Psalm 120 begins a series of psalms that come with the title, “A Song of Ascents.” It is thought that these were the psalms that God’s people of old sang on their pilgrimages towards Jerusalem, looking to celebrate the yearly feasts. The Psalmist begins with the solution to his distress. 1 In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue. Verses 3 and 4 considers the fierceness of the psalmist’s enemies. 3 What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows […]

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible (176 verses). It is broken up into 22 sections—each section titled with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. Today we shall consider only the first and the last verse of this psalm that proclaims the excellencies of the Word of God, that is, the Law of God. 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! If we want to know God, and His love, in fact, we need to know His law. It is foundational. It is unchangeable. It is a standard that stands outside of our […]

Psalm 118 is a psalm of thanks and mercy. It’s Verses 1 and 29 bookend the thought. 1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. If we count up from Verse 1 to Verse 8 we receive this profound truth: 8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. If we count down from Verse 29 to Verse 22 we receive this profound truth: 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. Let us then put our trust in the Lord, the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus […]

Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm in the Bible, and yet, profound for the world to consider. 1 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! 2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! The psalm is a call to the world to be thankful to LORD for the world that we have and the providence of His grace upon it. Even in our fallen state, let us praise the LORD. And then let the Christian share the old old story of Jesus and His love. And let the world praise the LORD forever […]

Who do you love? The psalmist of Psalm 116 gives us his answer to this question. 1 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. What does such love look like? The rest of Psalm 116 declares such things. 3 The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” 9 I will walk before the Lord In the land of […]

Who or what will you worship? The psalmist of Psalm 115 weighs your options. 1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. 2 Why should the Gentiles say, “So where is their God?” 3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; […]

Psalm 114 captures, as a poet might, those great feats of God’s first deliverance and providence of  His people. It begins with their delivery from slavery. 1 When Israel went out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 2 Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion. It continues by personifying the notable waters of Israel’s desert trek, but also considers (I think) the quaking of Mount Sinai at the delivery of God’s law to His people (Ex. 19:18). 3 The sea saw [Israel’s deliverance] and fled; Jordan turned back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs. […]

Psalm 113 is a psalm of praise. (1) “Praise the Lord!” it begins. And it continues, Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised. This is a call for all who call upon the LORD God, as their God, to be in constant praise. Who is God, that we shall praise Him? 4 The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold The […]

Psalm 111 and Psalm 112 belong together. They are poems arranged in order according to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Both begin with (1) “Praise the Lord!” Psalm 111 speaks to the qualities of God. Psalm 112 speaks to the righteousness of those who follow Him. I’ve arranged a graphic that allows us to read each line of both psalms together. Receive this to see your God and to see yourself in seeking Him. Let us pray. Dear Lord and heavenly Father, Blessed be your holy name. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us. Thank You for keeping me in […]

Jesus is returning and no one will stand in His way. This is what King David sings about at Psalm 110. At Verses 1-2 we declare His divine appointment: 1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! At Verses 3-4 we declare the eternity of His divine appointment: 3 Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. 4 The Lord has sworn […]