We finish the Songs of Ascent this morning. The pilgrims end with praise as Jerusalem is reached. Surely this is what we should experience as Christians when we meet with Christ.
Psalms 132: The LORD Has Chosen Zion A Song of Ascents.
1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favour, all the hardships he endured,
2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed,
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"
8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:
14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."
Psalms 133: When Brothers Dwell in Unity A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
Psalms 134: Come, Bless the LORD A Song of Ascents.
1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!
3 May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!
Things to think about…
1. Psalm 132 looks back in history to David, vs1. While we will not find the direct quote the psalmist says is from the mouth of David in vss 3-5. We do know that David desired to build the temple. He was forbidden to do so because the Lord said, “You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.”, 1Chr 28:3. His son Solomon would be given that charge. But David’s heart was to build the temple. The psalmist goes on to prophesy about how that would come about through David’s greater Son, from Ephrathah (Bethlehem).
2. How important is the Lord’s glory and honour for you? Ps 132 says David gave up sleep to find a dwelling place for God. Do we consider our faith in Christ to be more important than the desire for earthly things? Remember it was said of Jesus in John 2:17, confirming Psalm that “zeal for your house has consumed me”, Ps 69:9. May we have a similar zeal for the purity of the church, the dwelling place of the living God.
3. Jesus told us that we can’t live by bread alone. To the woman at the well in John 4 Jesus said that He had living water which was of far more value than the water from the well. The ancient name for Bethlehem in the south of Israel was Ephrathah, which means fruitful, Ps 132:6. The “fields of Jair”, vs 6 is where the Ark of the Covenant was for 20 years at Kiriath-jearim. God’s presence was with the Ark of the Covenant. He then says “Let us go to His dwelling place”, 132:7. This can be in private prayer or within corporate worship at church. Those who lived in Bethlehem also wanted to build a house for the Lord in David’s time. We know our Saviour, who would be born in this town and in fact builds a house for us, just as he said He would do for David. Jesus would also state the same, John 2:19.
4. Do you see the prophecies of Christ in Ps 132:11 & 17, 18? We are Zion, the bride of Christ where we will be ruling and reigning with Jesus in Jerusalem in the Millenium and then in the New Jerusalem for eternity. We are the priests that He has clothed with salvation, vs 16. Christ’s crown will shine, vs 18. We are told in the NT He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, Rev 19:16.
5. Ps 133 shows what a blessing and joy it is when the people of God are unified with joy, truth and grace. I thank God for the joy and peace we see at CBC – praise God! The oil represents the Holy Spirit which like the oil which runs down Aaron’s robe, runs down and through the people of God as the worship the Lord in unity and praise. I have been to the streams that are fed from the dew of the mountains of Herman in Israel. The water is abundant, fresh and clean. Jesus is our abundant Water of Life and He commands the blessing upon us, life eternal, vs 3.
6. Ps 134 reflects on the final part of the journey of the pilgrims as they sang as they ascended to Zion (Jerusalem). They are at last at their final destination. They can worship together in Jerusalem, their hearts desire. This joy is ours as we reflect on the fact that we worship the Creator of heaven and earth, Ps 134:3 May we carry out the exhortations in Ps 134 in our services as we worship the Lord when we meet together. May He bless us, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer points
1. Pray for the gospel and this week’s message - ‘Trump the world and the gospel.
2. Pray for our Kids at Church ministry and the teachers
3. Pray for our Easter services.
4. Pray for Iran and pray for the demise of the IRGC of Iran.
May the Iranian people see the prophesy of Jer 49:34-39 fulfilled over the coming weeks and months.
Pray for the Sacred Minds podcast – starting to come online.
5. Pray for One for Israel and their witness in this time of challenge and conflict.
6. Pray for the church in Australia that it focuses on Christ, His Word and holiness.
7. Pray for our leaders in Australia that they press in closer to Christ.
8. Pray the influence of Russia and China is minimised militarily.
9. The Royal Commission that the Jewish people will feel safe in Australia.
10. Conflict zones- Israel, Iran and Ukraine
11. Pray for new people to step into ministries at CBC – eg worship, café, sound/technical, giving, podcast.
12. Reform and Revival over our city and country.
13. Finances to cover our needs
14. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the Lord’s blessing over our service on Sunday
2. Praise God for ministries – Life Groups, Prayer meetings, Kids@Church
3. Café team every week. Thankyou to all those who serve and bring food. Especially Fiona, Maddie and Suzy and those who supply it every week Eg Ros - Milk.
4. Worship, Admin and Technical teams – Peter, Nita, Brendon, AJ, Suzy, Maddie, Mathys, Doug.
5. Kids Church teachers – Jacqueline, Maddie, Elise, Anastacia and Fiona
6. The Lord’s faithfulness this year to CBC and all who have served in ministries
7. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Easter services – Easter Friday 3rd Apr – 9:00qm. Easter Sunday 5th Apr – 9:30am – Kids activities while the message is on.
2. Passion Play at Moogerah Dam – 28th March and Easter Weekend. Ladies and families welcome. Camping available.
3. Prayer meeting Wed 5:30pm at church. Life group begins at 6:30pm. Going through the book of Romans.
4. All Life Groups - Wednesdays.
5. Kids@Church especially our Easter program.
6. Mothers Day High tea celebration – Saturday morning, May 9th at Church.
7. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
8. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for March...
Q. 6. How could the Son of God suffer? A. Christ, the Son of God, became man that he might obey and suffer in our nature.
