“For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread” (102:3-4). The psalmist tells of excruciating pain, seemingly physical and emotional. He is hurting so much that he cannot even eat. I suppose (Maybe I should write, “I know.”) all of us have, at one time or another, had such moments of sadness and despair. Interestingly, the psalmist inserts a brief statement that might cause one to pause: ...

Hear the psalmist on the greatness of our God: “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods” (96:4). “You, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods” (97:9). “Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (98:1). “The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is...

I don’t know about others but, when I begin reading Psalm 91, my heart leaps with joy. Of course, all of Scripture is given by God and encourages and directs us. But there are some among the Scriptures that are (What might I call them?) old friends that have their special places in our hearts and lives. For many of us, Psalm 91 fits that description. The psalmist begins and, then, continues: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I...