Psalm 89

Summary: The psalmist focuses on the permanence of God's love. He is so far above anything or anyone else, and chooses His people to bless. He also chose David, but has seemingly turned His back on him. They cry to God to return and bless them once again.

Response: God and His people Israel did make a covenant (several actually), but God is not the party to it that strayed again... and again, and again...

So I guess I'm glad they can still notice God is missing and ask Him to return. Sometimes I feel like I've gotten away too many times, though in my head I know there are no such things. I hope to rely on His Spirit more and more and His grace every time I need it (which is very often).

Psalm 88

Summary: The psalmist feels abandoned and left for dead by God. He wonders aloud if God will ever hear him. To the psalmist, it feels like he has to confront God with his injustices and that God fires back with all kinds of trouble.

Response: Wow, no hope and no escape. There are moments I feel like this (do you ever feel like the whole world is crashing down, and it's all your fault?), But I know many feel like this more often than we'd care to admit. It is fine to have this feeling, but the author doesn't stop praying and doesn't stop trying to get help. If your thoughts are telling you to end it all, that is not God and it is not right; please seek help. For the rest of us, I pray we will start and continue seeking God and His mercy, even if we feel abandoned.

Psalm 87

Summary: The psalmist praises Jerusalem, City of God. They imagine God himself praising the noble birth of its people. It finishes by commanding them to praise God.

Response: Homer-ism? I suppose I should give them the benefit of the doubt. God had time and time again rescued Israel. They were chosen not because they were strong, but because God loves them. Same as you and me, and thank God for that!

Psalm 86

Summary: David (hey yeah, that guy) praises God for past deliverance and mercy, asking for it yet again.

Response: It's hard to believe, but God's mercy is beyond anything that we could ask for. David wants it since he's been in God's presence often as if to win His favor. But God wants to deliver anyone who will accept Him. In that relationship, more growth will happen, but it's not that you have to be good enough to get God's love. He already loves you infinitely!

Psalm 85

Summary: The psalmist gives God praise not just for past deliverance, but present and future too. He calls on the people to forego sin and follow God instead.

Response: No enemy in this psalm but ourselves. Lord, help me to defeat myself daily.

Psalm 84

Summary: The psalmist praises God by way of His Temple, where even birds feel safe. God blesses both His Temple and the people that keep coming there to worship. Then the author asks for personal aid and for a greater intimacy with God.

Response: The Temple's architecture and its liturgy may have been awe-inspiring all on their own, but I know the only reason it was considered lovely, the only reason a thousand days elsewhere weren't worth one there, is because God dwelled there. Help me to seek You and find You.

Psalm 83

Summary: The psalmist asks God to defeat Israel's many enemies.

Response: God, help me to rely on You to fight my battles for me. Help me to trust that Your arm will show love in all You do. Help me to be honest with my feelings, that we might more easily communicate.

Psalm 82

Summary: God talks to an assembly of fake gods. He calls them out on their wickedness, charges them to serve, and reminds them of their mortality.

Response: This one was, uh, just a bit weird. If we're going metaphorical (sounds like a 90s cartoon catchphrase), I guess they could represent opposing nations and their religions and possibly leaders.

So even to the sworn enemies of God's chosen people, God instructs and guides toward receiving and giving compassion and hope. He's really serious about this love thing.

Psalm 81

Summary: In the middle of praising God, the psalmist records a message from Him. God remembers bringing Israel out of Egypt and just needs His people to listen and obey.

Response: I can't chide biblical Israel too much; after all, I'm just as bad. It's my hope, though, that God would keep changing me so that I could more consistently obey Him.

Psalm 80

Summary: The psalmist compares God to a shepherd and a mighty warrior, and Israel to a plant. God uprooted Israel from Egypt, planted it in the Promised Land, and tended it until it spread. But as the people left God, He left them open to threats. Three times the psalmist asks God to deliver them by "smil[ing]" on them.

Response: Here I'd almost compare more to a parent who, on the sight of their child crying, would smile to pacify them. But you don't smile at a child in trouble (not usually, anyway).

God, help me to take stock of Your blessings. Teach me to follow and rely on You.

Psalm 79

Summary: The psalmist cries out to God as His people are in the midst of a great crisis. Foreign powers have reduced cities to rubble and left many dead. The requests are twofold: that God save "us" and kill "them" back.

Response: My heart grows heavy in times of hate and violence. Still, I do my best not to have a vengeful heart. Help me, God, to pray for those I might hate or resent, that Your hand can be seen acting in those situations.

Psalm 78

Summary: The psalmist urges Israel to remember God's provision, grace, and judgement through a short history of their people to that point, including Egyptian captivity and rescue, wandering in the desert, settling in the Promised Land, and many (many many) times when they turned their backs on God.

Response: God's acts here are great, but it was easy for His people to forget them. I have a hard enough time keeping thankful for what happened earlier in the day. Lord, help!

Psalm 77

Summary: The psalmist recounts an all-nighter of desperate prayer. He doubts momentarily that God would hear and answer the prayer, then affirms his belief that God will do those things. He remembers just how much power He has over even the sea and storm, and how God has already proven His love.

Response: I've been there, when praying with seemingly no answer gets frustrating. But the psalmist's attitude improves, even without an answer. Instead, it is his perspective that changes. It goes from "I've been suffering so long; how could God ignore me?" to "God has proven Himself time and time again, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for this time!"

Psalm 76

Summary: The psalmist sees God in His dwelling place as a force of peace, breaking weapons and growing His reputation. Still, when He is out and about, God is like a fierce lion, a conquering king, and a righteous judge. The psalm ends recommending that all covenant with such a God.

Response: I'm not sure which side of God I prefer. I have to acknowledge that both exist; God does stay and comfort, which I'm all for, but He also fights battles and casts judgement. And most of the time, it's on my behalf. I'm trying my best as this school year gets started to give God this time. It's literally the least I can do.

Psalm 75

Summary: The psalmist praises God, who goes back and forth and judge and savior. As judge, He clouds the judgement of the wicked and passes down His own. As savior, He keeps the world in order.

Response: Lord, I am often the one full of myself; help me to love humbly. I am often the worry wart; help me to rely on You.