Psalm 95 is a joyful song of praise to the LORD! It has been made into hymns and worship songs, because of its focus on lifting up the LORD in praise, and the reminder that He is higher than all other gods. (Once many years ago, I received a note from a church member who was upset, because we had sung a worship song with the words, “He is higher than all other gods.” She asked, “Where did you get those lyrics? There are NO other gods.” I must admit it was with some pleasure I wrote back to her: The words came from Psalm 95. We can often embarrass ourselves when we speak from opinions rather than a knowledge of God’s word.)
Psalm 96 is another joyful song of praise that has been made into hymns and worship songs. It includes some aspects of a creation psalm, because of its references to God’s work in nature. As you read and reflect on Psalm 96, it is easy to smile and consider the power of God’s hand all around us and on our lives.
Psalm 97 is another in this string of psalms of praise. Here the added aspect is the LORD’s righteousness, and a reminder we must be righteous as we call on His name. The LORD judges sin, therefore, we must come to Him out of an attitude of reverence, awe, and righteousness. As we know from our experience of life, and our reading of the New Testament, all true righteousness comes to us as a gift from Jesus. Yet, the words of the psalmist are true: If we want to enter the LORD’s presence we must be righteous. The Good News is: we become righteous through the blood of Jesus. In their day, the cleansing from sin required repeated sacrifices of animals. In our day, we rely on the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus!
In this joyous psalm of praise, Psalm 98 reminds us to sing and praise the LORD with music. It even calls on the seas and all that live within it to rejoice, and the rivers to “clap their hands.” What a powerful metaphor, and reminder for us to praise the LORD vigorously and demonstratively. He and He alone is worthy of our worship and praise.
As we turn to Luke 21, Jesus commends a poor widow for putting her last two pennies in the offering box. He reminds His followers that many wealthy givers put large amounts in the offering box, but it was out of their great wealth. The widow, on the other hand, gave everything she had to the LORD. Jesus’ point is clear: it isn’t the quantity of the gift, but the quantity of sacrifice that is the measure of a gift to the LORD. That is true when we give to others as well. Giving much out of a resource far greater, isn’t nearly as costly as giving most or all of a little. We cannot buy a relationship with God through our giving, whether much out of much more, or all of a little. We do demonstrate our love and commitment to Him as we give generously and sacrificially, or as we don’t.
Next, Luke records Jesus’ extended discourse on the signs of the times of the end. Jesus reminded His listeners and, through them, us many signs of the end will be evident, but whether it is the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, or trials and natural disasters, none of these will give us the definitive moment when the end is coming. The key is to be ready when He comes!