Tag: Balm for the Weary 2

Hymns: RHC 482 I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord 485 The Lord Is Good, 432 How Good Is the God We Adore 454 Make Me a Blessing Psalm 106 1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; …

11. The LORD Is Good Read more »

Hymns: RHC 237 Revive Us Again, 240 Breathe on Me, Breath of God, 243 The Comforter Has Come

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of usmirth, saying, Sing us oneof the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord’S song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, evento the foundation thereof. 8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. Psalm 137:1-9 (KJV)

BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON

OUTLINE

(1) The Captive’s Sorrow (v1-2)

(2) The Captive’s Silence (v3-6)

(3) The Captive’s Supplication (v7-9)

INTRODUCTION

The 70 years of Israel’s exile in Babylon were soul searching years. Banished as a nation because of their waywardness and backsliding, when they departed from their God to worship idols. God’s repeated plea were not heeded, finally God acted to sent chastisement – Hebrews 12:5-8 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

Hymns: RHC 423 Follow, I Will Follow Thee, 432 How Good Is the God We Adore, 532 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Psalm 128

KJV Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel. (Ps. 128:1-6 KJV)

Hymns: RHC 445 O Master Let Me Walk with Thee, 106 Christ Liveth In Me, 242 Blessed Quietness

PSALM 131

1 A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul iseven as a weaned child. 3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever. Psalm 131:1-3 (KJV)

PRAYER OF A HUMBLED HEART

OUTLINE

(1) Not presumptuous (v1)

(2) But contented (v2)

(3) Always confident in God (v3)

Hymns: RHC 314 Nearer, Still Nearer, 313 O Love that Will Not Let Me Go, 319 It Is Well With My Soul

PSALM 75

1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm orSong of Asaph.Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto theedo we give thanks: for thatthy name is near thy wondrous works declare. 2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. 3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. 4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: 5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not witha stiff neck. 6 For promotion comethneither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God isthe judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. 8 For in the hand of the LORD there isa cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring themout,anddrink them. 9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; butthe horns of the righteous shall be exalted. Psalms 75:1-10 (KJV)

GOD BLESSES THE RIGHTEOUS

The LOVING CARE OF GOD TO HIS PEOPLE PROCLAIMED (v1-3)
His people gratefully thank Him for His presence and His intervention in their lives (v1)
For He receives and presides His people in righteousness (v2)
Although tempest of life will come but He is their stronghold through them all (v3)
THE RESISTANCE OF GOD AGAINST THE PROUD (v4-5)
The boastful admonished (v4a)
The evil man’s strength resisted (v4b)
The self-exalting put in their place (v5)
GOD SOVEREIGNLY CHOOSES WHOM HE WILL BLESS (v6-7)
He raises up whom He chooses (v6)
For He is the SOVEREIGN JUDGE (v7a)
Putting down one (v7b)
Putting up another (v7c)
HIS BLESSING IS UPON THE RIGHTEOUS (v8-10)
His judgment comes upon the wicked (v8)
His blessings are upon His thankful people (v9)
For God favours the righteous (v10)

Hymns: RHC 324 Trusting Jesus, 355 Day by Day, 333 Yesterday, Today, Forever, 115 Constantly Abiding

PSALM 73

1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was asa beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: butGod is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 Butit is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. Psalms 73:1-28 (KJV)

WHOM HAVE I BUT THEE

The Prosperity of the Wicked Stumbles Me (v1-10)
I envied them (v1-3)
Their pride and strength seemed to receive divine consent (v4-7)
They even blasphemed against God and seemed to get away without judgment (v8-9)
God’s people greatly oppressed by the wicked (v10)
The Afflictions of the Godly Baffles Me (v11-16)
The godly is discouraged by reason of their oppression crying out “Where is God?” (v11)
The ungodly continues to prosper (v12)
The godliness of the godly seemed to bring them no where (v13)
The godly continues to be chastened in their sore affliction (v14)
I dare not murmur against God lest the godly be stumbled (v15)
Yet the sight of God’s afflicted people brings pain to my heart (v16)
But the Lord in His mercy enlightens me – I discovered the misery of the wicked as revealed in His Word (v17-22)
The ungodly shall certainly not escape God’s judgment (v17-20)
They are unknowingly sliding down to destruction (v17-18)
There end will be sudden and most terrifying (v19)
The unsaved most miserable under God’s judgment (v20)
I am most ashamed for envying the wicked (v21-22)
My heart grieved (v21)
How foolish in envying the wicked (v22)
Thank God I continue to abide in His presence (v23-28)
I abide in God and He upholds me (v23)
By guiding me with His counsel until I arrive in heaven (v24)
I desire my God more than anything else (v25)
Though my body and heart gradually weakens, God shall be the strength of my heart and my help forever (v26)
All who wander from God shall perish without God (v27)
But I draw near to Him and put my faith in Him and testify of His goodness in my life (v28)

Hymns: RHC 339 When I Fear My Heart Will Fail, 542 Saved by Grace, 284 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

PSALM 124

Psalm 124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Ps. 124:1-8 KJV)

Hymns: RHC 335 Keep On Believing, 337 Never Give Up, 306 Pass Me Not

PSALM 63

1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou artmy God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so asI have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness isbetter than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as withmarrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise theewith joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, andmeditate on thee in the nightwatches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. 9 But those thatseek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Psalm 63:1-11 (KJV)

PURSUING GOD

OUTLINE

(1) Seeking God Early (v1)

(2) Seeking His Presence (v2-4)

(3) Strengthened (v5-7)

(4) Determination and Resolve (v8)

(5) The righteous is not forsaken but vindicated (v9-11)

INTRODUCTION

David was trained in the pursuit of godliness by the providence of God in the wilderness. He was a fugitive, living in constant threat to his life. It was there in the wilderness that he was taught the lesson of spiritual discipline to be constantly in touch with his God. He wrote many psalms recounting his spiritual encounters with God. David learned how to deal with his emotions, his depression and his weariness in the wilderness.