Daily Digest

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

Believing is a major theme in John’s gospel. He uses the word 95 times. He tells us he wrote the book so that we could believe that Jesus is the Christ, and so have life. (John 20:31)

Jesus’ disciples believed because of what they saw him doing and heard him saying. Even Samaritans believed in Jesus because of what they saw and heard. Even though a miracle has been done in front of this group of lawyers’ very eyes and Jesus has told them quite explicitly who he is and how he did what he did, they can’t see past their closed interpretation of the law. God has done what only God could do, but it was done on the Sabbath.

I think Jesus would have been justified if he had shaken his head in disbelief at their wilful stupidity. But Jesus is better than that. He works within their (constricting) legal framework of truth: the testimony of three witnesses is conclusive, nothing less.

Today people have other ways of deciding what is true. In our “post-truth” era, some seem strange, but I’m confident that the truth about Jesus stands no matter how you judge truth. I’m challenged to follow Jesus and place myself in the mindset of people I talk to and tell the truth about him in the way that will make it as easy as possible for them to believe.

Jesus was good at knowing how others were thinking, but It’s not so easy for me. I’m sure it involves more listening than speaking, especially listening to the Holy Spirit (John 5:19). I’m sure it needs me to align my heart with his. Holy Spirit, I need you to lead the way here.

Written by David Cornell

5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Jesus heals a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. At the time he was healed he had no idea who Jesus was. Jesus simply told the man to get up, walk and take your mat with you. The miracle was performed on the Sabbath which angered the Jewish leaders. Jesus referred to God as his Father thereby equating himself with God and this further infuriated the Jewish leaders.

Jesus was happy to see the man made whole but he also warned him to stop leading a sinful life because something far worse may happen. The guy was probably thinking what could be worse than lying here paralysed for 38 years and had no concept of an eternity in hell.

Jesus authority is clearly on display here. The paralysed man had no idea who Jesus was yet at his command he got up and walked. He did this without hesitation. There was no questioning who Jesus was and why should obey. He just did it and his obedience paid off. There must have been something so compelling about Jesus that this man took him at his word. It encourages me to take God at his word especially where I feel unable to move in the right direction or make any kind of move at all.

It is interesting that Jesus asked the man what he wanted – wasn’t it obvious! God so wants to relate to us – to chat. He wanted to hear this poor man explain why life wasn’t working for him. The hopelessness of never making it to that pool in his own strength. When Jesus tells the man to get up and walk it’s like he’s saying, “Enough of this life, no more, be healed!” It’s said in direct response to the man’s explanation.

Thank Lord thank you for the authority that Jesus has in my life to make me whole. Amen

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods

27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” Many Samaritans Believe 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

We learn some of the details of this woman’s history from the previous section of John. A sorry summary of shame and shadow. A woman whose lot is such that she avoids the community well gathering by enduring the midday heat to gather her water. We know how her world tells this story. But Jesus enters that story and this passage follows the aftermath. When Jesus reframes and retells her story not only does her world come alive with new hope and shameless enthusiasm but she becomes the catalyst for eternal transformation in her community. Not only does Jesus embolden her to go back to her neighbours, those neighbours are awakened to Jesus and their deepest most wonderful dreams of salvation come alive.

Let Jesus retell your story. All failures and regrets; alienation and shadow, get overwhelmed by living friendship with Jesus. Old burdens get replaced by the deep revelation that you matter to God, the realisation that you haven’t been forgotten and that you truly have a place to belong.

Dear Jesus, thank you for sitting with me by the well. Invigorate me and send me to my community. Help me to tell your story – your story in me and through me. Awaken the eternal hope of Jesus amongst my friends, family and neighbours. Amen!

Written by Sam Stewart

4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

This passage is so awesome, I was blessed to spend time mediating on it.

The subject of the passage is what Jesus calls the gift of ‘living water’. This imagery can be found in both the Old & New Testament, but John 7:39 reveals it as a reference to the Holy Spirit. Living water implies flow, the presence of God and the power to bring new life. It is important to understand the Holy Spirit flows into us from God and out from us in service to other people.

Jesus experienced the Spirit without limitations (John 3:34) but how do we really know if we are experiencing any measure of the Holy Spirit in our own regular daily lives?

The answer is, there are many indicators of the presence of ‘living water’ in a person’s life but here are two you may have not considered. 1. You experience increasing level of self-disciple (Titus 2:11). 2. You experience increasing levels of desire and opportunity to serve others (which can be seen in this passage where Jesus ministers to a person nobody else would consider speaking with).

So, take the opportunity today to consider ‘how well is the ‘living water’ flowing in your life?’

Lord, today, I ask we would receive a greater measure of ‘living water’ from you and that others may benefit from the overflow. Amen!

Written by David Newton

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

As I read this I am pretty impressed and also quite challenged by John’s humility. We see here that John’s followers have come to him with a complaint that people are following Jesus and being baptised by Him rather than by John.

What a temptation for John to follow pride and ego, and to get on board with these guys to vie for status and recognition as a premier prophet of the day.

Instead John chooses the opposite spirit – “He must become greater; I must become less.”  This statement must be one of the most succinct and profound statements uttered by someone other than Jesus in the whole of the Bible.

How often do I vie for personal status and recognition as a deep motivation rather than seeking to give the glory to the One who deserves it?

Today I remember – He must become greater and I must become less.

Written by Shelley Witt

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Nicodemus answers and responds to Jesus just like any of us would, ‘how can someone be born again when they are old, and already been birthed? This is not physically possible!’.

However, Nicodemus has missed the point. What Jesus is saying here is that it is one thing to be born of flesh in the physical, but another to be born with the Spirit of God. When we are born again, we see things the way Jesus sees them. Our eyes are open to see his kingdom, our ears are listening to hear his voice, and our hearts becomes a heart after his. This is why the Holy Spirit is crucial in our lives as Christians, He opens our lives for God to move in us and through us. The Holy Spirit allows us to be born again, and receive God’s spirit afresh.

Lord, teach me to be more like you every day. Help me to see things the way you see them. Help me to have a heart after yours and your people. Fill me each day with your spirit and let me never miss what you’re saying to me.

Written by Rachel Tomc

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Weddings are always a joyous occasion! Jesus is all about joy. Our joy. This miracle in John 2 is one of my favourites because it’s a little confusing. No one was healed. No one was saved from hell (not directly anyway) and hardly anyone knew that it was Jesus who did it. So why did he do it? I wonder if it was because the young couple’s joy would have been turned to angst when they realised the wine was gone. Jesus wouldn’t have a bar of that! Not on their wedding day. And dodgy wine would have sufficed since it was late in the celebrations. Again, not with Jesus. Only the best would do. Not a partial miracle, a full miracle. Not partial joy but full joy.

Lord Jesus, when will I learn to live in you? When will I learn to come to you for joy and hope and peace and love? You are magnificent in your miracles and as whimsical in your reasons as simply wanting to give us complete joy. Awesome Jesus! I worship you.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

For me, this passage is about seeing.

God sees me. All of me. My doubts, my pain, my troubled thoughts. He sees it all. Yet He loves me. He cares. He is my Heavenly Father and I am His son. I am dear to His heart in the same way that Jesus is dear to His heart. That’s how much He loves me.

I’m in awe….how can that be?

But there is more to this “seeing”. First He sees me – then He helps me to see.

Just like Nathaniel He says now you will see… and I do. I see that this world is a temporary veil that will soon be torn away. I see angels strong and mighty dispatched at the Fathers command to bring His purposes on earth about. I see Jesus on the cross carrying all my sin upon Himself – past, present and future – that makes this “seeing” possible. I see a Father in Heaven who says of me “I must have him in heaven with me! No other outcome is acceptable!”

Oh God thank you for seeing me.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Two of John the Baptist’s disciples are curious about Jesus – they have just been told that he is the Messiah – so they start following him. But they keep at a distance. Perhaps they are wondering what kind of Saviour this Jesus might be? How will he interact with ordinary people like them? So they hang back a little and don’t say anything. But Jesus notices them. More than that, he turns to engage them and asks, “What do you want?”

Jesus reveals what he is like when he asks after them. His attention is on them. This is a warm curious question. I wonder if they were expecting this kind of response? I wonder if I really do? Sometimes I get so focused on tasks that I forget to focus on those around me. But here Jesus demonstrates that he is personal and caring. So when they ask Jesus where he is staying, he responds, “Come and see!” Jesus wants them to see for themselves and share it with him. Jesus is all about the person. He is all about us.

I find this passage upturning poorly laid foundations I have in my life: where I have learned to be wary and cautious of people, and expect Jesus to be the same (“whaddya want? Go away”), as I interact with him through prayer while I mull over this passage, I find Someone completely different: Jesus focusing on me, asking me “What do you want?” I hear kindness, not harshness.

Lord Jesus, I am still learning about you and your love towards me – I am both overwhelmed and undone. Lord, may your love continue to change and heal my heart.

Written by Gab Martin

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I love that John knew exactly who he was, what he was doing and why he was to do it. We’re told that he was completely honest, didn’t evade the questions, nor did he make anything up, he was the one preparing the way for another.

We don’t often think about John having choices here … he could have grabbed the limelight, big noted himself, taken his ‘15 minutes of fame’, had a huge following, he had the leaders of society interested in him, wanting to know his story. But he stayed true. He walked in the calling/ministry that was his, he didn’t try to be someone else (Elijah, the prophet), or take his place (the Messiah). He is quite the role model of ministry and integrity.

I have never looked at John quite like this before. I am completely impressed. Refreshing to see a man who knows so completely who he is and his place in the ministry he is to do.

Lord, thank you for the example we have in John the baptist, a role model of honesty, integrity, strength of humility & focus, completely relevant for today.

Written by Suzie Hodgson

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

When Jesus came into the world as the Son of God there were many who did not recognise Him, both those who were God’s chosen people and those who had nothing to do with God. These people missed out on receiving all God had to offer. The next sentence though involves a big ‘but’. Yes there were those who failed to recognise Jesus, BUT, there were many who did recognise and accept Jesus. And what happened to these people? They became the sons and daughters of God, not by any human effort, but because of God’s actions.

Do I really stop and think about the people who accepted Jesus? Do I ponder how their lives changed, not just for the years on earth, but for eternity? Do I somehow undermine the amazing truth that those who were in rebellion against God came into his family, by focusing on the fact that many failed to recognise and even rejected Jesus? Do I continue to focus on that today? Do I spend more time thinking about all the people around me who fail to recognise Jesus, rather than taking a look at the lives of those who have come to know Jesus? Do I consider how their lives have changed, and how their eternity is now filled with hope?

God, please help me to take off my dark shades and to see the amazing work you are doing in the people around me – bringing people to you and changing people’s lives as they become your sons and daughters. Help me to see that you are powerfully at work, and for every one who recognises you, a life is forever changed. Thank you that you call me to partner with you in helping people to recognise Jesus, Holy Spirit shine through me and help me reveal more of Jesus’ goodness and greatness. Amen.

Written by Beth Waugh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I love this passage. Like Genesis 1, it paints a cosmically huge picture of our creator God in terms that are poetic and imprecise enough that nothing is excluded, but absolutely clear that Jesus is both fully human and fully God, the creator.

I am astounded that Jesus is so huge that he was before the beginning and can never be extinguished, but he became a limited man and died to rescue me.

I’m in awe that he has so much authority that nothingness obeyed him and became something, chaos obeyed and became order, inanimate matter obeyed and became alive. And yet he listens to me.

He has so much power that he encompasses everything in this huge universe but is accessible to me. He’s my creator and my brother (first born of God’s children – Rom 8:29). He’s my lord and my friend.

My words here are pathetically inadequate to describe the wonder of the “the Word”. But thankfully John’s come pretty close.

My response has to be to worship him and to love him.

And I’m encouraged that though the darkness does not understand him, he shines through it and can never be extinguished by it.

Written by David Cornell

1 Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. 3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. 5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. 6 May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, 7 to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, 9 to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the Lord.

I love the beginning of this psalm. And then I come to sharp swords and vengeance in verse 6.

It’s not certain when this psalm was written. It might have been in the time of Nehemiah, when they did everything with a sharp sword in one hand for fear of attack. It may have been after one of David’s victories. Whatever it was, God was there in their struggles, and praise came before and after.

It reminds me that I’m in a battle too. It’s not a physical battle (I’m very grateful, God). It’s a spiritual battle (Ephesian 6:10-17). I need to be equipped not only with my sharp sword (of the Spirit), but with the whole armour of God. It is my glorious privilege (verse 9) to take my place in that battle and to stand firm.

This psalm reminds me how important praise is in that battle. Praise for what God has already done, but also, in faith, proclaiming the victories He will win. Praise especially in the middle of the battle. Like Jehoshaphat’s army marching out with the Levites in the lead singing praise (and their enemies defeating themselves at the sound of it) in 2 Chronicles 20:1-29. Praise proclaims God’s victory to a world that does not want to submit to it.

Praise the Lord!

(Be careful with this psalm: The second half has been used to justify all sorts of things from the 30 Years War (1618-48) which killed between 3 and 12 million people through to crusades and peasant revolts. The Bible is clear: judgement belongs to God (James 4:22), and all Christians have been given the mission to tell all who will listen about God’s plan to rescue them from sin and judgement (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). My task is reconciliation, not revenge.)

Written by David Cornell

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. 8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. 10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; 11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. 12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. 13 He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. 14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. 15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? 18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. 19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. 20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord.

I’m loving this psalm, what an active God we have & our Psalmist gives many reasons why we should sing praise to the Lord. He gives, He stirs, He satisfies, He keeps, He blesses, He provides, He supplies, He gives, He heals, He gathers and many more. There is something in this psalm for everyone to be able to sing about.

The 1^st verse is the one that has captured me this week as I’ve been meditating on it. “How good it is to sing praises to our God.” I have begun to do this just in my everyday & it has lifted my heart, it has taken my eyes to a different place, settled my mind from my concerns and re-focused me. What brilliant wisdom this is to sing praises to our God!

Thank you Father, you know what we need, something as simple as singing praise to you can turn our whole day around. Thank you for the simplicity of praise.

Written by Suzie Hodgson