EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW
Opening Prayer
I praise You, God, for all that You are to me. You are…
Read Psalm 76
Psalm 76[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.
2 His tent is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b]
4 You are radiant with light,
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5 The valiant lie plundered,
they sleep their last sleep;
not one of the warriors
can lift his hands.
6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot lie still.
7 It is you alone who are to be feared.
Who can stand before you when you are angry?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared and was quiet—
9 when you, God, rose up to judge,
to save all the afflicted of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;
let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Footnotes:
a Psalm 76:1 In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13.
b Psalm 76:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.
c Psalm 76:10 Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
When was the last time you physically knelt in prayer?“A leader is a dealer in hope,” Napoleon is reputed to have said, as he stormed across Europe and took much of it by force. He crowned himself emperor of France. Yet it all ended in disgrace and exile, in spite of his belief in his own power. In contrast to all earthly authorities, God’s name is great (1), he is full of majesty and power (4, 6, 7, 12), and he is the eternal judge (7–10). The psalmist tells us to fear God: he can become angry (7) and will judge everyone (8). But such judgment leads to his praise (10); God’s anger results in righteous defense of those who suffer
(9, 10).
God’s name is known (1) or revealed to the world because he has helped his people win a victory against their enemies (possibly, the psalmist is referring here to the defeat of the Assyrian king; 2 Chronicles 32:22). The ultimate victory, which defeated sin and death, was won by Jesus on the cross. One day, every knee will bow before him. Even kings and emperors will acknowledge him as Lord (Romans 14:11).
In the meantime, believers keep their promises of obedience, and bring their offerings to the Lord (11). “What can I give him, poor as I am? … Yet what I can I give him: give him my heart” (Christina Rossetti).
Apply
What difference does it make to know that God defeats every enemy? What gifts can you bring to Him in thanksgiving today?
Closing prayer
I bow before You, King of my heart. How great You are!
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