Category: Psalms

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

We have a real enemy – the Devil. He goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 When the church takes one step forward and things begin to look bright, something terrible can happen, so that we cry out again as in 80:7. The psalms teach us to speak freely with God, and to stand firmly with our brethren shield to shield in these spiritual battles for the life of our church and people.

SJA Notes

* God Almighty, thank You for all Your mercies to us, each day.

“We have become a taunt to our neighbours, mocked and derided by those around us.”

What a familiar sentiment for the people of God throughout all history.

We endure mocking and derision, the taunting of those around us.

Here Asaph speaks of whole nations taunting, “Where is there God?”.

Jesus makes it clear to us that true religion, a heart after God’s own heart, will always come into contention with the world.

In Mark 13 He says,

“And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.”

Deeper, we see Him – The King of Kings, Saviour of the World – laughed at, mocked and spat upon.

In Matthew 27 we read,

“… And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews!'”

Paul exhorts us regarding persecution in 2 Timothy 3,

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

So what is Asaph’s request to the Lord as he works through this?

“Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

In Jesus we see God’s face shining on us. His glory is revealed in a way not seen even by Moses on the mountain with the train of God’s passing.

In Jesus we see God’s glory revealed in full shining truth – This is our King!

* Father God,

Thanks and praise to You – For Jesus, Your glory revealed!

Thank You for saving us, delivering us, restoring us.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Asaph continues with his potent warnings against party spirit and its divisive tactics. The result was unthinkable – God abandoned His Tabernacle! The New Testament teaching is that our sins nailed Christ to His cross – God abandoned His TABERNACLE! Asaph is calling for this result: Repent and do according to His commands!

SJA Notes

* God Above, please mark us as a people who are faithful as You are faithful.

“Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.”

God did not stir up all His wrath.

Certainly a portion of God’s wrath is displayed, look at the plagues sent upon Egypt. Flies. Locusts. Blood. Hail. DEATH.

But God did not stir up ALL His wrath.

So a question comes then – Will there be a time when _all_ of God’s wrath will be stirred up?

Psalm 75 says,

“For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.”

Down to the dregs. That speaks of fullness.

What is this cup?

In Jeremiah 25 we read,

“Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: ‘Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath,'”

This cup, the wine to drink, symbolises God’s wrath.

In Revelation 19 we read,

“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”

God’s wrath will be fully stirred up at the return of our King.

But thanks be to God that we, His people, have a great hope.

On the cross at Golgotha, Jesus drank that cup of the wrath of God. He drank it fully and completely for His people, for us, bearing the punishment for sin. So that we no longer have to face God’s wrath at the return of the conquering King.

What a better story we have!

* Mighty God,

Thank You for saving us from Your wrath, the just punishment for our rejection of You, for our sin.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Asaph recounts the disastrous effects of party spirit within Israel. The Tribe of Ephraim (descendants of Joseph) was jealous of the Tribe of Judah, King David’s tribe. Their jealousy was a continuation of Israel’s rebellion in the desert. The call is to remember His mighty deeds in salvation and follow the Messiah of His appointing. This is a lesson for every generation. (v.1-8)

SJA Notes

* Righteous God, we believe, please help our unbelief!

“… So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;”

Asaph’s cure for disunity is to turn people back to the glorious deeds of the LORD, the good things He has done.

This passage is a re-telling of Israel’s history, of the important events and God’s character that is clear in those events. As well, it shows the heart of God’s people (our heart).

Asaph reminds us of the wisdom in teaching God’s word!

We need to tell God’s word to our children; His deeds, His laws, for the next generation and generations to come.

“… So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;”

This is the crux of the matter, and a big important truth in our lives today as God’s people.

We don’t want our generations alive today (and those to come) to be faithless and rebellious!

Rather, we can be about the work that Asaph shows us here – To teach God’s word to our children, to the next generations.

* God Above,

Please Lord write Your word on our hearts today.

Cause Your word to go out from us and bear much fruit!

We ask that You would please bless our telling of the word to the next generation.

Amen.