Sermon: The Lord is Righteous
Scripture Text: Psalm 129
Quotes for Reflection
George Herbert, The Sacrifice
With clubs and staves they seek me, as a thief,
Who am the Way and Truth, the true relief;
Most true to those, who are my greatest grief:
Was ever grief like mine?
Steven Lawson, The Holman Old Testament Commentary
In the face of defeat, God gave them the victory. In fact, such God-given victory marked the entire history of his people, Israel. God's people sinned, and God saved them; Israel disobeyed, and God delivered them; Israel rebelled, and God rescued them. This is the undeserved grace of God poured out upon his people. Failure is never final as long as there is the grace of God.
Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
The reason my childhood was one enthusiasm after another was that I hadn’t yet found an organizing center for my life and a goal that would demand my all and my best. The Christian faith is the discovery of that center in the God who sticks with us, the righteous God. Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions and gifts, our human needs and our eternal aspirations. It is the way of life we were created for. There are endless challenges in it to keep us on the growing edge of faith; there is always the God who sticks with us to make it possible for us to persevere.
Application Questions
1. Psalm 129 describes God as the one who rescues us from oppression. What does it say about God that he even rescues us from ourselves?
2. The prayer of the psalmist in verse five is one of anger. How is God speaking to you through your anger in this season?
3. The story of Scripture tells of a God who always sticks with us. How have you experienced this in your own story and how can this give you a sense of renewed hope for whatever you might facing now?