What Shall We Do?

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:37-39

What shall we do when we find that God is holy and we are sinful? Psalm 1 paints a picture of the blessed man as a fruitful tree, yet this is not the state that we naturally find ourselves in. We find in Psalm 32, and in the rest of Scripture, that there is no blessedness without forgiveness; sin is the universal problem of mankind (Romans 3, Psalm 51). David takes us through both his experience of feeling guilt in sin and joy in forgiveness. He then goes on to describe his close relationship with God as his Preserver and merciful Teacher. Psalm 32 proclaims a complete circle of justification and ongoing sanctification, so in many ways, singing this Psalm is like giving a testimony. Having been forgiven, followers of Christ can sing Psalm 32 while meditating on God’s many mercies throughout their lives. To those who can find no rest from their burden of sin, Psalm 32 is a song of hope, a song for the sinner yet without Christ, a song for the stumbling Christian. Christ is the answer to our problem of sin.

⁶Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. ⁷Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6-7

Psalm 32 (NKJV)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Psalm 32 starts with a benediction, a declaration of blessing upon those forgiven by God. The fact that this benediction exists at all, that God forgives even a single sinner, is a source of great wonder. Notice that the blessedness is not earned but instead “the Lord does not impute iniquity.”  Furthermore, the blessed man is changed in the inner man and, as a result, bears outward fruits (Matt 7:17; 2 Corinth 5:17). It is neither a self-deceptive trick nor merely an external change, but, as Jesus explains in John 3:1-21, a person must be born again, made into a new person. We see David’s personal experience in the next two verses.

³ When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
⁴ For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

In contrast with a tree beside the rivers of waters, David pictures his suffering as the very inner supports of his body decaying and as God’s mighty hand pressing down on him. Maybe there was a time in David’s youth when he did not put his trust in God, so perhaps he is thinking of those first moments when he realized that he was a sinner. Or perhaps he is meditating upon a time when he fell into a pit of sin such as the incident involving Bathsheba and Uriah. Either way, we see that sin is a curse that brings death to those who do not seek God for forgiveness (Rom 6:23; Gal 6:7) and chastisement upon His children (Hebrew 12:6). Personally, verses three and four apply to and remind me of two different times in my life. I remember realizing the stench of my sin before finding peace in Christ, and also these verses describe my temporary periods of defeat to sin. But the horror of sin only makes the next verse of Psalm 32 all the sweeter.

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

The Bible contains many remarkable statements such as verse five which we often can overlook. David declares at the end of verse five that God forgave him of all his sins. So what did he have to do to gain forgiveness? Do we have a declaration of any great work or life of holiness? No! Jesus Christ paid the price of sin for all who acknowledge their sin and confess it to God (Acts 2:37-38). This is my favorite verse of the Psalm, for it shows hope and joy after a time of distress. When I have a difficult time remembering God’s forgiveness through Christ, Psalm 32 reminds me how God has been so merciful to me in the past and to past saints such as David.

⁶ For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

With such mercy available, now is the time to seek God and pray to Him. Verse six goes on to say that the time of forgiveness is limited. There is coming “a flood of great waters” in which only those whose transgressions have been covered will be safe. When singing this Psalm, we are reminded that God is our Father, the One to whom we can now pray and go in times of trouble. Sin no longer bars us from God’s holy presence, and so we can now sing verses six and seven with joy! As a forgiven people, we have a new expectation in God, for He is our good Father in heaven. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”(Romans 8:14-15)

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.

Just as God saves us through justification then sanctification, He answers David’s prayer with forgiveness and then instruction. Though some regard this section as David’s wise counsel to his fellow man, I believe it is more likely that the Lord Himself speaks in verses eight and nine. He first tells us that He will teach us but also gives commands on how we are to respond to His teaching. I could always clearly see the imagery of a stubborn horse or mule in my mind, however more recently I have understood by experience what it is like to be a stubborn mule. I look back and see how God has restrained and rebuked my sinful thoughts or daily habits. Though I often mourn over being like a spiritual mule, it is also comforting how God does not let us wander to our destruction. Verse eight is a promise for all forgiven people to cling to, that God will not leave us in our tendencies toward sin. As Paul reminds us, “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13) and it is Christ “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).

¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
¹¹ Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Each person begins in the same state of sin and misery, which David describes in Psalm 51 as his being “brought forth in iniquity;” that is, being a sinner from his very conception. Yet the end of Psalm 32 shows a great contrast between those who trust in the Lord and those who do not. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior whom we will praise forever and ever! Not only did He save us from our sorrowful life of sin and from our well-deserved end of eternal suffering in hell; He has also clothed us with His righteousness, so that we may shout for joy and be glad in His presence! We are thus commanded in verse eleven to be glad and joyful, to obey God in a way which should be most natural to us as forgiven sinners.

Psalm 32 takes us through a complete journey of both self-examination and meditation upon God. In it we sing of our sorrow in sin, the merciful forgiveness of God, our new expectation in God as our Father, and His guidance throughout our lives. If you are unfamiliar with the salvation that is provided through Jesus Christ, I would encourage you to listen to this excellent sermon on Romans 6:23 here.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Sermons on the Psalms: "Peace Through Psalm Singing"

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:15-17

Here is a sermon on Colossians 3: 15-17. The link is given below. Every once in a while, we will post a sermon by a pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church which relates to the Psalms.

Peace Through Psalm Singing

Return From Captivity: Psalm 126

Psalm 126 is celebrating Cyrus’ decree and Israel’s return from captivity. Isaiah prophesied Israel’s return over 100 years earlier (Isaiah 44:28-45:7). The Bible is rooted in history, and this Psalm is no exception. It can be difficult at times to understand the Bible in its historical context, but it’s crucial because history is important to the Christian faith. Some people find history quite dull, but God’s work is rooted in history. 
Recently, I had the privilege of attending LifeFocus, a week-long conference in Topeka, Kansas, where we explored the Psalter all week. One of the lectures was on Psalm 126 and the history behind it. We learned that for centuries, the only record of the Jewish return from exile and Cyrus’ decree came from the Hebrew Scriptures, including Psalm 126. No other sources mentioned this decree, even though it had such a great impact at the time. People began to doubt the Bible’s historical authenticity and reliability. Then, in 1879, the Cyrus cylinder with the decree was discovered by a British Museum exhibition that was digging in Babylon!

Now that we have a bit of historical context for this Psalm and Israel’s return from Babylon, we can look at and better appreciate the beauty of Psalm 126.  

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”

This is a Psalm about the history of mankind being brought back from captivity (v. 1).  There are many captivities throughout Scripture--the Israelites’ captivity in Egypt, the Babylonian captivity, and even individual captivity (see Psalm 42). This Psalm likely refers to the return from Babylon in 586 BC, but it’s also part of a much larger story. Throughout history, man has a history of captivity and return. The principle captivity in the Bible is found in Genesis 3 and the fall: the captivity and bondage of death.

3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!

Notice that verse 1 (“restored”) is past tense, praising God for His deliverance. Verse 4 (“restore”) is present tense, praying to God and awaiting deliverance. 

5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

We live in an age in which all nations can return from captivity. These verses apply not only to the past, but also to the future and to our history, if we are in Christ. John Calvin said in his commentary on this Psalm, "In order then that joy may succeed our present sorrow, let us learn to apply our minds to the contemplation of the issue which God promises. Thus we shall experience that all true believers have a common interest in this prophecy, That God not only will wipe away tears from their eyes, but that he will also diffuse inconceivable joy through their hearts."

The decree of salvation is even more important than Cyrus’ decree releasing the Israelites. Restoration from sin and death itself (Genesis 3) has been accomplished through Christ. There is also a future restoration promised in this Psalm. Though in this lifetime we may sow in tears and hardship as we proclaim God’s decree to the nations, God’s word does not return to Him empty (Isaiah 55:11).

We will come home with shouts of joy. 

The Regulative Principle of Philly Cheese Steaks

“²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:28-29 NKJV

In a previous article, “Why Should We Sing the Psalms Exclusively?”, the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) was given as one of the fundamental, biblical reasons as to why we sing the Psalms exclusively. My pastor recently went over the RPW at my church, and I would like to share some more Bible verses on the RPW along with what he called the Regulative Principle of Philly Cheese Steaks. Definitions of the RPW, ordinances, and circumstances are given at the bottom of the article for reference which were adopted from a book he cited.   

The Regulative Principle of Philly Cheese Steaks

Background: Imagine you are in Philadelphia and go to the restaurant which has, in your opinion, the sacred purpose of making the best Philly cheese steaks around. Upon receiving your order, you notice that your cheese steak has caramel syrup and colorful sprinkles on top. Displeased with your cheese steak, you call for your waiter.

You: “Waiter, why is there caramel syrup and sprinkles on my cheese steak? I didn’t ask for caramel and sprinkles to be put on top.”

Waiter: “Well we decided to change the way we make cheese steaks, and you didn’t specify that caramel and sprinkles were unacceptable to be put on your Philly cheese steak.”

You: “But this is not how a Philly cheese steak is supposed to be made! I ordered a Philly cheese steak with a specific description of what I wanted.”

Waiter: “I understand sir, but we found that our cooks really enjoy putting caramel and sprinkles on cheese steaks. It has been a great way to attract cooks, since they are bored of the normal way of making cheese steaks.”

You: “But this is unacceptable! I want to receive exactly what I ordered! I should not have to specify everything that you cannot add to my cheese steak!”

Of course this example works with any food of your choice, but the point is that you would be upset if you ordered food and received something different due to the preferences of the cooks. In the same way, the RPW states that God has told us how we are to worship Him in the Bible, and we do not have the freedom to add to the worship of God what we want. Just as the Philly cheese steak is for us and not the cooks, worship is for God and not us.

Key Texts for the RPW

Here is a larger list of biblical texts which relate to the RPW. I would like to challenge you to read these verses while meditating on what God teaches concerning His worship.

Cain’s Offering (Gen. 3:21; 4:3-7; Heb 11:4)

Second Commandment (Ex. 20:4-6; Deut. 5:8-10)

Second Commandment Expounded (Deut. 12:28-32)

The Golden Calf (Ex. 32:1-8; Neh. 9:18)

Strange Fire (Lev. 10:1-4)

Saul’s Transgressions (1 Sam. 13:5-14; 15:10-26)

The Ark on a Cart (Ex. 25:10-16; 2 Sam. 6:1-13; 1 Chron. 15:1-3; 11-16)

Jeroboam’s Innovations (1 King 12:25-33)

Child Sacrifice (Jer. 7:21-32; 19:4-6)

The High Places (Duet. 12:2; 5-6; 8-9; 1 Kings 15:11-14; 2 Kings 10:28-29: 2 Chronicles 33:11-17)

Ahaz’s Alter (2 Kings 16:10-16)

Spirit and Truth (Jn. 4:19-24)

Religious Hand-Washing (Matt. 15:1-9; Mk. 7:5-13)

The Temple Cleansing (Mk. 11:15-17)

Will Worship (Col. 2:18-23)

Scripture’s Sufficiency (2 Tim. 3:14-17)

God’s unchanging Nature (Heb. 12:28-29)

John’s Warning (1 Jn. 5:20-21)

The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW): Whatever is not commanded by scripture in the worship of God is forbidden. Anything that the church does in the worship must (1) have warrant from an explicit command of God, (2) be deduced by good and necessary consequences, or (3) be derived from approved historical example. [Worship = Any public, private, or domestic acts of direct worship offered to God.]

Ordinances: Worship ordinances are those things and activities received from divine revelation. Every worship ordinance is appointed by God. Anything connected to worship that has religious and moral significance has to be based on divine command (explicit or implicit) or approved historical example. The church receives all worship ordinances from God as revealed in the Bible. The church must obey all of God’s ordinances. The church does not have the authority to add or detract from those things God has appointed.

Circumstances: The circumstances of worship refer not to worship content and ceremony but to those things “common to human actions and societies.” Unlike the ordinances of worship, the circumstances of worship are not necessarily dependent on clear Biblical warrant. Although some circumstances (such as not ascending the alter via steps, Ex. 20:26; or as some would argue female head coverings in 1 Cor. 11) are specifically determined by Scripture, most depend solely upon general revelation and sanctified command sense. Believers and unbelievers alike know that shelter and heat are useful to conduct meetings in January, in Minnesota. They understand the desirability of chairs, lighting, clothing, and so on. It is understood that a time must be chosen in advance in order to conduct a meeting. There are many things common to both religious and civil (or secular) meetings that are not dependent on specific biblical instructions. These things, which contain no direct religious or moral symbolism or significance, are circumstances, or incidentals, of worship.   

High Hopes for the King: Psalm 72

Jesus is our ultimate King. He is the ruler who will reign eternally. To many of us, this is not a new concept. Christ’s role as a King has been preached to us. But what does that really look like? A true believer doesn't gaze at world leaders alone for protection. Though they try to deliver us, their solution is not God's solution. Psalm 72 has a lot to say about why our hope should rest in King Jesus alone. The language of this Psalm can’t fully apply to any earthly leader; its language is fit only for God.

1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 May he judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.

Verses 1-2 offer insight into Jesus’ role as our ultimate King. Justice and righteous judgment are the qualities emphasized. These traits are fully embodied in Jesus Christ, and earthly leaders should strive for them as well, by God’s grace. Rulers can have righteous qualities but they all also have weaknesses. Pray fervently and petition God to give our rulers the justice and righteousness of Christ.
 

2 May he judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.

4 May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.

The next kingly trait emphasized in Psalm 72 is care for the poor, found in verses 2, 4, and 12-14. The king’s subjects are needy. A just king defends them and conquers their oppressors. Jesus is the only King who exhibits perfect love and compassion for the poor in spirit. Truly, their blood is precious in His sight. Knowing and serving Him is the highest good for all people, whether poor or wealthy by the world’s standards.
 

6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

16 May grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
and thrive like the grass of the field.

Peace and prosperity are the next benefits brought about by the reign of King Jesus. These attributes are mentioned in verses 6-7 and 16. Jesus brings flourishing life and an abundance of peace. The Hebrew word used for peace here is “Shalom”, and it carries a picture of the wholeness and safety necessary for vital life. The result of righteousness is peace for eternity. 

5 May he endure as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.

7 In his days may the righteous flourish
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
8 May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba and Seba
    present him gifts.
11 May all kings bow down to him
    and all nations serve him.

17 May his name endure forever;
    may it continue as long as the sun.
Then all nations will be blessed through him,
    and they will call him blessed.

King Jesus also gloriously offers what no earthly ruler can: an eternal and universal reign. This is spoken of in the Psalm in verses 5, 7-11, and 17. The reign and benefits of Christ will continue forever. God’s promises look forward to a broad and universal kingdom, through all generations. It includes all nations, even rulers of other lands (think of the magi worshipping Jesus). Luke 1:32-33 predicts Christ’s enduring reign: The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.

We see many of the aforementioned benefits of Christ’s reign now. However, we do not see perfect justice and equity (Hebrews 2:8 tells us this). Christ has won the victory but He hasn’t fully and finally established perfect righteousness in the world. God’s promises are sure though His timing is yet unknown.

Earthly rulers, while they can have a portion of these traits, will not satisfy our souls. They cannot be our salvation, and they cannot bring about perfect peace and an eternal reign. My grandfather says, "World leaders try to be surrogate parents, but we have only one Father."  Many governments, including the United States, feel they are invincible and that power lies with them to bring about “world peace.” No president, king, or military leader will ultimately deliver us. 'We the people' are incapable of fulfilling the United States Constitution: “form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility… and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” The only leader who can and will establish perfect peace and justice is Christ Jesus. 

As God’s people, we must learn to live with imperfection. We can’t expect too much of this world before Christ has fully redeemed it. We also must not place too much hope in our government, or even the church. The God of Psalm 72 must be our only hope as we expectantly wait for the full peace and rule of Christ. We can pray and sing this Psalm in eager expectation of the King who will make all things right: Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory (vv. 19).

May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.

Note: This post was taken from my notes on a sermon I heard from Pastor H.P. McCracken at the Orlando RP Church.   

On the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

This week on the forty-first anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I had the privilege of joining hundreds of thousands of others in the annual March for Life, the largest pro-life event in the world. It was amazing to see those who are, like me, dedicated to the value of human life. I went to the March because it is evil that our Supreme Court has ruled that it is lawful to end innocent life. I’m not willing to sit down and become apathetic while thousands of defenseless children are sacrificed to the gods of our culture every day. We must pray for repentance and restoration for our country in this respect.  

The Psalms have a lot to say about human life, as does the Bible in general. The Psalms speak of the joy that children bring and what a gift they are. My pastor (and dad!) preached on Psalm 127 last Sunday and it stood out to me as it speaks of a Christ-centered household. We are looking forward to our final home in the new heavens and earth. Our homes now are not our final destination, but God’s house is. Psalm 127 paints a picture of the ideal home, also stressing the blessing that children are in verses 4-5.

Psalm 127

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,

   those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

    the watchman stays awake in vain.

2 It is in vain that you rise up early

    and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

    the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

    are the children of one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man

    who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

  when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

God is the giver of life and the one who formed each of us in the womb, knowing every one of our days before even our parents knew of our existence. God cares about the life He has created in His own image. If God knows even about the death of sparrows (Matthew 10), we can be certain that He does not think lightly of the millions of legalized murders in our nation. Life is valuable to the one who has created it.

Young ones were never hated by Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, nor does God intend them to be shunned by society. They are a gift from Him that should be treated as such. Psalm 8:4-5 speaks of the worth and dignity of human life of any age and stage: What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. Mankind was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and therefore life has intrinsic value.

Life should be defended because you and I were once in the womb as well.

So was the eternal Son of God.

Throughout the Bible, the value God assigns to human life is evident. It is clear in the Psalms, and it’s clear in the incarnation of Christ. The Word became flesh. Not only were you and I once at this early stage of development, but God Himself was once in the womb. Christ’s incarnation began roughly nine months before his birth.

Life is precious to God, and it should be precious to us. Let’s defend those who can’t stand up for themselves yet. Loving our neighbor as ourselves begins with our neighbor in the womb.

Note: Angela Kim wrote a beautiful pro-life article for this blog on Psalm 139 about a year ago. Please check out her thoughts here. 

I also recommend taking ten minutes to listen to John Piper’s podcast from Wednesday: Roe v. Wade Assaults the Incarnation of Christ. There are many wonderful resources online on this subject as well if you desire to be better informed. 

Righteousness Endures Forever: Psalm 112

 112:1 Praise the Lord!

How blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

Who greatly delights in His commandments.

2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;

The generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

And his righteousness endures forever.

Psalm 112 is a depiction of the righteous man’s behavior and characteristics. Righteousness is ultimately shown to us in Christ, and we are to be imitators of Jesus. In this Psalm, the author describes the blessings the righteous enjoy. The first is the joy of delighting in the Lord’s commands which will lead to wealth and mighty generations. This reminds me of righteous Job’s life at the beginning of the book of Job. He was “blameless and upright” with ten children and thousands of livestock and servants. “He was the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1:3). Because of this man of God’s holy lifestyle, he was blessed immeasurably with family and earthly riches. Job recognized that beyond these ephemeral treasures were eternal riches that far outweigh his wordly possessions. Likewise, God’s word and works have captured the righteous man’s heart in Psalm 112, and he lives his life accordingly.

Further, notice how family is connected to prosperity. In today’s culture, it seems that having many children is not a blessing but a burden. However, in the Bible family is considered a gift from God and a reward from Him (Psalm 127:3). This Psalm promises that the righteous man’s children will be blessed because of him. In a society that is living for instant gratification and rarely thinks generationally, this Psalm is a crucial reminder that our influence now will affect the lives of many who will come after us.  Spurgeon said of this verse, “The children of the righteous man commence life with greater advantages than others, and are more likely to succeed in it, in the best and highest sense…the race of sincere, devout, righteous men, is kept up from age to age, and ever abides under the blessing of God.”

  

4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright;

He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;

He will maintain his cause in judgment.

In verse 4, the blessing and righteousness of this man overflow to those around him. There are many temptations that come with wealth and prosperity, and this man deals with them appropriately. He flees from being miserly, greedy, unfair, ungrateful, or afraid. He recognizes that he must be a good steward of what he has been given, and that the greatest wealth is found his contentment in God. 

6 For he will never be shaken;

The righteous will be remembered forever.

7 He will not fear evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is upheld, he will not fear

Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.

9 He has given freely to the poor,

His righteousness endures forever;

His horn will be exalted in honor.

10 The wicked will see it and be vexed,

He will gnash his teeth and melt away;

The desire of the wicked will perish.

Alternate ways of life are ultimately futile. The final verse of the Psalm contrasts the righteous man with the life of the wicked. The Psalm has stated twice of the righteous, “His righteousness endures forever,” but the wicked will simply melt away, soon forgotten. In Derek Kidner’s commentary on Psalm 112, he noted, “In this Psalm, where the accent is on things that last, the man who dares to be generous is seen as the one who will be remembered, whose good deeds will never lose their value.”

It’s important for us as Christians, striving to follow the model of the righteous man (and ultimately Christ, the only one who gave us the perfect example of sinlessness), to make sure that our focus is still on lasting riches. What we do now will have an impact on eternity and on the souls of others. This Psalm shows that the fleeting desires of the world will come to nothing, while the righteous man knows how to spend his days and money in a way that glorifies God and helps those in need. He invests in the lives of others, and this does not go unnoticed. In fact, his righteousness will endure forever.

"Light arises in the darkness for the upright."

Why Should We Sing the Psalms Exclusively?

If you are new to the Reformed Presbyterian church or even if you grew up in it your whole life, you probably harbor in your mind some questions concerning Psalmody. Such questions may vary from why we sing Psalms at all to the peripheral application of Exclusive Psalmody. Nevertheless, it is important that we examine RP worship principles in accordance with the scriptures. As younger members of the RP church, the authors of the Selah Psalm blog sincerely challenge everyone, particularly other young people in the RP church, to consider specific questions and objections that are commonly brought up about or against Psalmody. Our goal is not to provide exhaustive arguments but to introduce the subject through insights from the Scriptures. All opinions expressed on this blog are ours alone and not necessarily those of the Reformed Presbyterian church of North America.   

Why should we sing the Psalms Exclusively?

“The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and does good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might.[1] But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.” Westminster Confession of Faith 21.1

(Deut. 12:32; Mat. 15:9; Acts 17:25; Mat. 4:9-10; Ex. 20:4-6)

            The Reformed Presbyterian Church believes, as stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith, that every part of worship requires warrant from scripture, and this principle extends to the singing of songs to God. Though we believe that the scriptures as a whole teach this principle, the most convincing argument for singing the Psalms can be found by simply singing the Psalms themselves. Michael Bushell states it in his book Songs of Zion, “The question of what songs we ought to sing in worship is not complicated. It is ultimately no more complicated than the question of whether the songs of God are better than the songs of men. God deserves the best. The Psalms are the best.” (13) The first half of the article will address the benefits of singing the Psalms and the second half the biblical reasons to sing the Psalms.

What are the Benefits to Singing the Psalms?

There are many reasons why we sing the Psalms. If you are part of the RP Church, then you probably know several of these reasons. We believe that the Bible commands the singing of Psalms in worship. We sing the Psalms because God tells us to do so.  Sadly, because of this we can easily treat the Psalms like a chore and forget the joy and beauty that takes place in singing them. God has given us the Psalms for many purposes, and one of these purposes is to express our emotions in a godly and beautiful way. The Psalms make it clear to us that it is okay to express our joy and thanksgiving, but the Psalms also make clear that it is okay to express our fear, sadness, and frustration. God has given us emotions for a reason, and He gives us the Psalms so that we can express these emotions in a righteous way.

Psalms of Praise

Praise songs in our society today have become very popular, and many of these songs are written by fine Christians. However, God has already given many beautiful Psalms of praise and rejoicing. For example, Psalm 136 praises God because of His love and His power. Verse one of this Psalm says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” God is the definition of goodness and His love never ends! What an amazing thing it is to sing these powerful words and to know with full certainty that they are true because God Himself has written them!  The Psalms of praise in the Bible are perfect with absolutely no misconceptions about who God is.

Psalms of Comfort

When we are having feelings of loneliness or when it feels like the whole world has turned against us, God has given us Psalms to comfort us and to remind us of His great power. Psalm 18 is a beautiful Psalm that reminds us that, as Christians, God is our fortress and He is our rock. “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.” What a great blessing we have to be able to sing this Psalm in full confidence that it is true and that it is right.

Psalms of Lament

God has graciously given us the Psalms of Lament, which contain much that is absent from most hymns and praise songs today. What a blessed thing it is to have these Psalms in which God gives us permission to come before Him in our sadness, frustration, and confusion.  Psalm 42 and Psalm 88 are great examples.  “I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.”  “My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” As you can see, God wants us to express our sorrow to Him as well as joy. The most beautiful example of a Psalm being remembered as a crying out to God was when Jesus was in anguish on the cross and quoted Psalm 22. “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”   

Praise, comfort, and sadness are only three of the many different emotions that we find in the Psalms. We must always remember while singing the Psalms that they are not a chore but rather a precious gift from God! We are able to express our deepest emotions through singing.  God gives us Psalms that we can sing to express these emotions and know in full confidence that God is pleased with what we are singing. When singing the Psalms, remember that we are given the opportunity to express our deepest emotions in a righteous way to a God who truly listens and cares.

What are the Biblical Reasons to Sing the Psalms Exclusively?

            The controversy over exclusive Psalmody often times can be tangled and confusing with a plethora of arguments and counter arguments on every minute detail. However, at its core, the argument for exclusive Psalmody is extremely simple.

·         We are to obey God. (Deut 6:1-2; Ecclesiastes  12:13-14)

·         We may not add our own inventions to the worship of God. (Deut 12:31-32)

·         God commands us to sing Psalms. (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19)

·         God does not command us to sing uninspired hymns.

·         Thus we should only sing the Psalms of the Bible in worship.

Although each of these statements can be (and has been) contested, the second statement is really at the heart of the issue. Exclusive Psalmody hinges on what is known as the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW), which can be summarized as follows: Every part of worship with religious significance must have warrant from Scripture.

Similar to the doctrine of the Trinity, the RPW cannot be explicitly shown through a single passage. Yet, like the doctrine of the Trinity, we believe that the RPW can be “deduced from the word of God by good and necessary consequence”. (Bushell 162) One simply must meditate on Scripture as a whole, and ask if God regulates how He should be worshiped. Furthermore, God provides a book of songs in the Bible, so the burden of proof is not on Exclusive Psalmody. Considering the Scripture’s teachings of our relationship with God, Old Testament temple worship, God’s demand for obedience, and the frailty of man’s wisdom, it is a difficult task to validate the idea of God giving us flexibility and room for creativity concerning His worship.

The main proof text for the RPW can be found in the Ten Commandments and is expounded by the Westminster Larger Catechism.

   

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Exodus 20:4-6

Q. 109. What sins are forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising (Num 15;39), counseling (Deut 13:6-8), commanding, using, and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself(Deut 12:30-32); the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever; all worshiping of it, or God in it or by it; the making of any representation of feigned deities, and all worship of them, or service belonging to them; all superstitious devices, corrupting the worship of God (Malachi 1:7-8), adding to it, or taking from it, whether invented and taken up of ourselves (Ps 106:39), or received by tradition from others (Matt 15:9), though under the title of antiquity, custom, devotion, good intent, or any other pretense whatsoever (1 Sam 13:11-12); simony; sacrilege; all neglect, contempt, hindering, and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed.

Westminster Larger Catechism

The Ten Commandments are a summary of the entire moral law, and just as Jesus classified anger as murder, unacceptable worship must be classified as idolatry. “Idolatry is simply one of the most egregious examples of unacceptable worship.” (Bushell 163) An example of this is given in Exodus 32 when the Israelites tried to worship God through a golden statue.

And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Exodus 32:4

Another example is found in Exodus 20:25 when God teaches Israel to not improve upon His worship.

And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. Exodus 20:25

Other main proof texts include:

Leviticus 1:1-3                        The Offering of Strange Fire

1 Chronicles 13:9-14               The Death of Uzza

Deuteronomy 12:29-32           Warnings Against False Worship

            So why should we sing the Psalms exclusively? Is it acceptable to decide for ourselves how God should be worshipped? It is important to make sure that we are asking the right questions, since incorrect questions do exist. Today many people ask, ‘What type of worship makes me feel the closest to God?’ However the chief purpose of worship is not to appeal to our senses, but to bring glory to God. (1 Cor 10:31) At the end of the day, we sing Psalms out of obedience to God, embracing the benefits, but with the main goal of glorifying Him.

“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32

Special thanks to Eden Schaefer for writing the section on the benefits of singing the Psalms!

Bushell, Michael. The Songs of Zion. Pittsburgh, PA: Crown and Covenant Publications, 1980. Print.