Category: Psalms

September 6, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s first and second letter to the Thessalonians we read three Psalms and one chapter of Isaiah.

September 6: Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Isaiah 58 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 95 is a song of praise to God, but also a warning that they should not harden their hearts as they did in the wilderness and thus were not allowed to enter God’s rest.

Psalm 96 is to “declare His glory among the nations“, and ends up with “Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.”

Psalm 97 tells what it means to  rejoice “for the LORD reigneth” and “For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.”

Isaiah 58 explains what true fasting is.

September 4, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s first and second letter to the Thessalonians we read three Psalms and one chapter of Isaiah.

September 4: Psalm 92, Psalm 93, Psalm 94, Isaiah 56 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 92. A Song for the Sabbath day. Give thanks to the LORD. God judges His enemies, and He makes His people flourish.

Psalm 93. A Psalm of only five verses: The  LORD reigns!

Psalm 94. This time the Psalmist prayed for the LORD to execute vengeance on all who disobey Him, and bring comfort to all who follow Him.

Isaiah 56. Salvation will be open to all. In Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial will be remembered “Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” Yet, Israel still have wicked leaders.

August 28, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians and his first letter to the Thessalonians we read two Psalms and one chapter of Isaiah.

August 28: Psalm 90, Psalm 91, Isaiah 45 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 90, a Prayer of Moses, the Man of God. This is his prayer in the wilderness, and is the only song of Moses in the Psalms, but there are two others in the Pentateuch (Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32-33).

Psalm 91. The author is anonymous. Charles Spurgeon commented: “In the whole collection there is not a more cheering Psalm, its tone is elevated and sustained throughout, faith is at its best, and speaks nobly.” He also quoted (in English) Siméon Marotte deMuis: “It is one of the most excellent works of this kind which has ever appeared. It is impossible to imagine anything more solid, more beautiful, more profound, or more ornamented.”

Isaiah 45. Cyrus was God’s instrument. God gave him “the treasures of darkness”, though he did not acknowledge Him. The Lord is the only savior, there is none else. God said: “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

August 27, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians and his first letter to the Thessalonians we read one Psalm and two chapters of Isaiah.

August 27: Psalm 89, Isaiah 43, Isaiah 44 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 89, of Ethan the Ezrahite. “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever“. A Psalm of praise to God and His covenant with David, His glory and holiness, His faithfulness to deliver His promises, but also the trouble with the unfaithful. It ends up with a plea for a speedy restoration.

Isaiah 43 speaks of the redeemer and the rebirth of Israel. This happened in 1948, and it happened in spite of Israel’s unfaithfulness only by God’s mercy, and His promise that  He would do a new thing.

Isaiah 44. Israel is the chosen nation, God is supreme, idols are worthless. Sing, for the LORD has done it. God is the one “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”

August 25, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians and his first letter to the Thessalonians we read three Psalms  and one chapter of Isaiah.

August 25: Psalm 86, Psalm 87, Psalm 88, Isaiah 40 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 86, a Prayer of David. A plea for help, David poured out his needs and confessed his total dependence on God to teach him His ways.

Psalm 87, of the Sons of Korah. A song of praise to Zion, the City of God and its citizens, even to those gentiles so honored.

Psalm 88, of the Sons of Korah, Heman the Ezrahite. This may be the saddest Psalm of them all, seemingly without hope, and yet?

Isaiah 40. After reading Psalm 88 we need something uplifting, and this chapter has helped me immensely. I will not comment any further. Read it, listen to the music, read it again and let it sink in!

August 24, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read the last chapter of The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, two Psalms  and one chapter of Isaiah.

August 24: Colossians 4, Psalm 84, Psalm 85, Isaiah 39 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Colossians 4, Paul gave final instructions, final greetings and exhortations  as he bade the Colossians (and the Laodiceans) God’s grace.

Psalm 84, of the Sons of Korah.  The famous 19th century English preacher Charles Spurgeon said this Psalm was entitled “to be called The Pearl of Psalms.” He once preached a whole sermon on verse 3: “Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.”

Psalm 85, of the Sons of Korah. A prayer of thankfulness.

Isaiah 39 tells of Hezekiah’s folly, how he showed all the riches of Jerusalem to the envoys from Babylon, and he said “There will be peace for our time”, like Neville Chamberlain did before WWII.

August 20, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians and his uplifting letter to the Colossians we read three Psalms and two chapters of Isaiah.

August 20: Psalm 81, Psalm 82, Psalm 83, Isaiah 28, Isaiah 29 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 81, of Asaph. A Psalm for the Feast of Tabernacles.

Psalm 82, of Asaph. Jesus quotes this Psalm and confounds the people accusing him of blasphemy.

Psalm 83, of Asaph. An urgent prayer for God to help when war is threatening.

Isaiah 28. Woe to Ephraim and Jerusalem! “Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.“

Isaiah 29 begins with a woe to David’s City, the people have “the spirit of slumber,” but the deaf will hear, the blind see and the meek shall increase the joy in the LORD.

August 19, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians and his uplifting letter to the Colossians we read two Psalms and two chapters of Isaiah.

August 19: Psalm 79, Psalm 80, Isaiah 26, Isaiah 27 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 79, of Asaph. A cry for help, for the heathens were devastating Jerusalem, the Temple and the people. The Psalmist confessed their collective sins and pleaded for restoration, always with praise and thankfulness.

Psalm 80, of Asaph. A prayer for restoration of Israel, mentioning the Shepherd of Israel, a heartfelt and urgent plea.

Isaiah 26 is a song of praise full of Messianic prophecy. The song is full of words with double meanings, one obvious and one prophetic.

Isaiah 27 promises the deliverance of Israel.

August 17, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians and his equally encouraging letter to the Colossians we take a break and read two Psalms.

August 17:  Psalm 77: Psalm 78 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 77, of Asaph. No matter how dire the circumstances the believer can still sing God’s praises and recall  God’s wonders.

Psalm 78, a maskil of Asaph. “This is the longest of the historical psalms. Its lesson is that history must not repeat itself. The people must never again be unbelieving.” (James Montgomery Boice)

August 11, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and his  letter to the Philippians we read three Psalms and one chapter of Isaiah.

August 11: Psalm 72, Psalm 73, Psalm 74, Isaiah 8 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 72, of Solomon. Most likely Solomon compiled Book Two of Psalms (Psalms 42-72) and composed or edited this psalm as a fitting end to the collection of mostly David’s psalms. It is a fitting conclusion, because it does not focus upon David himself, but on the coming Messiah – the King of Kings and Son of David.

Psalm 73 begins Book Three of Psalms, (Psalms 43-89) . It is of Asaph, a great singer and musician from the time of David and Solomon. He complained about the good fortune of the wicked and the misfortune of the righteous until he “went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.“

Psalm 74, of Asaph. This Psalm describes the destruction of the Temple. This Asaph may have been penned by a descendant of the earlier  musician, or may be prophetic. In any case he asked God to defend His case against the evildoers.

Isaiah 8. Prophetically Assyria will invade Israel, an instrument of God to execute judgement on the unfaithful. The remedy is to fear God and Him alone.