THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 31, 2014 – Day 137 - Psalm 137

On the eve of the coming new year we look back at the previous year and we look forward to the coming one. As is the custom many people make New Year’s resolutions. For most of us it is a time to make the same old promises to ourselves. I know as I reflect back, though I could say I made some progress, for the most part I fell right back into my old patterns. As Christians it is our goal to move forward in the battle against the old sin nature. I know in my own life I do not feel as if I made much progress. I am afraid I am still captive to the same old sins that haunt me. Psalm 137 is a song of lament. In its historical context it speaks of the Jewish captivity in Babylon which was a result of their sin. Notice that there are two key words of this psalm; remember and forget. Keep that in mind as we look at this psalm.

Psalm 137:1
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.

Like the Jews looked back in memory of what they had in Zion, we Christians need to remember what we can have in Christ. It is good sometimes to just sit down at the waters of your own Babylon and weep over our sin. This is part of the act of repentance and is where we must begin.

Psalm 137:2-3
On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

While the Jews were held captive by the Babylonians, we are often held captive by our sins. We have an enemy who wants us to be held captive because he knows there is freedom in Christ and that is the last thing Satan wants us to have. I read this post on Facebook today: “The Devil doesn't care if u look at porn all day, or if u look at Facebook all day, as long as u don't look at Christ all day.” This is right on. Satan will use any means he can to draw you away from Christ. In reality Satan has no power over a Christian so what he does is use deception and subtle methods to be sure you occupy your mind with anything but Jesus.

Psalm 137:4
How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?

But we Christians must ask ourselves that question; How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land? We must get ourselves back on the path Christ has laid out for us otherwise our witness is lost and our growth stunted.

Psalm 137:5-6
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!

Are you looking for a New Year’s resolution that matters? Then choose to make it your life’s passion to put Jesus first in your life in every aspect. Find your joy in Him. Though Christians are free from the law this is not license to find joy in anything but Him. If your joy is in a bottle or a drug then Jesus is not your first love. If your joy is in sex or pornography then your joy is not in Him. If you seek anything but Christ to be your highest joy then you must ask the Holy Spirit to awaken you as the psalmist has done above.

Before we finish the final three verses of this psalm there is a very important concept we must grasp. I want to share a quote from Jon Courson in his application commentary on this psalm as it pertains to verses 7-9 which are what we call an imprecatory prayer. First read the scriptures.

Psalm 137:7-9
Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, "Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!" O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!

Listen to Courson’s explanation:       

“Here, the psalmist asks for revenge upon the Babylonians—even to the point of dashing their children upon the rocks. Again, remember that the Old Testament deals with material and physical issues that picture spiritual New Testament principles. If you don't understand this, the entire Old Testament will be confusing and troubling to you. But if you do understand this, the Old Testament will be wonderfully relevant to you.”

Brothers and sisters as Christians we are involved in a great war but it is a spiritual one. Ephesians chapter 6 is clear; we are not fighting a physical enemy but a spiritual one. Our prayers should not be directed at people even if Satan is using them to hurt us. Jesus said we pray for our enemies. Hear again the words of Jon Courson on this topic:

“Like the Babylonians, there are those who would seek to make us captives and destroy the city of our soul. They are demonic entities and spirits who seek to keep us in bondage and to turn our singing into sighing (Ephesians 6:12). Once you understand this, like the psalmist, you'll develop a hatred for demonic spirits and the enemy that seeks to destroy people, relationships, health, and every area of life. And, like the psalmist, you'll wage war in prayer against these demons.”

The war has been won by Jesus at Calvary but we still have mop-up battles to fight. As we usher in the New Year why not commit yourself to engaging the enemy through intensive prayer. Pray for yourself, your children, your friends, and your pastor. Put on the armor of God. Maybe tonight is the night you skip the party and just sit down at the river and weep over your sin. Then confess it to Christ and let it go. Remember then forget. God’s mercies are new every day. Why not start anew this very night? Why not start the year with Jesus? May God bless each of you in the coming year.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 30, 2014 – Day 136 - Psalm 136

The love of God is steadfast and it endures forever. To be steadfast means that something is fixed and resolute, it does not change. God’s love does not depend upon us or our actions and behavior. God’s love is simply His choice. Psalm 136 reminds us to be thankful for God’s love.

Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136 goes on to offer some things about God that proves His love is steadfast.

Psalm 136:2-22
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

God is the only true god and Jesus is the only true Lord. It was God who created this world and all that is in it. He set the stars in place and it is by His power and His law that the sun and the moon stay perfectly in their places. Look back at the history of Israel and you will see it was God’s love that brought them through even when they were disobedient. It was even God’s love that gave Pharaoh ample opportunities to repent before bringing judgment down upon him. God’s love is steadfast and it endures forever.

Psalm 136:23-25
It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

It was God’s love that led Him to send His one and only Son, Jesus, to come save us in the midst of our sinful being. It is God’s love that His patience is so vast that he has held back judgment for He desires all come to repentance. Even the animals are blessed by God in the giving of food because God’s love is steadfast and it endures forever.

Psalm 136:26
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

As we prepare to begin a new year let our hearts be filled with thanksgiving every day, for God’s love is steadfast and it endures forever.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 29, 2014 - Day 135 - Psalm 135

Praising God is an oft repeated theme of the psalms and Psalm 135 is about just that. If you have not yet this morning taken some time with God in praise do so now.

Psalm 135:1
Praise the LORD!Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD,

Who should praise God?

Psalm 135:1-2
Praise the LORD!Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God!

We see there are two types of people who are to praise God; those who serve Him in ministry and stand in His house and those who are in the courts of His house. In OT terms this speaks of the priests and then of the people, but in NT terms this speaks to all of us who call Jesus Lord. Peter explained this to all of us in 1 Peter 2:4-5 saying, “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Why should we praise God?

Psalm 135:3
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

We praise Him for He is good.

Psalm 135:5
For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

We praise Him for who He is.

Psalm 135:6-12
Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.

Many Christians look at the OT stories and when asked questions such as “Why would a loving God do this or allow that to happen”, they make excuses for Him. This is wrong and it dishonors God. This comes from a misunderstanding of who God is. Though we live in the age of grace this does not change who God is. God is immutable. He does not change. He is a holy God and to those who reject Him and to those who seek to harm His people can and will come judgment. Even in this age of grace God uses things such as storms and tragedy to accomplish His purposes. We must cease this making of excuses for God. Instead we must preach faith and trust in Him for He is good. Whatever happens in this life, though we may not understand it now, we must believe He is doing good things through it. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Do you believe this? If you do then you can praise God no matter what happens.

Psalm 135:13-14
Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.

We must revere the name of God. We must lift up the name Jesus for through Him we are saved and receive God’s compassion.

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them!

The world chooses to worship dead things that have no life. To those who put faith in the dead idols of the world will come death. They will become like their idols.

Psalm 135:19-21
O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD! O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!

But to those who put their trust in Christ will come life. This is why we praise God. This is why we can fear God and praise God at the same time. Praise Him now. Praise Him all day. Praise Him when you rise in the morning and praise Him when you go to sleep at night. Praise Him for he is good.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 28, 2014 - Day 134 - Psalm 134

When does worship end? In heaven it will never cease for we will see God for everything He is. But even on earth worship for God never stops for someone, somewhere across this world is praising God. Somewhere a man is in a church with his hands raised in praise. There are those committed to prayer and praise somewhere every minute of the day and night worshipping God. Somewhere a parent is praying for their children and praising God that He kept them safe. All prayer should begin with praise.

Psalm 134:1
A SONG OF ASCENTS. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD!

We bless the Lord by our praise.

Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!

When we lift our hands to Him we show God our hands are clean, cleansed by the blood of Christ and we show God our hands are His to use as He sees fit.

Psalm 134:3
May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!

When we praise God He blesses us. Maybe today you are struggling with something. Maybe your pain seems too much or your sorrows too great. Lift your hands to Him in worship and praise. He who made heaven and earth will bring peace to your heart.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 27, 2014 - Day 133 - Psalm 133

Jesus says this in Mark 3:25, “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Abraham Lincoln quoted it in a speech after he accepted nomination for president as he saw the potential hazards of our nation about to be torn apart by its differences. Disunity began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be duped by Satan in the very first act of rebellion which would separate us from God and create the beginning of all man’s problems. Psalm 133 is about unity.

Psalm 133:1
A SONG OF ASCENTS. OF DAVID. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Unity under God is a beautiful thing.

Psalm 133:2
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

Oil represents the Holy Spirit in scripture. If there is one thing that all Christians share it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 is clear on this saying “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

Psalm 133:3
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Unity is what we need. It is what the church needs. Like the dew which cleanses the morning unity in the power of the Holy Spirit will cleanse us from the stain of our flesh and our pride.

Disunity has weakened the church and it hurts the cause of evangelism by quenching the power of God’s Spirit in our lives. The world watches us. Hear the Word of Jesus from John 17:21
“…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

The world watches us fight and bicker. It sees a whole bunch of church buildings, often right in a row. Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and on and on. It sees the word “non-denominational” on our buildings and websites. It wonders why God’s people are unable to dwell together in the same house.

We are not supposed to be battling each other for people to fill our buildings. We are supposed to be spreading the Gospel together. So where do we start?

We start with love. Christians must do three things: Love God, love each other, and love the lost. If we truly do that with pure hearts then we will find God’s blessings. We must do those three things in the Power of the unity of God’s Spirit. Then we will behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 26, 2014 - Day 132 - Psalm 132

In Psalm 132 we read of David’s commitment to get the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and to build a temple where God would reside. As Christians we have declared a similar commitment to God as well.

Psalm 132:1-2
O LORD, remember David and all the hardships he endured. He swore an oath to the LORD and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

It is vital that we keep our vows to God. But so often in our need or our pain we promise things to God but then after He keeps His promise we fall away in our promises. We should become like David.

Psalm 132:3-5
"I will not enter my house or go to my bed-- I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."

As Christians we are the dwelling place of God. Our bodies are His temple.

Psalm 132:7-8
"Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool-- arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

The New Testament declares us to be priests.

Psalm 132:9
May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy."

Let us put on the righteousness of Christ. I fail daily to honor God’s decision to choose me. We need to pray for Him to fill us each day with His Spirit and to empower us to be obedient.

Psalm 132:10-12
For the sake of David your servant, do not reject your anointed one. The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne-- if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever."

God chose us, we did not choose Him. David knew that God chose Zion, so he committed his life to building that temple. In return God responded with the blessings needed to fulfill David’s work.

Psalm 132:13-18
For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-- I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy. "Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent."

Psalm 132 has a three-fold view. Obviously in its historical context it speaks of David and the Temple. It also speaks to our hearts and of God’s promises to provide for those whom He has called to be His disciples. It also speaks of the future when Christ returns for in those days all those who persecuted and fought against the work of the Church will be judged and clothed with shame. Jesus will finally be the King of not only heaven but also of the earth. This is our great hope and it is sure.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 25, 2014 - Day 131 - Psalm 131

If there is one trait of Jesus that is most to be admired it is His amazing humility. His whole entire life on this earth was walked out in humility. It started on Christmas day when in the greatest act of humility He left the fellowship of the Father to be born as a baby in a manger. Psalm 131 is a lesson in humility for us.

Psalm 131:1
My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

As men of this world humility is the antithesis of what we are taught. It is a competitive world we live in and we are being led down a prideful path early on. Sports, school, and then later work are all places that being first and being best is valued. But for the one who chooses to be a disciple of Christ pride is the enemy. In truth it is the root of all sin. To be Born Again is to humble yourself and to become a baby again no matter how old you are. It is to stop being concerned with things too great and too wonderful to grasp with the human mind. To have great faith one must let go of his own concept of self and of self sufficiency. We must get quiet before God and let Him have the reins of our lives.

Psalm 131:2
But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Today is Christmas. Hear the Word of God this morning.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Let Jesus be your King from this moment on.

Psalm 131:3
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

Like the command to Israel the psalmist has put forth, so must we humble ourselves today and let go. Put your hope in the Lord; both now and forevermore.

Merry Christmas.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 23, 2014 - Day 130 - Psalm 130

As a person who suffers from depression I have come to embrace the dark days. Having tried the world’s psychology and the world’s psychiatry I found no hope in man’s feeble attempt to fix me. At my darkest point I finally heard the voice of God through the calling of the Holy Spirit to just trust in Him. So now when depression hits me I pray. The psalmist here in Psalm 130 is in the same place.

Psalm 130:1-2
A SONG OF ASCENTS. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

Out of my depths I cry out to God. What I need is mercy. I am a sinner.

Psalm 130:3
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

I cannot hide from God. He knows my sins. How can I stand before Him? How can I even pray?

Psalm 130:4
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

God loved us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, part of the Holy Trinity of the Godhead, to die for me. But to say I believe on His name and to think I am saved from my sin yet not to fear Him is the greatest affront to our Holy God there is. We must understand the holy nature of God. Our sin should scare us to death. And the death it should scare us to is death of the hope that we can do anything to save ourselves. Our only hope is in Christ.

Psalm 130:5-6
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

I call Jesus Lord yet I fail daily to follow His commandments. I keep sinning over and over and failing my Lord. But I must step back and read His Word. He will finish the work He has started. I must do as Jesus said to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Psalm 130:7-8
O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Just as Israel must put its hope in Jesus so must I. When the dark days come and the storms roll in we can trust in Him. This is a sure hope. Until Jesus returns we must be watching and praying. My depression keeps me there, it ensures that I keep praying and watching for Jesus to come. Not that I don’t have joy; I do. But until the day Jesus takes me home through death to this life or He simply returns in His second coming, I will echo the cry of the psalmist.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 22, 2014 - Day 129 - Psalm 129

Psalm 129 is the story of Israel and its persecution. For all of history Satan has wanted to destroy the Jews. Why? Simply because it is the one nation Satan does not have control of. The Jewish people are still God’s chosen nation. History is replete with the story of Israel and its enemies. Even to this day the Jewish people are at threat of their enemies. Yet God always sees to it no matter how many Jews are killed the nation survives.

Psalm 129:1-8
From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me. Let all Israel repeat this: From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me. My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows. But the LORD is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly. May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat. May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop, turning yellow when only half grown, ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder. And may those who pass by refuse to give them this blessing: “The LORD bless you; we bless you in the LORD’s name.”

But Jesus has a second love and that love is for His bride, the church. The church, like Israel, is always under attack. Persecution is a promise from scripture.

2 Timothy 3:12-13
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Things may look bleak for the church in this age as even America has begun to turn away from God. But take hope. Look back at the promises God made to Israel. Has He not kept them? If fear of the future concerns you in this day of attacks on Christians then look into your Bibles and see the promises made to the church as well. They will be kept.

Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The answer to persecution is faith. Stand firm as a Christian but do not let Satan trick you into being filled with anger, hatred, and a desire to be violent against the enemies of God. Jesus was clear on how to handle persecution. I leave you with His words. Ask Him to give you the courage to live as He did.

Matthew 5:10-12
"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.

Matthew 5:44-45
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 20, 2014 - Day 20 - Psalm 20

The answer to what ails our society is provided by the Holy Spirit right here in today’s psalm. It is the answer to Ferguson and its people. It is the answer for white people, black people, Bosnian people and everyone else. It is the answer to our government’s problems and to our nation’s defense. It is the answer to the problems of the family. It is the answer to how to be happy. Take notice of the two things we need in our lives. We need a proper center and a proper circumference.

Psalm 128:1
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!

To be blessed is to be happy but to be happy we must have a proper center. That center must be God. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord. Just look at the natural world. The universe has order and it has a center. Our solar system has a sun and the planets revolve around that sun. They do so by staying in their proper order. Without that there could not be life on earth. Take it down to the smallest of levels now. If we study the atom we find it is a mini-solar system with the protons and neutrons orbiting around the nucleus. They do this all at amazing speed yet there is order. They stay centered on that nucleus. This is what holds all of life together. God must be the center of our lives. Everything and I mean everything we do must be centered on God if we want to find order and happiness.

But read on my friend.

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!

We must walk in His ways. In the interest of preaching grace, and I totally agree we must preach grace, we have neglected the preaching of God’s law. This is not the strict specific rules of the Mosaic Law, but the moral code God has set down. Jesus did not abolish that. We are free in Christ but not free to break God’s moral law. If we set our hearts on God and make Him the center of lives we will fear Him through reverence and respect. Then we will use our freedom in Christ to live the way God intends us to.

Next we see what the results of making God center of our lives will be.

Psalm 128:2
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Notice something here. You shall eat of the “labor” of your hands. We need to work. I am tired of the excuse “I cannot find a job.” Sometimes we have to take the lowest paying and the least prestigious job there is. God will bless that. I started out as a clerk at Southwestern Bell 37 years ago and made little money. I hated the job and wanted to quit. But instead I worked hard and was rewarded for my efforts. Even if no one will hire you then go volunteer your time. God will reward that. Too many people are sitting around with nothing to do and this creates trouble. Do something with your hands even if it does not pay. God will reward you.

Psalm 128:3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

The family life needs to centered on God. We must honor God’s law for marriage and raise our children the same way. Men be fathers. Be Godly ones and things will change.

Psalm 128:4
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

The same concept goes for our cities and our countries.

Psalm 128:5
The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

Zion represents the nations and Jerusalem represents the cities. If we started in the family putting God at our center then we would raise up a generation of Godly people who could take this into the local government. Then those local leaders could grow into national leaders and thus the revival has spread. This was how America was supposed to be.

The answer is really not that hard. Make God your center. Let revival start in your heart and then watch it grow as God blesses you.

Psalm 128:6
May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!

The only way to peace is through Jesus. He said this in John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.”

Put Him first. Even if it never spreads and the world remains messed up until Christ returns God will bless you for it. Your home will have joy and your children will be safe. You may never be rich by the world’s standards but your wealth will not be affected by the whirlwinds of the market.

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. What more could you want?

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 19, 2014 - Day 127 - Psalm 127

One reason Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year is because for most of us it is a time that our families will gather around each other. For me it is one of those rare days when my house will again have all of my grown children together for a time. They will bring their children and we will all be together. This is God’s plan. But Christmas has a greater purpose. It is the time we remember that God has built a house and in it resides a family. God’s house and God’s family is the church. Without the birth of the Christ-child we could not be reunited with our Father in heaven. Psalm 127 reminds of how to build a home and what to fill it with.

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Notice there are three things listed that are vanity in the first two verses.

 
First of all it says “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” There is not one single thing you do in this life that will matter one bit unless you have done it by God’s power and in His will. Man has built many great buildings but one day they will fall. Man has invented many wonderful things but they all break, they all fall apart, and they all eventually rust or rot away. But the work of God is eternal.

Secondly, we read that “Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” America boasts of the greatest army in the world. We have the most weapons with the most destructive power that watches over our nation. We have thousands of police officers patrolling our cities. Yet we do not have peace in the world. We have not stopped crime. Our children are abducted and killed. Illegal drugs continue to be sold. Even our computers are not safe. The only reason and I repeat, the only reason America still exists is because God has willed it thus far.

 
Thirdly it says “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil…” We worry about everything. Christians seems just as anxious as the unsaved. This is killing us. We should worry more about our worrying. Anxiety will wear you out and break you down. We rush everywhere to get nowhere. We get up early and we stay up late but we never seem to have enough time. So we drink energy drinks to fire us up during the day and then drink alcohol or take sleeping pills in the hopes we might sleep. This is vanity.

But the psalmist tells us the answer in the end of verse two. Why is this vanity? For he gives to his beloved sleep. If we will let God have all our worries and just trust in Him then we can rest and we can sleep. Do not go to bed anxious. Go to bed praying. Give your troubles to Jesus.

 Next the psalmist speaks about how to build your house correctly. Fill it with children and raise them up in His ways.

 
Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

The destruction of the family is the root of all our troubles here in America. Christians divorce at the same rate as non-Christians. This should not be. I have never been one to trust others. But I believe if there is anyone you should be able to trust it should be your family.

 As we age we will find it harder to take care of ourselves. I remember how I had to help my dad in his final years as old age and sickness had weakened him. I would fight any enemy no matter how strong for my family. I depend on them when I need help.

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. I did not do a very good job of building my “house”. I tried to do it my way. Now I look back and see that God had a better set of blueprints but I was too busy doing my own thing then. But now God and I are doing a rehab job on my “house.” Its hard work but it’s worth it. It’s not too late to get our houses up to code. Just open His Word and get on your knees and ask God to build your house. It is no coincidence that Jesus came as a carpenter. Call on Him today; He would love to do it.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 18, 2014 - Day 126 - Psalm 126

Sometimes it is tears and sometimes it is laughter. Most of us will go through life experiencing both. The question we must ask ourselves as Christians is this, “What is it that brings us to cry and what is it that brings us to laugh?” Psalm 126 is a glimpse at both.

Psalm 126:1-4
A SONG OF ASCENTS. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

There are many things in life that can hold us captive. Alcohol, drugs, sex and pornography, gambling, and even depression are just a few of the things that many of us have struggled with. When Jesus comes into our lives and sets us free from our chains to sin then our lives can finally taste the wonder of what true joy is. The world needs to see us rejoicing. The world needs to see us singing and laughing out of pure joy for the great things God has done for us.

But nothing comes in this world without a price.

Psalm 126:5
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

When is the last time you wept? Do you weep as you pray for your lost children and family members? Does the brokenness of the world bring tears as you cry out in prayer for the unsaved of the world? Do you ever just fall down on your knees and wail out in tearful sobbing over your own sin and wonder how it grieves our heavenly Father when we fall back into old sinful ways?

Sin should break our hearts. But watch what the fruit of sowing in tears will be.

Psalm 126:6
He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

The tears we shed today are not going unnoticed by God.

Psalm 56:8
You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

God has our tears in a bottle. There will be a harvest my friends and though it may not be something you can see today, it is coming. When the final harvest comes in we shall sit at a great banquet and there will be laughter and joy. Until that day we must go out spreading the seed of Christ and at times we must weep as we do so. But we must also sing and laugh and let the world know the great things God has done for us. Christmas is one week away. What a great time to share the good news of the coming Messiah. So cry out to God in your times of prayer. Then go forth in laughter and joy singing merrily of the good news of Jesus for there is a great day of harvest coming. Read those last two verses again and believe them.

Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 17, 2014 - Day 125 - Psalm125

I believe one of the reasons so many Christians struggle is because they do not understand the doctrine of eternal security. Many churches do not teach this doctrine thus many people do not understand the nature of their own salvation. The Bible repeatedly declares that salvation is not of ourselves it is of God. We cannot attain salvation by anything we do.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

If we cannot earn salvation then why do people insist we can lose salvation? If we say we trust Christ to be our shepherd then why don’t we trust Him to be able to keep His own flock? Psalm 125 is an OT reference to the eternal salvation of the believer.

Psalm 125:1-2
A SONG OF ASCENTS. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.

There is always a tendency to think the wicked are getting away with their sin. There is this idea that doing the right thing doesn’t always seem to be the best choice. But that is because we are impatient and are not waiting on God.

Psalm 125:3-5
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!

Notice the last statement. To the psalmist came comfort in knowing God’s people of the OT could trust in God and thus have peace. To the Christian is the same promise.

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christians you can rest assured Jesus will not leave you nor forsake you. If you are His then you are His. Take comfort in Him. He is our rock and He is unmovable.

Amen

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 16, 2014 - Day 124 - Psalm 124

Depression is one of those things unless you suffer from it you will never truly understand it. I am not talking about feeling sad after the death of a loved one or struggling through a season of despair after losing your job. Everyone experiences that type of depression. It is normal and it will pass. I am talking about a wave of despair that comes upon you suddenly and for no good reason. Those of us who suffer the true illness of depression know what it’s like to be having the best day of your life when suddenly out of the blue all you want to do is die. All you want to do is cry and hide in a closet. The last thing you want is for someone to tell you to cheer up. Psalm 124 reminds me of my personal battle with depression and with how that battle is won. Whatever your battle is in life and we all have them; who do you turn to when the storm overtakes you? Look back now on your life and consider who it was that carried you through.

Psalm 124:1-5
A SONG OF ASCENTS. OF DAVID. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters.

If it were not for Jesus I would not be here today. I remember a day when my depression hit its peak and I heard a voice, I believe the voice of Satan or one of his demons, telling me to kill myself. I went into therapy and I was diagnosed as a bi-polar manic depressant with anti-social disorder. I went to a real shrink who put me on meds. I spent a year talking with some well-meaning young man who did nothing but tell me it was my mom’s fault I was like I was. The only hope I was given came in a bottle of pills. One day I stopped listening to people and began to hear God. From that day forward I have chosen to put my faith in the resurrection power of Christ and His Holy Spirit.

Psalm 124:6-7
Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!

I wish I could say I was healed of my depression. I was not. Instead I am on a journey to live as the Apostle Paul speaks about in Philippians 4:12-13 saying, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

I have hope now and that hope is Jesus Christ. I also have an enemy who as the psalmist says at times rises up against me and like a flood of water threatens to drown me. But those are the days I am closest to Jesus. Those are the days I pray the most and I know they are the days my faith grows. Those are the days I remember where my help has always come from and they are the days I remember the future I have in Christ. Those are the days I agree with the psalmist.

Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.