A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the LORD, Has spoken and called the earth From the rising of the sun to its going down. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people:"Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah

Look at this simple sentence, yet so wrapped in power and might. “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.” The 'perfection of beauty', what a statement of who and what the LORD, God, the Almighty is (and is not). As the perfection of beauty, He is! And as that, He is the imperfection of all that is gross and ugly.

He cannot be less than perfect in any way, He cannot be ugly, He cannot be unjust, the very heavens declare His righteousness.

Reading

Morning Psalm 8, Noon Psalm 117-124, Evening Psalm 136

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Psalm 48:3-14

God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. For behold, the kings assembled, They passed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away. Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind. As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah

We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple. According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments. Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers; Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.

This appears to me to be a double barrel statement of praise for the LORD, God, the Almighty and His habitation. A recognition of the permanence, the eternal permanence of the structures. It is interesting that the kings were troubled and frightened, even to the point of fleeing. The most powerful men on earth and they were frightened into flight.

The second paragraph describes the lovingkindness of the LORD, God, the Almighty. Could it be that is was the lovingkindness of the LORD that frightened the kings of the earth? That they were face to face with a Being that ruled through love? That this is so powerful an emotion that it resulted in a temple of absolute splendor? May I state that the lovingkindness of the LORD results in a demonstration, a proof of His eternal being as the God who will last for ever and forevermore.

Reading

Morning Psalm 7, Noon Psalm 119:9-16, Evening Psalm 135

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.

I find my self wondering as I begin the study another of the great Psalms of praise, if all the Psalms fit into this category. I am beginning to sense that my definition of praise is too narrow. Like the congregation whose pastor announced that it was the time in the Sunday morning worship where they should praise the Lord. Several members of the congregation intoned in properly staid manner, “Praise the Lord” and sat quietly waiting for the next instruction.

Praise is a verb, one of power and action, one that requires the statement of specifics. How has the LORD, God, the Almighty displayed His love for me since we were last together? Am I thankful? That's easy, but how about the instances when His fatherly hand has been displayed as a corrective? Am I thankful? Is not that also a reason for praise?

There is a broad spectrum of reasons for public praise. We need to start exercising those praise muscles as avidly as some of us exercise at a gym. Humm, maybe it is time to start referring to our LORD's Day gatherings as Praise and Worship Gym.

Reading

Morning Psalm 6 Noon Psalm 119:1-8, Evening Psalm 134

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

This is very interesting. The LORD, God, the Almighty reigns over the nations. How do we know? We know because the shields (armies) of the earth belong to Him. However, do they know? I believe that this issue is one of the great “Not yets” But the Day is coming when all will acknowledge His authority. For we read in Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Do I need to emphasize the 'everys' in this passage?

Reading

Morning Psalm 5, Noon Psalm 119:169-176, Evening Psalm 134

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

God has gone up with a shout, The LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.

Six occurrences in these 3 short verses to “sing praises” to our God and King. Got the point? We are to sing praises to the LORD,God, the Almighty through out our waking moments. Sing praises!

And we are to sing them. Lungs bursting with joy and praise. The LORD does not counsel the finely honed tenor, the bass a pace, the soprano and altos carrying the effort of the melody. No, we are to make a joyful unto the LORD. (Psalm 100:1)

Reading

Morning Psalm 5, Noon Psalm 119:169-176, Evening Psalm 134

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law.

Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. Great peace have those Yourwho love law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You.

I love Your Law! It is my beacon, my headlamp, my guide. It leads me day by day as I seek to live out my life as one of Your disciples. You know that I will stumble and fall—frequently. As a good shepherd knows, sheep are suborn, self-willed critters, given to ignoring sound advice from experienced shepherds.

Yet you pick me up, dust me off, assure me that You love and point out where I went astray. One step at a time, loving me and nurturing me as one of your children.

Praise You, my LORD, God, the Almighty.

Reading

Morning Psalm 3 Noon Psalm 119:153-160, Evening Psalm 132

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah

This business of glorifying the LORD, God, the Almighty is not a solemn affair with a bunch of wizened, gray-headed old men sitting with long faces and intoning “Glory be to God, amen.”

No, a thousand times, no. We are commanded to shout with a voice of triumph. THE LORD MOST HIGH IS AWESOME! HE IS A GREAT KING OVER ALL THE EARTH. HE SUBDUES THE PEOPLE UNDER US. HE WILL CHOOSE AN INHERITANCE OUT OF THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME.

Reading

Morning Psalm 42 Noon Psalm 119:145-152, Evening Psalm 131

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Desolation—a powerful word meaning complete, total, nothing untouched destruction. Certainly an effective way to end wars.

The replacement is an exalted LORD, God, the Almighty, unobscured by warring mankind and his rivalries. Exalted among the nations, exalted in all the earth, with us and as our refuge. Praise His holy name.

Reading

Morning Psalm 41, Noon Psalm 119:137-144, Evening Psalm 130

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,” Why? How? When? Not just reasonable questions, but essential. But could the answer be quite simple? Yes! Those streams are the saints coming to the Throne of the LORD, God, the Almighty in praise and worship.

The dividing question is: On the LORD's Day morning are we there to praise and worship the Godhead or to offer up thanks for 'gimmes' answered and to present our new list of faintly concealed demands.

Reading

Morning Psalm 41, Noon Psalm 119:137-144, Evening Psalm 130

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song For Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

I see this as a physical depiction of the turmoil that the “civilized” world is going through. Pandemic! Critical Race Theory! LBGTQ! Conservative vs Liberal! And the list goes on! I have not touched the turmoil throughout the 10-40 Window, the intra-religious battles. Islam vs Hindu, Christian vs Buddhism, etc.

But what shall we fear? The LORD, God, the Almighty is on our side. We will triumph.

Reading

Morning Psalm 40, Noon Psalm 119:129-136, Evening Psalm 129

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

VV 1-2 To the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." A Contemplation of the Sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.

VV 3-8 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty. And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.

VV 9-17 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; The peoples fall under You. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father's house; So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.

And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor. The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King's palace.

Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth. I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

What was: VV 1-2 The introduction of the King. Short but succinct and potent. “A good theme”, “fairer”, “grace”, “blessed forever”,

What is: VV3-8 The Warrior. Read this section with an eye towards those armaments that the LORD considers necessary and sufficient. Consider the power of the love of righteousness and the hatred of wickedness. What a one-two punch. The last line of V 8 brings to mind the 1^stline of the chorus of one of my favorite hymns. “Out of the ivory palaces, only His great eternal love, made my Savior go.”

What Will be: VV 9-17 Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

The marriage of the Lamb and Bride; what a glorious time as those prophetic words on the Cross which were spoken long before in temporal time; an instant in the LORD, God the Almighty's time. John 19:30 “It is finished” The LORD, God, the Almighty's plan for the restoration of their Creation. This will be the last step. That majestic click as all snaps into place.

Read this section carefully as the Psalmist describes in great detail the beauty of the Bride. This entire Psalm is loaded with guidance regarding appropriate Worship of the LORD, God, the Almighty.

Reading

Morning Psalm 39, Noon Psalm 119:121-128, Evening Psalm 128

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Psalm 44:18-26

Our heart has not turned back, Nor have our steps departed from Your way; But You have severely broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or stretched out our hands to a foreign god, Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever. Why do You hide Your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground. Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies' sake.

Does my LORD sleep? Does He cast me off forever? Does He hide His face from me?Does he forget my affliction and my oppression? Does He not notice that I am bowed down to the dust and clinging to the ground?

No, a thousand times no. There is nothing above the earth, on the earth and under the earth that He is not completely and constantly aware of. No, He may not be answering my cries for help, knowing that I need more seasoning, more time to simmer and fret before being ready for His correctives?

Teach me, LORD, to accept your training.

Reading

Morning Psalm 38, Noon Psalm 119:1113-120, Evening Psalm 127

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation. Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.