a blog for Ashfield Baptist Church
The Bible readings for Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August are -- Deut 12:20-14:21; Ps 42:1-11; Prov 10:22-25; Lk 8:4-25.
Labels: hope
posted by Ps John @ 11:26 PM
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Hi and welcome. Ashfield Baptist Church is a "caring community church sharing God's love". We are very diverse in our nationalities, backgrounds and ages, but united in our desire to grow spiritually and to reach out and help others. Our vision is "to be a body of Christ-like people living out the great commandment and the great commission in the Holy Spirit's power". This blog is mainly for people connected with Ashfield Baptist Church. It has been set up as an "info & chat space" as we start the "THRU IN 2" challenge. This is our program for reading the Bible right through during 2007 & 2008. Many are using the Every Day With Jesus Bible which also has daily devotions from Selwyn Hughes. As we read through the Bible together over these two years, we can use this blog to share insights, stories, reflections, questions etc. The goal is to grow spiritually together. So leave your comments. Together we can help each other grow. Blessings. Ps John. To leave a comment about the readings for a particular day, or to view the comments of others, just click on "comments" at the bottom of the post.
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Gordon made the following comments about Ps 42:1,2,3,8 in the bulletin of 26 August.
Again in this reading from the Psalms, part of today's "Thru' in 2" readings, we have presented before us a very strong contrast. On the one hand, we see a picture of desparation, someone seemingly cut off from God, denied access to the very source of life that only our Heavenly Father can give. But even when we feel ourselves cut off, it is comforting to know that God is there, He does understand; and that in the fullness of His time, He will respond and make Himself known. The relationship will be restored. The writer knows it. He has been through it before and is able to call on his prior knowledge of how God works and what He has done before. He will know the reality of God's love again; God will put a new song in his heart. "Where is your God?" the scoffers may deride. The person of faith can confidently say in reply "He is here... and He loves me!"
This Psalm is by the Sons of Korah. We read about Korah and his rebellion back in Num 16. Though Korah met a grissly end, his sons were placed in charge of the choir. The writer of this psalm is cut off up North, near the headwaters of the Jordan, and is dejected about not being able to get to the Temple (v4,5). I preached on this psalm on 26/8/07 pm, entitling my message "The Deer and the Black Dog".
The first part can be summed up as "I'm thirsty" ie after God, like a deer craving water. Compare with Jeremiah 14. The second part can be summed up as "I'm drowning" ie overcome by turmoil or "depression" as the EDWJ Bible puts it (though unlikely clinical). Compare with Jonah 2.
Both experiences could be perceived as negative, yet both have a positive aspect. Both experiences have the potential to produce positive outcomes. Both v5 and 11 end with "Hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God."
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