In this third installment in our series entitled “Are You Glad,” we look at Psalms 126 and 127.  Psalm 126 is a “Celebration of God’s Deliverance” of Israel from captivity and their return to Jerusalem. Psalm 127 is a “Declaration of God’s Sovereignty.”

Psalms chapter 120 begins a series of songs, which Martin Luther called, “the gradual psalms.”  It is a collection of 15 Psalms that were sung as Jewish pilgrims journeyed from their homes to the city of Jerusalem to worship God.  In this message, we look at Psalm 120, which is a depiction of the pilgrim’s current home and Psalm 121, which was sung as the pilgrims saw the hills around Jerusalem. Join us as we join these Jewish pilgrims on their journey to the city of peace!

Solomon discovered the hard way that living a life apart from God and the purpose He has destined for each of us, leads only to frustration and regret.  He considered all he had done and all he had earned as valuable as “chasing after the wind.” Time wasted attempting to grab hold of something elusive and just out of reach. Holding onto the hope of happiness and joy, yet finding the closer he came to his prize the further away it seemed to be.

Daniel’s integrity in his relationship with God was put to the test when he was faced with the decision to compromise or be fed to lions.  The choice he made was not on the spur of the moment.  He had decided long before then he would not compromise who he was in God, no matter what the consequences might be.