Not every psalm has a number. Exodus 15:1-22

The Song of Moses and Miriam

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

   “I will sing to the LORD,
   for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
   he has hurled into the sea.

2 “The LORD is my strength and my defense;
   he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
   my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a warrior;
   the LORD is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
   he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
   are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep waters have covered them;
   they sank to the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, LORD,
   was majestic in power.
Your right hand, LORD,
   shattered the enemy.

7 “In the greatness of your majesty
   you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
   it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils
   the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
   the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy boasted,
   ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
   I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
   and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,
   and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
   in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
   is like you, LORD?
Who is like you—
   majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
   working wonders?

12 “You stretch out your right hand,
   and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your unfailing love you will lead
   the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
   to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
   anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
   the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
16 terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
   they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, LORD,
   until the people you bought pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
   on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, LORD, you made for your dwelling,
   the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

18 “The LORD reigns
   for ever and ever.”

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:

   “Sing to the LORD,
   for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
   he has hurled into the sea.”

Not every psalm is found in the book of psalms, either!

I love History.

I love women in historical settings.

So, when I was a girl and discovered this particular psalm, it made me happy-

here is a psalm- a song- sung by a woman.

A psalm that recounts a fabulous miracle and redemption for God’s people.

And the women followed her lead and sang and danced.

I learned the song, as well, and it was one of my favorite songs growing up.

This is also a song of prophesy- coming from a woman in a patriarchal society.

It is a song of hope and protection as they travel through enemy territory.

It is a song of PRAISE to the Lord who reigns for ever and ever!

And a song of belonging- 

“My God…my father’s god”.

So- take a moment, grab your timbrel and sing and dance with the women

of Israel, Miriam, and me.

“I will sing unto the Lord

for He has triumphed gloriously

the horse and rider thrown into the sea!”

Psalm- July 23, 2011

I started off these psalm postings saying that I had just

taught a class on the Psalms that had lasted for several

years.  We had a method for studying, and a notebook for

copying down familiar and repeated stanzas.  The students

were all encouraged to pay close attention to the language

of the psalmists and were told that at the culmination of our

study- they would be asked to write a psalm of their own.

The average age of our class was about 70- a couple were in the

range of 35 to 45, several of us in our fifties, some in their sixties,

several in their late seventies and early eighties and two in their

nineties.  We had lots of years of experience in our classroom-

and many of the ladies had been believers for 50+ years.  It was

a wonderful group to study and share with!

The oldest lady in our group was Mae.

Mae is still living and loving the Lord, but her health has

been on a decline of late and she can’t live by herself

anymore, even with help.

So, her family is moving her closer to them and I went recently

to say goodbye to my old friend.

Mae's psalm 001

I wrote Mae’s psalm for her after asking her to tell me what

she would like to say.  Today’s psalm is

“A Psalm for Mae”.

From my earliest childhood, I called you Father,

And I call you Father, still.

You have held my hand and filled my heart-

And you hold them now – still in your protection-

Still in your love.  I am still yours and by

Your grace I always will be.

 

Father,  you have blessed my life with your goodness.

And I have tried to pass that blessing on-

With hugs and love and even with bananas.

Because what is life without blessings?

 

This life that you have given me has been long,

But not long enough to sing your praises-

And so I will keep on singing here

Until You take me home so I can sing them

With all the saints in glory!

 

Keep on singing, Mae!

Psalm 111– An Old Song

Psalm 111

1Praise the LORD.

I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Today’s guest blogger; Frank Fodor

Psalms 111  and 112 are a matched pair.  Both consist of ten verses

and each poem contains twenty-two phrases which are arranged

as an acrostic, the phrase successively commencing with the letters of

the Hebrew alphabet.

(quoted from the New Bible Commentary, Eerdmans,  publisher)

Both psalms begin with the phrase, Jah, which means Hallelujah (literally).

Psalm 111 through 119 were supposed to have been sung by the Jewish people at the

celebration of the Passover, namely the singing of the Gospel Hallel.

That hymn, in all likelihood, which our blessed Lord sang with his disciples after

last supper.  The psalm is composed in alphabetical order, each verse containing two letters.

The first verse begins with aleph, while the letter beth is placed at the commencement of the

of the next half of the verse.

Example: (aleph) I will praise Jehovah with my whole heart,

(beth) in the congregation and assembly of the just.

2. (gimel) The works of Jehovah are great

(deleth) sought out of all who have a desire to them.

3. (he) His work is beautiful and magnificent,

(vau) And his justice is forever.

4. (zain) He has caused His marvelous works to be remembered,

(cheth) Jehovah is compassionate and merciful….

(Information from Jebb’s literal Translation of the Book of Psalms,

Christian Classics Etheral Library, Calvin College, www.ccel.org)

Acrostic form most likely aided in memorization of the song.

 

 

 

 

Psalm 33- A new song.

Psalm 33

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
   it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
   make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
   play skillfully, and shout for joy.

4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
   he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
   the earth is full of his unfailing love.

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
   their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a];
   he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
   let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
   he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
   he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
   the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
   the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
   and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
   all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
   who considers everything they do.

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
   no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
   despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
   on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
   and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
   he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
   for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
   even as we put our hope in you.

Sing to him a new song…

there are many references to a new song in the

scriptures- most of them in the psalms. 

What does it mean to sing a new song?

Is it about a change in tone or behaviour?

Or is it more about style and tune?

Does it require a change of attitude?

Perhaps we need to find some deeper meaning,

some hidden symbol or heightened understanding

of the text.

This psalm has 22 verses- and often that suggests that

the psalm is an acrostic psalm- each verse corresponding

with the Hebrew alphabet  Alef to Tav.  This is a very old

mnemonic device used by the Jewish people to signify

that the psalm is all inclusive – what we would say includes

everything from A to Z.  The next Psalm –34- is an acrostic

psalm- but 33 is not.  It is a NEW  song.  It has its own style

and rhythm – it is not following the tradition, but speaks of

the LORD from an experiential point of view.

Not a hymn- a praise song.

I’ve been singing a new song, lately.

Looking at the brevity and frailty of life here from a different

point of view- and praising the Lord for His protection.

I’m recognizing that truly, God is in control.

And I’m grateful for His Providence.

Singing a new song in Akron, Ohio.

Psalm 8

365

1 LORD, our Lord,
   how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory
   in the heavens.

394

Through the praise of children and infants
   you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
   to silence the foe and the avenger.

 106
3 When I consider your heavens,
   the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
   which you have set in place,

 389
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
   human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
   and crowned them with glory and honor.

 004
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
   you put everything under their feet

030311338
7 all flocks and herds,
   and the animals of the wild,

 398
8 the birds in the sky, DSC_0074
   and the fish in the sea,
   all that swim the paths of the seas.

 008016

9 LORD, our Lord,
   how majestic is your name in all the earth!

339

Sometimes I look long and hard to find the psalm to share.

Sometimes it is just there.

I’ve been living it- day by day.

Psalm 8 has been playing 24/7 on my heart and mind track- O Lord,

our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

What psalm is on your mind and heart 24/7 ?

Of David, and Allyson, and me. Psalm 27

Psalm 27

Of David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me
   to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
   who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
   above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
   the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

There are times when ,

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.

In fact, many times.

I am not a strong warrior under battle conditions.

I fall on my knees.  I throw up my hands.

I call upon the Lord.

When first I read this psalm, I remarked on all the

enemies present , Allyson said,

“There

are always enemies.”

And she’s right – there are.

We are surrounded by witnesses and enemies and

brothers and sisters. And we are surrounded by

grace.

So today – whatever enemies show up on your radar-

no matter the circumstances of  your life-

despite who has forsaken you-

in the very face of disaster-

“Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.”

Most likely – you will have a crowd of

believers standing right beside you.

Look for me in the crowd.

A psalm for the traveler

I’m writing my own today.

Praise to the Lord for His goodness.

For His mighty protecting hand in the darkness.

And for the path He provides through the fog.

Praise Him for His loving care for the deer that

didn’t jump into our path- and for the speed

He gave to the one that did.

Praise Him for the mysteries of engines and

brakes and squeals and noises that turn out

to be the rear windshield wipers.

Praise Him for guidance around the mountain

paths and through the mountain tunnels.

Praise Him for the strength of steel that

hold up bridges over the depths of the bay.

And for the clouds that block the sun during

the hottest part of the journey.

Today I’m praising Him for the journeys end-

and for the anticipation of a beloved daughter’s

soon arrival.

Praise the Lord with me!

Psalm 82- the look of justice.

Psalm 82
An Asaph Psalm

1 God calls the judges into his courtroom, he puts all the judges in the dock.
2-4 “Enough! You’ve corrupted justice long enough,
you’ve let the wicked get away with murder.
You’re here to defend the defenseless,
to make sure that underdogs get a fair break;
Your job is to stand up for the powerless,
and prosecute all those who exploit them.”
5 Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges!
They haven’t a clue to what’s going on.
And now everything’s falling apart,
the world’s coming unglued.
6-7 “I commissioned you judges, each one of you,
deputies of the High God,
But you’ve betrayed your commission
and now you’re stripped of your rank, busted.”
8 O God, give them their just deserts!
You’ve got the whole world in your hands!

Judgment awaits.

The world didn’t end yesterday at 6 PM.

Were you dressed up for the rapture?

Predictions have been made since Christ

was raised up on a cloud in the view of 500 followers.

Many seem to neglect that Jesus said that only God knows the

hour of Christ’s return.  So men  keep setting

dates and waiting on mountain tops and those who

don’t believe keep on scoffing.

BUT – judgment is coming.

I particularly like this psalm in the words of The Message.

NIV and KJV and many other translations use ‘gods’ instead

of judges and it is confusing in today’s mindset.

Here we look at the way justice was set up by God.

” You’re here to defend the defenseless,
to make sure that underdogs get a fair break;
Your job is to stand up for the powerless,
and prosecute all those who exploit them.”

I like the idea of “judges in the dock”.

We are responsible for our actions.

We are responsible for our judgments.

We are responsible to care for the defenseless.

And judgment day is coming.

It just wasn’t yesterday.

Saving the best for last- Psalm 150

Psalm 150

1 Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

This psalm is short and to the point.

Anywhere, everywhere= Praise the Lord.

Praise Him for His strength and greatness.

Praise Him with any instrument you can play.

Dance, dance – throw everything you have into

this session of praise.

Praise with with your first, last and every breath.

Don’t hold back- give way to the passion in your soul.

Do it NOW!

Do it always!

Don’t hold back-

Praise Him with loving abandon.


JOY!!!

Psalm 113

Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God!
      Just to speak his name is praise!
   Just to remember God is a blessing—
      now and tomorrow and always.
   From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
      keep lifting all your praises to God!
4-9 God is higher than anything and anyone,
      outshining everything you can see in the skies.
   Who can compare with God, our God,
      so majestically enthroned,
   Surveying his magnificent
      heavens and earth?
   He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
      rescues the wretched who’ve been thrown out with the trash,
   Seats them among the honored guests,
      a place of honor among the brightest and best.
   He gives childless couples a family,
      gives them joy as the parents of children.
   Hallelujah!

Happy Mother’s Day!

“Remember  God is a blessing-

now and tomorrow and always.”

The whole patriarchal language of the Bible

renders most of our references to God as “HE”-

MALE.  But there are other references that speak of a mother

figure- El Shaddai – being the most obvious in speaking of God

as a nursing mother.  Shad  meaning breast.

I love the imagery of our Mother/Father God who nurtures Her/His children.

God is our perfect parent.  And He shares the wealth by giving us children-

gives us joy as the parents of children.

My niece recently adopted a little boy.

He has become a welcome and essential  member of our family.

Happy Mother’s Day to Willow and Allyson, my favorite young mothers.

Happy Mother’s Day to Clarice, my heart mother, whom I love and honor and respect.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are mothers- and know that particular blessing,

trial, and joy.

Hallelujah! 

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Perfect Mom faces!  I’m watching you- be careful- stop- don’t move-

What are you doing???