Psalm 184 from Beyond Psalm 150 A psalm can contain prophecy. And a prophecy can read like a psalm, but the two don’t usually overlap. After Isaiah prophesies about the earth’s devastation in Isaiah 24 (which we’re not treating as a psalm), he affirms that through it all God will continue to reign with great […]
Psalm 182 from Beyond Psalm 150 The next nine psalms come from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah writes in Judah during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. During Isaiah’s lengthy time as a prophet, Assyria conquers the nation of Israel and exiles most of the people. Only the nation of Judah remains, […]
The Bible Overflows With Praise to the Almighty The word praise occurs in more than 360 verses in the Bible. Most of these refer to praising God. They tell of people who praise God and their need to do so. Consider the short, six-verse Psalm 150. It’s filled with praise. The word occurs thirteen times. […]
Luke Bible Study, Day 31 Today’s passage: Luke 19:28–48 Focus verse: The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. (Luke 19:37) As Jesus and his disciples head toward Jerusalem, he sends two of them on ahead with a curious instruction. “Go into the […]
Look Up to the Mountains Psalm 121 is listed as “A song of ascents.” We may think of this as a subheading later added by translators, but it is not. It’s part of the original text. From nonbiblical sources, we learn that these songs were sung by the people as they climbed the hill to […]
He Is the Rock of Our Salvation Psalm 95 opens with a compelling call to worship. It starts with the simple invitation of “Come!” Yes, we are to gather to worship our Lord. Though we can also worship him ourselves, the numbers in our corporate gathering multiply our praise. We are to come together and […]
Revelation Bible Study, Day 23 Today’s passage: Revelation 11:15–19 Focus verse: And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God. (Revelation 11:16) With the second woe complete, the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. Whereas the first six trumpet blasts bring forth immediate death and destruction to […]
Offer Ongoing Adoration to Our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer The book of Revelation tells of John’s spirit being whisked into heaven. Four living creatures spend all their time—day and night—praising God. They chant, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8, NIV). The threefold repetition […]
Revelation Bible Study, Day 12 Today’s passage: Revelation 4:9–11 Focus verse: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” (Revelation 4:11) The four living creatures have affirmed God as holy, holy, holy. The twenty-four elders are there too. What are they doing as the four living creatures chant their […]
Revelation Bible Study, Day 11 Today’s passage: Revelation 4:1–8 Focus verse: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” (Revelation 4:8) Having considered Jesus’s seven letters to the seven churches, we move forward into the third and longest part of the book of Revelation. Jesus, with a voice booming like a trumpet, explains what’s about […]