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Category Archives for Book of Psalms

Deceitful Tongues – Psalm 120

A song of ascents is one sung by pilgrims on their way up (ascending, literally) to Jerusalem for one of the festivals of Yahweh, whether Passover, Weeks or Tabernacles.  But why this one about the problem

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I Have Gone Astray Like a Lost Sheep – Psalm 119:169-176

The one who knows Yahweh, who loves Yahweh’s law, is not incapable of straying from Yahweh.  The psalmist confesses that this is his experience, that he has left Yahweh’s precepts.  But it

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Great Peace Have Those Who Love Your Law – Psalm 119:161-168

Where does peace come from in the midst of persecution and injustice?  It comes from knowing that my reward is certain because of my love for God’s law.  It comes from knowing that justice will

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I Look at the Faithless With Disgust – Psalm 119:153-160

The psalmist declares that he looks on the faithless, the wicked, with disgust.  Is this permission to hate unbelievers?  Should we avoid them at all costs?  Should we condemn them publicly for their

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I Rise Before Dawn – Psalm 119:145-152

I like how, on search functions, they often include questions.  For example, “What does 24/7 support really mean?” and the answer searched is, “In an IT context, 24/7 support means a support

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I Am Small and Despised – Psalm 119:137-144

TinyBuddha.com has an inspiring story of a Laotian who survived the Vietnam war and became a refugee in Thailand, feeling very small but knowing this was not where she was meant to be.  She gives several

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Your Way With Those Who Love Your Name – Psalm 119:129-136

“And lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one.” Pe    Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.  The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts

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Give Your Servant a Pledge of Good – Psalm 119:121-128

The yearning for a promise that our future will be good is at the heart of the book of Ecclesiastes, and the Preacher’s perspective is that there is no such promise, that there is no way to guarantee

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Hold Me Up – Psalm 119:113-120

Gordon Mote, blind composer and pianist, has a lovely song, Hold Me Up, a modern day psalm that paraphrases this portion of Psalm 119. Samekh    I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.  You

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Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet – Psalm 119:105-112

A taste of some classic commentary on this passage: Matthew Henry:  The word of God directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. The commandment is a lamp kept

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Your Commandment Makes Me Wiser – Psalm 119:97-104

There are personal benefits to knowing God’s Word. Mem    Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.  Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.  I

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A Limit to All Perfection – Psalm 119:89-96

It is the yearning of the human heart…perfection.  How can we make our marriage perfect?  How can we make our government perfect?  How can we make our community perfect?  How can we make ourselves

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A Wineskin in the Smoke – Psalm 119:81-88

Persecution is scary, frustrating, and likely to challenge our faith in God.  The psalmist experienced this. Kaph    My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.  My eyes long for your promise; I

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Those Who Fear You – Psalm 119:73-80

The psalmist uses a rhetorical device in fashioning this segment of his ode to God’s Word.  He uses an abcddcba pattern, with each “a” being somewhat equivalent, each “b”,

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Before I Was Afflicted – Psalm 119:65-72

It has been said, “We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” So, you’ll either

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