October 3, 2025

My four-year-old niece sits with me in church. We go to a Baptist church, and most of the people are afraid to raise their hands to worship the Lord. We sing a few hymns, and then we are blessed by others using their music and voices to praise and worship God. That baby is not shy when it comes to worship; when that music begins, she may be the only one lifting her hands, but her little heart reaches up to God in unencumbered worship. She’s seen her nana lift her hands, but even when she’s not, Ari will worship like no one is watching. Psalms 134 seems to be written for those priests who had the night watch and are encouraged not to spend it idly, but for them to use their time worshipping and praying. If you are ever awakened during the wee hours of the night, use that time to lift your hands in worship and talk to our Heavenly Master. When in church and collectively worshipping, don’t be afraid to lift your hands to worship; remember Ari, who is merely a child and not embarrassed to worship the Lord with all her heart.

A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. Psalms 134:1-3

October 2, 2025

Pray for peace amongst the citizens of our country. We should stand together hand in hand in love. As we unify, committed to loving and worshipping Jesus, we should pity those whose minds are warped by the enemy and his evil deeds. Surely they don’t realize that they are a tool of Satan and have been overtaken and possessed by his cronies. There are too many people thinking that evil is good, so much so that they even inflict their own bodies to prove their opinion, and sometimes pay dearly with their life or even the life of their child. I have little hope for them, but God is capable of changing the minds of these lunatics, softening their hearts and removing from them the poison that is polluting their thinking. It will take an act of God because they are so committed to their ridiculous cause that only the Almighty can break through that sort of evil. Otherwise, like in the Old Testament, the ground could swallow them. David spoke of having peace in his family and penned Psalms 133.

A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalms 133:1-3

October 1, 2025

The Ark of the Covenant had been kept in the tabernacle for years, but was only a temporary shelter. David had received the specification from God for the building of the temple, but he wasn’t the one to build it; God gave that honor to Solomon. Solomon vowed that he wouldn’t rest until he saw the completion of God’s permanent shelter. It seems that Solomon may have written Psalms 132 as a prayer or song for the dedication of the temple. He reminds God of His promise to David that he would always have a son sitting on the throne. That promise has not failed, because even to this day, a King of the house of David sits on the throne —a permanent King, Jesus. We can all be thankful that our King is not a tyrant, but understands our plight and loves us so much that He covered our transgression and paid the price for our guilt and disobedience. Jesus is the only King we need. Worship him with all your heart and thank him for being our King of Kings.

The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. Psalms 132:11

September 30, 2025

Have you ever had one of those moments where a child tries to educate you? Parents of teenagers know what I'm talking about; they seem to know everything. I showed an apartment to a student from a local Bible institute. I told her that I was also a Christian, so she didn't feel the need to evangelize me; students of that school can be pretty aggressive. I don't remember how we got on the subject, but we began talking about Judgment Day. For some reason, she thought that Christ-followers also needed to worry about that day, along with the unsaved. I explained to her that it would be like a reward ceremony for us, but she disagreed. It was in that moment that I wanted to give her my credentials, but the Holy Spirit quieted me, so I held back. When she realized that she wasn't making any headway with me, she googled it. She started reading aloud, and before she realized it, Google had just proved what I said, even though she still didn't believe it. I didn't crush her spirit; I gave her the study tool I use and wished her well in her studies. We both agreed to dig into it a little more. I hope that the school is not teaching its students a lie and that God has sent her to me to help her understand the truth. The ball is in her court, and now it's up to her to prove me right by trying to prove me wrong. Here is the psalm that fits that situation, and it is the next one on my list to cover. I couldn't make this stuff up if I wanted to!

A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever. Psalms 131:1-3

September 29, 2025

God has given us a set of standards, a compass to live by. However, we are fallible and likely to break those standards every day, sometimes knowingly and other times unknowingly. The Holy Spirit will let us know by pressing us and pricking our hearts, so that we feel God’s disappointment and are enticed to confess and repent. You might have to face the consequences of your actions, but because Jesus has already paid for our sins, we don’t have to face God’s eternal wrath. He is a good and loving Father who desires us to love Him, so He is quick to pardon our sin. If you feel a tug on your heart that you might have done something offensive to God, reach out to Him with all your heart. He loves you and will forgive you, because He is good. If you are at a loss for how to begin, try reciting the words of Psalm 130. These words will help you get started and are beautifully arranged, so not only will they suffice for repentance, but they also reach to the depths of your soul and offer a meaningful way to express yourself to God. 

A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalms 130:1-5

September 28, 2025

For those who are like me and scheme vengeance when someone does them wrong, this is the psalm for you. Psalms 129 gives teeth to our prayers for our enemies and the enemies of the Lord. We’ve been too careful of condemning certain factions when Jesus himself called them out. 

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are J*ws, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Revelation 3:9

There are usurpers of the name Isra*l, and we have been hoodwinked into protecting the ones Jesus calls blood vipers, and it seems that now we have become slaves to them. I agree that we should protect those who are of the true lineage and love and protect them, but the ones who have taken on their name and were sent by Satan himself, we should not be calling them good, because they are the oppressors and are in disguise. Here is where this psalm comes in: we are not to recklessly bless those who are against our Savior. They cunningly set a trap; don’t fall into it. Save your blessings for those you know love God. Because we have faith in Jesus, we are adopted into his kingdom, and his blood places us squarely within that lineage. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ; they are the ones to whom we should give the salutation of “God bless you.”

The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. Psalms 129:4-5

Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD. Psalms 129:8