Posts belonging to Category Psalms



Sunday Morning SoundBytes – 9/2/2018

Sunday’s message was called Rest for Your Soul, taken from Psalm 62. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. God’s nature is such that we find rest in him (1-2, 11-12)
   A. Think worthy thoughts of God
      – Matthew 11:28-30; John 3:17
   B. Receive God’s salvation by faith
      – Ephesians 2:8-9
   C. Understand God’s power to protect and preserve
      – Psalm 38:16; Isaiah 40:20, 41:17

II. You cannot find true rest apart from God
   A. Repetition of the word “alone” (vv. 1,2,5,6)
   B. Three things that will not bring you rest for your soul
      1) Trusting in self (v. 3)
      2) Trusting in other people (vv. 4, 9)
      3) Trusting in power or wealth v. 10)
   C. The structure of the Psalm (“chiasm”)
      – God / man / God / man / God  (1-2 / 3-4 / 5-8 / 9-10 / 11-12)

III. Knowing these truths is not enough – you must continually apply yourself to finding your true rest in God alone (5-12)
   A. Claim God’s promises for yourself (5-6)
   B. Place your honor in God’s hands (7)
   C. Trust in God at all times (8a)
   D. Pour out your heart to the Lord (8b)
   E. Rely on God’s Word (11)
   F. Look forward to your eternal rest (12)

Note: Click on the Sermons tab at the top of the blog for this and other messages.
 

The Psalms of Ascent – Stepping Stones to God’s Heart

During the fifteen weeks from January 1 through Palm Sunday we studied the fifteen Psalms of Ascent on Sunday mornings in preparation for Easter. Here are the links to the audio, outlines and manuscripts for the various messages in the series.

stepping_stones_1

The Psalms of Ascent | Stepping Stones to God’s Heart | Psalms 120-134
(Click here for a PDF of all the sermon outlines for the series.)
(Click here for the audio of all the sermons.)

Sermon Manuscripts:
Psalm 120 – Praying in Times of Trouble
Psalm 121 – Trusting in God’s Providential Care
Psalm 122 – Gathering with God’s People
Psalm 123 – Looking to the Lord for Mercy
Psalm 124 – Depending on God
Psalm 125 – Safe and Secure
Psalm 126 – From Tears to Joy
Psalm 127 – Resting in God’s Blessing
Psalm 128 – Fearing the Lord
Psalm 129 – Persevering through Pain
Psalm 130 – Waiting in Hope
Psalm 131 – Humbled and Content
Psalm 132 – Believing God’s Promise
Psalm 133 – Living Together in Unity
Psalm 134 – Blessing and Blessed (Palm Sunday)
 
          

The Magnificent Word of God Series

We recently completed a six-part series on The Magnificent Word of God, from Psalm 19:7-14. You can click the various links below to read the messages from the series.

The Magnificent Word of God

The Magnificent Word of God Series
(Click here for a PDF of all the sermon outlines for the series.)

The Word of the Lord (Inspired) – Psalm 19:7-14
Trustworthy and True (Infallible) – Psalm 19:7
Radiant and Right (Authoritative) – Psalm 19:8
Sure and Pure (Everlasting) – Psalm 19:9
More Precious than Gold (Priceless) – Psalm 19:10-11
A Prayer to Be Pleasing to God (Sanctifying) – Psalm 19:12-14
 

Ebook – The Psalms of David in Metre (John Brown)

I am excited to announce the ebook release of The Psalms of David in Metre: with Notes by John Brown of Haddington This is a project my son has been working on for over a year now. He loves the Psalms, and this is clearly the new definitive ebook edition of this important work. The ebook is easy to navigate with extensive links and notes and is perfect for singing, study, devotion and worship.

This ebook edition includes:

  • Brief Historical Background for the Psalms of David in Metre
  • Explanation of Metrical Psalms and Tips for Singing Them
  • Textual and other Notes on this Work and its ebook Format
  • John Brown’s Preface, Notes, and Common Table of Psalms
  • Links to First Lines of each Psalm
  • Tune Recommendations
  • Subject Index
  • Glossary of Unfamiliar Terms

This project has truly been a labor of love requiring hundreds of hours of work. I encourage you to purchase your copy today!

Click here for Kindle version: The Psalms of David in Metre: with Notes by John Brown of Haddington

Click here for Nook version: The Psalms of David in Metre: with Notes by John Brown of Haddington

On God and Chipmunks

We have a family of chipmunks who live in the bush just outside our back window. We enjoy watching these cute little critters as they scamper around the yard and run along the top of the fence. It is especially fun to watch them play tag with the squirrels underneath the bird feeder. The squirrels don’t have a chance. The chipmunks can dart from here to there so fast you don’t even see them move. It is almost as if they teleport from one location to the other.

Yesterday the back yard was a flurry of activity from our chipmunk friends. All morning long they were dashing back and forth to the woods bringing back supplies. You see, we had a major snow storm coming in last night, and they were getting prepared.

Of course, the question is, how did they know the storm was coming? I only knew because of the weather station. In the meantime, while I checked hourly weather reports on TV, the chipmunks earnestly gathered their supplies.

These little chipmunks are a testimony to God’s great glory and wisdom, as are all of God’s works in creation. God is a good and loving Creator who has made all things well. I especially love Psalm 104 which speaks of God’s intimate love and care for his creation. Let me leave you with a few verses from this encouraging psalm this morning:

Psalm 104:24-28

24 How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number —
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

27 These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things. (NIV)