The Lord Delights in His People

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Lord Delights in His People

Date: Dec. 19, 2016

Passage

Psalm 149:1-9 (ESV)

1   Praise the LORD!
  Sing to the LORD a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2   Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3   Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4   For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
5   Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
6   Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
7   to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
8   to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9   to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
  Praise the LORD!

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 149:6

Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,

First, he crowns the humble with salvation (1-5). The people of God should gather together to sing and dance and make music before the Lord. We are his children. Children are humble. They can dance before the Lord in simplicity and sincerity. King David once danced before the Lord. His wife despised him for this, but God was pleased. God wants his people to be joyful. When we come to him with humble hearts, full of love and trust, eager to accept his grace, he crowns us with salvation.

Second, a double-edged sword (6-9). God has work for his people to do. It is not always pleasant work. He called Israel of the Old Testament to be his instrument to execute judgment on enemies of God. He calls the Israel of the New Testament to do battle with Satan with the double-edged sword of the Spirit--which is the word of God (Eph 6:17;Heb 4:12).

Prayer: Lord, help me to praise you with a new song and a fighting spirit. Give me a humble, joyful and obedient heart.

One Word: Let us rejoice in the Lord our Maker

Complacent or Victorious?

Revelation 3:1-13

Key Verse: 3:5

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Today's Question

How is Christ exalted?

See answer and references