Praise the Lord for His love, blessing and provision. Enjoy His presence today as you worship Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Be blessed in Christ!
Psalms 67: Make Your Face Shine upon Us To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Psalms 68: God Shall Scatter His Enemies To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 "The kings of the armies---they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide the spoil---
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds--- the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe."
24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary---
25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 "Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel---he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Psalms 69: Save Me, O God To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David.
1 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.
6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonour through me, O God of Israel.
7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonour has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons.
9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17 Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!
19 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonour; my foes are all known to you.
20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
22 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.
24 Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
29 But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!
30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.
Things to think about…
Psalm 67 is short and sweet. But it has a weighty message. God showers His blessings upon us, we should bless others with the truth about God. It is not a prosperity gospel, but a gospel of providence. May He bless you today in Jesus’ name!
People have asked what “Selah” means when we see it in the Psalms. Some have said it is a musical term with respect to the song style. The other interpretation which I prefer is that it is designed to be there as a ‘pause’ in the song to consider and reflect upon the words just sung.
Did I say no prosperity? I was wrong. Look at verse 6 of Psalm 68. Our Lord does prosper us. This psalm speaks of His deliverance and blessing. Though Mt Zion is small compared to other mountains, it is the place where God chose to rest. We are unworthy and yet He chose us – rejoice! When was the last time you praised Him for your salvation. Why not do it now! This whole Psalm speaks of the entirety of the land of Israel from the mountains of Bashan, to Sinai and where God dwells – in the temple and Mt Zion. Bashan and Mt Hermon were big mountains with snowy peaks. But my Zion was smaller and rounded. But the place where the Lord dwells is always exalted.
Psalm 68: 17 says “chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands.” David then goes on to refer to captives being brought back from Bashan. This likely refers to the time when Elisha showed the servant the angels that protected them from the Syrians, 2 Kings 6:14-20. Elisha led Syrian captives back to Bashan (Samaria) as well, because they were blind, Sinai (the Bashan mountains) is also in the sanctuary, vss 17, 18. Vs 18 also refers to our Lord being taken up and giving gifts via the Holy Spirit to the church.
Psalm 68:29-32 will ultimately be fulfilled in the Millennial kingdom. Gifts and honour shall be brought to God at this time, Psalm 68:29-32. Pray for the peace of Israel and of Jerusalem. It is interesting that this Psalm was written by David and speaks of the temple at Jerusalem. Yet that was not completed in David’s time but in Solomon’s reign, David’s son. David speaks by faith of this reality that the temple will be built. A bit like we long for the new Jerusalem to descend on the new earth where we will dwell with him for eternity.
Psalm 69 is a Messianic psalm. Vss 8, 9 refer to the Lord’s brothers who did not accept who he was in His earthly ministry. Verse 9 refers to when Jesus cleans out the temple. Beginning at Ps 69:21 we see very clear descriptions of Jesus and the events that happened to Jesus when He was offered sour wine. The Psalmist speaks of the coming judgement on those who carry out these acts. Vs 21 is more fulfillment of our Lord’s experience on the cross, “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” Ps 69:24-28 was clearly fulfilled upon the Jewish people at the time and we know God’s judgement came upon His people in AD70.
But Judah and Jerusalem will be restored, Ps 69:35, 36. While this has been happening since the end of the second world war, ultimately it will be fulfilled when Christ returns and rules and reigns from Jerusalem for 1000 years.
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.
The reading this week was from James 5:7-20
James the brother of Jesus is writing to Jews about patience and endurance through suffering. James certainly knew what he was talking about as he remained in Jerusalem after the stoning of Stephen and the persecution that followed for the Christians who remained. James would himself be stoned to death in AD63 for under the charge of “not following the law of Moses”.
1. Would you consider yourself to be a patient person? It of course depends on what you are called to be patient in. What are you least patient in?
2. James, like Jesus urges people to be true to their word in James 5:12. Let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “no”, “no”. It seems Australians struggle with keeping their word. This is often the case within Christianity as well. Do you agree? Can you give some examples. What can be done to not allow Satan a foothold here.
3. James speaks about the imminent return of Christ. For him it was not long after writing this letter in AD63. It was also true of those living in Jerusalem a few years later in AD70. Do you spend much time thinking about the Lord’s return, especially when you will meet Him. This is not so far away for any of us in reality. Discuss your thoughts on this.
4. James’ last words recorded on this earth were “whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins”, James 5:20. Have you led anyone to Christ? If so, when? If not, do you speak to others about what your salvation/faith means to you?
Prayer Points
1. Covid stats in Sydney are frightful, 141 people are currently in hospital. Of those, 60 are under the age of 55 and 28 under the age of 35. 43 are in intensive care, 1 is in their teens, 7 in their 20’s, 3 in their 30’s, 14 in their 50’s, 12 in their 60’s and 6 in their 70’s. One 30yo woman has died who had no prior conditions. This virus is no joke. Please keep praying and be wise about your response to it.
2. Pray for the turmoil presently going on in South Africa. Pray for peace, calm and order to be restored. On top of this Covid has been at 40, 000 cases per day. Pray for healing and wisdom w.r.t this disease.
3. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
4. Pray for ministries as they start up this week – especially Sunday School, PlayPatch and Recharge. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they lead these ministries.
5. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points.
1. New folks on Sunday.
2. John healing well. Good to see him back on Sunday.
3. Communion time on Sunday.
4. Riots in South Africa are settling down.
5. Praise and worship – thanks ZAC, Rod, Molly, Riley, Tim, Rin and Melissa.
6. The freedom to gather, albeit with masks on Sunday. Next Sunday no masks.
Announcements
1. No masks next Sunday. Andrew Otte will be blessing us with Psalm 71.
2. PlayPatch for toddlers at church, Fridays 9:30-11am. Please get the word out. See Maddison for details.
3. Recharge Youth – 6:30-8:30pm – Band night this Friday.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
