Psalm 34 (summary): I will extol the Lord at all times!

Psalm 34 is when David praises the Lord following his escape from King Achish is 1 Samuel 21, by feigning insanity. David glorifies the Lord for his deliverance as when he called upon the Lord he heard him and saved him encamping angels around him. "Taste and see that the Lord is good" - David exclaims! For those who fear God lack nothing. David continues rejoicing because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and he hears them too. In fact the Lord delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 33 (summary): Sing joyfully to the Lord!

This psalm is not attributed to David and is particularly jubilant and joyful. It starts calling the righteous to sing joyfully to the Lord because this is fitting. He exhorts people to praise the Lord with musical instruments playing skillfully and shouting for joy. God is praised for his faithfulness and unfailing love. The psalmist then extols the God of creation maker of heavens and seas who made the earth by the power of his word. He also says that God is sovereign over the nations and that God's plans "stand firm forever". The psalmist yet says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord". He goes on to say that dependance on man's own strength or on that of a horse is vain, but those who fear the Lord will be delivered from death. We wait in hope for the Lord, says the psalmist, for he is our help and our shield!

Psalm 32 (summary): Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven!

 David writes this 'maskil' (musical or literary term) and extols the joy and relief that one feels for confessing sin and having it forgiven. He speaks about how much he suffered whilst hiding his sin and the relief there is in forgiveness. David exhorts all who are godly to pray so as to receive the protection of God. He exhorts people to act wisely and not behave like a mule which has no understanding. Many, says David, are the woes of the wicked but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 

Psalm 31 (summary): In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge

This further Davidic psalm for the director of music expresses that God is his refuge, his rock and fortress. David commits his spirit into God's hands and says how much he hates the idolatrous, saying he will always rejoice in God's love. He then expresses his extreme anguish as he suffers weakness with some sort of illness. He goes on to say that he trusts in the Lord despite his enemies and slanderers, and that his times are in God's hands. David asks God to silence the proud and arrogant and to shelter him in his presence. He closes praising the Lord for his love and encouraging all to be strong and take heart in the Lord!

Flash flooding

Last night we had quite a storm in Patos which caused flash flooding and the sweeping of some cars and motorbikes along the streets. It was torrential rain for about an hour and a half which totalled 50 mm. At Green Pastures it rained 22 mm.

Today I will be taking the service at Green Pastures and preaching on the last block of John 6. But all this is weather permitting!

Mid-week

I led the mid-week prayer and Bible study meeting last night and lawyer Rayla brought the study on 1st Samuel chapter 1. It was a good service. It rained at Green Pastures 44 mm last night and the night before it rained 4 mm. Up in the mountains only 30 km from Patos it rained 123 mm on Wednesday night which was wonderful.

In the floods of south Brazil in the state of Minas Gerais, where Peniel Chapel had missionaries when I was a child, the death toll has risen to 64. 

Psalm 30 (summary): I will exalt you, O Lord!

This Davidic psalm was a song written for the dedication of the temple. It depicts God rescuing him from severe illness which left him on the precipice of death. David rejoices at his deliverance saying that "weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning". David then says that God "turned my mourning into dancing for me, removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy", and he adds that he will give thanks to God forever.