Picture: "Psalm 128", Sayde A. GATHERING THE CALL | John 15:4-5 [ESV] “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” CONFESSION Lord Jesus, you have called us to abide in you, but we confess that we are prone to wander astray. We could be fruitful branches, but instead we walk proudly in our own ways and wither. Forgive us for our wandering hearts and take and seal them for your courts above. Thank you that you are the true blessed man who walked in the way of righteousness (Psalm 128:1), even the way that led to the Cross. May we the Church, your beloved Bride, not wither, but be like fruitful branches of your vine, and may her spiritual children be many, like olive shoots around the table you have prepared for us (Psalm 128:3). ASSURANCE | Isaiah 53:10-11 [ESV] Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 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 REFLECTION -- ABIDING SING
MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 128 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 128 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 128 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 128 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 128 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING LORD'S 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. Revelation 7:9-10 [ESV] After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” WEEKEND LITURGY
Serve Children and Youth This weekend, consider ways you can serve and love the children and youth in your life. Instead of using your time to advance your own agenda, spend time playing with, helping, serving, or just getting to know children. If there are no children in your life, consider reaching out to Becky Toney to get involved with CRPC children's ministry or Zachary Pitcher for CRPC youth ministry. WORD Read: Psalm 74 2nd Reading: Psalm 75 (Ps 74:21-22) "Let the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!" Psalm 74 is written from the perspective of people who are suffering and feel abandoned by God (v.1-3.) Like in many psalms, prayers are offered for God to intervene in the situation. However, Psalm 74 rides on the backs of God's covenant promises. For example, at the end of the psalm we read, "Have regard for your covenant (v.20.)" When God made a covenant with Abraham, and later expanded to his descendants after he brought Israel out of Egypt, he promised that he would fight for Israel. Because of their covenant relationship, they would have the same enemies. It functions sort of like a modern defense treaty between nations (think, "NATO.") At key points in the psalm, the enemies in view are described as God's enemies (v.4-8.) In particular, it appears that this references the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by Babylon around 586 BC. At that time, Israel was taken into captivity and appeared to all the world as utterly defeated and humiliated. Now, the poor and downtrodden are shamed and the land is full of violence (v.20-21.) So, the psalmist pleads for God to "defend your cause." That is, he prays for God to show his power to the world by redeeming his people. Unfortunately, it is not hard to find connections to our own day and age. The church is God's covenant people after the resurrection of Jesus, and it includes people from every tribe and tongue and nation. But I think that most people would agree that the American church is at a low ebb of vitality. Overall, church attendance continues to decline. Influence on the culture seems to be at an all time low, and our nation is increasingly considered "post-Christian." Important leaders have fallen into sin and infighting has escalated within the visible church. Many older Christians start to feel like aliens in their own country. Praying Psalm 74 for our situation makes a lot of sense. We feel that the sanctuary of God is (figuratively) broken down (v.4-8) and our enemies scoff and revile the name of God (v.18.) In this psalm we are reminded that when the church is cast down, God's name and honor are diminished. Just like he did with Israel in the exile, God may use the world to discipline the church, but his end result is to glorify his own name through the influence of the Gospel. When we pray for the church to be renewed and restored, we are not just praying for our cause... we are ultimately praying for God to defend and advance his cause - the cause of the Kingdom of Heaven coming on earth as it is in heaven. GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 19:14–15 [ESV] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. CONFESSION Father, all human life bares your image and is a blessing, but we treat some as more important than others. We value each other for our utility, beauty, skill, or entertainment and we treat children as tiresome distractions from our ambitious desires. We neglect the elderly and pretend that we ourselves will never age. We rise up early and go to bed late in order to advance our careers just a little bit more; we are building our own kingdoms where only the strong can survive. Jesus, teach us to welcome the children, elderly, and marginalized into our lives. Holy Spirit, help us to rely on your promises and live within your kingdom, a kingdom of love and rest. Amen. ASSURANCE | Matthew 7:24–27 [ESV] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 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 73 2nd Reading: Co1 3:1-4 I received a set of "airs pods" as a gift for Christmas. (They are mini speakers for each ear which link to my cell phone.) I have found that I can walk around in with one eye piece in while doing daily chores such as shopping. I can talk on the phone when necessary or listen to a quiet soundtrack while doing otherwise mundane activities. I've been surprised by how much pleasure it has brought me to listen to some of my favorite songs while slogging through the grocery store. At times I forget that not everyone is having the same experience. I almost expect the other shoppers to be enjoying wonderful "head music", but they are not hearing it. We have the same outward circumstances, and are doing the same activity, but we are having a very different experience. Psalm 73 is about the way a wrong perspective can drastically shape the way we experience the world around us. During the course of the psalm, the author swings between very different perspectives on his surrounding world, but the actual circumstances don't change. Only the way that they are viewed. This is a reminder that sometimes the biggest battles that we fight in the Christian life are in our own heads. In the beginning, the psalmist affirms God's goodness and contrasts it with his own wrong perspective. "But as for me... I was envious (v.2-3) Then, the next section (vs.4-15) recount a distorted way of thinking in which the author envied the wicked for the material advantages. We don't regard envy as seriously as the Bible does, but it is really a grave concern because it reveals our perspective on what is good and desirable and whether we trust God in all of it. But, then the psalm changes. The Psalmist encounters God in the sanctuary. None of the surrounding circumstances change, but his perspective changes. The next section (v. 18-20) describe a very different way to view the wicked. Not as desirable, but as those whose situation is in peril before God. AT this point, the psalm turns back to the authors own thought processes. He reveals that his former wrong perspective was even more problematic than it first appeared. "When I was embittered... I was brutish and ignorant (v. 22-22.)" He reveals that his heart attitude to God made him like a brute beast. We see that when we allow our hearts to envy sin our relationship with God is affected. We are allowing ourselves to live in a mental world where God does not exist and his power and holiness are not determinative. Part of what we see in this psalm is the way that the authors encounter with God in the sanctuary brings a spiritual recalibration. This is often a benefit of real worship. When we behold God as he really is - in his holiness and power - our wrong thinking is exposed and our desires are re-centered on God. The battle for our minds is more consequential than we can imagine and Biblical worship is part of God's plan to restore and renew us. ABIDING SING
— copy and paste the corresponding day in the blog -- SUNDAY MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 127 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 127 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 127 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 127 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 127 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SATURDAY (see Saturday liturgy) SENDING LORD'S 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. Genesis 1:28 [ESV] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” WEEKEND LITURGY Serve Children and Youth This weekend, consider ways you can serve and love the children and youth in your life. Instead of using your time to advance your own agenda, spend time playing with, helping, serving, or just getting to know children. If there are no children in your life, consider reaching out to Becky Toney to get involved with CRPC children's ministry or Zachary Pitcher for CRPC youth ministry. — INSERT LINK TO PSALM READING — — INSERT MATT'S REFLECTION -- GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 19:14–15 [ESV] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. CONFESSION Father, all human life bares your image and is a blessing, but we treat some as more important than others. We value each other for our utility, beauty, skill, or entertainment and we treat children as tiresome distractions from our ambitious desires. We neglect the elderly and pretend that we ourselves will never age. We rise up early and go to bed late in order to advance our careers just a little bit more; we are building our own kingdoms where only the strong can survive. Jesus, teach us to welcome the children, elderly, and marginalized into our lives. Holy Spirit, help us to rely on your promises and live within your kingdom, a kingdom of love and rest. Amen. ASSURANCE | Matthew 7:24–27 [ESV] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 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 72 2nd Reading: Mark 10:35-45 (Ps 72:17) May [the king's name] endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!" Psalm 72 is often called a "royal psalm" because it has specific references to the king. The superscription at the beginning of the psalm reads, "Of Solomon", and the first line is, "Give the king your justice." The psalm then goes on the pray for God's strength to defend the poor and needy (v. 4, 12-14), expand the king's dominion (v. 8-11), and shows the blessing that godly kings could have on an entire land (v. 8-9, 15-17.) Figuring out what the psalm means is not hard. Figuring out how this psalm applies to us is more challenging. I doubt anyone reading this blog post is an actual king or queen. (Elizabeth if you are reading this, please like our facebook page from your royal account.) For everyone else, here are some things we can take away from this: (i.) The psalm teaches us that God has a purpose for authority. It is meant to bless others. A godly king would be a blessing to the whole land. Verse 17, says "may the people be blessed in him." This applied to actual kings, but also to other positions of authority. In Mark 10:35-45 Jesus taught the disciples that his ministry of service and sacrifice was meant to characterize every expression of Christian authority. We can look for ways to use the limited authority we have to be a blessing to others. In your work, family, or church relationships, how has God entrusted you with responsibilities to bless others. (ii.) This psalm can also guide us as we pray for our elected officials and consider who we support for office. Paul told Timothy that we should pray for "kings and all who are in high positions (v. 1 Tim 2:2.)" The model of an ideal king can shape how we pray for others in government. (iii.) Ultimately, this psalm is fulfilled most clearly in the ministry of Jesus, the "Christ"... the true anointed king. Jesus is the one of whom it can be said, that "all nations call him blessed." The ministry of Jesus is a blessing to the weak and vulnerable and he will use his authority to bring salvation to people from every nation on earth. One day, we will see his authority clearly displayed and all opposition will be humbled before him (Phil 2.) Psalm 72 leads us to worship and praise the king of kings, Jesus Christ and to pray for his return. ABIDING SING
THURSDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 127 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING LORD'S 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. Genesis 1:28 [ESV] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 19:14–15 [ESV] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. CONFESSION Father, all human life bares your image and is a blessing, but we treat some as more important than others. We value each other for our utility, beauty, skill, or entertainment and we treat children as tiresome distractions from our ambitious desires. We neglect the elderly and pretend that we ourselves will never age. We rise up early and go to bed late in order to advance our careers just a little bit more; we are building our own kingdoms where only the strong can survive. Jesus, teach us to welcome the children, elderly, and marginalized into our lives. Holy Spirit, help us to rely on your promises and live within your kingdom, a kingdom of love and rest. Amen. ASSURANCE | Matthew 7:24–27 [ESV] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 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 71 2nd Reading: Psalm 70 (Ps 71:9) “Do not cast me off in old age, forsake me not when my strength is spent.” I’m writing this devotional as we fly home after a week of vacation with my mother. I also spent the week with my brother and sister and their families for a vacation and family reunion. Watching my nieces and nephews group up while I watch my mother’s continued journey into old age reminds me of the inevitable forward turn of the wheel of time. It makes me think more deeply about the many references to aging that are found in Psalm 71. Neither the author or the circumstances of Ps 71 are listed in the text. But it seems clear that the psalmist is thinking deeply and personally about the processes of aging. There are several verses that look back on the process of aging from the vantage point of advanced years.
Life has not always been easy for the psalmist, but God has proven to be faithful.
The psalmist prays for continued protection through the aging process.
We are reminded that there is a vulnerability that comes with the aging process. We experience weakness in our body and even in our minds. Isn’t it good to be reminded that God is with us even was we feel the gradual deterioration of our bodies and even the increasing cloudiness of a deteriorating mind! The psalmist also recognizes that old age continues to bring responsibilities. In particular, the responsibility to pass the faith on to the next generation.
Not all of you reading this know this experientially… yet. But all of us are part of the ongoing drama of Christian faith being passed from generation to generation and all of us know and care about people who experience the vulnerabilities of aging. Psalm 71 not only reminds us of the inevitability of old age, but of God’s underlying faithfulness throughout. Furthermore, it shows us how to pray as we walk through this. (Matt Koerber) ABIDING SING
WEDNESDAY-CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 127 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 LORD'S 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. Genesis 1:28 [ESV] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 19:14–15 [ESV] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. CONFESSION Father, all human life bares your image and is a blessing, but we treat some as more important than others. We value each other for our utility, beauty, skill, or entertainment and we treat children as tiresome distractions from our ambitious desires. We neglect the elderly and pretend that we ourselves will never age. We rise up early and go to bed late in order to advance our careers just a little bit more; we are building our own kingdoms where only the strong can survive. Jesus, teach us to welcome the children, elderly, and marginalized into our lives. Holy Spirit, help us to rely on your promises and live within your kingdom, a kingdom of love and rest. Amen. ASSURANCE | Matthew 7:24–27 [ESV] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 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 69 2nd Reading: John 15:27 (Ps 69:13) "But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness." There are many elements of this psalm which speak to the experience of living in dark times. Verse 1 says, "Save me God, for the waters have come up to my neck." And verse 13, says, "Deliver me from sinking in the mire." For one of my good friends, this has spoken to their experience of discouragement while living at a low ebb of spiritual energy. Psalm 69 encourages us to speak honestly about our situation, even as we appeal to God for help. If we think that we need to clean ourselves up before we can pray to God, then... we will never pray. The perspective of Psalm 69 is that God will answer, but he will answer in the timing that works best for our good. The delay between praying for help and then seeing God's help arrive can be a difficult time of waiting. But Psalm 69 tells us that God's purposes for us are full of steadfast love and faithfulness and that he will answer our prayers in an "acceptable time (vs. 13.)" While we wait, it is encouraging to know that Jesus identified closely with this psalm. At three places, he used the words of this psalm to describe his own situation. In John 15:25 he saw his own experience of rejection as being a fulfillment of Psalm 69:4, "They hated me without cause." He also described his action in cleansing the temple as being "zeal for your house" (Ps 69:9), and on the cross he was given "sour wine" for his thirst (Ps 69:21, Jn 19:28-29.) We see that God's purpose for Jesus was not immediate deliverance from his persecutors. In fact, he was not only given over to suffering, but his path went all the way down into death itself. But, at an acceptable time, God fulfilled his purposes for Jesus and accomplished his deliverance. He was raised from the dead and given all power and authority for the church. Thankfully, his experience of suffering and death was not cut short, because God accomplished our salvation in and through the cross. God's steadfast love and faithfulness are stronger and deeper than our sin. They are stronger and deeper than our circumstances. They are stronger and deeper than death itself. While the appearance of our deliverance my not immediately appear, God will give us the final victory. As we wait for an acceptable time, we can be sure that God is at work for good and his purposes will not be thwarted. ABIDING SING
TUESDAY READ | Psalm 127 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 LORD'S 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. Genesis 1:28 [ESV] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 19:14–15 [ESV] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. CONFESSION Father, all human life bares your image and is a blessing, but we treat some as more important than others. We value each other for our utility, beauty, skill, or entertainment and we treat children as tiresome distractions from our ambitious desires. We neglect the elderly and pretend that we ourselves will never age. We rise up early and go to bed late in order to advance our careers just a little bit more; we are building our own kingdoms where only the strong can survive. Jesus, teach us to welcome the children, elderly, and marginalized into our lives. Holy Spirit, help us to rely on your promises and live within your kingdom, a kingdom of love and rest. Amen. ASSURANCE | Matthew 7:24–27 [ESV] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 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 68 2nd Reading: Ephesians 4:7-12 "Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines..." (Ps 68:24-25) Everyone loves a parade, especially in Pittsburgh. Greenfield (where I live) has a long tradition of Christmas parades that people take very seriously. But the greatest occasion for parades in our city is after a championship by one of our sports teams. In 2005, I had recently moved to Pittsburgh and after the Steelers won their first Superbowl in over 25 years, people poured into the streets. I drove downtown with my father, and we marveled at the overflowing joy found in the long-awaited victory. Cars streamed down the streets in an informal, disorganized procession as other fans cheered and waved towels on the sides of the road. People were not really going anywhere or doing anything. They just formed their own parade and continued the celebration until late into the night. Psalm 68 captures the imagery of a victory parade after a great battle has been one. The opening scene is one of contrasting perspectives on God's victory. "The wicked shall perish before God! But the righteous shall be glad;" (vs.2-3.) Rejoicing at God's judgment over his enemies can seem foreign to modern ears. But anyone who has experienced the pain and fear of oppression knows the joy of being delivered. When victorious armies came home from battle, all of the people would celebrate with wild abandon, because they knew that they had been spared from conquest. God's identity as the protector of the weak and as the defender of his people is celebrated (v.5-6), then God himself appears at the head of the victory parade (v.7.) Further references to the chariots of God (v.17) continue the image, then the rest of the procession comes into view. The singers provide the accompanying music, and some of the tribes are listed as following God in his triumphant celebration (v.24-27) Of course, there are many aspects of our modern-day parades which are quite different, but I find drawing this comparison helps to stimulate my appreciation for the celebratory aspects of this psalm. One interesting twist on the victory parade was expounded by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesian Church. It would be expected for ancient kings to bring home spoil from war when they were successful. The image of a conquering king leading prisoners of war and bring home spoil from his success is found in verse 18: "You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men." Paul takes this concept and applies it to Jesus and the Church. He pictures Jesus as being victorious over death and Satan's kingdom. The ascension of Jesus was for Paul something of a victory parade, but rather than taking the prisoners of war with him, he is releasing prisoners and rather than collecting tribute, he is pouring out grace from the abundance of his bounty. Quoting Ps 68:18, Paul wrote that Jesus ascended on high and gave gifts to the church - particularly, he gives the gift of people. Humans who have been freed from the kingdom of darkness are brought into God's kingdom through the redeeming power of the blood of Christ. Then some of these former prisoners are given back to the church to be a blessing for ministry. Church leaders, including pastors, teachers, and evangelists are given to the church as a gift. They are designed to help build up the church into maturity. To tweak the parade image a little more, Jesus is pouring out blessing on his subjects... the same way Santa and his elves throw candy to the eager children in the Christmas parade. The victory parade of Jesus not only showcases the power of Jesus, but it becomes an occasion for Jesus to bless the church with gifts that bring real transformation. ABIDING SING
MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 127 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 LORD'S 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. Genesis 1:28 [ESV] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Picture Psalm 127: "Good News" | Tyler Meuninck GATHERING THE CALL | Matthew 19:14–15 [ESV] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. CONFESSION Father, all human life bares your image and is a blessing, but we treat some as more important than others. We value each other for our utility, beauty, skill, or entertainment and we treat children as tiresome distractions from our ambitious desires. We neglect the elderly and pretend that we ourselves will never age. We rise up early and go to bed late in order to advance our careers just a little bit more; we are building our own kingdoms where only the strong can survive. Jesus, teach us to welcome the children, elderly, and marginalized into our lives. Holy Spirit, help us to rely on your promises and live within your kingdom, a kingdom of love and rest. Amen. ASSURANCE | Matthew 7:24–27 [ESV] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 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 ---- ABIDING SING
MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 127 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 127 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 127 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 127 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 127 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SATURDAY (see Saturday liturgy) SENDING LORD'S 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. Genesis 1:28 [ESV] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (MWEEKEND LITURGY
Practice Lament Daniel Snoke and Pastor Nameun Cho created a resource for the CCO (campus ministry) to help ministries and groups practice lament. If you are part of a group that regularly meets, or have friends you can invite over, consider working through this material together and practice lament. Word Read Psalm 66 and Psalm 67 (Psalm 66:1,4) "Shout for joy to God, all the earth; ... all the earth worships you and sings praise to you..." These two, short Psalms have several references to God being praised by all peoples. (See 66:1-4) While this is somewhat unusual it is not entirely unexpected. Most of the OT focuses on God's work through his covenant people, Israel, but there was always a sense that he intended to reveal himself to all groups of people For example, when God first chose Abraham and promised to make his family into a great nation, he also promised that in Abraham's decedents "all of the nations on the earth would be blessed (Gen 12:3.)" Interestingly, Psalm 66 also includes several references that are specific to Israel. Verses 5-6 seem to refer to the Exodus, while verse 10-12 refer to discipline that Israel faced (how God tested and refined them through various trials), and verses 13-15 refer to sacrifices made in the temple (God's "house"), which were specific to Israel. So, there is a curious juxtaposition of a world wide focus, and things specific to God's covenant people. Psalm 67:1-2 shows a connection between the two ideas. "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us-- so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations." The first line asks for God to bless his people. The second line shows that there is a greater purpose for this blessing. It is "so that" God's "way" and "salvation" may be known among all nations. God intends to make his salvation known among all people. But he intends to work through his people - the church - to accomplish that purpose. This is both a humbling and sobering reality. God intends to use us to reveal himself to all people. My friend Pastor Bill Glaze at Bethany Baptist has a special interest in world missions. He has repeated a phrase so often that the entire church knows how to respond to a mission riddle. When talking about God's purpose to use the church for world missions, he will call it "Plan A." At which point, he will ask his church a familiar question... If using the church for world missions is "Plan A", what is "Plan B"? What which point, the entire congregation will say in unison, "There is no plan B." There is no plan B for world missions. This calls us into pray and calls us into action. God intends to make his salvation known among all peoples, and he intends to use his church to make disciples from every nation (Matthew 28:18-20.) We need to seek help from God's Spirit to be faithful in this task, because the challenge is real and there is no "Plan B." (Matt Koerber) GATHERING
THE CALL | Mark 4:30–32 [ESV] “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” PRAYER | Valley of Vision Journeying On Lord of the cloud and fire, I am a stranger, with a stranger’s indifference; My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff, My march is Zionward, My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord, My heart is in thy hands without reserve. Thou hast created it, redeemed it, renewed it, captured it, conquered it. Keep from it every opposing foe, crush in it every rebel lust, mortify every treacherous passion, annihilate every earthborn desire. All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch; I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength, might, spirit, affection, will, desire, intellect, understanding. Thou art the very perfection of all perfections; All intellect is derived from thee; My scanty rivulets flow from thy unfathomable fountain. Compared with thee the sun is darkness, all beauty deformity, all wisdom folly, the best goodness faulty. Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield; Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee, tightly entwine itself round thee, be allured by thee. Then shall my walk be endless praise. MEDITATION | Jeremiah 29:4–7 [ESV] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 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 65 2nd Reading: Psalm 64 (Ps 65:12) "The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy." I'm writing some of these devotions while on vacation in Disney World. My mother took my family there for a mid-winter vacation. If I had planned better they would have been done in advance, but I actually don't mind being forced to think about Scripture while on vacation. For the most part, I think that Disney is pretty cool. It is thoroughly secular, with no reference to God, which is disappointing. But, at its best it is a testament to human creativity and determination. Walt Disney cared about the smallest details of the park and that approach to excellence can be inspiring. The illusion of fantasy worlds is so meticulously maintained, that sometimes it is hard to distinguish pretend from real. While walking through the park one night, we were awed by a pink sky sunset. Half jokingly I remarked, "Pretty amazing that Disney can color the sky that way." The truth about Disney World, and all human creations, is that even at our best we are just rearranging the good things of God's created world. In doing so, we show that we are made in the image of our creator. But we cannot make creation out of nothing, we can only cultivate the stuff that is already there. When human creation is in harmony with God, our efforts help to point us back to the creator. Psalm 65 has a particular emphasis on God as creator and shows how his created world is meant to direct our attention back to his power, his wisdom, and his creativity. Not only did God design and make it all, he also upholds it by his power. God established the mountains (v. 6.) He governs the chaos of the seas and the chaos of all people (v.7.) Each morning and evening is meant to be a cause for joyous praise (v.8.) God continues to water the earth and uphold his creation (v.9-10.) The pastures, the hills, the meadows and valleys (v.12-13) are full of all kinds of wonderful created things -plants, animals, minerals, etc. Not only do they direct our praise to God, but the creation itself will "shout and sing together for joy (v.13.)" While we can appreciate the excellence of human creativity, God's work of creation not only towers over the best of our human endeavors, his work of creation is the only reason any of it exists to begin with. Let's join with creation in offering praise in celebration of the creator! (Matt Koerber) ABIDING The Sacred Harp singing tradition is a form of Christian worship that uses a particular kind of music theory. It emerged as the New World blended poor immigrant and slave cultures together. Originally created to teach illiterate people to read music in New England, it quickly spread across the country and took deep roots in the South. Musically, it breaks a lot of "rules" in traditional Western theory, but it follows the "rule" of the ear. Instead of typical music notation, Sacred Hard uses shape-notes that are easily recognizable and reflect the melodic intuitions of folk music. Over time, worshipers would gather in a square and sing toward one another with the goal to sing as loudly as possible. As one worshiper explained in this documentary, "If you can hear your neighbor singing, you're not singing loud enough!" Sacred Harp is a rich tradition of worship and has greatly influenced modern hymnody with writers like Isaac Watts and Joseph Hart. Our first setting of Psalm 126 uses the tune of Wayfaring Stranger, which captures the sojourning spirit of not just Psalm 126, but all the Psalms of Ascents as well. Here is a performance of the traditional setting of Wayfaring Stranger. At a traditional singing event, singers use a version of solfege to frame the song before singing the lyrics. SING
FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 126 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING LORD'S 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. Matthew 9:37–38 [ESV] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” GATHERING
THE CALL | Mark 4:30–32 [ESV] “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” PRAYER | Valley of Vision Journeying On Lord of the cloud and fire, I am a stranger, with a stranger’s indifference; My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff, My march is Zionward, My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord, My heart is in thy hands without reserve. Thou hast created it, redeemed it, renewed it, captured it, conquered it. Keep from it every opposing foe, crush in it every rebel lust, mortify every treacherous passion, annihilate every earthborn desire. All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch; I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength, might, spirit, affection, will, desire, intellect, understanding. Thou art the very perfection of all perfections; All intellect is derived from thee; My scanty rivulets flow from thy unfathomable fountain. Compared with thee the sun is darkness, all beauty deformity, all wisdom folly, the best goodness faulty. Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield; Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee, tightly entwine itself round thee, be allured by thee. Then shall my walk be endless praise. MEDITATION | Jeremiah 29:4–7 [ESV] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 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 63 2nd Reading: John 7:37-39 (Ps 63:1) You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. It feels a little strange to say that I have a favorite psalm. Sort of the way a parent does not want to talk about a favorite child. But, truth be told, this is my favorite psalm. It is short and sweet and it stirs my heart toward worship. Psalm 63 begins with several statements about David's desire for a deeper relational experience with God. The psalm is situated with regard to David's time in the wilderness of Judah. But is is not food, water, or the comforts of home that David longs for. Instead David longs to experience God. "My soul thirsts for you.." I should be clear in saying that this is not my favorite psalm because I always feel this way about God. In fact, it is the exact opposite. I find this psalm to be "aspirational." It is how I should feel about God. It is how I would feel if my heart desires were properly oriented. The psalm challenges my affections and stirs me up to long for something more. In addition to the intensity of David's desire to know and experience God, several related themes emerge.
ABIDING The Sacred Harp singing tradition is a form of Christian worship that uses a particular kind of music theory. It emerged as the New World blended poor immigrant and slave cultures together. Originally created to teach illiterate people to read music in New England, it quickly spread across the country and took deep roots in the South. Musically, it breaks a lot of "rules" in traditional Western theory, but it follows the "rule" of the ear. Instead of typical music notation, Sacred Hard uses shape-notes that are easily recognizable and reflect the melodic intuitions of folk music. Over time, worshipers would gather in a square and sing toward one another with the goal to sing as loudly as possible. As one worshiper explained in this documentary, "If you can hear your neighbor singing, you're not singing loud enough!" Sacred Harp is a rich tradition of worship and has greatly influenced modern hymnody with writers like Isaac Watts and Joseph Hart. Our first setting of Psalm 126 uses the tune of Wayfaring Stranger, which captures the sojourning spirit of not just Psalm 126, but all the Psalms of Ascents as well. Here is a performance of the traditional setting of Wayfaring Stranger. At a traditional singing event, singers use a version of solfege to frame the song before singing the lyrics. SING
THURSDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 126 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING LORD'S 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. Matthew 9:37–38 [ESV] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” GATHERING
THE CALL | Mark 4:30–32 [ESV] “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” PRAYER | Valley of Vision Journeying On Lord of the cloud and fire, I am a stranger, with a stranger’s indifference; My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff, My march is Zionward, My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord, My heart is in thy hands without reserve. Thou hast created it, redeemed it, renewed it, captured it, conquered it. Keep from it every opposing foe, crush in it every rebel lust, mortify every treacherous passion, annihilate every earthborn desire. All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch; I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength, might, spirit, affection, will, desire, intellect, understanding. Thou art the very perfection of all perfections; All intellect is derived from thee; My scanty rivulets flow from thy unfathomable fountain. Compared with thee the sun is darkness, all beauty deformity, all wisdom folly, the best goodness faulty. Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield; Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee, tightly entwine itself round thee, be allured by thee. Then shall my walk be endless praise. MEDITATION | Jeremiah 29:4–7 [ESV] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 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 62 2nd Reading: Psalm 61 (Ps 61:1) “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.” When my wife, Chrissie, was pregnant with our first child, we made plans to do a “natural childbirth” with a midwife in Boston. I’m sure that people warned us about what childbirth can be like when it is not dulled by an epidural, but we were not prepared. I remember the midwife, telling us that when the contractions were happening Chrissie should imagine the mental image of a flower opening. We also decided to memorize Psalm 61:1 and thought of it as a “child-birth verse.” Well, I imagine that some women reading this are already smiling. Granted, the child-birth experience is not the same for everyone and can vary in degree of intensity. But, suffice it to say it was not like a flower opening. It was more like a fully loaded freight train smashing into a warehouse of TNT in the middle of a hurricane...during an earthquake. The contractions came so hard, that Chrissie had trouble breathing. And frankly, I couldn’t breathe either. It was pretty hard to watch the whole thing happen. And well, let’s be honest I was not the one doing all of the work. The image of sitting quietly in meditative silence while we rehearsed Psalm 61:1 evaporated. After hours of labor, Chrissie moved into transition where the final pushes were in order. As the hurricane reached its final frenzied pitch, the midwife turned to me and said, “You are a pastor, you should pray for her.” That would seem like a reasonable suggestion, except I found that I was unable to think. I just couldn’t put two words together to form a coherent prayer. Not exactly the picture of quiet resting in God’s presence that either of us had imagined. It was not what I had imagined when I pictured "waiting in silence." Well, the birth was successful, and we both collapsed into a pool of tears and sweat. (Again, I need to acknowledge, that although this was emotionally demanding, I was not the active participant in this ordeal.) Isaac did have some post-birth complications but that would not become evident until after a few days. In the moments after the hurricane had passed, we welcomed a new person into our family. But all I could think was, “What just happened? Can I really say, God is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken (v.6)?” I felt shaken. But the truth became apparent as time passed. God was our rock. Our minds were flooded, and our experience was glazed by emotional frenzy, but God was steadfast. Our chaotic inner experience did not negate the steadfast presence of God. As I remember this experience, I recall a quote I heard from pastor Richard Wurmbrand, founder of “Voice of Martyrs.” I don’t mean to equate his experience of torture under the Soviets to childbirth. But when he was asked what Bible verse sustained him during the hellish years in prison, he replied that it was not the Bible verse that saved, but the God of the Bible. What I understood that to mean is that our salvation does not come from our ability to quote verses and keep our head in all situations. This doesn’t diminish God working through his word. Rather, it elevates God to his rightful place as savior. He is the source of power and steadfast love (v.11.) Even when our minds are mushy and we can’t remember the words… HE is a rock and a fortress. His hold on us is never shaken. (Matt Koerber) ABIDING The Sacred Harp singing tradition is a form of Christian worship that uses a particular kind of music theory. It emerged as the New World blended poor immigrant and slave cultures together. Originally created to teach illiterate people to read music in New England, it quickly spread across the country and took deep roots in the South. Musically, it breaks a lot of "rules" in traditional Western theory, but it follows the "rule" of the ear. Instead of typical music notation, Sacred Hard uses shape-notes that are easily recognizable and reflect the melodic intuitions of folk music. Over time, worshipers would gather in a square and sing toward one another with the goal to sing as loudly as possible. As one worshiper explained in this documentary, "If you can hear your neighbor singing, you're not singing loud enough!" Sacred Harp is a rich tradition of worship and has greatly influenced modern hymnody with writers like Isaac Watts and Joseph Hart. Our first setting of Psalm 126 uses the tune of Wayfaring Stranger, which captures the sojourning spirit of not just Psalm 126, but all the Psalms of Ascents as well. Here is a performance of the traditional setting of Wayfaring Stranger. At a traditional singing event, singers use a version of solfege to frame the song before singing the lyrics. SING
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 LORD'S 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. Matthew 9:37–38 [ESV] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” GATHERING
THE CALL | Mark 4:30–32 [ESV] “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” PRAYER | Valley of Vision Journeying On Lord of the cloud and fire, I am a stranger, with a stranger’s indifference; My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff, My march is Zionward, My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord, My heart is in thy hands without reserve. Thou hast created it, redeemed it, renewed it, captured it, conquered it. Keep from it every opposing foe, crush in it every rebel lust, mortify every treacherous passion, annihilate every earthborn desire. All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch; I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength, might, spirit, affection, will, desire, intellect, understanding. Thou art the very perfection of all perfections; All intellect is derived from thee; My scanty rivulets flow from thy unfathomable fountain. Compared with thee the sun is darkness, all beauty deformity, all wisdom folly, the best goodness faulty. Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield; Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee, tightly entwine itself round thee, be allured by thee. Then shall my walk be endless praise. MEDITATION | Jeremiah 29:4–7 [ESV] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 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 58 2nd Reading: Psalm 60 “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions. O LORD!” (Ps. 58:6) These two psalms really pack an emotional punch. Both are Psalms of David, and both express raw emotions in the midst of prayers for God’s vengeance on his enemies. This can be a little disconcerting to read and often Christians are not sure how to pray these things, especially in light of Jesus’ admonition that we love our enemies. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind: (i.) There is a huge difference between asking God to bring vengeance and trying to get revenge on our own. God’s vengeance will be perfect and just. Ours is distorted by selfishness. In the NT, Paul urges the church to forego vengeance and trust in God’s promises of perfect vengeance (Rom 12:19.) Not only is it consistent to pray for God’s vengeance, while we take steps to love our enemies, but the whole basis in non-retaliatory love is confidence in God’s ability to enact perfect vengeance on his own. (ii.) Many of the pleas are actually a request that God remove the instruments of oppression from the wicked. For example, the prayer listed above asks for God to break the teeth of the wicked and tear out the fangs of those who behave like ferocious lions. To “defang” the lion is to remove his ability to harm us. In a similar way, (v. 58:7) asks for the enemies' arrows to be “blunted.” There are several ways that the attacks of an enemy can be blunted. First, they can be rendered unable to harm us through death or destruction. Second, they can repent and cease to be our enemy. God can do both, and in the NT, the pouring out of the Spirit on the church empowers a world-wide evangelism in which many of God’s enemies are converted to saving faith. We can read the closing celebration (v.58:10) in this way, “The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bath his feet in the blood of wicked.” The sins of our enemies will be repaid. Either in the perfect justice of God, or through the shed blood of the savior as they are united to him in faith. Viewed from the perspective of eternity, there will be cause for celebration. (iii.) The psalms are poetry and express raw emotions in vivid ways. God gives us the gift of divinely inspired words that can express some pretty painful stuff. Rather than asking us to “stuff” our emotions, God gives us channels to express them. At the same time, while we can appreciate the rawness of these emotions, we want to keep in mind that that these are poetic expressions and that they are not things that can be literally applied. For example, (v.58:7-8) ask that the wicked be made like “water that seeps away, a slug that melts in the sun, and reach a tragic end like a stillborn child.” These are not meant to be read as commands to waste water or melt slugs. Nor is this intended as a callous description of the painful tragedy of still birth. David knows God’s vengeance is serious business and uses evocative language to drive that point home. ABIDING The Sacred Harp singing tradition is a form of Christian worship that uses a particular kind of music theory. It emerged as the New World blended poor immigrant and slave cultures together. Originally created to teach illiterate people to read music in New England, it quickly spread across the country and took deep roots in the South. Musically, it breaks a lot of "rules" in traditional Western theory, but it follows the "rule" of the ear. Instead of typical music notation, Sacred Hard uses shape-notes that are easily recognizable and reflect the melodic intuitions of folk music. Over time, worshipers would gather in a square and sing toward one another with the goal to sing as loudly as possible. As one worshiper explained in this documentary, "If you can hear your neighbor singing, you're not singing loud enough!" Sacred Harp is a rich tradition of worship and has greatly influenced modern hymnody with writers like Isaac Watts and Joseph Hart. Our first setting of Psalm 126 uses the tune of Wayfaring Stranger, which captures the sojourning spirit of not just Psalm 126, but all the Psalms of Ascents as well. Here is a performance of the traditional setting of Wayfaring Stranger. At a traditional singing event, singers use a version of solfege to frame the song before singing the lyrics. SING
TUESDAY READ | Psalm 126 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 LORD'S 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. Matthew 9:37–38 [ESV] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” GATHERING
THE CALL | Mark 4:30–32 [ESV] “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” PRAYER | Valley of Vision Journeying On Lord of the cloud and fire, I am a stranger, with a stranger’s indifference; My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff, My march is Zionward, My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord, My heart is in thy hands without reserve. Thou hast created it, redeemed it, renewed it, captured it, conquered it. Keep from it every opposing foe, crush in it every rebel lust, mortify every treacherous passion, annihilate every earthborn desire. All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch; I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength, might, spirit, affection, will, desire, intellect, understanding. Thou art the very perfection of all perfections; All intellect is derived from thee; My scanty rivulets flow from thy unfathomable fountain. Compared with thee the sun is darkness, all beauty deformity, all wisdom folly, the best goodness faulty. Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield; Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee, tightly entwine itself round thee, be allured by thee. Then shall my walk be endless praise. MEDITATION | Jeremiah 29:4–7 [ESV] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 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 57 2nd Reading: Psalm 59 Happy Valentines Day! For forgetful husbands like me, remember to offer the appropriate expression of appreciation to you wife. For those not married, use this day to express your appreciation for important people in your life – the Christian vision of love is much bigger than just romantic love. For those who face Valentine's day with sadness, bitterness, or disappointment. Don’t worry, our psalms for today have nothing to do with romantic love. In fact, they are about as far from that as possible. In order to group similar psalms on each day, we are reading Psalms 57 & 59 today. They both are psalms written by David that express his anguish at being in a tough situation. The superscription to Psalm 57 says that it applies to David’s experience of hiding from King Saul in a cave. Psalm 59 says that he is hiding from Saul’s hired hitman who are “prowling like dogs” outside his house at night. Many psalms are written from the perspective of looking back on God’s deliverance from a tough situation. But these two psalms are a prayer that is situated inside of a really tough situation. See the following:
How do you pray when you are in the midst of a really dangerous situation – when you have enemies that want to hurt you?
ABIDING The Sacred Harp singing tradition is a form of Christian worship that uses a particular kind of music theory. It emerged as the New World blended poor immigrant and slave cultures together. Originally created to teach illiterate people to read music in New England, it quickly spread across the country and took deep roots in the South. Musically, it breaks a lot of "rules" in traditional Western theory, but it follows the "rule" of the ear. Instead of typical music notation, Sacred Hard uses shape-notes that are easily recognizable and reflect the melodic intuitions of folk music. Over time, worshipers would gather in a square and sing toward one another with the goal to sing as loudly as possible. As one worshiper explained in this documentary, "If you can hear your neighbor singing, you're not singing loud enough!" Sacred Harp is a rich tradition of worship and has greatly influenced modern hymnody with writers like Isaac Watts and Joseph Hart. Our first setting of Psalm 126 uses the tune of Wayfaring Stranger, which captures the sojourning spirit of not just Psalm 126, but all the Psalms of Ascents as well. Here is a performance of the traditional setting of Wayfaring Stranger. At a traditional singing event, singers use a version of solfege to frame the song before singing the lyrics. SING
MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 126 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 LORD'S 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. Matthew 9:37–38 [ESV] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Photo: Psalm 126 - Michael Van Patter If you are using this liturgy for a community group or other gathering, consider using this resource on lament by Daniel Snoke and Pastor Nameun Cho for your time together. Psalm 126 - Michael Van Patter If you are using this liturgy for a community group or other gathering, consider using this resource on lament by Daniel Snoke and Pastor Nameun Cho for your time together. GATHERING THE CALL | Mark 4:30–32 [ESV] “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” PRAYER | Valley of Vision Journeying On Lord of the cloud and fire, I am a stranger, with a stranger’s indifference; My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff, My march is Zionward, My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord, My heart is in thy hands without reserve. Thou hast created it, redeemed it, renewed it, captured it, conquered it. Keep from it every opposing foe, crush in it every rebel lust, mortify every treacherous passion, annihilate every earthborn desire. All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch; I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength, might, spirit, affection, will, desire, intellect, understanding. Thou art the very perfection of all perfections; All intellect is derived from thee; My scanty rivulets flow from thy unfathomable fountain. Compared with thee the sun is darkness, all beauty deformity, all wisdom folly, the best goodness faulty. Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield; Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee, tightly entwine itself round thee, be allured by thee. Then shall my walk be endless praise. MEDITATION | Jeremiah 29:4–7 [ESV] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 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 The Sacred Harp singing tradition is a form of Christian worship that uses a particular kind of music theory. It emerged as the New World blended poor immigrant and slave cultures together. Originally created to teach illiterate people to read music in New England, it quickly spread across the country and took deep roots in the South. Musically, it breaks a lot of "rules" in traditional Western theory, but it follows the "rule" of the ear. Instead of typical music notation, Sacred Hard uses shape-notes that are easily recognizable and reflect the melodic intuitions of folk music. Over time, worshipers would gather in a square and sing toward one another with the goal to sing as loudly as possible. As one worshiper explained in this documentary, "If you can hear your neighbor singing, you're not singing loud enough!" Sacred Harp is a rich tradition of worship and has greatly influenced modern hymnody with writers like Isaac Watts and Joseph Hart. Our first setting of Psalm 126 uses the tune of Wayfaring Stranger, which captures the sojourning spirit of not just Psalm 126, but all the Psalms of Ascents as well. Here is a performance of the traditional setting of Wayfaring Stranger. At a traditional singing event, singers use a version of solfege to frame the song before singing the lyrics. SING
— copy and paste the corresponding day in the blog -- SUNDAY MONDAY LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 126 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 126 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 126 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 126 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY MEMORIZE | Psalm 126 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SATURDAY (see Saturday liturgy) SENDING LORD'S 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. Matthew 9:37–38 [ESV] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” WEEKEND LITURGY Practice Lament Daniel Snoke and Pastor Nameun Cho created a resource for the CCO (campus ministry) to help ministries and groups practice lament. If you are part of a group that regularly meets, or have friends you can invite over, consider working through this material together and practice lament. — INSERT LINK TO PSALM READING — — INSERT MATT'S REFLECTION -- WEEKEND LITURGY
Pray for the Persecuted Church Spend some time praying for Christians who live in lands where the "scepter of wickedness" (Psalm 125) rests upon them. There are many nations and lands to pray for, but consider starting by praying for the Chinese Church and sign up to receive prayer prompts from our partner ministry, China Partnership. Word Read Psalm 55 2nd Reading: Psalm 56 (Psalm 55:14) “We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.” Obi-Wan Kenobi: "You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you." David begins this psalm by describing the great turmoil he is facing. He cries out for God to hear him (vs 1) and to attend to him (vs 2). He needs God’s help desperately. Why? Because of the noise, and oppression of the wicked enemy (vs 3). This is similar to other psalms we have looked at (see Psalms 28, 31, 35, 43). David then describes how he is feeling. His heart is in anguish, horror has overwhelmed him. He wishes he has wings to fly away. This is so gritty and raw. While reading this I thought of times in my life that I have been devastated and felt very much like David is describing. Have you ever felt that way? Fear, trembling and horror at your situation is overpowering, and you just want to run away and hide from all that is distressing you. David responds to his desire to fly away with another call to God to destroy. He is angry at how the wicked prosper and is calling upon God to take care of things; to clean house. Interestingly, he calls for God to “divide their tongues”. This may seem like a strange judgment to call on the wicked. It harkens back to the judgment God pronounced at the Tower of Babel. He wondrously changed the languages of all the inhabitants of earth so they could no longer efficiently build this great idolatrous tower. David is asking God to show his power in miraculous ways again to destroy his enemies. Unfortunately, things get worse for David before they get better. Like the twist in a good thriller movie, we find out that David’s close friend has betrayed him (verse 13). Not just any close friend, but one who worshiped God with him (verse 14). How gut-wrenching is that? It reminds me of how Anakin, a fellow Jedi and close friend, betrayed Obi-Wan. But we also have another, greater example of betrayal in the Bible. All four gospels describe how Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve close disciples, betrayed Jesus that first Maundy Thursday. He was with Jesus all the time, worshiping God with him, observing the miracles he performed, even having explanations of Jesus cryptic parables so he might understand more fully the kingdom of God. This same disciple betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin after partaking of the Passover with Him. David returns again to calling on God, but this time he is crying for salvation. Evening, Morning and at noon he utters his complaint and moans (verse 17). This doesn’t seem like the eloquent petitions of the great king, but the sort of cries a child might give to their parents. God doesn’t need us to be eloquent when we cry out to him. He wants us to turn to Him all the time and even desires our moaning and complaining. God will give ear, he says in verse 19. In the same way, we should be quick to turn to God. He is the source of our salvation, and only He can sustain us (vs 22). (David Bacon) GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 5:10–12 [ESV] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. CONFESSION The way that leads to life is narrow and hard, but we love the easy road. We wander from your presence and we seek the crooked paths of the wicked. Turn our eyes to you and to your kingdom; let us see you as our ultimate good and teach us to bear the reproach of others. Plant our feet in your presence, where we will abide forever. Amen. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 54:10 [ESV] For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD Read Psalm 52 2nd Reading: Psalm 54 (Psalm 52:1) “Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.” Here’s the setting: David is on the run from King Saul who is acting wickedly and trying to kill David. He was warned by his good friend, Jonathan, and has just started out on his journey. He first goes to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. There, he is given food, a sword, and the Priest inquires of the Lord on David’s behalf. In the same room, seeing all this happen is Doeg the Edomite. Doeg then betrays David and tells Saul that he had been there. Saul questions Ahimelech who protects and defends David’s innocence. Now, here’s the tragic turn. Saul orders his guard to kill Ahimelech and the rest of the priests and the guard refuses. Who takes up the sword to kill the priests? Doeg the Edomite. He killed eighty-five priests that day. Let that sink in as you read this psalm. This psalm juxtaposes the love of God and the love of the “mighty man”. But this mighty man isn’t a hero, he is one who loves evil, lying, and all words that devour (vss 3-4). Contrast this against God, whose steadfast love endures all the day (verse 1). This wicked, mighty man, does not prevail. God will break him down FOREVER (verse 5). I cannot help but think about God’s eternal judgment for the wicked.”He will uproot you from the land of the living” (verse 5). The enemies of God will be punished for their sins for all eternity in Hell. The evil man who “trusted in the abundance of his riches” (vs 7) will not prosper, he has laid out and “sought refuge in his own destruction” (vs 7). We must strive to be like David in this psalm. He was on the run, his life threatened by Saul, who loved evil so much that he was willing to slay eighty-five God ordained priests just because they wouldn’t tell him where David went. But David didn’t trust in his own strength, cunning, or even righteousness. He trusted in the steadfast love of God, so much so, that he views his deliverance as sure. “I will thank you forever, because you have done it.” (Verse 8, emphasis added) He was on the run and nowhere near safe from Saul, but he trusted God so much that he just had to wait to see God’s already planned salvation. This was true not just for his physical salvation from Saul, but more importantly his spiritual salvation from sin and the punishment it deserves. We also should trust God for salvation from the spiritual and physical foes that threaten our lives and “trust in the steadfast love of God” (vs 9). We can see that Jesus has given us spiritual salvation from our sin, so let us trust God to also provide our physical salvation when his enemies surround us. (David Bacon) ABIDING SING - Psalm 125 [recording] [sheet music] FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 125 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING LORD'S 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. Revelation 22:1–3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 5:10–12 [ESV] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. CONFESSION The way that leads to life is narrow and hard, but we love the easy road. We wander from your presence and we seek the crooked paths of the wicked. Turn our eyes to you and to your kingdom; let us see you as our ultimate good and teach us to bear the reproach of others. Plant our feet in your presence, where we will abide forever. Amen. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 54:10 [ESV] For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD Read Psalm 51 2nd Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-12:15 (Psalm 51:2) “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” As we rehearse each week at the worship service, confession of sins is an important aspect of life as a Christian. We have examples of this throughout the Bible, but I can think of no greater example than David’s confession of his sin with Bathsheba. The King of Israel, the “man after God’s own heart” committed wicked and utterly devastating sins by not just having an adulterous affair, but, after finding out she was pregnant with his child, trying to cover up this sin, and then murdering his lover’s husband. What can we learn from this psalm and apply to our own confession of sins? One thing that strikes me in this psalm is how David is not just asking for a removal of the guilt of his sin (vs 7), but he is also asking to be renewed. Verses 10 - 12 go back and forth as such: Create in me a clean heart, O God, AND renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, AND take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, AND uphold me with a willing spirit. We can apply this to our lives. When we sin, we should quickly ask forgiveness, but also seek for a greater measure of God’s Spirit to fill us. It is not enough that we avoid sinful patterns, but that we replace them with fruitful activities. And we cannot do this on our own, we need God to guide us through repentance. David continues to keep his confessional psalm focused on God in the second half. He wants to serve God instead of sinning against Him. David wants to “sing aloud of your righteousness” (verse 14) and declare God’s praise with his mouth (verse 15). Our repentance should likewise renew our desire to praise God. As we know through the Bible, it is God’s own work on the cross, through Jesus the Son that saves us from our sin and blots out our iniquities. He deserves all the praise for this mighty work. It is humbling to see this great and mighty king fall prostrate before the Lord in this psalm of repentance. He is genuinely upset at the great chasm his sin has put between him and the Father. Charles Spurgeon writes “he is sick of sin as sin; his loudest outcries are against the evil of his transgression, and not against the painful consequences of it. When we deal seriously with our sin, God will deal gently with us. When we hate what the Lord hates, he will soon make an end of it, to our joy and peace.” (David Bacon) ABIDING SING - Psalm 125 [recording] [sheet music] THURSDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 125 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING LORD'S 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. Revelation 22:1–3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 5:10–12 [ESV] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. CONFESSION The way that leads to life is narrow and hard, but we love the easy road. We wander from your presence and we seek the crooked paths of the wicked. Turn our eyes to you and to your kingdom; let us see you as our ultimate good and teach us to bear the reproach of others. Plant our feet in your presence, where we will abide forever. Amen. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 54:10 [ESV] For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD Read Psalm 50 2nd Reading: Romans 1:18 - 2:11 (Psalm 50:6) “The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge!” Are you a fan of television procedurals? For those who aren’t familiar, procedurals are the genre of television show where the protagonists are meant to solve a crime (most often murder) and make sure the guilty party is identified by the end of the 45 minute show. Law and Order, NCIS, CSI, Bones, and yes Psych, all fall into this genre. These shows value the American justice system and exude the premise that crime doesn’t pay. But what about real life? Are guilty parties always identified? When they are, do the victims get the justice they deserve? I think one reason these shows are so popular is because humans crave justice. When someone is wronged, they desperately desire the guilty to be punished; swiftly and severely. This is not something that just adults desire, but can be clearly seen in children when they cry out for justice when they have been injured, insulted, or emotionally traumatized. This psalm, the first of the Psalms of Asaph, points us to “The Mighty One, God the LORD” and the justice that he will bring upon the world. Unlike how we may desire, though, he first calls his people, the chosen ones of Israel, to be judged first. He calls the Israelites as His “faithful ones” (vs 5) but it is not their faithfulness that he addresses in the next section. In verses 7 - 15 he admonishes His people because they have not shown God thanksgiving. Yes, they have been faithful to offer the proper sacrifices for their sins, but God desires so much more than this. He desires us to give of our whole selves; our thoughts and our attitudes should be ones of worship towards Him. The cattle on a thousand hills are already God’s. He wants our hearts that we have kept to ourselves. The next section, verses 16-21, displays God’s judgment on the wicked. The psalmist describes the injustices that God sees. Thievery, adultery, deceit, malice, and slander are all listed here. God despises these sins, yet we can see that even his judgment is held back. Verse 21 says, “These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself.” Sometimes our world can view God’s silence and long suffering with the wicked to be a sign of approval. But just as the “iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16) in the time of Abram, God is waiting to punish the wicked in the present time as well. And with the description of His coming with “a devouring fire,” and “a mighty tempest,” He is not one to be trifled with. He will bring justice. So, as you go about your day, afternoon, or night, think of ways that you can bring your thanksgiving to God. This is what God desires of us today. This isn’t to say that he doesn’t desire righteousness and upright living, but that he desires more than just us going through the motions. He desires a relationship and communion with us. He wants your prayers, your energy, and your heart. Thank Him today for the righteous judgment that He will bring, and for the gift of salvation that allows us to come before him with Christ’s righteousness. (David Bacon) ABIDING SING - Psalm 125 [recording] [sheet music] WEDNESDAY-CONTEXTUALIZE | Psalm 125 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 LORD'S 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. Revelation 22:1–3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 5:10–12 [ESV] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. CONFESSION The way that leads to life is narrow and hard, but we love the easy road. We wander from your presence and we seek the crooked paths of the wicked. Turn our eyes to you and to your kingdom; let us see you as our ultimate good and teach us to bear the reproach of others. Plant our feet in your presence, where we will abide forever. Amen. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 54:10 [ESV] For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD Read Psalm 49 2nd Reading: Psalm 48 (Psalm 49:15) “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” Do you ever feel that this life is unfair? Do you see injustices around you? Do you ever wonder if God will punish sinners? This psalm has answers for us and we can see two wonderful Gospel gems at the heart of this psalm. First, this psalm addresses who the audience should be. The writer is very clear that this psalm is for the whole world to listen to. “Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,” (Ps 49:1). The words in this psalm are so important that everyone should heed them. This psalm is for the rich and poor to find wisdom (verses 2-3). In mentioning the rich and poor, the psalm writer also gives a hint as to where they are going next. Why should I fear those who cheat me (verse 5)? This could be interpreted a few ways. It might be referring to those who cheat us out of happiness, or out of safety. Other psalms address these injustices. But this time, the focus is on those who cheat us out of our money. Verse 6 clues us into this; “those who trust in their riches.” Is that a fear that you struggle with? Fearing that the rich will cheat you out of money? It certainly happens frequently in this life. Why then should we not fear the schemes of the rich? Before we continue looking at why we should not fear the rich, we get to the first gospel gem I mentioned earlier. See verses 7-9. “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life.” As Christians one of the fundamental truths we cling to is that no good deed, or riches, or power that any human could ever obtain can save their soul from the judgment to come. The Westminster Confession, Chapter XVI puts it this way, “We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God...” If we cannot save even ourselves with our own abilities, how much less can we save others from their own sin? “For the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice.” (Verse 8). This is why we need a savior. Death is coming for us all, and we are unable to save ourselves or others from it. So, even the rich will die and “leave their wealth to others” (Vs 10). It has been said that death is the great equalizer. This is the fact that the psalmist now fleshes out. All will die. No one can escape death. Vs 14 goes so far as to say that “Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd.” What a striking image, death is personified here as the foolish person’s caretaker! So, if death is coming for us all, why is this a hope for us to cling to? Another gospel gem is found in verse 15. The psalmist doesn’t put stock in how poor they are, or how wise they are to save them from death; it is God alone who saves them. “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” The Old Testament believers knew that they could not save themselves. The sacrifices and prayers that they prayed at the tabernacle were not works that saved them, but pointed them to the ultimate sacrifice that was to come. God himself would come down as a man and save us all from our sins. Throughout the New Testament we can read over and over again that it is not our good works, but our faith in Christ alone that saves us from the power of death. The final verse of this psalm lays the mic-dropping smackdown with this simile, “Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” This was also similarly stated in verse 12. We need to hold fast to the wisdom from above, God’s wisdom, and the salvation that He offers freely. Otherwise our life is as meaningless as an animal that is slain on the side of the road. (David Bacon) ABIDING SING - Psalm 125 [recording] [sheet music] TUESDAY-READ | Psalm 125 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 LORD'S 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. Revelation 22:1–3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. GATHERING
THE CALL | Matthew 5:10–12 [ESV] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. CONFESSION The way that leads to life is narrow and hard, but we love the easy road. We wander from your presence and we seek the crooked paths of the wicked. Turn our eyes to you and to your kingdom; let us see you as our ultimate good and teach us to bear the reproach of others. Plant our feet in your presence, where we will abide forever. Amen. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 54:10 [ESV] For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD Read Psalm 46 2nd Reading: Psalm 47 (Psalm 46:1-2) “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,” Throughout modern science fiction and fantasy, shields and fortresses are often found to protect the characters in the story. Throughout the many Star Trek shows and movies, the phrase “Shields at so and so percent!” are an Ensign’s countdown to almost certain doom. In many fantasy stories, castles or other man made stone structures are used as fortresses. Who could forget the spectacular Battle of Helm’s Deep that takes place in Peter Jackson’s Two Towers movie. But what do these shields and fortresses have in common? They all have weaknesses. Whether it be the electronic shield generator on the planet of Hoth (just sitting there, waiting to be blown up), or the drainage gate at the base of Helm’s Deep’s wall (also just sitting there, waiting to be blown up) these fictitious shields and fortresses have debilitating weaknesses. Here in Psalm 46, we see that God is our refuge and strength. Not just sometimes, but continually. He’s a very present help, or as some translations put it, an “ever-present help.” Unlike the fictitious shields of Star Trek that seem to fail when they are needed most, God’s protection is continual and never fails. To emphasize this point, the authors of this psalm state that they “will not fear though the earth gives way!” What a striking image! And what’s even more amazing is the history behind these authors. Quick history lesson: In Numbers 16 we read of a rebellion against God’s ordained servants, Moses and Aaron. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, ganged up and complained that Moses and Aaron, God’s appointed leaders, should not be leading the people of Israel. After a series of tests and calls to repentance, God ends up destroying these three men by having the earth open up and swallow them alive. At first it seems like this was the end of the line of Korah, but we can read in Numbers 26:11 “But the sons of Korah did not die.” God saved the Sons of Korah despite the rebellious sin that Korah himself committed. The descendents of these sons went on to write this psalm about God’s protection. What more gripping protection can they recall than from their own family history! They were protected by God from the earth giving way. The description of the city of God in verse 4-5 causes this psalm to be referred to as a Zion Psalm. Though Zion is not mentioned by name, this “holy habitation” can certainly be interpreted as Zion, the heavenly city. God has promised in Revelation that he will come to judge the nations and that he will call his own to live in the eternal city where God is the source of light. This is all only possible because of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. He did not perish as a punishment for his own sins, as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram perished. He died for our sins so that we can live with Him. And on that day that he died, “the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (Matt 27:51b). Yet, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (David Bacon) ABIDING SING - Psalm 125 [recording] [sheet music] MONDAY-LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 125 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 LORD'S 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. Revelation 22:1–3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. Several groups and individuals have requested access to the weekly liturgy such that it could be printed and used in various settings. We will post the weekly liturgies (without any daily devotions) on Sundays and they will remain on the blog for reference. [Phote: Psalm 125 | The Dry Bed a Potential Stream - Mitch Collier] GATHERING THE CALL | Matthew 5:10–12 [ESV] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. CONFESSION The way that leads to life is narrow and hard, but we love the easy road. We wander from your presence and we seek the crooked paths of the wicked. Turn our eyes to you and to your kingdom; let us see you as our ultimate good and teach us to bear the reproach of others. Plant our feet in your presence, where we will abide forever. Amen. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 54:10 [ESV] For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD — INSERT DAILY REFLECTION -- ABIDING SING - Psalm 125 [recording] [sheet music] — during each week.... copy and paste the corresponding day in the blog -- MONDAY-LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 125 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 125 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 125 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 125 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 125 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SATURDAY-(see Saturday liturgy) SENDING LORD'S 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. Revelation 22:1–3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. WEEKEND LITURGY Pray for the Persecuted Church Spend some time praying for Christians who live in lands where the "scepter of wickedness" (Psalm 125) rests upon them. There are many nations and lands to pray for, but consider starting by praying for the Chinese Church and sign up to receive prayer prompts from our partner ministry, China Partnership. — INSERT DAILY REFLECTION -- WEEKEND FEAST LITURGY
Write your own psalm: Psalm 124 has a symmetrical outline**: A: Presence of the Lord B: Protection from danger C: Praise to the Lord B': Protection from danger A': Presence of the Lord Spend time writing a short psalm from your own experience that uses the same outline. If you are worshiping with your family, try to reflect on how these experiences have been shared by all. **(Longman and Garland, EBC, Psalms, Psalm 124) WORD Read: Psalm 45 2nd Reading: Heb 1:8-9 (Heb 1:8-9) ”But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.’” In is a natural human impulse to honor our heroes and celebrate their accomplishments. While the Bible acknowledges that there is proper praise and honor for humans, we are always tempted to offer a misplaced level of appreciation to important humans. In short, we are always tempted to treat humans like gods. Recently, I saw an example of this when I was talking to my kids about the Beatles. When the “Fab 4” hit peak fame in their early years “Beatlemania” produced extreme hysteria among the young ladies. Screaming, crying, fainting. (If you Watch this old video, it is remarkable.) As we read Psalm 45, there are parts that can feel a little bit like “hero-worship.”
On one hand, we don’t want to dismiss the fact that there is a proper admiration of humans that do things well. Humans are made in the image of God and capable of extraordinary accomplishments. We recognize that God set up human kingship. And the whole nature of kingship was really set up to put one man on a pedestal above all others. Of course, in the hands of humans this was quickly corrupted. "Hero-worship” became an idolatrous distraction that places impossible pressure on mere humans. But, God had a purpose in kingship - to condition us to receive the one king who as truly worthy. Psalm 45 straddles a line, both appreciating a human king who really leads with honor, but also looking past any mere human king and fixing our attention on the Christ who would fully embody this role. There is no doubt that the ancient Israelites would have sung this psalm in reference to their kings. The kings of Judah were sometimes good. (About 8 of 40 kings of Judah were considered “good.” The other 32, and all of the Kings of the northern kingdom of Israel were NOT good.) When they were faithful as king, it was said, that they resembled the great model-king, David. But even David had his serious flaws and failures. All of the mere humans in the Bible have feet of clay. There are also things in this Psalm that direct our attention beyond any mere human king. We are reminded that the throne is “forever and ever (v.6.)” The psalm ends with a promise that the king’s name will be “remembered in all generations…. All nations will praise you forever and ever.” Some of these words, the author of Hebrews quotes directly in application to Jesus. While humans can sometimes point to the greatness of God, only Jesus can fully stand in the shoes of the ideal king described in Psalm 45. So, let’s consider how we can direct our attention to Jesus. We have no danger of disappointment or idolatry when we fix our impulse for “hero-worship” on the one who really deserves it! (Matt Koerber) WEEKEND LITURGY
Pray for the Persecuted Church Spend some time praying for Christians who live in lands where the "scepter of wickedness" (Psalm 125) rests upon them. There are many nations and lands to pray for, but consider starting by praying for the Chinese Church and sign up to receive prayer prompts from our partner ministry, China Partnership. — INSERT DAILY REFLECTION -- GATHERING
THE CALL | Daniel 3:17b–18 [ESV] "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” CONFESSION Father, we long to have the courage to worship you in the face of danger, neglect, or public shame, but we confess that we often fall short. Our small daily compromises corrode the foundation of our faith and when trials come, we crumble. Teach us to trust you even when we do not face the fire furnace, and in doing so, lead us to greater trust and confidence in you. Teach us to recognize your presence with us in any circumstance. ASSURANCE | Isaiah 41:10 [ESV] fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD Read Psalm 44 2nd Reading 2 Tim 3:10-17 “Our soul is bowed down to the dust… Rise up; come to our help!” (v.22) Sometimes we face opposition for doing the right thing. On other occasions the circumstances can be different. In these occasions, we face difficulties in our life because we have sinned against God or needlessly offended others. But, sometimes we face opposition because we are doing the very thing God wants us to do. In the New Testament, Paul wrote to Timothy that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12.)” So, what do you do when you are suffering this way? Well, Psalm 44 shows us how to cry out to God for deliverance when we suffer for doing the right thing. And the psalmist teaches us to pray in a provocative way. In the Psalm, the Sons of Korah look back on God’s faithfulness to their forefathers (v.1-3), then they proclaim their trust in God (v.4-8), and contrast that with their present situation (v.9-16.) The psalmist makes it clear that they have not committed a national rejection of God (v.17-22.) This contrasts with many other psalms in which the author confesses sin and owns the consequences that come from it. Let’s consider how important it is to have these two different categories. First, it is wise and humble and healthy to acknowledge that we often contribute to our own problems. Looking to always blame negative consequences on others often leads to dishonesty and spiritual immaturity. But, there are occasions when the primary source of our problems comes from someone else who is sinning against us. Consider the case of a child who is being mistreated by their parents. We don’t have to go so far as the say that the child is “sinless”, that is certainly not the case. But it is not their fault. It can be tempting for that child to think, “this must be my fault that they are treating me this way.” Unless we have the category of suffering that the psalmist offers us in Psalm 44, we can end up internalizing things that are not actually our fault. In summary, we are all people who sin, and people who are sinned against. In any given circumstance, it can be one or the other… or both. Furthermore, Psalm 44 teaches us (as many psalms do) how to pray in this situation (v.23-26.) It shows us that it is good and proper for us to cry out to God for justice. We are even taught to cry out to God asking him to “wake up.” It may seem rude to say to God, “Awake!” (v.23), but that is how the prayer goes. God invites us to interact with him in ways that are heartfelt and emotionally engaged. Now, you may be wondering… why would God want us to pray this way? If he wanted to help us, why would he want us to ask. If he never sleeps, why would he teach us to pray for him to wake up? This touches on the central question of prayer. If God is completely in control, then why would we need to ever ask for anything? The short answer is that God wants to have a real relationship with us. He wants us to be engaged with him and engaged with his work in the world. Therefore, he ties his actions to our prayers. In his 16th century classic, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin observed that God does so many good things inside of his people when they pray[1] that he chooses to link his action with our asking. He went on to say, “On account of these things, our most merciful Father, although he never sleeps or idles, still very often gives the impression of one sleeping or idling in order that he may thus train us, otherwise idle and lazy, to seek, ask, and entreat him to our great good.” --- [1] Calvin summarized 6 things that happen in Christians when they pray. Their zeal is increased, their desire is more properly ordered in relation to God, they grow in gratitude, they are prepared to see God’s answers, they grow in their delight of God himself, and his providential activity in the world is increased. One way to summarize this, is that prayer allows us to see otherwise random events as the actions of a loving God. When we pray and get answers, we see that God is working in particular ways. ABIDING SING
Optional Meditation: Psalm 124 | Responsorial Chant [demo recording] [chant setting pdf] If we could tour history and listen to how God's people have sung the Psalms throughout the centuries, it would probably sound like chant to our ears. Common meter and western melodic structures did not exist for most of human history. While our hearts engage more naturally with western sounds, chanting the Psalms can still be an excellent way to let God's Word minister to you. There are many modern forms of chant, but here is an example of Responsorial Chant, where the cantor (chanter) uses a tone to sing through the bulk of the text. The refrain is sung by the congregation as a way of reflecting and responding to the Psalm text. The red dots signify to the cantor where to go to the next tone phrase. There are many chant resources if you want to investigate more, or you can create your own chant tone as well! FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 124 - Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can - SENDING LORD'S 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. Isaiah 40:31 [ESV] but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint |
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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