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 with that same letter. Quite an interesting structure…!

The author uses eight different Hebrew words throughout the Psalm that are mostly synonyms for each other, translated in the ESV as the law, testimonies, His (Your) ways, precepts, statutes, commands/commandments, rules, and Your word. These words and phrases are all used in today’s reading. As synonyms, can they be interchanged? Why does the author choose one over the other? Good questions. My Study Bible noted that at least six of these words/phrases are used in each of the twenty-two stanzas. My own preference it to “translate” each of these words to “Your ways”. I prefer to think of “God’s ways” as opposed to rules, laws, etc. Whatever is His way, that’s what I want to follow.

As we read this Psalm the central theme is following God’s commandments. And in our reading, different verses will likely speak to each of us. It would be great to have us share those that touch us. For me today, How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. (v. 9) Or, my own “translation”: according to His ways… I may not be a young man anymore, but it’s still good advice!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 16 (2022) / Psalm 119:1-16
• October 17 (2022) / Psalm 119:17-32

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 not hard to make it personal: Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. (vv. 118:5, 7b-8, 17)

We can also see this psalm in a bigger picture, except that the mixing of the singular and the plural makes it more difficult – unless the “me” is a leader speaking: All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! (vv. 118:10, 25)

I tend to favor the more personal, individual application. The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation. (vv. 118:14, 17-18, 21)

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! (vv. 118:1, 29) AMEN!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 14 (2022) / Psalm 118:1-14
• October 15 (2022) / Psalm 118:15-29

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 David speaks of death, but in the third person. By contrast, the author of today’s psalm seemed to be at death’s door:

• The snares of death encompassed me…
• For you have delivered my soul from death…
• Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

His reaction is thanksgiving and praise.

And us? We’ve had a number of deaths at St. Andrew’s the past few years, but with celebrations of resurrection instead of funerals. Death is acknowledged; resurrection is embraced. It’s what we believe – the apostle Paul said it best, For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) We will go at His behest. Until then, we’ve got work to do.

Blessings.

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See also: October 13 (2022) / Psalms 116-117.

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 do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. (vv. 4-7) Someone other than God has made them. And what of their makers? Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. (v. 8)

But our Maker is the Lord and He know us, each and every one of us: The LORD has remembered us; He will bless us… He will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great. (vv. 12a, 13) And our response? But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! (v. 18) Yes, praise the Lord!

Blessings.

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See also: October 12 (2022) / Psalm 115.

Psalms 113-114

Dear RTB’ers,

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. (vv. 113:7-8) So often (but not every time) when I read Scripture’s mention of the poor and the needy I think of my own background – coming from “common” roots and, in fact, poor during my childhood, and the Lord has blessed me far beyond what my roots would have predicted.

But today I have someone else in mind – Dolly Parton. Yes, she surely was raised poor and she certainly sat with princes. We honor her today with the memory of her life. God gifted her with musical and business talents and she made life better for millions of people.

All of us were born poor and needy; all of us in need of God’s grace, His saving redemption through Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection. He has raised us from the dust and one day we will all sit with the princes of His people. All of us! GLORY!!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 10 (2022) / Psalm 113
• October 11 (2022) / Psalm 114

Psalms 111-112

Dear RTB’ers,

Two psalms today, one extolling the greatness of God and the other lauding His people (those who actively follow Him). So, one or two verses from each…

The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. (vv. 111:7-8) I noticed the middle sentence, that His precepts are trustworthy. And I thought of the Ten Commandments – and it’s true. Yes, these are Commandments, directives, the Law! But they are also simply good suggestions, good guidance for good everyday living! Yes, trustworthy…!

My verse from today’s second Psalm is a great follow-up to what I just said, Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments! (v. 112:1b) But my focus here is the first eight words, Blessed is the man who fears the LORD… Then the psalmist goes on to describe how that man who fears the Lord is blessed – in his wealth, his generosity, his children, even when turmoil hits. Yes, blessed…!!

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart…

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 8 (2022) / Psalm 111
• October 9 (2022) / Psalm 112

Psalm 110

Dear RTB’ers,

For probably the first time in my life I have read Psalm 110 from the beginning with a reasonable degree of understanding. That understanding begins with the recognition that it is King David speaking. So in the first verse, “The LORD” is God, the Father and “my Lord” is Jesus. Then the rest of the Psalm is Messianic. All the second-person pronouns in verses 1-5 apply to Jesus and all the third-person pronouns in verses 4-7 apply to God, the Father. So, read the Psalm reflecting Jesus for the “You” pronouns and it all follows. It is truly a Messianic psalm!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 7 (2022) / Psalm 110
• May 2 (2023) / Psalms 95, 97-99, 101, 110, 144

Psalm 109

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s Psalm took me by surprise. The header calls it “A Psalm of David”. So my first expectation is a psalm of praise. Then verses 2-5 sound like the beginnings of a lament. But instead, as we read on, what we get is David’s appeal for retribution upon an enemy, fifteen verses worth (vv. 6-20). Quite unusual! Both STS and my Study Bible put this Psalm into a class of “imprecatory” psalms – wishing harm or divine vengeance on an enemy. Of interest is that David, himself, is not seeking personal revenge; instead, he is asking God to exact justice for wrongdoings done to him. Thankfully, David closes with his customary prayer for deliverance: Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to Your steadfast love! (v. 26) Still, the main body of the Psalm is unusual to me.

Two other notes… First, the apostles used verse 8 as a reason for replacing Judas: For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “…Let another take his office.” (Acts 1:20) Second, verses 24-25 sound a lot like Job – “an object of scorn”!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 5 (2022) / Psalm 109:1-20
• October 6 (2022) / Psalm 109:21-31

Psalm 108

Dear RTB’ers,

I can’t read today’s first five verses without singing them. They are two different songs, in verses 1-2 (“Melody”) and then in verses 3-5 (“Be Exalted”). What joy to read and sing!

Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet, Judah My scepter. Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast My shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph. (vv. 8-9) I can remember the first few times when I read through the Bible that these names, these locations were meaningless to me. Gilead…? I could sing that there was a balm in Gilead, but what was that all about? Moab…? I had read that Ruth was a Moabite, but what did that mean? Now I read these verses, these names and they are all familiar to me.

So, to any of you reading these words today, if this is your first time reading through the Bible or if you’ve only read it a few times, keep reading on. The more you read, the more you will come to know the God who is your Salvation. Glory!

Blessings.

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See also: October 4 (2022) / Psalm 108.