The psalmist is calling upon God’s people and all the world to celebrate the Lord.
Read moreA Mother's Prayer
O Sovereign Lord,
Thou art the Creator-Father of all men, for thou has made and dost support them;
Thou art the special Father of those who know, love and honour thee, who find thy yoke easy, and thy burden light, thy work honourable, thy commandments glorious.
But how little that undeserved goodness has affected me! How imperfectly I have improved my religious privileges! How negligent have I been in doing good to others!
I am before thee in my trespasses and sins, have mercy on me, and may thy goodness bring me to repentance.
Help me to hate and forsake every false way, to be attentive to my condition and character, to bridle my tongue, to keep my heart with all diligence, to watch and pray against temptation, to mortify sin, to be concerned for the salvation of others.
Oh God, I cannot endure to see the destruction of my kindred.
Let those that are united to me in tender ties be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory.
Sanctify and prosper my domestic devotion, instruction, discipline, example, that my house may be a nursery for heaven, my church the garden of the Lord, enriched with trees of righteousness of thy planting, for thy glory;
Let not those of my family who are amiable, moral, attractive, fall short of heaven at last;
Grant that the promising appearances of a tender conscience, soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word, be not finally blotted out, but bring forth judgment unto victory in all whom I love.
—From Valley of Vision
PSALM 97 — REVISED
Rejoice in the present as you acknowledge the greatness of your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Read morePSALM 96 — REVISED
Worship The King!
Picture this in your mind. David has captured the city of the Jubusites and renamed Jerusalem. He now brings the Tabernacle (God’s visible presence) to Israel’s new capital city, so that Jerusalem can be the political and religious cantre of Israel. It is a time of rejoicing for David and the people (1 Chron 16:23-33). When the tabernacle is being moved there is a call to the people to worship their God. This call to worship is Psalm 96.
The psalm can be divided into three parts: A Call to Believers to Praise the Lord (1-6), A Call to the World to Praise the Lord (7-10), and A Call to Creation to Welcome the Lord (11-13).
The psalmist begins by calling believers to sing a new song; a song that expresses the continued daily blessings of the Lord to His people (1). The song is “new” because everyday brings new blessings from the Lord. Believers are exhorted to proclaim the salvation and glory of YHWH to all unbelievers (2-3). Why should the people of God praise Him. Verses 4-6, tell us that God is He is surrounded by splendour and beauty, and the gods of the pagans are “nothings” before Him.
The peoples of the world are then called to glorify God above all and (6-8). They should be prepared to worship Him rightly and tremble before His power and holiness (9). Brethren, God is sovereign over all the earth. He is coming to judge the world in righteousness (10).
The last section (11-13) is a call for all of creation to rejoice because the King is coming. The curse will be replaced by divine blessing and the King will rule in perfect justice.
PSALM 95 — REVISED
It is impossible to please God without wholehearted obedience to His commands.
Read morePSALM 94 — REVISED
The peace believers have is based on their covenant relationship with Him.
Read moreRESURRECTION
O God of my Exodus,
Great was the joy of Israel’s sons,
when Egypt died upon the shore,
Far greater the joy
when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust.
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives forever.
He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave free,
and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.
Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil’s sceptre is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is levelled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died, in him I rose,
in his life I live, in his victory I triumph,
in his ascension I shall be glorified.
Adorable Redeemer,
thou who wast lifted up upon a cross
art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as a Man of sorrows was crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.
Once, no shame more deep than thine,
no agony more bitter, no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious, no advocate more effective.
Thou art in the triumph car
leading captive thine enemies behind thee.
What more could be done than thou hast done!
thy death is my life,
thy resurrection my peace,
thy ascension my hope,
thy prayers my comfort.
(from The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan prayers and devotions)
PSALM 93 — REVISED
Give praise to the Lord, for He is the everlasting God!
Read morePSALM 92 — REVISED
What a joy it is to meditate on the wonderful works of Christ on behalf of His people.
Read morePSALM 91 — REVISED
Trust in God Alone
This psalm has been an encouragement to believers for thousands of years, and it can encourage you as well. This psalm can be divided into three segments: The Psalmist’s Trust in God (1-2), The Psalmist’s Teaching About God (3-13), and The Lord’s Promise (14-16).
The psalmist lays out the principle in verse 1, the person who trusts in the Lord will dwell in the safety and security of God presence. He exclaims that God has his trust (2).
The psalmist then moves to instruct his readers in the midst of personal trials to trust the Lord (3-13). God delivers from dangers that are seen (men), and dangers that are unseen (pestilence) (3-6). He is sovereign and there is nothing outside of His knowledge and control. Ten thousand may fall around you of pestilence or war, but you do not have to be afraid (7). In the day of judgment, your faith will be vindicated as you are spared and the wicked receive their justice (8-10).
In the days of tribulation God gives His angels charge concerning His children. They watch over and protect believers (Heb 1:14)(11-12). The church is more than just survivors, you are victors (13).
The psalmist ends this psalm in 14-16 with a promise made by the Lord. Those that love Him will be secure no matter what adversity they face (14). Brethren, our God hears our prayers and is ever close to us (15). He saves us and honours us, His children. Trust in Him and you will be satisfied and experience the joy of His salvation (16).
Brethren, rest assured that God loves you and is in sovereign control over all aspects of your life. Dwell not at the dangers around you, rather keep your focus on your great God.