REJOICE (2025 Key Verse)

Forsaken was the theme based on my 2024 key verse, Ps 22:1: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Because Christ was utterly forsaken on my behalf, I never would. I am encouraged by Anne Frank, who died in a concentration camp of typhus fever at age 15. In just her early teens, the age of my oldest grandchildren, it is remarkable that she wrote in her diary, "God has not forsaken me, and He never will."

Rejoice is the theme based on my 2025 key verse, 1 Th 5:16: "Rejoice always," which is the shortest verse in the Bible. Through my ordeal and predicament I learnt that joy and sorrow, peace and pain can coexist peacefully, even perfectly. This was exemplified by Jesus, who was simultaneously all of the following: 

• a man of sorrows who was familiar with pain and suffering (Isa 53:3; Mt 23:37; Lk 13:34), 
• a man of peace, for he is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), and the giver of peace (Jn 14:27) that transcends all understanding (Phil 4:7), and 
• the happiest man who ever lived, for he was a man of joy, happiness and contentment (Jn 4:32; 10:30; Mk 1:11; 9:7; Lk 9:35; Mt 3:17; 17:5; 11:25-30).

SINKING: Drowning in Darkness (Psalm 69:1-36)

Desperation (Ps 69:1-4): "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal."

Folly (Ps 69:5-12): "You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you" (Ps 69:5; 51:3-4). "...for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me" (Ps 69:9).

God Knows and Sees All (Psalm 139)

Too Wonderful for Me: "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me" (Ps 139:1). "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps 139:23-24).

• Do you want your children, parents, spouse or friends to know your every thought and desire just like God?

Is it scary that God knows everything about you? No one can ever escape from God, yet the psalmist finds nothing to fear or regret from such a "scary" truth.

When the Foundations are Destroyed (Psalm 11-12)

* Your thoughts about having faith in God (Mk 11:22)?

1. When is it a very strong temptation to flee/run away (Ps 11:1; Mt 16:22; Lk 13:31; Ac 21:12; 1 Sam 26:20)? Why (Ps 11:2-3)? Why should we not (Ps 11:4; 9:7; 96:10; 99:1; 146:10; Dan 4:26; Rev 19:6)? What if your life is in great danger (Phil 1:21; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23; Ac 20:24)?
2. What should you know about the Lord (Ps 11:4, 7a)? About the righteous and the wicked (Ps 11:5-6: Gen 19:24; 2 Pet 2:6-9)? [Why-]Should you want to see God's face (Ps 11:7; 13:1; 34:15-16; 27:4; 63:2; 80:3; Exo 33:18; Num 6:25)?
3. Why do we need help from the Lord (Ps 12:1-4; Isa 6:5; Jas 3:5-6)? Where do lies come from (Gen 3:1, 4-5; Jn 8:44)? What does the Lord promise to do (Ps 12:5)?
4. 
   What counteracts the power of lying lips (Ps 12:6; 18:30; 19:7)? Why (Eph 6:17; 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:12; Jn 6:63; Mt 24:35; Mk 13:31; Lk 21:33)? Knowing this, what should you do practically (Ps 1:2; 119:97, 11; Prov 23:23; Phil 4:8: Jn 8:31-32)?

• When the vile are honored (Ps 12:8) and foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do (Ps 11:3)? "When vileness is exalted" (Ps 12:8, NKJV). "What can an honest person do when everything crumbles?" (Ps 11:3, CEV)

"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps 11:3) "...when what is vile is honored by the human race" (Ps 12:8).

Praise the Lord (Psalm 146-150)

1. 
   Praise the Creator who reigns forever (Ps 146:10): What does the psalmist boldly and proudly declare about praising God (Ps 146:1-2)? About not doing (Ps 146:3)? Why (Ps 146:4, 5-9, 10)?
2. Praise the Creator who blesses His people with His Word (Ps 147:19): Notice the 3 calls to praise God (Ps 147:1, 7, 12). Why is it fitting to praise God (Ps 147:1)? What do these verses reveal about God (Ps 147:2-6, 8-11, 13-20a)? About his word (Ps 147:15, 18, 19; 33:6; Isa 55:9-11; Jn 6:63; 8:31-32)?
3. Praise the Creator who alone is exalted (Ps 148:13): Who is called to praise the Lord in Ps 48:1-6 and Ps 48:7-12? What is the rational for doing so (Ps 148:13-14)? Who/What is "a horn" (Ps 148:14)?
4. Praise the King who delights in His people (Ps 149:4): Who is called to praise God (Ps 149:1-3) and why (Ps 149:4-5)? Why must praising God with their mouths also involve "a double edged sword in their hands" (Ps 149:6, 7-9; Eph 6:17)?
5. Let everyone, everywhere praise God in every way: Where do you praise God (Ps 150:1)? Why (Ps 150:2)? How (Ps 150:3-5)? Who should praise God (Ps 150:6)?

146:1-10 I will praise God as long as I live (Ps 146:2).

147:1-20 It is good to praise God (Ps 147:1).

148:1-14 Praise God from the heavens and the earth (Ps 148:1, 7).

149:1-9 Sing to God a new song (Ps 149:1).

150:1-6 Praise God in heaven and on earth (Ps 150:1, 6).

"Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save" (Ps 146:1-3).

Psalms 146-150 constitute the last Hallel ("praise" [175 x in Psalms) collection, that are all praise and joy. These 5 joyous psalms of praise, each beginning and ending with Hallelujah, bring the Psalter to a close. So in this respect as in many others, the Psalms are a miniature of our story as a whole, which will end in unbroken blessing and delight. It may take a long time or a lifetime, but all prayer that engages God and the world as they truly are will eventually end in praise.

These psalms are used as daily prayers at some point in the synagogue's services of worship. The other 2 praise collections are the Egyptian Hallel psalms (113-118) and the Great Hallel (120-136).

Psalm 146 praises God because he guarantees justice. He cares for the poor, hungry, prisoner, physically impaired, soul weary, immigrant and single parent (Ps 146:7-9). He cared so much he became a helpless baby born to poor parents. 

1. Tim Keller. The Songs of Jesus. 2015. Psalm 146: Praise for Justice.
2. Kidner. 1973. 1975. Psalm 146: I'll praise my Maker (Ps 146:2). A lifetime of praise (Ps 146:1,2). Man, the false hope (Ps 146:3,4). God, great and good (Ps 146:5-9). An eternity of praise (Ps 146:10).
3. Motyer. 2016. Merited Praise. 1. Life-long praise (Ps 146:1-2). 2. Why not man? (Ps 146:3-4). 3. Why Yahweh (Ps 146:5-9). Endless praise (Ps 146:10).
4. Tremper Longman III & David E Garland. Psalms. 2008. Psalm 146: The Lord Reigns for Ever and Ever (Ps 146:10).