These next few Psalms exalt the Lord’s presence, glory, care, faithfulness and steadfast love. Our response is simply to offer up praise and worship.
Psalms 114: Tremble at the Presence of the Lord
1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.
Psalms 115: To Your Name Give Glory
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
12 The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.
14 May the LORD give you increase, you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
16 The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 116: I Love the LORD
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.
6 The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed, even when I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted";
11 I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."
12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 117: The LORD's Faithfulness Endures Forever
1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 118: His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Things to think about…
1. We know the Lord protects His people. Ps 114 speaks of Israel being led out of Egypt and God’s covenant love and protection being over them. They have had a tough time in history. But we know the end. God’s love and grace is over you today – rejoice! He sets the boundaries of oceans, hills and valleys. He makes the impossible possible. Water from a rock, and the sea and the Jordan turn back, vs 5. Our God is still the God of the miraculous today. You say I don’t see it. The fact that you breath and have acknowledged Jesus as your Saviour is a miracle. A sinner is known and loved by a holy God! Rejoice!
2. Look at the world. Look at what it praises. Ps 115 speaks of the futility of idols. They have eyes, ears, mouths, hands and feet – all of which are useless, vss 4-7. The maker and the worshiper of an idol is like them, he sees, hears, says, feels and does nothing of any eternal value. They are made and then are consumed. But the God of Israel blesses His people. The Lord has blessed you my friend. True prosperity can only be found in knowing and obeying God. This psalm concludes with the fact that those who are dead do not praise Him. Very true. But we are alive in Christ and will praise Him forevermore, Ps 115:18. Hallelujah!
3. We all struggle with unbelievers and their shallowness at times, but have you ever been in danger of your life, either from persecution or even a health scare or physical violence or family strife? The writer of Ps 116 (probably David) says he has been delivered from death. But even so, he says, “precious in the site of the Lord is the death of his saints”, vs 15. Sometimes believers don’t live as long as we think they should. But our resting place is not found in this life. In Christ’s presence is where we belong. Some are just promoted earlier! Rejoice, because you will finally receive your reward. Amen.
4. The shortest Psalm, Ps 117 still has a profound message. All nations should and will praise the Lord. Ps 117 merely shouts out this fact. Regardless of the many ‘faiths’ around the world. The Lord has given life and blessing to all nations. But salvation in Christ is the ultimate gift. As His child, how much more should His praise be on our lips?
5. Deliverance from times of trouble is part of the testimony of the Christian. Ps 118 speaks about God delivering the writer (again, probably David) from all the nations around him and giving him the land. What has the Lord given you my friend? He has given you much in this life because you live in Australia. You are exceedingly and abundantly blessed. But more than that, He has given you eternal life. Praise Him with every fibre of your being.
6. In Psalm 118:6-9 sometimes we need to speak truth to our doubting minds, especially when things seem hopeless on the outside. The psalmist says “The LORD is on my side…it is better to take refuge in the Lord”. Easier said than done at times, but always true. Sometimes we need to be put in a place of testing to find it to be so.
7. How does the Lord’s steadfast endure forever, Ps 118:1-4, 29? Because “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes”, Ps 118:22, 23. Jesus quoted this part of Ps 118 as a reference to Himself and the work He would achieve is the rejected Messiah, Mt 21:42. It is marvellous in the eyes of those who see Him for who He truly is. As such they acknowledge that His steadfast loves endures forever in heaven with Him. This Psalm is what Jesus would have sung just before His betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane. They rejected Him, but He was exalted by the Father, vs 28. The Cornerstone doesn’t move and sets our building in soul and body. Do not reject but embrace this Cornerstone. Everyone at one point or another in life will be confronted by it. Better to be created rather than crushed by it.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “Time to praise the Lord” – Reading Psalm 95.
1. Brings you the greatest moments of joy, exultation – even to the point of highest celebration and praise. Where and how does your praise of the Lord rank with this?
2. The Israelites saw amazing miracles before leaving Egypt, then the Red Sea parted for them. But then they complained about not getting water. Explain the absurdity of this? How can we do the same thing?
3. Continued in the wilderness for 40 years, that’s where they stayed. They didn’t make it into Canaan because of unbelief and the subsequent immoral behaviours. Earth is our wilderness, we are just passing through. Explain how we even as Christians can go in circles without ever moving on.
4. Jesus is our final destination. He is our Shepherd, we are led by Him. Where is He leading you in ministry, areas of service?
Prayer Points
1. Carols service 18th December – Family fun Day afternoon/evening 3pm-7pm.
2. Christmas Day Service 25th Dec – on a Sunday this year – service will start at 9:00am.
3. Pray for the leadership of our country.
4. Pray for the people of Iran and Ukraine.
5. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
6. Health of Ross Goltz
7. More young families and youth into the church.
8. Ministry leaders within the church.
9. Our One for Israel ministry.
10. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
11. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. More visitors on Sunday – pray they remain engaged with the church.
2. Our AGM and discussion moving forward with respect to the Youth and young adults pastor position.
3. The faithful service of Ross Goltz for 9 years as CBC’s treasurer!
4. Worship on Sunday – Paul. Great job on your own. Thanks Melinda on sound. Thankyou, Fiona Maddison and Kayla in café. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
5. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Family fun day/Carols night 3-7pm 18th Dec – Book it in.
2. Christmas Day service – 9am Dec 25th.
3. Remember to check your duty rosters.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
