Psalm

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A Psalm for Such Days As These

November 3, 2008 in Christian Living, Worship by Isaiah | 2 comments

Matthew Henry, in his commentary, writes:

“This psalm has in it as much of warmth and lively devotion as any of David’s psalms in so little a compass. As the sweetest of Paul’s epistles were those that bore date out of a prison, so some of the sweetest of David’s psalms were those that were penned, as this was, in a wilderness.

That which grieved him most in his banishment was the want of public ordinances; these he here longs to be restored to the enjoyment of; and the present want did but whet his appetite. Yet it is not the ordinances, but the God of the ordinances, that his heart is upon. And here we have,

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A Song for Shabbat: Confessing Your Sins

July 11, 2008 in Christian Living, Worship by Isaiah | No comments

This is the second Shabbat that I have opted to feature a sermon instead of a song. This week, I will be sharing this short sermon by John MacArthur on how and why we should confess our sins with an exposition of Psalm 51. So, if you have your Bible at hand, join me as we listen together to John MacArthur teach.

I pray that you’ll blessed by this sermon as much as I have.

Shabbat Shalom.

A Song for Shabbat: Be Still…

June 6, 2008 in Worship by Isaiah | 4 comments

Regrettably, I have never heard Steven Curtis Chapman until the tragic death of his beloved daughter Maria just this May. Since hearing this song by him when it was played on a radio station to comfort him and his family, it has become one of my favorite songs.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 46:1-11

Shabbat Shalom.

God’s Own Defense of Scripture

June 5, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 9 comments

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.

Psalm 19:7-9

John MacArthur expands on our understanding of these three verses about Scripture (emphasis added and slightly edited to make it easier to read):

… But more importantly and savingly, God has revealed Himself in Scripture.  There is His unwritten revelation and His written revelation.  And when you come to verse 7, the transition is made from God revealing Himself in nature to God revealing Himself in Scripture… in Scripture.

The structure of these verses from verse 7 through 9, notice it there, is a series of parallel statements, verses 7, 8 and 9.  Here there are six titles for Scripture… the Law of the Lord, the testimony of the Lord in verse 7.  In verse 8, the precepts of the Lord and the commandment of the Lord.  In verse 9, the fear of the Lord and the judgments of the Lord. 

Six titles for Scripture.  Scripture is Law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear and judgments.

There are also six characteristics of Scripture.  Notice, it is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and true.

And there are six benefits of Scripture.  It restores the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, endures forever and a final one, produces comprehensive righteousness.  That’s what it means when it says righteous all together.  It converts, it makes wise, it brings joy, it enlightens, it purifies, it is relevant in every time, it endures forever and it produces comprehensive righteousness.

This is magnificent.  Here you have God in His inimitable way speaking the vast glories of Scripture in brief sentences.  In a few words He captures the magnitude of the full sufficiency of Scripture.

John MacArthur
God’s Own Defense of Scripture, Part 1

Amen!

You can read the entire transcript of the sermon, or purchase the DVD at Grace To You dot Org.

The LORD Heals

January 14, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 14 comments

Hallelu YaH!Thank you, everyone, who has remembered me and the pain I was going through in your prayers!

The LORD heals indeed!

Hallelu et Adonai!

Prior to the procedure this afternoon, I’ve heard so many horrible stories from friends and colleagues about how much pain some of them had after having their wisdom teeth extracted surgically.

But because of all your prayers, the LORD has healed me and seen to it that I am not suffering in pain after my surgery.

I’ve just awoken after a good few hours of much-needed sleep, and there’s absolutely no pain, whatsoever. Yes, read that: NO pain!

No doubt I’ve had painkillers and am faithfully following the instructions to complete the prescription of antibiotics, but with my limited knowledge from the testimony of others, I know that suffering no residue pain at all in the immediate hours after the surgery is a miracle in itself.

Thank you, LORD, for you are good and merciful. Thank you, LORD, for you are our Jehovah Rapha!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5

Amen!

Picture by Summers.