September 29, 2024
September 29 — 11 AM Worship
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
= = =
Who is Psalm 124 for? In a way, the answer is easy. David wrote Psalm 124 concerning the people of his country. "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side — let Israel now say…" But therein lies the problem. If David wrote this psalm regarding, and for the benefit of, his countrymen, then is there anything in the psalm for us?
If we are not the people of Israel, then there is really not much we can get out of this psalm, or passages like this. After all, it makes no sense to read a letter that some man wrote to his child, but accidentally misdelivered to our address, and then believe we have any claim on the man who wrote the letter. It would be a sheer delusion to think that we had any share in the author's loving words to his child. Unfortunately, this is indeed how many people think. They do not see any meaningful connection between the Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Christians. Consequently, and logically, much of Old Testament is lost to them, like a misdelivered letter written to somebody else. There is then no theological or spiritual grounds to receive the comfort and the promises of the Old Testament as their own.
However, we have every reason to glory in the comfort and promises of Psalm 124. The New Testament makes clear that people who are united to Jesus by faith are the true heirs of Abraham, and thus true Israel of God. Thus all of God's gracious works for the Old Testament Israel, all of God's promises, are ours in Jesus Christ. Because we are Abraham's heirs, we are also the heirs of all of God's promises to Abraham and his heirs. So we can embrace God's protection of Israel as our own. Psalm 124 is God's comfort and promise to us. So with David we say, "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
= = =
Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2024 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
This month: We are reading "Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity" by Carl Trueman.
Upcoming Events and Notices
September 29 (Lord's Day): Please join us for a 5-week Sunday school series on Reformed Worship. Also October 6, 20, 27.
October 13 (Lord's Day): Please join us for fellowship meal after the worship service.
October 27 (Lord's Day): Please join us for Reformation Day celebration after the worship service at the Ligtenberg home.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).