Something Greater

Psalm 48 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 16, 2022 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments! Walk a

Psalm 47 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 15, 2022 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! - (Psalm 47:1–9, ESV) I have never seriously studied history. I've always relied upon others for explanations and application. I've read and listened to teachers and opinionators, absorbing some of their summaries and analyses of historical events. W

Psalm 46 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 9, 2022 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of

Psalm 45 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 8, 2022 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; daughters of kings are among your ladies of hono

Psalm 44 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 7, 2022 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob! Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten sp

Psalm 43 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 2, 2022 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. - (Psalm 43:1–5, ESV) Hope In God God! You have rejected me! You have oppressed me by an enemy! Why? Vindicate me, defend me, and lead me! O my soul, continue to trust in and depend upon God for salvation. God is my only Hope! Yours only is light and truth, Source of joy. Hope in God, he is your salvation and your Go

Psalm 119:81-88 | Kaph Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 17, 2022 “My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. - (Psalm 119:81–88, ESV) Framed By Faith There are many sentiments expressed in Kaph which do not match what I feel on most days. I am typically too dull of mind and heart, too young in age, too broken with misplaced desires and fears. But today, this stanza of Pslam 119 does resonate with me. I do long for s

Psalm 119:73-80 | Yodh Milt Reynolds | Last updated: April 10, 2022 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! - Psalm 119:73–80, ESV Comforted by God's Promise of Steadfast Love Photo by National Cancer Institute - unsplash.com/photos/BxXgTQEw1M4 Your hands made me and formed me... This morning, the first morning of our vactio

Psalm 119:57-64 | Heth Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 9, 2022 The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! - (Psalm 119:57–64, ESV) My Portion PORTION: KHAY-lek, smoothness of the tongue, an allotment - from khaw-LAK, to be smooth, to apportion or separate using smooth stones as lots We neglect or negate God's Word, eagerly pursuing "portions" of different things, all poor substitutes for God's "smooth" and rich word. We seek for esteem from others, security in

Psalm 119:49-56 | Zayin Milt Reynolds | Last updated: June 8, 2022 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. - Psalm 119:49–56, ESV Remember Me Photo: "Finding Dan", by Dan Grinwis "Remember me." The context connects "remember me" with the following: Hope Comfort in affliction God's life-giving, life-sustaining promise Singing while sojourning Constancy during the night Blessing HOPE: yaw-CHAL [to wait, be patient, to hope - the English word "

Psalm 119:41-48 | Waw Milt Reynolds | Last updated: June 6, 2022 Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. - Psalm 119:41–48, ESV The First Promise Photo by Brett Jordan on unsplash.com All of God's Word may be considered to be a promise of savation and steadfast love from God. But where is found in the Holy Bible the earliest, specific promise of God? Is the promise first seen when God created Adam and Eve?

Psalm 49 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 17, 2022 Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together! My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. This i

Psalm 119:17-24 | Gimel Milt Reynolds | Last updated: March 24, 2022 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. - Psalm 119:17–24, ESV Lord, Deal Bountifully With Me! Photo by ashok acharya on Unsplash - DEAL BOUNTIFULLY: gaw-MAL, to treat a person (well or ill), to benefit or requite; to ripen or wean This definition is odd. The original Hebrew word by itself does not convey a specific sense of positive or negative treatment, of good or bad treatment. Why does thi