Psalm 146 Yesterday’s Psalm 145 ended that strong set of ten psalms “of David”; today begins the Psalter closing with five “Hallelujah” psalms as we close out our own wondrous year. It took me no time to choose a verse today: … a son of man … When his breath departs, he returns to the …
Author Archives: Fred
December 25 / Psalm 145:8-21
Psalm 145:8-21 Psalm 145, Day 2. The LORD is near to all who call on Him … He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; He also hears their cry and saves them. (vv. 18-19) When David wrote these words thousands of years ago, he had no idea that hundreds of years down the …
December 24 / Psalm 145:1-7
Psalm 145:1-7 Psalm 145, Day 1. The title says “A Psalm of Praise.” My Study Bible notes that this Psalm has the only occurrence of “praise” in the title, and that the name of the entire Book of Psalms, the “Psalter” gets its name as the plural of “praise”. My Study Bible has helped me …
December 23 / Psalm 144
Psalm 144 Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! (v. 15b) Although I cannot identify the source, I have heard it said that the USA has been particularly blessed by God because we have a history of being a Christian nation. I can’t say that I disagree with that statement and verse 15b …
December 22 / Psalm 143
Psalm 143 Although I might have referred to today’s Psalm as another lament, my Study Bible notes that this Psalm is the last of seven penitential psalms in the early Christian liturgy, along with Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130. So we’ll go with that. Hear my prayer, O LORD … In Your faithfulness …
December 21 / Psalm 142
Psalm 142 Today’s psalm reads very much like a lament. From back on March 24 when we were doing Psalm 31, one of my Study Bibles had listed all the elements of a lament. Here they are for Psalm 142: Naturally you might see those various elements in different verses than how I’ve listed them, …
December 20 / Psalm 141
Psalm 141 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. (v. 5a) (NOTE: In the second half of this verse, in “their evil deeds” David is referring back to the wicked men that he mentioned in verse 4.) Most …
December 19 / Psalm 140
Psalm 140 Today’s psalm reads like one of David’s laments and seems particularly out of place, having just recently seen the happiness and joy of all the “songs of ascents”. But in today’s psalm David explains his situation (Ps. 140:1-5), makes his plea for God’s help (Ps. 140:6-8), then suggests to God the retribution needed …
December 18 / Psalm 139:13-24
Psalm 139:13-24 For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. (v. 13) With these four verses beginning at verse 13, how can anyone who calls him/herself a Christian be in favor of legalized abortion? How does one reinterpret these verses to justify taking a baby’s life? Your eyes saw …
December 17 / Psalm 139:1-12
Psalm 139:1-12 Psalm 139, Day 1. In times past I have said that I am not a Psalms person, that there’s not a whole lot that I get, in general, from reading through the Psalms. This year, naturally, has been different and has given me a much greater appreciation for the Psalms. But that notwithstanding, …