Category: 1 Year Bible Reading Plan

In Psalm 125, the psalmist compares those who trust in the LORD to Mt. Zion, which cannot be moved. He then speaks of the evil as those who will be cast aside. It really is that simple–not easy, but simple. The LORD upholds those who trust and honor Him.

Psalm 126 acknowledges the pain of life. It starts with those who return to Zion. The reason they had to return was they were exiled. It speaks of sowing tears and reaping joy. We don’t often think of life that way, do we? In the midst of sorrow, we don’t think about the potential joy we will gain through it, but that is how God works in our lives. He desires to transform anything in our lives to joy, when we trust Him and put Him first.  That does not mean that our sorrowful circumstances will immediately, or ever end in this life. It does mean during those times His joy can remain in us.

Psalm 127 reminds us how important it is to have the LORD at the center of all we are and do. We can seek security in our lives, but if the LORD isn’t our true security, we won’t be secure. We can seek to build homes and places others will envy, but unless the LORD is the architect, it is vain. The psalmist ends by reminding us that our children are a great blessing in our lives. While it doesn’t seem to fit with the theme of the psalm, it does: the world looks at building and security one way, and the LORD another. Children can be seen in many ways from a worldly viewpoint, but the LORD sees them as blessing.

Psalm 128 shows us what is truly valuable: a relationship with the LORD; a relationship with our wife (or husband if you’re a woman), a relationship with our children; and to live a long, full life to His glory. The key aspect of a life well lived is healthy relationships with God and others. Jesus would tell us the same thing when He walked the other by offering the Great Commandment in response to the question, “What is the greatest commandment in the Law?” That commandment is to love the Lord with everything we have, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Psalm 129 is a call for those who work against those who follow the LORD to be eliminated. We might not see that as worthy of a psalm, but it is a psalm, which means the LORD agrees with the assessment. The focus is more for the protection of the one who trusts the LORD, but by association those who turn against the LORD’s children are going to receive His response.

As we turn to Luke 6, we find some parallels to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7, one of the interesting differences in this section is Matthew 5:48 reads, “Be perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect,” While Luke 6:36 reads, “Be merciful even as your Father in heaven is merciful.” The change of the word perfect to merciful seems to make a great difference, but let’s think about that for a moment. What does God’s perfection do in our lives? It causes Him to show mercy to all who are imperfect, which is all of us. If we were perfect, we would not need His mercy. At the same time, those who are perfect–if they have a perfection similar to God’s–will be merciful to others. At the end of the day, the two statements, which seem so different on the surface, lead to the same result: showing mercy to others, because of the Lord’s perfection in our lives!

Psalms 120-134 are “Songs of Ascents.” They were used as “Calls to Worship” as the worshipers walked up Mount Zion to the Temple for worship. We’re told several were of King David and one of King Solomon. Most have no stated author. While the psalms are quite different, each one focuses on some aspect of the LORD and His presence and work in our lives. The purpose was to prepare the worshipers to come into His presence.

In Psalm 120, the psalmist focuses on preparing his “lips” or words to worship the LORD. He asks the LORD to keep him from lying lips or deceitful words. He also focuses on peace, and asking the LORD to make that his focus, because he lives among those who focus on war. We see how this would prepare a people for worship, because until we are focused on the LORD, His peace and truth, we will be distracted from worshiping Him fully.

In Psalm 121, the psalmist looks to the hills, and asks, “Where does my help come from?” The short answer: The LORD. He goes on to say the LORD will protect us and watch over us in every circumstance. What assurance for those who come together to worship the LORD–He is worthy of our worship and praise!

In Psalm 122, King David affirms Jerusalem as the place of worship for all the tribes of Israel. He calls for us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, which is the “home” of the LORD. This city was central to worshiping the LORD, and its welfare is the focus of this psalm of ascents.

In Psalm 123, the psalmist compares the LORD to the master of a slave, the mistress of a servant, and cries out to the LORD for mercy and protection, because the people have been oppressed. This brief psalm reminds us of our position as we come before the LORD–He is the King, the LORD, the master, and we are His subjects, His servants. While Jesus has redeemed us from sin, and told us we are His friends, we are still servants of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. As we remember that, we will be better prepared to serve Him.

In Psalm 124, King David, focuses on the LORD as our protector and deliverer. If He had not been with us, we would have been trapped. But the fantastic news is: He is with us, and so we are free in Him!

As we turn to Luke 5, let’s focus on the first event recorded by Luke: Jesus using the fishing boats of Peter and Andrew, James and John as a “pulpit” from which to teach the crowds. After the teaching ended, Jesus called on Peter to go out into the lake and let down his nets for a catch. Peter was the fisherman and Jesus the rabbi. Peter “knew” fishing was best done at night. He told Jesus as much. This was the middle of the day. “But,” he obeyed Jesus. Let’s focus on that single word: “But.” How often in our lives we have done things our way and the result has not been what we expected, or “knew” would happen.  We didn’t get the results we expected in our work, or in a relationship, or even inside ourselves. We have been in control and worked diligently. Then Jesus speaks in our hearts and offers a command that makes no sense. It is the opposite of what we would have done. The key in that moment is will we say, “I have done it my way, the ‘right’ way, and obtained no results, but I will do what you say.”? That is the moment when our faith grows. That is the moment when blessing begins. After all, until we trust Jesus with our lives, to know what’s best for them, we don’t follow Him. Peter agreed to Jesus’ command, and the ultimate result was he and his three partners became Jesus’ first four disciples!

Psalm 119 is by far the longest chapter in the Bible. It is a poem about the Law and word of the LORD. It is divided into sections based on the Hebrew alphabet, and each section starts with a Hebrew word that corresponds to the letter of the Hebrew alphabet that is the title for that section. The purpose of the psalm is to show us how vital God’s word is, and how important it is for us to read, meditate, and live it in our lives.

In “Aleph” the psalmist sets forth how vital it is to obey the LORD’s commands. To obey His commands we must know them. To know them we must read and study them. Investing the time to read through the Bible regularly is one aspect of fulfilling this aspect of the psalm.

In “Beth” we are told how a young man (or woman) can live purely: by following the commands of the LORD. We are called to hide the LORD’s word in our hearts so we won’t sin against Him. We are reminded that to obey His decrees is to ensure life.

In “Gimel” the psalmist reminds the LORD to protect him, because he has followed the LORD’s decrees.

In “Daleth” the psalmist calls on the LORD to preserve and protect him once again, because he has kept His ways. This is not only a recurring them in Psalm 119, but throughout the psalms as we know by this time.

In “He” the psalmist asks the LORD to keep him focused on His law so he will follow His path and not be led astray. The Law is a guide and establishes boundaries for a life well-lived.

In “Waw” he asks for the LORD’s love. He also states he loves the Law of the LORD. He meditates on it, and it keeps his life focused on the LORD.

In “Zayin” the psalmist tells the LORD His law is his hope in suffering. It gives him guidance against his enemies.

In “Heth” the psalmist promises to follow the LORD’s laws even if the wicked binds him, and he will also partner with those who follow the law. He reminds us the LORD’s love fills the earth. What does that have to do with the law? The law flows out of the LORD’s love for us. He guides us with it, because He loves us.

In “Teth” the psalmist points out that at one time he did evil and paid the consequences. Now, he follows the law of the LORD and the result is blessing. Though his enemies attack him, he will continue to follow the way of the LORD.

In “Yodh” he acknowledges the LORD formed him, and corrected him out of His love. He tells us again that he meditates on the law of the LORD.  Meditation as presented in the Bible, is not a mindless activity as it is in many eastern religions or modern forms of exercise. It is a focused reflection of the law with the purpose of understanding and living it to honor the LORD.

In “Kaph” the psalmist asks the LORD how long he must suffer at the hands of his enemies? He reminds the LORD of his faithfulness and hope in the LORD and acknowledges he will continue to trust in the LORD through his suffering.

In “Lamedh” he points out the law of the LORD is the foundation of His life. He hopes in it in suffering. He waits for the LORD’s deliverance as he lives out the law. He tells us there is a limit to all human perfection, but the perfection of the law is boundless. The absolute nature of the LORD’s law and truth is expressed here. It is the anchor in our lives, even when the storms rage all around us.

In “Mem” the psalmist tells us the law of the LORD has made him wiser than his enemies, his teachers, and the elders. This has happened, because he meditates on the law day and night. He knows he can trust in the LORD and in the wisdom he gains from the law regardless of what happens or how his enemies attack.

In “Nun” he tells us the LORD’s word is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path. We see the law guides us in our immediate circumstances as well as into the distance or the future. It is the foundation of our loves. He tells us the law is his joy. Not many in our day would understand the law that way, but when we follow the way of the LORD it leads us to joy. The boundaries He has established for us bring the greatest peace and contentment in our lives, but only when we follow them.

In “Samekh” the psalmist contrasts double-minded and evil men with the LORD and His law. He has chosen to follow the LORD and calls on the LORD to protect and deliver Him from such people.

In “Ayin” he calls on the LORD to deliver him from his enemies, because he has followed the law. He tells the LORD he loves His law more than gold, more than pure gold. What a statement! People often focus on the material blessings of life and gaining them as a means of security. The psalmist reminds us the ultimate means to security is a relationship with the LORD that results in obedience to His law.

In “Pe” the psalmist tells the LORD His statutes are wonderful, which is why he obeys them. The guide his path, and bring deliverance from his foes. This approach to life leaves the psalmist secure, but he cries because he sees the LORD’s law being disobeyed.

In “Tsadhe” he tells the LORD He is righteous and His ways are right. That is why he follows them. What an important truth: we follow the law, because the law giver is righteous and has our best interests at heart!

In “Qoph” the psalmist calls out to the LORD and he promises if the LORD will answer he will follow His laws. This is not an “if you will do this, then I will do that” type of prayer as it seems on the surface. We know that because he tells us he meditates on the law through the night. He isn’t bargaining with the LORD. He is reminding the LORD of his faithfulness to Him, and requesting the LORD’s action on his behalf.

In “Resh”he once again calls out to the LORD for deliverance because of His faithfulness. He has many enemies, who do not follow the law, and he calls on the Lord to remember him in his times of need.

In “Sin and Shin” the psalmist tells us again his enemies are attacking him, but he follows the law. He calls out to the LORD seven times a day. Again, we see he has a lifestyle of living for the LORD, calling on the LORD, serving the LORD, and following the law of the LORD.

In “Taw” the final portion of the psalm, we see a bit of a summary of all we have seen throughout the psalm. The psalmist again calls on the LORD, and reiterates the place of the law in his life. It is central to him, and he calls on the LORD to preserve him.

As we turn to Luke 4, let’s focus on Jesus’ “mission statement.” After being tempted in the wilderness for forty days by the devil, and passing the test, Jesus’ ministry begins. He goes to the synagogue in Nazareth and is given the opportunity to read the Scripture. He opens the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and reads: ¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)  After reading these words, Jesus hands the scroll back to the attendant and pauses. Every eye is on Him. What will He say? He tells the listeners, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Those words were written by Isaiah to describe the Messiah. Jesus was telling the people He was the Messiah! As we would expect, the people looked at Him intently. They waited for more. The more He gave them was a reminder that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his own people. The message incensed the crowd, and they sought to kill Him. Not exactly the kind of start one would expect for the Messiah. Why would Jesus say such things after announcing His mission and identity? The short answer is: He wanted the people to know He was not the kind of Messiah they expected. They wanted a conquering king, a heroic Messiah who would establish Israel as the world power. He came to side with the weak and outcast, to heal the sick, and to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor. This agenda would eventually lead to His death. This first encounter with the crowd was merely a foreshadowing of what was ahead for Jesus. He knew that. That is why He came!

 

 

Psalm 116 is an “eclectic” psalm, nearly the same as a chapter in Proverbs, because it jumps from one theme to another. It is a psalm of praise, yet in the middle the psalmist tells us because he believes he cries out to the LORD to the LORD about his affliction and that all men are liars. That’s typical of a psalm of lament. Then he offers a seemingly random idea: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” What a powerful truth! When we lose a loved one to death, we are hurt and even devastated. In our grief, we can know the LORD is also grieving the loss, even though it is a gain for His eternal Kingdom.  Jesus wept when He went to Lazarus’ tomb, even though He would raise Lazarus from the dead shortly after. The LORD cares about our grief and grieves with us. Then the psalm closes with the psalmist vowing His allegiance to the LORD and offers Him more praise.

Psalm 117 is so brief we can copy it here:  ¹Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.  ²For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.Psalm 117:1-2 (NIV) This brief psalm of praise calls on everyone to praise the LORD. Why? Because His love and faithfulness to us endure forever. This psalm is virtually the center of the English Bible, so we are halfway through our goal of reading through the Bible in a year, even though we are not halfway through our year in days. The reason for that is we will slow our pace at times to focus on some specific passages in the New Testament. Also, we have already read more than half the Bible, because we are working our way through the four gospels repeatedly. The process, as I noted at the outset, is to get us into the New Testament, and specifically the life of Jesus daily, as we work our way through the Old Testament. If you’ve been with us all the way so far: congratulations!

Psalm 118 is a joyous psalm of praise, which makes it clear the LORD’s faithful love endures forever! It also contains the powerful affirmation and command: This is the day the LORD has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! The command to rejoice in this day is so powerful. Not every day is a fun day, a happy day, but every day can be a joyful day. That’s because joy is not based on our circumstance or happenstance. The words happy and happenstance come from the same root. Joy is an aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and remains in us as long as we let the Holy Spirit control our lives. That makes every day a day for rejoicing in the LORD!

As we return to Luke 3, let’s focus on the first two verses:  ¹In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, ²during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. Luke 3:1-2 (ESV) Notice how Luke anchors the start of John’s ministry in history. The moment it started was the 15th years of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. At that moment Caesar, Pilate, Herod, Philip, and Lysanias were all occupied with governing a particular region or nation. They were undoubtedly quite busy. The word of God did not come to them. It came to John who was “in the wilderness.” The Greek word the ESV translates as wilderness can also be translated “desert.” Either way, John was by Himself. He was not “busy.” He was preparing to prepare the way for Jesus. Is it possible the word of God came to all the others in the list, but they were so busy governing, and enjoying their positions and the power that came with it they didn’t hear or listen? Ever since my mentor, Andy Weigand, pointed this question out to me, I have reflected on the possibility. My tendency is to be more like one of the leaders mentioned, filling my life with activity and the demands of leadership. John shows us the first “demand” of leadership: listening for God’s voice and guidance. As we read through the Bible, we are investing time in listening to God’s voice, because the Bible is His word. In addition, we must invest time alone “in the wilderness” (which might be your front porch, or in your family room, or some other special place where you go to get away from others). As we do that, God does speak to us and gives us the opportunity to know His plan and purpose for our lives!

In Psalm 111, King David offers praise to the LORD for who He is, and reminds us of His many acts of faithfulness. We have become accustomed to these somewhat brief offerings of David that most assuredly were songs of praise for worship.

Psalm 112 is anonymous. Its purpose is to affirm the LORD’s blessing on the righteous and generous.  In extensive detail the psalmist affirms the blessings will extend to them and their children. The last verse offers a brief explanation of what happens to the wicked–even with such a brief explanation, we most certainly don’t want to find ourselves on the wrong side of the LORD!

Psalm 113 is a psalm of praise, which focuses on the LORD’s goodness, and particularly His goodness to the poor and the widow.  Throughout the Bible, the LORD makes it clear while He loves us all, and has compassion for us all, He holds a particular compassion for the poor, the fatherless, and the widow. This reminds us we are also called to show compassion for the poor, fatherless and widowed in our lives.

Psalm 114 is a brief psalm of praise celebrating the LORD’s deliverance of Jacob from Egypt, and His establishment of the people of Judah and Israel. The psalm uses vivid imagery stating the Red Sea and Jordan “fled” from the Lord, as did the mountains and hills. The implication is His deliverance of His people was supernatural. We can be sure His supernatural protection is on us as well, because as the author of the Hebrews reminded us: God (specifically Jesus Christ) is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Psalm 115 is another anonymous psalm of praise. The identifying trait of this psalm is how the author reminds us of the futility of worshiping idols. He tells us they have eyes, but can’t see, mouths, but can’t speak, and other futile body parts as well. He tells us those who worship them will be like them. The practical nature of this reminder can’t be overstated. Only a living God can impact our lives. That’s why it so vital for us to worship the one true and living God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

As we return to Luke 2, the verse I want to emphasize is Luke 2:20: ²⁰The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Luke 2:20 (NLT) The key phrase is “just as the angel had told them.” Many times in our lives we look forward to something we have been led to believe will be amazing, perhaps a vacation, a new book, a sporting event, a worship experience, you name it. When the experience comes, it seldom lives up to the build up. But when the shepherds returned to their flocks after seeing Jesus, who they found lying in the manger of a stable in Bethlehem, they glorified God, because everything they experienced was just as they had been told. In our lives, we can be sure Jesus will live up to the build up. He is the only one who we can rely on to be faithful and everything we anticipate 100% of the time. The key is to commit to living the opportunities He gives us, another way of saying to obey Him, and He will live up to the build up!

Psalm 108 is a psalm of King David. It starts as a strong Psalm of praise, with David recalling the God’s worthiness to be praised, and His victories over Israel’s enemies. Then at the end it takes a sharp turn and David asks God why He has rejected Israel’s armies. He closes with another affirmation of the LORD’s presence, stating that no human help is of any value, but the LORD’s power will bring victory.

Psalm 109 is also a psalm of King David. In it he calls on the LORD to protect him from his accusers. He offers a lengthy statement of what the accuser, who might be Satan, offers as testimony against him. Again, he calls on the LORD to deliver him, and to overcome his foes.

Psalm 110, which is a psalm of King David is a “Messianic psalm.” In it David describes what the Messiah will be like. He will be LORD over the king, and He will be a priest in the order of Melchizedek. He will judge the kings and crush His foes. This psalm describes Jesus in His second coming rather than His first. We often think of Jesus only as a suffering servant, as a humble leader, and He was when He came to earth 2,000 years ago. When Jesus returns He will come as the eternal King and leader of us all.

Today, we return again to the Gospel of Luke. As we have done so far, we will return for a second time to a gospel which we have introduced once. I will focus on a particular aspect of each chapter, rather than summarizing the entire chapter.  If you are joining us “mid-stream,” feel free to return to the past twenty-four days to read the summary for each of the chapters as a whole.

As we turn again to chapter 1, our focus is  ³⁰And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30 (ESV) Nearly every time an angel appears to a human being in the Bible, its first words are , “Do not be afraid.” That greeting leads us to wonder what is it about angels that is so fearsome? Do they have wings, and if so is that what’s scary about an angel? Are they tall, or loud, or so radically different from us that their “alien” form produces fear? Whatever it is, the angel, in this case Gabriel, offered Mary the “standard greeting,” and then said, “for you have found favor with God.” The reason Mary didn’t need to fear, was God had found favor in her, and offered His favor to her. As we know, Gabriel was about to tell Mary she would become the mother of the Messiah, and the “father” would be the Holy Spirit. That must have been fearsome in and of itself. We don’t know for sure, but Mary might only have been fourteen or fifteen years old at the time. Her life would be radically different, and at first, at least, not in a good way.  In Mary’s day, a woman who was pregnant and was not married was scandalous. By the Law of Moses, she could be put to death by stoning. As we have read in our first time through Luke, Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Joseph was a righteous man, so when he found out Mary was pregnant, he determined to “put her away privately.” In other words, he wasn’t going to push for her death. He just didn’t want to be married to her. It would take an angel visiting Joseph in a dream that would keep her from this action. Mary’s courage must have matched the extent of the favor with which God viewed her.  As we go about our lives, we won’t have something as dramatic happen to us, but one thing we learn from Mary is: God always blesses obediences.  When He calls on us, whatever the task, the way to be blessed, the way to move His Kingdom forward it to obey, which means to do what He asks.

Psalm 106 is a lengthy psalm that starts and ends with praise to the LORD. The body of the psalm is a recounting of the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel from the time they were in Egypt, their wandering in the wilderness, their initial taking of the Promised Land, and their ultimate scattering by the LORD for their ongoing unfaithfulness. In minute detail, the psalmist recounts the numerous acts of unfaithfulness the Israelites carried out against the LORD. As we read it, we are reminded the LORD showed tremendous restraint in not destroying Israel before He did. His grace is evident in the long history of the waywardness of His people, and yet He retained them as His people. Time and time again the LORD judged the people, sometimes many died, but always the LORD spared many so they would have the opportunity to live to His glory. Our calling as Jesus’ followers today is to remember all He has done for us and to live out our faith with gratitude for His great love and faithfulness.

Psalm 107 is a lengthy psalm that moves back and forth between praising God for His faithfulness to those who obey Him, and a reminder that He judges those who don’t. This is not so much a recounting of Israel’s past as it is a reminder that in any era God rewards faithfulness and judges sin. May we take it as a reminder to live in relationship with Him and to allow His Holy Spirit to rule our lives in Jesus’ name!

Luke 24 offers us Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection. It starts by telling us the women went to the tomb early on the first day of the week–Sunday. The stone was rolled away from the tomb, so they went in, but found it empty. As they stood “perplexed” two man in dazzling apparel stood before them and asked the most powerful question:  “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” Jesus had told His followers over and over that He was going to rise from the dead on the third day. Instead of being ready for it, they assumed Jesus was still dead on the third day, and went to finish the work of embalming Him. Imagine their amazement when Jesus’ tomb was empty and they were greeted by two angels.

The women went back to the apostles and told them what had happened, but no one believed them because it seem like “an idle tale.” Really? Jesus had told them He would rise from the dead, yet even when the women returned to the group and shared their first-hand experience of being greeted by angels who told them Jesus was alive, they didn’t believe it. Peter ran to the tomb to see for himself, but while he found the tomb empty, there was no Jesus and no angels. He went back marveling, but apparently not believing.

Later that day, two of Jesus’ followers were returning to their home in Emmaus. One of them was named Cleopas. We aren’t told the other’s name. As they walked they were greeted by a stranger, who they thought didn’t know anything about Jesus’ dead, by the comments and questions He made and raise. But it was Jesus. They didn’t recognize Him, and as they walked Jesus explained to them from Scripture why the Messiah had to die, and that He would rise again. When they got to their home, the “stranger” pretended to continue on, but they invited Him in for dinner. When they sat down and He started to break the bread, they recognized Him as Jesus, and He disappeared. By this time it must have been nearly nightfall. The roads had not streetlights, or lights of any kind, yet Cleopas and his friend ran back to Jerusalem to tell the others they had seen Jesus.

When they returned to Jerusalem, they heard Jesus had appeared to Simon (Peter). Then they told their story and as they were telling it Jesus appeared among them all. Many were startled and thought it was a ghost, but Jesus showed them His hands and feet and asked them if a ghost had a body. Then He asked if they had anything to eat. They gave Him a piece of broiled fish. Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He told them they would proclaim His name in the nations and preach repentance and the forgiveness or sin. He told them to wait in Jerusalem until the “promise of the Father” came, which is the Holy Spirit. Then He returned to heaven. They worshiped Him and praised Him and met to pray in the Temple courts. Thus, Luke ends with praise and worship. As we will see when we read Acts, Jesus return to heaven brought about the “birth” of the Church, because when Jesus returned to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to the believers!

Psalm 103 is one of the most powerful psalms of praise of King David. Not only does David extol the LORD but he also tells of the LORD’s steadfast love and mercy. He recounts how the LORD was with Moses, and how He is always with His people. The psalm is a powerful call to praise the LORD, give Him thanks, and remember all His benefits from start to finish.

Psalm 104 is a long and specific record of the LORD’s hand in creation and in caring for the animals of many different species. It tells how He created them, how He feeds them. We’re told He feeds the leviathan, the great sea monster from His hand. One of the interesting aspects from Psalm 104, is folks in the middle ages used it to “prove” the earth was flat.  The second half of verse two tells us “He stretches out the heavens like a tent. If the heavens are a tent, then in order to stretch them out and drive the tent pegs into the ground it would have to be flat. The logic sounds right, but only if the image was a literal statement of what takes place rather than a metaphor. It is always dangerous to literalize the Bible when a poetic image is being drawn. The Bible was never intended to be a science book. That doesn’t mean it contradicts science. It means when we want to talk about science, we ought to go to a science book. Science would do well to take this reminder and not step over into the field of theology, as when it “assumes” the universe started with a big bang, that had no origin. That sounds a great deal as if it were the act of a Creator. I believe God created the universe, and that belief is based on the Bible. Science cannot state with any kind of certain how the universe came into existence, so it would do well to stick with cause and effect. It seems the theologians of the middle ages would have done well to stick with theology!

Psalm 105 is a lengthy psalm of praise, that also recounts the history of God’s presence with His people from the time of Abraham through the time of God using Moses to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. The psalmist goes into great detail concerning the period of the Israelites time in Egypt starting with God “sending” Joseph into Egypt ahead of time to prepare the way for them.

As we turn to Luke 23, the religious leaders take Jesus to Pilate. Luke tells us after examining Him and finding no fault with Him, he found out Jesus was a Galilean, so he sent Jesus to Herod for examination. Herod relished the opportunity to interview Jesus, because he had wanted to see Jesus perform a sign or wonder for him. Jesus wasn’t compliant, so Herod made fun of Him and then Him back to Pilate. Pilate tried three times to release Jesus, but the crowd cried out for Pilate to release Barabbas and to crucify Jesus. Finally, Pilate relented and went with the crowd’s desire. Jesus was beaten and sent to be crucified. The Romans called on a man named Simon from Cyrene to carry Jesus’ cross. Many women followed and cried for Jesus’ plight. Jesus told them to mourn for their own people, not for Him.

When they crucified Jesus, He was placed between two other criminals. Jesus cried out for His Father to forgive them, because they didn’t know what they were doing. The religious leaders ridiculed Jesus and told Him that He had saved others, so come down from the cross and save Yourself. Then the Romans mocked Him. Eventually, one of the criminals hanging beside Him joined the mocking, but the other one asked him what he was doing. After all, they deserved to die, but Jesus was innocent. He then asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Jesus told him that he would be with Him that day in Paradise.

The sky turned dark for several hours, and Jesus died. Before He died, He commended His Spirit to the Father. As He died there was an earthquake, and the veil in the Temple was torn in two, signifying the division between God and humanity had been opened.  Women mourned, and the centurion in charge said, “Surely this man was innocent.” (He might have said that because of how quickly Jesus died, as well as how He endured the pain and stood the abuse hurled at Him by others. After His death, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for permission to bury Jesus body  in his tomb. Pilate agreed. The women went and saw where Jesus was buried, and then went back and prepared spices for His burial. These would need to wait for Sunday morning, because it was the beginning of the Passover Sabbath.

Psalm 99 starts with a powerful reminder of God’s place: He is LORD over all! Then it mentions those who carry out the LORD’s will: the king (a general affirmation of the monarchy in Israel and Judah), Moses, Aaron and Samuel. Moses and Samuel, in particular, heard God’s voice directly, and shared it with the people. Thus, we are reminded how important it is to hear God’s voice, and even more important–to listen and obey.

Psalm 100 is one of the most repeated psalms of praise. In the heading we are told it is a psalm for giving thanks.  It has often been used in hymns and worship songs. It has appeared as a call to worship in services for thousands of years. It reminds us to praise and thank God for who He is and all He has done for us. It calls us into His presence, which is far simpler now that Jesus came, lived, died, rose again, returned to heaven, and sent His Holy Spirit to live in each of us who believe in Him as Savior and Lord.

Psalm 101 is a psalm of King David. In it David praises the LORD, and promises he will do everything he can to ensure that he does not sin before the LORD, and that he will eliminate sinful men from his group of friends and from any influence in Israel. David’s intentions are noble, given God cannot be in the presence of sin and therefore of non-repentant sinners. His promise reminds us of how important it is for us not to develop a circle of friends who are not living in God’s will, because our friends tend to influence us more than we influence them.

The introduction to Psalm 102 reads, “A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.” so we know this is not going to be a “happy” psalm. As we have seen, the psalms include many laments, many offerings of the sorrow, anger, desperation, and sense of abandonment of the author. In this psalm, we could be reading the words of Job at first, they are that desperate. Then the psalm turns, as psalms of lament often do, and the psalmist praises the LORD for who He is and asks for deliverance not only for himself, but for his people. Even in the midst of devastating pain, sorrow, and the recognition that the LORD is the one who has sent the pain, the psalmist remembers who he is and whose he is. What a powerful reminder for us as well: no matter what we experience in life, we can turn to the LORD, and in the end we can praise the LORD!

As we turn to Luke 22, we read of Judas’ going to the chief priests and religious leaders to express his intent to betray Jesus to them. One of the chilling details Luke includes is “Satan entered into Judas.” Think about that for a moment. People often say, “The devil made me ______,” and fill in the blank with some sinful action they committed. But the truth is Satan is not like God in many ways, but a key way is: Satan can only be in one place at a time. He is not omnipresent the way God is. That means in the moment Satan entered Judas, that was the most strategic place he could be. He didn’t have a demon enter Judas. He entered Judas personally. That sends a chill through the bones, when you consider it.

Next, Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the place for the Passover. At the Passover meal, Jesus told the disciples He would not eat the Passover again, until He ate it anew in His Kingdom. He then instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper. He broke bread and told the disciples it was His body “given” for them. (I emphasize the word “given,” because many use the word “broken,” but this is not correct. The Old Testament tells us not a bone of the Messiah will be broken, so even though Jesus endured tremendous punishment through the beating He received and His crucifixion, His bones were not broken. He told us He was “giving” His body for us.)

After the meal Jesus told the group one of them would betray Him. We would think the ones who weren’t going to betray Him would have known that, but each one asked if it were he. Then a dispute broke out among them about which of them would be the greatest. Jesus had to remind them power struggles are for Gentiles, not for those who follow Him. He was the greatest and yet He served them the most. That’s the model for us to follow.

Next, Jesus turned to Simon Peter and told him that he would deny knowing Jesus three times. Peter denied that. He said he would go to prison and death with Jesus, and the rest said the same. But Jesus had told the truth. They would all scatter and Peter would deny Jesus three times. One of the most hopeful comments of Jesus to Peter was He was praying for Peter, and His command that when he returned to strengthen his brothers. Jesus never wants us to sin, but when we do and have repented on returned to following Jesus, our failure can be a stepping block of hope for others who fail where we do, not because of the failure, but because of the redemption of Jesus through it.

After this, Jesus told the group to be prepared for challenges ahead, including being armed. Then He led the group to the Mount of Olives. Jesus told His followers to pray, and then He went off by Himself to pray. We know from our reading of the other gospels, Jesus prayed not to have to face the pain of taking the sin of the world on Himself and being separated from His Heavenly Father. Luke tells us the anguish was so great His sweat became like drops of blood, and that an angel appeared to strengthen Him. (We now know from medical science, the condition of blood mingling with sweat is real, and happens in times when the capillaries dilate during extreme stress allowing blood to pass through and become part of one’s sweat. After this Judas came with soldiers to arrest Jesus. One of Jesus’ followers struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear. Jesus restored the man’s ear, and submitted to the arrest after asking the leaders why they were arresting Him in the dark when they had ample opportunity to arrest Him in public.

Peter followed along behind the group, and as Jesus predicted he denied knowing Jesus three times. Only Luke tells us that the third time Peter denied Jesus, Jesus “looked” at Peter. Peter was in the sight line of Jesus. I have often wondered what kind of look Jesus gave Peter. No one knows, but given what Jesus told Peter earlier, and that He knew the denials were coming, my belief is Jesus looked at Peter lovingly and compassionately. Nevertheless, Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Next, the soldiers mocked Jesus and hit Him. When the religious leaders questioned Jesus, He admitted He was the Son of Man, or the Messiah, and they condemned Him to death. The problem then was they didn’t have the authority to execute Him. Tomorrow, we will see how they addressed that problem.

Psalm 95 is a joyful song of praise to the LORD! It has been made into hymns and worship songs, because of it’s focus on lifting up the LORD in praise, and the reminder that He is higher than all other gods. (Once many years ago, I received a note from a church member who was upset, because we had sung a worship song with the words, “He is higher than all other gods.” She asked, “Where did you get those lyrics? There are NO other gods.” I must admit it was with some pleasure I wrote back to her: The words came from Psalm 95.  We can often embarrass ourselves when we speak from opinions rather than a knowledge of God’s word.)

Psalm 96 is another joyful song of praise that has been made into hymns and worship songs. It includes some aspects of a creation psalm, because of its references to God’s work in nature. As you read and reflect on Psalm 96, it is easy to smile and consider the power of God’s hand all around us and on our lives.

Psalm 97 is another in this string of psalms of praise. Here the added aspect is the LORD’s righteousness, and a reminder that we must be righteous as we call on His name. The LORD judges sin, therefore, we must come to Him out of an attitude of reverence, awe, and righteousness. As we know from our experience of life, and our reading of the New Testament, all true righteousness comes to us as a gift from Jesus. Yet, the words of the psalmist are true: If we want to enter the LORD’s presence we must be righteous. The Good News is: we become righteous through the blood of Jesus. In their day, the cleansing from sin required repeated sacrifices of animals. In our day, we rely on the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus!

In this joyous psalm of praise, Psalm 98 reminds us to sing and praise the LORD with music. It even calls on the seas on all that live within it to rejoice, and the rivers to “clap their hands.” What a powerful metaphor, and reminder for us to praise the LORD vigorously and demonstratively. He and He alone is worthy of our worship and praise.

As we turn to Luke 21, Jesus commends a poor widow for putting her last two pennies in the offering box. He reminds His followers that many wealthy givers put large amounts in the offering box, but it was out of their great wealth. The widow, on the other hand, gave everything she had to the LORD. Jesus’ point is clear: it isn’t the quantity of the gift, but the quantity of sacrifice that is the measure of a gift to the LORD. That is true when we give to others as well. Giving much out of a resource far greater, isn’t nearly as costly as giving most or all of a little. We cannot buy a relationship with God through our giving, whether much out of much more, or all of a little. We do demonstrate our love and commitment as give generously and sacrificially, or as we don’t.

Next, Luke records Jesus’ extended discourse on the signs of the times of the end. Jesus reminded His listeners and, through them, us many signs of the end will be evident, but whether it is the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, in trials and natural disasters, none of these will give us the definitive moment when the end is coming. The key is to be ready when He comes!