Psalm Reflections
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 82 verse 4
Posted on November 17th 2022
Psalm 82 is a short Psalm and is entitled “A Plea for Justice.” The Psalm is condemning the human rulers of Israel for acting in an unjust and unfair way. From a historical perspective however, the psalm also reflects the belief that the God of Israel was one among many gods; however He was the most powerful. The psalmist also uses the imagery of a council to attempt to persuade others that the God of Israel is truly the greatest. Other gods are insignificant and incompetent! God is a just and ethical God which sets him apart.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 81 verse 1
Posted on November 10th 2022
Psalm 81 is entitled “God’s Appeal to Stubborn Israel” and is concerned with celebration and repentance. The beginning of the psalm is like a hymn (verses 1–5b), which is followed by an oracle (verses 5c–16). In particular, verses 6-10 describe 'God's deliverance of his people from Egypt', whereas verses 11-16 recall the past disobedience of the people and promise to give victory over their enemies if they obey God.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 80 verse 14
Posted on October 20th 2022
Psalm 80 is entitled “Prayer for Israel’s Restoration” and is classified as a “communal lament.” It offers a profound description of suffering, especially in the apparent absence of God. It goes on to express our longing for God and for his love to shine upon us. Verses 1 and 2, in particular, emphasise the power of God, especially the power to save God’s people. The Psalmist is pleading for grace for God’s people and it is probably set in the period when the ten tribes of Israel were in captivity. However, for us, today, different troubles and anxieties will be at the forefront of our minds and there is space in this Psalm to use it as a reflection on a wide variety of anxieties we may have.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 79 verse 8
Posted on October 6th 2022
Psalm 79 is entitled “Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem” and is a wonderful Psalm with regard to thinking of how we react to disaster and the resultant feelings of anger and despair. Can these feelings be channelled into something more positive such as compassion or forgiveness?
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 78
Posted on August 25th 2022
Psalm 78 is a long Psalm with 72 verses, and rather than focus on a single verse, I felt that it might be useful to read the Psalm in its entirety (or read parts of it) and then reflect on a sonnet written by Malcolm Guite on this Psalm.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 77 verse 11
Posted on August 18th 2022
This is another Psalm which was written by Asaph, a musician who served in King David’s court. He is known for his beautiful and inspirational music, which was inspired by his deep understanding of Scripture.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 7 verse 1
Posted on August 11th 2022
In the 7th Psalm, God is described as a refuge to whom we can run in times of stress, carrying heavy burdens or danger.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 8 verse 1
Posted on August 4th 2022
Psalm 8 is the first praise psalm in the Psalter. God is always the focus. One moment the Psalmist sees the awesome horizons of God’s world, the next he sees God close up.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 9 verse 1.
Posted on July 28th 2022
Psalm 9 is a great victory Psalm as we read in the verse we are meditating on. Note the use of the words “whole heart”.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 76 verse 7.
Posted on July 21st 2022
This Psalm was also written by Asaph, a musician who served in King David’s court. He is known for his beautiful and inspirational music, which was inspired by his deep understanding of Scripture.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 75 verse 1.
Posted on July 14th 2022
This Psalm, like Psalm 74, was also written by Asaph, a musician who served in King David’s court. He is known for his beautiful and inspirational music, which was inspired by his deep understanding of Scripture.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 74 verse 12.
Posted on July 6th 2022
This Psalm was written by Asaph, a musician who served in King David’s court. He is known for his beautiful and inspirational music, which was inspired by his deep understanding of Scripture.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 73 verse 1.
Posted on June 21st 2022
Psalm 73 is the opening psalm of Book 3 of the Book of Psalms and the second of the "Psalms of Asaph". It has been categorized as one of the Wisdom Psalms" but some writers are hesitant about using this description because of its "strongly personal tone."
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 72 verse 1.
Posted on June 8th 2022
Psalm 72 is a prayer for guidance and support for the king who in this case was King Solomon.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 71 verse 9.
Posted on May 19th 2022
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 70 verse 1
Posted on May 12th 2022
Psalm 70 is a short Psalm and is a prayer for deliverance from enemies and is a real cry from the heart.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 2 verse 1-12
Posted on February 24th 2022
In the second Psalm, the nations are still conspiring and plotting against the peaceful way of the Lord. This is much like what we see today! We never learn, do we? Even in the midst of a pandemic, wars still rage on, just look at Russia and Ukraine at the moment! Some wars often remain forgotten and in different parts of the world.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 68 verse 32
Posted on February 10th 2022
Psalm 68 is a very long Psalm with 35 verses and is entitled “Praise and Thanksgiving.” It portrays a beautiful picture of living a life with God as a life of music and praise.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 67 verse 1
Posted on February 3rd 2022
Psalm 67 is entitled “The Nations Called to Praise God.” Its theme is a prayer for God's mercy, blessing and light. In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the 12th day of the month, and it may be recited as a canticle in the Anglican liturgy of Evening Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer as an alternative to the Nunc dimittis, when it is referred to as the “Deus misereatur”, also “A Song of God's Blessing”.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 66 verse 1-2
Posted on January 27th 2022
Psalm 66 is entitled “Praise for God’s Goodness to Israel.” It is the second in a group of four Psalms which are truly hymns of thanksgiving.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 65 verse 13
Posted on January 20th 2022
Psalm 65 is entitled “Thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty.” It is the first in a group of four Psalms which are truly hymns of thanksgiving, in contrast to the preceding psalms which were laments.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 64 verse 1
Posted on January 13th 2022
Psalm 64 is entitled “Prayer for Protection from Enemies.” The psalm may be treated as a prayer for deliverance from enemies, or as a thanksgiving, or a testimony to divine judgement.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 63 verse 1
Posted on December 9th 2021
Psalm 63 is entitled “Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence.” It is attributed to King David and its theme concerns being stranded in the wilderness away from one’s family. The first part evokes desire, praise and then trust in God.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 62 verse 5
Posted on November 25th 2021
Psalm 62 is entitled a “Song of Trust in God Alone.” There are two key elements which stand out for me in this Psalm and I hope that they are helpful for you too; they can be summarised as the importance of silence and the hope we have in God.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 61 verse 1
Posted on November 18th 2021
After quite a number of angry Psalms, we now move to this beautiful short Psalm of comfort which is entitled “Assurance of God’s Protection.” There is beautiful imagery depicting God’s presence.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 60 verse 2
Posted on November 11th 2021
Psalm 60 is unusual because David did not write it in the middle of trouble. So many of his Psalms were written from a cave or a battlefield. But this Psalm was written after a great victory.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 59 verse 17
Posted on November 4th 2021
Psalm 59 is again filled with David’s complaints and lamenting regarding his wicked enemies, their plots to overthrow him, his own prayers and prophecies against them, and finally his comfort and confidence in God as his rock, or in this Psalm, verse 17, “his fortress”.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 58 verse 1
Posted on October 28th 2021
No one is perfect and we all get angry, look at things from the wrong perspective, or blame others. The types of Psalms that echo this sentiment are known as laments and they show us that it is alright to cry out to God!
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 57 verse 1
Posted on October 21st 2021
This is a wonderful Psalm for those times when we feel that the world is against us, that there really is no end to the relentless struggle of daily life and that God seems to be hidden.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 56 verse 13
Posted on October 14th 2021
Psalm 56 in some Bible versions is entitled “Trust in God under Persecution.” It is attributed to King David and considered representative of him or anyone else hiding from an enemy.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 55 verse 22
Posted on October 7th 2021
Psalm 55 in some Bible versions is entitled “Complaint about a Friend’s Treachery.” Again, like Psalm 54, it speaks of emotions we generally do not want to discuss openly, let alone with God.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 54 verse 4
Posted on September 30th 2021
The wonderful aspect of the Psalms is that they show a full range of emotions. This Psalm is one of those in which the writer, David, wants bad things to happen to his enemies, and their ultimate destruction.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 53 verse 2a
Posted on September 23rd 2021
The first half of Psalm 53 verse 2a reminds us that God is always with us even when times are bleak. The Psalmist is looking around and thinking that the world is full of corruption and where can God be in all this? It is a reflective Psalm although quite a bitter one in tone.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 52 verse 8
Posted on September 16th 2021
Psalm 52 is attributed to David. In it, he criticises those who use their talents for evil deeds. These are the ones who perhaps laugh at what are now thought of as old-fashioned virtues, such as faithfulness, prudence, quiet content, modesty and gentleness.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 51 verse 1
Posted on September 9th 2021
Psalm 51 begins with the sentence “Have mercy on me, O God” and it is traditionally believed to have been written by King David as a confession to God after he sinned with Bathsheba. In Latin it is known as Miserere.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 6 v.2
Posted on September 2nd 2021
This sixth Psalm in some versions of the Bible is described as a prayer for recovery from grave illness. It is a Psalm for moments of grief in our lives.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 5 v.3
Posted on August 25th 2021
This fifth Psalm is a Psalm of David and, in contrast to our previous two psalms, which were night prayers, this is a morning prayer.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 4 v.8
Posted on August 19th 2021
This fourth Psalm is a Psalm of David and is really a cry for help and deliverance from his enemies. You may want to consider reading this as part of your night or evening prayer as it is, indeed, often used as part of the Night Prayer service.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 3 v.5
Posted on August 12th 2021
This third Psalm is a Psalm of David written when he fled from his son, Absalom. It reflects David’s great trust in God under adversity.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 1 v.1 and 3
Posted on July 29th 2021
‘Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked…they are like trees planted by streams of water’
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 50 v.1
Posted on July 22nd 2021
“The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.” - A psalm of judgment, it nevertheless reminds us of the important message of focusing on gratitude rather than becoming drawn into being “busily religious.” It points to putting faith into action rather than performing ritualistic religious tasks.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 49 v.3
Posted on July 15th 2021
This Psalm is known as “The Folly of Trust in Riches” and is well worth reading the whole way through. The writer warns that “Those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches: no ransom avails for one’s life and there is no price one can give to God for it” (v 6-7). Jesus also warned “It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle” (Matt.19:23-24)!
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 48 v.1
Posted on July 8th 2021
This is a Psalm of praise and full of celebration for Jerusalem which represents God’s home on earth. The Psalm goes on to describe an attack on the city, and the attackers actually give up because they see the glory and strength of God. Nevertheless, we still know that the Zion of Psalm 48 did not survive forever, the temple was destroyed and the city plundered repeatedly.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 47 v.1
Posted on July 1st 2021
Psalm 47 is one of seven “enthronement psalms” which refer to the crowning of God as king at a festive occasion. It has also been suggested that the theme of Psalm 47 is “universal rejoicing for God’s universal reign. It is another joyful Psalm and reminds us of the power and joy of singing. During COVID, one of the aspects of worship that everyone has commented on to me, is that absence of singing makes worship seem so dull. We may not all be tremendous singers or musicians but we all enjoy the collective force of praising God and being free to express that.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 46 v.1
Posted on June 24th 2021
Psalm 46 is a Psalm everyone can return to again and again for our individual difficulties and world crises.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 45 v.1
Posted on June 16th 2021
Psalm 45 is very different to the Psalms we have been looking at. It is a love song written for a royal wedding, a very beautiful Psalm indeed, and I’d encourage you to read it right the way through, enjoying the wonderful imagery.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 44 v.1
Posted on June 10th 2021
Psalm 44 is described as a lament and prayer for help. It describes the past victories which Israel enjoyed and the assurance of God’s love and support.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 43 v.2
Posted on June 3rd 2021
Psalm 43 is a prayer to God in times of trouble and is proposed to have been written as part of Psalm 42.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 42 v.1
Posted on May 27th 2021
Psalm 42 marks the beginning of the second book of the Psalms, through to Psalm 72, with most again being attributed to King David and relating to incidents in his life.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 41 v.1
Posted on May 20th 2021
Psalm 41 gives assurance of God’s help and it is also a plea for healing.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 40 v.1
Posted on May 13th 2021
This is a Psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance and a prayer for help.
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 39 v.5
Posted on May 6th 2021
Making our lives count for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom is a calling for all of us...
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 38 v.15
Posted on April 28th 2021
Psalm 38 is said to be a penitent sufferer’s plea for healing; It is at times like these that we really have to lean on God...
Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 36 v.6
Posted on March 18th 2021
Christian writer C. S. Lewis floated an interesting theory in The Problem of Pain...
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