Praise the Lord!

 Psalm 148:1–14 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  Praise the Lord from the heavens; 

praise him in the heights! 

 2  Praise him, all his angels; 

praise him, all his hosts! 

 3  Praise him, sun and moon, 

praise him, all you shining stars! 

 4  Praise him, you highest heavens, 

and you waters above the heavens! 

 5  Let them praise the name of the Lord! 

For he commanded and they were created. 

 6  And he established them forever and ever; 

he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. 

 7  Praise the Lord from the earth, 

you great sea creatures and all deeps, 

 8  fire and hail, snow and mist, 

stormy wind fulfilling his word! 

 9  Mountains and all hills, 

fruit trees and all cedars! 

 10  Beasts and all livestock, 

creeping things and flying birds! 

 11  Kings of the earth and all peoples, 

princes and all rulers of the earth! 

 12  Young men and maidens together, 

old men and children! 

 13  Let them praise the name of the Lord, 

for his name alone is exalted; 

his majesty is above earth and heaven. 

 14  He has raised up a horn for his people, 

praise for all his saints, 

for the people of Israel who are near to him. 

  Praise the Lord! 

What should give praise to God?

Everything! Any creature in heaven, anything that has been created by Him, the angels and all who are in God’s presence in heaven. The; sun, moon and stars, the sky and the ‘waters above the heavens’, anything on Earth from the biggest to the smallest, and the deepest sea creatures. All sorts of weather, tall mountains to small hills, fruitful and non-fruitful trees. All animals; the scary, cute, ugly, walking, slithering and flying ones. The greatest of all people, to the least and the young men, women and children. 

All have a duty to praise God. 

I do not know about you, but I have never thought of the wind or fire praising God. Yet they can and do, isn't that marvellous?! If you are not sure how you can you praise The Lord today, take a look around you; Is it windy or sunny, dark or light, are there any type of creature? Can you feel the fire or wind? Do you see hills, mountains, seas, trees, fire or creatures? Are there people of any gender, age or station near you? Take a look, and consider, each one was made to point to and praise God. Whatever your situation and wherever you are, you are surrounded by reminders of the greatness of God. So why not consider the things you are aware of to honour and praise The Lord today. They are, just by existing, so why not join with them and praise His name. All things were created to, ‘Praise the Lord!’ So make sure you also are joining in with the praise of creation today too.

Who does God take pleasure in?

 Psalm 147:1–20 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  For it is good to sing praises to our God; 

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. 

 2  The Lord builds up Jerusalem; 

he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 

 3  He heals the brokenhearted 

and binds up their wounds. 

 4  He determines the number of the stars; 

he gives to all of them their names. 

 5  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; 

his understanding is beyond measure. 

 6  The Lord lifts up the humble; 

he casts the wicked to the ground. 

 7  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; 

make melody to our God on the lyre! 

 8  He covers the heavens with clouds; 

he prepares rain for the earth; 

he makes grass grow on the hills. 

 9  He gives to the beasts their food, 

and to the young ravens that cry. 

 10  His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 

 11  but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, 

in those who hope in his steadfast love. 

 12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! 

Praise your God, O Zion! 

 13  For he strengthens the bars of your gates; 

he blesses your children within you. 

 14  He makes peace in your borders; 

he fills you with the finest of the wheat. 

 15  He sends out his command to the earth; 

his word runs swiftly. 

 16  He gives snow like wool; 

he scatters frost like ashes. 

 17  He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; 

who can stand before his cold? 

 18  He sends out his word, and melts them; 

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 

 19  He declares his word to Jacob, 

his statutes and rules to Israel. 

 20  He has not dealt thus with any other nation; 

they do not know his rules. 

  Praise the Lord! 

God is in control. He knows what He is doing. You cannot see the fullness of His plans, but you can know the truth that God sees, hears and knows what is going on, for He is ‘abundant in power’ and ‘his understanding is beyond measure’. So if you ever feel confused or overwhelmed by what is happening, that is to be expected! You do not have the mind of God and so cannot begin to comprehend the complexities of what He is doing, but, you can learn to trust Him because God is good, powerful, and He cares of His people. 

However God does not admire or appreciate the same things as you do, ‘his delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man’. He is not looking at the same things for beauty and strength. Instead, ‘the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love’. God does not take joy in things that look good to the eye, or even that are useful, but he enjoys people whose hearts are for Him. Those who trust Him even when life is confusing and overwhelming, and when they cannot anticipate the outcome. Those who hope in God, honour and follow Him when a simpler, nicer solution seems to present itself. People like this are who God ‘takes pleasure in’. Is that you?

Are you trusting God and looking for the things that God admires? Or are you busy looking with human eyes for beauty and strength? It is important to think about the things that you get excited about and admire. Do those things turn you towards God the creator, or towards those things? God made them all. If you want God to look at you with pleasure, think about what is capturing your heart and attention. Is it God, or are there other things that captivate you? For me, I love being in nature, being outside, seeing the trees, watching the rabbits and hearing the birds. I love it because it is exciting, I am often surprised by what I experience, and I see so clearly God’s hand in nature and creation. Nature is beautiful and strong, and points to our fascinating, imaginative and powerful Creator. From the magnificence of an ancient tree to the new shoots of spring, gigantic mountains and clear streams. When i see the outside world, i find it easy to see God. For nature, as wonderful and complex as it is, is not something to be worshipped in itself, even the strength of a horse (v10), but it demonstrates the incredible beauty of the One who made it, Almighty God. In the things of this world that you admire, do you look for the hand of the Creator behind them? This is how you can admire and appreciate things of this world, and honour God in doing so, by looking at the One who made them.

God can build and create things, and destroy them in an instant. So in the enjoyment of life, do not cast all of your hope in created things or people as they are temporary, but seek God and ‘hope in his steadfast love’. His love and presence will not fade or change, so put your trust in Him as He is eternal and secure. Do not simply seek the temporal pleasure of earthly things or people, but allow God’s steadfast love, power and delight to be your source of joy and strength. Trust in Him and obey Him for as you do, you can even give joy back to God by becoming one who ‘the Lord takes pleasure in’.

What do you trust in?

 Psalm 146:1–10 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

 Praise the Lord, O my soul! 

 2  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; 

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 

 3  Put not your trust in princes, 

in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 

 4  When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; 

on that very day his plans perish. 

 5  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, 

whose hope is in the Lord his God, 

 6  who made heaven and earth, 

the sea, and all that is in them, 

  who keeps faith forever; 

 7  who executes justice for the oppressed, 

who gives food to the hungry. 

  The Lord sets the prisoners free; 

 8  the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. 

  The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; 

the Lord loves the righteous. 

 9  The Lord watches over the sojourners; 

he upholds the widow and the fatherless, 

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 

 10  The Lord will reign forever, 

your God, O Zion, to all generations. 

  Praise the Lord! 

What do you trust in?

Are there things and people that you trust in other than God? Material goods will break or rust, and people at some point will let you down. Nothing and no-one else can offer you the salvation you need. People may be able to help you out for a bit, even for as long as they live, but eventually their support will end and run out. What then? 

Only God is everlasting and ever-loving. His love, favour, grace, compassion, comfort and support will never die. He ‘keeps faith forever’! He executes justice and gives food to the hungry, He sets people free and heals, He lifts up those who are down, looks out for travellers and takes especial care of the fatherless and widow. Whatever it is you need God can provide - are you asking Him to? He never runs out, He never gets fed up of hearing your pleas, even if they are the same ones. His breath will never end, His plans will never fade or be forgotten. He will be there whenever you call upon Him.

Are you totally trusting in God? God has everything in His mighty hands. You don’t need to take responsibility for solving all of the issues and problems that you see, or depend on other people or things to solve the difficulties that you face. Instead you can trust God with them. God has the power, resources, knowledge, compassion and kindness that you need. In times when you feel unsettled, where do you run to? Is there a particular person that you call, or an activity that you do to try yo make you feel better? Have you tried praying and reflecting on who God is instead? For ‘Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God’. This does not mean that you shouldn't talk to people about what is going on, or never do anything other than pray, but what is your first response? Nothing and no-one else can bless your life and give you eternal hope like God can. So, ‘put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation’ but hope in the Lord your God who will reign forever. God has made all of creation, and He has kept it running for however long the world has existed for, He reliably causes the sun to rise and set each day, so He can take care of you and your life, and those you care about. Hope in Him. The 'Lord loves the righteous', think about those you love and what you would do for them, then consider that God loves you the same way, so why not trust in Him?

Are you blessed?

 Psalm 144:1–15 (ESV):  

1  Blessed be the Lord, my rock, 

who trains my hands for war, 

and my fingers for battle; 

 2  he is my steadfast love and my fortress, 

my stronghold and my deliverer, 

  my shield and he in whom I take refuge, 

who subdues peoples under me. 

 3  O Lord, what is man that you regard him, 

or the son of man that you think of him? 

 4  Man is like a breath; 

his days are like a passing shadow. 

 5  Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! 

Touch the mountains so that they smoke! 

 6  Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; 

send out your arrows and rout them! 

 7  Stretch out your hand from on high; 

rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, 

from the hand of foreigners, 

 8  whose mouths speak lies 

and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 

 9  I will sing a new song to you, O God; 

upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, 

 10  who gives victory to kings, 

who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. 

 11  Rescue me and deliver me 

from the hand of foreigners, 

  whose mouths speak lies 

and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 

 12  May our sons in their youth 

be like plants full grown, 

  our daughters like corner pillars 

cut for the structure of a palace; 

 13  may our granaries be full, 

providing all kinds of produce; 

  may our sheep bring forth thousands 

and ten thousands in our fields; 

 14  may our cattle be heavy with young, 

suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; 

  may there be no cry of distress in our streets! 

 15  Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! 

Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! 

Overall, most of us want a peaceful, blessed life. One where we are loved, protected and spared suffering. Saved from being conned or hounded by lying and dangerous people, and having our families blessed so that our children can grow strong and fruitful. Then to add to that, one where we have enough or even an abundance of resources, so that we do not suffer and can bless others and let them know that God has poured favour upon us. This is the kind of life that everyone would probably desire, and see as a blessed life. It would include; protection from harm and wicked people, good health, lack of discomfort, having more than enough provisions, plus a fruitful and strong family. If you enjoyed such a life, it would be easy to see the blessings of God, right? The psalmist, i feel, challenges that thought in the last line, ‘Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!’ We can perceive that having all of these things are indicators of God’s favour, but you are blessed to even be called one of His people - have you ever thought of that?! Simply having God in your life, the One who you can talk to about the trials, inconveniences, successes, suffering, difficulties and breakthroughs of life, is a blessing. Knowing that you are in relationship with God is a blessing, for it means that you really can expect Him to come through in miraculous ways, like the psalmist requests in verses 5-7. You can ask God for miracles, for unbelievable and seemingly impossible things to occur, because you have the ear of God, and that is a blessing!

Your life may not be perfect, that is ok. The blessing of God does not mean that you will have a simple or perfect life. It does not mean that your life will be easy or that you’ll be saved trouble. Having God in your life means that you’ve got someone powerful, majestic and just to run to as a refuge when life does get tough. You have someone reliable, faithful and honest to speak into situations, to help you through it, to train you for battle and soothe your heart and mind when lies are thrown at you. You have One who can and will rescue you, who does regard you, and will even perform miracles! Even when it makes no sense, you have a wise, mighty and impressive God looking at and caring about your life (v 3-4). 

'O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.' You, in the eyes of the World are small and insignificant, and should be in the eyes of God too, but to God you are worth training, investing in and fighting for because you are one of His people. That is why you can run to Him, expecting Him to be your stronghold and salvation. God loves you and will see you through because you are His. You may be small and as delicate as a breath, but when you have Almighty God with you, you have power and strength that no-one else can match.

The reality is that you are blessed when you acknowledge that God is The Lord of your life. There is no greater or superior blessing that you can receive than that. Yet God is so generous that He pours out His favour to you in other ways too, you will see breakthrough, salvation and fruitfulness but remember that these are just extras on top of the blessing of knowing God. Other people consider being blessed to look like; having a successful job, coming into money, having children that are strong and fruitful, being free from harm, healed and lacking suffering. Yet that is not true. These things are bonuses, and when you experience them do appreciate them and choose to see them as an addition to the greatest blessing you already enjoy. For 'Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!' You are blessed because you are considered one of God’s own. That is the greatest and most secure blessing you could know. Other things and people come and go, so do not rely on them to know you are blessed of God, you are already living in favour as you have the heart of God with you. 

Why choose God and not worldy things?

 Psalm 135:1–21 (ESV): 

1 Praise the Lord! 

Praise the name of the Lord, 

give praise, O servants of the Lord, 

 2  who stand in the house of the Lord, 

in the courts of the house of our God! 

 3  Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; 

sing to his name, for it is pleasant! 

 4  For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, 

Israel as his own possession. 

 5  For I know that the Lord is great, 

and that our Lord is above all gods. 

 6  Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, 

in heaven and on earth, 

in the seas and all deeps. 

 7  He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, 

who makes lightnings for the rain 

and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. 

 8  He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, 

both of man and of beast; 

 9  who in your midst, O Egypt, 

sent signs and wonders 

against Pharaoh and all his servants; 

 10  who struck down many nations 

and killed mighty kings, 

 11  Sihon, king of the Amorites, 

and Og, king of Bashan, 

and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 

 12  and gave their land as a heritage, 

a heritage to his people Israel. 

 13  Your name, O Lord, endures forever, 

your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. 

 14  For the Lord will vindicate his people 

and have compassion on his servants. 

 15  The idols of the nations are silver and gold, 

the work of human hands. 

 16  They have mouths, but do not speak; 

they have eyes, but do not see; 

 17  they have ears, but do not hear, 

nor is there any breath in their mouths. 

 18  Those who make them become like them, 

so do all who trust in them. 

 19  O house of Israel, bless the Lord! 

O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 

 20  O house of Levi, bless the Lord! 

You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 

 21  Blessed be the Lord from Zion, 

he who dwells in Jerusalem! 

  Praise the Lord! 

If you are feeling down or powerless, low or uncertain, disappointed or lacking faith, or joyful and desiring to praise God - then this psalm will do you good. It is full of reason and encouragement to remember some of the facts as to why God is brilliant, and gives examples of how you know you can trust Him. So, as a reminder today, here are some reasons you should praise God, because He:

• Is good
• Has chosen you 
• Is great
• Is above all gods
• Does what He pleases
• Reigns in the heavens and earth
• Controls the weather
• Performed miracles in Egypt
• Has power over man and beast
• Performs signs and wonders
• Works for His people and against their enemies
• Has struck down many nations
• Has defeated many kings
• Provides dwelling places for His people
• Is famous throughout all time
• Lives forever
• Will vindicate His people
• Has compassion on His servants
• Lives amongst us

What or who else could you worship or praise that can do and has done all this?! Therefore do not get distracted by other things such as ‘the idols of the nations’ like 'silver and gold, the work of human hands’. Remember, instead the creator of those things! The one who hears and speaks, who works and never sleeps, who lives and breathes and even gives you breath! He is the one who is worthy of your attention, your full focus. Is your mind preoccupied with stuff or things that are material, not eternal? If so, take another look at this psalm and consider what is really worthy of your attention. For cars breakdown, houses crumble, money loses it's worth, and people are fickle. Live your life looking for and admiring the One who created all of these things and will outlive them.

There is an Almighty, Creator God who has; provided, heard, seen, performed wonders, who is in charge and ensures His will is done, who also lives forever and cares about your little life. In this psalm there is a promise that this same God, ‘will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants’. Are you one of His people, are you living as His servant? If so, He will act on your behalf, showing you compassion and releasing you from false accusations and harm. Do you see God for who He really is and what He can do? This psalm holds some incredible reminders of the character of God and the amazing things He does. Are you giving God the opportunity to come through, trusting that He will vindicate and bring compassion, or are you trying to force your own way? This world and the things within it can be enticing and confusing. There are temptations, stuff and experiences that are appealing and offer solutions, but will they really fulfill their claims? Remember the things of the world have no ability to speak, see or hear, yet they seem to promise so much. Yet God, He promises much and delivers it - just take a look at His track record!

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?

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'.

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? 

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!

Where do you look for love?

 Psalm 118:1–29 (ESV): 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

for his steadfast love endures forever! 

 2  Let Israel say, 

“His steadfast love endures forever.” 

 3  Let the house of Aaron say, 

“His steadfast love endures forever.” 

 4  Let those who fear the Lord say, 

“His steadfast love endures forever.” 

 5  Out of my distress I called on the Lord; 

the Lord answered me and set me free. 

 6  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. 

What can man do to me? 

 7  The Lord is on my side as my helper; 

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 

 8  It is better to take refuge in the Lord 

than to trust in man. 

 9  It is better to take refuge in the Lord 

than to trust in princes. 

 10  All nations surrounded me; 

in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 

 11  They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; 

in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 

 12  They surrounded me like bees; 

they went out like a fire among thorns; 

in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 

 13  I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, 

but the Lord helped me. 

 14  The Lord is my strength and my song; 

he has become my salvation. 

 15  Glad songs of salvation 

are in the tents of the righteous: 

  “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, 

 16  the right hand of the Lord exalts, 

the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!” 

 17  I shall not die, but I shall live, 

and recount the deeds of the Lord. 

 18  The Lord has disciplined me severely, 

but he has not given me over to death. 

 19  Open to me the gates of righteousness, 

that I may enter through them 

and give thanks to the Lord. 

 20  This is the gate of the Lord; 

the righteous shall enter through it. 

 21  I thank you that you have answered me 

and have become my salvation. 

 22  The stone that the builders rejected 

has become the cornerstone. 

 23  This is the Lord’s doing; 

it is marvellous in our eyes. 

 24  This is the day that the Lord has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

 25  Save us, we pray, O Lord! 

O Lord, we pray, give us success! 

 26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 

We bless you from the house of the Lord. 

 27  The Lord is God, 

and he has made his light to shine upon us. 

 Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, 

up to the horns of the altar! 

 28  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; 

you are my God; I will extol you. 

 29  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

for his steadfast love endures forever! 

All people are invited to recognise the steadfast love of the Lord. All of those from the nation of Israel - the original chosen people of God. The ‘house of Aaron’ - those selected for religious service to God through their work. As well as anyone who fears the Lord - all who choose to believe in Him. All people, whether they feel set apart or not, whether they are ethnically Jewish or not, work in a church setting or not, everyone has the privilege of receiving and recognising the steadfast love of God. His love and faithfulness are available and accessible to all. Are you living knowing that you are surrounded and supported by the steadfast love of God?

Do not look anywhere else for love or salvation, for only those who look to God as their helper and companion (v5-6) are able to say, ‘The Lord is on my side. I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ In all circumstances, follow Him and trust Him. Then you have the assurance of His presence, power and love working for your good. God’s steadfast love never departs or fades, it outlives everything, every person, trial and success, His love will last for all eternity. It is steadfast, secure, strong, God’s love will never let you down. No wonder the psalmist says, ‘it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.’ God can be depended upon because He always was and He always is. 

You can trust Him in the battles of life because God is honest and loves justice. Therefore He will reveal truth and cause things to work out for the glory of His kingdom every time. So, keep calling out to God when you feel persecuted, surrounded, let down and alone. Remember how this psalmist kept going, even when they felt hard pressed and surrounded by enemies (v10-13). In those times they called out to God, they didn’t trust in any other way, any other scheme, any other person, they trusted in God, and they survived and were victorious! They lived to give honour to God for His miraculous deliverance. You can have a similar outcome when you hold firm to God. 

People will let you down, they will forget, go back on their word, change their allegiance, give up, get distracted and become too busy. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t care, just that they are not capable of providing the steadfast love and support you require. If you expect people to provide you comfort, salvation, strength and joy, you are looking for it in the wrong place. Only God can be your constant helper, protector, deliverer and refuge. He is your deliverer, protector, help, comforter, strength, Lord and saviour - are you looking to Him to for those things or elsewhere?

Loved eternally, beyond measure and mistakes

 Psalm 117:1–2 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord, all nations! 

Extol him, all peoples! 

 2  For great is his steadfast love toward us, 

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. 

 Praise the Lord! 

Short and sweet this psalm, a mere two verses. Yet, take the time to consider their focus and you can spend hours letting them lead you to worship the God they speak of!

Firstly, there is an invitation for all people to worship God, all people! Written at a time when Israel was the only holy nation, the only people with the ark of the covenant, or a temple to the Living God. When specific stipulations and cleansing rituals had to be completed before entering this temple, the psalmist uses his few lines to tell ALL people to honour, love and praise the same God. God has always wanted everyone to come to Him. From all walks of life, all nations of the Earth, young and old, rich and poor, no matter how perfect or imperfect, capable or not, intelligent or not, healthy or not, all people are invited and welcomed to praise the Lord! You do not have to be perfect, sin-free or righteous to approach God, just willing to say yes because you’ve been invited! God loves you so much, He wants to meet you and for you to get to know who He is.

This psalm states, ‘For great is his steadfast love toward us’. Are you seeking to be loved? God’s love is so great that He can invite all people to share His heart and His love. His love is big enough to include everyone into His family. His love is so strong and secure that He can accept and forgive anyone and everyone, no exceptions. No matter what - His love never fails, never wears down, never fades, never gets fed up, never has enough and never walks out on you. His love instead is, 'steadfast' and ‘endures forever’! 

Do you want to receive this kind of love today? To know that you are;  loved unconditionally, without compromise or conditions and welcomed whether you have had a good day or not, behaved well or not. This love is available to you. It is available to all people and can only be found in one place. The Lord our God loves you like that. Stop seeking for this steadfast love in other places, other people and other things, they will only disappoint you, they cannot love you like this. Only the Living God can provide you eternal, steadfast love. His love is available right now, do you accept it?

You can accept and revel in being loved beyond measure, beyond mistakes and successes, beyond background and culture, beyond yesterday and today, for great is His steadfast love towards you. Praise the Lord!

What are you allowing to influence your life?

Psalm 115:1–18 (ESV):

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, 

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 

 2  Why should the nations say, 

“Where is their God?” 

 3  Our God is in the heavens; 

he does all that he pleases. 

 4  Their idols are silver and gold, 

the work of human hands. 

 5  They have mouths, but do not speak; 

eyes, but do not see. 

 6  They have ears, but do not hear; 

noses, but do not smell. 

 7  They have hands, but do not feel; 

feet, but do not walk; 

and they do not make a sound in their throat. 

 8  Those who make them become like them; 

so do all who trust in them. 

 9  O Israel, trust in the Lord! 

He is their help and their shield. 

 10  O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! 

He is their help and their shield. 

 11  You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! 

He is their help and their shield. 

 12  The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; 

he will bless the house of Israel; 

he will bless the house of Aaron; 

 13  he will bless those who fear the Lord, 

both the small and the great. 

 14  May the Lord give you increase, 

you and your children! 

 15  May you be blessed by the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth! 

 16  The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, 

but the earth he has given to the children of man. 

 17  The dead do not praise the Lord, 

nor do any who go down into silence. 

 18  But we will bless the Lord 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

  Praise the Lord! 

What are you allowing to influence your life? Is it the living God or things that are created by human hands?

In the days this psalm was written, people worshipped man-made items which represented gods. This still happens in different religions and cultures, but in Western civilisation it is not as common. This does not mean that we are immune from idol-worship though. How about trusting in money, working to get a great house or saving for your dream car? Then, once that has been attained, endeavouring to protect, develop, appreciate and trust in the beauty, structure, success or safety these things seem to provide. This is how everyday things, stuff that we desire, or believe can make a foundational difference to our lives through their beneficial aspects, can become idols. Anything that is man-made that we find undue joy in, fascination or desire for, becomes an idol as we allow it to influence our lives. When an object begins to  have an impact on your behaviours, efforts, affections and finances, it has become and idol. 

Yet these things are designed and manufactured by mere mortals, by human hands, they will not last and will not fulfil your desires. They are designed for a purpose, but they are not meant to be worshipped and admired to the degree that they influence the pattern of your life. Ultimately the things that become idols  will not satisfy, bring hope, the joy they provide is short-lived and the security you find in them will wane. Something better might come along, there may be a disaster that strikes, and that thing will let you down. It was never meant to have such a prominent place in your heart and mind. What happens when the idol no longer satisfies, brings what you thought it would, or fails?

One of the problems is; idols have no hands, feet, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, or a mouth to speak to you. They cannot encourage you, comfort you, develop you or challenge you, yet they can change you. Be aware of how much you love and invest in stuff. Be on guard about how much of your attention and affection you provide to things. For the promise of this psalm is that those who desire such lifeless things ‘become like them’. Mute, immoveable, uncaring, stiff and lifeless. This is a stark warning. Is there is anything in your life that you are looking to for; satisfaction, security, guidance, hope, or a future, that isn’t God? Then consider - is it worth it? Surely you do not want to become as worthless, immoveable and mute as these idols! There is only One who is worthy of worship, who deserves all of your time, attention, finances and energy - that is the Lord God. Everything else should be in submission to Him. For in reality, He is the One who made everything, He alone is your help and shield, and is deserving of your trust. He alone can listen to and speak to you, He can comfort you, aid you and protect you. So, why worship the created when you can worship the creator?

‘Trust in the Lord’. He is the One who can offer real, intentional help and protection (v11). He has a mind to remember you (v12), He can bless you (v13) and impact your family for good (v14). Other things cannot, so do not give your life over to something that offers you less. Do not waste your time, money and efforts in attempting to build safety in man-made things. Do not put hope and joy in stuff, but consider where can you get real relationship, real security, real hope. Live your life trusting God and worshipping Him, the One who steadfastly loves you and is faithful. He will provide you with an everlasting security, hope and future, are you trusting in Him only?

The God of Jacob and of Judah

Psalm 114:1–8 (ESV): 

When Israel went out from Egypt, 

the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 

 2  Judah became his sanctuary, 

Israel his dominion. 

 3  The sea looked and fled; 

Jordan turned back. 

 4  The mountains skipped like rams, 

the hills like lambs. 

 5  What ails you, O sea, that you flee? 

O Jordan, that you turn back? 

 6  O mountains, that you skip like rams? 

O hills, like lambs? 

 7  Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, 

at the presence of the God of Jacob, 

 8  who turns the rock into a pool of water, 

the flint into a spring of water. 

This psalm refers to the nation of Israel in several ways to emphasise different aspects of their experience. One of these is the ‘house of Jacob’.  This refers to those who entered Egypt during the years that Joseph was second in command in that nation. When he invited his family to come and reside in Goshen with permission of the Pharaoh. Therefore it is appropriate that this psalm links the nation’s escape from Egypt to the people who entered it. For these are the ones from whom all the Israelites have descended from since being there. What once started off in Egypt as a poor, withering family due to famine, had become a vast and prospering people, significant enough to become a nation! Thus demonstrating something of the perfect plan, power and purposes of God, even in their slavery and oppression. Even though the Israelites were downtrodden and ill-treated for generations, they had become numerous, so much so that the current Pharaoh and Egyptians now considered them a threat. So, referring to the people of Israel as the house of Jacob tells a story. It is a reminder of what God has done and can do. For His might and power are always the pervading authority no matter the circumstances! 

The people who left Egypt are also named as Judah, the leading tribe of the nation of Israel. Judah was known for it’s power, strength, and for the fact that the promised Messiah would come from them. This is the tribe that ‘became his sanctuary’, a place of safety, security and the presence of God thereby signifying His holiness and strength. Once the nation arrived at the Promised Land, the holy town of Jerusalem where the temple was built was in Judah, centrally located, just as God is central to the nation of Israel, His chosen people.

We can see that through simply identifying different names for Israel, this psalmist connects the Israelites past to the the future promises of God. It reminds us of God's favour, His work through the trials, and His assurance that wherever His people are, He will be at the centre, providing His holiness and strength, and always fulfilling His promises. Where God's people are, there He is, whatever they are going through, He has a plan, whoever seems to be in power, He is more powerful and He looks over and cares for His own. 

This psalm continues to tells us that at the mere sight of this nation, ‘the sea looked and fled’ and ‘the mountains skipped like rams’. For ‘the presence of the Lord’ is with His people. Do you know that the presence of God is STILL with His people, as magnificent and powerful today as it was then? 

God can and does still do miraculous and incredible things through and for His people. He is still redeeming people from slavery, providing for their needs, helping them escape and endure oppression, causing natural phenomena to protect and guide them. God can and does mighty works today in the lives of those who follow Him, whether it is following Him to another town or nation, through difficulty or into freedom and blessing, you can still see God working today. 

Therefore expect the unexpected, pray big and keep following Him for who knows how you will see God’s might and power displayed next -  He is the God of Jacob, the God of Judah, and the God of those who follow Him. So, you can trust Him with whatever season of life you are in, and in all circumstances.

Do you fear the Lord?

Psalm 112:1–10 (ESV): 

1 Praise the Lord! 

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, 

who greatly delights in his commandments! 

 2  His offspring will be mighty in the land; 

the generation of the upright will be blessed. 

 3  Wealth and riches are in his house, 

and his righteousness endures forever. 

 4  Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; 

he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. 

 5  It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; 

who conducts his affairs with justice. 

 6  For the righteous will never be moved; 

he will be remembered forever. 

 7  He is not afraid of bad news; 

his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 

 8  His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, 

until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 

 9  He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; 

his righteousness endures forever; 

his horn is exalted in honour. 

 10  The wicked man sees it and is angry; 

he gnashes his teeth and melts away; 

the desire of the wicked will perish! 

‘Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!’ What does it really mean to live as one who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments? A person who fears the Lord is not just a good, happy person who says that they know there is a God. The person who ‘fears the Lord’ is someone who is in awe of God and faithfully obeys Him, in the big and that small matters. Are you such a person? 

It is important to consider this as the psalm states, ‘blessed is the man who fears the Lord’. There is an automatic, guaranteed favour upon those who fear God. This includes a blessing upon their children - they will be mighty, plus their generation will be blessed! All because a person fears the Lord. So if you want to make an impact in the world, want your children to be mighty, and you want to have a positive influence in your generation - learn how to fear the Lord! Helpfully, this psalm gives some indicators as to what someone who fears God looks like, so that you can be someone who is blessed of God who influences generations.

One of the first elements that is expressed of such a person is, ‘Light dawns in the darkness for the upright’. Oh dear, that doesn’t sound much fun does it?! There will be darkness for the one who fears God. At times it will feel scary, confusing and difficult for there will be dark times. Yet when the upright one demonsrtates grace, mercy and righteousness, light will dawn (v4). This is not saying the light will obliterate the pain and difficulty of the dark times, but that one who fears God will come to notice a measure of light. A direction, help and hope which will, in time, transform the darkness just like the dawn does. For the dawn doesn’t remain a glimmer, but it is the beginning of the assurance that a new day is arriving. For the righteous person, when they remain gracious, merciful and righteous throughout the difficult dark times, they demonstrate their faith and fear of the Lord God through conducting themselves in a right manner. Their faith and godly conduct brings an undeniable hope and assurance that is set not on what is around them, but who they know is above them. The person who fears God is someone who is seen as faithful and good throughout the good and the bad seasons. This reminds me that the New Testament says, ‘by their fruits you shall know them’ (Matthew 7:16). This means that you can tell what type of person someone is, not for what they say, but by the results of their words and actions. For when someone produces good fruit, it is because they are healthy and good on the inside. Their faith is genuine and their fear of God real. This psalm expresses the same thing. You can tell if a person lives the faith they profess if they continue to pursue righteousness, grace and mercy throughout the tough times. When you are under pressure, and see that you are in the darkness, do you maintain your integrity? Do you steadfastly believe and trust in God, remaining righteous, gracious and merciful to those around you, ready to forgive and love? This is the way of the one who fears the Lord.

The one who fears God also considers carefully how they handle money. ‘It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.’ Being a good steward of the resources you have is important to God, and so it should be to you too. Do you deal fairly with money? Are you honest about the taxes you pay, the way you lend or borrow? Do you pay people back, and are you generous with what you have? If someone were to look at your bank account today, how would you feel, and what would they see? Your bank account reveals what you value as you spend money on the things that you deem necessary and important. So, does the way you handle money reflect the values of God? He wants to give His righteous ones ‘wealth and riches’, could God trust you with handling such favour well, for the glory of His kingdom?

Next, how do you respond to bad news? Whether that is national, international, or personal bad news. What is your reaction?  Some people become full of fear and grief and these emotions dictate their response. Although it is natural to have emotional responses to the things that occur, is your faith affected? ‘For the righteous will never be moved’. No matter what hits the one who fears the Lord, their trust in God, faith and faithfulness will not falter. They will get emotionally and physically impacted, but they do not let their emotions overcome them. Instead their emotions are overcome by faith. Their hearts are firm not because of circumstance, not because they do not feel anything, or that they do not experience difficulties, but because they trust in God more than anything else. So what directs your responses when tragic news comes? You can be overwhelmed, hurt and disappointed, but do those emotions direct your actions, or does faith in God? Even when it does not make sense to you, even when you are in deep pain, what is the guiding factor in your responses - are feelings or faith in control? You can have a heart that is steady and free from fear (v8) when the only One you fear is the Lord God as then you will never be moved.

The one who fears the Lord will also demonstrate concern and support for others, namely the poor. Do you notice those people and show care to them? This psalm simply says that the one who fears God, ‘has given freely to the poor’. They pay attention to those less well off than themselves, and give to them without expecting anything in return. Throughout scripture we can see that God highly values the poor. He has deep regard and consideration for them, and so as one who fears Him, your response should reflect His. God has been generous, loving and giving to each of us, and so by taking care of others who need it, we have the great privilege of demonstrating a small part of who God is by generously sharing what He given you. 

In all of your affairs, as someone who fears the Lord, conduct them in righteousness, and generosity. Do what is right. There are no elements of life that are excluded from God’s expectation that you behave in a righteous manner. He expects those who fear Him to live lives of integrity, no matter the twists and turns they experience. When a man or woman of God lives in this way, they show that they are moved only by Almighty God. People can try and catch them out, but only righteousness, generosity, grace and mercy are revealed. No wonder their generation and future generations are blessed! ‘Blessed is the man who fears the Lord’! - will that be your story?

Wondrous works

 Psalm 111:1–10 (ESV): 

1 Praise the Lord! 

 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, 

in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 

 2  Great are the works of the Lord, 

studied by all who delight in them. 

 3  Full of splendour and majesty is his work, 

and his righteousness endures forever. 

 4  He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; 

the Lord is gracious and merciful. 

 5  He provides food for those who fear him; 

he remembers his covenant forever. 

 6  He has shown his people the power of his works, 

in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 

 7  The works of his hands are faithful and just; 

all his precepts are trustworthy; 

 8  they are established forever and ever, 

to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 

 9  He sent redemption to his people; 

he has commanded his covenant forever. 

Holy and awesome is his name! 

10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; 

all those who practice it have a good understanding. 

His praise endures forever! 

If you find it too much to consider God and His character, why not start by considering His works? This psalmist repeats the fact that God has performed works which demonstrate who He is and what He cares about. For the things that you; do, give your time to, and put effort into, show what you care about, and something of who you are. If someone were to study what you do and how you do it, they would get a good sense of who you are and what you value. The same is true for the works of God. If you study them, then you will get a good idea of who God is and what He is concerned about. 

This psalm shows us that the things God does are wonderful, great, and are sources of delight for those who consider them. The works of God are ‘full of splendour and majesty’, ‘faithful and just’. When you think about them you cannot fail to see power, love, consideration and perfection in them. Consider; healings, breakthroughs, miraculous provision, overthrowing of evil practices, unmasking of deception, defeated powers that quash the people of God, both in the past and in the present. What do these things show of who God is? For me, it shows that God is powerful, He can overrule any power of nature, interrupt any process and perform incredible, mighty acts of restoration and destruction that no-one could foresee. It shows me that I can trust God with the big and small things because He has influence and can do greater things than i can imagine. God is reliable, kind, and cares about the long-term for His people. He is not interested in short-term gains like we often are. God is not concerned with our comfort but our faith and the benefit of His people as a whole.  These are just some of the conclusions i can draw from the works of God that i have seen and read about. What do you see of God from what you have seen or heard Him do?

When we contemplate and talk about the deeds of God, they inspire praise and awe of Him amongst His people for ‘He has shown his people the power of his works’. It is important that we remind ourselves and others of His works, even sharing the same stories as they help us see God’s nature. By so doing we can help others realise that God is trustworthy, faithful, good, wise, noble, fair, righteous, caring and has great foresight. So, when was the last time you shared a joyful story about what God has done? It can be your story or someone else's or one from scripture that has inspired you. God, 'has caused his wondrous works to be remembered', these stories and experiences are not just for you, but to be shared in order to encourage and build up other brothers and sisters of faith. Recalling what God has done will build faith, joy, hope and bring a natural overflow of praise. It does us good to look at and consider His works. This psalmist tells us that God’s works cause His people delight so that they overflow with gratitude - are you thankful today for the things God has done? For His works are; great, splendid, incredible, majestic, righteous, wonderful, powerful, faithful, just and upright!

This psalm concludes, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!’ Considering the works of God should fill you with awe of Him. The fear of the Lord is a wonder at how great and mighty He is. So as you consider God and the things He does, allow awe and wonder build, as you see and share His wondrous works. Then you will begin to taste what wisdom is.

The lord of The Lord

Psalm 110:1–7 (ESV):  

1  The Lord says to my Lord: 

“Sit at my right hand, 

  until I make your enemies your footstool.” 

 2  The Lord sends forth from Zion 

your mighty scepter. 

Rule in the midst of your enemies! 

 3  Your people will offer themselves freely 

on the day of your power, 

in holy garments; 

  from the womb of the morning, 

the dew of your youth will be yours. 

 4  The Lord has sworn 

and will not change his mind, 

  “You are a priest forever 

after the order of Melchizedek.” 

 5  The Lord is at your right hand; 

he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 

 6  He will execute judgment among the nations, 

filling them with corpses; 

  he will shatter chiefs 

over the wide earth. 

 7  He will drink from the brook by the way; 

therefore he will lift up his head. 

This psalm is a revelation that David had that there is a power and authority greater than any influence or position anyone can hold on Earth. He starts off by expressing, ‘the Lord says to my lord’, this indicates that David, even as a king, is in submission to someone higher, his 'lord'. David accepted and enjoyed that fact. For he knew that no matter how powerful, rich or renowned he may get, there is another greater than him in heaven. God revealed to David that there is a lord of the Lord. This is Jesus. 

I think it is amazing how God reveals himself to us. David dld not have the knowledge or understanding of what God had planned. He only had Old Testament scriptures to read to find out anything about God. So when God chose to speak to David the words of these psalm, it must have seemed incredible. David could not fully grasp what was being told to him, but we know can see that God spoke to David about His Son Jesus. God did not explicitly reveal what was to come, but he gave David indicators of what the future would hold. These things would have been strange to the ancient Israelite mind, however when David had this revelation of a lord of the Lord, he knew that this information was inspired by God and of importance so he wrote it down. Even though David could not fully understand it himself, he realised that what God was showing him was significant enough to make the effort to record it. This lord, God revealed, was to be a ruler, have power, be holy, bring judgement, be a priest ‘after the order of Melchizedek’ and sit at God’s side, yet drink water like the rest of humanity does. This revelation showed this lord’s humanity, humility and holiness, and Jesus fulfils each of these. 

What a revelation that David had! Here we are thousands of years later, reading in awe that God has been revealing his Son for thousands of years - even to people who cannot fully grasp what it means! David wrote this about one thousand years before Jesus was even born. Then, during his ministry, Jesus confirms these exact words brought to David - that he, Jesus, is the lord of the Lord, (documented in Matthew 22). Isn’t that incredible?! This writing was kept safe for that length of time, Jesus knew it, and we still get to read it 3,000 years later, plus we now understand it and can see how it points to Jesus! 

God has been revealing himself since the beginning of time and God speaks to His people. David, influenced by the Holy Spirit, wrote down this vision of the promised messiah. I am sure that most of what David wrote probably did not make much sense to Him. A lord of the Lord, people freely giving themselves to God, and being clothed in holiness. This would have been difficult for David and those of his time to imagine how this could be possible. For they lived at a time when Israel alone was the holy nation, the only people set apart for God, they alone were His people. So how can any person who chooses to; give themselves to God, become holy, and be one of His people? The Levites, the set apart priests were the holiest people you could get. Yet they had to go through rituals of cleansing to be sanctified, and that just lasted for a short time in order to perform their duties. So, how can there be people ‘in holy garments’ just because they ‘offer themselves freely’? This was so far beyond David’s experience and the Israelites that it must have brought confused hope as well as an awe of God. I bet those that read or heard these words at the time wondered how any of this could be possible. 

How privileged are we that we now live in those foretold days. We can approach God freely, no animal blood required, no cleansing rituals, no set appointments, dates, festivals, times or places. You can offer yourself freely today into the hands of God. You do not have to be from a particular background, culture or nation, or even particularly good, you can freely come into the presence of God and be made holy! For ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind’! The promise that God made to David, was that Jesus would come, and that people can come to him of their own accord and be made holy. You can do that today. You are invited and welcomed into His presence, always and whenever you like, because Jesus has made you holy. God has been planning and preparing for millennia that people like you and I can become holy, without sin, and become His family. Isn’t that awesome?!

Wondrous works

 Psalm 107:1–43 (ESV): 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, 

for his steadfast love endures forever! 

 2  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, 

whom he has redeemed from trouble 

 3  and gathered in from the lands, 

from the east and from the west, 

from the north and from the south. 

 4  Some wandered in desert wastes, 

finding no way to a city to dwell in; 

 5  hungry and thirsty, 

their soul fainted within them. 

 6  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 7  He led them by a straight way 

till they reached a city to dwell in. 

 8  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 9  For he satisfies the longing soul, 

and the hungry soul he fills with good things. 

 10  Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, 

prisoners in affliction and in irons, 

 11  for they had rebelled against the words of God, 

and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 

 12  So he bowed their hearts down with hard labour; 

they fell down, with none to help. 

 13  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, 

and burst their bonds apart. 

 15  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 16  For he shatters the doors of bronze 

and cuts in two the bars of iron. 

 17  Some were fools through their sinful ways, 

and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 

 18  they loathed any kind of food, 

and they drew near to the gates of death. 

 19  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 20  He sent out his word and healed them, 

and delivered them from their destruction. 

 21  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 22  And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, 

and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! 

 23  Some went down to the sea in ships, 

doing business on the great waters; 

 24  they saw the deeds of the Lord, 

his wondrous works in the deep. 

 25  For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, 

which lifted up the waves of the sea. 

 26  They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; 

their courage melted away in their evil plight; 

 27  they reeled and staggered like drunken men 

and were at their wits’ end. 

 28  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 29  He made the storm be still, 

and the waves of the sea were hushed. 

 30  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, 

and he brought them to their desired haven. 

 31  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 32  Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, 

and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 

 33  He turns rivers into a desert, 

springs of water into thirsty ground, 

 34  a fruitful land into a salty waste, 

because of the evil of its inhabitants. 

 35  He turns a desert into pools of water, 

a parched land into springs of water. 

 36  And there he lets the hungry dwell, 

and they establish a city to live in; 

 37  they sow fields and plant vineyards 

and get a fruitful yield. 

 38  By his blessing they multiply greatly, 

and he does not let their livestock diminish. 

 39  When they are diminished and brought low 

through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 

 40  he pours contempt on princes 

and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 

 41  but he raises up the needy out of affliction 

and makes their families like flocks. 

 42  The upright see it and are glad, 

and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 

 43  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; 

let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. 

If you have been:

in trouble and rescued

brought into community 

lost and found purpose 

in distress

given direction

dissatisfied with life 

desperate and found hope

walking in darkness

in fear of death

imprisoned 

rebellious

helpless

freed

foolish

sinful

afflicted

hungry

suffering eating issues

ill

chasing business

travelling

through storms

brought low

sorrowful….

…..Then, ‘thank the Lord for his steadfast love,  for his wondrous works to the children of man!’ For God does not leave you as He finds you. He changes distress into hope. feeling lost into belonging, loneliness into community, hunger into satisfaction and rebellion into order. When you turn to God whatever situation you are in can change. Even if the condition you are in is due to your own choices, God will hear you if you turn to Him with a repentant heart for He, ‘raises up the needy out of affliction’. 

It does not matter if you have suffered through circumstance, other people or your own sin and rebellion or if you are suffering privately or publicly, God will listen. God can heal, He can calm storms, He can end oppression, He can stop evil and cease sorrow You just need to approach Him to transform your life. God can do the impossible in your life, for 'He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.' He has the power, influence and love that can put an end to difficulty and heal internal and external suffering.

There are many methods that we can seek to feel better or seek to escape our circumstances and there are all sorts of manners in which we try to find freedom, purpose and direction. However they all eventually fail. Some give but temporal relief, and some things make matters worse. Yet whenever mankind has, ‘cried to the Lord in their trouble… he delivered them from their distress’! Every time. Every time mankind has called to God and waited for His salvation, 'he delivered them from their distress'.Calling out to God, asking for His input, direction, hope and intervention causes a radical transformation in situations and in your heart. So if there is a situation or an internal distress that you need to end, stop looking for other relief, other comfort, other sources of hope and joy, and approach God. Then wait, and do what He directs then you will be joining others who are thanking Him for His steadfast love and His wondrous works!