Biblical Commentary

Thoughts on Psalm 104:31

Psalms 104:31: The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.

What a thought that God will rejoice in His works! So often we might think that God is not working on our behalf because He has yet to do something we expect Him to; maybe even something we know He wants to do. Let’s set that thought aside for a moment and just think about the fact that He does rejoice in His works. Just as Jesus in Hebrews 12:2 despises the shame of the cross for the joy set before Him, endures the cross, and then triumphs over the powers of sin and darkness that had kept us in bondage (Colossians 2:15), and makes a show of them openly. (I picture Him celebrating the victory He obtained for us.)

The glory of God will endure forever. He will get glory one way or another- either from the redeemed people who trusted His Son, angels, creation, or some other way, but make no mistake, He will be glorified. But could it not be said that the greatest glory He will receive will be from those His Son died to save? Isn’t the death and resurrection of Jesus God’s greatest work? So, logically, it stands to reason that God will (or at least should) get the most glory from those He did the greatest work for.

If the death and resurrection of Jesus and the subsequent death and resurrection of us by the Spirit of God upon accepting Jesus is not consistently considered the greatest work God will ever do for us, then maybe we need to examine our hearts and see if we are not putting something else ahead of God. It is possible to even make an idol of a desire God wants to give us (such as healing, a spouse, etc.,) if our heart wants this more than God. It might even be easier to make an idol out of something we need, if we don’t always admit and live with all of our heart the fact that God the Father, Son, and Spirit are truly all we need.

The Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalm 35:27.) Are we seeking His pleasure or ours? Are we seeking to be rich toward God moreso than He toward us? Are we the servants of God or of ourselves? It amazes me that God will rejoice in His works in our lives. And when we don’t hinder the Spirit’s work, when we don’t forbid the rivers of living water to flow from our bellies, when we are filled with the Spirit and sow to the Spirit instead of the flesh, He will make us glad through His work and we will triumph in the works of His hands (Psalm 92:4.) Consequently, we will rejoice with God in his work and we will do valiantly through Him by the power of His Spirit. God will then get more and all of the glory from us both by His works as well from our eternal gratitude (Psalm 30:12.)

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