February 20, 2018 - - Psalm 102:18-22 Leading the Next Generation in Praise
/Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
Psalm 102:18-22 ESV
Look at the opening sentence of today's reading. The focus here is on the next generation. Each generation looks to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders who praise the LORD. This is our life's goal and purpose: to praise the LORD while leading others up to follow in praise.
Why should we, or the generation that follows us, praise the LORD? The Bible teaches this is what we were created to do: to praise the LORD. The passage here reminds us the LORD has set us free from the prison of our sins. He has put the judgment for our sins on His Son so that those who look to Jesus and follow Him will be set free.
You'll sometimes read memes of people so grateful that the person in line ahead of them at Tim Horton's paid for their order. How happy that makes someone. Others express joy when receiving unexpected help, especially when it is given at the moment of greatest need. That brings such delight.
The LORD hears the groaning of His people, He rescues them. The deliverance of the LORD begins now and lasts for eternity. No wonder peoples gather to praise Him! Little wonder then that kingdoms gather to worship the Lord--the Master of Rescue for the helpless, Father to the fatherless.
Spirit of God remind me, throughout the course of this day, of the way Jesus rescued me from sin and saved me from experiencing the bitter, deadly consequences of it that should have been mine.
Jesus, Captain of Salvation, blessed are You! Who is like You? You have paid the penalty against my sin, doing so before I ever knew You, doing so while I still hated You and was drowning in my sin and its consequences.
Father in Heaven, blessed is Your Name. Glorious and magnificent is the plan of salvation which You are bringing to fruition in the life of believers.
Triune God--help me to keep the vision of this passage: praising You while leading others to follow in bringing praise to up Your great and wonderful Name. Amen.
