How much attention do you pay to the superscriptions in the book of Psalms? There are 150 psalms in the psalter, and 117 of them have a superscription note before the actual psalm. They have always fascinated me. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are inspired. It doesn’t mean that they are important. But their presence … More Psalm 48: Preparing Worship Leaders to Lead Worship
Lessons from Isaiah Yesterday, I went to the doctor’s office for my annual checkup. They took blood and urine samples; they looked at all my “numbers,” asked a few questions, looked at my past history; and pronounced me good to go. I’m sleeping better, going to the bathroom less and getting more exercise, and beginning … More Ugly Unthankfulness
INTRODUCTIONWhen Prayer Becomes Breath I was driving home from helping my daughter move sheep when the thought hit me. It wasn’t profound at first. Just a whisper. A nudge. One of those quiet moments when the Spirit seems to lean in and say, “Pay attention.” Missouri has given us many gifts, but being close enough … More Tinkering Before I Give it Over to an Editor
It’s taken four weeks. The last two of those weeks, I have been largely one-handed. That’s what happens when the smiling surgeon cuts a cancer out of the back of your hand and closes up the wound with 21 stitches. Simple things you never thought of as difficult suddenly are. The healing process makes you … More It’s Taken Four Weeks
Lifting our souls to God is a daily grind. It is also a daily joy. It is also a daily necessity. Never let your soul forget.
The command to praise Psalm 47 is one of the Psalms that invites the heart into a question with its very first words, “O clap your hands, all peoples . . .” Well, why? Why should we clap our hands? Why should “all peoples” express such praise with such exuberance? The construction of the song’s … More Exuberance in Worship isn’t Just for Charismatics
Christmas and New Year’s Day are behind us. Valentine’s Day (my sister’s birthday) is in the rear window too. School buses are cruising our roads. Footballs are no longer flying through the air, and the weatherman says that warmer days are coming soon. In my garden, potatoes are starting to break the surface. Spring is … More Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter
The ESV editors supply the three-word heading, “Revive Us Again,” as a summary of Psalm 85. An outline of the content of the psalm might look something like this: Stanza Description Verses. Contemporary Re-phrasing How God was faithful to Israel (vss. 1-3) … More Dissipating the Anger of God: Psalm 85
Everyone who knows me knows I love the city of Philadelphia. Everyone. Two weeks ago, I was on a “roommates call” with a bunch of old friends from 45 years ago. One of them, Dave, had one question for me. “Are you still a die-hard Philadelphia fan?” “Is the Pope Catholic?,” was my response, followed … More Why is Jerusalem So Important?
Poetic Reflection on Psalm 47
… More Psalm 47: Not a Psalm for the Nation
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