Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 18 July 2021
Praise the Lord! Remember the Benefits!
Scripture References: Psalms 103:1-22, Exodus 34:1-9, Romans 8:31-39
Gathering Growing Going
Loading Content...
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
CloseWhat good is there in knowing God? Psalm 103 deals with that question—and it encourages the reader to praise the LORD because of ‘all his benefits’. And the benefits are summed up in his name—Psalm 103:8 is a direct quote of Exodus 34:6, where the LORD reveals his name fully to Moses. At the heart of the LORD’s name is his faithful love and compassion. His faithful love (his hesed) is his commitment to make his relationship with those who fear him work to the best of its capacity. His compassion is treating his enemy as they do not deserve, with grace and generosity and kindness. So, what benefit is there in being one of God’s people? Well, it is to know him, by his name and his deeds, which give us what we do not deserve! Moreover, this benefit is a spur to two actions: praise (as one writer said, why whinge when you can worship?), and proclamation (how good is it for others to know the LORD?).
Scripture References: Psalms 103:1-22, Exodus 34:1-9, Romans 8:31-39
From Series: Service - Sunday Morning, Psalm | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Deliverance from Distress | Phil Firth | Sunday, 14 October 2018 | Listen | ||
God's Glory in the heavens that points to his Salvation | Rod Crawford | Sunday, 30 September 2018 | Listen | ||
Gods View of Man | Ralph Wood | Sunday, 15 July 2018 | Listen | ||
But we see Jesus | Tim Baxter | Sunday, 8 July 2018 | Listen | ||
Do something God! | Tim Baxter | Sunday, 7 February 2010 | Listen | ||
How do you trust God in a Drought? | Tim Baxter | Sunday, 31 January 2010 | Listen | ||
Natural eyes versus spiritual eyes | Richard Luckensmeyer | Sunday, 24 January 2010 | Listen | ||
Those who know your name will trust in you! | Ralph Wood | Sunday, 17 January 2010 | Listen | ||
Where do you put your trust? | Ralph Wood | Sunday, 10 January 2010 | Listen | ||
Who do you follow? | Tim Baxter | Sunday, 3 January 2010 | Listen |
We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time. Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.
Esther is such an exciting story! There are evil plots. There are interesting yet flawed characters. There is risk and sacrifice. There is heroism and villainy. Today, we are introduced to the villain of the plot, and what an evil scheming villain he is! He spins lies and concocts murderous plans to do away with the Jews, God’s covenant people. How will the people respond? Will he get away with his evil plan? Will God, who is not mentioned at all, intervene to protect His people, to live up to the promises He made to Abraham, the people at Mt Sinai, and to David?
There is so much that sounds familiar in these first two chapters of Esther: the world is dominated by loud and brash and imposing and degraded power, the people of God are small and struggling and faced with ambiguous decisions and actions and God seems so far away he is almost absent (at least to our minds and hearts). As we read this book, we will need God’s revelation to help us navigate its strangeness, its ambiguity, and its confrontational narrative. In this, we have the key to the book—the lack of God’s name in letters does not mean the lack of God’s presence.
13 Dewhurst St, Narrabri NSW 2390
Ph: (02) 6792 2151
Email: Click Here
8:30am & 10:30am each Sunday
9:30am each Sunday in January
Copyright © 2024 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in