“See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40).  This Old Testament quotation is used in the New Testament to help us answer the question that heads this article by saying —

                                                                     — Skip Andrews

 
 

  This psalm begins with a statement of praise for Jehovah in ALL of His marvelous works.  This highly emotional statement covers at least eight kinds of works that God can do, which are listed in verses 3-20.  The overall theme is in verses 1 and 2:
“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.”
The first specific area of praise is for His righteousness in acts of punishment (vv. 3-5).  David knew right from wrong, and he knew that his enemies were wrong.  It was right, then, for God to punish his enemies, rebuke them, destroy them, and blot out their name forever.  Some people today might criticize him for such a strong statement, but we must remember that he was inspired by God to write these things (II Samuel 23:2).  God is the same today—and He will righteously deal with all of the enemies of His Son’s church (see II Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation 19).  It is still true that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
The second specific area of praise is for all of His judging (vv. 6-8).  As the supreme Judge, His servants can know that He is thorough and fair, even when it involves punishment of sinful nations.  He has all of the characteristics that are needed for judging, and He always administers rewards and punishments exactly as they should be.  This not only provokes praise for the fact that evil cannot conquer, but also for the secure knowledge that He deals with the faithful in uprightness.
The third specific area of praise is with regard to His ability to provide refuge (vv. 9,10).  Knowing that He is in control should encourage us to seek refuge in Him, to turn to Him in oppression (when we have been “broken in pieces”), and to trust Him more and more and more.  Truly, He does not forsake His Own.
The fourth specific area of praise is in His ability to remember (vv. 11,12).  God lived in Zion then, through the word He gave by Moses.  Today, He lives in spiritual Zion, the church, through the word He gave by Jesus (John 14:15-23).  Since He dwells among us, it is no wonder that He is able to hear the cry of His humble petitioners.  Even if we all come to Him at once, with different cries—He is able to remember and answer every one!  Believe it—and praise Him for it!
The fifth specific area of praise is for His mercy (vv. 13,14).  Mercy is a characteristic of God that implies His understanding that we have a list of needs—needs that only He can supply (Philippians 4:19).  He is our “Lifter Up” (v. 13).  How many times do people seek for something to lift them up?  All through life, we need such help.  David is telling us that this “Lifter Up” is always able.  Even when it comes to the “gates of death,” He is able (see Daniel 3).  When we are lifted up by Him, it ought to be the occasion for even more praise.  He concludes this point by reminding us that once we are lifted up by mercy, we are brought to the “gates of Zion.”
The sixth specific area of praise has to do with the undesirable principle of reaping (vv. 15-18).  The evil ones shall be caught in their own devices.  If it is one evil person, a nation, or many nations; the result is the same—the Lord executes the proper judgment.  Let the faithful learn from this, too; for if we start down that broad path, we shall reap as the rest of the wicked (Matthew 7:13,14).
The seventh specific area of praise is about “the end” (vv. 17,18)  It may not appear to us at this time that all things always end according to the principle of the psalm, but God does not settle all of His accounts in this life.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).  But wicked nations, needy individuals, and everyone in between can count on the fact that nothing will “end up” in a way that violates the all-knowing nature of God (for example, note the “end” of wicked nations during the flood in Genesis, and the righteous sufferer Lazarus in Luke 16).
The eighth area of specific praise is with regard to the position Jehovah occupies in all of this:  He is above all (vv. 19,20).  Man cannot prevail over Him at any time or in any way.  Let us acknowledge while we have time and opportunity that we are but men and He is Jehovah.
As we conclude this ninth poem, let us praise God in that He is always right regarding these eight things.  Let us also think about how often men fall short in these eight things.  Let us finally decide to abide by His ways so that when the time comes for us to be dealt with, we shall be received into joy.
“Arise, O Lord,
Do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
Put them in fear, O Lord,
That the nations may know themselves to be but men” (vv. 19,20).
             —Skip Andrews

Next Week:  Psalm 10:  “Is God So Far Away That He Can’t Tell?”