Psalm 51

Summary: David knows he has sinned big time (not in this story, but he sleeps with a married woman and has her husband killed in military action). He pleads with God for forgiveness. David boldly asks not to be left without God's presence; he also gets past the Law and its sacrifices, noting God would rather have hearts that turn to Him than empty offerings.

Response: Here again is Relatable David. Yeah, I've done some sinning in even my short life; and I've gone through the motions in worship services at times. It's very easy for me to get lost in musical details and never get "into" worship (or to get right out of it soon thereafter). Lord, make me ever more dependent on You, that I need Your presence every day.

Psalm 50

Summary: The psalmist paints a picture of God as almost a natural disaster, clearing His path off the holy mountain. God doesn't want empty sacrifices​, He says; He wants a real change in people's hearts, from fear and obligation to joy and gratefulness.

Response: (Asaph, our psalmist, was probably a singer for the Temple?)

(Holy crap, fifty psalms! A third of the way in, I can't say I'm impressed with all of them, but I've enjoyed digging deeper and getting some real treasures.)

I say natural disaster because it talks about God carving out trees and a burning fire on His way down the mountain. As it says, He isn't hiding.

And His judgement comes with a plan forward or at least an alternative. I can only pray I make such an attitude adjustment.

Psalm 49

Summary: The psalmist proclaims as equal the rich and poor, with both dying at the end of their lives. Still, he says that all the rich and their belongings will burn like trash.

Response: What then to do with wealth? Place it in God's care and/or aid His people.

Psalm 48

Summary: The psalmist praises God as Protector of Jerusalem, and therefore his home and people. God inhabits every nook and cranny of the city and pushes back any attempt at capture.

Response: So the problem of evil (how did I get there? Gimme a sec): why does God allow evil things to happen when He's all-powerful? I believe in free will, that we can choose to go with God's will or on our own. Through the biblical kingdom of Israel's history, its people would turn away from God over and over. "God, we don't need your help. We have this on our own." And so God backs off. He could have prevented the siege of Babylon or Roman rule, but Israel asked Him not to interfere, so he respected their wishes.

Lord, I do this too often myself. Keep me from this sin (I tried folly here, but it's too nice a word) and keep me company reliant on You.

Psalm 47

Summary: The psalmist shouts God's praises, as the One who installed Israel among the nations and the One who reigns over all nations and peoples.

Response: I like the second half better but the entire psalm is easy to digest. Eventually I'm going to get into some deeper emotion, but I'm happy to just be happy for a bit.

Psalm 46

Summary: The psalmist announces God as Protector through the most difficult times, from war to Armageddon.

Response: I tend to be very picky on subject matter for worship songs I lead  I don't do a whole lot of end times songs, for instance, because I feel like people who focus on that aspect of the story tend to turtle up instead of continuing to evangelize (and I have a tough enough time with that anyways). But this one might be just a bit different, not offering a prediction but simple faith and confidence in God.

Psalm 45

Summary: The psalmist praises a royal marriage. Woo.

Response: Like, that's it. I'm not really sure I would've been any happier about it yesterday, but oh well. On to the next tomorrow.