Acts 12
Peter in prison verse 1- 5
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex
certain of the church
and he KILLED James
the brother of John with the sword
And because he saw it pleased the Jews
he proceeded further to take Peter also
(then were the days of unleavened bread)
And when he had apprehended him – he put him in prison
and delivered him to four quaternioins of soldiers to keep him
intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people
Peter therefore was kept in prison
BUT PRAYER was made without ceasing of the church
unto God for him
Peter delivered by angel of the LORD verse 6- 10
And when Herod would have brought him forth
the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers
bound with two chains
and the keepers before the door kept the prison
And BEHOLD – the angel of the Lord came on him
and a light shined in the prison – and he smote Peter on the side
and raised him up – saying
Arise up quickly
and his chains fell off his hands
The angel said to him
Gird yourself and bind on your sandals
and so he did
And he said to him
Cast your garment about you – and follow me
And he went out – and followed him
and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel
BUT thought he saw a vision
WHEN they were past the first and the second ward
they came unto the iron gate that leads to the city
which opened to them of his own accord
and they went out
and passed on through one street
and forthwith the angel departed from him
Peter goes to house of Mary verse 11- 17
And when Peter was come to himself – he said
Now I know of a surety – that the Lord hath sent his angel
and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod
and from all the expectation of the
people of the Jews
And when he had considered the thing
he came to the house of Mary the mother of John
whose surname was Mark
where many were gathered together PRAYING
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate
a damsel came to hearken – named Rhoda
And when she knew Peter’s voice
she opened not the gate for gladness
BUT ran in
and told how Peter stood before the gate
And they said to her
You are mad – BUT she constantly affirmed
that it was even so
THEN said they
It is his angel
BUT Peter continued knocking – and when they
had opened the door
and saw him – they were ASTONISHED
BUT he – beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace
declared unto them how the Lord
had brought him out of the prison
AND he said – Go show these things unto James
and to the brethren
and he departed and went into another place
Herod orders death of guards verse 18- 19
NOW as soon as it was day
there was no small stir among the soldiers
what was become of Peter
AND when Herod had sought for him – and found him not
he examined the keepers
and commanded that they should be put to death
AND he went down from Judea to Caesarea – and there abode
Herod dies by angel of the LORD verse 20- 23
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon
but they came with one accord to him
and having made Blastus
the king’s chamberlain their friend
desired peace
BECAUSE their country was nourished by the king’s country
and upon a set day Herod – arrayed in royal apparel
sat upon his throne and made an oration unto them
And the people gave a shout – saying
It is the voice of a god – and not of a man
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him
BECAUSE he gave not God the glory
and he was eaten of worms
and gave up the ghost
Church grew verse 24
BUT the word of God grew and multiplied
Missionaries take Mark verse 25
AND Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem
when they had fulfilled their ministry
and took with them John – whose surname was Mark
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. (1618 “without ceasing” [ektenes] means to stretch out, urgent, fervent, intent, more earnestly, constantly, unceasing intense activity or continuously)
DEVOTION: Have you ever been involved in an all-night prayer meeting? One of the groups I have been a part of have annually had an all-night prayer meeting at camp. It was great to see individuals come and pray for the requests of all those at camp. The teen group was the one who would take the wee morning hours to pray. There would be thirty or so teenagers praying for the requests that had been written.
In our churches we sometimes have all night prayer meetings before a special event. This is something that should be happening more as we see the day approaching for the LORD’S return.
Why should we have all night prayer meetings? God already knows all about what is happening on this earth. HE knows our needs. Why should we bother?
Christ set the example with HIS prayer times. The early church set the example with their prayer times. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Prayer is one of the ways we show the world that we are dependent on God. HE wants us to show dependence. We are not to be independent.
Here we have a time when they had a special prayer meeting for Peter who was in prison about to be killed by Herod. There was a period of time between his arrest and his trial, because of the feast of unleavened bread or Passover. In some of our translation we have the word “Easter.” During this time period the church was praying urgently. They were constantly praying. They wanted Peter to be delivered.
The LORD answered their prayers. Even though, when Peter appeared at the gate of the house of Mary, Rhonda didn’t open the gate. When she told the people praying that he was at the gate, they thought she was crazy. She insisted and they told her she was seeing a ghost.
When he finally got in they were amazed that the LORD had answered their prayer. Remember that this is the third time Peter was in jail. The LORD delivered him each time.
The LORD is still able to answer our prayers. When there is something important to pray for, do we do it earnestly? Prayer is one of the disciplines of the faith and it needs to be practiced continuously. Are we praying without ceasing daily for HIS guidance in our life? Are we praying for the salvation of our family member and friends?
When people ask us to pray do we do it immediately with them? Or do we say we will pray and forget? Many write me that they are praying for the requests in each devotional. I praise the LORD for these individuals as we have seen MANY answers to prayer. God has been so good to this ministry.
CHALLENGE: We should not be astonished when God answers prayer. We should be thankful. HE is able.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. (2019 “shout” [epiiphoneo] means cry, to call out to, to utter aloud, to speak loudly, to respond, or exclaim)
DEVOTION: There are some who believe that a political leader can be their savior. It is a wrong belief. They put all their trust in a human being to change their circumstances. Human beings have one thing in common, they are looking out for themselves more times than not. When the say things that tickle the ears of those around them it is because their motive is to get reelected or they have an agenda that they are hiding from most.
The people in Judea wanted to see those who believed in Jesus put to death. The people in the area wanted the Roman government to honor them over this new group on the scene.
On a certain day they planned an event to make Herod feel good about their love for him. They had a special celebration. Herod was arrayed in royal apparel and sat upon a throne. The people listened to him speak and stated that it was “the voice of a god.” They were wrong. They were worshiping a man instead of the one true God in heaven. They were supposed to be followers of Jehovah but HE didn’t seem to please as much as a human man could.
The same thing can happen in our world. People can count on a man in political power to give them all that they want. They might receive some benefits but the compromises are great. The benefits will run out when the person they are worshiping finally shows his true colors and takes all the benefits away plus some.
We are not to worship or count on man to provide for our needs.
CHALLENGE: We are to take them to the LORD and wait for HIM to provide. Human political leaders are only looking out for their needs more times than not.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. (3056 “word” [logos] means sayings, account, speech, embodies a concept or idea, teaching, statement, gospel, exhortation or message)
DEVOTION: Jesus is called the “Word.” In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and was God. HE was the one who was sent with a message from God to the people of the earth. HE went especially to the children of Israel with HIS message of salvation. They didn’t want anything to do with HIM.
The Jewish leaders were satisfied with their relationship with the Roman Empire and didn’t want anything to change. They thought they had it so good. It was somewhat like the children of Israel in the wilderness when they wanted to return to Egypt because they thought they had it so good as slaves. They were not thinking straight.
Now we have the church founded on Jesus Christ. The believers were sharing the truth of the message of Jesus Christ. It was a message of salvation for all those who believed.
There was persecution from Herod at the time. He killed the brother of John. James was killed and the church was concerned. Herod took Peter and put him in prison. The church held an, all night prayer meeting for him. He was delivered.
What happened to the faith of the believers? It increased and the church grew because of the persecution. It not only grew but it multiplied. It wasn’t growing one by one but in groups. People realized that God was working and they wanted to be a part of it.
Today God still answers prayers. People in many countries are under persecution and yet the church is growing in spite of the persecution. The areas where there is little persecution seem to be the areas where the Christians are satisfied with just living life without witnessing to others. They seem real relaxed in their Christianity.
It is wrong but it seems to be happening. The Christians seem to want to be entertained in church rather than cause the church to grow through the study of the Word of God and prayer. Many churches have no prayer meeting unless there is a special need. The only prayer that goes on between Sundays is happening when those few on the prayer chain of the church get a call about a special need.
We need Christians who really believe in prayer and see God answering prayer on a regular basis because they are praying for specific needs and seeing the LORD working. We need churches who believe in weekly prayer times together.
CHALLENGE: Start a prayer meeting in your home if there is none in your church. Support the prayer meeting in your church with your attendance. These are trying times. Prayer is the answer!!!!
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: 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. (4137 “fulfilled” [pleroo] means complete, be full, to make full, to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally, to come or bring to a finish or an end, or complete.
DEVOTION: Remember that Barnabas went to Antioch to help the Christians there as their church was growing. He went to find Saul in Tarsus to help him with the ministry. Together they exhorted the people in the truth of the Word of God. They gave the people examples of what it meant to grow in the LORD.
They observed the church grow in Antioch and they were called Christians first in Antioch.
The people found out about a famine that was going to happen in Jerusalem and they wanted to provide money to help those who were believers there while they were going through the famine. They took up a collection to send to Jerusalem. They chose Barnabas and Saul to bring the offering to the church in Jerusalem. So after a time period Barnabas and Saul left Antioch to bring the money to Jerusalem. They had completed their ministry there for a time period.
Remember that anything outside of Jerusalem was considered a mission field for the disciples. The church in Jerusalem wanted people to go out and train others in the ministry. They would send out Barnabas and Saul again to start new churches wherever they went.
On their next missionary journey, they were going to take a young man named John with a surname Mark. We will learn more about him as we continue our study of the growth of the church in the first century.
Our responsibility as a church is to send out others to places that need churches and growth in the LORD. There might be churches in some countries but they are not being trained well in the LORD. We have a responsibility to train church leaders to be better instructors in the Word of God.
This ministry is being used to train new leaders in other countries in their understanding of the Word of God. We receive emails weekly from pastors who want more material or who state that the devotionals are being used of the LORD to train the next generation.
CHALLENGE: Please pray that the LORD will continue to watch over this ministry and its outreach to others.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Church prayed for Peter’s release verse 5
Peter goes to Mary’s house prayer meeting verse 12
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Days of unleavened bread verse 3
Easter verse 4
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of God (grew and multiplied) verse 24
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God verse 5, 23, 24
Glory to God verse 23
Word of God verse 24
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lord verse 7, 11, 17, 23
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angel verse 7, 10, 11, 15
Angel of the Lord verse 7- 11, 23
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Herod verse 1, 6, 11, 19
Four quaternions of soldiers verse 4
Soldiers verse 18
Examined the keeper (put to death) verse 19
Herod traveled from Judaea to Caesarea verse 19
Highly displeased with Tyre and Sidon
Desired peace
Arrayed in royal apparel
His voice was the voice of god
Smote by angel of the Lord
Gave not glory to God
Eaten of worms
Gave up the ghost
Blastus – friend of people verse 20
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Kill verse 2
False god – Herod verse 23
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prayer verse 5, 12
Deliverance verse 11
Gladness verse 14
Peace verse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Pleased the Jews verse 3
Expectation of the people of the Jews verse 11
Jerusalem verse 25
Church (New Testament people of God)
Church verse 1, 5
James killed (brother of John) verse 2
Peter verse 3- 18
In prison
Thought he had a vision
Come to himself
House of Mary (mother of John)
Astonished
Lord brought him out of prison
Prayer verse 5, 12
House churches verse 12
Mark verse 12, 25
Rhoda verse 13
James verse 17
Brethren verse 17
Barnabas verse 25
Saul (Paul) verse 25
Ministry verse 25
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
13–16 Mary’s house must have been of some size, with a vestibule opening onto the street, an intervening court, and rear living quarters. Not only were “many people gathered” there, but Luke says that Peter was knocking at the door of the vestibule (tēn thyran tou pylōnos; NIV, “the outer entrance”) and Rhoda the servant girl was rushing back and forth for joy. The unfolding scene is one of confusion and joyful humor, which must have led to hilarity every time it was repeated among the early believers. There was Peter’s knocking, becoming more and more urgent as he beat on the door; Rhoda’s losing her wits for joy and forgetting to open the door; the Christians’ refusal to believe it was Peter, even though they had just been praying for him; their belittling of Rhoda (“You are out of your mind” [mainē]) and of her saying she had heard Peter’s voice at the door (“It must be his angel”); Rhoda’s frantic persistence; and their utter astonishment when they finally opened the door and let him in. (Longenecker, R. N. (1981). The Acts of the Apostles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 410). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Continued knocking (ἐπεμενεν κρουων [epemenen krouōn]). Imperfect active and present participle. Now all heard the knocking. When they had opened (ἀνοιξαντες [anoixantes]). First aorist active participle of ἀνοιγω [anoigō] or -νυμι [-numi]. The whole group rushed out to the courtyard this time to make sure. They were amazed (ἐξεστησαν [exestēsan]). The frequent second aorist active (intransitive) indicative of ἐξιστημι [existēmi]. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 12:16). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
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12:13–17. The story of Peter’s unsuspected arrival at John Mark’s home is filled with humor and human interest. Joy in the Book of Acts is also evident here in the servant girl … Rhoda who answered Peter’s knock and recognized his voice. Though the saints were praying earnestly (v. 5) for Peter’s release, they did not expect an answer so soon! When Rhoda insisted, Peter is at the door! they replied, You’re out of your mind. It must be his angel. This statement implies a belief in personal angels, that is, angels who are assigned to individuals (cf. Dan. 10:21; Matt. 18:10). It also suggests a belief that an angel may look like the person with whom he is identified!
When they saw Peter, they were astonished (exestēsan; cf. 9:21). Peter’s mention of James indicates that James had a place of prominence in the Jerusalem church. Quite clearly this James was the Lord’s half brother.
After making himself known to the brothers, Peter left for another place. Where this was is not known. It is possible, because of 1 Peter 1:1, to say he went to Asia Minor. Later Peter was at Antioch of Syria (Gal. 2:11). Paul referred to Peter’s itinerant ministry (1 Cor. 1:12; 9:5). (Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 385). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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When you remember that (a) many people were praying, (b) they were praying earnestly, (c) they prayed night and day for perhaps as long as a week, and (d) their prayers were centered specifically on Peter’s deliverance, then the scene that is described here is almost comical. The answer to their prayers is standing at the door, but they don’t have faith enough to open the door and let him in! God could get Peter out of a prison, but Peter can’t get himself into a prayer meeting!
Of course, the knock at the door might have been that of Herod’s soldiers, coming to arrest more believers. It took courage for the maid Rhoda (“rose”) to go to the door; but imagine her surprise when she recognized Peter’s voice! She was so overcome that she forgot to open the door! Poor Peter had to keep knocking and calling while the “believers” in the prayer meeting decided what to do! And the longer he stood at the gate, the more dangerous his situation became.
The exclamation, “It is his angel!” (Acts 12:15) reveals their belief in “guardian angels” (Matt. 18:10; Heb. 1:14). Of course, the logical question is, “Why would an angel bother to knock?” All he had to do was simply walk right in! Sad to say, good theology plus unbelief often leads to fear and confusion.
We must face the fact that even in the most fervent prayer meetings there is sometimes a spirit of doubt and unbelief. We are like the father who cried to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) These Jerusalem saints believed that God could answer their prayers, so they kept at it night and day. But, when the answer came right to their door, they refused to believe it. God graciously honors even the weakest faith, but how much more He would do if only we would trust Him.
Note the plural pronouns in Acts 12:16: “They … opened the door and … they were astonished.” I get the impression that, for safety’s sake, they decided to open the door together and face together whatever might be on the other side. Rhoda would have done it by herself, but she was too overcome with joy. It is commendable that a lowly servant girl recognized Peter’s voice and rejoiced that he was free. Rhoda surely was a believer who knew Peter as a friend. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 453–454). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Once more Peter goes to his own company. They are gathered in the house of Mary, the mother of John. The Mary here is the mother of John Mark, and she is here introduced for the first time in the Book of Acts; she was the aunt of Barnabas. The house must have been a large one, for there was a court-yard. In the spacious house a goodly number of believers were gathered, engaged in prayer. No leader was there, for we read that James and the brethren were absent. It was, as we say, an informal gathering, but the Holy Spirit was the leader. Perhaps they were still on their knees when Peter knocked for admission. The maid Rhoda (Rose) hastened to the gate. Gladness filled her heart when she recognized Peter’s voice. For joy she forgot all about that latch at the gate, and instead of opening to Peter she ran back to the house to communicate the good news. She must have interrupted the prayers of the assembled company. The prayer had been answered, and praise was now in order. Alas! there was no response from their side. Instead of believing that Peter had been delivered, they looked upon the happy, beaming face of Rhoda and said, “thou art mad.” Not one of the company believed that Peter had been released. Rhoda was the one who believed that it was Peter. And this is undoubtedly the reason why her name is mentioned in this book. The poor maid, perhaps a slave girl, pleased God because she had faith. While there was great earnestness in that prayer meeting, when the prayer was answered, unbelief manifested itself.
When Rhoda could not be shaken in her belief that it was really Peter, the company tried to explain the knocking in a spiritualistic way. “It is his angel,” they said. This is generally believed to mean that it was his “guardian angel.” Upon this expression, much of the belief in guardian angels is founded. However, it is far-fetched to do so. They meant by this expression, the disembodied spirit of Peter. They thought that he had been martyred and that it was a kind of spiritistic manifestation of the fact. But the door was at last opened, and Peter stood safe and sound in their midst; then they were astonished.
After making known how he was delivered, he departed and went into another place. This left James, the Lord’s brother, in Jerusalem. The other Apostles had gone and Peter makes likewise haste to leave Jerusalem. Surely this marks the conclusion of this transition period. Where did Peter go? We do not know. Roman Catholicism declares that he went to Rome. There is absolutely no proof for it, but all is against it. Peter never saw Rome. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans in 54, and there we learn that at that time no Apostle had visited that city. We see Peter back in Jerusalem in chapter 15, and it is clear that he had not followed work among the Gentiles. He continued to hold to the gospel of the circumcision (Gal. 2:7–8). (Gaebelein, A. C. (1912). The Acts of the apostles: an exposition (pp. 224–226). New York: “Our Hope” Publication Office.)
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Ver. 16. But Peter continued knocking, &c.] That they might come to him, and let him in; beginning to be impatient, and being very desirous of seeing his friends, as well as being in danger of being taken up, and had to prison again, should any of his enemies come by, who knew him: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished; they could hardly believe their own eyes; it was amazing to them, how it should be, that he should be delivered out of prison, when they knew there was such a strong guard about him. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 253). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
Revelation 2
Jesus sends prophetic messages to four churches.
INSIGHT
Jesus commends the church of Ephesus for the good work that they have done. Nevertheless, He commands them to repent and return to their “first love” (v. 4). Unless they seek forgiveness, they will experience the chastening of God. In the face of impending persecution, Jesus offers words of encouragement and hope to the church in Smyrna (v. 10). Addressing the church in Pergamos, our Lord warns the people not to tolerate evil. The same message is sent to the church in Thyatira. Unless they repent, Jesus warns that He will judge them quickly and severely. (Quiet Walk)
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SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 John 5:18
Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15)—the very thing John says in this verse. Surely, then, we are confronted here by that statement. It is the same thing of which Jude reminds us: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (24). That is it!
This is the thing we find so constantly in our hymns—the celebration of the fact that the God who has kept and held His people in the past is still our God.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
William Williams
Augustus Toplady’s confidence, too, is that Christ is his keeper; He looks after him.
A sovereign Protector I have,
Unseen, yet forever at hand,
Unchangeably faithful to save,
Almighty to rule and command.
He smiles, and his comforts abound;
His grace as the dew shall descend,
And walls of salvation surround
The soul He delights to defend.
A Thought to Ponder: The God who has kept and held His people in the past is still our God. (From Life in God, pp. 149-150, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Praise from the Creation
“Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein.” (Psalm 69:34)
We may not yet understand the full purpose of God in creation, but at least one aspect of that purpose is that all things created should somehow praise their Creator. This theme occurs often in Scripture, especially in the psalms. For example, in addition to the exhortation in our text:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1).
“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD: for he cometh” (Psalm 96:11-13).
“All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee” (Psalm 145:10).
“Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. . . . Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl” (Psalm 148:3-4, 7-10).
The Lord Jesus said that if men should refuse to praise Him and “should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). Yet even though the whole creation—in its beauty, complexity, and providential orderliness—gives continual praise to its Creator, men perversely have “worshipped and served the creature [or more aptly stated, the creation] more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever” (Romans 1:25)
How poignant, therefore, is the final verse of the book of Psalms: “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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