Psalm 51 (summary): Have mercy on me, O God!

This Davidic psalm was written when the prophet Nathan confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba and the killing of her husband Uriah. It is a psalm of profound repentance. It starts with David imploring God's mercy and asking to be cleansed from his sin. David above all recognizes that his sin had been against God. He asked to be cleansed and made whiter than snow creating in him a pure heart. He asked to be restored with the joy of salvation and not to have taken the Holy Spirit away from him. David recognizes that God doesn't want sacrifices but rather a broken and contrite heart. This psalm is a perfect example of repentance from the heart.

Psalm 50 (summary): The Mighty One, God, the Lord!

This psalm is by Asaph and starts by presenting God as judge who summons heavens and earth to be the witnesses of his judgement. God declares that he doesn't need sacrifices of bulls or sheep because "the cattle on a thousand hills" belongs to God. God instead wants devotion and sincerity from his people. God then goes on to reprimand those who externally exhibit obedience to God but who are far from the Lord in their hearts. For "what right have you to recite my laws"? - God asks. The psalm ends assuring salvation to those who sincerely honour the Lord. 

Psalm 49 (summary): Hear this all you peoples!

This wisdom psalm by the Sons of Korah points out that death is inevitable for both rich and poor. It says than no ransom is ever enough for a man's life. The wise, foolish and senseless all die just the same. For man, come what may, is mortal like animals. But despite the grave being unavoidable for all the author expresses his hope in the redemption of God. For God "will surely take me to himself", he says. For accumulation of wealth is pointless as you take nothing with you to the grave.

Psalm 48 (summary): Great is the Lord!

 Psalm 48 is a song of praise by the sons of Korah celebrating the mighty, beautiful, lofty Mount Zion with the city of Jerusalem - the city of the great Lord! God, it says, is Zion's fortress causing enemy kings to flee in terror and shattering them with the wind. Mount Zion, it says, rejoices because of God's judgements. God is our God for ever and ever to the end.

Psalm 47 (summary): Clap your hands all you nations!

Psalm 47 is another psalm of the sons of Korah written for the director of music. It is a joyful positive psalm extoling God's sovereignty who is "the great king over all the earth". Much praise ascends to God who is the one who "reigns over the nations". It says that "the kings of the earth belong to God" who is highly exalted.

International Women's Day

Yesterday was International Women's Day and we had Sacha preaching very well on Women of the Bible: Esther (courage), Ruth (faithfulness), Hannah (prayer) and Mary (willingness). It was lovely too to have Louisa and Tiago back in the praise and worship group. It was a very good service.

Yesterday QPR were hammered yet again at home! This time they lost 4 x 0 to Middlesbrough! Oh dear! We are now down to 16th in the Championship. 😖

Blessing

Yesterday morning I went to the Patos Shopping Centre to pray a prayer of blessing on a new shop/kiosk called 'Flora Pura' run by Thayse and Alan from our church. May God bless this endeavour. 

Last night I led the service at Green Pastures and preached on 'not abandoning Jesus' from John 6:60-71. After the service I drove up to the lake and saw the largest Brazil Plum Tree we have looking wonderful after the rains in the Jeep's headlights. I also saw a Burrowing Owl for the first time in quite a while.

Philip has just arrived back in England via Recife, Rio de Janeiro and Paris. The clutch packed up in Campina Grande on the way back from taking Philip to the airport.