Category: Psalm

Be Disheartened

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)

Be still – I’ve heard this verse quoted many times as if God was instructing us to just remain calm. Just quiet yourself and understand God. As if a call to stop the hustle and bustle of your life, and to just be still for a moment. Unfortunately, this understanding comes from selecting a verse out of context and glazing over the English translation to make it fit for us.

Continue reading “Be Disheartened”

Tasting the Truth

[A Psalm] of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

Psalm 34:1 (JPS)

Demeanour – Do you ever stop to read the introduction to any of the Psalms? This introduction is particularly interesting. It’s referring to a time before David was king. It’s the story from 1 Samuel 21:10-15. Continue reading “Tasting the Truth”

Forgiveness

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Psalm 103:3 (KJV)

Forgiveth – Did you know that God practiced forgiveness prior to the coming of Yeshua? Did you know, like the Psalmist writes, that this forgiveness was for ALL thine iniquities? Yep, all of them. Well all except the ones that He chose not to forgive (Deut 29:19-20; Lam 3:42), or the ones that were impossible to forgive without a specific action taken (Num 15:30-31).  Continue reading “Forgiveness”

Easier to Swallow

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

Psalm 119:1 (KJV)

Law – We know this word; it is Torah in Hebrew. But “law” is probably not the best translation. “Law” turns people away. Who needs the law of God when we have the grace of Jesus? All those commandments and judgements were just too much. We live with love now, right? Continue reading “Easier to Swallow”

Fear of Fearing God

For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 96:4 (KJV)

Feared – Could it be said that we have a fear of fearing God? So great is our fear of fearing Him that we construct alternative opinions around the word “fear”. Surely it doesn’t mean that we’re afraid of Him, right? Or does it? Continue reading “Fear of Fearing God”

Love the Sinner

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 104:35 (KJV)

Sinners – Love the sinner, but hate the sin. Isn’t this how we’ve come to understand it? Shouldn’t we have compassion and patience toward those who are sinful and work with them in love to bring them to Yeshua? Well not according to David, or should I say, not according to most English translations of this specific verse (NIV, NASB, NRSV, ESV, etc.). Continue reading “Love the Sinner”

Bound For Hell

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:10 (KJV)

Hell – Our minds can get pretty creative with this word conjuring up thoughts of fire, torment, anguish, and suffering. We might imagine a red guy with goat legs and horns ruling this realm we call hell found deep in the earth. But as the common saying goes… “It’s all Greek to me”. Yes, our version of hell is far removed from the Hebrew understanding, and definitely not what David was thinking. Our idea is correct in one way though, hell is in the earth, but every other description is mythology. Continue reading “Bound For Hell”

The Beginning of Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 111:10 (KJV)

Fear – God is mighty and terrible (Deut. 7:21), He is a consuming fire (Deut. 4:24), and He is vengeful (Ps. 94:1). But are these what David is referring to when he says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom? Continue reading “The Beginning of Wisdom”

Giving Thanks to the Lord

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 107:1 (KJV)

David had plenty of reasons to thank God.  As a young shepherd, God helped him fight off a lion and bear for the life of his flock.  He stood against the mighty Goliath in simple clothes, and God guided his small stone which brought down the giant.  He was hunted by Saul and chased into hiding, and still God fed him and shielded him.  As a king, he was in continual conflict with the surrounding nations, but God always provided him victory. Continue reading “Giving Thanks to the Lord”