David Bahn – Reflections

Psalm 134

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

My daily devotional practice is to work through a book of the Bible in a manner suggested by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His advise is to take 10 to 15 verses and meditate on them for a week at a time. That’s why you will usually find me parked in a single chapter or in the same set of verses over a week’s time. My blog is my own personal means of reflecting on these verses. If you manage to get anything from these posts all glory belongs to God. For while I am conscious that others might read them, I take on those things which grab my attention.

Occasionally, however, (and especially on Sundays) I will take a different tact: I will read five Psalms based on the day of the month. Today being the fourteenth of the month, I read Psalms 14; 44; 74; 104; and 134. Take the day of the month read the Psalm with that number, add 30 to that number (14 + 30 = 44), add 30 to that number (44 + 30 = 74), etc. There are 150 Psalms which means that in a month’s time you will read through the entire Psalter. (One caveat: Psalm 119 is very long. I’ll usually skip that when it comes up and read it (only) on the 31st of the month. You might not choose to do that, but it works for me!)

In this process you will encounter a wide range of emotions and spiritual attitudes and postures. Sometimes the Psalmist (usually David, but not always) is filled with praise and glory to God. Other times he is nearly despondent – seemingly despairing of God’s goodness. The Psalms are a wonderfully honest book! Grit and grace side by side. You will likely be able to find in the Psalms some manner in which your attitude or heart’s yearning is expressed.

Those I have chosen today lean decidedly toward praise to God. But if you look at the whole Psalm, you will discover some angst, righteous anger, near-despair, as well as joy and sincere prayers for God’s help and blessing. I love the Psalms, I commend you to their guidance!

Psalm 44:1-3

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:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 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.

Psalm 74:1-2

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.

Psalm 104:24 

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 134

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.