A day to reflect on the beautiful book of Psalms

Month of October

October 22, 2026

Be Still!

On the eve of All Saints Day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses [statements] to the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany.  The debates which followed kicked off a reforming of the Christian Church, which had gone far astray from God's Word. This coming Sunday, we will celebrate the Reformation in our worship service at Pilgrim.

To the right is Psalm 46, a song of complete trust in God, particularly during times of crisis.  This psalm was a favorite of Luther's, and the basis of one of his most beloved and powerful hymns.  On Sunday, we'll sing that beautiful, traditional hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God to open our 10:30 am worship service.  Come on Sunday, join in with us!

"Be still"  These two simple words can speak to us in many ways; today they remind me of my grandmother Bernhardt.  My siblings and I would frequently spend a week at Grandpa and Grandma's house, and I remember her speaking these words to my brothers and I in a commanding tone.  Be still!   As young boys are apt to do, we were not being still during nap-time and needed some correction.  Grandmother was really saying "Be quiet and lie still!

Today, we can hear in these two words our heavenly Father's gifts of calm and comfort.  This was the psalmist's intent; he reminds us of who God is, and his mighty power over all things.  Because God loves his children, we shouldn't cower in fear, but rather be encouraged, calmed, and comforted.  So today, "Be still"  and think about the God who created and controls the entire universe and all things.  "Be still"  and know He loves you, He cares for you, and He has redeemed you, making you holy and perfect in His sight by the blood of Jesus!  Amen!

Psalm 46

   1 God is our refuge and strength,

        a very present help in trouble.

   2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

        though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

   3 though its waters roar and foam,

        though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

   4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

        the holy habitation of the Most High.

   5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

        God will help her when morning dawns.

   6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

        He utters His voice, the earth melts.

   7  The Lord of hosts is with us;

         the God of Jacob is our fortress.

   8  Come, behold the works of the Lord,

         how He has brought desolations on the earth.

   9  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

        He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

           He burns the chariots with fire.

   10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

         I will be exalted among the nations,

         I will be exalted in the earth!”

   11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

         the God of Jacob is our fortress.

October 15, 2026

You're Forgiven Everyday!

Our Psalm today is a majestic song, proclaiming the grandeur and majesty of the Lord.  God is Lord over all the earth, among all the nations & all peoples.  The Lord is great, feared above all gods, and full of splendor, majesty, strength and beauty.  Nothing but glory is due His name from everyone and everything He has made!  All the earth should and will tremble before Him.  What a glorious mountain-top view of the Lord who rules over all the earth!

But there is another powerful and glorious message here.  Check out verse 2 for a promise & gift, given to you, me, and all the people.  The Lord gives you His salvation, day to day!

Day to day, you confess your sins and the Lord saves you from them by forgiving them!   Day to day, the Lord saves you from despair, by loving and caring for you!  Day to day, the Lord saves you from many struggles and hardships and attacks of Satan, the deceiver and liar.  Day to day, God comforts you, because you are a loved and cared-for child of God!  

So, sing to the Lord; you're forgiven day to day, every day!

Psalm 96:1-9

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

     sing to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;

     tell of His salvation from day to day.

3 Declare His glory among the nations,

     His marvelous works among all the peoples!

4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

     He is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

     but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before Him;

     strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

     ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;

     bring an offering, and come into His courts!

9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

     tremble before Him, all the earth! 

October 8, 2026

Lift up your head!

Today's psalm is all about God's presence among His people.  The first two verses begin by proclaiming the Lord as Creator, Owner, Founder and Establisher of the earth and everything around us.  In verse three David asks "who can be in the presence of the one true God?"  Certainly we are not deserving of this honor!  However, we find the answer in verses four & five.

Do you meet the standards set in verse four?  If you're like me, the answer is "...sometimes, I think?"  You and I don't like to admit it, but our hands are never really clean, our hearts are never really pure and deception and dishonesty are tools of our daily lives.  Things are really hopeless, if all we have is our own "goodness".

But Jesus has intervened for you!  If you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you receive great blessings (v 5) from the Lord!  Because Jesus took your punishment for all your sins, you have received His righteousness and salvation!  We are the people, we are the "generation" who seek Him by seeking to live lives which glorify Him.  Because Jesus has cleaned our hands and made our hearts pure, we can joyfully ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place!  

Whatever struggles you're having today, and they may seem rather hopeless, God encourages you to keep your head uplifted as we wait on Him.  And of course we know how all things end;  on the Last Day of God's choosing, the the Lord, strong and mighty, will return for His final judgement of the world, and the bodily resurrection of all believers to eternal life!  Believe in God, and be one of them!

Psalm 24     A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,

    the world and those who dwell therein,

2 for He has founded it upon the seas

    and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

    And who shall stand in His holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

    who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the Lord

    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek Him,

    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!

    And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?

    The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!

9 Lift up your heads, O gates!

    And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is this King of glory?

    The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!