Sunday: The Lord Has Made Us
Daily Lesson for Sunday 14th of January 2024
Read Psalms 8:1-9 and Psalms 100:1-5. How are God and people portrayed in these psalms? What do these psalms reveal about God’s character?
Creation plays a crucial role in the Psalms, in upholding God’s sovereignty. The heavens, which are “His handiwork,” proclaim His glory and power (Psalms 19:1-4, Psalms 97:6). God’s name is majestic in all the earth (Psalms 8:1,9).
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
The Lord has created everything; He has no beginning (Psalms 93:2) and no end (Psalms 102:25-27). He is everlasting and superior over the gods of the nations, which are only “the work of men’s hands” (Psalms 115:4), nothing more. The idols “have hands, but they handle not” (Psalms 115:7); as for the Lord, “in his hand are the deep places of the earth . . . and his hands formed the dry land” (Psalms 95:4-5).
Several psalms portray God’s power over the forces in nature that other nations believed to be divine (e.g. Psalms 29:1-11, Psalms 93:1-5, and Psalms 104:1-35). These psalms reassert the claim that the Lord reigns over all creation and is supreme in power and dignity. Psalms 100:3 strikes one subtle form of idolatry—self-reliance, stressing that God made us, “and not we ourselves.”
Creation also testifies to God’s love. Everything that exists owes its existence to God, who also sustains life (Psalms 95:7, Psalms 147:4-9). Notice that God not only granted people existence but He also made ancient Israel “His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalms 100:3, NKJV). The notion of “His people” and “His sheep” reveals God’s desire for a close relationship with His people.
Only the Creator has the power to bless and cause His people to increase, and thus, He is the only One worthy of their worship and trust. Numerous psalms call everything that has breath, all the earth, the sea, and everything in it to shout for joy before the Lord.
The glory of God is seen in the creation, even in the fallen earthly creation, and the Psalms point us to God alone as worthy of worship.
“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalms 8:4, NKJV). What is your response to God as your Creator? When God calls the stars by their names (Psalms 147:4), how much more do you think God cares for you?
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In Psalm 8:4, the writer marvels at the significance of humans in the midst of God's creation, expressing awe and wonder at God's care for humanity. The psalmist contemplates the grandeur of the heavens and the earth, feeling small in comparison, yet recognizing that God has crowned humans with glory and honor, giving them a special place in creation.
This verse emphasizes the unique and privileged position of humanity in God's creation, highlighting the divine care and attention given to mankind. It underscores the intimate relationship between God and humanity, as well as the responsibility entrusted to humans as stewards of the earth.
I like the emphasis that Eugene Peterson brings out in his rendition of this psalm. He made us; we didn’t make him.
Perhaps it is a reminder for us we get tied up in our discussions on the nature of the Godhead that we are the created and it is not up to us to try and define the creator.
Not We Ourselves
~inspired by Psalm 100:3
The speck of sperm propelled ahead to join the egg
Not we ourselves
The first thumping burst of blood into fetal veins
Not we ourselves
The crying squint of seeing eyes carried up, up to receiving arms
Not we ourselves
The muscles' stretch and crawl to stand, and reach, moving forward
Not we ourselves
The reach of mind to dream the microchip, rocket, wheel, and turning screw
Not we ourselves
The chord's vibration, the tones that blend, that draw forth water from the heart
Not we ourselves
The flit of color, the flash of feather, the glint of fin in gold and red
Not we ourselves
The burn of sun, unfurling green, juicy life for food, for any
Not we ourselves
The seed then dropping, falling, falling, precious Speck to earth awaiting
Not we ourselves
To Bethlehem's stall, to Calvary's gall, once for all, God's Answer, growing
Not we ourselves.
Gal. 3:16 (NIV)
That was beautiful!!!
Beautiful Esther! Thanks for sharing. I work with my local crisis pregnancy center and I think they would love this, would you mind if I shared it with the director? I would credit you.
All credit to our amazing Lord Jesus, yes thank you Tammy 🙏🏻
Amazing example of creation and God's power!
This is Awesome
Awesome! Thanks so much!
Thank you Esther that was beautifully inspired.
Thank the Lord our God.
God is still sovereign in this world of depravity. When we get a cut or a bruise, we start to bleed, but God made our wonderful bodies to start healing from inside. Within seconds after getting a cut blood cells start clumping together to form a clot. This is what becomes a scab as they dry. These special blood cells called platelets help us not to bleed profusely. Our God pays attention to details and He continues to do so. Daily pay attention to nature and you will realize and have a deeper appreciation “That this is our Fathers world.”
The Psalms reminds us that God loves each of us.
God = Love
One of the biggest lies of Satan is that God only cares for certain individuals.
May I share my thoughts - Considering that all Truth about God is imparted by the Holy Spirit, this truth is unassailable because it’s power is not vested in man’s ways or understanding. It is vested in the Creator’s way how to reveal to man his true origin and purpose – Psalm 8:2; 9.
People living all over the world still struggle with accepting this Truth that man was made by the Creator, establishing earth for man to dwell in to show the universe "WHO HE IS" - His Glory! God reclaimed this earth and all that is within from His adversary, and our Creator wants man to know that it is HE who made us, that it is He which deserves our Praise – Psalm 19.
Psalm 19, written by David, expresses his love and admiration for the God who revealed Himself to him. I encourages you to read it in its fullness; it touches the core of the believer's heart. Meditate on what was revealed to the man, David; these are the words when God's Spirit reveals His Glory to man.
I will always be in awe about God revealing Himself to man; letting us understand the wonder and greatness of Him who made us, calling us His children! Though our Creator reveals His Majesty to His Creation through the heart touched by His Spirit, there will remain great mystery and wonder for us to contemplate - Gen.1:26-31.
If we believe the universal, corporate Ecclesia is the bride and body of Christ, are we then not all purposed for the reflection of the Image of our Creator in all things pertaining to life; living life as it was meant to be from the Beginning? God’s adversary does not want to give up his dominion over earth, but he has lost this fight – John 12:31; Eph.1:19-23.
It is the new man, found born again and living by the Spirit of the Father in Christ Jesus, who will inhabit the earth made anew for him – Gen.26, 28; Rev.21:1-8. Then we will experience and understand the bigger picture that man was made for the purpose to reflect the Image of his Maker - reflecting His Glory to all the host living in heaven and throughout the Universe – Psalm 8:4; Psalm 51:10-12.
One thing that just hit me when I read Psalm 8 that God shared some of His power with His creation - giving us rulership on earth. When you really think about that, it's amazing! How many important people want to share with others. But God does and He sets an example for us as leaders too.
God called everything in to existence he speaks to the earth 🌎 it brings forth when he wanted to the sea creature he speaks to the water it brings forth when he wanted to create man He spoke amongst them selves let us make man in our image and in our likeness every thing has its natral habitat you take the plant from the soil leave it unattended it dies you take the creature from the sea leave it unattended it dies you disconnected man from God he dies everything 💙 has its true source 💙 of connection. Yet all life source stems from The living God YAHWEH. God was willing to get Himself dirty we were the only object or subject of creation that God was intently connected with it was hands on yet we are the one causing Him the most pain and He died 💔 and and rose again for our salvation hallelujah His love for us is stronger than death. Abide in Me and I in you so shall you bear much fruit and you will be my desiples in this my father is glorified when you bear much fruit ♥️ the fruit of the Spirit we are living there's planted in the garden in the soil of the Lord do not be up rooted stay in your natral habitat. Lest you die.