Posts by Josh Moody

Deuteronomy 18-21, Psalm 67, Matthew 27:11-26, Romans 12:9-21   Psalm 67: The psalm begins with a reflection on the famous Aaronic blessing that God commanded the priests to bless his people with (Numbers 6:22-27). But now this psalm is interpreted in a missionary context. This blessing is “that your way may be known on earth, your saving power…

Deuteronomy 13-17, Psalm 66, Matthew 27:1-10, Romans 12:1-8 Psalm 66: Moderate praise is not what is called for—but a “shout for joy to God”! (66:1) The psalmist is writing about a God who generates this kind of exuberance, voluminous, joyful praise! The reason? “How awesome are your deeds!” (66:3). The God of the Bible is not a passive…

Deuteronomy 9-12, Psalm 65, Matthew 26:57-75, Romans 11:25-38 Psalm 65: Why praise God? Christians often take it for granted that everyone understands that God is worthy of praise. But non-Christians frequently think that for God to demand praise of his creatures suggests he is insecure if not egocentric. Perhaps Christians, too, from time to time, also wonder the…

Deuteronomy 6-8, Psalm 64, Matthew 26:36-56, Romans 11:1-24 Psalm 64: When we think of complaining, we think of moaning, of unrighteous doubt about God’s provision or his care. But here David turns his unease into prayer: “Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint” (64:1). Do you have a complaint? Do you have something that is bugging you,…

Deuteronomy 4-5, Psalm 63, Matthew 26:17-35, Romans 10 Psalm 63: Have you ever felt like God was distant? You believe in him, but he doesn’t seem close, near, present, real? David begins this psalm by saying how much he is seeking God. “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you” (63:1). Even followers of God must…

Deuteronomy 1-3, Psalm 62, Matthew 26:1-16, Romans 9:19-33 Psalm 62: One of the great truths of life—if not the greatest truth—is that when all else fails, when everything else falls apart, there is one and only one person on whom you can rely. And that person is not yourself: it is God. God and God alone. That is…

Numbers 33-36, Psalm 61, Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 9:1-18 Psalm 61: Perhaps you need help today? One biographer of Winston Churchill said that he could imagine Churchill preaching, but he could not imagine him praying. There is something about the act of prayer that for many practically minded, successful people appears to be degrading and abasing—groveling even. We can…

Numbers 31-32, Psalm 60, Matthew 25:14-30, Romans 8:18-30 Psalm 60: This is the record of a series of great victories on the part of David. And the lesson? God did it. “With God we shall do valiantly” (60:12). The psalm starts by giving a fair record of the situation. It’s bad news. Even the theologians have given up.…

Numbers 28-30, Psalm 59, Matthew 25:1-13, Romans 8:1-17 Psalm 59: Yet again, David is in trouble. This time, men have been sent to his house to kill him. Michal, his wife, tells him about the plot, and David escapes out of the window of his house. It is an extraordinary danger, but the kind of danger with which…