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 85  Listen to Psalm 85

The writer looks at his nation which is now broken and in distress. This may have been in Nehemiah’s time at the return from the exile. He is looking for a fresh start in life (verse 6) indeed a resurrection life (MSG). In verses 1 to 3 he remembers that God had righteous anger against Israel’s sin, but he chose to forgive, cool it, and restore the nation with his favour. When we turn back to God, he restores and revives us again. We rejoice and sing as does heaven.

But now (verse 8-13) will he do it again and bring peace and right living to this fractured country? The answer comes in verse 8. God reminds us that he promises peace because he loves those that fear and trust in him (verse 8). But first we must not return to our folly. The Holy Spirit will search our hearts and show us what this is. This peace is intimately connected to right living and whole living that embrace and kiss. Similarly, his love and our faithfulness will sow green shoots of truth in our community and a harvest of bounty and blessing. We long to see this picture in our nation. We will see it when Christ establishes the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

The church sees verses 10 to 13 as a prophetic fulfilment in the incarnation of God seen in the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Through his life death and resurrection, we have this peace even in the face of trials and difficulties that may not disappear. It is a peace with God (Romans 5:1) and it is near those who put their trust in him.

Lord, thank you that you make it possible to make a new start and know your peace. We long Lord that your Heavenly kingdom will touch our nation now. Please help us to sow new shoots of love and right living into our community.

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 84  Listen to Psalm 84

Here is a prayer of longing to worship in the presence of the living God. The author might be a Levite in a type of lockdown during the time Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah (2 Kings 18:13-16). The cry is similar in Psalm 42 that we visited on June 21st 2020. In Psalm 42 the themes of desire and despair through our 21st Century lockdown by the Covid-19 virus resonated with us. The common line is the blessings from meeting for worship and intimacy with God (verse 5-7).

The poetry of verses 1 to 4 paints the picture of a physical yearning to worship in the temple with others - including the bird life that lives there.

The blessings that follow are heartfelt praise, knowing God’s favour, honour and his strength. No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless (verse 11).

As we leave our gathering we are enabled to walk with God through the dry and steep paths that we meet on our pilgrimage life travelling towards the New Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit goes with us so we can experience his refreshing rain. And in adversity we find the Lord God is our sun and shield. Blessed are those whose trust is in you.

So, how important is communal worship of God on your Sunday? The Message translates verse 10: “One day spent in your house, the beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek Island beaches” (verse 10).

Lord, help me to make time to worship you today. Help me to keep trusting you and worshipping your Holy 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 83  Listen to Psalm 83

This psalm is a prayer asking God to frustrate all the enemies coming against Israel, and is the last psalm by Asaph a musician and prophet at the time of David. He requests that God speaks and takes action against the 10 enemies, who are joining forces and plotting as a coalition against Israel. Nowhere else in scripture do we see so many planning against God’s people at one time. It could be relating to the situation described in 2 Chronicles 20, but Asaph feels many are aiming to destroy the nation of Israel and intending that the name of Israel is to be remembered no more. He knows, however, of the covenant, where God pledges that a Chosen People will come through Abraham (Genesis 22:17–18), through Isaac (Genesis 26:2–4), and through Jacob (Genesis 28:14) and that God will give them a Promised Land (Genesis 15:18; Joshua 1:4).

Countries are still actively conspiring today to either take over the land of Israel and make it their own or to prevent Israel from being a Jewish state and many are praying today, just like Asaph did then, for protection for Israel, as nations on all sides and other world communities threaten to destroy Israel. There has not been a people so encircled by fear and persecution as the Jews have been over the years. Yet they have prospered. The only explanation of the growth despite severe persecution is that the hand of God has been on his people and blessed them. The land of Israel belongs to God. In Genesis 12:3 it says God will bless those who bless Abraham’s descendants and curse those who curse them. All peoples on earth will be blessed through them.

The psalmist then remembers how God has rescued Israel many times in the past, citing individuals described in Judges 4-8 and is sure he can trust God to it again. He goes on to ask God to make the enemies suffer - being blown about, feel the heat of fire and be terrified by the storm sent by God, so they are ashamed and die in disgrace. Asaph prays that by being brought to their knees with shame they will seek Yahweh - the one true God. He wants them to acknowledge that the God of Israel is the Most High over all the earth.

The psalm starts with asking God not to remain silent and ends with the hope that God’s fame and glory would go out to the ends of the earth. It also reminds us that we must keep a watchful eye on the Middle East and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), as well as diligently study God’s Word to seek the truth about Israel.

Father, we pray your peace and protection for the land of Israel and that all people will come to see that you are the Most High over all the earth.

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 82  Listen to Psalm 82

This psalm is a word of judgement on those in positions of authority who rule unjustly. It is hard for men to be given power and honour and not to be proud of it. But God presides over ALL the earth’s rulers. He is ultimately in charge and is here seen calling to account those responsible for defending the weak and oppressed on the earth (verses 1-4). In the OT, a priority for kings and judges was to protect the powerless against all who would exploit or oppress them. “They know nothing” (verse 5) is the centre of this psalm. The rulers have no understanding of moral issues or of the moral order that God’s rule sustains.

There are men like this in today’s world, in places like China, North Korea and several of the Arab states where their human rights record is very poor and the leader holds his position for life and so has much power over the ordinary person. When men like these are in charge of justice, the whole world order can be shaken. But God says that however exalted their position, they too will die just like the people they oppress. Isaiah 40:6-8 sums it up well “All men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field... the grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of the Lord lasts for ever.” God is the ultimate judge and no-one is in a position of authority without God’s permission whether they acknowledge him or not.

The psalm finishes with the writer asking for God’s judgement and for his perfect reign to come quickly to the whole world. This perfect kingship started with Jesus and we all look forward to him returning soon.

Lord, we pray for all those in authority that they would exercise right judgement and true justice in the decisions that they make that affect other people’s lives. For us too Lord, we pray that we would have your mind when we make decisions about others.

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 81  Listen to Psalm 81

Psalm 81 reads almost like it could be taken from one of the Old Testament prophetic books - Isaiah or Jeremiah. The psalmist shares a word from God that speaks of God’s desire and also offers a call to faithfulness. Interestingly, the psalm articulates the nature of the freedom that God gives us. God knows (verse 13) we would have a far better time if we were consistently faithful and yet allows us to choose ourselves. God’s desire to rescue us as we turn to him is immediate, but he isn’t going to force us to follow him.

The Old Testament records the way that the nation of Israel over hundreds of years explored this truth; their relationship with God waxing and waning. So often faith for us can be the same. As we live our life following God there will be times where we have to stop and return again to faithfulness. The good news of Jesus is that we can know that every time we return God is delighted to see us.

God, give me courage to return to you every time I need to.

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 80  Listen to Psalm 80

Psalm 80 revisits the theme of the God of rescue. One of the best prayer strategies I know when you are trying to intercede for a situation is to ask God to bring to mind times that he has answered prayers in the past. This is kind of what Psalm 80 is doing. In verse 8 the psalmist reminds themselves (and God) of the miraculous liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. The other half of the psalm is a plea - where the psalmist asks the questions that many of us ask when we go through difficulty: “God- why are you letting this happen to me?”

I find this psalm oddly reassuring because of this; the Bible records the human experience of ranting at God. Ranting and intercession are often great friends in prayer; if one is hard sometimes the other can help. The repetitive prayer throughout the psalm is one of restoration, from the hard questions to the liberation of Egypt. The psalmist knows God is still there and listening.

Finally, did you spot the reference to Jesus in verse 17? The ultimate confirmation that God will restore all things!

Thank you Jesus and the restoration that you offer.

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 79  Listen to Psalm 79

It’s a bleak picture in this psalm. Enemy invaders desecrate holy places; bodies lie unburied in the street. The writer weeps over Jerusalem, he does not blame the invaders, he sees this as discipline from God on his people (verses 1-8). God sometimes brings us to difficult situations to discipline us. Perhaps because we are disobedient, proud or because we lack gratitude for his grace. We may not think we need it, but God knows we do.

The surrounding nations believe that God has deserted his people saying, “Where is their God?” (verse 10). Instead of seeing that God disciplines his people because he loves them, they think that God has given up on them. God however will restore his people for the sake of his glory.

Perhaps through this pandemic God is using it to discipline his people especially here in Europe. England was a Christian country, but we are now a secular country with Christians only amounting for 6-10% of the nation! The church is growing fastest in nations where there is massive opposition such as the far East and Africa.

I find myself praying, “Help us, O God our saviour… deliver us and forgive us our sins for your names sake” (verse 9).

Restore, O Lord

In all the earth Your fame

And in our time revive

The church that bears Your Name

In Your anger

Lord, remember mercy…

Graham Kendrick - Restore O Lord (written w/ Chris Rolinson)

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 78:32-72  Listen to Psalm 78:32-72

Previously in this psalm, we learnt that the Israelites believed in God, but they didn’t trust, they didn’t believe God was powerful enough, they spoke against God and rejected him. The latter part of this psalm shows us God resented this - he heard their murmurings; he saw their lust and he was angry. Why? Because they did not give credit to God. God had given them undeniable proof of his power. God was displeased with them (verse 21), the miraculous signs of God did not change them.

They sinned even more against him even though God repeatedly did amazing things for Israel by taking the people out of Egypt and preserving them in the wilderness, yet they continued to deny God and they provoked and quarrelled with him, but God guided them through the wilderness. God continues to provide for his people he showed the people he could do this and more, being full of compassion he forgave. This psalm shows God's great patience for us, God's compassionate response to Israel’s sin.

This psalm covers such a lot, but it highlights that often in times of hardship we are reminded that God is our Rock, a place where we can find shelter, it is easy in the good times to forget him, take God for granted, keep wanting more and not have a thankful heart for what we have been provided. Psalm 78 shows us God's great love and patience, because he is a compassionate God. How many times do we test, take God for granted?

Lord God, Thank you for your enduring patience with us. Help us to trust in you, and rely on you. We are sorry for the times we have doubted your presence and provision in our lives.

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 78:1-31  Listen to Psalm 78:1-31

We do not know who wrote this psalm, some people think it could be Isaiah 720 years before Jesus was born. The psalm recounts the story of the Israelites, things that were known, stories that were told through the generations. This psalm highlights the need for us to tell the younger generations of God's love.

It’s a psalm showing us God’s enduring patience and goodness, however God's people carried on distrusting God, not believing that he could provide, answer their prayers, even though countless times before God had shown his love and provision for his people. But people carried on disobeying and distrusting God.

Even though Gods goodness was clear, why did the people disobey God? Because like us, they wanted to do what they liked. The Israelites believed that there was a God, but they failed to believe he could help, they did not learn from the past, they continued to doubt even after all the miracles that they experienced.

Do we stop and look back at the way God has answered our prayers or do we just carry on doubting and testing God? We need to learn to look back, through journals, prayer partners and memory when times are hard, when we doubt, to look back and learn that God is with us in our past and our present. Do not be like the Israelites who believed but didn’t trust.

Lord God, Thank you, for your love, patience and presence with us. Help us to trust in you and count our blessings.

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 77  Listen to Psalm 77

This psalm begins, “I cried out to the Lord for help”, which is something I have done during many tough times. These verses encourage us to pour out our hearts to God. It is ok to call out to God with the full force of our emotions which may include tears, rather than just keeping things bottled up behind a pious exterior.

The writer sought the Lord at night stretching out his hands, his spirit grew faint, sleep was a problem and speaking about his troubles was hopeless, sound familiar? (verses 1-4).

He then changes his focus to remember what God has done in the past. The Hebrew meaning of the word remember, includes the idea of ‘paying attention to’, by letting that event effect the present. This was an act of his will, three times the writer says, ‘I will remember/meditate’ on God’s mighty deeds, especially seen in the crossing of the Red Sea (verses 10-20).

Our Red Sea event is the empty tomb when God in Jesus defeated death and gave new life to people who trust in him. We also remember times where God has come through for us in our lives.

Let’s be open before God and intentionally remember how he has been faithful in hearing our prayers in our previous tough times.

Do you need to cry out? To question? To remember? Do so now-or keep this psalm for a day when you do need it.