Podcasts about Asaph

Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,6 These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;8 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.24 The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.31 The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.34 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.41 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.44 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.45 The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.57 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.61 And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Pastor Dan teaches through Psalms 73, focusing on the struggle of seeing wicked people prosper while those who follow God suffer. He explains that Asaph nearly loses his footing because he becomes consumed with envy and frustration, questioning whether following God is even worth it. Everything changes when Asaph enters God's presence and gains an eternal perspective, realizing that earthly success is temporary while God's justice and goodness are eternal. Dan encourages believers to bring their honest doubts and frustrations to God, but not to remain focused on their circumstances. Instead, he calls Christians to lift their eyes to God's character, trust His timing and justice, and find their hope in His presence rather than in comfort, success, or circumstances. Ultimately, the sermon reminds believers that even when life is difficult and unfair, God Himself is their greatest treasure, their refuge, and their portion forever.

Why do people who ignore God often seem to prosper while those who seek to follow Him struggle?In Episode 80 of the Wisdom Calling Podcast, we begin a new section in our chronological journey through Scripture by exploring Psalm 73, a powerful song written by Asaph, the leader of King David's royal choir. Wrestling with envy, comparison, and the apparent success of the wicked, Asaph confronts a question that still challenges us today: Is faithfulness to God really worth it?Everything changes when he enters God's presence.Join us as we discover how God's perspective transforms our understanding of success, prosperity, and contentment. We'll explore why perception isn't always reality, how comparison can quietly steal our joy, and why true wisdom begins with seeing life through God's eyes.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why envy and comparison are so spiritually destructive• How God's presence reshapes our perspective• The difference between appearance and reality• Practical ways to cultivate discernment and contentment• Why God Himself is our greatest treasureKey Passage: Psalm 73Wisdom Calling is a podcast designed to help Christian professionals cultivate wisdom in their lives and work by thinking more critically and living more strategically through the lens of God's Word.You can order the devotionals at https://amzn.to/4h8zFe6 or https://wisdomcalling.orgFollow us on Instagram: @wisdomcallingnow

Danny Jankovics – Psalm 73:1-28 – The wicked prosper   Psalm 73 A psalm of Asaph. 1 Surely God is good to Israel,     to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;     I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant     when I saw the prosperity of the […]

And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Psalm 80 is a psalm of Asaph where he admits that the children of Israel have a problem and asks the Lord to turn us again. He includes himself in the problem and it is an example of repentance. Instead of asking God to fix our situation, many times we need to ask the Lord to turn us again! Grab your Bible and follow along with Pastor Mike.

Drawing from Asaph’s transparent confession in Psalm 73:2-3, this reflection explores how unresolved hurt and constant focus on injustice can slowly lead us toward disillusionment. Like Asaph, many believers struggle when they see harmful people thriving while their own wounds deepen. Yet the turning point in the psalm comes when Asaph intentionally enters God’s sanctuary and regains an eternal perspective. In God’s presence, he remembers that earthly success is temporary, but God’s love, justice, and guidance are eternal. This devotional encourages Christians to stop carrying pain alone and instead seek refuge in the Lord. God does not dismiss our hurt or ignore injustice. He sees every wound, strengthens weary hearts, and offers healing to those who draw near to Him. Even when circumstances remain difficult, His presence steadies us and renews our faith. Highlights Psalm 73 honestly addresses discouragement over injustice and evil. Comparing our suffering to others’ success can lead to bitterness and despair. Rumination and isolation often pull us further away from God’s peace. Asaph found clarity only after intentionally entering God’s presence. God offers refuge, healing, and perspective in seasons of pain. Justice may seem delayed, but God remains faithful and sovereign. Drawing near to God strengthens faith and quiets fear. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: When We Feel Discouraged by the Evil in Our WorldBy: Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;I had nearly lost my foothold.For I envied the arrogantwhen I saw the prosperity of the wicked. - Psalm 73:2-3 (NIV) Some time ago, I met with a sweet woman trying to heal from some deep emotional wounds. Because of past harm, she struggled to trust others and feel safe in relationships. Relatively new in her faith and transformation journey, she was just beginning to make sense of her emotions and inner world. As her understanding grew, so did her anger. This multiplied when she learned the person who’d most harmed her had slandered her to others, causing some to misjudge her and others to withdraw completely. She felt like she would never break free from her pain and bitterness. Worse, her offender didn’t seem to suffer any consequences for her actions. The person actually seemed to be thriving. Have you been there? Watching someone else treat others with ruthless cruelty, and not only get away with it, but benefit from your pain and the wreckage they caused? We can all probably think of situations in which injustice left us deeply wounded, wondering why God allowed us to experience such pain. We’ve also probably watched others seem to get away with horrendous behavior, while our suffering only increases. This was precisely how Asaph, the royal musician who penned Psalm 73, felt. We don’t know when he wrote this passage. But if this is the same Asaph who served during the time of King David, he may have been watching the betrayal David experienced at the hands of his son. Or perhaps the wickedness he refers to hits closer to home. His words might also stem from a more existential reflection on considering the world at large. At times, it does seem like the wealthy, powerful, and unscrupulous thrive, with little worries or pain, while we fall into one crisis after another. And in those seasons when someone else’s success seems to mock our pain, it’s easy to question the heart, promises, and plans of God. Unfortunately, if we cease tending to our souls, our sorrow can turn to disillusionment and eventually bitterness. Our inner angst can turn us from, rather than to, the One who knows us fully, loves us deeply, and is always working on our behalf. When we sense ourselves tiptoeing toward disillusionment and despair, we can follow Asaph’s example, as revealed in verses 16-17. Initially, he attempted to make sense of his circumstances on his own (v. 16). This only increased his inner angst. But then, in the next verse, we read: “… till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny” (NIV). He intentionally turned to God. I don’t know how far he needed to travel to reach the Temple. But this required effort and determination. It also meant setting aside whatever other tasks he wanted to complete that day. When we’re hurting, frightened, or struggling with doubt, it’s easy to get stuck in our heads as we rehearse all the evils we’ve experienced or seen. The more we ruminate on what feels hard and uncertain, the more powerless and discouraged, and potentially, even abandoned, we feel. And our mind rarely remains focused on the inciting incident. Often, one negative thought leads to another, then another, until we’re overwhelmed. And like I said earlier, unmitigated introspection can pull us further from God, which only increases our fear or despair. But the converse occurs, as well. When we turn to God, seek His presence, and authentically engage with Him, He meets us in the intensity of our emotions and speaks clarity to our confusion, truth to our doubts, and surrounds us with His love. Did you catch how the Lord did this for Asaph? In God’s sanctuary, the place in which His presence dwelt, He gained faith-building understanding. Yes, the wicked seemed to thrive without any concerns or consequences. But justice would come, and Asaph would experience God’s goodness. Notice how he ended his poetic prayer. In verses 23-26, we read: Yet I am always with you;you hold me by my right hand.You guide me with your counsel,and afterward you will take me into glory.Whom have I in heaven but you?And earth has nothing I desire besides you.My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heartand my portion forever. And then, in verse 28: But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; Intersecting Life & Faith: I don’t know what you’re going through currently, what feels heavy and unfair and unjust. But I do know God sees you, loves you, and is for you. He won’t abandon you in your pain, nor will He allow the wicked to thrive forever. He brings justice, healing, hope, and refuge. If you’re feeling disillusioned by someone else’s sinful behavior, bring your emotions, unfiltered, to God and trust Him to meet and to heal you there. To shield and uphold you in His love. Before you sign off, if this episode hit a tender place in your soul and you’re struggling to make sense of some relational patterns that are leading to more anxiety than joy, visit the Faith Over Fear podcast to listen to my conversation with Jennifer Renee Watson on the threads of people pleasing and how to gain the confidence to tend to your soul—when others try to beat you down. That episode is titled "When People Take Advantage of Your Kindness: Biblical Help for People Pleasing." Further Reading: Psalm 37:1-7 Romans 12:19 Psalm 94:1-3 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.3 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord.6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Psalm 78:2 reminds believers of the importance of remembering and recounting God’s faithfulness through every generation. In this devotional, Jennifer Slattery explores how seasons of chaos, uncertainty, fear, and hardship can tempt Christians to lose sight of God’s power, provision, and promises. When life feels overwhelming, believers often try to regain control on their own, yet Scripture continually points back to the faithfulness of God as the true foundation for peace and stability. This devotional highlights how the Israelites repeatedly witnessed God’s miraculous provision and deliverance, yet often forgot His faithfulness when new challenges arose. Through intentional reflection and remembrance, Christians can strengthen their faith, overcome fear, and build deeper trust in God’s character. Remembering God’s past faithfulness becomes a powerful way to steady the heart, encourage future generations, and remain anchored in hope during uncertain times. Highlights Remembering God’s faithfulness strengthens faith during difficult seasons. Fear and anxiety often grow when believers forget God’s past provision. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to reflect on His works and promises. The Israelites struggled because they continually forgot God’s deliverance. God remains faithful even when His people are fearful or weak in faith. Reflecting on God’s past provision helps believers trust Him in present trials. Intentional remembrance builds peace, hope, and spiritual endurance. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: How Remembering God’s Faithfulness Rebuilds Your FaithBy: Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:I will open my mouth with a parable;I will utter hidden things, things from of old. —Psalm 78:2 Lately, life has felt heavy and chaotic, hasn’t it? Sometimes it feels like everything is spinning backward, upside down, and inside out, and frankly, there’s not much I can do about it. I can’t fix our economy or prevent the next recession. I can’t undo the division and polarization plaguing our nation. I can’t solve my loved one’s problems or prevent their pain. And when everything hits simultaneously, or my hardship continues for any length of time, I temporarily lose sight of the power, promises, and love of Christ. Such forgetfulness is dangerous in times of crisis, because it tempts me to rely on myself and seek control. But I’ve created enough messes to know the foolishness of any so-called solutions not provided by Christ. Thankfully, He never leaves me to navigate life’s challenges alone. I watched Him resurrect my marriage when it seemed dead. He’s provided for us in miraculous ways and guided us through confusion and uncertainty. My life has become a living testimony of His grace. A grace that, when remembered and reflected upon, deepens my faith, strengthens my obedience, and purifies my love for the One who never leaves my side. I see this strategic interaction all throughout Scripture. We humans excel at falling into messes; the Lord excels at pulling us out and setting us on a new, brighter, freer path. This is the message Asaph, the prophet and royal musician who penned Psalm 78, conveyed. He wanted the Israelites to consider God’s faithfulness to His often faithless and rebellious people. He asked them to listen, and then to repeat the lessons he taught, as a way to encourage their souls, yes. But also to build faith into the next generation. To help insulate them from falling into the same self-defeating traps as the older generation (vs 6-8). Scripture records some of the most shocking examples in Exodus, a historical narrative recounting the people’s liberation from slavery and oppression and journey to the Promised Land. They should’ve completed this 200 to 400-mile trek within ten days, a few weeks max. But when it came time to enter their new, God-given land, they refused, out of fear. This, after having witnessed the Lord’s miraculous intervention numerous times. Consider how their story began—an entire population, held captive, powerless, for centuries. They had no recourse, no voice, and likely assumed things would never get better. How could they, a weak and beaten-down people group, possibly break free from the most powerful ruler in the ancient world at that time? That’s also why God’s rescue would’ve made such an impact. He infused hope into a seemingly hopeless situation, proving His power over the most oppressive and established systems and history’s most vicious tyrants. But then, soon after their liberation, they found themselves trapped again, this time with a large body of water on one side and a skilled, armed, and trained military advancing on the other. Understandably, the people panicked. They deemed their circumstances hopeless. But again, God came through, parted the water so they could pass across on dry ground, then swept their cruel abusers into the sea. Again and again, God’s people found themselves in dire situations. And again and again, God came through, proving His love. Demonstrating His attentive care. In each instance, He presented them with an opportunity to deepen their faith, build greater trust in their Maker, and establish a more secure connection with Him. Sadly, they never seemed to accept His beautiful invitation—because they refused to learn from their past. Instead, they remained reactive, fearful, anxious, and in repeated chaos with themselves, one another, and their Lord. Asaph challenged the later generations to consider their ancestors’ self-defeating patterns so that they could learn to live differently, with more faith and less fear. And he did so by highlighting God’s faithfulness, often displayed when His people behaved most faithlessly. Intersecting Life & Faith: Each day, God offers us the same lesson. He invites us to engage in intentional reflection, where we periodically pause to recall evidence of His love and examples of His care. This remembering strengthens our faith and our attachment to our Savior. As we consistently draw closer to Him, listen for His life parables, and fortify our souls with truth, He steadies us. He enables us to stand firm, immovable, regardless of how shaky the ground beneath us feels. How might intentionally remembering God’s power, promises, presence, and provision increase your faith and peace and decrease your anxiety for whatever difficulties you might face? Perhaps journal on one instance each day. In a year’s time, you’ll have 365 accounts of His faithful care for you and those you love. Further Reading:Joshua 4:6-7Psalm 105:1-5Psalm 145:4-7 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:3 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.6 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.18 The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.21 The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six.23 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.27 The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.29 The children of Nebo, fifty and two.30 The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.38 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.41 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.55 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.59 And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 376, “When Kindness & Generosity Flow,” Kim discusses the natural flow of encouragement, kindness, and generosity we see in the celebration of the Passover described in today's scripture passage. Today, what automatically flows from your life?   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 35:1-19, and with 14-15 as the focal verses:   14 Afterward the Levites prepared Passover offerings for themselves and for the priests—the descendants of Aaron—because the priests had been busy from morning till night offering the burnt offerings and the fat portions. The Levites took responsibility for all these preparations. 15 The musicians, descendants of Asaph, were in their assigned places, following the commands that had been given by David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's seer. The gatekeepers guarded the gates and did not need to leave their posts of duty, for their Passover offerings were prepared for them by their fellow Levites.     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   Pray Psalm 139:23-24 for yourself, asking the Lord to show you what naturally flows from your heart.   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23-24) Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus   I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings (1 & 2 Chronicles) PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2026). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

Comparison is a subtle thief. In Psalm 73, Asaph takes us on a painfully honest journey from confidence in God to frustration, envy, and spiritual confusion. While looking at the success of the wicked, he began to lose sight of the goodness of God, and what started as comparison slowly became a slippery slope away from the Lord. Join us as we walk through Psalm 73 and rediscover this powerful truth: no matter how far our hearts may wander, it is always good to draw near to God.

Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord,3 And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the Lord, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the Lord your God, and his people Israel,4 And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance.8 And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle and three hundred oxen.9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.12 And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.14 And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josiah.17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.18 And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord,27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

This week's lie is that trusting God is trivial. In Psalm 73, Asaph shares his struggle to understand how remaining faithful has benefited him when the world around him seems to prosper despite its ungodliness. But everything changes when Asaph enters the sanctuary of God's presence and finds renewed relief, perspective, and hope of rescue. Trusting Is Trivial Josh Pruitt

This sermon, drawn from Psalm 77, explores the raw honesty of a godly leader in deep spiritual struggle, revealing that faithfulness does not guarantee immediate relief or answers to prayer. Centered on Asaph's lament, it confronts the tension between divine sovereignty and human suffering, affirming that God is not a vending machine but a holy, unchanging Lord whose ways are mysterious yet trustworthy. The message pivots from despair to hope as Asaph intentionally shifts his focus from personal pain to meditating on God's past faithfulness, wonders, and redemptive power, reminding believers that even in silence and sorrow, God is still working. The sermon calls listeners to honest prayer, intentional remembrance of God's character, and trust in His ultimate goodness, especially when circumstances defy expectations, urging a posture of waiting, reflection, and surrender rather than despair.

Comparison, bitterness, disappointment, and hopelessness all begin to shape us when our eyes are fixed in the wrong direction.In week two of our Imprinted series, Pastor Bobby walks through Psalm 73 and the honest struggle of feeling frustrated when life doesn't seem fair. Through the poetry of Asaph, this message explores how comparison steals joy, how bitterness takes root, and how the presence of God is the only thing that truly restores our perspective.No matter what season you're walking through, this sermon is a reminder that what we focus on shapes the way we see everything — and when we turn our eyes back to Jesus, temporary things stop pretending to be ultimate things.

Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them.4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs.7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.8 Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord.16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord: so they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord.22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.23 And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.25 And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets.26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord.33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order.36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

We find ourselves discouraged at times in our walk with the Lord. We don't see the blessings that were once abundant but now seem nowhere to be found. Today, with Dr. James Boice we'll be studying Psalm 77. The psalmist, Asaph, is discouraged. He knows God is good, but it seems like a long time since he's seen evidence of that goodness. Join us as Asaph deals with the discouragement of feeling distant from God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111

Friday Bible Study (5/8/26) // *Nehemiah Sent to Judah* // 2 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.Website: https://mbchicago.org *FOLLOW US* Facebook: https://facebook.com/mbc.chicago Instagram: https://instagram.com/mbc.chicago TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mbc.chicago Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others *TO SUPPORT US* Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Website: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch DAF Donations: https://every.org/mbc.chicago PayPal: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AA74AC7V5WYMJ #Nehemiah #BookOfNehemiah #BibleStudy #BibleExplained #Bible #BiblicalStudies #BibleTeacher #WordOfGod #BiblicalLessons #BibleJournal #BibleReading #BibleStudyNotes #biblestudycommunity #ChicagoChurch #BibleVerse

Welcome to Day 2859 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2859 – “In Defense of a Doubter”  based on Luke 7:18-35 Putnam Church Message – 04/12/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “In Defense of a Doubter.”   Last week's message was: “He is Risen Indeed!” We will celebrate the resurrected Christ and the assurance we have in the salvation that He brings. Today, we return to Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “In Defense of a Doubter.” We will explore the doubts of Jesus's cousin, known as John the Baptizer. Our core passage today is Luke 7:15-35, which is found on page 1603 of your pew Bibles.  Jesus and John the Baptizer 18 John's disciples told him about all these things. / Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'” 21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” 24 After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'[b] 28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) 31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.' 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.' 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Opening Prayer Father, thank You that You are not threatened by our questions and not surprised by our weakness. Thank You that in Jesus Christ You meet us not only in strength, but also in struggle. As we open Your Word today, give us honesty, humility, and hope. Help us to see that doubt does not have to destroy faith, and that Your Son is still enough / even when life does not make sense. In Jesus' name, amen. Introduction There is a kind of faith that sounds strong but is actually fragile. It never asks hard questions. It never admits confusion.  It never confesses pain. It smiles through gritted teeth and calls that spirituality. But the Bible gives us something far more honest than that. The Bible gives us John the Baptizer. The same John who leaped in Elizabeth's womb at the presence of Christ. The same John who thundered in the wilderness. The same John who said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The same John who pointed away from himself and toward Jesus. And now in Luke 7, that same man is in prison, and he is asking a question he never expected to ask: “Are You the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Luke 7:19) That question surprises us. But Luke includes it because he wants us to learn something important: A season of doubt does not automatically mean the death of faith. Sometimes doubt is rebellion. Sometimes doubt is unbelief. But sometimes doubt is the cry of a wounded believer trying to reconcile what he knows about God with what he is living through. And that is where many believers live at one point or another. You may trust God and still have questions. You may love Christ and still ache. You may believe deeply and still struggle honestly. So today we are going to stand in defense of a doubter—not to glorify doubt, but to understand what Jesus does with it. Main Point 1: Faith Can Be Shaken Without Being Destroyed Luke 7:18–20 John's disciples come to Jesus and ask the question straight out: “Are You the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Let's not rush past how astonishing that is. John was not a casual observer. He was not a spiritual dabbler. He was not a man who had built his beliefs on rumors. He knew the prophecies. He had heard the voice of God. He had publicly identified Jesus. He had baptized Jesus. He had seen the Spirit descend. And yet now, from a prison cell, John is trembling. Why? Because circumstances can shake even the strongest believers. John expected the Messiah to come with power, to cleanse, to judge, and to bring visible kingdom change. And yet Herod still sits on the throne, evil still seems to prosper, and John himself—the faithful prophet—sits forgotten in a dungeon. If Jesus is truly the Expected One, why does the world still look so wrong? That is not a foolish question. That is an agonizing one. And many of us know something about it. A praying parent watches a child drift farther from God. A faithful wife buries a husband too soon.  A godly man loses his job while dishonest people advance. A believer fights disease, grief, betrayal, or depression and quietly wonders, “Lord, where are You?” That does not mean the believer has become an unbeliever. It may mean the believer has run out of easy answers. Object Lesson — The Storm-Bent Tree Imagine a strong tree in a storm. The wind bends it. The branches whip. Leaves tear loose. For a while, it looks unstable. But when the storm passes, the roots remain. That is John. He is bent, but not uprooted. He is shaken, but not blown away. And that is a needed reminder. A believer can be deeply troubled and still deeply rooted.   Matthew's Parallel Helps Us Matthew 11 records this same incident. Matthew gives us the same question, the same prison setting, and the same answer from Jesus. That tells us this was not a minor moment in Christ's ministry. The Spirit wanted the church to remember that even the greatest prophet of that generation went through a dark night of the soul. So, if you are in a season of doubt, do not assume that the struggle itself means your faith is fake. Some doubt is corrosive. But some doubt is the painful honesty of a real disciple asking, “Lord, help me understand.” Related Scriptures Psalm 73 — Asaph struggling with the prosperity of the wicked. Habakkuk 1 — “How long, O Lord?” Mark 9:24 — “I...

We feel a sense of loss as we watch our country turn from the godly principles on which it was founded. But can we imagine how it would feel to have our nation overrun and our places of worship destroyed? In this message, Dr. James Boice will be studying Psalm 74, a lament for the loss of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Psalm 74 is also a psalm of faith, and Asaph "reminds" God of His promises and His covenant with His people. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111

Many of us have probably struggled with the question: why do bad things happen to good people? But in Psalm 73, the author Asaph asks the opposite question: why do good things happen to bad people? In this message, we'll see how Asaph's struggle with envy almost destroyed his faith, and the confidence that he regained as he entered into the sanctuary of God.

Have you ever known an ungodly person who seems to have everything and to have everything go his way? Has it caused you to feel resentful and maybe even question God? This week on The Bible Study Hour with Dr. James Boice we're studying Psalm 73, a Psalm of Asaph as he inquires, “In God's universe, why do the wicked prosper?” To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111

Summary In Psalm 50, Dr. Michael Easley walks through a powerful courtroom scene where God Himself appears as Judge over His covenant people. Asaph paints a vivid picture of a divine courtroom where the “Mighty One, God, the Lord” summons heaven and earth not to judge the nations, but to confront His own people. The issue is not a lack of religious activity, but a heart corrupted by formalism and hypocrisy. Easley explains that Israel's worship had become mechanical—focused on ritual without relationship. God does not need their sacrifices, because He owns everything already. Instead, He desires thanksgiving, trust, and dependence. Religion had been reduced to a system of managing guilt, but God exposes its emptiness. The second indictment is hypocrisy. The people speak of God's law but live in open contradiction to it—celebrating sin, tolerating wrongdoing, and assuming God is indifferent. The chilling rebuke comes when God says, “You thought that I was just like you,” revealing how sin distorts our view of God. Easley emphasizes that God's patience is real, but not approval. Judgment will come, yet mercy is offered through thanksgiving and trust. True worship is not a transactional religion—it is a grateful response to God's grace. Only a right relationship with God, not religious performance, brings salvation. Takeaways God confronts His own people when worship becomes formalism without heart. Religion fails because it tries to manage God instead of trusting Him. God does not need sacrifice—He desires thanksgiving and trust. Hypocrisy is revealed when people claim God's truth but live against it. God's patience should never be mistaken for approval of sin. True worship flows from gratitude, not religious performance or guilt management. To read the Psalms, click here. Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.

Anchored: Resting in Prayer - Pastor Hannah Witte - a2cc.org. Watch our livestream Sundays @ 11:00am - vimeo.com/annarborcommunitychurch  Summary: In this week's Anchored series, Pastor Hannah invites us to rethink prayer—not primarily as asking God for things, but as cultivating an ongoing, loving relationship with God. Drawing from Psalm 73, she explores how prayer becomes a space where trust, intimacy, and awareness of God's presence are formed over time. Through the example of Asaph's honest wrestling with injustice and his ultimate declaration that “God's presence is all I need,” Pastor Hannah reminds us that prayer is where we learn to rest in God, even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. Through personal stories and practical invitation, Pastor Hannah reflects on how deep trust is built slowly through consistent presence, much like any meaningful relationship. She challenges us to consider what kind of relationship with God we hope to have years from now and whether our daily choices are leading us there. Telling a story of her unfortunate flat tire, she illustrates how prayer empowers us to carry the weight of life with strength and stability that comes from God rather than sheer willpower. Pastor Hannah teaches us the Welcoming Prayer and gives an invitation to step more intentionally into prayer practices that help us slow down, surrender control, and experience the sustaining presence and power of God.

It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord.29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord.33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

This lengthy (72 verses) psalm takes center stage in this string of 11 psalms by Asaph. It provides a review of Israel's history - warts and all. But amidst its chorus of failure and pain interweaves a melody of God's grace and lovingkindness. But the climax of this psalm is its reference to how the Holy One of Israel was wounded, using a unique Hebrew word that points directly at the cross. Join us in our study of this sad, majestic, yet beautiful and victorious psalm of God's faithful devotion to His people.For more teachings by Grant Luton (and to print the notes), visit our website: https://www.TorahTodayMinistries.orgAnd when you visit, be sure to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, which will keep you up to date with news, photos, and upcoming events at Torah Today Ministries.

Nehemiah 2:1-20 ESV In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.9 And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.4 Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth.5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.7 The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.8 All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the Lord.13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.15 To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.21 As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the Lord.23 Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.25 And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord.28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king.31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.32 And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

Have you ever looked around and wondered why it seems like the wicked prosper while the faithful struggle?In this episode of the Post Sunday Podcast, we step into the raw honesty of Psalm 73—a psalm that doesn't hold back. Asaph wrestles with envy, confusion, and the tension of seeing injustice in real time. But what begins as a crisis of faith becomes a powerful turning point.This conversation walks through that shift—from frustration to clarity, from comparison to confidence in God's goodness.We unpack:Why envy can quietly erode our faithThe danger of measuring life by what we seeWhat changed when Asaph entered the presence of GodHow eternal perspective reshapes present strugglesWhat it means to say, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”If you've ever felt like life isn't adding up, this episode is for you. Psalm 73 reminds us that even when life feels unfair, God is still just, still near, and still enough.Key Scripture: Psalm 73 Theme: From doubt to deeper trust Takeaway: What you see isn't the full story—God is your portion.

Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:10 The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:20 The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:28 The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:29 The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:30 The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:31 The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.

Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 2 - Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10, 16b; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2aDaily Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-25; Hebrews 13:1-21“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Asaph was a Levite, a member of David's court. The words of this psalm open to us the scriptures, giving us certainty of who God is, what He has done, and continues to do for His people. The people of Israel are described as stubborn, as those who do not listen or submit to God. Yet God conquers their enemies, delivers them from the land of Egypt. Despite their unfaithfulness and constant idolatry, God continues to care and deliver them. The same is true for us. We have seen all that God has done for us, and yet we still sin much and deserve nothing but God's wrath and punishment. We cannot, by our own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ as our God and Lord, or even come to Him. So God becomes the doer, the rescuer, the redeemer of us His people.  God comes down, that ancient Word that gave life to all flesh, puts on human flesh. The Word made flesh comes down, begotten of His Father, born of woman, to subdue our enemies of sin, death, and the devil. He does this not with gold or silver, but with His holy and precious blood by His innocent suffering and death. What is left for us to do then? Die. That's all we can do. God sees our stubbornness, our stopped-up ears, our sin and brokenness, and He overcomes them. His holy Law adjusts our stiff necks, and opens our ears, it kills our sinfulness, our very broken bodies, and kills all free will and go-getter attitude we might bring to the table. All we can do in history towards God is die. That's exactly what God does. He comes, and He dies to the Law in our place, bearing our sin that He might raise us the dead up and declare us His holy people. There's nothing we contribute. We die to sin, and are raised to new life. This is a daily reality we live in, that we would remember the God who brought His people out of Egypt, who fed them, and delivered them. God does the same for us. He does the redeeming, the saving, the life-giving, the absolving. We die to sin in our baptisms daily, and emerge in the daily resurrection to receive our daily bread. That we might receive the bread of life to fill us with the life that we will know fully on the Last Day. We are stubborn and unworthy, so we do all we can do is die. Yet united to our Lord and Savior Jesus, who came down, bore the cross, and rose again. We too shall rise.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Help us to serve you evermore with hearts both pure and lowly; and may your Word, that light divine, shine on in splendor holy that we repentance show, in faith ever grow; the pow'r of sin destroy and evils that annoy. O make us faithful Christians. (LSB 647:3)

Por que alguns cristãos ao invés de melhorar acabam piorando? Não deixe de ouvir este Debate 93!

Faith, Doubt, Leaving the Faith A few years ago, I followed a well-known Christian influencer whose faith journey was encouraging many, including me. But recently, he announced he was stepping away from Christianity, citing years of wrestling with doubts about the fundamentals of the faith. He said his doubt was too overwhelming to maintain his Christian life. Hearing this was both difficult and confusing. I don't know his heart or what God is doing in this man's life, but I pray for him and trust him to the Lord's care. His story made me pause and ask: Is he the only one? How many of us have quietly struggled with similar doubts? How much doubt can we carry before it becomes paralyzing or makes us question where we stand with God? Today, we'll ask: What does it mean to doubt as a believer? How does God respond to our questions? Is there space for some doubt that isn't disruptive? And, ultimately, how do we move forward—growing in confidence and resembling Him more, even when we're not sure we have all the answers? Our goal is NOT to spread doubts and “infect” others, so to speak. However, we can acknowledge them without giving them too much power. What type of doubts have you experienced? Doubting the existence of God Struggling with doubts during challenges in life (wondering if there's a point in all of this – seeing God's hand) I hope our listeners know that they are not the only ones who may struggle with similar questions and wonder: how much doubt should I be having? We encourage you to keep reading, praying, and talking with the Lord about your doubts. Then, speak with mature Christians who have navigated these challenges. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! UNEDITED TRANSCRIPTION: 00:00:00 Patricia: Welcome to another Patterns of Truth podcast. A few years ago, I followed a well-known Christian Christian influencer whose faith journey was encouraging many, including me. But recently he announced that he was stepping away from Christianity, citing years of wrestling with doubts about the fundamentals of the faith. He said his doubt was too overwhelming to maintain his Christian life. Hearing this was both difficult and confusing. I don’t know his heart or what God is doing in this man’s life, but I pray for him and I trust in the Lord’s care. But his story made me pause and ask, is he the only one? How many of us have quietly struggled with similar doubts? How much doubt can we carry before it becomes paralyzing or makes us question where we stand with God? I’m Patricia, your host for today’s Patterns of Truth podcast. And today we will ask the question, what does it mean to doubt as a believer? How does God respond to our questions and our doubts? And is there space for some doubt that isn’t disruptive? Ultimately, how do we move forward, growing in confidence and resembling the Lord even more, even when we do not have all the answers? Our goal for today’s podcast and conversation is not to spread doubt and infect others with disbelief, so to speak, but we want to acknowledge that we all experience doubt from time to time without giving that doubt too much power. So hey everyone, we have Peter, Roy, and Bethel. How are you guys doing today? 00:01:31 Bethel: Good. How’s it going? Oh. 00:01:34 Patricia: Good. All right. So I want to launch right into our first question. Um and it doesn’t matter who answers, but what type of doubts have you experienced in your Christian life? 00:01:51 Bethel: I think even in my limited amount of life, as I go through different seasons, different phases, there’s always some point that I’m kind of like, Is God who he says he is in terms of, is God as good as he says he is? Is God um, always with me as he says he is? Which I mean, an utmost respect. I don’t mean that in any irreverent way, but I think that that’s normal, that we all kind of go through a point where we’re like, um, God, really with me. Is God really carrying me? Is God really sticking with me? 00:02:26 Patricia: MM. Yeah. Anybody else? What type of doubts have you experienced? 00:02:32 Peter: Like many of us who are new believers, I, uh, at the beginning of my salvation, uh, did doubt being saved. I remember praying multiple times. Um, and every time there was a salvation message, I was always worried, oh, no, if there’s another message. Um, until I reached a point where I prayed, Lord, you know, I don’t know what’s going on. And, um, I remember that I saw a difference in my life. And, uh, that was a shooting to me that, you know, the Lord worked in my heart. People didn’t know. They didn’t see the difference. But I knew the difference. I know that I started, you know, desiring to read scripture more. Um, my attitude towards life changed. Um, when I was I mean, still like a young, maybe thirteen years old. So that’s one of the doubts, um, that I had. Um. 00:03:39 Patricia: Okay. Right. 00:03:42 Roy: I, um, no doubt it’s been a long time. Uh, I’m the old guy on the podcast and I, uh, I don’t remember having doubts like Peter described, but I’m almost certain that I must have, uh, they’re long gone out of my memory, in any case, but, uh, for sure, uh, doubts about, um, details of life. Should I go this road or that road? Uh, what does this scripture mean? Why does, uh, somebody who’s wiser than I am think it means something different than I? Different than I believe it. So those are the kind of doubts that I’ve had mostly. Okay. Uh, and there’s been specific incidences when I’ve had to do something that had no knowledge that it would be the right thing or the wrong thing, but a decision had to be made. And it turns out, uh, years later, it was obvious that, um, that that was the right thing to do. So I think that’s an interesting experience. And I have to say, I was encouraged by a book, uh, by Elsie Cole. And I don’t remember the title of it right at the moment. Um, I’m, this is off the top of my head right now, but she was a missionary to China for many years and expressed the same sort of experience. So I was encouraged by that. Uh, we, we have to sometimes go ahead in our practical life, uh, on faith, uh, believing God is good and that he’s going to make everything work out and not worry about whether I’m doing exactly the right thing or not. Uh, because he’s sovereign and he’s good. And I think those two principles really have to guide us. Yeah. 00:05:39 Patricia: So I want to back up a little bit. Can we define doubt? What is it? Because I think we’re talking about like how it’s functioned in our lives. But, um, what actually is doubt? 00:05:56 Peter: I mean, my simple thought process, uh, um, like in simplicity, I would think is what I believe in is true or not. 00:06:06 Patricia: Mhm. 00:06:07 Peter: Um, what I feel confident about what I put my faith in. Is that true? Or is that just, uh, you know, Another imaginary thing or something that I, I made up. 00:06:24 Patricia: Oh yeah. It’s like a competing idea in your mind. Like, maybe I’m wrong about this whole thing. Yeah. So then thinking along those lines, can we have a little clarity? Are doubts a sign of weak faith, or can they be part of a normal Christian journey? 00:06:49 Bethel: I think we have to doubt at some point everybody’s gonna doubt. I think what differs is maybe what you will have doubts about. But I think that it’s normal that if you care about anything, you are inquisitive about it and you want to see it and you want to experience it. And so to doubt something means that you’re, I believe, spending time in it and that you are invested in it. So I think the same for your faith. If you want to see God’s hand. And maybe sometimes you don’t see it in the way you want to see it. You might doubt if you want to be saved. And so you hear a gospel message and you doubt. Each time it’s because you want. You want to be saved. You want to be sure that you’ve done it right. So I think that that can definitely be normal. Oh. 00:07:38 Roy: Doubt can be the means by which we expand our understanding. Um, I think I, I’m struck by what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians thirteen, verse twelve, I think, where we see through a dim window and I think it’s part of our human experience. Um, our limitations. And thankfully that’s going to be done away. Uh, in the new, uh, the new era, the new creation. Um, when we fully realize, um, two things. Uh, I think that’s in the same passage actually. First Corinthians thirteen that, which is, uh, partial will be put away. So, um, doubt prompts us to investigate. It should now it can be debilitating. And that’s where it becomes bad and a real hindrance when we come maybe obsessed with our doubt, but that that actually is a result of not really believing God is good. Because if we really believe that he’s good. Um, and I think scripture from page one enforces that on us. Um, even if we go back to the Garden of Eden and I think so much depends on the Garden of Eden or as revealed there, what happened? Uh, our first parents failed miserably and it was catastrophic. The, the failure. It’s affected every human being that’s ever lived. And yet what has come out of that? Um. The Lord, speaking to his disciples in John twelve said, except the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. Well, that is such a profound verse, and it explains why God allowed the fall and what he’s done about it. We could not really be inheritors with Christ if Christ had not come into this life to save us. As a man, he is now risen man and we’re going to be like him. All of that’s made possible by the fall. If you think about it. So here are the most catastrophic failure result in the most catastrophic injustice that the world has ever seen, which resulted in the most incredible blessing that eternity will require us to investigate. So when you think about that pattern, then the only way we can explain it, I think, is by realizing that God is good and that he nothing is going to get slipped through his fingers, as it were. So we can be complacent in our relationship with him. He’s going to take care of us. And that includes, like in Hebrews tells us about the discipline. You know, he will discipline us if need be, but what’s the result of that? It’s going to be so that we learn righteousness and we improve. And so when you when you realize that, then doubts cannot be debilitating. They have to be simply a doorway to understanding more about what God has for us. Well. 00:11:14 Patricia: I appreciate how you mentioned, um, our for parents because I think that, um, for anyone who’s struggling with doubt, maybe they think that they’re the only ones, but there are many doubters that are featured in the Bible with a variety of solutions. And so, um, you mentioned, um, Adam and Eve. So, uh, I’ll just go down the list, right. And we can talk about what each doubt was about and how the doubts were resolved, or if that individual was overwhelmed by doubt. So we’ve got Abraham, Sarah, Barak, Gideon, Jonah, and we’ve got Thomas in the New Testament. So I want to take a crack at it. What was the doubt about and how was it resolved? Anybody? 00:12:05 Roy: Eve doubted the goodness of God. If anything, that’s got to be the fundamental doubt. Oh, she was in a. Are they? I should say, you know, we pick on Eve. But they were both there. Adam and Eve. Um, Adam could have intervened, but he didn’t. Um but. They were surrounded by every possible evidence of the goodness of God. And there was one requirement and basically said Satan came to them and said, okay, this thing that God has kept from you, that’s evidence that he’s not really good. MM. That was really the bottom, I think the bottom line. Temptation. Mhm. And they, they fell for it. 00:12:59 Patricia: Yeah. 00:12:59 Roy: So it was the goodness of God manifested. And they were tricked into doubting God’s goodness. 00:13:09 Patricia: Especially the part of. Well, you will be as gods, right? So then there’s this idea of, oh, he’s withholding something from me. I can be elevated. What is this? Right. The doubt of God’s goodness, but also something about the self. There’s something right. Why can’t be greater than what I am. Why not? Right. Yeah. Well, that’s a really good one. So I guess, well, considering all your comments before like that doubt was not necessarily resolved because we are all where we are right now. Um, it wasn’t. 00:13:41 Bethel: But it had to happen. It had to happen for God’s goodness, God’s ultimate goodness and ultimate grace with us to be presented. So ultimately, and I think that that’s the, what we can learn about all of these examples in the Old Testament is that no matter what doubt they had, God’s will was what it was in the end, and God was who he said he was in the end. And so I think that that’s something beautiful. Like our next example was Abraham. And Abraham doubted God’s promise, and he tried to go about things in his way that he saw fit. But where did he end up? Yes, he made a big mistake with Hagar in Egypt as well with Sarah. But ultimately God’s will came to be what he promised. And, you know, we have Isaac and we have the this blessing. And so sometimes it’s a matter of, yes, we will make the mistakes that we will make. We will doubt even a New Testament example. The disciples were with the Lord in the boat, and they doubted. They feared they panicked. But ultimately, God is going to be who he says he’s going to be. He’s going to do his will. He’s going to carry us through whether we see it or we don’t. Oh. 00:14:56 Patricia: I love that. The question then it kind of goes right back to the same thing Roy was saying. The disciples in the boat, they said, Lord, do you not care that we are about to die? Right. 00:15:07 Speaker 6: And still he was right there with them. 00:15:09 Patricia: Right. The like, don’t you know? Right. Because for us, right. The biggest fear and threat is death, right? We all want to survive death no matter what. And it’s like, well, don’t you see? This is what’s the end is going to be. Um, but he does see. So so you got Sarah Barak Gideon, Jonah Thomas. What was the doubt about? How was it resolved? 00:15:39 Peter: Well, we’ll talk about Abraham and Sarah, right. That, uh, um, they Abraham doubted that God is going to fulfill his promise of having a child under. There was a consequences of that. Oh, there was another child instead of Isaac, Ishmael. And that caused heartache, you know, and, and his life and, you know, in the future too. Um, because he didn’t trust the Lord. And, you know, honestly, if we think about it, we would be in the same place. Uh, imagine being old and not having a child and still trying to trust that the Lord promise will be fulfilled. Uh, I. 00:16:28 Speaker 6: Would have left, too. 00:16:32 Peter: Yeah. 00:16:33 Patricia: And hers was like a very much about the boys. 00:16:35 Peter: Yeah. And he knows exactly what he’s doing, you know? 00:16:38 Speaker 6: Yeah. 00:16:40 Patricia: Yeah. And her particular doubt. I’m trying to find it in Genesis was about the limitations of her body. Right in age. Right. And like, how can a dead womb bring forth like, what is this? Like, this is not possible. Right. I know how old I am, right? That’s what she was saying. Um. All right. Uh, Barrett. Gideon. Jonah. Thomas. 00:17:06 Bethel: Can I just add one more thing to the Abraham and Sarah conversation? The good, the beautiful thing is that we don’t just see it in Genesis, but we see it in Hebrews as well. Mhm. That’s that’s the point, I think, because it doesn’t. Go ahead, brother Roy and Galatians. 00:17:25 Roy: Galatians is a very important lesson. 00:17:28 Bethel: Yes. But that it wasn’t just. Yes. They doubted, yes, that that was what happened. But at the end of the day, God was faithful. God was faithful. And even though they doubted, they they still went about it and they still followed the will of the Lord. And in in Hebrews eleven, Sarah has described, uh, in verse eleven, actually, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed. She bore a child when she was past the age because she judged him. Capital H judged God faithful who had promised. And so it’s that’s the end of their story. And that’s the beautiful part. 00:18:09 Patricia: Yeah, I love that part. She counted him faithful, who had promised. Right. And it wasn’t. He was faithful. Right. The conclusion. Yeah. Not like well, I, you know, I had some really good herbs and I just changed my diet. And then I figured it out. It was. He was faithful. 00:18:26 Bethel: He was faithful. 00:18:27 Patricia: And gave her the power to conceive. Yeah. Peter, I know you had Gideon before. Oh, sorry. 00:18:35 Bethel: Yeah. Give us. Give us some Gideon. Peter. 00:18:39 Peter: Uh, uh, uh, when we were just, uh, planning for the recording, just before we started recording, I. I told the group that how much I love the story of Gideon. 00:18:50 Patricia: Mhm. 00:18:51 Peter: Um, we know typically of the first doubt that he had, which is doubting himself if he’s able to go and fight for the Lord. The enemies and the Lord showed miracle. You know a couple miracles for him to reassure him, but he also doubted afterwards also. Oh, um, if he’s going to win. After they sifted the army to three hundred people, three hundred men, um, and he was not sure. And the Lord answered his doubt too. So, um, doubt will continue to happen. And if we take it to the Lord, um, um, a mighty man like Gideon had multiple doubts and the Lord used him and he can use us also. 00:19:47 Patricia: So kind of going off of that then, Peter, what’s the, what’s the biblical pattern for a dressing down. So we know doubters in the Bible existed, right? This is a human condition, right? We see it in ourselves. We see it there. So what’s the biblical pattern for addressing this type of doubt? 00:20:06 Peter: Well, I’ll start by saying we have to be honest to the Lord. Come to him with Lord, you know, and this is what’s going on. 00:20:18 Speaker 7: Oh, yeah. 00:20:20 Bethel: And isn’t that what he wants? Because I don’t think like we’ve already acknowledged doubt is not necessarily a bad thing. And so doesn’t he want us to come to him with our questions and with our curiosities and with our struggles? 00:20:31 Speaker 7: Mhm. 00:20:31 Bethel: That’s how that’s how I felt that as has shown up in my life. Like sometimes it will literally take me going through something to continuously tell myself. But I know God is good, but I know God will come through. But I know God is who he says he is until I believe it. 00:20:49 Speaker 7: Yeah. Yeah. 00:20:50 Bethel: And I, I think we see that in Scripture that we’ve mentioned. 00:20:54 Patricia: It makes me think of the Scripture. Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. And sometimes we think of cares as which they can be like the issues of this life. Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to get through this financial problem or Lord, I’ve been praying for something for a long time. But what if someone’s care that constantly is on their heart is Lord, I’m just not sure about this. Fill in the blank, right? Whatever he’s asking someone to do or something to believe. Lord, that’s a care. It’s weighing you down, right? Roll off that care onto him like, Lord, I don’t know what it is. This unbelief is just overwhelming me. Help me. Right. I think that is a it is a care that can affect us, right? Big time depending on what is going on in life. Um, but yeah, so. Roy. Peter oh, sorry, Roy because Peter already answered a biblical pattern for addressing doubt. 00:21:53 Roy: Well, like Peter said, we we first of all have to be honest. And I like the story of the man who brought his paralytic. His paralytic son to, um. To the Lord. Uh, for, um, for help. Uh, he was a a demon, actually a demon possessed boy. Um, who, um, I suppose in modern language, it’d be like an epileptic fit, but, uh, it was demonic. Uh, it wasn’t just epilepsy, but he, um, appealed to the Lord. And, um, the Lord said, um. Um. Uh, Jesus said to him, yeah, I’m looking at the verse. He said to him, if thou couldst believe all things are possible to him that believes. And immediately the father of the young child, crying out, said with tears, I believe, help my unbelief. So, um. 00:23:12 Patricia: Or is that. 00:23:12 Speaker 7: Roy? 00:23:13 Roy: Uh, that’s uh, Mark nine twenty four, the verse I read. Okay. Um, and I think it’s important to realize that God, again, is a good God and he’s going to, um, not base his mercy on the weakness of our faith, but he’s going to take what it is. 00:23:36 Speaker 7: Uh. Huh. Yeah. 00:23:38 Roy: So, um, so the point is to come to the Lord with our difficulties and trust him to guide us. And he will. 00:23:49 Speaker 7: Yeah. 00:23:51 Peter: But to what Roy is saying, we don’t base our future and our confidence on our feelings or our emotions, but on or the circumstances. But on truth and truth comes from Scripture. So regardless of how we feel or what we’re going through, we have to go back to the truth and scripture. 00:24:16 Speaker 7: Yeah. Mhm. That’s very good. Um, I know. 00:24:21 Patricia: That before. 00:24:22 Speaker 7: We were. 00:24:23 Patricia: We pressed record, we were talking about two Psalms, um, that have a really nice pattern of what we do when we’re struggling with, um, a doubt or a particular perspective. Um, and obviously these were written a long time ago, um, by Jewish people. So there are some things that are mentioned in both the Psalms that don’t necessarily apply to us here as Christians in twenty twenty five, but the principles are really good to examine. So I know that we mentioned Psalm forty two, which is titled, why are you cast down, O my soul? And Roy, you gave us Psalm seventy three, and Psalm seventy three is a Psalm of Asaph. So Psalm forty two is from the sons of the sons of Korah, and seventy three is a psalm of Asaph. So not from David, but really, really great principles throughout. And, um, we read, we read the two Psalms before we came on the recording, but I would just encourage our listeners to go ahead and read and read those Psalms, because they both follow a pattern of observing hard things right in, in life, looking at the wicked prospering or um, our soul is cast down. And every time the psalmist, these two psalmists go through their doubts, they remind themselves of the goodness of the Lord and how the Lord has delivered them and Israel over and over again. And so even in the face of our own faithlessness, the psalmist keeps coming back to hope in the Lord, hope in the Lord. And I think that this it really matches up with so much of what’s been said already. Um, and it’s really great to see that pattern in scripture that the Lord left this for us to say, this is what you can do when you’re struggling. 00:26:19 Speaker 7: Yeah. Yeah. 00:26:24 Patricia: So what does honest prayer look like in seasons of doubt? You’re struggling. You’re overwhelmed. Roy, you mentioned like debilitating doubt where everything feels like you’re not sure. Right. And I imagine that’s really difficult. Right? You walk out the front door, it’s like something’s going to fall on me if my car got to break down. Like it’s so much anxiety. So what does that honest prayer look like when things get intense and it’s not that healthy curiosity, that questioning. 00:26:54 Roy: Well, we’ve talked a lot about the goodness of God, and I think that has to be really the underpinning. If if God is not good, then everything is hopeless. Um, that ends in nihilism. So, um, the goodness of God really is behind our prayers. So we may not see it. And that’s why the Psalm seventy three is so good, because the expressions there can reflect, um, a hopelessness really. 00:27:29 Speaker 7: Um. 00:27:30 Roy: But the conclusion there is when he says, I went into the sanctuary. 00:27:36 Speaker 7: MM. 00:27:36 Roy: So the key that’s, you know, our prayers. And so if we have a sense that God is there and he’s listening. 00:27:46 Speaker 7: Mhm. 00:27:47 Roy: Um, then that forms the basis of whatever appeal, uh, we can put. And I think there is going to be a response. 00:27:56 Speaker 7: Yeah. 00:27:57 Patricia: Also, do you feel like that’s a change in perspective to like, sometimes we can become so preoccupied with our own thoughts and our own, I don’t know, our own ideas and doubts. And then we go to where the Lord is, right? We go to his house with his people and something. 00:28:14 Roy: That’s right. The whole first part of the Psalm is an external review. He’s just looking at others. 00:28:20 Speaker 7: Mhm. 00:28:21 Roy: And that’s never a good solution. We have to look to the Lord. 00:28:24 Speaker 7: Mhm. Yeah. 00:28:27 Patricia: So I guess it’s good. Like, if we’re struggling with something, we shouldn’t stay away. We shouldn’t stay away from meeting with other Christians because Lord might have something So precise not might he will have something so precise to say to us that will help us, that we would not get if we just stayed alone in our own minds. 00:28:48 Speaker 7: Yeah. 00:28:49 Peter: Well, I say, I encourage I’ve done it once or twice before to write down your prayer on a piece of paper and, uh, um, read it. And while you’re reading it, you can write down underneath it what are the lies that you are believing in? Um, so maybe the lie is God doesn’t care for me or God is not present in my life. Um, or God is withholding something good from me. Um, and then underneath it, write the truth. Uh, from a verse in scripture. 00:29:29 Speaker 7: That’s really good. 00:29:30 Peter: And, uh, this can be a practical, easy way to. Or and you can go back to it, you know, when you’re struggling with the same data again. 00:29:39 Speaker 7: Mhm. 00:29:39 Peter: Read my prayer again. Mhm. That’s why I believe the lie is. And what’s the that’s the truth. And that can be an encouragement. 00:29:49 Speaker 7: That’s really good. 00:29:50 Patricia: I even sorry, Bethel. 00:29:53 Speaker 7: Go ahead. 00:29:53 Bethel: No. Even a step further. A lot of people journal. And so they’ll journal their prayers this way. And it helps even in a few months time, further down, when you’re dealing with a new season or you’re struggling with something else to look back and be able to say, wow, remember when I was struggling with that and the Lord got me through? Wow. Remember how I felt? And he really revealed himself to me. That’s that same God. He hasn’t changed. My circumstances have just risen again and I’m in a new lesson. But he’s still the same God. 00:30:22 Speaker 7: We tend to forget. 00:30:24 Roy: What you just what you just said might sound mechanical to some people, but that’s exactly what many of the Psalms are. their recounting of what God did in the past. 00:30:39 Speaker 7: Okay. 00:30:40 Patricia: That’s good to do it again. I remember I heard a suggestion one time from a preacher who said similar to what you said, Peter, but like when you write down your prayer, you write down next to it the date where you really started praying about it intensely. And when God answers, whether it’s a yes or no or a wait, you put the date next to it. So you see the bookend because our minds naturally go, oh, thanks God, that was great. We just move on up and don’t remember like, oh, like the Lord. Really? He, he solved that for me in a way that I couldn’t have done myself. Um, but yeah, I heard that as an encouragement one time. Now I’m like, I gotta go back and do that. Write down the date where it was answered, right? Because our minds will say, oh, like God hasn’t done anything for me. And that is a that’s a doubt. That’s a lie. Oh, like he hasn’t, but he has. Right. And if we keep a record of that, I really do believe it will help buoy us, um, over time. So, um, but I’d like to ask, is it possible for doubt to strengthen our faith over time? 00:31:51 Peter: Definitely. 00:31:53 Speaker 7: Okay. 00:31:56 Roy: I think in my, my experience, um, like I mentioned before, perhaps my most experiences doubting about what something means, uh, what Scripture means. And I think, um, doubt, as I said before, is really the doorway to understanding more about what the issue is. MM. Um, and I think often people that don’t doubt have shallow thoughts about what something means, um, scripture in particular Is amazingly profound. We don’t realize how profound it is, and very often. Um, even reading a slightly different translation, even reading a translation that’s not very good will sometimes prompt ideas about what a verse means that you would not have otherwise thought of. And of course, the, the, the problem might be that you’ll be led astray, but you have to deal with that. And the way you deal with it is keeping in mind another verse from Isaiah that’s very important. And that is little that we learn little by little here, a little there, a little, uh, line upon line, precept upon precept. So there’s no oh, and the other verse that’s really important is in Peter. Uh, no. Scripture is of its own isolated interpretation. I’m paraphrasing that which I think is misunderstood by some of the modern translations. Um, Darby has it right. These are important principles. We need to have a general knowledge of Scripture, because what one verse seems to say will be if we misinterpret a verse in one place, maybe put it this way, then that can be corrected by a verse in another place. So we have to have a general understanding, a general knowledge of Scripture. 00:34:01 Speaker 7: Oh, okay. 00:34:04 Patricia: So my last question is about, um, encouragement for people who are doubting right now, because I feel like, and I’ve experienced this in my own life, that when we experience doubts or someone close to us or near to us is doubting, we can recoil from that person. Um, if they express a doubt that is scary to us, Like, oh, well, that’s like a fundamental that you should just believe, right? Or we feel very uncomfortable or uncomfortable or unsettled by that doubt. Um, maybe it’s something that we doubt as well, but we don’t want to admit it. Like, how do we deal with other Christians who express doubts that make us uncomfortable? How do we encourage them and deal with that? 00:34:51 Roy: Can I start by talking a little bit more personal about this? Not with other people, but anything that comes up? Uh, a question maybe you hear a preacher on the internet or whatever, a faith in the in a Christian sense. And I think this is so important that we understand that faith is really not gullible. We don’t believe something when we don’t have evidence for it. Christian faith is evidence based. And when John was writing his gospel, he said, I think it’s in verse chapter twenty or so. He said, these things have I written? Okay. John was an eyewitness, and he had other people around him that had also witnessed the same thing. So he had to be accurate in what he said. And he wrote a lot of things that were pretty precise about what the Lord said. So we have to look at that and say, wow, this guy knew what he was talking about. He was a reliable witness. He had people that would have beat him around the head and shoulders if he had said something wrong. Right. You know, Peter would not let some John say something wrong. I think we can. We get we get that from Peter, at least. He was pretty outspoken. So John had to write what he had seen and heard in a pretty accurate way. We have a faith that is based on written records of what people saw. The Apostle Paul wrote about the resurrection in chapter fifteen of First Corinthians. And he could say, look, if you doubt what I’m telling you, go ask those five hundred people that are hanging around. Well, some of them have died, but go ask them. 00:36:51 Speaker 7: Huh? 00:36:51 Roy: They know what they’re talking about. They know what they heard and saw. And so we have solid evidence for what we believe. So doubts come up. What’s your evidence? Where’s your evidence? You know, somebody tells me something. Where’s your evidence? 00:37:12 Speaker 7: Mhm. 00:37:13 Roy: And another principle connected with this is that the first thing that we hear or the first thing that we see might not be the the correct. You know, there’s a proverb. It’s it’s phrased as if someone was telling you something. He. That is, if he that is first in his own cause seemeth just. But his neighbor comes and searches him out. That’s a actually a very fundamental principle. The first thing that I that comes into my mind when I’m reading Scripture might not be correct. I have to keep reading. I have to question it. I have to doubt it, as it were. That’s why I say doubting can be a pathway to deeper understanding. And that’s a principle that we need to realize. If you read something in scripture, come back and read it again next year or a month later, don’t just, you know, it’s something that we have to learn over time. We accumulate evidence that puts our doubts. a side. 00:38:24 Peter: I’d like to share a kind of different side of doubt. If you’re doubting, uh, because of doubting God’s goodness or doubting the Lord’s faithfulness through difficult circumstances, I’d encourage you to write down and memorize verses about perseverance and persevere. And I’d like to share one of them, which is James one twelve. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. For once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. And there’s multiple others. I have four verses that I keep just so I can. The Lord, you know, tells us to persevere and difficult circumstances and difficult times of doubt. 00:39:11 Speaker 7: That’s good. 00:39:12 Bethel: I don’t think there’s ever been a time that I doubted and didn’t come out Stronger in my faith after going through it with the Lord. And so for me, I just say, let it be a chance for him to prove himself to you. If I can say that so plainly. But let it be a time where God can come through for you again. And this is something you remember in the future. Like, oh, remember when I struggled with this? And then the Lord really came through this way and cling on to that. And like Peter and Roy have said, go back into scripture, find where he has done that for all of mankind. Because every one of those stories, the Lord is still faithful. The Lord is still good. The Lord is still with us. He’s overcome the doubt. He is who he is. And let this be a chance for him to prove that to you again. 00:39:59 Speaker 7: Yeah. Yeah. 00:40:01 Patricia: I feel like that’s really, I feel like I think about why memorization is so important. Um, memorizing the word of God because there’s, we have so many thoughts. And when you do memorize scripture, the Holy Spirit will bring it to mind as a block, right? And because sometimes you don’t have time to sit down and write in your journal and go find that because something will come up while you’re driving in your mind or you’re working, you’re doing something right and it comes in your face. And what is the what is the defense against that? Right? I need to be ready. Like, obviously, like the Lord knows all. But when Satan came to him, he said, it is written and I need to be ready with my. It is written right to speak and say no. Like this is like, this is what the truth of Scripture is. So that’s my challenge to myself and to others. Like, I know it’s so easy to just scroll on your Bible app, right? Google it. But memorization is still the way to go. Um, yeah. So, well, thank you, Peter Roy and Bethel for this important conversation about doubt and living as a Christian. I hope that our listeners know that they are not the only ones who may struggle with similar questions. And we touched very, very lightly on people in the Scripture who struggle with doubt. And there were a variety of ways the Lord spoke to them and spoke to what they were struggling with. So I would encourage everyone, of course, I think the best place to start is in the positive. Go to Hebrews eleven, the Hall of Faith, right? Read about faith because we talked about Sarah and Abraham and their struggles. But you know, the conclusion of the matter is that through faith, right? Um, Sarah judged him people, he who, um, had promised and he gave her the strength to conceive. And so we see the end, right? And what the Lord does and how he gives us faith because we can’t get it from ourselves. So, um, we encourage you to keep reading the Bible. That’s the number one thing. Keep reading, keep praying. Talk to the Lord about your doubts. Don’t hide them from him. Tell him that you are struggling. Um, and then I would encourage you to talk to some mature Christians who have navigated these challenges so they can encourage you in ways that you probably have never thought of before. So for more about this topic, you can check out our various articles and Q and A’s at patternsof dot org. See you next time, everybody, for another conversation about how to live this Christian life. Bye. 00:42:33 Patricia: Thank you for listening to the Patterns of Truth podcast. We invite you to join us for our next episode. And we also encourage you to check out Patterns of truth dot org, where we post articles every week for the encouragement and growth of Christ followers. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to submit them on our website. I’m Peter. Until next time. The post Shadow of a Doubt: Can Your Faith Survive It? appeared first on Patterns of Truth.

Can't sleep? Has stress stolen away your peace of mind? Are you so worried and troubled over some issue that your eyes just won't stay closed? Asaph knew this feeling well and penned this poignant psalm that not only addresses this common human experience, but also provides a solution for inner peace during such a time of turmoil. Join us for a discussion into this powerful psalm.For more teachings by Grant Luton (and to print the notes), visit our website: https://www.TorahTodayMinistries.orgAnd when you visit, be sure to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, which will keep you up to date with news, photos, and upcoming events at Torah Today Ministries.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Jeremiah 32:17, CSB “Oh, Lord God! You yourself made the heavens and earth by your great power and with your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you!” “All things are possible for you.” (Jesus prayed in Mk 14:36) “Nothing is too difficult for you.” (Jeremiah prayed in Jer 32:17) “You are the God who works wonders.” (Asaph prayed in Ps 77:14) “You call into being things that are not.” (Paul writes in Rom 4:17) “You are good and your steadfast love endures forever.” (Most repeated words to God in the Bible) Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Jeremiah 32:17, CSB “Oh, Lord God! You yourself made the heavens and earth by your great power and with your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you!” “All things are possible for you.” (Jesus prayed in Mk 14:36) “Nothing is too difficult for you.” (Jeremiah prayed in Jer 32:17) “You are the God who works wonders.” (Asaph prayed in Ps 77:14) “You call into being things that are not.” (Paul writes in Rom 4:17) “You are good and your steadfast love endures forever.” (Most repeated words to God in the Bible) Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

3 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. 7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia. Rebuilding the Temple 8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord. 9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

In this episode, Dr. Rob Rienow reflects on the power of multi-generational faith. Looking at the example of the sons of Asaph in Scripture, he reminds families that God often works through generations to strengthen His people and advance His purposes. Parents and grandparents play an important role in shaping the faith of future generations. Dr. Rob encourages families to begin praying not only for their children, but also for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also reminds listeners that the Christian family was never meant to follow Jesus alone and highlights the importance of spiritual community and prayer support. In this episode you'll learn: - How the sons of Asaph show the impact of faith across generations - Why parents should pray for the spiritual lives of future generations - How God can use families to strengthen faith over time - Why Christian families need encouragement and support from others - How the Visionary Family community provides prayer and connection Featured Resources: Upcoming Events — Meet us in person at a Visionary Family Conference near you. Full event schedule: https://visionaryfam.com/events Visionary Family Community — Join a movement of families dedicated to passing faith to the next generation. Receive prayer support, live teachings, and exclusive resources. Learn more: https://visionaryfam.com/community Love this episode? Share your thoughts or prayer requests with us at podcast@visionaryfam.com. If this episode encouraged you, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Your review helps more families discover the show. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode.

[Nehemiah 2:1-4] Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. [2] So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don't look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, [3] but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” [4] The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, Don't get discouraged when things don't happen on our __________________. All you need is 20 seconds of ____________ ____________. [Nehemiah 2:5-8] I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” [6] The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request. [7] I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. [8] And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king's forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me. [Proverbs 21:5] Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. You can accomplish great things when your _____________ is greater than your _____________. [Matthew 17:20] “You don't have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” God opened the door and Nehemiah had the ____________ to step through it. [Isaiah 40:31] But those who wait for the LORD's help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles' wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired. Pray and plan while you __________________ ___________ on God.

Scripture: Psalm 73+ Asaph's Wander - Ps.73:1-14+ Abba's Rescue – Ps.73:15-24 + Asaph's Wonder – Ps.73:23-28

Pastor Adam BowersIn this message from 2 Chronicles 29:18 to 30, Pastor Adam Bowers takes a deep dive into how King Hezekiah restored the temple after his father Ahaz allowed it to fall into ruin. This powerful Bible teaching explores three key expressions of biblical worship that still apply to Christians today: tools of worship, sacrificial worship, and musical worship. After years of neglect, Hezekiah reopened the temple, called the priests and Levites to purify it, and restored the instruments, furniture, and sacred items that had been discarded. Their care for the tools of worship showed their reverence for God. What does that mean for the church today? From musical instruments and technology to communion elements and Bibles, how we care for what we use in worship reflects how we honor God. The people also offered sacrifices, not leftovers but the best of what they had. While we no longer bring animal sacrifices, Romans 12 and Romans 15 remind us that we worship through sacrificial giving, serving, investing in others, and offering our whole lives to God. Finally, worship in Jerusalem was filled with music. Cymbals, harps, lyres, trumpets, and voices joined together as the people praised the Lord with the Psalms of David and Asaph. Their organized, joyful praise followed repentance and sacrifice. If you are searching for a sermon on 2 Chronicles 29, a Bible study on Hezekiah, or a message about true worship and sacrifice, this teaching will help you understand what it means to honor God with reverence, generosity, and praise. Join us as we rediscover what real worship looks like and respond by offering our lives to God.

In this episode of Watchman on the Wall, Dr. Bob Sanders joins Josh Davis to delve into the essence of true biblical revival. Exploring key insights from Psalm 73 and the life of Asaph, Dr. Sanders clarifies the distinction between revival and evangelism, highlighting the path to personal and national spiritual renewal. Listeners are invited to deepen their understanding and pursue a genuine relationship with God. Additional updates on ministry activities and upcoming events are provided.

Weekly Message from Maranatha Church of Jacksonville. Find out more at maranathajax.com

IntroductionThis sermon addresses the reality of the "dark night of the soul"—those seasons where God remains silent despite persistent prayer. By examining Psalm 77, we explore the tension between deep personal suffering and the historical faithfulness of God. Using the Exodus story as a backdrop, we see how the biblical pattern of "hiding before rescue" serves to prepare the heart for a more intimate revelation of the Divine.Scripture ReferencesPsalm 77: The lament of Asaph and the remembrance of God's wonders.Exodus 1–14: The narrative of revelation, rescue, and recompense.Matthew 27:46: Jesus' cry of dereliction on the cross.Ephesians 2:4-7: God's mercy in making us alive with Christ.Key PointsThe Honesty of Lament: Asaph models a faith that is not afraid to cry out. Bringing raw emotion, insomnia, and even "moaning" to God is a form of worship. The Psalms give us a vocabulary for pain when our own words fail.The Reality of Divine Silence: Silence from Heaven is a normal part of the Christian experience. It does not necessarily indicate unrepentant sin; often, it is a "divine peekaboo"—a purposeful hiding that focuses our attention and prepares us for a clearer revelation.The Weight of Remembrance: When feelings suggest God has forgotten to be gracious, we must intentionally shift the weight of our perspective to history. Asaph concludes that God's way is "holy" (set apart) by meditating on the Exodus.Building Personal and Community Monuments: Because we are prone to forget, we must create "altars"—recorded testimonies, family traditions, or shared community stories—that serve as tangible evidence of God's past faithfulness during current storms.The Ultimate Rescue: Our hope is anchored in the Gospel. Just as the Red Sea was parted, Christ entered the waters of death to provide the final rescue. His resurrection is the promise that every "hidden face" of God will eventually be revealed.ConclusionSuffering is not the end of the story, but the tilling of the soil. God's footprints may be unseen in the "great waters" of our lives, but He leads His people like a flock. Whether through personal history, the community of the church, or the ancient story of the Exodus, we find the strength to hold fast until the hands of God part and we see Him face to face.Calls to ActionRecord Your History: Start a "Family Poem" or a journal of "But God" moments to document specific instances of provision and rescue.Engage in Community: Share a testimony of grace with someone in your small group or pact to help build their faith.Pray the Psalms: This week, find a Psalm of lament that resonates with your current trial and pray it back to God as your own. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

Here, at the end of Asaph's psalms, what do we learn? What has Asaph's journey revealed about growing faith?

What relevance do Asaph's words have for us, today?

Listen to the different voices in this psalm. What does Asaph hope to reveal?

What does Asaph need to change?