This is our final post. The 91st post is an extra "bonus" post that will allow us to finish the final two psalms and end our survey on a note of hope. Thanks for joining us for this journey through the psalms. (MK) GATHERING THE CALL The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise! CONFESSION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. MEDITATION | Hebrews 2:10–13 "For it was fitting that he [Christ], for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” SING Psalm 134 (to the tune of the Doxology) [Original lyrics by Lambertus J. Lamberts (1928), edited by Daniel J Snoke (2022)] Come bless the LORD with one accord You faithful servants of the LORD Who in his house do stand by night And praise him there with all your might Lift up your hands and bless his name From Zion may his blessings reign The LORD who heav’n and earth has made Bless you and keep you all your days WORD Psalm 149 & 150 I Peter 1:3-9 Psalms 149 and 150 are two short psalms which continue crescendo of praise at the end of the book. "Praise, the LORD!" is a refrain that rings again and again. This is very fitting as we conclude our time of seeking to be renewed in worship. In a similar way, Peter begins his NT epistle with the phrase, "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" The reason for his praise is well suited to Easter Sunday. (I Peter 1:3) "He has caused us to be born again to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The resurrection of Jesus is a cause for hope for everyone who trusts Christ and is united to him in faith. This hope means that we have an inheritance (I Peter 3:4) that cannot be taken away and that God, himself is guarding. The future hope of complete restoration in the New Heavens and the New Earth (Rev 20-22) is the foundation of the Christian life. But our hope is not only for this great future day. Because we have been "born again" - already - God's Spirit is working in our lives and working for our good. This past week we have spent time reflecting on the difficulties of the past two years. We have expressed sorrow in lament. We have expressed thankfulness for God's grace and for the way he has used people to bless us. Today, I would like to ask you to consider a third word, "hope." Hope is a forward looking word. As we see in I Peter 1, it fixes itself most completely on the final renewal that Jesus will bring on his return. But, God has promised to be at work in the world now. He has gifted us for ministry (1 Cor 12), he has empowered us by his Spirit (Gal 5), he has prepared good works for us to walk in (Eph 2:10), and he has commissioned his church to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20.) As we round into spring there are new opportunities ahead for our congregation as a whole and for each of us individually. Would you spend some time considering how God may be directing you to walk forward in renewed faith: - How is God calling you to invest your energy more intentionally in Christian relationships which build you up in faith? - How is God calling you into a deeper and more regular experience of worship? - How is God calling you to reach out to your neighbors around you? - How is God directing you use your gifts for service in the church? Consider sharing some of these ideas with friends and family. And, as before, we would love to hear from you. Please send your thoughts and reflections to Nameun ([email protected].) Thanks for joining s for this 90-day (plus 1) journey through the psalms. It has been a privilege to share this experience with you all. (Matt Koerber) SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE Many Christians throughout history have found it helpful to dedicate extra time for prayer, fasting, singing, and works of mercy during the week before Easter Sunday. As you anticipate remembering the saving work of Christ this weekend, here are a few ways you might do that:
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. Note: Sunday, April 17, will be our final (and 91st) day for the devotional series.
HOLY SATURDAY LITURGY Luke 23:50–56 "Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment." MEDITATION | Daniel Snoke The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is an odd day. Historically Christians have called it "Holy Saturday", but why is it "holy"? Nothing happened on it. We remember Jesus on the cross on Friday, we celebrate his resurrection on Sunday, but we know very little about what took place on Saturday. Did anything happen? As good citizens of the 21st century, we are trained for action. We love productivity and getting things done, so it is no wonder then that we read Scripture through this lens as well. Christ paid for our sins on a Friday and rose on a Sunday. Like a one-two punch, we approach God's work of salvation with a "get 'her done" attitude. Atonement, check! Resurrection, check! What's next? If we look closer though, there is a lot that happened on Holy Saturday. We do not know a lot about Joseph of Arimathea, but Scripture says that he was "looking for the kingdom of God." It is no mistake that Joseph prepared the body of Christ for burial on the "day of Preparation." Like a divine reflection on the meaning of Sabbath, Christ accomplished the ultimate work as he died on the Cross, and as his body was prepared for the tomb, his disciples were forced to rest and trust in God's plan of redemption. Sabbath does not happen because we have finished all of our work. We sabbath because we cease from labor and trust God for his ultimate provision. On this side of heaven, our work and labor will always be mixed with futility and frustration, but as we sabbath, we pause to participate with a part of the heavenly rest we will have when Christ comes again. Joseph and the disciples were forced to pause and participate in this rest as well. Their sins were paid for on the cross, but Christ had not yet been raised from the dead to once and for all defeat death. Would God make good on his promises? How could God use the shameful cross in his plan to establish his Kingdom? Ceasing from work is hard specifically because we cannot see how things will resolve. "Will my boss love or hate my proposal? Will I be able to finish that project on time? Will my house ever be clean if I don't do it now?" It is in these unknowns that God works through sabbath. If we never stop, we will never let God speak to our doubts. If we never confront our doubts, we will not look for the kingdom of God. This is what Joseph must have known. As a man who "was looking for the kingdom", he boldly asked Pilate for the body of Christ, that he might honor and care for it. In the midst of fear, sorrow, shame, and doubt, Joseph's desire was to be with Christ, even if he was seemingly dead. Sabbath is about choosing to be with Christ, even if his presence in our work is seemingly dead. So while not a lot happened on Holy Saturday in a grand, cosmic, literal earth-shattering way, a lot happened in the hearts of Christ's disciples. They were forced to see their doubts, sorrows, shame, hope, love, and memories in context of their relationship to Jesus. Even if they did not know it, they too were being prepared for Sunday. God was preparing them not for a grave, but for everlasting life with him. Today, take time to consider your patterns of sabbath. 2nd Reading: Read Psalm 16 in preparation for Easter. This is a commonly quoted text in the New Testament. The line "You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; you will not let your holy one see corruption" (v.10) was quoted by Peter in his Acts 2 Pentecost sermon and applied to the resurrection of Jesus. As Psalm 134 closes our time in the Psalms of Ascents, we can note the spiritual journey we have traveled. Derek Kidner points out in his commentary that "The Songs of Ascents, which began in the alien surroundings of Meschech and Kedar (Ps. 120), end fittingly on the note of serving God 'day and night within his temple'." 1 Chronicles 9:33 says that the temple singers were on duty both day and night, and while the original context of Psalm 134 may have been for the temple priests, we are all invited to participate with Christ in worship in the spirit of endless song. As we anticipate the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, let us worship with anticipation of God's blessing. (Daniel Snoke) GATHERING THE CALL The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise! CONFESSION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. MEDITATION | Hebrews 2:10–13 "For it was fitting that he [Christ], for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” SING Psalm 134 (to the tune of the Doxology) [Original lyrics by Lambertus J. Lamberts (1928), edited by Daniel J Snoke (2022)] Come bless the LORD with one accord You faithful servants of the LORD Who in his house do stand by night And praise him there with all your might Lift up your hands and bless his name From Zion may his blessings reign The LORD who heav’n and earth has made Bless you and keep you all your days WORD Read: Psalm 22 2nd Reading: Matthew 27:27-56 Psalm 22 is one of the most remarkable passages of the Bible. It is attributed to David and describes great anguish that he experienced through some particular trial. But the connection of Psalm 22 to the crucifixion of Jesus is breathtaking. All of the Gospel writers reference Psalm 22. In the Matthew's Gospel, there are many examples of overlap, two instances in which Psalm 22 appears to be quoted, and then the words of Psalm 22:1 are given as some of the last words of Jesus before his death. (Matt 27:46, Psalm 22:1) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Rather than point out each reference in Psalm 22, it is better to spend some time with the text yourself. Read Psalm 22. Then Read Matthew 27:27-56 and other gospel accounts of the resurrection. Look at the connections for yourself. (Psalm 22:16) "They have pierced my hands and feet." What I find to be really stirring about Psalm 22 is that not just the textural overlap with the accounts of the crucifixion. What makes Psalm 22 so unique is that it is written in the first person and describes the crucifixion from the point of view of Jesus. Written hundreds of years before the birth and death and resurrection of Jesus, Psalm 22 provides words of Scripture for Jesus to pray on the cross. And it provides the church with a window into that terrible experience. The beatings. The mocking. The sense of abandonment. On the cross Jesus took the just anger of God for the sins of his people onto himself. Jesus - in a sense- became sin for us that we could become righteous (2 Cor. 5:21.) This past week we have been expressing sorrows and rehearsing thankfulness. In the cross, we see that Jesus entered into the deepest sorrow imaginable. In the cross, we see the cost of our forgiveness which is given freely. The greatest gift imaginable and the source for richest thanksgiving. Though you may be familiar with this story, and with this psalm, let's ask God to make it fresh and new in our experience. Because Christ suffered sins can be forgiven. Because Jesus endured the cross, we can be brought home to God's family. Because Jesus was abandoned, mocked, forsaken and killed, we have the promise of eternal life. Let's thank God together for his love, shown to us on the cross. (MK) ABIDING John 19 provides another account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Read this account and look for similar connections to Psalm 22. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE Many Christians throughout history have found it helpful to dedicate extra time for prayer, fasting, singing, and works of mercy during the week before Easter Sunday. As you anticipate remembering the saving work of Christ this weekend, here are a few ways you might do that:
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. As Psalm 134 closes our time in the Psalms of Ascents, we can note the spiritual journey we have traveled. Derek Kidner points out in his commentary that "The Songs of Ascents, which began in the alien surroundings of Meschech and Kedar (Ps. 120), end fittingly on the note of serving God 'day and night within his temple'." 1 Chronicles 9:33 says that the temple singers were on duty both day and night, and while the original context of Psalm 134 may have been for the temple priests, we are all invited to participate with Christ in worship in the spirit of endless song. As we anticipate the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, let us worship with anticipation of God's blessing. (Daniel Snoke) GATHERING THE CALL The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise! CONFESSION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. MEDITATION | Hebrews 2:10–13 "For it was fitting that he [Christ], for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” SING Psalm 134 (to the tune of the Doxology) [Original lyrics by Lambertus J. Lamberts (1928), edited by Daniel J Snoke (2022)] Come bless the LORD with one accord You faithful servants of the LORD Who in his house do stand by night And praise him there with all your might Lift up your hands and bless his name From Zion may his blessings reign The LORD who heav’n and earth has made Bless you and keep you all your days WORD Read: Psalm 148 and Colossians 1:3-8 As we draw our reading of the Book of Psalms to a close, Psalm 148 provides an explosive round of praise for God as creator. All manner of creation is called upon to praise God. But as the psalm closes, special attention is given to the range of ways in which God's people offer praise to God. "Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Your men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord... praise for all the saints." (v.11-14) The psalmist includes a wide range for people in his list, and it is summarized with a reference to "all the saints." In the bible, the word "saint" does not refer to the special superheroes of the faith, but rather it is used to describe each of God's people who are made righteous by faith in Jesus. And yet, ordinary people often do extraordinary things. God's Spirit dwelling in his people helps us to do things which give him glory. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul said that God prepared good works in advance so that his people might do them (Eph 2:10.) Our reading from the book of Colossians shows us that it is appropriate to acknowledge the good deeds of others and give thanks to God for them. Of course, this can be a little tricky. When we give thanks for someone else, we could end up elevating them too high or losing sight of God. But the danger of excess should not deter us from the appropriate recognition of others who have done a good job. We are told to give honor where it is owed (Rom 13:7.) In this particular passage, Paul says that he gives thanks for the Colossians in his prayers (v1:3). Then he goes on to highlight the important work of Epaphras in bringing the gospel message to the Colossians. Paul does not shy away from either thanking God for people (the Colossians) or pointing out that Epaphras was used by God for a good purpose. Along those lines, I hope to continue our season of thankfulness by considering how our lives have been blessed by people around us. As you consider the many difficulties of the last two years, we have also wanted to look for signs of grace. How has God blessed you through the words and actions of people around you? As you think about this you can: 1.) Thank God in prayer. 2.) Send a note to that person and thank them. 3.) Send an expression of thankfulness for someone in our congregation to Nameun ([email protected].) We would like to join you in celebrating the way God has worked through members of our congregation. I will say as a "postscript" that the people of our congregation have been remarkably gracious in their expressions of thankfulness to me and to other leaders in the church. (All visible leaders tend to receive more criticism and praise/thanks than normal.) In this exercise, I am particularly hoping that we can identify the gifts of people in our congregation that are less visible and appropriately recognize the way God has worked through our members for the good of us all. (Matt Koerber) ABIDING THURSDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 134 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE Many Christians throughout history have found it helpful to dedicate extra time for prayer, fasting, singing, and works of mercy during the week before Easter Sunday. As you anticipate remembering the saving work of Christ this weekend, here are a few ways you might do that:
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. As Psalm 134 closes our time in the Psalms of Ascents, we can note the spiritual journey we have traveled. Derek Kidner points out in his commentary that "The Songs of Ascents, which began in the alien surroundings of Meschech and Kedar (Ps. 120), end fittingly on the note of serving God 'day and night within his temple'." 1 Chronicles 9:33 says that the temple singers were on duty both day and night, and while the original context of Psalm 134 may have been for the temple priests, we are all invited to participate with Christ in worship in the spirit of endless song. As we anticipate the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, let us worship with anticipation of God's blessing. (Daniel Snoke) GATHERING THE CALL The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise! CONFESSION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. MEDITATION | Hebrews 2:10–13 "For it was fitting that he [Christ], for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” SING Psalm 134 (to the tune of the Doxology) [Original lyrics by Lambertus J. Lamberts (1928), edited by Daniel J Snoke (2022)] Come bless the LORD with one accord You faithful servants of the LORD Who in his house do stand by night And praise him there with all your might Lift up your hands and bless his name From Zion may his blessings reign The LORD who heav’n and earth has made Bless you and keep you all your days WORD Read: Psalm 147 2nd Reading: Col 3:15-17 (Ps 147:3,7) "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving." Yesterday we talked about the theme of "lament." We were encouraged to remember those things which have been particularly difficult in the last two years and bring before the Lord in prayer. Today we turn to the theme of thankfulness. Not only has life been difficult, but God has been present in the midst of those difficulties. Lament and thanksgiving because God is always present in our suffering... and because even our best moments are have shadows of brokenness while we live in a fallen world. Psalm 147 encourages us to sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. There are several reasons for this. First, we have experienced God's grace binding up our wounds (v.3.) Also, God brings blessing in the material world (v.7-9), he restores his people (v.12-15), and he gives us his word in the Bible (v.19-20.) These are examples of the many ways in which God shows his goodness to us and in which we are called to respond in thankfulness. Consider how you have seen God's goodness in the past two years: - How has God brought restoration to some aspects of hardship that you may have experienced? Particularly those that you reflected on yesterday. - How has God answered prayers for health, safety, friendship, etc.? - How has God been working for renewal (in you and others) through difficult circumstances? - How has God been revealing himself to you through his word in the midst of your challenges? Again, we would love to hear your testimonies of thankfulness. We will have a time of sharing after breakfast this coming Sunday, from 9:00-10:00am on Sunday AM. We would also love to compile some of these responses in written form. Please send your notes of thankfulness to God to Nameun ([email protected]) so that others in the congregation can celebrate with you. (Matt Koerber) ABIDING WEDNESDAY-CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 134 Consider ways that you can let the Psalm form your imagination, that you might share it with others. Perhaps you can journal about it, write poetry or prose, learn a song, create visual art, or reexpress it in ways that speak to your context. If you are planning to fellowship with other people this weekend, consider how you might share these imaginations with your community. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE Many Christians throughout history have found it helpful to dedicate extra time for prayer, fasting, singing, and works of mercy during the week before Easter Sunday. As you anticipate remembering the saving work of Christ this weekend, here are a few ways you might do that:
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. As Psalm 134 closes our time in the Psalms of Ascents, we can note the spiritual journey we have traveled. Derek Kidner points out in his commentary that "The Songs of Ascents, which began in the alien surroundings of Meschech and Kedar (Ps. 120), end fittingly on the note of serving God 'day and night within his temple'." 1 Chronicles 9:33 says that the temple singers were on duty both day and night, and while the original context of Psalm 134 may have been for the temple priests, we are all invited to participate with Christ in worship in the spirit of endless song. As we anticipate the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, let us worship with anticipation of God's blessing. (Daniel Snoke) GATHERING THE CALL The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise! CONFESSION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. MEDITATION | Hebrews 2:10–13 "For it was fitting that he [Christ], for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” SING Psalm 134 (to the tune of the Doxology) [Original lyrics by Lambertus J. Lamberts (1928), edited by Daniel J Snoke (2022)] Come bless the LORD with one accord You faithful servants of the LORD Who in his house do stand by night And praise him there with all your might Lift up your hands and bless his name From Zion may his blessings reign The LORD who heav’n and earth has made Bless you and keep you all your days WORD Read Lamentations 3:1-33 During our tour of the psalms we have read many which were characterized as “psalms of lament.” A lament is an expression of grief or sorrow. Often that describes a sorrow for our own sin. Other times it expresses suffering which is not directly related to anything we have done. Today we shift our attention away from the psalms as we read from the longest lament in the Bible. The book of Lamentations is five chapters of sorrow with a little hope sprinkled in. Attributed to the prophet Jeremiah it describes the sorrow that God’s people felt after the destruction of Jerusalem. The long series of grief statements throughout the book helps us to see the ways in which we can name our grief and offer it to God. Modern people are quick to try to bury their painful experiences and move directly to something happier. The bible shows us that healing comes through honestly addressing the things that are painful and then located them in relationship to God’s faithfulness. For example, Jeremiah continually remembered his affliction (Lam 3:16-20.) But even this lament contains words of hope. We are reminded that the “steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Lam 3:22-24.) We do not grieve as if we have not hope, but our grief always occurs under the umbrella of God’s steadfast love. 1.)In what ways did you experience grief during the last two years? 2.) What were things that were lost? 3.)What are ways in which you experienced relational pain? 4.)How did you feel the grind of fear and anxiety? We would love to hear from you about this. On Sunday, April 17, we will be sharing some of our accounts of grief during our Easter Breakfast. We will also be collecting stories for a booklet of memories. If you would like to share your story with others, please send it to Nameun Cho ([email protected].) ABIDING TUESDAY-READ | Psalm 134 Spend time understanding and memorizing the outline of the Psalm, taking special note of the flow or transition points. If you are in a group, discuss the main themes and emphasis together. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE Many Christians throughout history have found it helpful to dedicate extra time for prayer, fasting, singing, and works of mercy during the week before Easter Sunday. As you anticipate remembering the saving work of Christ this weekend, here are a few ways you might do that:
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. As Psalm 134 closes our time in the Psalms of Ascents, we can note the spiritual journey we have traveled. Derek Kidner points out in his commentary that "The Songs of Ascents, which began in the alien surroundings of Meschech and Kedar (Ps. 120), end fittingly on the note of serving God 'day and night within his temple'." 1 Chronicles 9:33 says that the temple singers were on duty both day and night, and while the original context of Psalm 134 may have been for the temple priests, we are all invited to participate with Christ in worship in the spirit of endless song. As we anticipate the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, let us worship with anticipation of God's blessing. (Daniel Snoke) GATHERING THE CALL The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise! CONFESSION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. MEDITATION | Hebrews 2:10–13 "For it was fitting that he [Christ], for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” SING Psalm 134 (to the tune of the Doxology) [Original lyrics by Lambertus J. Lamberts (1928), edited by Daniel J Snoke (2022)] Come bless the LORD with one accord You faithful servants of the LORD Who in his house do stand by night And praise him there with all your might Lift up your hands and bless his name From Zion may his blessings reign The LORD who heav’n and earth has made Bless you and keep you all your days WORD Read: Psalm 24 & Psalm 146 (Ps. 146:3) “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is not salvation.” Yesterday the church celebrated Palm Sunday, the grand entrance of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem. Psalm 24 describes the entrance of God into the city. Perhaps it was originally used to describe the arrival of the ark of the covenant into the city (2 Sam 6.) I find that it captures the celebration of Jesus as he arrived in the city to shouts of praise (Mark 11.) While the people were quick to celebrate the entrance of a popular religious figure, they would soon turn on him when he did not meet their prior expectations. The other side of the triumphal entry relates to the clear political overtones of the celebration. The people shouted “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! (Mark 11:10.) Perhaps they were quick to turn on Jesus when it became clear that he would not lead an army against the Roman Empire and bring a revolutionary political change. This also relates to our 2nd psalm for the day in which we are warned against putting too much hope in a human “prince.” During this week we will be intentionally thinking about the events of the last two years. COVID shook the nations to the core and disrupted many of our normal life processes. Let’s allow the triumphal entry and the warnings of Psalm 146 to direct some questions for reflection. 1.)We are all “sons of man”, our breath departs and we go down to the earth (Ps 146:3-4) In what ways have the past two years revealed the frailty of the human condition? 2.)In what ways are we tempted to “trust in princes” for solutions to our problems? Does our political discord relate to our tendency to expect way too much from the government? 3.)In what ways can our daily struggles and disappointments better prepare us to long for the return of Jesus and the final coming of the Kingdom of God? ABIDING MONDAY-LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 134 We memorize things we value. The brain has an incredible ability to remove information that we don’t need. As we make an effort to memorize the Psalms, the beginning of each week seeks to establish the value of God's Word in our hearts before we view it as information to be remembered. Read more about the Lectio Divina HERE.
SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE Many Christians throughout history have found it helpful to dedicate extra time for prayer, fasting, singing, and works of mercy during the week before Easter Sunday. As you anticipate remembering the saving work of Christ this weekend, here are a few ways you might do that:
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. Picture: "Psalm 134 Grounded - Leaping" by Collier
As Psalm 134 closes our time in the Psalms of Ascents, we can note the spiritual journey we have traveled. Derek Kidner points out in his commentary that "The Songs of Ascents, which began in the alien surroundings of Meschech and Kedar (Ps. 120), end fittingly on the note of serving God 'day and night within his temple'." 1 Chronicles 9:33 says that the temple singers were on duty both day and night, and while the original context of Psalm 134 may have been for the temple priests, we are all invited to participate with Christ in worship in the spirit of endless song. As we anticipate the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, let us worship with anticipation of God's blessing. (Daniel Snoke) GATHERING THE CALL The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise! CONFESSION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. MEDITATION | Hebrews 2:10–13 "For it was fitting that he [Christ], for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” SING Psalm 134 (to the tune of the Doxology) [Original lyrics by Lambertus J. Lamberts (1928), edited by Daniel J Snoke (2022)] Come bless the LORD with one accord You faithful servants of the LORD Who in his house do stand by night And praise him there with all your might Lift up your hands and bless his name From Zion may his blessings reign The LORD who heav’n and earth has made Bless you and keep you all your days WORD ABIDING MONDAY-LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 134 We memorize things we value. The brain has an incredible ability to remove information that we don’t need. As we make an effort to memorize the Psalms, the beginning of each week seeks to establish the value of God's Word in our hearts before we view it as information to be remembered. Read more about the Lectio Divina HERE.
TUESDAY-READ | Psalm 134 Spend time understanding and memorizing the outline of the Psalm, taking special note of the flow or transition points. If you are in a group, discuss the main themes and emphasis together. WEDNESDAY-CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 134 Consider ways that you can let the Psalm form your imagination, that you might share it with others. Perhaps you can journal about it, write poetry or prose, learn a song, create visual art, or reexpress it in ways that speak to your context. If you are planning to fellowship with other people this weekend, consider how you might share these imaginations with your community. THURSDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 134 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 134 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SATURDAY (see Saturday liturgy) SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE Many Christians throughout history have found it helpful to dedicate extra time for prayer, fasting, singing, and works of mercy during the week before Easter Sunday. As you anticipate remembering the saving work of Christ this weekend, here are a few ways you might do that:
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. GATHERING
THE CALL Holy Trinity, who is undivided and infinitely one, let us celebrate our union with you and with your Church, that we might encourage one another to live as though we have eternal life, as we reflect your image through our unity. CONFESSION Eternal God, we confess that we do not live as though we believe in eternal life. You are infinitely united as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are preparing a place in heaven for us to be completely united together as your people, but we often want your presence without the unity it brings. Give us the joy of connectedness and the excitement to pursue unity on earth. As we wait for heaven, pour out your blessings so that they cover all of our relationships. MEDITATION | John 17:22-23 [ESV] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. SING Psalm 133 | How Good It Is [recording] [lead sheet] How good it is when we dwell within your will When unity for all your people you restore We live as though we have life forevermore When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is When we dwell within you will WORD First Reading: Psalm 144 Second Reading: Psalm 145 After a string of laments, David concludes his contributions to the psalter with hope and praise. He begins Psalm 144 with a prayer for deliverance as the king of Israel (cf. vv. 1-11). He then transitions and concludes the song with a prayer for blessing towards the corporate body of Israel (cf. vv. 12-15). The language used here is reminiscent of the Lord’s covenant with David (2 Sam. 7:8-16) in which God promised to establish an everlasting throne through an heir of David. This heir would deliver his people from his enemies and bring blessing upon them. Both sections of these psalms are couched under the larger umbrella acknowledgement of God as our refuge (v. 2). David then concludes with Psalm 145 as an eloquent treatise of praise. Notice the various synonyms used for “praise” in this psalm: “extol” and “bless” (v.1), “commend” and “declare” (v. 4), “speak” (v. 6), “pour forth” and “sing aloud” (v. 7). David is showing here not just his ability to exhaust his vocabulary in praising God, but how it is an overflow of his heart affections for the Lord. When we consider what it means to rest in God as our refuge- our deepest trust, security, and haven- we cannot contain the immensity of His goodness within the limited confines of our human experience. In doing so, the only and natural response is our praise of Him through our whole being. Spend time meditating on the goodness of God as your refuge. What are ways in which you can express this praise and thanksgiving individually and corporately? - Nameun Cho ABIDING Saturday (See Saturday liturgy) SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, Jesus who redeems us, Spirit who is with us, may we live in your kingdom now, unified by your love. Give us the encouragement we need, to celebrate with confidence the blessings of heaven, even as we still suffer by the hands of others. Save us from bitterness and strife, remove the presence of evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. GATHERING
THE CALL Holy Trinity, who is undivided and infinitely one, let us celebrate our union with you and with your Church, that we might encourage one another to live as though we have eternal life, as we reflect your image through our unity. CONFESSION Eternal God, we confess that we do not live as though we believe in eternal life. You are infinitely united as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are preparing a place in heaven for us to be completely united together as your people, but we often want your presence without the unity it brings. Give us the joy of connectedness and the excitement to pursue unity on earth. As we wait for heaven, pour out your blessings so that they cover all of our relationships. MEDITATION | John 17:22-23 [ESV] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. SING Psalm 133 | How Good It Is [recording] [lead sheet] How good it is when we dwell within your will When unity for all your people you restore We live as though we have life forevermore When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is When we dwell within you will WORD First Reading: Psalm 142 Second Reading: Psalm 143 David continues his laments in these next two psalms, and what is most noticeable is his raw honesty. He doesn’t hold back any of his feelings, nor does he try to put forth a façade of himself that is more composed than he actually he is. In his security with the Lord, David is able to “pour out [his] complaint before him” (142:2) no holds barred. We see more of this posture in Psalm 143 when he confesses feelings of being “crushed to the ground” (v. 3), his “spirit faint within” (v. 4), and his spirit failing (v. 7). There is much that we can glean from and emulate of his brutal vulnerability in our prayers with God. But David’s agitated state does not cause him to stray from orthodoxy. There are many lines in Psalm 143 that would have us think we were reading the words of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman church centuries later. “Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you… For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble” (vv. 2, 11). While wrestling with God in his most difficult circumstances, David is able to place his salvation in perspective. Only God is righteous, and his righteousness will be made manifest in us by Him alone, in this life or the next. How do our sufferings cause us to gaze upon the righteousness offered to us in Jesus by his death and resurrection? How does our assurance of this truth bring us to commune with God with all of who we are- good and bad? How is the Holy Spirit convicting you to depend on the Lord in this way? - Nameun Cho ABIDING Friday MEMORIZE | Psalm 133 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, Jesus who redeems us, Spirit who is with us, may we live in your kingdom now, unified by your love. Give us the encouragement we need, to celebrate with confidence the blessings of heaven, even as we still suffer by the hands of others. Save us from bitterness and strife, remove the presence of evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. GATHERING
THE CALL Holy Trinity, who is undivided and infinitely one, let us celebrate our union with you and with your Church, that we might encourage one another to live as though we have eternal life, as we reflect your image through our unity. CONFESSION Eternal God, we confess that we do not live as though we believe in eternal life. You are infinitely united as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are preparing a place in heaven for us to be completely united together as your people, but we often want your presence without the unity it brings. Give us the joy of connectedness and the excitement to pursue unity on earth. As we wait for heaven, pour out your blessings so that they cover all of our relationships. MEDITATION | John 17:22-23 [ESV] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. SING Psalm 133 | How Good It Is [recording] [lead sheet] How good it is when we dwell within your will When unity for all your people you restore We live as though we have life forevermore When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is When we dwell within you will WORD First Reading: Psalm 140 Second Reading: Psalm 141 These two laments by David continue the theme from the previous psalms to call upon God’s justice. David calls for deliverance, preservation, and protection from the evil deeds of violent men (cf. 140:1-3). Despite the dire circumstances of his situation, David does not take matters into his own hands. Instead, he relies on God to make good on His character and enact a divine justice rather than relying on an earthly revenge. Those oppressed and afflicted need only to rest on the good promises of the covenantal LORD (140:12-13). As he moves into Psalm 141, the lament continues as a supplication for refuge in the presence of evildoers (141:8-10). But David takes a unique turn in the song when he focuses the guard against sin from himself. He asks for strength from a temptation to indulge himself in the iniquity he sees being done to him onto others (141:3-4). David makes a fruitful insight in knowing that amid falling victim to the ugliness of sin, that very brokenness exists in his own heart as well. He is then led to pray praise for righteous rebuke done to him as it is oil for his head not to be refused (141:5). Our only hope in this life marred by a broken Creation, relational strife, and destructive habits- both internal and external- is to keep our eyes toward a God who will be our great refuge and defender (141:8). - Nameun Cho ABIDING Thursday MEMORIZE | Psalm 133 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, Jesus who redeems us, Spirit who is with us, may we live in your kingdom now, unified by your love. Give us the encouragement we need, to celebrate with confidence the blessings of heaven, even as we still suffer by the hands of others. Save us from bitterness and strife, remove the presence of evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. GATHERING
THE CALL Holy Trinity, who is undivided and infinitely one, let us celebrate our union with you and with your Church, that we might encourage one another to live as though we have eternal life, as we reflect your image through our unity. CONFESSION Eternal God, we confess that we do not live as though we believe in eternal life. You are infinitely united as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are preparing a place in heaven for us to be completely united together as your people, but we often want your presence without the unity it brings. Give us the joy of connectedness and the excitement to pursue unity on earth. As we wait for heaven, pour out your blessings so that they cover all of our relationships. MEDITATION | John 17:22-23 [ESV] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. SING Psalm 133 | How Good It Is [recording] [lead sheet] How good it is when we dwell within your will When unity for all your people you restore We live as though we have life forevermore When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is When we dwell within you will WORD First Reading: Psalm 138 Second Reading: Psalm 139 Psalms 138 through 145 represent the final psalms in the psalter written by David. While both Psalms 138 and 139 are remembered and recited in their own rite, they take on a more robust meaning when read in tandem. The former serves as a clear song of thanksgiving, while the latter is a hymn that invites God to have an intimate knowledge of our inner selves. In our quest to give thanks to God, we invite him to search our hearts and to expel the grievous ways that hinder us from Him (139:24). And conversely, in our quest to know the Lord and make sense of His ways, we give praise knowing that He is the one on High and would regard the lowly (138:6). While many have historically had trouble wrestling with the idea of the sovereignty of God, both Psalms 138 and 139 help us put this doctrine in perspective. Even the sheer volume of God’s thoughts are innumerable and overwhelming (139:17-18). On top of that, the mystery of God’s will makes it such that we could never fully comprehend it either (139:6). But what we are made known is that God knows us deeply and intimately, from even before our birth (139:13) to our every thoughts and actions (139:2-4). This very same God that “hems us in” and “lays [His] hand upon us” is the one who is steadfast and faithful (138:2). God is eager to preserve us, deliver us, and fulfill His purpose for us (cf. 138:7-8). How has God invited you to know the goodness of His character and to give thanks for Him? How can you invite God to know you deeply and intimately? - Nameun Cho ABIDING WEDNESDAY CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 133 Consider ways that you can let the Psalm form your imagination, that you might share it with others. Perhaps you can journal about it, write poetry or prose, learn a song, create visual art, or reexpress it in ways that speak to your context. If you are planning to fellowship with other people this weekend, consider how you might share these imaginations with your community. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, Jesus who redeems us, Spirit who is with us, may we live in your kingdom now, unified by your love. Give us the encouragement we need, to celebrate with confidence the blessings of heaven, even as we still suffer by the hands of others. Save us from bitterness and strife, remove the presence of evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. GATHERING THE CALL Holy Trinity, who is undivided and infinitely one, let us celebrate our union with you and with your Church, that we might encourage one another to live as though we have eternal life, as we reflect your image through our unity. CONFESSION Eternal God, we confess that we do not live as though we believe in eternal life. You are infinitely united as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are preparing a place in heaven for us to be completely united together as your people, but we often want your presence without the unity it brings. Give us the joy of connectedness and the excitement to pursue unity on earth. As we wait for heaven, pour out your blessings so that they cover all of our relationships. MEDITATION | John 17:22-23 [ESV] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. SING Psalm 133 | How Good It Is [recording] [lead sheet] How good it is when we dwell within your will When unity for all your people you restore We live as though we have life forevermore When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is When we dwell within you will WORD Reading: Psalm 137 The setting of Psalm 137 brings its Jewish listeners back to their time in Babylon as exiles. While it might be difficult for us as modern Christians to reconcile retribution with God’s grace, we have to remember the historical context of the Israelite captivity. The act of exile itself would have been the most disorienting experience for any Jew at the time. After having been promised a legacy of blessing and everlasting royalty, the reality of displacement would have instilled the greatest sense of instability and fear. And while in this most vulnerable state, Israel fell victim to such heinous crimes as seeing their infants senselessly murdered (v. 9). As is done through the Scriptures, God’s justice is not just an arbitrary act of His will but of one very closely tied with His holiness. There is no place for sin in the presence of God. So for especially those who witness explicit injustice on a regular level, knowing that there is a system of accountability provides a great comfort and hope. And we don’t have to go far to see how this is applicable today. For our Ukrainian brothers and sisters for whom this is a daily reality, God’s just retribution is a praise on their lips. For anyone who has fallen victim to the brokenness of God’s Creation, the Lord’s character promises restoration. For those who have ever been persecuted or oppressed for their faith in Jesus and persevered, we hear our Master’s words over us: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (cf. Matt. 25:23). - Nameun Cho ABIDING TUESDAY READ | Psalm 133 Spend time understanding and memorizing the outline of the Psalm, taking special note of the flow or transition points. If you are in a group, discuss the main themes and emphasis together. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, Jesus who redeems us, Spirit who is with us, may we live in your kingdom now, unified by your love. Give us the encouragement we need, to celebrate with confidence the blessings of heaven, even as we still suffer by the hands of others. Save us from bitterness and strife, remove the presence of evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. GATHERING THE CALL Holy Trinity, who is undivided and infinitely one, let us celebrate our union with you and with your Church, that we might encourage one another to live as though we have eternal life, as we reflect your image through our unity. CONFESSION Eternal God, we confess that we do not live as though we believe in eternal life. You are infinitely united as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are preparing a place in heaven for us to be completely united together as your people, but we often want your presence without the unity it brings. Give us the joy of connectedness and the excitement to pursue unity on earth. As we wait for heaven, pour out your blessings so that they cover all of our relationships. MEDITATION | John 17:22-23 [ESV] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. SING Psalm 133 | How Good It Is [recording] [lead sheet] How good it is when we dwell within your will When unity for all your people you restore We live as though we have life forevermore When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is When we dwell within you will WORD First Reading: Psalm 135 Second Reading: Psalm 136 These two psalms are in the category of historical psalms outlining some aspects of Jewish redemptive history (See Days 50, 67, and 68). The episodes recalled here are Israel’s deliverance from Egypt through the 10 plagues (135:8-9; 136:10-16) and the early conquests of the Promised Land (135:10-11; 136:17-22). The author then moves into a section of warning against temptation for idolatry of neighboring Gentile nations uniquely in Psalm 135 (vv. 15-18). But laced throughout both psalms are the refrain to praise the Lord and to remember His steadfast love that endures forever. Seldom do we as a modern society find ourselves singing about our nation’s or even Church’s history during our worship liturgy. While there are cultural contexts with Israel as a theocratic nation that dictated this, the impulse of this practice is still widely foreign to us today. And unless your family has had a practice of regularly sharing testimonies across generations, it remains an oddity on both a personal as well as corporate level. In this instance, my deep prayer is that we would lean into this unknown with curiosity and humility rather than fear and skepticism. There is immense value in recalling God’s faithfulness, not just in our own time and perspective, but that of our community across many eras. How has God called us to see His Spirit at work in all areas and times of life, rather than compartmentalizing Him to only what we experience ourselves? Where can we give God glory that we might not have considered before? - Nameun Cho ABIDING MONDAY-LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 133 We memorize things we value. The brain has an incredible ability to remove information that we don’t need. As we make an effort to memorize the Psalms, the beginning of each week seeks to establish the value of God's Word in our hearts before we view it as information to be remembered. Read more about the Lectio Divina HERE.
SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, Jesus who redeems us, Spirit who is with us, may we live in your kingdom now, unified by your love. Give us the encouragement we need, to celebrate with confidence the blessings of heaven, even as we still suffer by the hands of others. Save us from bitterness and strife, remove the presence of evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. Psalm 133 - Ragsdale The liturgy this week has been taken from Speak Peace: Liturgical Worship Guide & Songbook by Daniel Snoke. GATHERING THE CALL Holy Trinity, who is undivided and infinitely one, let us celebrate our union with you and with your Church, that we might encourage one another to live as though we have eternal life, as we reflect your image through our unity. CONFESSION Eternal God, we confess that we do not live as though we believe in eternal life. You are infinitely united as one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are preparing a place in heaven for us to be completely united together as your people, but we often want your presence without the unity it brings. Give us the joy of connectedness and the excitement to pursue unity on earth. As we wait for heaven, pour out your blessings so that they cover all of our relationships. MEDITATION | John 17:22-23 [ESV] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. SING Psalm 133 | How Good It Is [recording] [lead sheet] How good it is when we dwell within your will When unity for all your people you restore We live as though we have life forevermore When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill When we share in the peace you pour from Zion's hill Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is Oh, how good it is When we dwell within you will WORD — INSERT LINK TO PSALM READING — — INSERT MATT'S REFLECTION -- ABIDING — copy and paste the corresponding day in the blog -- SUNDAY MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 133 We memorize things we value. The brain has an incredible ability to remove information that we don’t need. As we make an effort to memorize the Psalms, the beginning of each week seeks to establish the value of God's Word in our hearts before we view it as information to be remembered. Read more about the Lectio Divina HERE.
TUESDAY READ | Psalm 133 Spend time understanding and memorizing the outline of the Psalm, taking special note of the flow or transition points. If you are in a group, discuss the main themes and emphasis together. WEDNESDAY CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 133 Consider ways that you can let the Psalm form your imagination, that you might share it with others. Perhaps you can journal about it, write poetry or prose, learn a song, create visual art, or reexpress it in ways that speak to your context. If you are planning to fellowship with other people this weekend, consider how you might share these imaginations with your community. THURSDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 133 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 133 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SATURDAY (see Saturday liturgy) SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen SENDING PRACTICE
PRAYER Our Father in heaven, Jesus who redeems us, Spirit who is with us, may we live in your kingdom now, unified by your love. Give us the encouragement we need, to celebrate with confidence the blessings of heaven, even as we still suffer by the hands of others. Save us from bitterness and strife, remove the presence of evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. WEEKEND LITURGY Meditate on Acts 4 Acts 4:32 says, "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." Carefully read and consider the surrounding circumstances of this image of unity. How might we reflect this same unity in our own context? Pray for open eyes
— INSERT LINK TO PSALM READING — — INSERT MATT'S REFLECTION -- Word
First reading: Psalm 119:129-149, 169-176 Second reading: Psalm 119:150-168 Psalm 119 has many verses that talk of rejoicing in doing what is right, and anger at those who mock God’s word. One might get the impression that the psalmist is “self-righteous,” confident in his own perfection. Yet some verses tell us this is not so: 119:132-133 says “let no iniquity get dominion over me” and asks for God’s “grace,” and 119:176 says “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant.” The psalmist rejoices in the goodness of God’s laws and rules because they are good, not as a way of proving anything to anyone; he rejoices that they give him wisdom for how to navigate life, and rejoices in how they reveal God’s good character. It is not wrong for Christians to rejoice and thank God for the ways in which God has kept us from doing evil, whether by the good influence of others such as parents and our church community, or by granting us repentance to change our ways. At the same time, if we do sin, God forgives us and is ready to restore us: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness… My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 1:8-2:1) This is not a license to sin: John goes on to say, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.” (1 John 2:3-5) A Christian united to Christ is oriented toward following God’s commandments, not for the sake of self-righteousness but because we are to rejoice in what is good. When we fall, as we invariably do, we can be confident of God’s grace and forgiveness, and return anew to obedience. Sing - Psalm 132 Abiding - Psalm 132:1-5 talks of King David’s mission to find a location for the Temple; Psalm 119:147- 148 also talks of this type of single-minded, restless intentionality. Is there anything God has called you to pursue with energy, for his kingdom? Praying for Our Leaders The psalm of ascent for this week (Psalm 132) expresses the longing of the Church, in her sojourn here on earth, for God to finally dwell among His people and reign as King. In the world around us, we see the grave consequences of unjust, unwise, and proud leaders. Our leaders have the power to do tremendous good for the nations, but they also have the power to do tremendous evil. Spend some time this weekend praying for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Pray that God would grant them wisdom and that they would follow it. Pray that they would seek to establish God’s justice. Pray that they would not hinder the mission of Christ’s Church and His coming Kingdom. Wait upon the Lord, for the day when He will come again to finally rest with His people, when all His enemies will finally be put under His feet, and Christ will be crowned as our eternal King (Psalm 132:18). GATHERING THE CALL | Mark 11:7-10 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” CONFESSION O God, what house could contain you, that you should dwell there? All of creation is not vast enough. And yet you desire for your Spirit to make its home in our hearts. Forgive us that we so often shutter our hearts to you. For the sake of your Son, the greater Son of David, do not turn your face away. Clothe us in your righteousness and clothe our adversary in shame; let him not hinder your coming. Open our hearts to welcome you in as our King! Cause us to shout for joy for your salvation, yours alone, we pray. ASSURANCE | Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD First reading: Psalm 119:33-48 Second reading: Psalm 119:49-80 In yesterday’s meditation, we considered how the writer of Psalm 119 delights in God’s Word. We as Christians can apply this to the whole Bible, but for the writer of this psalm, the Bible was mostly likely just the Torah, which is the set of the first five books of the Bible, often also given the name “The Law of Moses.” Because these five books have many laws and rules, they are sometimes just called “the Law,” and the psalmist here rejoices specifically in laws, not just general concepts, or stories. Many of the terms in this psalm refer to laws: “rules,” “commandments,” “statutes,” etc. Do you rejoice not just in the Bible, but specifically in the laws of Moses? This brings up the issue of how Christians relate to the Law of Moses. On one hand, we are not “under the law” of Moses (Galatians 3:23-25, 5:18, Hebrews 8:13), since we have a new covenant in Jesus. One translation of Galatians 3:23 is that the law was a “harsh schoolmaster” in charge for a time. God used the Law of Moses to mold a new society different in every way from the pagan cultures around them, but now connected to God through Christ, not the laws of Moses. On the other hand, the New Testament says in many places that the Law of Moses was good (e.g. Romans 7:12, 1 Timothy 1:8). The author Christopher Wright has called it a “paradigm” of what a just society would look like in 2000 BC. Our Reformed creeds tell us that throughout the laws of Moses are the eternal moral law of God which never changes. For example, while we may not enforce the penalties of the laws of Moses, we learn what God’s priorities are, what he wants us to care about, by seeing what had more severe penalties. While we do not live “under law,” knowing what is right and wrong can lead us to “a wide place” (119:45) and turn us away from “worthless things” (119:37). We know that we never live a life righteous enough to merit God’s salvation, and that we need the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from sin. But the psalmist here rejoices that God has not left us in ignorance about what is good to do. (Dave Snoke) ABIDING SING
FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 132 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING Revelation 21:3 [ESV] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (If you are in a group, you can end with the following call and response:) The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (based on Revelation 22:17,20-21) GATHERING THE CALL | Mark 11:7-10 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” CONFESSION O God, what house could contain you, that you should dwell there? All of creation is not vast enough. And yet you desire for your Spirit to make its home in our hearts. Forgive us that we so often shutter our hearts to you. For the sake of your Son, the greater Son of David, do not turn your face away. Clothe us in your righteousness and clothe our adversary in shame; let him not hinder your coming. Open our hearts to welcome you in as our King! Cause us to shout for joy for your salvation, yours alone, we pray. ASSURANCE | Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD First reading: Psalm 119:1-24 Second reading: Psalm 119:25-32 Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible; we’ll look at it over several days. It is essentially one long hymn about the Word of God, and in particular, the Torah, the first five books in our Bible, which was the whole Bible for many believers up to the time of David. Psalm 119 has an acrostic structure, which means that in each section, every verse starts with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from the first letter all the way through the last. There were 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, so there are 22 sections. This structure essentially says, “Let me praise the Word from A to Z, in every way possible!” This psalm also sits exactly in the center of the modern Bible including the New Testament. Many parallel words and phrases are used to refer to God’s written word: “law,” “testimonies,” “statutes,” “rules,” “precepts,” “your word,” and more. It is clear that the psalmist is talking about words that are written down in Scripture, not just nice thoughts. (Some Christians have tried to separate the concept of Word of God from the written Bible, but that is a very un-biblical way of thinking.) The passage from Hebrews 8:10-12, given above, does not teach that Christians will not read their Bibles, but that it will find resonance in their hearts, and not be an alien, dead document to them. Can you relate to this psalmist, when he says things such as, “My soul is consumed with longing for your rules,” (119:20), “your testimonies are my delight” (119:24). Why or why not? If not, is it because it is often hard work to understand the Scriptures? The psalmist says that he “meditates” on God’s precepts (119:15), and asks God to “open his eyes” to see wondrous things (119:18). The sense of this psalm is not that the Word is full of nice thoughts and greeting-card sentiments, but that it challenges us and changes us. As we study it more and more, which could include reading the work of Bible scholars to understand the context, we will find it more and more apt and life-giving. The psalmist also encourages memorizing Scripture: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (119:11) Consider memorizing a short passage of Scripture this week, and making Scripture memorization something you do often. (Dave Snoke) ABIDING SING
THURSDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 132 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING Revelation 21:3 [ESV] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (If you are in a group, you can end with the following call and response:) The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (based on Revelation 22:17,20-21) GATHERING THE CALL | Mark 11:7-10 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” CONFESSION O God, what house could contain you, that you should dwell there? All of creation is not vast enough. And yet you desire for your Spirit to make its home in our hearts. Forgive us that we so often shutter our hearts to you. For the sake of your Son, the greater Son of David, do not turn your face away. Clothe us in your righteousness and clothe our adversary in shame; let him not hinder your coming. Open our hearts to welcome you in as our King! Cause us to shout for joy for your salvation, yours alone, we pray. ASSURANCE | Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD First reading: Psalms 116 and 117 Second reading: Psalm 118 Psalms 116 and 118, like many of the Psalms, are deeply personal cries to God about distress and anguish. Psalm 116 seems to have been written after the psalmist had an illness in which he nearly died. This led him to depression, and cynicism (116:10-11). When he recovered, he dedicated offerings to God as a sign of his thanks, and proclaimed God’s mercy “in the presence of all the people” (verses 14, 18). Psalm 118 seems to be written by King David after a battle with other nations that threatened to go very badly; the psalmist says he was “falling” (119:13) in the midst of an enemy army like a swarm of bees, and that God “disciplined” him “severely” (119:18), but did not let him die. Some of the psalms of anguish seem to be written in the midst of trials, while Psalms 116 and 118 look back on the bad times, and thank God for his very tangible rescue from them. Psalm 117, a very short psalm squeezed between them, seems almost just an interjection of joy, along the lines of, “Let me say that again! Amen!” When you come out of a time of trial, do you tend to move on quickly and not give thanks to God, meditating with thanksgiving on his earthly mercies? We know that some day we will all die, as we are under the Curse on humanity due to sin, given in Genesis 3, but we should also recognize the many temporal blessings we have and give thanks to God. The Bible tells us that all Christians will have times of trial (e.g. James 1:2-3, 1 Peter 4:12-13), but we should also rejoice in the good things God has given us. Even if we die, Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Our trials are never because God has forgotten us. (Dave Snoke) ABIDING SING
WEDNESDAY-CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 132 Consider ways that you can let the Psalm form your imagination, that you might share it with others. Perhaps you can journal about it, write poetry or prose, learn a song, create visual art, or reexpress it in ways that speak to your context. If you are planning to fellowship with other people this weekend, consider how you might share these imaginations with your community. SENDING Revelation 21:3 [ESV] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (If you are in a group, you can end with the following call and response:) The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (based on Revelation 22:17,20-21) GATHERING THE CALL | Mark 11:7-10 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” CONFESSION O God, what house could contain you, that you should dwell there? All of creation is not vast enough. And yet you desire for your Spirit to make its home in our hearts. Forgive us that we so often shutter our hearts to you. For the sake of your Son, the greater Son of David, do not turn your face away. Clothe us in your righteousness and clothe our adversary in shame; let him not hinder your coming. Open our hearts to welcome you in as our King! Cause us to shout for joy for your salvation, yours alone, we pray. ASSURANCE | Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD First reading: Psalm 115 Second reading: Psalm 114 Many people have the impression that in the Old Testament times, God was only concerned about the Jews, his chosen people, and that he and his people had little concern for those around them. Actually, many psalms and other passages in the Old Testament point to God’s concern for all the nations, including God’s call to Abraham, the founder of the nation of Israel: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3) The nation of Israel was set up by God as an example for other nations to see. Psalms 114 and 115 place Israel in that context. In Psalm 114:7 we read, “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,” when remembing the great miracles of God in the Exodus. In Psalm 115 we read of Israelites debating religion with people of other beliefs: “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’” Psalm 115 in large part is a dialogue with those who practice idolatry, the main religion in the surrounding nations at the time. The main “arguments” in Psalms 114 and 115 are: 1) remember and pass down to the next generation the stories of God’s great miraculous works (which are now recorded in the Bible); 2) lift up your eyes to see the true, transcendant God, not a puny god like Thor or Zeus, who can be depicted in an inanimate statue; and 3) live life trusting in God and his blessings, but not pointing to yourself, but instead to God, that the nations may glorify him (Psalm 115:1). Psalm 115:3 says “Our God…does all that he pleases,” and 115:9 says “O Israel, trust in the Lord!” Faith can be defined not in just believing God exists (probably most people believe that), but it trusting that he is good, even when when what he ordains doesn’t always make sense to us. We are tempted to try to manipulate God, like an idol that we give little offerings to, but faith says to God, “I fall down before God, who does what he pleases.” (Dave Snoke) ABIDING SING
TUESDAY-READ | Psalm 132 Spend time understanding and memorizing the outline of the Psalm, taking special note of the flow or transition points. If you are in a group, discuss the main themes and emphasis together. SENDING Revelation 21:3 [ESV] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (If you are in a group, you can end with the following call and response:) The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (based on Revelation 22:17,20-21) GATHERING THE CALL | Mark 11:7-10 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” CONFESSION O God, what house could contain you, that you should dwell there? All of creation is not vast enough. And yet you desire for your Spirit to make its home in our hearts. Forgive us that we so often shutter our hearts to you. For the sake of your Son, the greater Son of David, do not turn your face away. Clothe us in your righteousness and clothe our adversary in shame; let him not hinder your coming. Open our hearts to welcome you in as our King! Cause us to shout for joy for your salvation, yours alone, we pray. ASSURANCE | Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD First reading: Psalm 113 Second reading: 1 Tim 5:1-2 Psalm 113 focuses on two aspects of God that can seem contradictory to us: God is “seated on high” (in theological terms, God is “transcendant”), and yet also God “raises the poor from the dust,” and “lifts the needy,” that is, he is near to us (in theological terms, he is “immanent.”) Isaiah 57:15 puts it this way: “Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” When we come to God in prayer and worship, we should meditate on both aspects. We should come to him in awe and a type of “fear” of God as the Holy One, but we also should be confident that he loves us as a father and is near to those who come to him humbly. Even if our own earthly father was not too much like this, we can envision a father who we know to be extremely strong and in control, but who also wants to sit with his children tenderly and patiently. Verse 9 of Psalm 113 uses a term that may make us uncomfortable: “He gives the barren woman a home.” Our culture is somewhat schizophrenic when it comes to children. On one hand, defining women’s calling entirely in terms of having children is seen as archaic, and talking of a “barren woman” seems insulting. At the same time, many people (men and women) long to have children and suffer deeply if they cannot, for some reason or other. The Bible tells us that God’s church, his people, are a real family, and that all of us who are in Christ have a home there. We are “brothers and sisters” with “fathers and mothers” in the church. If you are lonely and/or childless, do you take seriously the call to see the children of the church as members of your own family, whom we all make a vow at a child’s baptism to help raise? If you have a family at present, do you go the extra mile to include others in the church to interact with your children? God is greatly concerned to give every one of us a “home” with him; if you are lonely or unfulfilled, take that to God your Father, and also reach out to include those around you in your family, no matter what walk of life you are in. (Dave Snoke) ABIDING SING
MONDAY-LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 132 We memorize things we value. The brain has an incredible ability to remove information that we don’t need. As we make an effort to memorize the Psalms, the beginning of each week seeks to establish the value of God's Word in our hearts before we view it as information to be remembered. Read more about the Lectio Divina HERE.
SENDING Revelation 21:3 [ESV] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (If you are in a group, you can end with the following call and response:) The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (based on Revelation 22:17,20-21) GATHERING [Picture: Psalm 132: Blake Johnson] THE CALL | Mark 11:7-10 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” CONFESSION O God, what house could contain you, that you should dwell there? All of creation is not vast enough. And yet you desire for your Spirit to make its home in our hearts. Forgive us that we so often shutter our hearts to you. For the sake of your Son, the greater Son of David, do not turn your face away. Clothe us in your righteousness and clothe our adversary in shame; let him not hinder your coming. Open our hearts to welcome you in as our King! Cause us to shout for joy for your salvation, yours alone, we pray. ASSURANCE | Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD — INSERT LINK TO PSALM READING — — INSERT MATT'S REFLECTION -- ABIDING SING
MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 132 We memorize things we value. The brain has an incredible ability to remove information that we don’t need. As we make an effort to memorize the Psalms, the beginning of each week seeks to establish the value of God's Word in our hearts before we view it as information to be remembered. Read more about the Lectio Divina HERE.
TUESDAY READ | Psalm 132 Spend time understanding and memorizing the outline of the Psalm, taking special note of the flow or transition points. If you are in a group, discuss the main themes and emphasis together. WEDNESDAY CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 132 Consider ways that you can let the Psalm form your imagination, that you might share it with others. Perhaps you can journal about it, write poetry or prose, learn a song, create visual art, or reexpress it in ways that speak to your context. If you are planning to fellowship with other people this weekend, consider how you might share these imaginations with your community. THURSDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 132 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 132 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SATURDAY (see Saturday liturgy) SENDING Revelation 21:3 [ESV] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (If you are in a group, you can end with the following call and response:) The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (based on Revelation 22:17,20-21) WEEKEND LITURGY
Retreat of Silence In Psalm 131, David resolves not to occupy his mind and heart with things that aren’t meant to be meditated upon, but rather, he has “calmed and quieted” his soul like a child. This weekend, try setting aside a significant amount of time (maybe 30 minutes, maybe an hour), in a place free of distraction, to spend before the Lord in silent prayer and introspection. Know that the Lord is present with you, that he probes your thoughts before you speak them (Psalm 139:4) and knows what is in your heart (John 2:25). In this time, try to investigate the things that are occupying your mind and heart, and acknowledge them before Him. It may be helpful to journal about them or write them out. What is causing you anxiety, worry, and fear? Are they things that God intends for you to sift in your mind and heart? Or are you anxious, worried, and fearful because they are things too high for you, that only He can comprehend? Offer them to God, and wait upon Him in this time to restore you with a sense of His peace, the peace that suprasses all understanding. Read Psalm 111 Read Psalm 112 111:9 “He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!” 112:6 “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.” Psalms 111 & 112, if you didn’t know it, are both acrostics. The first letter of each half-line starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The arranging of these psalms next to each other, as well as their similar style, suggest to us that these psalms complement one another. The mention of the “fear of the LORD” in the last verse of Psalm 111, and a similar sentiment in the first verse of Psalm 112, only further serve to reinforce this idea. Psalm 111 recounts God’s mighty works of salvation in the Old Testament, beginning with the Exodus and culminating with Joshua leading Israel into the Promised Land. God’s people are to “praise the LORD” and “give thanks to the LORD with [their] whole heart[s]” (v. 1). The psalmist is teaching God’s people, through song, many things about His character and nature (vv. 2-8), but he’s also teaching them the eternal nature of God’s covenant with His people (v. 9). Psalm 112 helps us grasp some of the many reasons to celebrate the fact that God “has commanded his covenant forever” (111:9). Here we see that God’s people are to again “praise the LORD” (v. 1) for a host of reasons, including the many ways God blesses His covenant people (vv. 1-9). Those who fear the LORD and delight in His commandments are indeed blessed (v. 1). Although subtle, perhaps the most significant reason for God’s people to praise Him is the fact that the “righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever” (v. 6). But why are God’s people remembered forever? Does this seem to be the case, when our years often seem so short? We as God’s people are remembered forever because we have been united by grace through faith to the LORD Jesus Christ, the one who truly “fears the LORD…[and] greatly delights in His commandments! (v. 1)” In our ever-changing, transient world, isn’t it wonderful to know that your life is bound up with Christ, the infinite, eternal and unchangeable God-man? GATHERING THE CALL | Luke 18:16-17 [ESV] But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” CONFESSION Heavenly Father, so often we exalt ourselves in our hearts. Our minds are occupied with things that are too great for us. We seek to comprehend your hidden counsels, when you call us to trust in faith. Forgive us of our pride. Give us child-like trust in you, by your Spirit that cries out in our hearts “Abba, Father!”. Quiet our souls with your steadfast love, as we rest in your wisdom and your power to save, through Jesus Christ our Lord. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 49:15 [Thus says the Lord:] “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD Read Psalm 110 110:1-2 “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Psalm 110, a “royal psalm,” was no doubt used to celebrate the coronation of kings in Israel for generations after David wrote it some three thousand years ago. Even its author, however, seems to understand that this psalm is speaking of more than just a mere human king. David acknowledges that this king (we’re told he has a scepter in v. 2) will also be a “priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (v. 4). Furthermore, this king will exceed all kings that have come before him in terms of the breadth of his kingdom. This includes even David himself, who had conquered the territories that Israel failed to subdue during Israel’s conquest as depicted in the Book of Joshua. The king from this psalm will execute “judgement among the nations” and “shatter chiefs over the wide earth” (v. 6). But this king can’t do it any time he wants to; he must wait for the LORD, and sit at the LORD’s right hand, until the LORD makes his enemies his footstool (v. 2). In Mark 12:35-37, Jesus confirms David’s knowledge of this being more than a mere human king when he teaches that David, by the Holy Spirit, understood that God (“The LORD”) was speaking to a human king that would descend from David, yet who was also David’s Lord (“my Lord”). By the 1st century, it seems Israel had long believed that the Christ would come from David, and they got that idea from this psalm (as well as from other Old Testament passages). When Jesus was rejected by many in Israel, they weren’t rejecting the idea in this psalm; they were rejecting that Jesus, who was David’s son by lineage, was the long awaited-Messiah. But not all Israel rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Many embraced Him, and were embraced by Him, and found in great David’s greater Son the redemption they had been so long promised, and so greatly longed for. To this day, people continue to make decisions about whether Jesus is the Messiah, either accepting or rejecting Him as their true King. This psalm has been fulfilled in the sense that David’s Lord has sat down at God’s right hand. Jesus is ruling and reigning now from this exalted position of supreme authority, but not all His enemies have been placed under His feet just yet (v. 2; cf. 1 Cor. 15:20-28). You have until that Day to decide, but be forewarned, that Day is not a day to make a decision…that Day is a day when decisions will be revealed. So, have you decided this day to follow Christ? Is He your Lord, as he was David’s? Is He your Priest? Is He your King? If not, might you profess Him this day as your Lord and Savior, and place yourself under the shelter of His mighty wings? May the LORD be pleased to continue to reveal Himself to men and women, boys and girls, to the saving of their souls for all eternity. (John McCombs) ABIDING SING
FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 131 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1: Q: What is your only comfort in life and death? A: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him. 1 John 3:2-3 [ESV] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. GATHERING THE CALL | Luke 18:16-17 [ESV] But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” CONFESSION Heavenly Father, so often we exalt ourselves in our hearts. Our minds are occupied with things that are too great for us. We seek to comprehend your hidden counsels, when you call us to trust in faith. Forgive us of our pride. Give us child-like trust in you, by your Spirit that cries out in our hearts “Abba, Father!”. Quiet our souls with your steadfast love, as we rest in your wisdom and your power to save, through Jesus Christ our Lord. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 49:15 [Thus says the Lord:] “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” SING: Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning Is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Amen WORD Read Psalm 109 2nd Reading: Psalm 108 (109:26-27) “Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! 27 Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD, have done it!” Given Psalm 108 is composed of 2 previous Psalms (vv. 1-5 from Psalm 57:7-11, and vv. 6- 13 from Psalm 60:5-12, with minor variations), I thought our time today would be better spent studying Psalm 109, another of David’s Psalms. Psalm 109, the ESV Study Bible tells us, is an “individual lament.” It appears the psalmist is being tried before a compromised court on trumped up charges (vv. 1-5). In such a hopeless situation, the psalmist can only appeal to God Himself for help (vv. 21-31). He cries out to God for deliverance, appealing specifically to God’s steadfast love (v. 21, v. 26), and asking God to vindicate His Name (v. 21) and His glory (v. 27). Although no answer to the psalmist’s plea is recorded, he nonetheless maintains confidence that the LORD “stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death” (v. 31). Perhaps you’ve felt the pain of an injustice like this. If so, you’re not alone. Given the Apostle Peter saw Psalm 109:8 as justification for another to replace Judas (cf. Acts 1:20), it’s no stretch to see our LORD Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 109. He is the only person to be completely innocent, in every respect, and yet condemned to death. At His death, Jesus cried out to the Father, and like Psalm 109, there was no answer. Yet this gravest of all injustices was not without purpose. Christ, though innocent, chose to die for our sins, to take the wrath of God that our sins deserve upon Himself, so that we, though guilty, might be innocent with regard to sin before the Father. And Christ not only takes away our sins, but He gives us the righteousness He earned in His life of faithful obedience to the Father (see 2 Cor 5:21). In light of what Christ has done for you, if you’ve experienced an injustice of this nature, might it be wise to take the psalmist’s (and thus our LORD’s) attitude from verse 4: “in return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.” O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer! (Excerpt from “What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Take it to the LORD in Prayer”: for an absolutely beautiful rendition of this song by the Aeolians of Oakwood University, Take It to the Lord in Prayer | Aeolians of Oakwood University - YouTube (John McCombs) ABIDING SING
THURSDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 131 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1: Q: What is your only comfort in life and death? A: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him. 1 John 3:2-3 [ESV] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. |
City Reformed Presbyterian ChurchThe 90 Days project is a collaborative effort of many church leaders. Matt Koerber and Daniel Snoke have taken lead roles, with others helping to write daily devotionals. Archives
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