Most of the teaching I have had throughout my life as a Christian have been trustworthy, based on an accurate interpretation of...
Psalm 68 celebrates God’s care for Israel. It does so with a wide variety of images, many of which highlight God’s power and justice in stirring and even disturbing ways (68:2, 21-23). Yet Psalm 68...
To be honest, we begin our relationship with God because of what's in it for us personally. We recognize that we need...
In Psalm 66, an anonymous poet celebrates God’s awesome deeds. His example of testifying to what God has done serves as an example for the whole earth, so that everyone might join in the...
Our translation of Psalm 65:8 reads, "Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From...
In Psalm 64, David complains to God about his enemies who are plotting against him. These foes are not aiming literal weapons at him, however. Rather, they “sharpen their tongues like swords and...
Jack Benny was a beloved American entertainer. Though in real life he was an excellent violinist and a generous man, he often played comedic roles in which he was a terrible musician and...
Psalm 62 begins with David’s expression of confidence in God as he waits in silence for the one who is the source of his salvation (62:1). But then, after David remembers those who...
Psalm 60 was written in a time when Israel had been reeling under God’s judgment. He had used Israel’s enemies to discipline the people for their faithlessness. In this context, David cried out...
A friend leaned over the table at Starbucks yesterday morning during a pre-work chat and confided, "You really don’t want to know...
I am one of those peculiar people who wakes up with a song in my head. It happens almost every morning. And...
Scholars identify Psalm 58 as an imprecatory psalm. Literally, this means it includes cursing of one’s enemies. In the case of Psalm 58, the curses are directed at wicked leaders who judge their...
Psalm 57:5 is the basis of dozens of hymns and songs of praise, and for good reason...
Psalm 56 begins with David’s cry for mercy because his enemies are attacking him. He implores the Lord to help him and to punish his opponents. Then, with striking imagery, David recognizes that...
Throughout the five decades of my Christian life, I have heard at least a hundred sermons or teachings on prayer. I have...
Psalm 54, like many others in the Psalter, was written in a time when the psalmist, here identified as David, feared for...
In the past ten years, a number of bestselling books have promoted what people call "the new atheism." The belief that God doesn't exist isn't especially new. But the newness of "the new atheism"...
Psalm 52 begins with criticism of a “great warrior,” whom the heading of the Psalm identifies as “Doeg the Edomite” (see 1 Sam. 21-22). This warrior uses his tongue to boast of his crimes and to...
Psalm 51 is a heartfelt, aching prayer for forgiveness. In this prayer, David begins by crying out to God for mercy (v. 1). He asks to be cleansed of his guilt (v. 2), freely acknowledging his sin...
Every time I read Psalm 50, I am startled. In this psalm, God recognizes that the Israelites are properly offering the sacrifices...
