The text this week is Malachi 2:1-9, where God shows the teachers and priests of Israel the benefits of true instruction, as opposed to false and destructive teaching. The visual theme is mountain paths, (especially in autumn), for right teaching shows the right way and false teaching turns from it. The worship theme is life and peace, for right teaching leads to life and peace.
Here is the link to the YouTube Playlist: 201101 Heart Prep
Psalm 119:169–175 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! 170Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. 171My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. 173Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. 175Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
Isaiah 50:4–5 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.
Psalm 19:7–11 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
It is Finished – Dustin Kensrue
Preparation for Communion:
Laden With Guilt
Closing Worship:
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Bonus Music: New (to me) music from Shane & Shane’s Psalms 2 album
Psalm 98 (Sing unto the Lord)
Scripture for Meditation:
Nehemiah 8:7–10 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Torah, while the people remained in their places. 8They read from the book, from the Torah of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Torah. 10Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Psalm 1:1–2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the Torah of the Lord, and on his Torah he meditates day and night.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your Torah.