Bless others and bless God

 Psalm 134:1–3 (ESV):  

1  Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, 

who stand by night in the house of the Lord! 

 2  Lift up your hands to the holy place 

and bless the Lord! 

 3  May the Lord bless you from Zion, 

he who made heaven and earth! 

This is a call for those who love, follow, and dedicate their lives in service to God to continue to do so. To carry on worshipping and praying, to keep on meeting together and blessing God in what they do. There are those who, even of a night, when no-one else is around or notices, are seeking God. These are true believers and worshippers, they live as servants of God, and bless Him in how they live. They bless God through their actions and the things they do not say and do because their hearts, minds and souls are His. Are you a servant of the Lord like this?

An invitation is how this psalm begins. An invitation for the servants of God to ‘Come, bless the Lord’. How do you ‘bless’ God? The word interpreted as ‘bless’ in this psalm means to bow the knee. To really bless and honour God, you have to; submit to, follow, and obey God. Not just sometimes, or when you gather with other believers, but all of the time, even in the dark hours when no-one else is around. This is what ‘servants of the Lord’, the committed and obedient believers, do. It is interesting that the psalmist acknowledges that even these dedicated people still require an invite to ‘come, bless the Lord’. You would have thought that they already are! Yet, have you ever thought that even the most dedicated God-follower that you know, needs a bit of encouragement sometimes? Even the most committed, kind, god-fearing and obedient people need spurring on. You do not know what happens behind the closed doors of others lives, or in their hearts and minds, so it never hurts to encourage or invite even those you admire in faith to continue to worship, pray and gather. We all need inspiration, reminding, inviting and spurring on at times in order to continue worshipping, and keep the good, godly patterns in our lives. Those who are wholeheartedly committed to following God need inspiration and encouragement too. Even those responsible for; oversight, maintenance, pastoral care, worship leading, and hospitality, in fact anyone who serves God can do with the inspiration to keep their passion for God and their commitment to Him. Life can wear believers down sometimes and people can become despondent or distracted. So do not be afraid to encourage passion and obedience in others, even the leaders and servants of God. It will do them good, even if you think they are doing alright. Keep encouraging them, let them know how their service is appreciated, that you admire their obedience, perseverance or whatever else it is. Let them know their service to God is building the Kingdom of God, and they are valued, and that they are invited to enjoy God's presence and the company of God's people. Leadership is hard, it is a great responsibility, and there is an enemy that will do his best to take the leaders and servants of God down, so do what you can to inspire and encourage them, to let them know that they are not just leading the family, but they are a part of it too. Is there someone that springs to your mind whom you could invite to 'Come, bless the Lord' today? It may be by doing so that you do or say just the right thing to inspire them, encourage them, re-awaken them, stop them from walking away from God, or help them keep going in their God-given mission. You do not know the power your care, support and noticing can have on fellow believers. It doesn’t have to be complicated, it may look like; reminding them to come to a House group, inviting them to the prayer meeting, a worship night, or to dinner, sending a card, gift, a kind word, even challenging them on their actions or attitude, checking how they are doing. Not things that are big and complex. Yet through these small acts you have the opportunity to inspire others and encourage them in their journey of faith, are you doing that? 

If someone is on your mind, it may be that God has put them there so that you can pray for them and care for them. As people of God we are to watch out and care for each other, and spur one another on to love and serve God wholeheartedly. Are you doing that for anyone? There are people that need inspiration and invitation to continue to live bowing the knee to Him. It could be that you are the one who says to them, ‘Come, bless the Lord’, and so change their lives by inviting them into His presence. Through inspiring and encouraging other believers, you may save someone from wandering away from the faith. Just because you reached out to bless them. So, inspire those who inspire you, encourage and challenge those who do the same for you, and honour those who are living for God. By so doing you may be helping them to keep obedient and keep serving. This includes the ‘servants of the Lord’ who work for the church, whether paid or voluntary. They do so much that is unknown to you. Make sure to encourage them and show gratitude, and inspire them to continue to worship, work for, and bless God. They are blessing you in the work they perform for you before God. From the emails to the sermons, the pastoral visits to the celebrations, maintenance to making cups of tea. The men and women of God who serve the church do so because they love God and His people. They have committed their life, finances, family and livelihood into building and maintaining a faithful gathering of believers. So show your gratitude, bless them, and ask God to bless them too. Be their inspiration and encouragement, for they need it too.

It is a marvellous thing that as you bless God and His people, your own spirit is lifted up. In this psalm you see this pattern; God’s servants are called to bless Him, those who approach Him are blessed, and a blessing is asked of God for those who are His people. It is always God first, but as you put Him first and His people, God will pour out His divine love, power and favour upon you as well. So, what are you waiting for, who will you bless God today?

Dwell in unity

 Psalm 133:1–3 (ESV):  

1  Behold, how good and pleasant it is 

when brothers dwell in unity! 

 2  It is like the precious oil on the head, 

running down on the beard, 

  on the beard of Aaron, 

running down on the collar of his robes! 

 3  It is like the dew of Hermon, 

which falls on the mountains of Zion! 

  For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, 

life forevermore. 

When families have a sense of togetherness, mutual love and support we see it as good, comforting, loving, strong and beautiful. A family who have shared faith and values have a connection beyond the biological, having unity in heart and mind, and a love and understanding of one another that you cannot be born with. This is the kind of bond God desires for all believers to have with one another.

God wants us as believers in Him to ‘dwell in unity’. Despite differences in; opinion, location, culture, preferences, looks or character. There is something stronger than all of these things that unifies you with other bothers and sisters across the world. You have a greater connection with them than shared biology, interests or experiences, for you share the blood of Jesus. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is common to all christians, this is the one powerful thing that unifies us. Unity is a powerful word. It is more than being joined together, or partnered in something for those words imply that you are still two separate entities connected together. Being unified is becoming whole, so you become one with other believers. You are one family with them through the love and blood of Jesus, in fact you are not whole without them. 

You can dwell in unity with other believers because you have been given new life through Jesus, you are born into a new kingdom along with them, which has new values. Elsewhere in the Bible we are told that we are adopted into God’s family. It takes some getting used to, your life and values will change to reflect God's kingdom over time, and one of the things that you will have to get used to is learning to live with, respect and get on with other christians - because they also have been adopted into God's family! You will be living together for all eternity, so whilst you are on Earth, you better get used to living a unified life with them! So be mindful of how you speak of other christians, how you think about them, and what you hope for them. Your mindset should be on promoting unity. Do you have appreciation, love, respect and honour for other believers? Even if there are differences, do you still see that Jesus has bonded you into the same family?

It is ‘good and pleasant when brothers dwell in unity’. We all know what it is like when there is strife in a family, you may have personal experience of that. Dis-unity breeds anger, harsh words, distrust, dissent, pain, and sometimes physical violence. That is not the standard for God’s family. Therefore do not be drawn into arguments, or speaking against your brothers and sisters of faith. Respect them, love them, help them, guide them, get to know and understand them - this is how you build good and pleasant unity. You need to make an effort. Families that have a solid sense of togetherness usually have had to experience tough times and conversations in order for their unity to remain because unity is worth fighting for. When you don’t bother or ignore others, you create a distance. That is not unity, that is laziness and it will get awkward for you when one day you are in heaven with these people forever! 

It is good and pleasant when brothers dwell in unity. It is like the anointing of Aaron. There is a visual, overflowing blessing that affects not just the head which is being anointed, but the face, beard and robes. The beauty of the people of God working together and appreciating one another pours out a blessing further than you expect, hope or imagine. Other people and places will be impacted by the love the church has for one another. It is also like the dew, it brings life and refreshment where it falls, even on arid places. The Lord ‘has commanded the blessing’ where His people live in togetherness. If you want to experience this blessing of God where you live and in your life, that He has spoken, what are you doing to promote and build unity amongst believers? 

Obedience in the Yes and the No

 Psalm 132:1–18 (ESV): 

1  Remember, O Lord, in David’s favour, 

all the hardships he endured, 

 2  how he swore to the Lord 

and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 

 3  “I will not enter my house 

or get into my bed, 

 4  I will not give sleep to my eyes 

or slumber to my eyelids, 

 5  until I find a place for the Lord, 

a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 

 6  Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; 

we found it in the fields of Jaar. 

 7  “Let us go to his dwelling place; 

let us worship at his footstool!” 

 8  Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, 

you and the ark of your might. 

 9  Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, 

and let your saints shout for joy. 

 10  For the sake of your servant David, 

do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 

 11  The Lord swore to David a sure oath 

from which he will not turn back: 

  “One of the sons of your body 

I will set on your throne. 

 12  If your sons keep my covenant 

and my testimonies that I shall teach them, 

  their sons also forever 

shall sit on your throne.” 

 13  For the Lord has chosen Zion; 

he has desired it for his dwelling place: 

 14  “This is my resting place forever; 

here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 

 15  I will abundantly bless her provisions; 

I will satisfy her poor with bread. 

 16  Her priests I will clothe with salvation, 

and her saints will shout for joy. 

 17  There I will make a horn to sprout for David; 

I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 

 18  His enemies I will clothe with shame, 

but on him his crown will shine.”

God remembers His faithful servants, whether they be paupers, kings or anything inbetween. God remembers and watches with favour those who keep their promises to Him, like David did. God loves that kind of dedication, obedience and faithfulness, and He rewards it. God does not forget what He has said, what you have done, or your quiet, steadfast dedication to Him. It is you that forgets. 

David’s passion for God caused him to feel unsettled even though he had a beautiful mansion for a home. For he knew that in some place, unknown, God’s holy presence rested in the Ark of the Covenant. David’s desire was to bring the nation to worship God, how could this happen if the presence of God that went with the nation into exile and back, is lost? This is the reason David made such a promise in the first place. Once the Ark was discovered, there had to be a permanent abode for it that was fitting for the King of Kings. David, and his team started searching, and eventually, they found the right place. David’s passion for God desired that he and the whole nation would discover what living in the presence of God was like.  So, he made his oath not to sleep until The Lord had his dwelling place amongst the nation of Israel.

When you make a promise to God and are working to fulfill it, it isn't easy. There comes a point when you wonder why you began doing it, how long it will take, and if it will get any easier. I am sure David felt like that in his search for ‘a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob’. David was so dedicated to this task that he swore that he would have no sleep until he had achieved it (v4-5). That is a brave promise! When you make an oath to God, how can you fail to fulfill your word? How did David do it? It must have got difficult for him. He must have grown tired, disappointed and anxious about finding ‘a place for the Lord’. Yet he continued diligently to complete this mission. He didn't make do or give up, his love and dedication to God caused him ti succeed in his mission to serve God and the nation in this way. David would have become exhausted and despondent journeying and searching to provide the right place. Yet he did not give up, he continued his search diligently. He was faithful to his word to The Faithful One. Remember this dedication, and let it inspire you in how you follow God and keep your promises to Him. The passion can wane, the sense of calling wither away as the reality of the hardship sets in. I wonder how long David went without sleep before he achieved his aim. He kept going in his mission, he was dedicated and demonstrated how to put God first above personal comfort and desire. Do you do the same?

When the right location of the Ark was discovered, and the right spot for the temple to be built found, God spoke to David. He made a promise for the generations of his family to come, if they were to give their hearts to God as David had. David had proved his allegiance and devotion to God, and God chose to pronounce a blessing over him and his family. Isn't that a beautiful thing! Yet God also made clear to David, that although he had searched for the Ark of the Covenant, found it, and brought i to it's dwelling place, he would not be the one to build a permanent home for it. His son, Solomon would. After all of that effort, that dedication and discomfort that David went through, how do you imagine he felt hearing that? Disappointed, relieved, angry? However, despite his own personal emotional response, David honoured this instruction from God. He did not rush off and do it himself anyway although he was the one with the passion for the project. Instead, David humbly obeyed the instruction of The Lord. 

David understood that God ideas are better than his own, and that God should have a say in who, where and when the temple, his earthly dwelling place should be constructed. So, although David had sacrificed sleep and rest in his search for the location, it did not mean that he was the man to fulfill the rest of the mission. David had to lay aside his desire to see a house of God being built. David had the vision, the plans and collected the materials, but he stopped there because God said so. How obedient are you to God when He tells you to hand over responsibility or to stop doing something?

David shows beautiful obedience and submission to God. He was powerful and rich, he cold command armies, and builders, but God said no, so David obeyed. That takes a lot of strength and trust. David did not get to see the fulfilment of his work and investment into people or the kingdom of God. Yet he came to terms with it because He knew God is faithful and trustworthy, so he obeyed. David’s passion and humility led to a glorious temple being built in Jerusalem, where the nation of Israel could come to worship. David’s dedication permitted and invited others into God’s presence. Yet he never saw a stone be laid. Do you have that level of obedience to God? To live beyond yourself and your generation to build and prepare for the kingdom of God to come, for the people to come?

You can impact nations and places through the simple obedience to seeing through the things God has given you passion and permission for, and stopping there. What are you passionate about doing for The Lord? Submit your ideas and passions to Him, and trust Him even if His plans are different to yours. Then you will be blessed, and so will others for generations ot come. 

How to calm and quiet your soul

 Psalm 131:1–3 (ESV):  

1  O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; 

my eyes are not raised too high; 

  I do not occupy myself with things 

too great and too marvellous for me. 

 2  But I have calmed and quieted my soul, 

like a weaned child with its mother; 

like a weaned child is my soul within me. 

 3  O Israel, hope in the Lord 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

There is a time to look to the hills for your help, a time to rally, a time to mourn and be jubilant, and there is a time to quiet your soul. 

When there are times of great celebration, confusion or concern, it is good to ‘not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me’. Instead of worrying, trying to think things through or make sense of matters, the best thing is to to run to God as a small child would run to their Mum. When a child is distressed, confused or scared, they seek comfort in the presence of their mother. They often don’t even need to say anything. They just know that their emotions and soul are not ok, so they seek the stability and comfort of their parent. Knowing that being in their presence and resting in their bigness, capability and love is enough to settle them, They will get the calm and quiet that they need when they go to Mum. So, as a child of God, do you run to Him when you are dysregulated? Do you seek and sit in His presence? Knowing that He is big enough to handle all of your dysregulation, confusion, tears and panic? God can bring quiet and calm to your soul, as a Mum does for her child, are you letting Him? 

Unless you go to God and spend time with Him, remembering who He is, you will will not gain the calm and quiet that your soul desires. Spending time considering who God is, and who you are in His eyes stops your head from whirling with a million thoughts,  ideas and worries. You can just simply sit with Him. His presence is enough to cause the things that are 'too great and too marvellous' to stop seeming so incredible. You can spend time with God in a number of ways; reading The Word, listening to worship, praying, or just being still and appreciating whose presence you are in. Even without saying anything, God can still your heart and your soul, equipping you, comforting you and strengthening you. The psalmist learnt that they could run to God and sit with Him in this way. They must have been in a situation that seemed overwhelming, and so they considered themself like a small child, dependent upon it’s mother. The presence of the parent providing certainty, safety and security for their child. When an unexpected event happens that can cause a child to fear, the child instinctively looks to their parent. They watch their reaction, and base their response and level of safety on them. You can do the same with God. When you face an unexpected situation, and feel uncomfortable and afraid, look to your Father in Heaven. Where is He, and what is His response? Take strength, hope and peace in His steadfastness and presence, and your soul will be quieted. Like a child, you can trust in the actions and reactions of your Almighty Father. 

The writer of this psalm, David had learnt to ‘not occupy myself with things too great and marvellous for me’. That’s a big statement coming from the king of a nation! He had huge things to consider and mighty problems to solve and important relationships to serve. Yet he knew that there were things, whether to do with the nation or his everyday life that unsettled him. So, he learnt to go to God and be with Him. Just resting in God's presence and trusting that He had things figured out, and could keep David safe. For you, there will also be things in this life that will not make sense; people, situations, relationships, work problems, world issues - they are too big and incredible for you to fathom and they can bring a feeling of uncertainty and fear. David’s recommendation to you, is to not spend time trying to resolve these things in your mind or try to understand them, but spend time with God. God will be with you through it all and will bring you in close. He can only do that when you stop running about and fretting. So, look for, run to, and rest with your loving and steadfast Father. He will strengthen and guide you so that your soul can become quiet and calm. 

you have become the righteousness of God

 Psalm 130:1–8 (ESV):  

1  Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 

 2  O Lord, hear my voice! 

  Let your ears be attentive 

to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 

 3  If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, 

O Lord, who could stand? 

 4  But with you there is forgiveness, 

that you may be feared. 

 5  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, 

and in his word I hope; 

 6  my soul waits for the Lord 

more than watchmen for the morning, 

more than watchmen for the morning. 

 7  O Israel, hope in the Lord! 

For with the Lord there is steadfast love, 

and with him is plentiful redemption. 

 8  And he will redeem Israel 

from all his iniquities. 

Aren’t you grateful God does not keep an account of all of your wrongs?! For ‘who could stand’ if He did? 

Only Jesus has the right to stand before God if The Lord ‘should mark iniquities’. For Jesus is the only one, ever, to have never sinned. The only way that you or I can talk to, stand before and have relationship with God is because of Jesus. There would have been no hope for you without the sacrifice of Jesus life to atone for all the wrongs you have committed. So thank God for Jesus! You can now stand before God as if you had never sinned, as if you were indeed Jesus, because when you surrender your life to God and accept the love and sacrifice of Jesus, who put to death all sin, God sees Jesus. ‘For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ (2 Corinthians 5:21) You can know forgiveness and hope because you have ‘become the righteousness of God’ through Jesus - isn’t that incredible?!

God’s great kindness, love and sacrifice of being torn away from his only son, leads to your complete forgiveness. You may have times when you feel wretched, blemished, dirty or bad. Do not believe those feelings. Instead, learn to hope in God’s Word (v5). All throughout the Bible, God has been correcting, guiding, and forgiving people. He will forgive you too if you ask Him and trust in His son’s purity which wipes away all wrongdoing. You do not have to carry the load of sin or shame, you can say to yourself,  'with you there is forgiveness' so ‘in his word i hope’. Let God’s Word have more influence in your heart and mind than your own thoughts of who you are, so that your fears of not being good enough, of being bad or a perpetual sinner are put ot death as Jesus was. You can hope in God's Word, and you can know forgiveness.

To know this forgiveness and really accept it, this psalmist recognises it takes patience and commitment. For they write, ‘my soul waits for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word i hope’. You have to wait for the fullness of forgiveness to seep into your heart and mind. It is such great news that radically transforms you, that it takes time to change your perception of who you really are. In order to know the freedom of forgiveness wait for His hope to live in you as your mind is transformed to seeing who you are due to Jesus. 

When you have wronged someone and apologised, the relief of being forgiven by them and given another chance is huge. The power of the words that show you are forgiven break off pain and despair, and bring restoration, relief and joy. Now, think about this; you have offended and wronged God countless times, yet He still chooses to forgive you! You can still approach Him and say sorry, He is not fed up of hearing it. For the reality is when you accepted that Jesus died for all your sins, he died for ALL your sins, therefore you are forgiven. You are even righteous in God’s eyes, just like Jesus is!

 1 Peter 3:18 says; ‘For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit’. Your unrighteousness has been exchanged for righteousness. All that bad stuff that you see in you can be put to death - are you letting go of it? Jesus has already put it to death, and God doesn’t see it anymore, so why do you? You do not need to live carrying around sin and shame - it is not yours to carry - you gave it all to Jesus when you first trusted and believed him. You have the right and permission to live and believe that you are righteous! You can ‘hope in the Lord’ and know His ‘steadfast love’ and ‘plentiful redemption’. For you live in the days when God has redeemed all of mankind ‘from all his iniquities’ and you have 'become the righteousness of God'.

The Lord is righteous!

Psalm 129:1–8 (ESV):  

1  “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— 

let Israel now say— 

 2  “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, 

yet they have not prevailed against me. 

 3  The plowers plowed upon my back; 

they made long their furrows.” 

 4  The Lord is righteous; 

he has cut the cords of the wicked. 

 5  May all who hate Zion 

be put to shame and turned backward! 

 6  Let them be like the grass on the housetops, 

which withers before it grows up, 

 7  with which the reaper does not fill his hand 

nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 

 8  nor do those who pass by say, 

“The blessing of the Lord be upon you! 

We bless you in the name of the Lord!” 

It is not unusual for the people of God to suffer. Israel, even from the conception of the nation can rightly say, ‘Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth’. Israel has always had enemies. As the favoured people of God, ungodly people have railed against them. Consider all that this nation has gone through. They have wandered, been to war, exiled more than once, been ransacked, derided, and invaded. They have known what it is like to be; refugees and captives, winners and losers, in the favour, and displeasure of God. So they are right to say that through every generation, they have been greatly afflicted. Even to the point that, ‘the plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows’. What a piece of imagery of the pain and persecution that Israel have undergone. Even though they have experienced this level of intense suffering from the hands of enemies, Israel can say ‘they have not prevailed against me’. That is powerful. The whole nation of Israel can honestly say that they have been persecuted and experienced excruciating physical, spiritual and emotional pain, yet the enemy has never won. Why? Because ‘The Lord is righteous’! 

The people of God once only the people of Israel, now known as the church, will experience great suffering, pain and persecution. Nothing has changed, the people of God have ungodly enemies so they will suffer. Yet they can also say, although we have been greatly afflicted the enemy has not and will not prevail! Why? Because the Lord is still righteous! 

The survival of God’s people and their growth has very little to do with the people themselves. It has everything to do with the favour and righteousness of God. God will always do what is right and ‘he has cut the cords of the wicked’. Evil has no ultimate power as Jesus put sin to death, therefore ‘the cords of the wicked’ have been severed. There is an end to the pain and suffering for God’s people,  so you can carry the hope of the promise that all wickedness shall cease, because ‘The Lord is righteous’. He will make sure that good will reign. 

The evil that seeks to undo the people of God will wither like grass on the rooftop (v6). It has no real influence, power, or longevity, even when evil plows deep furrows into your back in an attempt to break you. The enemy is seeking to prevail, but He has already been cut off and is withering! The people of God throughout all history have been persecuted, yet the enemy has not yet prevailed! Instead, the church has spread far and wide and the gospel has been demonstrated and declared in many places across the globe. The people of God have increased, not decreased despite the plans of the wicked, why? Because ‘The Lord is righteous’!

Following God is good for you

 Psalm 128:1–6 (ESV):  

1  Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, 

who walks in his ways! 

 2  You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; 

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 

 3  Your wife will be like a fruitful vine 

within your house; 

  your children will be like olive shoots 

around your table. 

 4  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed 

who fears the Lord. 

 5  The Lord bless you from Zion! 

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem 

all the days of your life! 

 6  May you see your children’s children! 

Peace be upon Israel! 

Following God is good for you. It naturally carries a blessing, just like an obedient child experiences the favour of their parents. Not that the child is preferred, but their good behaviour and character are appreciated, and so they know favour and blessing from their parents, rather than correction and discipline. The same goes for you in your relationship with God. If you walk in His ways and live in awe of Him, then you will be blessed.

Fearing God means living under His authority and being in reverence of Him. Doing so affects all parts of your life; work, marriage, relationships, values, goals, and the influence you have on future generations. Your relationships are affected because you are someone who fears God. This psalm tells how your wife will be ‘fruitful’ meaning that she will develop, grow and invest in others. Your children are like ‘olive shoots’ - they require tender care, but they have the potential to become strong, robust olive trees. This psalm just mentions two of the types of relationships you can have, and as you can see, there is a promise of blessing, growth and fruitfulness when you put God first. Following God is good for you, for those you live with, care about and invest in. 

‘You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands, you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you’. What a great assurance! As someone who lives God’s way, God gives you work to do, and it will go well. This does not promise that it will be easy, the word ‘labour’ implies putting in effort! Yet you can be assured that through your work, you will be provided for and 'it shall be well with you'. God has things for you to do, you have the privilege of working, whether for money or not. It could be home-based, voluntary, in the community, in business or industry, it doesn’t matter. God has provided work for you to do, have you ever considered that the opportunity to work is a gift from God? God has given you the chance to, 'eat the fruit of the labour of your hands'. He has created you to be useful, productive and provide for yourself. Following God in the way you work is good for you, because it leads to your provision, but it will also be good for those you work with and the organisation. For, if your workload is blessed, other people benefit, profits are made and good reputation is built. 

Yet, above all of this, the first thing that this psalm states is, ‘blessed is everyone who fears the Lord’. Regardless of your family situation or work situation, if you are someone who lives life following God, you are blessed! It doesn't always feel like it, but you have to remember that God is not looking at the immediate. Following God is good for you, now and long-term. You have the blessing of the freedom from sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and an eternal hope. As well as the internal security, peace, comfort and strength that comes from following God's ways. Obedience to God carries a blessing now and forever. Are you aware of the blessings in your life now, and for eternity?

Although following God is good for you, it is not easy, otherwise everyone would do it. You have to persevere, be willing to change and do the things you don't want to, plus you have to patiently wait for the blessing sometimes. Just like a child waiting for their birthday. The blessing will come, but you need to wait, and keep trusting that God will give you good things. He will bless you in your work, in your family, and through the generations. Keep following, trusting and believing in Him and His Word and wait for ‘blessed is everyone who fears the Lord’. How do you see that God has blessed you today?

Is God your co-worker?

 Psalm 127:1–5 (ESV):  

1  Unless the Lord builds the house, 

those who build it labour in vain. 

  Unless the Lord watches over the city, 

the watchman stays awake in vain. 

 2  It is in vain that you rise up early 

and go late to rest, 

  eating the bread of anxious toil; 

for he gives to his beloved sleep. 

 3  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, 

the fruit of the womb a reward. 

 4  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior 

are the children of one’s youth. 

 5  Blessed is the man 

who fills his quiver with them! 

  He shall not be put to shame 

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. 

Whether you are building something, or watching over something or someone, you cannot do it well if you’re doing it without God! It doesn’t matter if you are building something big or small, or if you are watching over one person, a family, community, or a city, don’t do it without inviting God into the situation. Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, had discovered that doing life without God ‘it is in vain’. Through his considerations and research, he noticed that if you are working hard, trying to figure out problems and using your own capacity to complete the load, there is no satisfaction, rest or success because God is not involved. This does not mean that you should do nothing, this psalm isn’t about being idle. Solomon clearly expects there to be some kind of work for you to do. His insight is to get on with it WITH God. For God has given you tasks to get on with, people to care about and things to build, but not on your own. Your daily endeavours should be a co-partnership with The Lord God Almighty. Are you taking your load, and are you allowing God to take His?

Often people are stressed, overworked and anxious because they feel the weight of responsibility for whatever it is they are tasked with. They work hard to figure out solutions, wonder about progressing, how to fix or build things, and solve people’s problems. They rightly care about whatever it is they are doing for God has given them that opportunity. The problem is that people can forget that God was involved in providing this work, and the influence they have there, instead they think that it all depends on them. For those who are not yet believers in God, it is true that the workload is dependent on their capacity, kindness, strength and knowledge. They have to rely on their own abilities, for who else is there to help them? As a believer, you are not in the same position. You have a very capable, creative, understanding and powerful co-worker. The question is, are you using Him? Are you doing what you need to do with God, or working as hard as you can alone?

It is easy to slip into just getting on with it, using your own capabilities and capacity, only thinking to invite God in when it gets tough. If this is the case for you, Solomon is telling you that you are working ‘in vain’. You could have God’s help, strength and advice all of the time! Think about having God present and active in your workplace, home or community - can you imagine what would happen, the rapport between workmates, the breakthroughs in situations, the favour and success? Are you allowing this to happen, or are you getting in the way, by doing it all yourself?

Think about this; when you are relying on your own abilities, even if you have great capacity and skills, they are pretty small when compared to God. When you rely on your own strength and capacity, it is minuscule in comparison to the strength of the Lord. So you are going to suffer, and quite possibly make things worse, when you do not allow God room to participate with you. You can get up early and go to bed late in order to get things done, you can lose sleep, fret over situations and work as hard as you can, but for what?! It is in vain. When you do things by yourself, because you feel you can handle it, or you want to achieve something yourself, that is pride (vanity). You were never designed to work alone. Neglecting to work alongside God makes your life harder. It also isn’t very successful and leads to ‘anxious toil’ and sleeplessness (v2). You were designed to work alongside the Lord, not instead of Him. You are allowed to not worry and to rest. 

If what you are doing causes you stress and worry, like it does for everyone else, how are you any different to those who do not have God in their lives? Resting and working knowing that God is with you will help you avoid anxious toil, being overburdened and losing sleep. In whatever you have to do, you need to allow space for God to reveal Himself. If you are busy doing everything, how much are you allowing God to do? and how are you demonstrating your faith in Him? Remind yourself that God can do all things, you can’t. God gives you responsibility, work to do, and people to lead, but you do not have full authority or responsibility, He does. God desires that you share the load with Him, then you can rest and work well. With such a powerful co-worker, imagine what could happen.

Are you glad?

 Psalm 126:1–6 (ESV):  

1  When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, 

we were like those who dream. 

 2  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, 

and our tongue with shouts of joy; 

  then they said among the nations, 

“The Lord has done great things for them.” 

 3  The Lord has done great things for us; 

we are glad. 

 4  Restore our fortunes, O Lord, 

like streams in the Negeb! 

 5  Those who sow in tears 

shall reap with shouts of joy! 

 6  He who goes out weeping, 

bearing the seed for sowing, 

  shall come home with shouts of joy, 

bringing his sheaves with him. 

You can only really appreciate what you have got when you have gone through times where you have suffered. This psalm tells of the dream-like joy the people of Israel felt when they returned to their homeland after being in captivity. They had suffered physically and emotionally, they had been apart from familiarity, their homes and community, their routines disrupted, and faith shaken. Then, God made it possible for them to return - can you begin to imagine the joy?! They laughed and shouted in happiness, acknowledging that ‘The Lord has done great things for us’! Suddenly the joy of reconciliation and restoration outstripped the pain of suffering and exile. This had now been exchanged for the joy of reunion and restoration of their souls, faith and homeland. The Israelites would not have experienced that extent of happiness if there had not been the sowing in tears (v5). The depths of misery that they had known meant they could really appreciate coming ‘home with shouts of joy’. How much more beautiful does home seem when you have been away for a while? Imagine that magnified, due to being forced from home and prevented from returning, having been held captive elsewhere. The Israelites experienced that as a whole nation, imagine the noise of their jubilation; the singing, dancing, laughter, shouts and cries of joy. 

Through this time of great gladness, the people could clearly see the hand of God. They did not just express exuberant joy over the changed circumstances, they also acknowledged and celebrated how the situation had changed. They knew this restoration could not have been possible without God. He had taught them, protected them, favoured them and led them home. Therefore He was at the centre of their celebrations. It was so obvious that God had transformed the circumstances for Israel, as even those ‘among the nations’ declare, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The successful deliverance of Israel had far-reaching impact among nations! The joy, protection, and restoration of God’s people travelled to unnamed nations so that those not of God’s people, those with different faiths and cultures, could see and appreciate that there had to be a God involved in this rescue mission! What an amazing acknowledgement - that things like this do not happen unless there is God involved. Miraculous, unbelievable, unmerited favour and deliverance can only be from the hand of God. This can be seen even by those who do not yet know Him, who seem far off. Yet they are observing the lives of the people of God, and they notice what happens, and how they respond. The Israelites' experience and reaction shows other people outside of the nation that these people - they have the favour of Almighty God with them! What do people notice as they observe your life, attitude and responses? 

Are you telling people the stories from your life that celebrate God’s favour? You have things that you can joyfully tell people, about God's goodness, love, grace and power. There are incredible blessings, times of favour and deliverance you have experienced, so do not be shy about telling others about them. Whether the hearers are believers or not. For your stories could influence others to also see that God is still doing great things for His people, because of the great things He has done for you. 

So, celebrate and allow yourself to be glad, laugh, and cry with joy, for ‘The Lord has done great things for us’. Even when you are in a season of sorrow, lack or difficulty, you can be certain that there is a joy to come. This psalm explains that you will sow tears, lose fortunes, you will weep and mourn. Yet you will also bear fruit, sow seed, shout with joy, laugh and know abundance! All because of the love and favour of God! So, whether your season is one of joy or sorrow, keep your eyes fixed on Him and live to earn His favour. You don’t want to miss out on the shouts of joy, singing, dancing and laughing because life got hard and you turned your back on God, do you? 

Mountain of God

 Psalm 125:1–5 (ESV):  

1  Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, 

which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 

 2  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 

so the Lord surrounds his people, 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

 3  For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest 

on the land allotted to the righteous, 

  lest the righteous stretch out 

their hands to do wrong. 

 4  Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, 

and to those who are upright in their hearts! 

 5  But those who turn aside to their crooked ways 

the Lord will lead away with evildoers! 

Peace be upon Israel! 

Those who believe in God are like a mountain - formidable, unmovable, and constant. God’s people have constancy and permanence, reassurance and companionship, because together they cannot be moved and they are going to withstand, forever! When you gather with other believers, you are joining something abiding and immoveable, constant and eternal. If you need permanence and reassurance in your life, surely this gives you inspiration and hope. God's people, His church are like a mountain, secure and everlasting. Since the beginning, there have been God' people on the Earth, and no matter the problems, persecution and temptations that come, there is always a faithful remnant that remain as solid, faithful and constant as a mountain. Are you one such believer?

Not only are the people of God a magnificent mountain, but they also have the certainty and protection of God supporting and surrounding them too, as God is described in this psalm as a range of mountains (v1-2). God enhances His people’s solidarity as He provides security by His presence. He is bigger, greater and all encompassing, now and forever! God constantly and reliably surrounds His people for their security, safety and protection. This psalm provides an assurance of God’s continuous presence with His people. So, if you ever feel unsure or unsettled, recall to your mind that God’s people are ‘like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved', surrounded by the love and faithfulness of God 'forevermore'. 

Another guarantee in this psalm is that ‘the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous’. There will be wickedness in existence, that is sure, but it does not have permission to become permanent in the places given to God’s people. Righteous people have an awareness of, and come across wickedness in their lives, yet they are not surrounded by it, for they are already surrounded - by the constant, protective, eternal Almighty God! Sometimes as God’s people, we forget that. It can be easy to see evil practices and wickedness, as it is different and unacceptable to the way of God, so it stands out like a stain on a garment. Yet, it is only a blot, and although noticeable does not effect the function of the garment. The stain can be removed, it is not permanent and does not need to effect the rest of the clothing. Sometimes we see wickedness as obviously as a stain, and focus on this, rather than looking at the stability and faithfulness of the godly believers. Those who are surrounded by the love, care and protection of the best stain remover there is! The reality, as described in this psalm, is that sin and wickedness are not permanent features in the 'land allotted to the righteous'. So do not get distracted by the influence of evil or the impact of sin. Do not get sidetracked yourself by doing what you know you shouldn't, but if you do, thank God that through Jesus every blot and stain can be removed from your life. It has no permanence for God has dealt with it all through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Temptation is difficult to combat, but the New Testament promises us that when you ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7). Evil cannot remain amongst God’s people, although this psalm recognises that some will be ‘lead away with evildoers’. don’t let that be you - remain on the mountain, resist the devil, and remain faithful to God. It is up to you whether you remain within the mountain of believers, surrounded by the security of God's love, constancy and forgiveness, or ‘turn aside’ to the influences of evil around you. Righteousness leads to becoming a mountain with fellow believers. Going astray leads to instability and unrest. Where do you choose to dwell? Are you settling your life onto the mountain of believers, surrounded by the love, power and constancy of God? 

Is your help in the name of the Lord?

Psalm 124:1–8 (ESV):  

1  If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— 

let Israel now say— 

 2  if it had not been the Lord who was on our side 

when people rose up against us, 

 3  then they would have swallowed us up alive, 

when their anger was kindled against us; 

 4  then the flood would have swept us away, 

the torrent would have gone over us; 

 5  then over us would have gone 

the raging waters. 

 6  Blessed be the Lord, 

who has not given us 

as prey to their teeth! 

 7  We have escaped like a bird 

from the snare of the fowlers; 

  the snare is broken, 

and we have escaped! 

 8  Our help is in the name of the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth. 

You wouldn’t be where you are right now if it were not for God’s intervention. You wouldn’t have; survived, been as successful, as peaceful, as whole, or as strong as you are right now, if it were not for God’s hand upon your life. 

You may not feel strong, whole, mighty, free or at peace, but can you imagine what your life would be like if God wasn’t looking after you? Imagine what a mess you’d be in. You could be defeated, destroyed, in greater pain and distress, encompassed by sin, bound and swallowed up by anger. What kind of life would that be? Yet, ‘the snare has been broken’ and you have not been ‘swallowed up alive’! Not because of luck, your own quick thinking or actions, but because The Lord has been on your side. He has saved you from the ‘raging waters’, the full force of people’s anger, and you have escaped being prey ‘like a bird’ because your ‘help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’

Therefore, thank God! Thank Him that He is on your side, and that He helps you, and all of His followers. He has not allowed you to be overcome or defeated, He has facilitated your escape from trouble on this Earth, as well as rescuing you from the wages of sin for eternity - ‘the snare is broken and we have escaped’! What an incredible promise! It is God who has done this, all of it! It is not your own ideas or capability, strength or knowledge that has helped you out of trouble, but God has saved you. God has healed you, protected you, recused you, intervened for you and saved you from the wages of sin! He has helped you in more ways than you can count. 

So, simply and honestly, all you need to do is thank Him. Show your gratitude, sing praise, give to him, tell stories, shout and cry in triumph if you want to! Store up the stories. remember and tell others of the times you have ‘escaped like a bird’.  Acknowledge that God is the greatest help you have. You wouldn’t be the person you are today, having accomplished and survived what you have ‘if it had not been the Lord who was on our side’. Hallelujah!

Is God your Master?

 Psalm 123:1–4 (ESV):   

To you I lift up my eyes, 

O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 

 2  Behold, as the eyes of servants 

look to the hand of their master, 

  as the eyes of a maidservant 

to the hand of her mistress, 

  so our eyes look to the Lord our God, 

till he has mercy upon us. 

 3  Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, 

for we have had more than enough of contempt. 

 4  Our soul has had more than enough 

of the scorn of those who are at ease, 

of the contempt of the proud. 

How do you look at God? 

Do you look at Him as your Master? 

There are many terms which can be used to refer to God, which demonstrate aspects of His character and His role in our lives such as; Lord, Father, King, Master, Almighty, I am. Which titles of God do you use? Think about how that develops your understanding and expectations of Him. For all of the titles used are helpful and significant in helping you relate to God. He is so different, and so much more perfect than any of your experiences of what a good version of these titles are. The beauty, love, majesty and power of who God is can be displayed through using all of these titles as they profile specific attributes. Yet, sometimes it is easier or more comfortable to just lean into one or two of these, and so you miss the whole beauty of who God is.

I know that in Western society we are comfortable with referring to God as being Father and King. The problem with this is that most of us live in societies where fatherhood and kingship are not admired or respected in the way they once were. The king seems to have little power compared to the government in the UK or the kings of the past, and fathers are often unknown or absent. So, relating to God from this lens can be detrimental, as God could be seen as removed from your circumstances and with little influence. This is not a fair or true reflection of the love, might and presence that God has. Therefore it is good that God has many titles. You can then relate specific aspects of those roles to highlight the different virutes of God's character, and so receive a fuller picture of who He is. This psalm focuses on one such title, Master, which is one that i have observed seems to be rather overlooked in our society.

Regarding God as Master can be hard for us to relate to in the West, as we no longer live in a society where servants and masters are commonplace. It seems old fashioned, removed and irrelevant when we live in a society where equality is strived for. Yet it is a powerful truth that God is Master, so you need to somehow be able to comprehend the virtues of this role, in order to gain a greater understanding of who God is. The writer of this psalm helps us by showing us the beautiful interaction between master/mistress and servant. The servants ‘look to the hand of their master’ and ‘lift up my eyes’ to them. This clearly demonstrates that the servants live in submission to, and under the authority of their master or mistress. The servant awaits direction, even just the movement of the hand (v2) to know what they should do. They closely watch the movements and anticipate the needs of their master as they know it will go well for them when they respond rightly, and who knows what punishment will befall them if they do not?

Relating to God as Master acknowledges that you are a servant. That's not something that most of us like to think ourselves as, yet you are under the authority of the perfect Master when you live in submission to God. He is the One you need to look up to, observe carefully, and await direction from. If you are a follower of God, then you have a duty to be obedient to Him and serve Him. Believing in and loving God carry responsibility. Is this how you see God, and yourself? 

God is not a terrifying or terrible master, but a merciful one (v3). He will take care of you and treat you well, for He is the perfect Master. Therefore He makes sure the needs of His servants are met, and provides them with a shelter and an occupation. He will not harm you, disrespect you, embarrass you, forget you or let you down. He is perfectly good and trustworthy, and He is in charge and He knows best. You can trust Him to lead you well. 

Do you accept God as your Master? And will you respond to Him as His willing, watchful and waiting servant? 

What do you get excited about?

Psalm 122:1–9 (ESV):  

1  I was glad when they said to me, 

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!” 

 2  Our feet have been standing 

within your gates, O Jerusalem! 

 3  Jerusalem—built as a city 

that is bound firmly together, 

 4  to which the tribes go up, 

the tribes of the Lord, 

  as was decreed for Israel, 

to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 

 5  There thrones for judgment were set, 

the thrones of the house of David. 

 6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! 

“May they be secure who love you! 

 7  Peace be within your walls 

and security within your towers!” 

 8  For my brothers and companions’ sake 

I will say, “Peace be within you!” 

 9  For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, 

I will seek your good. 

It is clear that this psalmist is excited to have travelled to Jerusalem, and to be given the chance to go into the temple - look at how they marvel in verse 1 about standing just inside that city's gates! Is there anywhere that gets you excited like that? This writer recognises that Jerusalem has been a place of pilgrimage for generations of every tribe of Israel. A place where the whole nation gathers to remember and worship God. Not only that, but David chose Jerusalem to be his home when he was King of Israel, so the city has housed kings for centuries. For David there could be no better place to live than the holy city, the place where God is worshipped. Therefore Jerusalem became not only a spiritual centre, but also a political one. It became a city that draw together the earthly and the heavenly powers. No wonder the writer was excited to enter into this place of great renown and significance! They felt honoured to be there, and acknowledged the weight of significance of this city, which has been much fought over and written about. Their response to being in such an awe-inspiring place is to pray. 

They pray for this city to know peace, every part of it; the walls, towers, Israelites, friends, the house of the Lord and even unknown people who love what Jerusalem stands for. This person prays that this place, and the people who love God, should be marked by peace and security. How wonderful that this believer was so inspired and excited about being in the holy city, that they prayed. They prayed for it's peace and security, for the physical city and for those within it. 

How do you feel when you enter a place where people gather to God? Do you feel peaceful, safe, excited? The history of faith, the battles fought, and the triumph of God's kingdom should influence how you approach a place of worship. Some places are admittedly, more impressive and beautiful than others with their architecture. Yet does the thought that people of faith have entered into this place before you, sometimes for generations inspire you? Do you get excited by the faithfulness of God and His people that have impacted the city, town or village where you worship?

I wonder how you respond to the inspiring testimonies of faith, the history and faith displayed there. This psalmist prayed. He prayed that the city and the people would know peace and security. What a wonderful response to their excitement! What is your response to where you worship or live? 

Why not take some inspiration from this psalmist and start to pray for where you worship, ask God for His peace and security for this place and people. Even if you don't really like the location you can still pray, pray that ‘For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.’ Desire good for the place and the people and pray for it, if not because you want to, because you love and honour God and His presence. Pray for the area, every part of it; the buildings, businesses and believers. Pray that where you gather will be a place where people come in joy, anticipation, security and peace, because the Lord has built His house there, just like He did in Jerusalem.

Help!

 Psalm 121:1–8 (ESV):  

1  I lift up my eyes to the hills. 

From where does my help come? 

 2  My help comes from the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth. 

 3  He will not let your foot be moved; 

he who keeps you will not slumber. 

 4  Behold, he who keeps Israel 

will neither slumber nor sleep. 

 5  The Lord is your keeper; 

the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 

 6  The sun shall not strike you by day, 

nor the moon by night. 

 7  The Lord will keep you from all evil; 

he will keep your life. 

 8  The Lord will keep 

your going out and your coming in 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

Who helps you and who do you help?

It is great to feel useful, to desire to help people, and to be helped. At times, we need it, some people require more help than others, but all of us at some point realise that we cannot do this life alone, and we need some support. The thing is, have you ever encountered a situation where the support offered, or the support you have offered is not actually helpful? I know i have. Where someone has the desire to help, but often it takes longer or makes the problem worse, not because they are trying to scupper things, but because although the person is willing, they are not able to provide the right kind of help needed in that situation. We can all be that person if we are not careful. 

There are situations when people require help, but you are not the right person to provide it. This means that you need to put pride aside, and allow other sources of help to step in. There are also people who always seem to need help with something, but really they need to learn to become capable themselves rather than getting others to do things for them all of the time. In addition, there are times when we step in to help, and we shouldn’t because our help is not what is needed, and God has a bigger plan than fixing this issue by human means. So, when there is a situation where help is needed, do you give God a chance to be the One who helps? 

Is God your first port of call when there is something awry? Whether it’s a health or financial issue, a mechanical problem or a work issue, a relational discord or community welfare? Like the psalmist, do you look to God for help in all of these things? Or do you just look to Him when things get REALLY bad? Don't get me wrong, there are some simple things that we should just get on with, like a screw needing tightening, a ripped garment mending, or an injury tending to. But, what about the bigger things? The more complex problems, where there is no clear or easy path? Do you lift your eyes up before you act, or jump in to help someone then?

The promise in this psalm is that God helps. Plus He is; creator, guide, sustainer, provider, protector, leader, truth bringer, watchman, eternal, and He is ready. This is great news! Surely, you want someone like this helping you?! One who is capable, considerate, kind, honest, wise and powerful, Our God, is ready and waiting to help you and others in your life who need help. You don’t have to wait for disaster to strike or things to get desperate before asking God to intervene, He is ready and available now to listen and to help. He can help with the big and the small things, the practical, emotional and political things. God can help with any problem you have, no matter how time-consuming or complex, He knows all about it already, the question is, are you giving God opportunity to act? People can get busy trying to solve the problems of life themselves in their own lives and for others. Yet, people are finite and fallible, God is not. God is your keeper now and forever more (v7-8). Are you giving Him opportunity to act when help is needed? Is your first response to jump in, or do you ask yourself, 'From where does my help come?'.