E-pistle for June 1, 2012
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation June 1, 2012
God calls all the stars by name
(Psalm 147:1, 4, 11-14)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on praising the Lord Almighty
1. Praise sung to the Lord is good (commendable), v. 1.
2. Praise is pleasant (delightful; satisfying), v. 1.
3. Praise is beautiful (pleasing to the senses; graceful and excellent), v. 1.
4. Praise brings God's hope, mercy, strength and peace, vv. 11-14.
II. Meditation: on Biblical concepts about stars
1. God created the stars, Genesis 1:16.
2. God counts the number of the stars and calls them all by name, v. 4.
3. Christ referred to himself as "the Bright and Morning Star," Revelation 22:16.
4. Christians are to shine as "stars" in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
Philippians 2:15.
III. Revelation: on the implications of these "star" truths
1. God is omnipotent . . . He merely spoke the word, and the stars (and everything else)
were created, Job 38:4-7.
2. If God knows how many billions of stars are in the universe, and He knows each one
of them by name . . . then surely in His omniscience, He knows everything about me.
3. Since Jesus Christ is "the Bright and Morning star" I should look up to Him for daily
guidance and spiritual encouragement.
4. Persons who follow "the Bright and Morning star" are to allow His light to shine through
them to dispel the world's darkness, Matthew 4:14-16.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Praise the Lord, which is a good, pleasant, and beautiful spiritual exercise that brings
hope, mercy, strength, and peace from God.
2. Worship Almighty God Whose omnipotence is manifested in His continuing creative
power, II Corinthians 5:17.
3. Thank God that in His omniscience, He knows me personally and loves me unconditionally.
4. Let my Christian witness and testimony brightly shine forth to bring God's light into the
sinful world where I live.
Praise the lord! Praise the lord!
(Psalm 148:1-14)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the Psalmist's repeated call to worship
1. The final five Psalms (146-150) all begin and end with the call to "PRAISE THE LORD!"
2. Psalm 146 praises God for his help, hope, happiness.
3. Psalm 147 praises God for His omnipotence and omniscience.
4. Psalm 148 exhorts every created thing and person to praise God.
5. Psalm 149 speaks of praising God by singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments.
6. Psalm 150 emphasizes the vital importance of "praise" by repeating the word thirteen
times in the six verses of the chapter.
II. Meditation: on who (or what) should praise the Lord
1. Angels (hosts), v. 2.
2. Sun, moon, stars (heavens), vv. 3-4.
3. All sea and land creatures, vv. 7, 10.
4. All persons on earth: kings, princes and judges; men, women, and children, vv. 11-12.
III. Revelation: on why God is worthy of our praise
1. He is the Creator of the universe, v. 5.
2. He is the One Who establishes and sustains life, v. 6.
3. He is the One Who reveals Himself to mankind through His word . . .
4. "He made a decree which shall not pass away," v. 6; Matthew 24:35.
5. He alone is exalted and glorious, v. 13; Philippians 2:9-11.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Heed and obey the continually repeated call to "Praise the Lord."
2. Worship God as the Creator of the universe, and as the One who gives me physical life . . .
as well as eternal life through my personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
3. Study and meditate upon God's word, searching for and listening for His divine revelation
of Himself to me.
4. Exalt the "one and only" majestic name of God's Son . . . Jesus!
"We didn't lose the game, we just ran out of time."
--Vince Lombardi
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