Thoughts on Psalms
This section is more or less a journal. As such, it’s not my typical writing. It’s not even an attempt at a mildly deep study. Rather, it’s what stuck me about each passage on the day and at the time I read it. Then with just enough background to give some idea why those thoughts came to mind.
Psalm 11 – Sometimes God tells us to hang in there
Have you ever called out to God for help? For an answer of some kind? But nothing happens? There’s no answer. Your situation doesn’t change. You don’t hear yes. Or no. The thing is, sometimes God tells us to hang in there. To wait. With no reason given.
...Psalm 10 – Complain about God to God
Complain about God to God? Is that a good thing? How many of us are afraid to complain to God about Himself? Or think that’s a bad thing to do? Maybe even a sin? On the other hand, how many of us are so angry about our issues with God, valid or not, that we don’t hesitate to make a list of our complaints and then “let Him have it”?
...Psalm 9 – Praise the Lord when things are bad?
Seriously? Praise the Lord when things are bad? No problem, when things are going well. When we get what we want. But how many of us feel like praising God when things, for lack of a better word, suck? If I had a motto for my life, years ago it would have been: life sucks and then you die. Not any more. What changed? And why do I agree with the title, Praise the Lord when things are bad?
...Psalm 8 – I can’t believe God cares about me
Psalm 8 is known by most Christians. Maybe not by name, but for one verse, where David, in more modern language says. I can’t believe God cares about me. Actually, about people in general. But since we tend to be more me-centric, I chose the word me.
...Psalm 6 – Is there a relationship between sin and illness?
Did David really write a Psalm asking: Is there a relationship between sin and illness? No. And yet, it’s a question that comes up from Psalm 6. Too often, we behave like Job’s friends, even though God told them Job was right and they were wrong. So what’s happening here?
...Psalm 5 – Take refuge and be glad?
Seriously? Take refuge and be glad? Aren’t we fighters? Can’t we take care of ourselves? Why should we settle for just taking refuge instead of going on a counterattack?
...Psalm 4 – Feel God’s peace even when things are bad
Christians talk about God’s peace. Do things need to be going well in order to feel that peace? Or can we feel God’s peace when things start to improve? Or, would you believe, can we feel His peace even if nothing’s changed about our situation at all?
...Psalm 3 – God is there when we need Him
God is there when we need Him. And for true Christians, who honestly try to follow Jesus, He’s with us all the time. We might not feel like it. But He is.
...Psalm 2 – We make our relationship with God so difficult
We make our relationship with God so difficult. But it really shouldn’t be. We must make a choice for God or not. You really can’t sit on the fence with God.
...Psalm 1 – delight is in the law of the LORD
Ps 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
I really wondered about this concept a lot last year. The part about meditating on it day and night.
The question is whether there’s more to life than meditating on the law of God day and night. It’s a matter of focus.
...