Sabbath: In the Psalms: Part 2
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 24th of May 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Psalms 46:1-11, Jeremiah 4:23-26, Psalms 47:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Psalms 75:1-10, Revelation 14:6-12.
Memory Text:
“Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth. Selah” (Psalms 67:3-4, NKJV).
When thinking of final events, we tend to focus on the beasts and the powers of Revelation. And, of course, they have a big role—an important one, too. Otherwise, God would not have put them in the Bible for us to understand them (see Revelation 1:3).
Prophecy, however, also deals with key issues associated with sin and suffering, judgment, the battle between good and evil, the nature of justice and injustice, persecution, and more.
The Psalms also deal with these issues in great depth, exploring nearly every possible human emotion—from dark despondency to unbridled joy. We see Israel preparing for battle against the forces of darkness. We read about individuals wrestling with the question of why doesn’t God address evil more directly and immediately, a question that no doubt we all have asked. We are directed to the sanctuary for answers, and there also are repeated appeals to God’s status as Creator. Are these not issues and questions that we, in our context today, wrestle with, as well?
Of course, this is why we will continue unpacking the book of Psalms in order to learn more about these crucial truths.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 31.
(19)
Praise is one of the great recurring themes in the Psalms, but we sometimes overlook its implications, or limit it to the recitation of praise phrases in our liturgy, such as in "The Old Hundredth" or Doxology.
Sometimes it appears that God either demands or commands us to praise him. Certainly, if you read the Psalms somewhat naively, you can think that.
There are a couple of things we should consider. A simple illustration may help. Every year there is a Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Usually, the photo that wins the competition is outstanding. The judges will sometimes say statements like, "The subject commands your attention". Now a photograph is an inanimate object and cannot command you to do anything. But, "command" is a metaphor for the focus and the attention is deserves. There is a corollary to this. I look at these outstanding photographs and they inspire me to go out and take my own photographs. They are not the same, and the subject matter may be entirely different, but in my own way I am praising the photograph because it has inspired me to do better.
God wants us to praise him, not because he is a megalomaniac deity, but because of the inspiration he gives to us in our interaction with others. Praise is much more than poetry or liturgy. Our praise to God should flavour our lives.
If you would like a bit of reading on the topic try C S Lewis, "A Word about Praising, "Reflections on the Psalms"
The end of time prophecy (Eschatology) is terribly feared and avoided by some Bible readers. They see this kind of prophecy as gloom and doom which is characterised by tribulations, persecutions, wars, destruction, disasters, and death. This view is far from being complete. The memory text for lesson 8 (Psalm 67:3–4) tells us otherwise.
“Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah” (Psalms 67:3-4, NKJV).
Examining this passage, one can easily see the repetition in verse 3, “Let all the people praise you”. This is a universal praise. The Psalmist is foretelling the day when the salvation gospel shall reach all the ends of the earth. Far from being gloom and doom, verse 4, says that all the redeemed of God will come from all nations and worship God with gladness because of His righteous judgment. The final judgment is cause for gladness. The injustices, oppressions, and persecutions will be no more. God will establish a righteous kingdom ruled by divine justice. As Seventh Day Adventists, this Psalm resonates deeply well with three angels’ messages (Revelation 14) which call all peoples of the earth to worship and fear God for the hour of judgment is coming. This Psalm feels us with sweet hopes; we do not need to fear of the end-time prophecy for God will establish a kingdom ruled by righteousness and compassion.
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10, NLT).
This week’s selection of texts—especially from Psalms, Jeremiah, and Revelation—paints a powerful and balanced picture of God’s final work in history. While much of end-time focus often goes to the beasts and powers of Revelation, the real core of prophecy is deeper: it addresses the human condition, God’s justice, and the hope of deliverance.
The Psalms remind us that God is not distant. He is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46), actively governing the nations (Psalm 67), and worthy of universal praise and trust (Psalm 47, 75). These poetic scriptures touch not only the intellect but also the heart — helping us process fear, injustice, and longing for God’s intervention.
Jeremiah’s vision of the earth in chaos (Jeremiah 4) parallels the devastation that sin brings, while 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 offers the beautiful hope of resurrection and reunion at Christ’s return.
Finally, Revelation 14:6-12 calls us to faithfulness in the face of coming judgment — to worship the Creator and stand firm.
Together, these texts shift our focus from fear to faith, from confusion to clarity, and from judgment to joyful expectation. The call is clear: let all people praise God — because He is just, sovereign, and soon to return.
Radio broadcast on one of the BBC stations by a panel of Church of England theologians who scoffed at those who expect an imminent return of Christ. One of them said, “These people have been waiting for 2000 years now. And each generation keeps looking for Jesus to return in their generation.” Sneeringly, he said, “But Jesus always lets them down. He never comes.” What he didn’t realize was that his very scoffing may have been a fulfillment of this very prophecy.
judgment.
From Scripture we know that life and history are heading somewhere as per bible prophecy. We believers know that we are living in the last days. The Last Days started with the first coming of Jesus and will continue until the end of the age. Christians are looking for the blessed hope, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ as profecied in bible he is coming to make a judgement.
The Psalms are real and visceral. You can feel the ethos and pathos of the authors in their words. They remind me that these were real people that struggled with and celebrated many of the same issues we face today.
The Psalms remind me that you don't have to be a "Superhero" to speak to and be used by God. They remind me that God can handle even our frustration with Him, while also reminding me of the frustration I must cause Him. Yet, through it all, God remains the one ever present, ever constant, source of refuge, comfort, strength, joy and peace. He most definitely is, and always will be worthy of our highest devotion and praise.
Who does not have fights in life? Life is a struggling battle. And yet, the most intense battle occurs within ourselves. Thank God there is a way out: Jesus!
When the Psalmist says let the people praise you, oh God, it's not a blind call but a call seeing all the Good God has done. When He says "Be still and know" Psalm 46:10, this knowledge of who He is is what drives us into wanting to praise Him.