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SHOUT for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 WORSHIP the Lord with gladness;
COME before him with joyful songs.
3 KNOW that the Lord is God.
It is he who MADE us, and we are his[a];
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 ENTER his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
GIVE THANKS to him and PRAISE his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love ENDURES forever;
His faithfulness CONTINUES through all generations.
This Psalm reminds me of the times long ago, in my good old "Army Days," when our Bible study group got together at our Base's hospital chapel. We would be around 3 or 4 guys and "Sister Silvestre". We would start out by singing this Psalm. I still remember the melody. When I entered Bible college, we also studied Psalms, and we were taught to "look for the verbs that indicate 'action" and go from there. What is God telling us through King David and the Holy Spirit who is guiding?
Here I have CAPITALIZED the action verbs. At Bible college, we were taught "diagrammatic analysis," which is kind of similar. Here we see 10 verbs. How are these 10 verbs connected to believers? How are these connected to God? Well, let's see. As a recent graduate, I'll put into practice what I learned to share it with all of you.
"SHOUT" (for joy) We can shout, using a loud voice to indicate joy and gladness. One could also do it with an instrument known as a shofar (a ram's horn or a horn from an African antelope known as a "kudu" We use our breath and vocal cords to shout, with a shofar; only the breath is used while the "shout" is produced by the shofar itself. Our college professors taught us some of the history of Israel and the festivities, and in the festival of "Yom Teruah", shofars were used to proclaim "a shout for the coming king." All born-again believers should "shout with gladness and joy" that we have eternal life through Jesus Christ.
WORSHIP (The LORD) Worship can be through coming together as a congregation, singing praises, or even studying the Bible. In the Hebrew text, it reads: "serve." So, "serving" is part of "worshipping." When we serve as Jesus served, then, we are showing true "worship"
COME (before) before who? We come before our KING. and sing songs of joy and gladness. In the Temple period, the songs were the Psalms, so singing the Psalms is considered worship and service.
KNOW: know what? The LORD is GOD. Knowledge is understanding, so to "know" is to "understand" that the LORD is God. Anytime that "LORD" appears in the Bible, in all capitals, it is the most sacred name YHVH. A lot of good information is learned in "Old Testament Survey" (Bible 101). Jesus Christ is LORD.
MADE: (who made who?) God made US. He made us in his own image, a perfect "shadow" of HIS eternal and sinless being. Yet through sin, man became an "imperfect shadow," a "fallen shadow." The name "Adam" comes from "Adamah" (dust), so we were all made from the dust of the Earth. So, God pronounced the words: "From dust you were brought forth, and to the dust you will return." But Jesus Christ will raise up all who "sleep in the dust of the Earth" in the end days. Jesus came the "2nd Adam" to pay the price of sin committed by the "1st Adam." All born-again believers are considered the sheep of HIS pasture, and Jesus Christ is our "Good Shepherd" who leads us.
ENTER (enter where?) His gates are the gates of our places of worship. And also, in Heaven, we have the 12 gates that are part of the Holy City. In both places, we sing praises and give thanks to God for all of his blessings. The gates come first; beyond the gates are the courts.
GIVE THANKS, AND PRAISE; We give thanks and should give thanks all the time for his blessings, and give praises, praises are songs of joy, with or without music.
ENDURES (what endures?) His Love is forever. That is enough to give thanks and praise. Forever is exactly that, no end in sight. So, 1 million years from now, we will still count on his love and be in His presence.
CONTINUES (What continues?) His faithfulness. He is faithful to care for us for generations and generations. As he was faithful toward our ancestors, to care for them, as He was faithful to continue loving His people, despite rebellion, despite our sinfulness, He will continue to be faithful forever. We can say "Amen" to that. "Amen" comes from "Emunah" (faith). Yes, a little bit of Hebrew was also taught in Bible 101. It helps a lot.
Just a servant (no more, no less)
2 WORSHIP the Lord with gladness;
COME before him with joyful songs.
3 KNOW that the Lord is God.
It is he who MADE us, and we are his[a];
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 ENTER his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
GIVE THANKS to him and PRAISE his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love ENDURES forever;
His faithfulness CONTINUES through all generations.
This Psalm reminds me of the times long ago, in my good old "Army Days," when our Bible study group got together at our Base's hospital chapel. We would be around 3 or 4 guys and "Sister Silvestre". We would start out by singing this Psalm. I still remember the melody. When I entered Bible college, we also studied Psalms, and we were taught to "look for the verbs that indicate 'action" and go from there. What is God telling us through King David and the Holy Spirit who is guiding?
Here I have CAPITALIZED the action verbs. At Bible college, we were taught "diagrammatic analysis," which is kind of similar. Here we see 10 verbs. How are these 10 verbs connected to believers? How are these connected to God? Well, let's see. As a recent graduate, I'll put into practice what I learned to share it with all of you.
"SHOUT" (for joy) We can shout, using a loud voice to indicate joy and gladness. One could also do it with an instrument known as a shofar (a ram's horn or a horn from an African antelope known as a "kudu" We use our breath and vocal cords to shout, with a shofar; only the breath is used while the "shout" is produced by the shofar itself. Our college professors taught us some of the history of Israel and the festivities, and in the festival of "Yom Teruah", shofars were used to proclaim "a shout for the coming king." All born-again believers should "shout with gladness and joy" that we have eternal life through Jesus Christ.
WORSHIP (The LORD) Worship can be through coming together as a congregation, singing praises, or even studying the Bible. In the Hebrew text, it reads: "serve." So, "serving" is part of "worshipping." When we serve as Jesus served, then, we are showing true "worship"
COME (before) before who? We come before our KING. and sing songs of joy and gladness. In the Temple period, the songs were the Psalms, so singing the Psalms is considered worship and service.
KNOW: know what? The LORD is GOD. Knowledge is understanding, so to "know" is to "understand" that the LORD is God. Anytime that "LORD" appears in the Bible, in all capitals, it is the most sacred name YHVH. A lot of good information is learned in "Old Testament Survey" (Bible 101). Jesus Christ is LORD.
MADE: (who made who?) God made US. He made us in his own image, a perfect "shadow" of HIS eternal and sinless being. Yet through sin, man became an "imperfect shadow," a "fallen shadow." The name "Adam" comes from "Adamah" (dust), so we were all made from the dust of the Earth. So, God pronounced the words: "From dust you were brought forth, and to the dust you will return." But Jesus Christ will raise up all who "sleep in the dust of the Earth" in the end days. Jesus came the "2nd Adam" to pay the price of sin committed by the "1st Adam." All born-again believers are considered the sheep of HIS pasture, and Jesus Christ is our "Good Shepherd" who leads us.
ENTER (enter where?) His gates are the gates of our places of worship. And also, in Heaven, we have the 12 gates that are part of the Holy City. In both places, we sing praises and give thanks to God for all of his blessings. The gates come first; beyond the gates are the courts.
GIVE THANKS, AND PRAISE; We give thanks and should give thanks all the time for his blessings, and give praises, praises are songs of joy, with or without music.
ENDURES (what endures?) His Love is forever. That is enough to give thanks and praise. Forever is exactly that, no end in sight. So, 1 million years from now, we will still count on his love and be in His presence.
CONTINUES (What continues?) His faithfulness. He is faithful to care for us for generations and generations. As he was faithful toward our ancestors, to care for them, as He was faithful to continue loving His people, despite rebellion, despite our sinfulness, He will continue to be faithful forever. We can say "Amen" to that. "Amen" comes from "Emunah" (faith). Yes, a little bit of Hebrew was also taught in Bible 101. It helps a lot.
Just a servant (no more, no less)