Sherry and I lived on Guam from January 1986 to June 1992. During that time, we had to batten down the hatches for three typhoons: Lynn in October of 1987, Roy in January 1988, and Russ in December 1990. We had heard stories of the destructive storms Karen (1962) and Pamela (1976) and how almost the whole island had to be rebuilt.
Background
Psalm 96 is the seventh 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, God’s people are called to sing a new song. That new song is found in the next Psalm (97).
Click here to read PSALM 95 in poetic form.Background
Psalm 95 is the sixth in the Numbers Book of the Psalms, which goes to Psalm 106. God’s rest is a major theme of these 17 Psalms, and this specific Psalm offers worship to God for the rest someday available when the Messiah comes. Although the children of Israel could not enter into God’s rest under Moses, there remains a rest to the people of God today through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:9).
Background
Psalm 94 is the fifth in the Numbers Book of the Psalms, which goes to Psalm 106. God’s rest is a major theme of these 17 Psalms, and this specific Psalm is a heartfelt prayer and request for God to help against the wicked. This prophesies that even though the Messiah will be under great attack, God’s comforts will delight his soul. God will be his defense and cut off his enemies.
In Part 1, we saw that God’s rest and peace comes through believing what He has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The work of God is to believe on the one He sent. That is how we cease from our own works to receive salvation and the righteousness of God. But how do we live restfully and peacefully? That takes a different kind of effort.
One day Sherry and I hosted a barbecue for our Bible fellowship on the crystal white sands of Guam’s Uruno Beach. Later, a few of us ventured out for a swim, and I made it to the top of the reef.
But I had not accounted for the swiftness of the tide. Suddenly, I found myself trapped on razor-sharp coral with the choice of being thrown out to sea or back onto the jagged shelf. I tried for what seemed like an hour to get enough leverage to go over the reef top, but each attempt ended with cut hands, legs, and feet.
Finally, nearing exhaustion, I ceased from my labors. At that point, thanks in large part to the prayers of those on shore, the sea picked me up and deposited me safely within the reef.