Psalm 126 has Israel’s return from Babylon (“When the Lord brought back the captive ones” (v. 1 – NASB) as its starting point. The nation’s response to God’s great deliverance is both poetic and powerful, “Our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy . . . we are filled with joy” (v. 2-3). TheContinue reading “Joy for the Journey”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Surrounded, Stable and Secure
A mountain is no small thing. While that sounds like it’s straight out of the mouth of Captain Obvious, there might be more truth to it than meets the eye (or ear). Although we do hear about small mountains, even those are substantial in terms of size—just try climbing one! But mountains are big inContinue reading “Surrounded, Stable and Secure”
Our Help is in the Name of the Lord
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it . . . Many of us recognize this as the opening line in a familiar song. It’s one that tells our story. We are the redeemed. We’ve been rescued from sin, death and eternal loss. We have been saved from the futility of our thinking and its attendant destructiveContinue reading “Our Help is in the Name of the Lord”
Mercy
Psalm 123 hits us right where we live. It is a weary pilgrim seeking mercy. He is sure of two things: he has been ground down by those who oppose him and only God can meet his needs. Let’s start with the second truth. Some people might view this to be a bad thing ifContinue reading “Mercy”
This is where the tribes go up
We all recognize it’s a serious mistake to think that going to church is the biggest or most important part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Such a view overemphasizes our meetings and tends to trivialize all that takes place outside them. At its absolute worst, it can produce the bankruptContinue reading “This is where the tribes go up”
The Joy of Community
Community is a prominent theme in the Psalms of Ascent. As we’ve noted, the background for these psalms are the pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts. These trips were made in the company of others. It was not only a safe way to travel, it was also spiritually enriching. God’s goodness was experiencedContinue reading “The Joy of Community”
I Am For Peace
Our journey toward God is a journey of and toward peace. Christ told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.” He went on to say, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33). That’s exactly the problem the writer is experiencing in Psalm 120—he’s havingContinue reading “I Am For Peace”
Psalms for the Road
Psalms 120-134 were recited by Jewish pilgrims as they journeyed to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts celebrated by the nation of Israel. These 15 psalms speak to anyone who is traveling—whether it is a trip from point A to point B, or the larger journey we make through life. They were referred to asContinue reading “Psalms for the Road”
Psalms of Ascent
A Better Idea A Passion for God At Our Posts Blessed Childish or Child-like? Coming Attractions I Am For Peace Joy for the Journey Meeting God in the Depths Mercy Morning Always Comes! Our Help is in the Name of the Lord Perseverance (1) Perseverance (2) Psalms for the Road Seeing Beneath the Surface SomethingContinue reading “Psalms of Ascent”
The Music of Heaven
Beatrice Harrison was an accomplished British cellist of the last century whose peak performing years were in the period between the two world wars. One summer evening in 1924, she was practicing in her garden when she stopped and restarted several times. The reason? There was a nightingale that began singing along with her—echoing partsContinue reading “The Music of Heaven”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 