Psalms

Mouth to mouth (Psalm 119:13)

With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth (Psa. 119:13 NRSV). The psalmist uses his lips to declare the ordinances of YHWH's mouth.  From God's mouth, to the psalmist's mouth. …
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Did God sneeze? (Psalm 119:12)

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes (Psa. 119:12 NRSV). Why does the psalmist bless God?  Did God sneeze?  (If God sneezed would you say, "God bless…
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Like a baby (Psalm 119:11)

I treasure your word in my heart,  so that I may not sin against you (Psa. 119:11 NRSV). The third verse in the Bet section is a familiar one,…
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Wandering is a bad thing (Psalm 119:10)

With my whole heart I seek you; Do not let me stray from your commandments (Psa. 119:10 NRSV). The psalmist understands that pursuit of God's laws are primarily a…
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Got purity? (Psalm 119:9)

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word (Psa. 119:9 NRSV). Yeah, but do young people want to keep their way…
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Righteous! (Psalm 119:7)

"I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances" (Psa. 119:7 NRSV). In verse 6, the psalmist spoke of shame-avoidance, in verse 7…
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Shame avoidance (Psalm 119:6)

"Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments" (Psa. 119:6 NRSV). Psalm 119 is the longest prayer in Scripture.  The…
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A wish for “captivity” (Psalm 119:5)

"O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes" (Psalm 119:5). The psalmist exposes the desire of their heart here.  It's not exactly a prayer, more of…
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Do no wrong? (Psalm 119:3)

...who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways (Psalm 119:3). I shouldn't cut this sentence in half, but I've committed to only focus on one verse per…
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“Xylophones I will use to praise your word”

What inspires poetry?  Most often it is romantic love. The inspiration for the longest love song in Scripture is Scripture itself.  This particular song is also the longest prayer in the…
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Psalms 5: The stick (Psalm 1:4-6)

Psalm 1 provides both positive and negative motivation for delighting in the law of YHWH.  After describing the carrot (prosperity) that comes to the torah-obsessed person in verse…
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