Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them” The psalmist points to one of the most powerful and unpredictable forces in nature—the sea—and declares that it is fully under God’s authority. To ancient readers, the sea often symbolized chaos, danger, and uncertainty. Yet the Lord…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “The heavens praise Your wonders, Lord, Your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones” The psalmist lifts his eyes beyond the earth and joins a chorus of praise already resounding in heaven. God’s wonders are not hidden or forgotten; they are celebrated by all who dwell in His presence.…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations” This beginning of this Psalm is a breath of fresh air compared to the journey of struggle and grief we covered in the Columns of Psalm 88. Psalm 89 opens…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me” The psalmist describes a suffering so overwhelming that it feels like a flood crashing over his soul. He does not speak of minor troubles or temporary discouragements but of deep anguish that has shaken him to his core. At times,…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “But to You I have cried out, O LORD, and in the morning my prayer comes before You” In the midst of overwhelming sorrow, the psalmist reveals outstanding persistence in prayer. Though he feels abandoned and surrounded by darkness, he continues to bring his cries before God. His circumstances have not…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You?” As we move forward in Psalm 88 I realize just why this is one of the most sorrowful psalms in Scripture. Unlike many other psalms of lament, it offers little relief from the darkness the writer feels.…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths” Psalm 88 brings readers into one of the most sorrowful prayers in all of Scripture. Unlike many psalms that move from lament to praise, this one lingers in the darkness. The psalmist feels abandoned, overwhelmed, and unable to…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You” Psalm 88 opens with a heartfelt prayer from someone carrying a heavy burden. Unlike many psalms that move quickly toward praise and celebration, this one begins in deep sorrow. Yet even in his anguish, the psalmist…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob” (vv. 1–2). Psalm 87 begins by drawing attention to God’s chosen city, Zion, the place that represented His presence among His people. While the psalm speaks of a physical location,…

Emotional Meditation—By Micah Siemens “O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them” David speaks honestly about the opposition he faced. His enemies were not only powerful but also driven by arrogance and disregard for God. These words remind…