Palms 73 and 74

God Is My Strength and Portion Forever

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 

Truly God is good to Israel,

    to those who are pure in heart.

2 

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,

    my steps had nearly slipped.

3 

For I was envious of the arrogant

    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 

For they have no pangs until death;

    their bodies are fat and sleek.

5 

They are not in trouble as others are;

    they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

6 

Therefore pride is their necklace;

    violence covers them as a garment.

7 

Their eyes swell out through fatness;

    their hearts overflow with follies.

8 

They scoff and speak with malice;

    loftily they threaten oppression.

9 

They set their mouths against the heavens,

    and their tongue struts through the earth.

10 

Therefore his people turn back to them,

    and find no fault in them.

11 

And they say, “How can God know?

    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12 

Behold, these are the wicked;

    always at ease, they increase in riches.

13 

All in vain have I kept my heart clean

    and washed my hands in innocence.

14 

For all the day long I have been stricken

    and rebuked every morning.

15 

If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

    I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 

But when I thought how to understand this,

    it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17 

until I went into the sanctuary of God;

    then I discerned their end.

18 

Truly you set them in slippery places;

    you make them fall to ruin.

19 

How they are destroyed in a moment,

    swept away utterly by terrors!

20 

Like a dream when one awakes,

    O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

21 

When my soul was embittered,

    when I was pricked in heart,

22 

I was brutish and ignorant;

    I was like a beast toward you.

23 

Nevertheless, I am continually with you;

    you hold my right hand.

24 

You guide me with your counsel,

    and afterward you will receive me to glory.

25 

Whom have I in heaven but you?

    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 

My flesh and my heart may fail,

    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;

    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

28 

But for me it is good to be near God;

    I have made the Lord God my refuge,

    that I may tell of all your works.

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Psalm 73

 Song by Shane and Shane 

https://youtu.be/F-ZaZh-XCaA

Song by Jason Silver 

https://youtu.be/cbLNX0Epwl0

Arise, O God, Defend Your Cause

A Maskil of Asaph.

1 

O God, why do you cast us off forever?

    Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?

2 

Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old,

    which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!

    Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

3 

Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;

    the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!

4 

Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place;

    they set up their own signs for signs.

5 

They were like those who swing axes

    in a forest of trees.

6 

And all its carved wood

    they broke down with hatchets and hammers.

7 

They set your sanctuary on fire;

    they profaned the dwelling place of your name,

    bringing it down to the ground.

8 

They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”;

    they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 

We do not see our signs;

    there is no longer any prophet,

    and there is none among us who knows how long.

10 

How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?

    Is the enemy to revile your name forever?

11 

Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?

    Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!

12 

Yet God my King is from of old,

    working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 

You divided the sea by your might;

    you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.

14 

You crushed the heads of Leviathan;

    you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

15 

You split open springs and brooks;

    you dried up ever-flowing streams.

16 

Yours is the day, yours also the night;

    you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.

17 

You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth;

    you have made summer and winter.

18 

Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs,

    and a foolish people reviles your name.

19 

Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts;

    do not forget the life of your poor forever.

20 

Have regard for the covenant,

    for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

21 

Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame;

    let the poor and needy praise your name.

22 

Arise, O God, defend your cause;

    remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!

23 

Do not forget the clamour of your foes,

    the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!

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Psalm 74

Song by Jason Silver 

https://youtu.be/snpH-JHMC2g

Arise ,O God 

https://youtu.be/dvVX1aW-yI0

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 8

The Second Letter of Paul to the 

Corinthians 

Chapter Eight

Encouragement to Give Generously

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 7

The Second Letter of Paul to the  

CORINTHIANS

Chapter Seven

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul's Joy

2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 6

The Second  Letter of Paul to the  

CORINTHIANS

Chapter Six

1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 
2 For he says,“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

The Temple of the Living God

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17  Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 5

The Second Letter of Paul to the 

CORINTHIANS 

Chapter Five

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 4

The Second Letter of Paul to the 

CORINTHIANS 

Chapter Four

The Light of the Gospel

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

PSALM 72

Psalm 72

Give the King Your Justice

1 Give the king your justice, O God,

    and your righteousness to the royal son!

2 

May he judge your people with righteousness,

    and your poor with justice!

3 

Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,

    and the hills, in righteousness!

4 

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

    give deliverance to the children of the needy,

    and crush the oppressor!

5 

May they fear you while the sun endures,

    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

6 

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

    like showers that water the earth!

7 

In his days may the righteous flourish,

    and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

8 

May he have dominion from sea to sea,

    and from the River to the ends of the earth!

9 

May desert tribes bow down before him,

    and his enemies lick the dust!

10 

May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands

    render him tribute;

may the kings of Sheba and Seba

    bring gifts!

11 

May all kings fall down before him,

    all nations serve him!

12 

For he delivers the needy when he calls,

    the poor and him who has no helper.

13 

He has pity on the weak and the needy,

    and saves the lives of the needy.

14 

From oppression and violence he redeems their life,

    and precious is their blood in his sight.

15 

Long may he live;

    may gold of Sheba be given to him!

May prayer be made for him continually,

    and blessings invoked for him all the day!

16 

May there be abundance of grain in the land;

    on the tops of the mountains may it wave;

    may its fruit be like Lebanon;

and may people blossom in the cities

    like the grass of the field!

17 

May his name endure forever,

    his fame continue as long as the sun!

May people be blessed in him,

    all nations call him blessed!

18 

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

    who alone does wondrous things.

19 

Blessed be his glorious name forever;

    may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

Amen and Amen!

20 

The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

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Psalm 72 Psalm Song - Give the King Your Justice O God