What an encouraging, convicting, refreshing time it was to gather as God’s people this last Lord’s Day evening! The Good Shepherd is so faithful to feed and lead us with His Word, by His Holy Spirit, and through our fellowship with one another in Him. And it is always significant as we partake together of the Lord’s Table, being reminded of Christ’s past, present, and future work as our Redeemer.
I was particularly blessed by Tim Ingrum’s faithful exposition of Psalm 34 – “The Lowly Man’s Hymn”. This is one of my frequent “go to” Psalms, as I often resonate with the sense of impoverished desperation King David describes. I need to continually be exhorted to “taste and see that the Lord is good,” confident that “blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Ps. 34:8). The Lord used Tim’s preaching to remind me that God is good and generous, and that He pours out blessing on those who fear Him. Accordingly, my understanding of His goodness needs to keep being recalculated in line with His truth. I also need to remember that apparent delays in God’s provision do not represent His cold withholding, but His kind preparing of me for something better. Oh, to grow in simply trusting and obeying Him!
As the words of Ps. 34 are part personal testimony, and part corporate exhortation, I take my cue from the “sweet singer of Israel” in expressing my resolve and appeal to you:
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Ps. 34:1-3)
Because He lives,
Greg