911 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers.
Under his wings you will take refuge.
His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
nor of the arrow that flies by day; 6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side,
and ten thousand at your right hand;
but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes,
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made Yahweh your refuge,
and the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall happen to you,
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. 11 For he will put his angels in charge of you,
to guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands,
so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and cobra.
You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he has known my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble.
I will deliver him, and honor him. 16 I will satisfy him with long life,
and show him my salvation.”
921 It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh,
to sing praises to your name, Most High; 2 to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning,
and your faithfulness every night, 3 with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp,
and with the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, Yahweh, have made me glad through your work.
I will triumph in the works of your hands. 5 How great are your works, Yahweh!
Your thoughts are very deep. 6 A senseless man doesn’t know,
neither does a fool understand this:
7 though the wicked spring up as the grass,
and all the evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever. 8 But you, Yahweh, are on high forevermore. 9 For, behold, your enemies, Yahweh,
for, behold, your enemies shall perish.
All the evildoers will be scattered. 10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox.
I am anointed with fresh oil. 11 My eye has also seen my enemies.
My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me. 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in Yahweh’s house.
They will flourish in our God’s courts. 14 They will still bring forth fruit in old age.
They will be full of sap and green, 15 to show that Yahweh is upright.
He is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in him.
931 Yahweh reigns!
He is clothed with majesty!
Yahweh is armed with strength.
The world also is established.
It can’t be moved. 2 Your throne is established from long ago.
You are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, Yahweh,
the floods have lifted up their voice.
The floods lift up their waves. 4 Above the voices of many waters,
the mighty breakers of the sea,
Yahweh on high is mighty. 5 Your statutes stand firm.
Holiness adorns your house,
Yahweh, forevermore.
151 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 3 For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” [1] 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, [2] to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.” [3] 10 Again he says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” [4] 11 Again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Let all the peoples praise him.” [5] 12 Again, Isaiah says,
“There will be the root of Jesse,
he who arises to rule over the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles will hope.” [6]
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Read Romans 15:1-7)
Christian liberty was allowed, not for our pleasure, but for the glory of God, and the good of others. We must please our neighbour, for the good of his soul; not by serving his wicked will, and humouring him in a sinful way; if we thus seek to please men, we are not the servants of Christ. Christ's whole life was a self-denying, self-displeasing life. And he is the most advanced Christian, who is the most conformed to Christ. Considering his spotless purity and holiness, nothing could be more contrary to him, than to be made sin and a curse for us, and to have the reproaches of God fall upon him; the just for the unjust. He bore the guilt of sin, and the curse for it; we are only called to bear a little of the trouble of it. He bore the presumptuous sins of the wicked; we are called only to bear the failings of the weak. And should not we be humble, self-denying, and ready to consider one another, who are members one of another? The Scriptures are written for our use and benefit, as much as for those to whom they were first given. Those are most learned who are most mighty in the Scriptures. That comfort which springs from the word of God, is the surest and sweetest, and the greatest stay to hope. The Spirit as a Comforter, is the earnest of our inheritance. This like-mindedness must be according to the precept of Christ, according to his pattern and example. It is the gift of God; and a precious gift it is, for which we must earnestly seek unto him. Our Divine Master invites his disciples, and encourages them by showing himself as meek and lowly in spirit. The same disposition ought to mark the conduct of his servants, especially of the strong towards the weak. The great end in all our actions must be, that God may be glorified; nothing more forwards this, than the mutual love and kindness of those who profess religion. Those that agree in Christ may well agree among themselves.
(Read Romans 15:8-13)
Christ fulfilled the prophecies and promises relating to the Jews, and the Gentile converts could have no excuse for despising them. The Gentiles, being brought into the church, are companions in patience and tribulation. They should praise God. Calling upon all the nations to praise the Lord, shows that they shall have knowledge of him. We shall never seek to Christ till we trust in him. And the whole plan of redemption is suited to reconcile us to one another, as well as to our gracious God, so that an abiding hope of eternal life, through the sanctifying and comforting power of the Holy Spirit, may be attained. Our own power will never reach this; therefore where this hope is, and is abounding, the blessed Spirit must have all the glory. "All joy and peace;" all sorts of true joy and peace, so as to suppress doubts and fears, through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit.
