Psalm 104

Lord, banish fear from me!
I cry out to you, O God,
because fear so often rules in me.
I fear the future and sometimes your will.
I don't understand this life
and I feel lost in it.

Lord, I want to trust you.
Give me a heart of trust,
a heart that is satisfied in your will.
Make me certain in doubt
never overwhelmed by a confusing life.
Lord, may trust rule me!

Psalm 103

Lord, remove sin from me,
may it not come near me.
Change my heart
and let me be clean.
May the Holy Spirit fill me
and may he make my ways his ways.
Take over my life, my God,
may may thoughts and actions be yours.

Psalm 102

God, you say I'm a saint,
but I feel only like a sinner.
Every careless word,
every stupid act
shows up to haunt my steps.
Thoughts assail me, crying out,
"You are worthless.
You are terrible.
You are a horrible person!"
How can I silence them?
They seem so true to me.
I feel like nothing,
a beaten down blade of grass
crushed under the weight of imperfection.
I know you love me,
but I don't feel love for myself.

Help me, Lord!
Help me to feel your love.
I want to grasp the depth of your compassion.
In me is only despair,
the thought I can never be better than I am.
Let me feel the arms of my savior,
he who gave his life for me,
holding me tight, squeezing my hand,
and whispering, "You were worth it.
Nothing you can do will stop me from loving you."
I long to hear these words,
now in the midst of my depression.
Speak to me!
May I hear your voice!

Psalm 101

This psalm is written in response to the video here.

LORD God!!! Savior!!! Blow Taker!!!
I want to get out of the prison,
I want to stay out of the prison.
I don't want to make grace small,
released from the penalty
but staying in the cell.
I want to WALK THROUGH THE DOOR!
Keep me outside the door.
I want to live in my relationship with you,
a child invited and welcomed into your house,
your adopted daughter,
one with you.
Dress me in your armor,
cover me with your protection,
send me into the world
with a heart and mouth
bold to proclaim your truth.
Make me a lion that roars out,
"I am a lamb rescued by my Shepherd!
I will not yield!
I will not give in!
I will stand and cry out,
'My God reigns!
He can release you!"
This is my cry today.
This where I want to go
and this is what I want to do.

Psalm 100

O Yahweh, hear my cry!
I live in a world of evil,
evil appears on every side.
Morals and values have disappeared
swallowed up in convenience and pride.
Time is a rushing stream,
people dive into it and are swept away.
They say, "I must fill my life with the flesh,
with every thing my eyes see as good."
There is no thought of restraint,
no contemplation of good or evil.

For satisfaction, citizens have given up their rights
so that they may be oppressed.
"Save us!" they cry to their leaders,
but their leaders answer in confusion,
a busy mockery themselves.
There is no salvation in the ways of men,
men lack eternity and a sovereign mind.
How can fallen man save fallen man?
Like blind men trying to cross a ditch
are those who trust in sinful man.
There is no hope in this way.

Lord, even the religious have forsaken truth!
They cling to traditions or rules,
they hold tightly to man's opinions.
They sing out, "Worship, worship!"
yet turn around and fill their actions with sin.
They make for themselves a cheap grace,
treading down the gift given to them.
Who is the man on the cross?
They want no true allegiance to him.
To love him they must obey,
but this they find too "hard" to bear.

But as for me, abolish sin in me.
I do not harbor evil in my heart,
may evil never rule over me.
Let me fix my eyes on your cross,
Jesus Christ, whose blood washes me.
May fruit grow forth from my life
out of a heart of obedience, of love.
May my allegiance be to the Lamb who was slain,
to the Lamb sacrificed on my behalf.
Make my life, O Lord, an offering,
an offering of truth, morality and inestimable value.

Psalm 99

Martyrs:
Strong and brave, for you, O Lord,
Choosing the better way,
Knowing to live is Christ,
to die is gain.
Not allowing their conscience
to change through fear.
Holding without doubt
to absolute truth.
They wait, they cry out,
"How long, O Lord?!"
Soon, soon, when the number is filled;
then they will see your return,
they will come on the clouds with you,
this their reward and desire.
I honor them,
I remember their sacrifices,
I pray for them:
Martyrs

Jesus Was Jewish

I know we know this, but recently this thought has been dominating my mind. Jesus was Jewish. He looked like a Jew, i.e. not an American. I'm guessing that almost all (if not all) of the standard pictures I grew up with show an Americanized Jesus and not an ethnically Jewish Jesus. Don't get me wrong. There are many beautiful pictures of Jesus. I don't think it is wrong to draw him differently in different cultures (some of my favorite Bible pictures are painted by an Indian artist who pictures the Bible in an Indian context). It's just, I got to thinking, "What did my savior really look like?" I wanted to think of him as a Jew, to picture him in my mind as he really might have been (is even now). I've found a picture here that captures more of a Jewish Jesus. The picture here shows what Jews of Jesus' time might have looked like. I guess what I am seeking in this cocoon is to throw off any false ideas I might have inadvertently imaged in my mind. Obviously, we don't know what Jesus really looked like. But I think in a way that even seeing Jesus as Jewish has changed the way I think about him. He lived in a very different culture than mine. It really hit me today how blessed I am. Jesus was a Jew and he reached out to Gentiles. This is radical! I am saved because he, a Jew, loved me, a Gentile. An amazing thought (read John 4 to see how the disciples were so shocked that Jesus reached out to a Samaritan and a woman). Putting Jesus in a Jewish context I think also has enlightened my Bible study. What a strange journey to be on, not only knowing that Jesus was Jewish, but thinking of him as Jewish. New and blessed perspective!

Psalm 98

Banish fear, O my God,
Let my trust rest in you.

As I look to the future
I cannot see the whole path.
I trace but a short thread
as I live in the present.
I cannot tell what lies ahead;
only you, my God, are wise enough to see.

Lord, bolster my trust;
Remind me of your faithfulness.
You are my shield, my defender,
my protector and father.
To you I turn,
to you I pray.

Trust in God, O my soul,
and do not fear.

Psalm 97

Blessing upon blessing
I've received from your hand.
I drink from a cup overflowing
with nectar so sweet.
You pour into my life
your grace so profound,
as deep as the ocean,
as vast as the stars.
I look and I wonder
at the breadth of the sea,
the enormity of the universe.
And yet, You look at me
and choose to bless me.
And for this, I am eternally thankful.

Psalm 96

My God is holy.
My God is just.
My God is love.

Holiness means He is wholly other.
Justice means He is fair and punishes evil.
Love means He seeks to draw us close to Him.

Love does not negate His holiness.
Love does not negate His justice.
Love must contain both holiness and justice.

For love does not delight in evil.
Love champions the powerless.
Love calls for absolute justice to be done.

My God is holy.
My God is just.
My God is love.

Psalm 95

Commitment.
You are the example.
Your life was yours.
You did not have to give it.
You could have called the angels to your rescue.

You did not.
You loved us completely.
You gave your back to the scourge.
You gave your hands to the nails.
You gave your life to darkness.

You are the Savior I look to.
You are the one who teaches me.
Me, a sinner, in need of an exemplar.
I the one who gazes on you.
I who chooses your truth.

I give my life for my enemy.
I give up my comfort.
I give up my rights.
I love others completely.
I do not seek my own.

I do not demand rescue from hardship.
I do not hold tightly myself.
My life is mine.
I choose to be an example of
Commitment.

Psalm 94

This world is steeped in sin.
I watch people choose sin,
choose self and death over life.
Humanity seems not to care.
Pride and emotion rule the day.

How long will this be, O Lord?
How long will people walk in darkness?
I long for your return
when the sin of the world will be washed away
and a new earth will take its place.

And yet, as you tarry,
open the eyes of the blind.
Wake up those slumbering in the dark.
Let people see the truth and be changed.
Draw a remnant always to yourself.

As for me, make me a light,
a light that casts guidance
on the path of truth.
Give me patience and stamina
as I sojourn in this foreign land.

Psalm 93

A child's birth,
the promise of hope,
the fulfillment of prophecy,
the glory of God,
the King of angels,
the Lord of earth,
God in Man.

To you, Lord Jesus,
we give praise.
We know you as the child
we need to bring us peace.
And peace you brought
in the form of a baby
and later in the resurrection of a man.

We look upon your face
this Christmas day
and see in you all we desire.
To you, King, Lord, Emmanuel,
we lift our souls
entrusting them to your care.
Praise to Jesus Christ, Savior of All.

Psalm 92

The wonder of your creation,
the glory of your skies,
made for us to see,
the power in your hands,
the beauty of your works.
Nature is your gift
to show us that you are here,
to reveal your very nature,
your order and your design.
To you alone the glory is to be given
for what we see above.

Psalm 91

Thank you for life and breath;
thank you for making me in your image.
You saw me, O Lord, before I was formed;
you knew when I would live
and who I would be.
You have always been with me,
each step of the way.
On this special day,
I remember that my life comes from you
and every blessing I have is from your hand.

Psalm 90

Father God,Constant Sustainer,
Weaver of Life, Creator of Light,
Patient Master, Guiding Shepherd,
Valiant Protector, Stouthearted Warrior,
Quiet Whisper, Roaring Lion,
Worthy King, Mighty Prince.

You are everything, my God, my Lord,
you are all to me.
Without you, my life has no meaning;
I am without a path.
It is you I follow,
you I trust,
you I will walk after,
you who picks me up when I fall.
To you, I give myself and my life.

Psalm 89

Lord, we come before you in thanksgiving.
We recognize your hand in the goodness of our lives.
The food we eat and the fellowship we share is of you.
The blessings we have been given, one after another,
are poured out from your heaven.

Lord, we come before you in prayer.
We pray for mercy and forgiveness for our sins.
We pray you pardon us for our selfishness,
for our willful ignorance, shoving you aside
when you should be our center.

Lord, on this Thanksgiving,
make us mindful of you.
Remind us who we are thankful to
and that without you
our lives lack all meaning.

To you, O Lord, I praise and give humble thanks!

Psalm 87

I want to find my worth in you.
I want to see myself as you see me.
I want to have your eyes, my God,
to look beyond my body and at my soul.
I want to change as I need to
but not stress over the trivial.
I want to be a reflection of Christ.
Let me see myself as the jar you have made me.

Psalm 86

Lord, heal me of this sickness.
Give me stamina where there is none.
Strengthen my body, O Healer of Men.
Let deep rest comfort me at night
and a revitalized body greet me in the morning.
I lean on you, My God,
to sustain me.

Psalm 85

Thank you, O Lord,
for blessings upon blessings,
the manifold grace and mercy
you have poured into my life.
I can never forget
the goodness of you in my life.
Bring me back to thankfulness
every step I take.
Make my mouth overflow
with thanksgiving to you.

Psalm 84

Lord, I need your stamina.
My life is so busy,
so full and so stressed.
Produce a peace in me
that goes beyond my own ability.
Give me your Spirit
to calm my innermost being.

Psalm 83

Lord, I pray for your people.
Do not let them despair
when they see the wicked prosper.
Let them remember that evil
will be conquered by you.
Keep us holding tightly to the truth,
maintaining our integrity.
Let us seek to glorify you
and to trust your hand in our lives.
Give us strength, O Father.

Psalm 82

Lord, give me stamina when I have none.
Give me grace when I fail.
Give me strength when I fall.
Give me life when I face darkness.
Give me joy when I meet trials.

Give me a thankful heart,
at all times and in all ways.
Make me a joy to you,
a reflection of Christ.

Psalm 80

Lord, I thank you that you don't think me silly
for saying that I truly thank you for pumpkins.
I thank you for the Fall, my favorite season,
a time not too hot, not too cold,
a time to enjoy the out of doors.
I thank you for pumpkins,
my favorite sight and taste of Fall.
I love their bright orange color,
so alive and so happy
and for their inner yumminess
as I gobble up pumpkin treats.
God, all creation is from your hand
so pumpkins come from you.
Thank you for this fruit, this squash
that just makes me smile all Fall
because when I smile at it,
in truth, I am smiling at you.

Psalm 79

Lord, make us defenders of the weak.
Give us the courage to stand up,
to fight for those who have no defense.
May our decisions be based not on selfish motive,
but on defending the least among us.
A righteous man takes up the case of the infant, the orphan, the widow,
but a wicked man tramples on the least to his own detriment.
Let us be righteous!
Stand strong, stand tall,
speak what is true!

Psalm 78

Protect, my child, O Lord;
Keep her safe in your hands.
Fill me with trust in you,
knowing you love my little girl.
You formed her,
you knit her in my womb.
May she grow strong and wise,
and become a reflection of your Son.

Psalm 77

Lord, grant me wisdom in making decisions.
Show me the path I should take.
Let my feet go where your will directs.
Do not let me move astray.
Give me bravery to change as necessary.

Psalm 76

Thank you, Lord, for blessed rest.
As you spoke softly to Elijah,
as you moved him to sleep,
so you have rejuvenated me.
Thank you for how you designed us,
how you made our bodies to function.
Thank you that you nourish us through rest,
through a time of tranquil peace.
May your peace rest on me,
may your serenity sustain me.

Psalm 75

Rejuvenate my soul, O Lord,
revitalize my body.
Give me precious rest,
peace and contentment from you.
May I learn to quiet in your sight
and listen for your still voice.

Psalm 74

God, you are Lord of the seasons.
You have ordained the sun's orbit,
the rain's appearance,
the soil's rebirth.
The clouds are formed by your hand
and obey your commands.
The seas listen to your voice
and flow as you desire.
Bless us, O Lord, with good harvest,
with sunny days
and peaceful nights.
Let us remember that you are the Lord,
director of all creation.

Psalm 73

Lord, banish doubt.
Destroy the enemy's arrows.
Shield us with your truth.
Keep us on the path.

Bring back those who stray.
Lift up those who fall.
Encourage those who are weak.
Gird up the failing.

Lord, we cling to you.
We stand on your assurance.
Make hope our banner
and faith our sword.

Psalm 72

Lord, make me a mother after your own heart.
Make my life a reflection of Christ.
May I remember to love passionately,
to effuse compassion constantly,
to lift up the broken-hearted,
to speak words of peace.

May I remember that children are precious,
gifts from the Lord
and that to treat them poorly
is a poor reflection on me.
May I seek my children as you seek yours,
bringing them into fellowship with me.

Lord, make my heart big
and my anger small.
Make my patience strong
and my impatience weak.
May the words of my mouth
well up living water in my precious child.

Psalm 71

You speak to me, Lord,
I hear your voice.
Your words flow from the Word;
the Savior draws me in.
You move my mind,
you direct my path.
With you I am safe,
with you I am free.
I love you, my God.
You draw back the veil
and let me see your face.

Psalm 70

Blessing upon blessing,
you have poured into my life, O Lord.
All that is good comes from your hand,
all that I have is a gift from you.
Lord, keep me thankful,
ever thankful of your work in my life.
It is to you that I turn day by day
and remember to give you my gratitude.
May my thankful heart speak to you
forever and often.

Psalm 69

Lord Jesus, you have made me free.
You have brought me peace and rest.
You do not snuff out a smoldering wick;
You do not break a bruised reed.
You proclaim you are with us always;
we have never been abandoned.
May I look to you, to your ways,
to your heart, to your instruction.
May they be my guide
as I navigate this life.

Psalm 68

I praise you, my Lord,
for your patience
and your everlasting love.
I praise you for your compassion,
for your heart that calls to us.
We hear our shepherd's voice
and we run to answer.
O Lord, you who longs to gather us
as a mother hen gathers her chicks,
you are the one whose wings
are steady, stable, a comfort.

Give us pause;
let us rest in your presence
and know that your heart of love
is unstoppable, unconditional, eternal,
a love no man can thwart,
no enemy can conquer.

I sit at your feet, my Lord,
I take your hand
as you draw me in.
In awe, I know I am held close
by the God of the universe.
He sees me, He knows me,
I am His and He will never leave me.

God, my God, my Lord!
To you alone I give my soul and my life
for I know you are trustworthy.
Your love is my guiding light,
clarity in the darkness.
I will walk in your path,
I will follow as you lead,
for I trust your love alone.

Psalm 67

A godly family is a blessing from the Lord.
Blessed are those whose foundation
and lineage is rooted in faith.
As a tree with a strong foundation,
so is a family founded on God.
May the branches of your tree
well up from the Source of Truth.
May your fruit express the
guidance of the faith of your fathers
and may your children grow up in your path.
May people look back upon your life
and praise your faithfulness to the name of the Lord.

Psalm 66

You are my God,
you are my Lord.
What have I on earth
that is more precious than you?
What is gold or silver,
what are possessions,
what is status
compared to you?
You alone satisfy.
Everything else is empty,
filling for a moment,
but never for a lifetime.

Oh, Lord, may I focus
on what is true,
what matters most,
and never pursue
that which fails.
You alone are
He that satisfies.

Psalm 65

Freedom is a gift from the Lord--
We must cherish it.
Do not become arrogant,
you who live in a wealthy nation.
Do not look down on your neighbors;
do not become prideful.
Watch out that you remember
to whom you owe your blessings.
Your status is not the work of your hands,
all gifts come from the Lord of Creation.

Share what you have been given.
May other nations call you blessed
and praise God when you give.
Do not hold back your mercy,
no, reflect the Lord's compassion.
Declare the Lord's truth
as you feed the hungry
and clothe the widow and orphan.
Produce fruit that proclaims
you know the value of freedom.

Psalm 64

Lord, help me overcome my fear!
Lord, I know you are with me.
I want to trust you wholly.
But my mind draws pictures of fear.
Calm my mind.
Give me implicit trust.
Let me obey and love you,
despite my fearful heart.

Psalm 63

Protect those who are assaulted
by the wicked, O Lord.
Guard those who are attacked
by wolves in sheep's clothing.
Bring comfort to him who stands,
to him who grieves.
Do not let the hurting
be unaware of your presence.
Show yourself ever present,
the Lord of those who call on your name.

Psalm 62

When we live an independent life,
it is easy to be self-focused.
Lord, we forget that we are one
in a world of many.
Lord, break down our selfish hearts,
turn out our selfish thoughts.
Bring our emotions and our minds
into alignment with yours.
Make us love what you love.
Make us as Christ.
Give us eyes to see outside ourselves
and feet to walk out this truth,
ears to hear the words of others
and hands to answer their needs.
Lord, change our hearts.
Let us look at others
as well as we look at ourselves.

Psalm 61

Why do we say, O Lord,
"I deserve such and such"?
We are presumptuous
and self-focused.
What have we done,
what has made us so great?
Did we create the world?
Is the universe resting in our hands?
Can we bring the rain?
Can we stop the floods?
Do we form the flesh?
Do we choose our abilities?

O Man, everything you have,
everything you are is from the Lord.
There is nothing you can do,
no act you can perform,
that makes you deserving of grace.
Grace isn't grace if you have earned it.
Praise the Lord for His gifts!
Do not praise yourself
in haughty arrogance.
Humble yourself before your God.
Bow at His feet and
honor He who has provided for you.

Psalm 60

You are faithful protector, O my Lord!
When I was threatened,
when harm was imminent,
when men gathered to hurt me,
you came to my rescue.

Lord, you preserve my life,
you protect my family.
You are a shield around me
and a sword in front of me.
You stand before my enemy.

Who can I fear when the Lord is for me?
There is none who can conquer His purposes.
His will for me will stand assured.
My life is in God's hands,
therefore, I will worship His name.

Psalm 59

Time is precious,
a gift from the Lord.
Cherish every moment,
every day the Lord gives you.

Yes, there is eternity,
but life now is not meaningless.
God has put us here, now,
for His purpose and plan.

Enjoy the life you have.
Do not let it slip by.
Honor God by living truly,
living joyfully, living fully.

God, the creator of time,
calls you to use it well.
Your charge, O man?
Make the best out of each and every day.

Psalm 58

Lord, you are the creator of family.
Without your nature, your character,
fellowship would not exist.
Was it not you who declared,
"It is not good for man to be alone?"
Is it not you that created the woman,
that blessed the first couple with children?
You desired your highest creation
to experience love and intimacy,
union and community
for within you exist these attributes.
Father, Son and Spirit, three-in-one,
share communion and thus
we men as reflections of the image of God
cry out for relationship.
Thank you, Lord, for making us as we are.
May each of us seek true love,
true fellowship, true intimacy
and honor you.

Psalm 57

Without you, my God,
I am steeped in sin.
You are Yahweh M'Kaddesh,
The Lord Who Makes Holy.

I long to be clean,
to think pure thoughts,
to act with unstained motives.

Sin longs to have me;
it creeps at my door,
begging for entry.

O stand by my side, my God!
Defeat the sin within me.
Make me holy as you are holy.
I want to be sanctified.

Holy Spirit, fill me completely.
Discard the dregs of my life;
skim off the dross so my gold shines.

Yahweh M'Kaddesh,
make me like you,
a reflection of true holiness.

Psalm 56

Lord, you give rest to the weary;
you watch over me at night.
As the moon shines her light on the earth,
so you shine on us even in sleep.
You command our worries to cease,
and silence our problems in repose.
Give me peace on my bed, O Lord.
Let my dreams speak of joy in you.
Revive my body and soul
through the quiet of night
that I may face a new day
with a refreshed mind and heart.

Psalm 55

Who is the Lord?
He is Yahweh Rohi,
the Lord our Shepherd.
When we stray,
the Lord gently taps us with His staff,
redirecting us to the good path.
When we are lost,
the Lord seeks us over rough terrain,
then carries us home on His shoulders.
When we are needy,
the Lord guides us to full pastures,
so we relish in overabundance.
When we are threatened,
the Lord rises up against our enemy,
placing Himself in harm's way to defend us.
Where would we be without Yahweh Rohi?
We would be astray, lost, needy, threatened.
As it is, we are the Lord's flock
and so we are grounded, found, filled and at peace.
For this, let us give praise to our Divine Shepherd!

Psalm 54

Are you weary?
Are you sick?
Are you needy?
Are you lost?
Then come close to Yahweh Rapha,
The Lord Who Heals.

Yahweh Rapha is near to the hurting;
He gathers the broken under his wings.
He speaks "Comfort" and "Peace"
with a quiet, still voice.
He does not bruise the weak;
He tenderly cradles them in His hands.

Seek the Lord, your true healer!
Turn to Him in distress
for He will answer your cry.
Lean on Him when you are frail;
He alone can support your mind and heart.
He alone will heal your brokeness.

Psalm 53

O Lord, you are Attiq Yomin,
Ancient of Days.
Come to Attiq Yomin with
humility and reverent fear.
He is judge over all.
He alone knows the thoughts of the mind;
He discerns the motives of the heart.
He knows you as you truly are.
Come, come close to your God.
Be friends with Him while the day is here.
Night and shadow are coming
when the Ancient of Days will arise
to gather His own under His wings
but also to condemn the wicked.
Choose the Lord as your Lord!
Give Him free reign in your life.
Let the blood of His son cover your sin
so you may stand, a light in the dark.
Attiq Yomin is coming;
His foot is on the doorstep.
Turn back to the Lord!
Turn back to your Righteous Judge!

Psalm 52

Do not be afraid;
Yahweh Shammah,
the Lord is there.
The Lord walks alongside you.
He takes you by the hand;
He guides your feet.
Nothing can separate Him from you.
Darkness cannot hide Him;
shadow cannot contain Him.
Your sin will not deter Him;
your trials will not overcome Him.
The Lord's love is unconditional;
the Lord's presence is unstoppable.
You will never travel alone,
for God does not forsake you.
Take heart, beloved one!
Yahweh Shammah is
your ever present assurance.

Psalm 51

Who can save us?
When we look upon ourselves,
when we observe our actions,
it is evil that stands out.
We are not a people of pure hearts;
selfish motives drive our deeds.

We are in need of a savior;
someone to make us righteous.
Praise to Yahweh Tsidkenu,
the Lord is Our Righteousness!
It is God alone who confronts our evil
and deals with our sin.

The Lord demolishes wickedness.
He convicts so we change.
He disciplines so we correct.
He does not seek our harm;
He seeks our holiness.
He wants to make us like Himself.

When we follow the Lord,
when we live in His ways,
it is then that we are most satisfied.
Joy comes from a righteous heart.
If you would be joyful,
let Yahweh Tsidkenu work in you.

Psalm 50

Our God, you are from everlasting to everlasting;
you are El Olam, the Everlasting God!
You are eternal and infinite.
You have no beginning and no end.
You are He Who Exists.
You are utter absolute.
You are the only firm foundation.
Why trust in faulty men?
Why flee to fleeting lusts?
You cannot stand on deceit and weakness;
with these you will certainly fall.
There is nothing certain but the Lord.
Rely on He who never fails,
never falls, never lies, never dies.
Only God is your rock in a thunderous ocean.
Cling to what is sure!
Hold tight to El Olam!

Psalm 49

Mighty are you, Yahweh Sabaoth,
Lord of Hosts!
You are a warrior to your people.
Your sword is our defense,
your shield our protection.
When our relationship with you is threatened,
you arise to cut down our enemy.
When we sound the trumpet,
you demolish the evil within us.

How you long to be our safe-guard!
You alone can keep sin at bay.
Why do we tramp on alone,
fighting a losing battle?
Turn to Yahweh Sabaoth,
your faithful defender!
As you stand still before Him,
He will fight for you,
and His victory is assured.

Lamenting Is Worship!

This is definitely worth watching! Michael Card, singer and songwriter, explains how lamenting in the Bible is worship. This will bless you! It's a series of videos, but it will resonate with you and help you understand how to approach God in trials. I highly recommend taking the time to watch this!

Lamenting Is Worship

Psalm 48

God, you are Qedosh Yisrael,
the Holy One of Israel.
You are separate.
You have no fellowship with sin.
Wickedness is the antithesis of your nature.
In you, no darkness is found.
You are pure light.
You banish shadow with your very presence.
Before you, we are exposed.
We see our weak deeds;
we gaze upon our failings.
We realize that compared to you
we lack perfection.

Ah Qedosh Yahweh!
In your purity,
you do not despise.
You abhor the sin of man,
but man himself you take to your breast.
You remember that we are but dust.
How do we stand in your presence?
Do you veil yourself from us
as Moses covered his face?
No! You have made us holy!
We stand covered in Christ;
through Him we do not die in your courts.
O make me holy as you are holy!

Psalm 47

Why do we fear?
Are we not the children of Yahweh Shalom,
The Lord is Peace?
We stand before a Holy God,
yet we need not be afraid.
He is a God of peace,
who loves to lavish compassion on His own.

Come to Yahweh Shalom!
Let Him lift the shadow from you.
He will not deride and chide.
He will give you His open hand,
His nail-scarred hand.
Take what is offered to you,
sense the peace in your Lord's intimate touch.

Psalm 46

Lord, my soul is disturbed.
I feel lost, alone.
My emotions slip under the surface;
no one seems to notice.
A well of tears is waiting,
threatening to pour out of my soul.
Comfort me.
Remind me of your presence even now.
I am not alone.
You are with me.
You always see me.
You hear my pain.
You catch my tears.
O Comforter, bring comfort!
I lean on you!

Psalm 45

God, you are Yahweh Elohe Yisrael,
the Lord God of Israel.
You chose the children of Israel;
you lifted them above other nations.
You did not choose them
because of their greatness.
You chose them in your grace.

Why did you separate Israel to your Name?
You did so to demonstrate your glory.
Through Israel you declared your truth.
Your relationship with your chosen children
is an example of truth for us.
May we learn from Israel;
may we take to heart the lessons of history.

O Lord! What have you taught us?
You have shown us your unending mercy
as you were faithful to Israel in its unfaithfulness.
You have declared your purposes to stand
as you brought prophecy to fruition.
You have demonstrated that your choice is sovereign
as you set up kings and deposed them.

What more have you given us through your chosen people?
A Savior!
Your Son was born into the nation of Israel.
He grew up among the Jews,
with compassion on your people.
He fulfilled the prophecies
spoken in the Old Testament.

O Lord, what you promised to Abraham is fulfilled!
I have come to you because you blessed his seed.
Through Israel comes truth and salvation.
Lord, thank you for choosing a nation as your own.
Thank you for showing me who you are through Israel.
Yes, you are Yahweh Elohe Yisrael,
and through Israel your glory has shone.

What a Psalm Is and How to Write One

I thought I'd take a break to explain what a psalm is, specifically, how it is different from English poetry, and to also give people direction on how they can write their own psalms. The neat thing is that writing psalms is fairly easy. I encourage people to pick up their pens and write psalms to God. You'd be amazed how having to think through a psalm draws you closer to God!

First, a psalm is a song that is written according to Hebrew poetry (you don't have to put your psalms to music, though some people like to do this). This means it is different from English poetry. English poetry uses rhyme and meter. Hebrew poetry does not (No, the poems in Psalms really don't rhyme, even in Hebrew, if you ever wondered :-D). Hebrew poetry uses parallelism, rhythm and sometimes, structure. The good news is, if you want to write psalms, you only really need to understand parallelism. Rhythm all depends on how you want the psalm to sound to the ear. The ear likes repetitive syllables.

So, to parallelism we go. Hebrew poetry is mainly written in couplets, two lines that have some kind of relation with each other. Below are the kinds of couplets:

1. Synonymous Identical: The idea in the couplet is the same, although it uses different words. Here's an example: "Pay attention, my people, to my teaching,/Be attentive to the words of my mouth" (Psalm 78:1). The idea is exactly the same: pay attention to what I am going to teach you.

2. Synonymous Similar: The idea in the couplet is similar, but not identical. Example: "When the Almighty was yet with me,/And my children were around me" (Job 29:5). In the first line, the Almighty is with Job and in the second, his children are. Same idea, different people.

3. Antithetical: The idea in the lines of the couplets are opposites. Example: "A wise son heeds his father's instruction,/but a mocker does not listen to rebuke" (Proverbs 13:1). The first line presents a wise son that listens and the second presents a mocker who refuses to listen. This kind of parallelism you'll find mainly in Proverbs in the Bible, which makes sense since it is a book that teaches how you should live versus how you should not live.

4. Climactic: This is a couplet where one part of the first line is repeated in the second and finishes the thought of the first line. Example: "Accredit to Yahweh, O Heavenly Ones,/
Accredit to Yahweh glory and strength" (Psalm 29:1). Accredit to Yahweh is repeated and the second line tells us what to accredit to Yahweh.

5. Emblematic: The first line illustrates the second line. Example: "As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,/So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion" (Proverbs 11:22). The first line uses the illustration of a ring in a pig snout to describe a beautiful woman without discretion.

6. Synthetic Reason: The second line gives a reason for the first line. Example: "Do not answer a fool according to his folly,/Lest you also be like him" (Proverbs 26:4). I always say synthetic reason answers a why question: Why don't you answer a fool in the same way he approaches you? Because you'll be a fool just like him.

7. Synthetic Completion: This is a parallelism you find in rhythm alone, thus the two lines may not have a relation between their ideas.

Hebrew poetry also uses several literary devices: metaphor (comparison not using like or as), simile (comparison using like or as), metonymy (substituting one noun for another noun, i.e. "dogs have surrounded me, a band of evil men has encircled me"), personification (representing an object or concept as if it were a person, i.e. Wisdom in Proverbs is described as a woman calling out to people) to name some common ones.

The most fun thing about writing psalms is that you can write almost anything you want. For the rhyme challenged, you don't have to rhyme! All you need is a thought of praise and you can compose a psalm. Think of a concept, write it down, then write another line that relates to your first line in some way like the parallelism above. And yes, lines can stand on their own as well. If you want to give it a try, take the above parallelisms and try each out in a psalm. Here's one I've composed below to give you an example (of course, you don't need to identify the parallelism. I only did that as a help):

O Lord, you never leave me;
you do not forsake me. (Synonymous Identical)
You lavish on me your mercy;
You pour forth your peace. (Synonymous Similar)
Children of God hear your voice;
the lost refuse to listen. (Antithetical)
O hear the Lord, O Man,
O hear what the Lord has to say. (Climactic)
As fragrant oil poured over your head
are the Lord's spoken words. (Emblematic)
Hearken to the Lord's words,
by them will you be saved. (Synthetic Reason)
Yes, the Lord seeks you,
Yes, the Lord wants you. (Synthetic Completion)
Be a solid rock;
stand strong for the Lord. (Metaphor)
Like a mighty tower
is the one who trusts in God. (Simile)
Blessed are those who hold to the Lord,
the sparrows who rest in His hand. (Metonymy)
O, love is calling out to you,
imploring you, "Hear and trust the Lord!" (Personification)

Of course, you don't have to use all forms of parallelism or literary devices in a psalm. You can play around with the different parallelisms. Use what you want. Have fun; choose a theme, then go for it and write a psalm. I hope you enjoy writing psalms as much as I do and that they bring you closer to your God!

Psalm 44

Adonai, my Lord and Master,
You are true servant leader.
You rule with a gentle hand.
You show your wrath,
yet it is always paired with mercy.
You are not a harsh overseer,
demanding and disparaging.
No, you support us
and you lead us.
Your compassion reigns.

We can trust Adonai.
To live under Him is to be free.
We throw off other masters;
sin, wealth, idolatry are banished.
We cling to the Master who died,
the Lord who suffered in our place.
Who else is worthy of our full devotion
but this sacrificial Master?
Let Adonai reign over you
and you will be truly free!

Psalm 43

The Lord is Yahweh Nissi,
The Lord is My Banner.
I will declare the works of God.
I will declare the praise of His triumphs.

The Lord has done great things for me.
The Lord has answered my prayers.
The Lord has protected my travels.
The Lord has opened closed doors.

O Yahweh Nissi!
You blessed me with a family,
with a loving husband,
with a precious daughter.

Why do I ever doubt your power?
Make me remember all you have done.
Make me know you are my banner.
I rest under your shadow.

Psalm 42

Yahweh Yireh, The Lord Will Provide:
When we need you, O Lord,
you are there.
When we think we are abandoned,
it is not so.
You walk beside us;
you are present in every step.

The Lord is Provider.
He gives us all we need.
He sends food and shelter.
He sends clothes and medicine.
He wants to give us
good out of His hand.

God alone knows our true needs,
even those that cannot be seen.
When our hearts cry,
He answers with comfort.
When we don't understand,
He calls us to trust.

Trust your Provider!
There is no circumstance
He cannot conquer.
Turn to Him in your day of need.
He is Yahweh Yireh;
He listens to your prayer.

Psalm 41

Praise to El Shaddai, God Almighty!
No one holds the power of our God.
He is not restrained;
He is never held back.
His word is fulfilled;
His purposes come to fruition.

Who can stand against El Shaddai?
No one! He rules above all.
None can thwart
the power in His hand.
God Almighty subdues
all under His authority.

See the works of God Almighty!
He parts seas;
He throws back the winds;
He calms frothing oceans;
He speaks in fire;
He shakes mountains.

What can men do but bow
in the presence of God Almighty?
Fear your God, O Man,
your God of power.
Know that He reigns supreme,
He alone possesses control.

How blessed are the
children of God!
They need not fear man;
they do not fear the tempests.
They know that God Almighty is on their side;
El Shaddai is guard over their lives.

Psalm 40

El Roi, God Who Sees:
You oversee all your creation.
You care for even the
lilies of the field,
the sparrows of the air.
What you have made
is precious in your sight.
You do not make and abandon.
You watch and you provide.

O how beloved is your highest creation, man!
You discern his every thought and way.
You seek out man to draw him to yourself.
You speak into man words of life.
You see us, El Roi, beyond outward appearance;
you penetrate into the heart.
Your desire is to guide us in your way,
to show us what you see.

O El Roi, open our eyes!
Let us answer your gaze
with true hearts of faith.
May we take comfort
in a God who sees us.
May we feel your
presence day in and out.
May we never forget
that you watch over us,
our All-Seeing God.

Psalm 39

(FYI, I plan on getting back to my names of God psalms next psalm.)

O Lord, the hindrances!
Why is it so easy to give up?
Why do I let busyness
tear me away from you?
You are my life!
Everything I have,
everything I am,
comes from you.
Can I not preserve time for you?
Lord, motivate me
to make the time!
May my passion for you
overwhelm my desire for
mindlessly entertaining myself.
Throw off the fetters of
exhaustion from my mind.
Give me a clarity
that pulls me into
meditation of you.
Lord, recapture my time!

Psalm 38--An Easter Psalm

What do you require of us, O God?
Must we work our way to please you?
Must I struggle to find you?
Do you hide from me until I am good enough?
No! The Lord stands with open arms!

O Lord, I praise you that repentance is all you ask.
Salvation is not in penance.
You do not offer a gift and then ask for payment.
You give the gift of your son freely.
Your forgiveness does not force us to suffer.

Lord, your mercy is astounding.
What can I do but be still in awe?
You are all my hope each day.
Covered in Christ's righteousness, my soul is at peace.
Praise to you, Lord, who makes the way for your children.

Psalm 37

El Elyon, God Most High:
There is no god like you.
You are above all earthly powers,
you reign over the supernatural realm.
No one can thwart your authority;
your might exceeds the strength of all others.

You are outside the universe,
external to space and time.
You are not bound by your creation.
You are boundless, infinite,
the always existent eternal.
There is no one like you.

Yet you choose to know your creation.
You enter time and space
to know us, to speak to us.
We are blessed at your appearance,
your appearance among us.
Your special revelation draws us to you.

There is nothing in life more sacred than you.
Who can be fully trusted but He who is above all?
It is you who holds time and place in your hands.
I will trust in my highest God.
He will be my absolute guide.
Glory to El Elyon, God Most High!

Psalm 36

Yahweh, the personal Lord:
You come to us, O Lord.
You seek us out.
We reject you,
yet you pursue.

Yahweh, you desire relationship.
You come down to your people;
you descend so we may ascend.
You have no need of us,
yet you choose us.

Your compassion saves us;
your love compels us.
Without your mercy,
without your grace,
life is a wasteland.

Your faithfulness astounds us;
your commitment is irreversible.
You are slow to anger,
patient with our failures,
a guide to our way.

O Yahweh, O Personal Lord!
Your hand reaching down to me
overwhelms me.
Teach me to ever reach back;
make me your faithful child.