Ascribe Greatness to Our God
For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect: For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.
Deuteronomy 32: 4-5
This is a portion of the song that Moses delivered to the children of Israel before he died in the land of Moab. Moses-a friend of the Most High and faithful servant in all God's house. Moses who did as the Lord commanded. Moses who Jesus said if they wouldn't listen to him then they wouldn't listen to one raised from the dead (Luke 16:31).
Here we are in 2016 still with a 2 Kings 18:12 mind-frame.
"because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded; they would neither listen nor do it".
Why won't we hear and obey? At the end of the day, it's because our hearts are hard. Just as in the garden, God is asking, "Who told you you were naked?". Who told us we didn't have to obey the Word of God? Who told us not to see obedience as a benefit? Who told us our way led to life?
Ascribe Greatness to Our God
ascribe: to credit or assign, as to a cause or source; attribute; impute: (www.dictionary.com)
Based on the definition, God is the source of greatness and greatness should be credited to Him. Nothing we can do can compare to what He's done, but our lives and our obedience to His Word are our reasonable service. Yet, we have become comfortable adulterating, profaning and blaspheming the greatness of our God. We slap excuses on our lack of obedience and call it the "new covenant". What's new? God writing His Law on our hearts versus stone, not the decision to fail to walk as Christ walked.
He is the Rock
The Rock is righteous and the Rock is right. God is our strength, fortress and our deliverer. He is our shield and horn of our salvation; the same salvation we have been told to work out with fear and trembling, but when we are void of reverence and respect, we consider it a strange thing to walk in the Word, Love and Light of our God. We consider it a strange thing to take refuge in our Rock. We consider it a strange thing to remember the Words of old. The Rock that we seem to only want conditionally is the one who arms us with strength to obey and fight the good fight, the righteous fight.
But let us not the ignorant of who our rock has always been.
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank from the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
I Corinthians 10:1-6
His Work is Perfect
perfect: excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement:
Deuteronomy 32:4 declares that God's work is perfect; that would include His work at creation, His work at the mountain in Exodus 20, His work on the cross, and His work in our hearts. His work is excellent and as the definition says beyond practical or theoretical improvement. His commandment is holy, just and good (Romans). His word is eternal (Psalm). His law is perfect and to be obeyed. Remember that the fault was found in us. God is calling for our hearts to be attached to our praise and that it would be done in truth and full understanding of who He is. We cannot fully understand Him when we continue to find fault with His perfect work.
All His Ways are Justice
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.Psalm 89:14
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:7
Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Isaiah 56:1
In Jeremiah 50, the Lord is described as the habitation of justice. His very throne is just, but we claim otherwise by our actions or lack there of. God will not be slack concerning His promises. He will right the corruption and bribes along with our misdeed. He will try our works by fire.
A God of Truth and without Injustice
In John 17:17, Jesus prayed that we would be sanctified in His Truth and he clearly tells us that His Word is Truth.
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.Psalm 33:4
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Psalm 138:2
The Word from the beginning was made flesh and dwelt among us. The Word before it was made flesh was full of grace and truth. Never-failing righteousness is in God's Word regardless of its location in the Bible.
Righteous and Upright is He
There is no flaw in our God. All the words, ways, ordinances, commandments, decisions, and declarations are righteous, upright, flawless and worthy be held in great honor. We have to choose to be holy because God is holy. We have to choose to be righteous because that is standard God has called us to. We have to decide to obey out of love and understand that His ways and thoughts are magnificently higher than ours. We as the clay cannot fix our own pots; we need to live as the Potter, our Creator, has called us to live in His Word. Our Rock is sure and His Word is enduring. It's time to walk it out in truth because we love Him.
Great God, Purify our hearts to serve You in truth.
Shalom,
Kelly Vonner