Tap on the image for a video in YouTube for a meditation on Psalm 68.

Once again we have a psalm that makes us think of the Ascension of Jesus. This is especially true in verse 18. The sacred writer gathers up all of God’s saving actions for God’s people, as though these are victories in a war. We begin with a typical battle song of God’s people that we can also find way back in the book of Numbers, chapter 10, verse 35.

When God is around, evil enemies run away, for they just can’t stand the presence of God and God’s goodness and love. Notice how God is the one who defends those who don’t have defenses of their own such as widows and orphans.

If you find that you are feeling a bit helpless before some meanness that might be coming against you, then this is the psalm for you. God is especially interested in protecting those who don’t have anyone else to defend them. Will you let yourself be the hands of God when it comes to being kind to those who are mistreated by others?

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Psalm 68

Today we offer the BibleGateway link to “The Message” version.

We follow a reading of the Psalms in numerical order.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

You would think that after all the trouble that God’s people went through to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple that the people would finally settle down to love and obey God. But they don’t! They refuse to obey God’s command not to marry foreigners because those other people don’t love and praise the God of Israel. They become as careless about their relation to God as God’s people did just after Solomon had built the first Temple.

What a humble man Ezra is! He takes his role as a priest and prays on behalf of his people. He doesn’t point fingers and say “they” and “them,” but “we” and “us.” He becomes one with the people and takes on their sins as his own, even though he wasn’t guilty of them. 

Jesus did the same for you and me. St. Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For him who had no knowledge of sin God made to be sin for us; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” 

Ezra 9:5-10:1

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Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

God makes a comparison between the nations of the earth and great trees in the Garden of Eden. The

downfall of Assyria is described, one of the great empires of the ancient world. Watch what Ezekiel does

with the image of Assyria as a tree, later saying that the same sad fate of Assyria is going to happen to Egypt.

It all comes down to pride—that temptation that often comes to place ourselves as more important

than God. How about you? Do you need to grow in your thoughts about God—about how much God loves

you and wants you to love God by loving others?

Ezekiel 31

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Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.