THE CALL | Luke 18:16-17 [ESV]
But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, so often we exalt ourselves in our hearts. Our minds are occupied with things that are too great for us. We seek to comprehend your hidden counsels, when you call us to trust in faith. Forgive us of our pride. Give us child-like trust in you, by your Spirit that cries out in our hearts “Abba, Father!”. Quiet our souls with your steadfast love, as we rest in your wisdom and your power to save, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ASSURANCE | Isaiah 49:15
[Thus says the Lord:]
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.”
SING: Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father
And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning
Is now and ever shall be world without end
Amen Amen
WORD
Read Psalm 109
2nd Reading: Psalm 108
(109:26-27) “Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! 27 Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD, have done it!”
Given Psalm 108 is composed of 2 previous Psalms (vv. 1-5 from Psalm 57:7-11, and vv. 6- 13 from Psalm 60:5-12, with minor variations), I thought our time today would be better spent studying Psalm 109, another of David’s Psalms. Psalm 109, the ESV Study Bible tells us, is an “individual lament.” It appears the psalmist is being tried before a compromised court on trumped up charges (vv. 1-5). In such a hopeless situation, the psalmist can only appeal to God Himself for help (vv. 21-31). He cries out to God for deliverance, appealing specifically to God’s steadfast love (v. 21, v. 26), and asking God to vindicate His Name (v. 21) and His glory (v. 27). Although no answer to the psalmist’s plea is recorded, he nonetheless maintains confidence that the LORD “stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death” (v. 31).
Perhaps you’ve felt the pain of an injustice like this. If so, you’re not alone. Given the Apostle Peter saw Psalm 109:8 as justification for another to replace Judas (cf. Acts 1:20), it’s no stretch to see our LORD Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 109. He is the only person to be completely innocent, in every respect, and yet condemned to death. At His death, Jesus cried out to the Father, and like Psalm 109, there was no answer. Yet this gravest of all injustices was not without purpose. Christ, though innocent, chose to die for our sins, to take the wrath of God that our sins deserve upon Himself, so that we, though guilty, might be innocent with regard to sin before the Father. And Christ not only takes away our sins, but He gives us the righteousness He earned in His life of faithful obedience to the Father (see 2 Cor 5:21).
In light of what Christ has done for you, if you’ve experienced an injustice of this nature, might it be wise to take the psalmist’s (and thus our LORD’s) attitude from verse 4: “in return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.” O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer! (Excerpt from “What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Take it to the LORD in Prayer”: for an absolutely beautiful rendition of this song by the Aeolians of Oakwood University, Take It to the Lord in Prayer | Aeolians of Oakwood University – YouTube
(John McCombs)
ABIDING
SING
- Psalm 131 | [recording] [music sheet]
THURSDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 131
– Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can –
SENDING
Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1:
Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?
A: That I am not my own,
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death,
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins
with his precious blood,
and has set me free
from all the power of the devil.
He also preserves me in such a way
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head;
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation.
Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
he also assures me
of eternal life
and makes me heartily willing and ready
from now on to live for him.
1 John 3:2-3 [ESV]
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.