Preparing our Hearts to Worship
In an effort to help you prepare for the August 5, 2018, Sunday morning corporate worship gathering and to aid you in your own reflections on theEmotions in the Psalms.I wanted to pose a few questions and provide a few resources to prayerfully consider over the coming days. Our sermon is entitled, “Longing for God”The main Scriptures for the day are Psalm 42.
(Pick and choose from the many resources and options, which I have tried to make available for your devotional life.)
From the Scriptures
Please read through Psalm 42 this week.
You can read or listen to them here.
From the Creeds and Confessions
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 2.1-2 Chapter 2 – Of God, and of the Holy Trinity 1. There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal, most just, and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. 2. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them.
Heidelberg Catechism Q26 What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”? That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son. I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. God is able to do this because he is almighty God6 and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
As the deer (Maranatha Music):Lyrics, Video
Psalm 42 (Martin’s): Lyrics, Video
Even when it hurts (Houston): Lyrics, Video
Satisfied in You (The Sing Team): Lyrics, Video
The Psalms Project: Psalms 42 Video
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
Watch The Bible Project’s video summary of Psalms.
Read this introductionto the psalms from the NIV Study Bible
Reflect upon Spurgeon’s Sermon The Panting Deer
Reflect on this Institute for Creation Research article, A hart for God
For a series of Liturgical resources related to Psalm 42 see this CRC page
The Sermon will be available online on August 5, 2018 at 12:30 pm.
Disclaimer: Reference to a particular article or website does not constitute endorsement or agreement with everything in that article or on that website.
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