Articles / Blog
“Praise the Lord!” So begins (and ends!) Psalm 113, the first of what are known as the “Egyptian Hallel” (Psalms 113-118), which are centered on praise to Jehovah for His deliverance of His people from their bondage in Egypt. “Halleluia” – “Praise Jehovah” – is the repeated refrain, because He alone is worthy of such exaltation, and He alone deserves such praise at all times and in every place!
It’s the early 1960s. Mom and Dad decide to take all of us on a trip from Fort Worth, Texas up to Gramma‘s house in a little country setting called West Addison just outside of Vergennes, Vermont. The logistics of the trip…over 1700 miles, over 28 hours if you drive straight through over the course of 2 to 3 days, in a 1956 four-door Chevrolet station wagon with no third row seat, no power steering, no power brakes, no cruise control, no GPS, no air conditioning, no seatbelts, seven of us kids ranging in ages from 1 to 9 years, comic books, treats, water in an old metal thermos, Mom and Dad.
Psalm 103 can help someone struggling with addiction. It speaks of mercy, forgiveness, healing, and love. In the midst of the struggle, these words matter. They offer a reminder that God is not quick to anger. He is slow, and He is full of love (vs 8). For someone wrestling with addiction, this matters deeply. They know the weight of shame. They know how hard it is to let go of guilt. But in these words, there is grace.
“Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness, Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 100 (NASB95)
The readings this week led me down two distinct lines of thought. First, the prayers in Lamentations and Psalm 94 have themes of distress and judgement. On the other hand, Psalms 95 and 96 focus on joy and praise of God. From this we can learn how to go to God in times of anguish, and we can learn how to express adoration to the Lord. How can joy in the Lord and sorrow in distress coexist in the Christian life? These passages may help us learn how to understand this tension and take these things to God.
Reading and study on the Psalms can easily seem to be a daunting task; with their variety of subject matter or focus, mix of historical contexts, and powerful emotional impact, they can be intimidating to those unfamiliar with them. However, we know that all scripture is breathed out by God for a specific purpose; some scripture is meant to instruct or guide us in how we should walk, others to illustrate a point or principle, others reassure us that regardless of the chaos around us in the world, that God is in control, and we as believers can fully rest in the assurance of His power. And Psalm 91 is a wonderful and beautiful call for man to recognize God’s infinite power, as well as a potent reminder that we are guarded and protected by His power.
"And the Lord said to Job: ‘Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.’ … Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 'Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?" (Job 40:1-2,6-8, ESV).
Have you ever felt weary? Has someone ever tried to comfort you, during a difficult time, but nothing was able to make you feel comforted, it was as if your soul refused to be comforted? Have you ever felt faint with deep sighing? Have you ever felt so troubled that you couldn’t even find the words or energy to be able to speak? Have you ever been unable to sleep at night, instead you are left to ponder your life or stress about your current situation? - Asaph did. And Asaph expressed these kinds of feelings in Psalm 77:1-6.
