Good Morning! - 2010.07.01 - Psalm 100:3 - He Hath Made Us

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)

The law and culture of the Jewish people are built upon the idea that God made them. God worked six days at creating everything and ceased from his work on the seventh day. That's the basis of the Jewish Sabbath. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested (ceased) the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:11)

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17) The church is not mentioned in the Old Testament and the Jewish Sabbath is not a sign between the Lord and the New Testament church. The church is not the nation of Israel but is closely related to it.

Two whole chapters in Acts (chapters 3 & 4) are taken up with Peter healing a man lame from birth. He didn't just begin a process of healing—through the power of God, Peter healed the man instantly. God never gave me the gift of healing, but I have witnessed enough instant healing to know that it is at times associated with heat coming from the site that has been healed. Not always, but sometimes. I have witnessed that. God's creation of earth and His recreation of a broken bone or a sick body appear to be very similar.

Peter healed the lame man in Acts 3:6 , and said: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

The Jewish leaders didn't mind the man being healed, but they did mind it being done in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter really waxed eloquent for most of the third chapter. The leaders put them in jail because they were preaching the resurrection from the dead through the name of Jesus. If you haven't read Acts 3 and Acts 4, you may want to read them at the above two links. As we say in Alabama, "This will crank your tractor!"

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: (Acts 4:24)

Know. God wants us to know that He made us. I believe this is as essential to mental and social health as knowing your mother and father.

It is he. As opposed to the idea that we might have made ourselves or that we developed spontaneously.

Not we ourselves. Just to make sure we get it.

We are his. The writer of Psalm 100 knew God and belonged to Him. Paul makes this an issue: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1Corinthians 6:20)