Psalm 119:153-176 Dear RTB’ers, 9/11. Twenty-five years. So long ago, and yet, not so long… A day for us to remember and pray. Today we finish Psalm 119. A very different Psalm than any of the others. Twenty-two stanzas, eight verses each, with at least six of those eight synonyms (precepts, decrees, etc.) in each …
Author Archives: Fred
September 10 / Psalm 119:129-152
Psalm 119:129-152 Dear RTB’ers, I am a regular at our 12-step group, Freedom Road. There I have seen people who in their lives have lived through the following verse: Keep steady my steps according to Your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. (v. 133) Addiction is an iniquity that can overcome us. …
September 9 / Psalm 119:105-128
Psalm 119:105-128 Dear RTB’ers, How often have I had to say in my heart, “You are God, I am not.” I look at the world around me and see so many wrong things and I wonder, why doesn’t God act? Our psalmist must have had the same thoughts, It is time for the LORD to …
September 8 / Psalm 119:81-104
Psalm 119:81-104 Dear RTB’ers, I often wonder who wrote Psalm 119. All the persecution he endures sounds a lot like David: How long must Your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to Your law. All Your commandments are sure; …
September 7 / Psalm 119:49-80
Psalm 119:49-80 Dear RTB’ers, Two verses that together form one thought: When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I am a companion of all who fear You, of those who keep Your precepts. (vv. 59, 63) I had posted two days ago that I liked “His/Your ways” best as …
September 6 / Psalm 119:25-48
Psalm 119:25-48 Dear RTB’ers, Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways. (v. 37) What worthless things? A new car? A bigger flat screen TV? Your neighbor’s landscaping? A promotion? A salary raise? Porno (or simply bathing beauties)? Fame/respect? Food? They are all covered in I John 2:15-17, …
September 5 / Psalm 119:1-24
Psalm 119:1-24 Dear RTB’ers, Many of you already know, but for some of you this may be new information. As noted in STS, Psalm 119 is 176 verses long, equal to twenty-two stanzas of eight verses each. Each stanza begins with a new letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each verse in each stanza begins …
September 4 / Psalms 117-118
Psalms 117-118 Dear RTB’ers, Today, the last of the “Hallelujah Psalms” (Psalms 111-118). Tomorrow we begin seven days in Psalm 119. Today’s psalm appears to be a song of victory over an enemy (or enemies). We’ll never know the exact context, but we tend to apply it to ourselves – either individually or corporately. It’s …
September 3 / Psalm 116
Psalm 116 Dear RTB’ers, Death – Psalm 116:3, 8, 15. Although David expressed fear for his life, I don’t recall him writing of anything like a reprieve from death. Psalm 6 is a lament, with David expressing fear, weariness and weeping, but death is only a mention, not a near occasion. Likewise, in Psalm 41 …
September 2 / Psalm 115
Psalm 115 Dear RTB’ers, God has created us, each and every one of us, with eyes, ears, hands, feet. Not so with idols: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but …