Psalm 47 is a fitting celebration following Easter. Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the…
In Psalm 21, we’ll consider the interaction of Jesus and His Father at the completion of Holy Week. O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with…
Psalm 143 is one of dependence. You may have heard the old phrase “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” or the more modern one to “diversify your portfolio”. This psalmist, however, relies 100% on God. Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in…
Yes, God cares about our sufferings. Psalm 56 is a short psalm where David expresses his hope in God. Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. (verses 1-2 ESV) The enemy…
In a fearful place, this psalm brings comfort. Psalm 91 talks of God’s protection of those who’s trust is in Him. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I…
Who’s in control? Is it your own fear? In Psalm 27, David takes us through to his own place of hope. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my…
When you see evil what do you think? Psalm 14 includes a very short prayer asking for God to act. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to…
Do you know the joy of forgiveness? Take a look at this week’s psalm, Psalm 32. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (verses 1-2, ESV) Do you feel blessed? What…
This week’s psalm is a love song about a king. Let’s look at Psalm 45. My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips;…
This psalm brings in a little lightheartedness in the face evil. May you find peace to replace your worry. Let’s look at a portion of Psalm 37. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your…
It is easy to get focused on our own works or the works (good or bad) of others. Why not take the time to focus on God’s work? It puts the rest in perspective. Let’s look at Psalm 104. Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are…
When we can’t see forward, we can instead look backward to be reminded of what God has done. Below is a portion of Psalm 77. Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion? (verses…
Maybe you are feeling short on attention or short on time. Our short psalm this week is Psalm 70. Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! (verse 1, ESV) Sometimes it may feel like it is taking FOREVER for God to act. In our timeline, we want things…
Our psalm today reviews the ups and downs of Israel’s history. What have you learned through your own life? We’re just going to look at a portion of Psalm 78. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable;…
Here’s a psalm to kick off the new year, Psalm 98. Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made know his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.…
It is in Jesus’ leadership that we have hope. Let’s celebrate our King in Psalm 72. Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!…
We’re going to take a look at this psalm through the eyes of a child. God is our all knowing, ever protecting Father with whom we are safe. Let’s read Psalm 141. O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be…
In this psalm the author is bursting with joy. May you catch a little of his enthusiasm as you read Psalm 40. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon…
I’m guessing there are many people who are looking for joy. Psalm 30 reminds us to look back at what God has already done and rejoice. Then also look forward to the joy that is to come. This is indeed what we do during this season of Advent. I will extol you, O Lord, for…
It seems the only thing that is constant is change. In Psalm 92 we’ll consider the unchangeable works of God. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of…
It can be hard to know what to think of the wickedness of the world. Will things ever be better? Psalm 94 takes us through the struggle. O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O Lord, how…
Check the level of intensity in this short, quick turning psalm, Psalm 57. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to…
Today’s psalm invites us to rejoice. Join in with Psalm 96. Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! (verses…
We have a shorter psalm today, Psalm 52, where we can ponder the evil around us while secure in God’s care. Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you workers of deceit. You love evil more…
Our psalm today, Psalm 147, talks about God’s strength and tenderness. Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.…
Our psalm today talks about God as our deliverer. We’ll look at sections of Psalm 107. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east…
In today’s passage, Psalm 36, we’ll look at two very different situations. Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and…
Where do you wish to be? We’ll hear the writer’s desires in Psalm 84. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. (verses 1-2, ESV) Sometimes it is when we are…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll be reminded of God’s blessings. Let’s look at Psalm 67. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let peoples praise you, O God; let…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll be reminded of God’s work in the midst of evil. Let’s look at Psalm 5 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll be reminded of God’s work throughout our life, past, present, and future. Psalm 71 is a little longer, so we’ll just look at parts of it here. In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll be reminded of our reliable, unchanging God during our ever changing lives. Let’s take a look at Psalm 111. Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll be reminded of the one who rescues us. Let’s take a look at Psalm 34. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll be reminded of God’s great love and mercy toward His children. Let’s take a look at Psalm 103. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll be reminded where our security lies. Let’s take a look at Psalm 62. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. (verse 1-2, ESV) Do you have…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll take a look at Psalm 25 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll take a look at Psalm 63. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (verse 1, ESV) There are times in life that we…
As we gather together this Wednesday, we’ll take a look at a familiar psalm, Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (verses…