More Psalm from Asaph.  Let’s read Psalm 75, 76, 77, and 78 today.  I like the Asaph psalms -you can tell he was trained by David.  

I love Psalm 78, where he goes through the history of the children of Israel – and then records God’s response to Israel’s repeated rebellion:

“and God? Compassionate!  Forgave the sin! Didn’t destroy! Over and over He reigned in His anger!” (78:38 MSG)

Over and over and over again, God forgave.  Rebellion after rebellion, and God restored. Even today, His character toward us never changes: He is kind and He is patient and He always wants us to come back, no matter what has happened. God is so good to us!

Today, we are going to read Psalm 50, 73, and 74.   These are not David’s – these are Asaph’s psalms, same time period.

Asaph was a name we read a while back in 1 Chronicles 15 – he was one of David’s assigned worshippers.

“David ordered the heads of the Levites to assign their relatives to sing in the choir, accompanied by a well-equipped marching band, and fill the air with joyful sound…. The members of the choir and marching band were: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan with bronze cymbals….” (1 Chronicles 15:16,19 MSG)

Can you imagine learning to worship from David?  Can you imagine being on King David’s worsip team?  Okay, so the opportunity to join David’s worship has passed 🙂 but we can still learn how to worship from him!  What a treasure trove we have in the psalms!

“No doubt about it – God is good!” Psalm 73:1 MSG

Continuing in the Psalms!  Here we go – please read: Psalm 144, 145, 88, and 89.

It’s funny – after spending so much time with David, you can hear the difference between a David psalm and another psalm, can’t you?  We certainly know David’s voice by now!  I love the thought that God knows my voice – and more importantly, that He lets me know His!

Today, we’ll read Psalm 131, 133, 138, 139, 140, 141 and 143.  We’re getting it done!  Can you believe we are 135 days in?  You’re doing GREAT, and this discipline of daily reading is so valuable!

David’s communication with the Lord was so powerful – and I imagine it was continual.  Psalm 139 is so loved and familiar.  I love Psalm 133:

“How wonderful, how beautiful,
    when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
    flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
    flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
    flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
    ordains eternal life” (Psalm 133 MSG)

The NKJV states verse 1 this way: “How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity” and ends this way: “there the Lord commands His blessing: life forevermore.”  Where does the Lord command His blessing?  Where there is UNITY. Oh, friend, pray for unity everywhere you go.  As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14).

Every event, every emotion spoken aloud to the God of his LIFE. Lord, help me be the same!

Continuing with David’s Psalms today! 🙂  Let’s read Psalm 103, 108, 109, 110, 122 and 124 today.  Does anything seem to resonate in your heart today?  I would love to hear about it!

Happy collection of psalms (mostly!).  I want to highlight everything!

“O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!

Psalm 103 is a definite favorite for me!  I love how David encourages himself (and by extension you and me) to remember every blessing – don’t forget a single one – and then lists a few.  I can continue this list – can you start here and write your own psalm of blessings?

We’re reading Psalm 68, 69, 70, 86, and 101 today.  For those of you who like to know where we are, we’ve got about another week of these undated David Psalms before we are back to some more histories. You are doing great!

I skirted around this the other day, but I guess I’ll come out and say it: I don’t like it when David writes/prays about wanting God to destroy his enemies.  I do pray for protection, but I don’t like to pray specifics about how the Lord should exact revenge (or decide for Him that revenge is even necessary!)… That’s the Lord’s business, not mine.  Of course, no one is trying to kill me or overthrow my government, I’m not hiding in caves, I’m not on the run…. Maybe I have a wrong perspective on this!

The behavior of others shouldn’t affect me, the consequences of others’ actions isn’t my business, I just want to focus on my growth.  I do love the honesty that David has with the Lord – what’s the point is hiding your feelings from the Lord? He already knows –  and He loves us anyway!

“When the righteous see God in action
    they’ll laugh, they’ll sing,
        they’ll laugh and sing for joy.
Sing hymns to God;
    all heaven, sing out;
        clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider.
Enjoy God,
    cheer when you see Him!” (Psalm 68:3 MSG)

Please read Psalm 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, and 67 this morning. Have you considered reading these in a translation that is unfamiliar to you?  For me, it gives me a new perspective at times.  For this year, I’m using the Message – what translation do you like to read?

I’ve never read the Psalms in the Message translation before – this is a new one to me.  I love how I’m hearing them in a new way!  Listen to this:

“You’ve always given me breathing room,
    a place to get away from it all,
A lifetime pass to your safe-house,
    an open invitation as your guest.
You’ve always taken me seriously, God,
    made me welcome among those who know and love you” (Psalm 61:3-5 MSG)

Do you ever “change it up” and read a new translation?  Don’t let the Word become common!

Psalms again!  Is this fun or is this tough? We’re reading Psalm 39, 40, 41, 53, 55, and 58 today.  What are you thinking?

To be honest, it’s hard for me sometimes to read David’s prayers. Some are beautiful and personal and I’m encouraged that he expresses words that I feel myself. But other times…. When he prays for his enemies to be destroyed or for ruin to come to them, I’m uncomfortable. Maybe I’m uncomfortable because I recognize the same evil inclination in my own heart.  Maybe I’m uncomfortable because it’s so far from what I think Jesus desires for us. Maybe I’m uncomfortable because I can relate and I have to admit that I’ve had these negative feelings toward people who have done me harm as well.

I have to remind myself that David (in addition to being a man’s after God’s own heart) was a man.  He was a warrior.  This is the same guy who sent Bathsheba’s husband the front lines or wanted to murder Nabal’s husband for not sharing a meal.  He had much bigger concerns and much bigger threats to his life than I do, for sure! David’s humanity makes it easier to relate to him, and it is definitely an encouragement to be honest with the Lord!

In any case, I do believe that what happens to my “enemies” is God’s business, not mine, and I want to leave that up to Him. Letting myself dwell on the negative or wish destruction allows bitterness to grow in my heart and that’s not healthy.

Today we’re reading Psalm 35, 36, 37 and 38.

David is honest and lays his emotions bare before the Lord.  When Jesus instructed us to pray for our enemies, I don’t think he meant quite like this (!), but the Lord knows David’s heart.

Here’s a little beauty in David’s bitterness:

“God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic.
Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks” (Psalm 36:5-6 MSG)

Sometimes the psalms show me that no one is perfect, even a “man after God’s own heart”. Psalm 37:5 says to “open up to God, keep nothing back”- David sets a great example for us in that! God knows our hearts and minds, no need for us to hide.

Today we’ve got Psalm 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32.  Good morning or afternoon or evening – what time do you like to read?  I like mornings, but to be honest: early is best for me in all areas!  I’m an early bird for sure!  Here we go!

“Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be— you get a fresh start,
    your slate’s wiped clean.

Count yourself lucky— God holds nothing against you
    and you’re holding nothing back from Him” (Psalm 32:102 MSG)

Oh how I love Psalm 32!  God always receives us back again, puts us in right standing, always loves us, no matter where we’ve been.  This kind of love makes me want to respect His commandments (as I know they are only meant to help me) and respond to His love with faithfulness.

“God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.