You Can Read the Bible Guided Podcast

Today we can peer into the mind and heart of an ancient follower of Yahweh through the lens of their Psalms.  In the opening chapter, while fleeing from Saul, David relates, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.  He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me.”

In Psalm 58 he draws a contrast between the LORD and other gods:  Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?  No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth…. O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD! … Mankind will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth."

Praying that the LORD would protect [him] from those who rise up against [him], David calls on the LORD to “Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil.”  It is a request grounded in the belief that you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision... My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

When Israel suffers defeat, it is because O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.   For the LORD has spoken: “Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph…,” therefore David cries, “Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!”

And when justice seems far off there is promise: Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.  Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.  Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O LORD, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Our verse for this week is 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Psalms 57 through 64.  Now let’s read it!

The Psalms today are attributed exclusively to David.  In the first three Psalms God’s dealings with the wicked provide a connecting thread, while in the second three it’s God’s protection against David’s enemies. 

Yesterday I invited you to read Psalm 45 closely and note your observations.  I encourage you to do the same with Psalm 51 today.  Since the Psalm is attributed to David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba, it might be helpful to revisit that occasion from 2 Samuel 12:

Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.  And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.  Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites… David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”  2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13

Read Psalm 51 closely.  What do you notice?  How does it line up with the events that led to it?  As with Psalm 45, what is it that makes this Psalm part of the worship canon?  What do you learn about repentance and worship?  And most importantly, what do you learn about the LORD through it?

As I’ve stated before, the in-the-moment expression of human reflection is one of the Psalms most beautiful attributes.  What you are reading today is one man’s response to getting caught – to finding that his own sin has trapped him, and that his only hope for salvation is to turn to the LORD.  Remember the rest of David’s story – especially how, because of his sin, the sword would never depart from his house.  Allow the marriage of the story with this Psalm to guide your meditation on sin, repentance, and restoration.

Our verse for this week is 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Psalms 51 through 56.  Now let’s read it!

The Psalms today are attributed exclusively to David.  In the first three Psalms God’s dealings with the wicked provide a connecting thread, while in the second three it’s God’s protection against David’s enemies. 

Yesterday I invited you to read Psalm 45 closely and note your observations.  I encourage you to do the same with Psalm 51 today.  Since the Psalm is attributed to David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba, it might be helpful to revisit that occasion from 2 Samuel 12:

Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.  And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.  Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites… David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”  2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13

Read Psalm 51 closely.  What do you notice?  How does it line up with the events that led to it?  As with Psalm 45, what is it that makes this Psalm part of the worship canon?  What do you learn about repentance and worship?  And most importantly, what do you learn about the LORD through it?

As I’ve stated before, the in-the-moment expression of human reflection is one of the Psalms most beautiful attributes.  What you are reading today is one man’s response to getting caught – to finding that his own sin has trapped him, and that his only hope for salvation is to turn to the LORD.  Remember the rest of David’s story – especially how, because of his sin, the sword would never depart from his house.  Allow the marriage of the story with this Psalm to guide your meditation on sin, repentance, and restoration.

Our verse for this week is 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Psalms 51 through 56.  Now let’s read it!

We continue today in the Psalms of the Sons of Korah, and I’m going to focus exclusively on Psalm 45.  It is introduced as “For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song (or a song of love).  Listen to the first three verses:

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.  You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.  Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!

Focus in on that middle verse: “You are the most handsome among men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.”  This is a Psalm of praise about the human king of God’s people.  It is about the king in Jerusalem, not the King above. 

Later on, things get even more complicated when the king’s new bride is encouraged to “forget your people and your father's house, and the king will desire your beauty.  Since he is your lord, bow to him.  Though there is a brief centerpiece acknowledging God above: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,” even this is unclear about its subject, since the rest of the stanza concerns the king in Jerusalem. 

Which leads to the questions I want to address today: what makes a Psalm, a Psalm?  Why is this one included in the worship book?  Does the mere mention of God allow it to qualify?  Is there a nostalgia for the bygone kingdom days, connecting the theme of memory from the previous Psalm? 

It’s not enough to say, “It’s in the Bible, so it’s supposed to be there.”  Someone – many “someones” – over hundreds of years, considered this Psalm as worthy to be included in the worship catalog.  God has preserved it here for thousands of years.  Yet it is unlike anything else.  Read it closely.  What do you notice?  Is it about the past, the present, or the future?  Does it even matter to figure this out?  Meditate on it, and see what you discover. 

Our verse for this week is 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Psalms 44 through 50.  Now let’s read it!

We continue today in the Psalms of the Sons of Korah, and I’m going to focus exclusively on Psalm 45.  It is introduced as “For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song (or a song of love).  Listen to the first three verses:

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.  You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.  Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!

Focus in on that middle verse: “You are the most handsome among men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.”  This is a Psalm of praise about the human king of God’s people.  It is about the king in Jerusalem, not the King above. 

Later on, things get even more complicated when the king’s new bride is encouraged to “forget your people and your father's house, and the king will desire your beauty.  Since he is your lord, bow to him.  Though there is a brief centerpiece acknowledging God above: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,” even this is unclear about its subject, since the rest of the stanza concerns the king in Jerusalem. 

Which leads to the questions I want to address today: what makes a Psalm, a Psalm?  Why is this one included in the worship book?  Does the mere mention of God allow it to qualify?  Is there a nostalgia for the bygone kingdom days, connecting the theme of memory from the previous Psalm? 

It’s not enough to say, “It’s in the Bible, so it’s supposed to be there.”  Someone – many “someones” – over hundreds of years, considered this Psalm as worthy to be included in the worship catalog.  God has preserved it here for thousands of years.  Yet it is unlike anything else.  Read it closely.  What do you notice?  Is it about the past, the present, or the future?  Does it even matter to figure this out?  Meditate on it, and see what you discover. 

Our verse for this week is 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Psalms 44 through 50.  Now let’s read it!

We continue today in the Psalms of the Sons of Korah, and I’m going to focus exclusively on Psalm 45.  It is introduced as “For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song (or a song of love).  Listen to the first three verses:

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.  You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.  Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!

Focus in on that middle verse: “You are the most handsome among men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.”  This is a Psalm of praise about the human king of God’s people.  It is about the king in Jerusalem, not the King above. 

Later on, things get even more complicated when the king’s new bride is encouraged to “forget your people and your father's house, and the king will desire your beauty.  Since he is your lord, bow to him.  Though there is a brief centerpiece acknowledging God above: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,” even this is unclear about its subject, since the rest of the stanza concerns the king in Jerusalem. 

Which leads to the questions I want to address today: what makes a Psalm, a Psalm?  Why is this one included in the worship book?  Does the mere mention of God allow it to qualify?  Is there a nostalgia for the bygone kingdom days, connecting the theme of memory from the previous Psalm? 

It’s not enough to say, “It’s in the Bible, so it’s supposed to be there.”  Someone – many “someones” – over hundreds of years, considered this Psalm as worthy to be included in the worship catalog.  God has preserved it here for thousands of years.  Yet it is unlike anything else.  Read it closely.  What do you notice?  Is it about the past, the present, or the future?  Does it even matter to figure this out?  Meditate on it, and see what you discover. 

Our verse for this week is 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Psalms 44 through 50.  Now let’s read it!

Turning to chapter 42 in the middle of today’s reading, we’ll encounter two transitions.  First, you’ll notice a heading “Book Two” proceeding the chapter.  Psalms was divided by its compilers into five “books,” and each has subtle distinctions that you’ll probably notice.  Second, Psalm 42 is attributed to “The Sons of Korah,” Levites who served at the Temple.

In Book One, the only person connected to a Psalm was King David.  Whether he was the sole author of them, or commissioned others – or whether these were commissioned by kings of David’s line, is not clear.  It’s completely possible, given his accomplishment as a musician in Saul’s court, that this was just one more of David’s skills. 

Psalms 38, 39, and 40, all attributed to David, have the feel of a sequential unit.  Written in honor of the Memorial Offering, Psalm 38 presents the heart of one who recognizes his unworthiness when approaching the altar.  In chapter 39 the author contemplates the transience of life and prays that he be delivered from his transgressions.  And in Psalm 40, the triad concludes as the LORD is thanked and celebrated for His mercy and steadfast love.

Psalm 41 seems a summation – a celebration – that completes the first Book of the Psalms.  There is even a benediction at the end.  Finally, Psalms 42 and 43, from the Sons of Korah, form a cohesive unit built around the repeated question and answer: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” 

Listen for themes of guilt, repentance, turmoil and vindication throughout these Psalms.  The authors are unafraid to express their fear and anguish directly beside steadfast trust in the LORD: “By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”   To the Psalmist, this mixture of emotions is not a contradiction, but forms the sound of worship. 

Our verses for this week are Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Psalms 38 through 43.  Now let’s read it!

Turning to chapter 42 in the middle of today’s reading, we’ll encounter two transitions.  First, you’ll notice a heading “Book Two” proceeding the chapter.  Psalms was divided by its compilers into five “books,” and each has subtle distinctions that you’ll probably notice.  Second, Psalm 42 is attributed to “The Sons of Korah,” Levites who served at the Temple.

In Book One, the only person connected to a Psalm was King David.  Whether he was the sole author of them, or commissioned others – or whether these were commissioned by kings of David’s line, is not clear.  It’s completely possible, given his accomplishment as a musician in Saul’s court, that this was just one more of David’s skills. 

Psalms 38, 39, and 40, all attributed to David, have the feel of a sequential unit.  Written in honor of the Memorial Offering, Psalm 38 presents the heart of one who recognizes his unworthiness when approaching the altar.  In chapter 39 the author contemplates the transience of life and prays that he be delivered from his transgressions.  And in Psalm 40, the triad concludes as the LORD is thanked and celebrated for His mercy and steadfast love.

Psalm 41 seems a summation – a celebration – that completes the first Book of the Psalms.  There is even a benediction at the end.  Finally, Psalms 42 and 43, from the Sons of Korah, form a cohesive unit built around the repeated question and answer: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” 

Listen for themes of guilt, repentance, turmoil and vindication throughout these Psalms.  The authors are unafraid to express their fear and anguish directly beside steadfast trust in the LORD: “By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”   To the Psalmist, this mixture of emotions is not a contradiction, but forms the sound of worship. 

Our verses for this week are Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Psalms 38 through 43.  Now let’s read it!