Pastor Billington's Blog

Psalm 11:1-7 “For the Chief Musician. By David. In the LORD, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain’? For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in his holy temple. The LORD is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men. The LORD examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence. On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulphur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.”

God is omniscient. He sees all. And He is righteous in all His judgments, both in this life and the next. We can trust Him and take refuge in Him. He is our foundation! And we’re reminded about something special that those who know Him will experience one day.

Revelation 22:1-5 “He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.”

For additional worship: Psalm 11 (Yahweh Loves Justice) [feat. Nick Poppens]

Psalm 10:12-18 “Arise, LORD! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless. Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, ‘God won’t call me into account?’ But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none. The LORD is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land. LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear, to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.”

The plight of the persecuted righteous should cause God’s people to call out to Him. And they should be assured that God will hear! God will take up the cause of the oppressed and judge the unrighteous. God will heal His land, because He is King forever and ever!

We too are faced with unrighteousness in this world. We see believers suffering at the hands of unbelievers, and we need to cry out to God for their safety and wellbeing.

Ephesians 6:17-20 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints. Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

For additional worship: Rejoice The Lord Is King (Lyric Video)

Psalm 10:7-11 “His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

There is a false sense of security that comes when you get away with evil. But it’s a false sense. Revelation teaches us that evil doesn’t win!

But there is even more here. A part of this passage is used in the New Testament to remind us that this is the natural state of anyone who doesn’t have a relationship with God. People aren’t drawn to do good!

Romans 3:10-18 “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.’”

I hope that you can rejoice today that you have a relationship with God, that you are drawn to do good, and that you have nothing to fear in the judgment.

For additional worship: Psalm 10 (Yahweh Is King Forever) [feat. Jon DeGroot]

Psalm 10:1-6 “Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise. For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns the LORD. The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God. His ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them. He says in his heart, ‘I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.’”

Psalm 10 is a psalm of lament. A lament is a cry out to God for immediate help. A frequent refrain in laments is “why?” Why is it taking God so long to intervene? Why isn’t God acting right now? Why isn’t God punishing the wicked? Why isn’t God helping the righteous? Why isn’t the wicked concerned about judgment? Where Psalm 9 was concerned more about an outside threat, here the concern seems to be threats from closer to home. Not an invading army, but perhaps an unjust judge. An evil neighbor. The ungodly rich.

Does God’s seeming lack of concern ever bother you? Do you long for Him to intervene? He may soon, but He will later. Justice and judgement on all is a certainty. It just doesn’t always happen in this life. Sometimes it does, but sometimes we have to wait.

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD.”

For additional worship: “Why doth the Lord stand off so far?” (Isaac Watts)

Why doth the Lord depart so far,
And why conceal his face,
When great calamities appear,
and times of deep distress?

Lord, shall the wicked still deride
Thy justice and the laws?
Shall they advance their heads in pride,
And slight their righteous cause?

They cast thy judgments from their sight
And then insult the poor;
They boast in their exalted height,
That they shall fall no more.

Arise, O God, lift up thine hand
Attend our humble cry;
No enemy shall dare to stand,
When God ascends on high.

Why do the men of malice rage,
And say with foolish pride,
The God of heav'n will ne'er engage
To fight on Zion's side?

But thou for ever art our Lord;
And pow'rful is thine hand,
As when the Heathens felt thy sword,
And perish'd from thy land.

Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray,
And cause thine ear to hear;
Accept the vows thy children pay,
And free thy saints from fear.

Proud tyrants shall no more oppress,
No more despise the just;
And mighty sinners shall confess,
They are but earth and dust.

Psalm 9:15-20 “The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken. The LORD has made himself known. He has executed judgement. The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah. The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever. Arise, LORD! Don’t let man prevail. Let the nations be judged in your sight. Put them in fear, LORD. Let the nations know that they are only men. Selah.”

Evildoers end up in the pit they make themselves, whether they are people or nations. Rebelling against God and against His children is a dangerous proposition. God cares for all his people, not just kings! Oppressors should fear, because the needy and poor cry out to God and He hears them.

If you know God, how does it make you feel that God loves you, cares about you, and hears your prayers?

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.”

For additional worship: Psalm 9 (Fighting for Me) (feat. Darin Kaihoi)

Note: “Meditation” is an interesting term. It’s only found in three Psalms. Some think it is a musical notation (perhaps signifying a quieter setting), while others think it means something like meditation. Put together with “Selah,” it could be a time of quiet contemplation. Perhaps we are to pause and consider what it means that the wicked will be ensnared by the works of their own hands. Hoisted on their own petards. They will fall into their own pits. The world would call it “karma.” We recognize that God is sovereign, and that He cares for His own.

Psalm 9:7-14 “But the LORD reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgement. He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgement to the peoples in uprightness. The LORD will also be a high tower for the oppressed; a high tower in times of trouble. Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion, and declare amongst the people what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers them. He doesn’t forget the cry of the afflicted. Have mercy on me, LORD. See my affliction by those who hate me, and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may show all of your praise. I will rejoice in your salvation in the gates of the daughter of Zion.”

David reminds us of God’s faithfulness and righteousness. It’s why we can put our trust in Him. He is our place of refuge and promises that he will never leave us or forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5 “he has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’”

Do you have a problem in your life? Even if it’s not someone persecuting or hating you, you can cry out to God for help because He is merciful! And when He helps, however He does, we should rejoice and tell others about His faithfulness.

For additional worship: Jesus, Lover of My Soul (Michael Card)

Psalm 9:1-6 “For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Death of the Son.” A Psalm by David. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart. I will tell of all your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish in your presence. For you have maintained my just cause. You sit on the throne judging righteously. You have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin. The very memory of the cities which you have overthrown has perished.”

David sees how God has worked on his behalf, and he is moved to praise.

How has God worked on our behalf? He’s saved us. He’s given us His Spirit. He’s provided His Word. He’s given us the church. He’s defeated death, hell, and Satan! He’s given us a home in heaven. Perhaps you can look back at other ways he has helped you specifically. And, beyond that, we look forward to a time when all of God’s (and our) enemies will be utterly defeated and Jesus will sit on His throne victorious!

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: Sing to the Lord with all of Your Heart

Psalm 8:1-9 “For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens! From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

God is to be praised! When we consider not only creation, but the dominion that mankind has over it, we rejoice in God’s majesty. Even babies praise His name and put His enemies to shame! He is both sovereign (Lord = Adonai), and personal (LORD = YHWH, Israel’s covenant name for God). He is to be feared and loved. We recognize God as Creator and Savior through Jesus Christ!

Colossians 1:15-20 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.”

This passage also points to Jesus in a special way. The author of Hebrews sees the son of man not just as mankind, but as pointing to the special Son of Man who is the coming Messiah!

Hebrews 2:5-9 “For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels. But one has somewhere testified, saying, ‘What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him. But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.”

For additional worship: How Majestic is Thy Name (Keith Green)

Psalm 7:12-17 “If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow. He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows. Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood. He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made. The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head. I will give thanks to the LORD according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”

David warns the evildoers who are after him: if you don’t repent of your sins, God is preparing for war, and He is coming for you! If you continue to lie and deceive, you’ll fall into the pit you’ve dug for me. Your own violence is going to rebound against you. Turn back before it’s too late!

God protects us as well. When we know Jesus, we are His for eternity!

John 6:40 “This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

But there is another way that David’s warning should ring in our heads. When we rebel against God, we set ourselves up for failure. When we discover our own sin, we need to repent. Repentance is more than just feeling sorrow. Repentance is a turning away from sin and turning to God. There are both eternal and temporal aspects to repentance. There is a once and for all turning to Jesus as Savior, and there is the daily confession to make sure our ongoing relationship is where it needs to be.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Have you expressed your belief in Jesus? Do you try to live for Him? Do you confess your mistakes to Him? All are important for a right relationship with Him. And God’s faithfulness to protect and forgive should lead us to praise!

For additional worship: Psalm 7 (Vindicate Me) [feat. Nick Poppens]