Psalm 138 (résumé): I will praise you, O Lord!

 Psalm 138 is a Davidic psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God saying in the first verse that "before the 'gods' I will sing your praise... praising God's name for his love and faithfulness... God's name and word are exalted above all things and you answered me and made me stout-hearted". "May all kings praise you, O Lord... the glory of the Lord is great... and though God is high yet he still considers the lowly... you preserve my life and with your right hand you save me... the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me".

Psalm 137 (résumé): By the rivers of Babylon!

Psalm 137 is a lament in Babylon where the Jews wept by the rivers, hung their harps on the trees and refused to sing the psalms of Zion owing to their suffering and longings for home, and faced with the torments of their captors. But God's people vow to never forget Jerusalem saying "May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you... Jerusalem!" The psalm ends asking God for vengeance against the Edomites and against the Babylonians for their cruelty. It is a psalm of expression of profound trauma for God's people having lost home and temple.

Psalm 136 (résumé): Give thanks to the Lord for he is good!

 Psalm 136 is a hymn of thanksgiving to God because "his love endures forever" which is the repetitive refrain repeated in each of its 26 verses. The psalm celebrates God's goodness, his domination of creation (heavens, earth, waters, great lights, moon and stars), Israel's deliverance from Egypt (killing of firstborn, Red Sea, Wilderness journey, killing of enemy kings) and God's covenant faithfulness. 

The big one

My résumés of the Bible progressed well today as I covered the big hurdle of Psalm 119 which is the biggest psalm and the biggest chapter of the Bible. I have now done 135 psalms so have nearly finished this very large book. I have now written just over half the chapters of the Bible (51%) so that's good. 

I took some folk home to their farmstead who had been attended by our dentist and I saw 3 burrowing owls along the way. They come out in the rain, as it had been raining, so as to catch frogs and toads crossing the road!

Last night it rained 11 mm at Green Pastures.

Psalm 135 (résumé): Praise the Name of the Lord!

Psalm 135 is a hymn of praise exhorting God's people to worship God for his goodness. Initially the psalm calls the priests and Levites to praise the Lord because he is good. He then exhorts praise for them having been chosen as God's people and that the Lord is greater than all gods. He points to God's control of nature: wind, lightening, seas and clouds. The psalm then goes on to praise God for his signs and wonders in Egypt and for his victories over Canaanite kings. The psalmist then ridicules useless idols and calls everyone to praise the Lord.

Psalm 134 (résumé): Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord!

Psalm 134 is the final short song of ascents praising the Lord with all who minister at night in the temple, raising hands in the sanctuary, and receiving the blessings of God. 

Psalm 133 (résumé): Unity is good and pleasant

This very popular Psalm 133 exalts the great importance of unity amongst God's people. Unity is compared to the sweet smelling blessed anointing oil of the High Priest. Unity is also compared with the refreshing dew of Mount Hermon. It is with unity that God bestows his blessing giving life for evermore!