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5/16 Reading Portions: Numbers 25; Psalm 68; Isaiah 15; 1 Peter 3
Psalm 68:34
Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
ESTEEM
When God’s people sin, there are consequences to those sins. Departing from God’s will, God’s way, and God’s wisdom removes the sinner from the light of Christ’s presence and takes him into the darkness of the doomed world. Yet when we read verses of God’s anger and judgment, such as,
So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. Numbers 25:3
…as well as,
And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” Numbers 25:4
…the corruptions remaining in our rancid and cursed flesh tends to view God as grim and unloving. Moreover, we will tend to amplify the verses of God’s compassion and tender mercy to the detriment of His holiness and justice. Truths like those found in today’s verse are sprinkled throughout the Scriptures to remind us that the Creator God and the Redeemer God are one in the same, and He is sovereign in His character and almighty power. When our finite and temporal minds become muddled in attempting to reconcile infinite and eternal truth, we must look to Christ Jesus crucified (1 Cor 2:2) and ascribe power to God. It is only at Golgotha’s tree where the righteousness of Christ subdues the wickedness of sin; where the mercy of God meets the justice of God; where the majesty of the heavenly Father is found in the humility of God’s only Son; where the wisdom of Christ is executed by the foolishness of men. Truly, it is only when we, Christ’s redeemed, ascribe sovereign power, wisdom, and authority to God in Christ, that our hearts, our souls, and our very-ness (Deut 6:4-5) catch a glimpse through eyes of faith of Christ’s majesty over all His people (whose majesty is over Israel), and esteem His power, His strength, and His wisdom as beyond our natural grasp (whose power is in the skies).
Lord Jesus remind me always to
Ascribe sovereign strength to You,
So I will see Your majesty
By what You’ve wrought on Calvary’s tree.