Psalms 41-45
FIVE SIMPLE PLEASURES:
Looking through a stack of photos- Buying some cool clothes in a sale at work
- Watching ‘Divergent’ again in preparation for ‘Allegiant’ coming out this week
- A different kind of dance class with a different teacher
- Finding a pj top I thought I’d lost
PSALM 41: HOW WE TREAT OTHERS
Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. v1
How we treat others matters. It really matters. We were discussing this with the kids last night. It’s easy to be friends with the popular kids, but looking out for the unpopular and standing up for the marginalised and being kind to the ‘weird’ is tough. For adults as well as children.
PSALM 42: YEARNING FOR GOD
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God. v11
Calling out to God when we can’t feel He is there or listening takes trust. It takes perseverance. It takes courage. It is an act of will. We yearn to feel God with us ‘as a deer pants for streams of water’ – it’s an all-consuming thirst. The search is vital for life itself. The deer knows that water exists – it never doubts and it never stops searching.
PSALM 43: MORE OF THE SAME
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God. v5
I’ve never before noticed how similar many of the Psalms are. This bunch that we’re travelling through at the moment anyway. David was tested long and hard. He voiced his confusion and fear and yearning. Over and over again. He has to tell himself over and over again to trust God.
PSALM 44: GOD HAS DELIVERED AND HE WILL DO SO AGAIN
In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever. v8
Throughout history, God has done many amazing things. Through the stories in the Bible. Through the lives of His followers since that time. Through the lives of people around us now. It’s good to remind ourselves of those stories. Of all that God is capable of. To remind ourselves of all that God has done for us over the years too.
PSALM 45: PRAISE TO THE KING
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy. v7
This is a song of praise to an earthly king – king David. A representative on earth of our heavenly King. He has stood by God and God has stood by him. I wonder if anyone will say something like this about any of us. For we are God’s representatives here on earth too.
