Are we slaves to a system like ancient Babylon, based on greed, designed to take instead of give? Let’s begin in Psalm 137.
How would we feel being taken captive as slaves to a foreign country as Israel was to Babylon?
Alongside Babylon’s streams, there we sat down, crying because we remembered Zion. We hung our lyres up in the trees there because that’s where our captors asked us to sing; our tormentors requested songs of joy: “Sing us a song about Zion!” they said. But how could we possibly sing the Lord’s song on foreign soil? (Ps 137:1-4 CEB)
Would they not want to forget their homeland? Does the world around us try to tempt us to forget our eternal homeland?
Jerusalem, if I forget you, let my right hand go limp. Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I don't think about you above all else. (Ps 137:5-6 CEV)
Do we meditate on God’s eternal kingdom often, encouraging us to persevere until God takes us home?
Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” (Ps 137:7 ESV)
In a brutal expression of grief, did the captives wish justice upon Babylon?
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us. Happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks. (Ps 137:8-9 HCSB)
Does Babylon describe a sexually immoral system, a capitalist system of incredible business profits?
After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was made bright by his splendor. He cried out in a powerful voice, “Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean bird, and a prison for every unclean and hated beast. For all the nations have drunk from the wine of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her. The world’s businesses have become rich from her luxurious excesses.” (Rev 18:1-3 ISV)
Are we warned to come out of this sinful Babylonian system?
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Rev 18:4-8 KJV)
Does this doomed Babylonian system traffic in merchandise and human lives?
And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived sensuously with her, will cry and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ “And the merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore—cargo of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from precious wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and amomum and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargo of horses and carriages and human beings and human lives. (Rev 18:9-13 LSB)
Are we slaves to a system like ancient Babylon, based on greed, designed to take instead of give? You decide!
His Loving Kindness (Ps 136)
Do we look at many facets of our lives and notice God’s loving kindness? Is all repetition banned or just vain repetition? Let’s look at Psalm 136.
Do we give God thanks for His loving kindness often enough?
Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever. (Ps 136:1-3 LSB)
Does looking at a different translation, help us see a different facet of God’s love? Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness evident in creation?
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the great lights, For His faithfulness is everlasting:
The sun to rule by day, For His faithfulness is everlasting,
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His faithfulness is everlasting. (Ps 136:4-9 NASB)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love to Israel seen in the events surrounding the Exodus?
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. (Ps 136:10-16 NIV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love, His mercy seen in Israel’s promised land?
To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever;
And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever—
Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever;
And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever—
And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever;
A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever. (Ps 136:17-22 NKJV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His mercy, His faithful love seen in remembering us in our daily needs?
He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. (Ps 136:23-26 NLT)
With God on our side are we losers when persecuted for our faith?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39 WEB)
Do we look at many facets of our lives and notice God’s loving kindness? Is all repetition banned or just vain repetition? You decide!
Do we give God thanks for His loving kindness often enough?
Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever. (Ps 136:1-3 LSB)
Does looking at a different translation, help us see a different facet of God’s love? Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness evident in creation?
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the great lights, For His faithfulness is everlasting:
The sun to rule by day, For His faithfulness is everlasting,
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His faithfulness is everlasting. (Ps 136:4-9 NASB)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love to Israel seen in the events surrounding the Exodus?
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. (Ps 136:10-16 NIV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His love, His mercy seen in Israel’s promised land?
To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever;
And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever—
Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever;
And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever—
And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever;
A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever. (Ps 136:17-22 NKJV)
Is God’s loving kindness, His faithfulness, His mercy, His faithful love seen in remembering us in our daily needs?
He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. (Ps 136:23-26 NLT)
With God on our side are we losers when persecuted for our faith?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39 WEB)
Do we look at many facets of our lives and notice God’s loving kindness? Is all repetition banned or just vain repetition? You decide!
Praise the Lord (Ps 135)
Are songs of praise just a modern invention? Will we still want to praise God in prayer and in song when Christ returns? Let’s begin in Psalm 135.
What is one purpose for assembling together in the church building? Do we do this?
Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise him, you who serve the Lord, you who serve in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. (Ps 135:1-2 NLT)
Is one way to praise the Lord by singing in the house of the Lord? Do we sing?
Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant. For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession. (Ps 135:3-4 WEB)
How incredibly powerful is our God? Do we see it in the sea, clouds, lightning and wind?
Yes, I know for certain that the Lord is great—I know our Lord is greater than all other gods. The Lord can do whatever he wants in heaven or on earth, in the seas and in every ocean depth. God forms clouds at the far corners of the earth. God makes lightning for the rain. God releases the wind from its storeroom. (Ps 135:5-7 CEB)
How did the miracles surrounding the Exodus and settlement of the promised land reveal God’s power?
The Lord killed the first-born of people and animals in the land of Egypt. God used miracles and wonders to fight the king of Egypt and all of his officials. He destroyed many nations and killed powerful kings, including King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. He conquered every kingdom in the land of Canaan and gave their property to his people Israel. (Ps 135:8-12 CEV)
Do we have the trust and patience in God to wait upon His plan for His people?
Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. (Ps 135:13-14 ESV)
Whether the nations worship literal idols or symbolic idols like material wealth, are they powerless substitutes for God?
The idols of the nations are of silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear; indeed, there is no breath in their mouths. Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them. (Ps 135:15-18 HCSB)
Are we all invited to bless the Lord from spiritual leaders to ordinary citizens?
House of Israel, bless the Lord! House of Aaron, bless the Lord! House of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who lives in Jerusalem. Hallelujah! (Ps 135:19-21 ISV)
Is this theme of praising God carried into the celebrations after Christ’s return?
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Rev 19:1-6 KJV)
Are songs of praise just a modern invention? Will we still want to praise God in prayer and in song when Christ returns? You decide!
What is one purpose for assembling together in the church building? Do we do this?
Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise him, you who serve the Lord, you who serve in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. (Ps 135:1-2 NLT)
Is one way to praise the Lord by singing in the house of the Lord? Do we sing?
Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant. For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession. (Ps 135:3-4 WEB)
How incredibly powerful is our God? Do we see it in the sea, clouds, lightning and wind?
Yes, I know for certain that the Lord is great—I know our Lord is greater than all other gods. The Lord can do whatever he wants in heaven or on earth, in the seas and in every ocean depth. God forms clouds at the far corners of the earth. God makes lightning for the rain. God releases the wind from its storeroom. (Ps 135:5-7 CEB)
How did the miracles surrounding the Exodus and settlement of the promised land reveal God’s power?
The Lord killed the first-born of people and animals in the land of Egypt. God used miracles and wonders to fight the king of Egypt and all of his officials. He destroyed many nations and killed powerful kings, including King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. He conquered every kingdom in the land of Canaan and gave their property to his people Israel. (Ps 135:8-12 CEV)
Do we have the trust and patience in God to wait upon His plan for His people?
Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. (Ps 135:13-14 ESV)
Whether the nations worship literal idols or symbolic idols like material wealth, are they powerless substitutes for God?
The idols of the nations are of silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear; indeed, there is no breath in their mouths. Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them. (Ps 135:15-18 HCSB)
Are we all invited to bless the Lord from spiritual leaders to ordinary citizens?
House of Israel, bless the Lord! House of Aaron, bless the Lord! House of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who lives in Jerusalem. Hallelujah! (Ps 135:19-21 ISV)
Is this theme of praising God carried into the celebrations after Christ’s return?
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Rev 19:1-6 KJV)
Are songs of praise just a modern invention? Will we still want to praise God in prayer and in song when Christ returns? You decide!
Blessing God (Ps 134)
Have we ever thought that we could bless God? How would we do so? Let’s look at Psalm 134.
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Do we bless the Lord or just ask His blessing? Do we lift up our hands? Is that biblical or just Pentecostal?
Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth Bless you from Zion! (Ps 134:1-3 NKJV)
Did Simeon bless God as he held the child Jesus in his arms?
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32 ESV)
Does the Greek word for blessing God include praise as some translations affirm? How do our prayers bless God?
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:50-53 KJV)
Is blessing God something we do by speaking? Do we use our tongue rightly to bless God?
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. (Jas 3:5-9 ESV)
Have we ever thought that we could bless God? How would we do so? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Do we bless the Lord or just ask His blessing? Do we lift up our hands? Is that biblical or just Pentecostal?
Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth Bless you from Zion! (Ps 134:1-3 NKJV)
Did Simeon bless God as he held the child Jesus in his arms?
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32 ESV)
Does the Greek word for blessing God include praise as some translations affirm? How do our prayers bless God?
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:50-53 KJV)
Is blessing God something we do by speaking? Do we use our tongue rightly to bless God?
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. (Jas 3:5-9 ESV)
Have we ever thought that we could bless God? How would we do so? You decide!
Unity (Ps 133)
How important is unity within our churches? What are some keys to unity? Let’s begin in Psalm 133.
A Song of Ascents. By David. (WEB)
Though we should not tolerate heresy, do we differ over many unimportant issues within our churches? Do we make unity a top priority?
Look how good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil on the head, descending to the beard—even to Aaron’s beard—and flowing down to the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon falling on Zion’s mountains. For there the Lord commanded his blessing—life everlasting. (Ps 133:1-3 ISV)
Is there a more important cause for unity than agreement over every doctrinal twig, every minor church decision? What does humility demand of us for the sake of unity?
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3 KJV)
Because every one of us has very different gifts, how does the human body remind us that God intends us to be unified?
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For also by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cor 12:12-13 LSB)
How does purpose create joyful unity within the local church?
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Phil 2:1-2 NASB)
How do tolerance, forgiveness and love contribute to perfect church unity?
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col 3:13-14 NIV)
How important is unity within our churches? What are some keys to unity? You decide!
A Song of Ascents. By David. (WEB)
Though we should not tolerate heresy, do we differ over many unimportant issues within our churches? Do we make unity a top priority?
Look how good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil on the head, descending to the beard—even to Aaron’s beard—and flowing down to the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon falling on Zion’s mountains. For there the Lord commanded his blessing—life everlasting. (Ps 133:1-3 ISV)
Is there a more important cause for unity than agreement over every doctrinal twig, every minor church decision? What does humility demand of us for the sake of unity?
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3 KJV)
Because every one of us has very different gifts, how does the human body remind us that God intends us to be unified?
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For also by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cor 12:12-13 LSB)
How does purpose create joyful unity within the local church?
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Phil 2:1-2 NASB)
How do tolerance, forgiveness and love contribute to perfect church unity?
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col 3:13-14 NIV)
How important is unity within our churches? What are some keys to unity? You decide!
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