Try God and See!

Psalm 34 is an acrostic poem in its original Hebrew language; the first word of each stanza begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

While the Psalm may read more like prose in English, it can be helpful to remember that it is indeed poetry, and to read it like carefully crafted poetry is meant to be read: slowly, reflectively, savouring each new thought.

The Answer Has Come!

This is one of the so-called “royal psalms,” celebrating God’s appointment of David as king, and giving him victory. It anticipates the reign of Jesus Christ and life “forever and ever” (v4).

David is bursting with joy. This was not the time for a private “thank you,” but a public proclamation, a press conference, declaring God’s strength and power.

In Praise of the Creator

Maybe you’re like me? I can’t read this psalm without a host of beautiful images flooding my mind. Here we view nature at its best – a thunderstorm racing across the prairies, a waterfall cascading down a verdant mountainside, wildlife bounding across the African savannah, the mystery and bounty of the ocean depths. The psalmist sees it all – portrays it all within this psalm.

A Worldwide Celebration!

Something wonderful has happened and the news is spreading around the world! The nations are invited to a great celebration. No one is to attend as spectator. Oh no! Everyone is summoned to clap and shout joyfully!

This Psalm carries the reverberating sounds of celebration signaling the end of a long battle.

Wake Up and Worship!

This passage opens a four-psalm symphony of jubilant thanksgiving. Praise has been waiting in slumber (v 1, NIV), and it’s up to God’s people to awaken it and stir it into song. Psalm 65 offers a poetic list of reasons why praise is due.

First, the psalmist reminds the people that they vowed to offer God their thanksgiving if he would deliver them (v 1).

Better Together

As a worship leader, I instinctually change the “I” and “me” pronouns in praise lyrics to “us” and “we.” After all, corporate worship is a group activity. At the same time, our personal (and often private) experience is frequently where our praise can and must begin. How do we include both the personal and the collective in our worship?

Psalm 66 is a breathtaking hymn of praise written in response to answered prayer.

Victory

First day of the week, A.D.33: After several days and nights of sorrow, the three women who loved their crucified Teacher woke with a plan: to meet very early. To hurry to the tomb. To offer a final gift of service: the embalming of his body.

They worried that the impossibly heavy stone would stop them. They expected a dead body.

Name them One by One

My wife and I have taken to playing this little game we call “21 Praises” on days or in moments when we feel down or are struggling. Our lives have been a bit topsy-turvy this past year with housing changes, geographical changes, job changes and becoming empty nesters. It’s not that anything has been really bad but there has been a lot of uncertainty and challenging new beginnings. At times we just find ourselves saying, “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me…until this disaster has passed” (v 1).

You Make Me Want to Shout

Yesterday, I just couldn’t help it.

I got a work related email that offered me an opportunity I’ve been longing for and which has the potential to take me to the next level in what I do. I flew out of my desk chair and shouted at the top of my lungs, “YES LORD, YES LORD, YES, YES, YES!”

I See Sunshine

Some of the earlier psalms we went through in this series have been lament psalms. Times of despair and crying out to a God who sometimes feels absent. But here we have a “let it all out and light the fireworks” psalm.

In Isaiah 40:28 (the Message) there is a great line which reads, “He’s the creator of all you can see or imagine.”