All The Difference

Psalm 131 describes the humility & peace of one who has learned all the lessons on this journey to worship. 133 details the blessing of bonding in God's community of brothers – something surely accentuated by the journey and a reminder needed in the press of Jerusalem. 134 finishes the song cycle with a blessing on servanthood, seemingly as both a profession and lifestyle.

Psalm 131 describes the humility & peace of one who has learned all the lessons on this journey to worship. 133 details the blessing of bonding in God's community of brothers – something surely accentuated by the journey and a reminder needed in the press of Jerusalem. 134 finishes the song cycle with a blessing on servanthood, seemingly as both a profession and lifestyle. Take these short songs together with the twin emphases of 132 (that worship is possible because of God's revelation & that the Messiah will reign) and we see that the final songs reach a crescendo of praise through a counter-intuitive method.

This may have been a song sung as one walked through the mikveh before entering the Temple gates. Its amazing message is that God saves those who don't deserve it. Hope is found only in Him.

This may have been a song sung as one walked through the mikveh before entering the Temple gates. Its amazing message is that God saves those who don't deserve it. Hope is found only in Him.

These two psalms are dominated by four great thoughts of national worship: 1. Israel has been persecuted but will always be freed by God. 2. Those who curse Israel will be cursed. 3. Worship is possible because of God's revelation through Israel. 4. The Messiah will reign over Israel as promised.

These two psalms are dominated by four great thoughts of national worship: 1. Israel has been persecuted but will always be freed by God. 2. Those who curse Israel will be cursed. 3. Worship is possible because of God's revelation through Israel. 4. The Messiah will reign over Israel as promised.

The most intriguing question is whether Psalm 127 was written by Solomon or whether some chronicler was commenting on the king's life. Regardless of the answer, these two songs work together to show that the member of God's community does not craft his own security.

The most intriguing question is whether Psalm 127 was written by Solomon or whether some chronicler was commenting on the king's life. Regardless of the answer, these two songs work together to show that the member of God's community does not craft his own security.

Unlike the stock market, God's past performance does guarantee future results. This leads to a lifestyle of joy (mentioned 4x in the psalm) – even in difficult days. The NIV displays the quatrain arrangement better, and shows the two great divisions of the song into what God has done and what we need Him to do. Verses 1-3 deal with God's restoration work, and verses 4-6 describes the continual need for restoration.

Unlike the stock market, God's past performance does guarantee future results. This leads to a lifestyle of joy (mentioned 4x in the psalm) – even in difficult days. The NIV displays the quatrain arrangement better, and shows the two great divisions of the song into what God has done and what we need Him to do. Verses 1-3 deal with God's restoration work, and verses 4-6 describes the continual need for restoration.

Again the rising up theme is emphasized in lifting of eyes. 123 begins with a recitation of God's graciousness and ends with a call for mercy because His people are being laughed at. Mercy is their need and desire. 125 adds the justice aspect of the theme. In the opening two verses, God's people praise that because of Hid presence they are solid no matter the circumstances. Further, this presence of protection is eternal. The final two verses are a call for justice that rings out similarly to the cry for mercy in 123.

Again the rising up theme is emphasized in lifting of eyes. 123 begins with a recitation of God's graciousness and ends with a call for mercy because His people are being laughed at. Mercy is their need and desire. 125 adds the justice aspect of the theme. In the opening two verses, God's people praise that because of Hid presence they are solid no matter the circumstances. Further, this presence of protection is eternal. The final two verses are a call for justice that rings out similarly to the cry for mercy in 123.

The psalmist is awash with emotion as he arrives at the edge of the place of worship. In his exultation, he shows a zeal for giving honor to God. He also shows the sense of joy we find in place familiarity and tradition. However, he recognizes eternal truths as yet unseen – coming judgment – and this reality prevents traditionalism from reducing his worship to rote function. He closes with a call to prayer for the place of worship and its environs. Obviously, this applies to Jerusalem, yet a broader application is in order since all peoples are affected by the peace of places of YHWH worship.

The psalmist is awash with emotion as he arrives at the edge of the place of worship. In his exultation, he shows a zeal for giving honor to God. He also shows the sense of joy we find in place familiarity and tradition. However, he recognizes eternal truths as yet unseen – coming judgment – and this reality prevents traditionalism from reducing his worship to rote function. He closes with a call to prayer for the place of worship and its environs. Obviously, this applies to Jerusalem, yet a broader application is in order since all peoples are affected by the peace of places of YHWH worship.

This song, clearly intended to be sung like a football chant at a world cup game, introduces the Lord of Freedom. God removes His people from all snares and traps and has the power to keep them free.

God is always the keeper and guardian of the covenant community and its members. He answers prayers (120:1), even for those sullied by their own sin (120:2-4) and their world environment (120:5-7). The God of Protection should be our focus (121:1), as: He created all (121:2), cares about details of our journey (121:3,8), is always on duty (121:4), is knowable through Israel's history (121:4), watches over His people in covenant (121:5), protects from world system & spiritual enemies (121:6-7), and does all this forever (121:8).

God is always the keeper and guardian of the covenant community and its members. He answers prayers (120:1), even for those sullied by their own sin (120:2-4) and their world environment (120:5-7). The God of Protection should be our focus (121:1), as: He created all (121:2), cares about details of our journey (121:3,8), is always on duty (121:4), is knowable through Israel's history (121:4), watches over His people in covenant (121:5), protects from world system & spiritual enemies (121:6-7), and does all this forever (121:8).

Daniel proves useful even to the conquering Medo-Persians. Once again, the political climate of factionalism sets Daniel up to be removed through the only avenue possible – his refusal of idolatry. He is unassailable via any other line of attack. Once again, God rescues Daniel though again, that is not the big idea in the story. The great point is that God is The Living God and is recognized as such because of Daniel's trust in Him. One feels certain that truth would have been emphasized even if – like so many other prophets – Daniel had been killed. The text purposefully ties Daniel and his stand to the overlordship of Persian Cyrus the Great. This is telling because Cyrus was throughout Persian history referred to as "the great king." Obviously, The Living God is greater, as even Cyrus' general/forerunner Darius notes God's kingdom is forever. The ending also leaves the tantalizing possibility that Daniel may have influenced the momentous edict of Cyrus that fulfilled Jeremiah's prophecy and allowed the Jew

Daniel proves useful even to the conquering Medo-Persians. Once again, the political climate of factionalism sets Daniel up to be removed through the only avenue possible – his refusal of idolatry. He is unassailable via any other line of attack. Once again, God rescues Daniel though again, that is not the big idea in the story. The great point is that God is The Living God and is recognized as such because of Daniel's trust in Him. One feels certain that truth would have been emphasized even if – like so many other prophets – Daniel had been killed. The text purposefully ties Daniel and his stand to the overlordship of Persian Cyrus the Great. This is telling because Cyrus was throughout Persian history referred to as "the great king." Obviously, The Living God is greater, as even Cyrus' general/forerunner Darius notes God's kingdom is forever. The ending also leaves the tantalizing possibility that Daniel may have influenced the momentous edict of Cyrus that fulfilled Jeremiah's prophecy and allowed the Jew