Author: Aaron Hufty

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 77:1-20 (day two)

 I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. V. 11

This is the pivot verse of Psalm 77. This is the moment after the psalmist has drained himself of all the things weighing on his heart and mind; and he takes a breath, and remembers. This is such a beautiful and instructional model for our prayers. It is a reminder to talk honestly with the Lord, even when it is uncomfortable. Hold nothing back, empty yourself of your hurt, your fear, your anger, and frustration so there is nothing left except to remember. When your mind and heart are not clouded by the obstacle in front of you, you can look back at the unfailing mercy and goodness of our Lord. I’m not sure we get to this point enough. Either we aren’t being honest with ourselves, and therefore, the Lord, or we are afraid to be that vulnerable. His goodness is patient, but he wants all of you. Empty yourself and remember.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 113:1-9 (day two)

 From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. v. 3

Last week we looked at the mandate to sing, to worship, to praise the Lord. No one is exempt; we are all created to worship the Lord. This week’s passage makes it seem like we get to do nothing else. Even for a musician like me, that seems like a daunting task. What can this possibly mean? Are we supposed to sit in church singing all day every day? I would love to say the answer to that is yes; however, I think it is much more than just singing. How we live our lives is a reflection of our love, devotion, and worship of God. We are to consider every moment as an opportunity to reflect the nature of our creator to the world. That is no less a daunting task than sitting and singing all day, but it certainly gets us out of the pew! A friend recently sent me this passage from Brother Lawrence that I think applies to our reading of Psalm 113:

Simply living and moving in His presence is an acceptable sacrifice.
There is nowhere He is not, no darkness He has not already sounded, nowhere I can go outside His presence.
I may simply live there, be there… and if I don’t know what to say, I can turn the dirt of my garden, I can breathe in and out, I can make breakfast.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 96:1-13 (day two) 

Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth. v. 1

Well, this may come as a shock to you, but I love this psalm! Notice the qualifications for singing listed in this first verse. College degree in music, in the choir, can read music, good soloist, can hit the high notes, has a good voice, knows the song

NOPE

All these reasons (read excuses) I hear on a regular basis. There is a cultural bias that continues in our churches that suggests some can sing and some cannot. Let’s face it, some people are better singers than others. That is a fact. There, however, is not a hierarchy in worship of who can and who cannot participate in praise. This psalm and others declare the only qualification necessary is breath in your lungs. You are alive, therefore you must sing. This isn’t a suggestion, it’s not a talent show, it is a mandate from the Lord. This is one of the ways we were created to glorify our creator. My hope and prayer is that we can continue to support an attitude of worship that encourages abandon. Just sing.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 119:1–16 (day two) 

Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes! v. 5

The beginning of this epic psalm is daunting. From a casual reading it seems there are individuals who are walking perfectly in righteousness! That is enough to make any believer feel inadequate. I don’t think that is the intention of this psalm. Rather, I believe that it serves as a reminder to continually calibrate our lives toward the work and will of God. The psalmist had the law as the guidepost for how to live. We not only have the Word, but also the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Whereas the goal is to live a perfect life, the reality is we need a plumb line to show us what we are striving for; and perhaps even more importantly, how to realign when we stray off center. Take comfort in the knowledge that you are not being held to a standard without grace and without a way to recalibrate.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 62:1-12 (day two)

 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. V. 2

This psalm is filled with images of God as a strong fortress and tower. If we put our faith and trust in the Lord, we can rest securely in the knowledge that we are under his care and protection. These pictures are a great comfort and remind us of that which is immovable. There is a distinct contrast given at the end of verse three. When our trust and faith is established in anything other than the Lord, it is…

Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? V. 3b

People will try to convince you that people, institutions, ideologies are solid and trustworthy; but in the end they will result in an unstable grasp of reality. God alone provides the stability and strength that we need. May this be a reminder to all of us that no matter how shiny and new a way of thinking may be, if it is not rooted in God, it is a tottering fence.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 37:1-40 (day two)

Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
² For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb. V. 1-2

The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

…while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

There is a reality to living in a fallen world that sees others seemingly succeed at the cost of what is good, true, and beautiful. We see unscrupulous people win, get ahead, and live happy lives. This can be discouraging. That this can happen is a reality. We see it in almost every facet of life, even churches. It does reveal something about the believer as well. Where is your focus. I am less likely to be distracted by what other people get, do, or win if I’m not focused on them. The world is not the source of fulfillment or true happiness, and those who put their trust in those things will ultimately receive what they provide. Emptiness. If you find yourself in a state of mind that is discouraged by the world, take a breath and lift your eyes to the only one who can give you life.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 16:1-11 (day two) 

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 51:1–19 (day two)

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. V. 7

Psalm 51 is incredible. You have likely heard it quoted on multiple occasions, and perhaps recited a few lines yourself. It not only reminds us that we are all broken sinners, but it also tells us that God can and will forgive us from that sin; AND he will continue to use us for his grand purpose. What struck me on my re-reading of this text today was the use of hyssop. Hyssop is a medicinal plant by itself, but has played a much more important role throughout scripture beyond physical healing. David’s reference in Psalm 51 is the use of the plant in a cleansing ritual to remove sin. Because it has a natural ability to absorb liquid, it serves some other purposes as well. Moses used it as a paint brush to paint the doorposts with lamb’s blood in order for the homes of the Israelites to be passed over. This creates a direct connection with Jesus as he is offered vinegar that has been dipped in hyssop. The sacrificed lamb whose blood painted the doorposts is now the sacrifice for all. We no longer need a plant to cleanse us from sin. Jesus’ sacrifice has made that ritual unnecessary. As we approach Holy Week, let us be thankful for God’s continual desire to cleanse us from sin. Let us be grateful for our ability to access that forgiveness, and may we live in a desire to share that forgiveness with others.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 19:1-14 (day two)

There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. V. 3

The language in the psalm is so descriptive that, at first glance, it seems to contradict itself. Depending on your translation, the opening verse states the heavens are telling, declaring, proclaiming. There is a lot of “talking” going on in this verse. It immediately takes a turn to say there is no speech or words. As a kid, I struggled with this verse, and as a professional choral musician I sometimes stumbled when I got to it because, words matter! Professional pride aside, when I examine what I know about myself, I find this verse to be on point. The music of creation is wordless, indeed. When I find myself riding my bike through the greenways of San Antonio during Spring, I am filled with wonder. Nothing need be said; creation declares its creator in a way that words never could. If a picture paints a thousand words, creation is a lexicon in itself. I have found this verse to be true over and over again. When I quiet my heart and marvel at the world God has made, I am refreshed, renewed, and reminded of our incredible Lord. So, as a child of God, created AND redeemed by Jesus, how should our bearing radiate that kind of declaration?

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 14:1-7 (day two)

The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God. v. 2

Isn’t it a wonder that God has given to us a curious nature, and a mind that seeks to understand the world? It is this curious nature that often moves the needle of our knowledge of the cosmos, and it is that nature which gets us into theological conundrums. It seems the more we know, the less we rely on God. Let’s be clear, God didn’t make a mistake when he gave us all a sense of wonder. He does ask us to acknowledge him in our limitations, our lack of understanding, and even in the things we do understand. The more we know should not diminish our dependence on God; rather it should reveal to us more of his incredible grace and mercy. Verse two tells us God is searching for those who are humble in their wisdom. May we always seek knowledge and understanding, and may we never cease to marvel at God’s supreme authority.