The Works of the Lord

Background Scripture: Psalms 111; 127; Romans 11:33-36
Lesson Scripture: Psalms 111:1-10; 127:1

Introduction

Our Father’s wondrous works we see

In the earth and sea and sky;

He rules o’er all in majesty,

From His royal throne on high. 1

The mighty works of God are evident all around us. Everywhere we look there is ample proof that the world is ordered by the One who created all things. The mighty God who designed the vast universe so perfectly, also knows us each individually by name (Isa. 43:1). He has known us from the first moment of our life until today. In his infinite wisdom, He can see into our future and is ready to walk with us through every circumstance we will face. Let this lesson inspire us to serve our heavenly Father with respect and devotion, knowing “that he which hath begun a good work in [us] will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

Key Verse

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints (Rev. 15:3).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

From the very beginning, mankind has been aware of a great, omnipotent power directing the natural world and affecting the everyday lives of all people. Ancient man was limited to regional travel and was not privileged to view the greater world and its wonders as we can today, yet even this limited scope of vision allowed them to see the majesty of God in everyday life as we do today. Each spring, God’s order of new life becomes evident as the pastures become green with the new growth of grass. Flowers begin to sprout from the ground in the most unlikely places and then bloom with breathtaking beauty. The songs of birds with their newly hatched young fill the air as the cold of winter gives way to the comforting warmth of spring. All this proclaims that nature is supernaturally ordered, and through it the hearts of men are turned to God.

Even during the old covenant with its many laws, ceremonies, and ritual sacrifices, men knew that it was God who brought peace and tranquility to their hearts and lives. The ultimate evidence of God’s love is his care in the personal lives of his people. All of God’s goodness and majesty displayed in the natural world is an introduction to his greatest work, the plan of salvation, which is given as a gift to all men.

Practical Truths for Today

As we look at creation around us, there is clear evidence for One who created all things and is preserving them today. The more we delve into the intricate details of the natural world, the more amazing it becomes. Since the beginning, man has studied the world around him, yet more and more wonders make themselves known. The natural phenomena of this earth catch our attention and move our spirit. We are left speechless when we see the mountains with their rugged beauty, the vast, restless ocean with its powerful waves, or the seemingly endless prairies, stretching farther than the eye can see.

Life itself speaks of a heavenly Father who is interested in the everyday details of our existence. We sense the hope and promise of a new day in the glorious sunrise and can recognize that “Ev’ry morning mercies new fall as fresh as morning dew.” 2 After a day is spent fulfilling the duties required of us, we can see the heavenly benediction of God in the comforting glow of the setting sun. With God near, night can be a time of rest and renewal. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” (Ps. 4:8).

Many conditions in the natural world are paralleled in the heart of man. Many of us have experienced a time of natural drought. Maybe we have even become desperate, wondering what will happen if it does not rain soon. The grind of daily living seems to leave us parched, and the challenges of providing for our families along with the task of raising our children in a God-fearing way leave us weary. And then there are other responsibilities that come. As a young person, you may have been asked to be a Sunday school chorister, to teach vacation Bible school, or to volunteer at a unit or on the mission field, and you wonder, “Can I actually do it?” As we grow older, we may be asked to serve a term on the school board, take a turn as youth leaders, or fulfill some other duty and responsibility. You know how busy your life already is and wonder how much extra time and effort it will take. Inwardly you sigh, “Lord, how can I do it?” Some are called to the life-long responsibility of being leaders in the kingdom of God and may ask, “Where will the inspiration come from to be what I should be? How will I know how to help those in need or to prove things properly?”

And then, like a stream in the desert or a shower of rain, the Lord miraculously makes our lives bloom and provides for the need! Our once-dry heart is filled with the love of God. We find ourselves gifted with enough wisdom and understanding to face the questions that daily life brings. There is renewed power to continue when all human strength seems to fail (Isa. 40:31). This is the work of God, a present help in the time of need that says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Heb. 13:5).

Those who have experienced a flood and its devastating effects can understand the hopeless despair accompanying the rising water and its utter ruin. Wrecked property and the associated filth can almost overwhelm even the best efforts of restoration. The human heart can also be overcome as if by a flood. Those who have faced sickness with its life-changing consequences know this well. Following the death of a loved one, loneliness and grief wash over the heart and soul at times without warning. To these hurting hearts God sends this promise: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isa. 59:19). This is also a work of the Lord because He came “to heal the brokenhearted” and “to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).

There are other works of the Lord that exemplify who He is and his love for mankind. God said the cold of winter would always give way to spring. Frozen earth becomes mellow and productive again, and new life fills the earth. Though this is normal and expected, it is a mighty miracle of God and proof his promises will never fail (Gen. 8:22). God is equally able to soften the cold and hardened heart of man and make it pliable and warm. This transformation clearly speaks that “the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save” (Isa. 59:1).

Our God is a healer. He loves to mend and restore those things that are damaged or broken. There is no abuse, disappointment, trial, or grief so great that God will not delight in healing. As we view the mighty works of God, may our hearts be filled with gratitude and a renewed commitment to love and serve Him who first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Questions

1. What are some of the mighty works that God has done in your life? Feel free to share them.
2. Does a thankful heart denote spiritual strength?
3. Daily acknowledging God’s blessings gives mental strength and encourages physical healing. Can forming good thinking habits alone open our eyes to seeing God, or does it take more?
4. As the darkness of the world becomes greater, will God’s power become more evident?
5. 1 Clara M. Brooks (1882), “What a Mighty God We Serve!” Christian Hymnal
6. 2 Greville Philimore (1821-1884), “Every Morning Mercies New,” Christian Hymnal

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).