Today's Devotions

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Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Transforming this World: The Hope of Glory by NT Wright +

    Wright confronts the perspective that this world doesn’t matter, and that we live only to be in heaven. He shows Read More
  • What is Good in a World that Defies Hope: a talk by NT Wright +

    This is the second part of three talks by NT Wright at Harvard University in November, 2008 on the topic Read More
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Don  Carson

http://www.esvbible.org/Numbers+31

http://www.esvbible.org/Psalms+75-76

http://www.esvbible.org/Isaiah+23

http://www.esvbible.org/1+John+1

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS of corporate worship is recital, that is, a "re-telling" of the wonderful things that God has done. Hence Psalm 78:2-4: "I will utter hidden things, things from of old — what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done."

Similarly, if more briefly, Psalm 75:1: "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds." In fact, the New English Bible is a little closer to the Hebrew: "Thy name is brought very near to us in the story of thy wonderful deeds." God's "name" is part of his gracious self-disclosure. It is a revelation of who he is (Ex. 3:14; 34:5-7, 14). God's "name" then, is brought very near us in the story of his wonderful deeds: that is, who God is disclosed in the accounts of what he has done.

Thus the recital of what God has done is a means of grace to bring God near to his people. Believers who spend no time reviewing and pondering in their minds what God has done, whether they are alone and reading their Bibles or joining with other believers in corporate adoration, should not be surprised if they rarely sense that God is near.

The emphasis this psalm makes regarding God is that he is the sovereign disposer, the "disposer supreme" (as one commentator puts it). It is wonderfully stabilizing to us to rest in such a God. He declares, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly" (75:2). It is hard to imagine a category more suggestive of God's firm control than "the appointed time." Yet mere control without justice would be fatalism. This God, however, not only sets the appointed times, but judges uprightly (75:2). Further, in this broken world there are cataclysmic events that seem to threaten the entire social order. Elsewhere David ponders, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (11:3). But here we are reassured, for God himself declares, "When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm" (75:3). So the arrogant who may think themselves to be the pillars of society are duly warned: "Boast no more"(75:4). To the wicked, God says, "Do not lift your horns against heaven [like a ram tossing its head about in bold confidence]; do not speak with outstretched neck" (75:5).

Retell God's wonderful deeds and bring near his name.

Numbers 31; Psalms 75-76; Isaiah 23; 1 John 1

Reflections to Consider

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Publications

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Music

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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson +

    Eugene Peterson’s book, Eat This Book gets its name from Revelation 10:9-10 when John asks for the scroll containing God’s Read More
  • Interview with Eugene Peterson +

    On March 6, 2011, Eugene Peterson was interviewed on NPR concerning his new memoir, Pastor. In the book, Peterson described Read More
  • God is Personal: Eugene Peterson on prayer +

    The following is from Jesus Creed, Scot McKnight on Jesus and Orthdox faith in the 21st century. There is a Read More
  • The Working Pastor-Eugene Peterson +

    Eugene Peterson spends a few minutes discussing the importance of the pastor in communicating the gospel. He asks "How does Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Difficult People to Love +

    Loving others is not easy, Read More
  • The Surprise of His Love: Psalm 90 +

    Surprise us with love at daybreak; Read More
  • Does God Control Everything?: Tim Keller sermon +

    Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC, has an insightful discussion about free will, pre-destination and God's omnipotence, Read More
  • Christ In Everything +

    Do we care about each other as much as Christ does? Am I willing to love others, and sacrifice my Read More
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