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That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalm 26:7
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Psalm 23: The Psalm You Know By Heart – But Have You Really Read It?
Reading: Psalm 23 INTRODUCTION Maybe you learned these verses as a child. Even if you didn’t, I am sure that you have often read or sung this song that is usually referred to as ‘The Twenty-third Psalm.’ You may even have heard it at a funeral; in spite of the fact that it is not a song of mourning but one that celebrates the happiness of having a close relationship with the Lord, of enjoying…
When Justice Flourishes: The Universal Hope of Psalm 72
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 72 Psalm 72 is one of only two psalms (see also Psalm 127) that are associated with Solomon who was king of Israel for forty years from 970 BCE. Along with Psalms 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 89, 101, 132, and 144, Psalm 72 is categorised as a royal psalm. This is a literary category of poems that deal with various aspects of Israel’s monarchy such as enthronement, duties, victories, marriage, and…
Psalm 32: The Joy of Sins Forgiven
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 32 Psalm 32 could qualify as both a Wisdom Psalm and a Song of Thanksgiving but for at least 1500 years Christian liturgical tradition has viewed it as a Penitential Psalm; the second of seven in the Psalter (see also 6, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). Its theme is the relief that comes from repentance, confession of sin to God, forgiveness and restoration. It seems to have been written soon after the…
Psalm 127: Human Efforts That Exclude God Are Futile
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 127 Psalm 127 is a short psalm about dependence upon God in everyday life. As the eighth of the fifteen psalms identified as Songs of Degrees (or Ascents) in their superscriptions it occupies the central position in that group. It is thought that the Songs of Degrees (Psalms 120-134) were sung by Israelites as they journeyed up to Jerusalem to celebrate the annual religious festivals, for example; Passover, Weeks and Tabernacles. It…
From Wisdom to Waywardness: Lessons from the Life of King Solomon
INTRODUCTION I would like to briefly consider one of the most remarkable and compelling lives recorded in the Bible and suggest some sobering and useful lessons that we can learn from it. No doubt you have heard the saying ‘the older we get, the wiser we get,’ which means that time and experience naturally bring deeper understanding and better judgement. Unfortunately, despite being renowned as the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon’s life contradicts…
The Revelation of God in the Sky (Psalm 19:1-6)
INTRODUCTION In Psalm 19 the author, David, marvels at the revelation of God in Nature and in the Law. As he thinks of how the Sun illuminates and dominates the natural world he reflects on how the Law (torah) dominates and illuminates the spiritual life. In verses 1-6 the psalmist maintains that the universe itself points beyond Creation to its Creator. The heavens do not speak in human language yet they continually and universally proclaim…
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