Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Psalms 48-50.  I’m calling the episode “This Is Love."

Comments on Psalms 48-50

Introduction to Chapter 48

The title of this psalm is "A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah." The Hebrew word for Song in the title here is "schir", which conveys the idea of a joyful song. The same word is used in Genesis 31:27: "Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?" Also in Psalm 33:3: Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Remember that the Sons of Korah were Levites, the tribe of priests, and they seem to have been part of the music ministry of temple worship...sort of the worship band. 

Introduction to Chapter 49

The title of this psalm is "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Of this psalm G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “The teaching of the song is simple, and sublime, present, and perpetual.” And I love this, from Alexander Maclaren, “This psalm touches the high-water mark of Old Testament faith in a future life.” 

Introduction to Chapter 50

This psalm is entitled "A Psalm of Asaph". This is the first psalm we see from Asaph in the book of Psalms. We know from 1 Chronicles 15, 16 and 25 that Asaph was a great singer and musician in both David and Solomon's time. In addition, some of his psalms were prophetic.

Thoughts on Psalms 50

God, who "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" does not find pleasure in the sacrifice of bulls or rams or (in our modern time) money. What He desires is our heart, our devotion, our thanks, our praise, our "us". He wants a people who acknowledge Him for who He is, and what He has done for us. He wants us to desire to know Him, not go through religious motions with no heart. 

I am deeply in love with my wife, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn. Of all the people on Earth, she is the one who gives me a reason to get up in the morning. She is my world. We'll be celebrating 32 years of marriage on New Year's Eve, and I still tell her multiple times a day that I love her. But more than that, I still look for ways to show her that I love her. Not because she requires it, but because I love to make her happy. And I would never dream of doing something that I know would make her unhappy, even though, sometimes I do. And when I become aware that I have disappointed her, I try to be quick to apologize.

LeeAnn works outside the home. Most of the time, I do my work from home. On the days when she has to leave early in the morning, I usually get out of bed to make breakfast for her. I don't do this because I have to, or because it's an obligation. I do it because I love her, and it helps to make her day just a little bit better. 

The relationship I have with my wife is a type, an example, of the relationship God wants to have with us. He desires that we love Him. That we tell Him so. That when we do things for Him, it's because of love, not because it's a requirement. As I find joy in doing things to make LeeAnn happy, God wants us to find joy in the things we do for Him. 

Think of all He has done for us, before we even knew Him! He gave us the gift of life. He gave us a beautiful planet on which to live. He gave us music. He gave us sunshine. He gave us rain. He gave us puppies and kittens and the giggles of children. And He gave us His Son, who so selflessly gave His life so that we could have fellowship with God for all eternity.

For the life of me,