With all the bad things that have happened to the writers of the Psalms thus far, you have to wonder if the author of Psalm 121 wasn’t a unique individual for whom everything  just seemed to go right.  Though they are both “songs of ascents” (hymns to be sung on the way to worship), and though they both begin the same way (“I lift up my eyes” – the only psalms to use that phrase), surely they couldn’t be written by the same person!
    Perhaps not, but it wouldn’t matter.

    In the Psalms, God’s name, His righteousness and faithfulness is said to “endure forever.”   But nothing is said to be as eternal as often as God’s love.

    In the eyes of her neighbors, Israel was at a disadvantage.  Israel said her God resided in the temple (or tabernacle) but there was nothing there to indicate that He did.  At least in pagan temples and places of worship there were images representing the gods being worshipped.
    Not so in Israel.

    Psalms 111, 112, and 113 all begin the same way: “Praise the Lord.”  In Hebrew, it comes out “Hallelujah!”  Psalms 111 and 112 are acrostic poems with Psalm 111 exalting God and psalm 112 exalting the man of God, the one who “fears the Lord.”
    What does it mean to “fear the Lord?”  The psalmist gives the answer.

    “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
    Hogwash.
    If you really want to hurt someone, talk about them.  Say bad things about them.  Untrue things.  You can ruin them beyond repair.
    And that is what has happened to the writer of Psalm 109.
    A number of psalms refer to slanderous remarks, but this one, of them all,  really addresses the problem.

    What’s your song?
    Not, what’s your favorite song, but what’s your song?  The song you would compose if you were to be explicit and list every blessing you have received from God?
    Why is it good to be you – put to poetry?

    Martin Luther wrote: “At the courts of princes there are few Josephs or Naamans, but many Ahithophels and Zibas.”
    At first glance, Psalm 101 could be a psalm of commitment for anyone, but the heading lets us know it is a psalm of David, and that gives it added weight in a special arena, that of the political world.  As a political leader, David is vowing a standard of ethics everyone should follow, but especially those who rule.

    Today’s reading, Psalms 98 - 100, comprise three praise psalms, calls to exalt and worship God.  These psalms often follow a pattern, alternating the call to praise with reasons for doing so.  We saw that in Psalm 95.

    Psalm 95 has two very noticeable parts: First, a call to worship (verses 1-7) and second, a call to listen (verses 7 - 11).  The first call is from the Psalmist.  The second call is from God Himself.
    The call to worship is first a call to make a loud proclamation because God is the great creator.  The second is a call to humble submission because we (Israel) are God’s people

    Psalm 92 is the only Psalm dedicated to the “Sabbath,” the day of rest for God and Israel in the Old Testament.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that other Psalms weren’t sung or recited on the Sabbath, only that this one was specifically written for such an occasion.