When I started my life as a follower of Christ, Psalms and Proverbs were my daily reading for several years. I wrote a lot about what I observed in them. Recently, I’ve decided to go back and read them using the ESV version journal and the NET Abide Journal. In addition to this, I am using Psalms by the Day which offers a helpful translation. I also put a psalm to read each day in Prayermate which I use to pray daily. The whole point is to be able to pray/apply the Psalms to my life. It’s been very nourishing as I have began doing this. Psalms express raw emotions and feelings that we often think are not right to express to God. But it isn’t so. King David who wrote many of the Psalms expresses to God his anger, fear, brokenness, depression, anxiety, joy, peace, etc…
I am not always able to write reflections that God brings forth in the text to teach me, nor do I intend to put all here. But some are too good to leave on paper. Here is one on Psalm 68.
God cares what happens to us. Even though this psalm is about Israel’s deliverance and entrance into the Promised Land, there’s a lot for us. It shows how God cares for people. One “surprising” fact is that God cares for the fatherless. He is a father for them. This has been my case. I never had a father, an earthly I mean. I knew him but he abandoned us. But God has been my father. I’m thankful that God cares about this, certainly I care, and it has affected my life. God also becomes a protector of widows. Related to fathers, women whose husbands have died can find protection in God. Our holy God cares, this is who He is. How wrong we are when we think God isn’t interested in our lives.
God cares about the things that trouble us and about our experiences. He carries our burdens, he is our salvation (v. 19). The NET Bible says, “Day after day he carries our burden, the God who delivers us… the Lord, the Sovereign Lord, can rescue from death.” (vv. 18 19-20).
God cares about us and gives us his power and strength. We can’t face life on our own. We need his power and strength. He shares it with us. He can do this literally. He deserves praise because of this!
