Sunday, 23rd July 2023
Pastor Jason & Jessica (Guest Speaker)
Psalm 116
I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” I said in my haste, “All men are liars.” What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
I Ask God to Save me from a Very Low Place
God hears our voice and our plead. He not just hear us but He listens. The psalmist was in great pain, he had no way out, and he cried out to the Lord and the Lord gave him a way out. God is gracious and righteous, His blessings are abundant, and in great anguish God was able to deliver. We have a God, Who we can seek, on the other hand, for people who do not seek God, they will gradually walk to a dead end, but God loves us and He continues to call us to turn to Him.
I will Return to Rest, because God has been good to me
God will save us from the deep pit, in sickness, in emptiness, in lowness… God will pull us out, give us salvation and bless us. Even though we are in suffering, even though we are in the darkness, and even though we are weak, we must proclaim God’s salvation and walk in the land of the living. God’s grace is so abundant that we can never repay. We might have everything we need in life, but our hearts may still be empty, and we will always need God’s grace to come upon us. God will save us, in work, in health, in family, in relationship… but despite all these blessings, can we completely rest in God?
I will Lift up the Cup of Salvation and Praise the Lord before all People
God will deliver us from our sins and retune to rest. We can then live in His grace. He is our inheritance, it’s so great, with His goodness, He saves us from death and restores our relationship with others. So we can praise His Name, and praise Him before all the people. This is the starting point of His thanksgiving, He sees us so precious, He loves us, He values our lives, and we must receive it. God has set us free from the bondage of the world and the sins of people. Before all people, we must uplift the cup of salvation and praise God. We can come freely before God and receive blessings that can be seen and cannot be seen.