The Nations Called to Praise God
My notes state that this is "a prayer of benediction" - I believe I've heard this put to music - this would be a good one to use at the Bible study Sunday!
1 - 2 May God bless us so that his way will be known on earth!
3 - 4 Let all nations praise God!
5 - 6 Let all people praise God, who has blessed us, and may he continue to bless us.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Psalm 66
Praise for God's Goods to Israel
A good psalm of praise
1 - 12 The psalmist begins by describing how the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past (the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the land) and in the present (deliverance from a recent but unspecified calamity) (my notes). They went through many trials, but God's plan was being unfolded all along. You let captors set foot on our neck; we went through fire and water; then you led us out to freedom.
13 - 15 The psalmist prays as an individual who has offered sacrifice.
16 - 19 The psalmist invites all who fear God to hear what God has done for him.
20 The psalmist concludes by praising God. Blessed be God, who did not refuse me the kindness I sought in prayer.
A good psalm of praise
1 - 12 The psalmist begins by describing how the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past (the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the land) and in the present (deliverance from a recent but unspecified calamity) (my notes). They went through many trials, but God's plan was being unfolded all along. You let captors set foot on our neck; we went through fire and water; then you led us out to freedom.
13 - 15 The psalmist prays as an individual who has offered sacrifice.
16 - 19 The psalmist invites all who fear God to hear what God has done for him.
20 The psalmist concludes by praising God. Blessed be God, who did not refuse me the kindness I sought in prayer.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Psalm 65
A prayer of thanksgiving
2 - 4 The psalmist is aware of his community's unworthiness and give thanks for a divine bounty.
5 - 8. The psalmist knows the bounty comes from God.
9 - 12. My notes: "At God's touch the earth comes alive withe vegetation and flocks. The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys blanketed with grain; they cheer and sing for joy.
2 - 4 The psalmist is aware of his community's unworthiness and give thanks for a divine bounty.
5 - 8. The psalmist knows the bounty comes from God.
9 - 12. My notes: "At God's touch the earth comes alive withe vegetation and flocks. The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys blanketed with grain; they cheer and sing for joy.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Psalm 64
Prayer for Protection from Enemies
1 - 6 The Psalmist is upset because of how evil his enemies are.
7 - 9 God will overthrow the psalmist's enemies (my notes say that these verses may also be read in the past tense as if the Psalmist has already won.
10 A concluding call to praise: Let the righteious rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.
1 - 6 The Psalmist is upset because of how evil his enemies are.
7 - 9 God will overthrow the psalmist's enemies (my notes say that these verses may also be read in the past tense as if the Psalmist has already won.
10 A concluding call to praise: Let the righteious rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Psalm 63
Comfort and Assurance in God's Presence (My notes say this is a psalm of David when he was in the Wilderness of Judah)
1 - 4 When the Psalmist is separated from God (Good imagery: "my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you"), he longs for the divine life given to him in the temple. "So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name"
5 - 8 The psalmist wants a close relationship with God. "My mouth praises you with joyful lips as I think about you on my bed" (My notes say this might be an allusion to waiting throughout the night in the sanctuary)
9 - 11 He wishes for his enemies to be destroyed and those who believe to continue in their faith. ". . . all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped."
1 - 4 When the Psalmist is separated from God (Good imagery: "my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you"), he longs for the divine life given to him in the temple. "So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name"
5 - 8 The psalmist wants a close relationship with God. "My mouth praises you with joyful lips as I think about you on my bed" (My notes say this might be an allusion to waiting throughout the night in the sanctuary)
9 - 11 He wishes for his enemies to be destroyed and those who believe to continue in their faith. ". . . all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped."
Monday, January 22, 2007
Psalm 62
Song of God's Protection
1 - 4 The Psalmist shows his trust in God For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation, for fortress; I shall never be shaken.
5 - 7 The psalmist repeats about his trust in God and adds, "On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God."
8 - 10 Verse 8 is good too: "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." 9 & 10 talk about the folly of dwelling on financial matters. We should trust in God.
11 - 12 All power lies in God and He repays all "according to their work."
A good psalm about trusting God.
1 - 4 The Psalmist shows his trust in God For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation, for fortress; I shall never be shaken.
5 - 7 The psalmist repeats about his trust in God and adds, "On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God."
8 - 10 Verse 8 is good too: "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." 9 & 10 talk about the folly of dwelling on financial matters. We should trust in God.
11 - 12 All power lies in God and He repays all "according to their work."
A good psalm about trusting God.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Psalm 61
Assurance of God's Protection
My notes say this is a prayer by an individual for help.
1 - 3 The psalmist asks for help. Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer; From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint.
4 - 5 The psalmist asks for protection. Le me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
6 - 8 The psalmist promises to praise God. So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.
Lots of good imagery in this one. Sometimes asking for help is the hard part.
My notes say this is a prayer by an individual for help.
1 - 3 The psalmist asks for help. Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer; From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint.
4 - 5 The psalmist asks for protection. Le me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
6 - 8 The psalmist promises to praise God. So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.
Lots of good imagery in this one. Sometimes asking for help is the hard part.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Psalm 60
Prayer for National Victory after Defeat
This prayer asks for God's help.
1 - 4 The psalmist feels the community is rejected by God - there have been natural disasters and the people have suffered.
5 - 8 The psalmist remembers that God has promised his protection.
11 - 12 The psalmist prays for help. "O grant us help against our foe, for human help is worthless. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes." The psalm ends by acknowledging that God is all-powerful.
This prayer asks for God's help.
1 - 4 The psalmist feels the community is rejected by God - there have been natural disasters and the people have suffered.
5 - 8 The psalmist remembers that God has promised his protection.
11 - 12 The psalmist prays for help. "O grant us help against our foe, for human help is worthless. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes." The psalm ends by acknowledging that God is all-powerful.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Psalm 59
Prayer for Deliverence from Enemies
1 - 4 The Psalmist asks for deliverence from bloodthirsty enemies (and denies fault)
5 He tells the Lord to wake up and punish those who act against Israel.
6 - 7; 14 - 15 Each evening the enemies come back and terrorize the psalmist.
8 - 13 But God laughs at them. "My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies." He asks God not to kill his enemies so his people won't forget.
16 - 17 The psalmist sings praises to God. "O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, ar my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love."
This psalm shows the complex relationship between God and man. I probably wouldn't admonish God to wake up, but sometimes I get very frustrated. Still, it ends with praise for God and it shows the psalmists love for him even in a difficult situation.
1 - 4 The Psalmist asks for deliverence from bloodthirsty enemies (and denies fault)
5 He tells the Lord to wake up and punish those who act against Israel.
6 - 7; 14 - 15 Each evening the enemies come back and terrorize the psalmist.
8 - 13 But God laughs at them. "My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies." He asks God not to kill his enemies so his people won't forget.
16 - 17 The psalmist sings praises to God. "O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, ar my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love."
This psalm shows the complex relationship between God and man. I probably wouldn't admonish God to wake up, but sometimes I get very frustrated. Still, it ends with praise for God and it shows the psalmists love for him even in a difficult situation.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Psalm 58
Prayer for Vengeance
1 - 2 Here the psalmist addresses the gods of other nations, asking whether or not they actually support the wicked (It's interesting that the psalmist would do so as if they actually exist).
3 - 5 The wicked are born bad. They are like snakes and they don't hear those who try to control them.
6 - 9 The psalmist asks God to "break the teeth in their mouths" (so they won't have fangs) and to have other nasty things happen.
10 - 11 When this is done, the righteous will rejoice, saying, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
This psalm makes me a bit uncomfortable - I don't feel right praying for bad things to happen to people. While I didn't like Saddam Hussein, I didn't "rejoice" at his hanging. What I get out of this is that there is comfort in knowing there are consequences in life. That just as there are bad consequences for bad actions there are good consequences to good actions. This is why the righteous rejoice. They rejoice because they know there is a just reward for their good lives.
1 - 2 Here the psalmist addresses the gods of other nations, asking whether or not they actually support the wicked (It's interesting that the psalmist would do so as if they actually exist).
3 - 5 The wicked are born bad. They are like snakes and they don't hear those who try to control them.
6 - 9 The psalmist asks God to "break the teeth in their mouths" (so they won't have fangs) and to have other nasty things happen.
10 - 11 When this is done, the righteous will rejoice, saying, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
This psalm makes me a bit uncomfortable - I don't feel right praying for bad things to happen to people. While I didn't like Saddam Hussein, I didn't "rejoice" at his hanging. What I get out of this is that there is comfort in knowing there are consequences in life. That just as there are bad consequences for bad actions there are good consequences to good actions. This is why the righteous rejoice. They rejoice because they know there is a just reward for their good lives.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Psalm 57
God's Rule over the Nations
1 - 4 This one would be good to set to music: "Clap you hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy!" He also chose the heritage of Jacob . . .
5 - 7 More singing to God - to God like a shout, to the Lord like a trumpet.
8 - 9 "God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne" The shields of earth belong to God.
1 - 4 This one would be good to set to music: "Clap you hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy!" He also chose the heritage of Jacob . . .
5 - 7 More singing to God - to God like a shout, to the Lord like a trumpet.
8 - 9 "God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne" The shields of earth belong to God.
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