For 5/28/2012 -- Psalm 111 – 118 and North Platte, NE

My cousin Richard told me that I had missed my blog on 5/28/2012. I had done it, but apparently never posted it. So, here it is. Sorry about that.

Psalm 111 - 118

If I had to give a title to Psalm 111, it would be “Absolutes.” So many of the words used in this Psalm deal with absolutes:

• I will thank the Lord with all my heart
• All who delight in him should ponder them (the deeds of the Lord)
• Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty
• His righteousness never fails
• He always remembers his covenant
• All he does is just and good
• All his commandments are trustworthy
• They (his commandments) are forever true
• He has paid a full ransom for his people
• He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever
• All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom
• Praise him forever

Psalm 112, on the other hand, describes those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands:

• They are joyful
• Their children will be successful everywhere
• They themselves will be wealthy
• Their good deed will last forever
• Light shines in the darkness for them
• They are generous, compassionate, and righteous
• They will not be overcome by evil
• They will be long remembered
• They do not fear bad news
• They confidently trust in the Lord to care for them
• They are confident and fearless
• They can face their foes triumphantly
• They share freely and give generously to those in need
• Their good deeds will be remembered forever
• They will have influence and honor
• The wicked will be infuriated

The theme of Psalm 113 can be found in verse 3: “Everywhere – from east to west – praise the name of the Lord.”

I loved the picture pained by Psalm 114 where the Red Sea and the Jordan River saw the Israelites coming and hurried out of the way – imagine a sea or a river hurrying out of the way – and the mountains skipping like rams.

Psalm 115 once again references God’s unfailing love and faithfulness and then goes on to compare the one true God to those idols shaped by human hands that others worship. Three times the Psalmist repeats the phrase: “He (The Lord) is your helper and your shield.” Praise the Lord for this.

Didn’t you love the picture the Psalmist painted in Psalm 116 of the Lord bending down to listen. We should delight in prayer; God listens to us. He is so intent in hearing us, he bends down to listen as an adult would to a child. We should, indeed, offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.

Though only two short verses, Psalm 117 reminds of that God loves us with unfailing love and his faithfulness endures forever.

Psalm 118 is wrapped in the words of the first and last verses: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. We are reminded that it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people or princes. Three of the forty or so references to the “strong right arm of the Lord” are found in this Psalm. This reference to God’s power and strength should remind us that it is God who gives the victory and not we ourselves. Truly, let us “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Tomorrow, it’s I Kings 1 – 2 and Psalm 37, 71, and 94. (please remember this is what we are reading on 5/29/2012.)

North Platte, Nebraska

The following video is incredible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=07DGeLvDw8I

Until next time…