On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech as part of the dedication ceremony of Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg. His speech was only two minutes long and comprised of 271 words. Even though it was brief, the President’s speech had a huge impact. It is often quoted, alluded to, and has become an important part of our American heritage.

Psalm 117 might be the shortest chapter of the Bible, yet it also has a profound meaning out of proportion to its length. The psalm opens with a call to praise. Notice that it is not directed at Israel or the worshiping community. Instead, the psalmist calls the nations to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel (v. 1)! This psalm reminds Israel that God’s desire was always to reach the nations through Israel. God called Israel not because He rejected the nations, but so that the nations could eventually join Israel in true worship (Gen. 12:3). The apostle Paul picked up on this teaching, “Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” (Rom. 15:8–9).

The psalmist does not just call the nations to worship God but gives them some reasons to do so as well, “For great is his love toward us” (v. 2). The word great is a strong one and better translated as “prevailed.” God’s love has prevailed in a fallen world. His commitment to provide salvation for all people is unshakable (v. 2).

This psalm gives us a helpful way to think about evangelism. In sharing the gospel, we are calling people to come and join us in the worship of the true God. This is what we were created for. Praise God that in His mercy, He has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him.

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Psalm 113 opens with a rousing call to praise. The psalmist declares that God’s praise should be broadcast “from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets” (v. 3). This is a stunning claim. Should the Lord be praised in Philistia? Yes, even in Philistia. Should the Lord be praised in Egypt? Yes, in Egypt. Should the Lord be praised in Iowa? Brazil? Bangladesh? Yes, from the east to the west!

The Lord is worthy of worship from all people because there is no one like Him (v. 5). One of things that makes God so unique is that even though He is more powerful and exulted than anyone in the universe, “he raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap” (v. 7). He cares deeply about people that we are often quick to ignore. The powerless and broken are especially noticed by Him.

Psalm 113 begins a series of psalms that are traditionally used at Passover to celebrate Israel’s exodus from Egypt. It is likely that Jesus and His disciples sang Psalms 113–118 as a part of the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30). God heard the cries of His people and delivered them. He humbled Pharaoh and made the needy rejoice.

This theme comes to its fulfillment in the gospel. The apostle Paul said, “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God choose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:26–27). If God notices the weak and vulnerable, that is a perspective that we should have as well. Praise God today for His provision and care!

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Why is it so easy for us to forget the victories and miracles of our past when faced with the troubles of today? In yesterday’s reading, the psalmist narrated Israel’s history with an emphasis on God’s faithfulness. Today’s reading continues with a different emphasis.

This psalm was likely written during the exile to Babylon which had created a crisis of faith for many in Israel. God had judged them as a nation. They asked, “How should we respond to His judgment?” The psalm begins by offering praise to the Lord (v. 1). The psalmist declares that he is going to recite God’s “mighty acts” (v. 2). We are prepared for the recital of the miracles God performed for Israel. In a sense, that is exactly what the psalmist does, describing the exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the conquest of the Promised Land. However, this time the emphasis is not so much on the miracles, but on how Israel responded. Israel consistently fell into unbelief.

After the miracle of the Red Sea, the psalmist laments, “But they soon forgot what he had done” (v. 13). Israel failed to enter the promised land right away because “they did not believe his promise” (v. 24). After the conquest of the land, Israel worshiped idols, sacrificed their children to false gods, and “shed innocent blood” (vv. 34–39).

Despite all this, God was patient. He judged them in order to bring about their repentance. Again and again, God offered grace. But Israel’s sin culminated in the exile (v. 47). The psalmist calls Israel to repent and to praise God for His faithfulness even in the exile, even while longing for deliverance (vv. 47–48).

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My family enjoys watching nature shows together. It is stunning to see the diversity of animals and habitats that exist in the world. While most science shows do not give God the credit for creation, watching them often leads my family to have conversations about how creative and powerful our God is.

The author of Psalm 104 would have made a good scientist. He carefully observes many aspects of the created world in order to praise God. He observes the water cycle. He recognizes that rain is what sustains the life of animals and makes crops grow (vv. 10–14). The water cycle is not an impersonal process, but rather is evidence of God’s faithfulness and kindness.

The author notices that some animals come out and hunt in the night and sleep during the day, while people work during the day and sleep at night (vv. 19–23). Everything has its proper time and place. The ocean is still unexplored in many places. And, on occasion, the news will report of a new species that’s been discovered. It is a reminder to us that God cares about the animal world. He did not simply create them for humans. Rather, this psalm reminds us that God created them for His own delight (vv. 24–26). Indeed, the psalmist proclaims, “May the LORD rejoice in his works” (v. 31).

The sheer diversity and wonder of the created world should inspire us to join with the psalmist in praise to God. Surely, “how many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (v. 24). Today’s reading is a good reminder to open our eyes and allow the wonder of creation to inspire us to praise God  

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In 1835, a music publisher named Charles Bradlee created a tune to help children learn the alphabet. Utilizing a theme by Mozart, Bradlee copyrighted the tune that children all over the United States sing to learn their ABCs. Just like Charles Bradlee, the Israelites knew that one of the best ways to teach truth about God was through poem and song. Since most of ancient Israel was not able to read, songs were especially important.

In verses 3–5 of today’s reading, David outlines many of God’s gifts that Israel had experienced through the ages: forgiveness, healing, redemption, and renewal. These gifts flow from God’s nature. God is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (v. 8). The word for “love” here is difficult to capture in English. It means being devoted to someone in a covenant commitment. It is a kind of love that is for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.

Sometimes we may picture God as only loving and forgiving to the exclusion of other attributes He has. David does not do so here. He reminds us that God is also “slow to anger” and just (vv. 6, 8). “Slow to anger” reminds us that anger is at times God’s appropriate response rooted in His covenant love. His anger is in the context of a deep understanding of our frailty as humans. God “remembers that we are dust” (v. 14). This does not mean that we are unimportant, but rather that God is mindful of our limitations. The proper response is to join with the angels and heavenly hosts in joyful praise (vv. 20–21).

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Dissociative amnesia is a rare condition in which people cannot remember basic information about themselves— their name, relationships, or personal history. While this condition is rare, it is more common for us to forget basic truths about our relationship with God.

Psalm 100 is a praise psalm. At the heart of this poem are some important reminders for us if we have developed any spiritual amnesia. The psalmist challenges the congregation: “Know that the LORD is God” (v. 3). The word “LORD” here is the personal name, “Yahweh.” We need to remember and acknowledge that there is a God. This God has a name and an identity. Yahweh is the God who created the universe, who covenanted with Abraham, who delivered Israel from Egypt, and who sent His Son to die for our sin. We do not worship a nameless, generic deity, but a God who has made Himself known.

The psalmist reminds us: “It is he who made us, and we are his” (v. 3). Yahweh is not only the Creator of the universe, but He also fashioned each one of us (Ps. 139:13). We have an identity that is secure. We have been created by a loving God and we belong to Him. That is a status that we cannot earn, it is received by faith.

The final reminder in this verse is that “we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (v. 3). God has called us into community. God has a relationship with His people. We were never meant to live the life of faith alone—just me and God. All through Scripture, God has given His people a group identity to be a part of—Israel and the church.

These are wonderful reasons to worship the Lord. We can join with God’s people all through history and confess, “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (v. 5).

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Have you ever wondered why some people propose marriage at large gatherings like a professional baseball game? They might want to make the moment memorable by choosing such an unusual setting. But they might also feel it is not enough to declare their love to their beloved in private, they want the whole world to know.

Today’s psalm is a rousing call to praise God. The psalmist commands “all the earth” to praise the name of God all the time (vv. 1–2). God has done wonderful things for Israel (v. 3). He has chosen to dwell in Israel’s midst (vv. 6, 8). He is far superior to any other so-called god (v. 4). It was not enough for Israel to keep the truth about this God to itself. Israel needed to proclaim His name and His works to all the nations.

“Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength” (v. 7). The nations are invited to come into the Temple courts and present offerings to the God of Israel (v. 8). They are commanded to join Israel in worshiping the Lord (v. 9).

But it is not enough to just have Israel and the nations worship God, creation itself is invited to join the chorus! The psalmist calls on the heavens and earth, the seas and fields, and even the trees to proclaim the greatness of God (vv. 11–12). Our joy at the salvation God has provided overflows, inviting others to join us in giving thanks to the Lord. It is best to acknowledge God’s rule now because He is coming to judge (v. 13).

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Music is one of the most engaging human activities. When we sing or play an instrument our whole being is engaged—our mind, our heart, and our body. Music unites us. In a choir, unique individuals become one as they sing. Maybe that is the main reason God created music, because it is a wonderful way to praise Him!

Psalm 92 begins with an announcement that it is good to praise and make music to the Lord (v. 1). Today’s reading encourages us to use the best of our musical skill to proclaim God’s loyal love and faithfulness day and night (vv. 2–3).

God’s loyal love and faithfulness are displayed in His deeds (vv. 4–5). While no specific acts of God are mentioned, the Old Testament is full of examples. God created the world, called Abraham, delivered Israel, provided food and water in the desert, and revealed the Law to Moses (just to name a few). Meditation on these gracious acts leads the psalmist to step back in awe and proclaim, “How great are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!” (v. 5).

There are two possible responses to this call to praise. The wicked will act foolishly and refuse to acknowledge God. They are “senseless” (v. 6). This word is normally used to describe animal behavior. Just as animals cannot step back and perceive God at work, the fool also cannot see beyond himself. Like green grass, the wicked may seem like they are flourishing for the moment, but their destruction is sure (v. 7).

In contrast, the righteous will grow like a majestic cedar or hearty palm tree planted in the Temple court (v. 12). They will flourish because they are close to God and stay connected to Him (v. 13).

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Much of our life of faith is spent living in between God’s promise and its future fulfillment. All through the Bible, God makes big promises and then asks His people to live in faith. God promised Abraham he would be the father of a great nation when he had not even had a child yet and was already seventy-five years old (Gen. 12:1–4). It would be over twenty years before this promise was fulfilled.

In today’s reading, Ethan the Ezrahite begins with a resounding word of praise. For the first thirty- seven verses, Ethan recounts the steadfast love of the Lord. He praises God for creation, His justice and righteousness, and for choosing David as Israel’s king (vv. 1–20). God had anointed David and gave him victory over his enemies (vv. 20–23). The poet celebrates God’s covenant with David whom he had appointed “to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth” (v. 27). God had even promised that if David’s descendants were unfaithful, God would punish, but never abandon them (vv. 30–37).

The psalm takes an abrupt shift in verse 38. After celebrating God’s promises to David, he wonders where God is now: “But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one” (v. 38). Reflecting on the crisis of the Babylonian exile, Ethan describes how Israel has been defeated. From his perspective, it seemed like God had renounced the covenant He made to David (v. 39). We know (of course) that in the New Testament a future descendant of David would fulfill all of these promises and so much more (Luke 1:32; Acts 13:22–23).

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In his classic work Knowing God, J. I. Packer points out the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. He understood that it was possible for someone to have sound theology, know the Bible well, be involved in ministry, and yet not really have a relationship with God.

One way we can know God’s character is by reflecting on how He has related to His people. The psalmist in today’s reading recounts God’s history with His people so that the next generation would “put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds” (vv. 6–7). The goal is not just to learn history, but to trust in the God revealed by it. The psalmist reflects on God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. He reminds them how God defeated the Egyptian army and provided for His people in the wilderness (vv. 12–16). Instead of being grateful, Israel rebelled and complained (vv. 17–19). In His grace, God continued to provide for their needs and judged them for their sins (vv. 20–31). These acts were both designed to cause repentance. Yet, Israel continued to rebel. They grieved God again and again. In response to their ungratefulness and disloyalty, God showed Himself to be slow to anger, merciful, and forgiving (v. 38).

The psalmist reflects on the time period of the judges and early chapters of Samuel. He recounts God’s continued faithfulness and Israel’s obstinacy. God raised up David as king to serve as a faithful shepherd (vv. 65–72). On this side of history, we know David’s line also failed to be obedient, which led to exile. Yet, God promised that a Davidic king would reign on the throne of Israel forever (2 Sam. 7:11–16).

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