Transcript

Associate Producer

John from Canada.

Podcast Introduction

Our reading today Psalms 102-104. I’ll have a brief introduction to each chapter, then after we read all three, I’ll have some comments for you.

I’m calling today’s episode “Through It All.”  

Comments on Psalms 102 and 104

Psalm 102

Psalm 102 reminded me of a song by the great Andrae’ Crouch. It’s called “Through It All.” I’ll have a video on the show notes page if you’d like to hear it.  Verse three is especially good. 

I can’t listen to this song without joining Andrae in praising the Lord. It’s so good. It’ll be on the show notes page at /s12e238. If you want to have a time of praise, go listen. 

Psalm 104

When I was a young man, I did quite a lot of hiking and backpacking and rock climbing. One of the greatest trips I took was in the High Sierra. Some friends of mine and I hiked from the area around Mammoth Mountain, where a couple of years later I became a professional ski patrolman, to Yosemite Valley, truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. As the crow flies, the distance is about 35 miles. Our hike was about 70 miles. We took 10 days to make the trip, because we took some days exploring the area around our camps and fishing.

Why am I telling you this? Because I really love seeing God’s creation, and I get how some people can look at it and worship the creation instead of the creator. I get it, but I feel sorry for people who do that. To see the beauty of a sunrise over a mountain meadow, or hear the trickling of a stream teeming with brook trout, or to gaze upon majestic mountain peaks, or hear the thundering of crashing waves on the shore, and fail to acknowledge the awesome Creator of these wonders and all there is, is tragic in my eyes.

I have often wondered how people fail to realize that all of these things come from God, but then I remember that it is Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. And Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them to Him. So beloved, people can’t know that the beauty we see was created by God unless He reveals Himself to them. 

Knowing this compels me to do at least two things. Number one: I must praise God for calling me to Himself. It is not because I’m so smart that I love Him, it is because He revealed Himself to me, and He gave me the faith to believe. And number two, I have tell others about Him. Because Romans 10:17 tells us that Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It is our job to plant the seeds of faith by telling others the Good News, and it is God who takes it from there. 

God gave us a beautiful world to live in that illustrates His creative and mighty and orderly nature. Praise HIM, the Creator, for that, not the creation.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 102 NIRV; Ch. 103-104 CEV

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Transcript

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Steve Webb 0:00
I’ve often wondered how people fail to realize that all of these things come from God.

Steve Webb 0:12
Well, hey there, this is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I am your OG God caster Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Thank you for making room for the show in your day to day. And by the way, we are now officially two thirds of the way through this year’s reading of God’s Word. Where does the time go? I have to tell you, I have had such a great day. As I’ve been preparing the show for you today. I have just had a great time of worship with the Lord. It’s been a wonderful day. I hope it’s been a good one for you as well. Our reading today is Psalms 102 through 104. I’ll have a brief introduction to each chapter. Then after we read all three all have some comments for yet. The title of today’s show is through it all. The show notes page for today’s episode is it Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 238. You can email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. So what do you say we get started?

Steve Webb 1:13
The title of Psalm 102 is a prayer of an afflicted person who was weak in pours out His lament before the Lord. We don’t know who the afflicted person is, or when this Psalm was written in this psalm Jerusalem, or Zion, as it’s called in the text is described as being in a state of ruin. It’s possible that it was written by someone there who was mourning for their personal loss and that of Zion. If so, commentator Adam Clark thought the author could be Nehemiah, Daniel, or Jeremiah. This is one of the seven penitential Psalms, the others being Psalms 632 51 130 and 143.

Steve Webb 1:57
Psalms chapter 102. Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help. Don’t turn your face away from me when I’m in trouble. Pay attention to me. When I call out for help answer me quickly. My days are disappearing like smoke. My body burns like glowing coals. My strength is dried up like grass. I even forget to eat my food. I groan out loud because of my suffering. I’m nothing but skin and bones. I’m like a desert owl. I’m like an owl among destroyed buildings. I can’t sleep. I’ve become like a bird alone on a roof. All day long. My enemies laugh at me. Those who make fun of me use my name as a curse. I eat ashes as my food. My tears fall into what I’m drinking. You are very angry with me. So you picked me up and threw me away. The days of my life are like an evening shadow. I dry up like grass. But Lord, You are seated on your throne forever. Your fame will continue for all time to come. You will rise up and show deep concern for Zion. The time has come for you to show favour to it. The stones of your destroyed city are priceless to us. Even its dust brings deep concern to us. The nations will worship the Lord. All of the kings on earth will respect his glorious power. The Lord will build Zion again, he will appear in his glory. He will answer the prayer of those who don’t have anything. He won’t say no to their cry for help. Let this be written down for those born after us. Then people who are not yet born can praise the Lord. Here is what should be written. The Lord looked down from his temple in heaven. From heaven. He viewed the earth he heard the groans of the prisoners. He set free those who were sentenced to death. So people will talk about him in Zion, they will praise him in Jerusalem. Nations and kings will gather there to worship the Lord. When I was still young, he took away my strength. He wasn’t going to let me live much longer. So I said, My God, don’t let me die in the middle of my life. You will live for all time to come. In the beginning you made the earth secure. You placed it on its foundations, your hands created the heavens, they will pass away but you will remain. They will all wear out like a piece of clothing. You will make them like clothes that are taken off and thrown away. But you remain the same. You are yours will never end. Our children will live with you. Their sons and daughters will be safe in your care.

Steve Webb 4:38
The title of Psalm 103 is a Psalm of David. Nothing in the text suggests a specific time or place of its writing but its subject is God’s grace and deliverance. David experienced both many times in his life. So this psalm could have been written in any one of those times. Charles Spurgeon wrote, We should attribute it to his later years Is when he has a higher sense of the preciousness of pardon because of a keener sense of sin than in his younger days. He has clear sense of the frailty of life indicates his weaker years, as also does the very fullness of his praiseful gratitude praiseful I like that word. Commentator G Campbell Morgan wrote, It is perhaps the most perfect song of pure praise to be found in the Bible, through centuries that has been sung by glad hearts and today is as fresh and full of beauty as ever.

Steve Webb 5:35
Psalms chapter 103 With all my heart I praise the Lord and with all that I am I praise his holy name. With all my heart I praise the Lord, I will never forget how kind he has been. The Lord forgives our sins heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle. For all who are mistreated. The Lord brings justice. He taught his law to Moses and showed all Israel what he could do. The Lord is merciful. He is kind and patient. It is love never fails. The Lord won’t always be angry and point out our sins. He doesn’t punish us as our sins deserve. How great is God’s love for all who worship Him greater than the distance between heaven and earth? How far has the Lord taken our sins from us farther than the distance from east to west. Just as parents are kind to their children, the Lord is kind to all who worship Him because He knows we’re made out of dust. We humans are like grass or wildflowers that quickly bloom. But as scorching wind blows, and they quickly winter to be forever forgotten. The Lord is always kind to those who worship him and he keeps his promises to their descendants who faithfully obey Him. God has set up His kingdom in heaven, and he rules the whole creation. All of you mighty angels who obey God’s commands come and praise your Lord. All of you 1000s who serve and obey God, come and praise your Lord. All of God’s creation at all that rules comment, praise your Lord. With all my heart I praise the Lord.

Steve Webb 7:23
Psalm 104 has no title in the original Hebrew nor is an author attributed of this psalm Charles Spurgeon wrote, The psalm gives an interpretation to the many voices of nature in sings sweetly both of creation and Providence. The poem contains a complete Cosmos, see and land, cloud in sunlight, plant and animal, light and darkness, life and death. All are proved to be expressive of the presence of the Lord.

Steve Webb 7:54
Psalms chapter 104. I praise you, Lord God with all my heart. You are glorious and majestic dressed in royal robes and surrounded by light. You spread out the sky like a tent, and you built your home over the mighty ocean. The clouds are your chariot with a wind as its wings. The winds are your messengers and flames of fire are Your servants. You build foundations for the earth and it will never be shaken. You covered the earth with the ocean that rose above the mountains, then your voice thundered and the water flowed down the mountains and through the valleys to the place you prepared. Now you have set boundaries so that the water will never flood the earth again. You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst. Birds build their nests nearby and sing in the trees. From your home above you send rain on the hills and water on the earth. You let the earth produce grass for cattle plants for our food, wine to cheer us up all of oil for our skin and grain for our health. Our Lord your trees always have water in so do the cedars you planted in Lebanon. birds nest in those trees and storks make their home in the fir trees. wild goats find a home in the tall mountains and small animals can hide between the rocks. You created the moon to tell us the seasons. The sun knows when to set and you made the darkness so the animals in the forest could come out at night. lion’s roar as they hunt for the food you provide. But when morning comes they returned to their dens then we go on to work until the end of day. Our Lord, by your wisdom you made so many things. The whole earth is covered with your living creatures. But what about the ocean so big and wide? It is alive with creatures large and small. And there are the ships as well as Leviathan, the monster you created to splash in the sea. All of these depend on you to provide them with food and you You feed each one with your own hand until they are full. But when you turn away, they’re terrified. When you end their life, they die and rot. You created all of them by your Spirit and you give new life to the earth. Our Lord, we pray that Your glory will last forever, and that you will be pleased with what you have done. You look at the Earth and it trembles, you touch the mountains and smoke goes up. As long as I live, I will sing and praise you the Lord God. I hope my thoughts will please you because you are the one who makes me glad. Destroy all wicked sinners from the Earth once and for all. With all my heart I praise you, Lord, I praise you.

Steve Webb 10:44
Beloved, Psalm 102 reminded me of a song by The Great Andre crouch, it’s called through it all. I’ll have a video of the song on the show notes page if you’d like to hear it, but I want to share verse three with you right now.

Music 10:59
So I thank God for the mountains. And I thank him for the valleys. And I thank him for the storms he’s brought me through. If I’ve never had a problem, I’d never know that God could solve them. I’d never know what faith in his work to do. The reason I say that

Steve Webb 11:27
I can’t listen to this song without just joining Andre and praising the Lord. It is so good. If you want to have a great time of praise, go listen on the show notes page at Lifespring media.com/s 12. E 238. And to comment on Psalm 104. Let me tell you that when I was a young man, I did a lot of hiking and backpacking and rock climbing. One of the greatest trips I took was in the High Sierra, some friends of mine and I hiked from the area around Mammoth Mountain where a couple of years later I was a professional ski patrolman. We went from there to Yosemite Valley, truly one of the most beautiful places on earth. as the crow flies, the distance is about 35 miles. Our hike was about 70 miles. And we took 10 days to make the trip because we took some days exploring the area around our camps, and we did some fishing. So why am I telling you this because I really love seeing God’s creation, which was talked about in Psalm 104. And I get how some people can look at God’s creation and worship the creation, instead of the Creator, I get it. But I feel sorry for people who do that, to see the beauty of a sunrise over a mountain meadow, or hear the trickling of a stream teeming with brook trout, or to gaze upon majestic mountain peaks, or hear the thundering of crashing waves on the shore and failed to acknowledge the awesome creator of these wonders. Well, that’s just tragic. In my eyes. I’ve often wondered how people fail to realize that all of these things come from God. But then I remember that it’s Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith in Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them to him. So beloved, people can’t know that the beauty we see was created by God unless He reveals Himself to them, knowing this compels me to do at least two things. Number one, I must praise God for calling me to himself. It’s not because I’m so smart that I love him. It’s because he revealed himself to me and he gave me the faith to believe. And then number two, I have to tell others about Him. Because Romans 1017 tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. It’s our job to plant the seeds of faith by telling others the good news, and then it’s God who takes it from there. God gave us a beautiful world to live in that illustrates his creative and mighty and orderly nature. Praise Him the creator for that, not the creation. By the way, the art for this episode. Today is a picture that I took on a backpacking trip about probably seven or eight years ago. Do you have a comment on the show today? Let me know go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 238. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page where you’ll find a box to put your thoughts down. Tomorrow our reading will be proverbs 20 and 21 Boost.

Steve Webb 14:49
This morning, a donation came in from a very longtime Lifespring family member and supporter. John from Candanavia goes way back to the Lifespring podcast days with his donation didn’t have $222 Which, by the way makes him today’s associate producer. He sent this note. He said a really slow roll of ducks, Canadian geese, blessing Steve, and he signed it. John Well, blessings right back. atcha John, it doesn’t matter if those ducks are slow brother, they finally waddled in here. And that’s all that matters. Thank you so much for your support over the years. John, it’s great to hear from you. Again, please say hi to the family and give them my love. God bless you. Beloved, as you know, the Lifespring family Audio Bible is here for you every day to help you read through the entire Bible. And you know, there are no advertisers. And if you’ve been listening for a while, you know why, but as you also know, expenses need to be paid. Please help me to keep producing the show for you. Go to Lifespring media.com/support and donate what you feel is equal to the value you receive from the show, pray about it and then do as the Lord leads Lifespring media.com/support And thanks again to today’s Associate Producer John from Canada.

Steve Webb 16:10
On this date in church history, April 27 1537, the first gen even catechism was published which imposes itself on the inhabitants of Geneva Switzerland. It was based on John Calvin’s Institute’s and the document was compiled either by Calvin himself or by fellow French Swiss reformer de Yom Pharaoh. And on this date in church history, April 27 1775, Peter biller died he was the German Moravian missionary who introduced John Wesley, to personal spiritual conversion and self surrendering Christian faith. Bullers positive assuring faith made a permanent mark on Wesley’s theology and his characterized Methodism ever since.

Steve Webb 17:01
Let’s pray. Our Heavenly Father, we are so very grateful for how you love us, we have so much to be thankful for. And I’m sure each of us could come up with a very long list. Many of the things on our list would be similar, I suppose. But some things will be unique to each one. But I think all of us Lord would have the same thing at the top. Number one would be some variation of our salvation through Jesus. God, thank you for that most precious gift. And Lord, I am so thankful that you brought the Lifespring family together here. Thank you for each person who’s listening right now. My prayer is that you would draw them closer to you from the hearing of your word, and that you would use my feeble attempts to comment on each day’s reading in a way to bring them closer to you as well. We are in your hands, Lord. And we thank you for that. We pray this in Jesus name, amen. Do you have a prayer request or praise? Go to prayer dot Lifespring media.com.

Steve Webb 18:04
I’d love it if you’d comment on the show at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 238. Or you can email me at Steven Lifespring media.com support the show please at Lifespring media.com/support. And thanks to Shauna San Pedro and Kirstie for their time and talent in helping to make this show better. Until tomorrow. May God bless you richly and may your time with him today be sweet. My name is Steve Webb. Bye

Transcribed by https://otter.ai