Tag: Worship

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Journey Through Malachi: 1:1-14 – Symptoms of the Spiritually Shortsighted

INTRODUCTION

My family and I just returned from vacation yesterday. We went out west, visiting a couple of cities in Arizona before heading to Las Vegas for a few days. We saw the Grand Canyon and made a stop at the Hoover Dam.

We started out in Phoenix and then made our way to what ended up being my favorite part of the trip: hiking in and around Sedona. It’s truly stunning—pictures don’t do it justice. It’s one of those places you have to experience for yourself.

We all began with a relatively easy hike—just a couple of miles to the base of Bell Rock. Flat, scenic, and enjoyable for everyone.

Later that afternoon, Allison and I left the little ones behind and set off on a more intense hike: a 6-mile round trip that started at the Boynton Canyon Trailhead. About two miles in, we veered off onto an unmarked path that led us to some Indian caves and a rock formation hikers have nicknamed “The Subway.” You can see some photos on Allison’s Facebook page. It started out easy, but the final half mile was grueling.

I love hiking—being outdoors, surrounded by creation. But there’s a real danger in hiking—not a physical one, but a mental and spiritual one. You can become so focused on the path, on watching your feet, that you forget to stop and take in the view. You miss the beauty of where you are. The grandeur around you. The majesty of the mountains.

The same thing can happen spiritually.

We can become so focused on our day-to-day struggles, our routines, our work, that we forget to look up and see the greatness of God. That’s the message of Malachi.

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Exegetical Notes: Psalm 100

  • A psalm used in the temple to accompany sacrifices of praise.
  • Similar Psalms: 47; 93; 95-99.Celebrating God’s kingship, sovereignty, majesty, etc.
  • “God is not merely Creator and Ruler of the world. He is also Founder, Guardian, Lord, and Shepherd of His Church. His people should exhibit their sense of this relation, and especially give it expression in public worship,  in order that all the world may discover that this God is the only God, to adore whom, men of all lands should unite with the Church.” – John Peter Lange et al., A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Psalms (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008), 515.
  • “We have here, 1. A strong invitation to worship God; not that God needs us, or any thing we have or can do, but it is his will that we should serve the Lord, should devote ourselves to his service and employ ourselves in it; and that we should not only serve him in all instances of obedience to his law, but that we should come before his presence in the ordinances which he has appointed and in which he has promised to manifest himself (v. 2), that we should enter into his gates and into his courts (v. 4), that we should attend upon him among his servants, and keep there where he keeps court. In all acts of religious worship, whether in secret or in our families, we come into God’s presence, and serve him; but it is in public worship especially that we enter into his gates and into his courts. The people were not permitted to enter into the holy place; there the priests only went in to minister. But let the people be thankful for their place in the courts of God’s house, to which they were admitted and where they gave their attendance.” – Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 887.

1  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

  • This psalm was sung as people approached and entered into the temple for worship. See verse 4a.
  •  “Make a joyful noise” – One word in Hebrew which means “raise the noise”, or “to shout”. We might say, “sing loudly”.
  • “to the Lord” – God’s creation wasn’t meant to celebrate haphazardly, but to celebrate with one focus. Our celebration should be directed to The Lord. APP: It is often most easiest to celebrate when you’re in the presence of that which you wish to celebrate. Consider watching football on TV vs going to watch one in person.
  • “all the earth” – An all inclusive call. “All y’all” or “everybody up in here”. Maybe not now, but one day it will be. APP: Consider this your invitation to join in this choir.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing

Continue reading “Exegetical Notes: Psalm 100”

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What Happens Next? Revelation 14: Who Will You Worship?

“In Revelation 14, John continues describing vision two that began in chapter 4. He is now describing the end of a great drama (12:1–14:20) that explains why the consummation is necessary. This chapter has four scenes. The first one is in heaven, where the perfected 144,000 have arrived to worship the Lamb; the second is in the skies where three angels tell of coming judgment. The last two scenes describe Christ’s return for his people as a gathering of grain and his judgment on the wicked as a gathering of grapes for treading.” – Kendell H. Easley, Revelation, vol. 12, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 244.

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Choices

Each day we make hundreds, if not thousands, of choices. Think about it, in this one day you’ve chosen when to get up, where you’re going, what clothes to wear, where to eat, what to do, how to relax, how to prepare for events or impending responsibilities, etc. This list could go on for pages.

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