Psalm 109:26-29 English Standard Version
26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
you, O Lord, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but you will bless!
They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!
Although I have read his works, I am not a big fan of Friedrich Nietzsche, the noted German philosopher, cultural critic, composer, poet, writer, and philologist. Don’t get me wrong. I have read his work and have studied it quite extensively. There are points that he makes where I am in total agreement with him. But, in the end, he leaves me a little cold. It is just me and I am not here to debate his work one way or another. There is, however, one point where I’m in complete agreement with him. It is about music.
Nietzsche once wrote, “Music heals all forms of misery.”
If I am feeling a little depressed or feel down about something, I will sneak away and put on my headphones. I will browse my music library for the perfect selection of music that will begin the healing process for those low moments. Music is truly the balm for the soul and certainly helps each of us in finding happiness once more.
Our spiritual lives are much the same as our physical lives. We sometimes suffer moments where our faith is put to the test. We face temptation daily. There are times when we are spiritually exhausted from all of the attacks we endure. I have experienced those moments many times and I am sure that each of you have similar moments as well. It is part of living in a corrupted world and we have to find ways for us to remain focused.
When I was a chaplain for a retirement community long ago, there was a woman in our congregation who would sing all the time. She was a member of her church’s choir. I believe that she knew every hymn in the Southern Baptist Hymnal by heart. No matter what was going on in her life, there was a hymn on her lips and joy in her heart.
There was so much I learned from her over the years that I served as chaplain. She remains an inspiration to me and will remain so for the rest of my life. Wanda taught me that music, especially the hymns from my childhood, are one of the cornerstones of our faith. Hymns bring us comfort when we are dealing with horrible situations in our lives.
When I was taking my mom to a chemotherapy session, some of the patients would wear their headphones and listen to music to help pass the time, but, more importantly, keep themselves in a positive state of mind.
James, in chapter five of his book, writes, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.”
No matter what we are facing, we should be like Wanda. When she lost her husband, she was in prayer. When she was happy, she sang praises to the Lord. There was always a hymn for every occasion. Sometimes, while I was doing visitations at the community, I would hear Wanda’s wonderful voice softly in the background. The halls would echo her voice and I am sure that the Lord was very pleased with her sweet voice as she gave thanks to Him in song.
There have been so many times in my life where I was feeling low. Something didn’t turn out right for me. Things like that happen to us all. Life is a struggle for each of us, but there are ways to make things easier to bear. If we go to the Lord in prayer, we know that He will listen to us. When we sing praises to Him, our hearts and souls are filled with love and with happiness. That is such a wonderful gift. We can sing praises to Him and we are immediately filled with unimaginable joy. That joy permeates every part of our lives. We feel so much better when we are able to sing His praises and share those praises with the rest of the world.
Paul, in chapter fourteen of his first epistle to the church at Corinth, writes, “Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.”
Prayer and song fill our spirit with great joy. Even if you don’t remember all of the words to a hymn, humming or whistling the melody is so uplifting and it can be so uplifting for others. When others who may be depressed or are going through a rough and rocky moment in their lives, your song of praise can give them joy and have them singing right along with you.
Think about this. When Paul and Silas were thrown in prison for their faith, what did they do?
In chapter sixteen of the Book of Acts, the author writes, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”
All it takes is just a moment to sing and pray and things begin to change in our lives. We don’t need to concentrate on the rough spots in our lives. We need to lift up our voices in prayer and sing His praises daily. When you do that, I can guarantee that your burden will be a lot lighter and that you will be able to stand firm in His grace.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Proverbs 11:17 English Standard Version
17 A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
Romans 4:20-25 English Standard Version
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Philippians 1:19-26 English Standard Version
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Psalm 109:21-25 English Standard Version
21 But you, O God my Lord,
deal on my behalf for your name's sake;
because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting;
my body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they wag their heads.
Proverbs 11:16 English Standard Version
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
Hebrews 7:23-25 English Standard Version
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Psalm 109:16-20 English Standard Version
16 For he did not remember to show kindness,
but pursued the poor and needy
and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him!
He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
may it soak into his body like water,
like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
like a belt that he puts on every day!
20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
of those who speak evil against my life!
Proverbs 11:15 English Standard Version
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 English Standard Version
A Life Pleasing to God
4 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Genesis 15:1-6 English Standard Version
God's Covenant with Abram
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Psalm 109:6-15 English Standard Version
6 Appoint a wicked man against him;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
let his prayer be counted as sin!
8 May his days be few;
may another take his office!
9 May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow!
10 May his children wander about and beg,
seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
11 May the creditor seize all that he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
nor any to pity his fatherless children!
13 May his posterity be cut off;
may his name be blotted out in the second generation!
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
15 Let them be before the Lord continually,
that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!
Proverbs 11:14 English Standard Version
14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 English Standard Version
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Galatians 2:19-21 English Standard Version
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Psalm 109:1-5 English Standard Version
Help Me, O Lord My God
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
There is a lovely song that I have heard children's choirs sing. It is called "Rise and Shine" and the last verse says, "Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory Children of the Lord." What a delightful thing to hear coming from the mouths of young ones. I hope they allow it to dwell in their hearts all the days of their lives. Its a simple song, but, oh, what an incredible lesson!
Each week, when I write this message, I hope it is clear, I hope people read it and understand it, I hope there is nothing that can be misconstrued and I hope it touches the heart of anyone who needs for it to. Mostly, though, my prayer is that the Lord would be glorified.
I have loved my Savior since the first time I was taken to church by Betty Allen in Amarillo, Texas, sometime in the early 1960's. Mrs. Allen, a neighbor, had brought a film about the Gospel from her church for our family to view in our home. It wasn't like today where you can just pop a DVD in a player, or tune to a YouTube channel. No, she had to bring the reels and a movie projector. It was cumbersome and took some time, but she believed my family was worth it. Sometime after that night, she asked if she could take me to church with her and that began my journey with Jesus.
As I have grown in my relationship with Him over the years, I have become more and more aware of the fact that, indeed, I am a sinner and I need a Savior. The fact that when He was nailed to that cross it was because of MY sins breaks my heart. The thought of Him crucified and shedding His precious blood is almost more than I can take. How could I ever turn away from that kind of love?
Folks, I am not a preacher. I have never had the aim of delivering a sermon. When I write, I write from the heart and I share what I believe I am being led to share, including this time. I try very hard to make sure that what I write is in line with the Scriptures as I never want to misrepresent God's Word. I believe that the Bible is God inspired and is true from the beginning to the end. Basically, as I heard a preacher say once long ago, "If God said it, I believe it, and that settles it."
The Good News is for everyone. It doesn't matter what race, nationality, educational level, gender or any other difference between persons. We are all created in the image of the Almighty and He loved us enough to allow His only Son to die a cruel death upon that cross in punishment for the sins mankind has committed or will commit. Jesus Christ was laid in a tomb and rose again on the third day, conquering death once and for all for those who repent and believe, and was raised to Heaven where He intercedes for us today. One day, we do not know when, He will return again and every knee shall bow before Him.
If I were to die tonight, my hope is that I would be found obedient in sharing His story and that someone, somewhere heard or read what I had to say and turned their face toward Him. And, I pray, that whenever that moment comes for me, as it will for each of us, that my very last breath would be used to glorify my Father in Heaven.
May you be overcome by His grace and mercy as you go through this week.
Proverbs 11:13 English Standard Version
13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
