By Bunni Pounds

*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.

According to Jewish tradition – this Psalm was written as a Passover Psalm with two parts – First to celebrate the huge victory and “bigness” of God delivering the children of Israel out of Egypt and taking them out of the hand of Pharaoh.  Secondly to declare the vow and the sacrifices that they would give God after seeing His goodness again.  

Let’s read it here - 

“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ’How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.’ Selah” (verses 1-4)

Even if our salvation experience wasn’t dramatic but was a more gradual journey to faith – we can usually go back in our minds to the moment or moments where God became real to us and we believed. We saw this goodness. Our eyes were open to how awesome His works are. 

It could have been as simple as God told someone to pray for us, someone had a strategic conversation with us, we were led into a church or a Bible Study “by accident” or we heard a song that transformed our heart. Our stories are all unique because God calls us to Himself so uniquely. 

Remember the story of Saul becoming Paul. It was as dramatic as the “Red Sea Story”. 

Acts 9:1-9 - 

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

In that moment – Saul went from persecuting the people of God to being a child of God. He saw the Lord. That was as dynamic as it comes. 

Much like a famous murderer from the 1990’s - Jeffrey Dahmer reportedly coming to faith after murdering and dismembering 17 young men. It is reported he had a dramatic conversion experience and even was baptized by Roy Ratliff – a Church of Christ prison minister who “led him to Jesus”, called him by his first name and baptized him before he was murdered in prison by another inmate in 1994. Perhaps you have a strong reaction to that news like me – wondering could God really save him? 

That has to be similar emotions if not stronger, that the early church had when they heard that Saul – who had been persecuting them and had a part in the stoning of Stephen - had suddenly joined “The Way” and become a Christ follower.

“Through the greatness of Your power, your enemies shall submit themselves to You.” (verse 3b)

When we see the enemies of God submit to Him – either in this life or at the end of the age, we know it will happen – we have a keen revelation of His power. He is mighty and this gives us hope even today, that God is mightier than the trials we are going through and the pains of this present time. 

“He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah” (verse 7)

The endless power of God and the truth that He sees EVERYTHING happening in the nations – gives me personally a ton of comfort. In 16 years working in government and politics – I have seen a lot, but not as much as many others have – however, God sees it all. He knows exactly what the “rebellious” are doing and planning.

What should give us hope is that “He rules”. They might think they are ruling but at the end of the age we will see what has really been going on “behind the curtain” - God letting them dance in their rebellion, then uncovering them - we will watch as the reality sets in, truly “He rules”.

Philippians 2:9-11 - “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

During the next section of Psalm 66 – we see the reality that those who have been saved from much – love much. 

We don’t obey God because we think it will lead to salvation. We obey God because we have SEEN Him, been transformed, and have become a “new creation”. (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

“I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, which my lips have uttered and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, with the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul.

I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue.” (verses 13-17)

Meeting God – like Saul becoming Paul – transforms us from the inside out. Speaking His name, worshiping Him, bringing our offerings and using our resources for His glory to impact more people is just natural behavior after being delivered from “trouble”.

One of my life passages in the Bible is from 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 – it shows the transformation process of coming to Christ – from becoming a new creation to entering into his ministry – the “ministry of reconciliation” becoming an “ambassador” for Christ. I wouldn’t describe myself as an evangelist – but I lead people to Jesus. I wouldn’t describe myself as an intercessor – yet I pray. I wouldn’t describe myself as a pastor – yet I love on people, counsel people, and push them toward the Word of God. 

This is what happens when we come to faith in Jesus – we become ambassadors. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.” (verse 16)

This should be a natural reaction in our life – once our souls have been redeemed. We can’t stop talking about Him. Conversations, even if we didn’t mean for it to go that way, start navigating toward talking about God – because that is what is in our hearts. This can happen at work, with friends, at a coffee shop, and even in the halls of Congress in the right settings. 

Let’s pray today that God would open our eyes afresh to His goodness so that we could boldly open our mouths to declare who He is to those around us. 

***One of the reasons that Christians Engaged exists to educate and empower ordinary Christians to impact our culture and nation. You can start that journey with us by taking our pledge to pray, vote, and engage, and then going through our On-Ramp to Civic Engagement Seminar. These are powerful tools to remind you to pray, to vote, and to engage, being salt and light in your community. 

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