Daily Devotional Podcasts

524_Safe under the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I 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, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who, along with her family, hid Jews during World War II. Eventually, they were arrested and sent to a series of concentration camps, where Betsie died. In the horror of those camps, surrounded by evil and death surrounded them daily, Betsie reminded Corrie, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” In the heart of the storm, she found peace in the presence of the God of love whom she trusted. That was Psalm 91 lived out. We are safe only in the shadow of the Almighty. This psalm is one of the most beloved portions of Scripture, often read in times of danger, sickness, or uncertainty. Yet, its message goes far deeper than offering a comforting word. Interestingly, this psalm bears no author’s name or title. It may have been written by Moses or David. Regardless, the message is timeless: those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High find all they need in God. The psalm opens: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” When God is our dwelling place, we neither want nor need any other refuge, but wholly trust and lean upon God. This is the only source of true security. The book

525_The righteous flourish like a cedar in Lebanon Psalm 92 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: 7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. 10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. There was a traveler who visited the forests of Lebanon many years ago. He had read about the mighty cedars of the Bible, but he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. Standing before him were towering trees that seemed to touch the heavens, some over a hundred feet tall, with trunks so wide that several men joining hands could barely encircle them. Their fragrance filled the air, their branches spread like arms of strength, and their roots clung firmly to the rocky mountainside, weathering storms that would have destroyed lesser trees. The guide told him that some of those cedars had been alive for more than a thousand years, standing tall and green through countless seasons of change. The traveler later wrote, “It was as if the trees themselves were preaching to me about endurance, strength, and a life firmly rooted in God.” That image of the cedar tree comes alive in Psalm 92, a psalm written specifically as “a song for the Sabbath.” The people of Israel would sing this on their day of rest, not as a duty, but as a delight. Sabbath was not meant to be a burden; it was meant to be a time of corporate worship, a time to lay aside the week’s labors and remember the goodness of God together. And the psalm begins with a call to gratitude: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.” The most fitting thing we can do when we gather before God is to give thanks—to recount His goodness,

526_The majesty of God’s reign Psalm 93 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. 4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! 5 Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore. A traveler was visiting a palace in South India. It was a grand structure with high ceilings, intricate carvings, and ornate thrones placed in the center of vast halls. The tour guide explained that the garments of the king were carefully chosen for every public appearance. The richness of the fabric, the jewels sewn into the robe, the crown placed on his head—all of these were intended to communicate one thing: majesty. Kings and queens know that clothing carries a message. It is a visible sign of authority and power. Even today, when kings or presidents step into public life, their attire is chosen to display dignity and strength. And yet, the greatest robe ever worn is not made of silk or gold or precious gems. It is not crafted by human hands. The psalmist tells us that the Lord himself is robed in majesty, clothed not with fabric but with glory. Psalm 93 is one of the briefest psalms, yet it is like a thunderclap across the sky—a powerful reminder that Yahweh, the covenant God, reigns. He is enthroned above creation, above time, above every nation and every ruler. In a world where human power seems overwhelming and unstable, this psalm calls us to lift our eyes and behold the majesty of God’s reign. The psalmist begins by drawing our attention to the Lord’s garments. “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.” When an earthly king takes his throne, his robe is a symbol of his dignity. But here, God is clothed not in fabric but in majesty itself. His robe is fastened with strength. Isaiah paints a similar picture, describing the Lord as a warrior: “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” Unlike earthly warriors who fight with swords or guns, the Lord’s weapons are righteousness, salvation, justice, and zeal. His attire communicates not fragility but unmatched power. And this power is not abstract. It is displayed in creation itself. “Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.” The psalmist looks at the stability of the created order and sees the hand of God behind it. Mountains stand firm, seas keep their boundaries, the planets remain in their orbits—because the Lord has spoken them into place. Scientists may explain the laws of physics, but behind

527_It is good to be on God’s side Psalm 94: 1-15 O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! 3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. 5 They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” 8 Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? 10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— 11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. 12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, 13 to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. There is a story told about President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. One evening, as he was leaving the White House chapel after a prayer service, a concerned woman stopped him and said, “Mr. President, I truly hope the Lord is on our side in this conflict.” Lincoln gently replied, “Madam, my greatest concern is not whether God is on our side. My greatest concern is whether we are on God’s side—for God is always right.” That timeless statement captures the heart of Psalm 94. When the world around us seems to crumble, when injustice flourishes, when the wicked seem untouchable in their arrogance, the question is not whether God will step in, but whether we are living on His side. It is good to be on God’s side, because His justice never fails, His discipline is never wasted, and His love never forsakes His people. Psalm 94 begins with a cry for justice. The psalmist addresses God as the “God of vengeance” and the “Judge of the earth,” crying, “Rise up, O Judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!” (v.2). These words remind us of Abraham’s appeal before God concerning Sodom: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25). The psalmist knows that the God he prays to is not a tribal deity, confined to one people or place, but the universal Judge who rules over all nations, all times, and all people. He is the one to whom all must one day give an account. The psalmist then brings before God the arrogance of the wicked. They are not foreign enemies; they are “the dullest of the people” among God’s own nation. They oppress the feeble, the widow,

528_The purpose of worship Psalm 95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” 11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.” There is a story of a weary traveler who had been walking all day in the desert heat. Finally, he stumbled upon a well in the desert. A signboard showed a securely covered hole dug deep into the sand. Removing the cover, he found a tightly closed jug of water in the hole. Eager to drink, he was restrained by the words on the signboard. They warned: “ If you want to draw water from this well, first prime it with this jugful of water. Don’t drink it! Use it to prime the hand-pump. Then you will have more than enough water to drink. And when you’re done, fill it and put it back so that the next traveler may also find water for his need.” In some ways, this story reflects the reason for worship. God encourages us to worship him, not because his emotional needs have to be met. Rather, our halting and limited worship primes the pump of faith, whereby his living water can be poured out freely and abundantly into our hearts. For heartfelt worship is the fruit of faith, the faith that believes that God is worthy of absolute trust and obedience. Psalm 95 calls God’s people to worship. It is quoted extensively in Hebrews 3 and 4, where the writer attributes it to David. Behind the beauty of its poetry, it not only calls us to worship, but clearly warns against the dangers of a heart that refuses to worship. The opening words are: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!” Worship is not a grudging duty but a glad response. We were

529_Worshipping God with a new song Psalm 96 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. At one point George Frideric Handel, the great composer, was in despair. His health was failing, his finances were ruined, and he felt forgotten. One day, a friend handed him an opera script, composed entirely of Bible verses arranged to tell the story of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. As Handel read through it, his heart was deeply stirred. In just 24 days, he composed the entire masterpiece we now know as Messiah. When people praised him for it, he simply said, “I should be sorry if I only entertained them. I wished to make them better.” Psalm 96 calls us to worship God with a new song, not just to enjoy the melody but to remember and renew our experience of the living God. It speaks of worship not as a mechanical act, but a dynamic act flowing from our relationship with God. The psalm echoes the song of David when the ark of the covenant was brought into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:23–33). It instructs and invites, not only Israel, but all the earth, to worship the Lord. The psalm begins: “Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.” The new song is not just an original composition. When God moves in our lives—when He rescues, forgives, strengthens, or comforts us—the natural response is praise. As Psalm 42:8 reminds us, “By day the Lord directs his love, by night his song is with me.” True worship begins with an encounter. It is not about how skillful our voices are, nor about how polished

530_Loving the Lord starts with hating evil Psalm 97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. 7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! 8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. 9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. 10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! One day, the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon was walking through the countryside when he came across a farmer’s barn with a weather vane on top. On the vane were written the words: “God is love.” Spurgeon asked the farmer, “What do you mean by that? Do you think God’s love changes with the wind?” The farmer smiled and said, “No, not at all. What I mean is, whichever way the wind blows, God is still love.” That farmer was right. God’s love is steadfast, unchanging, and eternal. And, as Spurgeon often reminded his listeners, the love of God is never to be confused with tolerance of sin. Rather, it is the root of a healthy hatred for evil. Like fire and water, the love of God cannot coexist with the love of evil. Those who love God also learn to hate what he hates - arrogant pride, oppression and injustice, wickedness and immorality. Psalm 97 brings this truth into focus. The psalm opens with the theme of the whole of scripture: “The Lord reigns.” This is not a good idea or a distant hope; it is the central reality of the universe. It is good news. It is great joy for His people, for he is no local or tribal deity. Rather, he is God of the whole earth. And all earth rejoices in his rule, because righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Unlike earthly tyrants, the sovereignty of God is not expressed in an arbitrary or corrupt way. His justice is impartial and comprehensive. When we look around at our world and sigh, “Life is not fair,” let us remember that the day of God’s justice is yet future. Yet, because he is on the throne, nothing escapes His notice. He deals with every act of unrighteousness and every injustice. And his judgment is never wrong. How great is the awesome

531_Sing of God’s salvation Psalm 98 Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read of Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi after a savage beating. They had much reason to be dejected. Yet Scripture tells us that “about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Amidst earthly suffering, their hearts were in heaven and the song of heaven in their mouths. That night, an earthquake destroyed the prison and removed their chains. Even more, the jailer and his household believed on the Lord Jesus Christ that night. This is the kind of new song that this psalm speaks about. Such a song flows from hearts that know the salvation of God, and reaches the ears of those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. The psalm speaks to God’s people, the nations, and to all of earth, to sing of what the Lord has done. It opens: “Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (v. 1). This is not just a call for a catchy tune or a fresh melody; it is a call for worship that springs out of a heart that has tasted the goodness and salvation of God. The “new song” idea appears in many places in Scripture—Psalm 33:3, Psalm 40:3, Isaiah 42:10, Revelation 5:9, and others. Each time, it reminds us that worship must be alive, not stale. We don’t worship God merely by repeating words without thought. Every encounter with His grace gives us another reason to sing. Salvation is never a dull story. The Lord’s salvation is both deeply personal and cosmic in its scope. God’s people knew His salvation firsthand—He had remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel (v. 3). But this salvation was never meant to remain hidden in a corner. “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (v. 3). God’s marvelous

532_Holy is the Lord! Psalm 99 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! 4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy! A.W. Tozer once wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” And the greatest truth about God, that should shape our thoughts and our lives, is simply this: God is holy. Psalm 99 celebrates that holiness three times in just nine verses. This repetition drives home the point so that we may not miss it. The Lord whom we worship is holy. Elsewhere in Scripture, we read how Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, with seraphim surrounding His throne crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” John, exiled on the island of Patmos, saw the throne of God and heard the living creatures cry day and night, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” The testimony is the same: God is holy. But what do we mean by holiness? This describes something that is set apart, different because uniquely devoted to God who is holy. An ordinary object can become holy if it is dedicated to God’s service, like the vessels of the tabernacle. A person is holy if set apart for God’s will and purposes. But the holiness of God is not derived like the holiness of all other things. The holiness of God encompasses all His attributes—His love, His justice, His mercy, His faithfulness. Holiness is the radiant crown of all that He is. No words can fully capture it. No song can exhaust its praise. God is without blemish, perfect in his love and his truth, infinite in his majesty that is grounded in righteousness and justice. Other things only become holy when they are offered to him. But because of this, God created us to be holy. Even in Israel’s sinful condition, God gave them laws by which they might get their first look at holiness. The book of Leviticus is filled with instructions that emphasize God’s intention for His people, “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the

533_Rejoicing in being the Lord’s possession Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. A few years ago, there was a legal battle in a large city over a small but valuable piece of land. Two parties claimed ownership of it, each producing documents and witnesses to prove their case. The fight dragged on for years, costing both sides millions of dollars, and in the end, the judge ruled in favor of one. Ownership was established—but by then, both parties had already spent so much that the victory seemed hollow. That courtroom battle symbolizes the greater reality in our world today. Nations fight over borders. Families are torn apart in disputes over inheritance. Even friendships are broken because of claims over property. The same question appears in different forms: Who is the owner? Who has the right to decide? And behind it is the greater question: Who owns the world itself? Who owns us? Many of the wealthy and powerful in this world behave as though they own everything. Because they control vast sums of money, or land, or resources, they think they can shape reality to their will. Psalm 100 declares the truth: ownership ultimately belongs, not to them but to God. He made us, and we are His. This realization changes everything—our joy, our worship, our purpose, and our peace. This short psalm, only five verses long, is among the most joyful in the book. It begins: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” This invitation is not only for Israel, but all the earth. Worship is not limited by geography, ethnicity, or culture. The call to worship is universal: to acknowledge God, to rejoice in Him, to serve Him with gladness. Worship is not a burden or a heavy obligation, but a truly joyful privilege. His worshippers do not come before him grumbling or with long lists of complaints, but rather with songs of praise and thankfulness. Even when we bring our requests, the pattern is: “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). The central declaration of the psalm is: “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” The Lord alone is God. Whether people acknowledge Him or not does not change the fact, just as the Himalayan peaks soar regardless of whether anyone knows about them or not. Their existence is not dependent on our recognition. God exists and reigns, regardless of human

534_Integrity within my house Psalm 101 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. 6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. 8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord. A woman was preparing her home for an important guest. She dusted, swept, rearranged, and scrubbed every corner. The guest was someone she deeply respected. Having him step in to the house and find clutter or dirt, or smell yesterday’s stale food, would not reflect the value she put on having him home. The urgency she felt about cleaning her home wasn’t because she was being perfectionistic. Rather, she wanted her home to show how much worth she placed on her guest. This resembles the picture described in Psalm 101. David, newly ascended to the throne, was determined to set up, not just his palace, but his entire kingdom, with single-minded devotion to the Lord. He was not bothered about external adornment, unlike Solomon. He focused on inward integrity. Like the woman who wanted her house to reveal her heart towards her guest, David wanted his reign, his house, to mirror his love for God. Many commentators believe that David composed this psalm shortly after taking the throne of Israel. During the troubled reign of Saul, he saw firsthand the devastation resulting from a heart that had gone astray from the living God. Saul’s insecurity, pride, rashness, and disobedience left the nation wounded and disordered. He had years of opportunity to repent and seek God’s mercy, but he did not. Once David ascended the throne, he resolved not to repeat Saul’s mistakes but to set things right before the Lord. He therefore opens with worship: “I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.” His first thought as a king was not about policy, power, or popularity, but about praising the Lord. David knew that without God’s presence and guidance, his reign would be as fragile as Saul’s. He wanted to organize his kingdom around the will of God - a character that is marked by unfailing love and impartial justice. All his plans flowed from this vision of God. David recognizes that his first

535_The weakness of man and the strength of God Psalm 102:1-7 Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! 2 Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call! 3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. 4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. 5 Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. 6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places; 7 I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop. Vs. 25-28 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end. 28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you. Some years ago, a pastor recounted visiting a dear member of his congregation in the hospital. She had been battling cancer for a long time. Her body had grown frail, her strength nearly gone. Yet, as he sat beside her, instead of words of despair, she smiled faintly and whispered, “Pastor, I am weak, but He is strong. I cannot even lift my hands, but I know the Lord is carrying me.” Those words stayed with him far longer than the details of her illness. They were a testimony that even in our most fragile moments, God upholds His children. Psalm 102 is a testimony much like this. It poured from the heart of someone who had come to the end of himself. The superscription describes it as “A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD.” Far from having life figured out, the psalmist felt abandoned, attacked, and forgotten. But then he discovered once again that the eternal God is strong when man is weak, and he sustains His people. The opening is a plea of desperation: “Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!” (v.1). The psalmist cries out, asking God not to turn away from him in his day of distress. For he has nowhere else to turn. He paints a vivid picture of his suffering in verses 3 to 7. His days vanish like smoke, his bones burn like fire, his heart withers like grass, and he forgets to eat his bread. He feels like a lone sparrow on a housetop. Sparrows are small and insignificant, but they usually live in flocks. A solitary sparrow perched on a rooftop is the picture of vulnerability and sadness. Such moments occur when we feel disconnected, unseen, in the rush of life. In verse 8 he laments: “All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me

536_Bless the Lord, O my soul Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! 22 Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! A certain woman was going through a very difficult season of her life. She had lost her job, her health had weakened, and her family relationships were strained. One morning, as usual, she sat down with the scriptures. Instead of reading, however, she began to write down every blessing she could remember - help received, forgiveness of sins, answers to prayer, strengthening during times of weakness. As she named her blessings, one by one, her face became joyful. Her despair had transformed into gratitude. She realized how much reason she had to bless the Lord, right in the midst of her troubles. That story captures the heart of Psalm 103. This is not just a song of David but an intentional act of praise. David reminds himself how much the Lord is worthy of praise and trust. He does this deliberately and painstakingly, not in an emotional outburst. Mind, body, emotions, are all called to

537_Bless the Lord, the creator Psalm 104:1-9 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; 4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. 5 He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. 6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. 8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. Vs. 31-35 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord! A little boy was walking along the beach after a storm. The sand was littered with seashells, fragments of coral, and even bits of driftwood that the ocean had tossed up overnight. The boy bent down, picked up one shell, and held it up to his ear, listening for that faint whisper of the sea. His eyes widened as though he was hearing something far more profound than just an echo. When someone asked him what he was doing, he replied, “I’m listening to God’s voice in His creation.” That simple, childlike response is what Psalm 104 invites us to do? To listen—to really listen—to the voice of God in the world He made. This psalm is like a guided tour through creation, with the psalmist as our narrator, pointing out the majesty, beauty, and purpose woven into every corner of the universe. He does not present creation as random or meaningless, but as intentional, ordered, and full of God’s sustaining power. And as we listen to the psalm, we cannot help but join in the final chorus: “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” The psalm begins with a vision of God as a great King, clothed in splendor and majesty. The poet describes God using light as His garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent, riding on the clouds as His chariot, and making the winds His messengers and the flames of fire His servants. It’s a picture of royal majesty beyond imagination. Just as an earthly king surrounds himself with grandeur, attendants, and pageantry, the Lord of heaven and earth

538_A celebration of God’s faithfulness Psalm 105 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” Vs.43-45 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. 44 And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil, 45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord! An old woman kept a photo album on her shelf. It was a simple leather-bound book with pages that had grown yellow over time. But every page told a story: black-and-white snapshots of their family’s early struggles as immigrants; faded pictures of birthdays celebrated with little more than homemade cake; photographs of graduations, weddings, and grandchildren. Whenever her grandchildren visited her, she would pull the album down, flip through its pages, and recall how God had carried their family through poverty, sickness, and loss—and how He had surprised them with joy, provision, and grace. The album was not just a family history; it was a testimony to God’s faithfulness. Psalm 105 is a photo album in song. It is a psalm of remembrance, a record of promises made and promises kept—not man’s, but God’s. The psalm passes over Israel’s history, from the call of Abraham to the people’s arrival in the Promised Land. At every turn, the story testifies to God’s steadfast love and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. The beginning sets the tone for everything that follows: “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works!” It is as though the psalmist is passing the family album around, pointing at each page and saying, “Look! See what God has done!” We make God’s works known not only in church meetings, but in our conversations with friends and neighbors and in our daily lives. The more we remember His marvelous works, the more solid and joyful our faith becomes. Forgetfulness makes us anxious and discouraged, but remembrance strengthens our faith. Israel’s history reminds us of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants. The hearers of this psalm were not

539_The grace of God that abounds Psalm 106 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise? 3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! 4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, 5 that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance. 6 Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. 7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. 10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. 44-48 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 46 He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive. 47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. 48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord! John Newton was a former slave trader who became a preacher and wrote the famous hymn Amazing Grace. As his memory began to fail him in his old age, he often forgot even parts of his own sermons. Yet he said, “Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.” Those words capture the heart of the Christian faith. Sin is real—but God’s grace abounds all the more. Psalm 106 forces us to remember both sides of that truth. While laying bare the repeated unfaithfulness of God’s people - their rebellion,, their idolatry, their forgetfulness, or their disobedience - it also displays the bright thread of God’s covenant love and faithfulness. The psalm begins and ends with praise. In between comes a glimpse of breathtaking grace. While Psalm 105 celebrates God’s faithfulness—His mighty acts, His guidance, His promises kept across generations, Psalm 106 continues the story by mirroring the people’s ingratitude in return. Where Psalm 105 exalts God’s gifts and blessings, Psalm 106 exalts God’s mercy to a stubborn and ungrateful people. In this psalm, the praise is not primarily