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Call to Worship

Psalm 46

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF THE SONS OF KORAH. ACCORDING TO ALAMOTH. A SONG.

1 God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

 

Because God is our refuge and strength in troubled times, we will not fear. Even during the most unimaginable circumstances of earth giving way, mountains being moved into the sea, waters roaring and crashing, and shaking mountains, we are confident in the shelter and strength of our God. He is always present with His people even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Even during our times of distress there is a place that is full of God, His gladness, and His security. It is safe and secure because God dwells there. Even nations cannot withstand the power of our Lord’s voice.

Praise the Lord that He is with us and keeps our souls even to the end of the age.

 

Hymn of Worship

A Might Fortress Is Our God | Sheet Music

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!

 

Prayer of Confession

Paradoxes | View Text 

 

Assurance of Forgiveness

Proverbs 28:13

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

 

Rejoicing in the Gospel

2 Cor. 5:17-21

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled

us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,

not counting their trespasses against them,

and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,

God making his appeal through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Song

I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art |  as sung by Capitol Hill Baptist Church congregation

1 I greet thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
my only trust and Savior of my heart,
who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray thee from our hearts all cares to take.

2 Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
reigning omnipotent in ev’ry place:
so come, O King, and our whole being sway;
shine on us with the light of thy pure day.

3 Thou art the Life, by which alone we live,
and all our substance and our strength receive;
O comfort us in death’s approaching hour,
strong-hearted then to face it by thy pow’r.

4 Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
no harshness hast thou and no bitterness:
make us to taste the sweet grace found in thee
and ever stay in thy sweet unity.

5 Our hope is in no other save in thee;
our faith is built upon thy promise free;
O grant to us such stronger hope and sure
that we can boldly conquer and endure.

 

Plea for Help

We are living in difficult times. Yes, there have been more difficult times than these. The Black Death was far worse than the worst predictions about COVID-19 especially when factoring in the world population then versus now. But even though there have been far worse times, that doesn’t diminish our present need for God to help us through whatever difficulties and trials that we currently face and will face.

Several Psalms begin with cries of lament that are born from deep affliction, needs, trials, uncertainty, and/or persecution. But as the psalmist turns his gaze away from his circumstances to God, he finds comfort and stability even if his present circumstances don’t change. Ultimately, the psalmist knows that God never changes and that God is his salvation.

Psalm 42

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A MASKIL OF THE SONS OF KORAH.

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,

so pants my soul for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night,

while they say to me all the day long,

“Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:

how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God

with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls;

all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

8  By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,

and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me,

while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God.

 

Corresponding Hymn

Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42)

Watch the video on YouTube | Download Sheet Music

1 Lord, from sorrows deep I call
When my hope is shaken
Torn and ruined from the fall
Hear my desperation
For so long I’ve pled and prayed
God, come to my rescue
Even so the thorn remains
Still my heart will praise You

2 Storms within my troubled soul
Questions without answers
On my faith these billows roll
God, be now my shelter
Why are you cast down my soul?
Hope in Him who saves you
When the fires have all grown cold
Cause this heart to praise You

3 Should my life be torn from me
Every worldly pleasure
When all I possess is grief
God, be then my treasure
Be my vision in the night
Be my hope and refuge
Till my faith is turned to sight
Lord, my heart will praise You

And, oh, my soul, put your hope in God
My help, my Rock, I will praise Him
Sing, oh, sing through the raging storm
You’re still my God, my salvation

 

Hymn of Confidence

It Is Well With My Soul

Watch the moving history of this hymn:

 

1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.

2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul. Refrain

3 My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain

4 O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul. Refrain

 

We have no promise that we will live through the end of today. We have no promise that we will escape great hardship in our lifetime. Like Spafford, we might experience untold difficulties and trials, even loss of life and possessions. But for those that are in Christ, we have an eternal shelter and refuge in Christ because of what He accomplished through His death on the cross.