Psalms 113 & 114

These two Psalms are typically used before each celebration meal to praise God for who He is and what He has done. The following Psalms 115-118 were sung after the meal to thank God for His blessings. when speaking of what God has done there are references to people at their lowest point in their lives and praise for how God raised them up.

Many times it requires us to be at our lowest times look to God for help, when it really is an issue of willingness to die to self first. Jesus also spoke in Matthew 5 of times when people are at their lowest they will receive blessings. In Luke Jesus instructed us that we need to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily in order to follow Him.

Are you willing to die to self and turn over your spirit to the One who gives us victory?

Psalms 107

The Psalmist opens up with praise for God’s steadfast love that endures forever, mentioning how He has redeemed us. The writer shows different ways where we have gone astray from God’s plan, and even though we have transgressed into sin, God is always there to call us back in love.

Once we have realized our sinful ways we cry out to God, and He is there to bring us back to the right path. We need to recognize the work God is doing and his love for us that will always be there.

Psalms 103

David begins with blessing God for all the wonderful gifts He has provided. David’s blessing shows his respect and honor for God. David goes on to recognize the character of God and how He cares for us. David is clear on his role in the relationship with God by mentioning that these blessings from God are for those who fear Him.

This fear is not for us to be afraid of what God might do to us. It is the fear that shows honor and respect to one who is superior to us. It is knowing our place in creation, under the One who created us and everything around us.

NOTE: There was a technical issue capturing the video from this week. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Psalms 96

This Psalm declares God’s glory and wonder, instructing us to proclaim His name to all people. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul instructs us to be ambassadors for Christ, to represent Jesus to others as we spread the gospel message.

An ambassador is one who is sent by an authority to represent the sender to others. They are not sent to be a warrior or instigator, but sent to instruct and spread the culture and character of the sender. As ambassadors for Christ, we are to spread the Gospel to others in love and truth, building bridges not walls. So we can draw others near to Him.

Psalms 89

The Psalmist begins by praising God for His wonder and power. However, when we understand when this was written, the kingdom of Judah was being exiled to Babylon, a very tough time for the Israelites. How can we praise God when we feel He has left us and do not feel like praise.

God is mentioned several times in this passage using different names of God. Only once is the name YHWH used. This name for God was considered most Holy, and was held with high esteem. We have tried to understand this name and how it is supposed to be pronounced by adding letters or sometimes renaming it altogether.

If you look closely and listen, this name is used by everyone every day. God has put this name in our breath as part of our lives, whether you follow Him or not. God breathed life into Adam and Eve and Man has been expressing His name ever since. Through this, He has instilled in us the reminder that we are never alone and can trust in Him.

Galatians 6:1-5

Paul writes to the Galatian church instructing them that when one of the believers is caught in a transgression, they should be restored with gentleness. The keys here are he is talking about restoration of believers who have strayed, and using gentleness, not harsh words, to bring them back.

It is easy for us to point out the sins of others, especially those outside our own circle. Christ provided the example in His teaching by instructing us to come alongside in a loving manner to restore relationships with Christ. The gentle approach demonstrates the loving care as brothers and sisters, and strengthens the disciple in their walk as they are guided back to fully following God.

Psalms 71

The Psalmist here has had some tough experiences in life and appears to be at the end of their rope in dispair. We do not know source of the trouble, whether it is being afflicted upon them by an enemy or an internal struggle. After many years of struggle, the author is tired and ready to give up. However, he shows his hope and trust in God to bring him through.

The author provides advice for us when we feel our strength is spent due to troubles. We need to hope continually, praise God, tell others about God’s righteous acts, proclaim God’s might, praise God with our activity and shout for joy. Even as we get older and more experienced, we can proclaim what God has done for us to show His glory.

Psalms 66

the Psalmist opens here with praised to God, recognizing who He is and what He has done. He then realizes that God puts trials in our lives so He can refine us as silver is refined in the fire. This allows God to purify our hearts and transform us into His likeness. The psalm closes with statements of how God changed the eternal soul of the writer, providing a new life.

Many times we are drawn through the fire of life as we are being molded by God. We need to trust that He is always watching us until that moment arrives hen we have attained the pure heart and mind for God.

Psalms 63

During King David’s reign his son Absalom attempted to take over power by coaxing the people to follow him instead of his father. In 2 Samuel 15 the story of the takeover has David fleeing Jerusalem for the wilderness of Judah. It is in this setting, probably one of the lowest moments of David’s life, when he writes Psalm 63.

This psalm shows David’s heart as he praises God for all He has done for him, and surrenders his outcome with trust for God’s justice. We have all had those times when we felt there was nothing else to cling on to. Who do we focus on in those times of trouble, ourselves or God? What do we need to do to lose ourselves to God and trust Him?

Psalms 51

We are aware of David’s sin with Bathsheba and how he tried to cover it up with murdering Uriah. This Psalm shows David’s heart when he was confronted with the reality of what he had done, and how it impacted his relationship with God.

David took ownership of his sin and asked God to restore him with those around him and restore his relationship by providing a new heart that focused on God. This Psalm proves a recipe for us all to follow when we have sinned. The process of recognizing our responsibility, repenting, renewing and restoring helps keep us aligned with God’s will for our lives.

Due to a technical issue, there was no video recording this week. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please refer to the audio recording above.