I’m going to take a one month break from discussing theology and jump into the Psalms. If you want to follow along, I will read all the Psalms in the month, starting with Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121, five Psalms every day. Tomorrow will be 2, 32, 62, 92, and 122.
Psalm 1 highlights the two paths that can be chosen in life, one following the LORD and the other not following. You might ask if there is some middle ground, some third option. From Scripture’s vantage point, there are only two. You either follow the LORD or you don’t. Not everyone who rejects the LORD becomes a mass murderer, but their eternity is the same – separated from God’s presence. God’s baseball, God’s rules.
The person who wrote Psalm 31, probably David, is in quite a difficult spot. It looks as though his physical afflictions could easily take him down. In the middle of these struggles with illness he does two things: he remembers God’s faithfulness to him in the past (vv 21-22) and expresses continued faith in God’s provision (vv 5, 14-17). He doesn’t lose perspective. He freely expresses the extent of the difficulty, but still trusts the LORD. This is no easy task when the body won’t cooperate with you.
Psalm 61 seems to be a psalm written before David became King, perhaps when King Saul had tried to kill him and he had fled. He is away from home and the familiar. His longing is to return home. It would be easy when things aren’t going your way, or justice seems to have taken a vacation, to become bitter and vengeful. But David doesn’t. He even prays for his oppressor’s long life (vv6-7). I might pray for a quick end, maybe even some tragic “accident” to happen. But he continues to be faithful even when he has become the object of injustice.
Psalm 91 is loved by soldiers or others who feel like they are under attack. We don’t need to fear what others might fear (vv4-8). If we take refuge in the LORD, our eternity is secure, so nothing in this life is worth fearing. No matter what enemy comes (v13) we don’t need to fear. All the lion can do is eat us! And the LORD speaks into that seemingly desperate situation and says that He will be with us and deliver us. And for the Psalmist he offers long life and salvation. Long or short, life can be blessing when we know that the LORD has not left us to walk it alone. He says, He will rescue, protect, answer, be with, deliver, honor, satisfy and show. The LORD will be involved in our lives.
Psalm 121 is the second “Psalm of Ascent” sung during a pilgrim’s arrival for worship. The geography of the journey to the Temple for worship is one of upward movement. The Temple is on the highest point in Jerusalem. Everyone must go up to reach it. So part of that journey is to sing these Psalms. Sung together they could unite the worshipers in their common experience. Their hearts would be focused and prepared for the worship experience ahead. This psalm focuses on the LORD and His protection. Maybe we need some songs to sing together as we travel to church on Sundays!
The Arnold Journey 