Psalm 117:1 Praise Yahveh, all nations, glorify Him, all peoples. Psalm 117:2 You see, his covenant faithfulness to us is strong and the truth of Yahveh is permanent. Praise Yah!
foundation of faithfulness
We live in a world where everything changes, so drastically and quickly that our visions of the future cannot keep up. Is there anything that is constant? Yes, says the psalmist. The steadfast love of the LORD toward us. That faithfulness is our foundation, an oasis of consistency in an eve
Psalm 116:1 I love him because Yahveh hears my voice, my pleas for mercy. Psalm 116:2 I’ll call out to him as long as I live because he listens closely to me. Psalm 116:3 Death’s ropes were around me. Sheol was closing in on me. I was worried and afraid. Psalm 116:4 I called on the name of Yahveh, “Please Yahveh, rescue my throat!” Psalm 116:5 Yahveh is gracious and fair, our God is merciful, Psalm 116:6 Yahveh protects the simple. I was low and he delivered me. Psalm 116:7 Turn back, O my throat, to your rest, because Yahveh has done good things for you. Psalm 116:8 You have delivered my throat from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from being overthrown. Psalm 116:9 I walk obediently before Yahveh In the lands of the living. Psalm 116:10 I believed, because I said, I — I have been humbled greatly. Psalm 116:11 I said while I hurried away, ‘Everyone is a liar.’ Psalm 116:12 How can I repay Yahveh for all His benefits to me? Psalm 116:13 I will take the cup of deliverance and call on the name of Yahveh. Psalm 116:14 I will fulfill my vows to Yahveh in the presence of all his people. Psalm 116:15 The death of his faithful ones is valuable in Yahveh’s sight. Psalm 116:16 I am your servant. I am your servant, son of your handmaid, you hast opened my chains. Psalm 116:17 To Thee I sacrifice a sacrifice of thanks, And on the name of Yahveh I call. Psalm 116:18 Let me complete my vows to Yahveh, I pray, before all His people, Psalm 116:19 In the courts of the house of Yahveh, In your midst, O Jerusalem, praise ye Jah!
looking for a life-response
Donald Wrigley wrote that this psalm “witnesses to the fact that our God is alive and responsive to the prayers and needs of his people. In recalling times of distress when the Lord has come to our aid, we may think, “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” We must remember that God doesn’t sell his blessings. He gives them freely through his Son, Jesus. He’s not looking for repayment. He’s looking for a life response of faith, obedience, and sincere worship.”
Psalm 115:9 Israel, trust in Yahveh, He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:10 House of Aaron, trust in Yahveh, He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:11 You who fear Yahveh, trust in Yahveh, He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:12 Yahveh remembers us and will bless us, will bless the house of Israel, will bless the house of Aaron,, Psalm 115:13 He will bless those fearing Yahveh — the small with the great. Psalm 115:14 May Yahveh give you increase, you and your children! Psalm 115:15 May you be blessed by Yahveh, who made the sky and the land! Psalm 115:16 The skies — the skies are Yahveh’s, and the land He has given to children of Adam, Psalm 115:17 The dead do not praise Yah, Nor any going down to silence. Psalm 115:18 But we, we will bless Yah, now, and permanently. Praise Yah!
rescue from silence
Sheol is a silent, dark state or condition in which everyone exists at death, and can only live again by a resurrection from the LORD. It is always contrasted with heaven, and never equated with it. It is not the hope of the saints; rescue from it (by resurrection) is the hope of the saints.
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, Yahveh, not to us, but to your name give honor, because of your covenant faithfulness, because of your truth. Psalm 115:2 Why should the nations say, ‘Where, is their God?’ Psalm 115:3 And our God is in the sky. He has done everything that He wanted. Psalm 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, work of human hands, Psalm 115:5 A mouth they have, but they do not speak, Eyes they have, but do not see, Psalm 115:6 Ears they have, but do not they hear, a nose they have, but they do not smell, Psalm 115:7 They have hands, but they cannot handle, They have feet, but cannot walk; nor do they make noise with their throat. Psalm 115:8 Their makers are like them. So is everyone who trusts in them.
unseen yet seen
David Blythe writes, “How do you prepare for the future? Psalm 115 compares people who trust in the ways of the world with those who trust in God. God is alive, loving, faithful, deserving of glory, always with us, and trustworthy in his love for us. Others still put their trust in idols with mouths, hands, and feet, which are images of power, wealth, strength, and wisdom, yet offer nothing because they do not function. Appearances can be deceiving; these idols can do nothing for you. We see our God through his Son, his Word, and his Spirit through which he continually guides protects, strengthens, speaks, and loves us into action. Have faith in what is unseen yet seen by his awesome works.”
Psalm 114:1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a strange sounding people, Psalm 114:2 Judah became His sanctuary, Israel his realm. Psalm 114:3 The sea looked and fled; the Jordan turned back. Psalm 114:4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. Psalm 114:5 Why do you flee, O sea? Why do you turn back, O Jordan River? Psalm 114:6 Why do you skip like rams, O mountains, like lambs, O hills? Psalm 114:7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of Yahveh, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Psalm 114:8 who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.
skipping like lambs
While living in New Zealand, my wife and I visited a huge lamb farm. We took a tour of the farm which consisted of riding in the back of a pickup truck and viewing thousands of sheep while a worker explained the farm. There was a mass flow of sheep, but all of them got out of our way as soon as we appeared. The psalmist pictures the sea and mountains running to hide as Israel showed up in the wilderness. The power of God moved with them. That is what it means to be God’s in God’s presence.
LORD, give us awareness of your presence among us.
Psalm 113:1 Praise Yah! Praise, you servants of Yahveh. Praise the name of Yahveh. Psalm 113:2 The name of Yahveh is blessed, From now, until forever. Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of Yahveh is to be praised! Psalm 113:4 Yahveh is exalted over all the nations; his splendor reaches beyond the sky. Psalm 113:5 Who is like Yahveh our God — the one enthroned on high, Psalm 113:6 who stoops down to look at the sky and the land? Psalm 113:7 He raises the poor from the dirt, and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, Psalm 113:8 to seat them with princes, with the princes of his people. Psalm 113:9 He gives the barren woman a residence, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise Yah!
he stoops down
From where God looks, we are all lowly. He looks far down at the sky because his glory is above the sky. Those we deem as the greatest on earth are poor and needy compared to him. This same unapproachable immortal God has chosen to raise the poor from the dust, lift the needy from the ash heap and make them sit with princes. Everything he does is an act of grace.
Psalm 112:4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright. He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous. Psalm 112:5 Good will come to the one who lends generously and conducts his business fairly. Psalm 112:6 You see, he will never be upended; The righteous one will be remembered permanently. Psalm 112:7 He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in Yahveh. Psalm 112:8 His heart is assured; he will not fear. In the end, he will look in triumph on his foes. Psalm 112:9 He generously gives to the needy; his integrity endures continuously. He will be vindicated and honored. Psalm 112:10 The wicked one sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; what the wicked wants will be destroyed!
in the end
The good news for the upright is not that we will never experience darkness, bad news, or a delay in what we want. The good news is that we will never lose his light on his path. In the end, we will be honored and vindicated no matter how much dishonor or how bad our reputation gets down here.
Of course, the end is not the end of our life, but the end of our death. When Jesus returns, it will all be worth it.
Psalm 112:1 Praise Yah! O the happiness of one fearing Yahveh. In His commands, he delights greatly. Psalm 112:2 His seed is mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:3 Wealth and riches are in his house and his righteousness stands permanently.
mighty seed
It just happens that as I write this, I am getting ready to plant seeds for this year’s garden. Seeds are not mighty, to begin with. They are small and apparently insignificant. Such is the case for my children and grandchildren. They bring me great happiness as they grow into a blessing. Faith sees the small seed as mighty in the land. Even when the evidence of wealth and riches has not yet sprouted, the one fearing the LORD will trust in his promises. Even when his children make choices that indicate they have more growing to do, the one fearing the LORD will trust in his promise… and keep praying.
Psalm 111:7 The works of His hands are truth and justice. All his prescriptions are reliable. Psalm 111:8 They are sustained continually, permanently. They are made truly and honestly. Psalm 111:9 He has sent redemption to his people. He has commanded his permanent covenant. His name is sacred and fearsome. Psalm 111:10 The beginning of wisdom is fearing Yahveh. All those who are doing them have good insight. His praise stands continually!
filling his prescriptions
The “them” in verse 10 are the prescriptions of verse 7. We show our wisdom by following our Lord’s commands. Since his prescriptions are reliable, as we fill those prescriptions we show that we have gained insight. If we ignore his prescriptions, we show the opposite.
A pharmacist fills medical prescriptions, and the drugs distributed aid in the healing and recovery of the patients. I like that image because a similar thing is happening when we follow the prescriptions God has given us in his word.
Psalm 111:1 Praise Yah! I praise Yahveh wholeheartedly, In the small meeting of the upright, and the congregation. Psalm 111:2 Yahveh’s works are great, sought out by all desiring them. Psalm 111:3 His work is honorable and majestic and his righteousness stands forever. Psalm 111:4 He has made his miracles to be remembered. Yahveh is gracious and merciful. Psalm 111:5 He gives food to those fearing him. He remembers his covenant permanently. Psalm 111:6 He has demonstrated his miraculous power to his people by giving them an inheritance of nations.
Praise — an act of anticipation
Whether in a small gathering or a large congregation, each place we meet is an opportunity to praise the LORD for his works — his miracles, his provision, and his promise of an inheritance to come. Our praise for what God has done is an act of anticipation for what he will do.
Devotions 