Take Up My Cross

Ever heard the phrase "Christians are intolerant?" Ever seen it play out in society? The truth is, Christians often believe that theirs is a religion that comes with many rules. It starts in Genesis, where God commands Adam not to eat from the particular trees. The story famously moves on to Moses who receives 10 commandments on the mountain. Then we have entire books stuffed with law - Deuteronomy, Numbers, Leviticus. We have punishment after punishment given out on those who break the law, and this comes up to the time of Jesus. In John 8, the people bring a adulteress before Jesus to ask if they should stone her, as according to the law. Jesus ignores them at first, then finally tells them - "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Sure enough, nobody throws anything and they leave eventually. Jesus too, forgives her, and tells her to sin no more. Well, what have we learnt out of this example? 1. Judgement belongs...

Verses 1 - 7 are a description of David's enemies and his plea to God to deliver him because of who God is Verses 8 - 10 are a description of God's character Verses 11 - 13 describe the action David hopes for God to take Verses 14 - 15 repeat verse 1-7 Verses 16 and 17 are about God's character again. Written in a ABCAB structure - repeating certain elements. If I don't remember wrongly in Hebrew this places an emphasis on the unrepeated verses - 11-13. But key points are here: God's character makes Him judge. God, being righteous, being the God of all the earth, cannot and will not let sin go unpunished God is our Strength, our fortress, and His steadfast love in particular is our source of hope. God's judgement shows the world that God is ruler of all. This is the emphasized point, and this links to the previous Psalm's themes as well. Application: We need a clear understanding of God's character to truly understand His reasons for ...

Okay I skipped a lot. Been very inconsistent. Been terribly slow. Been stuck at the same Psalm since forever. Gotta say it's a lot with the way I am. Impatient. Searching for new answers. It's a struggle to read Psalms (which are grouped thematically) because sequential ones just sound the same over and over again. But hey, here goes the next try to restart this. And I want to write them - because writing is where I understand. Verses 1-5 deal with the condition of the authorities of men - the "gods" that David spites. He marks them as decreeing evil, of unjust judgement, of violence on earth. He labels them venomous and reviling for many reasons. Verses 6 to 9 then talk about his prayer for God's judgement against these people. The imagery is also very strong - breaking their teeth, tearing out the fangs of the young lions, to be like stillborn children who never see the sun. Finally verses 10 and 11 speak of the rejoicing that comes with the judgemen...

Okay I've skipped a bunch. Really though I couldn't get a lot out of the previous few Psalms. This is by far the impactful one. Psalm 51 was written by David, and it opens beautifully highlighting the problem of sin. His phrases are here: Have mercy on me Blot out my transgressions Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity Cleanse me from my sin And why should God do this? This is truly the beauty of the salvation we are given. Just two simple lines According to your steadfast love; and according to your steadfast mercy. These two things are the basis that forgiveness and salvation and sanctification and EVERYTHING is given to us. Mercy and cleansing why? Not because of anything he has done, not because of anything he could do in return, but because only because God is steadfast in His love and mercy. It speaks volumes, then, of how we should respond. Why do we constantly try to prove ourselves? Why do we constantly go out to do right? Honestly answered, ...

Skipped posting about a few because I read them over church retreat. Basically this is the prophecy of Christ's coming - about how men with riches, or intellect will perish regardless of whatever they have, despite their earthly blessings, but God redeems the upright to eternal life. Will consider filling in more tomorrow. Sleepy and it's late!

Summary v1-4 Hear the wisdom of God v5-20 The outcome for those without wisdom Hear the wisdom of God The Psalm begins with this call for people to hear the wisdom of God, and to pay close attention to it, regardless of status. The outcome for those without wisdom This section begins with a boast of confidence in God that there is no trouble that should overcome the author, or any iniquity or enemy that can cause him to fear. Here also comes one reference to Christ Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. I kind of read this to mean that no one can redeem himself - and we are justified only by God's grace, through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Which brings me to this discussion we had on Wednesday night - that we often use the phrase "justified by faith alone". And interestingly, the only (as...

Okay I'm jumping. This Psalm just fell into place.. Summary v1-2 A plea to be heard v3-5 The struggles v6-8 Escapism v9-11 A plea to destroy the city for its evil v12-15 Betrayal v16-19 He redeems my soul v20-21 Betrayal v22 God will sustain v23 God's trustworthy judgement A plea to be heard This is another recurring opening in many Psalms written, especially in times of trouble and suffering. I suppose that we often feel God isn't listening to us when we suffer. We feel alone, we feel like God has neglected us, and we really do cry out for God to hear and answer our prayers. Whether he does answer, though, is a different matter. In Job 1:21 it writes:  Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. I guess that God has given and God takes away as He pleases, and we truly don't have any right to complain against Him - that all this is done to His glory - there...

Summary v1-8 God's kingdom established in all power above all the earth v9-14 The joy of Zion God's Kingdom established in all power over all the earth Actually there are kinda two sections to this. The first 3 verses speak of the glory of God's kingdom being established. It is metaphorically compared to a city on a mountain in the north - probably the same way Jesus uses the phrase "A city on a hill cannot be hidden". And so it is so, even in the OT writings, that God's kingdom cannot be hidden and will be displayed in all glory for all the world to see. The second section describes the kings of the earth gathered against the kingdom of God. Or at least, it looks like that's the way it's written though it's not explicitly stated in the passage. Reason being that upon seeing it, they panicked and took flight - why run if you're not against God? This kinda highlights the resistance of the world to God - that even in all His glory the wo...

Summary Okay cheesy title. Why !!!? Because the Psalm is just full of these !s. It's rather simply a Psalm of joy and praise for God. Shall do this Psalm in point form since it makes rather valid sense! Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared a great king over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob who he loves God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to the King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted! Well basically each of the main points are kind of subheadings to the Psalm, and then we have fo...

Finally this one seems pretty straightforward. A easy read! Summary v1-3 God is our refuge and our strength v4-7 We shall not be moved v8-9 Behold the works of the Lord v10-11 Be still and know that I am God God is our refuge and our strength The first 3 verses are rather simple. It opens with the title - that God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. The author goes on to state very clearly that though the mountains tremble and the seas roar he will not be shaken for his trust is in God, who is beyond the forces of this world (tbc!) We shall not be moved Here the author goes on to describe the splendour of God as the reason why he has no need to fear. Again, imagery of a very royal, powerful King. This section closes with the same line as the one at the end of the Psalm - The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  I think there are two things going on in this line. 1. The LORD of hosts - as interpreted by some as the LO...

Seems like the Psalms are getting progressively harder to read. I feel so stuck reading this one. Innocently read it is about God's anointed King and his position of glory. Read deeper and it seems to be about God Himself relating to the nation of Israel. I'm exhausted. Will try to go in depth again tomorrow.. v1-9 Praise for God, the King v10-17 A message for Israel I'm rather convinced that this passage has the deeper meaning of speaking about God rather than simply about a King. I haven't actually looked up commentaries' views on this, but I'll just write what I do understand from the passage. v1-9 Praise for God, the King v1 - The Psalmist addresses his song to the King. Kind of like a dedicatory. You know, how we dedicate songs to people who mean a lot to us. v2 - Praise to God the Son. This seems to make sense - the most handsome of the sons of men, grace poured upon His lips, and blessing from God forever - an apt description of Jesus. ...

This Psalm is also famously referenced in Romans 8.   It is really one of the hardest readings I've seen yet. What exactly is going on? The author cries out his innocence against God's judgement, but there seems to be no respite... v1-8: In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever The first 8 verses follow the trend of many other Psalms. They rejoice in the Lord's great works to save His people, they rejoice and praise God for His provision for the Israelites in bringing them to the Promised Land, they praise God for the blessings that He has given them. He declares the trust in God and not man, how God delivers them from what sword and bow cannot. v9-16: But You have rejected us Now here's where it gets interesting. There is a change in tone here. The author now describes God going against Israel - no longer going out before them, making them a sheep for slaughter. God scatters the people of Israel across the nations and made ...

This Psalm is clearly written in some relation to the previous. v1-2: Vindicate me and defend my cause v3-4: Send out Your light and Your truth v5: Why are you cast down, O my soul? Vindicate me and defend my cause It seems to carry on from the previous Psalm, in asking God to uphold the writer against the deceitful and unjust man. He confirms God as his refuge, and wonders why he is mourning under the oppression of his enemy. Send out Your light and Your truth The second section is a call to God to establish His kingdom. The author understands that God's glory will be manifest someday - and on that day the wrongs will be made right, and his suffering end - and that his suffering will only truly end when God's kingdom has been established . This is significant for us! It tells us that in the same way, we look forward to Jesus' second coming as that is the establishment of His kingdom and the end of our present sufferings. It is the hope we hold to and eagerly wa...

It's just such a beautifully written Psalm. v1-2: My soul thirsts for God v3-4a: Suffering in the meantime v4b: In anticipation of the rejoicing to come v5-8: Hope in God's steadfast love v9-10: Oppression by my enemies v11: Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God v1-2: My soul thirsts for God Verse 1 seems like the classic opening line from the hymn "As the deer". I guess I've never really reflected on the deep meaning behind this sentence until today. As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you Shouldn't this be the way we long for God? That longing that we can't live without. Why do we live like we don't need the water of life? Verse 2 goes on to push that further - expressing the writer's desire to come before God. The double emphasis really brings this out really strongly... v3-4a: Suffering in the meantime The next 1.5 verses bring out the reality of the current situation. God may ...

v1-4 Blessed is the one David begins by describing the man of righteousness. He makes 2 points about him - Considers the poor - Recognises his sin and seeks forgiveness He goes on to say why this man is blessed, because of what God has done and will do for him, explicitly - Deliver him in the day of trouble - Protect him and keep him alive - Does not give him up to the will of his enemies - Sustains him on his sickbed v5-9 The actions of man The next section describes the actions of other man against this righteous man. His enemies wait for him to die, and he has visitors with false intentions. People whisper against him and claim him for dead. His close friend who he trusted goes against him. We see the depravity and unfaithfulness of man here. We see how we cannot rely on man's faithfulness. Who is your friend? What makes him trustworthy? What makes you think that in the day of trouble, this friend will not rise against you too? v10-13 The steadfastness of God...