Psalm 132 “Amazing Promise”

The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” (vv. 11-12)

The psalm here is referring to the promise God made to David right after David made his promise to God, to find a dwelling place for the Lord. It included both a conditional and an unconditional aspect. It was conditional in that God told David: “If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever” (v. 12) History tells us that David’s sons did not keep the covenant, and therefore they did not keep the throne.

However, there was also an unconditional aspect to the promise, because verse 11 tells us: “The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: ‘One of your own descendants I will place on your throne” (v. 11). Despite the disobedience of David’s descendants, God’s promise will stand firm with David.

Jesus the Messiah, descended from David, will rule on the throne for ever and ever. Through Jesus, God has come to dwell in and with his people forever. This teaches us one very simple truth. All God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and are yes and amen.

The Truth: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Psalm 131 “Childlike Faith”

“My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.” (vv. 1-3)

Psalm 131 is a call to reorient ourselves back to God. The psalmist, David, is sharing his own experience as an encouragement. He wants us to know that he was not proud or concerned with lofty endeavors. When it came to his walk with God, he had a childlike trust and his hope was in the LORD.

May we all take the time to reorient ourselves in the same way. To return to a childlike trust and simply place our hope in God.

The Truth: “He saves the humble, but brings low those whose eyes are haughty.” (Psalm 18:27)

Psalm 130 “Hear My Cry”

“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.” (v. 1)

Great anguish and gut wrenching sorrow have often been compared to deep and troubled waters. I’m sure you can recall a time in your life when you were there, caught in the maelstrom of the sea, headed for the bottom. As hopeless as that can seem, there is no depth from which the soul cannot cry out from nor pray, “LORD, hear my cry!”

Our God is one who hears. No more than a mother can ignore her child’s cry for help, or it’s moan in pain, could the LORD ignore His children’s cries from the depths of their souls. Therefore, cry out to Him, pour out your heart to Him. He will hear your call.

The Truth: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15)  

"God's Gift To All"

Jesus came to this earth, by Gods' plan and design.

The place of His birth, marked by a heavenly sign.

A new star above, showed the place where He lay.

The Fathers' gift, sound asleep on the hay.

So innocent and pure, this gift to man.

Would later receive, Roman nails in His hands.

Born to die, His life He gave.

So all might live, and their souls be saved.

One day all will answer, for what they have done.

With Gods' gift to the world, His only son.

So accept His gift, and your soul you will save.

From the wages of sin, and the death of the grave.

Merry Christmas

The Truth

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a "gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Psalm 129

 “Song of Victory Over Israel’s Enemies”

“Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up.” (v. 5-6)

Psalm 129 focuses on the preservation and survival of God’s people. No nation in history has experienced the persecution, the attack, or the hostility that Israel has. In spite of all the pasted persecutions, and the numerous on-going anti-Semitic efforts to extinguish the Jews, they remain.

Israel’s enemies will never have the last word—God Almighty will. And one day He shall return to establish His kingdom in the New Jerusalem to rule and reign for 1000 years (Revelation 20:6).

The Truth: ‘But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” (Psalm 37:20)

Psalm 128 “Blessings to Those Who Fear The LORD”

“Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.” (vv.1-2)

This psalm says that if we fear God, and walk in His ways, we will be blessed. The word fear doesn’t mean being “afraid” of God, it’s more like being in awe and wonder of Him, holding Him in the highest possible regard.

The psalmist wants us to recognize that God is holy and we are not. This correct attitude will allow us then to walk in His ways, and not ours. Then, not only will we be blessed in our generation, but our eyes will see the next (vv.5-6).

Therefore, fear the LORD, walk in His ways.

The Truth: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 6:9)

Psalm 127 “The Foundation of the Family”

“Unless the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (v. 1)

I can remember when my wife and I had our first child, Sara. We were like all new parents happy, excited, proud, but inexperienced in raising children. Oh, we had been around young children, even did some babysitting together. But, spending a few hours with a young child is much different than a 24-7 responsibility. And, like all first time parents, we needed help, advise, support, and prayer. We needed our LORD’s help in building our family, for without it (as our text indicates) we labored in vain.

Benjamin Franklin quoted our text to the struggling 1787 Continental Congress trying to raise up (build) a new government. He then followed the scripture up by saying: “Do we imagine that we no longer need [God’s] assistance? I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more convinced I am of this great truth—that God Governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall without His notice, can a great nation rise without His aid? Many times during the revolution we have offered prayers to the Father of Lights in this very room. But now I feel that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”

Franklin understood that God’s direction and blessing on the new nation of the United States were essential for it to succeed. And, that human effort on its own, would produce little to no lasting effects. The logic was simple, but was missed by many over time, forgotten, set aside for individual wisdom of men, and political agendas, much like our nation today. Oh how we need Godly men in our government, for a great many that labor do so in vain.

Therefore, we too need to bring our LORD’s direction, blessing, and guidance into the construction of our families, so the foundations will be strong enough to stand against the storms of life, and not fail the test of time. Family is the core foundation of this country, and we need more men and women dedicated to building their homes upon HIM.

Thank you LORD for Your enduring Word and for our founding fathers who looked to You for guidance and wisdom. May we always do the same. Amen.

The Truth: “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the wind and rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock.”  (Matthew 7:24-25)

Psalm 126 “Reap in Joy”

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (v. 5)

Have you ever experienced a feeling or desire to help someone so strongly that it moved you to tears every time you thought of it, because you felt like your prayers were all in vain? Sometimes our deepest concerns and prayers for others, especially family, can seem unanswered, but that’s no reason for us to stop sowing in prayer for them. On the contrary, we need to continue to intercede, to pray, to sow our field with tears, in order to reap in joy.

Let’s not be defeated in our prayer life, but continue to plow the field, going forth, bearing the precious seed to the Father. For scripture tells us, “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing the harvest, the sheaves with him” (v. 6).

Though sometimes our prayers are not answered this side of heaven for us, we must continue in faith and trust in the LORD our God that, "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy," even if it's on the other side. I so look forward to a reunion with many friends and loved ones who have gone before me, and know at that time my joy will be complete with them, in heaven, with our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, don't stop praying, don't stop trusting, don't stop believing. Plow on good Christian until the harvest is come in or is gathered in by another. For some plant, some water, and "others" harvest. But all who labor contribute to the harvest and shall "reap in joy."  

The Truth: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart.” (Galations 6:9)