not rich enough

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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not rich enough

Psalm 49:5-9 (JDV)

Psalm 49:5 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The violation of my foes surrounds me.
Psalm 49:6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
Psalm 49:7 Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God –
Psalm 49:8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should stop trying permanently –
Psalm 49:9 so that he may live perpetually and not see the Pit.

not rich enough

The warning to the rich here is that they are not rich enough to do something that really matters. Think about it. Even the super rich have a date with the pit. They are headed to the grave and all the money in the world cannot stop that destiny.

Jesus offers a new life— a permanent life beginning at the resurrection. But he will not be bribed. Everyone coming to him has the same need— a need only he can supply.

Thank you Jesus for offering eternal life for all of us.

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financial peace begins here

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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financial peace begins here

Psalm 49:1-4 (JDV)

Psalm 49:1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit this lifetime,
Psalm 49:2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
Psalm 49:3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation brings understanding.
Psalm 49:4 I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle accompanied by a lyre.

financial peace begins here

The psalm as a whole warns people that wealth is not enough. When it comes down to the important things in life: happiness, wisdom, health, and life itself, riches will not secure any of those things.

The rich need to know that wisdom, because they are in danger of trusting in their wealth, which is misplaced trust.

The poor need to know that wisdom, because they are in danger of wasting their lives in pursuit of wealth, and missing out on real blessing in life.

Lord, thank you for what you are providing us. May we always have the wisdom to trust you more than your provision.

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within, beyond, around

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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within, beyond, around

Psalm 48:9-14 (JDV)

Psalm 48:9 God, within your temple, we contemplate your covenant faithfulness.
Psalm 48:10 Like your name, God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the land; your right hand is filled with justice.
Psalm 48:11 Mount Zion is glad. Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments.
Psalm 48:12 Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers,
Psalm 48:13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation:
Psalm 48:14 “This God, our God permanently and continually – he will always lead us.”

within, beyond, around

The psalmist celebrates God’s influence. His influence is seen in the theological and devotional contemplation of his covenant faithfulness within the temple. His influence is felt beyond the borders of Israel to the ends of the land. His influence is noted as the worshipers circle around Jerusalem and tell their children and grandchildren about God’s leadership.

Take time today, wherever you are, to think about the difference God is making in your life. He is leaving his mark.

Thank you Lord, for your undeniable presence and influence among us.watch video

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wearing his presence honorably

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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wearing his presence honorably

Psalm 48:8 (JDV)

Psalm 48:8 Just like we heard, that is what we have seen in the city of Yahveh of Armies, in the city of our God; God will establish it continually. Selah

wearing his presence honorably

The psalmist talks about the rumors he has heard of the glory and splendor of Jerusalem— how fitting and appropriate it is for God himself to reside there. Then he visited the great city and he found that all those rumors are true. He was not disappointed when he saw the real thing. The city wore God’s presence honorably.

We Christians make lots of claims about having God’s Holy Spirit live inside us as well. I wonder if we realize that people expect us to be the real thing.

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (CSB).

People should expect the best behavior and the best attitude from a life which possesses the Spirit of God.

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don’t ask

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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don’t ask

Psalm 48:4-7 (JDV)

Psalm 48:4 Notice! The kings assembled; they advanced together.
Psalm 48:5 They looked and froze with fear; they fled in terror.
Psalm 48:6 Shaking seized them there, agony like that of a woman in labor,
Psalm 48:7 as you wrecked the ships of Tarshish with the east wind.

don’t ask

Some people are bold enough to dare God to demonstrate if he has power over them. Don’t do that.

This psalm celebrates the power of God and depicts it by describing the fearful reaction of the kings of the nations to seeing his armies.

We are told in the New Testament that we should fear God rather than humans because God can do more than kill. He can (and will) destroy his enemies— soul and body— in Gehenna. The kings of the nations are right to fear him. Do not doubt his power. You could not survive a demonstration of it.

Lord, we choose to fear you, and thank you for granting us your blessing rather than the destruction we deserve.

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God’s city

Posted on March 7, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

God’s city

Psalm 48:1-3 (JDV)

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Psalm 48:1 Yahveh is great and highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
Psalm 48:2 rising splendidly, the whole land enjoys Mount Zion – the summit of Zaphon – is the city of the great King.
Psalm 48:3 God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.

God’s city

This psalm is about God being a great king, and a great king deserves a great city. The seat of his power and glory is expected to be strong enough to endure and splendid enough to be enjoyed. Jerusalem does not disappoint.

Cities that are planned and constructed well are a marvel of human achievement, but Jerusalem is something more. God himself is known as the stronghold of its citadels.

So, when John sees a picture of the seat of the new universe God is planning, he calls it the New Jerusalem. God himself is its architect. He is planning a city that is strong enough to last forever,and grand enough to be enjoyed forever.

Lord, we long to see your great and glorious city!

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everyone’s king

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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everyone’s king

Psalm 47:8-9 (JDV)

Psalm 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
Psalm 47:9 The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham because the leaders of the land belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

everyone’s king

We Christians often get a mindset where we focus on the needy, the marginalized and the poor as if they are the only ones who need the gospel. That is a natural result of our seeking those have needs in order to introduce them to Christ who has met our need for forgiveness.

But we should keep in mind that Christ came to save sinners, and that includes everyone.

This psalm celebrates God as king over the whole land, and this section highlights the prominent citizens of other nations who will bow the knee to him.

Lord, thank you for being everyone’s king.

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the wisdom of praise

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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the wisdom of praise

Psalm 47:6-7 (JDV)

Psalm 47:6 Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise!
Psalm 47:7 Sing a song of wisdom, because God is King of the whole land.

the wisdom of praise

The reason praise to God is wise is that he is king of the whole land. There are rival kings and thought systems and worldviews — even beings who pretend to be rival gods. But wisdom chooses the king who will be king after the last battle is fought.

Lots of thoughts go through our minds as we struggle through life. It is difficult to maintain a steady walk and witness. But there is a habit which will always identify us with the God who is king of the whole land. That habit is praise. To sing praises to God is to declare our allegiance to him. That is wise, considering what is going to happen to those who choose the wrong king.

Lord, make us wise singers of praise to you.

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the king’s victory

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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the king’s victory

Psalm 47:5 (JDV)

Psalm 47:5 God goes up amid shouts of joy, Yahveh, with the sound of trumpets.

the king’s victory

The picture before us is of a king advancing to take over territory won in battle. But the king is God himself, accompanied by the joyful shouts of his followers who share his victory, and the trumpets which announce it.

No matter what you are facing today, that picture is a prophecy of your future. Because of this future reality, a present challenge can be bearable. Because we are destined to inherit eternal life, we can confidently face setbacks, difficulties— even our own deaths.

We have seen the future, and God wins, therefore we win.

Lord, thank you for your all encompassing victory.

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a shared reign

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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a shared reign

Psalm 47:3-4 (JDV)

Psalm 47:3 He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.
Psalm 47:4 He chooses for us our inheritance – the pride of Jacob, whom he loves. Selah

a shared reign

This psalm introduced God as the great king, and these verses accentuate the fact that the great king is Israel’s king. The nations he subjects under his feet are put under Israel’s feet.

Our king Jesus will do the same for those in his kingdom as well. 1 Corinthians 15 speaks of Jesus returning to reign and subjecting all his enemies to his authority. This will be done in one of two ways. Either he will reconcile the rebels to his authority, or he will eliminate them. Those are the only two options.

Also, just as the nation of Israel participated in God’s reign over the nations, when Christ reigns, his people will also reign with him (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:6).

Lord, thank you for promise of a shared reign.

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