While these posts can stand on their own, they are meant to be read after reading the particular psalm associated with it. I would encourage you to read the appropriate psalm and then read this post. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well.
Tag: Psalm Devotionals
Psalm 42: Remembering God’s Goodness
With the words, “As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” Book II of the Psalms begins. Many of us also know these words as part of the popular worship song As The Deer, which even now as I’m writing this, is playing in the background, evoking memories… Continue reading Psalm 42: Remembering God’s Goodness
Psalm 41: To Be Blessed
One of the lessons I’ve learned while studying scripture is to pay attention to the frequency of words being used. Most of the time, the frequent occurrence of a specific word in a passage probably indicates I should focus my attention on that word and it’s usage. But there are also times when a single… Continue reading Psalm 41: To Be Blessed
Psalm 40: Are We Alone?
One of my favorite movies is Shadowlands, a story about C.S. Lewis and his life with Joy Davidman. In a somewhat inconsequential scene, we find Lewis talking to a student who had stolen a book, and in the midst of the conversation the student says “we read to know we’re not alone.” I have always… Continue reading Psalm 40: Are We Alone?
Psalm 39: Watching Life’s Clock
I have a clock that stopped working long ago and ever since it has been collecting dust on the floor of a closet in my house. About a year ago I pulled it out of the closet and tried to get it working again, but to no avail. I was going to throw it away,… Continue reading Psalm 39: Watching Life’s Clock
Psalm 38: Praying the Psalm
O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! Lord, is it right to ask you not to be angry and hold back your wrath when I am worthy of judgment? For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. Do I realize all… Continue reading Psalm 38: Praying the Psalm
Psalm 37: The Green Grass of the Wicked
My first reading of Psalm 37 quickly left me confused. I don’t mean to say the words were incomprehensible, rather, I found the structure to be elusive. Being somewhat persistent, I studied and consulted commentaries to find some insight, but most of them said that other than it being an acrostic Psalm 37 has no… Continue reading Psalm 37: The Green Grass of the Wicked
Psalm 36: The Arrogant Light of the Wicked
One of the great literary turns in scripture is found in Romans chapter 1 and chapter 2. In Romans 1 Paul describes the consequences of sin, using the word “they” or forms of that word, nearly 30 times referring to sinners. But in chapter 2 Paul begins speaking of sinners in the second person saying,… Continue reading Psalm 36: The Arrogant Light of the Wicked
Psalm 35: Difficult Prayers
Of all the prayers I am asked to offer God, the most difficult one, I think, is when I’m asked to pray for those who mistreat me. Actually, now that I think about it, those might be the easiest prayers to offer. What I mean is, it’s easy to ask God to strike my enemies… Continue reading Psalm 35: Difficult Prayers
Psalm 34: I Wonder What Would Happen to this World?
I was talking with a friend the other day about many of today’s problems and how Christians should respond. At some point in the conversation she said something like “I’m tired of all the people who say ‘Jesus is the answer’ and then do nothing about it on their own.” I didn’t respond at the… Continue reading Psalm 34: I Wonder What Would Happen to this World?