Worship With Emotion and Heart
Read: Psalm 84:1-12 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! (vv. 3-4) People go to church for various reasons. […]
Listen
Read: Psalm 81 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (v. 10) In verse 8, we read, “If you would but listen to me!” In verse 11, “My people did not listen to my voice.” In verse […]
Restore Us
Read: Psalm 80:4-19 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! (v. 7) The psalmist is longing for the restoration of God’s people to a strong spiritual condition. His desire grows in intensity. In verse 3 he says, “Restore us, O God.” In verse 7, “Restore us, O […]
The Next Generation
Read: Psalm 78:1-12 . . . that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God (vv. 6-7) I am a Christian today not because of some powerful evangelist, although I have heard some good ones. Not […]
My God and I
Read: Psalm 77:1-15 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. (vv. 13-14) In the first part of this psalm the author emphasizes the word I. “I cry . . . I remember . […]
No More Revenge
Ongoing radio programs in the often war-torn country of South Sudan are changing lives, one at a time. A South Sudanese man who contacted our radio station told our producers that he used to have three sons, but had tragically lost all three of them to revenge killings. The retributive cycle of revenge killings can […]
God’s Constant Watch
Read: Psalm 75:1-10 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. (vv. 6-7) God’s judgment comes at the set time. He sent his Son at just the right time. He will send […]
Ruined But
Read: Psalm 74:1-11 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. (v. 2) The historical background of this psalm is most probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Life has fallen apart. The psalmist pleads […]
Messiah—He Shall Reign Forever!
Read: Psalm 72:1-11 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! (vv. 6-7) The Hebrew word Messiah is the equivalent of the Greek word Christ and of the English word […]