Praise God For His Greatness
Psalm 135
The English word "greatness" can mean many things.
The word "greatness" is used 32 times in the KJV Bible.
The Hebrew word "rob" which is translated into our English word "greatness" on some occasions is actually used 150 times in the Old Testament.
Greatness is describes as:
1) A Large amount, we have a great big God.
2) A high degree, we have a God that sets the highest standards of morality.
3) A high rank, we have a God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
4) A high intellect, our God knows everything that can be known.
5) A high power, nothing in this world can compare to the power of our God.
In the Book of Psalms God's greatness is described this way:
Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and "his greatness is unsearchable".
We should have great praise for our Great God because His greatness is unsearchable!
No one but Jesus knows just how great is our God!
There is no part of the Lord's greatness that is not worthy of our praise!
6) Our God is most excellent in His greatness!
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to "his excellent greatness".
There is nothing in this Universe that has a more excellent greatness than our God!
7) Our God is complete because our God is perfect!
It takes a perfect God to bring a perfect salvation!
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Let's Begin:
*****Psa 135:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
Psa 135:2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,
Psa 135:3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
What is the reality of our God? The reality of God is that "He is much more greater then our own finite minds can even comprehend"!
God keeps teaching us that when we are in the house of God we need to have a hallelujah time!
Church is not to be some boring, quiet, solemn place!
There is no doubt that that there nations such a China, and North Korea and Iran along with many others where Christians live in fear of their lives and may worship trying to avoid punishment from oppressive governments or even more oppressive false religions but even when these gather together, they need to gather in joy and not in fear.
When the servants of the Lord gather they are to sing hallelujah to Jehovah.
God has revealed to the world His holy nature.
God has revealed to the world His perfect love beginning with Creation and by His Providence.
God has revealed to the world the only means of salvation by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Surely we can praise the name of Jehovah!
Surely we can praise Jehovah-Jireh, the God that provides.
Or we can praise Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner, the banner of the Christian is the Tri-Une God, Jehovah.
Or we can praise Jehovah-Shalom, the God that brings peace into our hearts.
Or we can praise Jehovah-Shamma, the God who is always present in our lives.
Or Jehovah-Tsidkenu, The Lord Our Righteousness, because our own righteousness is as filthy rags.
Or Jehovah-Sabbaoth, The Lord of all the Angelic hosts of Heaven.
Or Jehovah-Macaddeshcem, The Lord our Sanctifier.
And there is still Jehovah-Rapha, the God that heals and Jehovah-Rohi, the God who is our Shepherd.
When we stand in the House of God, or even in the courts of the House of God surely we can praise Him!
We can sing hallelujah to Jehovah because of all these things, because Jehovah is the God who saves!
The Bible says:
Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
There is great pleasure that comes from praising our God in every House that wears the Banner of the Lord Jesus Christ!
*****Psa 135:4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
What is choice? Choice is the voluntary act of selecting between two or more things that which is most preferred.
Why did God choose Jacob?
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
God chose Jacob whose children are called Israel, because He loved them.
What are the facts?
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God chose Jacob because He had sworn to keep His oath.
God made an oath to His Son, The Messiah, The Lord Lord Jesus Christ, that He would save all that had "Faith" in Him as God and believed on His Son.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This is the same as Abraham and is included in the same oath made to Abraham:
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
God will keep this oath, this covenant, with all that love Him and who keep His commandments because God made this covenant with His Son!
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Just as the true Israel, is God's peculiar treasure then the Church is also God's peculiar treasure!
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
God chose this method of fulfilling His salvation plan and this plan has not changed nor will it ever change until it is no longer necessary.
God treasures all those that place their trust in Him and God gives His love and His mercy to all those that believe upon Him!
Jesus said it is a very sad thing that so many will get the opportunity to choose, but will simply not choose or choose the wrong path trying to obtain salvation.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
This is why Jehovah is such a great God!
*****Psa 135:5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
We need to praise God for the God given ability to choose.
We need to praise God because of His "greatness"!
We must have the right view of God in order to serve Him!
If we cannot accept that Jehovah God is far greater in power and in all other things, above any other so-called god then we will not have the right view of Christianity!
If we are wrong in this then we are wrong in all things!
God is great in His being.
God is great in His perfections.
God is great in His creation.
God is great in His providence.
God is great in all His Words.
And God is great in the "Gospel", His plan of salvation!
God does what He pleases and God is pleased with everything that He does!
*****Psa 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Psa 135:7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
God does not just do what He pleases on this Earth, God does as He pleases throughout all His creation which is our entire Cosmos or some would say throughout our Universe.
That word cosmos describes our Universe as an orderly system," as it is" and "is not in chaos" as is taught by the theory of evolution.
God is pleased with His cosmos!
Those vapors, describe what is now known in science as the hydrological cycle.
The evaporation of water from the oceans, transported inland by our great atmospheric circulation, with electricity that activates condensation and precipitation and this is also part of God's clean air filtration system.
Jer 10:13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
Lightning is not just some lawless force of nature but is actually part of the wonderful machinery God uses to provide much of our needs!
It took a great big God to bring such order throughout all His creation!
Our universe is not in chaos but is in the orderly control of it's Creator!
God is also great in His providence.
*****Psa 135:8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
Psa 135:9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
God is great in what He can do for mankind.
God gives us many great examples by what He has formerly done with the nation of Israel.
The last plague that came on Pharaoh and Egypt is now celebrated as the Passover.
It was this plague that convinced Pharaoh that he needed to let the children of Israel leave Egypt.
It was the death of the firstborn child that brought deliverance to the people of God.
This is remind us all that it was the death of God's only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ that has brought deliverance to all of God's people.
We can just imagine how Egypt was horrified by the greatness of God's power!
We should also be humbled by the fact that this instant was a reminder to Israel of the providence of God.
Those "tokens" were the plagues and there were 10 plagues recorded that went against Egypt but these are our evidence of the providence of God.
Those "wonders" were judgments and reminders to Egypt that they were serving false gods.
And God did all these things in full view of the Egyptians by the hand of Moses, a servant of the God of Israel, Jehovah the Tri-Une God.
It was not just Pharaoh nor just the people of Egypt that witnessed these things, it was also the false priests and false prophets of the multiple gods of Egypt.
It is Jehovah God who can humble any nation He so chooses!
*****Psa 135:10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
Psa 135:11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
Psa 135:12 And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
There is no nation, no matter their military power that can turn the hand of God away.
Israel was a ragtag band of escaped slaves with only Moses who had some military training, yet those nations of Canaan Land never had a chance of defeating them.
Sihon was a man of great courage and a mighty military leader but He fell by the hand of God.
Og was not only a mighty military man but was also gigantic in his size and his stature and ruled 60 city states but he and his army fell by the hand of God.
Even when the other nations pooled all their armies and all their resources together, they could not stand against the hand of God.
It is no different today and even the mighty war machine of America can not stand against a nation that God chooses to defeat them because it is Jehovah God who will fight for His cause against all enemies.
It is by the hand of God that any nation can hold to their lands.
It is Jehovah God that gave the land called Palestine to the children of Israel. This is their heritage and their land and not for anyone else to question!
To the Church we also have a goodly heritage!
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
These things can only happen because our God is "Great"!
*****Psa 135:13 Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
When Moses was at the "burning bush" he asked God what was His name.
God said:
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exo 3:15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
**1) God first said Moses, I Am That I AM.
This name speaks of the providence of God.
This is God's absolute control of the Universe. God is independent of His creation. God is independent of all life because God is life itself.
God is complete in Himself!
God is absolute!
The Lord Jesus said:
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
The Lord Jesus is the absolute image of the invisible God!
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,
**God next said, I Am The LORD. (Jehovah) The Supreme God.
The self-existing, eternal God!
His name is Wonderful!
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
God's name is eternal and God's name will never change!
Once we come to know the LORD, then we can never forget Him!
It is Jehovah, Elohim who created our universe and abides over it!
Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
It is this same Jehovah, Elohim who will judge this Earth and all who dwell on it!
*****Psa 135:14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
Who are "Jehovah's people"?
They are the "elect", they are the "chosen", they are "the called" of God.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
We all know that the wages of sin are death:
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Once we become the chosen people of God, His people, we have already been judged and the LORD has repented from this sentence of death.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Only Jehovah has the power to save His people!
*****Psa 135:15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
Psa 135:16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
Psa 135:17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
Psa 135:18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
Silver and Gold are valuable commodities in today's world but to shape them into an image to worship is like taking a dead metal and trying to make it have life.
Whatever is fashioned from dead metals come from the imagination of the man who is forming it.
It takes a fool to worship man-made objects as a god!
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
What can an idol do for you?
You can ask your idol any question you may have but you will get no answer, they cannot communicate with you.
You may ask your idol to watch over you today but they cannot see.
You can speak to your idol with great worshipping words or in times of troubles but they cannot hear you.
An idol is already dumb as death. All idols are made from something that God has made but they can never have life in themselves.
There is no sign of life in an idol and neither can there ever be!
All those that worship idols will become just like the idols they choose to worship.
What is an Atheist? Those who worship themselves.
Those who worship themselves are just as blind and insensitive as an idol!
They refuse to hear or see what God has to say because they have placed themselves above all others especially above God!
When we place ourselves above the Word of God, we then become idols ourselves!
Everyone that trust in their own selves are blind fools according to the Word of God!
Atheists and Idol worshipers are one and the same they pride themselves in their great wisdom, they boast of their higher learning and they think that they are evolving into a god themselves.
It's easy to see why God says they are fools, but God also says this:
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Not one of us are born saved! Salvation comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ!
When you are justified you will not have a problem praising the Lord.
*****Psa 135:19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
Psa 135:20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
Psa 135:21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
That word "house" as used in this passage means a family of ancestors.
The descendants of Israel would be all 12 of the tribes of Israel.
Israel is still the chosen nation of God and will continue to fulfill the purpose God has for them!
**The house of Israel has no excuses for not blessing the Lord!
Amo 5:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
**The house of Aaron are all the descendants of Aaron who were elected to perform the duties of the high priesthood.
The High Priests were to be the leaders, the teachers, and the example of the worship of Jehovah and therefore above all others.
Psa 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
**The house of Levi was the specially elected servants of the Lord.
Deu 10:8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Deu 10:9 Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.
**The house of Levi had no excuses for not blessing the Lord!
Those that fear the Lord are the wisest people on this Earth!
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
**Those that fear the Lord have no excuses for not blessing the Lord!
Zion is the place where Jerusalem had it's beginning, as a strong hold and became the city of David.
2Sa 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
Zion is the place where the Temple was first built and the place where King Jesus will rule.
Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Zion then was the symbol for the entire nation of Israel.
Amo 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
Zion is the city of God.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Zion also refers to heavenly Jerusalem.
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Zion is the the place where at the Second Coming of Christ, He will redeem Israel.
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
It is Zion where this world will see the perfection and the beauty of God!
Psa 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
All those that know of Zion have no excuse for not blessing the Lord!
Zion dwells at Jerusalem!
Just as Jerusalem will soon be the dwelling place of God among His chosen nation, then Jesus Christ is the dwelling place of the Church and we will all gather in the city of King Jesus one day soon!
Until that day we need to have a Hallelujah time and just praise the Lord!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Psalm 135
The English word "greatness" can mean many things.
The word "greatness" is used 32 times in the KJV Bible.
The Hebrew word "rob" which is translated into our English word "greatness" on some occasions is actually used 150 times in the Old Testament.
Greatness is describes as:
1) A Large amount, we have a great big God.
2) A high degree, we have a God that sets the highest standards of morality.
3) A high rank, we have a God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
4) A high intellect, our God knows everything that can be known.
5) A high power, nothing in this world can compare to the power of our God.
In the Book of Psalms God's greatness is described this way:
Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and "his greatness is unsearchable".
We should have great praise for our Great God because His greatness is unsearchable!
No one but Jesus knows just how great is our God!
There is no part of the Lord's greatness that is not worthy of our praise!
6) Our God is most excellent in His greatness!
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to "his excellent greatness".
There is nothing in this Universe that has a more excellent greatness than our God!
7) Our God is complete because our God is perfect!
It takes a perfect God to bring a perfect salvation!
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Let's Begin:
*****Psa 135:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
Psa 135:2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,
Psa 135:3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
What is the reality of our God? The reality of God is that "He is much more greater then our own finite minds can even comprehend"!
God keeps teaching us that when we are in the house of God we need to have a hallelujah time!
Church is not to be some boring, quiet, solemn place!
There is no doubt that that there nations such a China, and North Korea and Iran along with many others where Christians live in fear of their lives and may worship trying to avoid punishment from oppressive governments or even more oppressive false religions but even when these gather together, they need to gather in joy and not in fear.
When the servants of the Lord gather they are to sing hallelujah to Jehovah.
God has revealed to the world His holy nature.
God has revealed to the world His perfect love beginning with Creation and by His Providence.
God has revealed to the world the only means of salvation by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Surely we can praise the name of Jehovah!
Surely we can praise Jehovah-Jireh, the God that provides.
Or we can praise Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner, the banner of the Christian is the Tri-Une God, Jehovah.
Or we can praise Jehovah-Shalom, the God that brings peace into our hearts.
Or we can praise Jehovah-Shamma, the God who is always present in our lives.
Or Jehovah-Tsidkenu, The Lord Our Righteousness, because our own righteousness is as filthy rags.
Or Jehovah-Sabbaoth, The Lord of all the Angelic hosts of Heaven.
Or Jehovah-Macaddeshcem, The Lord our Sanctifier.
And there is still Jehovah-Rapha, the God that heals and Jehovah-Rohi, the God who is our Shepherd.
When we stand in the House of God, or even in the courts of the House of God surely we can praise Him!
We can sing hallelujah to Jehovah because of all these things, because Jehovah is the God who saves!
The Bible says:
Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
There is great pleasure that comes from praising our God in every House that wears the Banner of the Lord Jesus Christ!
*****Psa 135:4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
What is choice? Choice is the voluntary act of selecting between two or more things that which is most preferred.
Why did God choose Jacob?
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
God chose Jacob whose children are called Israel, because He loved them.
What are the facts?
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God chose Jacob because He had sworn to keep His oath.
God made an oath to His Son, The Messiah, The Lord Lord Jesus Christ, that He would save all that had "Faith" in Him as God and believed on His Son.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This is the same as Abraham and is included in the same oath made to Abraham:
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
God will keep this oath, this covenant, with all that love Him and who keep His commandments because God made this covenant with His Son!
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Just as the true Israel, is God's peculiar treasure then the Church is also God's peculiar treasure!
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
God chose this method of fulfilling His salvation plan and this plan has not changed nor will it ever change until it is no longer necessary.
God treasures all those that place their trust in Him and God gives His love and His mercy to all those that believe upon Him!
Jesus said it is a very sad thing that so many will get the opportunity to choose, but will simply not choose or choose the wrong path trying to obtain salvation.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
This is why Jehovah is such a great God!
*****Psa 135:5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
We need to praise God for the God given ability to choose.
We need to praise God because of His "greatness"!
We must have the right view of God in order to serve Him!
If we cannot accept that Jehovah God is far greater in power and in all other things, above any other so-called god then we will not have the right view of Christianity!
If we are wrong in this then we are wrong in all things!
God is great in His being.
God is great in His perfections.
God is great in His creation.
God is great in His providence.
God is great in all His Words.
And God is great in the "Gospel", His plan of salvation!
God does what He pleases and God is pleased with everything that He does!
*****Psa 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Psa 135:7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
God does not just do what He pleases on this Earth, God does as He pleases throughout all His creation which is our entire Cosmos or some would say throughout our Universe.
That word cosmos describes our Universe as an orderly system," as it is" and "is not in chaos" as is taught by the theory of evolution.
God is pleased with His cosmos!
Those vapors, describe what is now known in science as the hydrological cycle.
The evaporation of water from the oceans, transported inland by our great atmospheric circulation, with electricity that activates condensation and precipitation and this is also part of God's clean air filtration system.
Jer 10:13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
Lightning is not just some lawless force of nature but is actually part of the wonderful machinery God uses to provide much of our needs!
It took a great big God to bring such order throughout all His creation!
Our universe is not in chaos but is in the orderly control of it's Creator!
God is also great in His providence.
*****Psa 135:8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
Psa 135:9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
God is great in what He can do for mankind.
God gives us many great examples by what He has formerly done with the nation of Israel.
The last plague that came on Pharaoh and Egypt is now celebrated as the Passover.
It was this plague that convinced Pharaoh that he needed to let the children of Israel leave Egypt.
It was the death of the firstborn child that brought deliverance to the people of God.
This is remind us all that it was the death of God's only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ that has brought deliverance to all of God's people.
We can just imagine how Egypt was horrified by the greatness of God's power!
We should also be humbled by the fact that this instant was a reminder to Israel of the providence of God.
Those "tokens" were the plagues and there were 10 plagues recorded that went against Egypt but these are our evidence of the providence of God.
Those "wonders" were judgments and reminders to Egypt that they were serving false gods.
And God did all these things in full view of the Egyptians by the hand of Moses, a servant of the God of Israel, Jehovah the Tri-Une God.
It was not just Pharaoh nor just the people of Egypt that witnessed these things, it was also the false priests and false prophets of the multiple gods of Egypt.
It is Jehovah God who can humble any nation He so chooses!
*****Psa 135:10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
Psa 135:11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
Psa 135:12 And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
There is no nation, no matter their military power that can turn the hand of God away.
Israel was a ragtag band of escaped slaves with only Moses who had some military training, yet those nations of Canaan Land never had a chance of defeating them.
Sihon was a man of great courage and a mighty military leader but He fell by the hand of God.
Og was not only a mighty military man but was also gigantic in his size and his stature and ruled 60 city states but he and his army fell by the hand of God.
Even when the other nations pooled all their armies and all their resources together, they could not stand against the hand of God.
It is no different today and even the mighty war machine of America can not stand against a nation that God chooses to defeat them because it is Jehovah God who will fight for His cause against all enemies.
It is by the hand of God that any nation can hold to their lands.
It is Jehovah God that gave the land called Palestine to the children of Israel. This is their heritage and their land and not for anyone else to question!
To the Church we also have a goodly heritage!
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
These things can only happen because our God is "Great"!
*****Psa 135:13 Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
When Moses was at the "burning bush" he asked God what was His name.
God said:
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exo 3:15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
**1) God first said Moses, I Am That I AM.
This name speaks of the providence of God.
This is God's absolute control of the Universe. God is independent of His creation. God is independent of all life because God is life itself.
God is complete in Himself!
God is absolute!
The Lord Jesus said:
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
The Lord Jesus is the absolute image of the invisible God!
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,
**God next said, I Am The LORD. (Jehovah) The Supreme God.
The self-existing, eternal God!
His name is Wonderful!
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
God's name is eternal and God's name will never change!
Once we come to know the LORD, then we can never forget Him!
It is Jehovah, Elohim who created our universe and abides over it!
Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
It is this same Jehovah, Elohim who will judge this Earth and all who dwell on it!
*****Psa 135:14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
Who are "Jehovah's people"?
They are the "elect", they are the "chosen", they are "the called" of God.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
We all know that the wages of sin are death:
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Once we become the chosen people of God, His people, we have already been judged and the LORD has repented from this sentence of death.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Only Jehovah has the power to save His people!
*****Psa 135:15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
Psa 135:16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
Psa 135:17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
Psa 135:18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
Silver and Gold are valuable commodities in today's world but to shape them into an image to worship is like taking a dead metal and trying to make it have life.
Whatever is fashioned from dead metals come from the imagination of the man who is forming it.
It takes a fool to worship man-made objects as a god!
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
What can an idol do for you?
You can ask your idol any question you may have but you will get no answer, they cannot communicate with you.
You may ask your idol to watch over you today but they cannot see.
You can speak to your idol with great worshipping words or in times of troubles but they cannot hear you.
An idol is already dumb as death. All idols are made from something that God has made but they can never have life in themselves.
There is no sign of life in an idol and neither can there ever be!
All those that worship idols will become just like the idols they choose to worship.
What is an Atheist? Those who worship themselves.
Those who worship themselves are just as blind and insensitive as an idol!
They refuse to hear or see what God has to say because they have placed themselves above all others especially above God!
When we place ourselves above the Word of God, we then become idols ourselves!
Everyone that trust in their own selves are blind fools according to the Word of God!
Atheists and Idol worshipers are one and the same they pride themselves in their great wisdom, they boast of their higher learning and they think that they are evolving into a god themselves.
It's easy to see why God says they are fools, but God also says this:
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Not one of us are born saved! Salvation comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ!
When you are justified you will not have a problem praising the Lord.
*****Psa 135:19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
Psa 135:20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
Psa 135:21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
That word "house" as used in this passage means a family of ancestors.
The descendants of Israel would be all 12 of the tribes of Israel.
Israel is still the chosen nation of God and will continue to fulfill the purpose God has for them!
**The house of Israel has no excuses for not blessing the Lord!
Amo 5:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
**The house of Aaron are all the descendants of Aaron who were elected to perform the duties of the high priesthood.
The High Priests were to be the leaders, the teachers, and the example of the worship of Jehovah and therefore above all others.
Psa 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
**The house of Levi was the specially elected servants of the Lord.
Deu 10:8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Deu 10:9 Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.
**The house of Levi had no excuses for not blessing the Lord!
Those that fear the Lord are the wisest people on this Earth!
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
**Those that fear the Lord have no excuses for not blessing the Lord!
Zion is the place where Jerusalem had it's beginning, as a strong hold and became the city of David.
2Sa 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
Zion is the place where the Temple was first built and the place where King Jesus will rule.
Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Zion then was the symbol for the entire nation of Israel.
Amo 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
Zion is the city of God.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Zion also refers to heavenly Jerusalem.
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Zion is the the place where at the Second Coming of Christ, He will redeem Israel.
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
It is Zion where this world will see the perfection and the beauty of God!
Psa 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
All those that know of Zion have no excuse for not blessing the Lord!
Zion dwells at Jerusalem!
Just as Jerusalem will soon be the dwelling place of God among His chosen nation, then Jesus Christ is the dwelling place of the Church and we will all gather in the city of King Jesus one day soon!
Until that day we need to have a Hallelujah time and just praise the Lord!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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