Psalm 58--To the choirmaster- according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David.--Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods-- Do you judge the children of man uprightly--No, in your hearts you devise wrongs-- your hands deal out violence on earth.-The wicked are estranged from the womb-- they go astray from birth, speaking lies.-They have venom like the venom of a serpent,- like the deaf adder that stops its ear,-so that it does not hear the voice of charmers- or of the cunning enchanter.-O God, break the teeth in their mouths-- tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord--Let them vanish like water that runs away-- when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.-Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,- like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.-Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,- whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away--The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance-- he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.-Mankind will say, -Surely there is a reward for the righteous-- surely there is a God who judges on earth.-

Isaiah 25--O Lord, you are my God-- I will exalt you- I will praise your name,-for you have done wonderful things,- plans formed of old, faithful and sure.-For you have made the city a heap,- the fortified city a ruin--the foreigners' palace is a city no more-- it will never be rebuilt.-Therefore strong peoples will glorify you-- cities of ruthless nations will fear you.-For you have been a stronghold to the poor,- a stronghold to the needy in his distress,- a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat--for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,- like heat in a dry place.-You subdue the noise of the foreigners-- as heat by the shade of a cloud,- so the song of the ruthless is put down.-On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples- a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,- of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.-And he will swallow up on this mountain- the covering that is cast over all peoples,- the veil that is spread over all nations.- He will swallow up death forever--and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,- and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,- for the Lord has spoken.-It will be said on that day,- -Behold, this is our God- we have waited for him, that he might save us.- This is the Lord- we have waited for him-- let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.--For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain,- and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,- as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.-And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it...

Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate,- and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.-And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest-- as with the slave, so with his master-- as with the maid, so with her mistress--as with the buyer, so with the seller-- as with the lender, so with the borrower-- as with the creditor, so with the debtor.-The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered-- for the Lord has spoken this word.-The earth mourns and withers-- the world languishes and withers-- the highest people of the earth languish.-The earth lies defiled- under its inhabitants--for they have transgressed the laws,- violated the statutes,- broken the everlasting covenant.-Therefore a curse devours the earth,- and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt--therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,- and few men are left.-The wine mourns,- the vine languishes,- all the merry-hearted sigh.-The mirth of the tambourines is stilled,- the noise of the jubilant has ceased,- the mirth of the lyre is stilled.-No more do they drink wine with singing-- strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.-The wasted city is broken down-- every house is shut up so that none can enter.-There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine-- all joy has grown dark-- the gladness of the earth is banished.-Desolation is left in the city-- the gates are battered into ruins.-For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth- among the nations,-as when an olive tree is beaten,- as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.

Brian Lee continues his sermon series through the Psalms with Psalm 57.

Heidelberg Catechism--103 Q. What is God's will for you in the fourth commandment- --A. First, that the gospel ministry and schools for it be maintained, and that, especially on the festive day of rest, -I diligently attend the assembly of God's people -to learn what God's Word teaches, -to participate in the sacraments, -to pray to the Lord publicly, -and to bring Christian offerings for the poor. --Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, -let the Lord work in me through his Spirit, -and so begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.

Psalm 57--To the choirmaster- according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.--Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,- for in you my soul takes refuge--in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,- till the storms of destruction pass by.-I cry out to God Most High,- to God who fulfills his purpose for me.-He will send from heaven and save me-- he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah-God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness--My soul is in the midst of lions-- I lie down amid fiery beasts--the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,- whose tongues are sharp swords.-Be exalted, O God, above the heavens-- Let your glory be over all the earth--They set a net for my steps-- my soul was bowed down.-They dug a pit in my way,- but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah-My heart is steadfast, O God,- my heart is steadfast--I will sing and make melody-- Awake, my glory--Awake, O harp and lyre-- I will awake the dawn--I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples-- I will sing praises to you among the nations.-For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,- your faithfulness to the clouds.-Be exalted, O God, above the heavens-- Let your glory be over all the earth-

Brian Lee continues his summer Psalms series with Psalm 56.

Psalm 56--To the choirmaster- according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.--Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me-- all day long an attacker oppresses me--my enemies trample on me all day long,- for many attack me proudly.-When I am afraid,- I put my trust in you.-In God, whose word I praise,- in God I trust- I shall not be afraid.- What can flesh do to me--All day long they injure my cause-- all their thoughts are against me for evil.-They stir up strife, they lurk-- they watch my steps,- as they have waited for my life.-For their crime will they escape-- In wrath cast down the peoples, O God--You have kept count of my tossings-- put my tears in your bottle.- Are they not in your book--Then my enemies will turn back- in the day when I call.- This I know, that God is for me.-In God, whose word I praise,- in the Lord, whose word I praise,-in God I trust- I shall not be afraid.- What can man do to me--I must perform my vows to you, O God-- I will render thank offerings to you.-For you have delivered my soul from death,- yes, my feet from falling,-that I may walk before God- in the light of life.

Brian Lee continues his summer in the Psalms series with Psalm 55.

Psalm 55--To the choirmaster- with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.--Give ear to my prayer, O God,- and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy--Attend to me, and answer me-- I am restless in my complaint and I moan,-because of the noise of the enemy,- because of the oppression of the wicked.-For they drop trouble upon me,- and in anger they bear a grudge against me.-My heart is in anguish within me-- the terrors of death have fallen upon me.-Fear and trembling come upon me,- and horror overwhelms me.-And I say, -Oh, that I had wings like a dove-- I would fly away and be at rest--yes, I would wander far away-- I would lodge in the wilderness- Selah-I would hurry to find a shelter- from the raging wind and tempest.--Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues-- for I see violence and strife in the city.-Day and night they go around it- on its walls,-and iniquity and trouble are within it-- ruin is in its midst--oppression and fraud- do not depart from its marketplace.-For it is not an enemy who taunts me-- then I could bear it--it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me-- then I could hide from him.-But it is you, a man, my equal,- my companion, my familiar friend.-We used to take sweet counsel together-- within God's house we walked in the throng.-Let death steal over them-- let them go down to Sheol alive-- for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.-But I call to God,- and the Lord will save me.-Evening and morning and at noon- I utter my complaint and moan,- and he hears my voice.-He redeems my soul in safety- from the battle that I wage,- for many are arrayed against me.