For us, the evening is the end of the day. But if we live, the morning will come! In Genesis 1, we are reminded of this with the use of the terms in the opposite order of modern usage: "and the evening and the morning were..."

When the evening comes, and sleep is near, we ought to be able to look back on a day that was spent in the "shadow of his wings" (Ruth 2:12). We should also be looking forward to the refreshing beginning of a new day when we wake. if we have just finished a day of faithful living before God, then we can know that the next day will either be filled with more opportunities to love God by keeping His commandments, or, in the words of the childhood prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake—

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

In the first verse of this evening psalm, David makes his REQUEST:

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer."

If this Psalm was a product of the time when David had to flee his evil son Absalom, then we can easily see why he speaks of his "distress." We have lots of "distress" today, too. And there are lots of plans being offered from info-mercials to clergymen for the relieving of "stress." But how often do we try faithful living and praying without ceasing? David was confident that he could ask God to have mercy on him and hear his prayer. Am I that confident?

In verses 2-5, David presented his REJECTION of the ways and efforts of those who were against him and Jehovah.

And put your trust in the Lord."

Part of our distress is caused by wondering "how long" the wicked will persist in their evil ways before they see the folly of it: "How can you keep thinking and living that way??" In David’s words, "How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?" It seems that in his own meditations, David is "questioning" and pleading with these people to change their ways. Those who have no concern about pleasing God really do not know the struggles that the faithful have in this area. We are ALWAYS cognizant of their condition and we are ALWAYS trying to do what we can (by example and teaching) to get them to "put your trust in the Lord" (verse 5).

Apart from our own prayers, meditations, and casting of these cares on God, our concern for the lost could cause our own ruin. The burden of understanding (as best we can) the lost-ness of the 6 billion neighbors we have on earth is too heavy to bear apart from such prayers as Psalm 4.

In verses 6 and 7, David wrote of the REALITY of what Jehovah was doing for him.

and wine increased."

Some people (verse 6) always wonder if God is going to "come through" for them. Israel, to a large degree, was that way all through the Old Testament. But shining examples, such as Joseph, Ruth, Job, Mary, Barnabas, and Stephen, constantly remind us that God ALWAYS comes through!

What can man do to me?’" (Hebrews 13:5,6).

God is able, and God uses His ability to protect, provide, deliver, and reward. Count on it; depend on it; and pray like you believe it.

And as you pray your evening prayer, you can, with the teaching and example of David in your soul—REST:

make me dwell in safety."

The same God who promised (and kept His promises), can provide you with the physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation you need when you sleep in the strength and shelter of His mercy (verse 1).

Good night, and God bless.

When Paul talked about how he was saved, he included the fact that he was commanded by God’s messenger to be immersed in order to have his sins washed away (Acts 22:16).

When he wrote his letters and spoke of the things (commands) that sinners (Jew and Gentile) must do (Acts 9:6) in order to be saved, he frequently reminded them that they had been baptized in order to have newness of life, put on Christ, be regenerated, etc. (Romans 6:3,4); I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:4-6; 5:26; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:5).

Paul knew that the same thing he HAD TO OBEY was what he HAD TO PREACH to the whole world. The reason is simple: Paul had to obey the gospel of Christ, as given by Christ and commissioned to His apostles in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Nothing about this has changed. So, I ask you, if you have not obeyed the gospel—Why do you wait?

Please contact us if we can help. We will teach and help you to obey God—without any alteration to the word of God in any way.

                            —nondenominational

                           (non = not; Matthew

                            16:18,19).

                           —undenominational

                          (un = more emphatic

                           than non; I Corinthi-

                           ans 1:10-13).

                          —antidenominational

                         (anti = against;

SYMPATHY: Dennis Clark’s uncle, Ivan Clark, passed away last week. Dennis and Karen were in West Virginia for the funeral. We offer our sympathy to the Clark family.

GROUP TWO: Group 2 is in charge of the service at Plantation South at 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Also, they are asked to meet up front following evening services for visitation assignments.

SING: 5:30 Sunday.

CHILDREN’S CLASS: 5:30 Sunday.

LADIES’ CLASS: Ladies’ class will meet Tuesday at 10:00.

PANTRY ITEM: Scalloped potatoes and canned salmon.

Sunday Bible Class 113

Sunday AM Worship 127

Sunday PM Worship 93

Wednesday Bible Class 102

Contribution $4507