Readings for Today: 
Tuesday, July 2: Psalm 96 – 102 

Psalm 96

Sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord! This triple annunciation introduces the Psalm to the reader. It draws you in, lifts you into a mindset of praise and thanksgiving. In the same way, the Psalm comes to a close . . . Ascribe to the Lord! Ascribe to the Lord! Ascribe to the Lord! From our words of praise we make a faithful commitment to walk in the ways of God.

Psalm 97

The Lord loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful;
he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
(v. 10-12)

Psalm 98

I love the words of verse 4, and I often use them as a reminder for those who hesitate to sing and participate in worship. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord.” Never does God ask for perfection. Never does God ask for the most beautiful music or voice. God only says, “make a joyful noise!” Together let us lift our voices of noise in praise and thanksgiving to God!

Psalm 99

Here is an interesting side note to Psalm 99. Very few Psalms recognize any one individual by name. Yet here Moses, Arron, and Samuel are all listed as ones who answered the call to God. While we may not be mentioned by name in a Psalm, may we be ever so faithful!

Psalm 100

One verse summarizes this Psalm and much of scripture:

Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us.
We are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
v. 3

Psalm 101

I will be honest, I read this one late last night and simply put “??” in my note book. Either I was uninspired, or just didn’t connect, so I’ll let you make your own interpretation of Psalm 101.

Psalm 102

Verses 6 and 7 refer to an “owl of the wilderness.” As I read these two verses I recalled an owl that I encountered while working at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary on our Youth Mission Trip. Can’t tell you the specific type, but it was gray and white and stood about a foot tall. It was big, and it seem fascinated with me, just as much as I was with it. Every time I passed by, it would start to sing. I never knew owls could sing. It would turn, and watch me go too and fro, bobbing its head up and down, singing as I went. Then when out of sight, it would stop. Once I stepped into view, it would start all over. Oddly enough, none of the other youth had such a connection.

Watching / experiencing nature at its best, I took in the mysterious nature of these beautiful creatures. Then the words of the Psalm prompted the thought of the mysterious majesty that God brings into our lives, and how much God must sing and dance when we come into his presence.

Readings for the next few days: 
Wednesday, July 3: Psalm 103 – 105
Thursday, July 4: Psalm 106 – 107
Friday, July 5: Psalm 108 – 114
Saturday, July 6: Psalm 115 – 118