Tag Archives: the book of Psalms

“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.'”  (Psalm 122:1, KJV)

Okay, a status check: Do we (really) look forward to opportunities for corporate worship?

A lot of things conspire to dampen our enthusiasm for worship with others: The sermon doesn’t engage us; the hymns seem random; and — truth be told — the other folks at worship don’t seem too keen to be there, either.

No matter.  Perhaps a clue to David’s enthusiasm for approaching the place of corporate worship is found in the preceding psalm (Psalm 121:2): “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”

For all of God’s gifts to us, gratitude and praise is the only appropriate response.  In the words of an old song of the church, “count your many blessings; count them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what God has done!”

Brighten your day with gratitude and praise!  – Luther

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“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” (Psalm 4:8, NLT)

We are reminded daily of the perils of our time: Disease, injury, war, pestilence, mayhem, shortages. . .  It is enough to keep you up at night!

Times were just as tough and uncertain in David’s time (and his time was probably a good bit tougher that we have it today).  Yet, David — the author of today’s psalm — declares that “in peace I will lie down and sleep.”

David did not derive his peace from his wealth, his military might, his physicians, or his own intelligence.  His confidence was based entirely on God.  We do well to do likewise.   – Luther

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“I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”  (Psalm 13:6, NIV)

What has the Lord done for you?

What has been your response?

The psalmist credited God as the ultimate source of all that was good in his life; not others, not luck, not happenstance or fortune, not even himself.  Then, having correctly identified the One behind every gracious act and every gift; the psalmist’s sang the Lord’s praise in response.

To whom are you giving credit for all of the good in your life; and what is your response?  – Luther

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