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

The psalmist praised God through many of today’s psalms.  We should echo that praise today. In Psalm 65:3 he writes,

When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave[p] our transgressions.

The translation note indicated by the [p] in that quote says that the word(s) translated as “forgave” could be translated as “made atonement for”.  I suspect the translators chose “forgave” here because it makes the translation better poetry.  However, I think “made atonement for” gives us a better idea of what the psalmist was truly saying.  Sooner or later, our sins will overwhelm us, we will be crushed under the weight of guilt for our evil actions.  God did not just forgive us, He made atonement for our sin.  He made it possible for us to forgive ourselves.  And for that we should praise God.  Then is Psalm 66 the psalmist tells us that God has refined us like silver.  He passed us through fire and water in order to cleanse us of all impurities.  God did not refine us in order to make atonement for us.  He made the atonement when Christ died on the cross.  No, God refined us in order to make us useful for His purposes.  So, let us join with the psalmist in telling others what God has done for 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 60-67.

The first psalm in today’s reading seems to me to aptly apply today.  Society has been shaken and torn open because we have angered God.  We are in desperate times, but God has raised a banner to which those who fear Him may, and should rally.  Let us rally to God’s banner and He will lead us to a fortified place where we may withstand the assaults aimed at those who fear God.  In these trying times, our souls can find rest in God.  He has brought us salvation.  Though the world around us seeks to topple us, our hope comes from God and He provides us a foundation which cannot be shaken.

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.

When I first read through these psalms I felt like today’s blog was going to be hard to write.  Then I read through them again and realized that they had two closely related themes, or perhaps three.  When facing challenges, troubles, or persecution, call out to God for aid and He will provide it.  Then praise God for the many mighty things He has done for you.  Finally, recognize that all of your accomplishments come by the grace of God: if He had not blessed you, all of your strength and skill would have been insufficient to the task.

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

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

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

The psalmist writes frequently about how God will provide us shelter and protection from our enemies if we put our trust in Him.  He uses varied imagery to convey how this works.  In today’s first psalm he speaks of God raising a banner to which those who fear Him can rally in the midst of battle.  Such an image is not one of passive rescue.  Rather it is one where those who follow the Lord gather and follow their commander in battle.  The psalmist continues in the next psalm by indicating that God will lead us to a fortress where our enemies will be unable to reach us.

The psalmist goes on to tell us to wait patiently for God, He will bring us victory.  Do not put your trust in either the common man, nor in the powerful.  If we acquire wealth, let us not make the mistake of thinking that will save us.  When God brings us victory and success let us shout His praises to all of the world and call for them to come and see what He has done.  Tell the world what God has done, invite them to see for themselves how great He is.