Asaph exults the Lord by beginning this morning with a psalm about the Messiah. He then encourages us to praise Him in song with instruments of praise, then finishes with a prayer of protection over the weak and fatherless.
Psalms 80: Restore Us, O God To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm.
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.
14 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,
15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Psalms 81: Oh, That My People Would Listen to Me To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. Of Asaph.
1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known:
6 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
Psalms 82: Rescue the Weak and Needy A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince."
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
Things to think about…
1. Asaph describes the Lord as a Shepherd who leads His people, Ps 80:1. He asks that they be restored and saved. There were many times when Israel was attacked by their enemies. But Asaph says the Lord took them as a vine out of Egypt, vs 8 and cleared the ground. The Lord in the same way brought Jesus back from Egypt after the persecution of Herod. He was established and grew as a wise vine in Israel, even though the vine is attacked and ravaged, vss12, 13.The Son of Man will give life, says Asaph will restore and give life to all those who call of His name, vs 18 and they will be saved, vs 19. What a wonderful promise for the nation of Israel even today if they would turn their hearts towards Him.
2. When was the last time you shouted out in praise as you worshipped the Lord in spirit and truth? Asaph in Psalm 81 as we do so we acknowledge the Lord’s rule, vs 4 and the fact that He made a decree over Joseph (Israel), vs 5 and relieved them from the burden of slavery, vs 6 even when they rebelled, vs 7. But the refused to listen vs 11 so they were given over to stubborn hearts, vs 12. The Lord pleads through Asaph that Israel would listen and return that they would know true blessing that satisfies, vs 16. We often drop out our heart felt worship when things seem to be going well. We are distracted by the blessing and our hearts become hardened. But the Lord calls us to something where there is a greater satisfaction, “finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you”, vs 16. True blessing comes from a knowledge that our Lord loves us with an electing love. This saves us from a heart after the world’s gifts and rejoices that the blessings from Him last for eternity.
3. Psalm 82 is a rebuke by Asaph from the Lord that all those who are made in the image of God (called “gods”, vs 6) will be judged because they have not acted with integrity on the Lord’s behalf. Even though they are princes, vs 7 they have acted wickedly and judged with partiality, vs 2 by afflicting the fatherless and the needy, vss 3, 4. The judges will be judged, vs 7 and the Judge of the Earth will inherit the nations vs 8. How is this done? Jesus tells us the that meek shall inherit the earth Mt 5:5. The Lord’s people will rule over the nations. This will be fulfilled ultimately in the Millennium, Rev 20:3. Our role is to declare the gospel and to live it out before others who the Lord will add by His grace.
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.
Sermon title was ““All Israel will be saved”” - from Rom 11:25-36
1. What has been your understanding of the Jewish people in the past? Have you always thought that the Lord had plans for the nation, or did you think that all the OT promises to Israel are really for the church? Discuss
2. Israel became a nation again in May 14th 1948. The dry bones that Ezekiel spoke about in Ezek 37 were indeed living. Israel is a modern day miracle. The Hebrew language was dead and now has been revived to be taught as the national language. Jews are also returning to the land in record numbers. Almost hal;f of the world’s Jewish population resides in Israel. The Lord quoted to Abraham regarding His descendants that “Those who bless you I will bless”. How has Australia blessed Israel and how should we bless Israel as a church?
3. Praise the Lord that He never breaks His promise. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. We may have broken promises or others have broken promises to us, but the Lord will never break His covenant promise to His people. This is the good news. Discuss what this means for you.
Prayer Points
1. The Lord blessed again with our Sunday service. New people, as well as being blessed by the word and worship. Pray they will feel connected into the church.
2. Our Elders confirmed with an open call. Pray the Lord continues to teach and bless them
3. Christmas season – joy and unity promoted in Christ.
4. Growth in our kids and youth ministries
5. Pray for testimonies that people will be giving. Please consider when you would like to give yours.
6. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
7. Witness over the Christmas season.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Wonderful celebration of the life of Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington yesterday. The gospel was given and the service was a wonderful tribute to the faith of the man. Zac honoured his dad by playing guitar as a “going home” was sung.
2. New folk to church.
3. Word and worship blessed. Elders Doug and Graham confirmed with an open call.
4. Churches have been recognised as essential services and will be allowed to operate without restriction after new vaccination restrictions come in.
Announcements
1. Country Carols, monster trucks, fire works – Sat 11th Dec. Must book online to get tickets. Go to the Tivoli drive in website. Feel free to park at CBC if required.
2. Men’s fishing trip 11th Dec. Limited berths. See Shaun Newberry for details.
3. Kids@church back. Please check your rosters
4. Recharge Youth – back on Friday 6:30pm at church all high schoolers.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
