Even though there are hard and dark days, these come to an end, they are just a season. The Lord ordains a blessing in the end. Rejoice in His promises.
Psalms 38: Do Not Forsake Me, O LORD A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.
1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes---it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
15 But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, "Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!"
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Psalms 39: What Is the Measure of My Days? To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence."
2 I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.
3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
4 "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!"
Psalms 40: My Help and My Deliverer To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
7 Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
Psalms 41: O LORD, Be Gracious to Me To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
2 the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
4 As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!"
5 My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die, and his name perish?"
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
8 They say, "A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies."
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Things to think about…
1. David makes some heart confession and observations in Psalm 38. Sin always has consequences. David describes how his sin took away health from his bones and his wounds stink and fester, etc Ps 38:4-6. Never carry the burden of guilt due to sin. If you know you have done something wrong, keep short accounts. Repent, confess it and be healed in Jesus’ name. Why keep something that crushes you and is a grief for you and those around you. We know the only reason we do this is generally because of guilt and fear. The Lord of course has a far better plan than that for us – let’s do as David did. He says “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin”, Ps 38:18 and be healed. Do you need to be reconciled with someone? Don’t put it off any longer.
2. David acknowledges that he has sinned against God, but he also acknowledges that his enemies are doing wrong against him, Ps 38:19, even after he has done them good, vs 20. Such was the case with Jesus even by those who were healed by Him. Such will be the case with His servants.
3. David asks not to be forsaken by the Lord, Ps 38:21. While pain and sorrow are for a season, just as it was for our Lord on the cross when he cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”. We know that deliverance, victory and blessing are right around the corner. Rejoice in this truth today. Then make the confession with David “O Lord, my salvation”, Ps 38:22.
4. In Psalm 39 David begins by exercising self control by withholding words and not sinning with his words. David says he has to bite his tongue, especially in the presence of his enemies, lest he say something foolish, 39:1. But then it says as he mused a fire burned, then he spoke, vs 3. This is fine so long as we are controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit and not by human emotion. Even as Christians we may know the truth, but we may shout it out in anger and the message is lost by the manner in which it is spoken. But there are times when we must speak. Jeremiah had this same burning and he had no choice but to speak God’s word, Jer 20:9, even though he knew what it would cost him personally. In some situations, we need to say something. I think we are in those days where there is intolerance for the Christian voice. If we don’t speak up, we will lose ground and this country will lose its freedoms.
5. Quite often we want to be blessed and have an abundance and not have to go through any trial at all. That is not good for us and not what we see in the Psalms. Often when we are brought through a fire, we praise afterwards. But there is always a qualifier. In Psalm 40 David has been blessed after he waited patiently, vs 1. The qualifier is in vss 8&9 “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.” The word of God needs to be believed and acted upon. It needs to be our delight. Head knowledge doesn’t cut it, David rightly points out that God is not interested in sacrifices and offerings, vs 6 if they are not met with a life that honours His word.
6. The Lord sustains and restores those who have been sick, Ps 41:3. David asks for healing after he has sinned, vs 4. Sometimes sickness is related to a sinful lifestyle, not always, but it can be the case. STD’s, anguish through lying, ill health due to drug and alcohol abuse are a result of reaping what has been sown through a sinful lifestyle. Praise God we have a Healer when we repent who restores us. Are there any areas in your life where you know you need to repent and be restored? Sometimes the sickness is psychological and there is mental anguish because of guilt. Confess it before the Lord and be restored.
7. There is a prophecy of Judas Iscariot in Psalm 41:9. Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend? It hurts doesn’t it. Verse 10 is also prophetic. “But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up”. Jesus rose up from the grave and as such He blesses His people “from everlasting to everlasting”, vs 13. Even though people can hurt, betray and persecute us, our home is secure for eternity with Christ. Rejoice!
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.
Cell groups are on break for School holidays
Prayer Points
1. Continue to pray for Jennifer’s mum recovering from a stroke that she may have restored health over the coming days and weeks.
2. Pray for the Kids Klub starting in Term 3 Fri 28th July.
3. Pray for alpha course starting 26th July Wed 6:30pm at Church. Invite non Christians.
4. Andrew has reduced kidney function. Please pray for better health and a suitable nursing home.
5. That those who are new to the church are encouraged and settle in well into the church.
6. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you saved.
7. Pray for Kids@church.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Wonderful day on Saturday for the Community day. A number of contacts were made. Wonderful weather.
2. New equipment is coming online at Church. New cameras and sound equipment.
3. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Axiom next Sunday morning 2nd July “Challenging Cancel Culture” – 9:30am
2. Alpha Course starting on Wed 26th July – 6:30pm – invite non Christians to this course.
3. Friday afternoon Kids Klub – starting third term Fri 28th July – 3pm (3:30pm start) - 5:30pm.
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.
Catechism questions for June...
Q. 9. Who is God? A. God is a Spirit, and does not have a body like men.
