7-29-06 Psalms 9:1, 2

Psalms 9:1, 2 (KJ21)
(To the chief musician: Upon Muthlabben. A Psalm of David)

I will praise Thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou Most High.

Psalms 9:1, 2 (NAS)
(For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.)

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders. I will be glad and exult in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High.

Psalms 9:1, 2 (NIVUS)
For the director of music. To the tune of "The Death of the Son." A psalm of David.

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalms 9:1, 2 (NLT)
(For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune "Death of the Son.")

I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

Singers and musicians are usually held in high regard and are eminent. That is why TV shows such as "American Idol" are so popular. These people glitter and seem brighter than the average. They display confidence and live lives full of splendor.

Adonai chose musicians and singers to superintend the Temple services and the music of the services. Their responsibility, as overseers, was to speak and sing in truthfulness. They had strength to excel and to live victoriously. However, the Lord understood that people may idolize them. He, therefore, gave them reminders of whom they served. The muthlabben, used in the introduction to this psalm, means "to die for the son". Those in music ministry must die to their own goals and desires, as they lift up the name of the Lord in song.

Like David, you need to revere and worship Jehovah, as you extend your hands towards Him in praise and submission. You should continually make confessions of thanksgiving. The Lord must always be at the center of your heart. Your feelings should be transported with love for God. Your will should be submitted to His will. Then your mind will be filled with wisdom and understanding.

You know that Jehovah has done wonderful things for you. Through Him, your life has become distinguished and great. He causes you to rise and accomplish marvelous works. He has separated you from the ungodly and set you high above them. Yours is a singular life. Therefore, you should declare and show others the miracles that God has done in your life. As you write down and recount each one, you will celebrate God's goodness to you.

The Lord God has brightened your life, so that you can rejoice with glee and cheer. You can jump for joy and exult in triumph. You can sing and make melody in praise to the Most High, for you know He is supreme. You can honor honor His authority and lift up His name before others.

7-28-06 Psalms 8:6-8

Psalms 8:6-8 (KJ21)
Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

Psalms 8:6-8 (NAS)
Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

Psalms 8:6-8 (NIVUS)
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

Psalms 8:6-8 (NLT)
You put us in charge of everything you made, giving us authority over all things-- the sheep and the cattle and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.

Do you see yourself as someone who can rule? Or do you see yourself as a wimp and a weakling? Do you know what the Bible says about you as a child of God?

You were created to have dominion and are meant to rule and govern. You are a royal child of the King of kings and you have the power and authority to reign over what Adonai, the Lord, created with His own hands. God placed all things under your feet and you are able to walk on the works of the enemy. Jehovah has made you able to endure, as you follow after Him.

Although you have dominion, your authority only extends to flocks and beasts, birds and fish, or any other thing that the Lord God made. You have authority over the land and what it produces, but you cannot lord it over your brothers or sisters. They are not under your feet, but are on equal footing with you. However, the devil and his hosts are under your feet and you do have authority over them.

Therefore, like Adam and Eve, you should be fruitful and multiply as you subdue the earth in the name of the Lord.

7-27-06 Psalms 8:5

Psalms 8:5 (KJ21)
For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalms 8:5 (NAS)
Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty!

Psalms 8:5 (NIVUS)
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalms 8:5 (NLT)
For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with glory and honor.

Many people think that angels are small cherubic winged babies. However, this is not the image that the Bible paints. According to God's word, angels are great and mighty beings. They are powerful and strong.

If you would compare yourself to angels, you know you would come up short. That, however, is not necessarily the truth. The psalmist David tells you that you were created only a little lower or less than angels. In fact, since you are created in God's image, you are only a little lower than Jesus, the Son of God. When you pare an apple, you take off a small layer, but most of the essence of the apple is still intact. This is an apt description of you in comparison to angels or the Lord; you are just a small paring away--a little lower, a little less!

Actually the Lord God has set a crown on your head, for you are His royal child. He encircles and compasses you about with His protection. His glory and splendor cover you. He gives you honor, riches, and abundance. You are noble in God's sight. He has made you beautiful, excellent, and magnificent. He favors and is proud of you.

7-26-06 Psalms 8:3 4

Psalms 8:3, 4 (KJ21)
When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained, what is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that Thou dost visit him?

Psalms 8:3, 4 (NAS)
When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?

Psalms 8:3, 4 (NIVUS)
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

Psalms 8:3, 4 (NLT)
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?

You have probably heard the expression, "Take time to stop and smell the roses." You may think that this simply means to slow down and enjoy the beauty around you. Of course, this is certainly true, but another meaning, which is probably the most important, is that we should take time to appreciate all that Adonai, the Almighty God, has created.

You should behold the heavens, looking at and enjoying the clouds in the sky. Gaze upon everything that the Lord has made. He dipped His fingers in various dyes and painted the universe. Consider the moon and the stars and how the Most High set them in the sky. They are fixed and established there. The Lord Himself holds them in place.

As you think about the universe, you may start to believe that as a mere mortal being, you are small and insignificant. You are a son or daughter of a flesh and blood man and as such, you are weak and feeble. However, the Most High God recognizes and remembers you. He oversees your life and takes care of you. It is His joy and pleasure to visit with you as a friend. He is committed to you and you are well thought of in the Kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, when you consider the heavens and all of creation, you can rejoice for you know that the God of the universe has a personal interest in you.

7-25-06 Psalms 8:2

Psalms 8:2 (KJ21)
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Psalms 8:2 (NAS)
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength, Because of Thine adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

Psalms 8:2 (NIVUS)
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Psalms 8:2 (NLT)
You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise. They silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.

Every day you have many opportunities to speak negative or hurtful things; however, you have the ability to choose what comes out of your mouth. The Lord Jehovah has established that everyone can choose to do and say the right and proper things. He has even given nursing infants the ability to talk soundly. These babes, who still may be at their mother's breast, can assent to the commands of the Lord God. Their speech can be filled with bold praise; through this, He will make them strong and hard. These mere children can prevail through the words they speak. If children can use the two-edged sword in their mouths, so too can you, oh child of God.

If you speak good, positive, faith-filled words, you give the Lord the opportunity to come against your enemies. Your words open the way for Adonai to make them desist in their attacks. He can cause them to suffer lack. They will be put down and you will be rid of them. Those who hate you will be stilled. Even if they hold a grudge against you, the Lord will not allow them to take revenge. And you will have rest and repose.

7-24-06 Psalms 8:1

Psalms 8:1(KJ21)
(To the chief musician: Upon Gittith. A Psalm of David)
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth, who hast set Thy glory above the heavens!

Psalms 8:1(NAS)
(For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.)
O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth, Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!

Psalms 8:1 (NIVUS)
(For the director of music. According to <gittith.> A psalm of David.)
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Psalms 8:1 (NLT)
(For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.)
O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.

Israel's King David, who excelled as a musician, knew the power of music in praising the Lord. He wrote many melodies or psalms that could be played on stringed instruments. Many follow in His footsteps today, as they sing and make melody unto the Lord.

Before the "Big Bang" theory was first proposed, Jehovah the Lord existed. He has always existed and is the Lord and Master of the universe. Yahweh is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is superior to all. He is great and majestic; He is noble and glorious. His name is above all others. His fame and reputation is memorial throughout all the land. His splendor and majesty have been published all over the earth. The heavens declare His glory, strength, power, and might.

Like David and the universe, you should praise Jehovah the Lord. He is worthy of your praise, for He gave His life for you. He is your Messiah and Savior. Jesus Christ is Immanuel, "God with Us." He took your sin and gave you His righteousness. Therefore, be quick to exalt His majesty.

7-23-06 Psalms 7:17

Psalms 7:17 (KJ21)
I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalms 7:17 (NAS)
I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalms 7:17 (NIVUS)
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalms 7:17 (NLT)
I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

There are many ways to give praise to the Lord Jehovah. One way is to extend your hands towards heaven in reverence and worship. When you open your hands to God Almighty, you are offering Him your power, your means of support, and your direction, all of which are small and feeble in comparison to the Lord. In response to your offering of praise and thanksgiving, He gives you His strength, His provision, and His direction for your life. You can worship the Most High in confidence, for He is altogether righteous. Equity and prosperity are in His hands.

Another way to praise the Lord is to sing a song, accompanied by a musical instrument. Making music in celebration is an excellent way to worship Adonai. Through psalms and hymns, you can honor the name of the Lord and acknowledge His authority. He is supreme and Most High; He is elevated higher than anyone else.

Therefore, lift up your hands and your voice to the Lord your God, for He has cut off your enemies and has lifted you up. He prefers you and makes you perfect.