Slices
Prepare
‘Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name.’* Use this song, or another about God’s righteousness and honour, as you come to him now.
*Graham Kendrick and Chris Rolinson, Thankyou Music, 1981
Bible passage
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the ‘gods’:
2 ‘How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 ‘The “gods” know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 ‘I said, “You are ‘gods’;
you are all sons of the Most High.”
7 But you will die like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.’
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.
Explore
Research suggests that this psalm is one of the most difficult to interpret! So – here goes…
There’s a general theme of judgement. God is portrayed in verse 1 as presiding over ‘gods’ and judging between them. Opinions about who these ‘gods’ are is varied: human judges, angelic beings, other divine beings, or those who received the Law at Sinai – the Israelite community. But what is clear is that they are acting on behalf of the wrong people – the unjust – and giving preference to the wicked (v 2).
The psalmist sounds almost enraged, and the call to stand on the side of those who are in need of the most help is clear. This echoes some of the laws we’ve been thinking about this last week. Tuesday’s reading in particular (Leviticus 19) has several examples of how those people on the edges of society should be cared for.
The final plea to God in verse 8 also reflects Leviticus – that all the peoples of the earth are the Lord’s and ultimately come under his judgement. It makes me wonder how often in recent times we have prayed for what is going on in the world to be judged by God.
Respond
Pray, today, for whoever you perceive the ‘gods’ in our world and in your community to be. Ask God to show you and your church how verses 3 and 4 can be put into practice.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 19,20; Psalm 44
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that the renovation work following the fire at the chalet owned by SU in French-speaking Switzerland will resume smoothly after the winter break, that insurance matters will be resolved and that the chalet will be ready to host camps again by the autumn.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
