CNC Daily Psalms

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 102:18-28  Listen to Psalm 102:18-28

We saw yesterday that the psalmist was crying to God in desperation due to being afflicted in some way. He continues the second section of the psalm by turning to the future of Zion (verses 18-22). Despite the ruins he sees around him, he knows that God will restore Zion. The psalm was probably written after the return from the exile in Babylon. Jerusalem's walls are broken and the temple destroyed. Yet the psalmist looks to a future generation (verse 18), one which will see a restored Zion, and where all nations will gather to worship the Lord (verse 22).

In the final section of the psalm (verses 23-28), the psalmist returns to the theme of his suffering, contrasting the brevity of his life with the length of years that God sees (verses 23-24). His prayer is that he will see the restored Jerusalem, putting aside present suffering for the hope of future glory.

In the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews quotes verses 25-27 and applies it to Jesus (Hebrews 1:10-12). The people of God are now living stones in the restored temple of God (1 Peter 2:5), filled with the presence of God through his Holy Spirit. Peter calls on those who suffer now to put their trust in the faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19). We are now citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, our hope is in a future glory (Hebrews 13:14). God keeps his promises through many generations (verse 28).

Lord, thank you that you are with us in our suffering now. Thank you for the hope of future glory. Come Lord Jesus.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 102:1-17  Listen to Psalm 102:1-17

This psalm is an individual lament, that is a cry to God in despair, for someone who is afflicted. It is in three sections, the first (verses 1-11) shows the psalmist in a desperate situation. Illness has overtaken him and he is at death's door. He is aware how short life is (verses 3, 11), his bones, heart and flesh are failing (verses 3-5), sleep eludes him (verse 7) and he has lost his appetite (verse 9). And to add to his problems, his enemies taunt him (verse 8). It sounds very similar to the plight Job faced.

The psalmist could have stayed in his despair, but he made the choice to take his suffering to God and plead his cause. The first part of the second section (verses 12-17) looks at the enduring life and reign of God. In contrast to the psalmist's transient life, God will reign forever and through all generations (verse 12). The psalmist's understanding of the nature of God is the source of his hope. God will restore Zion. God will endure.

Whether we are in personal distress, or we look around at the state of the church at this time, we can be assured that God will respond to the prayer of the destitute and he will not despise their plea (verse 17).

Lord, thank you that we can call on you in our time of need. God of compassion, glorify your name.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 101  Listen to Psalm 101

Is it possible to lead a truly blameless life? This psalm of David encourages us to do so. The psalmist is speaking to himself and sets out the ideal that he and his heirs should aim for. To be blameless (verses 2, 6) and have nothing to do with anything vile (verse 3), or evil (verse 4), slander (verse 5), pride (verse 5), deceit (verse 7) or lies (verse 7). These are sins of thought, word and deed and will bring us under God's judgement (verses 7-8).

Yet even David, a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), didn't lead a blameless life; nor did his heirs. Paul writing to the Romans says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The psalm looks forward to a future Davidic king, a Messiah who will lead a truly blameless life.

Jesus was tempted in every way, just like we are, and yet did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). Through his death on the cross, he has reconciled us to God, taking our sins upon his body, so that we may be blameless (Colossians 1:22). The Apostle John writes, "If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). This is a free gift of grace to all who would receive it (Romans 3:24).

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God.

After today we will be pausing our series of reflections on the Psalms until the end of August. We hope and pray that you have found them helpful and that they have brought hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 100  Listen to Psalm 100

God is good. God is loving. God is faithful.

This will be our final reflection on the Psalms for a few weeks, as we slow things down in order to rest and relax during the summer holidays. It's been an extraordinary year. Yet, it is only extraordinary for our generation. So many generations before us have seen plagues, wars, famines and similar defining moments. From the vantage point of our lives, 2020 will be a year that we will all remember.

The psalmist calls for us to shout for joy, to worship the Lord and to sing joyful songs (verses 1-2). We still aren't permitted to do these in public, but we can with those we live with or on our own. We are always permitted to enter his presence with praise and thanksgiving (verse 4). We don't know when life will return to normal, but the psalmist says, it is God who made us and we are his (verse 3). God has a far superior vantage point and he remembers the millennia. He has been faithful through all the generations (verse 5). That means he will be faithful in our generation.

Whatever the last four months have been like for you, and whatever the rest of 2020 will bring, know that God is good, God is loving and God is faithful. Why not spend time this summer being still and know the presence of God with us. If you do not know God's love, ask Jesus to show you now.

Lord Jesus, we love you because you first loved us. Show us more of the Father's love for us, through the power and presence of your Holy Spirit.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 99  Listen to Psalm 99

To call God “holy” is to acknowledge that God is radically different from anything in the universe that exists or that we could imagine. Psalm 99 uses this profoundly powerful concept as a lens through which the awesomeness of God may be contemplated and praised. It may be divided into three sections, each of which ends in a refrain of praise and declaring God’s holiness and provides a different way of perceiving the holiness of God.

The first section (verses 1-3) opens with the declaration “The Lord is King.” The reference to God being enthroned upon cherubim (verse 1) reminds us of the Ark of the Covenant and the cherubim on the lid, upon which God was invisibly enthroned. “Let the peoples tremble” also states the sheer power of God as king over all that exists which might make the world tremble.

Verses 4-5 show God’s holiness through his attributes of justice and righteousness. The same all-powerful king of verse 1 is also a “lover of justice” (verse 4). God has the power and willingness to ensure that justice and equity are actively implemented (“you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob”). The section ends with an exaltation to worship for he is holy (verse 5).

In verses 6-9, even though God is all powerful and king and lover of justice he chooses to work through human beings - Moses, Aaron, Samuel and maybe even us? He was a forgiving God to Israel though he punished them for their sins. His forgiving love is at the same time tempered by divine judgment - His holiness compels him to punish them for their misdeeds. There is no conflict here in God’s attributes but it shows that the God of Israel is profoundly different from all others “for the Lord our God is Holy” (verse 9).

When Jesus died, the curtain covering the ‘Holy of Holies’ was torn from top to bottom giving all believers access into God’s presence. It also symbolised God coming down to mankind to save us, not mankind having to somehow climb upwards to attain him. Because we know that we have this personal relationship, do we sometimes forget his holiness and come to him in a more casual manner rather than in a truly worshipful attitude? Something that, maybe, CNC in its relaxed way of church services might think about when we start to meet again together?

Lord, we are so grateful that we can have access to you at any time. But in this wonderful relationship may we never take you for granted and always give you the reverence that your holiness and love for us deserves and demands.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 98  Listen to Psalm 98

This psalm tells of some national victory for the Jews that has been achieved by God in the sight of the nations of the earth, that the world can see the salvation he has given to his people. I can remember the remarkable events of the ‘six-day war’ in 1967 where Israel overcame the might of Egypt, Syria and Jordan surrounding her. At one point Israel’s forces were completely stretched in neutralising the Egyptian army in the west, whilst the Syrian army, rolling down towards them from the north were poised to enter the land over the Golan Heights. Israel didn’t have time to get from Egypt to defend the position. For some ‘unaccountable’ reason Syria paused for 24 hours which enabled God’s people to get enough forces there and push them back and the war was won against seemingly overwhelming odds. People around the world were praying for this little country and the whole world were astonished at their victory.

There are three parts to the psalm: God the saviour (verse 1-4), God the King (verses 4-6) and God the judge (verses 7-9).

God had made a covenant with the Jews and saved his people many times from the Passover in Moses’ time right up to modern days, and we should be praying that all the Jewish people to come to know the true salvation of Jesus.

The outward expressions of rejoicing in verses 4-6 are typical of a king’s accession to the throne. Jesus is God but when he returns, he will not come as a baby he will come as a king ... King of Everything! The whole earth (not just the Jews) are exhorted to “shout for joy and burst into jubilant song.” In the busyness of modern life do we always remember to praise him for the things he has done in our lives and for our very salvation!

Jesus will also return as judge of everything. This final section of the psalm indicates who should join in praising the Lord. Not only all the people on the planet are to praise God, but also the seas and the fish etc. All are invited to give a cheer - for God! We are promised that a great day is coming, when the Lord will come to straighten everything out in our tired, war-torn, and warming world. And all creatures, humans, hills, mountains and all creation are invited to join in a mighty hallelujah!

Father, we look forward to the day when all the earth will rejoice at your coming and every knee confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 97  Listen to Psalm 97

Fire and Idols. The image of God and Fire is a consistent one through scripture. God speaks to Moses in the burning bush, a fourth figure appears in the fire with Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego in the book of Daniel and Isaiah is anointed by a burning coal to speak God’s word.

Fire is seen as cleansing but also as a place of protection for God’s people. Within Psalm 97 God’s power is demonstrated through the use of fire. God’s power is so great that mountains will melt. The demonstration of God’s power is tied together with a warning against the use of idols. An idol is anything that is given the same power as God. God is mighty and powerful - no idol can compare!

The psalm is both encouragement and a warning. Keep your eyes on God! Verse 11 is a reminder that light shines on the righteous. As followers of Jesus, we are made righteous through him and God’s light (fire!) shines upon us.

Lord, would you help us keep our eyes on you.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 96  Listen to Psalm 96

No singing allowed! The irony of reading Psalm 96 at present is not lost on me. At the time of writing, as we consider returning to church, we know that due to restrictions we are unable to sing together.

Rightly worship without singing feels wrong. We can see from the psalm that for thousands of years people have worshipped God through singing together. However, the psalm also helps to explain in greater detail what worship really looks like. Worship isn’t just the act of singing, it is what the singing does.

Worship is “ascribing’ to God his rightful place. In other words it is reminding ourselves of who God is and what he has done and does. Worship is declaring who God is to those around us. When we consider worship under these terms what worship can look like expands dramatically. We worship every time we share our faith, or an example of what God has done. We worship as we pray, we worship as we meditate on God’s word.

God, in this time of ‘unusual worship’ would you help us to meet with you in new ways.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 95  Listen to Psalm 95

This psalm gives us an invitation to worship and an important warning.

Sing and shout (verses 1-5)

We are called to corporate worship - the word ‘us’ is used several times. We are told why we should come to the Lord; because he is ‘the rock of our salvation’ and he is a ‘great king’.

Bow down (verses 6-7)

We move from noisy praise, to bowing down, because we are the ‘flock under his care’. Shepherds don’t cuddle their sheep, they lead them firmly and strongly and protect them. We have a Good Shepherd in Jesus who has laid down his life for us. So, there is even more reason to bow down before our God and Saviour.

Do not (verses 8-11)

Now comes a warning. As we draw close to worship and hear God’s word, we need to make sure we do not have the wrong reaction. Massah means testing. Meribah means quarrelling. See the context in Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 20:13.

Do we hear a challenge from the Scriptures and then ‘harden our hearts’? The principle behind hardening our hearts is unbelief. See Hebrews 3 & 4. We can have unbelief because of our stubborn wills, or bitterness to something that has happened. Forgiveness is key. Jesus said, "And whenever you stand praying, you must forgive anything that you are holding against anyone else, and your Heavenly Father will forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:26).

Today Lord, if I hear your voice, do not harden my heart (verse 8).

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 94:12-23  Listen to Psalm 94:12-23

At the beginning of the psalm we saw how the psalmist saw evil and wrongdoings around him and pleaded for God to take vengeance. This psalm could be as relevant today as when it was written. The psalmist saw the wrongdoings of others, how people especially those in high position were engaged in furthering their own interests at the expensive of others, those who were defenceless.

However, the writer reminds us that God is all seeing. The message translation says, “God knows your stupidity see’s your shallowness.” God knows what is happening he sees and hears (verse 9). Does he who implanted your ear not hear?

Verse 12 reminds us that Gods blesses those who love and obey God, but ultimately all will be judged by him. The psalm reminds us that even when we see a chaotic unjust world God see’s it too, and ultimately, he will bless those who love and obey him and his justice will prevail.

God is our fortress and rock who we can take refuge (verse 22).

Lord God, thank you that you know and see the wrong doings in our world. Give us a heart of compassion for those who are persecuted and defenceless.