Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his,
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalm 100: 3 [ESV]
My day now starts differently to how it used to. I seem to have finally cracked daily Bible reading by doing it first thing in the morning. My alarm rings at 6 and I pick up my Bible before I do anything else. Most days my prescribed reading takes in a Psalm. It is interesting to note, when reading them, how often they sound familiar. These ancient hymns have been used down the millennia to inspire Christian worship songs. So I thought that this week, we would look at some of the Psalms that more modern Christians have found to particularly speak to their generations.
I was brought up in a very traditional church with a choral tradition. I can well remember singing ‘All people that on earth do dwell’ which is based on Psalm 100 as a teenager. The church seemed to fill with the sound of choir and organ from the moment that the hymn started. You can listen to a recording of this old hymn by clicking on the link below. But before you lose your church in the glorious choral music, or not depending on your taste, I want to think for a few moments with you about verse 3.
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his,
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Now read the verse again. Go on do it. Have you read it properly? Ok, I will take my teacher hat off now. But the point is obvious, whatever you are facing today, rest in this truth. God is God. End of! He made us and we are his. There is nothing heading in our direction today that can separate us from him because he made us and we are the sheep of his pasture. He made us for his pasture, to prosper and love us. However, you may feel about today that is the truth that you need to base your day on.
Click on the link if you want to experience the glory of a traditional choral setting of the Psalm.
All people that on earth do dwell YouTube 4:41
Come ye before him and rejoice!
John Martin-Jones