Something Greater

Psalm 54 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: July 28, 2022 Photo by Timon Studler on unsplash.com TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A MASKIL OF DAVID, WHEN THE ZIPHITES WENT AND TOLD SAUL, “IS NOT DAVID HIDING AMONG US? O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. - Psalm 54:1–7, ESV My Enemies O God, why does David not pray for his enemies? Why does David not frame the rising of insolent strangers as a circumstance under your control and direction...

Psalm 119:113-120 | Samekh Milt Reynolds | Last updated: July 15, 2022 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. - Psalm 119:113–120, ESV Pushing Away, Yet Loved Anyway Photo by Philbo on unsplash.com I hate my double-mindedness, and I long to love your Word, God. At times you are my hiding place and my shield, protecting me from anger and fear and selfishness -- at times I push away from you, hopelessly dark and alone -- Oh! that e...

Psalm 119:97-104 | Mem Milt Reynolds | Last updated: July 13, 2022 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm 119:97–105, ESV Lovingly Walking In God's Word Photo by Frank Busch on unsplash.com Wisdom is not natural, at least not now, in our sin-riddled existence on earth. Wisdom is not to be expected merely through age, experience, talent, money, fame, comfort or even hardship. There is no direct cause-an...

An Uncomfortable Resonation | Matthew 7:22 Milt Reynolds | July 10, 2022 Photo by Nick Fewings on unsplash.com - https://unsplash.com/photos/ka7REB1AJl4 On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?" - Matthew 7:22, ESV I think that I mostly operate day-to-day with a "heart of works". This article by John Piper resonates uncomfortably with me: Proud Works vs. Humble Faith - John Piper, Desiring God Especially during this season of my life, in the circumstances that we are in this week, and probably the next. When I see how little is our progress compared to the long checklist of things to do and resolve, I feel discouraged. When I wake up with little desire to take even the next steps I feel discouraged. Piper's distinction between the self-glorifying "heart of works" and the God-glorifying "heart of faith" is helpful. Bu...

Psalm 39 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: July 9, 2022 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool! I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it. Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of...

Psalm 119:65-72 | Teth Milt Reynolds | Last updated: July 9, 2022 You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. - Psalm 119:65–72, ESV Struggling to Pray Photo by Eric Ward on unsplash.com - https://unsplash.com/photos/akT1bnnuMMk The insolent one points to my feelings of fatigue and weakness, accusing my Creator and Father of dealing poorly with me, insisting that God has not dealt well with me, that God is not good, that God does not do well. God, teach me good judgement a...

Psalm 7 Milt Reynolds | Last updated: June 6, 2022 O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver. O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high. The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! My shield is with God, who saves the upright in...