Category Archives: 2025

Songs for Sunday, January 12, 2025 @ Christ Community Church

Sunday’s coming, and I’m excited!

When I say that, I’m not talking about some sort or religious obligation for attending church or anything like that. My mind is drawn to my need for Jesus and the fact that He would deign to accept one like me.

There were times in my life when thinking of Sunday was more religious than relationship, but the older I get and the more I think about all that Jesus has done (and is doing and will do), the more I think of Sunday like the imagery in Hebrews 4:14-16.

The writer of Hebrews begins this section talking about Jesus as the “great high priest”. That phrase can definitely be acquainted with religious ideas and temple life and sacrifices, but Jesus is something different.

High priests are typically “chosen from among men” and “appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God” (Hebrews 5:1). Jesus is different. He is God become man to be the sacrifice for men to be able to come to God.

High priests would typically need to “offer sacrifice” for their own sins “fust as [they do] for those of the people” (Hebrews 5:3). Jesus is different. He has no sins to sacrifice for because He “has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He is the Lamb of God bearing our sin.

High priests worked and worked and worked on behalf of the people before God, but all of their work was just a shadow of what was to come. Jesus is different. Jesus is all substance, and no shadow, being Himself “the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:9-10).

Because Jesus is different, we are not limited to showing up for some religious observances over and over again, dwelling only in the suburbs of God’s grace and partaking only of shadows. Because Jesus is our high priest, He has made a way for us not just to be in relation to God but for us to be able to approach Him — to go directly to “the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).

For those bringing their animals for the high priest to slaughter and make atonement for their sins, the idea of approaching God’s throne would be a frightening thing. Think of Isaiah’s “woe is me” talk when he had a vision of the holy, holy, holy God seated on His throne; he knew he was unclean and unworthy to look upon “the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1-5)! The King of kings seated on the throne is still holy, holy, holy and we are still sinners. the King of kings seated on the throne is the divine word who discerns “the thoughts and intentions” of our hearts, laying us bare — “naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Yes, Jesus is the King of kings.

Yes, Jesus is holy, holy, holy.

Yes, Jesus is Lord.

No, we are not any of those things and neither worthy nor holy. We are not God, and most of us could not stand even alongside Isaiah to state our “woe” in God’s presence. But Jesus is also our high priest! He has made atonement for our sins! He has made a way for us to come before Him (John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:1-2)!

This is why the imagery of Hebrews 4:14-16 is so heavy on my mind. I have the opportunity and privilege to approach the throne of grace in my time of need. Because I have confessed Jesus as Lord and believed upon Him — but my trust in Him to save me, I have assurance to be able to approach Him without fear of death and punishment because He Himself has “bore [my] sins in His body on the tree, that [I] might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). I don’t have to say “woe is me” because He put Himself through woes on my behalf.

Because of this, I can approach His throne with the confidence of a child waking a parent in the middle of the night for a drink of water. I can turn to Him with the assurance that I not only may approach Him for help but be confident that I will “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

That’s good news!

But it’s not just good news for me. It is good news for all who trust in Him, all who are saved by grace through faith in Him.

So, Sunday’s coming, and we have the opportunity to gather together on the first day of the week — the Lord’s day — and remember His death, burial, and resurrection. We have the opportunity to gather with brothers and sisters who have been saved by grace through faith and approach the throne of our Lord together, confident that His grace and mercy are enough, sufficient, and eternally flowing toward those He loves.

If this doesn’t describe you, know that there is good news and grace enough for you, too. Your sin can be forgiven. You can be saved. There is grace enough and room enough and good news enough for you and all who call on His name.

You won’t find anything relgiously impressive. You won’t find impressive priests or practices. You won’t find perfect people. You will find a bunch of sinners — and hypocrites — whose only hope is Jesus. He is who will will read about. He is who we will sing about. He is who we will preach about. And that’s because He’s our only hope. He’s our King. He’s our God. He made a way for us and there is no place we’d rather be than gathered around His throne in a small picture of how we will get to be when this world passes away and He gathers His people to Himself.

Won’t you join us?

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

4We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin.

“The LORD is a Stronghold” from Psalm 9 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 9:9

Psalm 9 is a celebration of God’s justice, faithfulness, and salvation. David opens with a powerful declaration of praise to God: “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds” (v. 1). Throughout Psalm 9, he does just that: recounting God’s past acts of deliverance and expressing praise through trusting in His eternal reign.

David reflects on God’s role as judge. God is able to both rebuke the nations and destroy the wicked, blotting out their names forever (vv. 5-6). This righteous judgment reminds us that God’s justice is not limited by time; He is enthroned forever, ruling with fairness and protecting the oppressed (vv. 7-9). For those who trust in Him — in His name, God offers refuge and security as a mighty stronghold, never forsaking His people (v. 10).

Psalm 9 also highlights God’s concern and care for the weak and afflicted. He remembers their cries and avenges their suffering (v. 12). David pleads for deliverance himself, trusting that God is able and will lift him from the “gates of death” so he can praise God in the “gates of the daughters of Zion” (vv. 13-14). The reversal from near-death to rejoicing is a powerful testimony to God’s power and grace.

God’s justice is clear in Psalm 9. The wicked often fall into the traps that they have set for others (v. 15), yet ultimate justice belongs to the Lord, who will one day judge the world completely in His righteousness. Until then, the needy and poor can take comfort in the knowledge that He has not forgotten them — and that hope in Him will not perish (v. 18)!

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 9

Psalm 9 anticipates Jesus’s reign as the righteous Judge of all nations. As Paul declared in Acts 17:31, God has “fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed” — Jesus is the appointed Judge as well as our assurance because of His resurrection.

In His first coming, Jesus brought hope to the oppressed and salvation to the lost. When He returns, He will bring final justice and an end to all evil.

David’s plea for deliverance also foreshadows Jesus and His gospel. Just as David was able to rejoice in God saving him from the “gates of death”, we can rejoice that Jesus conquered death itself through His resurrection. Through Him, believers are delivered from sin and eternal death and transferred into His Kingdom to rejoice in Him forevermore (Colossians 1:13-14)!

Reflection

Psalm 9 gives an example of David worshiping the Lord out of a grateful heart. Take time today to thank God for His faithfulness in your own life. Consider His acts of justice and salvation — both in the world around you and through Jesus. Follow David’s example and recount His wonderful deeds and sing His praises so that those around you can hear about Jesus.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“The Majesty of God’s Name” from Psalm 8 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.

Psalm 8:1

Psalm 8 is a beautiful hymn of praise, celebrating the glory of God as seen in creation and the high calling He has given to humanity. David begins and ends with the same refrain: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (vv. 1, 9) This bookends Psalm 8 with awe and reverence for the true God, Yahweh, the Creator and Sustainer of all that there is.

As David contemplates the vastness of the heavens — the moon and stars set in place by God’s fingers — he marvels at the smallness of humanity in contrast and asks “What is man that You are mindful of Him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (v. 4) Yet, despite our frailty, God has given us the honor of being entrusted with dominion over His creation (vv. 5-6) which reflects our unique position as His image-bearers (Genesis 1:26-28).

Psalm 8 also highlights how God uses the weak to display His strength: “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, You have established strength because of Your foes” (v. 2). This theme is echoed in Jesus’s ministry when He cited this verse in Matthew 21:16 to defend children’s praises in the temple. God’s majesty shines brightly when His power is displayed in (and despite) human weakness.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 8

Psalm 8 points us to Jesus, the perfect fulfillment of humanity’s calling. The writer of Hebrews quotes this psalm, showing that Jesus was “made a little lower than the angels” and crowned with glory and honor through His suffering and resurrection (Hebrews 2:6-9). As the second Adam, Jesus restores what was broken by sin, exercising dominion over all things in heaven and earth (1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:22).

Jesus’s victory over sin and death through His death and resurrection ensures that one day creation will be restored and that His followers will share in His reign (2 Timothy 2:12).

Reflection

Take time today to marvel at the majesty of God in His creation. Look at the stars or consider the intricate design of nature around you, and reflect on how small we are compared to God’s greatness. Yet, despite all of His majesty and everything He has made, He is mindful of you, cares for you, and has given you a purpose in His creation.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“A Righteous Refuge” from Psalm 7 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

Psalm 7:10

Psalm 7 offers a vivid picture of David’s reliance on God in the midst of slander and false accusations. Faced with an attack from Cush, a Benjamite likely allied with Saul, David turns to God as his refuge (v. 1). He describes his pursuers as lions ready to tear him apart (v. 2), yet, instead of seeking personal revenge or justifying himself to others, David brings his case before the ultimate Judge.

David’s prayer begins with self-examination. In vv. 3-5, he acknowledges the possibility of wrongdoing (because he knows he is a sinner) and invites God to judge him if he is guilty. This humble request reveals David’s heart toward God, seeking to be the man God called him to be rather than be vindicated. His appeal for justice (v. 8) is grounded in his trust that God is a righteous judge who sees all hearts and minds (v. 9).

When he talks about the pit and hole in vv. 14-16, he paints a striking illustration of how sin traps people. This sort of poetic justice reminds us that God’s judgment is perfect, but it is also active. Despite his situation, David concludes Psalm 7 with confident praise in his God: “I will give to the LORD the thanks due to His righteousness” (v. 17).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 7

David’s plea for justice and his willingness to entrust himself to God foreshadows Jesus who endured what David did and more. Jesus was reviled and slandered but “continued trusting Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23) — to the Father. Unlike David, though, Jesus was (and is) sinless leaving no doubt to His righteousness.

When David talks about God’s bow being “bend and readied” toward those who don’t repent in v. 12, we are reminded of the reality of what our sin deserves. We need to be reminded that God hung His bow in the clouds a long time ago, reminded that for those who trust in God for salvation His bow is pointed toward heaven — toward His Son Jesus — instead.

Reflection

Psalm 7 invites us to bring our hurts and accusations to God and let Him sort them out rather than seeking personal revenge.

Are you carrying such a burden today?

Lay it before the righteous Judge who knows every heart. His justice may not be immediate, but it is certain.

Let this psalm inspire you to trust in God as your refuge, examine your own heart, and rest in the assurance that God’s justice — and, thankfully, His mercy — will prevail.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“Trusting God’s Steadfast Love in Sorrow” from Psalm 6 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love.

Psalm 6:4

Psalm 6 is a cry of deep lament (which we defined in Psalm 3 as letting out one’s feelings of grief or sadness) as David is overwhelmed by distress and the apparent silence of God. This is the first of the penitential psalms (meaning Psalms of confession and repentance — including Psalms 32, 38, 51, 130, and 143). Here, rather than confessing specific sins, David cries out to God about his experiences with God’s discipline and his enemies’ torment.

David starts off with an urgent plea: “O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath” (v. 1). He feels the weight of God’s discipline but asks for God’s mercy instead of wrath. If God’s grace is giving His undeserved favor, His mercy is withholding punishment or wrath that we DO deserve. David’s plea for mercy is because his distress is affecting him physically and longs to know from the Lord how long the discipline will last (vv. 2-3).

The turning point in Psalm 6 comes when David appeals to God’s steadfast love (Hebrew: chesed) and sees that love as the basis for his hope. He has experienced God’s steadfast love in the past and trusts that God will not be angry with him forever and will move to rescue and save him (v. 4). David understands that God is just and does not dispute whether the discipline is warranted; knowing God loves him, though, he pleads for mercy.

What began as lament turns to worship with David pouring out his soul before the Lord. While he initially remarked that he felt God was being silent toward him, He had faith that God had heard his prayer (v. 9). This assurance fuels his boldness to call out his enemies, knowing that God is not done with him and will vindicate him.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 6

This psalm points forward to Jesus, the Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3). Like David, Jesus experienced deep anguish as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). On the cross, He bore the full weight of God’s wrath and punishment for our sin — not His, but ours — so that we might be delivered and experience His steadfast love.

Jesus also fulfills David’s confidence that God hears the cries of the afflicted. In Him, have assurance that our prayers are heard and that our salvation is sure. More than that, Jesus’s resurrection turns our weeping to joy, proving that not even death can separate us from God’s love.

Reflection

Psalm 6 invites us to bring our deepest sorrows and fears to God, trusting in His steadfast love even when we are being disciplined (and our troubles stem from our own sin). When God seems silent, David’s faith and words in Psalm 6 can help us see that God’s mercy is greater than His discipline and that His salvation is certain for those who trust in Him.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“A Morning Cry to God” from Psalm 5 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

O Lord, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch.

Psalm 5:3

Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of David where he cries out urgently to the Lord, asking God to lead him in righteousness and bring justice to the wicked. This psalm contrasts the holiness of God and the ways of evildoers, showing both God’s hatred for sin and His steadfast love for those who take refuge in Him.

David’s confidence in God is rooted in God’s character. The Lord does not delight in wickedness, and evil cannot dwell in His presence (v. 4). David is confident he can enter God’s presence — not by his merit but God’s through the abundance of God’s steadfast love (v. 7).

This psalm also highlights the effects of sin. David illustrates the wicked as having no truth in their mouths and calls their throats open graves (v. 9), which is quoted by Paul in Romans 3:13 to show the depths of sin in all people. Left to ourselves and our own desires, we are no different. The difference is taking refuge and finding salvation in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 5

David’s prayer finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. Jesus loved us so much that He took the wrath of God due our sin on Himself. Rather than standing before God in our wickedness, we can stand covered by Jesus’s righteousness.

Jesus also illustrated what it looks like to pray like David, rising early to talk to His Father (Mark 1:35). Let’s follow His example.

Reflection

As we meditate on Psalm 5, we are invited to pray like David. Each morning, we can cry out to God for guidance, trusting Him to lead us in righteousness and protect us from sin.

Just as David relied on God’s faithfulness, we can approach God today through Jesus, the perfect representation of God’s steadfast love. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins so that we can come boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-22).

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“Peace in the Night” from Psalm 4 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Psalm 4 shows us more of David’s quiet trust in the Lord in the midst of trials and tribulations. This psalm teaches us how to respond to the anxiety that comes from trials with faith, leading to joy and peace despite circumstances.

A Cry for Help

David begins with an urgent plea to the Lord: “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!” (v. 1) David can reflect on God’s faithfulness throughout his life and have faith to seek God in new trials. This is a good example for us: turn to the Lord when troubles weigh on us and know that He will be faithful in the present just has He has in the past.

Confidence in God’s Care

Don’t misunderstand and think that there was no trouble or turmoil. David’s opponents were terrible. God is just better and more powerful than they are. David had assurance that God “has set apart the godly for Himself” and hears him when he cries out (v. 3). God faithfully sustains His people, and His presence provides peace.

David’s words in v. 4 — “be angry, and do not sin” — show us the temptation to respond wrongly in times of trials, encouraging self-control and Holy Spirit reliance rather than retaliating or giving in to bitterness. Instead, David exhorts people to “ponder in [their] own hearts on [their] beds, and be silent” (v. 4). There is no need to speak on our own behalf; God has it handled.

Joy Surpasses Circumstance

David’s cry of “Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O Lord” (v. 6) shows the surpassing worth of God’s presence in our plight. Knowing God and having His presence in the midst of troubles brings “more joy…than they have when their grain and wine abound” (v. 7). Seeking God’s face echoes the blessing of Aaron in Numbers 6:24-26, affirming the promise of God’s provident presence.

David trusts God to provide security. That gives Him a peaceful assurance that even allows rest, recognizing that safety lies in the Lord and not in our circumstances.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 4

Psalm 4 points to the peace that Jesus promised His disciples in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”. Jesus is the very same God who provided peace, security, joy, and rest to David and provides it still to His people today, no matter the circumstances.

Reflection

Meditate on God’s past faithfulness in your life and ask His Spirit to strengthen your faith in your present trials. His faithfulness and provident care is better than the momentary joy or happiness offered by material things.

May we, like David, learn to cry out to God, rest in His promises, and trust in His provision.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“Save Me, O God” from Psalm 3 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

3But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4I cried aloud to the LORD, and He answered me from His holy hill. Selah

Psalm 3:3-4

Psalm 3 is written after one of the most terrible moments of King David’s life — when he was on the run from his son Absalom, who was trying to remove him from power. This is a psalm of lament (letting out one’s feelings of grief or sadness) to be sure, but it is also a psalm of trust and hope in the Lord, offering us an example of turning to God in the midst of overwhelming circumstances.

The Crisis of Many

David begins by describing his specific circumstances: his enemies are many, their accusations are relentless, and their mockery sharp, saying that “There is no salvation for [David] in God” (v. 2). To say that David would not find salvation in his God strikes at David’s identity as God’s anointed king, but their mocking did not change the truth. David’s response to them reminds us that turning to the truth of God’s promises is the only place to go when doubt and despair set in.

The Confidence in God

David shifts his focus from his circumstances by declaring to the Lord that He is “a shield about [him], [his] glory, and the lifter of [his] head” (v. 3). His confidence is built on God’s steadfast character and strength rather than what is going on around him. He trusts that his Lord not only hears his cry but that He will answer him from His holy hill (v. 4).

The Calm in the Chaos

It would be understandable for David to be distraught, but we see God providing him with peace. How many of us find it difficult to sleep when we are in the midst of trials and tribulations? Because of his faith in God, David could say, “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustain me” (v. 5). This highlights his faith and teaches us that God watches over His people, especially in times of turmoil and insurmountable circumstances.

The Cry for Deliverance

We see David cry out to the Lord for help and relief: “Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!” (v. 7). This echoes the cries of God’s people past and future, asking God to intervene against a powerful foe. David trusts that God will deal justly with the wicked — even if that means Absalom, while affirming that “salvation belongs to the Lord” and asks that His blessing be on His people” (v. 8).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 3

David’s experience crying out to the Lord in the midst of trial and finding help points forward to the ultimate son of David, Jesus. He faced all that David did and worse — rejection, betrayal, mockery, brutal torture, execution. Jesus bore the full weight of our sin and death on the cross and cried out to His Father. Though surrounded by enemies and taunts like we have never seen, Jesus rested in His Father’s will and the confident assurance in His prophesied resurrection. Jesus’s victory over sin and death ensures that all of us who trust in Him can truly echo David’s cry that “Salvation belongs to the Lord”.

Reflection

Psalm 3 teaches us to bring our fears and burdens to God, recognizing that He can shield us from trouble and sustain us through trials. Jesus is not a distant, detached King; He knows our struggles because He experienced them. He has already overcome them (John 16:33). Whatever troubles you face today, cry out to Him and rest in the assurance that salvation belongs to Him.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“Let Earth Receive Her King” from Psalm 2 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

6“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

7I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

Psalm 2:6-7

Psalm 2 reminds me of the line in the hymn “Joy to the World”: “Let Earth receive her king”. This psalm proclaims the reign of God’s anointed King, Jesus, who is set over all creation. Though the nations rebel, Psalm 2 reveals that true peace and joy come only by receiving and submitting to this King. His authority is certain, and His rule is good.

The Rebellion of the Nations

Psalm 2 begins with the nations raging and plotting in vain against God and His Anointed (vv. 1-3). In their pride, they reject God’s authority by choosing to skewing it as oppressive and restrictive, yet their rebellion reflects the condition of sinful humanity — desiring to rule ourselves rather than submitting to our Creator and King.

God’s Response

God does not respond in fear or by some kneejerk reaction but with laughter (v. 4). He clearly declares His plan: “I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill” (v. 6). This King, the Son of God, has been appointed to rule all nations. How? Well, as God created everything and appoints the rise and fall of nations, it is His divine prerogative! The New Testament affirms that this King is Jesus, the Messiah — the Christ — who was divinely declared to be this Son at His baptism and resurrection (Matthew 3:17, Acts 13:33).

God’s plan is unshakable. The King of kings is enthroned. His reign is certain.

The Universal Reign of the King

God promises His Anointed authority over all nations, to the ends of the earth (v. 8). He will bring justice and restore order, breaking down opposition like shattering pottery (v. 9). His rule is both powerful and righteous, ensuring that evil will not (and cannot) prevail.

A Call to Submission and Joy

The call for earth is clear: receive your rightful King and rejoice in His rule. This is seen in the way Psalm 2 closes with a warning and an invitation: “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son” (vv. 11-12). To “kiss the Son” is to honor Him, recognizing His authority and submitting to His reign. Though His wrath and power are real, His invitation is filled with grace and “blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (v. 12). True joy is not found in rebellion but in embracing Jesus as King — as Lord (Romans 10:9).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 2

Psalm 2 make this pretty clear and explicit. Jesus is the King.

Reflection

Psalm 2 calls us to reflect on whether we will receive or resist Jesus. The nations rage, but we are invited to rejoice under His rule. To receive Him is to put our faith, hope, and trust in Him, finding refuge and joy.

Let earth — and each of us — receive the King.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked” from Psalm 1 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

Psalm 1:1-3

Psalm 1 opens the Psalter with a clear choice. There are two ways to live, and both have a drastically different outcome — the way of righteousness that leads to life, those who love God and His Word, and the way of the wicked, those who reject God. Today, we will consider where we’re rooted and what way we are walking in.

The Blessed Life

The psalmist describes the “blessed” man as one who refuses to follow sinful influences. He avoids walking with the wicked, standing with sinners, or sitting with scoffers (v. 1). This isn’t just about avoiding outward sin but about not letting anything other than God shape our lives.

Instead, the “blessed” delights in God’s law and meditates on it day and night (v. 2). “Delight” here suggests joy and deep satisfaction. God’s Word isn’t a burden for the “blessed” but a treasure. When we spend time in Scripture and meditate on it — focusing on the God of the Word, it shapes our hearts and brings us closer to Him.

This life is compared to a tree planted by streams of water (v. 3), well-watered and thriving, bearing fruit and standing firm even in harsh conditions. This “blessed” life is nourished by God’s Word, producing fruit and remaining steadfast through difficulties and trials.

The Peril of the Wicked

In contrast to the tree, the “wicked” are described as chaff — weightless and useless, blown away by wind (v. 4). Their lives lack purpose and stability. They won’t be able to stand in the judgment or belong in the assembly of the righteous (v. 5). The path of the wicked ultimately leads to destruction.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 1

Ultimately, Jesus is the only One who is truly righteous and perfectly matches the “blessed” man described in Psalm 1. He lived a sinless life, delighted fully in the Word, and bore eternal fruit through His life, death, and resurrection. The only way for us to be counted as righteous is through faith in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). The only way for us to live the “blessed” life described here is to be filled and empowered by His Spirit.

Reflection

Psalm 1 challenges us to examine where we are headed and in what we find our delight. Ask yourself: are you rooted in God’s Word, drawing life and sustenance from Him and His Word, or is your delight in the futile, fleeting things of the world?

We are called in Psalm 1 to meditate on Scripture, finding nourishment in Christ, the perfect and righteous One. May we find ourselves rooted in His living water, equipped to flourish and bear fruit.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?