Posts by Josh Moody

Genesis 29-30, Psalm 12, Matthew 5:21-32, Acts 7:39-60  Psalm 12: David is again surrounded by problems. It is easy to think that a king or national leader has few problems. But the reality is that the more authority you have, the more responsibility—and with increased responsibility comes increased pressure. David knew all about this. But while few reading…

Genesis 27-28, Psalm 11, Matthew 5:13-20, Acts 7:1-38 Psalm 11: Taking refuge in God, verse 1, is that which the righteous do, verse 7. The upright shall behold his face. But in the meantime, there is much that troubles David. He will not give in to pious platitudes and pretend that the situation he is facing is simple.…

Genesis 25-26, Psalm 10, Matthew 5:1-12, Acts 6 Psalm 10: It is the constant experience of God’s people that God sometimes seems to go quiet when things get tough. Where is God? That is the cry of many a beleaguered soul, even a devout and pious soul. Such feelings are the ones that give rise to this psalm.…

Genesis 24, Psalm 9, Matthew 4:18-25 , Acts 5:17-42 Psalm 9: Psalm 9 begins conventionally enough. It starts with giving thanks to God. And the reasons for the thanksgiving are well known: gratitude for what God has done (his “wonderful deeds”) and ultimately for who God is in himself (“I will be glad and exult in you”). But having…

Genesis 21-23, Psalm 8, Matthew 4:12-17, Acts 5:1-16 Psalm 8: One of the many reasons for faith and worship is the astonishing, majestic pattern of the universe in which we live. In David’s ancient cosmology, this thought is the same that resonates through this psalm. “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in the all the…

Genesis 18-20, Psalm 7, Matthew 4:1-11, Acts 4:23-37 Psalm 7:   We do not know who this “Cush” was, but presumably he had said things about David that deeply wounded him, and indeed threatened to personally damage him. His “words” seemed, David felt, to be like a “lion” that might “tear his soul apart.” This was not a…

Genesis 15-17, Psalm 6, Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 4:1-22  Psalm 6: There are two measures of a leader. One, how many people are following him. Two, how many people hate him. You are no leader without followers. But if there are none who oppose, then likely as not, you are not leading your followers anywhere. David was a great…

Genesis 12-14, Psalm 5, Matthew 3:1-12, Acts 3 Psalm 5: David is groaning. The lies of his enemies (“there is no truth in their mouth . . . their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue”) have left him frustrated. But rather than take vengeance himself, he turns his frustrations over to God. Let this…

Genesis 9-11, Psalm 4, Matthew 2:13-23, Acts 2:22-47 Psalm 4: The “distress” of David in this psalm appears more related to those who, through cunning use of words, turn his honor into shame, using vain words and seeking after lies. David may well be experiencing slander, gossip, or the tasty bitterness of finding someone is misinterpreting your words…

Genesis 5-8, Psalm 3, Matthew 2:1-12, Acts 2:1-21   Psalm 3: This psalm is all the more remarkable for the context of Absalom and his rebellion against David. Read 2 Samuel 16:5-14 to gain some sense of the pain, anguish, and suffering that David was experiencing. Wandering away from his capital, seeking refuge from thousands…