DEVOTION: Psalm 72:1-7 (ESV)
"Give the King Your Justice" Of Solomon.
72 Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
5 May they fear you[a] while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
Solomon was a very wise man, not because he was born that way, or because of his accomplishments or his experience, but because he asked the Lord for wisdom and the Lord graciously gave it to him.
In this Psalm of Solomon we see him asking for justice and righteousness, not for himself, so he can be the greatest leader ever and have renown and glory throughout the earth, but so he could lead God's people with justice, care for the poor, and crush the oppressor.
Let this be a lesson to you. If you want wisdom and understanding, if you want to do things the right way, then you have to ask God for the power, ability, strength, and knowledge to do so.
And then you have to sit back and LISTEN to what the Lord says in His Word. You can't just think harder, or work harder. You need to listen, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest all of God's Word to truly get the wisdom and Godly living you desire.
If you want to live your own way, go ahead, but just know and understand that it won't be a blessed or satisfying life.
Solomon, for all his faults, and he had many, was given wisdom to govern and live to be the greatest King Israel ever knew. We still have three of his books (Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and some of the Psalms) as testimony to the wisdom God gave him.
If you want your legacy to be one of wisdom, righteousness, love, mercy, and grace. Ask God and He will give it to you graciously through His Word and His Sacraments within the fellowship of His saints.
Let us pray: Lord, thank you for giving us the wisdom we need to live this life in you. Help us to listen to you so our whole lives can be filled with your wisdom and free from sin. Amen.
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CALENDAR
Mon- Confirmation 5:15; Holy Yoga 7
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Fried Chicken and potluck Supper 5:30; worship 6:30pm; Choir 7:15
Thurs- Karate 5:15-7:30
Sat- Little Lamb's Christmas Program 3:30; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11; Little Lambs Christmas program 3:30 (SCRIP ORDERS DUE)
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- Wed- Dulci Rahn; 8:30- Dawn Sherman 11- Luke Rausch
Ushers- Wed- Brent Davis, George Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelsccher
Sun- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Wed Candles- Terry McKenzie; Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Elders- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- John Hachtel 11- Steve Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Rob and Julie Schaumberg; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- Lois Boeger; 11- Sandy Robine
Piano- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Mauch; Sun- McKenzie
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TODAY'S QUIZ: In what region/city were Paul and Silas jailed and the jailer converted?