Monthly Archives: March 2014

Psalms 125-127

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In Psalm 125 we are exhorted to trust in God, a foundation that remains immovable throughout eternity. “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.” God’s care for those who trust in Him is greater than we can imagine.

This idea continues in Psalm 126, the sowing of seed requires trust that God will bless one’s effort, resulting in shouts of joy when the grain is harvested.

In Psalm 127 we’re reminded that our efforts require God’s input to succeed.  “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”  Just as Paul relied on God to give the increase for his preaching efforts, so we need to involve God in our daily lives, living in accordance with His will, trusting that He will bless our efforts to serve Him.

Luke 3

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John the baptist is a great example for us. He wasn’t afraid to publicly proclaim his beliefs, educating anyone who would listen about the need to effect change in one’s life.  John’s goal was to prepare people to “see the salvation of God”.

He taught his audience that one’s way of life is crucial for salvation. Simply being a natural descendent of Abraham was no guarantee of salvation, instead we are to produce “fruits in keeping with repentance“.  Tax collectors, soldiers and ordinary people were all instructed to make a change in their lives, to improve the way they treated their neighbour.

John’s message is still applicable to us today.  We too are trees that exist for the purpose of producing fruit, of developing God’s character in our lives, and of following the example of Christ, God’s beloved son in whom he was well pleased.

 

Psalm 119

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In Psalm 119, the Psalmist continues his theme of focusing on God’s word as part of daily life in v41-80.  The Psalmist spoke to kings of God’s word, and wasn’t ashamed, instead finding delight, hope and love in God’s testimonies and commandments.

The Psalmist also writes “Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life“. His hope is based solely on God’s word.

When ensnared by the cords of his enemy, the Psalmist does not forget God’s law, instead rising at midnight to praise God.  “The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts“. In the face of trial, the Psalmist is comforted by God’s love and promises. Rather than blaming God, he says “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me“.

The Psalmist is a great example for us of a person who had a genuine, living faith, tested by trial yet remaining true to his God.

2 Corinthians 5-7

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Paul explains to the Corinthians that they are a new creation. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come“.  Like the Corinthians, we have been reconciled to God through Christ, the trespasses of our old way of life no longer counted against us.  We are now ambassadors for Christ, so that in Christ “we might become the righteousness of God”.

We are God’s living temple, His holy people, His sons and daughters. As a result, Paul writes “since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” This is our aim in life, to be “the temple of the living God”.

2 Corinthians 1-2

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Paul commences his 2nd letter to the Corinthians describing the comfort during affliction that God provides. God comforts us so that “we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.“

We’re comforted in order that we might comfort others. Even while suffering to the point that he “despaired of life itself”, Paul’s focus was on the needs of those around him.  Paul recognised that his experience “was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead”.

Although Paul refers to his own affliction, these same ideas apply to affliction experienced today. It serves to mould our character and unite us in shared experiences, “for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort“. Let us work together, sharing in each other’s sufferings and comfort, and in Paul’s confidence that God “will deliver us.”

 

Psalm 107

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Psalm 107 focuses on the idea of God’s steadfast love enduring forever, with four  references to times when people “cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress“. In the desert, under hard labour in prison, foolish and starving, and in a boat on a stormy sea; on all occasions that the Israelites called to God for help, He delivered them from the difficulty they faced.  On each occasion, the Psalmist exhorts the people to “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man”.

This Psalm reminds us that, no matter what circumstances we’re in, we can cry to God for help and He will hear us.  It also highlights the need to praise and thank God.  “The upright see it and are glad…Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord”