Psalm 138:1, 2
It was two years or more after Jesus' birth that the wise men came with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They made a long journey to bring these gifts. We ought to bring evidences of our thankfulness to God for His gift of His only begotten Son. And we ought not wait until next Christmas to do that. Do so today and sing from the bottom of your heart (PRC Psalter):
With grateful heart my thanks I bring
Before the great Thy praise I sing;
I worship in Thy holy place
And praise Thee for Thy truth and grace;
For truth and grace together shine
In Thy most holy word divine.
If you turn to Psalm 138:1, 2 you will read it thus: "I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name."
Were it not for the truth in these words, our future would be bleak. Without God's lovingkindness, and Christ's birth in it, there would be nothing that called for true thankfulness before God. And so quickly we set aside our thanks for that birth and for that Son and His cross.
But note that David praises God for His lovingkindness and truth. Where do we see these more richly than in Christ, Who was sent in God's lovingkindness, and Who declared to us that He is the way, the truth, and the life? John 14:6.
Surely we can see that the coming of Christ is the magnification of God's word, for He is the Word become flesh. If only we could keep these truths before our minds and in our hearts. If only with grateful hearts we would bring thanksgiving to God every day and be wise men who are interested in spiritual things and in our salvation. Praising God with our whole heart means that we praise Him more than once a year for His gifts to us. But it also means that we do so more than once a day.
Read: Psalm 138
Psalter versification: #381:1
Daily Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #375
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Zechariah 12 ; Zechariah 13:1-9
Revelation 19:1-21
Psalm 147:1-20
Proverbs 31:1-7
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Quote for Reflection:
"… Curiosity doth rise almost always either of idleness or else of distrust; distrust is cured by meditating upon the promises of God. And his commandments do tell us how we ought to occupy ourselves and employ our studies. Therefore, he commandeth his disciples to wait for the promise of God, and to be diligent in executing their office whereunto God had called them. And in the mean season he noteth their great hastiness, in that they did preposterously catch at those gifts which were proper unto the Holy Spirit, when as they were not as yet endued with the same. Neither did they take the right way herein, in that being called to go on warfare, they desire (omitting their labor) to take their ease in their inn." ~ John Calvin
Additional Info
- Date: 28-December
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.