Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. -Psalm 24:10
God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. -Psalm 118:27
Who is this that we have met in the songs of Psalms 24 and 118?
He is God, the One with an army of angels too huge to count (see Revelation 5:11).
He is Jesus, the One who even now intercedes on our behalf (see Hebrews 7:25).
He is the Holy Spirit, the One who illuminates our understanding and guides us into all truth (see John 16:13).
My prayer is that you know Him.
My prayer is that you love Him.
My prayer is that you obey Him.
Lord, Lord of the armies of heaven, Lord of life, help us to embrace Your discipline, Your suffering, Your righteousness, and Your glory. You are our Lord: please help us live lives that show the world we belong to You. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.
Showing posts with label Psalm 118. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 118. Show all posts
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Do You Really Want To Be Blessed?
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. -Psalm 24:5
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. -Psalm 118:26
Ah, blessings. Everyone wants to be blessed. But in Psalms 24 and 118, we see a pattern: blessings do not stand alone.
How do we obtain blessing? In these Psalms, blessing is what comes after purification. Blessing is what comes after chastening. God help the preacher, or the Christian, who is quick to quote Psalm 118:25 ("send now prosperity") out of context.
Why is it that we don't want to share in the sufferings of Christ, but we long to experience His blessings? Friends, we can't have one without the other.
Our Lord takes this one step further: He gives a definition of "blessings" that we don't often hear from postmodern pulpits or Christian media. Jesus says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake" (Luke 6:22).
Let's long for that. Chastening from the Lord, and criticism from men.
Lord, take us there.
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. -Psalm 118:26
Ah, blessings. Everyone wants to be blessed. But in Psalms 24 and 118, we see a pattern: blessings do not stand alone.
How do we obtain blessing? In these Psalms, blessing is what comes after purification. Blessing is what comes after chastening. God help the preacher, or the Christian, who is quick to quote Psalm 118:25 ("send now prosperity") out of context.
Why is it that we don't want to share in the sufferings of Christ, but we long to experience His blessings? Friends, we can't have one without the other.
Our Lord takes this one step further: He gives a definition of "blessings" that we don't often hear from postmodern pulpits or Christian media. Jesus says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake" (Luke 6:22).
Let's long for that. Chastening from the Lord, and criticism from men.
Lord, take us there.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Whom The Lord Loves...
The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. -Psalm 118:18
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart... -Psalm 24:3 and following
In my estimation, one of the great dangers in Christendom is the practice of individuals singing songs. It's not a matter of vocal safety. It's the habit of persons singing out of routine, without regard to the implications of what they are singing.
"Purify my heart..." "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee..." "I surrender all..."
Are we really ready for God to wash our hands? Do we know the true cost of heart purification?
Yes, LORD, I have counted the cost and I am ready to follow You. Please do whatever is necessary in order to bring me into deeper relationship with You. I know that when You discipline, it is always for good and never for harm. I love You and I trust You to do what is right. You, my perfect, awesome, loving Lord. I embrace all that You send.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart... -Psalm 24:3 and following
In my estimation, one of the great dangers in Christendom is the practice of individuals singing songs. It's not a matter of vocal safety. It's the habit of persons singing out of routine, without regard to the implications of what they are singing.
"Purify my heart..." "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee..." "I surrender all..."
Are we really ready for God to wash our hands? Do we know the true cost of heart purification?
Yes, LORD, I have counted the cost and I am ready to follow You. Please do whatever is necessary in order to bring me into deeper relationship with You. I know that when You discipline, it is always for good and never for harm. I love You and I trust You to do what is right. You, my perfect, awesome, loving Lord. I embrace all that You send.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Gate Way.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. -Psalm 24:7
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. -Psalm 118:19-20
Thus saith the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate... -Ezekiel 46:1 and following
What a wonderful picture. Everyone who came to the temple brought offerings, but not everyone entered the temple in the same manner. Most worshippers entered through the north and south gates. But there was a special entrance for the prince, the leader of the people who had access to enter by the east gate. It was an exclusive entrance that would only be opened for the prince, and which would be shut immediately upon his leaving.
The writer of Psalm 118 offers a profound prophetic thought: "Open the gate... The righteous shall enter". Yes, we have access to enter the courts of the Lord through a special entrance. Not because of our own merit, but because we have submitted ourselves to the King of glory, the Prince of Peace, the Savior of all men. Jesus's righteousness has encompassed us, and we can offer ourselves to God wholeheartedly.
Jesus, my self to You I bring,
Abandoned in this offering;
Purge and heal,
As I appeal
For You to become my everything.
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. -Psalm 118:19-20
Thus saith the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate... -Ezekiel 46:1 and following
What a wonderful picture. Everyone who came to the temple brought offerings, but not everyone entered the temple in the same manner. Most worshippers entered through the north and south gates. But there was a special entrance for the prince, the leader of the people who had access to enter by the east gate. It was an exclusive entrance that would only be opened for the prince, and which would be shut immediately upon his leaving.
The writer of Psalm 118 offers a profound prophetic thought: "Open the gate... The righteous shall enter". Yes, we have access to enter the courts of the Lord through a special entrance. Not because of our own merit, but because we have submitted ourselves to the King of glory, the Prince of Peace, the Savior of all men. Jesus's righteousness has encompassed us, and we can offer ourselves to God wholeheartedly.
Jesus, my self to You I bring,
Abandoned in this offering;
Purge and heal,
As I appeal
For You to become my everything.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Follow The Leader.
Friends,
Many of you know that my husband works at two churches. Each Sunday we start our day of worship at BBCN's first service, then we head up to a different church in Westchester for their morning service, then we come back to the Bronx for the remainder of BBCN's second service.
But, there is one Sunday of the year when our routine doesn't work... yes, that would be Easter Sunday.
Bronx Bethany worshippers were at Truman High School (to hold one service in a space that could accommodate all its members and guests) at 11 a.m. And I was in Westchester with my husband, at a service that began at 11 a.m.
I don't have this past Sunday's BBCN sermon notes!
But there will still be postings for the rest of the week. I hope you'll visit between now and Saturday, and that the Lord will bless each of us as we reflect upon His word.
As preparation for the next blog, I'm asking that you read Psalm 24 and Psalm 118.
See you online tomorrow.
Many of you know that my husband works at two churches. Each Sunday we start our day of worship at BBCN's first service, then we head up to a different church in Westchester for their morning service, then we come back to the Bronx for the remainder of BBCN's second service.
But, there is one Sunday of the year when our routine doesn't work... yes, that would be Easter Sunday.
Bronx Bethany worshippers were at Truman High School (to hold one service in a space that could accommodate all its members and guests) at 11 a.m. And I was in Westchester with my husband, at a service that began at 11 a.m.
I don't have this past Sunday's BBCN sermon notes!
But there will still be postings for the rest of the week. I hope you'll visit between now and Saturday, and that the Lord will bless each of us as we reflect upon His word.
As preparation for the next blog, I'm asking that you read Psalm 24 and Psalm 118.
See you online tomorrow.