941 Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs,
you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth. 2 Rise up, you judge of the earth.
Pay back the proud what they deserve. 3 Yahweh, how long will the wicked,
how long will the wicked triumph? 4 They pour out arrogant words.
All the evildoers boast. 5 They break your people in pieces, Yahweh,
and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the alien,
and murder the fatherless. 7 They say, “Yah will not see,
neither will Jacob’s God consider.” 8 Consider, you senseless among the people;
you fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear?
He who formed the eye, won’t he see? 10 He who disciplines the nations, won’t he punish?
He who teaches man knows. 11 Yahweh knows the thoughts of man,
that they are futile.
12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah,
and teach out of your law; 13 that you may give him rest from the days of adversity,
until the pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For Yahweh won’t reject his people,
neither will he forsake his inheritance. 15 For judgment will return to righteousness.
All the upright in heart shall follow it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? 17 Unless Yahweh had been my help,
my soul would have soon lived in silence. 18 When I said, “My foot is slipping!”
Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me,
your comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you,
which brings about mischief by statute? 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,
and condemn the innocent blood. 22 But Yahweh has been my high tower,
my God, the rock of my refuge. 23 He has brought on them their own iniquity,
and will cut them off in their own wickedness.
Yahweh, our God, will cut them off.
951 Oh come, let’s sing to Yahweh.
Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving.
Let’s extol him with songs! 3 For Yahweh is a great God,
a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth.
The heights of the mountains are also his. 5 The sea is his, and he made it.
His hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let’s worship and bow down.
Let’s kneel before Yahweh, our Maker,
7 for he is our God.
We are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep in his care.
Today, oh that you would hear his voice! 8 Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers tempted me,
tested me, and saw my work. 10 Forty long years I was grieved with that generation,
and said, “It is a people that errs in their heart.
They have not known my ways.” 11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,
“They won’t enter into my rest.”
961 Sing to Yahweh a new song!
Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. 2 Sing to Yahweh!
Bless his name!
Proclaim his salvation from day to day! 3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised!
He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but Yahweh made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him.
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations,
ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name.
Bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 Worship Yahweh in holy array.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.”
The world is also established.
It can’t be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice.
Let the sea roar, and its fullness! 12 Let the field and all that is in it exult!
Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy 13 before Yahweh; for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
the peoples with his truth.
14 I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers [1], that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others. 15 But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; 20 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation. 21 But, as it is written,
“They will see, to whom no news of him came.
They who haven’t heard will understand.” [2]
22 Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you, 23 but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27 Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things. 28 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.
30 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints; 32 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
(Read Romans 15:14-21)
The apostle was persuaded that the Roman Christians were filled with a kind and affectionate spirit, as well as with knowledge. He had written to remind them of their duties and their dangers, because God had appointed him the minister of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul preached to them; but what made them sacrifices to God, was, their sanctification; not his work, but the work of the Holy Ghost: unholy things can never be pleasing to the holy God. The conversion of souls pertains unto God; therefore it is the matter of Paul's glorying, not the things of the flesh. But though a great preacher, he could not make one soul obedient, further than the Spirit of God accompanied his labours. He principally sought the good of those that sat in darkness. Whatever good we do, it is Christ who does it by us.
(Read Romans 15:22-29)
The apostle sought the things of Christ more than his own will, and would not leave his work of planting churches to go to Rome. It concerns all to do that first which is most needful. We must not take it ill if our friends prefer work which is pleasing to God, before visits and compliments, which may please us. It is justly expected from all Christians, that they should promote every good work, especially that blessed work, the conversion of souls. Christian society is a heaven upon earth, an earnest of our gathering together unto Christ at the great day. Yet it is but partial, compared with our communion with Christ; for that only will satisfy the soul. The apostle was going to Jerusalem, as the messenger of charity. God loves a cheerful giver. Every thing that passes between Christians should be a proof and instance of the union they have in Jesus Christ. The Gentiles received the gospel of salvation from the Jews; therefore were bound to minister to them in what was needed for the body. Concerning what he expected from them he speaks doubtfully; but concerning what he expected from God he speaks confidently. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. And how delightful and advantageous it is to have the gospel with the fulness of its blessings! What wonderful and happy effects does it produce, when attended with the power of the Spirit!
(Read Romans 15:30-33)
Let us learn to value the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous. How careful should we be, lest we forfeit our interest in the love and prayers of God's praying people! If we have experienced the Spirit's love, let us not be wanting in this office of kindness for others. Those that would prevail in prayer, must strive in prayer. Those who beg the prayers of others, must not neglect to pray for themselves. And though Christ knows our state and wants perfectly, he will know them from us. As God must be sought, for restraining the ill-will of our enemies, so also for preserving and increasing the good-will of our friends. All our joy depends upon the will of God. Let us be earnest in prayer with and for each other, that for Christ's sake, and by the love of the Holy Spirit, great blessings may come upon the souls of Christians, and the labours of ministers.
