Solomon tells us that “a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing” (Proverbs 17:22, AMP ). God undoubtedly has a sense of humor; we need only look at some of the animals He created (it’s hard not to smile at the sight of a hippo, a monkey, or a puppy). Or think of some of the married couples you know: don’t you think God was smiling at the wedding as He looked ahead to the interaction of the wildly different personalities that will be living together?Posts Tagged ‘sovereignty’
say among the nations
I was reading Psalm 96, a wonderful call to praise God, and was struck by this phrase: “Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns.’” This psalm is full of imperatives: sing, declare, ascribe, worship — and then say. This psalm is about the majesty of God, praising Him for His glory and strength. In contrast to “all the gods of the nations” who are idols, the LORD, Jehovah, “made the heavens” (v. 5). Nations here usually refers to Gentiles, and some translations render the word heathens.
It got me wondering: of all the things that could be said to the heathen (that is, the lost), why The LORD reigns? We might be tempted to modernize this as “God rules!” — as in “our team rules; you’re a bunch of losers!” — but I don’t think that’s the intent here. Look at all of verse 10:…
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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