MARCH 23, 2025 Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young. The Jewish commentator Ibn Ezra provides a unique perspective on this verse. He interprets the Hebrew word דרור d’ror — rendered above as swallow — to mean “free one” or […]
MARCH 21, 2025 Psalm 84:1-2 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. In the Hebrew version of the Bible, the very first letter of the Scripture is the letter beit, which is symbolic of a house […]
MARCH 20, 2025 Psalm 83:15-16, 18 Pursue them with Your tempest and frighten them with Your storm. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord…that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. Many are the enemies of Israel […]
MARCH 19, 2025 Psalm 83:9 Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera, as with Jabin at the Brook Kishon. In the verses leading up to this statement, Asaph lists ten nations who entertained thoughts of taking for themselves “the pastures of God for a possession” (Psalm 83:12). As he sees this great conspiracy taking shape, he appeals to Heaven […]
MARCH 18, 2025 Psalm 83:5-6 For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites. As we mentioned in the previous devotion, this psalm identifies the many nations who have, throughout history, exhibited great disdain for God’s people. It is telling that, as Asaph begin listing […]
MARCH 17, 2025 Psalm 83:5-6 For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites. In these verses, Asaph begins to list the nations who have “taken crafty counsel” against God’s people; nations with a long history of animosity and contempt for those God has chosen. […]
MARCH 14, 2025 Psalm 83:3-4 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” As the psalmist reveals, the nations have always conspired with one another to plot Israel’s […]
MARCH 13, 2025 Psalm 34:4-6 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 1 Samuel records the story of Hannah, a barren […]
MARCH 12, 2025 Psalm 83:1-2 Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. Jewish tradition says that this psalm was composed in response to a concerted attack upon Israel by a confederation […]
MARCH 11, 2025 Psalm 82:6-7 I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.” But you shall die like men. In the previous devotion, we discussed the fact that God’s people are referred to as אלהים Elohim — gods — and the reasons for it. In this devotion, we want to build upon this […]
MARCH 10, 2025 Psalm 82:6 I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.” In the opening verse of this psalm it is stated, “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.” Now again in this verse, men are referred to as gods. That is because, in both verses, […]
MARCH 7, 2025 Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked. There is a clear and unambiguous message presented here: those with power and influence (e.g. judges, rulers) should use that power to help those who are in need. […]
