Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
Psalm 120:5
Dear Church and Friends,
“Location, location, location.” Or, so goes the old business adage. Location is also important in the process of repentance. The sinner must evaluate where he or she is in relation to God’s judgment and then to the cross.
Remember the Prodigal Son? He found himself in the pig pen in a far off country. Once he realized his condition, his location and evaluated his company he started for home. Psalm 120 begins the section of the Psalter called the Ascent Psalms and reminds us of Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son.
We ascend from Meshech to Jerusalem, but the process is very much like the Prodigal’s story. The outline of the psalmist’s steps are very familiar to us.
- In verse one he declares his distress and prays to the Lord. “In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.”
- His prayer is for deliverance. He realizes his sin as described by verses 2 and 3. “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?”
- He recognizes the judgment of God against his sin in verse 4. “Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.”
- Like the Prodigal, he realizes how far away he is from God in verse 5. “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!”
- He realizes the “stinky” nature of those he’s been living with in verses 6 and 7. “My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.”
This begins the process of the long climb up to Jerusalem and back to God. You don’t get to Meshech over night and the return trip isn’t overnight either. We will follow this travel log (all the way to Psalm 135) as the young man makes his way back. What a marvelous picture of the revival of the human soul.
Podcast: The Psalmist evaluates where he is.
Consider supporting Creek Road Baptist Church through the Amazon Smile program. Use this link to select Creek Road Baptist Church as your designated charity. Once you have made this selection simply begin using Smile.Amazon.com (instead of using Amazon.com). No credits are available using just Amazon.com. Please contact the church office or Pastor Dave if you need help or have any questions.
Music: Ancient of Days by Shane and Shane.
Prayer Request: Please lift up the following.
- Ask the Lord to continue to give the Church Council and the Deacon wisdom as they lead Creek Road into our changing future.
- Ask the Lord to use our increasing web presence to reach the lost and the straying believer.
- Chris Tarver, Winder, Ga. Chris Tarver is a chaplain serving in Winder, Ga. We have a camp where we share faith, hope and love with under-served children ages 8–12 through week-long, overnight summer camps. Every child is 100% funded through scholarships. Due to current events, we are unsure that we will be able to have camp. We are scheduled for the week of July 8–12 in Ocoee, Tenn. Would you please pray for God’s guidance and provision as we consider doing camp “virtually” this year? We have had camp the past two summers and were planning for 150 campers. With counselors, it would be more than 200 people. However, God is not surprised by this, and we simply want to seek His face and direction. We covet your prayers.
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Wednesday Night Bible Study Returns October 7, 2020 @ 7 PM
Question 57: What was their faith?
Answer: A sure confidence in God’s mercy through Christ to come.
Question 58: Who wrought this faith in them above nature?
Answer: God’s Spirit through the preaching of the promise.
Question 59: What is the promise called in the Scripture?
Answer: The Gospel or Glad Tidings of salvation.
“So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”
All my best.
My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
Psalm 120:6
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