Gus Cameron

22 May 2025

Psalm 20 & 21

Gus Cameron

22 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 20

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary
and sustain you from Zion.
3 May He remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Selah
4 May He give you the desires of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy at your victory
and raise a banner in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He answers him from His holy heaven
with the saving power of His right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 O LORD, save the king.
Answer us on the day we call.

PSALM 21

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength.
How greatly he exults in Your salvation!
2 You have granted his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah
3 For You welcomed him with rich blessings;
You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
4 He asked You for life, and You granted it—
length of days, forever and ever.
5 Great is his glory in Your salvation;
You bestow on him splendor and majesty.
6 For You grant him blessings forever;
You cheer him with joy in Your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the loving devotion of the Most High,
he will not be shaken.
8 Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies;
Your right hand will seize those who hate You.
9 You will place them in a fiery furnace
at the time of Your appearing.
In His wrath the LORD will engulf them,
and the fire will consume them.
10 You will wipe their descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from the sons of men.
11 Though they intend You harm,
the schemes they devise will not prevail.
12 For You will put them to flight
when Your bow is trained upon them.
13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;
we will sing and praise Your power.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

21 May 2025

Psalm 19

Gus Cameron

21 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 Without speech or language,
without a sound to be heard,
4 their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens He has pitched
a tent for the sun.
5 Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course,
6 it rises at one end of the heavens
and runs its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The Law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
bringing joy to the heart;
the commandments of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the judgments of the LORD are true,
being altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them indeed Your servant is warned;
in keeping them is great reward.
12 Who can discern his own errors?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Keep Your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless
and cleansed of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in Your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

20 May 2025

Psalm 18:25-50

Gus Cameron

20 May 2025

Today we will read the second half of Psalm 18, and then Stephen will share his own reflections on the Psalm as a whole.

25 To the faithful You show Yourself faithful,
to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
26 to the pure You show Yourself pure,
but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You save an afflicted people,
but You humble those with haughty eyes.
28 For You, O LORD, light my lamp;
my God lights up my darkness.
29 For in You I can charge an army,
and with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way clear.
33 He makes my feet like those of a deer
and stations me upon the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me Your shield of salvation;
Your right hand upholds me,
and Your gentleness exalts me.
36 You broaden the path beneath me
so that my ankles do not give way.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back until they were consumed.
38 I crushed them so they could not rise;
they have fallen under my feet.
39 You have armed me with strength for battle;
You have subdued my foes beneath me.
40 You have made my enemies retreat before me;
I put an end to those who hated me.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but He did not answer.
42 I ground them as dust in the face of the wind;
I trampled them like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the strife of the people;
You have made me the head of nations;
a people I had not known shall serve me.
44 When they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cower before me.
45 Foreigners lose heart
and come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock!
And may the God of my salvation be exalted—
47 the God who avenges me
and subdues nations beneath me,
48 who delivers me from my enemies.
You exalt me above my foes;
You rescue me from violent men.
49 Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing praises to Your name.
50 Great salvation He brings to His king.
He shows loving devotion to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.

REFLECTIONS

If it wasn’t obvious yesterday, I hope it’s obvious by now that Psalm 18 applies directly to Jesus, not to us. Things like verse 43: “You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me” … if you hear me saying that about myself from up front in church, please report me to my bishop!

There are a few truths about Jesus that especially stood out to me. Yesterday, in verse 19 we read: “He rescued me because He delighted in me.” The reason God raised Jesus from the dead and made him the King and ruler over all things is because: he delighted in him. The Father delighted in his righteous and faithful Son. And here’s the amazing bit: if we put our trust in Jesus as our King, God delights in us – not because of what we’re like, but because we’re connected to the Messiah.

Then today in verse 39, we read: “You have subdued my foes beneath me.” Jesus went into battle against human opponents, against sin, against death itself. He has already won the battle by his resurrection. And when he returns as the judge and saviour, he will destroy every rival power, put all his enemies under his feet, and destroy death itself (1 Cor. 15:24-26). I can’t even conquer my diary … but if we put our trust in Jesus as our King, we will share in his victory over all things.

Finally, I love how the whole Psalm, from start to finish, is filled with Jesus’ trust in God his Father. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer” (v. 2). I usually take for granted that Jesus, in his earthly life, trusted in God – of course he did. But this helped me to appreciate what a monumental amount of faith Jesus must have had to go through with his mission. He is the shining example of dependence on God that we need to look towards.

What a Psalm! Why not finish by applying one of the verses that we can say with Jesus: “Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name” (v. 49).

Gus Cameron

19 May 2025

Psalm 18:1-24

Gus Cameron

19 May 2025

Today we are going to read the first half of Psalm 18, which is the longest Psalm in the book so far. It also has parts that will seem very strange if you try to apply them directly to yourself. There’s a good reason for that – a bit like Psalm 2, this is specifically about the Messiah. There are two big clues for that: one is the heading, which is much longer than most Psalm headings, and tells us that this Psalm was a song King David sang about how God delivered him. The other clue is that the Psalm also appears in 2 Samuel 22, near the end of David’s rule as king. So as you read this Psalm, it’s especially important to remember that King David was the forerunner of the true Messiah, Jesus.

You should still think about the two questions – what things can I relate to, and what things remind me of Jesus? Then tomorrow I will give a few of my own thoughts on the Psalm as a whole.

For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1 I love You, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry for His help reached His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains trembled;
they were shaken because He burned with anger.
8 Smoke rose from His nostrils,
and consuming fire came from His mouth;
glowing coals blazed forth.
9 He parted the heavens and came down
with dark clouds beneath His feet.
10 He mounted a cherub and flew;
He soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His hiding place,
and storm clouds a canopy around Him.
12 From the brightness of His presence
His clouds advanced—
hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded—
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He shot His arrows and scattered the foes;
He hurled lightning and routed them.
15 The channels of the sea appeared,
and the foundations of the world were exposed,
at Your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from foes too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in my day of calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into the open;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.
20 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His ordinances are before me;
I have not disregarded His statutes.
23 And I have been blameless before Him
and kept myself from iniquity.
24 So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

17 May 2025

Psalm 17

Gus Cameron

17 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

A prayer of David.
1 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it comes from lips free of deceit.
2 May my vindication come from Your presence;
may Your eyes see what is right.
3 You have tried my heart;
You have visited me in the night.
You have tested me and found no evil;
I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
4 As for the deeds of men—
by the word of Your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held to Your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6 I call on You, O God,
for You will answer me.
Incline Your ear to me;
hear my words.
7 Show the wonders of Your loving devotion,
You who save by Your right hand
those who seek refuge from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 They have closed their callous hearts;
their mouths speak with arrogance.
11 They have tracked us down, and now surround us;
their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,
12 like a lion greedy for prey,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Arise, O LORD, confront them!
Bring them to their knees;
deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
14 from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life.
May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons,
so they leave their abundance to their children.
15 As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

16 May 2025

Psalm 15 & 16

Gus Cameron

16 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 15

A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?
2 He who walks with integrity
and practices righteousness,
who speaks the truth from his heart,
3 who has no slander on his tongue,
who does no harm to his neighbor,
who casts no scorn on his friend,
4 who despises the vile
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who does not revise a costly oath,
5 who lends his money without interest
and refuses a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

PSALM 16

A Miktam of David.
1 Preserve me, O God,
for in You I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from You I have no good thing.”
3 As for the saints in the land,
they are the excellence
in whom all my delight resides.
4 Sorrows will multiply
to those who chase other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood,
or speak their names with my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
You have made my lot secure.
6 The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places;
surely my inheritance is delightful.
7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me;
even at night my conscience instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

15 May 2025

Psalm 13 & 14

Gus Cameron

15 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 13

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O LORD?
Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart each day?
How long will my enemy dominate me?
3 Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes rejoice when I fall.
5 But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;
my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for He has been good to me.

PSALM 14

For the choirmaster. Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt; their acts are vile.
There is no one who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven
upon the sons of men
to see if any understand,
if any seek God.
3 All have turned away,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.
4 Will the workers of iniquity never learn?
They devour my people like bread;
they refuse to call upon the LORD.
5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is in the company of the righteous.
6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
yet the LORD is their shelter.
7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!
When the LORD restores His captive people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

14 May 2025

Psalm 11 & 12

Gus Cameron

14 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 11

For the choirmaster. Of David.
1 In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain!
2 For behold, the wicked bend their bows.
They set their arrow on the string
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in His holy temple;
the LORD is on His heavenly throne.
His eyes are watching closely;
they examine the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked;
His soul hates the lover of violence.
6 On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their portion.
7 For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice.
The upright will see His face.

PSALM 12

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
1 Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more;
the faithful have vanished from among men.
2 They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue.
4 They say, “With our tongues we will prevail.
We own our lips—who can be our master?”
5 “For the cause of the oppressed
and for the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise,” says the LORD.
“I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
6 The words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace,
like gold purified sevenfold.
7 You, O LORD, will keep us;
You will forever guard us from this generation.
8 The wicked wander freely,
and vileness is exalted among men.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

13 May 2025

Psalm 10

Gus Cameron

13 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

1 Why, O LORD, do You stand far off?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?
2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy;
let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
3 For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him;
in all his schemes there is no God.
5 He is secure in his ways at all times;
Your lofty judgments are far from him;
he sneers at all his foes.
6 He says to himself, “I will not be moved;
from age to age I am free of distress.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence;
trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
in ambush he slays the innocent;
his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket;
he lurks to seize the oppressed;
he catches the lowly in his net.
10 They are crushed and beaten down;
the hapless fall prey to his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten;
He hides His face and never sees.”
12 Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God!
Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why has the wicked man renounced God?
He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
14 But You have regarded trouble and grief;
You see to repay it by Your hand.
The victim entrusts himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call him to account for his wickedness
until none is left to be found.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever;
the nations perish from His land.
17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their hearts.
You will incline Your ear,
18 to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed,
that the men of the earth
may strike terror no more.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

12 May 2025

Psalm 9

Gus Cameron

12 May 2025

A reminder: This month, we are using our do-it-yourself method for reading the Psalms. Each day, after the reading, I’ll ask you to reflect on two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A Psalm of David.
1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will recount all Your wonders.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies retreat,
they stumble and perish before You.
4 For You have upheld my just cause;
You sit on Your throne judging righteously.
5 You have rebuked the nations;
You have destroyed the wicked;
You have erased their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy has come to eternal ruin,
and You have uprooted their cities;
the very memory of them has vanished.
7 But the LORD abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment.
8 He judges the world with justice;
He governs the people with equity.
9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know Your name trust in You,
for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion;
proclaim His deeds among the nations.
12 For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers;
He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
13 Be merciful to me, O LORD;
see how my enemies afflict me!
Lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare all Your praises—
that within the gates of Daughter Zion
I may rejoice in Your salvation.
15 The nations have fallen into a pit of their making;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16 The LORD is known by the justice He brings;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion Selah
17 The wicked will return to Sheol—
all the nations who forget God.
18 For the needy will not always be forgotten;
nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed.
19 Rise up, O LORD, do not let man prevail;
let the nations be judged in Your presence.
20 Lay terror upon them, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.
Selah

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

10 May 2025

Psalm 8

Gus Cameron

10 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
You have set Your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the mouths of children and infants
You have ordained praise
on account of Your adversaries,
to silence the enemy and avenger.
3 When I behold Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which You have set in place—
4 what is man that You are mindful of him,
or the son of man that You care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the angels;
You crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler of the works of Your hands;
You have placed everything under his feet:
7 all sheep and oxen,
and even the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

9 May 2025

Psalm 7

Gus Cameron

9 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.
1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in You;
save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
2 or they will shred my soul like a lion
and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done this,
if injustice is on my hands,
4 if I have rewarded my ally with evil,
if I have plundered my foe without cause,
5 then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground
and leave my honor in the dust.
Selah
6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
rise up against the fury of my enemies.
Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around You;
take Your seat over them on high.
8 The LORD judges the peoples;
vindicate me, O LORD,
according to my righteousness and integrity.
9 Put an end to the evil of the wicked,
but establish the righteous,
O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
10 My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge
and a God who feels indignation each day.
12 If one does not repent,
God will sharpen His sword;
He has bent and strung His bow.
13 He has prepared His deadly weapons;
He ordains His arrows with fire.
14 Behold, the wicked man travails with evil;
he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
15 He has dug a hole and hollowed it out;
he has fallen into a pit of his own making.
16 His trouble recoils on himself,
and his violence falls on his own head.
17 I will thank the LORD for His righteousness
and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

REFLECTIONS

Today, Stephen has written his own thoughts on the two questions.

One thing I related to was David’s longing for God to “put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous” (v 9). Sometimes we can feel like we are under attack from godless enemies – and we have many brothers and sisters who literally face physical violence from those who hate the Lord Jesus. God calls us not to fight back, but to pray “your kingdom come”, and to cling to him as our refuge, the one who will deliver us (v 1), and who will bring us to the security of his eternal kingdom.

There were so many things in the Psalm that reminded me of Jesus – especially that will return to judge the world. But the most precious reminder of Jesus for me was in verse 8: “The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.” I could never pray that or claim that based on my own righteousness, because the New Testament calls Jesus “the Righteous One” (for example, Acts 7:52). But thinking some more, I remembered that on the last day, God will vindicate me and declare me innocent – not on the basis of a “natural” righteousness that’s in me, but on the basis of Jesus’ perfect righteousness. God has clothed me with Jesus’ righteousness through his death on the cross, so that when God sees me, he sees his righteous Son. What a miraculous gift!

So for me, the last verse was the perfect way to pray: “I will thank the LORD for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”

Gus Cameron

8 May 2025

Psalm 5 & 6

Gus Cameron

8 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 5

For the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes. A Psalm of David.
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.
2 Attend to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to You I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I lay my plea before You
and wait in expectation.
4 For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
no evil can dwell with You.
5 The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You destroy those who tell lies;
the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7 But I will enter Your house
by the abundance of Your loving devotion;
in reverence I will bow down
toward Your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make straight Your way before me.9 For not a word they speak can be trusted;
destruction lies within them.
Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.
10 Declare them guilty, O God;
let them fall by their own devices.
Drive them out for their many transgressions,
for they have rebelled against You.
11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them ever shout for joy.
May You shelter them,
hat those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
12 For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous;
You surround them with the shield of Your favor.

PSALM 6

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.
2 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is deeply distressed.
How long, O LORD, how long?
4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul;
save me because of Your loving devotion.
5 For there is no mention of You in death;
who can praise You from Sheol?
6 I am weary from groaning;
all night I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes fail from grief;
they grow dim because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

7 May 2025

Psalm 3 & 4

Gus Cameron

7 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.
1 O LORD, how my foes have increased!
How many rise up against me!2 Many say of me,
“God will not deliver him.”
Selah
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
4 To the LORD I cry aloud,
and He answers me from His holy mountain.
Selah
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear the myriads
set against me on every side.
7 Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;
may Your blessing be on Your people.
Selah

PSALM 4

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call,
O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved my distress;
show me grace and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O men, will my honor be maligned?
How long will you love vanity and seek after lies[A] ?
Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself;
the LORD hears when I call to Him.
4 Be angry, yet do not sin;
on your bed, search your heart and be still.
Selah
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.
6 Many ask, “Who can show us the good?”
Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.
7 You have filled my heart with more joy
than when grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

6 May 2025

Psalm 2

Gus Cameron

6 May 2025

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together,
against the LORD
and against His Anointed One:
3 “Let us break Their chains
and cast away Their cords.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord taunts them.
5 Then He rebukes them in His anger,
and terrifies them in His fury:
6 “I have installed My King on Zion,
upon My holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the decree
spoken to Me by the LORD:
“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.
8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance,
the ends of the earth Your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter;
You will shatter them like pottery. ”
10 Therefore be wise, O kings;
be admonished, O judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry
and you perish in your rebellion,
when His wrath ignites in an instant.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

5 May 2025

Psalm 1

Gus Cameron

5 May 2025

This month, we are returning to the start of the book of Psalms, with our “do-it-yourself” devotion system. Instead of hearing someone else’s reflections, each day I’ll ask you to reflect on the Psalm yourself using some simple questions that you can use with any Psalm.

The two questions to think about are:

1. What things in the Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus? It could be something about his ministry, his suffering and death, his resurrection, his kingdom, or what God has done for us through Jesus.

But don’t worry if you can’t always think of something – just read, reflect and pray.

~~~

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
or set foot on the path of sinners,
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,
and on His law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
yielding its fruit in season,
whose leaf does not wither,
and who prospers in all he does.
4 Not so the wicked!
For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD guards the path of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

What things in this Psalm can I relate to?
Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Gus Cameron

3 May 2025

Luke 22:7-13

Gus Cameron

3 May 2025

Note: We have been having some problems with sending devotions. Many apologies for things being late and bunched up! We’re trying to fix things up.

—
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.”
9 “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked.
10 He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters, 11 and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”
13 So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Rebecca Lin

As I read this passage, the thing that stuck out to me the most was v13, which says “So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them.” I think it is because Jesus’ words to the disciples were not just a helpful suggestion about an appropriate place where they might be able to prepare the Passover meal, but rather a specific set of instructions about how to find a specific man, who would lead them to a specific house and then a specific room. And as the disciples followed those specific instructions, they found everything “just as Jesus had told them.”

This reminds me that every word Jesus says is trustworthy and true. Usually when I think about examples in the Bible that show that Jesus’ words are trustworthy, I tend to think of the many times Jesus told people that he would die and rise again before he actually did. But in this passage, Jesus’ words about something as small as finding a room to prepare a meal came true too! It is a reminder that Jesus has been completely faithful to every word that he has said and every promise that he has made, no matter whether it was big or small.

And this gives me confidence that Jesus is currently being faithful and will continue to be faithful to the promises he had made to us. Let’s spend time reflecting on and praising God for his faithfulness to his words and trusting that every promise will be fulfilled just as Jesus has told us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

2 May 2025

Luke 22:1-6

Gus Cameron

2 May 2025

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Marcy Saw

The first thing that stands out to me in today’s passage is the matter-of-fact way Luke describes Satan entering Judas Iscariot. At first, that makes me feel uneasy – could I be susceptible to being taken over like that, to the point of betraying or forsaking Jesus? But it’s helpful to remember that followers of Jesus have received his Spirit dwelling in us, which means Satan cannot rule over us. At the same time, it challenges me to continue putting to death sin, and to not give Satan a foothold in my life (see Ephesians 4:26).

We may not fully know Judas’ reasons for betraying Jesus, but the passage suggests that one motive might have been a desire for monetary gain. The danger of letting sin into our lives through the temptation of wealth and materialism is particularly strong for us living in Australia, and especially for those whom God has blessed with plenty. I constantly need to remind myself to find my security in belonging to Christ, rather than chasing the empty promises of satisfaction from worldly riches.

The second thing that stands out is how God achieves his purposes despite the sinful intentions of people and Satan’s plots. The chief priests were motivated by jealousy at Jesus’ popularity and fear that people would rise up to follow up him; Judas was driven by selfish gain, and Satan by his opposition to God’s plans. But it is God who orchestrates this scene and is in charge of its setting. The timing of these events near the Passover reminds me of God’s past deliverance of his people in Egypt from the angel of death. God is so great that he uses even sinful motives and Satan’s schemes as part of his plan to deliver us from the curse of sin through Jesus’ death for us.

Let’s ask God to keep guarding our hearts from the allure of wealth and the deceit of sin. Let’s also praise him that even when we fall short, his grace in Jesus is greater than our sin.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mercy is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

1 May 2025

Luke 21:34-38

Gus Cameron

1 May 2025

34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38 And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Dania Mourad

Today is the final part of Jesus’ teaching about signs of the end. This last section serves as a clear reminder to all believers living in the last days. Jesus urges us not to be weighed down by worldly concerns — “dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life” (verse 34). This made me reflect on how often I fall victim to anxiety — ungodly worry about the unknown future, fear of how plans will unfold, and scenarios I can’t control. It’s easy to get caught up in fearing the worst. I also think of those who turn to drunkenness or other temptations as a way to cope with the world’s pressures.

I am especially thankful for verse 36, which reminds us to “pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen.” This is a clear instruction to keep our focus on God, by praying and staying alert. We are given both the responsibility and the solution to overcome being weighed down by the world’s concerns. This reminds me of 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” How incredible it is that we can lay our worries before God in prayer, a sacred time of communion with our Father, and know that he hears and answers out of love for us.

This world is imperfect, sinful, and full of despair, but we hold on to the promised hope we have in Jesus. When we believe in Him and surrender our lives, we can rest assured in the future He has for us, a future beyond our comprehension. I pray that we all choose to seek God, who cares for us, loves us, and provides peace in a world that gives into sin. May we lean fully on Jesus in all seasons of life and remember that our lives ultimately belong to Christ. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dania is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

30 April 2025

Luke 21:29-33

Gus Cameron

30 April 2025

29 Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Understanding things is very important, especially understanding God’s Word. But sometimes it’s just as important to know what things you don’t understand. Today’s passage is a great example: I don’t understand verse 32. In fact, I suspect nobody today knows for sure what Jesus meant when he said, “this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.” Who did he mean by “this generation”? Maybe he meant that the climactic signs of his coming will not last longer than one generation – those who “see these things happening” (verse 31) will also see the end itself. Or maybe he was using “this generation” to talk about this entire age of evildoers who persecute his people and cause violence and bloodshed in the world – they will keep doing those things right up to the end.

I don’t know – which is good for me. Keeps me (and hopefully all of us) humble before God’s Word.

But I still find this passage very encouraging! Because Jesus tells us two things we can know for sure: we can know that the kingdom of God will come, and that Jesus’ words will never pass away. We can know because we have already seen the signs.

Jesus tells a little parable about how trees can show you what’s just around the corner: when they sprout, you know summer is near. When we lived in Chile, the street just around the corner from us was lined with trees that were bare through the winter. But in spring, out of nowhere, they would all suddenly burst into the most beautiful display of cherry blossoms. It was a certain and reliable sign that summer was coming.

There may be signs in the future that Jesus’ return is near – the things Jesus has talked about earlier in this chapter. I don’t understand everything there either! But we have already seen the most important signs of the coming of God’s kingdom: Jesus the Messiah died for our sins and was raised to life in glory, to fulfil all the Old Testament Scriptures. God did those things publicly, as signs that Jesus has already established God’s kingdom. We are only waiting for it to be finally revealed.

The signs have happened: This generation and this whole creation will pass away, but God’s kingdom, and Jesus’ words, will last forever. So, as Peter says, “you ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11-12).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.