A Biblical Description of Blessings is not a Biblical Prescription for Blessings

Psalm 1 from today’s Bible reading* describes the blessings of those who seek God and His ways. How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and…

Praying with the Psalms

I have mentioned several times before that the Psalms can serve as models for our prayers, praise, thanksgiving, worship, and expressing our grief. The Psalms in today’s Bible reading* are particularly good examples for us. Psalm 89 is another Maskil. You will remember that Maskils are psalms that stimulate the mind. They make you think….

Uzzah Dies Trying to Help God

Earlier this month, we read about Saul’s sin of trying to help God. In today’s Bible reading* we read that Uzzah tried to help God and was struck dead on the spot. 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 tell the story of the Israelites’ bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel in…

Real, Raw, and Relevant Prayer

Psalm 88 in today’s Bible reading* gives us a picture of someone being real and raw in prayer before God while struggling with depression (Psalm 88:18) and desperation. (Psalm 88:1-2) It demonstrates that God’s Word is relevant. It meets us in the real world. In Psalm 88:1, Korah’s sons use the word cry out. This…