Introduction: If I were to translate ‘This food is finger licking good’ into Amharic and being translated back into English would be ‘This food makes me want to eat my fingers’. Often, in Amharic one hears it said, ‘little by little the egg learns to walk’. The first time you hear it you wonder whatContinue reading “Psalm 82: 1-8….A psalm of Asaph.”
Category Archives: Psalms
Psalm 81: 8-16….After God has His say, the Psalmist comments!
Introduction: When I was in grade 12 the teacher put the following ‘goble’d’goop’ sentence on the board and told us to punctuate it! Smith where Jones had had had had had had had had been correct! It was an interesting exercise. What has that got to do with this Psalm? In the red section (whichContinue reading “Psalm 81: 8-16….After God has His say, the Psalmist comments!”
Psalm 81: 1-7….Shout, shout for joy!
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;shout for joy to the God of Jacob!2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,the sweet lyre with the harp.3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,at the full moon, on our feast day.4 For it is a statute for Israel,a rule of the God of Jacob.5 He made itContinue reading “Psalm 81: 1-7….Shout, shout for joy!”
Psalm 80: 8-19….From sheep (yesterday) to grapes!
You brought a vine out of Egypt;you drove out the nations and planted it.You cleared the ground for it;it took deep root and filled the land.The mountains were covered with its shade,the mighty cedars with its branches.It sent out its branches to the seaand its shoots to the River. Why then have you broken downContinue reading “Psalm 80: 8-19….From sheep (yesterday) to grapes!”
Psalm 80: 1-7….Let there be Light!
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,you who lead Joseph like a flock.You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,stir up your mightand come to save us!3 Restore us, O God;let your face shine, that we may be saved! – Asaph cries out to the Shepherd four very,Continue reading “Psalm 80: 1-7….Let there be Light!”
Psalm 79: 11-13….A Postscript.
Introduction: Yesterday I re-wrote Asaph’s Psalm 79 in ‘modern’ English. I’ve copied it here because the last 3 verses of the Psalm, which I didn’t include in yesterday’s reading, say things which I think that we, as Christians, have to think deeply about. My transliteration of the Psalm read – Dear God, we are Yours,Continue reading “Psalm 79: 11-13….A Postscript.”
Psalm 79: 1-10….Where are You, God?
1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;they have defiled your holy temple;they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.2 They have given the bodies of your servantsto the birds of the heavens for food,the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.3 They have poured out their blood like waterall around Jerusalem,andContinue reading “Psalm 79: 1-10….Where are You, God?”
Psalm 78: 62-72….Desertion or Discipline?
62 He gave his people over to the swordand vented his wrath on his heritage.63 Fire devoured their young men,and their young women had no marriage song.64 Their priests fell by the sword,and their widows made no lamentation. – In three verses Asaph covers all the history from the first disciplinary action of God uponContinue reading “Psalm 78: 62-72….Desertion or Discipline?”
Psalm 78: 51-61….Am I/Are you prepared to be enlightened?
Introduction: We are now on our sixth day at looking at Psalm 78. Do you remember what the purpose of Asaph was writing this Psalm? Before spending a long time recounting Israel’s history from Egypt to settlement in Canna, he challenges the people to be earnest in passing on their history to coming generations soContinue reading “Psalm 78: 51-61….Am I/Are you prepared to be enlightened?”
Psalm 78: 41-51….’They did not remember his power’
Introduction: I normally try to rotate roughly seven days in Psalms, seven in an OT book and seven days in a NT book. Not thinking far enough ahead I’m caught in the middle of Psalm 78, which has a continuous thought woven into it so I’ll write until I finish the whole of Ps 78Continue reading “Psalm 78: 41-51….’They did not remember his power’”