Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 116-126

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟞:𝟝-𝟟

"Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;

Yes, our God is compassionate.

The LORD preserves the simple;

I was brought low, and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you."

We need to preach to our own heart, mind, and soul to be satisfied in God. We need to exhort ourselves to return to God by choosing to reflect upon the goodness of God. After all, we deserve nothing, but everlasting torment. Yet He saved us. He gives sunshine and rain, the blessing of family and marriage, and the joy of friendship. Do we deserve all these? He gave to everyone, including Pharaoh, Hitler, Kim Jong Un, and you and me!

Every mouth should utter praise to God. Everyone must thank God for He has dealt bountifully with us. If you don't think so, you are in the league of the most wicked, vilest, most stupid sinner.

"Gracious

Righteous

Compassionate

Is

        He" v5.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟟

"Praise the LORD, all nations;

Laud Him, all peoples!

For His lovingkindness is great toward us,

And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.

Praise the LORD!"

Shortest Psalm, shortest chapter, in the entire Bible. And it's a call to Praise God. We ought to praise God all the time. Especially when others are using the name of God as a cuss word.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟠:𝟙𝟛

"You pushed me down violently to make me fall,

But Yahweh helped me."

This Psalm is about the Lovingkindness of God, and how clearly it demonstrates and explains so. And look at v13. A godly blessed man is not someone whose life is quiet, smooth, and lively. It's a life that experiences the Lovingkindness of God.

That experience is magnified greatly in affliction. The psalmist wasn't pushed to fall and be dead and rotten. And in that direst situation, Yahweh showed His Lovingkindnes in preserving him. That's why he can say v6 as well "Yahweh is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?"

Daniel was pushed into the lion's pit. Yahweh protected him. The godly blessed man is he who endures afflictions. He will be afflicted even because of his sins. Look at v18 "Yahweh has disciplined me severely, But He has not given me over to death."

If you face no affliction or a discipline of the Lord, you are a miserable, wretched man because God disciplines those He loves. Maybe, that's why some of us are still unmarried. That some of us are struggling with family problems, financial problems, emotional problems, careers, jobs, etc. Don't you see the hand of God in all these? Blessed is he who recognizes the disciplining hand of loving God in his life!

BTW, Psalm 118 is the middle chapter of the Bible (1189 chapters).

But nobody knows the middle verse because nobody is sure how many verses are there in the Bible. Some Bibles have 31,101, others 2,3 more or lesser. And of course, who cares? Verse numbers aren't inspired.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟘𝟘

"I understand more than the aged,

Because I have observed Your precepts."

Wisdom is with the aged. Wisdom comes with age. But those who know the word of God even though they may be young are wiser than the aged wisest man of the world.

Why? Simple! Because wisdom comes with age! Is that a contradiction? Bible is older than any man, older than even Job or Moses who first wrote the word of God because the author is ultimately the Ancient One.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚𝟘:𝟝-𝟞

"Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech,

For I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

Too long has my soul had its dwelling

With those who hate peace."

The psalmist laments that he has been living with the pagans for quite a long time; he longs to live with the people of God and enjoy God.

The Scripture says the natural man hates God. There's no peace between him and God. No matter who and what man may be, natural man hates God, he doesn't want peace, the war goes on. Yeah, even Gandhi!

Have you been associating with only the non-christian people? It's time to proclaim "woe" upon yourself, lament it, and long to associate with fellow Christians. This is the heartbeat of this psalmist!

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚𝟙:𝟠

"The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever."

If you are planning to memorize some psalms or compose a melody, make sure to include this. It's soothing and even short.

I love the benediction and the assurance of v8. Imagine the imagery: going out and coming in. That's the whole picture of life's activities. And it's forever!

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚𝟚:𝟙

"I was glad when they said to me,

‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’"

Many would like to pull up a blanket over their head when people said to them, "Wake up, let's go to church"

If our affections are totally opposite to the saints of the Bible, surely our actions will be contrary to them.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚𝟛

"To You I lift up my eyes,

O You who are enthroned in the heavens!

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,

As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes look to the LORD our God,

Until He is gracious to us.

Be gracious to us, O LORD, be gracious to us,

For we are greatly filled with contempt.

Our soul is greatly filled

With the scoffing of those who are at ease

And with the contempt of the proud."

Psalm 1-2-3 has 4 verses. That's my way to remember it. It's a Psalm of submission to God.

If you find yourself complaining too much about your troubles, you still aren't having enough troubles, and you will get into it. Whether one likes it or not when troubles are unbearable, one stops complaining and starts looking for grace and deliverance. Even Hulk knew that when Thanos defeated him in Avengers.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚𝟜:𝟙

"Had it not been the LORD who was on our side, ‘Let Israel now say,’"

Giving credit to God. Seeing God's hand in everything. Learning to count God's blessings. Contemplating the faithfulness of God. Trusting God for the present and future because of the past evidence.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚𝟝:𝟙

"Those who trust in the LORD

Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever."

Learn to trust God in trouble, calamity, and affliction. Even our Lord Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled."

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚𝟞:𝟞

"He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,

Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

This is my grandpa’s favorite verse to instruct us. He was a hardworking man and desired his grandchildren to be as well!

Indeed, that's what this verse is saying, but much more. It is about the tear of repentance and the joy of restoration.

Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 107-115

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟘𝟟:𝟜𝟛

"Who is wise? Let him keep these things,

And carefully consider the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh."

This Psalm begins and ends with the theme of Lovingkindness, the faithful covenant-keeping love of God.

Those who increase their understanding of the love of God will increase in wisdom. Do you want to be wise? Meditate on the covenant-keeping love of God! He remains God, even when we fail to be godly.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟘𝟠:𝟙

"My heart is 𝕤𝕖𝕥, O God;

I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my glory."

Very indecisive are we. Getting distracted easily. Procrastinating. Well, David was not, his heart was set. He knew what he should do and he did it. He was not moveable. He was firm.

May we be like David! David probably wrote this psalm while he was younger than us. We are too old to act like kids! Be firm, steadfast. Let your heart be set upon certain things!

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟘𝟡:𝟚𝟜

"My knees are feeble from fasting,

And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness."

Shame on us for a lack of prayer. Shame on us for a lack of fasting!  David couldn't stand up because of his feeble knees due to fasting. He had no fats in his body.

Many of us aren’t able to do push-ups 20 times because we are overweight. Perfect time to lose weight by having fasting prayer yet we would plan to go to the gym and lift those dumb dumbbells, walk, jog, or run in the morning.

Do we have any scar, any mark, or any sign of prayer in our body? Apostle John is said to have a camel's knee because of too much kneeling. John MacArthur said of one guy who knelt and prayed for too long over the years that his wood floor got two holes! 😂

Have you ever prayed for 1 hour? Have you ever done fasting alone? Church fasting and Family fasting program do not count, we must have private spiritual discipline also. Read the whole Psalm 109.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟘:𝟙

"The LORD says to my Lord:

‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’"

"Until" that's the word. Till then, we, His people also have to wait.

The world will submit to Christ. And we shall reign with Him. Let's not fret. Let's be still.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟙:𝟚

"Great are the works of Yahweh;

They are sought by all who delight in them."

This verse was inscribed in Latin by James Clark Maxwell on one of the doors of the Physics Department at Cambridge University.

Dr. Briggs, later on, inscribed it in English upon the main entrance of the Physics Department (Cambridge University).

Indeed, only the fools will not see the glory of God in the great works of God!

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟚:𝟙-𝟚

"Praise Yah!

How blessed is the man who fears Yahweh,

Who greatly delights in His commandments.

His seed will be mighty on earth;

The generation of the upright will be blessed."

Our lives affect the coming generation for good or bad. Manasseh was so bad that even his righteous grandson Josiah couldn't appease the wrath of God.

Maybe our children will be greater than us in every good thing if we strive to live a God-pleasing life.

But John Piper had Abraham Piper, Francis Schaffer has a wayward son, so, remember that too.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟛:𝟚-𝟛

"May the name of Yahweh be blessed

From now until forever.

From the rising of the sun to its setting

The name of Yahweh is to be praised."

It's always true, but it shall be more someday; we must be diligent to make it happen. When we like something, we make a campaign for it; those whose habit is to bless God seek everyone to bless God.

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟜:𝟟

"Tremble, O earth, before the Lord,

Before the God of Jacob"

A short Psalm. This verse is the only commandment of it. It's to tremble before God, all the earth, no exception. You may talk this and that, do this and that, act such and such, but before God be fearful! Unfortunately, many people do the very opposite!

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙𝟝:𝟙

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us,

But to Your name give glory

Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth."

I learned a song in Goa that is taken out from this Psalm, “Not to us”.

We love glory. But we must give glory to God. Sure, like Moses whose face shone because he spent time with God on Mount Sinai, those who live for God will have the reflection of God's glory in themselves.

And we, even as redeemed saints, will still crave for glory, but we better confess and pray this Psalm. BTW, are you aware that some will receive greater rewards than others in heaven, but everyone will lay down one's crown before the Lord again? There we shall give all the Glory to God perfectly!

Sermon Tips from the text of 1 Peter 2:4-10

 Sermon Tips for Expository Preachers, Listeners, and Students

Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 100-106

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘𝟘:𝟙

"Make a loud shout to Yahweh, all the earth."

Samuel Burder observed that this is the only Psalm that is entitled "A Psalm of Praise" and rightly so.

Spurgeon said, "Nothing can be more sublime this side of heaven than the singing of this noble psalm by a vast congregation."

I have committed this Psalm to memory since I was a teenager. Beautiful Psalm indeed.

V1 calls to make a loud shout. It doesn't say to sing. There's time to sing, pray, cry, and shout!

This shouting has the idea of a shout for battle: a loud genuine shout. Gordon Churchyard commented that it's like you shouting at a football match for your team to win.

When shall we practice this? In normal church worship? Maybe not! In an open big congregation like a Christian music concert? Definitely yes!

Maybe even inside normal church worship when like responsive reading or any responsive event like shouting in chorus: "Hallelujah" "Praise the Lord!"

I was shouting my lungs out in exhilaration when I and my friends were going to a beautiful waterfall in 2018. Shouting is definitely an expression of celebration.

We ought to shout to the Lord!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘𝟙:𝟟

"He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house;

He who speaks lies shall not be established before my eyes."

Wow! What a principle! What a resolution! This psalm is full of resolution "I will," that Spurgeon called "The psalm of Pious Resolution." Perfect to keep in mind when making a New Year's Resolution.

Leaders, CEOs, Managers, Rulers, and Magistrates must be reminded of this Psalm again and again. It is said that Ernest, Duke of Saxe Gotha would send a copy of this Psalm to his unfaithful minister that it became a proverb in the country that if any official had done anything wrong: He will certainly receive Ps 101 from the prince. That's why Bible expositors have rightly called this Psalm "The Mirror for Magistrate"

Takeaway: Let's not associate with anyone of ill reputation. Don't even employ them!

Unfortunately, many politicians seem to be hiring some thugs to do their work!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"Because of Your indignation and Your wrath,

For You have lifted me up and cast me away."

There's no mention of sin or confession in this psalm, but the psalmist was in great suffering like Job.

Some people suffered because of their deeds. Some people suffered because God is chastising them. Some people suffered for others to learn from their suffering, like Hosea and Ezekiel. Some people suffered because God is up to something divine, like Job.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘𝟛:𝟙

"Bless Yahweh, O my soul,

And all that is within me, bless His holy name."

This psalm calls to bless God 7 times. To bless God means to speak well of God. To eulogize God. And David has given wonderful reasons to praise/bless/eulogize/speak well of God.

Oh! How we need to recall God's goodness! Oh! How we need to preach to ourselves! How we need to sing to ourselves! How we need to encourage ourselves!

Yes, Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Matt Redman's famous song 10,000 Reasons is taken out from this Psalm. And who doesn't like that song!? The tune, lyrics, voice, and the music.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘𝟜:𝟙-𝟚

"Bless Yahweh, O my soul!

O Yahweh my God, You are very great;

You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

Wrapping Yourself with light as with a cloak,

Stretching out the heavens like a tent curtain."

 

This Psalm, like 103, begins and ends with "Bless the LORD (Yahweh), O my soul!"

So, the response after reading this Psalm is to speak well of God, praise Him, honor Him, worship Him, sing of Him, delight in Him, and enjoy Him.

The reasons are embedded in v1-32. It's not for selfish interests (good job, careers, achievements, etc.) It's all about God's wondrous work of Creation and Providence. If these are not sufficient to bless God, I am afraid nothing personal reason will.

Spurgeon called this Psalm a Poet's version of Genesis (6 days creation account.

Modern songwriter Chris Tomlin released "How great is our God" from this Psalm, which we all love to sing even in the bathroom!

The majesty of God is described with the metaphor of clothing. Because clothes conceal the ordinariness of man and reveal the majesty of man. You can recognize a beggar and a rich man from their clothes. People respect or despise the person by what he wears.

God cannot be seen but His clothes are seen. And thus, He is worthy of praise!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘𝟝:𝟙

"Oh give thanks to Yahweh, call upon His name;

Make known His acts among the peoples."

If Psalm 104 captured the creation account, this Psalm recalled the events of Exodus.

It calls us to declare the work of God.

Would we as well often talk about the great work of sanctification in our personal lives and as a church when we fellowship!?

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟘𝟞:𝟜𝟠

"Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,

From everlasting to everlasting.

And let all the people say, “Amen.”

Praise Yah!"

 

My brain is not powerful enough to summarize the teaching of this 48-verse long Psalm in a readable WhatsApp Update. But it's a great Psalm 😂

It begins and ends with a call to praise Yahweh. And again, we sinners tend to be grumpy, and therefore serves us well to remind us to be grateful to God always.

This Psalm resurrected all the rebellious nature of the Israelites, their sins, and their punishments. The psalmist couldn't bear the memory and asked God for forgiveness, mercy, and grace (salvation) in v4 and v47.

Indeed, there's forgiveness in God that He may be praised. Thus, ending with a call to praise Him.

This is the last Psalm of Book IV. And so, most fittingly it ended with a call to all people to say, "Amen!"

And in response, I also say, Amen! 🙏