Hymns: RHC 221 When We See Christ 8 Holy, Holy, Holy 323 Trust and Obey

PSALM 99

1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. 4 The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. 7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

THE BELIEVER’S PRIVILEGE

God Will Take Care of You

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

The prophet Isaiah gave these words to the poor and afflicted of God’s people so that they may be encouraged and strengthened in the heart to trust Him to take care of them.

Hymns: RHC 339 When I Fear My Faith Will Fail 311 Does Jesus Care? 318 Blessed Assurance

PSALM 147

1 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. 2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. 19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 147:1-20 (KJV)

EXTOLLING OUR ALL-CARING GOD

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

From One Who Followed the Way of the Cross
The cross is the sacred symbol of the Christian faith. There our burden of sin was life. There we experienced the wonderful grace of our Lord and Saviour. Our sins and guilt were nailed to that cross. Since we came to that old rugged cross, life has never been the same. There we found salvation and life abundant and eternal.

One of the great hymns of the cross was written by Elizabeth Clephane (1830-69) of Scotland. She learned the meaning of the cross when as a young child she lost both her parents. From her youth she was in delicate health. Although frail, she gave herself in service to the poor and sick.

Hymns: RHC 229 Thy Kingdom Come, O God 252 The Old Book and the Old Faith 25 The Lord Is King

Psalm 68

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. 5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13
Marriage is the oldest institution in the world and God intended it to be a happy one, a lifetime ahead of loving and cleaving. And the wedding marks the celebration and solemnisation into this honourable, exclusive, permanent and fulfilling partnership between the husband and the wife. And the time leading to the matrimony of the bride and the bridegroom is a process of preparation.

Our Lord Jesus presented a marriage scene in the parable of the ten virgins with the preparation leading up to a marriage to describe the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom to take His bride, the true church to His heavenly home and a heavenly banquet.

Hymns: RHC 34 Crown Him with Many Crowns, 136 Come, Ye Thankful People, 355 Day by Day

Psalm 76

1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. 2 In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah. 4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. 6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. 7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. 11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. Psalms 76:1-12 (KJV)

COME YE THANKFUL PEOPLE