A reminder: This month, we are using our do-it-yourself method for reading the Psalms. Each day, after the reading, I’ll ask you to reflect on two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

By David.
1 The LORD, my Protector, deserves praise—
the one who trains my hands for battle
and my fingers for war,
2 who loves me and is my stronghold,
my refuge and my deliverer,
my shield and the one in whom I take shelter,
who makes nations submit to me.

3 O LORD, of what importance is the human race that you should notice them?
Of what importance is mankind that you should be concerned about them?
4 People are like a vapor,
their days like a shadow that disappears.

5 O LORD, make the sky sink and come down.
Touch the mountains and make them smolder.
6 Hurl lightning bolts and scatter the enemy.
Shoot your arrows and rout them.
7 Reach down from above.
Grab me and rescue me from the surging water,
from the power of foreigners
8 who speak lies
and make false promises.

9 O God, I will sing a new song to you.
Accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, I will sing praises to you,
10 the one who delivers kings

and rescued David his servant from a deadly sword.
11 Grab me and rescue me from the power of foreigners
who speak lies
and make false promises.

12 Then our sons will be like plants,
that quickly grow to full size.
Our daughters will be like corner pillars,
carved like those in a palace.
13 Our storehouses will be full,
providing all kinds of food.
Our sheep will multiply by the thousands
and fill our pastures.
14 Our cattle will be weighted down with produce.
No one will break through our walls,
no one will be taken captive,
and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares.
15 How blessed are the people who experience these things.
How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, hear my prayer.
Pay attention to my plea for help.
Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me.
2 Do not sit in judgment on your servant,
for no one alive is innocent before you.
3 Certainly my enemies chase me.
They smash me into the ground.
They force me to live in dark regions,
like those who have been dead for ages.
4 My strength leaves me;
I am absolutely shocked.
5 I recall the old days.
I meditate on all you have done;
I reflect on your accomplishments.
6 I spread my hands out to you in prayer;
my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.(Selah)

7 Answer me quickly, LORD.
My strength is fading.
Do not reject me,
or I will join those descending into the grave.
8 May I hear about your loyal love in the morning,
for I trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
because I long for you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD.
I run to you for protection.
10 Teach me to do what pleases you,
for you are my God.
May your kind presence
lead me into a level land.

11 O LORD, for the sake of your reputation, revive me.
Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble.
12 As a demonstration of your loyal love, destroy my enemies.
Annihilate all who threaten my life,
for I am your servant.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 141

A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me.
Pay attention to me when I cry out to you.
2 May you accept my prayer like incense,
my uplifted hands like the evening offering.

3 O LORD, place a guard on my mouth.
Protect the opening of my lips.
4 Do not let me have evil desires
or participate in sinful activities
with men who behave wickedly.
I will not eat their delicacies.

5 May the godly strike me in love and correct me.
May my head not refuse choice oil.
Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds.

6 They will be thrown over the side of a cliff by their judges.
They will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil,
so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8 Surely I am looking to you, O Sovereign LORD.
In you I take shelter.
Do not expose me to danger.
9 Protect me from the snare they have laid for me
and the traps the evildoers have set.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I escape.

PSALM 142

A well-written song by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer.

1 To the LORD I cry out;
to the Lord I plead for mercy.
2 I pour out my lament before him;
I tell him about my troubles.

3 Even when my strength leaves me,
you watch my footsteps.
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see.
No one cares about me.
I have nowhere to run;
no one is concerned about my life.

5 I cry out to you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my security in the land of the living.”

6 Listen to my cry for help,
for I am in serious trouble.
Rescue me from those who chase me,
for they are stronger than I am.
7 Free me from prison
that I may give thanks to your name.
Because of me the godly will assemble,
for you will vindicate me.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the music director, a psalm of David.
1 O LORD, rescue me from wicked men.
Protect me from violent men,
2 who plan ways to harm me.
All day long they stir up conflict.
3 Their tongues wound like a serpent;
a viper’s venom is behind their lips. (Selah)

4 O LORD, shelter me from the power of the wicked.
Protect me from violent men,
who plan to knock me over.
5 Proud men hide a snare for me;
evil men spread a net by the path.
They set traps for me. (Selah)

6 I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”
O LORD, pay attention to my plea for mercy.
7 O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 O LORD, do not let the wicked have their way.
Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack. (Selah)

9 As for the heads of those who surround me—
may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them.
10 May he rain down fiery coals upon them.
May he throw them into the fire.
From bottomless pits they will not escape.
11 A slanderer will not endure on the earth;
calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.
12 I know that the Lord defends the cause of the oppressed
and vindicates the poor.
13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name;
the morally upright will live in your presence.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the music director, a psalm of David.
1 O LORD, you examine me and know me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
3 You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.
4 Certainly my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it.
5 You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
6 Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.

7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?
8 If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.
9 If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn
and settle down on the other side of the sea,
10 even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.
11 If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me,
and the light will turn to night all around me,”
12 even the darkness is not too dark for you to see,
and the night is as bright as day;
darkness and light are the same to you.

13 Certainly you made my mind and heart;
you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.
You knew me thoroughly;
15 my bones were not hidden from you,
when I was made in secret
and sewed together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.
All the days ordained for me
were recorded in your scroll
before one of them came into existence.
17 How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God!
How vast is their sum total.
18 If I tried to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Even if I finished counting them,
I would still have to contend with you.

19 If only you would kill the wicked, O God!
Get away from me, you violent men!
20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully;
your enemies lie.
21 O LORD, do I not hate those who hate you
and despise those who oppose you?
22 I absolutely hate them;
they have become my enemies.
23 Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts.
Test me, and know my concerns.
24 See if there is any idolatrous way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Instead of asking you to think about the two usual questions, Stephen has written a reflection on today’s psalms.

PSALM 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon
we sit down and weep
when we remember Zion.
2 On the poplars in her midst
we hang our harps,
3 for there our captors ask us to compose songs;
those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying:
“Sing for us a song about Zion!”

4 How can we sing a song to the LORD
in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may my right hand be crippled.
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
and do not give Jerusalem priority
over whatever gives me the most joy.

7 Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
They said, “Tear it down, tear it down,
right to its very foundation!”
8 O daughter Babylon, soon to be devastated,
how blessed will be the one who repays you
for what you dished out to us.
9 How blessed will be the one who grabs your babies
and smashes them on a rock.

PSALM 138

By David.
1 I will give you thanks with all my heart;
before the heavenly assembly I will sing praises to you.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name,
because of your loyal love and faithfulness,
for you have exalted your promise above the entire sky.
3 When I cried out for help, you answered me.
You made me bold and energized me.

4 Let all the kings of the earth give thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words you speak.
5 Let them sing about the LORD’s deeds,
for the LORD’s splendor is magnificent.

6 Though the LORD is exalted, he looks after the lowly,
and from far away humbles the proud.
7 Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, you revive me.
You oppose my angry enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD avenges me.
O LORD, your loyal love endures.
Do not abandon those whom you have made.

REFLECTIONS

I’m sure you find Psalm 137 difficult and troubling to read. I do. But Psalm 137 is good for us, precisely because it is so confronting.

It’s not an excuse for Christians to hate their enemies (Jesus told us to love them). This is a song about Zion, the city of God, which represents God’s plan to redeem people from sin and death and bring them to his place of life and joy. In the Old Testament, Jerusalem symbolised that plan, but with Jesus we are now looking forward to the true, heavenly Zion – the eternal city where God will dwell with his people (Hebrews 12:22).

When the earthly Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, the pagan nations around responded with mocking glee and ruthless destruction. That is why the singer of this Psalm is so agitated. The Psalm is about people who stubbornly set themselves against God’s purposes to save people and to build his kingdom.

We were made to honour God. The heart of sin is to mock him and his gracious plan – and Psalm 137 tells us that mocking and reviling God is the greatest evil and corruption that there is. It deserves a judgment far worse than we appreciate.

But we also need to read this in the light of Jesus. That’s not because (like some people think) the Old Testament is about judgment and Jesus is about love. It’s because only Jesus is qualified to decide both judgment and salvation. Jesus is the one who, on the day of judgment, will say to some, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). But this same Jesus, as he hung dying on the cross, prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). I can’t untangle those things – I can only bow before Jesus, who can and who is worthy and qualified to judge the world.

I find it helpful to remember that every time we pray, “Your kingdom come,” we are praying both those things at once – and leaving God to do the untangling. We are praying for unbelieving rebels to turn to Jesus and enter God’s kingdom; and for those who refuse to the very end, we are praying for God’s kingdom to come in power, as he judges all evil and raises his people to life in his eternal city.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Come, Lord Jesus!

A reminder: This month, we are using our do-it-yourself method for reading the Psalms. Each day, after the reading, I’ll ask you to reflect on two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his loyal love endures.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his loyal love endures.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his loyal love endures.

4 To the one who performs magnificent, amazing deeds all by himself,
for his loyal love endures.
5 To the one who used wisdom to make the heavens,
for his loyal love endures.
6 To the one who spread out the earth over the water,
for his loyal love endures.
7 To the one who made the great lights,
for his loyal love endures,
8 the sun to rule by day,
for his loyal love endures,
9 the moon and stars to rule by night,
for his loyal love endures.

10 To the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his loyal love endures,
11 and led Israel out from their midst,
for his loyal love endures,
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his loyal love endures.

13 To the one who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his loyal love endures,
14 and led Israel through its midst,
for his loyal love endures,
15 and tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
for his loyal love endures.

16 To the one who led his people through the wilderness,
for his loyal love endures.

17 To the one who struck down great kings,
for his loyal love endures,
18 and killed powerful kings,
for his loyal love endures,
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his loyal love endures,
20 Og, king of Bashan,
for his loyal love endures,
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
for his loyal love endures,
22 as an inheritance to Israel his servant,
for his loyal love endures.

23 To the one who remembered us when we were down,
for his loyal love endures,
24 and snatched us away from our enemies,
for his loyal love endures.
25 To the one who gives food to all living things,
for his loyal love endures.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his loyal love endures!

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 134

A song of ascents.

1 Attention! Praise the LORD,
all you servants of the LORD
who serve in the LORD’s temple during the night.
2 Lift your hands toward the sanctuary
and praise the LORD.

3 May the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion.

PSALM 135

1 Praise the LORD.

Praise the name of the LORD.
Offer praise, you servants of the LORD,
2 who serve in the LORD’s temple,
in the courts of the temple of our God.

3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good.
Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant.
4 Indeed, the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel to be his special possession.

5 Yes, I know the LORD is great,
and our LORD is superior to all gods.
6 He does whatever he pleases
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all the ocean depths.
7 He causes the clouds to arise from the end of the earth,
makes lightning bolts accompany the rain,
and brings the wind out of his storehouses.

8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
including both men and animals.
9 He performed awesome deeds and acts of judgment
in your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He defeated many nations,
and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
12 He gave their land as an inheritance,
as an inheritance to Israel his people.

13 O LORD, your name endures,
your reputation, O LORD, lasts.
14 For the LORD vindicates his people
and has compassion on his servants.

15 The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold;
they are man-made.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see,
17 and ears, but cannot hear.
Indeed, they cannot breathe.
18 Those who make them will end up like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.

19 O family of Israel, praise the LORD.
O family of Aaron, praise the LORD.
20 O family of Levi, praise the LORD.
You loyal followers of the LORD, praise the LORD.
21 The LORD deserves praise in Zion—
he who dwells in Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 132

A song of ascents.
1 O LORD, for David’s sake remember
all his strenuous effort

2 and how he made a vow to the LORD,
and swore an oath to the Powerful One of Jacob.
3 He said, “I will not enter my own home,
or get into my bed.
4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep
or my eyelids to slumber,
5 until I find a place for the LORD,
a fine dwelling place for the Powerful One of Jacob.”

6 Look, we heard about it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the territory of Jaar.
7 Let us go to his dwelling place.
Let us worship before his footstool.
8 Ascend, O LORD, to your resting place,
you and the ark of your strength.
9 May your priests be clothed with integrity.
May your loyal followers shout for joy.

10 For the sake of David, your servant,
do not reject your chosen king.

11 The LORD made a reliable promise to David;
he will not go back on his word.
He said, “I will place one of your descendants on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
and the rules I teach them,
their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”

13 Certainly the LORD has chosen Zion;
he decided to make it his home.
14 He said, “This will be my resting place forever;
I will live here, for I have chosen it.
15 I will abundantly supply what she needs;
I will give her poor all the food they need.
16 I will protect her priests,
and her godly people will shout exuberantly.

17 There I will make David strong;
I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue.
18 I will humiliate his enemies,
and his crown will shine.”

PSALM 133

A song of ascents; by David.
1 Look! How good and how pleasant it is
when brothers truly live in unity.

2 It is like fine oil poured on the head,
which flows down the beard—
Aaron’s beard,
and then flows down his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which flows down upon the hills of Zion.
Indeed, that is where the LORD has decreed
a blessing will be available—eternal life.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 130

A song of ascents.
1 From the deep water I cry out to you, O LORD.
2 O LORD, listen to me.
Pay attention to my plea for mercy.

3 If you, O LORD, were to keep track of sins,
O LORD, who could stand before you?
4 But you are willing to forgive
so that you might be honored.

5 I rely on the LORD.
I rely on him with my whole being;
I wait for his assuring word.
6 I yearn for the LORD,
more than watchmen do for the morning,
yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD,
for the LORD exhibits loyal love
and is more than willing to deliver.
8 He will deliver Israel
from all their sins.

PSALM 131

A song of ascents, by David.
1 O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor do I have a haughty look.
I do not have great aspirations,
or concern myself with things that are beyond me.
2 Indeed, I have calmed and quieted myself
like a weaned child with its mother;
I am content like a young child.

3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
now and forevermore!

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.