Hey guys hope your having an awesome Thursday morning!
As I told you guys a week or so ago I am going to be posting, each Thursday morning, a review of our Wednesday night. Typically I will be posting a little bit earlier than I am today, so you will be able to check it out before school or work. Included within this, will be a few questions that your child, or student were presented with last night, in light of our discussion through Psalm 105. So as you work your way through this, keep in the back of your mind a few things;
If you are a parent, it would be extremely beneficial for you to discuss with your child, or your student, what we sang last night as Chris led us, and what those songs say, and mean; as well as what we discussed in our time in the Word. (there are points, and questions related to the text that i will discuss later.)
If you are a student, it would be extremely beneficial for you to discuss with your parent(s), or friends, what we sang last night as Chris led us, and what those songs say, and mean; as well as what we discussed in our time in the Word.
Here are the songs that Chris led us in last night along with their lyrics linked with them.
After we worshiped in song, we read from Psalm 105:1-5 and unpacked 9 exhortations from the author, the psalmist, to the children if God in light of what God has done for them. Our lens was this;
Why do we, as a church, as a student ministry, as believers, do all that we do?
The people have been delivered from slavery
God had met each and every one of their needs by His goodness and mercy and faithfulness.
And as a result, the psalmist says, respond this way.
1. Give thanks to the LORD (v. 1)
The psalmist wanted his people to realize God was the source of all their blessings and to express thanks to him. He doesn’t say “feel thankful” although that is certainly part of it, but he calls them to “give thanks.”
2. Call upon his name (v. 1)
‘Praying for further mercies is accepted as an acknowledgment of former mercies.’_ Matthew Henry
3. Make known his deeds among the peoples (v. 1)
God had called the nation of Israel to be a witness to others, not simply to regard God as their exclusive possession.
God is so great that one form of praise is not sufficient.
In addition to thanking him in prayer, his people are to use their voices in singing.
Q: Why do we sing so much? And why do we sing the songs we sing?
When we sing we are to offer praise to him.
What Chris does here, at the beginning of our meeting, and before service on Sunday morning, is not a matter of entertaining us, but leading us in our worship of God.
5. Talk of all his wondrous works (v. 2)
In addition to talking to the surrounding nations (peoples) about God, the Israelites were to fill their conversation with one another with the things of God.
6. Glory in his name (v. 3)
The name of God represents his character.
You and I may know people who ‘glory’ in such things as money, sports, or relationships. But the children of God are to glory in the various attributes of God.
The Lord conveyed the same to Jeremiah the prophet:
‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord. _Jer. 9:23–24
7. Let the heart rejoice (v. 3)
He says that the job of the children of God, is not to allow our burdens so to beat us down that we seem to have no joy in our hearts.
8. Seek the LORD and his strength (v. 4)
The word ‘seek’ implies intense concentration.
The call is, not to be casual and nonchalant about seeking God.
In particular, the author calls for his people to seek God’s strength.
"recognize your insufficiency for the demands of living and cast yourself upon God’s sufficiency."
9. Remember his marvelous works (v. 5)
It seems ridiculous to urge the people of God to remember God’s marvelous works.
Marvelous works would, by their very nature, seem impossible to forget.
But God’s people, then and now, forget, and take His works for granted, not appreciating them as we should.
Foremost among God’s marvelous works is, of course, his work of salvation.
The good news of course in light of this fact, is that man is not central in this. There is of course an exhortation to "remember", and in light of this remembering, to respond in these ways, and God transforms our hearts and makes this possible. But the central figure, and the greatest action taken in this passage is not by man, but God. Just read what the author has to say to the people;
While we forget, God never does. This of course is greater encouragement toward the exhortation of the author. God's goodness, God's faithfulness. To the Israelites, and to us as He is faithful to His plan and His purpose to reconcile sinners through Jesus.
Each student went home with 3 questions to consider from the night.
Why should the people do these things?
Ask yourself? How should I respond to what I read tonight?
Now think about, what it is that allows you to do any of these 10 things.
Here are a few brief thoughts on each of these questions.
Because God is worth of their response in these ways. The provision of God for the people, is to be the driving force behind their feelings, and behavior toward God, and others.
I want to look specifically at #8, which comes from v.4.
"recognize your insufficiency for the demands of living and cast yourself upon God’s sufficiency."
Cast yourself on the sufficiency of God in and for your life, and see how that, will give birth to each of the other things mentioned in this passage.
We can't do any of these things, without a heat change taking place. So what does that mean? Well, we either believe in the truth and reality of the gospel for the first time, and receive the Holy Spirit who will change our hearts, and give us life, and make it possible to pursue after God in these ways. Or, as believers, embrace daily humility, and reliance of Christ and the Holy Spirit for strength to continue in these areas. Being reminded that, "He remembers" even when we forget.
We concluded with this, opportunities to plug in this year, and be reminded of the works of God, and the Gospel.
Student Missions Monday and Tuesday Aug 18-19, 6-8pm
Middle and High Dgroup Tuesdays at 730-8 at Chick fil a in Carrollton. / James
Sunday School 930-10:15 every Sunday
Glenloch Student Gathering Wednesday night 615-730
Again, hey discuss these things with your child.student. Or students reading this, discuss these with your parents, and friends. And not only the points from our time together, but the songs we sang as well. What do these lyrics mean, and how can we grow in our understanding of who God is, and what he has done through them. Have a great rest of the week, and I hope to see you all Sunday, or Tuesday at our Dgroup meeting.
