Pastor Billington's Blog

Psalm 109:26-31 “Help me, LORD, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness; that they may know that this is your hand; that you, LORD, have done it. They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice. Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe. I will give great thanks to the LORD with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him amongst the multitude. For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.”

The only way that others would know that the Lord is responsible for our salvation and protection is if we are proclaiming Him in the first place!

Psalm 29:1-2 “Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name.”

As we conclude this Psalm, we remember that when we are hurting and falsely accused, God cares and we can cry out to Him.

For additional worship: You Defend the Broken (Psalm 109)

Psalm 109:21-25 “But deal with me, GOD the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me; for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me. I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust. My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat. I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.”

Who do we turn to when we are depressed and distressed? When we are wasting away? When we are ridiculed and scorned? God. But notice the attitude here. Humility. Dependance. Asking God not to help us because of our own merits, but because of His merits and for His name’s sake.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

For additional worship: God Help me Now (Unspoken)

Psalm 109:16-20 “because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them. Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him. He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones. Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him. This is the reward of my adversaries from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my soul.”

Here David wants a reversal. He wants the ungodly to experience the very things that they have been guilty of! “Let it be to him as a clothing with which he covers himself.”

We are reminded here of how we are supposed to be as godly people. We should be kind. We should try to care for and help the needy and the depressed. We shouldn’t make things worse for others (cursing them), but we should try to make things better (blessing them). And we certainly shouldn’t allow hatred, evil, and cursing to define us (cover ourselves with them)!

For additional worship: Make me a Blessing

Psalm 109:6-15 “Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand. When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin. Let his days be few. Let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins. Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labour. Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the LORD. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out. Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;”

Yikes! Can we be this way? Or does the gospel completely change things?

Imprecatory Psalms call down God’s judgment on the ungodly and evil. Jesus does quote from those Psalms to indicate His innocence and uprightness:

John 15:25 “But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ “

But we also see Him praying:

John 23:34 “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ Dividing his garments amongst them, they cast lots.”

Was he sometime harsh on religious leadership? Or even pointed to others? Yes, but the words we see him crying out to God on behalf of others when He was on the cross were words of compassion and forgiveness.

So yes, I believe that the gospel makes a difference, and the words from the gospel of Matthew in yesterday’s reading should guide us. We can cry out for justice, but we do it in such a way that is mindful of the sinfulness of the world and their need for a savior. After all, we used to be like them!

1 Corinthians 6:11 “Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.”

Romans 9:1-5 “I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.”

For additional worship: Awesome God (Rich Mullins)

Psalm 109:1-5 “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. God of my praise, don’t remain silent, for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue. They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause. In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer. They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”

In the midst of hatred and lies we find, “but I am in prayer.” Just in prayer to God? Just in prayer for vindication? Just in prayer for help? Or in prayer for those who are his adversaries? It’s implied that David has prayed for his adversaries blessing in the past, because he has directed good and love towards them. However, the tenor of those prayers is about to change, because they have returned evil and hatred for his good.

Matthew 5:44-48 “But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

For additional worship: God of my Mercy and my Praise (Issac Watts)

God of my mercy and my praise,
Thy glory is my song;
tho’ sinners speak against Thy grace
with a blaspheming tongue.

O GOD, my Lord, for Thy Name’s sake
in mercy deal with me;
because Thy kindness is so great,
from trouble set me free.

O Thou who art my LORD and God,
Thy gracious help extend,
and for Thy lovingkindness’ sake
O save me and defend.

My voice shall greatly bless the LORD
and sing His worthy praise,
and I amid the multitude
my thankful song will raise.

The LORD be praised, for ever near
the helpless poor He stands,
protecting them with wondrous pow’r
from their oppressors’ hands.

Psalm 108:7-13 “God has spoken from his sanctuary: ‘In triumph, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine. Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is my helmet. Judah is my scepter. Moab is my wash pot. I will toss my sandal on Edom. I will shout over Philistia.’ Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Haven’t you rejected us, God? You don’t go out, God, with our armies. Give us help against the enemy, for the help of man is vain. Through God, we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our enemies.”

Just as Israel cried out to God for hope and help and were assured of victory, so we are assured of our ultimate victory as well!

Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he [Christ] also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Revelation 21:1-4 “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.’ ”

2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

For additional worship: O Little Flock Fear Not the Foe

Psalm 108:1-6 “A Song. A Psalm by David. My heart is steadfast, God. I will sing and I will make music with my soul. Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. I will give thanks to you, LORD, amongst the nations. I will sing praises to you amongst the peoples. For your loving kindness is great above the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth. That your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.”

Hopefully our hearts are steadfast. Hopefully we are willing to stand up for and to praise God not just among our own, but even among those who don’t know or love Him. He is great! He is loving! He is merciful! He is faithful! And we long for the day when all of creation acknowledges and worships Him!

Philippians 4:9-11 “Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

1 Peter 3:15-16 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.”

For additional worship: Your Love, Oh Lord (Third Day)

(I made some missteps at the beginning where I repeated songs that I’d already referenced. At some point I’ll probably try to fix that, but this time I’m doing it deliberately! This song was previously used on March 16.)

Psalm 107:33-43 “He turns rivers into a desert, water springs into a thirsty ground, and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs. There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in, sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase. He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease. Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow. He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste. Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock. The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths. Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of the LORD.

God does what God will. He can turn a prosperous land barren because of the people’s wickedness, or end up reversing that judgment as a mercy to the hungry. He can bring down the mighty and exalt the needy. Whatever He does is right and righteous, and it causes the upright to be glad and the wicked to shut their mouths. Do we want to be wise? Then we’ll pay attention to the many ways that God has displayed His steadfast love to us!

Romans 5:8 “But God commends his own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

For additional worship: Living Hope (Phil Wickham)

Psalm 107:23-32 “Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters, these see the LORD’s deeds, and his wonders in the deep. For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves. They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble. They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress. He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven. Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds for the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.”

What we seem to have here are some of the exiled Israelites sailing in the service of a foreign king. Instead of ending up at the bottom of an ocean, God brings them back to shore and then back to their homeland. God should certainly be praised!

Did you catch the refrain for each group? “Let them praise the LORD for His loving kindness, for His wonderful deed for the children of men!” We should praise the Lord publicly and privately for the salvation we have through Jesus Christ, the protection and provision we have through the Holy Spirit, and the hope of a future forever with Him!

For additional worship: Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Psalm 107:17-22 “Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities. Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death. Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses. He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves. Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing.”

This is the third group mentioned. Have they done something exceptionally foolish in exile? Or have they just been fools all along because of their refusal to follow God, which is the whole reason they ended up in exile in the first place! They end up so distressed that they can’t eat. Finally, when they are near death, they cry out to God. God answers, and they praise Him for His mercy and might!

Don’t be a fool!!!

Proverbs 1:20-33 “Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you, when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD. They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.’ ”

For additional worship: Tell Out, My Soul