Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth

Paul encourages believers that we should put our minds beyond the things which are affecting us in this world. Our hope is heavenly and so we should also put away all the fleshly sins. The two big classes of sins involve fleshly lust and the sins from the tongue.

Paul calls upon us to be patient, humble, forgiving and above all, love. We are to have the peace of God in our hearts and the word rooted in us to the point of reciting psalms and hymns and singing in our hearts to God. Also, do everything in the name of Jesus.

Again Paul teaches the roles of husbands, wives, children, parents, servants and masters. There is an orderly principle of submission and the rewards will be the inheritance of God.




Colossians 3
Not Carnality but Christ

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Bless The LORD, O My Soul

This is a call to bless the LORD. Many reasons are given here why we should bless the LORD. The LORD forgives us for our iniquities, heals us, saves us from destruction. And He also shows his mercy and lovingkindness to us. He is gracious, merciful and slow to anger. He is righteous and just. But through salvation, he does not punish us as we deserve.

He is like a father to us in His mercy toward us. To those who fear Him, his mercy is forever, in fact he has established a covenant with those who keeps His commandments.

Finally the call to bless the LORD, extends to all His creation from the angels to the heavenly hosts to those who minister to Him



Psalm 103
A Psalm of David.

 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
       
 6 The LORD executes righteousness
         And justice for all who are oppressed.
 7 He made known His ways to Moses,
         His acts to the children of Israel.
 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
         Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
 9 He will not always strive with us,
         Nor will He keep His anger forever.
 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
         Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
       
 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
         So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
 12 As far as the east is from the west,
         So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
 13 As a father pities his children,
         So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
 14 For He knows our frame;
         He remembers that we are dust.
       
 15 As for man, his days are like grass;
         As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
         And its place remembers it no more.[a]
 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
         On those who fear Him,
         And His righteousness to children’s children,
 18 To such as keep His covenant,
         And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
       
 19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
         And His kingdom rules over all.
       
 20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
         Who excel in strength, who do His word,
         Heeding the voice of His word.
 21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
         You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
 22 Bless the LORD, all His works,
         In all places of His dominion.
       
         Bless the LORD, O my soul!

They Have Laid Jerusalem in Heaps

Here is a grim description of the situation in Israel. It seems like Jerusalem and the Temple has been overrun by invaders. The holy city seems to be in ruins and the Temple defiled. The inhabitants have been slaughtered throughout the city.

It seems like God is angry at Israel. The psalmist asks how long before God would interfere. How long before God would stop the heathens from laying waste God's land and His people.

The psalmist calls for God's help, appealing to His tender mercies, salvation, His name, atonement. He appeals to God to forget their iniquities, that they are already at a very low level. He urges God to avenge on their behalf so the nations may know who God is.



Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.

 1 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance;
         Your holy temple they have defiled;
         They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
 2 The dead bodies of Your servants
         They have given as food for the birds of the heavens,
         The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
 3 Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,
         And there was no one to bury them.
 4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
         A scorn and derision to those who are around us.
       
 5 How long, LORD?
         Will You be angry forever?
         Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
 6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,
         And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.
 7 For they have devoured Jacob,
         And laid waste his dwelling place.
       
 8 Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
         Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
         For we have been brought very low.
 9 Help us, O God of our salvation,
         For the glory of Your name;
         And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
         For Your name’s sake!
 10 Why should the nations say,
         “Where is their God?”
         Let there be known among the nations in our sight
         The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.
       
 11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
         According to the greatness of Your power
         Preserve those who are appointed to die;
 12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom
         Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.
       
 13 So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,
         Will give You thanks forever;
         We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Save Me, O God! For The Waters Have Come Up To My Neck.

As David pours out his heart to God, we see the many dimensions of his troubles. He is in such trouble as if he is drowning in it, as he is waiting for God. He feels his enemies are targeting him unjustly. He admits that he has sinned and he is rejected by those around him. Yet he prays to God and trusting in his mercy and salvation.
He knows about God's lovingkindness and tender mercies and calls on God to redeem him. He describes his self-pity and there is no one else who would pity him. He then calls upon God to show His wrath to his enemies. Finally he praises God and offers thanksgiving. He reaffirms his believe in God's covenant promises to His people concerning Zion and the inheritance for their descendants.


Psalm 69
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.”[a]A Psalm of David.

 1 Save me, O God!
         For the waters have come up to my neck.
 2 I sink in deep mire,
         Where there is no standing;
         I have come into deep waters,
         Where the floods overflow me.
 3 I am weary with my crying;
         My throat is dry;
         My eyes fail while I wait for my God.
        
 4 Those who hate me without a cause
         Are more than the hairs of my head;
         They are mighty who would destroy me,
         Being my enemies wrongfully;
         Though I have stolen nothing,
         I still must restore it.
        
 5 O God, You know my foolishness;
         And my sins are not hidden from You.
 6 Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
         Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
 7 Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
         Shame has covered my face.
 8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,
         And an alien to my mother’s children;
 9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,
         And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
 10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting,
         That became my reproach.
 11 I also made sackcloth my garment;
         I became a byword to them.
 12 Those who sit in the gate speak against me,
         And I am the song of the drunkards.
        
 13 But as for me, my prayer is to You,
         O LORD, in the acceptable time;
         O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,
         Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.
 14 Deliver me out of the mire,
         And let me not sink;
         Let me be delivered from those who hate me,
         And out of the deep waters.
 15 Let not the floodwater overflow me,
         Nor let the deep swallow me up;
         And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.
        
 16 Hear me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good;
         Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.
 17 And do not hide Your face from Your servant,
         For I am in trouble;
         Hear me speedily.
 18 Draw near to my soul, and redeem it;
         Deliver me because of my enemies.
        
 19 You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
         My adversaries are all before You.
 20 Reproach has broken my heart,
         And I am full of heaviness;
         I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
         And for comforters, but I found none.
 21 They also gave me gall for my food,
         And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
 22 Let their table become a snare before them,
         And their well-being a trap.
 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see;
         And make their loins shake continually.
 24 Pour out Your indignation upon them,
         And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.
 25 Let their dwelling place be desolate;
         Let no one live in their tents.
 26 For they persecute the ones You have struck,
         And talk of the grief of those You have wounded.
 27 Add iniquity to their iniquity,
         And let them not come into Your righteousness.
 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living,
         And not be written with the righteous.
        
 29 But I am poor and sorrowful;
         Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
 30 I will praise the name of God with a song,
         And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
 31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull,
         Which has horns and hooves.
 32 The humble shall see this and be glad;
         And you who seek God, your hearts shall live.
 33 For the LORD hears the poor,
         And does not despise His prisoners.
        
 34 Let heaven and earth praise Him,
         The seas and everything that moves in them.
 35 For God will save Zion
         And build the cities of Judah,
         That they may dwell there and possess it.
 36 Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it,
         And those who love His name shall dwell in it.

I waited patiently for the LORD

David describes a few important things in his relationship to God which is a good example for us all. The first thing is to place our trust in God, and as David did so, God led him out of trouble. The wonderful works of God are too many to be counted.

The second is our heart's desire towards God is more regarded by God than any offerings or sacrifices. David's sum this up as: "I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”

Out of this, it is natural then to proclaim the good news of God, God's faithfulness, Salvation, His Lovingkindness and truth. “The LORD be magnified!”

Psalm 40

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
         And He inclined to me,
         And heard my cry.
 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
         Out of the miry clay,
         And set my feet upon a rock,
         And established my steps.
 3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
         Praise to our God;
         Many will see it and fear,
         And will trust in the LORD.
       
 4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,
         And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
 5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
         Which You have done;
         And Your thoughts toward us
         Cannot be recounted to You in order;
         If I would declare and speak of them,
         They are more than can be numbered.
       
 6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
         My ears You have opened.
         Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;
         In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,
         And Your law is within my heart.”
       
 9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
         In the great assembly;
         Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
         O LORD, You Yourself know.
 10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
         I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
         I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
         From the great assembly.
       
 11 Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD;
         Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
 12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
         My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;
         They are more than the hairs of my head;
         Therefore my heart fails me.
       
 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
         O LORD, make haste to help me!
 14 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
         Who seek to destroy my life;
         Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor
         Who wish me evil.
 15 Let them be confounded because of their shame,
         Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
       
 16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
         Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
         “The LORD be magnified!”
 17 But I am poor and needy;
         Yet the LORD thinks upon me.
         You are my help and my deliverer;
         Do not delay, O my God.