Summer Playlist: Talk To Me
Summer Playlist
Talk To Me
Pastor Charlie Weir
The Psalms takes you through the highs and lows of life with the God who reigns over all of life.
Decisions can be swayed by circumstances whereas convictions are cemented by circumstances. Decisions are sourced from our heads. Reactions are sourced from our hearts. Convictions are sourced by both. A fresh relationship with God engages both head and heart.
C.S. Lewis on Psalm 19
“I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world” (Reflections on the Psalms, p.63)
Peter C. Craigie, English Theologian on Psalm 19
“This psalm combines the most beautiful poetry with some of the most profound biblical theology.”
Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
God speaks to us through His Creation
Psalm 19:1-6
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
The heavens and skies are both setting and source for the speech of God our Creator.
They declare God’s glory – His weight and significance.
They proclaim the work of His hands – attest to Him as Creator.
They pour forth speech - creation is not tight lipped!
Evolution is an overly simplistic answer to the complexities the creation presents.
From NASA Science’s website…
“For many years they looked around the solar system. Mercury and Venus
were too hot. Mars and the outer planets were too cold. Only Earth was just
right for life, they thought. Our planet has liquid water, a breathable
atmosphere, a suitable amount of sunshine. Perfect. It didn't have to be that
way. If Earth were a little closer to the sun it might be like hot choking
Venus; a little farther, like cold arid Mars. Somehow, though, we ended up
in just the right place with just the right ingredients for life to flourish.
Researchers of the 1970s scratched their heads and said we were in “the
Goldilocks Zone (not too hot, not too cold).”
Revelation 7:9-10 9
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
According to Wycliff.org.uk…
The full Bible is now available in 704 different languages, giving 5.7 billion people access to Scripture in the language they understand best. The New Testament is available in another 1,551 languages, reaching another 815 million people. Selections and stories are available in a further 1,160 other languages, spoken by 458 million people. There are currently 3,945 languages with no Scripture. 167 million people, speaking 2,014 languages, still need translation work to begin.
Romans 1:18-20 18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Creation’s speech is neither generic, impersonal or haphazard.
God speaks to us through His Word
Psalm 19:7-11 7
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
The Word of God is perfect and refreshes the soul.
The Word of God is trustworthy and makes the simple wise.
The Word of God is truth and gives joy to the heart.
The Word of God is radiant and lights up our world.
The Word of God is firm and leads us the right way in the right way.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. What Timothy would have known and formally studied was the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) and many more of the OT books.
2 Peter 2:1:20-21
20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Fight staleness with the Word.
Fight confusion with the Word.
Fight a lack of hope with the Word.
Fight darkness with the Word.
Fight a lack of direction with the Word.
More Word More Often
John 14:26-27
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Psalm 19:12-14
12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Proverbs 18:17
In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. We can justify just about any action or thought if we try hard enough but being immersed in the Word is a sure-fire way to stay cross-examined.
Our new Benediction Response to the Priestly Blessing
Psalm 19:14
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.