THE CALL | Matthew 26:36-38
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
CONFESSION | Psalm 130 [ESV]
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
ASSURANCE | Luke 24:1-6 [ESV]
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”
(If you are gathered in a group, you could read the following call and response.)
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
WORD
Day #61- “O Come, Let Us Worship the Lord!”
First reading – Psalm 95
Second reading- Hebrews 3-4
We begin a new week of learning and practicing more of what it means to be a worshipping
people, to do what we have been created for. The banner over us this week is Psalm 130,
where the writer demonstrates a psalm-like attitude and approach to life. As we consider
Psalms 95-104 these next few days, look for repeated phrases that invite us to worship, sing
and acknowledge the reign of the sovereign Lord over what He has made.
Everyone loves an invitation, right? A call to join into something special, something worth our
attention, our time, our energy? Psalm 95 serves as perhaps the quintessential “call to worship”
of the entire psalter, seen in five worship exhortations.Three are found in v.1-2 (“let us sing…let
us make a joyful noise x 2…let us come into his presence with thanksgiving”), and two are found
in v.6 (“let us worship and bow down…let us kneel before the Lord”).These exhortations are then
followed in each section by reasons for worship (His work as creator in v.3-5 and His covenant
care in v.7). God’s people here are called to an active yet humble posture as they approach their
great God and King Yahweh, their Maker and covenantal Shepherd. This is no passive
response, no humdrum or lukewarm approach to the living God. This psalm is meant to rightly
inflame our passion for His person, His presence and His power.
The psalmist then takes a different tack in a warning exhortation against unbelief in v.8-11. The
historical context can be found in Exodus 17, esp. v.7. And yet the reality and danger of unbelief
is present for every generation of the people of God, from the Garden of Eden until the
grave, largely due to our fallen nature. Our lives gravitate toward unbelief, apart from grace.It
happened to ancient Israelites, and it happens to us. For this very reason, the Preacher of the
book of Hebrews gives us the NT commentary on the warning of Psalm 95, found in chapters 3
& 4. The issue of concern in Hebrews 3- 4 is clearly named as unbelief (Heb.3:19), and the
Lord’s people are called to a vigilant recognition and fight against it (3:12-15). “Since then we
have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us
hold fast our confession.” (Heb.4:14)
So receive the invitation, respond in faith and heed the warning! May we all grow to be people
ready and eager to bow down in heartfelt worship of the King. For a sweet encouragement
toward this end, listen to this little worship chorus embedded in the psalm HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEK9u51ofZE.
(Jim Partridge)
ABIDING
SING
- Psalm 130 | From The Depths of Woe (Indelible Grace version) [recording] [chord sheet]
- Psalm 130 (hymn version) [recording] [melody sheet] (this tune is used for “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”)
MONDAY
Praying Psalm 130:1-2
This week, we will use Psalm 130 as a prayer template that we move through progressively each day.
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!” (Psalm 130:1-2)
At times, our sin and the cares of the world can seem to overwhelm us. These verses invite us to express this to the Lord. Ask him to comfort you with his mercy.
TUESDAY
Praying Psalm 130:3-4
This week, we will use Psalm 130 as a prayer template that we move through progressively each day.
“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4).
It is right for us to confess specific sins
WEDNESDAY
Praying Psalm 130:5
This week, we will use Psalm 130 as a prayer template that we move through progressively each day.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;” (Psalm 129:4)
Take some time to meditate on God’s promises in his Word.
THURSDAY
Praying Psalm 130:6
This week, we will use Psalm 130 as a prayer template that we move through progressively each day.
“My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)
FRIDAY
Praying Psalm 130:7-8
This week, we will use Psalm 130 as a prayer template that we move through progressively each day.
“O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.” (Psalm 130:7-8)
SATURDAY
(see Saturday liturgy)
SENDING
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in the God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary;
suffered under Pontius Pilate;
was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there he shall 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 dead;
and the life everlasting. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 [ESV]
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.