One of the major ways that David, the writer of Psalm 145, praises God is by telling others of God’s greatness (vv. 3 and 6).  Another is in his command to pass on the memory of God’s mighty acts to the next generation.      One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall […]

Today, many people tell of their greatness using a tool called a resume.  A typical resume tells of one’s educational, vocational, and civic accomplishments; special training qualifications; and any awards or other public recognitions.  It’s often required as part of a job application, or may be used to provide metrics for a promotion or advancement […]

Psalm 145 has become my favorite psalm over the years…for several reasons.  One is that it opens and closes with a practice that transforms our life and worship.  David, the writer of this psalm, blesses the name of LORD.      I will extol Thee, my God, O King; and I will bless Thy name […]

Psalm 144, another song of David, consisting of four stanzas that at my first read appeared to be very unrelated; that is, they all strike a separate theme.  Upon rereading, however, I discovered a repeated motif – God’s intervention.  In verses 1-2, David blesses the LORD for training him to be a warrior and for […]

David’s song in Psalm 143 may be connected with Psalm 142 given that his current situation left him with the same description of his spiritual state: my spirit is overwhelmed within me (v. 4).  This is more than simply being overwhelmed with too many things to do, or feeling inadequate to a given task – this is […]

Psalm 142 was said to have been written by David when he was in the cave in the Judean wilderness on the run from King Saul, as described in 1 Samuel 24.  David was in a desperate and dangerous situation, and feeling alone:      Look to the right and see; for there is no […]

Psalm 141 is another instance of David crying out to the LORD in prayer.  At the heart of this prayer is David’s desire that the LORD keep him from doing evil, with the focus on his tongue and his heart.      Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door […]

Psalm 140 is yet another cry of David to God for protection from enemies.  Here he specifically refers to them as evil men, violent men, and the wicked.  It’s never stated whether these are foreign enemies or internal insurgents to his leadership.  However, David describes their characteristics in verses 2 and 3: They devise evil […]

Psalm 139:1-6 speaks of how completely and intimately God knows us.  Two reasons God knows us perfectly are: first, we cannot go anywhere that He is not present (verses 7-12).  He made the universe, and He is not afraid to go anywhere in it, even in the darkness (vv. 11-12).  That being the case, He […]

Psalm 139 is one of the most well-known of David’s songs.  The main theme is featured in the first stanza of the song (verses 1-6), which sings of how completely and intimately God knows us.  That can be threatening to us at first glance – that God knows: My every move – You know when […]