Psalm 46-48
These three psalms are by sons of Korah also, but they are definitely positive, praise psalms.
The first has a couple of famous verses in it.
“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.”(46:1)
Our God is always reliable for those who trust Him, and this psalm says it very well. At the end, we see the verse, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted above the nations, I will be exalted above the earth.” (46:10)
If you are going through difficult times, these verses have the ability within them to cause peace to pour down upon you like oil from heaven. There are times when you will find yourself worked up and trying to solve your problems through merely natural means. When you allow yourself to partake of God’s psychiatry in this way, you are better able to do the things which you are required to do. You will do them in peace and not in frustration.
The next two psalms extol God, His power, and the finality of His rule.
Psalm 48 expounds on a concept we encountered when we were watching David rule the kingdom. Zion is in the heart of Jerusalem, and it is the place where the Ark of the Covenant is set up with praisers before it night and day. This represents the presence of God.
Today we know that God’s presence resides within the hearts of believers. Yet when we see this psalm we get some insight into just how significant God’s presence is to us. When we honor the Zion which is in our hearts, we honor His presence. Having our God with us is the most precious part of our lives.
Zion is truly in our hearts! The greatest joy imaginable!
Acts 28
Remember Jesus saying, “These signs shall follow those who believe…they shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not harm them?” Well this is fulfilled in Paul on the Island of Malta.
As Paul is putting wood on the fire they are building, a viper comes out and fastens on his hand. It is a deadly viper, causing the natives think that he will surely die, and must be a murderer being judged by God. He shakes it off and lives, however, just as Jesus had predicted. (Now the natives think that he is a god).
Well, Paul finally makes it to Rome as God had intended. He first speaks to the Jewish leaders, trying to introduce the gospel. Just as in every place he has gone, there are those who believe and those who don’t. (It’s still that way today, isn’t it)?
Thankfully, however, for two full years Paul is able to stay in his own rented quarters. He is preaching the kingdom of God to all who will listen, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
God’s will is being fulfilled in Paul as he is able to so freely share the gospel with these new people. Next we will start the book of Romans, the letter Paul writes to these friends he is meeting in Rome. We will see the clarity of what Paul is telling these new believers, and our own faith will be sharpened ins the process.
