Psalm 111

I chose to reflect on this Psalm because I noticed the way the Psalm went about giving praise to all the things that God has done. The part that stuck out to me was that the Psalmist will give praise in the congregation. Often times I forget that the Jews often gathered together and read scripture and sang hymns and praises to God. Since I have never heard them I tend to forget that there was worship to God before Christianity. I also enjoy the second person language of He. To me it keeps the central focus on where it should be, God. The Psalm raises the question of does God always give food to his faithful followers. People who are Christians starve to death all the time. So does that mean he takes care of them in a spiritual sense? The Psalm puts a lot of stock on the fact that God is just always. It is very careful to note that when God does or says something it is the best decision. I need to remember that God is just and not to question him or his decisions, or even try to understand them for that matter. I need to remember God's name is holy AND awesome. A secular person would hear this Psalm with a lot of skepticism. They would throw a lot of this out because so much of it hinges on God being perfect, just, and reliable. They would hear this and scoff because in their mind God is not good. But it could also give them a reason to think and reevaluate their thoughts on God. 

Psalm 100

This Psalm stuck out to me for several reasons. First was because of it's length. Upon first looking at it I did not think that there would be any sort of point to such a short Psalm but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of acknowledgment of God in the Psalm. Secondly what stuck out to me was the worshipful nature of the Psalm. This Psalm was nothing but praises to God. This Psalm struck me and so I used it this morning as a call and response reading to begin our worship time. To me it just sums up worship. God made us and we belong to him therefor we need to praise him. He is good so tell him so. It just sets up the feeling and mood for a worship service and really calls for a life of worship. This Psalm may be one I need to read in preparing for a worship service every week, or because of it's length keep in my office. Either way this Psalm exalts praise and my life needs to be a better reflection of this Psalm. The language of joy was probably the most striking to me. Besides the fact of the only reason for worship is God being God and us belonging to him was the only reasoning for worship in this psalm. It raises the question for us as followers of Christ should that be enough to worship? And not just with our words but with our lives. If we truly believe that Jesus did what he said he did that should be enough and our lives should be a reflection of that. 

Psalm 67

One of the things that immediately drew my attention to this Psalm was the repetition of the Psalm. The fact that the Psalm takes the time to repeat both that thanking and the blessing makes me think that I need to take more time to thank God for all that he has done for me. I chose to reflect on this Psalm because the structure of it seemed interesting to me. I noticed how several phrases started with a repetition of the line before. The Psalm raises the question of why the foreigners would rejoice and celebrate over justice being executed before the nations. I would think that if justice was being upheld through the nations that those nations should be in fear of the judgement that was getting ready to happen to them. The Psalm almost seems selfish with its conclusion of asking God to bless them and then the ends of the earth will give him the honor he deserves. Maybe it is because God's blessing are so wonderful and fantastic that if they were to all come out at once then there would be no choice but to give God the proper honor that he deserves. To me this Psalm tells me that I need to rejoice in God more and I need to be grateful for the many blessings that he gives me every day. If I took time to reflect on the goodness of God I would be able to see it more evidently in my life and in turn be a stronger servant for God.

Psalm 27

This Psalm stuck out to me first because of the confidence in which David is writing the psalm. The sheer faith and trust that echos through the psalm is staggering! The Psalm gave me insight onto the way the Israelites viewed God and the afterlife. They did not know exactly what would happen or where they were going but they knew that God would provide for them just as he always had. This is shown in part in the Psalm as well. The best part about this song is the amazing repetition of God's constant deliverance. To me it speaks so highly of Jesus. Now that we are in Jesus we are free. No matter what happens, what goes on, whatever life throws at us we have an answer, and that answer is Jesus. I think corporately that this psalm would be great to be read in a call and response type of setting. This would also be good to start a worship service that focuses on the goodness and steadfastness of God. A secular person would probably receive this Psalm with a lot of skepticism. The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing and this Psalm is probably foolish to them as well. This Psalm has made me want to have a complete love and trust for God. To be able to look at any situation and challenge and have confidence, to have no fear, because I know who God is and what he has promised me.