Trinity Bible Church

Prayer

O Lord,
May Your comforts cheer me in my sorrows, Your strength sustain me in my trials, Your blessings revive me in my weariness, Your presence render me a fruitful tree of holiness, Your might establish me in peace and joy, Your incitements make me ceaseless in prayer, and Your stimulation kindle in me undying devotion (The Valley of Vision, page 30).

Today’s Hymn

Words: James Montgomery, Songs of Zion, 1822, alt.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
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The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed.

Through valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since Thou art my Guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, Thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near.

In midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er;
With perfume and oil Thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of Thy providence more?

Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above;
I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod,
Through land of their sojourn, Thy Kingdom of love.

Thought Provoker

It is the most cherished and beloved “Psalm of Psalms” among God’s people. It is the most recognized and most memorized psalm and perhaps, passage in the Bible. It is the cardinal component of every funeral service and hospital visit. It reigns alone as the most published and printed subject matter for cards, book markers, magnets, plaques, and the like. It is the incomparable 23rd Psalm.

Dad’s Study

This psalm centers an interesting and enlightening trilogy of psalms which teaches us Christology. Psalm 22 highlights the past as the pangs of the death of Christ are recounted, whereas Psalm 24 focuses on the future ministry of Christ. Psalm 23, however, fastens our attention on the present ministry of Christ – a very personal ministry to His people. Though the psalm is thoroughly Christocentric, its intimate emphasis and personal flavor abounds.

1. Seventeen times in these six verses the first person pronoun (“me, my, I”) is used as man is the good Samaritan of God’s grace. It is a very personal passage from a very personal Potentate.
2. The opening role assigned the Lord as the Shepherd – specifically “my Shepherd” – significantly seasons the entirety of the psalm as a nurturing, caring, loving shepherd tends His sheep.
3. The Lord’s active involvement in our lives is evident as the Hebrew language employs only the active stems (Qal, Piel, Hiphil) for each and every verb in the psalm.
4. His actions are wondrously caring throughout: He leads, restores, comforts and anoints. As He does, He does so lavishly (Notice the adjectives chosen: without lack, green pastures, still waters, righteous paths, and an overflowing cup).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

I grew up in a denomination where Christ was not seen as personal, not to be freely talked about with others, and hence, to be kept to oneself. Yet an unapproachable, incomprehensible God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in a most intimate of psalms as the personal shepherd for His people. Though He is spirit, He has allowed the writers of Scripture to assign Him body parts and human faculties and emotions in order for us to somehow personally identify with a personal yet infinite God. Dads, as you read this Psalm 23 to your family, recount His abundant blessings to His chosen people.

The Lord is my shepherd – that’s relationship;
I shall not want – that’s provision;
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures – that’s rest;
He leadeth me beside the still waters – that’s refreshment;
He restoreth my soul – that’s healing;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness – that’s guidance;
For His name’s sake – that’s purpose;
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death – that’s testing;
I will fear no evil – that’s protection;
For thou art with me – that’s faithfulness;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me – that’s discipline;
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies – that’s hope;
Thou anointest my head with oil – that’s consecration;
My cup runneth over – that’s abundance;
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life – that’s blessing;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord – that’s security;
Forever – that’s eternity.

Pastor Jim Stevanus

Catechism

Question 52

Q. Which is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Prayer

Thank You, Father, for all that You are and all that You have done for Your people. Thank You for Your sustaining grace and how You keep Your people, provide for them and defend them. Father, cause us to contemplate Your wonderful works, meditate upon them in our hearts, and praise You for Your love. Amen.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Joachim Neander, in A und Ω Glaub- und Liebes¸bung (Straslund: 1680); translated from German to English by Catherine Winkworth, 1863.

PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, Who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, Who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, Who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Thought Provoker

What is man’s chief end? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. So begins the catechism and so ends the Psalms. Psalm 150 is the culmination of the Psalms; Spurgeon referred to it as a rapture of praise. Each of the last 5 Psalms begins with “Praise the Lord!” and each builds into a crescendo of praise in Psalm 150, where we read, “Praise the Lord” or”Praise Him” 13 times in 6 verses.

Dad’s Study

In this short but potent Psalm of praise we find these truths regarding the praise and worship of God:

• Where God should be praised. (verse 1)
• Why God should be praised. (verse 2)
• How God should be praised. (verses 3-5)
• Who should praise God? (verse 6)

The only thing this Psalm does not tell us about the praise of God is when we are to praise Him. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Heb 13:15). Therefore, let us with joyful hearts continually offer up praise to God through Jesus Christ our Lord for His mercy and love to His people.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Psalm 1 opens the Psalms with a description of our duty before God. Psalm 150 closes out the Psalms with the truth that we are to continually praise God. This flow and theme teaches us that knowing what God requires of us and doing it before Him continually will naturally yield forth praise to Him from a joyful heart. The commands of God are not a burden; His yoke is light and those who obey His Word do not do so simply out of drudgery or duty, but because they know it produces joyful worship and praise of the most holy God. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Mat. 11:28-30).

Catechism

Question 6

Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory (1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being( Psalm 148:1-2).

Today’s Hymn

Words: George S. Smith, 1887; published in the Salvation Army’s Musical Salvationist, June 1891.

BEHOLD HIM NOW ON YONDER TREE
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The Prince of Peace, the heavenly King;
O what can His transgression be
Such shameful punishment to bring?
And lo, a thief hangs on each side;
Who justly suffers for his crime.
But why should Christ be crucified,
The One so holy, so divine?

Refrain
It was for me, yes, even me,
That Jesus died on Calvary;
My soul to cleanse from all its guilt,
His precious blood my Savior spilt.

O sinner, see, for you and me
He freely suffers in our stead;
And lo, He dies upon the tree;
Behold, He bows His sacred head!
So pure, yet He has borne our guilt,
By death our ransom He has paid;
It was for us His blood was spilt;
Our every sin on Him was laid.

Refrain

O loving Savior, take my heart,
No longer can I live from Thee!
With all unlike Thee now I part;
Thy wondrous love has conquered me.
I yield to Thee my little all;
Accept me now, Lord, as Thine own;
I’ll be obedient to Thy call
And spend my life for Thee alone.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

In support of whole hearted worship, Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, “God is to be praised with the voice, and the heart should go therewith in holy exultation.” Where the last Psalm was a hymn in praise of the Creator, today’s Psalm 149 is a hymn of whole hearted praise to the Redeemer. Spurgeon wrote a devotional classic entitled, “Morning and Evening.” Today we sit at the feet of the Prince of Preachers as he stirs our heart to great worship!

Dad’s Study

Be glad of heart, O believer, but take care that thy gladness has its spring in the Lord. Thou hast much cause for gladness in thy God, for thou canst sing with David, God, my exceeding joy. Be glad that the Lord reigneth, that Jehovah is King! Rejoice that he sits upon the throne, and ruleth all things! Every attribute of God should become a fresh ray in the sunlight of our gladness. That he is wise should make us glad, knowing as we do our own foolishness. That he is mighty, should cause us to rejoice who tremble at our weakness. That he is everlasting, should always be a theme of joy when we know that we wither as the grass. That he is unchanging, should perpetually yield us a song, since we change every hour. That he is full of grace, that he is overflowing with it, and that this grace in covenant he has given to us; that it is ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory—all this should tend to make us glad in him. This gladness in God is as a deep river; we have only as yet touched its brink, we know a little of its clear sweet, heavenly streams, but onward the depth is greater, and the current more impetuous in its joy. The Christian feels that he may delight himself not only in what God is, but also in all that God has done in the past. The Psalms show us that God’s people in olden times were wont to think much of God’s actions, and to have a song concerning each of them. So let God’s people now rehearse the deeds of the Lord! Let them tell of his mighty acts, and sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously. Nor let them ever cease to sing, for as new mercies flow to them day by day, so should their gladness in the Lord’s loving acts in providence and in grace show itself in continued thanksgiving. Be glad ye children of Zion and rejoice in the Lord your God.

C. H. Spurgeon, “Morning and Evening.”

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Has the Lord given you new life? Has He graced you with a new heart? Have old things passed away and all things become new? Then God has placed on your lips a new song of praise to your Redeemer! Today, God has brought to you new mercies and appreciation of His infinite glory! Therefore, make a new song to God. Sing together as a family the old words of the old hymns, made new by new affections!

Catechism

Question 5

Q. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only (Deut. 6:4), the living and true God (Jer. 10:10).

Popularity: 2% [?]

Psalm 148
February 9, 2007

Prayer

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:22-23

Today’s Hymn

Words: Timothy Dwight, Psalms of David, 1800. This is believed to be the oldest hymn by an American still in common use.

I LOVE THY KINGDOM, LORD
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I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The church our blessed Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.

I love Thy church, O God.
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And written on Thy hand.

If e’er to bless Thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skills forsake,
This voice in silence die.

Should I with scoffers join
Her altars to abuse?
No! Better far my tongue were dumb,
My hand its skill should lose.

For her my tears shall fall
For her my prayers ascend,
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, Thou Friend divine,
Our Savior and our King,
Thy hand from every snare and foe
Shall great deliverance bring.

Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield
And brighter bliss of Heaven.

Thought Provoker

Get the family to read through the Psalm and ask how each person/item can and does praise their Creator.

Dad’s Study

At the end of this Psalm the Psalmist declares that God’s people are “a people near unto him” [v. 14]. What an encouragement this should be to us, especially if we are going through particular times of trouble or satanic attack. Let us think on this for a moment.

The nearness of God brings contentment to the soul –
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” [Hebrews 13:5].

The nearness of God brings peace to the soul –
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” [James 4:7-8].

How are we to draw near to God?
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” [Hebrews 10:22].

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” [James 4:8].

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

This should be a great encouragement to us. It is a great blessing, but we must be on our guard that we do not abuse it nor neglect it. We must be on our guard that we do not simply go through the motions of the Christian life and yet be far from God.

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” [Isaiah 29:13].

Going to church, reading the Bible each day, praying each day and attending family worship are good and proper, but they are not necessarily a sign that we are near to God. It could just be a sham! Is this true of us?

Charles Collins – Kettering, UK

Catechism

Question 3

Q. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man (2 Tim. 1:13; Ecc. 12:13).

Popularity: 2% [?]

Prayer

“It is the flame of my life to worship Thee, the crown and glory of my soul to adore Thee, heavenly pleasure to approach Thee. Give me power by Thy Spirit to help me worship now.” Amen.
(The Valley of Vision).

Today’s Hymn

Words: William Cowper, in Conyerís Collection of Psalms and Hymns, 1772.

About these lines, Cowper wrote to his aunt:
I began to compose them yesterday morning before daybreak, but I fell asleep at the end of the first two lines. When I awaked again, the third and fourth verses were whispered to my heart in a way I have often experienced.

O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD
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O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

Thought Provoker

What is it that separates true Christian worship from all the religions of the world? Joyful praise! Followers of Hinduism and Buddhism are somber and formalistic. Worshipers of Allah gather for ritualistic prayers but with a seriousness robbed of any joyful praise. The poet Carpani inquired of his friend, the great composer Haydn, why the music of the Christian church was always so cheerful. His reply? “I cannot make it otherwise; I write according to the thought I feel. When I think upon God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen, and since God has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I praise Him with cheerful spirit.” Why should we praise God? It is good to sing praises! It is pleasant! It is comely!

Dad’s Study

Read together verses 1-11 and see if you can find 7 things about God that make Him worthy of joyful praise!

1. 1. He saves and restores sinners (v. 1). The God who brought back the exiles from Babylon savingly draws sinners unto Himself (v.2).
2. 2. He is filled with compassion and mercy to the broken hearted. God graciously soothes our sorrows and heals our wounds (v. 3).
3. 3. He is the omniscient Creator (v. 4, 5b). Not only does God know the number of stars, He calls each one of them by name. No one today has a clue how many stars there are in the universe. Some have guessed there are 1021. That would be 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars! Our great God knows and names all of them!
4. 4. He is omnipotent! He is full of great power (v. 5)!
5. 5. He is just and righteous (v. 6). He lifts up the meek and judges the wicked and casts them down.
6. 6. He is good (vs. 8-9)! He takes all of His power and uses it for the good of His people. Praise God for His provision of food, shelter, clothing and the needs of life!
7. 7. He takes pleasure in those that fear and trust in Him (vs. 10-11).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

These are 7 great reasons to lift up your voice today in joyful praise to God. Perhaps your worship of God has become formal and lifeless. Have you lost the fire of delightful praise? Confess any known sins that deaden your heart. Consider the greatness and goodness of God and lift up your voice in robust praise!

Catechism

Question 2

Q. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?

A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Eph. 2:20; 2 Tim. 3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (1 John 1:3).

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