How do you announce the beginning of a party or festival? You start the music, or, as in Psalm 81 – begin the music, you blow the ram’s horn. Let the party begin! However, in this case, what follows is more a lesson in how not to have a great party. Psalm 81 In Psalm […]
Read More
The image of God, the good shepherd, is highlighted in Psalm 23 and Psalm 80. What can we learn about God from this image? Particularly as found in Psalm 80 – Shepherd of Israel? Psalm 80 Another psalm attributed to Asaph, Psalm 80 – Shepherd of Israel, begins with a call to God, the shepherd […]
Read More
In psalm 79 – nations, who are the nations the psalmist is referring to? What is the significance of nations? Psalm 79 A lament attributed to Asaph, but not Asaph of David’s time, Psalm 79 was written either by a later Asaph or someone writing in the school of Asaph. It is a psalm of […]
Read More
Who are your “peeps,” your people? Friends? Family? Co-workers? Who are the people the psalmist refers to in Psalm 78 – my people? And why do they matter? Psalm 78 Another psalm by Asaph, Psalm 78 – my people “is the longest of the historical psalms. Its lesson is that history must not repeat itself. […]
Read More
Crying is one of the first forms of communication. Babies, in need of a bottle or a diaper change, will cry to alert their caregiver that something is amiss. They are not able to say exactly what is bothering them, but their cry is a signal that something is wrong. Sometimes we need to cry […]
Read More
Is it possible to completely know ourselves or others? Much less God? In Psalm 76 – known, we hear how God is great, known throughout Judah. But what does that mean? Psalm 76 Another psalm of Asaph, Psalm 76 (NIV) begins by saying God is renowned in Judah. Other translations, including the King James, the […]
Read More
In Psalm 75 God chooses, but what does he choose? What do we learn about God from Psalm 75 – I choose? Psalm 75 Psalm 75 is another psalm of Asaph, the musician. He begins by praising God: “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.” (1) […]
Read More
In Psalm 74 – rejected, the writer asks why God has cast him off. Chances are you have experienced rejection at some point in your life. Never a pleasant experience. But what of the rejection felt by someone who has lost their church, their foundation? Who feel God has rejected them? Such is the situation […]
Read More
While Psalm 73 – pure of heart, begins by mentioning the pure of heart, the psalm says more about the wicked. Why? What do we learn about the pure of heart from the wicked? Psalm 73 Psalm 73 – pure of heart, is attributed to Asaph, a musician. He struggles with the question why the […]
Read More
In Psalm 72 – the king’s son, the writer praises the king’s son. Who is this son? And why is he deserving of praise? Psalm 72 Psalm 72 is a prayer for the king’s son. The psalm’s superscript says, “Of Solomon”, referencing David’s son and successor, Solomon. Was it a prayer by Solomon, for himself, […]
Read More
