May 7 Read Psalm 92:1-6

Are we happy to sing praises to our most glorious God in the church service? Or do we merely pay lip service to that part of worship? This is a question that we must face for ourselves and our families. Singing is a part of the worship service in which the congregation takes an active part. It is the part in which we give thanks unto our God for all that he has done for us. How do we sing-with our whole being or barely at all? Are we fools or brutish men? If we are, we have nothing to sing about because we would not know God’s works and thoughts. Let us sing, and let us sing with joy! Sing Psalter 250.

May 8 Read Psalm 92:7-15

Yesterday, the last verse was the transition into the end of this Psalm. Here we see the contrast of God’s people and his enemies. Where we are on Sunday describes who we are. Are we trees in the house of God, or are we bringing forth some other fruit in some other place? We have a glorious heritage in our Rock. Let us proclaim it in his house Sunday after Sunday. Sing Psalter 251.

May 9 Read Psalm 93

In this Psalm we see several of God’s attributes. These attributes not only help us to know him, but they also give to us a reason for trust when the storms of this life beat upon us. Those storms are not mere “tempests in a teapot”; they can be raging storms which control our lives for a long time. They are the blasts of Satan trying to dislodge us from our anchor that is mightier than any storm. Because God is everlasting, we can resist with confidence all of Satan’s storms against us. Sing Psalter 253.

May 10 Read Psalm 94:1-11

Notice the Psalmist’s train of thought in this imprecatory Psalm. First of all, he gives to God the title of one to whom vengeance belongs. He calls upon God to see what is happening to his people on the earth. Then the Psalmist enumerates those things. Next, he portrays the thoughts of the wicked about God. Then he addresses those wicked about who God is. Do we think that God does not see or hear what we do? If we do, we are no better than the wicked described here. God knows our thoughts. That, alone, should be enough to cause us to walk in his way. Sing Psalter 254:1-6.

May 11 Read Psalm 94:12-23

To conclude this Psalm the unknown writer shows that the man chastened by God is blessed. By chastening his people, God brings them in the right way of his law. When we walk in that law, we will know that he will uphold us in all adversity. By knowing that God will not leave his people to wallow in sin, we can be comforted knowing that he is our defense and our refuge. We also do not need to be envious of the way of the wicked, for that way will lead to everlasting destruction. We know that we have an advocate to defend us, and knowing this let us truly be happy. Sing Psalter 254:7-12.

May 12 Read Psalm 95

Look at verses 1, 2, and 6 once more. Here we are called to worship our God. We are called to worship by way of our singing. Think of the various types of music to which we listen. Some of it is enjoyable but does not call us to worship. Others may be enjoyable but is profane and not fit for the child of God. Then there is the music that is conducive for worship. We sing in this way because our God is great. This is why we sing and sing the proper music. We are also called to worship because God is our God. If we do not worship, we will fall into the sins of Israel of old. Let us worship to prepare for the eternal day of worship in heaven. Sing Psalter 256.

May 13 Read Psalm 96

Here we have another Psalm calling us to worship our covenant God. Notice the number of times that the word LORD is used. That use can be read and understood as Jehovah, the I am that I am. Once again in worship we are called to sing. But we are also called to spread the good news of salvation among all kinds of people. Do we daily worship in this way? What is the ultimate goal of our worship? We worship because Jehovah comes in judgment. Will we be ready to bow the knee before Christ at that time? Sing Psalter 258.

May 14 Read Psalm 97

Our God is a majestic God, of that there is no doubt. Look at the various ways he is described in this Psalm. This is the God that we must worship. This Psalm is a companion to the ones that come before it. The last verse gives to us the call to worship. We are to rejoice for all the good that God has done for us and especially for giving to us his Son that we may appear righteous before him. We must pray in order to give thanks for his holiness into which we must desire to enter. It is in that holiness that we can worship Jehovah who is high above the earth. Sing Psalter 260.

May 15 Read Psalm 98

As we continue with this section of the Psalms that call us to praise Jehovah, let us look at his goodness toward his people. In the old dispensation his people were those of the nation of Israel. We need to know the history of that nation in order that we can know God’s goodness to them but also to us. Today his people are those taken from every nation and tongue. Which of us cannot but cry out, “O God how good Thou Art!” He has shown his goodness to us in many ways. Of course, the highest form of that goodness is our salvation. Let us look at the world around us and see Jehovah’s goodness and praise him from whom all blessings flow. Sing Psalter 261.

May 16 Read Psalm 99

Notice the repeated word holy throughout this Psalm. Not only does the Psalm use the word holy, but it also demonstrates the holiness of our covenant God. This is an attribute of God to which we must always pay attention. We must worship him in the beauty of holiness. We must be holy because he is holy. The hymn “Take Time to Be Holy” really has it incorrect. We must be holy always before our thrice-holy God. We must strive to be holy in all that we do knowing that the whole earth is his temple. We must never put anyone else or anything else before God because he alone is perfectly holy. Sing Psalter 265.

May 17 Read Psalm 100

This well-known Psalm admonishes us to praise Jehovah through the use of singing. Five times in this short Psalm we are told to praise God through this means. While our catechism tells us that prayer is the chief means of thankfulness, singing is a means as well. In fact many of the Psalms that we sing are prayers. We sing because we thank the God that has made us and has given to us salvation. He is good, and his mercy will be upon us forever. Let us not ignore this way of worshiping God, and let us sing with our whole being. Sing Psalter 270.

May 18 Read Psalm 101

After David states that he will sing of God’s attributes of mercy and judgment, he states that he will behave himself wisely. Parents use that term behave often to their children. But adults must behave as well. After stating that he will behave, David enumerates the ways in which he will behave properly before Jehovah. Read through verses 2-8 once more. Are these what we do? Do we walk this way in the church and in the world in which God has placed us? Let us behave ourselves wisely and in that way glorify our God. Sing Psalter 271.

May 19 Read Psalm 102:1-11

There are times that the child of God believes that he is without hope. Such was the feeling of the Psalmist as he penned this Psalm. The writer turns to the only help that he has or that we have when we are overwhelmed by such concerns. We must go unto God because he is our help and our shield. We need to go to our knees in prayer for deliverance from any feelings of distress in our lives. When we pray like this, we can have the confidence that Jehovah will hear us and will care for us. Sing Psalter 272.

May 20 Read Psalm 102:12-22

Even when we are seemingly without hope, we can turn to our covenant sovereign God. Many times in the Psalms we see this phenomenon. A child of God is suffering all sorts of calamities, but he is brought to realization that the sovereign God loves him. God’s sovereignty will sustain us through all and any difficulties. This must be our hope, and this must be that which holds us even as a mother holds her baby away from all danger. Because God is in control, we know “that all things work together for good.” Let this be our confidence every day. Sing Psalter 273.

May 21 Read Psalm 102:23-28

There are times in our lives when we must confess that God has weakened our strength. God does this so that we turn our attention to him and away from our activities and ourselves. We need this so that his name might be glorified in our lives. When this is done, then we, like the Psalmist, can confess that Jehovah is the sovereign God of the covenant. He forces us to our knees to say Jehovah is God alone. We must learn to trust only in our sovereign God. When we do, we will find meaning in this life and hope in the life to come. Sing Psalter 276.

May 22 Read Psalm 103:1-7

The word bless means to speak well of someone. We might be inclined to say that God does not need our blessing; we need his blessing. When we speak well of a king such as Jacob did when he went to Egypt, we show proper honor to that authority. When we bless Jehovah, we show proper honor to the supreme authority, the Lord of heaven and earth. The Psalmist goes on to show why Jehovah should be blessed. He starts out with the forgiveness of sin. We can only bless him when we can approach him as those washed in the blood of the Lamb. We also approach him as the one who sustains our lives with all things. We need to bless him daily as he cares for the church of all ages. Sing Psalter 278.

May 23 Read Psalm 103:8-14

What a comfort verse 14 is! Our covenant God knows us! He knows all about us; he knows that we are from the dust and to the dust we will return. He knows this because he has created us. He also knows that we are sinners who deserve destruction at his throne of judgement. But not only is he a just God, he is a merciful God who has removed those sins from us as far away as possible. He has done that; we have done nothing to deserve such mercy. This mercy is like that of a father who comforts his children with a big embrace. He does that because we are his children. Let us be thankful for a merciful father who knows all about us. Sing Psalter 278.

May 24 Read Psalm 103:15-22

After speaking of God’s covenant faithfulness and his eternity, the Psalmist contrasts that with man’s frailty. Man is on this earth but for a short time, but there is another life. For those to whom God shows his mercy, that time will be spent in heaven. There is a work that man must do while waiting for the reward Christ has obtained for him. Man must keep the covenant and walk in God’s commandments as a way of thankfulness for that great mercy. For this gift we must bless our creator and redeemer. Let us constantly bless Jehovah. Sing Psalter 282.

May 25 Read Psalm 104:1-9

Here we see other reasons for which we must bless Jehovah. This portion of Scripture enumerates ways in which our God is great. He is great in his creation of the heavens and the earth. As we walk outside, we cannot but confess the greatness of God. It is hard to understand those which would say that this world was constructed by chance. But then we must see that our understanding only comes by the faith described in Hebrews 11. We also know that in the great flood God exhibited his greatness to Noah but also to us. As we see so-called catastrophes in this world, we must know that our God is great and he will care for his people. Sing Psalter 285.

May 26 Read Psalm 104:10-18

God not only has created this world, but he also continues to give it existence by his acts of providence. We must not be deists who say that God created and then leaves the world to its own devices. We must not be like those who see a catastrophe such as an earthquake, a tornado, or a tsunami and say that God had no part in that. Each movement of each molecule is controlled by his hand. This control is not only for his glory but also the good of his covenant people. Do we confess this, people of God? We need to seek this understanding each time we step outside. Sing Psalter 286.

May 27 Read Psalm 104:19-30

Here we see a continuation of that enumeration of the roll call of God’s providential care for his creation. In that creation man must work. Adam was called to work in the garden. After the fall Adam and his posterity were called to work. The work was different since sin has brought God’s curse upon this earth. We are called to work by the sweat of our brow no matter what calling God has given to us. We must not rebel and not work. We must not rebel and work lazily. We must work hard as this is our portion in this life. In our work we must live a life of thankfulness. Let us pray for that grace to do our work to God’s glory day by day. Sing Psalter 287.

May 28 Read Psalm 104:31-35

In comparison to any glory that we enjoy in this creation or even in our work, is the glory of God. That glory is far greater than any thing we can experience on this earth. His glory is forever. He can just look on the earth, can just touch the earth, and it will be greatly moved. When we confess that it is God’s hand that moves this earth, then we will pray and we will break forth into singing for his greatness. We will be glad for the salvation that has saved us from the end of the wicked. Then we will speak well of Jehovah and praise him every day. Sing Psalter 288.

May 29 Read Psalm 105:1-15

This Psalm is another nationalistic Psalm. Now, the idea of nationalism is somewhat different than we use the word in today’s world. Israel could be nationalistic because God was their God, and they were his people. Do we carry out the 10 commands found in the first 5 verses? Do we remember the works of our God and daily praise him for them? As we follow Israel’s journey through the wilderness, we must remember that it is an illustration of our journey through the wilderness of this world. Let us glory in the God of our salvation as we walk in his Spirit-led ways. Sing Psalter 289:1-7.

May 30 Read Psalm 105:16-25

As we read through the history of Israel from Abraham to Saul, we must be impressed with the path on which God led them. We must see his sovereignty in all these things. Look at verse 25 once more. We might want to ask the question, “Why would a loving God make someone hate his chosen people?” In asking the question, we have already given the answer. He has done this precisely because he is a loving God. We must, however, go on to the next question. “Why would God sacrifice his own son?” The answer is simply: he loves us. Sing Psalter 289:8-13.

May 31 Read Psalm 105:26-45

As we read through this history once again, we must notice that it is God that decreed and carried out these acts. At the end of the section, we find out the reason for these acts. First of all we see that he remembered his promise to Abraham. God never forgets. It is not possible for him to do so. Secondly, all these events happened so that his people might remember his holy name and keep his laws. Do we? Sing Psalter 289:14-19.

June 1 Read Psalm 106:1-12

Here we have another nationalistic Psalm like the previous one and like Psalm 78. Scholars are unsure of the time period in which it was written, but many think that it was written during a time of some calamity. We do well to pay heed to the words as we seek Jehovah’s guidance through our sojourn here on this earth. It is obviously a prayer for forgiveness and help. It starts out with praise for the goodness that God has shown his people and for the salvation that has been afforded to them. Do we think to sing his praises when he delivers us from troubles even as he delivered Israel from Egypt? Sing Psalter 290:1-5.

June 2 Read Psalm 106:13-23

Even after all the great works God had done for Israel in Egypt, they rebelled against the most high. Are we any better? Do we forget the wonderful things that God has done for us, especially the most wonderful work of all, our salvation? We, too, complain about the seemingly sparseness in our lives and wish for more of this world’s comforts and pleasures. Have we forgotten that this world is not our home, and we are but strangers and pilgrims here? If we do, we like Israel deserve God’s wrath. But we, like them, have a mediator. Our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Moses was a type, stands between us and God. By his blood we are redeemed and will one day enter the Canaan of heaven. Sing Psalter 290: 6-11.

June 3 Read Psalm 106:34-48

After describing Israel’s sins in Egypt and in the wilderness, the Psalmist goes on to give an account of their sins in the Promised Land. And then we have verse 44. Notice how it starts. After all the sins committed by Israel, God still remembers them. Why? Not for what that had done, but for the covenant of grace which he had established with them in Abraham. This is a comforting thought and one that should spur us on to walk in the way of that covenant. We need to pray the prayer of the last two verses of this Psalm. And we need to do it daily. Sing Psalter 291.

June 4 Read Psalm 107:1-16

Once more we see an accounting of Israel’s historical acts. Once again we see the covenant faithfulness of God in spite of those sinful acts. Notice how the Psalm starts. We are called to give thanks to God because he is good and is a merciful God. How many times have we tasted of that mercy? Do we give thanks? Secondly notice the words of verses 8 and 15. We give thanks by praising him. Here we see the reason for thanks is the works that he has done for us. They are merciful works but they are providential works that lead us on the path to glory. Let us give praise and thanksgiving to our covenant God for all that he has done for us. Sing Psalter 292.

June 5 Read Psalm 107:16-32

We not only see Jehovah’s covenant goodness in our lives, but we also see it all around us. When we are in trouble because of our sins, he comes to us and lifts us out of the mire into which we are sinking. Throughout the world of nature we can see that same faithfulness evidenced by his works of providence in that creation. Once again we find the same refrain in verses 21 and 31. In verse 32 we are called to exalt God in the church and with the congregation. Do we think about that as we prepare for the Lord’s Day? Do we enter into the house of God determined to lift our voices in thanksgiving to our most gracious God? Sing Psalter 294.

June 6 Read Psalm 107:33-43

When Israel was brought into Canaan, they were given a land ready for them to inhabit. They did no work for it, and they did not have to rely on their own strength to drive the wicked out of it. In fact, they could not rely on their own strength, as it was not sufficient for the task. We, too, are going to be given a land for which we did not work. Our place in heaven is given to us only through the Joshua who is the Son of God. He vanquished our foes by his sacrifice for us on the altar of the cross. We must observe these things, and then we will understand God’s lovingkindness toward us. Thanks be to him for such a gift! Sing Psalter 295.