Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 105-107.

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All three of today’s psalms are psalms of thanks and praise to God.  The first one tells us to make known God’s deeds and to tell everyone of His wondrous works.  The psalmist reminds us of how God used Joseph’s suffering to mold him into the man who would rescue his family, and indeed the entire region, from famine.  The psalmist continues by reminding us how God shaped the Israelites into a people in Egypt, then brought them out of Egypt with joy and into Canaan.  God did all of this for the Israelites so that they could keep His laws.  It just struck me that one of God’s wondrous deeds which we should make known is that God made it so that the Israelites could obey His laws.

Then in Psalm 106 the psalmist tells us to give thanks to the Lord because He is good and His love is steadfast, enduring beyond the end of time.  The psalmist follows up on the previous psalm by pointing out that no one can tell of all of the wondrous deeds which God has done, nor can all of us combined give Him all of the praise He deserves.  He goes on to write about how God’s people rebelled against God and yet God saved them from one danger after another.  By doing so he gives us hope, because if God did so for them He may do so for us.  He tells us that instead of waiting for God’s provision, the people complained that God had not given them what they desired.  So God gave them that for which they asked, and then they suffered a terrible disease.  Thus warning us that we should wait for God to guide us rather than seeking our desires because He knows what will truly makes us happy.  Let us praise God because He accepts us back even after we have turned from Him time and again.

Finally in Psalms 107 I love the way the psalmist says it, “Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so.”  He tells us that we all have our own stories, but no matter what trouble, difficulty , or suffering from which God has brought us out, let us thank Him and tell the world of His goodness.  Some of us faced troubles not of our own making, but when we cried to the Lord, He heard our cry and brought us forth.  Others of us faced troubles of our own making, but when we cried to the Lord, He redeemed us as well.  Let us not be afraid to tell people from whence we have come.  No, not just not afraid, let us be loud and tell the world that the Lord has redeemed us.  Let us do that so that those who are currently facing trouble will know that God will redeem them, that God has redeemed them they need but call on His name to be delivered from their troubles.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 98-104.

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Read these psalms and praise the Lord.  As we listen to God’s words those who obey Him sing a new song and rejoice.  I actually like what verse four of Psalm 98 says because I do not sound good when I sing, but I CAN, and often do, make a joyful noise.  If you don’t want to hear my singing, and I know that you don’t, you need to sing loud enough to drown me out.  I like the transition from Psalm 98 to Psalm 99.  At the end of Psalm 98 the psalmist tells us that the sea, the rivers, the hills, in fact, the whole world and those who dwell in it should clap their hands and rejoice because God will judge the world.  Then he begins Psalm 99 by telling us that people will tremble and the earth will quake before the Lord.  The beginning of truly feeling the joy of being in the presence of the Lord is to tremble in fear of Him.  Then you will faithfully listen to His instructions and those instructions will bring you joy.

Again in Psalm 100 the psalmist tells us to make a joyful noise to the Lord and to serve Him with gladness.  I am challenged to remember that there is joy in serving the Lord.  I am lazy and all too often fail to do the work to which God has called me.  In Psalm 101, the psalmist promises that he will be friends with those who are faithful and who strive to be blameless, and that he will not be friends with those who are deceitful and attempt to advance themselves by lying.  There is joy in following the example he portrays here.  Make sure that liars and those who are otherwise deceitful know that you do not approve and you will find yourself experiencing joy.

Let all that is within you bless the Lord.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 90-97.

I have a Youtube video of me reading the Scripture passage and my comments. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts.

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Recording this on video really made it come home to me and filled me with joy.  The first psalm contrasts God, who is from everlasting to everlasting, with man, whose days are numbered.  He tells us that for God time is meaningless, a thousand years passes in but a moment to God.  While mane will only be upon earth for a short time, a man’s whole life is less than 100 years.  We have but a short time on this earth to serve God, so let us make the most of the time we have.  Since we have but a few days, let us rejoice in the Lord and put our trust in Him.

In Psalm 94 the psalmist tells us that God will discipline the evil-doers.  He will rebuke them in order to turn them back to God.  He teaches us knowledge if we will listen.  Today God is speaking to us, let us praise Him.  If we listen to what He is saying He will protect us and give us peace, but if we harden our hearts and refuse to listen to what He tells us, He will not allow us into His presence.   When God speaks to us, and He will sooner or later speak to everyone, we have a choice, we can trust Him and do as He guides, or we can reject Him and follow our own thoughts as to what is best.  If we do the former we will experience joy.  If we do the latter, we will suffer the consequences of our actions.

As I wrote this I was unable to capture the joy with which these psalms filled my heart.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 82-89.

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The beginning of the first psalm in today’s passage has been understood in different ways by different people.  Some interpret the “divine council” mentioned here as a gathering of supernatural beings, many of whom are in rebellion against God, whom God calls to account for failing to uphold His will on the earth.  Those in this group would say that those beings include many of the gods of pantheons throughout the world.  Others interpret the “divine council” as representing the rulers of the many nations of the world.  While I am convinced that the psalmist who wrote these words perceived it more along the lines of the first group of interpreters, I am unsure how God intends for us to understand it.  However, whichever way you interpret the divine council in this psalm, the psalm is a warning to those with authority over others.  If you have authority over others to any degree God calls you to rescue the weak and the needy from the wicked, to give justice to the powerless.  If you do not, God will judge you along with the rest of the people of earth.  Your power will avail you nothing in the face of God’s judgement.

In the second of today’s psalms, Psalm 83, the psalmist seems to be calling for the destruction of those who do evil in a manner which is contrary to Jesus’ message of God’s desire for all to come to Him.  The psalmist calls for God to kill them, destroy them, to condemn them to eternal damnation.  Or, at least, he seems to do so.  However, if we look close we see that the psalmist is actually calling for God to discipline them so that they turn to Him.  The psalmist uses hyperbolic language, then he says that God should do all of this that they may seek His name.  The psalmist says that God should let them perish in disgrace so that they will acknowledge that God is the Most High over all the earth and turn to Him.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 78-81.

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I read the first psalm in today’s passage as telling us to take both sides of its message.  One the one hand we should listen to the message of God which comes to us from of old.  The message which tells of the things which God has done, which tells us of His commands.  On the other hand we should tell that message to all who will listen.  We should make sure that the children who come after us hear and know that message, so that they also might tell their children the message of God.  We should tell the next generation, and the generation after it, the wonders of God so that they also set their hopes on Him.  As we tell that story to the future generations let us not forget to point out how those who lived through those stories failed to be faithful to Him, despite the wonders which they witnessed.  Let us remind our children, and ourselves, that God was faithful even when His people were not.  Let us remember that He will be faithful, even when we are not.  Let us also remember that we will suffer for our sins.  If we persist in refusing to obey God’s commands, He will allow us to suffer the consequences of our actions.  The psalmist warns us that if we continue to ask God for what we want, He will give it to us, but that we may regret receiving what we want.  The children of Israel wanted meat to eat while they were in the wilderness and cried bitterly to God about that desire.  So, God granted their request, and they ate their fill of meat such that they became sick.  The psalmist points out that the people regretted receiving that for which they asked God.

The last psalm in today’s passage, Psalm 81, contains another way of looking at that theme.  God’s people did not submit to God, so He gave them what they thought that they desired.  If we instead listen to God and do as He instructs, He will satisfy us and even our enemies will turn to Him.  He has done great things, but He desires that we listen to Him so that He may do even more through us.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 72-77.

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The opening of Psalm 72 holds a warning to everyone who holds a  position of authority over others, whether that be a government position, a position in the Church, or as one overseeing employees, but it also holds a reminder to the rest of us as well.  In verse 2 it tells the king to judge “your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.”  Those over whom you hold authority are God’s people.  More importantly, we should all remember that the poor are God’s, and we should treat them accordingly.  I think we should combine this with what Jesus said in Matthew 25.  What we do for, or do not do for, the least, the lowest, in our society we do or do not do, for Jesus, for God.  The psalmist says that the king who treats the people, especially the poor and needy, as belonging to God will have dominion to the ends of the earth.  If we treat the least of our society as if they are God, He will bless us.

Then in Psalm 73 the psalmist writes that he almost fell when he became envious of the arrogant, when he saw the wicked prospering.  My first thought concerned those who are envious of the prosperous and thus assume that the prosperous are wicked.  We stumble into sin when we become envious of those who have prospered, even more so when we are envious of the wicked who have prospered.  Such envy will lead us to think that doing what is right, and keeping our minds from thinking evil thoughts are both in vain and serve no purpose.  The psalmist reminds us to go into the presence of God when such thoughts enter our mind, when we begin to be envious of others.  There we will be reminded that God is precious to us, that truly nothing on this earth is of any value if we do not have God in our lives.  Everything is empty and pointless without God.  Those who have not God will perish, but those who put their trust in Him will live forever in His presence.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 68-71.

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The psalmist makes an interesting connection at the beginning of Psalm 68.  He tells us that when God arises those who hate God will flee before Him.  Then he says that the wicked will perish before God as wax melts before fire.  I read this as saying that the wicked are not just those who do wicked things.  Rather, the wicked are those who hate God.  They often think that they are good moral people, but, for one reason or another, they hate God.  The wicked become angry when God is exalted, while the righteous rejoice.  Pay attention, there are sinful people, people who many call wicked, who do not get upset when God is uplifted.  There are also people who seem to be good who get angry when God is uplifted.

I also want to talk about the psalmist’s call to God that he not be dishonored or shamed.  First he asks that God not allow him to bring shame or dishonor on those who put their hope and trust in God.  Then in another psalm he asks God that he himself not be shamed.  In both of these requests he is asking God to vindicate his trust in God.  The psalmist’s prayer is, If God does not come to the psalmist’s aid, those who trust in God will be shamed because they trust in God and God did not come to the aid of one who trusted in Him.  The psalmist would be included among those shamed and dishonored because God did not come to his aid because he put his trust in God.  I have a second understanding of the psalmist’s meaning, which I think is also true.  The psalmist also requests that God keep him from doing anything which will bring dishonor on either himself, or others who trust in God.  I do not think it coincidental that the psalmist first asks that others not be dishonored by his actions before asking that he not be shamed for trusting in God.  He puts higher priority on protecting the honor of others who trust God then on protecting his own honor.  Nevertheless, he asks that God keep him from losing faith that God will come to his rescue.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 60-67.

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In Psalm 60 the psalmist writes that God has set up a banner to which those who fear Him may flee to in the midst of the battle.  It’s important to understand the meaning of the banner in the midst of a battle.  A banner is raised to give guidance to those who fight on that side in the battle.  They can rally to the banner so that they have allies and support around them, rather than being surrounded by the enemy.  When we flee to God’s banner, we are not taken out of the battle, but we know that when we get there we will be surrounded by those who are also fighting on God’s side.  The next two psalms talk about God being a fortress for us.  Unlike a banner, a fortress protects us from attack.  So, God always provides us with protection.  Sometimes it is a banner to which we rally in order to continue the fight.  Sometimes it is a fortress where we can rest from the fight before rejoining it once more.

There is a second theme in the psalms in today’s passage which calls to me today.  We need to seek Him, we need to desire to be in His presence.  The psalmist describes this in several different ways.  In the midst of battle or strife we should look for His banner and flee towards it.  When we are unable to move towards Him, or unable to see the direction we should take, we should cry out to Him in prayer.  Then we should wait for Him to act, or to show us the way in which we should go.  In all circumstances we should desire to be with Him in the way a man in the desert desires water.  When we are with Him, when we are acting in His will, we will be satisfied, just as at the end of a meal of good food.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 52-59.

I have a Youtube video of me reading the Scripture passage and my comments. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts.

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The passage begins with a psalm which David wrote condemning Doeg, the Edomite who told King Saul that David had gone to Ahimelech for aid when he, David, fled from Saul.  The passage in 1 Samuel also tells us that when King Saul’s other servants would not kill the priests of the Lord, Doeg did so.  Which means that this psalm refers to more than just Doeg telling Saul that David had gone to Ahimelech.  That context allows us to see how this psalm can serve as a warning to those who boast of evil.  Those who do evil may seem to prosper for now, but God’s love endures.  Those who do evil and put their trust in their own wealth will be uprooted by God.  Those who trust in God will be firmly established like an olive tree in its prime.  God’s love is steadfast and will endure forever.

The next psalm warns us that those who work evil are acting as if they have no knowledge, such that they say in their heart that there is no God.  In this psalm, the psalmist tells us that God looks down from heaven to see if there are any who seek Him, but that all have fallen away.  Our first look interpretation of this tells us that everyone is a sinner who needs God’s salvation.  That is not wrong, but there is a meaning to be seen if we look deeper.  We see that when the psalmist asks if those who work evil have no knowledge.  Paul, in Romans 1, expands on what the psalmist says here.  Paul says that what can be known about God is plain to everyone, but even though they knew God they did not honor Him.  Instead, they claimed to be wise, but became fools.  We have a choice.  We can turn to God and depend upon Him, seeking His wisdom, or we can be fools and attempt to stand on our own strength, defying God.  We can take refuge in God, or we can be destroyed by the evil we perform.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 45-51.

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I love the imagery of Psalm 46.  Imagine how terrifying it would be if the earth beneath you were to crack and crumble and slide into the ocean.  Yet, the psalmist tells us that those who put their trust in God can remain without fear in that situation.  As the earth slides into the sea and carries all that is upon it with it, those whose fully trust in God will not be moved, for them the ground will stand firm.  But how do I develop the faith such that I do not fear when the earth beneath me crumbles?  The psalmist addresses that as well.  God tells us to just be still and know that He is God.  So, when the world is crumbling around you, don’t run around and try to fix everything at once.  Instead, be still and focus on God.  Then He will show you what you need to do next.

I did not see this when I first read through today’s passage, but I now see that the next two psalms tell us how that works.  When the world seems to be collapsing around you, be still and focus on God.  Then you will find yourself wanting to clap your hands and shout to God with songs of joy.  If you make yourself still while you meditate on God, you will see how great He is and want to praise Him.  Praise follows meditation.  Then in Psalm 49, the psalmist asks “Why should I fear?”  The earth may be crumbling for those who put their trust in wealth or power, but I will put my trust in God.  Wealth and power are temporary, but God is forever.  When we die we leave behind our wealth and power, but God’s love endures.

Finally, in Psalm 51 the psalmist asks God to create a clean heart within him and to renew his spirit.  It is only when God cleanses our spirit with His Spirit that we can be still before Him and put aside our fears.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.