CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Today’s Conley Commentary is Friday on Faith, on the Psalms.
The Psalms, in the old testament of the bible, are supposed to be sung. They are the first hymns to be written down. They link Jews and Christians; as part of Torah, they are recognized as wisdom for all who worship the God of Abraham.
Some Psalms are laments, to comfort us in times of trouble. Others are joyful, for times of thanksgiving.
We read Psalm 23 at funerals: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want… Thy rod and thy staff comfort me… Surely I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
We read Psalm 100 to celebrate: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving! Enter his courts with praise! Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
We read Psalm 139 when we are troubled. And we are reassured: “God knows me from afar. He knows when I sit down, and when I get up… where can I run to? I go to the depths of sheol, or hell, and you are there.”
Why do we read the Psalms? Because they express the whole human experience of emotions, from great joy to desperate sadness. And they all have a common theme: God is always there–ever present-with us. One of the laments – the sad psalms – translates, literally, that “His hand is upon me.” And it ends with words of great hope. “Such knowledge is too high for me to attain. It is wonderful to me.”
What’s the lesson? Even when you are at your lowest points, God knows you. You are his. And you are never left to struggle in this world alone.
I’m Chris Conley
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