Psalms

I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches (Psa. 119:14 NRSV). What do you delight in?  While I don't think it's going to happen,… — January 8, 2012

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. … — January 1, 2012

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… — December 18, 2011

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,… — December 11, 2011

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… — December 4, 2011

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… — November 27, 2011

"I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me" (Psa. 119:8 NRSV). With this verse, we finish the first of 22 stanzas of Psalm 119 where each… — November 13, 2011

"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… — November 6, 2011

"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… — October 30, 2011

"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… — October 24, 2011

"You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently" (Psalm 119:4). Only 172 verses to go.   (I'm blogging one verse from Psalm 119 each Sunday.)  And you thought… — October 16, 2011

...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… — October 9, 2011

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. The second verse in this longest psalm reiterates the idea of blessing from verse… — October 2, 2011

"Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD" (Psalm 119:1). So, I'm blessed as long as I can keep my way… — September 25, 2011

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… — September 18, 2011

As we've looked at the first psalm, we've discussed the benefits that come from an obsession with God's law, and the downside of not delighting in torah (=… — June 29, 2011

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… — June 26, 2011

The person that delights in God's Torah is like a tree planted by streams of water.  Remember that Israel was a more arid land than much of the… — June 21, 2011