! And make Christ all for me.”
From this tenfold heading and subscript it appears again how important it is to praise the LORD. The whole Book of Psalms is about that. For that purpose is all our singing, praying, thanking and confessing. Those that live without praise to God, have come short of their purpose. The word for ‘to sin’ in Hebrew means this: to come short of our purpose. In Psalm 147 I stated why we must praise God, now we have a list of who must praise Him. (1) All His angels, (2) all His hosts, (3) sun, (4) moon, (5) stars of light, (6) heaven of heavens, (7) waters above the heavens, (8) sea-monsters, (9) all deeps, (10) fire, (11) hail, (12) snow, (13) vapour, (14) stormy wind, (15) mountains, (16) all hills, (17) fruit trees, (18) all cedars, (19) beasts, (20) all cattle, (21) creeping things, (22) flying fowl, (23) kings of the earth, (24) all people, (25) princes, (26) all judges of the earth, (27) young men (28) maidens, (29) old men, (30) children. Everyone and everything. Why? Not only because He created them, (verse 5), but also because He rules all and everything (verses 6 & 13). In this Psalm there is a particular relationship between God and Israel: “He also exalteth the horn of His people, [that is] the praise of all His saints, even the children of Israel, a people near unto Him.” The most heavenly thing you can think of on earth is stated here: … near to Him … O, as a covenant people, to be a partaker of this blessing! 1 Praise God. From heavens praise the Lord, in heights praise to Him be. 2 All ye His angels, praise ye Him; His hosts all, praise Him ye. 3 O praise ye Him, both sun and moon, praise Him, all stars of light. 4 Ye heav’ns of heav’ns Him praise, and floods above the heavens’ height. 13 Let them God’s Name praise; for His Name alone is excellent: His glory reacheth far above the earth and firmament. 14 His people’s horn, the praise of all His saints, exalteth He; Ev’n Isr’el’s seed, a people near to Him. The Lord praise ye. Psalm 149 and you Two more Psalms and we have read the whole Book (if you at the end of this year still have followed my suggestion) and we have meditated on it. What is Psalm 149 about? It just continues with the previous Psalm, which called on the entire creation to praise God and which concluded with His particular people to whom God was near. About this people Psalm 149 writes. What ought this people do?
Well, is this the glorious work of the people of God? Yes, but then in a spiritual way. I shall (in italics) show you the views of the Dutch translators. In verse 6 is written, the high praises of God are in their mouth (namely the raising of the voice, that is, the preaching of God’s Word). A two-edged sword will be in their hand (This two-edged sword is God’s Word. It proceeds from the mouth of Christ. With this sword the believers overcome the devil, the world and the mighty ones of the world). They will punish peoples (This takes place when they preach against the heathen, against unbelieving idolatry and wickedness). They will bind kings (by preaching of punishment, restraining their sins and so bringing them under the yoke and submission of the Holy Gospel). They will execute upon them the judgment written (To deliver them from their idolatry and other sins, when they truly repent. But if they continue in their wickedness, to proclaim death and eternal damnation according to what is written in God’s Word, revealed in the books of the Holy Scriptures). Yes, that is ‘the glory of all His servants’: to preach the Gospel! 2 Let Isr’el in his Maker joy, and to Him praises sing: Let all that Sion’s children are be joyful in their King. 3 O let them unto His great name give praises in the dance; Let them with timbrel and with harp in songs His praise advance. 4 For God does pleasure take in those that His own people be; And He with His salvation the meek will beautify. Psalm 150 and you The last Psalm. If you have not understood for what purpose God made you and kept you, and if you are still asking: “Why am I in this world?”, or if you still do not comprehend what true happiness is, you will be able to find it all in this last Psalm. Where only is the praise of which God is so worthy, true? When it begins where Psalm 150 begins: in His sanctuary. Only there again we can learn to praise God. Where the sacrifice is. Not the sacrifice that I invent or produce, but which God has ordained and established and eventually He Himself brings: His Son on Golgotha. Scripture teaches us that no-one has ever praised God perfectly in words and deeds, but the Only Begotten Son of God. And the Scripture teaches us that the right praises of God (even although in this life it’s not perfect) can only be learned in the school of the Lord Jesus. When in His sanctuary we have made good use of our eyes and have listened carefully to the special revelation that we meet with, we do not close our eyes and ears for the works of God in creation, nature. The same verse that leads us to the sanctuary, also brings amazement when we see the clear sky (by day azure blue; by night arrayed with countless stars). Because God must also be praised for His wondrous might, wisdom and goodness. In verse 2 this is described in general words: ’His excellent greatness.’ Here you can think of everything of God’s might or His greatness in His Fatherly care. Remember hereby – to mention just one thing – what the Heidelberg Catechism says about it in answer 1: My faithful Saviour so preserves me, that without the will of my Heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head. 1 Praise ye the Lord. God’s praise within His sanctuary raise; And to Him in the firmament of His pow’r give ye praise. 2 Because of all His mighty acts, with praise Him magnify: O praise Him, as He does excel in glorious majesty. 3 Praise Him with trumpet’s sound; His praise with psaltery advance: 4 With timbrel, harp, string’d instruments, and organs, in the dance. 5 Praise Him on cymbals loud; Him praise on cymbals sounding high. 6 Let each thing breathing praise the Lord. Praise to the Lord give ye. Psalm 150 and you (once more) It is typical that in this last Psalm so many musical instruments are mentioned:
When you read in the Bible even more of what is written about these musical instruments in connection of praising and serving the LORD, cannot come to another conclusion than that the service of God is a joyful and cheerful service. God desires His children to be merry people. This 150th Psalm, and so the Book of Psalms, ends with the call: “Let everything that hath breath, praise the LORD.” And I cannot do better than to agree with this and to give you a hearty invitation to do that also. You have received your breath! Now, praise and magnify then your God, Who made you, Who cared for you, Who has given you a Saviour, Who has called you many times to Himself. A very solemn warning is also concealed in this last verse: what do you intend to do in your endless future, if you are not prepared to praise Him now? Only those that learn this heavenly work on earth, will be busy in it for ever. God the Father is worthy of all our honour and thanksgiving! His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is worthy of all our honour and thanksgiving! The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, is worthy of all our honour and thanksgiving! WORD OF THANKS Now the last number is before you, it is suitable for me to respectfully thank the LORD my unspeakably merciful God! Why?
Let us for all these people and all these things offer to God our thanksgiving. Now the last number is before you, two things remain:
I will conclude with the sub-title from Proverbs 8 verse 17 which was written on every cover page: THOSE THAT SEEK ME EARLY SHALL FIND ME And with the wish from Numbers 6 vers 24-26: THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE, AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEE, AND GIVE THEE PEACE Psalm 150 verse 1 Septuaginta (200 years before Chr.): αλληλουια αινειτε τον θεον εν τοις αγιοις αυτου αινειτε αυτον εν στερεωματι δυναμεως αυτου Vulgata (300 after Chr.): alleluia laudate dominum in sanctis eius laudate eum in firmamento virtutis eius. Luthertranslation (1540): Halelu ia. Lobet den HERRN in seinem Heiligthum / Lobet jn in der Feste seiner Macht. Geneva Bible (1560): Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye God in his Sanctuary: praise ye him in the firmament of his power. King James Version (1611): Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Dutch Statenvertaling (1637): Hallelujah! Looft God in Zijn heiligdom; looft Hem in het uitspansel Zijner sterkte! In all kinds of languages the Bible is translated, also Psalm 150 verse 1: Cebuano (Filipines): Dayegon ninyo si Jehova. Dayega ang Dios nga anaa sa iyang balang puluy-anan: Dayega siya diha sa kalangitan sa iyang gahum. Danish: Halleluja! pris Gud i hans Helligdom, pris ham i hans stærke Hvælving. Faroese: Halleluja! - Lovið Gudi í halgidómi Hansara, lovið Honum í sterka hvølvi Hansara! Finnish: Halleluja! Kiittäkäät Herraa hänen pyhässänsä: kiittäkäät häntä hänen väkevyytensä avaruudessa! French: Louez l’Eternel ! Louez Dieu dans son sanctuaire ! Louez-le dans l’étendue, où éclate sa puissance ! Irish: Alleluia. Molaigí Dia ina ionad naofa! Molaigí é i bhfirmimint a chumhachta! Kekchi (Maya-indianen): ¡Lok′oninbil taxak li Kācua′! Cheq′uehak xlok′al li Kācua′ sa′ lix templo. Ut chiq′uehek′ ta xlok′al sa′ li choxa li quixyīb riq′uin lix cuanquil. Xhosa: Haleluya! Dumisani uThixo engcweleni yakhe, Mdumiseni esibhakabhakeni samandla akhe. Icelandish: Halelúja. Lofið Guð í helgidómi hans, lofið hann í voldugri festingu hans! This is a great miracle of God’s goodness! But what is of greatest concern for you and me, is that the Bible is ‘translated’ in our heart. That we begin to understand the Holy Scriptures with a new and enlightened mind. Put in a different way: that the Holy Spirit – Who is actually the Writer of the whole Book of Psalms, yes, of the whole Bible – explains and applies what He means. And that He would work faith in us to keep it – so that it will be soul food, every day! Psalm 150 / Psalter 430 (As reminder to Springford) Verse 1 Hallelujah! Praise ye God! In His temple shout His laud. Praise Him in the wide extent Of His spacious firmament. Sing Jehovah’s praise uprightly. Praise Him for the plenitude Of His boundless magnitude. Praise Him for His deeds so mighty. * * * Verse 2 Praise Him with the trumpet sound, Let Jehovah’s praise abound. Praise Him with the psaltery, Harp unto His Majesty. Praise Him with the pipe and timbrel. Praise Him with stringed instruments. Organ forth His excellence, Praise Him with the sounding cymbal. * * * Verse 3 Let the clashing cymbals ring To the praise of God, the King. Praise Him with a mighty sound. Let your voices shake the ground With the praises of Jehovah. All that breathe, exalt the Lord. All ye men, His fame record. Great is God! Sing: HALLELUJAH! Yüklə 113,21 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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