Psalms Blog

This blog is authored by Garth, a retired pastor of our church. He started the blog while still working and produced blogs for Psalms 1 thru 79. He has volunteered to continue providing (try) weekly blogs on the Psalms as his time allows. We accept, with sincere thanks, his contribution of these writings to our website. Here is his introduction, from September 8, 2021, to this series of blogs on the psalms. Psalms

The whole series can be found in the Blog Archive, under the Blogs tab on the main menu above.

September 19th

Psalm 83

https://youtu.be/JyA__WiZgTE Poor Bishop Hooper

Biblical scholar Michael Fox has what you might call a typical 20^th century Jewish background. At the beginning of that century his grandfather had a narrow escape from the pogroms in Russia that killed thousands of Jews. Thus, Fox was born in the U.S.A. and escaped the reach of Nazi power in the 1940s. Fox has written a commentary on the book of Esther in which he reflects on what that story means to him in light of the history of his family and his people. He comments that God seems to be hidden in the Esther story, as God has been ‘so often, so inexplicably, so unforgivably, throughout history.’ [1]

‘God, don’t shut me out;
don’t give me the silent treatment, O God.’ [MESSAGE]

Our psalmist is struggling with the silence of God. . . . . . .

September 15th

Psalm 82

https://youtu.be/9ez-wbQCYyw?si=VHqhYQQOKGAG6Ndj - Poor Bishop Hooper

It may surprise you to know that people of the OT believed there were many gods at work in the world. Israel was delivered from slavery in Egypt where one of the chief gods was a golden bull from whom the Pharaoh claimed divine right to rule.

When Israel came into Canaan they encountered the people’s gods – Baal, Moloch, and Mammon. One biblical scholar states that “the Caananite polytheistic system elevated economic survival to ultimacy at the expense of compassion.” [1]

August 31st

Psalm 81

Some time ago, Claire and I attended a worship service in a large church which billed itself as ‘seeker-sensitive.’ The worship consisted of about 30 minutes of praise songs followed by a short prayer and a 30 minute sermon. The service closed with a few announcements. The benediction was: ‘Goodbye, see you next week.’

August 21st

Psalms #80

LISTEN (v.1-3)

Is it well?
In a few brief minutes of watching the news there are several contemporary reminders that all is not well. The news of the past few days brought that home vividly. Scenes of people in vehicles fleeing Yellowknife on the one highway out of town. People forced to evacuate neighbourhoods in Kelowna. Many of these good folks may be crying for God in their midst. Where is God in the midst of all this? Creation cries out. People cry out. Our souls cry out, as we too wonder where God is. . . . .