Tag: Psalm 125:1-2
The pursuit of the godly!
Scripture reading for July 6th: Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 125, 2nd Timothy 2
2nd Timothy 2: 22-26 “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will.”
Paul’s last instructions to Timothy, his son in the faith, was a warning and an encouragement. Timothy was warned to flee youthful passions and avoid those who wanted to wrangle over words and cause strife. As servants of God, His people are to be in ‘hot pursuit’ of God’s kingdom and His righteousness found through faith in His Word and grounded in His love and peace. This brings purity of heart to the believer and they can see God even more clearly and will be able to show the love and kindness of God to those involved in evil. Patience and gentleness must mark those who serve Christ Jesus. This contrasts with those ensnared by the devil. Our holy lifestyle can lead them to repentance and life through grace.
Psalm 125:1-2 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, form this time forth and forevermore.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the advice of a Father through Paul to Timothy. I am warned, even in my old age, to avoid quarrels and arguments. Fill me with Your Spirit of patience and gentleness as I teach Your Word and seek to help those caught in the devil’s snare to find repentance and eternal life. Surround me with Your presence and make me stand firm, rejoicing in every opportunity to serve You.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 “Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil–this is the gift of God.”
The unashamed worker!
Scripture reading for July 6th: Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 125, 2nd Timothy 2
Key Scriptures: 2nd Timothy 2:15-19 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity.””
Paul encourages the younger minister, his son in the faith, to do his best to handle the Word of God rightly. This also included living it out in his everyday life as evidenced by the instruction to stay away from irreverent babble. Paul cited two bad examples by name, Hymenaeus and Philetus, as what to avoid. Paul’s warning included a reference to God’s intimate knowledge of His own servants and His clear instructions to live a holy life.
Psalm 125:1 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, help me by the Holy Spirit to rightly handle Your unchanging Word and to apply it to my life each day. I will be a good example with Your help!
Ecclesiastes 5:10 “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”
The Seventh Trumpet
Scripture reading for December 13th: Revelation 11, Psalm 125-26, Proverbs 2
Key Scriptures: Revelation 11:15-18 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but Your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding Your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear Your Name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.””
The drama in heaven was coming to a glorious conclusion. The seventh angel blew the seventh and last trumpet causing the announcement of the completed conquest of the kingdom of the world by the kingdom of the Lord Jesus. The Lord took the throne and would reign eternally! The elders worshiped God and thanked Him for His glorious rule, righteous judgments and rich reward!
Faith Confession: I wait expectantly for this final trumpet and the completion of salvation for the saints and prophets as well as the judgment of the wicked. Our God reigns forever and ever!
Psalm 125:1-2 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore.”
Thankful for God’s surrounding Presence!
Scripture reading for July 4th: Psalms 121-125
Key Scriptures: Psalm 125:1-2 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.”
These psalms were part of the “Songs of Ascent” that were sung or chanted by the Israelites as they journeyed on the yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem. These psalms reminded them of their God’s care and protection. Mt Zion, another name for Jerusalem, was set on a small mountain and surrounded by other hills. This served as a metaphor of how God surrounded His people, not only then, but for ever and ever!
God’s surrounding Presence: “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the Firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. . . . .Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken–that is, created things–so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably wit reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:22-23; 27-29)