Praising the Lord

MEMORY VERSE: “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” —Psalm 104:33

PSALM 104:1, 5-8, 14-17

ALL those who worship the Lord will want to praise him for his wonderful works of creation and for the many other manifestations of his favor. The first section of today’s lesson reminds us particularly of God’s creative works, and of the wonderful provisions God has made for all his earthly creatures, including the lower animals.

Jeremiah 9:23,24 reads, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

We are awed by the greatness of the Lord as displayed in his creative works, but when we think of the sin, suffering, and death that is in the world we properly wonder about his loving-kindness. How can God’s loving-kindness be displayed in the death of a baby, or in the suffering and death of any human?

The answer to this question is to be found in God’s written Word. It is through his written Word that he reveals his grand design for the ultimate restoration of all to health and life—the young and the old—and then there will be adequate compensation for the hardships of today. That will be the time when the smile of God’s countenance will be upon all who seek to know and to do his will.

David wrote, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Ps. 8:3,4) David goes on to explain that when man was created he was given dominion over the earth, and God’s lower creation on the earth. However, Paul writes, “But now we see not yet all things put under him.”—Heb. 2:8

Through sin man forfeited life and his dominion over the earth, so that today he is a fallen creature. But David speaks of God “visiting” his human creatures, and this is a reference to the coming of Jesus as the world’s Savior, and to the subsequent establishment of his kingdom. So Paul while reminding us that we see not yet all things put under man, we “see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man”—Heb. 2:9

From this it is evident that God’s original purpose concerning man is yet to be accomplished through Jesus and his redemptive and kingdom work.

PSALM 103:1-5

The Hebrew word here translated “bless” means “to kneel in adoration.” The expression, “O my soul,” is properly used, for the word “soul” in the Bible denotes the entire being. When we remember the Lord’s benefits our whole being will naturally respond in praise to God for all that he has done for us.

One of the greatest of the Lord’s benefits is the fact that he forgiveth all our iniquities, and “healeth all thy diseases” Here again we are reminded that the world of mankind, made up of God’s human creation, is in a fallen, dying condition. None of us can stand before God in our own righteousness, but need his forgiveness of our iniquities. Nor does his forgiveness imply necessarily that he will at the present time heal all our diseases. This work of healing in the plan of God is reserved for a future age.

Verse 4 indicates the basis for forgiveness and of the promised healing: “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” This work of redemption was accomplished by Jesus when he died as the Redeemer and savior of the world. This again reminds us that man is fallen, and under condemnation to death. Faithful believers of the present age are redeemed from destruction, and exalted to live and reign with Christ. In the next age the world will be restored to life on the earth.

QUESTIONS

Is God’s loving-kindness displayed everywhere today?

Upon what basis will mankind be restored to life during the kingdom age?

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