BOOK 3 (LEVITICUS / SANCTUARY OF GOD) PSALM 73 – 89
The last several weeks, we skimmed Psalm 1 – 72, which was Book 1 (Genesis psalms, talking about the Sovereignty of God) and Book 2 (Exodus psalms, discussing the Redemption of God). Today, we'll look at how we have sanctuary in God. We can have refuge and rest if we rely on Him. This is what church/chapel is supposed to be, too. Being in the holy presence of God will comfort & encourage us.
PSALM 73 – RECEIVE ME TO GLORY
A title of this psalm is "The End Of The Wicked Contrasted With That Of The Righteous." The psalms often use comparison/contrast to show us the differences between evil and good.
Verses 24 & 25 state, "You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You." David Ruiz of Vineyard Canada wrote a song about this: "Though the mountains fall into the seas, questions asked may never be resolved.”
As we follow God's direction, we will receive glory from Him in due time. We need to be wary of getting rewarded on earth. Christ said in Matthew 6:1, "Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Sometimes God's glory is visible. 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14 "the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud (shekinah) and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple." I've heard it sometimes being visible in modern times. That's something I pray I see sometime in life. Here's a song based on the phrase "Whom have I but You?"
PSALM 74 – GOD REJECTED US FOREVER?
This psalm can have the title "An Appeal Against The Devastation Of The Land By The Enemy." Verses 1 & 2 state, "Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?"
Remember, if we don't compare Scripture with Scripture, we can get the wrong idea. If we receive Christ as Lord and Savior into our lives, God has NOT rejected us forever. Because He was the sacrifice for all of humankind's sin, past, present, and future, God's anger doesn't last for us.
