Prayer
The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked (Psalm 129:4)!
Today’s Hymn
ROCK OF AGES
Augustus M. Toplady, 1776.
Toplady, Thomas Hastings, 1830
Click here for tune.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Thought Provoker
We live in picturesque, northern Wyoming at the base of the Rockies. Each year the fields are plowed up for planting. In early spring the tractors with their discs can be heard tearing through the hard fertile soil, making straight furrows as far as the eye can see. This tearing up of the soil is the imagery of the Psalmist who likens it to the way the enemies of God’s people rip through the flesh of Israel. As we are going to see today, that which begins in pain produces the fruit of blessing.
Dad’s Study
The history of God’s people has been a history of persecution. Here the poet sings the trials of Israel.
1. Number of afflictions. Twice the Psalmist repeats, “many a time” Israel had been afflicted by her enemies. The unfolding of the Old Testament is a chronicle of one attack after another. In Egypt it was heavily oppressed. In the wilderness wanderings it was assailed. The Promised Land was surrounded by enemy nations who continually afflicted it.
2. Degree of afflictions. Their attackers scourged the flesh of the Jews like a plow rips furrows in a field. The picture is Israel under the whip.
3. Failure of afflictions. Despite all the persecutions, the enemies of God and His people never prevailed (v. 2). The righteous God was on their side and cut the cords that bound them. God provided their escape time and time again (v. 4).
4. End of afflictors. The prayer is that these afflictors would be shamed (confounded), brought to retreat (turned back), and his hands fail to prosper (v. 7). He is exempted from God’s blessing. Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Truth in Practice
Family Worship
Persecution has always been one of the marks of God’s people. John Trapp writes, “The first that ever died, died for religion; so early came martyrdom into the world.” Fallen sinners hate their Creator, Whom they cannot see so they direct their attacks on His people which they can see. In God’s providence He uses the hand of persecution to strengthen His church. As you reflect on the history of the church since Christ see if you can give an account of some of the “many times” she has been afflicted. You might want to review some of the testimonies of saints whose bodies were scourged like the furrows on the farmers fields in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. You will find a copy of Foxe’s on our DDD web page, http://tbcwyoming.com/?p=40. From this Psalm we discover the note of confidence that God will faithfully vindicate His people. The enemies of God will not prevail!
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; Mt. 28:19).
