Joy of Praise

Psalm 13 (NIV) For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him, ” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Sepher Tehillim, "The Book of Praises" Opportunities to study the Book of Psalms is a source of great joy in my life. Every time our study is focused on some portion of the Psalms I am provided with an chance to find new and wonderful gems for my treasury of praises to my God. The gem for today was in finding the Jewish term for the Book of Psalms, Sepher Tehillim, “Book of Praises”. The Book of Psalms provides many themes and functions: Examples are Hymns, (Ps. 24, 48, 99, 136, 146; Community complaints (Ps 74,83); Individual complaints, (Ps 5, 13, 51); Individual songs of thanksgiving (Ps. 116); Royal psalms (Ps. 20, 45, 72, 101); Torah psalms (Ps. 1, 32, 49, 127); Oracle psalms (Ps 82, 87); Blessing psalms (Ps 128); Taunt songs (Ps. 52); Songs of trust (Ps. 110); (http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/we_dig_montana/Psalms.html); but they all provide opportunities to acknowledge the wonder and greatness of God and to praise His Holy Name. Our Psalm for today, Psalm 13, is listed here as a song of individual complaint and the Psalmist does cry out in the agony of seeming abandonment and defeat. Yet in all of this there is the absolute knowledge that God is a father to whom he can come for help. There is true trust in his unfailing love. Psalm 13 is a wonderful model of prayer and supplication in times of stress and doubt. Psalm 13 acknowledges that we sometimes feel lost despite our understanding that God is ever present. Above all, Psalm 13 is a song of praise to a good and loving God. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;     my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,     for he has been good to me.- May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!