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.

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-

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.

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.

Brian Lee continues his summer series through the Psalms with Psalm 54

HEIDELBERG CATECHISM, LORD'S DAY 34--92 Q. What is God's law- -A. God spoke all these words- --Recite the Ten Commandments---Ten Word Summary of the Ten Commandments- God, Image, Name, Day- Parents, Murder, Adultery, Steal, Lie, Covet--93 Q. How are these commandments divided- -A. Into two tables. The first has four commandments, teaching us how we should live in relation to God. The second has six commandments, teaching us what we owe our neighbor. --94 Q. What does the Lord require in the first commandment- -A. That I, not wanting to endanger my own salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry, sorcery, superstitious rites, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. -That I rightly know the only true God, trust him alone, and look to God for every good thing humbly and patiently, and love, fear, and honor him with all my heart. In short, that I renounce all created things rather than go against God's will in any way.--95 Q. What is idolatry- -A. Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in his Word.