Chapter 8 of Romans is just so full of life-enhancing verses.  See Helpful Intercession and If God is For Us for examples.  Between the declaration that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and the assurance that nothing can take us from God’s merciful grasp, we find a list of steps we go through to grow in holiness in verse 29-30.

The familiar list:

• He (God) foreknew us
• Those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son
• Those he predestined he also called
• Those he called he also justified
• Those he justified he also glorified.

The chain is unbreakable for the effectively called.

This list comes from an outline by J Ligon Duncan III, as adapted from a Matthew Henry document.  It gives a strong set of prayer topics for which we can praise our God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

State that He is infinitely above us, and all other beings.  Particularly in our adorations we must acknowledge:

1. He is an eternal and immutable God.
2. He is omnipresent.
3. He is omniscient.
4. He is all-wise.
5. He is sovereign Lord and Owner of all.
6. He is omnipotent.
7. He is pure, holy, and just.
8. He is just and fair in the rule of His creation.
9. His truth is inviolable, and His goodness inexhaustible.
10. Our adorations fall infinitely short of God’s glory.

That last one is astounding.  Even if we praise God every day for all the splendid attributes on the list (and for all the other ones in the original document), we can never come close to describing His true magnificence.

Psalm 1 gives just two options  for  people – they are either righteous or wicked.  The list of blessings and characteristics of the righteous:

– Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

– Does not stand in the way of sinners

– Does not sit in the seat of scoffers

– Delights in the law of the Lord

– Is like a tree planted well and yielding fruit

– In all that he does, he prospers

– The LORD knows him

The list for the wicked is very different.  They

– Are like chaff that the wind drives away

– Will not stand in the judgment

– Will not stand in the congregation of the righteous

– Will perish

Better to be righteous than wicked.  What is the difference?  Gospel tells us it is believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Psalm 145 gives eleven different words or phrases as synonyms for proclaiming the greatness of our God. The list is not exhaustive (proclaim is not there).

– Extol (verse 1)

– Bless (verses 1, 2, 10, 21)

– Praise(verses 2, 3)

– Commend (verse 4)

– Declare (verse 4, 6)

– Meditate (verse 5)

– Speak of (verses 6, 11, 21)

– Pour forth (verse 7)

– Sing aloud (verse 7)

-Tell (verse 11)

– Make known (verse 12)

A second list could be made from all the ways the LORD works for his people (mighty deeds, steadfast love, satisfy desires, preserves, etc). The psalmist has good reason for multiplying his praise words.

In Psalm 141 David leads with a standard way that prayer would be understood: “Give ear to my voice.”  Then he goes on to list a number of ways his senses, organs and those around him can participate in effectual prayer:

• Let my prayer be counted as incense before you and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice – Please consider my prayers as worship before you
• Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips – May the words of my prayers be pleasing
• Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds – May the mediations of my heart be acceptable
• Let a righteous man strike me; if it is a kindness, a rebuke will be oil for my head – use my friends and fellow worshipers to correct me
• My eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge – we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

This is an intense and weighty prayer involving the whole person, not just the voice.

Psalm 112 calls everyone to Praise the LORD! And then describes the people who fear Him:

• He is gracious
• He is merciful
• He is righteous
• He deals generously and lends
• He conducts his affairs with justice
• He is not afraid of bad news
• His heart is firm, trusting in the LORD

Mixed in with the characteristics are blessings that result from following the One True God.  Those are like the gifts that accompany the fruits of walking humbly with Him.

In 2 Peter 1, the apostle is recommending growth in holiness.  A string of positive characteristics is presented in verses 5-8:

• Supplement faith with virtue
• Supplement virtue with knowledge
• Supplement knowledge with self-control
• Supplement self-control with steadfastness
• Supplement steadfastness with godliness
• Supplement godliness with brotherly affection
• Supplement brotherly affection with love

Why? Because if these qualities are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful.

Deuteronomy 10 has a seemingly simple question with a complicated answer. “What does the LORD your God require of you?” A starter list follows (see Holy Lists post on 11/15/13).  The summary of the requirements is in verse 16, “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.”

Why it would be good for the Israelites to follow these instructions is listed in verses 14-22:

• To the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, earth with all that is in it
• The LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose you as his people
• The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords
• He is the great, the mighty, and the awesome God
• He is not partial and takes no bribe
• He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner
• He is your praise
• He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

So fear the LORD, serve him, hold fast to Him, and by his name shall you swear.

God makes a covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7.8-16. God first recounts what he has already done for this man:

– I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel.

– I have been with you wherever you went

– I have cut off all your enemies before you

Somewhat like the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12, God makes promises to David that He will keep:

– I will make for you a great name

– I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them so they will be disturbed no more and violent men shall afflict them no more

– I will give you rest from all your enemies

– I will make you a house (a ruling dynasty)

– I will raise up your offspring after you, and I will establish his kingdom

– I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son

– I will discipline him when he commits iniquity but my steadfast love will not depart from him

– I will establish your house, kingdom, and throne forever.

The book of Hebrews (vs 1.5) applies part of these promises (the father and son part) to Jesus, because the Christ inherits David’s role as the representative of the people.

 

The first article of the Belgic Confession contains a powerful list of God attributes. 

We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God –

– eternal

– incomprehensible

– invisible

– unchangeable

– infinite

– almighty

– completely wise

– just

– good

– the overflowing source of all good

The list reminds me of a favorite Pauline prayer from Ephesians 1.17 (NIV) – “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”