Psalm 53

Psalm 53, along with Psalm 14, tells of God's plea to all mankind that we ought to believe in Him wholeheartedly. There are no 2 ways about it; either we are with God or foolishly deny His existence ("The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'. They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no-one who does good." -- Psalm 53:1).

John Avanzini minces: "Jesus makes it plain and simple. The man who loses his soul has lost everything. He has suffered loss beyond measure, for you cannot place a price on an eternal soul. There isn't enough money in the world to equal its value" (John Avanzini, 1995, "Things That Are Better Than Money", Harrison House).

What is more valuable than God's gift of salvation? Is it the world's riches and fame? What's the point of winning the world but losing one's soul?

Psalm 52

"But I am like an olive tree

flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God's unfailing love

for ever and ever." -- Psalm 52:8

David prefaced Psalm 52 with an episode of betrayal and persecution --- Doeg, the Edomite, had exposed the whereabouts of Ahimelech and David to Saul. In that context, David effusively pleaded God to vindicate him of all the sufferings and hurt he had gone through. I could almost feel the fear and helplessness of David and his followers in situations like that.

David's faith in God was unwavering. He knew that God was on his side and that he would outlast all his enemies because God's judgement upon the unrighteous would be done. Such faith in a life and death circumstance!

Let me share with you a poem "Faith and Sight" by Mary Gardiner Brainard ("Footprints and Other Inspirational Poems and Prayers", 1998, Antioch Publishing) which inpired me:

"Faith and Sight"

(Mary Gardiner Brainard)

So I go on, not knowing,

--- I would not, if I might ---

I would rather walk in the dark with God

Than go alone in the light;

I would rather walk with Him by faith

Than walk alone by sight.

Psalm 51

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise." -- Psalm 51:17

It is God's grace that brought King David to his knees, seeking God's forgiveness and mercy. Psalm 51 not only reveals David's humility, it shows God's marvellous grace in restoring any broken spirits if they are willing subjects under His molding hands.

The burden of sins is real. We have to face up to the consequences of our own sins as they catch up with us in due course. David had no inner peace until he opened his mouth to confess to the Lord his hidden sins of murder and adultery.

Satan's grand plan is to accuse us of our wrong-doings and rob us of our sense of praise for our Lord. Each day, we have unknowingly deposited a fair bit of perceivedly "small sins" in our lives. If we don't come before the Lord with a broken and contrite heart, confessing them and asking Him to forgive us, we may end up one day like David, guilt-ladened and running away from God. Psalm 51 is a great prayer prompter and powerful weapon to dispel Satan's guilt-trap!

Psalm 50

In many Chinese folk beliefs, especially ancestral worship, there is a need for animal sacrifices and burnt offerings. What has God got to say about this?

"I have no need of a bull from your stall

or of goats from your pens,

for every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains,

and the creatures of the field are mine.

If I were hungry I would not tell you,

for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,

fulfil your vows to the Most High,

and call upon me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honour me." -- Psalm 50: 9-15

The above passages are also meant for Christians. We need to examine our hearts and honour God with our act of worship, and not treating church as an conduit to God's blessings. The Lord delights more in our obedience rather than sacrifice!

Psalm 49

God's message couldn't be clearer, that His judgement on either the rich or poor, the strong or weak, is the same --- that all will have to face death one day. We will "take nothing with us when we die" (Psalm 49:17).

We must recognise that every good thing we experience in life is due to God's goodness (Jedidiah Tham, 2004, "The Apple of His Eye", p 19). Because of this truth, we are fruitful and we lack nothing in life. God wants us to know that we should not envy the rich as we lack nothing when we know that God has blessed us with favour and eternal lives.

As William Shakespeare put it simply: "Poor and content is rich, and rich enough". As believers of Jesus Christ, we know spiritual wealth is far better than material wealth. Store up treasures in heaven instead!

Psalm 48

This psalm reminded me of God's sovereignty and power over all the nations at the last days. Nations that revolt against the people of God would be destroyed by God's judgement and that we would be made secured within the temple of the Lord.

"Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them to the next generation.
For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end." -- Psalm 48:12-14

Let us be vigilant to take stock of God's weapons and shields that the Lord has given us, and not let down our defence against our enemy lest we may lost our faith during our current and next generations. Make Jesus our guide so that we may become fruitful in our lives.

"In the Garden"

I was deeply touched by yesterday's worship and sermon by Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong, as he shared his longing for the Lord in the old hymn known as "In the Garden". As a Christian who is used to contemporary worship songs, it comes as a pleasant surprise to me that actually traditional hymns are both meaningful and catchy.

"In the Garden"

(Words and Music by C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946)

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

Chorus
And He walks with me, And He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet, The birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him,

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; Through the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.

A search on the Internet revealed that the composer was asked by Dr Adam Geibel to write a hymn text that would be "sympathetic in tone, breathing tenderness in every line" and that it would be "one that would bring hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary, and downy pillows to dying beds". I will cling on to the promise as written in the hymn text that, indeed I am called to be God's very own. Amen and amen!