The Lord Our God Is Holy

Psalm 99:1-9

 

8-14-2022

 

The Lord Our God Is Holy

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!  He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!  The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.  Let them praise your great and awesome name!  Holy is he!  The King in his might loves justice.   You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.  Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool!  Holy is he!

 

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them.  In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.  O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.  Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!

 

As a follower of Jesus Christ, and because of the grace and faith He gave me on my confession that, He is the Word in John 1:1-5, that He is the only Son of God, that He is the Messiah that the chosen people of Israel have been waiting for and because of His finish work on the Cross of paying for my sins and yours, He now sits at the right hand of the Father. What is my identity in Christ?  I am a new person; God sees me as a Saint.  I am righteous because of Christ, I am changed.  Yes, I am now in Christ, and Christ is living in me.  Am I perfect, no, ask my wife, yes I still have flesh that wants to be first, wants to be heard, and likes to be funny, and the Holy Spirit often has to disciple me. 

 

Have you heard people say it is not important to share one's faith, just live it out in front of others but does that make sense?  When we built our new house we wanted others to see it, so we invited them to come to see us and our new house.  We talk about the things that have meaning in our lives.  As you read that first paragraph, what came to mind, do you tremble with fear of our great, mighty God?  Who is good, who has shown His love by giving His only Son, who was without sin to die for your sins and mine on the cross?  But do you share it with others, do they know about your identity?

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As you read the last paragraph, this is how it begins; “Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them.  As you read the rest of that paragraph you may get a better understanding that God forgives sins, but our sins do have consequences.  Turn with me to Numbers 20:12, But the Lord  said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.” Read verse 8 in Psalm 99 again, O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

 

Both you and I must never forget, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  But sin has consequences, it costs us and often the ones we love, and the enemy of your soul will always condemn you as if God had not forgiven you.  When that happens, 1 John 9 is a quick reminder to both you and that old serpent that God has forgiven and has chosen not to remember that sin.  If you are not alert to the evil one, he will have you revisiting a sin that is no longer held against you.  And that is why knowing your identity is so important.  I like Paul have lived a life of wanting my way and will over God, till I like him ask Jesus to come into my heart.  I’ve had many bought lessons; I hope your story is different.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice