YEAR 1, WEEK 35, Day 7, Sunday, 1 September 2024

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=psalm+75

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 1 September 2024:

Psalm 75:1 — We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.

One of the most important secrets to contentment is genuine thankfulness to the LORD for all circumstances. This comes from knowing what God has done, what He is doing, and what He will ultimately do in His perfect Providence. It comes from the reality of God’s perfectly loving, perfectly Sovereign presence in your life as He works all things out for His perfect purpose in accordance with His perfect promises. If your shelter and foundation is Christ, you have absolutely no reason to be discouraged or ungrateful.

• Romans 8:28-29 — And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — …give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• Philippians 4:4-6 — Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This Psalm was given “to the choirmaster.” Paul, who said he had learned the secret of contentment and inner joy and peace, taught that we should be a people of continual songs of thanksgiving and praise:

• Ephesians 5:18-20 – “…be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….”
• Colossians 3:16 — Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Psalm 75 is another song of Asaph to give thanks, but thankfulness about what? “We give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wonderous deeds.” How can we, and why should we, sing joyful songs of praise and thanksgiving amid life’s obvious trials and afflictions? Because His name is near. In the Bible God’s “name” is not just a reference to His title, it is speaking of the reality of who He is, His character and His nature. Rejoice! God is with us; He is in complete control; He loves us perfectly, promises to never leave or forsake us (see Romans 8), and He promises to bring about a goodness far beyond our comprehension or imagination through all of our circumstances. And the psalmist reminds us that He has already demonstrated His goodness in our lives, and our songs will help remind us of that. If you haven’t developed the habit of singing songs of praise to yourself, start today and be encouraged.

Psalm 75:2, 10 — “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity.” … I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

Trust God when you are persecuted to not only see you through it but also to deal accordingly with those you persecute you in His perfect timing. Don’t worry, God will deal with the issue and those involved far better than you could ever do or even imagine. Rather than getting bitter, rejoice, again in song, that God is faithful.

Also, rejoice and give thanks that the same God who will destroy sin and iniquity in the world, will also remove from within you the sin with which you still struggle. You are no longer in bondage to sin, though you still might struggle with sin – it doesn’t own you. Resist temptation, but don’t focus on temptation, rather focus on Jesus. He is the Author and Perfector of your faith. Remember, the more you look to Jesus, the more you will look like Jesus.

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 — And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 1 September 2024: Today, choose an uplifting hymn or worship song to memorize and sing to yourself regularly.