Psalm 21: Strength, power and judgement

 

Day 21, Psalm 21

Here we read of the strength, power and might of our Creator.  Within all of us is strength.  Do we give thanks for that blessing? Do we use that strength for good?  This Psalm has great confidence in the Divine.  Today we know so much more about the order and structure of the universe. For some, this erases the need for the Divine.  For others, it is a testament to the might and power of God.  Where is your faith?

What do we need to see our own strength?  How do we ensure that our strength does not overwhelm our judgement?

Psalm 20: What do you need to hear today?

 Day 20, Psalm 20

Another prayer is found today. “O ETERNAL One, grant victory to the king; may [God] answer us when we call.”  In my life, there are many moments when the content of my prayer is far less important than the desire for connection itself.  I pray not only the worlds, but to be reminded that I am not alone in this world.  Opening my heart, I find possibility.

What do you need to hear today?

Psalm 19: Opening our Hearts and praying to pray

 Day 19, Psalm 19

This psalm ends with one of my favorite prayers: “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, O Eternal One, My rock and my redeemer.”  It is a prayer for the ability to pray.  It seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes we need a little extra help.  Our minds and tongues are not always focused, our hearts can be confused.  Using our perfect Torah, the teachings of our Creator, living the laws and customs, we can find access points we didn’t previously notice.  

What do we need to open our hearts today?

Psalm 18: What are you grateful for?

 Day 18, Psalm 18

You can feel the adrenaline in this psalm. (It’s also a very long one!) The warrior king, David, has triumphed and reached his throne.  After the emotional surge of battle, he is alive and on top.  Reaching a goal can be overwhelming.  How do we give thanks?  When we have needs, we remember to ask for them, but when we are satisfied do we acknowledge?

What blessings are you grateful for today?

Psalm 17: How do we build the world we wish to see?

Day 17, Psalm 17

It is said that David arose at midnight daily to sing and praise God.  This psalm feels like one from the middle of the night, expressing our deepest fears and greatest hopes.  We want not only for the judgement of evil and the blessings of the righteous, but to ensure the wellbeing of the generations to come.  

How can we build a home, a shul, a neighborhood, a world that we want our children to inherit?

 

Day 16: What is your path?

Day 16, Psalm 16

You will teach me the path of life, In Your Presence is perfect joy, delights ever in Your right hand.  In a chaotic world, we can forget the stability of community, faith and God.  The Psalmist reminds us that in working and calling for a just world, we bring the presence of God.  Sometimes we need to call out evil AND rediscover the peace of good choices.  Don’t get stuck in the pits, we can climb out together!

What do you need to find your path this year? What do you have to celebrate from the past year?

ט״ז

מִכְתָּ֥ם לְדָוִ֑ד שׇֽׁמְרֵ֥נִי אֵ֝֗ל כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃ 

אָמַ֣רְתְּ לַֽ֭יהֹוָה אֲדֹנָ֣י אָ֑תָּה ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י בַּל־עָלֶֽיךָ׃ 

לִ֭קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָ֣רֶץ הֵ֑מָּה וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י כׇּל־חֶפְצִי־בָֽם׃ 

יִרְבּ֥וּ עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ אַחֵ֢ר מָ֫הָ֥רוּ בַּל־אַסִּ֣יךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם מִדָּ֑ם וּֽבַל־אֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם עַל־שְׂפָתָֽי׃ 

יְֽהֹוָ֗ה מְנָת־חֶלְקִ֥י וְכוֹסִ֑י אַ֝תָּ֗ה תּוֹמִ֥יךְ גּוֹרָלִֽי׃ 

חֲבָלִ֣ים נָֽפְלוּ־לִ֭י בַּנְּעִמִ֑ים אַף־נַ֝חֲלָ֗ת שָֽׁפְרָ֥ה עָלָֽי׃ 

אֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְ֭הֹוָה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצָ֑נִי אַף־לֵ֝יל֗וֹת יִסְּר֥וּנִי כִלְיוֹתָֽי׃ 

שִׁוִּ֬יתִי יְהֹוָ֣ה לְנֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִ֑יד כִּ֥י מִֽ֝ימִינִ֗י בַּל־אֶמּֽוֹט׃ 

לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׂמַ֣ח לִ֭בִּי וַיָּ֣גֶל כְּבוֹדִ֑י אַף־בְּ֝שָׂרִ֗י יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶֽטַח׃ 

כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־תַעֲזֹ֣ב נַפְשִׁ֣י לִשְׁא֑וֹל לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן חֲ֝סִידְךָ֗ לִרְא֥וֹת שָֽׁחַת׃ 

תּֽוֹדִיעֵנִי֮ אֹ֤רַח חַ֫יִּ֥ים שֹׂ֣בַע שְׂ֭מָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶ֑יךָ נְעִמ֖וֹת בִּימִינְךָ֣ נֶֽצַח׃ {פ}

16

Michtam of David. Keep me, O God; for I have taken refuge in Thee. 

I have said unto the LORD: 'Thou art my Lord; I have no good but in Thee'; 

As for the holy that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight. 

Let the idols of them be multiplied that make suit unto another; Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, Nor take their names upon my lips. 

O LORD, the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, Thou maintainest my lot. 

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage. 

I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel; Yea, in the night seasons my reins instruct me. 

I have set the LORD always before me; Surely He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also dwelleth in safety; 

For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to the nether-world; Neither wilt Thou suffer Thy godly one to see the pit. 

Thou makest me to know the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy, In Thy right hand bliss for evermore.

Psalm 15: What is going right in your right?

Day 15, Psalm 15

Psalm 15 is often used at funerals as a reminder of the positive traits and behaviors.  It reminds us that we must not only actively choose to do good, but we must also shun evil.  We strive to do right, especially when it is challenging!

What is going right in your life?