Lord, where is your unfailing love? You promised it to David with a faithful pledge. Psalm 89:49 If you were to read only the first 37 verses of Psalm 89, you’d think it...
In two days, residents of the United States will stop as a nation for a day of thanksgiving. At least, that’s the idea. (For a brief history of Thanksgiving, see this item from...
Usually, when Christians talk about salvation, we point to being saved from sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Salvation has to do with the promise of life after death. “Are you...
In Psalm 81, the Lord invites Israel to receive the very best of his blessings. “Open your mouth wide,” he says, “and I will fill it with good things” (81:10). In order to...
Psalm 77, written by Asaph, begins with a profound expression of anguish. The psalmist has found himself in a terribly difficult and painful situation. He has cried out to God, even shouting and...
Psalm 72 is identified as a “psalm of Solomon” (72:1). This means either that it was composed by Solomon or in his honor. This psalm is a prayer for the king of Israel.
Psalm 66 celebrates God’s glory as it is revealed in his mighty works. This celebration is meant, not just for Jews, but for the whole earth (66:1). Yet how are those who have...
Psalm 55:22 was one of the first verses of Scripture I memorized as a child: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and...
God, who set up the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, says he doesn’t need sacrifices. Rather, he desires worship and obedience.
Journalist Howard Van Smith had long admired a friend whose very presence brought people a feeling of peace. Van Smith asked his friend where such calm came from, and his friend answered with a...
Yesterday I began reflecting on Psalm 41:1. Today I want to continue this reflection, because something in the language of this verse strikes me as worthy of further consideration.
Undeniably, there are times when obeying God is hard, times when we’d much rather follow our own will than his. Even Jesus knew that experience as he wrestled with his Father’s will in...
When I was growing up in Glendale, California, I lived about a quarter-mile from my grandparents. In fact, their house was on my route home from school, and I often stopped in to...
In yesterday’s reflection, I wrote about God’s confounding compassion. He hears our cries. He reaches out to save us. God’s mercy astounds us as he gives us so much better than we deserve...
Psalm 34:8 invites us to “taste and see that the LORD is good.” This leads me to wonder how I can take the psalmist up on his offer. How can I taste God...
May we "play skillfully" at work, in our communities, as we serve at church, in our families, and in every other facet...
My hope for Jim's fruitful future at our church shriveled on the vine. I felt like a dismal failure as a boss.
Psalm 32 expresses David’s joy in experiencing the freedom of God’s forgiveness. But, for a while, David did not rejoice because he...
Psalm 29:2 summons us to “worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” How do we do this? What does this...
On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the defeat of death. Psalm 30 gives us words to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and its implications.The images of Psalm 30 take on new meaning in light of...
