We’ve been staying with Sherry’s Dad, her sister, and our nephew for nearly two weeks. It was like being “home” again, because we had lived here for five years previously. Palos Verdes, California, is one of my favorite places in the world: pristine beaches, rugged cliffs, expansive ocean views, and cool ocean breezes. The best thing though, is being with people you love. We got to spend some quality time with family, and also visit old friends. Life is good.
Living on earth for many decades can bring insight when a person is meek to the Creator. The greatest man who ever lived was only here for three decades, and yet he knew the Creator as a loving Father and made this eternal Spirit known to others. To understand the things of God, let’s consider four questions that every human will face during our brief existence in this world. Where did I come from? Why am I here? Why must I die? Where will I go after death?
Background
Psalm 135 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Psalms 135 and 136 both offer praise to God for His greatness. They both have a similar structure. Each verse of Psalm 136 includes a chorus “For His mercy endureth for ever,” which shows the musical nature of this Psalm.
Background
Psalm 104 is the fifteenth in the Numbers Book of the Psalms, which goes to Psalm 106. God’s rest is a major theme of these 17 Psalms, and in this specific Psalm, we see the Messiah coming in power and glory. God has foreknowledge, and He knew that His Son would redeem mankind and restore all creation to God’s blessings and peace. Thus, the Father set things in order knowing what Jesus Christ would someday do (Colossians 1:15-20). This Psalm parallels God’s setting the heavens and earth in order as recorded in Genesis 1.
We have seen that Job endured many attacks and held fast to his integrity before God. After Job remained faithful to his Creator, God gave him great understanding about the promised mediator and redeemer, the Messiah.
Background
This Psalm is a beautiful contrast between the Messiah (who is upright and reverent to God), and natural men (who follow their own devices and plans).
Background
Before God had His prophets write down His Word, God wrote it himself in the heavens. The stars, planets, and heavenly bodies describe the coming Messiah and the enemy that he would overcome. See “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God” and “We Can Trust God’s Word, Part 1” for more detail.
Background
This Psalm was well known to Jesus Christ. He quotes verse 2 in Matthew 21:16 in response to the chief priests and scribes being displeased that the people said “Hosanna to the Son of David.” These people were in the temple and praising God for sending the Messiah, for Jesus Christ had just entered in triumph to Jerusalem.
We reunited with our friend Dawn at the Witness of God’s Creation gathering on our recent trip to Montana. (See also Gene’s articles on “Our Father’s Loving Design”.) She wrote to us a bit of the blessings she received there, and she gave me permission to share them with you. Read and enjoy!
