Rick Godby

Reading 9—Unlimited Mercy Psalm 51 READ PSALM 51 I recently had an argument with a Facebook friend. I had re-posted a statement that said, “Sometimes you are the bad guy.” Jake (not his real name) could never see himself as the bad guy. Jake is not the only one who thinks that way, but a […]

Reading 8—God, Our Mighty Fortress Psalm 46 READ PSALM 46 This is a Korah Psalm (part of a collection of Psalms likely collected by the Korahites, who were a group of Temple singers). The Psalm (esp. v.1) inspired Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It is a song of Zion celebrating God’s

Reading 7—Remember to Remember Read Psalm 30 David writes this “Psalm of Thanksgiving” after finding himself in great darkness. He remembers when he, “felt secure” and declares, “I will never be shaken.” David knows God as a provider who is close, who “made his royal mountain stand firm.” However, when the darkness comes, David becomes

Reading 6—Glory READ PSALM 24 Long ago, our ancestors in the faith prayed and sung these ancient words on the way to worship God in the Temple. As they came to the place of encounter, the Holy of Holies, they start with the affirmation that the whole earth is God’s handiwork.

Reading 5—The Shepherd and the flock READ PSALM 23 Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved and cited passages from Scripture. It is often used as a funeral psalm, but it is also used for those planning to adopt a child (Book of Common Prayer, 443). This is one of the many psalms ascribed

Reading 4—”Speedbumps” READ PSALM 19 Psalm 19 always makes me think of my dad, Paul Conrad. Before my dad would preach, he would pray the Psalm’s last verse, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord. Our strength and our redeemer. Amen.”

Reading 3—Glory Everywhere READ PSALM 8 This Psalm celebrates our creator God who fashioned the universe from the stars above to the earth below, who exalted humanity over and above every other creature. Acknowledging the beauty and wonder of all God has made, the psalmist shares an important truth about “glory”: God who has set

Reading 2—Happy Are They… READ PSALM 1 From its very first word, “Happy”, some people might be struck oddly by Psalm 1. “Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked.” Some translations write “Blessed” instead. This Psalm starts out by drawing direct parallels between a person’s emotional condition and one’s

Reading 1—Encountering God’s Imagination So often the question I am asked as a biblical scholar is some version of this: Is the Bible accurate? We all ask this question in some form or another. Did Jonah really get swallowed by a whale? Did Methuselah really live 969 years? Did Jesus really walk on water? Did