O God! Create in me….. (Please read Psalm 51) - Day 2

Just as there are different genres of music – inspirational (Gospel), classical, contemporary etc. – there are genres or types of psalms. The three major genres of psalms are Thanksgiving, Lament, and Praise Psalms. Even among these three genres are other sub-genres, and I will address those sub-genres after Easter.

Psalm 51 is a Lament Psalm. In a Lament Psalm, the psalmist is full of emotion and expresses desperation, hurt, sadness, fear, abandonment, etc.  He is desolate yet pours out his heart to the only One who is there for him- God. The interesting fact is the sixty odd Lament Psalms (almost*) always end in thanksgiving because the expressive and emotional psalmist (re)turns to God, trusts Him and praises Him.

My three favorite psalms are 103, 91, and 121. I read them quite often – more than any other chapter or text in the Bible. The fourth favorite is Psalm 51. Along with Isaiah 43 (especially verses 1-5), Psalm 51 helps and comforts me in my temptations and sinful state. Also, during those times when I can’t express my sin/guilt in my own words, Psalm 51 helps me.

So what is great about this Psalm? When I read it, I am comforted by this thought - if God can ‘blot out the transgressions David, thoroughly wash his iniquities, and cleanse David’s sins in His abundant mercy’ (V.1-2), God will, in His grace, mercy and kindness, do the same for me. He will also ‘create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me’ (v. 10) when I humbly approach Him. (I am not saying God should forgive me because He forgave David – also, you and I do not deserve His grace or mercy.) The ultimate comfort is that the One True God, who created the universe, and me, can recreate my heart and renew my spirit if I humbly ask him.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you must have experienced, in your walk of the narrow way, hurt and heartache. During those times how did God’s Word comfort you?  Please email (for confidentiality) or post (1) the verses or psalms that edify God’s grace and mercy and provide you comfort, and (2) your favorite psalms. 

God of all Mercy, God of All Grace: as 1 John 1:8 teaches me I am a sinner, and I have sinned against you and have done evil in your sight. Yet I trust you because you are a Merciful God, full of Grace, and because You listen to my feeble pleas and confessions.  I humbly ask in Your Son’s Name, Amen.

More on Psalm 51 tomorrow.

* Based on my research, Psalm 88, a Lament Psalm, does not end in thanksgiving.

One word means much - but hey that's our God! Day 6

Just one Hebrew word- Nahal*

He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2

Joseph Henry Gilmore was born into a wealthy family. His father Joseph Albree Gilmore had a grocery business, was an American railroad superintendent and served as the governor of New Hampshire from 1863 to 1865.

Joseph, the son, was also an accomplished man. He attended the prestigious Phillips-Andover Academy,** one of the best schools in the country. Later he received both his BA and MA from Brown. After that studied at Newton Theological Institution. First he served as a Baptist Pastor. Later he was the private secretary for his father who was serving as governor. He also worked as the editor of the Daily Monitor in Concord, NH. After all of this, he served one year as professor of Hebrew at Rochester Theological Seminary and then for forty years he served as the professor of rhetoric, logic and English at the University of Rochester.  The University’s English Department has an English Chair named in his honor.

Joseph is well-remembered for his work at Rochester but people all over the world sing a hymn that he hurriedly wrote when he was 28. He is a giant in the educational and literary circles but his hymn is well received and sung by millions and millions and is hymn of great comfort. Joseph wrote six books in Hebrew and English but it is his single hymn that brought him fame.

It was never Joseph’s intention to write a hymn. One day he preached on Psalm 23 and then he scribbled some lines on the blessedness of God’s leading because of the turmoil of the US civil war. Later he gave the writings to his wife. Without telling her husband, Mrs. Gilmore sent the writings to a magazine. Three years later when Joseph went to guest preach in a church he was surprised to see his hurried writings in a hymnal.

Another instance of God taking something simple and blessing it to be great!

Here it is -        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXeCQgOlx4Q

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neplpB2ZScU

Thank you God for holding my hand and leading me all the time in all turmoil, trials and tribulations. Amen.

* Nahal (Hebrew) usage – to lead, give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place, cause to rest, bring to a place of rest, guide, refresh (ALL THAT GOD DOES FOR US)

** List of some alumni (note the names Bush and Kennedy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Phillips_Academy_alumni