Category Archives: Worship

Songs for Sunday, January 26, 2025 @ Christ Community Church

Sunday’s coming, and that’s good news!

Have y’all ever gotten something stuck in your mind that you just couldn’t get unstuck? Of course you have – everyone has experienced this at some point and time. For me, it is the key verse from John’s sermon last week, Romans 12:15:

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

It’s simple. Straightforward. Clear. As John explained to us, this verse is really only four words in the Greek, essentially “rejoice — rejoicers, weep — weepers”. We, those of us who are saved and have been adopted into God’s family and grafted into His church, are to be there for our brothers and sisters, hurting when they hurt. That’s what family does, right? It should especially be so in the family of God.

As I have pondered on that verse (really simmered or stewed like a crockpot), it has had me thinking on why it is to be this way. And essentially, I have arrived at the conclusion that it stems from us extending grace to others as Jesus has extended grace to us.

One Scripture that came to mind is from the Sermon on the Mount right after Jesus gave us what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”. Look at Matthew 6:14-15:

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This is not saying that we earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others. If that were the case, we’d have no hope because humanity as a whole is not a forgiving people but rather quite selfish and self-serving. No, what Jesus is saying here is that the way we forgive is based on how we have been forgiven. If we understand that our sin put us at odds and enmity with Jesus and that He reconciled us to Himself and showed us love while we were still sinners, we will have an appreciation for that love and forgiveness that will show in how we forgive others.

This isn’t some theory on my part or some great epiphany. Jesus explained it similarly to Simon the Pharisee after the woman came in and washed Jesus’s feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and anointed them with costly perfume. When Simon (and Jesus’s own disciples) were critical of the woman’s wastefulness with pouring out very expensive perfume on Jesus’s feet, Jesus told them that the woman’s sins “which are many” had been forgiven which was why she “loved much”, and He clarified that the one who has been “forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47).

If you are saved, you know that you have been forgiven MUCH because your sin — no matter how the world might view it — is a LOT, and definitely more than our sinless Savior should’ve had to bear on the cross. We deserve the cross, not Jesus. We deserve death, not Jesus. But because of His great love and richness in grace and mercy, He forgave much, loved much, and gave much. That kind of forgiveness, love, and grace changes folks’ lives. If you are saved, you have received this from Jesus and cannot help but extend it to others.

Simon didn’t get it. He thought he had some earthly status as a Pharisee. But when you look at the other gospels, you get, as Paul Harvey would’ve said, the rest of the story. Matthew 26:6 doesn’t call Simon a Pharisee; there he is referred to as “Simon the leper”. You don’t have to read a lot of the Bible to know that folks typically kept their distance from lepers. They were considered unclean. Folks would walk on the opposite side of the road to keep from touching one. They surely wouldn’t touch one, much less go to his house for supper. Long story short, Jesus wasn’t at Simon’s house to honor him but because Jesus had compassion on those no one else did. Jesus was a friend to sinners. He ate with tax collectors. He showed compassionate care to those the world had thrown away. No one was lining up at Simon’s door because Simon was unclean, untouchable, and unmistakably ostracized from society. Yet he looked at that poor woman weeping at Jesus’s feet and had the audacity to remark how pitiful it is that Jesus would let her touch Him (when anyone passing by could’ve remarked how pitiful it was for Jesus to go in Simon the leper’s house).

Simon didn’t get it.

Do we?

That woman had received a lot of grace because she’d committed a lot of sin.

That woman had experienced greater love from God who not only forgave her sin but would go on to die on the cross her sin deserved.

That woman had reason to weep sorrowfully over her sin against a holy God but had more reason to weep out of rejoicing that her sin was wholly forgiven by God and show love to Him in return.

What about us? Do we get it?

Look at how Paul put it in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God.

God has shown us grace and comfort because He loves us. We have the opportunity to show that grace and comfort to others. And this is sorely needed in a world today that seems like the rejoicing is getting more seldom and weeping is ever increasing.

Thankfully, Sunday’s coming. There is a coming Day when Jesus will return and gather His people to Him. The last tears of sorrow will be cried and wiped away by His nail-pierced hand. Death will be abolished. The sad things of this earth will come untrue. As the old hymn says, “What a Day — glorious Day — that will be!”

Until that day, we will gather and read God’s Word, sing God’s Word, and hear God’s Word preached. That’s what we’re singing about this Sunday: telling what Jesus has done for us. And as we do so, we will have brothers and sisters who are rejoicing about this or that. Rejoice with them. Assuredly there will be those with much to weep about. Weep with them. You have been given much grace and love. Christ Community family, it’s time to extend that grace and love to others.

Won’t you gather with us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | Titus 3:1-7 —

1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

  • Scripture | Galatians 6:14 —

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

  • Scripture | Revelation 1:17-18 —

17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

“The Cry of the Cross: Jesus’s Fulfillment of Psalm 22” from Psalm 22 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

Psalm 22:1

Psalm 22 begins with a heart-wrenching cry: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (v. 1). David voices the raw emotions that come from feeling abandoned by God in amid intense suffering. He pleads for God’s presence, wrestling with the seeming silence of heaven even as he cries out day and night (vv. 1-2). This tension between despair and trust is central to the psalm.

While David feels forsaken, he also remembers the holiness and faithfulness of God: “In You our father’s trusted; they trusted, and You delivered them” (v. 4). He clings to this hope even as his circumstances overwhelm him.

David, in his agony, describes himself as “a worm and not a man”, scorned and mocked by those around him (vv. 6-7). His enemies taunt him, twisting his trust in God into mockery and ridicule: “He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver him” (v. 8). At this point, David has become physically weak and broken – his strength dried up, his bones out of joint, and his hands and feet pierced (vv. 14-16). Even his garments are divided among his enemies (v. 18). This striking imagery paints a picture of unparalleled suffering that goes far beyond David’s personal struggles and points prophetically to the suffering Savior, Jesus.

Despite the suffering and feelings of abandonment, Psalm 22 doesn’t end in defeat. In v. 22, there is a sudden shift: “I will tell of Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You.” Those feelings of abandonment are replaced with David rejoicing in God’s faithfulness. As in many other psalms, we see David finding hope in the consistent nature of God’s character. Because of that, he knows that God has not despised or ignored him (v. 24). This praise expands beyond Israel to include “all the families of the nations”, who will remember and worship the Lord (v. 27) and concludes with the assurance that God’s righteousness will be proclaimed to future generations, declaring “He has done it” (v. 31).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 22

Psalm 22 is tied to Jesus’s crucifixion as Jesus cried out the opening words from the cross: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Additionally, the vivid descriptions of pierced hands and feet (v. 16), divided garments (v. 18), and mocking enemies (vv. 7-8) are fulfilled in stunning detail and accuracy at Calvary. These connections reveal that David’s suffering pointed to Christ’s ultimate suffering, but Psalm 22 doesn’t end at the cross.

David’s shift from lament to praise reflects the resurrection, as Jesus declares, “I will tell of your name to my brothers” (v. 22, Hebrews 2:12). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus brings the nations ot worship God, fulfilling the psalms vision of the praise of the nations and eternal life (vv. 27-31). All in all, Psalm 22 reminds us that Jesus was truly forsaken so that we never have to be, and His victory ensures our hope.

Reflection

Psalm 22 invites us to honestly bring our pain to God, just as David and Jesus did. When we feel abandoned or overwhelmed, we can cry out to the Lord, trusting that He hears us even in His silence. At the same time, we are called to fix our eyes on God’s faithfulness – His deliverance in the past, His presence in the present, and His promises for the future.

Because Jesus bore the ultimate forsakenness on our behalf, we can trust that God is always with us, even in our darkest moments. As we meditate today on Christ’s suffering and victory, may we join David in proclaiming, “He has done it” (v. 31)!

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?

“From Prayer to Praise: Celebrating Answered Prayer” from Psalm 21 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved…. Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength! We will sing and praise Your power.

Psalm 21:7, 13

Psalm 21 is a song of thanksgiving for God’s victory and blessings on the king. It is paired with Psalm 20 as Israel’s response to God answering their prayer and celebration of His response as King David praises God for strength, salvation, and answered prayers (vv. 1-2).

The Lord’s blessings are described as rich and enduring, granting the king life, glory, and joy in God’s presence (vv. 3-7). In vv. 8-12, the psalm shifts to the defeat of the king’s enemies, emphasizing that their plans will fail because of God’s power, and it concludes with exaltation and praise: “Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise Your power” (v. 13).

At its heart, Psalm 21 reminds us that the victory and joy of the king reflect the faithfulness and power of God. David’s trust in the Lord is a model for us as he relies on God’s steadfast love for security and success rather than trusting in his kingly or military strength or prowess (v. 7).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 21

Psalm 21 points beyond David to Jesus, the ultimate King who fulfills His promises. Jesus trusted His Father perfectly and was crowned with glory through His life, death, and resurrection (v. 3, Philippians 2:8-11). The “length of days forever and ever” (v. 4) finds its true meaning in Jesus, whose resurrection secured eternal life for all who trust in Him and solidifies His eternal victory because His enemies pose no threat to Him or His people.

For believers, the joy of Jesus’s victory is our joy. Just as God’s blessings made David glad, Christ’s followers are blessed with the joy of God’s presence forever (v. 6, Revelation 22:5).

Reflection

What desires of your heart are you bringing before the Lord?

Psalm 21 reminds us that God’s blessings exceed our requests when we trust Him. Consider how Jesus’s victory brings assurance and joy to your life today. Take time to praise Him, exalting His power and faithfulness with the words of v. 13: “Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength! We will sing and praise Your power.”

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?

“God’s Revelation of Himself from Creation to the Christ” from Psalm 19 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Psalm 19 is a celebration of God’s revelation of Himself to the world. These two revelations are known by the terms natural revelation and special revelation and are seen in Psalm 19 through God’s glory displayed in creation (vv. 1-6) and His grace revealed through His Word (vv. 7-14). 

The heavens declare God’s majesty so powerfully that no one is able to say that there is no God and is without excuse (vv. 1-4; cf. Romans 1:20). David marvels at how the sun, like a joyous bridegroom or a victorious runner, hurries to proclaim God’s power and order (vv. 4-6). That’s what natural revelation does: proclaim God’s handiwork and point people toward Him. But natural revelation is not enough to bring people to saving knowledge of God. We need a specific introduction – a special revelation. 

Psalm 19 transitions to the Word of God and God’s special revelation of Himself through it, which is described as perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure and true (vv. 7-9). These descriptions highlight how Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, and provides light for life’s path. As we read through the Psalms, this is what God’s Spirit does in our hearts as we read. Look at how David shows that he treasures God’s Word more than gold and finds it sweeter than honey (v. 10).

The end of Psalm 19 illustrates what an appropriate response to God’s revelation of Himself looks like. In vv. 12-14, David offers a brief and humble prayer for forgiveness, protection from his own sin, and a life pleasing to God. God’s Word – His revealing of Himself – changed David’s life (and can do the same for us).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 19

Psalm 19 points to Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God (John 1:14, Hebrews 1:1-3) – a literal, incarnate face-to-face introduction of God and man. Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s law and revealed God’s glory in His life, death, and resurrection. 

He is the Word made flesh (John 1:1-3, 14), and through Him alone can we be made acceptable in God’s sight, revealing the true and definitive response to David’s prayer (vv. 12-14). David prayed for God’s Word to guide him and protect him from sin; Jesus is the very Rock and Redeemer to perfectly answer his prayer!

Reflection

The skies and the Scriptures both testify to God’s glory and grace. Have you paused today to marvel at God’s creation or His Word? If you have read this far, you’ve spent time in His Word. Have you marveled at the power of God in keeping His Word so that you have it before you these millennia later?

Let David’s prayer in v. 14 be your prayer today: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer”, and know that, this is one more opportunity to sing and rejoice as we did in Psalm 18:46: “The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation”!

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?

“Exalted Be the God of My Salvation” from Psalm 18 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

Psalm 18 is a song of triumph and thanksgiving from David to the Lord, celebrating God’s deliverance from King Saul. It is important to note that Psalm 18 is nearly identical to David’s song of praise in 2 Samuel 22 – the differences likely being Psalm 18 is adapted from David’s specific situation to be sung by the people (the Psalms is the songbook/hymnal of the Bible, remember). As such, this is not only a personal expression of David’s gratitude and praise but also a testimony to God’s faithfulness to His anointed king and His people. This psalm resonates with themes of refuge, rescue, and victory, ultimately pointing, as we’ll see later, to Jesus.

David opens with a declaration of love for the Lord, describing Him as his strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, and refuge (vv. 1-3). These metaphors emphasize God’s power, protection, and faithfulness. David’s words remind us that God is not some distant, uninvolved deity but a personal Savior who genuinely cares for His people.

The central part of the psalm recounts God’s dramatic intervention on David’s behalf (vv. 4-19). When David faced overwhelming danger, he cried out to the Lord, and God responded with awesome power. The imagery of the earth trembling, smoke rising, and hailstones falling paints a vivid picture of God as a divine Warrior, fighting for His anointed one. This points back all the way to the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt in the Exodus and points forward to His ultimate victory through Jesus.

David attributes his deliverance to his righteousness and integrity (vv. 20-24), not meaning that David was sinless but that he walked faithfully with God and sought to obey His commands. In the last part of the psalm, David praises God for equipping him for battle and giving him the victory (vv. 31-45) showing that he understood his victory was ultimately in the Lord’s goodness rather than his own. In fact, he acknowledges that every success of his was achieved as a result of God’s strength, guidance, and provision.

Psalm 18 concludes with a declaration of God’s faithfulness, not just toward David but also toward His people (vv. 46-50). David praises the Lord as his rock and Savior, again acknowledging that his victories are part of God’s covenant commitment to him and his descendants. Ultimately, this covenant finds fulfillment in Jesus, the eternal King and descendant of David, who brings salvation to all nations (Romans 15:9).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 18

Psalm 18 foreshadows Jesus, the greater David. We can truly sing v. 46 in the context of Jesus: “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation”! The dramatic imagery of God’s intervention in David’s situation in this psalm reflects the power of the resurrection, where Jesus – the LORD – lives, defeating the ultimate enemies of sin and death (1 Corinthians 14:25-27).

Paul quotes v. 49 in Romans 15:9, showing that the salvation described in Psalm 18 is extended to the Gentiles through Jesus, who is the fulfillment of God’s promise to David – Jesus, who is the King who reigns forever and brings salvation to the ends of the earth.

Reflection

Psalm 18 invites us to rejoice in God’s faithfulness, to trust in His strength, and to find our ultimate hope in our eternal King, Jesus. 

As you reflect on Psalm 18, ask yourself how you can apply the imagery of God as rock, fortress, and shield to your current circumstances. Have there been times when He has delivered you? If so, how did that strengthen your faith?

Pray or sing Psalm 18 and rejoice in the God of your salvation!

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?

Songs for Sunday, January 19, 2025 @ Christ Community Church

Sunday’s coming, and I’m excited!

Every Sunday the Lord blesses us with is an opportunity to gather together and celebrate Jesus’s resurrection and anchor our heats in the hope of His return!

As we gather, we are reminded that the power of sin and death has been broken, and we rejoice in the steadfast love of the Lord, which turns mourning to dancing and sorrow into joy. This is illustrated in the passages we will read together Sunday morning.

The first passage is Psalm 30:8-12, and it beautifully captures this truth:

8To You, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9“What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it tell of Your faithfulness? 10Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!”

11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

In Psalm 30, David cries out to the LORD in his distress, and God answers, turning his mourning into dancing and clothing him with gladness (Psalm 30:11). This is the testimony of all who belong to Christ — to all who are rescued by Him from the sting of death and brought into everlasting life! This doesn’t mean that everything is always (or ever) hunky-dory or that we will never feel the sting of death here on earth. What this means is that death has an expiration date and that, if we are His, it is only temporary!

This victorious theme continues in our second passage for Sunday morning, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58:

50I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Throughout 1 Corinthians 15, Paul declares the certainty of Jesus’s resurrection and in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, he calls us to steadfastness and hope in that certainty. Because Jesus has conquered death, our lives are filled with purpose. Every note we sing, every word we speak, every moment of worship is not in vain because our Savior — our GOD — is alive and not dead! It is part of God’s story of redemption because, if we are in Christ, we have been made alive in Him!

This Sunday (and honestly every Sunday at Christ Community), our hearts are fixed on Christ and excited by His resurrection. The songs we sing are about Him bearing our sin on the cross and giving life through His life when He exited His borrowed tomb. We will sing of it over and over again — as we should — because Jesus is alive and well, and we will do it all the more as we await His return!

John will open the Word and point us to Jesus.

We will lift our voices together, reading and singing, pointing each other to Jesus.

He is all we need!

Won’t you gather with us?

Everyone is invited.

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

8To You, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9“What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it tell of Your faithfulness? 10Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!”

11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

50I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

“Rejoicing and Resurrection” from Psalm 16 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Psalm 16 begins with a petition of preservation but quickly turns to  psalm of trust and contentment, a song of the confidence inspired by God’s faithful care. David declares his exclusive dependence on the Lord, acknowledging that God is the only good He has (v. 2). 

David contrasts the joy of trusting in God with the fruitless sorrows of idolatry (vv. 3-4). His delight is the saints, God’s people, but he refuses to even speak the names of other/false Gods. The Lord Himself is David’s inheritance and portion, a reminder of God’s personal care and provision (vv. 5-6). 

In vv. 7-8, David praises God for His guidance and presence, describing the stability and confidence that come from setting the Lord always before him. This unshakable confidence culminates in the hope of resurrection and eternal joy. David affirms that God will not abandon him to Sheol or let His “holy one” see corruption (v. 10), a prophecy fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2:25-32, 13:35-37). 

Psalm 16 concludes with a vision of eternal joy and life in God’s presence. For David, the path of life leads not only through this life but also to an everlasting relationship with God, where there is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures (v. 11).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 16

Psalm 16 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. Peter and Paul both preached Jesus’s resurrection using this exact psalm, emphasizing that David’s words about not seeing corruption could not apply to David but pointed forward to Jesus (Acts 2:27-31, 13:35-37). Jesus is the true “holy one” who was not abandoned to the grave, and His resurrection is the foundation of our hope for eternal life. 

As believers, we share in Christ’s victory over death. Jesus rose from the dead and will raise those who are saved by grace through faith in Him. In Christ, we have confidence that death is not the end and that eternal joy awaits us in God’s presence.

Reflection

Through Psalm 16, we are invited to rest in God’s care, rejoice in His guidance, and look forward with confidence to the fullness of joy that awaits in His presence forevermore.

Trust in God. Are you finding your security in the Lord, or are you tempted to chase after fleeting joys? Reflect on how God has been your refuge and portion.

Delight in God’s people. Do you take joy in fellowship with God’s people? Consider ways you can grow in love for and encouragement of the saints.

Rejoice in Jesus’s resurrection. How does it shape your views on life, death, and eternity? Meditate on the eternal pleasures promised in God’s presence.

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?

“An Invitation to Dwell with God” from Psalm 15 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

O LORD, who shall sojourn in Your tent? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill?

Psalm 15:1

Psalm 15 opens with a profound question: who is worthy to dwell in God’s presence? This question is not about a fleeting visit with the Most High but a permanent residence. David paints a portrait here of the ideal worshiper, one who lives in alignment with God’s character, as demonstrated by their integrity, relationships, and priorities.

The qualifications described in vv. 2-5 are a portrat of a life fully devoted to God. These aren’t merely external actions but an outward reflection of the inward transformation God has made in one’s life. This person does what is right, speaks truth from the heart, and refrains from slander or harm to others (vv. 2-3). They honor those who fear the Lord and reject wickedness, showing that their values align with God’s holiness (v. 4). They are faithful to their word, even when it costs them, and they refuse to exploit others for their own gain (v. 5).

Psalm 15 highlights the holiness required to stand before God, emphasizing that fellowship with Him demands more than religious rituals – it calls for integrity and righteousness in all of life. However, as we examine this list, we realize that no one measures up.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 15

Psalm 15 ultimately points to Jesus, the only one who perfectly fulfills its requirements. He lived a sinless life and walked blamelessly, always doing what is right and always speaking the truth. He honored the Father in all things, loved His neighbors selflessly, and upheld justice without partiality . His life was a flawless reflection of Psalm 15 – which is the point. 

Through Jesus, we are invited into God’s presence – He Himself being God. We do not need to try and be righteous on our own; in fact we can’t. But Jesus imputes His righteousness to all who have faith in Him, enabling us to dwell with God because of Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Reflection

Psalm 15 challenges us to examine our lives. While we fall short the gospel assures us that Jesus’s righteousness covers us.

Reflect on your walk with God. Are their areas in your life where your actions or attitudes are inconsistent with His holiness?

Rejoice in the gospel. Thank God for Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled Psalm 15 and invites us into His presence by grace.

Rest in His righteousness, knowing that your standing with God is secure in Christ. Ask Him to transform you into someone who reflects His character more each day. Let Psalm 15 inspire you to live a life of integrity while resting in the finished work of Christ.

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?

“Hope in the Darkness: Trusting God’s Faithfulness” from Psalm 13 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalm 13:5

Psalm 13 opens with a raw and relatable cry of distress: “How long?” (vv. 1-2). These are words everyone has uttered when in a long period of anguish or distress, and David shares the anguish he feels and how he feels as if he had been abandoned by God, weighed down by his sorrows, and oppressed by his enemies. This is another example of lament (letting out one’s grief or sorrow), and it reflects the universal experience of believes who face seasons in which they feel their prayers go unanswered, their suffering will never end, and heaven’s response to their pleas is silence.

David’s honest plea here shows that lament is a faithful response to suffering. Rather than turning away from God, David directs his questions – and his pain – toward God. He acknowledges these feelings by asking God: “Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (v. 1). But he doesn’t stop at the lament; he begins praying, asking the Lord to “consider and answer me” and “light up my eyes” (v. 3). David knows that God alone holds the power to restore life and hope, even and especially when all seems lost.

Psalm 13 culminates in the declaration of trust and praise that David has “trusted in [God’s] steadfast love” and that his heart “shall rejoice in [the Lord’s] salvation” (v. 5). He again anchors his faith in the unchanging character of God (which is a theme that has shone up regularly in the psalms thus far). Even in the darkness, he remembers God’s past faithfulness and looks forward to his future deliverance and closing with a commitment to praise: “I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (v. 6).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 13

Jesus embodies the full reality of Psalm 13. In His humanity, He experienced the depths of lament, most vividly on the cross when He cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). He knew the pain of feeling abandoned, yet He fully trusted Himself to the Father’s will.

Through His death and resurrection, the ultimate “How long?” has been answered. God’s steadfast love was displayed clearly and concretely. His victory over sin, and especially death, guarantees ultimate and eternal deliverance. We can face seasons of waiting and sorrow by looking to Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).

Reflection

Psalm 13 teaches us that faith does not deny the reality of pain but clings to the truth of God’s love and promises. Lament can (and should) lead to intimacy with God as it allows us to bring our whole selves – questions, fears, hopes, etc. – into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:16).

Do you feel free to bring your honest emotions to God? We see here that God is big enough to handle our questions and more than faithful enough to carry us through.

Spend some time meditating on God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, remembering His past acts of kindness in your life. Trust that His promises are true even when His answers seem delayed. Let David’s journey from lament to praise inspire you to move to deeper intimacy with God, trusting that He hears, cares, and will answer in His perfect timing.

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?

“God’s Word as a Refuge” from Psalm 12 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Psalm 12:6

Psalm 12 presents a striking picture of what society looks like when overrun with deceit and dishonesty. David begins with a desperate plea: “Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man” (v. 1). David finds himself surrounded by lies, flattery, and arrogant pride; He finds himself feeling isolated and alone, as if all of the godly have gone from the earth.

He identifies that the root of the problem is in people’s speech (which definitely reflects the godly wisdom of Proverbs). He says that everyone “lies to his neighbor” and that their “flattering lips” reflects their “double heart” (v. 2). These words tear apart trust and relationships, leaving the vulnerable – the poor and needy – oppen to oppression (v. 5). Yet amid the chaos, David anchors his hope in the purity and power of God’s Word (v. 6). Unlike the empty promises and wicked speech of humanity, God’s Word is flawless, reliable, and live-giving.

God’s response to this broken world is a promise of protection. He assures David, 

“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise…. I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” (v. 5)

This promise underscores the LORD’s active role in defending His people and upholding righteousness, even when wickedness seems to dominate.

Though David ends with the somber observation that “the wicked prowl” and “vileness is exalted” (v. 8), his confidence in God’s faithfulness remains unshaken. For David, the pure, tested Word of God is a firm foundation that no human deceit can overcome.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 12

Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14), perfectly embodies the purity and truth described in Psalm 12. He is not like the deceitful and boastful (1 Peter 2:22). He lived a life of perfect faithfulness and truth, ultimately bearing the penalty for our sinful words and actions in His body on the cross. 

In Jesus, God’s promise to “arise” for the poor and needy finds its ultimate fulfillment. Jesus’s time on earth was marked by His compassion toward those who needed help – whether it be needs, sickness, or ostracized because of sin or uncleanliness (Luke 4:18). Through His death and resurrection, He secured eternal safety and deliverance for all who trust Him.

Reflection

What role to your words play in your relationships and witness?

Are they marked by truth, humility, and love, or do they reflect the deceit and flattery of the world?

Psalm 12 challenges us to examine our speech and align it with God’s Word and consider how we can lean on the promises of GOd when deceit and wickedness seem overwhelming. Rest in assurance that God sees, hears, and acts on behalf of His people. His Word is a reliable refuge, offering hope and strength as we navigate a broken world.

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?