PSALMS OF ASCENT!

PSALM 132.13-16

Joy
FOR THE LORD HAS CHOSEN ZION, HE HAS DESIRED IT FOR HIS DWELLING: THIS IS MY RESTING PLACE FOR EVER AND EVER; HERE I WILL SIT ENTHRONED, FOR I HAVE DESIRED ITI WILL BLESS HER WITH ABUNDANT PROVISIONS; HER POOR WILL I SATISFY WITH FOOD. I WILL CLOTHE HER PRIESTS WITH SALVATION, AND HER SAINTS WILL EVER SING FOR JOY. (PSALMS 132:1316 NIV) REMINDERS
We need reminding from time to time that this is all Gods. Even when he answers prayer and gives us blessings they still belong to Him. He chose us. He is not to be exploited or manipulated to personal ends. We would do well to remember that we have been chosen, (Deut 9:4-6), In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (Ephesians 1:11 NIV) It also helps is to remember our past situation without God, Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12 But then, our thinking should turn to remembering our present situation with God, But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought n e a r t h r o u g h t h e bl o o d o f Christ. (Ephesians 2:13 NIV) pen and write down the treasures of your faith.

SINGING
Israel went on their journey with God singing from the Red Sea to Jericho to Jerusalem. We Christians have even more reasons to sing our way through life than the Israelites! We are the modern priests clothed with salvation and singing for joy. We are clothed with Christ, You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:2627 NIV) As a result we stand to inherit the promise of salvation. That is why we are singing for joy, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 NIV)

POOR
The Psalmist seems to bring in an allusion to manna at this point in the Psalm. He remembers that the people of Israel were poor in the desert, but God fed them. We too, as followers of Jesus, are told that when we are poor we gain much, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 NIV) True riches of a kind unavailable in this world come to those who see what is really valuable, Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (James 2:5 NIV) Have you taken time to list yo u r w e a l t h i n C h r i s t recently? Why not pick up and

Malcolm Cox, email: malcolm.cox@iccmissions.org | ICC Missions on facebook | www.nwlcc.org