In today’s section we read:
Psalms 25 to 45
Continuing the theme from yesterday, some things that struck me:
There is a lot on the theme of guidance (25:4, 8, 12; 32:8; 37:23; 40:5)
God is referred to as:
A friend (25:14)
My light (27:1)
My salvation (27:1)
A fortress (27:1; 28:8; 31:2,3; 37:39)
A rock (28:1; 31:2,3; 42:9)
My strength (28:7)
A shield (28:7; 33:20)
Our help (33:20)
The fountain of life (36:9)
Our saviour (42:11; 43:5)
A safe haven (43:2)
Our king (44:4)
Ps 25 (a prayer for help) – v8-10, 14 “The Lord is good and does what is right; /he shows the proper path to those who go astray. / He leads the humble in doing right, / teaching them his way. / The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness / all who keep his covenant and obey his demands…/.The Lord is a friend to those who fear him./ He teaches them his covenant.”
Ps 26 (a prayer for vindication) – v 3 “For I am always aware of your unfailing love, / and I have lived according to your truth.”
Ps 27 (a prayer for deliverance and protection) – v 8 “My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” / And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” v10 “Even if my father and mother abandon me, / the Lord will hold me close.” v14 “Wait patiently for the Lord. / Be brave and courageous. / Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Ps 28 (a prayer for deliverance from evil people) – v 6-7 “Praise the Lord! / For he has heard my cry for mercy. / The Lord is my strength and shield. / I trust him with all my heart. / He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. / I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Ps 29 (a hymn of praise of the might and glory of God) - v 3 "The voice of the Lord echoes above the seas. / The God of glory thunders. / The Lord thunders above the mighty sea."
Ps 30 (thanksgiving for God's acts of mercy) - v 11-12 "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. / You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, / that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. / O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"
Ps 31 (a prayer for protection) - v 19 "How great is the goodness / you have stored up for those who fear you. / You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, / blessing them before the watching world."
Ps 32 (rejoicing in God's forgiveness) - v 8 "The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. / I will advise you and watch over you.""
Ps 33 (praise the God of power, justice and love) - v 4 "For the word of the Lord holds true, / and we can trust everything he does." v18 "But the Lord watches over those who fear him, / those who rely on his unfailing love."
Ps 34 (praise for God's mercy and deliverance) - v 5 "Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; / no shadow of shame will darken their faces." v18 "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; / he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." v22 "But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. / No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned."
Ps 35 (a prayer for God to hear and answer) - v10 "With every bone in my body I will praise him: / “Lord, who can compare with you? / Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? / Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”
Ps 36 (praise for the love of God) - v5-9 "Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; / your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. / Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, / your justice like the ocean depths. / You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. / How precious is your unfailing love, O God! / All humanity finds shelter / in the shadow of your wings. / You feed them from the abundance of your own house, / letting them drink from your river of delights. / For you are the fountain of life, / the light by which we see."
Ps 37 (exhortation to put your faith in the God who will protect, bless and reward you) - v 4- 6 "Take delight in the Lord, / and he will give you your heart’s desires. / Commit everything you do to the Lord. / Trust him, and he will help you. / He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, / and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun." v16 "It is better to be godly and have little / than to be evil and rich." v18 "Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, / and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever." v39-40 "The Lord rescues the godly; / he is their fortress in times of trouble. / The Lord helps them, / rescuing them from the wicked./ He saves them, / and they find shelter in him."
Ps 38 (a prayer for forgiveness and deliverance) - v14-15 "I choose to hear nothing, / and I make no reply. / For I am waiting for you, O Lord. / You must answer for me, O Lord my God."
Ps 39 (a prayer for help) - v 4-7 "“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. / Remind me that my days are numbered— / how fleeting my life is. / You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. / My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; / at best, each of us is but a breath.” / Interlude / We are merely moving shadows, / and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. / We heap up wealth, / not knowing who will spend it. / And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? / My only hope is in you."
Ps 40 (praise for the God who saves) - v6,8 "You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. / Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand— / you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. / ... I take joy in doing your will, my God, / for your instructions are written on my heart.” v16 "But may all who search for you / be filled with joy and gladness in you. / May those who love your salvation / repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”"
Ps 41 (praise for the God who delivers out of adversity) - v12 "You have preserved my life because I am innocent; / you have brought me into your presence forever.)
Ps 42 (a prayer clinging on to hope in God) - who are the sons of Korah, and are they related to the Korah who led the rebellion in Nu 16 (or is it a somewhat ironic title). v1-2 "As the deer longs for streams of water, / so I long for you, O God. / I thirst for God, the living God. / When can I go and stand before him?"
Ps 43 (praise God, the only source of hope) - was Ps 43 originally a continuation of Ps 42, since they end with the same words? v3 "Send out your light and your truth; / let them guide me. / Let them lead me to your holy mountain, / to the place where you live."
Ps 44 (a prayer for deliverance) - v1 "O God, we have heard it with our own ears— / our ancestors have told us / of all you did in their day, / in days long ago"
Ps 45 (thanksgiving and praise for God's blessing of victory) - v6 "Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. / You rule with a sceptre of justice."
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