Archive for February 2022

Leviticus 26-27, Psalm 47, Matthew 21:12-22, Acts 28:17-31   Psalm 47: Songs of praise have a way of entering into our bones with the marrow of joy. None better than this Psalm: “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” Note that there is nothing wrong with exuberance in worship. While when we…

Leviticus 24-25, Psalm 46, Matthew 21:1-11, Acts 28:1-16 Psalm 46: This great psalm, made more latterly famous by Martin Luther’s famous A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, throbs with confidence. “God is our refuge and strength … therefore we will not fear” (46:1-2). There are many reasons to fear in this world. We live particularly these days in…

Leviticus 21-23, Psalm 45, Matthew 20:17-34, Acts 27:27-44   Psalm 45: This psalm is apparently a “love song” (as the ascription puts it) and also written as “verses to the king” (45:1). At one level, the psalm ascribes to the king that he is the “most handsome of the sons of men” (45:2). It tells us that the…

Leviticus 18-20, Psalm 44, Matthew 20:1-16, Acts 27:1-26 Psalm 44: Sometimes it can seem as if you do all the right things, say the right things, believe the right things, but still you suffer. Why is that? The psalmist is struggling with that very question. He remembers the “days of old,” from verses 1 to 3, where the…

Leviticus 16-17, Psalm 43, Matthew 19:16-30, Acts 26:19-32 Psalm 43: Psalm 43 and Psalm 42 belong together. Psalm 43 ends with the same refrain that was repeated in Psalm 42: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him My salvation and…

Leviticus 14-15, Psalm 42, Matthew 19:1-15, Acts 26:1-18 Psalm 42: The psalm begins with a beautiful, famous picture—“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” (42:1)—but the reality behind that picture is rather starker than is often considered. The point that the psalmist is making is in the same way that…

Leviticus 11-13, Psalm 41, Matthew 18:15-35, Acts 25:13-27   Psalm 41: There are many motivations for generosity: a response to what Christ has done for us, an expression of genuine kindness, and even if somewhat less positively, the motivation of looking good by doing good. Charity is motivated by many wells of desires deep within the human heart.…

Leviticus 8-10, Psalm 40, Matthew 18:1-14, Acts 25:1-12 Psalm 40: For U2 fans, this psalm is made more latterly renowned by a song they sang named “40”—whose lyrics are modeled on that of this song. But whatever the entrance way that leads you to this psalm, you are blessed if you linger here and learn its…

Leviticus 5-7, Psalm 39, Matthew 17:14-27, Acts 24 Psalm 39: There are few things more provoking than someone acting in wicked foolishness—especially when they seem to get away with it. Perhaps you are facing some trial or trauma, and it is made worse by the “presence of the wicked.” Not only was what happened bad, but there are…

Leviticus 1-4, Psalm 38, Matthew 17:1-13, Acts 23:12-35 Psalm 38: Sin has real effects. Here David outlines the way his sin has impact, even on his physical state. Perhaps there is some sin that you are toying with in your mind. Surely it isn’t that bad. Surely God will forgive me. Surely no one will notice. But here…