August 2024
Hope, Psalm 42, 25 August 2024
Psalm 42: Hope
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
August 25, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: Our world and emotions can feel out of control, but hope can always be found in God our rock.
What do you need this morning? Someone has said humans can go 40 days without food 3 days without water 8 minutes without air 1 second without hope
Today’s we’re concluding our series on the Psalms with a look at Psalm 42. This is our sixth psalm, and we’ll surely cover more in the future. I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey as much as I have, following the highs and lows—the ups and downs—of the songwriters who penned these song lyrics contained in the hymnbook of the Bible.
I love roller coasters, but when life feels like one, it can be distressing, to say the least. I’ve spoken with many former coaster riders who simply can’t stomach them anymore. Similarly, I’ve met countless people who have grown weary from the motion of emotions in life, and I know the feeling! Let’s dive in.
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. (Psalm 42:0)
This was not written by David, but rather by Korahites, first mentioned in Numbers 26:58 as one of the chief Levitical families, gatekeepers and singers at the temple. A maskil is a contemplative poem. They write,
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1)
This is quite an image. We all know what it’s like to pant for water, especially on a hot day, perhaps after mowing the lawn, taking a walk to the mailbox, or for the most radical among us, engaging in a triathlon. What’s wrong with these people?! Just kidding! I can tell you after I do my two-mile jogs, I’m panting all right! My body cries out for water, and that’s the kind of passion and desperation described here for God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:2)
Last week we saw In Psalm 103 David speaking to his soul, telling it to bless the LORD. This Hebrew word for soul, nephesh, is referring to the self, not the immortal soul found in the New Testament. It means life. The writer’s entire living being thirsts for God.
Do you? Have you ever been excited, even anxious to meet with God? When God’s presence dwelled behind a curtain in the temple in the place called the holy of holies, it was a big deal for the priest to go and meet with God.
But we can do it anytime we want! What a tremendous gift (one I take for granted).
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:3)
What a description of sorrow and abandonment. It’s one thing to cry. It’s another thing to cry non-stop, day and night with people mocking you about your faith. He’s losing hope. Can you relate?
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng. (Psalm 42:4)
The writer is remembering the good old days, but more than that, they felt protected, surrounded by a festival of joy and praise to the LORD. Maybe he was thinking about gatherings like this, filled with people and praises. Family, it is good for us to be together. We need to sing and worship together. It’s contagious! If COVID taught us anything, it’s that we need one another…in person, not just on a screen. Laughter, hugs, singing, conversations, …donuts! Sunday mornings together are precious, and many of our brothers and sisters around the world can only imagine the joy of public praise.
But nostalgia is a curious thing. Our minds don’t always recall the past accurately, more than that being skeptical about this account, I want to suggest today is tomorrow’s good old days. What if today is as good as it gets? I know that’s a depressing thought, but let’s pause for a moment and count our blessings in this moment. They are many.
We need to pause and remember God’s faithfulness. That’s one reason we gather here each week. We so easily forget His goodness. The word “remember” is found over 150 times in the scriptures, including Jesus’ words to come to the table and remember his death and resurrection through communion or Eucharist. Although He is always doing new things, God never changes. The God of past miracles is present here and now.
The psalmist continues,
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5)
Perhaps the best way to deal with problems in life is to look upon something greater. What do you have after a loss? What opportunities surround you? What people have your back? Or most of all, instead of looking at your circumstances, look up to God’s strength which is always greater than anything we face.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. (Psalm 42:6)
What’s the therefore there for? Because his soul is downcast, he will remember God. When you reach the bottom, there’s only one place to look…up! Look at what happens when he shifts his focus to God.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me. (Psalm 42:7)
He feels overwhelmed by his troubles…but returns to God, the Creator of the waterfalls, waves, and breakers (“your”).
By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8)
This would almost fit on a Hallmark card! What a beautiful and comforting sentiment. But like a roller coaster, he shifts again.
I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?” (Psalm 42:9)
He acknowledges God as rock but feels forgotten by God. Have you ever felt forgotten by God? We need to acknowledge our emotions and express them constructively. Prayer is one way to do that. But our feelings are not always trustworthy. I love the honesty as he pours out his heart to God. We can be honest in prayer, too.
My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:10)
It’s not clear whether there is physical pain or if this is a metaphor, but those around him are no help, taunting him. We finally come to the end of this song, this prayer, this cry to the LORD.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)
Author Lewis B. Smedes put it this way: Hope is to our spirits what oxygen is to our lungs. Lose hope and you die. They may not bury you for a while, but without hope you are dead inside. The only way to face the future is to fly straight into it on the wings of hope…hope is the energy of the soul. Hope is the power of tomorrow.
Who could use a little more hope? The key to hope, of course, is its object. You can hope for anything…a new car, a perfect spouse, a wonderful job, 80 degrees and sunny! In the business world, it has been said that hope is not a strategy…”I hope we start to make some sales so we don’t go bankrupt.”
But prayer is powerful. We worship the God of miracles. The stock market will fail, our relationships will fail, our physical bodies will fail, but when our hope is in the LORD, we can expect great things. They’re not always instant, and they’re not always the way we could plan them, but God can be trusted. He can handle whatever has you down today, whatever is weighting you down, whatever is causing fear, worry, or anxiety.
I’m preaching to myself!
So What?
As we conclude this series on the Psalms, we’ve read song lyrics about being rooted, the power of God as a mighty fortress. We saw Jesus portrayed vividly as the crimson worm centuries before his birth in Bethlehem. We examined the value of brokenness and repentance following sin, and were reminded the value of praise and the worthiness of God.
We all need food, water, and air, but when our world and emotions feel out of control, hope can always be found in God our rock. Hallelujah!
For extra credit, read the continuation of Psalm 42 in Psalm 43!
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
August 25, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: Our world and emotions can feel out of control, but hope can always be found in God our rock.
What do you need this morning? Someone has said humans can go 40 days without food 3 days without water 8 minutes without air 1 second without hope
Today’s we’re concluding our series on the Psalms with a look at Psalm 42. This is our sixth psalm, and we’ll surely cover more in the future. I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey as much as I have, following the highs and lows—the ups and downs—of the songwriters who penned these song lyrics contained in the hymnbook of the Bible.
I love roller coasters, but when life feels like one, it can be distressing, to say the least. I’ve spoken with many former coaster riders who simply can’t stomach them anymore. Similarly, I’ve met countless people who have grown weary from the motion of emotions in life, and I know the feeling! Let’s dive in.
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. (Psalm 42:0)
This was not written by David, but rather by Korahites, first mentioned in Numbers 26:58 as one of the chief Levitical families, gatekeepers and singers at the temple. A maskil is a contemplative poem. They write,
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1)
This is quite an image. We all know what it’s like to pant for water, especially on a hot day, perhaps after mowing the lawn, taking a walk to the mailbox, or for the most radical among us, engaging in a triathlon. What’s wrong with these people?! Just kidding! I can tell you after I do my two-mile jogs, I’m panting all right! My body cries out for water, and that’s the kind of passion and desperation described here for God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:2)
Last week we saw In Psalm 103 David speaking to his soul, telling it to bless the LORD. This Hebrew word for soul, nephesh, is referring to the self, not the immortal soul found in the New Testament. It means life. The writer’s entire living being thirsts for God.
Do you? Have you ever been excited, even anxious to meet with God? When God’s presence dwelled behind a curtain in the temple in the place called the holy of holies, it was a big deal for the priest to go and meet with God.
But we can do it anytime we want! What a tremendous gift (one I take for granted).
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:3)
What a description of sorrow and abandonment. It’s one thing to cry. It’s another thing to cry non-stop, day and night with people mocking you about your faith. He’s losing hope. Can you relate?
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng. (Psalm 42:4)
The writer is remembering the good old days, but more than that, they felt protected, surrounded by a festival of joy and praise to the LORD. Maybe he was thinking about gatherings like this, filled with people and praises. Family, it is good for us to be together. We need to sing and worship together. It’s contagious! If COVID taught us anything, it’s that we need one another…in person, not just on a screen. Laughter, hugs, singing, conversations, …donuts! Sunday mornings together are precious, and many of our brothers and sisters around the world can only imagine the joy of public praise.
But nostalgia is a curious thing. Our minds don’t always recall the past accurately, more than that being skeptical about this account, I want to suggest today is tomorrow’s good old days. What if today is as good as it gets? I know that’s a depressing thought, but let’s pause for a moment and count our blessings in this moment. They are many.
We need to pause and remember God’s faithfulness. That’s one reason we gather here each week. We so easily forget His goodness. The word “remember” is found over 150 times in the scriptures, including Jesus’ words to come to the table and remember his death and resurrection through communion or Eucharist. Although He is always doing new things, God never changes. The God of past miracles is present here and now.
The psalmist continues,
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5)
Perhaps the best way to deal with problems in life is to look upon something greater. What do you have after a loss? What opportunities surround you? What people have your back? Or most of all, instead of looking at your circumstances, look up to God’s strength which is always greater than anything we face.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. (Psalm 42:6)
What’s the therefore there for? Because his soul is downcast, he will remember God. When you reach the bottom, there’s only one place to look…up! Look at what happens when he shifts his focus to God.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me. (Psalm 42:7)
He feels overwhelmed by his troubles…but returns to God, the Creator of the waterfalls, waves, and breakers (“your”).
By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8)
This would almost fit on a Hallmark card! What a beautiful and comforting sentiment. But like a roller coaster, he shifts again.
I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?” (Psalm 42:9)
He acknowledges God as rock but feels forgotten by God. Have you ever felt forgotten by God? We need to acknowledge our emotions and express them constructively. Prayer is one way to do that. But our feelings are not always trustworthy. I love the honesty as he pours out his heart to God. We can be honest in prayer, too.
My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:10)
It’s not clear whether there is physical pain or if this is a metaphor, but those around him are no help, taunting him. We finally come to the end of this song, this prayer, this cry to the LORD.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)
Author Lewis B. Smedes put it this way: Hope is to our spirits what oxygen is to our lungs. Lose hope and you die. They may not bury you for a while, but without hope you are dead inside. The only way to face the future is to fly straight into it on the wings of hope…hope is the energy of the soul. Hope is the power of tomorrow.
Who could use a little more hope? The key to hope, of course, is its object. You can hope for anything…a new car, a perfect spouse, a wonderful job, 80 degrees and sunny! In the business world, it has been said that hope is not a strategy…”I hope we start to make some sales so we don’t go bankrupt.”
But prayer is powerful. We worship the God of miracles. The stock market will fail, our relationships will fail, our physical bodies will fail, but when our hope is in the LORD, we can expect great things. They’re not always instant, and they’re not always the way we could plan them, but God can be trusted. He can handle whatever has you down today, whatever is weighting you down, whatever is causing fear, worry, or anxiety.
I’m preaching to myself!
So What?
As we conclude this series on the Psalms, we’ve read song lyrics about being rooted, the power of God as a mighty fortress. We saw Jesus portrayed vividly as the crimson worm centuries before his birth in Bethlehem. We examined the value of brokenness and repentance following sin, and were reminded the value of praise and the worthiness of God.
We all need food, water, and air, but when our world and emotions feel out of control, hope can always be found in God our rock. Hallelujah!
For extra credit, read the continuation of Psalm 42 in Psalm 43!
Praise, Psalm 103, 18 August 2024
Psalm 103: Praise
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
August 18, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: The praise we lavish on the LORD should far exceed that of human heroes.
Who is the first person you think of when I mention the word…hero? Turn to your neighbor and tell them. A week ago, I joined millions around the world watching hundreds of athletic heroes at the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics. Although I didn’t watch much of the games, I was fascinated by their locale having visited Paris two months ago (where we saw most everything setup for the Olympics).
I’ve witnessed great applause, fanfare, and attention given athletes, whether it was at the 1996 games in Atlanta, the NCAA national championship game at Ford Field, or NFL games.
Others have made heroes out of musicians. I’ve been to concerts in arenas and stadiums and heard the deafening roar of the crowd while people sang and played instruments.
I think we’d all agree that teachers and first responders are everyday heroes who don’t get enough recognition (though my son used to play with a remarkable set of toys called Rescue Heroes which my grandchildren now enjoy!).
But the praise we lavish on the LORD should far exceed that of human heroes.
As we continue our series in the book of Psalms, our text today, Psalm 103, is another written by King David, perhaps the most powerful man of his day, yet he knows Who deserves all glory, honor, and praise.
Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (Psalm 103:1)
I love how David sings to his soul! Have you ever spoken to your soul? It’s not uncommon for people to talk to themselves, but speaking to your soul? This is more than a chat, though. He’s telling all of his inmost being to praise the holy name of the LORD.
Notice the word LORD is in all caps. It’s not an accident. It’s a special word, the most special word in the Hebrew language. It’s so special Jews will not speak it aloud for fear of mispronouncing or profaning it in some way. I was once talking about it with a Messianic Jewish friend of mine and I said, “Is it pronounced Yahweh?” He said softly, “That’s very close!”
We live in a world where seemingly nothing is sacred, but God’s Name is holy. David tells himself to praise the LORD. The Hebrew for that is familiar to all of us…hallelujah!
It’s not enough to know about God.
It’s not even enough to love God.
The scriptures repeatedly tell us to,
‘Love the Lord your God…with all your soul…”
(Deuteronomy 6:5, 11:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27)
and with all of our heart, mind, and strength. God wants it all, because God gave His all…His only son, Jesus. You can’t be a part-time lover of God. Following Jesus is not something you do for an hour a week. He wants all of us, 24/7/365 (and a quarter!).
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits— (Psalm 103:2)
The same Hebrew word for praise in verse one, barakh, is repeated here in verse two (yes, it’s the same word used to name a former US president, with origins in Swahili and borrowed from Arabic). It can mean praise but also blessing or bless. Bless the LORD. Praise the LORD. Don’t forget his benefits. What benefits?
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:3-5)
How can you resist that? This is our God, family! For some of us, this is old news, and familiarity breeds contempt. We need to pause and be reminded of who it is we praise. For others, this is the gospel, good news, fresh and exciting news to be forgiven, to be loved, to be seen, to be known. For me, this never gets old, especially in a word always enticing me to worry and fear. And, yes, as I age, I love the idea of my youth being renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed. (Psalm 103:6)
I love this promise, especially in a world filled with injustice, with more slaves globally than ever in human history, with millions of people living under oppressive governments and systems. We can’t always see it, but God is working righteousness. Things would be much worse without Him!
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel: (Psalm 103:7)
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love. (Psalm 103:8)
Here’s another statement repeated throughout the scriptures, including Exodus, Numbers, Nehemiah, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, and elsewhere in the Psalms. When you see repetition in the Bible, take notice. It’s not accidental. It’s there for emphasis.
Were your parents slow to anger and abounding in love?
Is your boss slow to anger and abounding in love?
Doesn’t that sound good? That’s our God! I want to zero in on another Hebrew word here, the one translated love. The original word is hesed. Love hardly does it justice. It’s goodness, kindness, devotion, favor, loyalty, mercy, or unchanging love. It is steadfast and devout love. This isn’t just candy heart valentine kind of love.
God is madly in love with you! There’s more.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:9-10)
I’m going better than I deserve, and if you are a follower of Jesus, the same is true for you. Are you a spiritual seeker? I challenge you to take a faith-filled risk and surrender to Jesus. Experience the thrill of forgiveness. Discover the reality of peace, meaning, and purpose. Encounter the wonder of a relationship with the Creator of the universe.
King David continues with a text we briefly examined last Sunday, highlighting the true and lasting cleansing and forgiveness available to us.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)
There’s even more!
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14)
Let me add He is a good father. I know father is not a positive image for some of you, tragically, but God is good. All the time. When God rescued His people out of Egyptian slavery, He called Israel His “firstborn son” in. Exodus 4:22. Gentiles have been adopted into His family through Jesus, so even if you’re not Jewish, these promises apply to us, too.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more. (Psalm 103:15-16)
Life is so fragile. I have a friend in Toledo whose son was playing basketball last week and was shot and killed by a random drive-by. My heart breaks for this man, preparing to bury his 15-year-old son. None of us know our expiration date. You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die. Are you?
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’S love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts. (Psalm 103:17-18)
Are you catching all of this?
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)
If anyone knew about thrones and kingdoms, it was King David, the author of this song.
So What?
Psalm 103 ends by answering this simple question.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul. (Psalm 103:20-22)
Praise the LORD.
Bless the LORD.
Honor the LORD.
Sing to the LORD.
Worship the LORD.
Pay attention to the LORD.
Jesus is greater than any athlete, actor, rock star, rescue hero, teacher, scientist, or political leader. He is the ultimate GOAT: the greatest of all time. He deserves more than applause and admiration. He deserves our lives!
Love the LORD with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength.
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
August 18, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: The praise we lavish on the LORD should far exceed that of human heroes.
Who is the first person you think of when I mention the word…hero? Turn to your neighbor and tell them. A week ago, I joined millions around the world watching hundreds of athletic heroes at the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics. Although I didn’t watch much of the games, I was fascinated by their locale having visited Paris two months ago (where we saw most everything setup for the Olympics).
I’ve witnessed great applause, fanfare, and attention given athletes, whether it was at the 1996 games in Atlanta, the NCAA national championship game at Ford Field, or NFL games.
Others have made heroes out of musicians. I’ve been to concerts in arenas and stadiums and heard the deafening roar of the crowd while people sang and played instruments.
I think we’d all agree that teachers and first responders are everyday heroes who don’t get enough recognition (though my son used to play with a remarkable set of toys called Rescue Heroes which my grandchildren now enjoy!).
But the praise we lavish on the LORD should far exceed that of human heroes.
As we continue our series in the book of Psalms, our text today, Psalm 103, is another written by King David, perhaps the most powerful man of his day, yet he knows Who deserves all glory, honor, and praise.
Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (Psalm 103:1)
I love how David sings to his soul! Have you ever spoken to your soul? It’s not uncommon for people to talk to themselves, but speaking to your soul? This is more than a chat, though. He’s telling all of his inmost being to praise the holy name of the LORD.
Notice the word LORD is in all caps. It’s not an accident. It’s a special word, the most special word in the Hebrew language. It’s so special Jews will not speak it aloud for fear of mispronouncing or profaning it in some way. I was once talking about it with a Messianic Jewish friend of mine and I said, “Is it pronounced Yahweh?” He said softly, “That’s very close!”
We live in a world where seemingly nothing is sacred, but God’s Name is holy. David tells himself to praise the LORD. The Hebrew for that is familiar to all of us…hallelujah!
It’s not enough to know about God.
It’s not even enough to love God.
The scriptures repeatedly tell us to,
‘Love the Lord your God…with all your soul…”
(Deuteronomy 6:5, 11:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27)
and with all of our heart, mind, and strength. God wants it all, because God gave His all…His only son, Jesus. You can’t be a part-time lover of God. Following Jesus is not something you do for an hour a week. He wants all of us, 24/7/365 (and a quarter!).
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits— (Psalm 103:2)
The same Hebrew word for praise in verse one, barakh, is repeated here in verse two (yes, it’s the same word used to name a former US president, with origins in Swahili and borrowed from Arabic). It can mean praise but also blessing or bless. Bless the LORD. Praise the LORD. Don’t forget his benefits. What benefits?
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:3-5)
How can you resist that? This is our God, family! For some of us, this is old news, and familiarity breeds contempt. We need to pause and be reminded of who it is we praise. For others, this is the gospel, good news, fresh and exciting news to be forgiven, to be loved, to be seen, to be known. For me, this never gets old, especially in a word always enticing me to worry and fear. And, yes, as I age, I love the idea of my youth being renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed. (Psalm 103:6)
I love this promise, especially in a world filled with injustice, with more slaves globally than ever in human history, with millions of people living under oppressive governments and systems. We can’t always see it, but God is working righteousness. Things would be much worse without Him!
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel: (Psalm 103:7)
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love. (Psalm 103:8)
Here’s another statement repeated throughout the scriptures, including Exodus, Numbers, Nehemiah, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, and elsewhere in the Psalms. When you see repetition in the Bible, take notice. It’s not accidental. It’s there for emphasis.
Were your parents slow to anger and abounding in love?
Is your boss slow to anger and abounding in love?
Doesn’t that sound good? That’s our God! I want to zero in on another Hebrew word here, the one translated love. The original word is hesed. Love hardly does it justice. It’s goodness, kindness, devotion, favor, loyalty, mercy, or unchanging love. It is steadfast and devout love. This isn’t just candy heart valentine kind of love.
God is madly in love with you! There’s more.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:9-10)
I’m going better than I deserve, and if you are a follower of Jesus, the same is true for you. Are you a spiritual seeker? I challenge you to take a faith-filled risk and surrender to Jesus. Experience the thrill of forgiveness. Discover the reality of peace, meaning, and purpose. Encounter the wonder of a relationship with the Creator of the universe.
King David continues with a text we briefly examined last Sunday, highlighting the true and lasting cleansing and forgiveness available to us.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)
There’s even more!
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14)
Let me add He is a good father. I know father is not a positive image for some of you, tragically, but God is good. All the time. When God rescued His people out of Egyptian slavery, He called Israel His “firstborn son” in. Exodus 4:22. Gentiles have been adopted into His family through Jesus, so even if you’re not Jewish, these promises apply to us, too.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more. (Psalm 103:15-16)
Life is so fragile. I have a friend in Toledo whose son was playing basketball last week and was shot and killed by a random drive-by. My heart breaks for this man, preparing to bury his 15-year-old son. None of us know our expiration date. You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die. Are you?
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’S love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts. (Psalm 103:17-18)
Are you catching all of this?
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)
If anyone knew about thrones and kingdoms, it was King David, the author of this song.
So What?
Psalm 103 ends by answering this simple question.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul. (Psalm 103:20-22)
Praise the LORD.
Bless the LORD.
Honor the LORD.
Sing to the LORD.
Worship the LORD.
Pay attention to the LORD.
Jesus is greater than any athlete, actor, rock star, rescue hero, teacher, scientist, or political leader. He is the ultimate GOAT: the greatest of all time. He deserves more than applause and admiration. He deserves our lives!
Love the LORD with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength.
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!
Brokenness, Psalm 51, 11 August 2024
Psalm 51: Brokenness
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
August 11, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: Our faithful God is merciful to those who are broken and repentant.
Have you ever done something bad? Really bad? Can you think of a time when you were ashamed? Maybe you tried to cover it up, hoping nobody would notice. One of the greatest, most godly persons in history did more than a bad thing. His series of sins included lust, adultery, premeditated murder, possible rape, and lies…and he was still called a man after God’s own heart. That says a lot about King David, but even more about our merciful God.
Today we’re continuing our series on the Psalms, the songbook of the Bible. There are five sections in the psalms, and if you’ve been with us during the series, you may have noticed each psalm is quite different from the others. Those within the five groupings are similar, but thus far we’ve examined psalms about being rooted in God, a declaration about God as our fortress, and last Sunday a prophetic psalm with multiple, blatant references to Jesus the Messiah who would arrive hundreds of years later. Today’s text is quite somber, one of confession after David committed adultery with Bathsheba, got her pregnant, and had her husband murdered. Not a good sequence!
If you don’t know the story, you can read it in 2 Samuel chapters 11-12. Suffice it to say, David was in soapy bubbles, as my late mother-in-law used to say! He sinned badly, covered it up, was confronted by Nathan the prophet, and finally came clean.
Clean. That’s an appropriate word. I’m not sure if the cool kids say it today, but there used to be dirty words. One popular rock group sang of “dirty deeds done dirt cheap.” We’ve all experienced mud puddles, paint spills, playground activities, and other things that made us physically dirty. There’s nothing like a hot shower or a nice bath and that feeling of being clean. The same can be said spiritually. If you get nothing out of what I say today, please remember this:
Our faithful God is merciful to those who are broken and repentant.
Nothing you can do can make God love you more than He does right now.
Nothing you can do can make God love you less than He does right now.
Our relationship with God and our eternal destiny is not based upon how “good” we are, but rather how “great” He is! It’s not about what we do, but about what Jesus has done on the cross. You’re not good enough to earn God’s favor. He doesn’t grade on a curve!
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9, NLT)
If God can forgive a liar, murderer, adulterer, and likely a rapist, He can forgive us, too. Hallalujah! Here’s the intro:
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. (Psalm 51:0)
We don’t actually know the background and context of many of the psalms, but this one’s explicit. Now the song begins:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1)
There’s some confusion around mercy, grace, and justice. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is unmerited favor. Justice is getting what you deserve. Let’s pretend you drive distracted and you smash my car. Justice would be you pay to fix my car. That’s what is deserved. Mercy would say don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it, you deserve to pay but I forgive you. Grace would be me saying you deserve to fix it, but forget about it and, instead, let me buy you Dietsch’s ice cream! Isn’t grace amazing?!
David is pleading for mercy, knowing God’s love is unfailing, He is compassionate, He has the ability to forgive. This is great news!
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2)
Here’s the first reference to clean, cleansing, washing. Psalm 103:12 says,
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)
How far is that? Infinity! This doesn’t mean God ignores all of the sins of all people. The context is those who love Him, who follow Him, who repent and turn away from their sin. The verse prior says,
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. (Psalm 103:11)
This is speaking of those who fear God, who make Jesus not only Savior, but LORD. There are a lot of vampire Christians who just want Jesus for his blood! The invitation is not to pray a magic prayer to obtain a Get Out of Hell Free card. It’s to follow Jesus. None of us do it perfectly, but that’s the desire of our heart. When we fall, we get back up. When we mess up, we own it, confess, and get back on the path.
Perhaps some of you need to start the journey. You’ve been living for yourself, doing everything your way. How’s that working out for you? It’s tragic to see so many people pursuing “their” truth, only to be drowning in anxiety, loneliness, and fear. The invitation of Jesus is one of freedom, joy, peace, meaning, and satisfaction. He’s not out to ruin your life or restrict your fun. It’s exactly the opposite! Are you following Jesus today?
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me. (Psalm 51:3)
Years ago, there was some research done on guilt. Do you know the number one reason why people feel guilty? It’s because they’re guilty!
There is such thing as false guilt, but usually when we feel guilty, it’s legitimate…and often it won’t go away. I’ve heard stories of people who have lived with guilt for years, even decades. That will not only mess with your mind, it will affect your body, too.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge. (Psalm 51:4)
This does not mean the characters in the story were not victims, but David is acknowledging only God is holy and perfect and justified to judge. Sin is not simply a bad thing we do because of an arbitrary rule. It’s anything that separates us from God…and others.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)
We’re all born with a selfish, sinful nature. You don’t have to teach a child to say, “No!”
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place. (Psalm 51:6)
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
That’s a good feeling!
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice. (Psalm 51:8)
David’s poetic imagery is beautiful. He knows the LORD and His ability to extend mercy and forgive the repentant.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity. (Psalm 51:9)
Remember, David has come clean about his sin. The hiding is over. He owns it and seeks forgiveness.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
This verse was put into a popular song many years ago. It’s a beautiful prayer.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11)
David knows God and wants God. He knows the agony of separation from a right relationship with God caused by sin and he wants to return to intimacy with the LORD.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12)
There’s more to his plea.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you. (Psalm 51:13)
He’s a wounded healer. He wants to help others. In AA, the best sponsors are often former addicts. They’ve been through it. They know the path. David’s song is not just for him, but he has others in view. For the sake of time, let me read through the conclusion:
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 51:14)
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise. (Psalm 51:15)
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. (Psalm 51:16)
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem. (Psalm 51:18)
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar. (Psalm 51:19)
What that really means is we can’t impress God. We can’t be religious enough to earn His approval. All of our good works, the Bible says, are filthy rags (and the literal meaning is used feminine products). What God wants is our heart. He wants us, humble, broken in order to receive healing. He wants us to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That should be the natural response to our faithful God who is merciful to those who are broken and repentant.
So What?
Getting right with God—and others—feels great, but it begins with action on our part. Let me say it again:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
It begins with confession. Some of you need to get on your knees and say
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1)
And then receive His cleansing, His forgiveness, His love. Hallelujah!
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
August 11, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: Our faithful God is merciful to those who are broken and repentant.
Have you ever done something bad? Really bad? Can you think of a time when you were ashamed? Maybe you tried to cover it up, hoping nobody would notice. One of the greatest, most godly persons in history did more than a bad thing. His series of sins included lust, adultery, premeditated murder, possible rape, and lies…and he was still called a man after God’s own heart. That says a lot about King David, but even more about our merciful God.
Today we’re continuing our series on the Psalms, the songbook of the Bible. There are five sections in the psalms, and if you’ve been with us during the series, you may have noticed each psalm is quite different from the others. Those within the five groupings are similar, but thus far we’ve examined psalms about being rooted in God, a declaration about God as our fortress, and last Sunday a prophetic psalm with multiple, blatant references to Jesus the Messiah who would arrive hundreds of years later. Today’s text is quite somber, one of confession after David committed adultery with Bathsheba, got her pregnant, and had her husband murdered. Not a good sequence!
If you don’t know the story, you can read it in 2 Samuel chapters 11-12. Suffice it to say, David was in soapy bubbles, as my late mother-in-law used to say! He sinned badly, covered it up, was confronted by Nathan the prophet, and finally came clean.
Clean. That’s an appropriate word. I’m not sure if the cool kids say it today, but there used to be dirty words. One popular rock group sang of “dirty deeds done dirt cheap.” We’ve all experienced mud puddles, paint spills, playground activities, and other things that made us physically dirty. There’s nothing like a hot shower or a nice bath and that feeling of being clean. The same can be said spiritually. If you get nothing out of what I say today, please remember this:
Our faithful God is merciful to those who are broken and repentant.
Nothing you can do can make God love you more than He does right now.
Nothing you can do can make God love you less than He does right now.
Our relationship with God and our eternal destiny is not based upon how “good” we are, but rather how “great” He is! It’s not about what we do, but about what Jesus has done on the cross. You’re not good enough to earn God’s favor. He doesn’t grade on a curve!
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9, NLT)
If God can forgive a liar, murderer, adulterer, and likely a rapist, He can forgive us, too. Hallalujah! Here’s the intro:
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. (Psalm 51:0)
We don’t actually know the background and context of many of the psalms, but this one’s explicit. Now the song begins:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1)
There’s some confusion around mercy, grace, and justice. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is unmerited favor. Justice is getting what you deserve. Let’s pretend you drive distracted and you smash my car. Justice would be you pay to fix my car. That’s what is deserved. Mercy would say don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it, you deserve to pay but I forgive you. Grace would be me saying you deserve to fix it, but forget about it and, instead, let me buy you Dietsch’s ice cream! Isn’t grace amazing?!
David is pleading for mercy, knowing God’s love is unfailing, He is compassionate, He has the ability to forgive. This is great news!
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2)
Here’s the first reference to clean, cleansing, washing. Psalm 103:12 says,
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)
How far is that? Infinity! This doesn’t mean God ignores all of the sins of all people. The context is those who love Him, who follow Him, who repent and turn away from their sin. The verse prior says,
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. (Psalm 103:11)
This is speaking of those who fear God, who make Jesus not only Savior, but LORD. There are a lot of vampire Christians who just want Jesus for his blood! The invitation is not to pray a magic prayer to obtain a Get Out of Hell Free card. It’s to follow Jesus. None of us do it perfectly, but that’s the desire of our heart. When we fall, we get back up. When we mess up, we own it, confess, and get back on the path.
Perhaps some of you need to start the journey. You’ve been living for yourself, doing everything your way. How’s that working out for you? It’s tragic to see so many people pursuing “their” truth, only to be drowning in anxiety, loneliness, and fear. The invitation of Jesus is one of freedom, joy, peace, meaning, and satisfaction. He’s not out to ruin your life or restrict your fun. It’s exactly the opposite! Are you following Jesus today?
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me. (Psalm 51:3)
Years ago, there was some research done on guilt. Do you know the number one reason why people feel guilty? It’s because they’re guilty!
There is such thing as false guilt, but usually when we feel guilty, it’s legitimate…and often it won’t go away. I’ve heard stories of people who have lived with guilt for years, even decades. That will not only mess with your mind, it will affect your body, too.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge. (Psalm 51:4)
This does not mean the characters in the story were not victims, but David is acknowledging only God is holy and perfect and justified to judge. Sin is not simply a bad thing we do because of an arbitrary rule. It’s anything that separates us from God…and others.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)
We’re all born with a selfish, sinful nature. You don’t have to teach a child to say, “No!”
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place. (Psalm 51:6)
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
That’s a good feeling!
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice. (Psalm 51:8)
David’s poetic imagery is beautiful. He knows the LORD and His ability to extend mercy and forgive the repentant.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity. (Psalm 51:9)
Remember, David has come clean about his sin. The hiding is over. He owns it and seeks forgiveness.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
This verse was put into a popular song many years ago. It’s a beautiful prayer.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11)
David knows God and wants God. He knows the agony of separation from a right relationship with God caused by sin and he wants to return to intimacy with the LORD.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12)
There’s more to his plea.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you. (Psalm 51:13)
He’s a wounded healer. He wants to help others. In AA, the best sponsors are often former addicts. They’ve been through it. They know the path. David’s song is not just for him, but he has others in view. For the sake of time, let me read through the conclusion:
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 51:14)
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise. (Psalm 51:15)
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. (Psalm 51:16)
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem. (Psalm 51:18)
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar. (Psalm 51:19)
What that really means is we can’t impress God. We can’t be religious enough to earn His approval. All of our good works, the Bible says, are filthy rags (and the literal meaning is used feminine products). What God wants is our heart. He wants us, humble, broken in order to receive healing. He wants us to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That should be the natural response to our faithful God who is merciful to those who are broken and repentant.
So What?
Getting right with God—and others—feels great, but it begins with action on our part. Let me say it again:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
It begins with confession. Some of you need to get on your knees and say
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1)
And then receive His cleansing, His forgiveness, His love. Hallelujah!
Crimson Worm: Psalm 22, 4 August 2024
Psalm 22: The Crimson Worm
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
August 4, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: Psalm 22 is a remarkable portrait of the suffering Messiah centuries before his birth who is worthy of our worship and praise today.
On Friday, September 22, 2006, I was in one of the darkest moments of my life, living in a hospital with a sick child at the beginning of what would be a nine-year journey of pain and suffering, one which still impacts my life and family to this day in both good and tragic ways. My journal records me clinging to God, knowing that He is good and faithful and in control, and I was certainly out of control. Rather than play Bible Roulette and hope some inspiring scripture would appear as I randomly opened the book, I looked at the date, saw it was September 22, and turned to Psalm 22. I could hardly get beyond the first verse.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22:1, NIV)
As we continue our series on the Psalms, I wanted to look at this prophetic text which literally made me weep. Perhaps the words are familiar, not from the pen of King David, but the lips of King Jesus. The scene is the crucifixion of Jesus on the day we call Good Friday. He is hanging on the cross, nails in his wrists and feet, thorns on his head, and agony in his heart, body, and soul.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Mark 15:33-34, NIV)
Some might think my connection to these words had to do with my suffering, but instead it thrust me into an empathy with God the Father like never before. My child—and God’s son—were in tremendous agony, but they were not alone in their pain. It’s been said the worst thing a human can do is bury their child. One of the things near the top is parenting a suffering child.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22:1, NIV)
Jesus knew the scriptures and quoted them from the cross. Psalm 22—like the rest of the psalms—was originally a song. We’re even told about the music.
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. (Psalm 22:0)
Jesus quoted the first verse of Psalm 22 on the cross, but we never need to fear about God forsaking us. The writer of Hebrews said,
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)
That’s good news. That’s great news! When you’re hurting, lonely, afraid, rejected, anxious, discouraged, depressed, disappointed, or just sad, cling to this promise. A few psalms later, it says,
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. (Psalm 37:28a, NIV)
God will not forsake you…ever. David felt forsaken by God, but it was never a reality.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22:1, NIV)
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest. (Psalm 22:2, NIV)
How many of you can relate to sleepless nights? It’s not just a new parent thing!
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises. (Psalm 22:3, NIV)
I love how David shifts gears. This is common in his prayers and psalms. He’ll go from one extreme to the other, angry and then confident, depressed then hopeful. I think begins looking inward at his own circumstances and then looks up. Don’t miss this, though…we can pour out our heart to God.
I think this is one reason why David is called a man after God’s own heart…twice. He kept it real. He didn’t wear a mask or pretend everything was ok. He was fully present in the moment, honest about his God-given emotions, and held nothing back, but he didn’t remain in his misery. After getting things off his chest, he looked up to God and remembered his conversation partner.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises. (Psalm 22:3, NIV)
This is our God!
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame. (Psalm 22:4-5, NIV)
We can trust God fully. I’m so glad. From generation to generation, God is faithful. He is trustworthy, and He’s the same God today as He was thousands of years ago when this was written.
Now David shifts again, this time to the first person.
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads. (Psalm 22:6-7, NIV)
I am a worm. What an interesting statement. We’ve already seen the prophetic nature of this psalm with echoes of Jesus on the cross.
What’s fascinating here is found in the original Hebrew language. A common worm or maggot is “rimmah,” but here the word for “worm” is “towla” or “tola’ath,” referencing a specific, crimson worm found in Israel. It’s actually a deep scarlet, the color of blood.
I heard a podcast about this crimson worm and almost drove my car off the road! A red dye was extracted from this worm, used for the curtains in the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:1) and the high priest’s garments. The dye was also used to purify a leper (Lev. 14:4-6). Listen to this:
When the female crimson worm is ready to lay her eggs, which happens only once in her life, she climbs up a tree or fence and attaches herself to it. With her body attached to the wooden tree, a hard crimson shell forms. It is a shell so hard and so secured to the wood that it can only be removed by tearing apart the body, which would kill the worm.
The female worm lays her eggs under her body, under the protective shell. When the larvae hatch, they remain under the mother’s protective shell so the baby worms can feed on the living body of the mother worm for three days. After three days, the mother worm dies, and her body excretes a crimson or scarlet dye that stains the wood to which she is attached and her baby worms. The baby worms remain crimson-colored for their entire lives. Thereby, they are identified as crimson worms.
On day four, the tail of the mother worm pulls up into her head, forming a heart-shaped body that is no longer crimson but has turned into a snow-white wax that looks like a patch of wool on the tree or fence. It then begins to flake off and drop to the ground looking like snow.
Isaiah 1:18 says,
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18, NIV)
Is that crazy or what? This is a picture of Jesus, dying on a tree to save us. Three days. Death. Heart-shaped body. Snow white…
500-1000 years before Jesus is crucified King David references a crimson worm with prophetic language. Amazing!
I wish we had time to examine every verse of this incredible psalm, but I want to show you have few other references to Jesus in this song written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me. (Psalm 22:14, NIV)
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death. (Psalm 22:15, NIV)
Have you ever felt like this?
Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16, NIV)
Did you catch that reference to Jesus’ crucifixion?
All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me. (Psalm 22:17, NIV)
They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment. (Psalm 22:18, NIV)
This happened to Jesus in John 19:24. This is a bleak picture, but it is contrasted with praises as well as petitions. Jumping to verse 26…
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:26, NIV)
All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations. (Psalm 22:27-28, NIV)
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive. (Psalm 22:29, NIV)
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord. (Psalm 22:30, NIV)
They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it! (Psalm 22:31, NIV)
He has done it, indeed! Hallelujah!
So What?
The Bible is filled with prophecy, including over 300 Old Testament references that foreshadow Jesus hundreds of years before his birth. The crimson worm is an incredible symbol of Christ and his work on the cross to die for our sins and reconcile us to the Father. We see David’s gut-wrenching honesty followed by praise to the Almighty. Ultimately we see the LORD reigns over all and is worthy of our worship and devotion.
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
August 4, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: Psalm 22 is a remarkable portrait of the suffering Messiah centuries before his birth who is worthy of our worship and praise today.
On Friday, September 22, 2006, I was in one of the darkest moments of my life, living in a hospital with a sick child at the beginning of what would be a nine-year journey of pain and suffering, one which still impacts my life and family to this day in both good and tragic ways. My journal records me clinging to God, knowing that He is good and faithful and in control, and I was certainly out of control. Rather than play Bible Roulette and hope some inspiring scripture would appear as I randomly opened the book, I looked at the date, saw it was September 22, and turned to Psalm 22. I could hardly get beyond the first verse.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22:1, NIV)
As we continue our series on the Psalms, I wanted to look at this prophetic text which literally made me weep. Perhaps the words are familiar, not from the pen of King David, but the lips of King Jesus. The scene is the crucifixion of Jesus on the day we call Good Friday. He is hanging on the cross, nails in his wrists and feet, thorns on his head, and agony in his heart, body, and soul.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Mark 15:33-34, NIV)
Some might think my connection to these words had to do with my suffering, but instead it thrust me into an empathy with God the Father like never before. My child—and God’s son—were in tremendous agony, but they were not alone in their pain. It’s been said the worst thing a human can do is bury their child. One of the things near the top is parenting a suffering child.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22:1, NIV)
Jesus knew the scriptures and quoted them from the cross. Psalm 22—like the rest of the psalms—was originally a song. We’re even told about the music.
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. (Psalm 22:0)
Jesus quoted the first verse of Psalm 22 on the cross, but we never need to fear about God forsaking us. The writer of Hebrews said,
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)
That’s good news. That’s great news! When you’re hurting, lonely, afraid, rejected, anxious, discouraged, depressed, disappointed, or just sad, cling to this promise. A few psalms later, it says,
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. (Psalm 37:28a, NIV)
God will not forsake you…ever. David felt forsaken by God, but it was never a reality.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22:1, NIV)
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest. (Psalm 22:2, NIV)
How many of you can relate to sleepless nights? It’s not just a new parent thing!
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises. (Psalm 22:3, NIV)
I love how David shifts gears. This is common in his prayers and psalms. He’ll go from one extreme to the other, angry and then confident, depressed then hopeful. I think begins looking inward at his own circumstances and then looks up. Don’t miss this, though…we can pour out our heart to God.
I think this is one reason why David is called a man after God’s own heart…twice. He kept it real. He didn’t wear a mask or pretend everything was ok. He was fully present in the moment, honest about his God-given emotions, and held nothing back, but he didn’t remain in his misery. After getting things off his chest, he looked up to God and remembered his conversation partner.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises. (Psalm 22:3, NIV)
This is our God!
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame. (Psalm 22:4-5, NIV)
We can trust God fully. I’m so glad. From generation to generation, God is faithful. He is trustworthy, and He’s the same God today as He was thousands of years ago when this was written.
Now David shifts again, this time to the first person.
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads. (Psalm 22:6-7, NIV)
I am a worm. What an interesting statement. We’ve already seen the prophetic nature of this psalm with echoes of Jesus on the cross.
What’s fascinating here is found in the original Hebrew language. A common worm or maggot is “rimmah,” but here the word for “worm” is “towla” or “tola’ath,” referencing a specific, crimson worm found in Israel. It’s actually a deep scarlet, the color of blood.
I heard a podcast about this crimson worm and almost drove my car off the road! A red dye was extracted from this worm, used for the curtains in the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:1) and the high priest’s garments. The dye was also used to purify a leper (Lev. 14:4-6). Listen to this:
When the female crimson worm is ready to lay her eggs, which happens only once in her life, she climbs up a tree or fence and attaches herself to it. With her body attached to the wooden tree, a hard crimson shell forms. It is a shell so hard and so secured to the wood that it can only be removed by tearing apart the body, which would kill the worm.
The female worm lays her eggs under her body, under the protective shell. When the larvae hatch, they remain under the mother’s protective shell so the baby worms can feed on the living body of the mother worm for three days. After three days, the mother worm dies, and her body excretes a crimson or scarlet dye that stains the wood to which she is attached and her baby worms. The baby worms remain crimson-colored for their entire lives. Thereby, they are identified as crimson worms.
On day four, the tail of the mother worm pulls up into her head, forming a heart-shaped body that is no longer crimson but has turned into a snow-white wax that looks like a patch of wool on the tree or fence. It then begins to flake off and drop to the ground looking like snow.
Isaiah 1:18 says,
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18, NIV)
Is that crazy or what? This is a picture of Jesus, dying on a tree to save us. Three days. Death. Heart-shaped body. Snow white…
500-1000 years before Jesus is crucified King David references a crimson worm with prophetic language. Amazing!
I wish we had time to examine every verse of this incredible psalm, but I want to show you have few other references to Jesus in this song written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me. (Psalm 22:14, NIV)
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death. (Psalm 22:15, NIV)
Have you ever felt like this?
Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16, NIV)
Did you catch that reference to Jesus’ crucifixion?
All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me. (Psalm 22:17, NIV)
They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment. (Psalm 22:18, NIV)
This happened to Jesus in John 19:24. This is a bleak picture, but it is contrasted with praises as well as petitions. Jumping to verse 26…
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:26, NIV)
All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations. (Psalm 22:27-28, NIV)
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive. (Psalm 22:29, NIV)
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord. (Psalm 22:30, NIV)
They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it! (Psalm 22:31, NIV)
He has done it, indeed! Hallelujah!
So What?
The Bible is filled with prophecy, including over 300 Old Testament references that foreshadow Jesus hundreds of years before his birth. The crimson worm is an incredible symbol of Christ and his work on the cross to die for our sins and reconcile us to the Father. We see David’s gut-wrenching honesty followed by praise to the Almighty. Ultimately we see the LORD reigns over all and is worthy of our worship and devotion.