THE PSALM OF PSALMS

Rev Dr Timothy Tow

Rev Dr Timothy Tow

What better title can we give to Psalm 23, not only for being the best known and most beloved, but also the most versatile of David’s Psalter. Psalm 23 is like the Hebrew word “Shalom” which means peace. As the Jews use Shalom as a word of greeting for all occasions, whether in life or death, in peace or war, in times of happiness or in times of sorrow, so we repeat or sing Psalm 23 under all circumstances. Psalm 23 fits all occasions because this Psalm breathes with every breath we take through every vicissitude of life. As life vibrates with every mood and emotion, so Psalm 23 is chanted to “seven” tunes as if to reflect our seven emotions, according to this order in Chinese psychology, viz., joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hatred, desire.

Psalm 23 is a psalm of life-hid-in-God. Whereas the world, of whatever religion or cultural background, is without God and has no hope (Eph 2:12), the Christian, like David, has fulness of confidence in God, like a Lamb in the Shepherd’s arms. This is how David felt when he penned this Psalm, recalling how God had delivered him “out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear” (1 Sam 17:37). Therefore, he could confidently go to battle against Goliath, knowing God would deliver him “out of the hand of this Philistine” (1 Sam 17:37). As he wrote this Psalm, he throbbed to the vivid memory of how God also delivered him from Saul’s spear and revived his fainting spirits with Ahimelech’s shewbread.

Thus he could testify of his all sufficiency in God, in his every need in a perilous livelihood. Not only of God’s emergency supply but also of His tender mercies leading to rest and recreation.

What David treasures most is God’s leading him along the spiritual path that keeps his feet from sliding into sin – for His name’s sake. Did he not fail God miserably once when he fell flat for Bathsheba; and into the ten-times more heinous crime of murdering Uriah by proxy? How we must plead with God to keep us on the right track too!

How does “thy rod and thy staff” comfort me? The Shepherd invariably carries a staff or rod with him when he goes forth to feed his flock. It is often bent or hooked on one end, which gives rise to the Shepherd’s crook in the hand of the Christian bishop. With this staff, he rules and guides the flock and defends them from their enemies.

From the rustic scene, we are introduced to a palace setting. Is David speaking from his victory over Goliath and his honours conferred before the king which excited the envy of other servants?

Anointing the head with oil is done as an expression of joy against putting on dust and ashes in sorrow. “Those that have this happiness must let it overflow into their poor brethren’s emptier vessels.” (John Trapp).

While David had many enemies following him, he could rest assured in the Lord that He, on the other hand, was attending him with loving kindness. He had no doubt that a place in heaven was reserved for him. Is this your assurance too?

PHILIPPINES BIBLE CONFERENCE 2017

Dr Jose Lagapa

This year’s Bible Conference is in commemoration of the 500^th anniversary of the 16^th Century Reformation. It will be held at Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon December 19–21, 2017. The conference speaker is the Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy on the theme “Biblical Separation”.

The Protestant Reformation sparked off in Germany on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic monk, nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church to challenge the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) for their abuses and many corruptions, one of which was the sale of indulgences. These indulgences or “forgiveness tickets” were said to deliver the buyer out of purgatory and into heaven, including their departed relatives. Luther’s move was unprecedented; an evidence that God had planned to bring His Church out of the darkness of Rome. Luther’s Theses spread to many countries and changed Europe, even the world.

Five hundred years on, it is disheartening to note that Protestant churches are today returning to and joining up with Rome. The Lutheran, Methodist, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) which comprises Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, Waldensian and United churches representing 80 million have signed up to adopt the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” with the RCC. They have forgotten why the Reformation occurred. The Baptist World Alliance and the Vatican are also building ecumenical ties and have convened two rounds of dialogues (1984–8 and 2006–10).

These theological compromises are not minor ones. These are complete turnabouts from the reformers’ stand in the 16^th century. These undermine the Reformation as though it was a mistake. These are denials of the Scriptures and a capitulation to a false gospel of works, and to idolatry and superstition.

Is there not a cause? “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Tim 4:1–5).

Moreover, there are many other “isms” the servants of the Lord must warn against in order to keep their flocks safe from deceptions. Modernism and post-modernism have fascinated the minds of many teachers in theological seminaries and Bible colleges producing pastors who believe not that the Bible is perfectly inspired and preserved which resulted in the publication of corrupt modern versions of the Bible today. The influence of Charismatism has led many fundamental and conservative churches to adopt the contemporary praise and worship style. This shallow and pleasure-centered worship is “strange fire” for it has replaced the centrality of the Word with the carnality of the world and the glory of God with the glitters of man. The new-evangelical compromise and the new-fundamentalist backsliding reveal the lackadaisical nature of many churches today. No more the courage to stand for the truth and “to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). One of the worst scenarios in churches today is materialism and “moneytheism”, seen not only in the pews but also in pastors and church leaders. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jas 4:4).

This Bible Conference is not the answer for all these problems in the churches today, but our prayer is that pastors who have ears to hear would respond to the call for Biblical separation. God has always a faithful remnant who would stand in the gap and “Come out of her … [and] be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Rev 18:4).

NEW WORSHIP HALL FOR NLSC

Brother Thangno reported that all the residents of New Life Student Centre (NLSC) are fine and doing well: “By the grace of God and your prayers and love gift supports, all the children and I and my family are fine and doing well.”

Recently, Thangno shared that their worship hall (12ft x 23ft) was too small, very tight and uncomfortable for worship service. The worship hall also doubled up as a study room. He shared that there was a bigger room which could be used for worship service (37ft x 15ft), but this room had to be renovated. He asked for funds to renovate this big room for worship service. It would cost $3000. He also said there was also a need to purchase a new generator. He appealed for funds from Elder John Leong of Tabernacle BPC and from True Life BPC.

Please be informed that a total of $4000 had already been sent to him for this project: $2000 from Elder John Leong and another $2000 from True Life.

On 22 October 2017, Thangno wrote, “Thank God, we are using the new worship service hall today. We all are so happy and very comfortable to worship the Lord in this new worship service hall because this new worship service hall is bigger and cleaner for us than what we had used before. We are really so happy and thankful to the Lord and to Elder John Leong too. I send some photos of the worship service hall and giving thanks to you and to the Lord and praise the Lord in it today happily. To God be the glory.”

On 3 November 2017, Thangno reported that the extra money we had given was also used to renovate the main hall ceiling, kitchen and dining hall. 

God willing, Elder John Leong will lead another team to conduct a Vacation Bible School at NLSC in March 2018. God willing, Thangno will come for our Church Camp next year and present a full report of the work at NLSC, Yangon, Myanmar.

New Worship Hall of NLSC