We are reminded again that sufferings are for a season and that God’s steadfast love and faithfulness will remain into eternity. Be blessed.
Psalms 34: Taste and See That the LORD Is Good Of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalms 35: Great Is the LORD Of David.
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your salvation!"
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonour who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
7 For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it---to his destruction!
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?"
11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.
13 But I, when they were sick--- I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;
16 like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.
17 How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!
18 I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.
21 They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!"
22 You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha, our heart's desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."
26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonour who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, "Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!"
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
Things to think about…
1. When David was on the run from Saul, he went into the land of the Philistines to seek refuge. He overheard the servants of the king of Gath, a man named Achish (Abimelech was the generic name given for Philistine kings) say "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?", 1Sam 21:10, 11 . David heard this and became afraid. He then pretended to be insane and scratched on the gate doors let his spittle dribble down his beard. This got him off the hook. Achish said, “Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence?”. David saw this as the Lord’s deliverance and wrote this psalm as a result. Psalm 34 is also an evangelical psalm asking people to consider the goodness of God. David postulates to, “taste and see that the Lord is good”, vs 8. The psalm is also an exhortation for God’s people to trust in the fact that the Lord knows what He is doing in all things and that He hears His people, vss 15-18. This requires faith, because in the midst of tough times it doesn’t always feel like the truth. Vs 22 “none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” is proven when faith is on display in adversity. What are you needing to take to the Lord today? May He answer you by granting you the desires of your heart.
2. The first 8 verses of Psalm 35 come across as someone who seems bitter and vindictive. But no. Here David is demanding justice against evil and those who have been vindictive and spiteful even returning evil for his good, vs 12. He is asking that the Lords drive them away, vs 5 and put them on a dark and slippery path, vs 6. Why? Vs 7, “For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.” Some people are just nasty and are so full of hate they are bent on destroying those who are trying to do the right thing. David had this a few times even from his own family. But the main enemy was King Saul who David tried to help. But it was rejected. The words of vss 13-15 could easily be applied to Saul from Davids perspective. He writes “But I, when they were sick--- I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning. But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing.” Have you ever felt like this. You have sown in grace, honour, truth and peace only to have it rejected. Sadly I know this feeling all to well, even from those who name the name of Christ. The Lord knows the heart and judges accordingly.
3. The church should be a place of blessing and grace. Hence David’s words where he says in vs 18 “I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.” As Christians we need to encourage and restore each other in the times where we feel ripped off or disappointed by the world’s actions. Pray that the church would continue to be a place of encouragement, restoration, teaching and blessing so we can continue in our calling as ambassadors in Christ. David says that after we receive such encouragement we are then able to say, vs 28 “Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.” May we do the same and be clothed with grace, peace and praise.
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.
