Psalm 139: The Lord Made Me

Today’s reading is Psalm 139.

He Made You Too

How often the psalmist brings God’s creative power and work to mind. The Lord’s creative work is wondrous. I learned a new word this week: omnificence. Omniscience means God knows all things. Omnipresence means God is everywhere. Omnipotence means God is all-powerful. Omnificence means creating all things or having all creative power.

In this psalm, however, David doesn’t simply praise God for the general work of all creation. He drills down. If God created all things, David knows, “God made me.” And David draws an incredible conclusion. God’s works are wondrous.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Psalm 72:18 (ESV)

For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Psalm 86:10 (ESV)

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
Psalm 111:4 (ESV)

If God’s works, especially His creative works are wondrous and wonderful, what does that mean about David, one of God’s creative works? He is one of those wonderful works. He is valuable, not because of what he has done, but because of Who made him.

I’m sure the enemies of the Lord, taking counsel against David, seeking his defeat, dethronement, and destruction spoke against David’s worth and value as a person and as a king. Hear that kind of slander enough, he might begin to believe it–especially when he remembers his own sins. He might start to think God would not fulfill a promise to him because he isn’t worthy. His anchor, however, is not in his own self-esteem, not in his own value because of his performance, but in his identity as a wonderful work of God.

I pray we all recognize David’s anchor is ours as well. We too are wondrous works of God. You are a wondrous work of God. He formed your inward parts. He knitted you together in your mother’s womb. He didn’t just create the world and let it take its course and you just happened to be part of the fallout. He personally formed you in the womb. Yes, I know that in this fallen world, some of us, even in the womb, are formed with disorders and syndromes. We are born with special needs which make us think we are not fearfully and wonderfully made, but are a mistake. But God works all things together for good for those who love Him. Each of us is a wondrous work of God to be used in His plan to work all things together for good.

But more than that, for we who are in Christ, not only are we God’s workmanship in our mother’s womb, we are God’s workmanship in Christ. He is fearfully and wonderfully remaking us in Jesus (see Ephesians 2:10). He renews our minds. He gives us a new heart and spirit. He redeems our bodies. If we were fearfully and wonderfully made in our birth, how much more in our rebirth?

But this comes home in the context of David’s struggle against his enemies. David knows he is precious in God’s sight. No doubt, the enemies are as well. Yet, in their impenitent sin, rebellion against the Lord, and hatred of God they have abandoned His protective covenant. David knows that he isn’t just some guy, he is God’s creation. God will respond to David’s request because God cares about His creation. The same is true for us. We are God’s workmanship. When we cry out to Him in this battle against our enemy, He will listen. We are His special possession. We are His workmanship. He cares about us.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 139.

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Psalm 136: God the Redeemer

Today’s reading is Psalm 136.

The Exodus and the Chesed of the Lord

The Lord’s steadfast love was demonstrated not merely by the general grace in creation of the world. It was also demonstrated by the specific creation of a special people, protected by the Lord. YHWH set apart Abraham and his descendants through whom the Lord would bless all the nations and families of the earth. Keep that part of the promises in mind. YHWH did not set Abraham apart so He could merely bless Abraham and his kids, but so He could bless the entire world–including us.

Therefore, when we read of the redemption of Israel from Egypt in Psalm 136:10-16, we do not read merely of God’s steadfast love for Abraham’s descendants, but of His steadfast love for all people. Had the Lord violated His covenant with Abraham and allowed his descendants to perish in Egypt, redemption would have been lost for all people, not merely for Israelites.

But don’t miss the undercurrent. The Lord redeemed Israel from Egypt. But that meant the Lord did allow Israel to be enslaved by Egypt. Redemption does not mean keeping us from the hardship. It means carrying us through the hardship and bringing us out on the other side, redeemed, delivered, saved.

Further, some of the Israelites died before the historical acting out of the redemption. The nation experienced the redemption but not every individual did. At least, not every individual experienced the working out in history of that redemption. In other words, redemption for us may not occur while we are still living. It may be we face hardship until we die. Redemption is not God keeping us from death. Rather, it is God walking with us through death and bringing us out on the other side, resurrected with abundant life.

I’ll forgive you if you accuse me of a stretch when I say vs. 16 causes us to glance back to Psalm 1. But, allow me to assure you, tomorrow we will see clearly vss. 17-22 turns us back to Psalm 2. When our psalmist declares we should give thanks “to him who led his people through the wilderness,” the word “led” is the same word translated “walks” in Psalm 1:1. Here are a people redeemed because they did not walk according to the counsel of the wicked, but by the redeeming leadership of the Lord. While their way led through the wilderness, their way did not perish. It got them to the Promised Land. In the same way, YHWH still redeems. His way may lead through the wilderness, it may even go through the dark valley of death’s shadow, but it doesn’t perish. It leads to life.

Praise the Lord! …for His steadfast love endures forever!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 136.

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Psalm 130: Plentiful Redemption

He Walks Us On the Water

I can’t help but see Matthew 14:25-33 in our psalm. Jesus walks across the depths to the apostles struggling to cross the sea of Galilee. Peter says, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (ESV) and Jesus did. Peter got out of the boat and, shock of all shocks, walked on the water. But then he got distracted from Jesus by the wind and waves. He began to sink in the depths. He had a choice. Head back for the boat or seek the mercy of the Lord. He cried out from the depths, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus did.

Was this event with Peter orchestrated by God to tell us Jesus is the answer to Psalm 130? I don’t know. But, surely, we can see Jesus is the answer to Psalm 130.

The psalmist begs for forgiveness for himself and Israel. He pleads for redemption for himself and Israel. God did not fully grant that request until Jesus. Jesus is the plentiful redemption. Jesus is the forgiveness.

As Ephesians 1:7 says, it is “In him” that is, in Christ, “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (ESV).

Praise God for redemption. Praise God for forgiveness. Praise God for the riches of His mercy and grace. Praise God for Jesus who Himself went into the depths of the grave, waited on the Lord, and defeated death in order to lift us all up and walk us on the water.

Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is Psalm 131.

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Psalm 112: God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Today’s reading is Psalm 112.

God-Fearers are Generous

Lots of readers get snagged by Psalm 112:3:

Wealth and riches are in his house (ESV).

Sign me up to be a God-fearer. If fearing God will make me rich, I’m all about it. However, like so many portraits in Scripture, we can’t take one line to the exclusion of the others. God does not give this God-fearer wealth and riches to just so he can have wealth and riches. He doesn’t even give this one wealth and riches today to take care of him tomorrow. He gives this man wealth and riches in order to deal generously with those in need today. He gives riches to this man to distribute freely and give to the poor.

Keep this psalm in the context of Israel’s covenant with the Lord. In Deuteronomy 15, the Lord promised to bless Israel. The blessing was not meted out by making every individual Israelite wealthy. Rather, God meted out this blessing by making enough Israelites wealthy to give and lend sufficient for the needs of others who did not have enough. Psalm 112 describes the man who lives Deuteronomy 15. Because he is in awe of God, remembering the Lord is the one who provides him all the food he has, he generously shares with others.

Deuteronomy 15 says he needs to be careful to do these commands. Psalm 112 says he delights in them. Proverbs 11:23-28 has multiple parallels with our psalm. Note especially, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (ESV).

God-fearers are generous.

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Paul believed this psalm is for Christians not just ancient Hebrews. Certainly, the Deuteronomy blessings and promises do not transfer directly into our Christian covenant. Yet, Paul believed the lessons of Psalm 111-112 guide us.

When encouraging the Corinthians to collect and give for their brothers and sisters’ needs in Jerusalem and Judea, he explains “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV). He goes on to say, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV).

Then Paul calls on the psalms to make his point: “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” If we only read in 2 Corinthians, we might well think Paul is quoting a psalm that says God has distributed freely, God has given to the poor, and the righteousness of God endures forever. But that is not the case. Paul quotes Psalm 112:9. That verse is about the God-fearer, not about God. The God-fearer distributed freely; the God-fearer has given to the poor; the righteousness of the God-fearer endures forever.

Wait! What?

What is Paul doing here?

He’s tying together a theme. In Deuteronomy 15, when God talked about the generosity with which Israelites should treat each other, He anchored part of His instruction in redemption: “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today” (Deuteronomy 15:15, ESV). In Psalm 111:9, the pe and tsade lines, the psalmist said of God, “He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever” (ESV). In the parallel lines of Psalm 112, the psalmist said of the God-fearer who is becoming like God, “He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever” (ESV). Why does the God-fearer distribute freely? Because the God-fearer has been transformed by God’s free distribution of redemption. And all of this is motivated by delight in the Lord’s commands (Psalm 112:1).

If we sow bountifully, that is distribute freely; if we give cheerfully, that is with delight; if we offer willingly, that is generously, then we show ourselves to be the kinds of God-fearers to whom the Lord provides. If, however, our heart begrudges the gift (see Deuteronomy 15:9-10), the Lord will not bless us in our work. If we give cheerfully and willingly, with delight, He will bless us for every good work.

If we are generous in every way, the Lord will enrich us in every way (2 Corinthians 9:11). Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 112.

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Psalm 111: He Sent Redemption to His People

Today’s reading is Psalm 111.

Let the Redeemed Say So

Recall Book V of the Psalms began with a declaration to those who have been redeemed: Say so! That psalm sets the stage for meditations, poems, songs, hymns of restoration, return, and redemption.

However, we must recognize celebrating return means recalling exile. Celebrating restoration means recalling destruction. Celebrating redemption means recalling enslavement. The psalm doesn’t have to mention those memories, the celebration is itself pregnant with the memories.

When Psalm 111:9 declares, “He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever,” the underlying memory is the time when the people were enslaved in exile. There was a time when it seemed the Lord was not keeping His hopeful promise. There was a time when it looked like the Lord had let His covenant lapse.

But then came the redemption. He had not forgotten His covenant. He remembered it. He commanded it. It went out and did what He established it for. He redeemed His people.

The Story Continues

Psalm 107 calls the redeemed to tell their stories. Psalm 108, combining the redemption portions of two previous psalms, tells redemption stories which sets the stage for this principle: like anointed king, like anointed people. Psalm 109 shocks us with imprecation. However, when properly understood, we see a court room scene in which the Lord’s anointed is falsely accused, yet he expects the Lord to stand at the king’s right hand, keep His covenant, enact His law, and redeem the king. In Psalm 110, we see the king redeemed. The Lord invites him to stand at His right hand and provides victory.

Now, in Psalm 111, the redeemed king stands “in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” He praises the Lord and thanks Him because He remembers His covenant and sent redemption to his people. By redeeming the king, the faithful Lord redeemed His people.

Redemption Lives

We, as Christians, are truly able to sing this psalm. As Paul explains in Ephesians 1:7-10, we are blessed in Jesus Christ with redemption by His blood. We are redeemed, having our sins forgiven. We are forgiven by the riches of His grace. His grace is lavished upon us by God’s eternal plan which He brought about in the fullness of time, in just the right moment. It was God’s eternal plan brought to fruition in Jesus Christ who is our redemption.

The Father sent Redemption to us. Redemption lived. Redemption was executed on a cross. Redemption rose again on the third day. Our Redemption Lives!

Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is Psalm 112.

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PATHS:
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Psalm 109: Your Steadfast Love

Today’s reading is Psalm 109.

Let No one Be Kind to Him

David prays his false accuser will not only be punished, but “Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children” (Psalm 109:12, ESV). Yikes! That’s harsh. Or is it?

The word translated “kindness” in vs. 12 is not the word for being nice to people. David isn’t praying no one will ever be nice to his false accusers. Rather, the word is “chesed,” the word for the covenant, lasting, loyal, faithful love and kindness God says He has in Exodus 34:6-7.

In vs. 16, David explains the false accuser “did not remember to show kindness (chesed), but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death” (ESV). We are so used to hearing people talk about God’s unconditional love, we miss an important point. In a sense, chesed is unconditional. That is, God offers it to all without condition. However, chesed is covenant love. By its very nature, covenant love is reciprocal love. That is, when God (or anyone) shows chesed, the proper response in return is chesed. If one refuses to respond to chesed with chesed, he shows himself unworthy of chesed. Or, more accurately stated, if one refuses to respond to chesed with chesed, he is rejecting chesed.

In Job 6:14, the suffering man complains against his friends, “He who withholds kindness (chesed) from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty” (ESV). When the false accusers dismissed chesed and pursued the poor and needy to death, they weren’t just being mean to people, they forsook God. They rejected the Lord’s chesed when they refused to show chesed to the Lord’s people.

Thus, David declares no one should show them chesed. David isn’t asking out of spite. Rather, he recognizes natural consequences. They reject chesed, they should not receive it.

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

Whatever was going on in David’s life prompting its original composition, the editors of the psalms put it to good use in Book V. This set of psalms, as we’ve already noted, meditates on the return, the redemption, the restoration of God’s people. The restoration after Babylonian exile was the fertile ground that produced this collection of songs, poems, prayers, and meditations.

The entire book began declaring, “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love (chesed) endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1, ESV). In the four stories of redemption, the psalmist repeatedly declared, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love (chesed), for his wondrous works to the children of man!” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31, ESV). The entire psalm ended saying, “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love (chesed) of the LORD” (Psalm 107:43, ESV). The redeemed must say so. And redemption comes from the chesed of the Lord. Praise the Lord!

Then in Psalm 108, the editors brought together the “redemption” portions of two earlier laments. Smack in the middle of this new composition, the psalm declares, “For your steadfast love (chesed) is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (Psalm 108:4, ESV). But understand, the chesed of the Lord can’t be demonstrated to the Lord’s people without Moab becoming the Lord’s washbasin, Edom becoming his doormat, and Philistia getting defeated. The Lord’s steadfast love, His chesed, is demonstrated to His people by bringing judgment on the people who curse and attack His people. That is, the nations who reject the Lord’s chesed will be defeated as the Lord displays His chesed for His people.

Finally, we get to Psalm 109. We meet false accusers who ignore, dismiss, repudiate chesed. So, David declares they shouldn’t receive any. But that is only half the equation. David’s main point is a contrast with the Lord. David’s friends ignore chesed, but the Lord will act on behalf of His name’s sake and “because your steadfast love (chesed) is good, deliver me!” (Psalm 109:21, ESV). He cries out again in vs. 26, “Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to you steadfast love (chesed)!” (ESV). David knows he can rely on the very chesed God had promised to him when making a covenant with him (see 2 Samuel 7:15; 1 Chronicles 17:13). The kind of chesed men fail at, God always delivers.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 109.

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Psalm 107: Thank the Lord

Today’s reading is Psalm 107.

Why Hide It?

When reading this psalm and celebrating these stories, it’s easy to get excited about redemption. In fact, we may struggle to see why the psalm needed to be written at all. That is, why, with such great stories, would anyone need to be reminded, encouraged, even charged to declare the Lord’s redemption? Wouldn’t people just be so glad they couldn’t help themselves?

That loses sight of the practicalities in the joy of the poetry. To tell the story of my redemption, I have to tell the story of my troubles too. That becomes especially hard when my trouble is my fault. That becomes even more difficult if it is my fault because of my sin. When I tell the story of my redemption, I have to tell why I needed to be redeemed in the first place. That is tough.

Additionally, to tell the story of redemption, I have to admit my own inability. I got lost and couldn’t find my way back. I got myself shackled and chained and I couldn’t break free. I made myself sick and couldn’t make myself well. I got into business and couldn’t handle the storms. I got to my wits’ end. That is, I did everything in my bag of tricks and none of it was good enough. I was weak. I was helpless. I was a failure. I couldn’t fix it. And I desperately wanted to be the one who fixed it.

I could not fix it. The only thing I could do was call on the only One who could. I called on God. He redeemed.

Thank the Lord

In each story, two lines are repeated. First, “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” But also, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”

God’s steadfast love was explained back in Psalm 106:44-45:

Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love (ESV).

This steadfast love is the Lord’s “chesed.” It is covenant loyalty. God doesn’t provide this redemption because He owes it to us. He provides it because He has covenanted it with us. God doesn’t provide abundant steadfast love because He remembers how incredible we are or even how loveable we are. He does so because He remembers the covenant He made through Abraham, through Moses, through David, and finally through Jesus.

Let us not act as if we were entitled to redemption. Let us not act as if we were a master, having the right to demand redemption. Instead, let us fall on our faces and thank God for His redeeming steadfast love. Let us always thank Him for His redeeming steadfast love. Let us not pretend somehow we accomplished the redemption ourselves. Let us instead thank God for His redeeming steadfast love.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Praise the LORD!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 107.

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Psalm 107: Redeemed! How I Love to Proclaim It

Today’s reading is Psalm 107.

Intro to Book V

Psalms is obviously not a narrative. However, the five books do loosely provide the story of Israel. In Books I and II, we see meditations under the monarchy. We begin with the King, God’s Son set on God’s holy hill in the second Psalm, and get all the way to a psalm by Solomon at the end of Book II. Book III, though short, gave an abundance of psalms demonstrating God’s judgment and destruction of His city and house. Book IV gave us meditations of people in exile. It ended with an incredible look at why Israel had been in exile: repeated rebellion.

Book V is the longest of the books. It certainly provides a miscellany of topics and meditations. However, it clearly provides meditations for redemption, restoration, and return. It kicks off with a beautiful hymn of redemption. It includes the Hallel psalms (incredible praise psalms). The Songs of Ascent, seen by many as songs sung on pilgrimages to Jerusalem. It ends with what one author calls a virtual fireworks of praise for God. This year, we get to read and study these psalms.

Praise the Lord!

Telling Redemption’s Story

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so” (Psalm 107:2, ESV). Or as the NIV renders it, “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story.” Then the psalmist tells four stories of redemption.

It’s hard to say if this is four different stories of four different redemptions. If it is, do they reference particular periods in Israel’s history. Wandering in desert wastes, being in chains, and even being sick because of foolish sin would fit. However, the sea-faring danger would be highly metaphorical. Israel rarely got involved in sea travel. However, Isaiah 54:11 does use the idea of being storm-tossed as a metaphor for Israel’s struggles and punishments. Or perhaps it tells four stories of “individual” Israelites and their redemption experiences. Their individual stories become an opportunity for communal praise because all Israel has a story much like these even if the details differ.

However, this may be four different metaphorical looks at Israel’s redemption. It may be a metaphorical retelling of Psalm 106. Book IV ended with a look at Israel getting into a sinful mess, being delivered, then foolishly getting into another one, being delivered again, only to get into another mess. Each story follows the paradigm of Judges 2:11-23: punishment, outcry, deliverance, and then it happens again. As Psalm 106:10, 13 says, God redeemed them, but they quickly forgot His works. They needed to be rescued again.

Psalm 106 ends (before the book-ending doxology) by crying out, “Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise” (Psalm 106:47, ESV). Psalm 107 begins as if in response to that final plea:

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south (ESV).

They cried out in their distress at the end of Psalm 1o6, and in Psalm 107, God redeems and gathers them. The psalmist celebrates by telling the story again and again and again. Each telling sounds a little different. But each telling tells the whole story. Israel was lost and wandering, captive and imprisoned, sick and dying, storm-tossed and helpless. She cried out in distress. The Lord delivered.

That’s Israel’s story. That is Israel’s story again and again. That’s our story. That’s our story again and again. Let’s praise God for it and tell it to as many people as we can so it can become their story as well.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 107.

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John 6: The Redeeming Lord

Today’s reading is John 6.

Between the feeding of the 5000 and its fallout, John squeezes in Jesus walking on the water.

On the surface, John gives another prophet surpassing sign of Jesus. God worked wonders through Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha. Each of these men parted waters so they and/or God’s people could walk on dry land. But Jesus walked on water as if it was dry land. FANTASTIC!!!! How amazing is that? Just in case the multiplying food miracle didn’t convince you, perhaps walking on water will. Jesus is the True Prophet.

But there is more to this. In Psalm 107:23-32, the psalmist tells the story of those who got caught in a storm while sailing on the sea. Who calmed the storm? The Lord. Who delivered them? The Lord. Who brought them safely to their haven? The Lord. The psalmist declares, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.” Jesus walks on the water as if it is dry land. When He reaches the men, He calms them, and implicitly the storm as well. Then they are immediately at the place to which they were going. Who is this who calms storms and plays with time and space? It is no mere man. In fact, it is no mere prophet. It is the LORD of Psalm 107! He is the redeeming Lord, the delivering Lord, the rescuing Lord, the saving Lord.

This is our Lord. He has redeemed us. Let us say so.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is John 6.

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Psalm 65: God the Redeemer

Today’s reading is Psalm 65.

It’s a week of thanksgiving for us. What better psalm to read than the one allotted. It begins “Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.” We could equally read that “Thanksgiving is due to you” based on the remainder of the psalm. The psalm breaks down into three parts. Each one demonstrates a reason to praise and thank God.

In the first section (vss. 1-4), we meet God the Redeemer.

Why are praise and thanksgiving due to our God? Because when iniquities prevail against us, He provides atonement. David gives a picture of sins overwhelming him, drowning him. I know the feeling. Do you? God provides the remedy.

Don’t read vs. 4, through our modern lens. “The one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts” doesn’t refer to individual saints God chose to be forgiven or saved. Read this through the ancient lens of tabernacle/temple worship with priests and Levites as those who dwelt and ministered in the courts of the Lord. This is not a picture of individual salvation but of the communal worship at the tabernacle (later the temple). It is a picture of the place of atonement. Because God had chosen priests and servants to dwell in His house, God would dwell with His people. Certainly, this service was a fantastic blessing for those who were most involved, but the blessing rolled down Mt. Zion and covered the whole nation of those atoned for by the worship and sacrifice in His house.

When God revealed the Day of Atonement sacrifices in Leviticus 16, he explains they must be offered to make “atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the people and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness” (Leviticus 16:16, ESV). Because God chose someone to come into his house and make atonement, God’s house was able to dwell in the midst of the people despite their overwhelming sins and uncleanness. Otherwise, He would be forced to destroy them in their sins.

Our God is a Redeemer. He redeemed Israel. He has redeems His church. Let us give Him praise and thanks. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 65.

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