Dignoscentia

This psalm introduces two themes, one of which is already well known to most people. It is this: “… when he dies, he will take nothing with him, his wealth will not go down with him.” (verse 17) The second, stated in both verses 12 and 20, is this: “In prosperity people lose their good [...]

De multe ori incercam sa ne amestecam in activitati sau actiuni care consideram ca sunt tocmai potrivite pentru acel moment din viata noastra, incercand sa ne supraapreciem puterea si capacitatile. Nu de putine ori suntem respinsi si tare ne mai miram cum de ni s-a putut intampla tocmai noua asa ceva.
Aceeasi greseala am repetat-o si [...]

I look at this psalm as a lesson in how not to pray. I find the tone not very humble, and the accusations brought before God untrue. The author is clearly upset. While blaming God may make him feel better short-term, it isn’t going to help long-term.
You see, God never goes back on His promises. [...]

The man in this psalm is stressed, and at the point of despair. He’s got desires, and he’s been praying to God about them. He’s secretly nursed anger in his heart toward the “sinners” and their “prosperity”: “my heart had been smouldering within me.” Yet, God doesn’t seem to want to help him, and the [...]

The person described here is in physical and mental anguish. He is a sick man, deserted by all, and, he fears, also by God. What is he to do, but to pray? He may or may not have been a believer, and he describes what he has done to get himself into the trouble he’s [...]

I wrote about this psalm yesterday, and today, I want to develop another idea found in it. The upright are defined in all sorts of ways in this psalm, and they’re exhorted to “do good”, or to “do right”. The thing is, how do we know when we’re doing right or wrong? Do we have [...]

You’ve heard of common sense, right? Well, this psalm encourages us to have a little God-sense. It helps us see things the right way, from God’s perspective. Worried that the wicked are doing too well? Don’t be - they’ll soon be gone. That’s the gist of this psalm. I think it should be required reading [...]