When I got saved (born-again, washed in the blood of Yeshua) one of the first verses I came to know was Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is not granted on the basis of one’s efforts to appease God. Religious activity is never sufficient to gain the approval of God. This approval, granted to an individual, is only by grace through faith in Yeshua who alone appeased the righteousness of God on our behalf.

Psalm 37:23-24 -- The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. These verses are rich in so many ways it’s hard to break my thoughts down into a single blog form. They almost have to be pondered one word at a time.

Ps. 31:15-16 - My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. Every time I read David’s psalms I appreciate and admire him more-and-more. I think I can actually say, I love him more each time I read a psalm of his than I had before. It’s funny how life does that to you. David’s psalms have something for just about every potential life experience. The good and the not so good.

I read Psalm 23 a few days ago. I’m so familiar with it that I catch myself reading it without giving it much thought. I have to force myself to slow down and actually try to peer into what it is saying. I have, as I’m sure some of you have, memorized it in the past. It is the one psalm that almost everybody has some knowledge. It seems like every funeral in every TV program quotes a least part of this psalm. I doubt David ever realized it would become such a commercialized and publicized item.

The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. Ps. 16:5 I’m continuing my reading in the Psalms. My progress has been enjoyably slow this time. There is so much to contemplate and meditate upon. It’s like every verse has so much to say that it’s hard to pass over what’s being said without further consideration. It’s amazing how the Bible is always so fresh.