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Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com.
Speaker 1: You're listening to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. I'm
Speaker 1: John Stangey, and today we're in Psalms eighty four and
Speaker 1: eighty five, and we'll be reading from the New Living
Speaker 1: Translation Psalm eighty four for the choir director, a psalm
Speaker 1: of the descendants of Cora, to be accompanied by a
Speaker 1: stringed instrument. How lovely is your dwelling place, O, Lord
Speaker 1: of Heaven's Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing
Speaker 1: to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being,
Speaker 1: body and soul. I will shout joyfully to the Living God.
Speaker 1: Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds
Speaker 1: her nest and raise her young at a place near
Speaker 1: your altar, O, Lord of Heaven's Armies, My King and
Speaker 1: my God. What joy for those who can live in
Speaker 1: your house always singing your praises interlude? What joy for
Speaker 1: those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set
Speaker 1: their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk
Speaker 1: through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place
Speaker 1: of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
Speaker 1: They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them
Speaker 1: will appear before God in Jerusalem. O Lord, God of
Speaker 1: Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude,
Speaker 1: Oh God, look with favor upon the king our shield.
Speaker 1: Show favor to the one you have anointed. A single
Speaker 1: day in your courts is better than a thousand and
Speaker 1: anywhere else. I would rather be a gatekeeper in the
Speaker 1: house of my God than live the good life in
Speaker 1: the homes of the wicked. For the Lord God is
Speaker 1: our son and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.
Speaker 1: The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who
Speaker 1: do what is right, Oh, Lord of Heaven's Armies, What
Speaker 1: joy for those who trust in you. Psalm eighty five
Speaker 1: for the choir director, a Psalm of the descendants of Corah. Lord,
Speaker 1: you poured out blessings on your land. You restored the
Speaker 1: fortunes of Israel. You forgave the guilt of your people. Yes,
Speaker 1: you covered all their sins. Interlude. You held back your fury,
Speaker 1: you kept back your blazing anger. Now restore us again,
Speaker 1: O God, of our salvation. Put aside your anger again
Speaker 1: us once more. Will you be angry with us always?
Speaker 1: Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? Won't you
Speaker 1: revive us again so your people can rejoice in you.
Speaker 1: Show us your unfailing love, O, Lord, and grant us
Speaker 1: your salvation. I listen carefully to what God the Lord
Speaker 1: is saying, For he speaks peace to his faithful people,
Speaker 1: But let them not return to their foolish ways. Surely
Speaker 1: his salvation is near to those who fear him. So
Speaker 1: our land will be filled with his glory. Unfailing Love
Speaker 1: and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Speaker 1: Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down
Speaker 1: from heaven. Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our
Speaker 1: land will yield its bountiful harvest. Righteousness goes as a
Speaker 1: herald before him, preparing the way for his life steps.
Speaker 1: Let's pray. Lord, We thank you for your word, and
Speaker 1: we thank you for the privilege of being able to
Speaker 1: look at these psalms together today. We thank you for
Speaker 1: the encouragement that you give to us from them. We
Speaker 1: thank you for the insight that you reveal to us
Speaker 1: from them, And Lord We're grateful for the reminder that
Speaker 1: you are the God who forgives the guilt of your people,
Speaker 1: and just as the Psalm tells us, you cover your
Speaker 1: people's sins. Lord, we're grateful that you've done that for us.
Speaker 1: Through faith in your son Jesus Christ, our sins have
Speaker 1: been covered. You no longer hold them against us. They
Speaker 1: were taken upon Jesus Christ at the cross, and now
Speaker 1: through faith in him we are forgiven. So Lord, we
Speaker 1: thank you for that gift, and we thank you Lord
Speaker 1: for your love. We thank you as well for your
Speaker 1: presence with us today, and we commit this day to
Speaker 1: your care and pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.