July 13th

Joshua 18-19     Jeremiah 9     Psalms 149- 150     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

How do we praise God?

What a privilege it is to be a Christian! And yet, with that privilege comes such responsibility! These two psalms remind us of both of these facets of the walk of faith.

God delights in His people and saves them (149:4). And this honour should make His people rejoice – even when they should be sleeping (149:5)! This honour, however, will also mean that one day His people will share in His rule, bringing vengeance on nations who do not acknowledge God as their King (149:6-9). We will carry out the sentence given by Jesus, the good Judge, who is also King and Maker. This, says the psalmist, is a glory that awaits us as we sing His praises. Do we rejoice in the judgement to come, that will bring about full justice for all the wrong that has happened on earth? Do we rejoice in Jesus’ perfect justice? Do we rejoice that we will be a privileged part of it?

Psalm 150 ends the psalter magnificently, especially after the shock of the end of Psalm 149. Even if we don’t understand, even if we can,t stomach the thought of this, Psalm 150 reminds us of our duty now as we go out into our days - and lifts our eyes to the God who is sovereign and worthy of praise. Praise the Lord! Praise Him generously – in all places and for all things and in all ways and with everyone.

It is a great privilege to be a Christian. Let us all, in all times and places, praise the Lord!

(friend of Christ Church)

July 12th

Joshua 16-17     Jeremiah 8     Psalms 148     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Who praises God?

On reading this psalm through, we are struck that all of God’s creation is commanded to praise Him. From the heavens (v1-4), from the earth (v8-12), and from the seas (v7). People of all backgrounds (v11-12) and the chosen people of Israel (v13-14). God created all things by His Word (v5), and is sovereign over all things for eternity, again by His Word (v6).

And so it is no wonder that such praise should be of His Name (v5, 13). It is in His Name that God’s Word is verified. It is from His Name that His Word has authority. It is His Name that is above all things, exalted, splendid, and reigning in glory (v13).

So what or who is this reference to a horn in v14? Surely this is the deliverer, the king, raised up to bring God’s people close to Him. Surely this is the Lord Jesus Christ, the praise of all God’s chosen ones. It is in Him that we are people close to God’s heart. It is in Him that our praise should be grounded.

Praise God for Jesus, the praise of all the saints!

(friend of Christ Church)

July 11th

Joshua 14-15     Jeremiah 7     Psalms 146-147     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)
Why praise God?

These two psalms are a primer on why we bother praising God. They set up the final five Hallelujah psalms that close the book. God’s people knew their privileges as His people. And God’s faithfulness has drawn in people of faith to that group from all nations through Christ. So as we praise, let’s do so through the lens of the cross, the supreme example of His faithfulness and the reason for His praise.

Praise the LORD, the psalmist preaches to himself (146:1). I will praise, he tells himself (146:2). I will sing of Him all my life. I will praise God, not men (v3). And here is why…

God is faithful (146:6). He creates, provides and rescues (146:5-9). He reigns forever (146:10). He looks after His people (147:2-3). He knows all things (147:4-5). He sorts out justice (147:6). He provides all that His creation needs (147:8-9). He gives peace and security to His people (147:13-14). He is in control of all things (147:15-18). He has revealed himself – in His word to Israel (147:19-20), and in Jesus to all nations.

God’s pleasure is in the man or woman who fears him, who hopes in his love (147:10-11) – in other words in the man or woman who praises him. We have lots of reasons to do so. So let’s delight Him today.

(friend of Christ Church)

July 10th

Joshua 12-13     Jeremiah 6     Psalms 145     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

God who is worthy of praise

“Praise God!” How often do we use this phrase with little thought as to what we mean? How often is it rather an empty throwaway comment? Well Psalm 145 is the tonic we need to get us praising God wholeheartedly.

In his last psalm David finishes well by committing to praising God – forever (v1) and every day (v2). And when he praises he praises with all that is in him.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·        <!--[endif]-->Look at the words he uses for praising God: exalt, praise, extol, commend, meditate, proclaim, tell, sing.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·        <!--[endif]-->Look at who will be joining him in praising God: all generations (v4), all creation (v10), all men (v12), everyone (v21).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·        <!--[endif]-->Look at all the things he finds to praise God for: there is a wonderful attribute of God or promise of God in every verse!

As Christians we praise this same God, who hasn’t changed in attributes (v8-9) and who is faithful to all his promises (v13b). But we also praise Him knowing that these attributes and promises have been made all the more clear, beautiful and glorious in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why not memorise and hold onto one or two of these reasons to praise God today – and do it every day and forever!

(friend of Christ Church)

July 9th

Joshua 11     Jeremiah 5     Psalms 144     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

God the Victor

David is God’s chosen king. And he knows that it is God alone who brings him victory on the battlefield. He gives the skill (v1) and the weapons (v2). He cares about His people (v3), even in their frailty (v4). He will have the victory over His enemies, who are David’s enemies, whether now or in eternity (v5-11).

And the result of this victory? Well deliverance rightly results in praise and worship to the deliverer (v9-10). Always. And by grace it may also result in material blessing of God’s people (v12-14), those living under the right rule of God’s king - David then, the Lord Jesus Christ now. A maybe then, a certainty in eternity.

Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD, v15. Blessed are we who have been rescued forever by the hand from on high, God in human form dying on a cross. Blessed are God’s people now by worshipping the Victor and Rescuer as Lord, and blessed will be God’s people forever and completely in heaven where the idyllic vision of v12-14 will be realised.

(friend of Christ Church)

July 8th

Joshua 10     Jeremiah 4     Psalms 142-143     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

God the Rescuer

David is in trouble again. In a place where he feels as if every step is dangerous (Ps142:3b), he is alone (Ps142:4), there is no safe place (142:4b), he is being pursued by enemies (143:3), aware of his sin (143:2), and feeling crushed (143:3). He feels in darkness as if dead (143:3b), and indeed, as if he is about to die (spirit grows faint, spirit fails, Ps142:3. 143:4,7). He is desperate and he pleads with the only one he knows can set him free. He pleads for mercy (142:1, 143:1), for relief from his ongoing anguish.

And this is a good thing to do. He knows that God provides a safe refuge for those who trust in Him (142:5) and that He is good (142:7). He knows that God is judge and no one stands right before Him (143:2), but that He is also faithful and righteous (143:1) and has proven his faithfulness before (143:5). And so David, God’s servant, does well to cry out to God for rescue, guidance, help and mercy. That he may once again praise God’s name. And that God may be glorified, as Jesus prayed in Gethsemane (Matt 26:38), as we can pray because of Jesus’ death on the cross making us righteous before Him.

So do we? Do we cry up out of the pit when we are in it and pray to the LORD (142:1)? To the only One who is strong enough to set us free? Have mercy on us? Rescue us? He already has on the cross. And do we then transform this experience into praise and worship (143:6)? And tell of His glory to those gathered around, now and into eternity (142:7)?

(friend of Christ Church)

July 7th

Joshua 9     Jeremiah 3     Psalms 140-141     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Beware snares and traps, look out danger!

What a great TV drama it would make, pretending to come from a very distant country with suitable props like mouldy bread, cracked wineskins and worn out sandals. People can be deceived; there are traps we can fall into.

In Psalm 140:5 David talks of snares and traps set by evil doers.

There are 7 very significant words in Josh 9:14

but did not enquire of the Lord

The men of Israel including Joshua were deceived; they fell into the trap because they did not first ask the Lord for help. There is a warning here, always ask God, enquire of him before not after you make decisions.

There are also 7 very significant words in Psalm 141:8

But my eyes are fixed on you

May we say along with David, But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge – do not give me over to death.

May our eyes always be fixed on Jesus, In Jer 3:12 ‘“Return, faithless Israel,” declares the Lord,

“I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,” declares the Lord, “I will not be angry for ever”.

So beware those traps, enquire of the Lord first and keep our eyes fixed on him always.

(crèche helper)