Wrestling with “Why?”

       Psalms 74 and 75 have been placed consecutively in the Hebrew song book because the haunting questions of the former are answered in the latter.  In Psalm 74, Asaph is vigorously wrestling with the question of “Why?”— “O God, why have You cast us off…

Two Lessons Asaph Learned about Envy

       Envy is a vicious and dangerous spiritual disease.  Wise is the person who heeds the Scriptures’ plain counsel: “Do not let your heart envy sinners…Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them…Do not fret because of evildoers, nor…

Asaph’s Battle with Envy

       Rarely is envy recognized and correctly identified in our hearts.  This green-eyed monster is a blood-thirsty beast.  Cain killed Abel because of envy.  King Saul relentlessly hunted David because of envy.  The Jewish rulers handed Jesus over to Pilate because of envy.    …

From Despair to Hope

       As is true with several of the psalms, Psalm 69 begins with despair and desperation and ends with hope and praise.  “Save me, O God!  For the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in deep mire where there is no standing; I have come into…

Rejoice in the Lord Always

       This command of the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:4 easily serves as the vibrant theme of Psalm 68.  David’s joyous confidence in God’s victory over his enemies begins this exuberant song: “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate…