Reflections on Psalms 113-118

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • Praise and Thanks – Psalms 113 and 117 offer up praises to God for his great deeds of love and faithfulness. Psalm 116 and 118 offer thanks for answered prayer and help in time of need.  How has he shown his love and faithfulness to you this week?  How has he helped you?  How has he answered prayer?  Praise and give thanks to him.
  • Trust – Psalm 115 compares God to idols. Idols can do nothing – it is folly to trust in them.  But God shows us love and faithfulness, he is our help and shield – so we place our trust in him.  What idols are you tempted to trust in?  What do you need to trust God for?

What God Hates, Part 2

On By BrianIn PASSION Collections

Tim Challies recently finished an excellent series on eight things God hates.  In Challies’ words:

The God who loves must also hate. The God who loves all that is good and pure and holy must hate all that is evil and defiled and perverse. 

Last week I provided links to the first four posts.  Below are links to the final four.  Again I encourage you to take the time to read them, and examine your life.  Where do you see these tendencies in your life?  For which of these might you need to repent and find forgiveness in the sacrifice of our Savior?

God Hates Deceit

God Hates Pride

God Hates Evil Thoughts

God Hates Wicked People

 

Reflections on Psalms 110-112

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • King and Priest – Psalm 110 speaks of a king who is to come – a king in the line of David who is greater than David (for David calls him Lord). This king is also a priest – one who mediates between God and man.  This king and priest has come – and his name is Jesus.
  • Praise – Psalm 111 pours out praise to God for who he is and what he has done. Use this psalm to pour out your own praise to the Lord.

Psalms 110-118: All Glory To The One True God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(115) When are we tempted to glory in ourselves (v1)?  Why?

(115) How does the psalmist respond to the nations’ taunt in v2-3?

How does God’s ability compare to the nations’ idols (v3-7)?

How would you define an idol (see v8 for a hint)?

What are some modern idols in our culture today?  Which idols are you tempted to follow?

What does the psalmist mean when he says people become like their idols (v8)?

(115) Unlike the idols, our God can act.  How does God act towards his people in v9-15?

(111, 113-114, 118) What further examples of God’s actions toward his people do you find in 111:5-9, 113:7-9, 114:1-8, and 118:13-16?

(115) Why then should we glory in God and not ourselves (v1)?

(115) How should we respond to God’s actions toward us?

v9-11 (118:8-9) –

v18 (111:1, 113:1-3, 117:1-2, 118:28-29) –

v11, 13 (111:10) –

(110, 118) How do the following passages point to Jesus?

118:22-24 (Matthew 21:42) –

118:26 (Matthew 21:9) –

110:1-3 (Matthew 22:41-45) –

110:4 (Hebrews 5-7) –

(110-118) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

4 Times In Life You Should Expect To Face Temptation – Tim Challies

How to Fight for Faith in the Dark: Three Lessons for Depression – Stephen Altrogge (DG)

3 Reasons We’re Addicted to Digital Distraction – Tony Reinke (Crossway)

An Exercise in Friendship – Tim Chester

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

 

Suppose

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

FaithfulnessHolinessSuppose for a moment that you were allowed to enter heaven without holiness.  What would you do?  What possible enjoyment could you feel there?  To which of all the saints would you join yourself, and by whose side would you sit down?  Their pleasures are not your pleasures, their tastes not your tastes, their character not your character.  How could you possibly be happy, if you had not been holy on earth?

– J.C. Ryle in Holiness

Sermon Songs: Mark

On By BrianIn Mark Hymns

MusicNotes

Tell of his amazing pow-er
Behold his authority
Tell of his love ev’ry ho-ur
Proclaim His grace and glory
He healed the sick, made the blind see
Caused all the demons to flee
He stilled the storm, fed the hungry
He touched and cleansed even me
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.

(To the tune of “Tell Me the Story Of Jesus” – Chorus by Fanny Crosby)

We Must Be Holy

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

FaithfulnessHolinessWe must be holy:

  • Because the voice of God in Scripture plainly commands it.
  • Because this is the one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world.
  • Because this is the only sound evidence that we have saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Because this is the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
  • Because this is the only sound evidence that we are true children of God.
  • Because this is the most likely way to do good to others.
  • Because our present comfort depends much upon it.
  • Because without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven.

– J.C. Ryle in Holiness