Dark Days
Psalm 88 has been described as “the saddest psalm in the Psalter.” From beginning to end, Heman the Ezrahite’s words throb with immense pain in the midst of great darkness. Read slowly his words pregnant with anguish: Send article as PDF
Author: jchowning
Zion
Like the patriarchs of old, all of us who walk by faith confess that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth (Hebrews 11:13). Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), where Christ is—sitting at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). We…
Practical Reasons to Pray
David’s prayer in Psalm 86 is an interesting patchwork of petition and affirmation. Sandwiched between each of the four petitions (vv. 1-4, 6-7,11-14, and 16-17) is an affirmation of God and His character. When each of these affirmations is an integral part of…
Importunity
As Jesus was praying in a certain place, His disciples came to Him when He had ceased and asked that He teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). Our Lord then proceeds to instruct His disciples on the verbal (vv. 2-4) and spiritual (vv….
A United Heart
The enduring challenge of faith is to unite what is learned intellectually about God with how you decide to live. In Psalm 86, David sums up this truth in one verse—”Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my…
Oh, What a Kiss!
One of the reasons for Jesus’ incarnation was to bring abundant life (John 10:10). To do this, humanity had to be reconciled to God so that there could be peace—the full satisfaction of God’s wrath toward humanity’s transgressions and lawlessness and the cessation…
Praying in Three Tenses
Humans speak of life in three tenses—past, present, and future. In Psalm 85, as a son of Korah recounts the past, addresses the present, and looks to the future, he ever looks in faith to the timeless One—the great I AM. Send…
Better
Priorities are discerned and values are exhibited by the choices you make. When confronted with two possibilities and only one can be chosen, your priorities and your values determine which option is, in your heart, better than the other. When facing the exact…
The Pilgrim’s Companion
The walk of faith in God is a pilgrimage. For Abraham, the father of the faithful, his pilgrimage began the day he “obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went…
A Sun and Shield
A soldier is most vulnerable when he is unprotected and cannot see an approaching, armed enemy. In the great battlefield called life, those who live without God are like soldiers facing a ruthless, armed foe in darkness and without any form of protection. …