Psalms / chapter 123 (read the chapter)
Again in this psalm, we are lifting our eyes. But this time, we aren’t stopping at the mountains: “I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.” (vs 1-2) Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 122 (read the chapter)
I think it has to be one of the most universal things we believe about God—that He is a peacelover. At least, I don’t know many people who would race to characterize God as a warmonger. (Maybe you do!) Yet one of my favorite Jesus quotes is this one from Matthew 10:34—”Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 121 (read the chapter)
I love this psalm. It is such a well-known psalm, so simple yet so powerful in its message. I love how it begins: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (vs 1-2) In other words, you may think those mountains are great, but I know the One who made those mountains. Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 120 (read the chapter)
I love the abruptness of the Hebrew in the opening stanza of this psalm. The original wording of the verse goes like this: “To the Lord in my trouble—I called and He answered me.” (vs 1) The psalmist’s trouble is stressed in the first half of the verse, and then the two actions come like staccato thumps (only two words in the Hebrew) in the second half of the verse: Called. Answered. Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 119 (read the chapter)
As a lifelong student of language, it was refreshing to see Psalm 119 in a new way today. How appropriate that a psalm about the Word of God should be an acrostic psalm—meaning that each stanza begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from start to finish. Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 118 (read the chapter)
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about law and freedom. With all the ruckus over birth control and abortion happening right now in America, it’s particularly easy to think about how we have strayed so far away from God’s ideal when it comes to sex. To even talk about abstinence before marriage nowadays makes you seem backward and ridiculous. It seems we would rather find ways to mitigate consequences so we can raise our young people to just do what feels good. Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 117 (read the chapter)
Okay, I had to laugh when I opened up to the psalm for today. Seriously, have I ever read Psalm 117 before? I didn’t remember there being a Bible chapter that has only two verses! I guess this is the one to read if you’re dashing out the door in the morning and need a quick devotional! Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 116 (read the chapter)
This psalm contains a verse that has always been intriguing to me: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” (vs 15) I’ve heard it quoted at funerals sometimes, but its full meaning eludes me. At best, I can only make speculative comments about it, but since it was on the plate for today, I thought I would say a few words about it. Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 115 (read the chapter)
I typically use the New International Version when I quote Bible texts on the blog, but today, I wanted to use the New American Standard Bible because it uses a certain word I like very much: “The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us.” (vs 12) Continue Reading »
Psalms / chapter 114 (read the chapter)
I loved the way this psalm opened: “When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.” (vs 1-2) Sanctuary means “a place of refuge or safety,” and so it was astonishing to see it in this context. I mean, I know God is our sanctuary, but . . . God has a sanctuary? Continue Reading »
