When David wrote Psalm 3, his life was in complete upheaval. His son, Absalom, was trying to take the kingdom from him, and he was fleeing for his life. Absalom had turned many of the hearts of the Israelites against his father, and it probably seemed to David as if the whole world was against him. However, David clung to something that he clung to a ... [Continue Reading]
Be Careful… It’s Your Heart (Psalms 32, 51, 86, 122)
Every Christmas Kari and I watch the old Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire flick, “Holiday Inn.” If you’re not familiar with the story line, it’s about an entertainer who is tired of the busy lifestyle and buys an old farm in Vermont where he decides to open it up only on the holidays with specific music written for that day. In the process, he meets a girl who ... [Continue Reading]
Remember God’s Faithfulness (Psalms 65-67, 69-70)
Psalm 66 recounts what God did for the Israelites with the Red Sea - turning it into dry land so they could cross it. Throughout the Old Testament the Israelites erected monuments to remind themselves of God's faithfulness to them and was being done in this Psalm. As generations died off and as new ones rose up, the older people could show the monuments ... [Continue Reading]
That in Which You Trust (Psalms 60, 75, 20)
There are so many things that a person can trust in. Some trust in their physical strength, others in the strength of their position at work. There are those who trust in their material wealth or in their stock portfolios. There is a temptation to trust in one’s country or in their country’s military might. But the psalmist reminds us that none ... [Continue Reading]
Just a Blip on the Radar (Psalms 36, 39, 50, 53)
A key aspect of wisdom is learning to understand your place in the world and the brevity of your life. If you add up the years of every person who has ever lived, and you then compare the years you have to the total years that have been had by all mankind, the space you take up is miniscule. I’m not trying to be pessimistic… just realistic. You have, ... [Continue Reading]
Worship With Excellence (Psalms 132, 25, 29, 33)
One of the ways we worship God is by being excellent at what we do. For the pastor, that means arriving for services completely prepared and ready to give a message to the best of his ability. For those leading music, that means practicing and working hard so that the music is the best it can possibly be. But what about those who don’t serve in the ... [Continue Reading]
Learning to Worship (Psalms 96, 100-101, 105)
The Psalms have much to teach us on how to worship God more fully. Here are a few thoughts that from the readings: Worship doesn’t take place merely at church Our lives should be marked by worship – it should be part of who we are and not simply something we do We worship God because of His greatness Worship is both individual and corporate – we must learn to ... [Continue Reading]
The One Who Is Responsible (Psalms 47, 68, 89)
There is a bit of encouragement that comes when we understand that we are not ultimately responsible for the outcomes in life. In the case of David, for instance, God was His strength and shield, and He faithfully kept the covenant that He made with David. Israel’s power and status didn’t come necessarily because of its great strength as a warring nation; ... [Continue Reading]
I Shall Not Want (Psalms 1-2, 15, 22-24)
The 23rd Psalm is one that is quoted often, and many people over the centuries have appreciated David’s words. One line, in particular, struck me as I meditated over David’s words: I shall not want. From the perspective of a sheep, a shepherd provides everything that it could ever need: food, water, shelter. From a human perspective, marketers tell us ... [Continue Reading]
Unity (Psalms 133, 106-107)
Have you ever lived in a place of discord? Those homes where fighting persists and arguments are the norm are very unhappy places to be. Contrast that with a home marked by unified desire to have a loving attitude toward one another. Where would you rather live? It’s not surprising, then, that David lauded the notion of dwelling in unity with ... [Continue Reading]
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