Will You Help Us Broadcast?
The church at Duluth oversees
“Truth for the World,” which is a worldwide, multi-media evangelism effort.
We have radio and TV programs, printed material, Bible correspondence courses,
internet materials, and a Chinese work. At this moment, we have an
urgent need for help in the area of broadcasting. We informed the
members at Duluth last week, and they have begun to help eliminate the
$8000 deficit. We have already received $3720 from Duluth members,
but we still need $4280. We invite you to help in this great work.
To learn more, you can call 770 622-1525, write to P.O. Box 5048, Duluth,
GA, 30096, and/or check our website, which is tftw.org
If you want to contribute, please make your check out to “Truth for the World,” and earmark it for broadcasting. This will help us—particularly in keeping the television program on in Zambia. The program has been well received in that country, and we really need your help to keep teaching by this means. The broadcasting end of TFTW is very critical in establishing contacts in the areas where we are able to get on the air. The work we are doing is growing at an amazing rate right now, so all the help you give will go to fill very current requests all around the world—including broadcasting. If you are not on the mailing list for the TFTW “Update”—just ask.
Thank you for considering this plea.
Psalm 102:
”It Is Good for the Afflicted One to Cry Out to the
‘One Whose Days Have No End’”
“Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble”
Several writers see three main sections in Psalm 102: “The Psalmist indicates (1) his complaint (vv. 1-11); (2) his consolation (vv. 12-22); and (3) his confidence (vv. 23-28)” (James E. Smith, The Wisdom Literature and Psalms, p.383).
With this as a starting point, we will study the poem as a naturally progressing prayer of an afflicted person who is praising God in—and in spite of—his afflictions. I see six things that he says here as he presents his situation to Jehovah. Let us note them and the verses that go with them.
ONE: Please answer as soon as I call (for this is my urgent cry; vv. 1,2):
Hear my prayer, O LORD,
And let my cry come to You.
Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble;
Incline Your ear to me;
In the day that I call, answer me speedily.
TWO: My condition is terrible (and my pain is personal; vv. 3-7):
For my days are consumed like smoke,
And my bones are burned like a hearth.
My heart is stricken and withered like grass,
So that I forget to eat my bread.
Because of the sound of my groaning
My bones cling to my skin.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness;
I am like an owl of the desert.
I lie awake,
And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
THREE: This has happened because of my enemies and Your wrath (these indicate the sources of my situation, and I am calling on You to help me handle this; vv. 8-11):
My enemies reproach me all day long,
Those who deride me swear an oath against me.
For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And mingled my drink with weeping,
Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have lifted me up and cast me away.
My days are like a shadow that lengthens,
And I wither away like grass.
FOUR: I have hope because of what I know about You (in view of how You have always “lived up to Your name”; vv. 12-17):
But You, O LORD, shall endure forever,
And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion;
For the time to favor her,
Yes, the set time, has come.
For Your servants take pleasure in her stones,
And show favor to her dust.
So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD,
And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
For the LORD shall build up Zion;
He shall appear in His glory.
He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,
And shall not despise their prayer.
FIVE: This will be written so others can praise you (I will write it for the good it can do in the future; vv. 18-22):
This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary;
From heaven the LORD viewed the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To release those appointed to death,
To declare the name of the LORD in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
When the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
SIX: You can help—and You will always be able to help (what a thought—Jehovah will always be able to help anyone and everyone through anything and everything; vv. 23-28):
He weakened my strength in the way;
He shortened my days.
I said, "O my God,
Do not take me away in the midst of my days;
Your years are throughout all generations.
Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You will endure;
Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will change them,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will have no end.
The children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You.
There have been several long psalms in our studies so far. Usually I ask you to read the text from your own Bible; but this time, I have made almost no comments because I wanted you to remember that the real strength of these lessons is not to be found in that which I say about the psalm. The real strength is in the psalm!
The only portion of the chapter that I will comment on is the last section,
part of which is quoted in Hebrews 1:10-12. It is quoted as a point
in a discussion in which the author of Hebrews proves the deity of Christ.
He uses Psalm 102:25-27 in the discussion by claiming that it is a passage
where God, through the prophet, is speaking of Jesus in His role as being
both the Creator and being above creation! The deity of Christ is
therefore a fact, and it is a fact with powerful implications about His
ability to help the afflicted one who calls on Him!
— Skip Andrews
Next Time: Psalm 103:
“Bless the LORD,
O My Soul”
DULUTH CHURCH OF CHRIST
GOSPEL MEETING
October 20-24, 2001
with
James Boyd
Everyone is Welcome!
Listen to our Sunday services on the Web.
Just go to
http://www.duluthcofc.org
and follow the instructions
SICK LIST:
Theresa Heilman had surgery on her left ankle Tuesday. She is doing
well, but she will be on crutches for a few weeks.
NEW GRANDPARENTS: Ken and Carol Lollar are the happy grandparents of a grandson, Walker Ramsey Howell, born August 11, at 9:30 AM. He weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and is 19 1/2 inches. Parents are Buck and Vicki (Lollar) Howell. Congratulations! Everyone is doing great!
PLANTATION SOUTH: Group 3 is in charge of the services today at 1:30. Rod Rutherford will be speaking this quarter.
BAPTISM: Tyler Newsom was baptized into Christ by his grandfather last weekend while the family was visiting in Nashville. We rejoice with him for this decision—and welcome him as a brother in the family at Duluth.
FOR THE RECORD:
Sunday Class 130
Sunday AM Worship 167
Sunday PM Worship 140
Wednesday Class 142
Contribution $4641
FELLOWSHIP MEAL: Our monthly covered dish dinner will be next Sunday, August 25, following morning services. We encourage everyone to join us. Group 4 will host.
EVENING LADIES’ CLASS: The monthly ladies’ class will meet Monday, August 26, at 7:30.
WEEKLY LADIES’ CLASS: Please keep in mind our regular Tuesday ladies’ class will begin meeting again September 10 at 10:00. Mary Jones is our teacher.
ELDERS’ MEETING: The elders will meet at 4:00 this Sunday afternoon. If you would like to discuss anything with them, please contact Rod Rutherford for an appointment.
DULUTH SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL STUDIES: Classes begin September 7.
Subjects: Hermeneutics and Genesis & Exodus (Saturdays at 8:30 and
1:00) and Greek (Sundays at 8:00 AM). For more information, please
see Jimmie Hill.
VOLUME 4:11 AUGUST 18, 2002