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Psalm 29
Remember that old commercial with the lady singing so loud that she shatters a glass? Hey, that ain’t nothing compared to the voice of the Lord.
What’s it mean, though, to think the voice of the Lord is so powerful it can divide fire or break a forest? I kept asking myself that question. I even closed my eyes and prayed about it.
I kept thinking of the things that scare me – death, losing my job, going broke, terrible things happening to my family. Then I thought about the voice of the Lord. There’s no place I could go, there’s nothing so bad that could happen that couldn’t be penetrated by the voice of the Lord.
That’s bigger than shattering glass.
1. Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
2. Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3. The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The God of glory thunders. The Lord is over many waters.
4. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7. The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.
8. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forest bare and in his temple everyone says, “Glory!”
10. The Lord sat enthroned at the flood and the Lord sits as king forever.
11. The Lord will give strength to his people, the Lord will bless his people with peace.
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Psalm 28
Do you know how singing a sad song can somehow still make you happy? I’ve got a whole slew of them in my head that I turn to when I’m down but want to feel up. The choices are arcane or familiar, meaningless to others even if they’re fraught with meaning for me. I think of “Somewhere” from West Side Story. It’s the song they play at the end of the musical when Tony is dead and Maria is sobbing at her loss. But I’ll sing it to myself just to feel better. The words are filled with hope: “There’s a place for us…”
The psalms are reminders like that. They were meant to be sung so they could get stuck in your head. And when I’m feeling rotten they can still give me hope. “My heart greatly rejoices and with my song will I praise him.”
1. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock. Be not silent to me lest if you be silent to me I become like them that go down into the pit.
2. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto you, when I lift up my hands toward your holy oracle.
3. Draw me not away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors but mischief is in their hearts.
4. Give them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their endeavors. Give them after the work of their hands, render to them what they deserve.
5. Because they regard not the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them and not build them up.
6. Blessed be the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7. The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted in him and I am helped, therefore my heart greatly rejoices and with my song will I praise him.
8. The Lord is their strength and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9. Save your people and bless your inheritance. Feed them also and lift them up forever.
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Psalm 27
Wait on the Lord? That can be so hard. I am too impatient. I don’t want to wait.
This week I fretted for a long time about a problem that I couldn’t see any way around. Did I pray about it? Only in the sense of saying, “There’s nothing you can do about this, God, so I’m not even going to bother you with it.”
At the end of the week a solution fell into my lap. Despite my lack of faith. Maybe because of my lack of faith.
Next time, I promise, I will try to wait.
1. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
2. When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I see after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple.
5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion. In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me. He shall set me up upon a rock.
6. And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me. Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8. When you said, “Seek ye my face,” my heart said unto you, “Your face, Lord, will I seek.”
9. Hide not your face far from me, put not your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of my enemies.
12. Deliver me not over unto the will of my enemies, for false witnesses are risen up against me and such as breathe out cruelty.
13. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.
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Psalm 26
You can’t be a believer all by yourself. At least I can’t. I need other people to help me along. To ask the questions, to give me good examples. To forgive me when I fall short. To tell me what they do when they’re falling short. Most of all I like having people to celebrate with and sing with and pray with. It’s the way I stay grounded…while flying at the same time.
When the Psalmist says “My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord,” I think of my church.
1. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide.
2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me. Try my reins and my heart.
3. For thy lovingkindness is before my eyes and I have walked in thy truth.
4. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5. I have hated the congregation of evildoers and will not sit with the wicked.
6. I will wash my hands in innocence and go about thy altar, O Lord.
7. That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works.
8. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy honor dwells.
9. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men.
10. In whose hands is mischief and their right hand is full of bribes.
11. But as for me, I will walk in my integrity, redeem me and be merciful unto me.
12. My foot stands in an even place, in the congregation will I bless the Lord.
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Psalm 25
I go through my days, not too worried about my faith. It’s just there, almost in the background of my life, like a pleasant song in an elevator. And then something happens to rattle me, something that really shakes me up. The illness of a friend, a disappointment at work, worries about money, fears for the future. Then I turn to God and rage at the heavens. All at once I work on my faith. I can get enough of it. It’s no longer the background music, but front and center.
Why, though, does it take a crisis to make me pray so hard? Aren’t I meant to pray this way everyday?
1. To thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2. O my God, in thee I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
3. Yea, let none that wait for thee be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4. Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.
6. Be mindful of thy mercy, O Lord, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7. Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10. Al the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11. For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12. Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13. He himself shall abide in prosperity, and his children shall possess the land.
14. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
15. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16. Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted.
17. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distresses.
18. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20. Oh guard my life, and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee.
21. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for thee.
22. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
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Psalm 24
Portcullis. That’s the word that comes to mind. I remember playing Legos with my boys when they were young and lying down on the ground with the medieval knights on horseback, riding across the carpet to the plastic castle. There was a drawbridge then a portcullis, the gate that opened up and let you into the castle.
You needed to say a magic word to get into the castle – a word to open the gates – but once inside there was safety and peace from the marauding warriors. “Lift up your heads, O you gates. Lift up, you everlasting doors!” I repeated those words in my prayer and it was as though the gates were flung open in my heart. The portcullis was lifted.
1 The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
2. For he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.
3. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place?
4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.
5. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face.
7. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
8. Who is this king of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
10. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
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Psalm 23
We’re about to welcome four kids from a Canadian rock band to spend a couple nights. In their late teens and early twenties, they’re on the road a lot, playing different gigs. It’s what they need to do to succeed.
Did I tell you they’re really nice kids? Loud on stage, but very quiet houseguests. Polite, considerate, perfectly behaved. I’ve cleaned the bathroom and washed some towels. We bought extra cereal, juice and milk for them. I don’t know where they’re all going to sleep, but they said that’s all right. They’re used to sleeping on floors.
Hospitality is a wonderful virtue. When you’re a host, you get to be generous. And when you’re a guest you get to be grateful. In either case, I’m made aware that my cup runs over. God has prepared that heavenly table for me.
I’m making beds and folding sheets.
1. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you art with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
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Psalm 22
I sat down to pray this on the subway – all that terrible feeling about being abandoned by God – and ended up seated next to my neighbor Arthur. It was hard to think about God forsaking me when I felt so grateful to have a friend like Arthur, a good cook, a kind host, a great musician. We talked for a few minutes, then I turned to the little green book.
The words sent me right back to that awful moment in the hospital after surgery, when I feared I couldn’t even get a nurse’s attention, let alone God’s. “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint, my heart is like wax, my strength is dried up.” All at once, in the jostle of the subway car, my knees bumped Arthur’s. This was just the comfort God offered in those moments of despair. Friends, neighbors, people who cared.
1. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me and from the words of my groaning?
2. O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not hear, and in the night season, and am not silent.
3. But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4. Our fathers trusted in you; they trusted and were delivered.
5. They cried to you and were delivered; they trusted in you and were not ashamed.
6. But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and despised by the people.
7. All those who see me ridicule me, they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord, let him rescue him, let him deliver him, since he delighted in him.”
9. But you are he who took me out of the womb. You made me trust while on my mother’s breasts.
10. I was cast upon you from birth. From my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.
12. Many bulls have surrounded me, strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13. They gape at me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.
14. I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, it was melted within me.
15. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue clings to my jaws. You have brought me to the dust of death.
16. For dogs have surrounded me, the congregation of the wicked has enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.
17. I can count all my bones. They look and stare at me.
18. They divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.
19. But you, O Lord, do not be far from me, O my strength, hasten to help me.
20. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
21. Save me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen. You have answered me.
22. I will declare your name to my brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.
23. You who fear the Lord, praise him. All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him and fear him, all you offspring of Israel.
24. For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, nor has he hidden his face from him, but when he cried to him, he heard.
25. My praise shall be of you in the great assembly, I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
26. The poor shall eat and be satisfied, those who seek him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!
27. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, an all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
28. For the kingdom is the Lord’s and he rules over the nations.
29. All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship, all those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30. A posterity shall serve him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation.
31. They will come and declare his righteousness to a people who will be born, that he has done this.
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Psalm 21
I make God too small, too nice, too inconsequential. I don’t think he should have enemies. I think everything should be happy and everyone should be kind.
The world isn’t always a happy place. One glance at the newspaper and I know that to be true, and there are too many people who are not kind.
God can match them sword for sword, arrow for arrow, scathing comment to scathing comment, because God is huge. Not the small, nice being I want him to be.
1. The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord, and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2. Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withheld the request of his lips.
3. For thou prevent him with the blessings of goodness: thou sets a crown of pure gold on his head.
4. He asked life of thee, and thou gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
5. His glory is great in thy salvation: honor and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever; thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7. For the king trusts in the Lord and through the mercy of the most high he shall not be moved.
8. Your hand will contact all your enemies; your right hand will contact those who hate you.
9. You will make them like a blazing furnace when you appear; the Lord will swallow them up in his anger and fire will devour them.
10. You will destroy their offspring from the earth and their children from the sons of men.
11. For they have intended evil against you; they have devised a plot: they will be unable to put it into practice.
12. For you will make them turn their back; you will aim at their faced with your bows.
13. Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we will sing and praise Thy power.
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Psalm 20
My friend Jim and I were taking a break at Starbucks and we started going on about our financial worries. For him it’s about saving to buy a house someday – an elusive goal – for me it’s about trying to save something for retirement someday. “What do you do when the worries get the worst of you?” I asked him.
He looked across the table thoughtfully. “Money is really not worth getting too riled up about. In the end, it’s not going to save any of us. It’s not really houses and bank accounts that are going to rescue us.”
The Psalmist writes, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord.”
1. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.
2. Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion.
3. Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice.
4. Grand thee according to thine own heart, and fulfill all thy petitions.
5. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfill all thy petitions.
6. Now know I that the Lord saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy neaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8. They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen, and stand upright.
