Psalm 144

Summary: David wants God's protection so that he and his people can thrive in God's blessing. (Oh, and he wants God to kill and destroy everything and everyone else.)

Response: Just... trying to leave it alone. Six more after this. And I mean yes, the bad guys have it coming. They've known nothing other than hatred of God. But if we hate them back, it doesn't show the love of God. I believe God loves everyone. Even those who haven't heard of Him. Even those who profess a different faith. Even those who question or shun or hate those who have faith. He loves them, so we need to love them, too.

Psalm 143

Summary: David, persecuted, calls for God's protection, deliverance, and guidance.

Response: I guess one side effect of all the being hunted mentality is how urgent David sounds. We in America are certainly not persecuted, but I should know full well that my church should look just as urgent.

Psalm 142

Summary: David is being persecuted and wants God to save him.

Response: No smiting, so that's nice. I have a hard time relating to this one at the moment. I have a good group of people that hold me up. Perhaps I'm too comfortable?

Psalm 141

[I did Ps. 140 a while back on mistake. --Ed.]

Summary: David wants God to hear him and, through the advice of the godly, keep him from straying out of God's path. The wicked, though, he's just fine with the smiting.

Response: Nine more Psalms. How many of those will feature David wanting his enemies to die die die?

That aside, I know I've been saved a lot of extra heartache when I do actually listen to the advice of those God has placed in my life.

Psalm 139

[really disappointed it took me 140 tries to think of the pun "Psummary" for the Psalms --Ed.]

Summary: David is in awe of the limitlessness of God. He knows all about us, follows us everywhere, sees all we do, was there from the very very beginning of our existence... and loves us anyway. (Also some of the usual 'smite the haterz' stuf.)

Response: Wasn't aware of that last bit. Still, this is like number two on the list of 'you know this, right' Psalms. And yet, letting that sink in can get me nearly every time.

Psalm 138

Summary: David gives God praise for His love and protection, in public as he urges others of all classes to do.

Response: It's probably such a small detail as not to be noticed, but David here changes from sounding an attack ("God, smite those guys") to claiming defense ("God will take care of those guys"). I feel like that requires a change in heart. Yay David. And I know God protects me, which is good, because this week is a busy one. Here we go!

Psalm 137

Summary: Stuck in captivity, the psalmist is doing his best to remember Jerusalem, how it was, and how it was taken from Israel.

Response: I easily get the sorrow and thirst for revenge, but it just feels like it isn't my fight. Lord, help me to see through others' eyes, that I might lessen pain and not add to it.

Psalm 136

Summary: For a great many acts (including making the world, providing for each need, and the entire Exodus and Israelite settlement stories), the psalmist proclaims that God's love endures forever.

Response: I can see how Chris Tomlin could easily write a song from this. And yet, there's something in the structure here. The psalm seems to last forever, as if to illustrate the point. Like, God's been here through all of that. He didn't get too old or hurt or even bored to quit, and He won't quit on you.

Psalm 135

Summary: The psalmist calls on God's people to praise Him: God, who chose them, has history with them, and is actually alive and powerful. The psalmist warns those who worship idols that they could wind up as dead as their statues before returning to his call: praise God!

Response: God really is alive. I know it's hard to prove or explain. It's something you experience. There are events in my life, happening right now and having happened for years, that I know could not have happened on their own or only under my strength.

Psalm 134

Summary: The psalmist orders those who serve God to praise Him, after which he promises God's blessings.

Response: Super short, but gets right to the point. We praise God; He takes care of us. Not much more to be said.

Psalm 133

Summary: The psalmist makes a case for brothers in God to live in harmony together. Such living replenishes the people like oil in one's hair (a ritual cleansing) or dew on the land (providing growth).

Response: I'd love to see unity in God's people. I know it starts with me clearing up my schedule to listen to God and to others.

Psalm 132

Summary: The psalmist cites David as a prime example of someone out to do God's will. They ask for God's protection over His people and their leaders.

Response: God, I feel lukewarm. Hello me to get back some of the fire for bringing in Your kingdom. Help me to be open and vulnerable and maybe even a bit out there to be able to do what You would have me do.

Psalm 131

Summary: David draws near to God humbly, like a baby to his mother.

Response: Before the actual take, just that it's odd that David gets away with priding himself on being humble. Anyway.

I have two small kids. The older one is starting to squirm when picked up, but most of the time, if one of us has them, they are super content to just stay put. God, help me to draw near to You like that.

Psalm 130

Summary: The psalmist feels like they're far underwater when trying to reach God, but they still patiently await His help.

Response: While I've been that way, I know a lot of what I need to get my heart set right is to get more prayer time in. So here goes.

Psalm 129

Summary: The psalmist recalls those who oppress God's people. They, like so much thin grass, don't last long.

Response: Again, like, I know there are those who attack the faith. I know there are still martyrs, those who die for their faith. And yet that is not the case where I am. I wonder if that is a sign that we, as God's followers, are not doing near all we could be.