Psalms for Shepherds

Thank you for joining us today as we meditate on Psalm 104, one I like to refer to as the "How great is our God" psalm. Let's read together: 1 Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are!     You are robed with honor and majesty. 2     You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; 3     you lay out the rafters of your home in the rai...

Today we’re finishing up Psalm 103 of this song of David. We started two weeks ago with the first five verses of this “Bless the Lord, O my soul” song, and now we'll be going through the last four verses. Let's read together: 19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice...

Today we’re in verses 6 through 18 of Psalm 103, a song of David entitled, “Bless the Lord, O My Soul.” As we read through these 13 verses, it’s important to remember they are couched between the personal praise to God that we found in the first five verses of this psalm, along with the six specific benefits the Lord offers to his sheep, and universal praise to God in the last four verses of this...

Thank you for joining us! We’re in the first five verses of Psalm 103 today, a song of David entitled, “Bless the Lord, O My Soul” Let's read verses 1 through 5 together... 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!    2  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,  3  who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,  4  who redeems yo...

Welcome back! Today, we’re finishing our time in Psalm 102, a prayer of one afflicted, pouring out his complaint before the Lord. Please join us in reading Psalm 102, verses 18 through 28...   18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,      so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:    19 that he looked down from his holy height;      from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, ...

Thank you for joining us! Today, we’re back in Psalm 102, and we’ll start again with verse 1 but continue this week through verse 17 with a narrated version of the psalmist’s words.  Let’s read together: 1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! 2 Do not hide your face from me     in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me;     answer me speedily in the day when I call! 3 For my day...

Today, we’re in Psalm 102, a 28-verse psalm that we’ll look at together over several podcasts. We’ll start with just the first two verses of this psalm, so let's read together:   1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;  let my cry come to you!    2 Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!  Incline your ear to me;  answer me speedily in the day when I call!    Although you’ve only heard the first...

Today, we’re in Psalm 101, a psalm of King David in which he expresses a commitment to live with integrity and to avoid evil. Please join me in reading Psalm 101, the “Leadership 101” Psalm, also called, “I Will Walk with Integrity”:   1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice;  to you, O Lord, I will make music.    2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.  Oh, when will you come to me?  I wil...

Today, we’re in Psalm 100, a song often called a psalm of thanksgiving and, more than likely, a psalm with which you’re familiar. Let’s read together Psalm 100... 1. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2. Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3. Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his;     we are his people, and the sheep of his...

Today, we’re in Psalm 99, a psalm that reminds us that our Lord reigns, and that He is great, exalted, and holy. Please join me in reading the 9 verses of Psalm 99... 1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!     He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion;     he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!     Holy is...

Today, we’re in Psalm 98, another amazing psalm that allows us to praise our God. In fact, this psalm reminds us to make a joyful noise to our Lord! Please join me in reading Psalm 98, the psalm from which Isaac Watts found the inspiration of his popular hymn — also known as a Christmas carol — Joy to the World:   98 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,  for he has done marvelous things!  His right han...

Today, we’re in Psalm 97, twelve verses that boldly, clearly, and unashamedly exclaim, “The Lord reigns!” Please join me in a narrated version of Psalm 97...    Verse 1 tells us: The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice, let the many coastlands be glad!   Verse 2 says: Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;  righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.    Verse 3 goes on to say...

Today, we’re in Psalm 96, an invitation to worship in the splendor of God’s holiness. Let’s read together: 1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;     sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;     tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations,     his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;     h...

Today, we’re in Psalm 95, a magnificent call to worship, as well as an important reminder to learn from the past, and remember the consequences of disobedient, stubborn, resistance to God’s grace. Let’s read together: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;     let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;     let us make a joyful noise to hi...

Today, we’re wrapping up Psalm 94, a song specifically related to the seeming victory of the wicked and the unfair treatment of the powerless. Please join us today in the remainder of the chapter of Psalm 94, starting with verse 12: 12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord,     and whom you teach out of your law,    to give him rest from days of trouble,     until a pit is dug for the wic...

Today, we are in Psalm 94, a song written to address the apparent triumph of the wicked and the lack of just treatment of the helpless. Let's read together verses 1 through 11: 1 O Lord, God of vengeance,     O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;     repay to the proud what they deserve! 3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked,     how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They po...

Today, we are in Psalm 93, a short five-verse song that perfectly describes our God’s reign.    Let's read together: 1 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;     the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2  Your throne is established from of old;     you are from everlasting. 3  The floods have lifted up, O Lord,     the floods...

Today, we are in Psalm 92, a song that beautifully displays the sovereign rule of God. Please join me in reading Psalm 92, entitled How Great Are Your Works: 1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,     to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,     and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp,     to the melody of the lyr...

Today, we are focusing on Psalm 91, one of my personal favorites. In fact, I have been counting the weeks until we had the opportunity to hang out in this psalm a bit. Let’s get right to it and read together: 1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High     will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,     my God, in whom I trust.” 3  For he w...

Today we conclude our time in Psalm 90 with verses 13 through 17. Let’s read together:   13  Return, O Lord! How long?     Have pity on your servants! 14  Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,     that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15  Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,     and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16  Let your work be shown to your...

Today we continue in Psalm 90, a psalm of Moses, with verses 3 through 12.   Let’s read together:   3  You return man to dust     and say, “Return, O children of man!”[ b ] 4  For a thousand years in your sight     are but as yesterday when it is past,     or as a watch in the night. 5  You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,     like grass that is renewed in the morning: 6  in...

Today we begin Psalm 90, a 17-verse psalm which we'll go through over several podcasts. Today we'll be covering only verses 1 and 2 today.    Let’s read together:   1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place     in all generations. 2  Before the mountains were brought forth,     or ever you had formed the earth and the world,     from everlasting to everlasting you are God. As you listen to this pod...

We’re finished our time in Psalm 89 today as we read verses 38 through 52.   Let’s read together from Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation:   “But God, you did walk off and leave us,  you lost your temper with the one you anointed.  You tore up the promise you made to your servant,  you stomped his crown in the mud.  You blasted his home to kingdom come,  reduced his city to a pile of rubble ...

We’re continuing our time in Psalm 89 and today we’re focusing on verses 19 through 37. As we get into it, you may recognize that this portion of Psalm 89 is really a summary of the promises the Lord made as recounted in 2 Samuel 7, verses 1-17.    Let’s read together from Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation:   A long time ago you spoke in a vision,  you spoke to your faithful beloved:    “I...

Today we're in verses 5-18 of Psalm 89 where the psalmist continues to talk of God’s steadfast love, but also of His faithfulness, His power, and how God had shown His control, his supremacy, and His authority in the past. Let's read together from Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation: God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways,  the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways!...