Pastor Billington's Blog

Genesis 1

We get the name of this book from the Greek title, “Genesis,” which means “origin.“ The Hebrew title comes from the first word, “in the beginning.” Genesis is a book about origins or beginnings. In the first three chapter we see the beginning of the heavens and the earth, the beginning of humanity, the beginning of marriage, the beginning of sin, and the beginning of salvation.

The beginning of the heavens and the earth: we see the realms (light, sky/water, land/sea), and the inhabitants of those realms (sun/moon/stars, fish/birds, animals/humanity). Notice that the text says that God made a larger light to rule the day, and a smaller light to rule the night. Why not name the sun and moon? Perhaps because they were frequently worshiped by other cultures. Here God is superior to any lights in the sky because He made them!

The beginning of humanity: mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation (we are to reign over the rest of it). We are distinct from the rest of creation, since we are made in God’s image. Although male and female are created in chapter one, a fuller account is given in chapter two.

Thought for the day: Since God is our creator, what do we owe Him?

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “ (WEB, International)

Psalm 150:1-6 “Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute! Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!”

Historically there have been five recognized sections within the book of Psalms: 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, and 107-150. Many have thought that they were divided this way to reflect the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Each section ends with a short doxology, with Psalm 150 forming the final doxology. Psalms 146-150 seem to form a fitting conclusion to the entire book of Psalms with their emphasis on praise. It should be noticed that praise isn’t simply relegated to voices, but also to instruments and even dancing. And praise isn’t always quiet and meditative. It can also be loud! The main point is to praise God for who He is and what He has done.

For additional worship: Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord) – Keith & Kristyn Getty

Psalm 149:1-9 “Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp! For the LORD takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds. May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgement. All his saints have this honor. Praise the LORD!”

God chose Israel, took pleasure in them, gave them salvation, and enabled them to execute judgment on His (and their) enemies.

God also chose us in Christ, and we’ll see His victory over the rebellious nations, as well as be given a part to play in His future kingdom.

Revelation 11:15-18 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’ And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.’ ”

Revelation 2:26-27 “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”

It’s no wonder that we’re called upon to sing, dance, play, and praise His name!

For additional worship: Psalm 149 (He Adorns The Humble With Salvation)

Psalm 148:7-14 “Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy wind, fulfilling his word, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the LORD’s name, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens. He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise the LORD!”

Not only has God created, He has also given His people power and strength (“lifted up the horn of his people”) through their relationship with Him. How do we have a relationship with Him? How do we obtain power and strength to live? Through Jesus Christ!

Exodus 15:2 “The LORD is my strength and song. He has become by salvation.”

Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

For additional worship: Psalm 148 (Highly Exalted)

Psalm 148:1-6 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you heavens of heavens, you waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the LORD’s name, for he commanded, and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.”

But what about the new heavens and the new earth? Won’t the old be dissolved? Yes, but never really destroyed. Energy is never destroyed, just transferred and transformed. Everything that God has made will remain, in one form or another. He is CREATOR, and His creation should praise and attest to His greatness.

Luke 19:37-40 “As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ He answered them, ‘I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.’ ”

Scripture also reminds us that the weight of sin can cause creation to cry out in pain rather than praise.

Mark 15:33 “When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.”

Romans 8:20-22 “For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.”

For additional worship: Praise His Name (Sovereign Grace)

Psalm 147:12-20 “Praise the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done this for just any nation. They don’t know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!”

Even if you haven’t experienced a sense of physical safety and security in this life, or had a time when you’ve felt completely shielded and cared for, you should have had a sense of God’s spiritual protection and grace.

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.”

This passage is a reminder that one day we’ll experience physically what we have spiritually. And what a day that will be!

Revelation 21:23-27 “The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter. There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

For additional worship: What A Day That Will Be

Psalm 147:7-11 “Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God, who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains. He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call. He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.”

The God who made us and provides for us doesn’t care how strong we are, how pretty we are, or how much we have. He cares if we know Him, follow Him, and hope in Him!

Mark 12:30 ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.”

For additional worship: The God We Love (Nicene Creed)

Psalm 147:1-6 “Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him. The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. The LORD upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.”

God’s sovereignty and understanding means that He knows people intimately. He lifts up the humble and brings down the wicked. He cares for His people and heals the broken in heart and binds their wounds. If you’ve been on the receiving end of His care, then you should show that same care to others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort.”

For additional worship: Lord, Speak to Me

Verse 4:

Oh, grant my spirit to renew,
That I may speak with soothing pow’r
A word in season, as from you,
To weary ones in needful hour.

Psalm 146:5-10 “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD, his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD raises up those who are bowed down. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but he turns the way of the wicked upside down. The LORD will reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!”

God cares about the downtrodden. God cares about the hurting. He’s on the side of the righteous and helps them, but he turns the way of the wicked upside down. Blessed (“happy”) is the one who puts their hope in the Lord, because the Lord never fails!

For additional worship: God is Faithful