A Stonebriar Fellowship
The root solution to an anxious heart is not to look within, not to look outwardly to trusted friends, but to look up to the wonder of God’s promises and provisions. David did and maybe there is some insight for us.
We had come to a new year, an occasion for both reflection and anticipation. Dangers lurk globally from our climate to militarism. Political controversy has led to trauma nationally and internationally. I would argue that 2025 holds much promise of the same.
The Psalmists’ Question: Why should the people who oppose God be better off that those who trust Him?
The Psalmists’ Conclusion: They are not. It is a judgment that comes from human myopia and groundless envy.
Ironically, like the Proverbs 31:10-31, this is another example of an artistic literary poem; it is acrostic in form. Each verse begins with a consecutive letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Again, one letter is deleted (nun) which should be after v. 13. Some ancient translations supply what they must have thought was a missing verse, such a 11QPs at Qumran.
Since the literary form is acrostic, it is a wisdom or instructional Psalm, as well as a praise psalm.
