Our Reading: Psalm 113 & Exodus 14:21-25

From the beginning of time, God had a purpose for mankind. God had a purpose for you. He created each of us with the blessed privilege of having relationship with Him and you and I were made to glorify Him. God breathed life into Adam and when spiritual death came through Adam’s disobedience, He already had a plan in place to breathe spiritual life into mankind again. We have the choice of staying on a straight road that dead ends with eternal spiritual death or we can choose to enter that freely offered Circle of Life (eternal spiritual life). If we truly grasp the magnitude of such a privilege and deliverance from bondage, then we can join with the Psalmist and proclaim His praise in a never ending cycle, from sunrise to sunset. 

“Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” v2-3

Does it ever amaze you that the God of the Universe even cares about what happens on this tiny planet that barely takes up more than a speck of cosmic dust in relation to the vastness of space? 

“The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?” v4-6

Not only did God consider mankind but He humbled himself by becoming our Salvation through Jesus. Do you ever wonder what was on Jesus’ mind the last night he spent with the disciples?  Psalm 113-118 were part of the Passover Celebration that commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Psalm 113-114 were sung before the meal. Based on this information, Jesus would very likely have joined in singing these words the night he was arrested. As he celebrated that Passover meal, I think we were on His mind. You and I. 

“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.” v7-8

We are part of that Circle of Life for God made us with purpose. What happened all those years ago on Calvary and what is happening as we live our lives today and what will come to pass as we enter Eternity with Him, will all be part of God’s design. It truly is an amazing love story that we get to be part of.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭

This Psalm is short and yet it speaks volumes. It begins and ends with “Praise the Lord” I love Spurgeon’s thoughts on a continual circle of praise. I think it fitting that if God provides us a Circle of Life we should provide Him a Circle of Praise.

“The music concludes upon its key-note. The Psalm is a circle, ending where it began, praising the Lord from its first syllable to its last. May our life-psalm partake of the same character, and never know a break or a conclusion. In an endless circle let us bless the Lord, whose mercies never cease.” (Spurgeon)

Prayer: Father, we are grateful that You care about us, the lowly and needy. We are grateful that You cared enough about us to make a way for our salvation from sin and death. You loved us enough to create us with purpose and we want to honor and glorify You with our lives. May our praise to You be an unending circle, from sunrise to sunset. May our every breath magnify You.