Psalms 76-80
FIVE SIMPLE PLEASURES:
Coming home- Completing an important task at work
- Working hard at dance
- A relaxing bath
- Widening my Facebook community
PSALM 76: SCARY GOD
You are radiant with light,
more majestic than mountains rich with game. v4
This psalm portrays an image of a powerful, angry God that doesn’t sit comfortably with most of us. We don’t talk about a healthy fear of God – a respect for his immense power and justice.
PSALM 77: HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!
Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God? v13
However bad things are in this moment, God is holy. God is set apart. God is greater. However distressed we are, God is holy. God is set apart. God is greater. However exhausted and drained and desperate we feel, God is holy. God is set apart. God is greater. God is God. Always.
PSALM 78: PASS IT ON
We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done. v4
One of my dad’s phrases that he used to challenge me with on a regular basis was ‘But what are you teaching your children?’ Because I’ve opted for a less formal approach to passing on my faith than my dad has been comfortable with. And who knows how successful I’ve been? I’ve not been good at passing on the Bible stories – like this potted history of the children of Israel right up to David’s present day. I’ve not been good at speaking about my faith. Maybe I need to give this more thought.
PSALM 79: I DON’T UNDERSTAND
Why should the nations say,
‘Where is their God?’ v10
Sometimes it’s really hard to understand why God is doing what He is doing. Or not doing. His temple has been destroyed. His people have been killed and scattered. And God is doing nothing. The surrounding nations are mocking their God – this God that seems absent or powerless to act. But we cannot judge whether God is God by what is happening in the moment. He is always God. Sometimes we have to say we just don’t understand.
PSALM 80: WE’RE STILL SHOUTING!
Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved. v19
This verse is repeated three times in this psalm. It sums up how the people are still crying out to God for help, for answers. They have not given up on God. They still believe He is the source of light and salvation.
