We were made to worship. We are often wowed by the things around us, people, and new inventions. Our eyes, thoughts, and tastes are drawn to things that are powerful. We can also look at the world around us and greatly fear the magnificent or the unknown. Psalm 76 describes God’s majesty over His people, His enemies, and all of heaven and earth. Asaph summarizes the song with a call to worship.
Have you had a stiff neck? It hurts. A "stiff neck" is a metaphor in Scripture - often referencing an animal that resists its master with stubborn pride. We treat God similarly at times, unwilling to yield to Him. God is judge, so we must humble ourselves before Him with thankfulness. Psalm 75 serves as a "quiz" of sorts to test our hearts and reveal whether we are truly humble before our Judge.
God's people lament as the temple burns to the ground. Hope is lost, God seems far away, and the enemy threatens to destroy them. On top of that, it was Israel's unrepentance that led to this destruction. God warned them. Maybe you can relate, watching your hopes burn to the ground at the hands of evil, maybe a result of your own evil deeds. Psalm 74 reminds us to look to our King of Salvation.
Things we see in the world around us are at times, troubling. As we work hard to do what's right, we struggle to make ends meet while those who cut corners seem to gain wealth easily! Those set on evil seem to be winning! Such observations tempt us with envy and doubt. Feelings are not new to God's people. In Psalm 73, Asaph, who went through this, teaches us what to do when we are slipping.
Desires can be strong. We want something so badly; we feel it in our bones. Some of these desires are broken by the Fall. But some of these desires reflect the image of God in us. Often, we waste our lives trying to satisfy our desires with the things of this life. Studying Psalm 72, we learn to set our affection on the Perfect King Solomon longs for in David's line, King Jesus and His Kingdom.
We are all getting older. Aging is not an easy process. In the first years of our life, we gain strength and stature. But as our physical strength diminishes, we can grow strong in other ways. Psalm 71 is the prayer of a strong believer. Sure, he was physically weak, but he prayed with strong confidence in God. There's a lot we can learn from the prayers of mature saints, confident in the Lord.
I still love to hear stories of honorable acts of bravery against all odds. Yet, our lives often look different than these moments of valor in the lives of our heroes. Often, we find ourselves at the end of our resources searching for help. In Psalm 70, David is pinned down by his enemies and calls on the Lord. Today, we know we must battle the war against Satan, our flesh, and our fear of death.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Keep your head above water.” This saying is often used when someone is struggling to pay the bills or to accomplish all their work. In Psalm 69, we watch as the Davidic King can’t keep his head above water. He’s suffering and he’s sinking. You may be suffering now; we will all suffer at some point. See how to lament to God when you are suffering and need saving.
We love celebrations. But sometimes in life, it seems as if there's less and less to celebrate! It can be easy to get discouraged and lose our joy. Psalm 68 calls us to celebrate, and it reminds us why we celebrate. God is a victorious warrior. He wins. He defeats every enemy and reigns supreme over every kingdom.
You've probably asked God to bless you. That's exactly what the Psalmist does in Psalm 67 - "God, be merciful to us and bless us..." Is it ok to ask God for things? Maybe! Psalm 67 teaches us that the reason we ask is important. The goal of all our requests to God should be God's glory. Or, as it’s stated in Psalm 67, that all people would praise the Lord.
In Psalm 66, the Psalmist calls everyone to turn their eyes to the Lord and to worship Him. We worship God because He deserves it, but something amazing happens to us at the same time. As God gets "bigger" in our hearts or circumstances, the opinions of people, and our fears get smaller and smaller. Come, and worship God!
It's only when we exalt the name of Jesus that we begin to experience the power of His name. If we want to see God at work with power, then we must center our ministry on the message of salvation in the name of Jesus.
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
Lesson Twelve Handout: Do 2 - Applying Change to Everyday Life
In salvation, God makes us His children. We are to show, by the way we live, that we are part of His family. As we walk in love, in the light, and in wisdom, we are able to show the world what our Father is like.
Lesson Eleven Handout: Philippians 4:2-9
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
Lesson Eleven Handout: Do 1 - Applying Change to Everyday Life
God wants each of us to participate in the growth of the church. This is how ministry multiplies. We see this happen in the Apostle Paul's life as his ministry multiplies through the lives of others - Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla. Church is not one feeding the many. Instead, we all grow as we all serve. Listen to consider how you can thrive in the body of Christ.
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
Lesson Ten Handout: Speak 2: Speaking the Truth in Love