Psalm 85 (résumé): You showed favour to you Land

This psalm is another of the Sons of Korah. It starts recalling God's favour to Israel in the past, his forgiveness and turning aside from wrath. Then prayer is made for renewed restoration and revival, and for God to reveal his unfailing love. Finally come verses of confident expectation because surely salvation is near to those who fear God. In God "righteousness and peace kiss each other". "The Lord will indeed give what is good" with a good harvest. 

Cuckoo

I heard the Dark-billed Cuckoo yesterday afternoon at Green Pastures. It is only with us in the rainy season to eat the trillions of caterpillars. I also saw 3 Cajarana Plum Trees which managed to survive the drought and now look great.

We were so sad to learn that another of our pastors has cancer. He is Pastor Nezinho Abílio of our Diamante/Vazante churches. Happily we sent him a back-up worker in January as he wasn't feeling well. Please pray for this pastor.

Last night Liz took part in the women's fellowship meeting where she says all went off nicely.

Psalm 84 (résumé): Lord, how lovely is your dwelling place

 Psalm 84 is attributed to the Sons of Korah and is one of the most beautiful hymns of the Bible which expresses a deep yearning for God's house and for God's presence. The psalmists say that their heart and flesh cry out for the living God. How lovely is your temple Lord... even sparrow and swallow think so... blessed are those that dwell in your house. The writer goes on saying blessed are those whose strength is in you and have set their heart on pilgrimage... though one goes through dry and harsh valley of Baca God transforms it into a place of springs and autumn rain... better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere... better is it to be the door keeper of the temple than to dwell in the tents of the wicked... for God is sun and shield... blessed is he who trusts in God!

Psalm 83 (résumé): O God do not keep silent!

Psalm 83 is a prayer of lament written by Asaph. It calls on God to speak out against his cunning enemies who plot against God's people. Many nations have formed an alliance against Israel including even Assyria to destroy Israel as a nation! (some things never change!) Asaph prays that God will repeat the same sort of defeats as those inflicted in the past against Midian, Sisera and Jabin. Asaph prays that Israel's enemies be dealt with like chaff in the wind or fire in a forest. Asaph prays that the enemies be ashamed and dismayed and perish in disgrace and let them know that the Lord alone is the Most High over all the earth!

Psalm 82 (résumé): God presides in the great assembly

Psalm 82 was written by Asaph and presents God as the supreme judge who gives judgement among the "gods" (Elohim). God reprimands those in authority who are unjust and show partiality to the wicked. They understand nothing and live in darkness. They are "gods" who will die like mere men. Asaph concludes invoking God to judge the earth because all the nations are his inheritance. 

Psalm 81 (résumé): Sing for joy to God!

 Psalm 81 is a celebratory song by Asaph which also calls Israel to repentance. It starts joyfully calling everyone to sing accompanied by tambourines, harp, lyre and ram's horns (shofar) under a full moon! God then speaks recalling how he had freed Israel from slavery and how he tested them at the waters of Meribah. God calls Israel to listen to him decrying their stubbornness and idolatry because if they would follow God's ways they would be fed with the finest wheat and with honey from the rock!

Psalm 80 (resumé): Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel

This psalm is again written by Asaph and is a poetic lament which uses the vine as a poignant metaphor. Asaph starts asking for the restoration of Israel by its Shepherd. He goes on to question how long God's anger will smoulder and he then repeats his plea for restoration. Asaph then describes the vine Israel which was planted in Canaan and grew spreading from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Euphrates. He pleads for God to "watch over this vine" because it has been cut down and burned. The end of the psalm is clearly messianic appealing to the man at God's right hand... the son of man... appealing to God for restoration, salvation and revival!