Genesis. “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of GOD was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And GOD saw that the light was good. And GOD separated the light from the darkness. GOD called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Psalm 24 is a Psalm for Sunday Celebrating GOD, Creation, Righteousness, and the Blessings of GOD.

A Psalm of David
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the GOD of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the GOD of Jacob. Selah

Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah

The first stanza affirms that GOD is Creator of the Universe, and calls to mind the first day of creation. In his Notes, Pastor Albert Barnes wrote: “It belongs to Him in a sense somewhat similar to our right of property in anything that is the production of our hands, or of our labor or skill. We claim that as our own.” For Pastor Barnes, if we think we have complete right to our property, its usage, its disposal, and I might add its protection, then think how much greater is GOD’s right to what He designed and created. Our Creator has “right to direct man in what way He shall employ that portion of the productions of the earth which may be entrusted to Him,” wrote Pastor Barnes.

There are absolutely no limits to GOD’s ownership and authority over “The earth. . . and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” GOD has a claim upon everything from the beginning up to this present moment and into the future. GOD, however, allows us to use what is His. Along with the privilege to “own” property, including animals and plants, we have obligations. As Pastor Barnes put it, GOD has “the right to direct man in what way he shall employ (what) is entrusted to him. What we think of as our property is a trust. Ultimately we are accountable to our Creator for the way we use His property.

LORD willing I’ll share some thoughts on the second stanza soon.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .