Uplook - August 8, 2026
Happy Saturday,
In the Adult SS class as of late, we've been studying the Psalms. Divided into 5 "books" reflecting the 5 books of the Pentateuch or Torah, 150 chapters in all, it served as Israel's song book. Perhaps the thing I love most about the Psalms is that they are so "raw". By raw, I mean we get the unedited version of the authors' feelings and perspective at the time the Psalm was composed. They range from ecstatic joy and praise to nearly morose grief and mourning sometimes accompanied by anger and despair. I suppose this is why we can identify so readily with the Psalms when we are facing the myriads of challenges which come our way in life. Some so exciting we could shout and others so painful we simply weep. I have many favorite Psalms and there is much highlighting of them in my Bible. One of those favorites is Psalm 107. It begins like this:
Psalm 107:1–3 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, From the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
It reminds us to be thankful for God's essential goodness and that his mercy (Hebrew - hesed) is everlasting extending to our redemption. We have been saved from the enemy of our souls and gathered into God's presence. I also like the phrase used in verses 6, 13, 19, 28: "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses." Distresses and trouble do come in life...sometimes because of our own foolish choices and sometimes because we live in a fallen world. But no matter, the Psalmist reminds us what to do...cry to the Lord for deliverance and he will answer. There are several other choice nuggets in the Psalm, phrases like: vs 7 "he led them forth by the right way...", vs 14 "He brought them out of darkness...", vs. 20 "He sent his word, and healed them...", vs 29 "He maketh the storm a calm...", and more.
Perhaps the best part of the Psalm is a refrain that happens 4 times in verse 8, 15, 21, and 31 that says: "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness , and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" It is my prayer that in the coming months we will all be reminded of the Lord's goodness and mercy toward us over and over again. God bless each one of you.
Schedule Note: We welcomed our students and counselors back from a successful Youth Camp today. To give them a bit of time to recuperate, we will NOT have Sunday Evening Service tomorrow night. Keep praying the seed planted at youth camp will bring a great harvest for our young people.
In Christ,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
In the Adult SS class as of late, we've been studying the Psalms. Divided into 5 "books" reflecting the 5 books of the Pentateuch or Torah, 150 chapters in all, it served as Israel's song book. Perhaps the thing I love most about the Psalms is that they are so "raw". By raw, I mean we get the unedited version of the authors' feelings and perspective at the time the Psalm was composed. They range from ecstatic joy and praise to nearly morose grief and mourning sometimes accompanied by anger and despair. I suppose this is why we can identify so readily with the Psalms when we are facing the myriads of challenges which come our way in life. Some so exciting we could shout and others so painful we simply weep. I have many favorite Psalms and there is much highlighting of them in my Bible. One of those favorites is Psalm 107. It begins like this:
Psalm 107:1–3 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, From the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
It reminds us to be thankful for God's essential goodness and that his mercy (Hebrew - hesed) is everlasting extending to our redemption. We have been saved from the enemy of our souls and gathered into God's presence. I also like the phrase used in verses 6, 13, 19, 28: "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses." Distresses and trouble do come in life...sometimes because of our own foolish choices and sometimes because we live in a fallen world. But no matter, the Psalmist reminds us what to do...cry to the Lord for deliverance and he will answer. There are several other choice nuggets in the Psalm, phrases like: vs 7 "he led them forth by the right way...", vs 14 "He brought them out of darkness...", vs. 20 "He sent his word, and healed them...", vs 29 "He maketh the storm a calm...", and more.
Perhaps the best part of the Psalm is a refrain that happens 4 times in verse 8, 15, 21, and 31 that says: "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness , and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" It is my prayer that in the coming months we will all be reminded of the Lord's goodness and mercy toward us over and over again. God bless each one of you.
Schedule Note: We welcomed our students and counselors back from a successful Youth Camp today. To give them a bit of time to recuperate, we will NOT have Sunday Evening Service tomorrow night. Keep praying the seed planted at youth camp will bring a great harvest for our young people.
In Christ,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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