—Ps 94:1–2
• There resides deep within us all a longing for the just punishment of those who arrogantly use, exploit, and abuse others. Countless movies have been made in which lawbreakers are relentlessly pursued and brought to justice by heroes who have a passion to see that the innocent are avenged.
• Praise God for his passion to bring about justice, ensuring that the wicked are called to account for their sins.
Awesome
Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
—Deut 7:21
• What comes to mind when you hear the word “awesome”? Perhaps a close-up view of Niagara Falls, or the Grand Canyon, or a mountaintop vista, or the birth of baby?
• Biblically, “awesome” has an element of fearsome might and power. When Israel was at risk of being terrorized by the inhabiting nations in the promised land of Canaan, God commanded them to not be terrified because he is far more terrible and awe-inspiring in all his power than they.
• Jesus told the disciples the same thing: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28).
• Praise the awesome God, for to fear him aright drains all other fears of their dread.
Beautiful
From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
—Ps 50:2
• We tend to associate the word “beauty” with women, art, sunsets, or hitting a receiver in full stride with a forty-yard pass. Our culture is obsessed with physical beauty. Hollywood stars adorn the covers of magazines and electronic screens. Yet there is a beauty that lies beyond Hollywood’s grasp—an inner beauty characterized by hearts that are loving, compassionate, selfless, good, and noble. Jesus displayed all these qualities perfectly in his daily life as he interacted with others. His was a beauty that attracted all people of goodwill.
• God has a beauty that is rivaled by none. When we see him, we shall be struck speechless by his radiant splendor.
• Praise God for his beauty. One day we shall see him and marvel.
Bestower of Favors
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
—Ps 84:11
• We often ask, “Can you do me a favor?” and by so doing we are asking for grace—for help undeserved.
• God delights in bestowing his favor on “those whose hearts are blameless.” This does not mean that only sinless people qualify for God’s favor (Who would qualify?), but rather that those who love him and love to please him by their glad obedience, however imperfectly executed, are favored.
• Reflect on the many favors God has bestowed on you by his grace and praise that he is the kind of God who is pleased to honor you.
• Has any greater favor been bestowed than Jesus, our Savior, and the gracious Holy Spirit, who indwells within us moment by moment? Praise the God who is the greatest favor of all.
Binder
Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.
—1 Sam 25:29
• Wise and beautiful Abigail, future wife of King David, declares to David that even though Saul pursues him, God will keep him safe because God has promised to do so (v. 30) using a wonderful image of being tied up securely in a bundle with all other living people.
• Praise God, who has a purpose and a plan for each life. He binds us snugly in the bundle of the living so we can fulfill our calling and complete our assigned work on earth. Then he will remove us from the bundle of the living and take us to heaven.
• Praise God that our lives are secure in Christ.
Binder
I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
—Ezek 34:16a
• God compares the leaders of Israel to shepherds and the people to sheep. He condemns these selfish, negligent, and abusive men for their failure to care for those in the land who are weak, defenseless, and abused.
• God declares that he will be their shepherd and he will see that his flock is cared for. He will bind up the wounds of the injured sheep and tenderly nurse them back to health.
• We are God’s sheep, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd. It was prophesied of him, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion” (Isa 61:1–3a).
• Praise God for Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who cares for his sheep, binding up our hurts.
Bird-knower
I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
—Ps 50:11
• “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father” (Matt 10:29).
• Birds are an amazing part of God’s creation. The music that pours forth from some of the smallest of songbirds is enthralling. Their agility in flight, their plumage, and their habits are mesmerizing. How is it they do they not freeze to death in the cold winter snows? How do they fly so fast and then alight on a twig in a flash, without a wobble or a misstep?
• Have you ever wondered how many birds live within a five-minute walk from your home? Hundreds? Thousands? However many, God knows each one.
• God knows birds. Whereas in all our busyness, we may not take time to notice our surroundings, it is not so with God. He is on a first-name basis with every bird.
• God is not only a bird expert. He also knows every cow, cricket, and crocodile. What kind of a mind does God have to relate to all his creation in such detail?
• Praise God today for his creation and for the high value he places on all he has made, including humankind: “you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt 10:30b).
Blesser
When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.
—Acts 3:26
• Peter was preaching to a crowd that gathered after he and John healed a crippled beggar. He reminded these Jewish listeners of God’s promise to bless all people on earth through his covenant with Abraham. Peter then stated that those who heard Jesus that day would be the first to be blessed by God through Jesus, who turned them from their sins to the Savior.
• Praise God, who is a blessing-giving God. He delights in bringing good to people.
• An old hymn encourages us to count our blessings. How long would your list be if you wrote out as many blessings as you could recall in the span of five minutes? We may be surprised by