Good morning everyone! More psalms that deal with sorrow and challenge, especially from close friends. The answer is still the same – Trust and praise the Lord!
Psalms 55: Cast Your Burden on the LORD To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
6 And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."
9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it;
11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me--- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me--- then I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.
15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.
20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant.
21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
Psalms 56: In God I Trust To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk
Psalms 57: Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfils his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts--- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Things to think about…
1. In Psalm 55 David is praying for mercy, vs 1, he asks that the Lord hear his prayer, vs 2, because as was a common occurrence for him he was being attacked by an enemy, vs 3. We know the greatest enemy for a Christian is Satan and how he expresses himself generally through close relations. David has a betrayer, who has been a close friend and says that he wants to run to get away from the situation, “"Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah. I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest"”, vss 5-7. Have you ever felt like running from a situation? I felt a bit overwhelmed at times this week. But the reality is you cannot run away from your problems. In fact, you must face them. Paul’s advice still remains true, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Phil 4:13.
2. Ever had a close friend act as though they were an enemy? That’s what’s going on here in Ps 55. This psalm is reflective of how Judas betrayed Christ. David knew the same pain. It you have been wronged by a close friend remember the promises in vs 22, to cast your burdens upon the Lord. If the burden is too heavy, the likelihood is that you are either not yoked to the Lord as you should be or trying to do things in your own strength. His promise to us is that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, Matt 11:28-30.
3. Though an enemy stretches out his hand against friends, Ps 55:20 and his speech is smoother than butter, vs 21 our Lord will cast them into a pit forever, vs 23. This certainly was the case with Judas Iscariot who is also called the “son of destruction” by Jesus, Jn 17:12. This is a fearful reality, hence the need to keep our hearts from evil and to warn others to do the same.
4. David was often on the run and he sometimes ran to areas that were little better then the ones who were chasing him. In Psalm 56 we see in the title that David sought refuge in Gath of the Philistines when he was running from Saul. We know this was very dangerous for him and his men at the time. In this Psalm David is left alone with his thoughts and they are a source of grief for him, vss 5-9. When an enemy rises against you, often the best medicine and remedy is simply to praise the Lord, Ps 56:10-12. As you praise Him He promises to deliver from the situation, vs 13. Think about what you can be thankful for today, knowing that our Lord knows all about it, vs 8. If this is true, you can say with David ‘This I know, that God is for me’, vs 9.
5. Saul was constantly after David and David even fled into a cave at one point, Ps 57 title, cf 1Sam 21-24. Often when people set a trap for someone else, they themselves are caught in it, Ps 57:6. It is not a productive p[pastime to be worried about the opinions, words or actions of others. Your duty is simple. You are called to be steadfast and be faithful in your service and praise for the Lord, Ps 57:7-11. If you are feeling cast down – hear a message that will encourage you or put on worship music that exalts His praise. As we lift Him up, our spirits are lifted at the same time.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. 6:30pm every Wednesday. 5:30pm prayer.
Young adult Life group – This week – how do we know the bible is God’s word?
Prayer Points
1. Lee Davies dad Peter has entered his eternal rest. Pray and comfort for peace at this time.
2. Pray for Helen who has badly damaged her meniscus. She is recovering at home.
3. Keep praying for Anna and the PlaygPatch on Fridays, pray for more families to be reached.
4. Pray for Chaplaincy and Kids Hope at Karalee State School. Training happened this week
5. Pray for peace over the US elections
6. The ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.
7. Church finances to continue to grow and expenses to be more than met.
8. Pray for Kids@Church, Life groups. Young Adults.
9. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Wednesday afternoons, 5:30pm at church. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
10. Pray about the possibility and planning of a Farmers Market at Chuwar Baptist Church once a month on Saturdays. Anastasia taking the lead on this. Pray for us as we plan
11. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for our Bean Redeemed Café team! Serving you every week
2. Praise God for Lauren’s safe return. The Lord blessed her visit with her family finding some closure and hearing the gospel.
3. Worship team did a great job.
4. Praise God for young people stepping up in a number of ministries.
5. Playgroup is a great encouragement for our church.
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. The blessed life – Part 4 “Need, greed or seed” from Gal 3. This Sunday morning
2. Working bee this Saturday morning 27th July. Please contact Che for a list jobs and requirements.
3. Kids at Church – The Blessed life – Life not law part 3. Anastasia leading.
4. Ron Naylor – Creation Ministries International coming to CBC on the 18th Aug 6pm
5. Monday and Wednesday evening prayer at church 5:30-6:30pm
6. Life Group Wednesday 6:30pm at church – start back this week.
7. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
8. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for July...
Q. 22. What is Sin? A. Sin is any transgression of the law of God.
Bible References – 1Jn.3:4; Rom.3:20; James 2:9-11
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
