Week ??

Thou O Lord art a shield about me.You're my glory, You're the lifter of my head.Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, You're the lifter of my head.

1 – A Shield About Me

Words & Music: Donn Thomas & Charles WilliamsCopyright © 1991 by Spoone Music (a div. of Word Music, Inc.), Word Music, Inc.All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission. © 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

Like a meteor which flashes across the horizon, making a trail of glorious light behind it, and then suddenly disappearing and leaving nothing but darkness in its wake, so Jesse B. Ferguson came above the horizon and shone as a great pulpit orator in the church of Christ at Nashville, Tenn., and then as suddenly disappeared and dropped into obscurity. Perhaps no preacher of the gospel ever stood so high in the estimation of the people and received the plaudits of the populace and then dropped so low as did this man.

http://www.therestorationmovement.com/ferguson,jessieb.htm

It may be a matter of sad interest to our readers to know the fate of this once honored but erratic man. He was the most popular preacher in the Southern country at one time. He was almost worshiped by his admirers in this city, where he ministered as preacher of the church of Christ.

He had not that humility of soul and strength of character to stand flattery and adulation heaped upon him. He apostatized from the faith and adopted latitudinarian views in his faith and with reference to morality. He attempted to build up a congregation of adherents on his loose views.

He failed, turned politician, veered to different points of the compass as the popular winds seemed to blow.

He lost respect of all parties here. Once no citizen of Nashville but felt it an honor to be recognized by him. In later years he was scarcely recognized by his former acquaintances even of the world when met on the streets. The contrast was too painful to be borne by one so ambitious of popular applause as he. So, although his family resided in the vicinity, of late years he was seldom upon the streets of Nashville. . .

He died on Saturday, September 3, 1870. On Lord's day he was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The funeral services were performed by Dr. Baird, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Saul wanted honor for himself. David wanted a house for God that was

better than his. Absalom wanted popularity for himself. Solomon wanted women for himself.

Herod basked in the spotlight of priase (Acts 12). The worms wanted supper…

Judas wanted silver. Peter wanted safety.

Jesus wants you.

Samuel mourned for Saul – and God told him to move on.

David mourned for his son with Bathsheba – until he died.

David mourned for Absalom—for years. David mourned for Saul, for Jonathan, for

guilt, etc…

Punishment for Saul’s mistake (grandchildren killed)

Punishment for David’s census (70,000 die?!) Jews: “His blood be on us and on our children” Ezekiel 18:20 summarizes the rule, "The soul who

sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.“ (See Romans 3)

Lament Psalms

  Community 12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 89*, 90, 94, 123, 126, 129

  Individual 3, 4, 5, 7, 9-10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27*, 28, 31, 36*, 39, 40:12-17, 41, 42-43, 52*, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 70, 71, 77, 86, 89*, 120, 139,

141, 142

Specialized Lament Psalms

  Penitential 6, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143

  Imprecatory 35, 69, 83, 88, 109, 137, 140Thanksgiving (Todah) Psalms

  Community 65*, 67*, 75, 107, 124, 136*

  Individual 18, 21, 30, 32*, 34, 40:1-11, 66:13-20, 92, 108*, 116, 118, 138

Specialized Thanksgiving (Todah) Psalms

  Salvation History 8*, 105-106, 135, 136

  Songs of Trust 11, 16, 23, 27*, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131

Hymnic Psalms

  Hymn and Doxology

8*, 19:1-6, 33, 66:1-12, 67*, 95, 100, 103, 104, 111, 113, 114, 117, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

Liturgical Psalms (for Public Worship)

  Covenant Songs 50, 78, 81, 89*, 132

  Royal/Enthronement

2, 18, 20, 21, 29, 45, 47, 72, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 110, 144

  Songs of Zion 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122

  Temple Liturgies 15, 24, 68*, 82, 115, 134Specialized Types

  Wisdom Psalms 1*, 36*, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133

  Torah Poems 1*, 19:7-14, 119