Pastor Billington's Blog

Psalm 48:1-8 “A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north sides, the city of the great King. God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge. For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together. They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed. They hurried away. Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail. With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of the LORD of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.”

The majesty of the city of Jerusalem goes beyond its walls and its elevation. Its majesty is primarily because it is the city of God, where His temple resides, and where His army defends it. The Gentile armies try to defeat her, but they can’t!

The glory of the earthly Jerusalem should remind us of the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem, our coming home.

Hebrews 12:22-24 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.”

But shouldn’t it also remind us of the place of our own corporate worship, the joy that comes when we gather, and the sanctity of the saints coming together to praise and to learn?

For additional worship: This Is Not a Place of Resting (feat. Jeremy Casella)

Psalm 47:1-9 “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Oh clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth. He subdues nations under us, and peoples under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God! Sing praises! Sing praises to our King! Sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!”

This Psalm recognizes God’s sovereignty, His authority, His loving-kindness, and looks forward to His ultimate rule over all the earth. We have a part to play in that rule, because He has given us an inheritance. If that isn’t a reason to praise, what is?!?!?

Hebrews 9:14-15 “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

For additional worship: Come, Thou Almighty King – Keith & Kristyn Getty

Psalm 46:6-11 “The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice and the earth melted. The LORD of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, see the LORD’s works, what desolations he has made in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted amongst the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LORD of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

The nations may rage. They may rail against God and make war against His people. For us, the war is probably more figurative than literal. But God’s got this! He is sovereign, and watches over His people. “Be still” is another way of saying trust in Him. Rest in Him. Pray to Him. Have faith in Him. The Lord of Armies is with us – the God of Jacob is our refuge!

For additional worship: Psalm 46 – Lord of Hosts – by Shane & Shane

Psalm 46:1-5 “For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah. There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High. God is within her. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn.”

This song praises God for His protection and the place He provided for worship. His very Spirit flows from the temple like a stream and makes the city of Jerusalem glad!

No matter what happens in this world, whether it is a natural disaster or political upheaval, God is our refuge, strength, and help. We are His temple, and His Spirt resides in us, making us glad. We will not be moved!

John 7:38-39 ” ‘He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.’ But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive.”

For additional worship: A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Psalm 45:8-17 “All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad. Kings’ daughters are amongst your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir. Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house. So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord. The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich amongst the people entreat your favor. The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace. Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth. I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.”

Sure sounds like an earthly king and kingdom, right? Not so fast! We are the bride of Christ…

Revelation 19:7-9 “Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. He said to me, ‘Write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” ‘ He said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’ ”

Ephesians 5:35-27 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.”

For additional worship: Psalm 45 (Fairest of All) – Shane & Shane

Psalm 45:1-7 “For the Chief Musician. Set to ‘The Lilies.’ A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever. Strap your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and your majesty. In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds. Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies. Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

A royal wedding song for a Davidic king? Yes, but also pointing forward to a very specific Davidic king…

Hebrews 1:8-9 “But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.’ ”

After all, who else embodies truth, humility, and righteousness? And who else loves righteousness and hates wickedness? And who else does awesome deeds and has the keys to the nations?

Revelation 19:11-16 “I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called ‘The Word of God.’ The armies which are in heaven, clothed in white, pure, fine linen, followed him on white horses. Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’ ”

For additional worship: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name | Reawaken Hymns

Psalm 44:23-26 “Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever. Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth. Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.”

Should we command God? While I certainly don’t think we can or should hide how we feel from God, I’m not sure that this is the best way to approach Him! But perhaps we should understand this as a plea from a hurting heart. Israel is God’s chosen people. They can’t believe that God wouldn’t help them. Are they being presumptuous? Certainly. God has constantly reminded them that there are consequences for not following the covenant. But they also know that, even if this is a result of their own unfaithfulness, God still loves them, and He is the only one they can or should cry out to.

For additional worship: Matt Maher – Lord, I Need You

Psalm 44:17-22 “All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path, though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god, won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.”

Going through trouble is bad enough. Why would you want to make it worse by turning on or turning away from God?

Paul uses this passage in Romans to remind us that, no matter what happens or what we experience, God will not forsake us!

Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, ‘For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

For additional worship: TobyMac – I just need U