Psalm 95: 2-6 (NRSV) God, the Maker of Every Beautiful and Unbeautiful Thing “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the…

Psalms 22, 81, 93,105, and 130 From 81, v.1: Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. –King James, written by Asaph for the chief musician Devotion Most of us are not Bible scholars, and aspects of the books in the Old Testament mystify me. I wonder how…

Psalm 102: 26-27 (NRSV) “They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing and they pass away. But you are the same, and your years have no end.” Devotion A couple of years ago, one of my professors at Princeton Seminary said something striking in a…

Psalm 27:10 (NIV) Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Devotion This verse might seem a bit strange appearing in the same Hebrew Bible whose fifth commandment is to “honor thy father and mother” and much of whose Pentateuch teaches the importance of embracing one’s genealogy, but the Hebrew Bible…

Psalm 73:13-14, 23-25 (NIV) Surely in vain I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.  All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. … Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and…

Psalm 6, Psalm 39 and Psalm 121 (NRSV) Psalm 6 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,    or discipline me in your wrath.Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;    O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.My soul also is struck with terror,    while you, O Lord—how…

Psalm 31; Psalm 41; Psalm 65; Psalm 143 Psalm 149 Praise the Lord!Sing to the Lord a new song,    his praise in the assembly of the faithful.Let Israel be glad in its Maker;    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.Let them praise his name with dancing,    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.For the Lord…

Psalm 50: 1-2 The mighty one, God the Lord,   speaks and summons the earth   from the rising of the sun to its setting.Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,   God shines forth. Devotion Having grown up in the church, I’ve had more than a passing exposure to a dozen or so pastors. I’ve observed most…

Psalm 49, 147:12-20, 126, 102 Psalm 63:1-8 O God, you are my God, I seek you,    my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,    beholding your power and glory.Because your steadfast love is better than life,    my lips…

Psalm 13 “Cliff Notes” for the Psalms (NRSV) 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me,…