August 26: Psalm 40:2–3; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 51:1; Ezekiel 16:5–6; Romans 5:6–8; Ephesians 2:4–5; Psalm 34:1–3; Psalm 84:11–12; Psalm 103:1; Isaiah 61:10; Acts 16:25; Ephesians 5:18–20; Philippians 4:4; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13 - a podcast by Crossway

“Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.”

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity.—“No eye pitied you,… but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born. And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you,… ‘Live!’”

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.—But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.

Psalm 40:2–3 (Listen)

2   He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
  and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
3   He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
  Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the LORD.

(ESV)

Psalm 51:5 (Listen)

5   Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
    and in sin did my mother conceive me.

(ESV)

Isaiah 51:1 (Listen)

The Lord’s Comfort for Zion

51   “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
    you who seek the LORD:
  look to the rock from which you were hewn,
    and to the quarry from which you were dug.

(ESV)

Ezekiel 16:5–6 (Listen)

5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.

6 “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’

(ESV)

Romans 5:6–8 (Listen)

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(ESV)

Ephesians 2:4–5 (Listen)

4 But¹ God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

(ESV)

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!—The Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!—Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!—Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.—Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything.—Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.—Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Psalm 34:1–3 (Listen)

Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

¹ Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34   I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2   My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3   Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

(ESV)

Psalm 84:11–12 (Listen)

11   For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
    the LORD bestows favor and honor.
  No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.
12   O LORD of hosts,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you!

(ESV)

Psalm 103:1 (Listen)

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Of David.

103   Bless the LORD, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!

(ESV)

Isaiah 61:10 (Listen)

10   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
  for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
  as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

(ESV)

Acts 16:25 (Listen)

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

(ESV)

Ephesians 5:18–20 (Listen)

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

(ESV)

Philippians 4:4 (Listen)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

(ESV)

Colossians 3:16 (Listen)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

(ESV)

James 5:13 (Listen)

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

(ESV)