Today’s reading is Psalm 47.
In 1 Kings 20, Ben-hadad king of Syria decided to attack Israel. Though Ahab was a wicked, idolatrous king, and though Israel had followed his lead, Yahweh decided to defeat Ben-hadad’s army anyway. He did this to prove to Ahab that He was actually the Lord. After their defeat, Ben-hadad’s advisors made what seems to us a surprising claim. They were certain the defeat came because Israel’s God was God of the hills and mountains. They were certain if they attacked in the plains and valleys, they would defeat Israel. Their God would surely have no power in the plains and valleys.
In this second battle, God told Ahab He was going to defeat Syria because they were so foolish as to believe Yahweh was only God in the mountains. Ahab, Ben-hadad, and all people need to understand that Yahweh is not merely God in the hills. He is not merely God in the valleys. He is not merely God over the rivers. He is not God in a particular location or over a particular geographical location. He is God over the whole earth. Whether one is fighting Him in the Israel, in Syria, in Babylon, in America, in Britain, in Russia, in China, in…anywhere, that one will lose. God is King over the whole Earth.
That is exactly the point of our psalm for the week. “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” Not “Clap your hands, all Israelites,” but “all peoples!” Why? Because Yahweh Elyon, the Lord Most High, is King over the entire earth. He is actually the King of every country, including yours. He is the King of mountains, valleys, rivers, seas, oceans, islands, peninsulas, continents, rain forests, steppes, plateaus, fields, deserts, and on and on the list goes.
That is our God. Let us praise and glorify Him!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 47.
PODCAST!!!
Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.
Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the psalm and the written devo above?
- What comfort do you get from knowing God is king over all the earth?
- What comfort do you get from knowing God is actually king over your home country?
- Why do you think so few countries act as if God is their actual king?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?
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