We ask God to make the Scripture fresh, encouraging, and convicting to us as we sit under its ministry.
From Psalm 16
Gracious God and Father, it thrills our hearts to think that we, your children, are the noble ones in whom the heart of our Savior Jesus delights. Because of his great delight in us, and because of his glorious resurrection, we will turn to no one else but him; we will offer no sacrifice of praise to another; we will take the name of no other upon our lips. As we attend to your Word, give us counsel. As we place our eyes upon Jesus alone, give our hearts instruction that will sustain us night and day. By the power of your Spirit, take hold of our souls and spirits and lead us in the way of life–the way of resurrection life that Jesus now leads us along for his name’s sake, and for our good and glory. Amen.
Our Psalm of the Day anchors our worship in God’s Word. The Psalms allow us to express our praise, confess our need, and offer our prayers.
Psalm 16
A miktam of David.
1 Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
We reflect on the Psalm of the Day and use it to examine our hearts and minds, leading us to confession of our sin.
The Psalmist says in verse 4 that “those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.” In the ancient world, a god was a being with whom people tried to make a deal. “We’ll make sacrifices to you, and honor you. In exchange, you have to save us.” It looks like a good deal. It looked like a good deal for many of the Israelites. But the one true God, who reached down into Israel’s pain and misery and slavery, and saved them by pure grace, knows that it’s a horrible deal.
The gods of the world demand our allegiance. But then they fail to save us, no matter how many sacrifices we make for them. Friends, we too often serve the false gods of money, sex, power. We serve the pathetic and demanding gods of health, wealth, and happiness. We give ourselves to them. But they guarantee nothing in return. In fact, they always disappoint us, once they’re through using and abusing us.
Our God is completely different. God saves by pure grace, and then calls us to give our lives to him in return—a sacrifice of praise. Why do we forsake him, and put our hope in politics, finances, family, and security, when he alone can save?
May this Easter Sunday be the day in which we turn from the dead, dumb, and deaf gods of the world and turn instead to the Living and True God, our risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us confess our sin.
Gracious and merciful God, we confess that we keep money, security, health, comfort, and ultimately ourselves too often on the throne of our hearts. We serve these false gods and entertain the false hope that they will not fail us. But only you can make us secure. Only at your right hand do we find lasting pleasures. Only with you at our side do we walk down the path of life. Forgive us for wandering so quickly from you. Free us from the grip of idols like you freed your people from slavery in Egypt. Bind our hearts to our resurrected and glorified Savior, Jesus Christ, alone, and for his sake, forgive us, renew us, and lead us onward. Amen.
Holy people of God, good news! Our Lord Jesus Christ delights in us, for we are his inheritance! He knows that we have no good thing apart from him. And so he has rescued us from the guilt of our sin, and will continue to deliver us from the power of sin. He saves you by pure grace, and now calls you to walk the path of life with him. Because he gave up his life for you at the cross, and because God the Father raised him from the dead and did not let Jesus’ body decay in the grave, you are able to walk the paths of life with fullness of joy—and with no regard for the false promises of false gods. Go in the peace of Jesus, and sin no more! Amen!