Ever wonder if God is depriving his people of anything good? Today Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark Student's graduate Anna Sharpe to talk through Psalm 84. If we are wondering if God is withholding good from us, we have to first define what good is. We see throughout the Bible, that true joy and happiness comes only from abiding in Jesus. The best gift God could ever give us is the gift of His Son, and that can never be taken away. We can follow the psalmist's example of being honest with God about how we are feeling and praise Him for what we know to be true of His character. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 1 John 4:19 – "we love because he first loved us" 
 Matthew 7:9-11 – Sermon on the Mount
 
 If you'd like to connect with Watermark's ministry for college students, check out Rally Kickoff tonight: https://www.watermark.org/events/6140-rally-fall-kickoff
 
 To hear more of Anna's story, check out her previous episode on the podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey/id1600151923?i=1000633334783
 
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How can we make sense of passages in the Bible talking about mercy and others where the writers are crying out for judgement on their enemies? Today, Emma Dotter dives into Psalm 83, an imprecatory psalm, to answer this question. The God of the Old Testament truly is the God of the New Testament. All of us in our sin were enemies of God before Christ's sacrifice for us and our salvation. On the cross Jesus incurred the wrath of God, and in so doing he provided mercy and forgiveness for those who would believe. On the cross, judgement and salvation happen at the same time. God is glorified both when he defeats those who oppose him and when he saves those who oppose him. 
 
 Additional Scriptures Referenced:
 Examples of Imprecatory psalms – Psalm 5, 10, 17, 35, 58
 Judges 7-8 – God destroys the Midianites with Gideon's small band of soldiers
 Judges 4 – God defeats the Canaanites through Deborah and Barak
 Genesis 12:15-17 – Abrahamic covenant
 Romans 3:25; Exodus 25:17; Exodus 36 – propitiation
 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10 – Jesus as our propitiation
 
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Who are the gods the psalmist is speaking to? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member, Rob Heath, to talk through Psalm 82. While there could be different meanings of what a potential "divine counsel" or "gods" may mean, we know that ultimately God is the Most High God and is Himself the source of all wisdom. 
 If you have questions about taking your next step with God, feel free to reach out to us here: [email protected].
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Psalm 89:5-7 –"God is more awesome than all who surround him" 
 Job 1:6 – "sons of God present themselves before the Lord"
 1 Kings 22:19 – "the multitudes of heaven standing around him"
 Daniel 4:17 – "that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men"
 
 To read more about the "divine counsel" check out this article: 
 https://www.gotquestions.org/divine-council.html
 
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
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Do you remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness? In ancient Israeli culture, God commanded them to celebrate His past faithfulness to them through various feasts. In today’s episode, Emma Dotter points out how Psalm 81 was probably referencing the Feast of Tabernacles and is a foreshadowing of Christ dwelling among us. Celebrating God’s deeds is important because gratitude moves us to action and combats discouragement.
 
 Additional Scriptures referenced: 
 Leviticus 23:40-42, “On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters.”
 Deuteronomy 28, 32:13-14, “He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag, with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats, with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the foaming blood of the grape.”
 Luke 2:8, “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
 
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When those around you are going through suffering, how can we point them back to our Savior? Today Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member Lauren Browning to talk through Psalm 80. This passages displays both our sin and God's solution to our sin. Jesus Christ is the vine out of Egypt who brings salvation to the nations. Not only is Jesus the answer to our sin and suffering, but He is with us in our suffering. When we cry out to God, it shows the dependent nature of our heart. May we be reminded even in suffering to continue to abide with Jesus and look to Him as our salvation by the power of His Spirit.  
 
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

How should we respond to God when He disciplines us for our sinful actions? In Psalm 79, Asaph writes a song of lament after Jeremiah had prophesied about God’s judgement over Israel and the Babylonians’ destruction of Jerusalem. Join the Journey Staff Member Lauren Atkinson and faithful Watermark Member and college student Gabby Parker point out that even in Israel's suffering and separation from the promised land, God is still with them. 
 
 Additional Scriptures Referenced:
 Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”
 
 Interested in Rally? Check out the link below!
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 Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

Why did the psalmist feel the need to remind readers of everything the Lord did for them? Today, Ben Krejci and Ethan Howard are jumping into Psalm 78 and talking about how we know who God is because of how he has revealed himself. God is the initiator of his relationship with Israel, even in their sin. He consistently pursues them despite their sin and rebellion. This psalm shows us who God is, who we are, and who we are in right relationship to Him in Christ. As we look back at how God was faithful to Israel, we can be reminded of how He is always faithful to us today. 

Additional Scriptures Referenced:

1 Peter 2:9 – "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

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Is it possible for God's steadfast love to cease? And is it okay for us to ask that? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark staff member Lauren Atkinson to talk about Psalm 77 and how we wrestle with doubt that comes from suffering. When Asaph is in suffering, he is honest with God and calls himself to remember God's faithfulness in his life. Jesus Christ has shown us that His love for us could never cease.
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Psalm 73 – "why do the wicked prosper?"
 Isaiah 9:6 – the Messiah is "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God"
 Romans 8:39 – "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus"
 John 17:23 – "you loved them even as you loved me"
 
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"If we don't appreciate the wrath of God, we are minimizing what Jesus accomplished on the cross." In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member John Michael Davis talk about how when we take sin lightly, that hinders us from understanding the fullness of the gospel.
 
 Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

When the world feels like it is spinning out of control, how do you remind yourself that God is the one who steadies the pillars? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member Amber H. dive into Psalm 75 and talk about how God is just and executes good judgement. Because of this, we can sing praises to the Lord no matter the circumstance.
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
 Psalm 33:4-5, “For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”
 2 Peter 3:9, " The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
 
 Want to listen to our episode on Psalm 9? Check out the link below!
 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jtmmDaTHQQ6fMc65H26XW?si=88dc4df4101048e4
 
 Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
 
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898