Tag: psalms

Psalm 93

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Our Lord, you are King!
Majesty and power
are your royal robes.
You put the world in place,
and it will never be moved.
2     You have always ruled,
and you are eternal.
3 The ocean is roaring, Lord!
The sea is pounding hard.
4 Its mighty waves are majestic,
but you are more majestic,
and you rule over all.
5 Your decisions are firm,
and your temple will always
be beautiful and holy. (CEV)
 
            Soon it will be the Ascension of our Lord (Thursday) and the church will celebrate the grand redemptive event of Jesus ascending to heaven from earth after his resurrection.  So, then, today’s psalm is quite apropos to the season.  Jesus is our King.  Since Christ is the rightful ruler of the universe, nothing will move him; he will not be swayed by any earthly power of humanity or of nature.  When God decrees something, it will happen.
 
            Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  His kingdom is eternal.  His grace is limitless.  His decisions cannot be compromised.  Let us praise God with heartfelt thanksgiving because of his character, power, and wisdom.  We can never be reminded too much that God is in control and mightier than anything in heaven or on earth.  Let’s put today’s worries and situations in their proper perspective in light of Christ’s benevolent rule.
 

 

            Mighty God, you rule the nations and everything in all creation.  You are beautiful and holy and I worship you.  Help me to always put my life’s circumstances in your hands so that I might confidently trust in your power to save, heal, and thrive.  Amen.

Psalm 67

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment


            One of the beauties of daily sustained reading and reflection upon the lectionary Scriptures is that a psalm is read each day.  Over time the reader becomes quite familiar with the range of emotions, life situations, and theology of the psalter.  This is a very good thing.  In an era when so many believers are “too busy” for daily prayer and connection with God, the psalms are the church’s prayer book.  That means the psalms are accessible for many Christians via their smart phones, tablets, and computers.  Add the voice function to the mix and the believer could pray along with particular psalms.
             An advantage to becoming conversant in the psalms is the ability to use them for all kinds of situations.  Today’s psalm meets a particular need for prayer in the American election cycle.  Just say the word “politics” and many people get a visceral response before there is even a discussion about it.  Feelings and opinions run high.  Negativity is rampant.  But Psalm 67 offers a path of blessing the nations and inviting God to work his grace among us.  Rather than become mucked in worry or despair over present circumstances and the unknown future, the psalmist orients our minds, hearts, and voices toward the sovereign God.
             The psalms are meant to be used – repeatedly.  One cannot overuse them.  Try this:  today set your phone, watch, or other device to alarm at two or three hour intervals.  Whatever you are doing (if you are able), stop and pray Psalm 67.  It will take less than a minute.  Let the positive approach to blessing others and seeing God’s control shape how you go about the rest of your day.  Who knows?  Maybe the psalter will eventually alter how you view the world.
             Loving God, be gracious to us and bless us and make your face to shine upon us so that your way may be known upon earth, and your saving power among all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Psalm 148

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            Praise to the Lord is the recognition that God deserves praise from everyone, and the way to do that is to bow, yield, and submit to him.  “Praise the Lord” is the Hebrew word “hallelujah.”  Hallelujah literally means “to raise the hands.”
 
            We are told ten times in fourteen verses of Psalm 148 to praise the Lord, to raise our hands.  It is a symbol of submission and joy.  To have open hands lifted toward heaven is to convey to God that we will obey him and live for him in everything.  Praising the Lord, lifting the hands, is not only to occur in church; praising the Lord is to happen everywhere.  We are to lift our arms in reverent submission at our workplaces when we land a client or have a good day, as well as when we are overwhelmed and cranky people demean us.  It is always open season on praising the Lord, and it is not limited to a certain set of good circumstances.
 
            We are to raise our hands and praise the Lord when our neighbors care about us and look out for us, as well as when they make noise and irritate us with their less than kept up yards and houses.  Yielding to God’s purposes for our lives is not dependent upon whether we have good neighbors or not.  We are to praise the Lord and raise our hands when our marriages are life-giving and thriving, as well as when our relationship with our spouse is dry, dull, and going nowhere.  It is always open season on praising the Lord and reflecting his image through love.  We are to praise the Lord over our kids, not only when they do what is right but we are to raise our hands with hallelujah when they are complete stinkers and drive us nuts.  We are to use our hands to praise and enact obedience, not refuse to praise and use them for violence through finger pointing, fist pumping, and even hitting.  Let both our mouths and hands work in concert together to praise the Lord!
 

 

            Praise the Lord!  Praise Father, Son, and Spirit!  Today I join with all creation to praise the name of Jesus.  His name alone is exalted.  He has raised me to new life.  Thank you, gracious Lord Jesus.  May you be lifted high today in and through my life.  Amen.

Psalm 100

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            A good deal of the Christian life is a continual renovation of the mind and a transformation of the heart.  It doesn’t just happen; a changed attitude and orientation to life occurs through the simple daily practices of infusing oneself with Holy Scripture in many different ways.  Just as most things in life need to have attention and careful maintenance, so our souls need ongoing work lest they devolve into disillusioned outlooks.  The psalms are ideal for such a life-makeover.
 
            Saying and quoting this psalm on a regular basis will alter our attitude and orientation toward life in general.  This is a psalm that really needs to be as familiar to Christians as putting on our shoes every day.  In fact, keeping a Bible by your bedside at all times is a good thing.  Once you awake in the morning, and/or go to bed at night, let Psalm 100 shape your thoughts by saying it aloud.  Maybe even say it several times.  After all, it takes less than a minute to read it so let’s not go down the road of saying we are too busy for such a thing.
 
            Knowing that the Lord is the sovereign God over us; entering the day with thanksgiving to God; remembering that God is good, all the time; and, believing that God’s faithfulness is constant and eternal are the theological underpinnings for serving the Lord with gladness, instead of serving oneself with grumpiness.
 

 

            Loving God, I come into your presence with gratitude and singing.  You are the great God and your steadfast love endures forever.  May your gracious works and constant faithfulness be with me today in all that I do; through Jesus Christ, my Lord.  Amen.