Worship and Music Ministry
News and Information from Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN
* Rev. R. Lyndel Littleton - Worship Pastor
* Dr. Larry D. Robertson - Senior Pastor
Psalm 13 is short - only 6 verses- but it has great advice for anyone with troubles, worries or problems.
The first four verses lay out the troubles and complaints of David. Rather than list them here I would suggest that you make a list of some of the things that are troubling you.
I'll wait............
OK. Now look at the last two verses.
5But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
After you read the last two verses the first four are no longer important. David could have written any number of things to begin the psalm, but the last two are how he chose to respond to his troubles.
Take your list of troubles or complaints, cross them off and write across the top of your list verses 5 and 6.
You don't have to feel like it, you just make the choice. I've noticed in my own life and in watching others that it's best to choose your actions and then your emotions can catch up later.
Here's your plan of action to take care of your problems, worries and troubles.
Choose to trust in God's unfailing love.
Have your heart rejoice in His salvation.
Sing the LORD's praise.
Bottom line:
This post is too short for me to also have a bottom line. Just read the plan of action listed above. That's the bottom line. :-)
This picture is just for fun. It's not what I just said in this post.
Psalm 12 could be describing the world in 2017. I guess this shows that people have always and will always be - well, sinners. Don't these verses sound like what we see and hear today? (Wording from the NIV)
no one is faithful anymore
those who are loyal have vanished
everyone lies to their neighbor
they flatter but harbor deception
boastful tongues
they say "by our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us - who is lord over us?"
the wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored by people
Ugh!
Now look how the LORD and His word are described.
the words of the LORD are flawless
His words are like purified silver
His words are like gold refined 7 times
Now..... which of these lists do you want put into your mind and heart? We have to spend time in the world - we live here! But we can counteract the vileness of the world as we spend time with the flawless, purified golden words of the LORD.
Uh oh! I just thought of an application you may not like. What do you listen to on the radio? Do you know that your children sing those nasty words in those songs? That puts them in their heart. It puts them in YOUR heart, in YOUR mind too.
"Garbage in - garbage out" isn't just for computer programming. It's true in your heart, mind and soul too.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.Bottom line:Protect your heart and mind from the deceit of the world. Buy (and listen to) CDs that have Christian lyrics. Buy some your children will enjoy too. Here's a good resource Northpoint Kids CDFill your mind with what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and/or praiseworthy.
Psalm 11:3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the
righteous do?
Ugh! I've had this question run through my mind a lot over the last year with all of the political craziness we've had. It seems that both political parties - as a whole - have abandoned any sense of decent public discourse, integrity, honesty, etc. (I know that there are a lot of great people in public service on both sides of the aisle that are good people who love the Lord and want the best for our country, but they are being overshadowed by the other.) Sometimes I look at the world around us and the USA in particular and I want to join those who were mocking David and say, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
David answers the accusation/question kind of like this.
What are you doing asking such a ridiculous question? God is still on His throne. He observes the righteous and the wicked. You may not see it now, but he will destroy the wicked. And the righteous will see His face. (Lyndel's short paraphrase.)
When I read verse 7 For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the
upright will see his face. Micah 6:8 came to mind.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what
does the LORD require of you
But to do justice,
to love kindness,
And to walk
humbly with your God?
Bottom line:
When we see the foundations of our society being destroyed we must remember that God is still on His throne and
Our job is to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.
If all of God's people lived this way the foundations would no longer be falling apart.
She got her name because she reminded me of this famous Mrs. Potts.
She is short and round and cute as can be.
But when it comes to being a chicken that can survive with the wildness of life, you have to be more than just round and cute. Mrs. Potts had lots and lots of feathers. You'll notice that even her feet and legs are covered with feathers.
But having a lot of feathers and not much else made her slow getting around. She was usually the last to arrive when the chickens would come running for a treat. She just couldn't maneuver well.
What does this have to do with Psalm 10? I'm so glad you asked.
Psalm 10 begins with the psalmist asking an age-old question that actually will show up in more Psalms as we work our way to day 150. Why do the wicked get away with what they do? They are arrogant and basically thumb their nose at God. So why doesn't God do something about them?
I don't know.... Neither did the psalmist. (Actually, I'll probably address this more with another Psalm.)
Here's what God showed me today - something I hadn't thought about before - and how Mrs. Potts ties in with Psalm 10.
As I was reading about the wicked God showed me how I (we) can defend ourselves against the wicked. Yes, ultimately our defense is found in the Lord. 12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the
helpless.
But we should be spiritually and mentally prepared to face the enemy.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Here's what I saw in Psalm 10
v.7 "His mouth is full of lies and threats" - So we should "stand firm, putting on the belt of truth" Ephesians 6:14
v.8 "He lies in wait near the villages, from ambush he murders the innocent - So we should stay away from places where it is easy to be overtaken by the wicked see Proverbs 1:8-19
v.9 "He lies in wait to catch the helpless" - So we need to learn to not be helpless. How did Jesus fight Satan and his temptations? He quoted scripture. Paul worded it this way in Ephesians 6 :16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Mrs. Potts was a beautiful little chicken. I say "was" because last night after the sun went down a raccoon got in the chicken coop before I got home to close the door. She wasn't prepared to face the enemy (I know this is all a stretch - go with me) She was pretty with all of her feathers, but she was slow, she couldn't fight back. I'm sure the roosters fought. I know the bigger faster hens fought and ran fast. All that was left of Mrs. Potts when I looked in the coop was a lot of black feathers.
A sad night at the coop.
Bottom line:
Don't be all fluff and no substance in your spiritual life.
Read Ephesians 6 and see how you can be prepared by putting on the full armor of God
Have scripture memorized - hidden in your heart - so you have a big sword ready to fight.
Don't name your chickens. It makes it much sadder when a raccoon gets them. :-(
David had a lot of enemies. I suppose that happens when you are in leadership. Someone wants your place or your things.... So once again David is asking God to deliver him from his enemies.
I found verses 15-16 interesting as I read Psalm 9 today. I don't know if this was David's prayer or an observation he made, but notice what he said about the heathen (Good News Translation)
15The
heathen have dug a pit and fallen in; they have been caught in their own trap.16The
Lord has revealed himself by his righteous judgments, and the wicked are
trapped by their own deeds.
The heathen have dug a pit and fallen in
caught in their own trap
wicked are trapped by their own deeds
Maybe that's how God often brings judgement or perhaps it's just part of the biblical principle that you reap what you sow.
Galatians 6:7-10 NASB (New American Standard Bible)
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.Bottom line:Well....Galatians 6 seems rather self-explanatory to me. So to the SpiritDon't lose heart in doing good.Do good to all people.Don't be wicked and end up caught in your own trap.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Psalm 8. It has been a favorite Psalm of hymn and song writers for centuries. I found new (to me) site www.hymnary.org where you can look to find hymns and songs that have been written using the text from the Bible. Or you can look at a hymn and see all of the different scriptures that were used or referenced in it.
I checked on Psalm 8. According to hymnary dot org there are 162 hymns and songs written that at least have some lines in them based on Psalm 8. Wow! The hymn text "LORD, our LORD, Your Glorious Name", is from the Psalter 1912. It isin 25 hymnals set to various tunes. (But it hasn't been put in any Baptist hymnals.)
That was just some bonus info for you today. :-)
What jumped out at me today was verse 2
2 Through the praise of children and infants you have
established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the
avenger. NIV
2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your
strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. New Living Translation
In my favorite setting of Psalm 8, "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name," this part of Psalm 8 is worded like this, "Little children praise You perfectly, and so would we, and so would we. Alleluia!"
When my grandson, Malachi, who is 4, got glasses and put them on for the first time he said, "Wow! I can see! I can even see God!" I don't doubt that he did.
I was going to tell you about the time Malachi said he talked to Elijah, but when I called his mom to ask about it - I couldn't quite remember the whole story - it ended up that there is a boy in his mother's day out class named Elijah. From other things he has said his whole life I just figured he had talked to THE Elijah.
I've noticed that children do praise the Lord, maybe not perfectly, but often better than youth and adults do. Their faith seems to be more pure and innocent. They haven't become as skeptical, perhaps. Or maybe they haven't had to deal with the terrible or disturbing or unholy things of life like we have. Maybe because of that they can see God more clearly or trust Him more fully.
Bottom line:
Whether or not they praise God perfectly or actually see and talk to Him in person, when children praise God and tell how wonderful He is they silence God's enemies. They establish a stronghold against God' enemies.
SO...
Talk to your children about God as part of your normal conversations. Day to day point out the things God is doing. Don't just talk about God on Sundays.
Make sure your children are in church. Set a good example for them in your attitude about church attendance. Come to worship and Bible study with joy.
Bring your children to Children's Choir on Sundays at 2:00 (at Hilldale. Check your own church for choir times.)
