Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Daily Nugget: Zion is the highest point in Jerusalem. Eventually, the world’s government will be centered there during the millennial (1,000 years) reign of Christ. “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” Isaiah 2:1-2 God loves Zion (Psalm 87:2). It is referred to as the City of God (Psalm 87:3). That should be taken into consideration when Muslims currently attempt to seize it for their false religion. Zion will be where God will choose to dwell and certainly is not a place that will house false doctrines. However, during Christ’s reign, it will be a place that many nations will be united to God. It will be nothing like the place it is today. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of the

Daily Nugget: God certainly should not need a resume or letter of referral, but if He did, this Psalm from David would be the perfect one. Many of God’s attributes and experiences include: Listener (Psalm 86:1, 5, 6) Merciful (Psalm 86:3, 5, 13, 15-16) Good (Psalm 86:5, 10) Able to forgive (Psalm 86:5) Helper (Psalm 86:7-8, 10, 17) The only God (Psalm 86:8, 10) Maker of nations (Psalm 86:9) Teacher (Psalm 86:11) Compassionate (Psalm 86:15) Gracious (Psalm 86:15) Longsuffering (Psalm 86:15) Truthful (Psalm 86:15) Encourager (Psalm 86:16) Comforter (Psalm 86:17) Today’s Thought: “There is nothing that God cannot accomplish.” — Cicero Words to Understand: Preserve: keep in good condition Supplications: urgent requests Today’s Reading: Psalm 86 1 A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. 4

  Daily Nugget: Throughout the Psalms, there is much mention of God being angry at the heathen and their sin. In many of the situations, the psalmist pleaded that God strictly discipline the ungodly. Unfortunately, there is another group that also deserves God’s judgment and discipline. It is His people. At least ten times in the Psalms, it was mentioned that God was angry at Israel. Most of the time, when God was furious at His believers, it was concerning rebellion against Him and His commandments. “Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. 5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?” Psalm 85:4,5  Also: Psalms 6:1, 74:1, 77:9, 78:21, 78:38, 79:5. 80:4, 85:4-5, 90:7. Sadly, that rebellion continues in this church age. Many that call themselves Christians certainly are not Christ-like. The world’s thinking, actions, and philosophies have gotten a higher priority than obeying God’s Word.  Many “C

  Daily Nugget: “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10 At the time of Psalm 84, there were still tabernacle s ( perhaps “tabernacles” was plural because, as one tabernacle was in disrepair, it was repaired or replaced. It could have also referred to the places of reflection built during the Feast of the Tabernacles). The temple must have existed and perhaps it was being constructed as it had become a home (Psalm 84:3) for nesting sparrows. For the Jews, the tabernacle or temple was where they met God. Those places were where He visited His people.  It was also where Israel could be physically closer to God.  Because of the nearness of their God, it was a special place. The writer declares it was a friendly place (Psalm 84 — “amiable”).  He was overwhelmed (Psalm 84:2) to be where God had been and where His commandments were obeyed.  He envied the sparrow

Daily Nugget: Being a Christian is not always easy. It can be very discouraging and even scary when it seems the ungodly have the upper hand in life. Sometimes it just does not seem fair that a Christian is doing as the Lord commands, yet it seems he has more opposition than those directly in violation of God’s commandments. It can get to the point that believers desire God to deal with those people, and quickly. “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” Psalm 83:18 Asaph, the musician, felt that way. He wanted God to unleash His fury on the ungodly. “A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.” Psalm 83:1 The music leader wanted God to persecute them (Psalm 83:15) and allow them to be ashamed of their unrighteous living (Psalm 83:16). Asaph also begged God to let them be confused and bothered by the sin they were committing (Psalm 83:17). He even wanted God to take

Daily Nugget: All of us, at times, are quick with our judging of situations and people. Most of the time, our judgments are inaccurate because we know only a portion of the circumstances or what is happening in one’s life. “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13 Only God can judge justly. We too often attempt to take His position of judging and try to put ourselves in His place. We are not “gods” (Psalm 82:1, 6), even though some still assume God’s role in passing sentences on others. Our judgments and even our judicial professionals are “unjust” (Psalm 82:2) much of the time. All should be treated the same, be they poor, fatherless, afflicted, and the needy (Psalm 82:3). Personal gain or fame should not taint righteous judgment, but too often, it does (Psalm 82:4, 5). Man has failed miserably in judging. More than ever, this is quite clear, as many judges are not even hiding their biased opinions and ignore laws that should be

  Daily Nugget: Although Psalm 81:8-16 reminds Israel of their sin against God, it can be a chilling wake-up call to what can happen to Christians today. When believers get to the point they neglect God’s Words and do what they want, as did Israel, God may give them over to their demise. “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” Psalm 81:11-12 Romans 1 also recorded some in the early church with a similar “I’ll do what I want” attitude. Since some of the early Christians were determined to do their own will and way, God also gave them “gave them up” (Romans 1: 24,26, 28) to their sin. The ungodliness of those Romans worsened, and God let them reap the terrible consequences of their iniquities. In Romans 1:27-31, one can read how progressively more vile and immoral their iniquities became when God stopped His intervention, and they reaped the awful wages of the s

Daily Nugget: Similar pleas and fears found in Psalm 79:5 also appear in Psalm 80. Asaph, the psalmist, felt that God was angry at Israel because He would not answer their prayers (Psalm 80:4). “LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?” Psalm 80:4 “How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?” Psalm 79:5 Because of God not answering their prayers and protecting His people, the ungodly neighbors again looked at Israel, lost respect for them, and laughed at them. In the previous Psalm, Asaph (Psalm 79:4, 10) was concerned about what the observing heathens thought about Israel. “Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.” Psalm 80:6 “We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.” Psalm 79:4 Asaph's solution to the predicament his nation put itself in was for God to help them. The psalmist knew if God would agai

  Daily Nugget: Because of Israel’s sin, the protecting hand of God was withheld from them. God allowed Israel’s enemies to be His instrument to turn Israel back to Him by the hardships the enemy inflicted on God’s wayward children. Neighboring people looked at God’s people and had little respect for them. Israel may have been God’s people, but they lost their testimony and scarred the testimony of their God. “We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.” Psalm 79:4 The nearby, ungodly neighbors most likely did not know why people feared because of their God was now such a poor example of His greatness. However, God’s people understood why they were no longer a set-apart people. They knew God was angry at them for their sin (Psalm 79:5). Humbly, they begged God to forget what they had done. “O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.” Psalm 79:8 Is

Daily Nugget: Sometimes it is wondered, why does God repeat certain events? Why do preachers keep telling the same stories from the Bible? There is an important reason for that. It is commanded. “… 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. … 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:” Psalm 78:1-6 The stories about biblical characters and the lessons they learned need to be told and retold. They need to be repeated, so that future generations will know what God has done for his people and what happens when His will is not followed. Hopefully, if believers hear what God’s leadership has done and hear and obey His commandments, they will not have the same disasters and tribulations as the disobedient did before them. If God’s people hear the history and the conseq

Daily Nugget: Like so many, Asaph was troubled and pondered his situation as he laid down to sleep. Bedtime, while overwhelmed with concern, is a good time to talk to the Lord about your problems. Asaph did just that (Psalm 77:1-3). However, as do most, the more he thought about his predicament, the larger the problem seemed. After the musician's constant contemplation of his calamity continued, more terrible thoughts added to his dilemma. “Will God no longer help me (Psalm 77:7)? Will His mercy never intervene on my behalf (Psalm 77:8) again? Because of God’s anger, will he never again be gracious (Psalm 77:9) to me? Rather than letting his worrisome thinking make matters worse, his logic and memory returned, putting the situation back into perspective. He now recalled the years that God had helped in the past (Psalm 77:10-19). God did such mighty deeds to assist His own in the past. He can do them again! People need to pull themselves out of the worry-doldrums similar

  Daily Nugget: Asaph had learned from Israel’s history that the nation should be grateful for all God had done for and to them (“wondrous works declare” — Psalm 75:1). However, God’s work on Earth is not finished. When Jesus comes again, things will be much different! He will: Judge uprightly (Psalm 75:2). We have not seen righteous judgment for quite a long time, if ever. God's Word, the measuring gauge for righteousness, has been tossed aside, so proper behavior is not even recognized. Those “judging” are biased by their philosophies and opinions. “Right” is whatever they believe it to be, but usually not aligned with God’s commandments. Eventually, create a New Earth, and all creations and reminders of sinful man will be dissolved (Psalm 75:3). “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” II Peter 3:13 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and ther

Daily Nugget: Asaph, a musician, experienced what many God-fearing and God-obeying people have. He saw the ungodly against, sometimes violently, the things of God. They were vehement against their Creator and anything that reminded them of Him. The musician reported that the ungodly: Had done wicked things in the “sanctuary” where God was worshipped (Psalm 74:3). Complained (“roar”) about the worship and worshippers of God (Psalm 74:4). Mark the place of worshipping God as their own with signs, symbols, and banners. (Psalm 74:4, 9) of whom or what they respect or revere. Were gaining fame for their destruction and vandalism of the things of God (Psalm 74:5-8). Purposed in their hearts to destroy memories and reminders of God (Psalm 74:8). After seeing what the ungodly were doing to the places and people of God, Asaph questioned why God was allowing such atrocities against Him and the people called by His name (Psalm 74:1, 10-11). The musician knew God could stop the enemies

Daily Nugget: Asaph, a musician, looked around him and saw how God blessed, protected, and led his country, Israel (Psalm 73:1). In his own life, however, he had many struggles (Psalm 73:2). As he thought more about his difficulties, he saw something we all recognize and can discourage us. Asaph was jealous (Psalm 73:3) of what the worldly crowd had and was doing. It appeared to Him that the ungodly were getting away with their sin and disobedient-to-God lifestyle. He saw that: They were foolishly doing what he dared not do (Psalm 73:3). They seemed to be prosperous (Psalm 73:3, 12), They seemed to die peacefully, without pain or weakness (Psalm 73:4). They seem to not be in as much trouble as others, and it appears their conscience does not bother them much as it does a child of God (Psalm 73:5). They are proud and often violent (Psalm 73:6). They seem to have all the niceties of life (Psalm 73:7). They are corrupt, speak wickedly about hurting others, and are boastful (Ps

  Daily Nugget: Although commentators vary widely in whom they believe wrote Psalm 72 and for whom it is about, those answers are clearer after reading the chapter. The title indicates the prayer was for King Solomon by his father, King David (Psalm 72:20). “A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.” Psalm 72:1 It is read in verses 1-7 that King Solomon’s reign would be one with godly judgment and righteousness. For much of his rule, Solomon was known for his fair leadership and great wisdom. That prayer was answered. “And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.” I King 5:7 There is another person who Psalm 72 describes. It describes the future ruler of a 1,000-year reign on Earth. Christ will return and be that millennial leader. Jesus will not be like so many politicians that nati

Daily Nugget: Although the writer of Psalm 71 is not mentioned, it most likely is David, as the speech is very similar to how he has written in the past. Whoever the writer was, he had one advantage that most do not have. From his youth, he had trusted God (Psalm 71:5, 17). “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” Psalm 71:5 Most likely, his start in trusting the Lord should be credited to his parents. Psalm 71:6 shows he was prayed for even before he was born. Such training and godly influence at a young age surely contributed to his faithfulness and loyalty to the Lord. He was a person in the womb, not a lifeless “fetus” as abortionists have convinced themselves, and he received love and concern before his birth. The prayers and guidance of his loved ones helped mold his future. “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” Psalm 71:6 Godly influences

Daily Nugget: Except for a few word changes, Psalm 70 is similar to Psalm 40:13-17. God certainly realizes our conditions and situations and must know that we need to hear this hymn of remembrance more than once. We are reminded in this Psalm that we all find ourselves in situations where we are in a hurry for God’s help (Psalm 70:1, 5). We are also not alone in wanting God to deal swiftly with those that are against us (Psalm 70:2-3). When God does graciously deliver us from a bad predicament, we should want others to know about His intervention and deliverance in the situation. He should “be magnified” for what He has done. The world would undoubtedly know God is alive and still working in lives if those that prayed for and received His help would let others know of His intervention. When He gets the glory He deserves, more would see that He is an answer when some believe there is no hope for the situation they find themselves in. Magnify God’s name today by letting other