Psalm 103:1-5 ESV
Genesis 1:1-31 (Sustainable Life)
Psalm 104:30 ESV
Micah 3:8 ESV
Numbers 27:18 ESV
Acts 2:1-13 ESV
Acts 2:14-21 ESV
Scripture for Life
As I sit here reading “Bless the Lord, O my soul” over and over again I am overwhelmed with God’s Presence!
In Psalm 103:1-5 David the Shepherd boy wrote:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
David spent years running from King Saul’s men in the wilderness. He knew pain and anguish and he also knew the best response to turning that pain was to turn to God.
David had learned a soul can only be fully satisfied by turning to God.
In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit created life to be sustainable (Genesis 1:1-31). Psalm 104:30 says, “When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”
In the Old Testament the Spirit spoke to prophets, priests, and kings. David is one example of a king who listened to God. But like all men, David was sinful. The Spirit of God reminded those who would listen of God’s holiness. Micah 3:8 tells us, “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.”
In Numbers 27:18 we learn, “So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.” Following Moses, Joshua was filled with the Spirit and was God’s chosen leader as Israel entered the Promised Land.
The Spirit of God was present in the Old Testament but following the Cross and Jesus’ Ascension to heaven a new age was ushered in by God.
The Spirit of God didn’t come to reside on earth until after Jesus ascended to heaven. We read in Acts 2:1-13, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
The remarkable thing about that is simply the miracle of the presence of the Spirit of God in our midst everywhere all the time. Even knowing that, I’m not sure we can fully understand in 2022 what that means. In order to put that in perspective we need to remember that early in the 1st Century the Spirit had not yet been released on earth.
When the Spirit of God was unleashed on earth all who were present were perplexed about what had just happened.
According to Acts 2:1-13 there were many people present who spoke in different languages. Prior to the Spirit coming they were unable to communicate. Clearly, God led people from many different places to that one spot, but when they got there they may not have known why God led them there.
In an instant, God released His Spirit on earth and all the people from different places no languages were suddenly able to communicate.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul.” (Psalm 103:1a)
When that happened they were able to tell each other about the mighty works of God they had witnessed.
It’s no wonder that some who had gathered there laughed about what was happening. The nay-sayers speculated about the event saying the people there must have had too much wine to drink.
I suppose that made as much sense as anything.
Since nothing like this had happened before, how else could they explain it.
Thankfully, this was Peter’s hour.
Peter had been equipped for moments like this. He WAS the rock who would gather the fold together.
God had prepared Peter, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” (Psalm 103:1a)
Peter's Sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2:14-21 says, “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
And so we remember Psalm 103:1a, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”
Today’s Spiritual Practice: Bless the Lord
Take time today to bless the Lord for all He has done in your life.
In God, Deborah
ความคิดเห็น