The fifth section of Psalm 119, titled after the Hebrew letter, He (or Hei), emphasizes that God's law is the only way of life. The psalmist begins this section with a prayer and a promise: Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, … Continue reading The way of life in Psalm 119, He
The sojourner of Psalm 119, Gimel
"I am a sojourner on the earth," says the narrator of the third section of Psalm 119, which is comprised of eight verses each beginning with the Hebrew letter, Gimel. We all are sojourners. This world is not our home. Trials and tribulations keep us from settling down and becoming too comfortable. But we must do more than merely … Continue reading The sojourner of Psalm 119, Gimel
The young person of Psalm 119, Beth
As we look at the second section of Psalm 119, which is titled "Beth" after the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, I am praying for a special young person who is going through major life changes. How appropriate this second section seems! Verse 9 begins with a familiar question: How can a young man keep … Continue reading The young person of Psalm 119, Beth
The prism of Psalm 119, Aleph
Psalm 119 is well-known as the Bible's longest chapter. Since it may be considered too long to memorize or read during personal or family devotions, it may get overlooked almost as frequently as that short Psalm 117 we recently discussed. But we do well to look closely at Psalm 119 as it extols the beauty … Continue reading The prism of Psalm 119, Aleph
Military mode, Psalm 118
People often speak of Christ's church existing in two parts: the Church triumphant and the Church militant. The difference is often explained as that between believers who have died and believers who are still alive, but the difference is primarily one of location. The Church triumphant is in heaven and the Church militant is on … Continue reading Military mode, Psalm 118
Bad rap, Psalm 117
Psalm 117 gets a bad rap. You remember Psalm 117? It's the one you read when it was your turn for family devotions and you were eager to play outside. It's the shortest chapter in the Bible, and that's all most of us know about it. Its brevity leads to a perception of it as … Continue reading Bad rap, Psalm 117
I love the Lord, Psalm 116
I love the "I love the Lord" beginning to Psalm 116: I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclines his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live (1-2, ESV). I do love the Lord. He has heard my voice … Continue reading I love the Lord, Psalm 116
>Giving God Glory in Public Pain, Psalm 115
>It's no secret that our church is going through an extremely difficult time right now. No one has tried to cover up anything or sweep anything under a rug, but the media hoopla is painful for all of us. It would be inappropriate and unwise for me to comment more specifically on the situation in … Continue reading >Giving God Glory in Public Pain, Psalm 115
>It causes me to tremble, Psalm 114
>What causes the earth to tremble, firm ground to ripple, and buildings to sway? We can talk all day about plate tectonics and continental drift, but the short answer is: God. In beautifully poetic language and form, Psalm 114 depicts an animated earth and its elements when God delivered Israel from Egypt. Read it aloud … Continue reading >It causes me to tremble, Psalm 114
>Already blessings, Psalm 113
>Reformed Christians are fond of talking about "already" and the "not yet." By this they mean that we already enjoy the blessings of the Christian life, but that we have not yet experienced its fullness. When we die, we leave the ravages of physical life and enter into fellowship with Christ in heaven, but we … Continue reading >Already blessings, Psalm 113
Glenda Faye Mathes 