The Limits of Human Wisdom Ecclesiastes 1:1–18 Everything is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV) Ecclesiastes is a short book; it has only twelve chapters. Yet Ecclesiastes is a high point of the wisdom literature in the sense that it shows the limits of man’s earthbound wisdom, just as Job shows the limits of man’s knowledge. Ecclesiastes…

Knowing God Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10 Knowing God is always knowing God in his relationship to us. Consequently, according to the Bible, knowledge of God takes place only where there is also knowledge of ourselves in…

Always Praising Him Psalm 150:1–6 Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:1 Psalm 150 answers four questions about worship. First question: Where should we praise God? Answer: Everywhere, in heaven and on earth. Second question: Why should we praise God? Answer: Because of everything God is and for all he has done. Third question: How should we…

Blessing Psalm 146:1–10 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Psalm 146:5 (NIV throughout) Verses 5–9 of Psalm 146 form a beatitude, presenting the blessings of God. 1. The Lord is our hope (v. 5). God alone can save us. God saves us from…

Anticipated Blessing Psalm 144:1–15 Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! Psalm 144:15 The final section of Psalm 144 anticipates the blessing the king expects God to give his kingdom after those who are threatening him are defeated. The psalm’s prayer for deliverance is a confident prayer leading to the vision of future…

Walking by Faith Psalm 141:1–10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely. Psalm 141:10 In the last stanza of Psalm 141 (vv. 8–10), David concludes his prayer or, we could say—making the link between prayer and worship—the time of worship ends. The service is now over. We hear the…

The Omniscience of God Psalm 139:1–24 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! Psalm 139:1 Here is what appreciation of the omniscience of God should do for every Christian. 1. It should humble us. I think here of Job, who questioned the troubles he experienced. We might expect God to explain things to…

Forgiveness Psalm 130:1–8 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. Psalm 130:4 Let me mention four things about God’s forgiveness. 1. God’s forgiveness is inclusive. Verse 4 sets no limits on what sins are forgiven. It says, “There is forgiveness,” forgiveness for any sin by anybody. Murder, adultery, lying, stealing, coveting,…

Victory through Suffering Psalm 129:1–8 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows. Psalm 129:3 Psalm 129:1–3 describes Jesus, the Messiah, as well as the Jews from whom he came. Jesus was beaten literally. Like Israel, Jesus might well have said, “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth.” Jesus would certainly…

Our Help Psalm1 24:1–8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 The final verse of Psalm 124 is an echo of Psalm 121:2. Similar verses occur throughout the psalms, and many worship services have begun with these words or others like them. Job Orton (1717–1783) reported…