For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Ps. 121
The wording in the first two verses of this Psalm is a little odd (translated poetry is like that, I guess). But I think I get the meaning. Of all the things on earth, there is nothing that gives the impression of a mighty fortress more than the mountains. Yet even they are not an adequate shelter or protection for me. Thankfully, I know the God who created those mountains, along with everything else that exists. THAT is where I need to turn for help! There is nothing that God cannot do and no time that He cannot do it. It is He who will protect my life.
Ps. 123
“Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand…so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us favor” (from Ps. 123:2). To me, that paints a picture of waiting with patient trust and expectant hope. When we serve God faithfully, setting aside our own desires to serve His, we can know that His favor will come.
Ps. 124
This Psalm serves as a reminder to the people of Israel of why they should look only to God for help. He helped them before. In fact, His intervention saved them from certain doom. More than once, actually. Because their story is symbolic of ours, we can say the same. We can lift our voices together with them and say, “Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps. 124:8).
Ps. 125
I like how this Psalm ends with, “Peace be with Israel.” (Ps. 125:5b). It says this after speaking of the permanence of God’s presence with His people and the fate of those who oppose God. The wicked, those who turn aside to crooked ways, and the evildoers God will banish from His land. Then, and only then, will we fully know peace.
Ps. 128
This Psalm also ends with, “Peace be with Israel.” (Ps. 128:6b). However, instead of focusing on the fate of the wicked, this Psalm focuses on the blessings to those who fear God. Of course, while I believe God does give us physical blessings, often in abundance, it does not hold with scriptural truth at all that walking with God means that everything we touch turns to gold. So I had the thought that maybe this Psalm has spiritual implications.
This led me to two related thoughts from the New Testament. One is how Jesus told His first disciples that He would make them fishers of men. I’d say those disciples definitely “ate” what the worked for. That is, they were spiritually nourished by bringing such a catch into Christ’s Kingdom. The other thought is how Paul often referred to those He led to Christ as his children. Thus, seeing your children’s children would be equivalent to seeing the fruits of your disciples as they went on to disciple others. The prosperity of Jerusalem, then, would be the expansion of God’s Kingdom and the growth of your own life and faith in God because of your part in it. I don’t know if this is an intended application of this Psalm, but it certainly is an interesting one.
Ps. 129
The Psalms, this one included, often speak of God’s righteousness against the wicked. That got me to thinking that we all deserve the results of that righteousness because none of us are righteous. Thus, we all fall into the category of the wicked. Except for one thing. God’s mercy. Mercy goes to those who are in a low position and know it. It goes to those who seek it from the only one who can give it. Thus, those who humble themselves trust in God’s mercy to save them from His righteousness. And we trust in God’s righteousness to save us from those who refuse to trust in His mercy.
Ps. 130
This Psalm falls right in line with the thought I just expressed. It speaks of God’s mercy, without which none of us could stand. Because of it, however, we have a sure hope in which we can faithfully wait.