Psalm 114 (résumé): When Israel came out of Egypt

This short 8-verse psalm recalls God's miracles bringing Israel out of Egypt, opening the red sea and the Jordan which was so wonderful that it made the mountains skip like rams and the hills like lambs! "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord who turned the hard rock into springs of water!" 

Psalm 113 (résumé): Praise O servants of the Lord!

Psalm 113 is a hymn of praise to God for being the exalted Lord who helps the poor and who gives the barren woman children! "From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same our God's name is to be praised... God is exalted over all nations... his glory is above the heavens... he raises the poor from the dust and seats them with princes... and makes the barren woman a happy mother!"

Psalm 112 (résumé): Blessed is the man who fears the Lord!

Psalm 112 is another alphabetic acrostic psalm which details how good it is to fear the Lord and how this works out in one's daily life. When you fear the Lord your "children will be mighty in the land... you will be wealthy... good will come to him... he will never be shaken... he will have no fear of bad news... his heart is secure... his gifts to the poor will be scattered all over the place... but the wicked will gnash their teeth and come to nothing"!

Easter service

Last night I both led the Green Pastures Easter service and I preached on the victory of Christ on the cross. The children performed a beautiful little play about the resurrection. It was a lovely service.

Meanwhile Pastor Rafael and team took a service on the playground of our school in Patos.

In the morning we had an excellent senior leadership team meeting which lasted two and a half hours. Afterwards we took the pastors and their wives out for a fellowship meal together at a restaurant in the town centre.

Another 10 psalms

I have completed another 10 psalms, having finished the résumé of Psalm 110 which is a glorious messianic Davidic sign depicting Christ's joint roles of king, priest and judge.

At Green Pastures yesterday I saw a bright yellow Great Kiskadee, 4 Cactus Parakeets, a Blue-black Grassquit and a Scaled Dove. Whilst there it was sad to learn that sister Vilene (member of our Green Pastures church) had her house broken into and they stole their wedding rings and her little motorbike which she comes to church on. 

This morning the Patos church is holding a jumble sale at our school on the south side of Patos. However Liz and I will be involved in an important meeting of our senior leadership team throughout much of the morning and afternoon and value your prayers. 

Psalm 111 (résumé): Praise the Lord!

 Psalm 111 is an acrostic poem. This means that in this case the first letter of each of its 22 lines (not including the initial praise the Lord) begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm focuses on God's covenant ("he remembers his covenant forever"), his provision ("He provides food for those who fear him"), and God's mighty works ("The works of his hands are faithful and just"). The psalm then concludes with the concept that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom... to him belongs eternal praise"! 

Psalm 110 (résumé): The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand!

This Davidic psalm is a wonderful messianic psalm depicting the messiah as an enthroned king and eternal priest. "The Lord says to my Lord (Jesus the Messiah): Sit at my right hand... the Lord will extend your mighty sceptre from Zion. Then Jesus' kingly role is united with his priestly role saying: "You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melquizedek." The Messiah will judge nations and crush opposition in the day of his wrath.