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For generations, believers have gone to the Psalms to praise God in joy and seek solace in grief. In these poems, we experience wonder, despair, gratitude, zeal, lament, and hope. The various psalmists use imagery and figurative language to help us unpack the layers of human experience and lead us emotionally to the heart of God. As we pause this summer to explore Wisdom from Psalms, we pray God would captivate our hearts with his depth and glory.
In this psalm, the author focuses on the life-giving nature of God’s Word. Studying the Bible and aligning our lives with truth is integral to being transformed into the image of Christ. Indeed, the Bible is our primary path towards knowing the heart of God.
In this psalm of ascent, we get a glimpse into David’s journey from pride to humility. He has learned what it means to carry a heavy burden and then entrust it to God. May we also learn to calm and quiet our hearts as we trust God instead of seeking to control our own fates.
Psalm 23 is familiar and comforting, yet the story of our Shepherd is far more gritty and robust than most of us realize. When we lay hold of the reality that the God of the universe not only cares for us, but that he sent his Son to snatch us from the jaws of death, we will experience rest in both green pastures and dark valleys.
As power transitions from David to Solomon, the psalmist pleads with God to give the king a heart for justice. For when a king embodies the heart of God, the vulnerable will flourish and the blessing of his kingdom will extend across nations and throughout generations.
The psalmist has a long, tenured relationship with God, and he is able to draw upon a wellspring of memories of God’s faithfulness during a hard time. As we age, we also gain a deeper appreciation of God’s mercy and kindness, which we can in turn pass on to the next generation through prayer, encouragement, and example.
The psalmist recognizes the challenge of living in a broken world where evil and injustice seem to be winning at every turn. Instead of being paralyzed by worry and anger, we have freedom in Christ to both cultivate goodness in our world and find shelter in God in times of trouble.
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105
These daily readings will help prepare you for the upcoming teaching you will hear this weekend at Grace Church. These passages will create some context for the sermon by showing you Scriptures the teacher might be quoting and some passages that contain related ideas. Our hope is that as you follow this reading plan, it will help you become more defined and directed by Scripture.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
Psalm 25:5