Psalm 123 is a lament of one who has had enough and has nowhere else to turn. The writer turns to God in his need, like slaves who are dependent on their master. What might we learn about slaves from Psalm 123 – Slaves? Psalm 123 Psalm 123 is another song of ascents, recited by […]
Read More
Jerusalem, a site of controversy and violence, a place of contradiction. Jerusalem, the city of David, is sacred to three different religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. What might we learn about Jerusalem from Psalm 122 – Jerusalem? Psalm 122 Psalm 122 is a song of ascents, attributed to David. Pilgrims rejoice on their way to Jerusalem. […]
Read More
I remember a story about man who gave his grandson a kite. The boy had been experiencing hardships, and his grandfather wanted him to look up. In the same way, Psalm 121 – lift my eyes, reminds us to look up, focus on God. Psalm 121 Psalm 121 is another song of ascents for pilgrims […]
Read More
Distress is extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain; a state of danger or desperate need. Desperate times result in desperate measures. But sometimes escape from distress eludes us, as in the situation in Psalm 120 – distress. What can we learn about distress from Psalm 120? Psalm 120 Psalm 120 is the first of a series […]
Read More
What does it mean to be blameless? Are any of us completely blameless? And what does Psalm 119 – blameless teach us about the word? Psalm 119 Just two weeks ago we reflected on the shortest psalm in the book of Psalms, Psalm 117. This week we reflect on the longest psalm in the book […]
Read More
The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and all things green approaches, as well as March Madness. I’m a Michigan State Spartans fan – go green! But I have found myself reflecting on a less positive green — jealousy, the green-eyed monster. Jealousy and a Critical Spirit Many years ago, while a mother of young children […]
Read More
Psalm 118 – good, begins and ends with the call to thank God for God is good. Why? What does it mean to say God is good? Psalm 118 The last of the Hallel psalms, Psalm 118 is a beautiful psalm, beloved by Matin Luther, and recited by Jesus on the night before he died. “Psalm […]
Read More
In Psalm 117 – all nations, all people are called to praise the Lord, a much-needed call for unity. What common ground can be found for unity through this psalm? Psalm 117 Psalm 117 is the shortest of all the Psalms, with only 2 verses. Yet it is a powerful psalm. Despite its shortness, Martin […]
Read More
Why do you love the Lord? Psalm 116 – I love the Lord, lists a number of reasons why the writer loves the Lord. Perhaps you can add your own reasons to the list. Psalm 116 Psalm 116 – I love the Lord, begins with the statement of the writer’s love for God. He then […]
Read More
Not to us, the singers of Psalm 115 proclaim, not once but twice. Don’t give the glory to us they say – a sign of true humility. Who do you give the glory to? Do you give glory to false idols or to our God? What do we learn from Psalm 115 – not to […]
Read More
