SOAP 05/23/2015; Psalm 24:1

Today's reading: Psalm 24

S) "¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it."

Psalm 24:1 (NASB)

O) This is the sovereignty of God, perhaps most simply stated. The LORD created it all, and therefore it all belongs to Him. In this psalm, David started by setting God above all else. He started by describing that the LORD is holy, even if he didn't use the word holy. When there is one before all else, then that is the One. When there is a creator of every other thing that exists, then that is the Creator. Put another way, the LORD is the only existence that was not created. In that sense, He is also the only being that has never owed existence to another. That is how He is holy, and that gives us a glimpse of why He is sovereign.

A) In the rest of this psalm, David made it clear that there was a separation between the LORD and His creation, asking how the two can be reconciled. He made it clear that God expects a certain standard (see v.4), but also he concluded that blessing and righteousness and salvation, were all gifts to be received from the LORD, our God. This bore out through the rest of the Bible and history, as we see Jesus fulfilling that same criteria. The offer of salvation through Jesus Christ is still a gift to be received. Jesus made it clear that He still expects obedience (see John 14:15). Similarly, the sovereignty of the LORD has not changed, either. God is still the Creator. It is both humbling, and comforting, to remember that His character has not changed. As it has been, it still is, and it ever shall be.

P) Father, the earth is Yours, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. You are altogether holy. By Your very will, You created all things. You created things that create things, and all of creation is from You. Thank You, for the things You have created that have not changed. Thank You for trees and sunsets. Thank You for marriage and procreation. Also, thank You for the things Your creation has created. We have many modern advances with things like penicillin and epinephrine pens. We have cameras and vacation days. Everything around me was created, and has its roots in Your creation. You inspire the minds of great inventors, and You created things that simply never got better. And then there are the people You created, who are very much Yours. There are a lot of loved people in my life, who do not have a right relationship with You, Father God. But, I confess that You are good. In Your mercy, soften their hearts to the call of the Holy Spirit. In Your grace, prompt me to obedience in sharing the gospel and incarnating Christ Jesus to them. Let Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.