{"id":72363,"date":"2024-03-27T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T04:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/?p=72363"},"modified":"2024-03-29T15:12:23","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T07:12:23","slug":"heavenly-devotion-psalm-95-god-is-sovereign-at-all-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/heavenly-devotion-psalm-95-god-is-sovereign-at-all-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavenly Devotion: Psalm 95 &#8211; God Is Sovereign At All Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ONzRPsuTzf8?si=2J7nW3OE0_jyyhL7\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1245\" class=\"qowt-stl-Heading1 x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><strong><span id=\"E1246\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">Psalm 95 &#8211; God is sovereign at all times<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1247\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-1\"><span id=\"E1248\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(by Dr. Gregory H. Denysschen)<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1249\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-2\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1250\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\">When things go wrong, the people question, &#8220;Why?&#8221; usually arises. If God is sovereign, as this Psalm declares, why do bad things happen to God&#8217;s people? This Psalm addresses the crisis around the exile to Babylon. In a very real way, doubts arose relating to God&#8217;s sovereignty and what power the Babylonian gods may have.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-2\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1255\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\">This psalm confirms and declares God\u2019s sovereignty and reminds the faith community that the reason for the state they find themselves in is directly the result of their waywardness.\u00a0 It reminds God&#8217;s doubting people that He is still on the throne and that He is the director of these events.\u00a0 God was still \u201cthe great God, the great King above all gods\u201d (verse 3).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-2\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1260\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\">There is a call to the celebration (verses 1-2), regardless of the painful circumstances enveloping them because God is still on the throne! The full extent of His power is revealed in verses 4 and 5, He reigns over all is cause for celebration, hence the repetition of the call &#8220;Come, let us&#8230;&#8221; found in verse 1, to sing for joy. Bow down in worship.\u00a0 It is an exhortative imperative.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-2\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1265\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\">Whenever a child of God questions the hostile adversity they find themselves in, this psalm reminds them that the circumstances are entirely under God\u2019s control and there is a good reason for the affliction. Sometimes it takes the form of Job&#8217;s suffering and our disobedience. The Psalm seeks to quell all doubt arising in the believers\u2019 heart relating to the character of God which often is questioned in such times of hardship and adversity. It is a comforting &#8220;tonic&#8221; to the anguished soul not understanding the ways of God. At the end of the day, &#8220;He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p id=\"E1267\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-2\"><strong><span id=\"E1268\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Let&#8217;s Read Psalm 95<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1270\" class=\"qowt-stl-line x-scope qowt-word-para-4\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1271\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">1\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1272\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Come,\u00a0let us sing for joy\u00a0to the\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1273\" class=\"qowt-stl-small-caps\">Lord<\/span><span id=\"E1274\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">;<\/span><span id=\"E1276\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1277\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1278\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">let us shout aloud\u00a0to the Rock\u00a0of our salvation.<\/span><span id=\"E1280\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1281\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">2\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1282\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Let us come before him\u00a0with thanksgiving<\/span><span id=\"E1284\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1285\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1286\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">and extol him with music\u00a0and song.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1287\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-4 qowt-stl-line x-scope qowt-word-para-4\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1288\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">3\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1289\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">For the\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1290\" class=\"qowt-stl-small-caps\">Lord<\/span><span id=\"E1291\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">\u00a0is the great God,<\/span><span id=\"E1293\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1294\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1295\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">the great King\u00a0above all gods.<\/span><span id=\"E1297\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1298\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">4\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1299\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">In his hand are the depths of the earth,<\/span><span id=\"E1301\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1302\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1304\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">and the mountain peaks belong to him.<\/span><span id=\"E1306\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1307\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">5\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1308\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">The sea is his, for he made it,<\/span><span id=\"E1310\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1311\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1312\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">and his hands formed the dry land.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1313\" class=\"qowt-stl-line x-scope qowt-word-para-4\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1314\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">6\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1315\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Come, let us bow down\u00a0in worship,<\/span><span id=\"E1317\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1318\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1319\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">let us kneel\u00a0before the\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1320\" class=\"qowt-stl-small-caps\">Lord<\/span><span id=\"E1321\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">\u00a0our Maker;<\/span><span id=\"E1323\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1324\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">7\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1325\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">for he is our God<\/span><span id=\"E1327\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1328\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1329\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">and we are the people of his pasture,<\/span><span id=\"E1331\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1332\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1333\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">the flock under his care.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1334\" class=\"qowt-stl-line x-scope qowt-word-para-4\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1335\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\"> Today, if only you would hear his voice,<\/span><span id=\"E1337\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1338\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">8\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1339\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">\u201cDo not harden your hearts\u00a0as you did at Meribah,<\/span><span id=\"E1340\"> <\/span><span id=\"E1342\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1343\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1344\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">as you did that day at Massah\u00a0in the wilderness,<\/span><span id=\"E1346\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1347\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">9\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1348\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">where your ancestors tested\u00a0me;<\/span><span id=\"E1350\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1351\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1352\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">they tried me, though they had seen what I did.<\/span><span id=\"E1354\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1355\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">10\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1356\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">For forty years\u00a0I was angry with that generation;<\/span><span id=\"E1358\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1359\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1360\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">I said, \u2018They are a people whose hearts go astray,<\/span><span id=\"E1362\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1363\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1364\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">and they have not known my ways.\u2019<\/span><span id=\"E1366\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1367\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">11\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1368\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">So I declared on oath\u00a0in my anger,<\/span><span id=\"E1370\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1371\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1372\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">\u2018They shall never enter my rest.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Let&#8217;s Pray<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1336\" class=\"qowt-stl-NormalWeb x-scope qowt-word-para-5\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Heavenly Father, give us the insight and understanding to internalize for ourselves your absolute sovereignty above all powers and forces, and fill our Hearts with your peace in the midst of the storm like the Lord Jesus lying down in the boat with His head on a pillow at perfect peace in the midst of the hellish storm. Your name be glorified and exalted, Amen!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<p><em style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">This devotional was kindly contributed by Dr. Chow Li Sze and her channel Heavenly Devotion. You may find the channel at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/HeavenlyDevotion\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/HeavenlyDevotion\/videos<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>About the Heavenly Devotion channel<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><em>The Heavenly Devotion channel is dedicated to encouraging you to listen to Bible Scriptures and pray with the Scriptures. They are inspired by the call of service as expressed and exemplified by Apostle Paul in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Corinthians%209%3A12-15&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2 Corinthians 9:12-15<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cFor the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.\u201d (<strong>Hebrew 4:12 NKJV<\/strong>)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;\"><em><strong>|Share The Good News|<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Psalm 95 &#8211; God is sovereign at all times (by Dr. Gregory H. Denysschen) When things go wrong, the people question, &#8220;Why?&#8221; usually arises. If God is sovereign, as this Psalm declares, why do bad <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/heavenly-devotion-psalm-95-god-is-sovereign-at-all-times\/\" title=\"Heavenly Devotion: Psalm 95 &#8211; God Is Sovereign At All Times\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":72365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2202],"tags":[10035,11385,4218,6697,11135,10184,11137,855],"class_list":{"0":"post-72363","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-video","8":"tag-a-faithful-god","9":"tag-dr-gregory-h-denysschen","10":"tag-gods-power","11":"tag-gods-sovereignity","12":"tag-heavenly-devotion","13":"tag-joy-and-peace-through-christ","14":"tag-psalms","15":"tag-trusting-god"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72363"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72367,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72363\/revisions\/72367"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}