Category: Bible & Theology
Cover to Cover Reading: Psalms 51-57 Focus: Psalm 55 The psalms are often raw with emotion, honest and open, and simply, human. They don’t pretend as if the world should be perfect; they don’t try and justify God’s actions; rather, they often reflect the reality of the heart, struggling to come to terms with the wickedness which afflicts them, calling out to God as they seek a resolve to their circumstances. However, at the end of all this, they always come back to one place, a place of trust: they trust God, they trust Him with their life. This psalm…
Cover to Cover Reading: Psalms 45-50 Focus: Psalm 47 One of the curiosities of modern Christianity is the aspect of worship. Indeed, most religions have an aspect of worship, but they are often solemn and reserved. The images often associated with worship are rituals, chants, ceremonies, liturgies, etc. However, worship in the Judeo-Christian movement is marked by something often lacking in other forms of worship. It is marked by praise. Yes, it is filled with awe of the deity, at times even fear, it is filled with recognition of authority and power; but greater than all of these, worship is…
Cover to Cover Reading: Psalms 39-44 Focus: Psalm 42-43 So many Christians struggle in times when they feel down, discouraged, or despondent. They think to themselves that they should never feel that way, that as Christians, these circumstances should be easily overcome. Yet the harsh reality is that our faith does not take away these struggles of the heart. In fact, they are heightened by our faith and we wrestle with these struggles even more, and like quicksand, we find ourselves sinking in our struggle.
Cover to Cover Reading: Psalms 35-38 Focus: Psalm 35 Nowadays, it seems almost sacrilegious to consider that we would ask God to get involved in our fights. The notion of God fighting our battles almost seems foreign to us, rather we often, instead, ask for strength and wisdom to deal with our own situation and problems. However, as we look through the Old Testament, and here in this psalm (Psalm 35), the notion that we would simply ask God for strength doesn’t appear. The picture painted throughout the Old Testament and this psalm is that God plays an active role…
Cover to Cover Reading: Psalms 29-34 Focus: Psalm 32 The Christian life isn’t always like a bouquet of red roses, in fact, it more like a field of wild roses. Though full of beauty in full bloom, they are not without the thorns removed by the florist putting together a bouquet. Yes, this life is full of beauty, joy, and hope. On the other hand, like wild roses, unless one comes and removes the thorns, it is prickly, pointed and difficult to grasp at times. Yet, we have a hope that Jesus will touch our lives, taking us from the…
