Category: Psalms

Reading

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SAA Notes

Come and see! Come and listen! Psalm 66 is exuberant in joy at the wonder of God’s grace in salvation. The Psalmist rejoices over God’s way through the Red Sea and the dry Jordan. We rejoice at the way of Christ – crucifixion and resurrection.

SJA Notes

* Dear God Above, we would see Jesus today – His death and resurrection – the sign that Jonah foreshadowed.

“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.”

David knows a deep and important truth about God.

God refines His people, purifies them, as metals through fire.

Peter takes hold of this though in the first chapter of 1 Peter,

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

This is a big sentence. You can see the vision of gold being refined through fire.

God’s word is clear. The world will hate God’s people because it hates God. And so persecution will come.

Here we have the activity of God overlaying hard times – various trials – In His sovereignty, working good out of bad.

God tries us to refine us, to remove the dross! To make us more like Jesus!

So that we are better able to serve Him, better able to show His love to those around us, better able to walk in obedience of the truth for a sincere brotherly love (keep reading 1 Peter).

* God Above,

Thank You that You are a refining fire.

Please help us love from a pure heart today, walking in obedience.

Amen.

Reading

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SAA Notes

Psalm 65:2 expresses David’s great hope – God would provide an atonement for him when his sins overwhelmed him. God’s awesome deed of righteousness was to send Jesus. Jesus said to John the Baptist when John objected to baptising Jesus: (this baptism will) fulfil all righteousness.

SJA Notes

* Blessed God, You tell us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Please mark us as people who bring forth good fruit.

“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.”

David brings his complaint to the Lord.

David is worried about those who work evil against him, those who hate him and who hate the Lord.

Jesus says in Matthew 5, in His great sermon on the mountain,

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

In Matthew 10 Jesus tells us that we will be hated because we are His people.

And Paul says to Timothy (2 Timothy 3),

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

David is facing persecution and he brings this to the Lord.

Do we do the same?

And what is the answer that David find strength in? The same answer we have seen, again and again.

“Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him!”

* Father God,

You protect us – Thank You!

You are mighty and powerful to save – Thank You!

Please teach us today what You want for us to know.

Amen.

Reading

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SAA Notes

Life is often very uncertain. Faith in God is no lucky rabbit’s foot, guaranteeing an untouched, charmed life. Faith leads us to strength for the way, hope for the day and rest for the weary.

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord God, thank You that You build Your kingdom – It is Yours and nobody can take it from You.

“Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.”

David takes another look at where we place our hope, at why it is important to put our hope in the right place.

Humanity, whether rich or poor, whether weak or powerful – We make for terrible heroes, horrible gods.

The balance of humanity itself is lighter than a breath in the face of eternity.

So who do we trust?

“Trust in him at all times, O people;”

We trust in God.

Why?

“God is a refuge for us.”

He is our refuge!

That is why we can trust Him.

That is why we can pour out our hearts before Him.

That is why we can sing for joy in the shadow of His wings.

Let us be encouraged to work on our active hard-won daily trust in our God.

* Holy Father,

You are a refuge for us, our hope is from You and You alone.

You are our rock and our salvation.

You are our fortress, in You we will not be shaken.

Amen.