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READ:

Proverbs 23:24

²⁴ The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

EXHORTATION:

Most Christian parents seem to hinge their happiness on their children’s worldly achievements. They push their kids along the paths of academic and economic success at any cost. They fail to appreciate that their children’s spiritual growth and steadfastness are more significant than worldly success. Hence, they must be admonished of the great need to focus on their children’s conformity and faithfulness to Christ and His Word.

According to the next verse, “Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice” (Proverbs 23:25). Thus, not only the father, but the mother also, shall rejoice over a righteous and wise son. Indeed, it must be assumed that the parents who sincerely appreciate their children’s commitment to righteousness and God’s wisdom are righteous and wise themselves. They must have placed great value on the things of God rather than the things of this world. Such parents would pay attention to bringing up their children in faith and obedience to the Lord and His Word.

On the contrary, parents who raise their children based on the values propagated by the television, movies, entertainment world and secular experts of child-rearing, would have great difficulty in appreciating the value of their children’s spiritual excellence. They would be more concerned with his academic, economic and other worldly advancement. Parents who focus primarily on earthly gains for their children would not be able to detect the ungodliness in their children.

But godly parents would rejoice when their children conduct themselves in sincere faith in Christ, loving and exalting Him, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Moreover, righteous and wise children would seek to bring joy to the hearts of their parents. They will honour their parents as the Lord has commanded in His Word (cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2).

Surely, as Proverbs 10:1 says, “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother” (cf. Proverbs 15:20). Children who walk in righteousness and divine wisdom, are “monuments” that godly parents would truly love to leave behind in this world. Godly children carry forward the legacy of their godly parents into a new generation.

READ:

Proverbs 22:6

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

EXHORTATION:

This is the Christian parents’ God-given responsibility towards every one of their children. In Psalm 127, we are reminded that “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth” (vv. 3-4). As with arrows, children ought to be accurately aimed and directed to get to their targets. God expects parents to guide their children to achieve spiritual goals in their lives.

The Hebrew word for “train” (ḥānaḵ) means to dedicate. It is used of dedicating a house (Deuteronomy 20:5), and the temple (1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 7:5). Only in Proverbs 22:6 is the verb translated as “train”. It means setting aside and limiting a thing for God’s glory and service. Child-training involves delimiting a child’s activities and conduct away from sin and guiding him towards godliness.

Training involves purposeful, consistent and diligent actions. It requires careful observation and analysis of a child’s life, and thorough implementation of divine truths in his life. It would require the parents to administer appropriate and timely rebuke, disciplinary actions, correction, instruction, encouragement, commendation, nurture, etc. Proverbs 13:24 says, “he that loveth him (the child) chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 29:15 further warns, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”

Hence, there is a great necessity that parents remain dedicated to God to carry out their duty of training their children according to His will. First of all, parents ought to know the Word of God so that they may be able to teach their children the path that God has mapped out for His people. Secondly, the parents must be earnest in prayer for God’s grace, wisdom and strength for nurturing their children in the right path. They must pray on their own and also with the children. They must also walk in the way of the LORD in order to lead the children on the right path. If the parents’ attitude in training the child is “Don’t do as I do; do as I say”, the child will be without a godly pattern to follow. In such a family environment, the only model the child can emulate is a hypocritical life. So by your life, show your child how he should live all the days of his life for God’s glory.

READ:

Psalm 103:8

⁸ The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

EXHORTATION:

The attributes of the LORD mentioned in this verse were once revealed by the LORD Himself to Moses on mount Sinai. In Exodus 34:6, Moses recorded the LORD proclaiming Himself as “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth”. These attributes of the LORD had been wonderfully experienced by the people of Israel when He delivered them out of Egypt and guided them forward in spite of their murmuring and rebellion.

As in the days of old, God still shows Himself daily in our life today (as proclaimed in His Word) that He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” The fact that He engages with sinners like us shows that He is the same as He has proclaimed Himself to be. How could an infinitely holy God attend to a stubborn and disobedient people like us, if He is not merciful and gracious? Oh, let us praise Him for He is unto us what we need the most – a merciful and gracious God!

There appears a progression of thought in the enumeration of the Lord’s attributes in our text. Because the LORD is merciful and gracious, He is slow to anger. If not for His mercy and grace, we would have been long consumed in His hot displeasure. Does not His Word warn us that He is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 10:27)? We also read in Numbers 11:1, “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” Again in Numbers 16:35, it is recorded that “there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.”

If not for His merciful and gracious dealings with us, we would not be alive today to read about our most magnanimous LORD and enjoy His benevolence. He has been “slow to anger”; that means He has been patient with us despite the repeated provocations of our sinful ways. We are also told that He is “plenteous in mercy”. Though our lives have been sustained and nourished by immeasurable outpourings of His mercy, we can still look forward to many more experiences of the abundance of His mercy. His mercies, being new every morning, are not in small or stinted measure, but are rich, full, overflowing and freely lavished on us.

Sermon Text: Psalm 112:1–10
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 13th July 2025

READ:

Psalm 23:1

¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

EXHORTATION:

Psalm 23 is a psalm in which David expresses his personal faith in the LORD. So he said with absolute conviction, “The LORD is my shepherd”. No doubt the LORD is the Shepherd of Israel (cf. Psalm 80:1). However, here David was affirming his own faith and conviction that the LORD is also his shepherd.

David trusted in the great name of his God with total assurance of heart. The name “the LORD” refers to the great Jehovah, the great I AM that I AM (Exodus 3:14). David’s faith in the LORD brought him into a personal relationship with God, so he could boldly say that “The LORD is my shepherd”.

Every genuine believer is given the conviction by the Holy Spirit to say such words of deep love, signifying a close relationship with the LORD. Believers are constrained to say, “O God, Thou art my God.” Let us make our confessions about our God and Redeemer with perfect joy and assurance. Affirming our faith in such a confession like that of David will be a means of great comfort and courage in the midst of life’s trials.

Oh, how wonderful it is to know that He who controls the affairs of the universe attends to our individual needs! Like the shepherd who knows and calls each sheep of the flock by its name, so the LORD knows each of us and gives Himself to lead us with His whole affection and power.

Oh, how wonderful it is to remember that there exists between the LORD and ourselves a distinct personal relationship! We may be weak, obscure and despised, but He thinks of us with special love and care, and devotes Himself to lead us all the way.

Because the LORD is our Shepherd, we can say, “I shall not want.” David’s contentment arose from discovering that his sufficiency was in God. The LORD was more to him than the manna or the stream in the wilderness. He is more than sufficient for all our needs.

The LORD will make all needful provision for His flock. He will provide everything we need, whether temporal or spiritual, whether pertaining to the body or to the soul. In Psalm 34:9, we are told that “there is no want to them that fear him.” The LORD, as the Shepherd of His people, will see to it that all their real wants shall be supplied.

A Thanksgiving Reflection on Giving in Our Church

Over the past thirty-eight years of our church, God has blessed us to witness a powerful truth continually. Our growth in both local and foreign Gospel work has been significantly advanced through the generous and sacrificial giving of our members and friends.

Time and again, when God opened doors for us to proclaim Christ, whether through church planting, missionary support, evangelism, or strengthening of our home ministries, it was your Spirit-led giving that made those efforts possible. Brethren, moved by a desire to see the church advance in her endeavours for the expansion of the Gospel, have consistently responded with open hearts and open hands, giving not only out of abundance, but often through personal sacrifice.

We saw this once again just two weeks ago. When we brought before you the urgent need to meet the deficit for the current financial year, your response was swift and gracious. Many gave cheerfully and promptly, and by God’s grace, the entire shortfall was fully covered.

This is no small matter. It is a clear mark of God’s hand upon our church, working mightily through us as we walk in faith and obedience, with hearts set on seeking first the kingdom of God. Such generosity not only strengthens the ministry, but also fosters unity, faith and joy within the body.

Let us continue in this spirit. This new fiscal year, we have much more to accomplish in the local and foreign Gospel endeavours. God has given us these opportunities, and we should not hesitate to undertake them. For as we give, we grow in grace, Gospel missions, and eternal fruit for the glory of God.

The Practice of Church Giving

Giving in the church encompasses more than finances. While tithes and offerings are important, the New Testament calls the church to a wide-ranging generosity.

Giving Financially

Paul exhorted the Corinthian church to be intentional and cheerful in their giving: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). 

Our giving should not be under compulsion, but it should flow from a grateful heart. 

Giving Time and Service

The church must also give of her time and spiritual gifts in service. The apostle Peter exhorts: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). 

Every believer has been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit, not for self-exaltation, but for the edification of the body and the advancement of the Gospel. When the members of Christ’s church offer their time and talents willingly and joyfully, the whole body thrives. 

Whether one has the gift of teaching, serving, encouraging, leading, praying, showing mercy, or organising ministries, each has a role to play in building up the church. A giving church is a working, serving church. And a serving church is a growing church.

Spiritual gifts left unused are like lamps hidden under a bushel. But when offered to the Lord, they become instruments of divine grace, pointing others to Christ and strengthening the household of faith. 

Likewise, time is also a sacred gift from God, woven with divine purpose. Each moment carries opportunities ordained by His providence—to serve, to grow, to bless, and to glorify Him. To value time rightly is to recognise that every hour holds a doorway to obey the will and purposes of the One who orders our steps. The stewardship of God-given time and gift is not optional; it is a sacred trust. 

Giving Love and Forgiveness

Perhaps the most powerful gift a church can offer is genuine love and forgiveness. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). The early church’s growth was fuelled by her passionate love and hospitality. They broke bread together with gladness and singleness of heart, bearing one another’s burdens, meeting one another’s needs, and welcoming strangers as family. Whether Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, male or female—all found equal footing at the foot of the cross. This Christlike love was the fragrance of the early church, drawing multitudes who longed for truth and hope. When the early church practised this kind of generosity, the results were astonishing: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). Their giving created unity, eradicated need, and built mutual trust in the community.

In these days of selfishness and bitter quarrels, genuine love is very rare in this world. Even in churches and Christian families, many people cease to express genuine love and forgiveness. But the church that yields to the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord has abundantly supplied to His people, can produce the spiritual fruit of love (cf. Gal. 5:22-23).

The Promise of Church Growth

Scripture consistently connects generosity with an increase in the church’s spiritual vitality and outreach effectiveness. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 directly links generous giving to both spiritual abundance and fruitfulness in ministry. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”. Those who give cheerfully are promised sufficiency and grace to abound in good works, including outreach and service.

A giving church attracts, not by marketing or manipulation, but by the compelling testimony of God’s love in action. Acts 2 presents this model: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship… And all that believed were together… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:42, 44, 47). Notice the connection: They gave. They fellowshipped. They taught. And the Lord added. Gospel growth is God’s work, but He uses the faithful generosity of His people as His instrument.

Hindrances to Giving and Growth

When a church fails to give, her growth is severely curtailed. The Laodicean church in Revelation claimed to be rich, but Christ rebuked them: “Because thou sayest, I am rich… and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor…” (Revelation 3:17). They had ceased to give from the heart. Their spiritual stagnation came from misplaced trust in material wealth. A stingy spirit leads to spiritual starvation.

Hoarding, fear, distrust and selfishness will choke the life out of a church. But the spiritual increase promised will be enjoyed when biblical giving is maintained – freely, cheerfully, and faithfully.

Conclusion

The church of Jesus Christ is called to be a giving body because she represents the giving Saviour. The more she pours out in love, generosity, time and service, the more she will be blessed by God with spiritual vitality and numerical increase that God promised.

READ:

Psalm 119:140

¹⁴⁰ Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

EXHORTATION:

David always had the highest regard for Scripture. He always considered it as belonging to God; hence he referred to it as “Thy word”. In Psalm 119 alone, 35 times David used the phrase “Thy word” to refer to the Holy Scriptures.

We too must read the Scriptures in the belief that we are listening to the words of our God. Through the Scriptures, God communicates with us. So with great reverence and joy, we must attend to God’s Word. We must receive the truths it teaches as divine and glorious. Nowhere else have we such a perfect body of divine truths revealed for our blessing.

We have no reason to doubt what God’s Word says, for it is “very pure”. The Hebrew words “very pure” literally means “much tried or refined”. As David said in Psalm 12:6, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” God’s Word has been utterly tried and has been proven to be absolutely pure and perfectly righteous. Its purity is the purity of its Author, the infinitely holy God.

Like David, many men, who have repeatedly relied on all that Scripture says throughout their lives, have testified unto us with utmost certainty and joy that all that it says are pure. David also confessed, “therefore thy servant loveth it.” Would anyone declare his unabated, unbounded love for God’s Word if it has ever been found defective, deceptive or unreliable? David’s open declaration of his love for God’s Word is a grand testimony to its trustworthiness. Those who trust all that it says shall not be ashamed, as it has already been tested and proven pure.

Because God’s Word is pure, it will also purify and preserve those who trust and obey its unpolluted words. Earlier in this psalm, David said, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). It could very well have been David’s own experience, for he confessed later that “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). He also testified, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word” (Psalm 119:101). The beauty of God’s holiness shines through every word of His Word. Those who walk in the light of His Word shall have the joy of walking in the beauty of His holiness. The pure Word of God shall keep us away from all defiling ways. So, let us love it as David did.

READ:

Psalm 12:6

⁶ The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth,  purified seven times.

EXHORTATION:

The excellence of the Holy Scriptures is powerfully presented here by David. Firstly, the phrase “the words of the LORD” points out that all the words of the Scriptures are the LORD’s. Every word of the Bible proceeds from the LORD Himself. He used men, who were His servants, to write them down. As 2 Peter 1:21 declares, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Likewise, 2 Timothy 3:16 declares, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”. The LORD is the actual author of the Bible.

Secondly, we are told that all the words of the Bible are “pure words”. The Hebrew word for “pure” has also been translated as “clean”. It points out that the Scriptures are absolutely free from all impurities of falsehood and error. Proverbs 30:5 also declares, “Every word of God is pure”.

The purity of the Word of God is illustrated and affirmed by these words, “as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times”. This evidently refers to the ancient process of purifying silver. The “furnace of earth” is where the metal was tried and refined. It refers to something like a crucible placed on the ground, around which a fire of intense heat was made. Such structures were found near the mines where ore was obtained. The ore was then purified by smelting it repeatedly till all the dross was removed from it. Here it is said that the ore was purified “seven times”. In other words, time-consuming and meticulous efforts were made to ensure the purity of the silver. Likewise, the LORD had seen to it that every word of His is pure in His infinitely pure eyes. He shall also keep every word of the Scriptures pure through all ages. So the next verse says, “Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:7). We can be absolutely sure that every word in the Holy Scriptures is kept pure in all ages. Today, just as David has pronounced in Psalm 119:140, so can we also assuredly say, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it”!

The Holy Scriptures need no updating, editing, or refining. It is eternally pure and faithful. It is God’s infallible, inerrant and perfect Word. It is eternally true, relevant and enduring. It is God’s revelation kept pure for every generation. Because it is pure, it shall purify all those who live by it.

READ:

Psalm 18:30

³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

EXHORTATION:

David looks back at his experience of God’s unerring guidance and protection in his endurance of many dreadful troubles, and now declares, “As for God, his way is perfect”. David does not complain against God for all his troubles, but glorifies Him with his testimony that God’s ways are perfect. He stands up for God, declaring the perfection of the divine providence.

Whatever be the circumstances through which God would lead us, He will do it perfectly. We may not always understand why He would lead us through certain situations and may even be startled at His ways, just like the psalmist who said, “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known” (Psalm 77:19). However, we can trust Him that His ways will lead us perfectly to His glorious purpose and that we will be able to see the perfection of His way in hindsight. As it is said, “providence reads best backwards.” But let us not hesitate to walk in His way, which is unerringly perfect.

His way is according to the counsel of His Word. To walk according to His Word is to walk in His way. Hence David prayed, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth” (Psalm 86:11). David also testified, “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me” (Psalm 119:30). Like David, if we walk according to God’s Word, we shall experience His perfect providence, no matter what circumstances He may lead us through.

“The word of the LORD is tried”. The Bible has been tested and proven perfectly triumphant. God’s servants, who have put their trust in all that it says and stayed the course that it charters, have found it to be the perfect guide to follow. The Bible has stood the test of time. Those who mocked at it and those who sought to destroy it, have all perished; but none of its words has fallen to the ground. All its truths continue to prove faithful and unerring. “The word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Peter 1:25).

To trust God’s Word is to trust in God Himself. To walk according to His Word is to walk in His perfect providence. Everyone who trusts God and His Word shall experience His good providence – “he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” He will shield all who walk in His perfect way.

READ:

Psalm 16:5

⁵ The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

EXHORTATION:

After denouncing those who seek after other gods in the previous verse, David declares that “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup”. Unlike those who wander away from the LORD, seeking the idols of this world, his heart is joyfully settled in the LORD. This is the reason why he separates himself from the idolatrous pursuits of other men.

By calling God “the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup”, David declares that he finds his total satisfaction and delight in the LORD alone. He considers none and nothing else to be more desirable than his God. The LORD is the supreme good that his soul has found. The LORD is his true treasure.

When God gave inheritance to the Israelites, He said to Aaron, “Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel” (Numbers 18:20). David also gladly accepts the LORD as his portion of inheritance; in so doing, he needs no other.

David also refers to the LORD as his “cup”. The word “cup” refers to that which is assigned to him to drink or experience. The LORD is not only his wonderful possession, but also his enjoyment and nourishment. Nothing gives him satisfaction and delight, assurance and strength in life as much as the LORD Himself.

The LORD has not only given Himself to be David’s supreme joy and satisfaction, but has also secured it for him. So David said, “thou maintainest my lot.” No one can speak assuredly of anything as his true inheritance if he is sure to lose it. Furthermore, no man can be absolutely confident that he can secure all his possessions perpetually. However, the LORD will make sure that He will always be the lot of His servants.

All those who put their complete trust in the LORD can assuredly say, “Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living” (Psalm 142:5). If we would rest in the knowledge that the LORD shall remain as our perpetual inheritance and cup, it would hush our souls amidst life’s challenges and trials. The LORD is our inexhaustible portion of blessing. We shall never reach the limit of the fullness of God. He is our secured lot.