Psalm 51:1-9 The header/title clearly places Psalm 51 in its historical setting. I’m sure you all know of David’s adultery with Bathsheba, but if you’ve never read the full account that includes Uriah’s death and Nathan’s prophetic encounter with David, you should read II Samuel 11-12:23 before you continue with today’s and tomorrow’s readings. It’s …
Author Archives: Fred
April 28 / Psalm 50:16-23
Psalm 50:16-23 Today, the wicked… (v. 16) In Job and in our reading of past Psalms it has seemed to me like “the wicked” were outsiders or other nations – certainly not participants in regular Jewish rituals. But in Psalm 50 God has made it clear through the psalmist that He is speaking to Israelites: …
April 27 / Psalm 50:7-15
Psalm 50:7-15 Yesterday I noted from my Study Bible that today’s reading would be words of correction for those of “honest intent” (vv. 7-15), with tomorrow’s reading a sharp rebuke of “the wicked” (vv. 16-23). And as I read today’s verses I can see that these authors are correct. The Israelites are offering their daily …
April 26 / Psalm 50:1-6
Psalm 50:1-6 Today’s six verses form a prelude to the rest of the Psalm. Today God is calling His people forth for judgment. See verse 5a (God speaking), “Gather to Me My faithful ones…” Over the next two days (according to my Study Bible) God will offer “words of correction for those of honest intent” …
April 25 / Psalm 49:10-20
Psalm 49:10-20 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. (v. 11) Suppose we edit and rearrange this a bit: Though they called lands by their own names … their graves are their homes forever. That old line, “You can’t take it with …
April 24 / Psalm 49:1-9
Psalm 49:1-9 One verse stuck out today, immediately, at first read: …for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice. (v. 8) I’m sure the psalmist had no idea what that ransom of any one life would really cost. The ransom for any one life would be the same as the ransom …
April 23 / Psalm 48
Psalm 48 Another Psalm of praise and thanksgiving and confidence in the Lord watching over Jerusalem and His people. I connected with verses 12 and 13: Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation. I thought of how the …
April 22 / Psalm 47
Psalm 47 Psalm 47 is purely a psalm of thanksgiving and praise. One Study Bible noted that it was probably written during one of the periods of a strong monarchy, very possibly during King David’s rule. Verse 5 even suggests that it could have been written soon after David brought the ark up from the …
April 21 / Psalm 46
Psalm 46 Be still, and know that I am God. (v. 10a)
April 20 / Psalm 45:10-17
Psalm 45:10-17 Psalm 45 confuses me as to its application both to the wedding of a king and to the Messiah. As I read the entire Psalm it works well as referring to the wedding of a king – possibly written for a particular king’s wedding, but then used for any time that a king …