Psalms Book I: Psalm 24-26

Psalm 24:1-10,

“A psalm of David.

(1) The LORD owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it.

(2) For He set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents.”

Genesis speaks of the waters being divided. One part above the sky and one part below the sky. The portion below the sky was gathered together into one place.

The word one can mean interconnected. I did not have the time to explore the possibilities of this meaning applying to this passage, but it would seem to be more consistent with how God flooded the world in the days of Noah.

The scriptures say that God opened fountains or underground springs of the ocean and the windows of the sky were opened.

The idea seems to be that underneath the ocean floor are vents or fountains from which jettison water from chambers below the ocean floor. This God is said to have opened. This seems evidenced by the huge ridges and fault lines both above and below the oceans. They run around the earth like the seams on a baseball. They correspond to the mountain ridges on land. It looks as if God opened these up and when they did it separated the great land mass what scientist now would call Pangea and caused the continents to essentially hydroplane until they met with resistance at which point the land that stopped first would begin to buckle as the land still moving was approaching causing mountain ridges and valleys. But these vents were fountains are what the psalmist is here referring to.

“(3) Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?

(4) The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them.

(5) Such godly people are rewarded by the LORD, and vindicated by the God Who delivers them.

(6) Such purity characterizes the people who seek His favor, Jacob’s descendants, who pray to Him. (Selah)”

These words nearly perfectly correspond to those we read in Psalm 15…

“(7) Look up, you gates! Rise up, you eternal doors! Then the majestic king will enter!

(8) Who is this majestic king? The LORD who is strong and mighty! The LORD Who is mighty in battle!

(9) Look up, you gates! Rise up, you eternal doors! Then the majestic king will enter!

(10) Who is this majestic king? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies! He is the majestic king! (Selah)”

Psalm 25:1-22,

“(1) By David.

O LORD, I come before You in prayer. (2) My God, I trust in You.

Please do not let me be humiliated; do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!

(3) Certainly none who rely on You will be humiliated. Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.

(4) Make me understand Your ways, O LORD! Teach me Your paths!

(5) Guide me into Your truth and teach me. For You are the God Who delivers me; on You I rely all day long.

(6) Remember Your compassionate and faithful deeds, O LORD, for You have always acted in this manner.

(7) Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts!

Because You are faithful to me, extend to me Your favor, O LORD!

(8) The LORD is both kind and fair; that is why He teaches sinners the right way to live.

(9) May He show the humble what is right! May He teach the humble His way!

(10) The LORD always proves faithful and reliable to those who follow the demands of His covenant.

(11) For the sake of Your reputation, [Your great name] O LORD, forgive my sin, because it is great.

(12) The LORD shows His faithful followers the way they should live. (13) They experience His favor; their descendants inherit the land.

(14) The LORD’s loyal followers receive His guidance, and He reveals His covenantal demands to them.

(15) I continually look to the LORD for help, for He will free my feet from the enemy’s net.

(16) Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed!

(17) Deliver me from my distress; rescue me from my suffering! (18) See my pain and suffering! Forgive all my sins!

(19) Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me; they hate me and want to harm me.

(20) Protect me and deliver me!

Please do not let me be humiliated, for I have taken shelter in You!

(21) May integrity and godliness protect me, for I rely on You! (22) O God, rescue Israel from all their distress!”

Psalm 26:1-12,

“(1) By David.

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have integrity, and I trust in the LORD without wavering.

(2) Examine me, O LORD, and test me! Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives!

(3) For I am ever aware of Your faithfulness, and Your loyalty continually motivates me.

(4) I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.

(5) I hate the mob of evil men, and do not associate with the wicked.

(6) I maintain a pure lifestyle, so I can appear before Your altar, O LORD, (7) to give You thanks, and to tell about all your amazing deeds.

(8) O LORD, I love the temple where You live, the place where Your splendor is revealed.

(9) Do not sweep me away with sinners, or execute me along with violent people, (10) who are always ready to do wrong or offer a bribe.

(11) But I have integrity! Rescue me and have mercy on me!

(12) I am safe, and among the worshipers I will praise the LORD.”

Blessings!

Tri

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!