Sublime

14 For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant. 15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbage; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools.

Psalm 8, David marvels at God’s creation and the fact that man is given dominion over it.

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds. 11 B

Psalm 6, David seems to fear that his sin and eventual death will separate him from God.

This psalm expresses two conflicting ideas, but both feelings can sit in the human heart simultaneously—it’s just helpful to know which feeling is true.

Psalm 16 feels more accessible after we’ve walked closely with David.

Praise is the proper response to all of God’s actions.

This is one of the Songs of Ascent, one of the songs the Israelites sing as they travel on foot—from wherever their tribal allotment happens to be—all the way to Jerusalem, three times a year.