Readings for these two days:
Wednesday, June 26: Psalm 70-73
Thursday, June 27: Psalm 74-77

Sorry for the delay, our family has been busy at home doing some remodeling. All in all, the project looks great, but by the time we wrapped things up for the day, making a post on my Blog, was the last thing on my mind. I still took some notes on my reading that I wanted to share.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Psalm 70

Here our Psalmist pleas for help. Not an uncommon theme in our reading of the Psalms. Take note of the wonderful contrast that is played out in verses 4 & 5:

“God is great!”
“But I am poor and needy!”

Psalm 71

“Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress,
to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.“
v. 3

As I read this I thought instantly of Martin Luther and pondered whether or not these words inspired the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”. After taking the time to do a bit more research, Luther was actually inspired by Psalm 46, and looking back at those words, I just don’t see it. Do you?

Psalm 72

This Psalm is introduced as being “by Solomon.” Think back to 1 Kings 3, and what was the one thing that Solomon asked for as he began his reign over the nation of Israel? Wisdom. And what is part of being wise . . . being “just.”

This Psalm retells Solomon’s gift of wisdom/justice, and then overflows with all the other great things that Solomon was granted because he sought wisdom over and above all other things.

Psalm 73

We enter the third of the three “books” within The Psalms. Like many other Psalms, we are asked, what should we do when all else fails? We turn to God.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
verses 25 & 26

Psalm 74

We don’t often hear much of what happens to Jerusalem during the time of exile to Assyria and Babylon. Here, we have a clue, and it is heart wrenching. After countless days reading of the beauty of creating the Tabernacle and later the Temple, everything is now left in complete and utter ruin. Starting at verse 4, everything seems hopeless. Yet, even our Psalmist knows with God there is always hope! Even as the Psalm comes to a close, starting with verse 12, hope is found knowing that all things lie in the hands of the one who created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 75

I loved this part . . . what do we do with our wicked enemies? Why not get them drunk! (v.8) The end result, “Then I will rejoice!” (v. 9) Why? Are they easier to defeat? Or, just more fun to be around? Guess we’ll have to think on that one!!!

Psalm 76

You indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
v. 7

What doe is mean to have an angry God? Can anger still bring about love and compassion? Absolutely! Think of your parents . . . ever make them angry? I know I did. Yet I was still loved. There was still compassion. When we read of the “Angry God,” we need to think of God in much the same way as we do a loving/compassionate parent.

Psalm 77

This Psalm recalls the exodus. From the mighty storm . . . to being led through the waters!

Readings for the next few days: 
Friday, June 28: Psalm 78 – 79
Saturday, June 29: Psalm 80 – 85
Sunday, June 30: Psalm 86 – 89
Monday, July 1: Psalm 90 – 95