David could hear the crowd before he could see them. The streets of Jerusalem were crowded with well-wishers, children, and families, all of them cheering. The king had seen it so many times before. He was surrounded by his people: runners out front, then his sons on black horses, and then David, riding a hugeContinue reading “King David Pours His Heart Out to God: Reading the Psalms as a Journal Entry.”
Tag Archives: psalms
Introduction to Psalms: The Song Book That Teaches You How to Relate to God. Psalm 23:2.
As a young college student, I once had a conversation with both an Old Testament professor and the dean of our humanities department. I wanted to build a research paper around the works of C.S. Lewis. The dean spoke up: “Well, I don’t know.” He looked at the Old Testament professor. “I think Lewis isContinue reading “Introduction to Psalms: The Song Book That Teaches You How to Relate to God. Psalm 23:2.”
David Wrote 72 Psalms: Claim God’s Promises. Psalms 4 – 16.
David is named as the author of seventy-two psalms, or nearly half of the book of Psalms. That is an impressive collection for a man as busy as he: shepherd, warrior, fugitive, king. And the idea that one of the manliest men in Israel was also a shepherd, composer, poet, and harpist is hard toContinue reading “David Wrote 72 Psalms: Claim God’s Promises. Psalms 4 – 16.”
DAVID AT WAR: Four Truths. Psalm 60:8-12.
When God made David king, he told him he would use David’s reign to bring peace to the nation, 2 Samuel 7:10-11. But David could only secure the peace by waging war. David was destined to be the “man of war” God described in 1 Chronicles 28:3. Sometimes war is unavoidable. In David’s case, itContinue reading “DAVID AT WAR: Four Truths. Psalm 60:8-12.”
EXALT. Psalm 12:8.
What you like, you THINK about. What you love, you TALK about. What you worship, you SING about. What do Americans sing about? Last week’s top five songs concern: 1) breaking up, 2) drugs, 3) sex, 4) the excitement of a new romance, and 5) a song by the old girl complaining about her ex’sContinue reading “EXALT. Psalm 12:8.”
Athletic Gifts and Fitness Come From God. 2 Samuel 22:8-18, 30-40.
Pictured: Marshall Wales, NCAA Division 1 playoffs, spring of 2023. Sam Houston vs. Oregon State. God is the first and greatest athlete. Don’t think so? What weight can He not lift? What speed can He not travel? What target will He fail to hit? Surely the best-known athlete in the Bible is David. And DavidContinue reading “Athletic Gifts and Fitness Come From God. 2 Samuel 22:8-18, 30-40.”
He Hears Your Voice. Psalm 55.
God hears. No matter what day, no matter what is going on. No matter what you have done—God hears. Take your complaints, your hurt, your fear, and broken heart to God. He hears you. He loves you. He will deliver you. When David was upset and afraid, he wrote Psalm 55. “But I call toContinue reading “He Hears Your Voice. Psalm 55.”