For many years, I written out my prayers during times of personal devotion. I've found that this practice helps me not only see specific answers to prayer, but also to pray more intelligently while focusing on God and his glory. Instead of writing out a meditation this morning, I'm posting a personal prayer to give you … Continue reading Pleasant places, Psalm 16
Fool’s gold, Psalm 14
What do you treasure in your heart? Do you seek genuine gold? Or is your life a vain pursuit of fool's gold? Psalm 14 defines a fool as someone who does not believe in God: The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none … Continue reading Fool’s gold, Psalm 14
Bountiful dealings, Psalm 13
Do you ever feel as if God has forgotten you? Does it feel as if he's hidden his face from you forever? You're not alone! Many believers have often felt isolated and alienated, including that psalm master, David. No psalmist conveys the range of human emotions better than David. In his short Psalm 13, he cries from … Continue reading Bountiful dealings, Psalm 13
Torn Soul, Psalm 7
When someone circulates lies and unjust accusations against you, read Psalm 7. The superscription tells us that David sang this psalm to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. Since Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin, Cush may have been one of Saul's relatives. From the context of the psalm, Cush apparently … Continue reading Torn Soul, Psalm 7
Loving discipline, Psalm 6
In difficult and distressing times, Christians long to be freed from this body of death and translated to glory. In Psalm 6 David cries to God during a time of intense physical and emotional distress. David acknowledges suffering as discipline when he implores the Lord (Psalm 6:1, ESV): O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, … Continue reading Loving discipline, Psalm 6
God’s shield of favor, Psalm 5
Why does suffering surprise us? What makes us think we are entitled to a life free from pain or persecution? Why should life be any different for us than it was for David, a man God loved? The psalter overflow with emotional pleas for God's deliverance, and Psalm 5 begins similarly to many others: Give … Continue reading God’s shield of favor, Psalm 5
Breaking teeth, Psalm 3
David wrote Psalm 3 when he fled from his son, Absalom. That chaotic scene appears in 2 Samuel 15:13-16:14, but the roots of this complex narrative go back to Ammon's rape of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13 and even further back to David's sins that begin in 2 Samuel 11. Much could be written about not only … Continue reading Breaking teeth, Psalm 3
Raging Nations, Psalm 2
Last week's quandary revolved around today's meditation. Should I go on to Proverbs or should I return to the beginning of the Psalms? When I began these psalm meditations in 2010, I posted reflections on only some of the first 55 psalms. I started the New Year with a meditation on Psalm 1 called "Happiness … Continue reading Raging Nations, Psalm 2
Praise God! (Psalm 150)
The last psalm in the psalter rings with praise. It particularly emphasizes instrumental praise, and since it begins with a direct reference to God's sanctuary, it seems a powerful argument for using all kinds of instruments in worship. It begins with a call to praise God in worship and in the vast expanses of his creation … Continue reading Praise God! (Psalm 150)
Singing and swinging, Psalm 149
Psalm 149 contains an unusual combination of joy and justice. It begins with a lilting song of praise, but it ends with a swinging sword of vengeance. Amazingly enough the concepts aren't conflicting, but complementary. Because this particular psalm emphasizes the context of corporate worship, it's an appropriate subject on the day after the Lord's Day. Verse 1 … Continue reading Singing and swinging, Psalm 149
Glenda Faye Mathes 