Psalm 24 The Glory Of God As Creator

Psalm 24:1  A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 

As this Psalm of David begins, it contains a message the whole world needs to hear.

Generally, mankind acts as if the world belongs to us, to do with as we please.

David reminds us that God created all of it. 

God created every living thing and gave life to all.

God sustains all of life by the word of His power (See Hebrews 1:1-3).

God owns it all because He created all of it and as such, He is the rightful owner.

Thus, when people begin making grand plans or schemes to build something new, or to manufacture something for the marketers to sell, they leave God out of their calculations.

Every living person today is alive because God gave them life.

Every living plant, bird, land animal or aquatic lifeforms, are alive because God gave them life.

The earth, all of creation, belongs to the LORD.

Because this is true it also means that we owe our very existence to the LORD, and we must heed the gospel so that we can be born again into His family.

Let us examine some of the scriptural proofs of God's power over all created things.

Exodus 9:23  And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24  So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25  And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. 26  Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. 27  And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28  Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. 29  And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S. 

In one of the ten plagues the LORD unleashed on Pharaoh, hail stones fell from heaven and they were accompanied by deafening thunder.

The text tells us that fire ran along or flowed on the ground, consuming crops.

God's hailstones broke down Egypt's trees,, injured or killed people and livestock.

Yet, in the place where Israelites lived, there was no hail, no fire, no damages at all.

How can this kind of event happen? Because Creator God controls all of nature.

Deuteronomy 10:12  And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13  To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? 14  Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. 

Forty years after Israel's exodus from Egypt, Moses prepared them to enter the promised land under Joshua's leadership.

He stressed the importance of remembering that the LORD expected His people to walk in His ways, to obey His commands and to keep His statutes.

All of heaven and all of earth belongs to Jehovah and is His to do as He pleases.

Joshua 10:11  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

As Joshua led Israel into the promised land, they had to confront many enemies.

In this account, the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven, such that the stones killed more of the enemy that those killed by Israel's swordsmen.

Exodus 23:27-28  I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. 28  And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. 

The LORD told Moses thatt as He drove out Israel's enemies from Canaan land, He would even use stinging insects to fight against them.

1 Samuel 7:7  And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8  And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 9  And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. 10  And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 

The Philistines were a chronic enemy of Israel and in this instance, they came against the Israelites, and they feared for their lives.

Samuel was a prophet, a priest, a judge and an anointer of kings.

They came to Samuel to plead their case to the LORD.

Samuel offered the appropriate sacrifice and he prayed and cried out to the LORD for help.

The LORD heard his faithful servant Samuel and He sent powerful overwhelming, deafening crescendos of thunder, and Israel turned back the Philistines.

The LORD also used strong winds to part the waters of the Red Sea so that Israel could safely passover on dry ground, and then He turned the winds to blow the waters back into place, drowning Pharaoh and his army (See Exodus 14:1-31).

1 Chronicles 14:13  And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14  Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 15  And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. 16  David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17  And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations. 

King David also had to contend with the Philistines. 

In this account, the Philistines put themselves in battle array in the valley, challenging David to engage in fighting.

However, David wisely consulted the LORD first and was instructed to turn away from the Philistines and approach them from a different place.

God used the  "sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees" as a sign for David to attack.

What was this sound of a going?

The Hebrew indicates it was like the sound of a mighty army with armor, marching forth to battle.

It pictures that powerful invisible heavenly host commanded by God, going out before David to fight the Philistines.

What happened? David and his army routed the enemy.

Matthew 8:23-27  And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25  And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27  But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 

Jesus entered into a ship with His disciples after preaching the Sermon on the Mount.

He was understandably tired and in need of rest.

While Jesus slept in their boat, a raging tempest sprang up on the Sea of Galilee. 

Jesus' disciples were seasoned fishermen and knew how to handle their boats, yet this tempest cause large waves that threatened to sink them. 

Fearing for all their lives, the disciples panicked and frantically woke the LORD.

Jesus rebuked them for not having faith that Christ's Father would not let them perish.

Then, Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh, commanded the waters to cease, and instantly the sea was uncannnily calm.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God wielded power over the very things that He created.

Jesus' miracle made a profound impact upon His disciples. They were overwhelmed and marveled that the wind and waves obeyed Christ their creator!

Jeremiah 10:12-13  He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13  When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 

God's tenderhearted prophet Jeremiah, reminds us that the LORD made the earth by His power.

He established and governs it by His infinite wisdom.

When the LORD speaks, the rain clouds form.

He brings lightning, thunder, rain and wind out of His own treasures, which demonstrates that God has purposes and finds pleasure in the elements of creation that He governs.

Job 37:2  Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3  He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4  After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 5  God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 6  For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. 7  He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. 8  Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. 9  Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. 10  By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11  Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12  And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13  He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. 

A man named Elihu attempted to give Job counsel and comfort in the midst of all his afflictions.

He reminds us about the power of God over His creation.

He sends out the thunder and lightning according to His sovereign will.

The LORD commands the snow to fall on the earth and it does.

He sends out the rain and frost, the hot and cold winds and guides their motions through the atmosphere.

Psalm 24:1  A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 

As we begin studying this wonderful Psalm of David, let us remember the glory, honor, power and majesty of our God.

We can bless the LORD God of Israel, our heavenly Father for His greatness, power, glory and majesty.

We can bless the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God manifest in the flesh, for He conquered death, sin, hell and the grave for all who repent and trust Him.

All that is in heaven is God's. All that is in the earth is God's and His kingdom will prevail.

Let the redeemed people of God thank Him for all His boundless goodness to all mankind.

Let us praise His glorious name!

Bob

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