On this eve of my 30th anniversary at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Tampa, FL and, having completed my devotional study of the Book of Proverbs, I have set my heart to meditate upon and mine the unsearchable riches of the Psalms in the years ahead. I aspire to be true to the Scriptures while making relevant applications to the changing and troubled times of our day.
The Psalms of the Bible were written in a time that was pastoral and agricultural, far from our fast-paced 21st century lives where the libraries of the world are a “click of the mouse” away from our fingertips. Whether intentional or unintentional, many of my ponderings on the Psalms will be sourced from my favorite commentary on the Psalms, Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s “Treasury of David”, a collection of various commentaries by authors who lived near the end of the Industrial Age (1760-1840) and the beginning of the Technological Revolution (1850-World War I).
For those who portend to be my critics, my purpose for publishing my private musings in the Psalms is foremost to minister to those God has entrusted to my shepherding care at Hillsdale Baptist Church. It is also my prayer that the electronic medium of the 21st century might offer me a platform to be a blessing to those who might subscribe and follow the musings and meditations of this simple shepherd.
My goal is not to be provocative; however, the very nature of the Holy Scriptures is counter to human philosophy and is politically incorrect. Because it is my desire to be relevant in my application to our day and times, I will not skirt the opportunity of stating my commentary and view of contemporary events.
As was my custom with the study of Proverbs, my format for this meditative study of Psalms will follow the days of the calendar. Given the average month consists of 30 days and there are 150 Psalms, I encourage you to read a chapter from Psalms a day. Every five months we will repeat our reading of the Psalms. My daily meditative writings on Psalms may cover one verse or many verses driven by context, theme, application, and my own constraints due to time and ministry. I apologize in advance if grammatical errors are a distraction; however, I do not have in my employ editors or co-authors who might assist this poor fumbling pastor.
Finally, with this Thursday, October 1, 2105 marking the beginning of my 31st year of ministry at Hillsdale, it is appropriate that I begin this new course of study with the life and reward of the blessed man.
Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
With the heart of a shepherd,
Pastor Travis D. Smith
September 30, 2015
Copyright 2015 – Travis D. Smith