THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - January 1, 2015 – Day 138 - Psalm 138

New Year’s Day has arrived and with it comes a new slate. What will you change this year? How will you grow? Psalm 138 offers us a few thoughts on what should be at the top of our list of resolutions.

Psalm 138:1
OF DAVID. I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;

David was a man of purpose and first on his mind was to praise God. His reference to the gods here speaks of not being ashamed to praise God in front of anyone including the world’s leaders and the false gods of the pagans. This should be our primary motivation in life; to praise God with our whole hearts.

But maybe 2014 was a difficult year for you. Maybe you lost a dear loved one. Maybe cancer took away your health. Maybe no matter how hard you tried you just kept failing to be the person you wanted to be. Read on.

Psalm 138:2
I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

David understood the truth of who God is. We need to understand the same truths. Going to church is the right thing to do. But God no longer dwells in buildings; He dwells in the hearts and the bodies of His people. We must worship Him everywhere we go in 2015. God’s love is not dependent on our behavior; we must give thanks for His steadfast love and faithfulness. There are two things that God puts above all other things; His name and His Word. In 2015 we must revere His name. We must lift up high the name of Jesus for it is the name above all names. We must honor the Word of God. In 2015 the Word of God must become our truth. It must be put above all things. It must be read, studied, mediated on, and it must be above all of man’s wisdom and psychology. We must open it up and run our churches, our businesses, and our lives by its truth.

Psalm 138:3
When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.

David knew that prayer was vital. In 2015 we must make prayer the very breath we breathe. Call on Him.

Psalm 138:4-5
May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

David knew that the answer to government was to have Godly men in control; men who praised God and who sing of His ways not of their own. In 2015 we must change the way we vote. We must demand Christian leadership be who we elect.

Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

David knew that humility was the path to God. In 2015 humility must become our goal. We must give up pride in self and become like little children, wholly dependent upon Jesus in every aspect of life.

Psalm 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

David understood his safety and his health rested in God’s hands. In 2015 we must trust God to protect us and to heal us of our afflictions.

Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands.

David understood something we so often forget; God has a plan for our lives. God loves us and if He allows us to face adversity in 2015 then we must rest in His love. Maybe 2014 found us stuck in our same sinful places. But 2015 is a new year. God’s mercies are new every morning. God has a plan. In 2015 we must let go of self and the world. We must stop listening to the wisdom of man and the world and turn to Jesus. I leave you today with a scripture reading from the New Testament. Take the Word of God in today and start the year off fresh with complete trust in the truth of who God is.

Ephesians 2:1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Now go forward praising God.

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.