I am excited about starting Psalms again. Even reading it the 2nd time
through increased my understanding and helped me to relate to things I
had read the 1st time. So I am looking forward to what God has for me
this 3rd time. Last month I especially noted the words "Shame,"
"Meditate," and "Light." This month I want to see what God says about
"Hope." It encourages me to know that many others are reading through
Psalms with me and that perhaps God is speaking to us about the same
things.
Joyce
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Special, Seen, & Sent
Today's reading (Friday, June 30th) reminds me how loved and special we are. To be told in Ps.139:17 "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered", is quite sobering. Really, the likes of me?? Yes...that's our Abba.
And, when I struggle at times in those evening hours, tempted to succumb to the enemy's lies, feeling alone in the blackness, He reassures me in vs.12 "there is no difference to you, darkness and light are the same"...I am always seen! You are always with me."
When I am overwhelmed like the psalmist in 142:3, "You alone know the way I should go." "Your Spirit leads me forward on a firm footing!" What a glorious way to be sent. Thanks, Jesus...you are worth loving for countless reasons!!!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Covenant Singing
God as a covenant making and covenant keeping God is a truth at the heart of Psalm 105. The psalmist begins with an invitation to praise and give thanks to God for his wondrous works (Ps. 105:1-4) followed by an admonition to remember God's "wondrous works, his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered" (Ps. 105:5-6).
Which wondrous, miraculous works elicit this response in the psalmist and his readers? Specifically, the psalmist calls our attention to God's making with Abraham (Ps. 105:7-11) and his covenant keeping with all subsequent generations.
The psalmist goes on to chronicle God's faithfulness to his covenant and covenant people through the time of the patriarchs sojourning (Ps 105:12-15), through famine when God sent Joseph ahead (in chains) to Egypt to provide for his family (Ps 105:16-22), through their centuries of slavery (Ps. 105:23-24), by delivering them out of Egypt (Ps 105:26-42), and to their conquest and possession of the land (Ps 105:43-44).
Two things stand out to me as particularly noteworthy in this psalm. First, this covenant - God's covenant with Abraham - is absolutely fundamental to Israel's identity. All history, all subsequent covenant are subsumed in this one. The Exodus is certainly the pinnacle of God's redemptive activity in Israel's history; however, verse 40 reminds us that this was God keeping his covenant promises to Abraham. This is Israelite history telling, and it's thoroughly covenantal. God's acts flow from his character as a covenant making and covenant keeping God. This history, this unique relationship with God as his covenant people, defined who Israel was...and it should define who we are too. This isn't just Israel's story, it's ours too. The Old Testament is Christian Scripture also, not just back-story.
Second, the intended response of the reader is important to notice - praise & obedience. Praise comes in the beginning and at the end (Psalm 105:1-6, 45). It struck me that the Psalm calls us to remember all God's wondrous deeds but the focus isn't on 'what God has done for me lately' but on God's redemptive acts in long ago history. Certainly both are called for, but maybe more weight should be given to recounting God's story in our witness, not just our story. The psalmist also expects his readers to respond with obedience. God has done all these things "that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws."
It's important to note that obedience was not the basis of the covenant, but was expected to be the result of living in covenant with God. This too is important for us - works have no part in establishing our relationship with God (at least, not our own works), but works are expected of God's covenantal people. Ephesians 2:8-10 make this abundantly clear from a NT perspective.
Remember...praise...obey.
- Dan
Which wondrous, miraculous works elicit this response in the psalmist and his readers? Specifically, the psalmist calls our attention to God's making with Abraham (Ps. 105:7-11) and his covenant keeping with all subsequent generations.
The psalmist goes on to chronicle God's faithfulness to his covenant and covenant people through the time of the patriarchs sojourning (Ps 105:12-15), through famine when God sent Joseph ahead (in chains) to Egypt to provide for his family (Ps 105:16-22), through their centuries of slavery (Ps. 105:23-24), by delivering them out of Egypt (Ps 105:26-42), and to their conquest and possession of the land (Ps 105:43-44).
Two things stand out to me as particularly noteworthy in this psalm. First, this covenant - God's covenant with Abraham - is absolutely fundamental to Israel's identity. All history, all subsequent covenant are subsumed in this one. The Exodus is certainly the pinnacle of God's redemptive activity in Israel's history; however, verse 40 reminds us that this was God keeping his covenant promises to Abraham. This is Israelite history telling, and it's thoroughly covenantal. God's acts flow from his character as a covenant making and covenant keeping God. This history, this unique relationship with God as his covenant people, defined who Israel was...and it should define who we are too. This isn't just Israel's story, it's ours too. The Old Testament is Christian Scripture also, not just back-story.
Second, the intended response of the reader is important to notice - praise & obedience. Praise comes in the beginning and at the end (Psalm 105:1-6, 45). It struck me that the Psalm calls us to remember all God's wondrous deeds but the focus isn't on 'what God has done for me lately' but on God's redemptive acts in long ago history. Certainly both are called for, but maybe more weight should be given to recounting God's story in our witness, not just our story. The psalmist also expects his readers to respond with obedience. God has done all these things "that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws."
It's important to note that obedience was not the basis of the covenant, but was expected to be the result of living in covenant with God. This too is important for us - works have no part in establishing our relationship with God (at least, not our own works), but works are expected of God's covenantal people. Ephesians 2:8-10 make this abundantly clear from a NT perspective.
Remember...praise...obey.
- Dan
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Tears in a Bottle
I can so relate to all the drama in this precious book. It makes me
feel less pathetic, and being a girl I especially appreciate that I
belong to a God that cares so deeply.
As I read through 86 today and praised Him for being a God who "bends down" to hear me, who protects, saves, shows mercy, forgives, gives me happiness and is full of unfailing love for me I smile. And, I remember that in Psalm 56:8 my God "collects all my tears in a bottle", and "records each of my sorrows in a book"....that matters to me, I'm a girl after all, I tend to cry a lot so, to be reminded that my God loves me that much restores my hope amidst my drama.
"No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do!" Ps. 86:8
Roseanna
As I read through 86 today and praised Him for being a God who "bends down" to hear me, who protects, saves, shows mercy, forgives, gives me happiness and is full of unfailing love for me I smile. And, I remember that in Psalm 56:8 my God "collects all my tears in a bottle", and "records each of my sorrows in a book"....that matters to me, I'm a girl after all, I tend to cry a lot so, to be reminded that my God loves me that much restores my hope amidst my drama.
"No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do!" Ps. 86:8
Roseanna
Thursday, June 14, 2012
YOU!
I am really enjoying reading the Psalms and emphasizing the word "You"
as I read.
For example, in today's Psalm 71, it makes a big difference in my thinking if I say, "In YOU, O Lord, I have taken refuge." This puts the emphasis on God rather than the refuge. I don't look to anyone or anything else to be my refuge.
Or, "For YOU have been my hope." Nothing else or no one else is my hope. Or, "My mouth will tell of YOUR righteousness."
God's righteousness is where I look and what I speak about, not anyone or anything else.
Joyce Vanest
For example, in today's Psalm 71, it makes a big difference in my thinking if I say, "In YOU, O Lord, I have taken refuge." This puts the emphasis on God rather than the refuge. I don't look to anyone or anything else to be my refuge.
Or, "For YOU have been my hope." Nothing else or no one else is my hope. Or, "My mouth will tell of YOUR righteousness."
God's righteousness is where I look and what I speak about, not anyone or anything else.
Joyce Vanest
New Insights
Although I have read all the Psalms before, I am definitely gleaning
more out of them this time around. A lot of it has to do with Bob's
messages on them the last two Sundays. I have had to miss three of
them, day 9,11 and 13, due to other problems but will catch up on them
in due time. God Bless, Dick
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Praise Evangelism
Psalm 62 is one I committed to memory a few years ago. It's one I wanted to have in my mental file when tough times roll in.
I don't recall noticing or paying attention to this before, but it struck me this time how the psalmist moves from personal reflection to corporate invitation. He has found God to be an anchor - a refuge, a rock, a fortress. He has experienced God's salvation. He praises his God for his strength and constancy...
Then he invites others to the peace and security he has experience in the LORD - "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."
The evangelistic appeal here is based on theological truths (who God is) and personal experience (who God is to the psalmist). Both seem important in our appeals today.
And, as it appears in this psalm, the appeal to others flows naturally from the knowledge of God, both theological and experiential. Praise and worship are completed in the commendation of our God to others. Or, from a different angle, evangelism is just praising your God and Savior to others and inviting them to do the same.
I don't recall noticing or paying attention to this before, but it struck me this time how the psalmist moves from personal reflection to corporate invitation. He has found God to be an anchor - a refuge, a rock, a fortress. He has experienced God's salvation. He praises his God for his strength and constancy...
Then he invites others to the peace and security he has experience in the LORD - "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."
The evangelistic appeal here is based on theological truths (who God is) and personal experience (who God is to the psalmist). Both seem important in our appeals today.
And, as it appears in this psalm, the appeal to others flows naturally from the knowledge of God, both theological and experiential. Praise and worship are completed in the commendation of our God to others. Or, from a different angle, evangelism is just praising your God and Savior to others and inviting them to do the same.
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