Summer’s a great time of the year for most of us. There’s warm (or hot) weather permitting us to get out and enjoy lots of outdoor activities, picnics, vacations, day trips, ballgames, and more. Just don’t put the spiritual things on the back burner. Don’t let summer see you spiritually weaker at the end. And if I may offer one more word, please don’t try to argue that you can be just as strong not going to church, not reading Scripture, not praying, or not fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s what everyone always says. But as a preacher I’ve seen the spiritual wreckage of way too many once-strong Christians who were so certain that a little break from church wouldn’t hurt anything. It changes you, and not in a good way.
Persecutors beware (Psalm 70) — This is a short little psalm, but it does express the agitation of heart that comes from those who experience persecution. And the sure hope of the psalmist is that God will indeed rescue — soon. Does God see and know and intend to help? Jesus told us, “(N)ow, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7, 8, NAS95.
Too great for a sum (Psalm 71:15) — The psalmist in praise of God’s great works of righteousness, salvation, and rescue says that he’d like to list them all day long for all the world to hear, but “I do not know the sum of them.” In other words, the list is too long — more likely endless. That’s the sort of God that we serve!
May the Son of the King… (Psalm 72) — Although this is said in the epigraph to be “A Psalm of Solomon”, the last verse notes that “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” Trying to put the whole thing together, it would appear that this psalm is “A Psalm about Solomon”. It is, however, not just about Solomon; clearly it is a messianic psalm, too. It speaks of a kingdom that is expansive and influential to the farthest reaches of the known world. It calls for blessings of the richest sort for the King and His people. May this King, the psalmist asks, be aware of the plight of the poor and needy, return justice on the heads of the oppressors. And indeed, this is who Jesus is. A great King of kings, with a kingdom that has lasted 2000 years and is expansive and prosperous in every corner of the globe. He continues to be blessed and give His blessings to His people day by day. He is full of compassion and salvation. His people do bless themselves by Him. Bless yourself with this Son of the King, Jesus.
See you tomorrow, Lord willing.
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About parklinscomb
I'm a minister for the Rock Hill church of Christ in Frisco TX (rhcoc.org) where I've worked since 2020. I'm a big fan of my family, archaeology, the Bible, and the Lord's church.
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I do not know the sum of them — Psalms 70-72
Summer’s a great time of the year for most of us. There’s warm (or hot) weather permitting us to get out and enjoy lots of outdoor activities, picnics, vacations, day trips, ballgames, and more. Just don’t put the spiritual things on the back burner. Don’t let summer see you spiritually weaker at the end. And if I may offer one more word, please don’t try to argue that you can be just as strong not going to church, not reading Scripture, not praying, or not fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s what everyone always says. But as a preacher I’ve seen the spiritual wreckage of way too many once-strong Christians who were so certain that a little break from church wouldn’t hurt anything. It changes you, and not in a good way.
Persecutors beware (Psalm 70) — This is a short little psalm, but it does express the agitation of heart that comes from those who experience persecution. And the sure hope of the psalmist is that God will indeed rescue — soon. Does God see and know and intend to help? Jesus told us, “(N)ow, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7, 8, NAS95.
Too great for a sum (Psalm 71:15) — The psalmist in praise of God’s great works of righteousness, salvation, and rescue says that he’d like to list them all day long for all the world to hear, but “I do not know the sum of them.” In other words, the list is too long — more likely endless. That’s the sort of God that we serve!
May the Son of the King… (Psalm 72) — Although this is said in the epigraph to be “A Psalm of Solomon”, the last verse notes that “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” Trying to put the whole thing together, it would appear that this psalm is “A Psalm about Solomon”. It is, however, not just about Solomon; clearly it is a messianic psalm, too. It speaks of a kingdom that is expansive and influential to the farthest reaches of the known world. It calls for blessings of the richest sort for the King and His people. May this King, the psalmist asks, be aware of the plight of the poor and needy, return justice on the heads of the oppressors. And indeed, this is who Jesus is. A great King of kings, with a kingdom that has lasted 2000 years and is expansive and prosperous in every corner of the globe. He continues to be blessed and give His blessings to His people day by day. He is full of compassion and salvation. His people do bless themselves by Him. Bless yourself with this Son of the King, Jesus.
See you tomorrow, Lord willing.
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About parklinscomb
I'm a minister for the Rock Hill church of Christ in Frisco TX (rhcoc.org) where I've worked since 2020. I'm a big fan of my family, archaeology, the Bible, and the Lord's church.