Saturday, August 14th Worship Guide--Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance

Read: Psalm 25

By David.
O LORD, I come before you in prayer.

2 My God, I trust in you.
Please do not let me be humiliated;
do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!

3 Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated.
Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.

4 Make me understand your ways, O LORD!
Teach me your paths!

5 Guide me into your truth and teach me.
For you are the God who delivers me;
on you I rely all day long.

6 Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O LORD,
for you have always acted in this manner.

7 Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts!
Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O LORD!

8 The LORD is both kind and fair;
that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

9 May he show the humble what is right!
May he teach the humble his way!

10 The LORD always proves faithful and reliable
to those who follow the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your reputation, O LORD,
forgive my sin, because it is great.

12 The LORD shows his faithful followers
the way they should live.

13 They experience his favor;
their descendants inherit the land.

14 The LORD's loyal followers receive his guidance,
and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.

15 I continually look to the LORD for help,
for he will free my feet from the enemy's net.

16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone and oppressed!

17 Deliver me from my distress;
rescue me from my suffering!

18 See my pain and suffering!
Forgive all my sins!

19 Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me;
they hate me and want to harm me.

20 Protect me and deliver me!
Please do not let me be humiliated,
for I have taken shelter in you!

21 May integrity and godliness protect me,
for I rely on you!

22 O God, rescue Israel from all their distress!

Think: What is David’s responsibility in the midst of affliction? (see verse 21)

Pray: Ask that we might walk in God’s ways as we await His deliverance.

Friday, August 13th Worship Guide--Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance

Read: Psalm 25: 16-22

Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone and oppressed!

17 Deliver me from my distress;
rescue me from my suffering!

18 See my pain and suffering!
Forgive all my sins!

19 Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me;
they hate me and want to harm me.

20 Protect me and deliver me!
Please do not let me be humiliated,
for I have taken shelter in you!

21 May integrity and godliness protect me,
for I rely on you!

22 O God, rescue Israel from all their distress!

Think: How does David respond to his affliction?

Pray: Turn any troubles you are having over to God.

Thursday, August 12th Worship Guide--Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance

Read: Psalm 25: 12-15

The LORD shows his faithful followers
the way they should live.

13 They experience his favor;
their descendants inherit the land.

14 The LORD's loyal followers receive his guidance,
and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.

15 I continually look to the LORD for help,
for he will free my feet from the enemy's net.

Think: What benefits are promised to the one who fears God?

Pray: Thank God for His instruction and covenant blessings.

Wednesday, August 11th Worship Guide--Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance

Read: Psalm 25: 4-11

Make me understand your ways, O LORD!
Teach me your paths!

5 Guide me into your truth and teach me.
For you are the God who delivers me;
on you I rely all day long.

6 Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O LORD,
for you have always acted in this manner.

7 Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts!
Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O LORD!

8 The LORD is both kind and fair;
that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

9 May he show the humble what is right!
May he teach the humble his way!

10 The LORD always proves faithful and reliable
to those who follow the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your reputation, O LORD,
forgive my sin, because it is great.

Think: What request does David make in regard to his sin? (see verses 6-7, 10-11)

Pray: Confess any sin in need of forgiveness.

Tuesday, August 10th Worship Guide--Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance

Read: Psalm 25: 4-11

Make me understand your ways, O LORD!

Teach me your paths!

5 Guide me into your truth and teach me.

For you are the God who delivers me;

on you I rely all day long.

6 Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O LORD,

for you have always acted in this manner.

7 Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts!

Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O LORD!

8 The LORD is both kind and fair;

that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

9 May he show the humble what is right!

May he teach the humble his way!

10 The LORD always proves faithful and reliable

to those who follow the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your reputation, O LORD,

forgive my sin, because it is great.

Think: What guidance does David seek from God? (see verses 4-5, 8-9)

Pray: Ask God to lead you in the truth of His ways.

Monday, August 9th Worship Guide--Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance

Read: Psalm 25: 1-3

By David. O LORD, I come before you in prayer. 2 My God, I trust in you. Please do not let me be humiliated; do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me! 3 Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated. Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated. (NET)

Think: What confidence does David express to God?

Pray: Praise God because we can confidently turn to Him when in need.

Sunday, August 8th Worship Guide--Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance

Thanks for worshipping with us today. Our worship theme for next week is Psalm 25: God's Pardon and Guidance.

“Make me know Thy ways, O Lord;
Teach me Thy paths.
Lead me in Thy truth and teach me,
For Thou art the God of my salvation.”

“David confidently turned to the Lord for divine instruction and forgiveness from his iniquity. This psalm is a meditation on the character of God that prompts the humble to respond with confession and prayer…It strongly links the prayer for deliverance and guidance to confession of sin. The way of the Lord requires this.” (Allen Ross)

Saturday, August 7th Worship Guide--Christ the Suffering Servant

Read: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Isaiah 52:13 "Look, my servant will succeed! He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted. 14 Just as many were horrified by the sight of you-- he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man; 15 his form was so marred he no longer looked human-- so now he will startle many nations. Kings will be shocked by his exaltation, for they will witness something unannounced to them, and they will understand something they had not heard about.

53:1 Who would have believed what we just heard? When was the LORD's power revealed through him? 2 He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him. 3 He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.

4 But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. 5 He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. 6 All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him.

7 He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth. 8 He was led away after an unjust trial-- but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. 9 They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man's tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.

10 Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD's purpose will be accomplished through him. 11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. "My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins. 12 So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels." (NET)

Think: Meditate on Jesus’ suffering and the justification it secured for us?

Pray: Pray in preparation for Sunday morning worship.

Friday, August 6th Worship Guide--Christ the Suffering Servant

Read: Isaiah 53:10-12

Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD's purpose will be accomplished through him. 11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. "My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins. 12 So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels."

Think: What did Jesus accomplish for us on the cross?

Pray: Praise Jesus for satisfying God’s righteousness for us.

Thursday, August 5th Worship Guide--Christ the Suffering Servant

Read: Isaiah 53:7-9

He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth. 8 He was led away after an unjust trial-- but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. 9 They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man's tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.

Think: What was Jesus’ attitude toward dying on the cross?

Pray: Praise Jesus for His willingness to go to the cross.

Wednesday, August 4th Worship Guide--Christ the Suffering Servant

Read: Isaiah 53:4-6

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. 5 He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. 6 All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him.

Think: What was the purpose of Christ’s suffering?

Pray: Thank Jesus for bearing the punishment for our sin.

Tuesday, August 3rd Worship Guide--Christ the Suffering Servant

Read: Isaiah 53:1-3

Who would have believed what we just heard? When was the LORD's power revealed through him? 2 He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him. 3 He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.

Think: What did Jesus endure for our sake?

Pray: Praise Jesus for identifying with our sorrows.

Monday, August 2nd Worship Guide--Christ the Suffering Servant

Read: Isaiah 52:13-15

"Look, my servant will succeed! He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted. 14 Just as many were horrified by the sight of you-- he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man; 15 his form was so marred he no longer looked human-- so now he will startle many nations. Kings will be shocked by his exaltation, for they will witness something unannounced to them, and they will understand something they had not heard about. (NET)

Think: What honor does Jesus receive for His suffering on the cross?

Pray: Exalt the Lord Jesus for His suffering on the cross.

Sunday, August 1st Worship Guide--Christ the Suffering Servant

Thank you for worshipping with us this morning! Our worship theme for next week is Christ the Suffering Servant.

“He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities, the chastening
of our well-being fell upon Him”
(Isaiah 53:5)

Isaiah 53 has been called the ‘holy of holies’ of Isaiah. The early church writer Polycarp spoke of it as the ‘golden passional’ of the Old Testament” (Martin, Isaiah). This song serves as the climax to the “Servant Songs” of Isaiah, which extol the mission of the coming Messiah to suffer for His people.