Psalms and Proverbs once a month

2011-04-06T05:51:00.000-07:00

"Make their loins continually to shake..."

2011-02-22T00:04:00.000-08:00

That is the verse on my mind right now, taken from Psalm 109, I believe. It is an "impreccation", which the Psalms are known for. Sometimes I think God wants us to cry out to be avenged, like the importunate widow in Luke 18. Of course, we ought to also do good to and pray for our enemies (which, by the way, David did as well). That does not mean we should shun to make our prayers authentic, however. Hey! If the martyred saints in Revelation 6 can cry out for their blood to be avenged, since when do we have to keep our anger and anguish of soul a secret. All I know is: my prayer, again, is "Make their loins continually to shake..." And, "Bow down their back always...", in Jesus' name amen. "P.S. Do have mercy on them and save them, by all means..."

"Not unto us, O LORD...

2011-01-23T20:31:00.001-08:00

...not unto us, but unto thy name, give glory; for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should they say among the heathen, "Where is their God". But our God is in the heavens - he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." Psalm 115

This, I pray, tonight, from my heart.

I am feeble and sore broken...

2011-01-08T03:26:00.000-08:00

I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Psalm XXXVIII.8

Had a good "roar" lately? Personally, I don't know about "lately", but it does seem to happen every once in a while. It's pretty shocking when it happens, but what a relief! And what an even greater relief to realize it's jolly-well Scriptural! What a relief, also, to know I don't have to have it all together. After all, "feeble and sore broken" speaks to me of "having it all together in reverse"! And, folks, that would be where I am at! Good-night!

P.S. Here is a poem on "roaring": http://outsidethecamp.blogspot.com/2007/03/lion-hath-roared-see-book-of-amos-in.html

I had fainted...(Psalm 27:13...)

2011-01-05T22:49:00.001-08:00

For I am poor and sorrowful, and my heart is wounded within me

2010-12-22T21:48:00.001-08:00

Psalm 109. This verse was especially meaninful to me in South Korea. Just remember, I know, that other people can, likewise, wounded at the heart level by us as well.

"Make it plain upon tables..."

2010-09-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Here goes my attempt to write out Psalm 119 from memory. I agree, with God's help, to type from memory and not go back and "cheat" (i.e. go in and correct errors after I have posted). Why? To the glory of God, of course:

ALEPH

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies; and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity, they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 Oh that my ways were directed to keep that statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements.
8 I will keep thy statutes - Oh, forsake me not utterly.

New rules! I just realized that, though I intend to add one eight-verse section at a time, if I do it in separate posts, then it will be backwards, with "Tau" (verses "59-5g" in "duotrigesimal" - or "Base Thirty-Two", or 169-176 in "decimal", or "base ten") last, and "Aleph" (i.e. verses 1-8) first - and that would simply not do. Therefore, I will "add" one eight verse section at a time - but I will still not go back and edit an eight verse section once I had added it and posted it. So now I am on "Beth", or verses 9-"g":

BETH
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
a With my whole heart have I sought thee - Oh, let me not wander from thy commandments!
b Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
c Blessed art thou, O LORD - teach me thy statutes.
d With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
e I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
f I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
g I will delight myself in thy statutes - I will not forget thy word.

...Alright, now it's time for...: "Gimel" - or verses "h=1¯f" to "r=1¯8" (i.e. 17-24 in decimal, or base ten):

GIMEL
h=1¯f Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live and keep thy word.
j=1¯e Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
k=1¯d I am a stranger in the earth - hide not thy commandments from me.
m=1¯c My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
n=1¯b Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
p=1¯a Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept thy testimonies.
q=1¯9 Princes also did sit and speak against me, but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
r=1¯8 Thy testimonies also are my delight - and my counselors.

...and..."Daleth" - or decimal 25-32:

DALETH
s=1¯7 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.
t=1¯6 I have declared my ways and thou heardest me - teach me thy statutes.
v=1¯5 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts - so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
w=1¯4 My soul melteth for heaviness - strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
x=1¯3 Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me thy law, graciously.
y=1¯2 I have chosen the way of truth - thy judgments have I laid before me.
z=1¯1 I have stuck unto thy testimonies; O LORD, put me not to shame.
10 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

That concludes the portion of Psalm 119 for this evening. If I am able, I will get on a computer tomorrow, and continue with "HE", and etc...

They soon forgat his works, they waited not for his counsel...

2010-09-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

Psalm CVI.

In the margin, it reads, "They made haste - they forgat..." My prayer is that God would preservce me, and us, from hastiness. Hastiness only tends to want, as we read in Proverbs, and I am sorry to say, I have learned that by experience. I can always change directions, however, and START WAITING, and STOP BEING SO DOG-GONE HASTY! Abba! I do! Help me to wait, O LORD, and help US! In Jesus' name, amen!

Love,

Daniel

Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening...

2010-09-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in Psalm CIIII. (i.e. One hundred and four)

I lament that we have invented, in the Western World, "Welfare States" that rob men of this privilege and responsibility. Not that we have to participate, however - just get out there and work and labour! Men, arise! (By the way, if nothing else, just get out there and pick up garbage!)

Daniel

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings...

2010-09-01T17:58:00.001-07:00

Psalm VIII.2

...hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger.

Psalm CXXXIX

2010-08-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me...

I love this Psalm. It is such a comfort to me, because I do not know myself! I think I do, but I don't. It does not take much to realize that I need a shepherd - "bigtime"! And I have one - the LORD!

"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me - it is high, I cannot attain unto it."

I am overwhelmed at the revelation of God's omnipresence and omniscience - especially as it relates to me as a individual. I am undone by it - like a log in a fire is finally consumed by the flames so that is disintegrates into nothing more than dust and ashes.

"Marvelous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well."

I will let that last quote speak for itself. Bye for now.

Daniel

Psalm LXXXIX

2010-08-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

In summary, the Psalmist recalls God's magnanimous promises to David, and then says, "But that is not what we see coming to pass at the present time..." Somehow, notwithstanding the testimony David held to the end, of being a man after God's own heart; and the faith he had to the end, in God's unfailing promises to him - there was to be some severe testing. It simply did not seem like God had remembered his promises. The psalmist (Heman the Ezrahite, if my memory serves me correctly), rightly reminds God of those promises. For that matter, so do I! Lord, please remember thy promises to bless my going out and coming in from this time forth, and for evermore! In Jesus' name, amen!

God WAS hungry... and IS!

2010-08-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

"If I were hungry, I would not tell thee..." Psalm L (Roman Numeral for "fifty"). I was just pondering this Scripture, and realized something: God WAS hungry - and I think he still is today! How do I know this? Later in the Scriptures, we read, "Jesus was an hungered". Well, Jesus was and is God, was and is he not? And Jesus was hungry! And, true to form, he did not tell another person about his hunger. He even resisted the temptation, to satisfy his hunger by himself. He quoted the Scripture, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

We also read, however, in Matthew chapter XXV, where Jesus foretells of a day when he will say to the sheep as well as the goats, "I was a hungry..." And what will their response be?... "When!" "When saw we thee an hungered". In a word, both sheep and goats will say, "But thou didst not tell us!" Exactly. As we know from Psalm chapter fifty, if he were hungry he would NOT tell us!

It is a sobering reminder to me that - though God, represented by the "least of these" of today, IS hungry, he will NOT tell me! He IS, however, watching and waiting for me to give them (i.e. "him") something to eat, and will reward me when I do so.

One final thought is that if WE hunger, then WE become the least of these, with whom God so closely identifies himself. WE hunger as HE hungered, and Jesus therefore says in the beatitudes, "Blessed are ye that hunger..."

Daniel

P.S. I also note that Jesus said in Matthew chapter six, that when we fast, we should not make a public show of it (in other words, if WE are hungry (particularly, due to fasting), WE should not necessarily tell others that we are). In so doing, we will be imitating God who, indeed, "keeps it to himself" when he is hungry.

"And riseth up again"

2010-07-24T20:06:00.001-07:00

This Scripture, from Proverbs 24 - today's chapter of Proverbs - quickened me today; and got me up!

"We are become a scorn to our neighbours..."

2010-07-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

Can ye get and keep jobs? If ye can, congratulations. For my part, I know I can - but have not yet been able to see that ability released in my life. I just plain keep losing my jobs. Sometimes, as with H&R Block, that is simply because tax season is over. Today, however, it was because, according to Kelly, I just wasn't producing enough trusses.

It is all I can do to hold my head high and smile brightly - but, by the grace of God, I am doing it. And I will do it! This will anything but defeat me. It will actually propel me. How do I know that? By faith! Hallelujah! By the way, the Scripture that begins this post is from Psalm LXXIX.

A few verses

2010-07-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

In Psalm 50, we read, "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee..." From this I gather that I can forget about meeting any of God's needs. Rather, he is the one that must meet mine.

"Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." God is glorified when we call on him in trouble and receive his salvation. It is true that we should not just remember him when we get into trouble, but I think he understands that it is troubles that drive us to him, and therefore he allows it to come.

Then, in Psalm 55, "Cast thy burden upon the LORD and he shall sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to me moved."

It is not a bad thing to call on God when we get into trouble. It is just that, as brother Vaughn points out at his blog: http://www.devotional.vaughnfriesen.com/, we should remember him in the good times, too.

I am small and despised, yet do not I forsake thy precepts (Psalm CXIX.141)

2010-06-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

One might think that, if God's Son came to earth, he would be honoured and exalted - and, to be sure - that eventually did happen (and will happen). It, however, certainly did not happen right away. Ironically enough, as a matter of fact, he was hated, despised, and slain. Treating God's only begotten Son like that was the ultimate case in point of how depraved, wicked, and stupid we - his creatures - become when we go our own way.

The good news, however, is that he is ready and willing to forgive us and receive us as one of his own. Then we can go from persecutors to to persecuted. From Despising to despised. And, eventually, with him, we will be honoured and exalted. Lord, let us not lose heart when we are small and despised, even as Jesus Christ was not (and King David, who according to many wrote Psalm 119 (if not Daniel, as still others suppose)). In Jesus' name, amen.

Sit thou at my right hand... (Psalm CX)

2010-06-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

I like that - "sit". Sitting is downright easy, if I do say so myself, and it is one of the things we see done in the Scriptures. For example, consider Mary. Whereas Martha thought Mary negligent for sitting, Jesus actually said she had chosen the better part, which would not be taken from her. It is by no means always time to be sitting, but there is a time and place for it. As we read in Isaiah 30 (if I remember correctly), "Their strength is to sit still." And, really, think about it! What are the precious moments we can have with a beloved child. Is it not when they sit with us? Let us remember that the Lord Jesus Christ desires the same from us, and - go ahead - sit down!

He was Ready to Pay!

2010-06-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

By: Daniel Robbins - a Perfectionist

I was a young boy - and that was plain for all to see. After all, any man could see what I obviously did not... until now.

Now, I was at the checkout counter. Now, stark, cold, wet reality was introducing me to a mortifying fact: I did not have enough money for what I was trying to buy.

Oh! I had money - and, being the boy I was, I thought that that was all I needed. "I have money... I give that money to the lady... she lets me take the merchandise, and everybody is happy."

The problem was, I failed to realize that - again - I did not have enough money. Not - at least - until "now." Therefore, "now" was actually a terrifying and (as I said) embarrassing situation! What, then, did I do?

I suppose I did what any lost, little, frightened boy would do: I ran away with my bag of potato chips (or whatever they were) to put them back on the store shelf - crying and wailing as I ran.

The really painful part of that memory, however, is that the man in line behind me at the till tried to get my attention - tried to stop me. He called to me. He entreated me to look and listen. I did stop for a moment and looked back. I saw that he was standing there with the money in-hand; ready and willing to pay for "my" bag of chips (or, at least, it could have been mine).

I could not do it, though. I could not bring myself to go back. I was just plain too embarrassed - so I carried on to where I had found the chips, and put them back.

I mourn. I mourn - not because I missed out on a bag of chips. Not at all. There is something far deeper that I mourn. I mourn the fact that I could have ``saved face.`` I could have experienced grace and mercy. I could have cooperated. That man would have paid the price for me, I would have gotten what I wanted, and the cashier and that man would have been blessed. (Instead, they just had to watch me carry on in my folly).

I know I cannot go back and change my foolish actions back then - but I can sure prepare my heart for next time. Next time I am in a situation like that, I am going to stop, turn around, go back, and let the man pay for me!

So what if I have to humble myself! Do I not want my chips? Come to think of it, has very much really changed since that day? I trow (I.e. ``suppose``) not.

I still do not have enough money - only, this time, it is not just a bag of chips. I owe a lot more money than I have - and I know I am not the only one.

This debt, however, is actually - really - only symbolic! Morally speaking, in and of myself, I am really in trouble!

Therefore, with David (who definitely knew what it was to run up against “moral bankruptcy"), I pray:

O turn unto me and have mercy upon me: give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen (i.e. helped) me, and comforted me." (Psalme LXXXVI. 16-17)

Ye see (I.e. "You see"), when that man offered to pay for me, God was showing me a "token for good". I was just too scared, proud, and stubborn to receive it at that time. This time, however - so help thou me, God - I am going to thankfully receive it! How about the rest us us?

Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, was God's ultimate "token for good." I beseech you: receive Him by faith. He is standing there with his nail-scarred hands outstretched - ready and willing to apply his payment for sin to your account. He is alive from the dead, as a token of the resurrection power that will one day resurrect you and me to everlasting life, if we will but humble ourselves, come to him, and say, "OK." In other words, "Lord, I believe." (See the latter portion of John's gospel, chapter Nine).

That calls for worship!...
Hallelujah! (I.e. "Praise Ye the LORD!")

"When I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm LXXIII)

2010-06-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Though I am all pumped up about the oncoming prosperity I believe God has in store, it is sobering to recall what Asaph describes as the "prosperity of the wicked". Such is the kind of prosperity I can do without! For us, by all means, our prosperity is mainly spiritual. It consists of offspring - spiritual and physical. And, of course, it certainly involves having our physical needs met (and even exceeded, in my opinion, in God's good time). While the wicked seem to have more than heart could wish, however, I will gladly wait for the fulfillment of the following verse from Proverbs: "Blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich - and he addeth no sorrow with it".

"Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads;..." Psalme LXVI.12

2010-06-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

"...we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." Hallelujah! I declare it by faith! "But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." It certainly has been a grind - and, I know, not just for me. But take heart! All you "grinders" out there! We are about to be brought out into a wealthy place! Amen, O LORD - may it be so, in Jesus' name, amen!

"Thou tellest my wanderings..." Psalm LVI.8

2010-06-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

I do not know about you, but life sure is a sobering experience. It all happens really fast. A verse from Proverbs comes to mind: "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the LORD directeth his steps." We can, and should, do what we can to plan responsibly, but we had better be ready to move when God says it is time. And we had better know how to do it quickly. Do not get stuck in or too attached to one place - because when it is time to go, you go. As Jesus Christ said, "Remember Lot's wife." She had grown attached to Sodom and Gomorrah, but it was time to go, and so looking back cost her her life.

One day soon, if my theology of the "rapture" is correct, we will soon get our utlimate "it's time to go" call. When we do, will we be looking back? Let us be found among them that "love his appearing". And if he keeps us in wandering mode so that we are ready to go at any time, let us thank him for it.

"...tear you in pieces..." (Psalm L)

2010-06-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

Why would God threaten to tear anyone in pieces! The answer is simple: slander. When we speak against our brothers, and slander our own mother's son, according to the latter portion of Psalm 50, we run the risk of being torn in pieces! The moral of the story is simply: we must watch what we say about each other.

Pro 10:18 ¶ He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool.

Heavenly Father, please preserve us from being such fools. In Jesus' name, amen.

"Because of my sin" (Psalm XXXVIII(i.e. "thirty-eight").3)

2010-06-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

I love those words. I mean, I REALLY love them? Why because they tell me I am not the only one. I am not the only one that gets "in over his head" "because of his sin." I am a card-carrying perfectionist, and make no apologies for that fact. At the same time, however, I do think God really had something to prove by laying the burden and message of perfection on MY heart!

Me? A sinner? A "REAL sinner? "No joke" sinner? Why not choose some guy that has his life together. Some guy than can get and keep a job for at least a year? Why choose me? Well, he also chose David. And David was a broken man. And David got in over his head "because of his sin." That threatens to bring tears to my eyes.

"Lord, I thank thee for David, and for his root and offspring, who found himself in over his head because of MY sin - because of OUR sin! Make me grateful, and us. Make me perfect, and us. In Jesus' name (speaking of the "root and offspring of David"), amen."

Hooray for the Friesens!

2010-06-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

I dedicate the second morning Psalm, Psalm 31, to the Friesens. It was while I was memorizing this Psalm that they gave me a place to stay. The message of this Psalm is a very accurate reflection of my state of being at that time. For example, "Mine eye is consumed with grief - yea, my soul and my belly." And, "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD...

2010-05-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is the heading for this morning's first Psalm - Psalm CII (or One Hundred and Two). Obviously, then, while murmuring is ill advised, complaining is actually Scriptural! Not that all the Psalms start this way, of course, Psalm CIII (or One Hundred and Three), starts with, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me; bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..." Therefore, though we are allowed to complain, we should not always be doing it (then it would become murmuring).

On the other hand, though we ought to be of good cheer, in spite of the tribulations we shall have; we should, in my opinion, also keep in mind that we might have to do a little complaining to God every once in a while. Did not even Jesus, every once in a while, sigh, or exclaim, "How long...!" All in the right proportions, we can walk even as he walked, and find that, in Christ, God is well pleased with us. "Lord, teach us to pray, and give us the Holy Spirit, whom - we know - we sorely need to that end, in Jesus' name, amen."

The sea is his, and he made it - and his hands formed the dry land (Psalm 95)

2010-05-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Would you ever doubt that a chair or table was made by someone's hands? How about a written sentence - or even any recognizable symbol, such as a letter of the alphabet, or indo-arabic number (i.e. "1,2,3..."? Yet, in our foolishness, we in the western world have come to suppose that the sea and dry land, along with the living creatures in and on them, evolved. Utter foolishness indeed! The very fact that there is any water on this planet should tell us something - yet we keep snooping around the universe for traces of that which has been richly betowed on us by God's loving hands. Lord, save us from such folly!

"Return, O LORD, how long, and let it repent thee concerning thy servants..." Psalm XC(i.e. "Ninety").13

2010-05-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

God may not be a man, that he should repent, but we also read of times where it did repent him that he had done (or determined to do) certain things. For example, it repented him that he had made man upon the earth in Genesis 6. Or, on several occasions, when he saw his people in sore distress, he repented himself of the evil he had sent upon them. David, the author of the Psalms, knew of this (II Samuel 24:16; Psalm 106:45) - and so did Moses, the author of this morning's first Psalm. He, as a matter of fact, was instrumental in turning away God's wrath(Psalm 106:23), that God should not destroy the children of Israel.

I am reminded of another instance where God repented himself: Nineveh. In this case, Jonah wondered at the justice of such repentance. After all, Niniveh was extremely wicked. The good news, however, is that no matter how wicked we are, we can rest assured that God may repent himself of the evil he has determined against us, if we will but repent. Furthermore, while God did honour the repentance of Nineveh, with some repentance of his own, judgement did still eventually come on Nineveh; so while he is gracious and ever willing to pardon, he is by no means mocked.

Then again, there was Josiah. He was a great king, and he turned to the LORD with all his heart, so that there was none like him - before him or after him. In this case, however, God actually refused to repent. Why, because - among other things - Manasseh in particular had just plain shed too much innocent blood; and God simply would not forgive it. Even this instance, however, God did honour the fact that Josiah's heart was tender, and promised not to send the evil in Josiah's lifetime (which, incidentally, was the same thing he did when Ahab repented - (please see: http://daninmbii.blogspot.com/2007/01/ahab-heard-elijah-words.html if ye would like to see a hymn I wrote about this)).

Moses knew what it was to see God repent of destroying Israel (alluded to earlier), and yet also refuse to repent of his decision to not allow Moses to take the Israelites into Canaan (after he had smitted the rock twice instead of speaking to it). Therefore, we may ask God to "let it repent him" concerning certain things, but may or may not find him willing to do so. In a word, God may not be oversimplified. As Matthew Henry notes, his "judgements are a great deep". This quotation is taken from Psalm 36:6, and it is followed by, "...O LORD, thou preservest man and beast". We may not always be able to make perfect sense of his various judgements, but we may rest assured that his is a preserving work that benefits his creation.

Sincerely,

Daniel

Hooray for "J..."

2009-10-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

J. Vernon McGee, that is! I was listening to his "thru the Bible radio" broadcast on Psalm 106, and he actually did not say much about it. But he did say this about the Psalms, right at the end: "We oughta get saturated with 'em!" (Of course, with his well known Southern Californian accent). Ye can listen to him here (he actually covers Psalms 105 and 106 in this particular recording, which is great, because those were the morning and evening Psalms for today ( though technically yesterday, seeing it's after Midnight right now(!)):

http://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/asxgen/?AuthorID=24&commInfo=35&GroupID=19&ID=2126&t=a

That's what this blog is all about: getting saturated with the Psalms! My brother respects J. Vernon McGee, which, by the way, is a rare honour for McGee. Therefore, when McGee, says we ought to get saturated with the Psalms, I would personally take heed! Feel free to dive right into this treasure chest of music at the centre (if not "center") of your Bibles. I have been reaping from them for almost ten years now, and I will not be stopping any time soon!

God bless you, and keep you:

Daniel

"Reading Plan"

2008-12-24T05:05:00.000-08:00

This is a 30-day plan for reading Psalms and Proverbs once a month. If "ye have not yet tried reading Psalms and Proverbs once a month, I invite you to "Taste and see" that the Psalms and Proverbs are "good"!

"Day of the month" / Morning Psalms / Evening Psalms / Chapter of Proverbs

1st / Psalms 1-5 / Psalms 6-8 / Proverbs 1

2nd / Ps. 9-11 / Ps. 12-14 / Proverbs 2

3rd / Ps. 15-17 / Ps. 18 / Proverbs 3

4th / Ps. 19-21 / Ps. 22-23 / Proverbs 4

5th / Ps. 24-26 / Ps. 27-29 / Proverbs 5

6th / Ps. 30-32 / Ps. 33-34 / Proverbs 6

7th / Ps. 35-36 / Ps. 37 / Proverbs 7

8th / Ps. 38-40 / Ps. 41-43 / Proverbs 8

9th / Ps. 44-46 / Ps. 47-49 / Proverbs 9

10th / Ps. 50-52 / Ps. 53-55 / Proverbs 10

11th / Ps. 56-58 / Ps. 59-61 / Proverbs 11

12th / Ps. 62-64 / Ps. 65-67 / Proverbs 12

13th / Ps. 68 / Ps. 69-70 / Proverbs 13

14th / Ps. 71-72 / Ps. 73-74 / Proverbs 14

15th / Ps. 75-77 / Ps. 78 / Proverbs 15

16th / Ps. 79-81 / Ps. 82-85 / Proverbs 16

17th / Ps. 86-88 / Ps. 89 / Proverbs 17

18th / Ps. 90-92 / Ps. 93-94 / Proverbs 18

19th / Ps. 95-97 / Ps. 98-101 / Proverbs 19

20th / Ps. 102-103 / Ps. 104 / Proverbs 20

21st / Ps. 105 / Ps. 106 / Proverbs 21

22nd / Ps. 107 / Ps. 108-109 / Proverbs 22

23rd / Ps. 110-113 / Ps. 114-115 / Proverbs 23

24th / Ps. 116-118 / Ps. 119 "Aleph" - "Daleth" (verses 1-32) / Proverbs 24

25th / Ps. 119 "He" - "Teth" (vss. 33-72)/ Ps. 119 "Yod" - "Mem" (vss.73-104) / Proverbs 25

26th / Ps. 119 "Nun" - "Tzaddi" (vss. 105-144)/ Ps. 119 "Koph" - "Tav" (vss. 145-176) / Proverbs 26

27th / Ps. 120-125 / Ps. 126-131 / Proverbs 27

28th / Ps. 132-135 / Ps. 136-138 / Proverbs 28

29th / Ps. 139-141 / Ps. 142-144 / Proverbs 29

30th / Ps. 144-146 / Ps. 147-150 / Proverbs 30 and 31 (or, if there is a 31st day, read Proverbs 31 on that day)

Enjoy!

"Good to go" for the year...

2008-03-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

Let us read!

2008-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

The following table is taken from the 1611 edition of the Authorized Version of the Bible. It takes me through the Psalms in a 30-day month. For average length Psalms, it gives you three Psalms in the morning and three in the evening. If the Psalms are shorter, it gives you more, and if longer, it gives you less. I find this helpful, because it helps keep the amount of reading consistent. Of course, the Proverbs can be read once a month as well, as long as you "double up" for one day on 30-day months (in such a case, I usually read Proverbs 30 and 31, on "day 30"), because Proverbs has 31 chapters.

"Day of the month" / Morning Psalms / Evening Psalms / Chapter of Proverbs

1st day of the month / Psalms 1-5 / Psalms 6-8 / Proverbs 1

2nd / Ps. 9-11 / Ps. 12-14 / Proverbs 2

3rd / Ps. 15-17 / Ps. 18 / Proverbs 3

4th / Ps. 19-21 / Ps. 22-23 / Proverbs 4

5th / Ps. 24-26 / Ps. 27-29 / Proverbs 5

6th / Ps. 30-32 / Ps. 33-34 / Proverbs 6

7th / Ps. 35-36 / Ps. 37 / Proverbs 7

8th / Ps. 38-40 / Ps. 41-43 / Proverbs 8

9th / Ps. 44-46 / Ps. 47-49 / Proverbs 9

10th / Ps. 50-52 / Ps. 53-55 / Proverbs 10

11th / Ps. 56-58 / Ps. 59-61 / Proverbs 11

12th / Ps. 62-64 / Ps. 65-67 / Proverbs 12

13th / Ps. 68 / Ps. 69-70 / Proverbs 13

14th / Ps. 71-72 / Ps. 73-74 / Proverbs 14

15th / Ps. 75-77 / Ps. 78 / Proverbs 15

16th / Ps. 79-81 / Ps. 82-85 / Proverbs 16

17th / Ps. 86-88 / Ps. 89 / Proverbs 17

18th / Ps. 90-92 / Ps. 93-94 / Proverbs 18

19th / Ps. 95-97 / Ps. 98-101 / Proverbs 19

20th / Ps. 102-103 / Ps. 104 / Proverbs 20

21st / Ps. 105 / Ps. 106 / Proverbs 21

22nd / Ps. 107 / Ps. 108-109 / Proverbs 22

23rd / Ps. 110-113 / Ps. 114-115 / Proverbs 23

24th / Ps. 116-118 / Ps. 119 "Aleph" - "Daleth" (verses 1-32) / Proverbs 24

25th / Ps. 119 "He" - "Teth" (vss. 33-72)/ Ps. 119 "Yod" - "Mem" (vss.73-104) / Proverbs 25

26th / Ps. 119 "Nun" - "Tzaddi" (vss. 105-144)/ Ps. 119 "Koph" - "Tav" (vss. 145-176) / Proverbs 26

27th / Ps. 120-125 / Ps. 126-131 / Proverbs 27

28th / Ps. 132-135 / Ps. 136-138 / Proverbs 28

29th / Ps. 139-141 / Ps. 142-144 / Proverbs 29

30th / Ps. 144-146 / Ps. 147-150 / Proverbs 30

31st (if there is one) / Proverbs 31 (could be read on 30th day if there is no 31st)

Note: There are 31 days in this month (i.e. "January"), and 29 in the next ("February"). Therefore, it may help to combine the two months to make two 30-day months. I suggest restarting the above 30-day schedule starting on the 31st of this month, and ending on the 29th of next month. Please see:

http://psprom.blogspot.com/2007/02/for-131-21-and-22-respectively.html

Also, if I get behind, I like to catch up, but please do not feel bogged down if you feel you cannot keep up or catch up. If you miss a day or two, or more, and all you can do is start back on the Psalms for the present day, do that. You can always read the Psalms you missed the following month. Another method that really helps me is to read the first verse of a Psalm or chapter, even if I do not have the time to read it all right there and then. Later on, when I have time, I am then more likely to read the whole Psalm or chapter, than I would have been, had I not taken the time to read the first verse earlier on. It certainly takes determination to get through the Psalms and Proverbs once a month, but I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Finally, forgive me for stating the obvious, but you can take or leave this idea of reading the Psalms and Proverbs once a month. If you take it, and run with it, however, I am willing to guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Sincerely,

Daniel

Listen to the Psalms - non-stop!

2007-03-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

Go to Blue Letter Bible (www.blueletterbible.com), and go to a Psalm. Then, look for "Audio Bible", in the top right hand corner of the window. Pick a version (of course, I recommend "KJV"), and click on the arrow. It will just keep going and going, until stopped! Hallelujah! I have listened to all of the Psalms, on more than one occasion, in one sitting at this website!

Daniel

For 1/31, 2/1, and 2/22...2/29/2008

2007-02-01T23:20:00.000-08:00

(Post modified on 2/17/2008)

1/31 - Proverbs 1; morning: Psalm 1-5; evening: Psalm 6-8

2/1 - Proverbs 2; morning: Psalm 9-11; evening: Psalm 12-14

2/2 - Proverbs 3; morning: Psalm 15-17; evening: Psalm 18

Psalm 16:8 Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

2/3 - Proverbs 4; morning: Psalm 19-21; evening: Psalm 22-23

...

2/17 - Proverbs 18; morning: Psalm 90-92; evening: Psalm 93-94

2/18 - Proverbs 19; morning: Psalm 95-97; evening: Psalm 98-101

...

2/22 - Proverbs 23; Morning: Psalm 110-113; evening: Psalm 114-115

Psalm 115 Not unto us, O LORD - Not unto us, but unto thy name give glory...

2/23 - Proverbs 24; Morning: Psalm 116-118; Evening: Psalm 119:1-32

2/24 - Proverbs 25; Morning: Psalm 119:33-72; Evening: Psalm 119:73-104

Proverbs 25:...Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint.

2/25 - Proverbs 26; morning: Psalm 119:105-144; evening: Psalm 119:145-176

2/26 - Proverbs 27; morning: Psalm 120-125; evening: Psalm 126-131

Psalm 131: LORD, my heart is not haughty - nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me...

2/27 - Proverbs 28; morning: Psalm 132-135; evening: Psalm 136-138

Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me...

2/28 - Proverbs 29; morning: Psalm 139-141; evening: Psalm 142-143

2/29 - Proverbs 30 & 31; morning: Psalm 144-146; evening: Psalm 147-150

For the 30th

2007-01-30T04:10:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 30 & 31

Proverbs 30 ...surely I am more brutish than any man...

Morning: Psalm 144-146

Psalm 144: Blessed be the LORD my strength...

Evening: Psalm 147-150

Psalm 149: ...let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hands...

For the 29th

2007-01-28T20:59:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 29

verse 25: The fear of man bringeth a snare - but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made safe.

Morning: Psalm 139-141

Psalm 139:20 For they speak against thee wickedly - thine enemies take thy name in vain.
* Question: Do WE say "Oh, my God!" in vain? We'd better not!

Psalm 140:12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted - and the right of the poore (1611 spelling ;)).

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch (O LORD) before my mouth: keepe the doore of my lips.

Evening: Psalm 142-143

Psalm 142: I Cried...

For the 28th

2007-01-28T20:58:00.002-08:00

Proverbs 28

Morning: Psalm 132-135
Evening: Psalm 136-138

For the 27th

2007-01-28T20:58:00.001-08:00

Proverbs 27

Morning: Psalm 120-125
Evening: Psalm 126-131

For the 26th

2007-01-25T20:31:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 26
Morning: Psalm 119:105-144 (Nun - Tsaddi)
Evening: Psalm 119:145-176 (Koph - Tav)

"As the bird by wandering, and as the swallow by flying; so the curse, causeless, shall not come." (My best rendition from memory of Proverbs 26:2, right?)

For the 25th

2007-01-24T19:23:00.000-08:00

Morn: Ps. 119: He-Teth (vs. 33-72)
Eve: Ps. 119: Yod-Mem (vs. 73-104)
Proverbs 25

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:71

For the 24th

2007-01-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalm 116-118
Evening: Psalm 119 Aleph - Daleth (verses 1-32)
Proverbs 24

Psalm 116: "I love the LORD..."

For the 23rd

2007-01-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalm 110-113
Evening: Psalm 114-115
Proverbs 23

Psalm 112: "Blessed is the man the feareth the LORD - that delighteth greatly in his commandments."

For the 22nd day of the month:

2007-01-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalm 107
Evening: Psalm 108-109
Proverbs Chapter 22

Psalm 107: "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (four times, if not five!)

For the 21st

2007-01-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalm 105
Evening: Psalm 106
+ Proverbs 21

Ps. 105: "...He suffered no man to do them wrong - yea, he reproved kings for their sakes..."
Ps. 106: "...We have sinned with our fathers - we have done wickedly..."
Pr. 21: "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the rivers of water - he turneth it withersoever he will."

As of the 20th

2007-01-19T17:44:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalms 102 & 103

Note: Psalm 102 contains complaining! Do ye complain to God at times? I do! So did the Psalmist!
Question: How are God's ways higher than ours?

Evening: Psalm 104

Note: We read of "wine which maketh glad the heart of man..."...

Portion from Proverbs: Chapter 20

...but here we read of wine being a mocker, and strong drink raging, and the folly of being deceived thereby - so if ye want to "drink a little wine" from time to time, please do not let me stand in your way; but be ye careful!

www.blueletterbible.com

Love,

Daniel

As of the 19th

2007-01-18T19:28:00.000-08:00

Morning:
Psalm 95-97

Evening:
Psalm 98-101

Proverbs portion: Proverbs 19

www.blueletterbible.com

As of the 17th: "Today's Psalms, and Chapter from Proverbs"

2007-01-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

Morning Psalms: Psalm 86-88
Evening Psalms: Psalm 89
Proverbs portions: Chapter 17

Selected verses:
Psalm 86:10 For thou art great, and doest wondroush things: thou art God alone.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Psalm 87:1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.

Psalm 88:13 But unto thee have I cried, O LORD, and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

Psalm 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints: and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him...
52 Blessed be the LORD for evermore, Amen, and Amen.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Psalm 85:6

2007-01-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

As of the 16th: "Today's Psalms, and Chapter from Proverbs"

2007-01-16T07:52:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalms 79-81
Evening: Psalms 82-84 - Note - Sorry! I forgot a Psalm! Psalm 85!

* And I note Psalm 85:6 "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

Proverbs Chapter: 16
www.blueletterbible.com

As of the 14th: "Today's Psalms, and Chapter from Proverbs"

2007-01-13T03:33:00.000-08:00

As of the 14th:

http://www.gregwolf.com/lp-kjv/Psalms.htm#71

Morning Psalms:

Psalms 71
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me...

Psalms 72
[A Psalm] for Solomon.
Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son...

Evening Psalms:

Psalms 73
A Psalm of Asaph.
Truly God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are of a clean heart.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked...

Psalms 74
Maschil of Asaph.
O God, why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? [why] doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?...

The Proverbs chapter:

http://www.gregwolf.com/lp-kjv/Proverbs.htm#14

Proverbs 14
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him...

The schedule (or "table", as they called it) - here it is!

2007-01-12T23:26:00.000-08:00

"Day of the month" / Morning Psalms / Evening Psalms

1st / Psalms 1-5 / Psalms 6-8

2nd / Ps. 9-11 / Ps. 12-14

3rd / Ps. 15-17 / Ps. 18

4th / Ps. 19-21 / Ps. 22-23

5th / Ps. 24-26 / Ps. 27-29

6th / Ps. 30-32 / Ps. 33-34

7th / Ps. 35-36 / Ps. 37

8th / Ps. 38-40 / Ps. 41-43

9th / Ps. 44-46 / Ps. 47-49

10th / Ps. 50-52 / Ps. 53-55

11th / Ps. 56-58 / Ps. 59-61

12th / Ps. 62-64 / Ps. 65-67

13th / Ps. 68 / Ps. 69-70

14th / Ps. 71-72 / Ps. 73-74

15th / Ps. 75-77 / Ps. 78

16th / Ps. 79-81 / Ps. 82-85

17th / Ps. 86-88 / Ps. 89

18th / Ps. 90-92 / Ps. 93-94

19th / Ps. 95-97 / Ps. 98-101

20th / Ps. 102-103 / Ps. 104

21st / Ps. 105 / Ps. 106

22nd / Ps. 107 / Ps. 108-109

23rd / Ps. 110-113 / Ps. 114-115

24th / Ps. 116-118 / Ps. 119 "Aleph" - "Daleth" (verses 1-32)

25th / Ps. 119 "He" - "Teth" (vss. 33-72)/ Ps. 119 "Yod" - "Mem" (vss.73-104)

26th / Ps. 119 "Nun" - "Tzaddi" (vss. 105-144)/ Ps. 119 "Koph" - "Tav" (vss. 145-176)

27th / Ps. 120-125 / Ps. 126-131

28th / Ps. 132-135 / Ps. 136-138

29th / Ps. 139-141 / Ps. 142-144

30th / Ps. 144-146 / Ps. 147-150

The above "table" is taken from the 1611 edition of the Authorized Version of the Bible. Again, it takes one through the Psalms in a 30-day month. Of course, the Proverbs can be read once a month as well, as long as you "double up" for one day on 30-day months (in such a case, I usually read Proverbs 30 and 31, on "day 30"), because Proverbs has 31 chapters.

Note: For the present month - the first month, or "January" - they recommend reading the Psalms through as usual, and then "sandwiching" the following month - the second month, or "February" - a 28-day month, with 1/31, and 3/1. So, on 1/31 (January 31st), read the first day's psalms (Ps. 1-5/6-8); on 2/1 (February 1st), read the second day's psalms (Ps. 9-11/12-14); on 2/2 (February 2nd), read the third day's psalms (Ps. 15-17/18)...; on 2/28, read the 29th day's psalms (Ps. 139-144); and on 3/1 (March 1st), read the 30th day's psalms (Ps. 144-150). Seeing the third month ("March") is a 31-day month, one can read the psalms again, starting on 3/2, and finishing on 3/31. In short, the first month has 31 days, the second month has 28, and the third month has 31. Those days add up to 60. Therefore, you can simply follow the above table through 3 times over the course of "January - March", by, again, "sandwiching" "February" between the last day of "January", and the first day of "March".

Happy praying and praising!

Daniel

O how love thy law - it is my meditation all the day! Psalm 119:97

Welcome!

2007-01-11T23:42:00.000-08:00

There are 30 days in most months, 31 in four of them, and 28 in one. Therefore, many have come to know Proverbs as a good "once a month" Bible-book to read. One can simply read the chapter of proverbs corresponding to the day of the month. For example, today, being 1/12/2007, would be "Proverbs 12" day.

A similar technique, however, can be used for reading the Psalms through in a month. There are 150 of them, and - again - 30 days in most months. Therefore, averaging 5 Psalms per day gets you through the Psalms in 30 days. I have used three different techniques to this end:

Technique 1. On the first day of the month, read Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, and 121; on the second day, 2, 32, 62, 92, and 122, etc.

Technique 2. On the first day of the month, read Psalm 1-5; second day, 6-10, etc.

Technique 3. (My favourite, and the one I have settled on): On the first day of the month, read Psalm 1-5 in the morning, and 6-8 in the evening; on the second day, read 9-11 in the morning, and 12-14 in the evening, etc. This third method takes into account the fact that some Psalms are short, and some long. When they are short, you read more of them; and when they are long, you read less. Accordingly, for example, for the 13th (1/13), there is only one morning Psalm to read: Psalm 68 - because it is so long (for the evening, they give you Psalms 69 and 70). This follows a schedule published in the 1611 edition of the "King James", or Authorized, Version of the Bible. This schedule is shown above.

Reading the Psalms, as well as the Proverbs, through every month has been a very enriching habit, and I welcome you to go for it! The Psalms, in particular, throb with emotion, authenticity, and praise to our Saviour, redeemer, and merciful Creator. By the way, I also find them an indispensable "balm" for the "ups and downs" of this life. Hallelujah!

Of course, if one were to read 50 Psalms per month (averaging less than 2 psalms per day), they would be through the Psalms in three months. It is, most definitely, better to read some of the Scriptures every day, than none. If ye (i.e. "you") do, however, ask for a hunger and thirst after righteousness, ye will soon find yourselves delightfully hungry and thirsty for the Scriptures - and then satisfied.

"I opened my mouth and panted - I longed for thy commandments." Psalm 119:131

Sincerely,

Daniel