Through the Bible - Psalm 7-12, Acts 18
Good morning,
Yesterday's New Testament reading in Acts and today's Old Testament readings in Psalms go well together. For today's verse we'll go to Acts 17 and I'll paste Psalm 8, one of my favorites at the end of the devotional.
In Acts 17 Paul has been persecuted, stoned and beaten but he will not shy away or stray from delivering his message about the greatness of God. In the midst of trying circumstances he speaks of the wonder, the glory of the God that has created all things and gives life to every creature.
Acts 17:24 "He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can't serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. NLT
Reading, hearing those words "he is Lord of heaven and earth", and "made the earth and everything in it", and "he gives life and breath to everything" should stir us. Paul stood in awe in wonder of Him as the psalmist's did in so many of the psalms.
Many of these psalms have been made into hymns and praise songs that we sing today in our churches. The psalms have also inspired many songwriters to create "new songs" from how these words spoke to them.
I'm reminded of the praise song "God of Wonders" by Third Day. Here are some of the words. If you know the song sing it in your heart or out loud as a prayer, a praise or both as you prepare for worship this weekend. Prepare your hearts that the "spoken Word" would speak to you this weekend.
God of Wonders
Lord of Heaven and Earth,
Lord of all creation
Of the water, earth and sky
The Heavens are your Tabernacle
Glory To the Lord on high
God of wonders
Beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe
Declares your majesty
You are holy, holy
Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
And when I stumble into darkness
I will call your name by night
Hallelujah (to the lord of heaven and earth)
Precious Lord,
Reveal your heart to me
Father hold me, hold me
The Universe
Declares your majesty
You are Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy
What other verses, psalms, songs come to your mind today? Share them with someone.
Addressing the Areopagus
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' NKJV
Ps 8:1-9:1
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.
8 1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are people that you should think about them,
mere mortals that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are people that you should think about them,
mere mortals that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! NLT
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