Psalm 119 celebrates the sufficiency of God’s word for every season of life.  Verses 1-8 affirm the sufficiency of God’s word to bless us.  Verses 9-16 affirm the sufficiency of God’s word to cleanse us.  Verses 17-24 affirm the sufficiency of God’s word to sustain us.  This third stanza marks a transition in Psalm 119. It is the first time the psalmist acknowledges devotion to God’s word does not vaccinate you from difficult circumstances. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and...

The second stanza of Psalm 119 begins with an important question: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” This question has led some to speculate the author of Psalm 119 was a young man. But the tone, content, and structure of this psalm point to one who has length of days, depth of maturity, and breadth of experience with God. Most likely, the author was an older man who wrote this psalm to teach young men to trust and obey God’s word. Verse 9 asks a relevant question for the young and old. This question assumes the depravity of man. It assumes young men are not naturally good, pure, or clean. It assumes the absence of internal discipline and the presence of external pressures that corrupt...

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. - Psalm 90:14 “How can I pray for you?” When I am asked this simple question, it is a great kindness from the Lord. Not knowing what to say, I often answer by asking that person to pray Psalm 90:12 for me: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”  Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses – the only psalm attributed to Moses. The psalm begins by declaring the eternality of God (Psalm 90:1-2)....

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm of the 150 Psalms. If considered chapters, Psalm 119 would be the longest chapter of the Bible – in both verses and words. It is longer than several books of the Bible. The psalm contains 176 verses that are divided into 22 stanzas. Each stanza is eight verses long. These sections are arranged into an acrostic poem using every letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In most Bible translations, you will find the word or symbol for Aleph above verse 1. Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Aleph begins each word that begins a line in verses 1-8. The pattern continues with Beth in verses 9-16, Gimel in verses...

After the death of his son to a premature aging disease, Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote: “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” The book addressed theodicy – defending the goodness of God in the face of evil. Kushner wrongly concluded God is good but does not have the power to prevent suffering. Yet the book became a runaway bestseller. Many people wrestle with the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Psalm 73 wrestles with the opposite question, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” The superscription reads: A Psalm of Asaph. Asaph was one of the chief musicians of David. He was the director of the Jerusalem Mass Choir. Twelve psalms are attributed to Asaph – Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83. Asaph was a godly and gifted worship leader who had a crisis of...

There are two kinds of musical keys: Major and Minor. Songs in major keys are typically pleasant, joyful, and happy. Songs in minor keys are often sad, somber, or serious. Psalms work the same way. We do not know the original musical arrangement of the Psalms. Their contents betray their tone. Many psalms are songs of praise, worship, and thanksgiving. Other psalms are in the minor keys of life. They are called Psalms of Lament. A lament is when the psalmist sings the blues. It is more than an expression of sorrow. It is a prayer of faith. Laments are not the kind of God-talk we are accustomed to. In our worship, songs, prayers, and sermons are often triumphant. Spiritual pep rallies have no place for wrestling with sin, pain, or grief. This “Don’t worry, be happy” philosophy robs us of the blessings of lamentation. Suffering, heartbreak, rejection, betrayal, and injustice are inescapable realities of living in a...

In King Henry VIII’s devotional primer, Psalm 95 is called “a song stirring to the praise of God.” That is a fitting description of Psalm 95. We do not know the author or occasion of this psalm. Its message is clear, compelling, and convicting. It is a call to worship God, or else. The psalm divides into two sections.  Verses 1-7b is a call to worship the Lord.  Verses 7b-11 is a warning to non-worshipers.  Verses 1-7 bid us to “come” three times – using different Hebrew terms. Psalm 95 is called the “Venite,” the Latin word for “come.” Worship is our sacred duty. Yet this call to worship reads as a gracious invitation. It is a privilege to worship God. Psalm 95 is about how to worship God. It records seven acts of worship: singing, joyful noise, thanksgiving, songs...

A cathedral was known for its beautiful organ. Its music filled the surrounding valley. People came from all around to hear its melodic sounds. One day, the music stopped. The organ broke, and no one was able to repair it. Then, as suddenly as it stopped, the organ filled the valley with music again. People descended upon the cathedral to hear. When the old man finished playing, they asked, “How did you fix the organ? He answered, “I made it.”  What is broken in your life?  Denying the problem won’t help. Do-it-yourself efforts can’t repair it. Having that thing, going to that place, being...

The church needs a revival. I am not referring to a series of services with an evangelistic emphasis. I am talking about a sovereign and supernatural move of God that causes us to fall in love with Jesus again. Unbelievers need evangelism; believers need revival.  The church is a body, not a building. The church is a people, not a place.  The church is an organism, not an organization.   The church needs a revival because we who make up the church need a revival. The church today is preoccupied with reaching the culture. Much of our outreach and evangelism is unfruitful. We are ineffective because when the world looks at the church, they see the world. Worse, when the Lord looks at the church, he...

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth! - Psalm 134 Two Stanford University students struggled to pay their expenses. But they had a plan. They invited the Polish composer and pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski to perform a concert. He agreed to a $2,000 fee. The concert only raised $1,600. The young men gave it to him with an IOU for $400. Paderewski...