“ 1  I lift up my eyes to the hills —           where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD,           the Maker of heaven and earth” Psalm 121:1-2 . The psalmist seems to be in a situation known only to him, for he is looking with great anxiety or longing to the hills. Now He may have looked with anxiety if he expected robbers to be hiding in the hills, something that was never uncommon. The hills provided cover for thieves and crooks who caused great harm to

“ 1  You who live in the shelter  of the   Most High , who abide in the shadow  of the   Almighty ,  2  will say to the Lord , ‘My refuge  and my fortress ; my God, in whom I trust. ’  3  For he will deliver  you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;  4  he will cover  you with his pinions, and under his wings  you will find refuge ;  his faithfulness  is a shield  and buckler .  5  You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by d

“ 1  Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. 2  Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress.         Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. 3  For my days vanish like smoke;   my bones burn like glowing embers. 4  My heart is blighted and withered like grass;         I forget to eat my food. 5  Because of my loud groaning         I am reduced to skin and bones. 6  I am like a desert owl,         like an owl among the ruins. 7  I lie awak

“ 4  Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the LORD with the harp,         with the harp and the sound of singing, 6  with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—         shout for joy before the LORD, the King” Psalm 98:4-6 . These verses are obviously Psalms about worshipping the Great King! All life on earth must join the joyful celebration of God’s kingship. The earth must prepare itself for His coming with an op

“ 1  God is our refuge and strength,     a very present help in trouble.  2   Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,     though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;  3   though its waters roar and foam,     though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah   4   There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,     the holy habitation of the Most High.  5   God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;     God will help it when

“ 52   Blessed be the Lord for ever. Amen and Amen” Psalm 89:52 . Psalm 89  ends with this simple verse: “Blessed be the Lord for ever. Amen and Amen!” I bring this to your attention because this is also called a doxology. Doxology  is a hybrid  word  because it is composed of two words. Christian doxologies are derived mostly from the Greek language and mean: doxa , which means glory , and logia , which means word ! Doxology is a word   of   glory to God ! In Christianity th

“ 1  I will bless the Lord at all times;     his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  2  My soul makes its boast in the Lord;     let the humble hear and be glad.  3  O magnify the Lord with me,     and let us exalt his name together. I love the humility of the Psalmist who blesses the Lord for the acts and words that bring Him “praise.” We should always do the same, pointing to the goodness of God rather than to our own accomplishments.   4  I sought the Lord, and he

“ 5  You prepare a table before Me in the presence of My enemies.           You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,           and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” Psalm 23:5-6 . In the second half of Psalm 23 the Lord is the host at a banquet prepared for His child. The “table” is filled with food and drink. Before sitting at the well-appointed banquet table, the host would anoint the h

“ 1  The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2  He makes me lie down in green pastures,           He leads me beside still waters, 3 He restores my soul.           He guides me in paths of righteousness           for His name’s sake. 4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,           I will fear no evil, for You are with me;           Your rod and Your staff,           they comfort me” Psalm 23:1-4 . This is certainly the most well-known, belo

“ 9  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;             my body also will rest secure, 10  because you will not abandon me to the grave,             nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 11  You have made known to me the path of life;             you will fill me with joy in your presence,             with eternal pleasures at your right hand” Psalm 16:9-11 . These are words I often pray from Psalm 16. Join me today in praying deep thanksgiving for God promisi

“ 1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?           How long will you hide your face from me? 2  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts           and every day have sorrow in my heart?           How long will my enemy triumph over me” Psalm 13:1-2 ? The opening words of this Psalm 13 speak about two different possibilities in our lives. The depth of the emotions seen in the words of the Psalmist can speak of our experience of God as the source of our trouble, when w