Psalm 114:1-8 “When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language, Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea saw it, and fled. The Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs. What was it, you sea, that you fled? You Jordan, that you turned back? You mountains, that you skipped like rams? You little hills, like lambs? Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of waters.”

God brought His people out of Egypt and made them His special “dominion.” They became His holy kingdom! He provided for and protected them and brought them to the promised land. He is so powerful that all of nature obeys and even trembles before Him!

We are God’s special people too. Through Jesus we have obtained mercy, and we are now a part of His kingdom!

1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

For additional worship: We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations

Psalm 113:1-9 “Praise the LORD! Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the LORD’s name. Blessed be the LORD’s name, from this time forward and forever more. From the rising of the sun to its going down, the LORD’s name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD, our God, who has his seat on high, who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth? He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the needy from the ash heap, that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!”

The reversal of fortunes. Have you ever thought of that as something to praise God about? And yet it is seen here as a primary reason for us to recognize His sovereignty and His greatness. But if we think about it…we realize that is precisely why we should glorify His name!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom. 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.”

For additional worship: Come, Christians, Join to Sing

Psalm 112:6-10 “For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever. He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries. He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor. The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.”

We see two important facts here. First, if we really trust God, then bad times or “evil news” won’t affect us the way they might otherwise. Second, a sign of being righteous is not holding on tightly to what we have. We should be generous, and that’s a sign to the world of who we trust. The wicked will see it and be infuriated!

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 “Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. As it is written, ‘He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.’ Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.”

For additional worship: I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

Psalm 112:1-5 “Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in his commandments. His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgement.”

When we know God’s commandments and follow them, life is just better. We stay out of trouble. We raise our children properly and they (hopefully!) follow our example. We work hard and can provide for ourselves, and ultimately our blessing results in generosity. When we live for God it’s like living in light rather than darkness, and God notices!

For additional worship: Lead, Kindly Light

Psalm 111:1-10 “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. The LORD’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. The LORD is gracious and merciful. He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

When you fear the Lord, it means you revere His name. When you revere His name, you begin to understand His honor and majesty. When you revere His name, you better understand His provision, faithfulness and mighty works. When you revere His name, you ponder and keep His Word. When you revere His name, you praise Him with your whole heart for His heritage and salvation!

For additional worship: Whom Shall I Fear – God Of Angel Armies (Chris Tomlin)

Psalm 110:1-7 “A Psalm by David. The LORD says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.’ The LORD will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule amongst your enemies. Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth. The LORD has sworn, and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand. He will crush kings in the day of his wrath. He will judge amongst the nations. He will heap up dead bodies. He will crush the ruler of the whole earth. He will drink of the brook on the way; therefore he will lift up his head.”

This is far more than simply a royal Psalm celebrating Davidic rule. This is a Psalm that points to the reign of the Messiah and glorifies Jesus Christ!

Luke 20:41-44 “He said to them, ‘Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son? David himself says in the book of Psalms, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.’ ” ‘ David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”

Hebrews 5:5-6 “So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’ As he says also in another place, ‘You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.’ ”

Never forget that Jesus is the big point of the Bible!

John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.”

For additional worship: Something About That Name (Anne Wilson)

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)