November Psalms

For this month I have decided to read through Psalms.

With the holiday season upon us, I am struck by the lies that we have come to believe these holiday's stand for. I am sure that as Thanksgiving and Christmas draw closer I will ramble about the true meaning of each, but for now I want to focus on just the idea of celebration.

The idea of celebration in my mind comes straight from the bible. (Funny how one can make such a blanketed statement and have everyone believe them before they even prove what they said. So let me prove it.... )

See, celebrations are recorded all through the bible. From people celebrating the amazing ways that God provided for them in Exodus, or how about in Leviticus 23:32-41, where people were encouraged to celebrate the Sabbath. Then there is 2 Kings 23:21, 2 Chronicles 30:13 or even the feast of Tabernacles in Zechariah 14:16.

If you look at each of these times of celebration they are all pointing to the same thing... Christ. And Christ is the true motivation to celebrate anything.

Look at what some random person online name Dale Thompson wrote about the Old Testament,

"The Old Testament was the foundation for the "Chief Cornerstone." Christ is the "Cornerstone" of the church. He is the rock of our salvation, which stands as a refuge for all who would believe and be baptized. So we need to continue to celebrate the victory of the cross and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who shed his blood for many."

Our lives should be a celebration of the truth of Christ and that's why I love reading through Psalms. Although, it's rare for me to read through a Psalm and think, hmmm, did David sing and dance this Psalm?or even to think, what were the authors doing as they wrote these words. I want to read each one with that in mind this month.

At first glance not all of them are words of celebration but they are pointing to the true celebration. Take Psalms 15 for instance...

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?

² The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.

These aren't specific yippeee let's celebrate words; however, they are for those that are a part of faithful and righteous. They are for those that have accepted the salvation, grace, and mercy of Christ. For those that recognize that a little baby was born in Bethlehem, that baby lived for 33 years, died for our sins and then rise again in 3 days to take his place at the right hand of the LORD Almighty. That very LORD that David is talking about in this Psalm now is approachable by the blood of Jesus Christ. What a celebration that is!

So as I read through the Psalms and reflect their meaning in my life, I pray that you too would be encouraged to celebrate. To celebrate the amazing gift we have in Christ! That it would consume you and give you a passion to write, to sing, to dance, to create something beautiful to bring glory to His name.

May the Lord bless you and hold you to His complete truth by the Spirit that dwells within each of us that have trusted and believed.

Merry Christmas!

B