Psalm 76:11,12
Since every breath of life and every crumb of bread comes from God, and we cannot see or touch a creature that is not His, it might seem strange that Asaph concludes Psalm 76 with these words in verses 11, 12: ''Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared. He shall cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth.'' That we should fear God is one thing, but that we can bring presents to Him Who owns all things is quite another thing.
Yet bear in mind that He also gives us the blessing of salvation, enabling us to praise Him because we know Him in His great name, in that we have tasted what He has done for us in His Son. Our gift to Him then is not trying to enrich Him, or to try to buy something from Him. It is a gift of thanksgiving, a gift of praise of His name. It is not giving Him something He did not have, but sending back to Him, reflecting His glory that is in that great name. Created in the image of God we are with heart and mouth displaying His glory by our words and works.
And because we have only a small beginning of that new obedience, we do need to be exhorted to make and keep a vow to bring to Him the gift of thanks and praise. That is why our versification has these words (PRC Psalter):
Vow and pay ye to Jehovah,
Him your God forever own;
All men bring your gifts before Him,
Worship Him and Him alone;
Mighty kings obey and fear Him,
Princes bow before His throne.
Notice that there is no exception here. Kings and princes, men who have the right to demand obedience from those under their authority, are also exhorted to bring to God the gift of praise and thanksgiving. There is not one exception. The versification does not mean that they do fear and bow before Him but that they must do so.
You will have the evidence that you belong to those who know God, when you find yourself bringing to God this gift of praise and thanksgiving. By that fruit you will know that you belong to Christ, the True Vine.
Read: Revelation 4
Psalter versification: #207:4
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #51
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
II Kings 13:1-25
II Kings 14
Acts 18:23-28
Acts 19:1-12
Psalm 146:1-10
Proverbs 18:2-3
****
Quote for Reflection:
"That is the mystery of the cross. In the moment of the cross God forever blotted out all the sins of all the elect. They are justified. Their sins are no more. And it is on the basis of the atoning, justifying act of God in Christ that our sins are forgiven us. …There is never an end to God's forgiveness. Never does God say to us 'So often have I forgiven you, and always you commit the same sins. I will forgive you no more.' There is never a last time with God. He forgiveth abundantly. His mercy is without limit. And so there can be no last time with us." ~ Herman Hoeksema
Additional Info
- Date: 28-June
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.