God forsaken My eyes are spent with weeping; My stomach churns. Lamentations 2:11 Read Lamentations 3:37—44,49—50 Here tonight I am asked to place myself with Israel, huddled in exile in a foreign land, in the place of God’s absence. To know God as the God who has wrapped himself in silence. Who is out…
The favour of the Lord Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, For the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 Read Genesis 33:5—16 All Israel is travelling in this little caravan, the children of Jacob, the children of Israel. Look, Joseph, the pet,…
Called into God’s service Unless the Lord builds the house, Those who build it labour in vain. Psalm 127:1 Read 1 Samuel 26:5—12 If I can slip into David’s clothes tonight I may be able to take something with me when I slip into my own clothes tomorrow. It would be this: if it…
The sin of sin But you, Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15 Read Exodus 34:1—9 Only when I realise how sinful sin is in God’s eyes may I be ready to allow God’s description of his own character its full weight.…
As we forgive Then I will teach transgressors your ways, So that sinners will return to you. Psalm 51:13 Read Matthew 18:23—35 There’s only one place for me in this story. I am the one who has been forgiven the unforgivable, the unrepayable debt. No one alive in Jesus’ day was worth 10,000 talents.…
All that is in the world Now let us see thy beauty, Lord, As we have seen before. Benjamin Waugh 1 John 2:15—17 The world I inhabit is certainly impossibly beautiful to me. I have seen beauties in it that I cannot bring myself to despise. Attractive, glorious beauty. I cannot turn myself into…
The splendid outcome What are human beings that you are mindful of them, Mortals that you care for them? Psalm 8:4 Read 2 Timothy 4:5—8 I may not spend much of my time thinking about the great conclusion to my life. Present concerns, present day matters press on me. By far the longest part…
God’s ornament Your hands have made and fashioned me; Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Psalm 119:73 Read Titus 2:1—10 The Lord would have consistency in me. A consonance between myself and what I profess. It never did please Jesus to spot hypocrisy in anyone, and he called people out on…
Freedom without offence But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; The Lord hears when I call to him. Psalm 4:3 Read Romans 14:13—21 The principle is clear enough, but how does it apply to me? In Christ I have freedom. I am freed from finding my own way to…
My defender Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Psalm 35:1 Read 2 Corinthians 10:1—6 I know how hurtful and disabling it is to lose people’s respect. To lose my integrity is to lose everything. If anyone is in ministry, that ministry is gone. Something…