Author: arevans

[The righteous man] will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

The righteous man does not live in a dream world. He does not go through life “whistling past the graveyard”.  This world has been corrupted by sin and death; who would know this more than the righteous man, whose hope is in the Lord of glory?

He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.

There aren’t adequate words to describe the greatness of our God.  Even words like holy and awesome fall so far short.

Many times He delivered them; but they rebelled in their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry; and for their sake He remembered His covenant, and relented according to the multitude of His mercies.

God is longsuffering. He is merciful. He is faithful to his covenant. This is the entire narrative in the Old Testament.

That they might observe His statutes and keep His laws. Praise the Lord!

Salvation is not a ‘one and done’ event. Though every journey begins with the first step, salvation is as much about staying on the path as it is about choosing the right path in the first place. We are ‘saved’ for a purpose. Our salvation is not adequately described without a ‘so that’ clause, reflecting not only what we are saved from, but what we are saved for.

The Israelites were rescued from the the bondage of Egypt so that they might observe His statutes and keep His laws. In this way, they were to make their calling and election sure.  Since there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, can our salvation experience be any different?

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

One cannot sing when one is discouraged. One cannot sing when one is worried or troubled about the future.  As Christians, we are to be singing! If you are discouraged, give it to God.  He is the God of all encouragement. If you are troubled about the future, give it to God.  He knows the future.

Sing, Christian, sing! Sing today.  Sing tomorrow. Sing while you have your being.  And that’s forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our  transgressions from us.

O Lord, remember me.  O Lord, have mercy on me.  O Lord, forgive my sins.  Remove my transgressions far from me.  Give me a heart to love you.

I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.

There is a big difference between wanting to spend some time alone, and being alone.  I have never really been lonely.  O Lord, give me compassion for those in my life who may be.

For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

This truth, by itself, is worth more than all the world.

You answered them, O Lord our God. You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill, for the Lord our God is holy.

God is like a diamond that sparkles with each turn in the light.  Simple yet dazzling complexity.  El Nahsah: the God who forgives.  El G’Mulah: the God who takes vengeance.  Elohim Kedoshim: The Holy God.

Let the rivers clap their hands.  Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity.

He is coming.  Oh, come soon, O Lord!  Deliver us!  You are the only hope this world has.

This thing is going to end well, because You, O Lord are the Ending.  And the Beginning.  The Alpha and Omega.  The Author and Finisher…