Take Up My Cross

Summary v1-8 God's kingdom established in all power above all the earth v9-14 The joy of Zion God's Kingdom established in all power over all the earth Actually there are kinda two sections to this. The first 3 verses speak of the glory of God's kingdom being established. It is metaphorically compared to a city on a mountain in the north - probably the same way Jesus uses the phrase "A city on a hill cannot be hidden". And so it is so, even in the OT writings, that God's kingdom cannot be hidden and will be displayed in all glory for all the world to see. The second section describes the kings of the earth gathered against the kingdom of God. Or at least, it looks like that's the way it's written though it's not explicitly stated in the passage. Reason being that upon seeing it, they panicked and took flight - why run if you're not against God? This kinda highlights the resistance of the world to God - that even in all His glory the wo...

Summary Okay cheesy title. Why !!!? Because the Psalm is just full of these !s. It's rather simply a Psalm of joy and praise for God. Shall do this Psalm in point form since it makes rather valid sense! Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared a great king over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob who he loves God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to the King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted! Well basically each of the main points are kind of subheadings to the Psalm, and then we have fo...

Finally this one seems pretty straightforward. A easy read! Summary v1-3 God is our refuge and our strength v4-7 We shall not be moved v8-9 Behold the works of the Lord v10-11 Be still and know that I am God God is our refuge and our strength The first 3 verses are rather simple. It opens with the title - that God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. The author goes on to state very clearly that though the mountains tremble and the seas roar he will not be shaken for his trust is in God, who is beyond the forces of this world (tbc!) We shall not be moved Here the author goes on to describe the splendour of God as the reason why he has no need to fear. Again, imagery of a very royal, powerful King. This section closes with the same line as the one at the end of the Psalm - The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  I think there are two things going on in this line. 1. The LORD of hosts - as interpreted by some as the LO...

Seems like the Psalms are getting progressively harder to read. I feel so stuck reading this one. Innocently read it is about God's anointed King and his position of glory. Read deeper and it seems to be about God Himself relating to the nation of Israel. I'm exhausted. Will try to go in depth again tomorrow.. v1-9 Praise for God, the King v10-17 A message for Israel I'm rather convinced that this passage has the deeper meaning of speaking about God rather than simply about a King. I haven't actually looked up commentaries' views on this, but I'll just write what I do understand from the passage. v1-9 Praise for God, the King v1 - The Psalmist addresses his song to the King. Kind of like a dedicatory. You know, how we dedicate songs to people who mean a lot to us. v2 - Praise to God the Son. This seems to make sense - the most handsome of the sons of men, grace poured upon His lips, and blessing from God forever - an apt description of Jesus. ...

This Psalm is also famously referenced in Romans 8.   It is really one of the hardest readings I've seen yet. What exactly is going on? The author cries out his innocence against God's judgement, but there seems to be no respite... v1-8: In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever The first 8 verses follow the trend of many other Psalms. They rejoice in the Lord's great works to save His people, they rejoice and praise God for His provision for the Israelites in bringing them to the Promised Land, they praise God for the blessings that He has given them. He declares the trust in God and not man, how God delivers them from what sword and bow cannot. v9-16: But You have rejected us Now here's where it gets interesting. There is a change in tone here. The author now describes God going against Israel - no longer going out before them, making them a sheep for slaughter. God scatters the people of Israel across the nations and made ...

This Psalm is clearly written in some relation to the previous. v1-2: Vindicate me and defend my cause v3-4: Send out Your light and Your truth v5: Why are you cast down, O my soul? Vindicate me and defend my cause It seems to carry on from the previous Psalm, in asking God to uphold the writer against the deceitful and unjust man. He confirms God as his refuge, and wonders why he is mourning under the oppression of his enemy. Send out Your light and Your truth The second section is a call to God to establish His kingdom. The author understands that God's glory will be manifest someday - and on that day the wrongs will be made right, and his suffering end - and that his suffering will only truly end when God's kingdom has been established . This is significant for us! It tells us that in the same way, we look forward to Jesus' second coming as that is the establishment of His kingdom and the end of our present sufferings. It is the hope we hold to and eagerly wa...

It's just such a beautifully written Psalm. v1-2: My soul thirsts for God v3-4a: Suffering in the meantime v4b: In anticipation of the rejoicing to come v5-8: Hope in God's steadfast love v9-10: Oppression by my enemies v11: Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God v1-2: My soul thirsts for God Verse 1 seems like the classic opening line from the hymn "As the deer". I guess I've never really reflected on the deep meaning behind this sentence until today. As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you Shouldn't this be the way we long for God? That longing that we can't live without. Why do we live like we don't need the water of life? Verse 2 goes on to push that further - expressing the writer's desire to come before God. The double emphasis really brings this out really strongly... v3-4a: Suffering in the meantime The next 1.5 verses bring out the reality of the current situation. God may ...