June 9, 2023
“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted” (Psalms 127:1 NLT). This psalm of Solomon is apt for today’s One Year Bible reading as the Old Testament reading is about the building of the Temple. Yet although God had given Solomon such amazing wisdom, he failed to apply it to
June 4, 2023
‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD”’ (Psalm 122:1 NLT). This is one of David’s fifteen “Psalms of Ascent,” written to be sung while climbing up to the Temple Mount. It begins by expressing David’s gladness at the invitation to go up to the house
June 3, 2023
“I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT). Psalm 121 is one of the fifteen “Psalms of Ascent,” so named because they were written to be sung by pilgrims traveling up to Jerusalem to worship at the
June 1, 2023
“I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure.” (Psalm 119:162 NLT). Some say that David wrote Psalm 119 to teach his son, Solomon, to love God’s Word, while at the same time, teaching him the Hebrew alphabet. For this beautiful ode to God’s Word is an acrostic poem, with each stanza
May 19, 2023
“And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth” (Psalms 116:9 NLT). The psalmist wrote of his constant awareness of the Lord’s presence in His life even as he attended to the everyday things of living here on earth. It is a psalm of praise for the Lord’s attentive ear
May 15, 2023
“Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people” (Psalm 111:1 NLT). The psalmist opens with the Hebrew word, “Hallelujah” (“Praise the LORD”)! With this exclamation of praise, he both announced his intention and invited the participation of his fellow worshipers. He was determined to
May 13, 2023
“Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because of your unfailing love. Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, Lord” (Psalms 109:26-27 NLT). David asked the Lord to rescue him from his accusers. Rather than trying to defend himself, he asked the Lord to defend him. Notice
May 11, 2023
‘“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.’ (Psalm 107:13-14 NLT). The psalmist gave thanks to God for His deliverance in times of trouble and distress. He praised the Lord for bringing them out of the
April 23, 2023
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT). Have you ever heard of the “Urgent-Important Matrix?” It is a time management system made popular by Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” The matrix teaches that every task can be placed in
April 21, 2023
“No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie: His dynasty will go on forever; his kingdom will endure as the sun” (Psalms 89:34-36 NLT). Men may break their covenants, but God never