Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 78-81.

I am going to take what I write today from the first and last psalms of today’s passage.  The first psalm tells us to tell the next generation the things we have heard from “of old”, things which the current generation perceives as hidden.  Things which our contemporaries have hidden from those around us.  Instead let us speak of the praiseworthy deeds of God, the wonders He has performed which demonstrate His power and love.  The psalmist reminds us how time and again people have forgotten what God has done for their ancestors and for them and refused to keep His commands.  They have suffered for it.  Yet when they called out to God from their suffering He has answered their prayers and come to them once more.  Then in the last psalm, God says through the psalmist, “If only My people would listen to Me, I would subdue their enemies and those who hate Me would cringe before Me.”  Let us listen to God and sing for joy.  Let us not forget the wonderful things which God has done for us.  Instead let us turn from our sins and sing praise to God.  Let us tell others about how wonderful God is.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 72-77.

The first psalm in today’s reading says that it is “Of Solomon”.  That could mean it was written by Solomon, or that it was written about Solomon.  I believe it was the latter, but it tells us something about successful rulers, or leaders of government.  It calls for foreign kings to bring him tribute and to bow down to him, but it also gives a reason for that.  It tells us that the king to whom nations should bow down will deliver the needy and the afflicted, he will take pity on the weak and the needy and rescue them from oppression.  Those leaders and rulers who do such things will be powerful and foreign nations will bow to them.  The very next psalm warns us not to make the mistake of thinking that because someone is rich and powerful they are not wicked.  In fact, he tells us not to be envious of those with wealth and power who do evil.  When we see the wicked prosper, it may seem like our attempts to live a righteous lives are futile.  But, we need to remember that there is greater joy in fellowship with God than in worldly goods.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 68-71.

The psalmist calls on God to destroy the wicked while leading the righteous to rejoice.  He points out how God will be a father to those who have no father.  I want to expand on that a bit.  A father protects his children and offers them a model of behavior.  Ideally, the behavior which the father models teaches his children how to survive and thrive in this world.  When we read about God being a father to the fatherless, we often overlook God providing them a model for behavior.  Now that I have said that, I want to remind everyone of the other role a father fills for his children: protection.  Often that protection comes in the form of punishment to those who cause his children harm.  God will avenge the harm done to those whom society views as powerless.  Let me never be the one on whom He seeks vengeance.

Another theme which the psalmist writes about in today’s passage is shame.  In particular, he asks God to prevent him from being shamed for putting his trust in God and from bringing shame on those who put their trust in God.  While there is an element of asking God to do things which reveal that the psalmist’s trust was well-placed when he trusted God, the psalmist asks God to prevent him from acting in ways which bring him shame.  That does not quite sum it up.  He asks God to help him act as he claims to think.  The psalmist says that he puts his trust in God, he asks God to not allow him to act in ways which bely that claim.  It is much like what the father who brought his son to Jesus’ disciples while Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration said, “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”  Here the psalmist says, “I trust in God, help me not shame myself by not acting as if that were true.”  As part of that request, he also asks God to not allow him to act in ways which bring shame to others who also put their trust in God.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 60-67.

Psalm 60 begins with the psalmist speaking of the people being rejected by God and facing desperate times.  Then he tells us that in these desperate times God has raised a banner.  Today, we often fail to understand the image the psalmist is using here.  He invites us to imagine a battlefield where all is in chaos and one can not tell who is friend or foe.  There in that chaotic mess God has raised a banner to which those willing to be on His side can rally.  God is calling on us to rally to His banner on the chaotic battlefield upon which we find ourselves.  Of course, by rallying around the banner which God has raised comes with some risks.  Doing so identifies us as being on God’s side for those who have chosen to fight against Him.  The psalmist addresses that later in some of today’s psalms.  God is the fortress in which he, the psalmist relies, the rock upon which he rests.  He, the psalmist, is but a leaning wall, or perhaps a tottering fence, but he rests upon God, and those who wish to tear him down, who wish to tear down all who rally to God’s banner, will have to tear down God first.  And the psalmist tells us that they will be unable to do so because all power belongs to God.  Further, God will defend those who rally to His banner because He has unfailing love.  So, rally to God’s banner and shout for joy to God.

Side note: I really find it strange how what I write varies from day to day in tone and type of content.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 52-59.

First, I want to note that Psalm 53 repeats Psalm 14 almost verbatim.  This psalm uses “God” in a few places where Psalm 14 uses “The Lord” (I know that the translators chose those English words, but they represent different Hebrew words).  This psalm (Psalm 53) has a few lines which are not in Psalm 14, but they do not change the meaning of the psalm.  Perhaps Psalm 53 is included here just like some hymn books have two slightly different versions of the same hymn (growing up I remember the hymn book had two hymns with identical words, but set to different musical scores).  However, I wonder if perhaps the compiler included it as part of a theme related to the other psalms around it here.  Psalm 52 discusses someone who boasts of doing evil, someone who is deceitful.  Then in Psalm 54 the psalmist asks God to save him from arrogant foes who have no regard for God.  So, the lesson we learn is that the wicked are fools.  Further, if we wish to not be fools we will put our trust in God and follow His guidance.  As we succeed in doing so, fear will be ever further from us, because if God is on our side, what can any mortal do to us?

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 45-51.

Psalm 45 seems so relevant with what is going on in the world right now.  The psalmist writes, “we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,…”  The nations may be in an uproar, but we need fear nothing if God is our refuge.   The Lord is with so, “Come and see what the Lord has done,… He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.”   So, man may start wars, perhaps a war has just started, but God makes them to cease when He chooses.  He tells us to be still and know that He is God.  The kings and other rulers of the world may join forces to make war against the righteous, or just against each other, but when God comes forth they will flee in terror.  So, when you look at what is going on in the world today, take refuge in God and do not fear.

As normal, I wrote this a day ahead of time and completed it before the announcement of the Israel-Iran ceasefire.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 38-44.

I’m going to write today about a theme which I see in Psalm 39 and 40.  I see them as saying something similar to what James wrote in the third chapter of his letter.  James says, “Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect,…”  Here the psalmist says that he tried to keep from sinning in what he said by saying nothing, but when he did that a fire burned within him becoming hotter until he could keep silent no longer.  He found himself unable to keep silent and needed to cry out to God.  Then in psalm 40, he writes that he waited patiently for God and God rescued him.  Now he needs to speak of God’s wondrous acts which are so numerous that even with days unnumbered he could not speak of them all.  He would not hide God’s righteousness in his heart, rather he would proclaim it to anyone who would listen.  Note, he was not saying it was his righteousness he needed to proclaim.  He needed to proclaim God’s righteousness.  In the same way, we must not conceal God’s love and faithfulness.  We must speak it aloud to any who will listen.  In many ways that is the answer to James’ comments about how hard it is to control our tongues, to control the words we speak.  If we use our words to proclaim God’s love we will not have words to speak badly about others, we will not be able to speak words which bring hurt to our fellow humans.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 32-37.

The psalmist writes that those whose sins are forgiven are blessed, and I know it to be true.  However, because he starts with that we easily miss his main point.  If we refuse to admit and confess our sins, we cannot receive the blessing of God’s forgiveness.  As long as we pretend that we did nothing wrong, as long as we try to hide the fact that we are sinful, we will suffer the consequences of our sin.  On the other hand, if we admit and confess our sins God will teach us and counsel us so that we may rejoice in the Lord and avoid the woes of the wicked.  The psalmist goes on to tell us how great and worthy of praise God is, but then he says something very important.  “Taste and see that the Lord is good;”  Someone may make the best possible case for loving God and following His commands, but until you actually do it you will not truly understand how marvelous doing so it.  So, do not worry about those who do evil, or be envious of those who do what is wrong, no matter how good their life may look.  The wicked may plot against the righteous and belittle them in many ways, but God laughs at their plots and plans because He made this world and knows that they will pay a price they would not willingly pay for their wicked acts.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Psalms 23-31.

Let’s see how this works:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
And why is that? Because, as the psalmist says in the next psalm, the earth and everything in it belongs to God so that He can give of it to whoever He wills.

“He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.”
It is amazing how that works if we follow the advice which the psalmist gives in Psalm 26.  Do not socialize with deceitful people or associate with hypocrites.  Refuse the company of those who are doing evil.  Instead loudly praise God, telling others about the wonderful things He has done.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
The psalmist already showed how that works right there, but gives us some more on that in Psalm 27.  There he says that no one can frighten us when we rely on God’s light to illuminate our way, and make Him our stronghold.  What power can possibly threaten us when the Creator of all that is offers us His protection.

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,”

OK, the rest of what I want to write about today doesn’t really fit with that like the previous things did.  I will ask God to teach my His way and lead me in the path which leads straight to Him.  And I will ask God not to allow me to be put to shame when I brag about how great and powerful He is, when I brag that He can, and will, fix what is broken in their lives.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Psalms 18-22.

I love the imagery of God responding to the distress call of one who loves Him.  As a lover of Fantasy genre fiction, I imagine these images as God responding to the protagonist of a fantasy novel.  It reminds me of scenes in such novels where I, as the reader, think of the antagonist, “You done messed up now.”  I wrote that as a sort of introduction as I intend to focus on what the psalmist writes about God’s Laws and commands in Psalm 19.  The beginning of Psalm 19 says the same thing which Paul writes in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans particularly what he writes in verse twenty.  “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”  The psalmist tells us that God’s statutes are trustworthy and make the simple wise.  Which is the exact opposite of what Paul wrote about the results of rejecting God.  I am reminded of the Youtube debates I have seen lately between some “progressive Christians”, who reject certain Biblical passages because they think they know better, and some Christian apologists, who base their understanding of right on wrong on what the Bible says rather than what they would like to be the case.  “The precepts of the Lord are right,…” We may think otherwise, but doing as God commands will give joy to the heart, no matter if we think otherwise.  “The commands of the Lord are radiant,…” by them we see the world correctly and truly learn wisdom.  The psalmist tells us that the problem with thinking that we can pick and choose that some parts of the Bible are right and some parts are wrong is that we cannot discern our own errors.  God gave us the Bible so that we might have a standard by which to measure right and wrong.  If we perceive that one part of the Bible tells us that another part is wrong, then our understanding of what one, or both, of those parts of the Bible is what is wrong.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.