April 25 - Psalms 76;
82; 84; 90; 92; 112; 115
Today’s
psalms all share a theme of praise and worship of God.
The
locations of Salem and Zion show up a couple of times – both of these refer to
Jerusalem. Psalm 84 mentions the Valley of Baca. This was apparently a place
people had to travel through on the way to Jerusalem. Baca means
‘tears,
or ‘balsam tree’. This rare tree was known as the balm of Gilead, and grew near
the Dead Sea. It is now extinct, but it had a really sweet smelling resin and
was used to produce perfumes, incense, and medical ointments. No one knows where the actual Valley of Baca
was located, but it has been used as a metaphor describing when God is present
and can provide strength and comfort (balm) for the struggles and hardships
(tears) of life.
There
are a few familiar verses in today’s text:
Ps
90:12 – “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom,” and
Ps
92:4b – “I sing for joy at the works of your hands.”
TOMORROW’S
TEXT: Psalms 8-9; 16; 21; 24; 29
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