The Tabernacle Today

Battle for the Bride - Matthew 4:1-11

A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns

O, my luve’s like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June.

O my luve’s like the melodie, That’s sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass, So deep in luve am I,

And I will luve thee still, my Dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my Dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun!

O I will love thee still, my Dear, While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve, And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my Luve, Tho’ it were ten thousand mile!

When Jesus came to earth, He knew that saving His bride would mean He would need to engage in multiple battles with Satan, the terrible adversary. Jesus also knew He would need to go undefeated against sin and Satan to save His bride.

Jesus readies Himself for the battle V. 1-2

The spiritual high moment of Jesus’ baptism was followed by a spiritual fight, which is often the case for us as well! Spiritual mountain top experiences will be tested in life’s wilderness.

Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan in the garden and failed and were booted from Paradise. But the second Adam was tempted by Satan and overcame, not just for Himself, but for all of His disciples He will bring to Paradise!

Fasting is when people miss one or more consecutive meals. In the Bible there were 2 main times they fasted – when they were mourning and when they had a spiritual burden and needed to focus their prayers.

“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” -Esther to Mordecai in Esther 4:16

“As soon as I heard these words (about Jerusalem’s troubles) I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of Heaven.” -Nehemiah 1:4

Who is our biggest battle first against?

Ourselves.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. -1 Cor. 9:27

The battle to delay gratification V. 3-4

Be sober-minded: be watchful. Your adversary the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. -1 Peter 5:8

Satan’s purpose was to get Jesus to sin and thus disqualify Him to save anyone. God’s purpose was to prove His Son to be sinless and thus a worthy Savior.

Jesus knew He needed to face this moment as a human, not using His deity. We can’t work miracles. If we saw Him justify using His deity to personal advantage, we may justify stealing or taking other short cuts to meet our needs.

Later Jesus would use His divine power to meet the needs of others, including the feeding of 5,000 and 4,000. But Jesus faced these temptations as the Son of Man; voluntarily limiting His power as the Son of God.

The battle to serve rather than entertain V. 5-7

Now what is different about Satan’s approach in this second temptation?

He quotes, really misquotes Scripture, like he did with Adam and Eve! He slyly leaves a phrase out not suited to his purpose, like he did with Eve!

The point is that Jesus knew that it would be foolish to take Psalm 91 (a beautiful passage about God protecting His people as they follow Him) and made that a justification for rash, presumptuous actions. Jesus didn’t come to entertain but to serve.

The battle to glorify God rather than oneself V. 8-11

Satan’s offer: “Get glory for yourself the easy way, Jesus. I will give it to you without suffering, without a cross, without having to put up with disciples that will disappoint you over and over and over and over again!”

The Bible makes clear that now that Jesus has defeated Satan on the cross, the time is coming when the entire world will worship Him (Phil. 2:9-11). But first He would embrace the whole human experience, die, be buried, and rise!

Psalm 52 Worksheet

Psalm 52 is set when Doeg the Edomite went and tattled on David to Saul, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” 1 Samuel 22

Psalm 52 is the first of 8 _________________ psalms in a row by David, going through Psalm 59.

Description of an _____________________ man V. 1-4

The mighty man in verse 1 is probably King Saul, who acted so viciously on this occasion by killing the priests of Nob. Their only crime was ______________________ David, who had made clear he meant Saul no harm.

Actually, the word for goodness is actually our word Hesed, God’s lovingkindness. David was not going to stop ______________________ in God’s lovingkindness because of the evil words and actions of Saul.

There are of course times God has us fight back in a “just war” way, but never in a way where we ourselves _____________________ in evil actions.

Verse 3 is a great challenge to us today – let us love God and hate sin. Let us not love evil more than good, and lying rather than speaking what is _____________________.

What God will do with an evil man V. 5-7

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. -Galatians 6:7

In verse 1 David had spoken of how God is about goodness even when evil men do evil things. Here in verse 5 we see part of the confidence behind that assertion – God will bring __________________ to those who bring evil upon others.

Rarely do evil men see judgment come upon their fellow evildoers and stop doing evil themselves. In their __________________ they think they will keep getting away with what other evil men used to.

When godly people see judgment finally come to evildoers, it reinforces that they were right to _________________ God instead.

Isn’t it interesting how Psalm 53 follows Psalm 52, where again we learn that “the fool says in his heart, there is no God.” Atheism is such folly that Psalm 53 is virtually identical to Psalm 14. Don’t be a fool!

The thought there in Psalm 53:5 (the one big difference between Psalm 14 and 53) goes right along with David’s teaching in Psalms 52-59: God will deal decisively with the wicked fool who ______________________ God and hurts God’s people.

Desire of a _________________ man V. 8-9

Instead of meeting evil with evil, David seeks God and goes to His house. The word mercy in verse 8 is also Hesed. One of the main ways we can respond to evil in the world is by ________________________ God with like-minded believers.

A Fitting Founder

State of Southern Baptists and Baptisms:

Southern Baptist Baptisms by select years:

1972 445,725 (most ever)

2000 414,657

2018 246,442 (74 year low)

2020 123,160

2022 180,177

Baptisms 2022: Percentage of Churches:

ZERO 43%

1-5 34%

6-9 9% Tabernacle baptized 8 in 2021-22

10+ 13% Tabernacle baptized 11 in 2022-23

Overall, Southern Baptist churches averaged 5.4 baptisms per church in 2022.

Urban churches (8.6) averaged more than suburban (5.5) and rural (3.1) ones.

Newer churches averaged more baptisms than older churches:

Source: Lifeway Research

Read Matthew 3:13-17

John knew he was not worthy to baptize Jesus V. 13-14

But from verse 14 we understand that John knew Jesus had no sin to confess and repent of. Indeed, from John 1:29, we know that John understood that Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

Jesus got baptized anyway, viewing it as the right thing to do V. 15

The Greek word for fitting is the word prepo (G 421). It occurs 7 times in the New Testament, and means fitting, proper, appropriate, and acceptable.

For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the Founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. -Hebrews 2:10

What Jesus is indicating here is that He came to earth to fully identify with humans in every way, and would model doing the right thing no matter how much He was tempted or suffered.

“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” -Matthew 20:28

Two ways Jesus’ baptism show He is our Fitting Founder:

First, His identification with us in His baptism foreshadows His identification with us on the Cross.

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. -Romans 6:4-6

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. -Galatians 2:20

He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. -Psalm 91:4

Secondly, from His baptism we learn that Jesus will never ask us to anything He didn’t personally model for us.

The Triune God’s presence and pleasure in Jesus’ baptism V. 16-17

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about 3,000 souls were added to them” -Acts 2:41

“Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? -Acts 8:36

“…Although it is evident that the term baptize means to immerse, and that this was the form used by the primitive church.” -J. Calvin, Institutes, Bk. IV, Pg. 524

All three members of the Trinty were present at Jesus’ baptism – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. -Matthew 28:18-20

Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. -Hebrews 7:25-26

Psalm 51 Worksheet

This is the classic psalm on repentance and __________________________!

David asks for God to deal with his sin based on God’s own faithful and loving nature, not his own ____________________ nature (v. 1) 1 John 1:9

Guilt is a great _________________ from God (v. 2)

David calls his sin what it was - ___________________________ (v. 3)

In what sense can he say that it is against God alone that he has sinned? (v. 4)

Now even though this is an intensely personal prayer, there is a lot of excellent ______________ in it (v. 5-6)

He is saying that people are more than sinners by choice, they are sinners by _______________ (v. 5-6)

Hyssop was used by priests in the O.T. It was a leafy plant that they would use to sprinkle water or blood on a person being cleansed from ___________________ (v. 7)

David is acknowledging the ___________________ by Nathan was a good thing (v. 8)

This is the second time he refers to ___________________. It really can be like a megaphone in our lives (v. 9)

The word for _____________________ is the same word used in Genesis 1 to speak of God creating ex nihilo (out of nothing) (v. 10)

You can tell a lot about a person by what they are concerned about _________________ after they sin (v. 11)

How do we reconcile Psalm 51:11 with Ephesians 1:13-14? Hint: John 7:37-39

God may not like ‘yes’ men, but He loves “Yes, ____________” men! (v. 12)

God says, “Now that you’ve confessed your sin and been restored, I’ve got future _________________ for you!” (v. 13)

David looks forward to when he will enjoy ____________________ again! (v. 14)

David looks forward to when he will ___________________ again! (v. 15)

External worship means nothing without the _________________ reality! (v. 16-17)

David prays that despite his sin, for God’s glory, Zion will ________________ (v. 18-19)

Christ’s Advance Man - Matthew 3:1-12

The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached… - Luke 16:16a

In all 4 gospels Jesus’ public ministry began after His baptism by John the Baptist. Of the 283 verses in the first four gospels leading up to Christ’s baptism, 135 (48%) are about His prophesied advance man, John the Baptist.

The man, the message, and the movement - V. 1-6

The man

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins… -Luke 1:16-17

The message

The word repent is the Greek word, “metanoia,” which means “change of mind.” True repentance is seen when that change of mind leads to change of direction and change of actions.

The Kingdom was at hand because Jesus the King was at hand!

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. - John 1:6-8

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because He WAS before me.” - John 1:29-30

“He (Jesus) must increase, and I must decrease.” - John 3:30

Many came to Jesus and said, “John never did a sign (miracle), but everything John said about this Man (Jesus) was true.” And many of them believed in Him there. - John 10:41-42

The movement

Now we to understand that this was a unique baptism, different than Christian baptism (Acts 19).

The symbolism was powerful. Jews of the day had begun baptizing Gentile converts to Judaism, but never Jews. John The Baptist was saying the entire filthy nation needed to be washed! He was calling them to both repentance of sin and readiness to follow Jesus.

The moral courage to rebuke the unrepentant V. 7-12

If your way of fleeing the wrath to come is as self-centered & self-focused as the religious leaders who came to JTB, you are heading toward ‘unquenchable fire.’

Note the order: first, repent and place faith in Jesus; then, demonstrate your faith by bearing fruit.

But to all who did receive Him (Jesus), who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. - John 1:12-13

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10

Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. - Matthew 11:11

Which group would you have been in? Repentant and ready for Jesus? Or unrepentant and rejecting of Jesus?

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” - John 1:29

John’s baptism represented cleansing and readiness; Spirit baptism occurs at the moment of salvation for believers (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14; Jn 7:37-39); Baptism with fire represents the coming judgment when everyone whose name is not in the Book of Life will be sent to the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15).

It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. - Hebrews 9:27

Psalm 50 Worksheet

We come now to the first Psalm attributed to Asaph. Asaph wrote 12 psalms, this one, then 73 through 83.

Who was Asaph in the Bible?

Asaph was one of David’s ____________________ song leaders, and his sons carried on as song leaders at the Temple for generations to come. 1 Chr. 16:7 2 Chr. 29:30

For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. -Nehemiah 12:46

The Great God calls the __________________________ to order! V. 1-6

What is God calling the earth to in verse 1?

To be a ________________________ to the charges God is about to make.

Men often have to think and live like practical atheists to sin the way they do. But God will come, men will ________________________, and God will have the last word!

Although Ps. 50 may be a rhetorical challenge, it reminds us of 2 great judgments to come:

The Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers. Revelation 20

The Bema seat Judgment for ____________________. Romans 14:8-13

God’s indictment on _______________________ sacrifice V. 7-15

Notice that God is not just the Judge, but the ________________________!

The essence of verses 8-9 is that God doesn’t need us the way we need Him, so when you bring your offering to Him, don’t think you are doing Him a ____________________, bringing Him something He doesn’t possess!

Deuteronomy 8:11-20

Verses 14-15 tell us what to do when we have not been bringing God right sacrifices from a __________ heart.

God’s indictment on _______________________ practices V. 16-23

Sometimes we talk a lot about the sins of others and minimize and ____________________ our own and others close to us. Israel did it too. Here God calls that wickedness.

God is basically charging them with _____________________, as Jesus did when He came to earth.

Asaph’s song is very clear that God is not up in Heaven ‘________________________’ at our sin.

The last couple of verses don’t take away from God’s teaching about justification by faith, such as Genesis 15:6 – “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” The last couple verses call for the “_________________________ of the faith,” or as James said, being “doers of the word.”

By the way, note that James 1:18 comes before James 1:22 and James great statement that “faith without works is dead” in James chapter 2.

“The faith that saves is faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”

True faith will do good works = true new birth will result in fruit being born.

Protecting Life’s Potential - Matthew 2:13-23

Any nation who comes to view children as an unwanted burden rather than a blessing will face significant problems.

China’s fertility rate has now dropped to 1.09, drastically below the 2.1 birthrate needed to maintain population year after year. And its freefall continues.

“Wishing you sweet love and marriage at an appropriate age – let’s extend the Chinese bloodline.” - Chinese Communist Party automated greeting to youth

Last year there were only 3.6 million births in the U.S... That’s a fertility rate of 1.7, below the replacement rate of 2.1. And in 2020 there were 620,327 abortions. We must return to God’s design for marriage and family.

The preservation of the "new" Moses through human action - V. 13-15

We also see Matthew’s gospel laid out in a way that emphasizes how Jesus is like Israel’s great leader Moses, yet far greater. As Matthew faithfully records the life of Christ on Earth, we see numerous parallels with the life of Moses.

The wise men practiced civil disobedience and refused to help Herod kill Jesus. They remind me of the wise women in Moses' day – the midwives who protected life’s potential by sparing Hebrew babies, defying Pharaoh’s order to kill them. Wise men and women still act to protect life’s potential today.

Hebrews 13:1 tells me that the times I have been hospitable to strangers, I may have very well been talking with an angel. Hebrews 1:14 also says that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve and protect those who will be saved.

God providentially uses angelic and human activity to protect life’s potential; trust God that angels are doing their part, and you do yours like Joseph & Mary!

Remember that another Joseph had been responsible for bringing the children of Israel to safety in Egypt! And as Moses had brought them out, Jesus would lead an even greater exodus from sin for all who believe!

The attempts to destroy life through evil human activity - V. 16-18

A thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy; but I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly. - John 10:10

It makes me admire all the more the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who acted to let the babies live in their days, despite what Pharoah might do to them. They chose to protect life, whereas Herod’s soldiers chose death.

From her grave, Rachel (one of Israel’s “mothers”) had “witnessed” and “wept” as Jewish refugees were marched 400 miles to Babylonian captivity (Jer. 31:15). Now she “wept” as murderers walked over her grave with blood on their hands.

The continued protection of life’s potential - V. 19-23

So common sense led Joseph to be appropriately afraid for Jesus and want to protect him. And because he was a man of God, God continued to lead him as he did his job as Jesus’ earthly father.

Isaiah 9:1 had prophesied that Galilee would experience the Messiah. And Jesus grew up personally identifying with the obscure and overlooked city of Nazareth. He will identify with you as well, no matter how overlooked you feel.

Psalm 49 Worksheet

Psalm 49 is a _________________ psalm, in which the righteous are exhorted not to trust in temporary riches. In the end, the man who trusts in riches is no better off after death than dead beasts. In fact, he is worse off.

Introduction: Now hear this, everybody! V. 1-4

The teaching of this Psalm is for everyone everywhere, haves and have nots ___________________!

Something about how verse 4 is phrased delights me! I WILL DISCLOSE MY DARK SAYING ON THE HARP!

In verses 5 and 15 the author refers to _____________________, book-ends to the main teaching that is in verses 6-14.

When we put verse 5 and 15 together, both in the first person, we realize that if we love God, we need not fear _______________________ troubles because eternity awaits us!

The folly of ___________________ in riches and not serving God V. 6-14

“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” -Matt. 16:26; Mk. 8:36; Lk. 9:25

But one of the main things money can’t buy is the _______________ thing that will matter once we have died – eternal salvation. Money can’t buy that!

Of course, the Bible extols many godly people who used their riches for God – Job, Abraham, etc… But the Bible warns of the _______________________ of departing from God’s plan for us as stewards by obsessively pursuing riches.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

We need to be careful that the things we possess don’t actually possess us and keep us from ______________ God!

The message of verses 8-9 is that no amount of money can save our soul, and no amount of present comfort money can buy will keep us from _____________________ misery. 1 Peter 1:17-21

When shall the upright have dominion over them? In the _______________________

Sounds like language about time to come, such as eternity.

So in verses 12-14 we have language of _____________________, but also language of existence beyond this present life! Bodies gone like animals; reversal of fortunes in days to come. It’s a bit of a mystery that becomes fully clear in the New Testament.

Don’t be afraid (or envious) of godless people who have a lot now – they _____________ in the age to come.

This is the only “Hell” the believer will ever know; it’s the only “Heaven” the unbeliever will know.

The implication is that the righteous will see light ______________________ this life; but the wicked will experience soul crushing darkness.

Final conclusion: what you do with what God has entrusted to you will matter _____________________; nothing else will!

The Simple Man - Assorted Proverbs Passages

So that’s why the first 20 years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; then for the next 40 we toil in the sin to support our family; the next 10 we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and the last 10 years we sit on the porch and bark at everyone.

Proverbs 1:1-7

“Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else.” - Lynard Skynyrd, Simple Kind of Man

There’s a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” - Proverbs 14:12 (NHEB)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind, to give to every man according to the fruit of his deeds. - Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV)

The word for simple in the Bible in the Hebrew language is pethi (H6612); it occurs 19 times in the Old Testament (15 in the Proverbs). It carries the idea of being simple, naïve, and seducible.

Biblically, a simple man is 3 things:

First, he doesn’t know what God wants him to know and act on yet.

Secondly, he won’t take the time and commitment necessary to find out what what God wants him to know and act on.

Third, he is easy prey to the temptations of Satan.

Here’s the instruction Proverbs gives us about being a simple man:

We all start simple

To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. - Prov. 1:4 (ESV)

The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. - Psalm 116:6 (ESV)

The simple are called to learn and apply God’s word so they can become prudent.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. - Psalm 19:7 (ESV)

The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. - Psalm 119:130 (ESV)

You call yourself a simple man; God’s word calls you a seducible man, ready to give in to the same kinds of temptations that ruin testimonies and hold entire churches back as you choose your ‘ease’ over knowing and serving God.

Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight. - Prov. 9:6 (ESV)

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. - Prov. 14:15-16 (ESV)

To stay simple is willful rebellion against God

How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? - Prov. 1:22 (ESV)

The fool rejects the things of God, the simple man simply won’t do the work to become prudent.

Those who stay simple are not ready to face battle with the Devil.

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. - Proverbs 14:18 (ESV)

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. - Proverbs 27:12 (ESV)

As we age, being simple is no excuse for disobedience.

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. - Prov. 19:25 (ESV)

What part of commitment to God have you ignored, scoffed at, etc…?

God won’t bless what He can’t bless in your life; He will judge what He must judge (discipline).

SIMPLE – Satan Intentionally Manipulates People Loving Ease.

Or is the problem that you are ashamed of Jesus Christ? You don’t want to alienate those ‘simple man’ friends of yours who don’t know, won’t learn, and don’t obey Jesus Christ.

Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. - Hebrews 6:1-2 (ESV)

Psalm 48 Worksheet

Psalm 47 praised the God of Zion, and Psalm 48 follows it by __________________________ the Zion of God.

Psalm 48 celebrates Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol and the key city of God’s dealing with mankind on earth. But don’t miss the key to what makes it special is God, who will be __________________________ on the earth.

God and His city are put there for the entire earth’s _______________! V. 1-3

Wherever a person lives on earth, even in places of higher elevation, spiritually speaking to go up to Jerusalem is to go up to the ______________________ ‘mountain’ from which everything else makes sense.

Jerusalem is only about 2,500 feet above sea level. It is actually a tad in the shadow of the Mount of Olives, which rises 100 feet higher.

Remembering when God miraculously ______________________ Israel V. 4-8

Isaiah 36-37 2 Chronicles 32 2 Kings 18-19.

In John 3 Jesus said you see the impact the wind has, but not the wind. Israel knew the only explanation for their enemies’ fear was the movement of their ____________________ but ever-present God!

God is the source of deliverance for His people, but He is also a greater ___________________ to our temporary prospering than any of our enemies.

God is the ____________________ we must always turn back to V. 9-14

All the way back to Genesis 12 we see that Israel was blessed to be a blessing. I love how the Psalms appreciate that Jerusalem was not there only to be a blessing to Jewish folks but also so that the ends of the earth would ________________________ the Lord.

Missions is not the main purpose of the church: worship is. Missions exists because there are still places on earth where worship does not. -John Piper

Singers like the Sons of Korah had stayed as close to Jerusalem as they could, waiting for the days to come when they would again be _____________________ upon to lead out in the singing of praises to our great God in the city of God! See Nehemiah 12:27-29

Death is probably not an adequate translation for the last word in verse 14. It should be the word ______________________ or forever! That is how the Greek Septuagint translated it.

THIS IS OUR GOD, OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER; HE WILL BE OUR GUIDE EVEN TO ETERNITY!