13 Is My Favorite Number

Years ago (ahem, more than I care to relate), I was learning a few things from a Bible teacher who is no longer as popular as he once was. One of the things he taught that stuck with me for a long time was that one way to grow in knowledge of the Lord is to read in Psalms. The particular way he suggested was each day of the month to read the Psalm corresponding to today's date, then the 30th Psalm after that, and the 30th Psalm after that, etc. Five Psalms each day, cycling every month. For instance, on the 13th of the month, read Psalms 13, 43, 73, 103, 133. I discovered after a while that the 13th of the month was the day I looked forward to the most. Why? Because of what these particular Psalms say.

Psalm 13

"How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever?" And then David goes on to ask that God vindicate him before his enemies. And he ends up by affirming his own reliance on the Lord.

Psalm 43

"Vindicate me O Lord and defend my cause against against an ungodly people." Then the Psalmist goes on to ask that God's light and truth lead him to his place of worship. He finishes by reminding himself to "Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

Psalm 73

"God is good [...] But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled [...] for I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Asaph then goes on to explain that the wicked seem to be happy and rich and getting away with all their wickedness. Then something happens: "But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God." The thing that got his head back on straight was worship. It was worshipping the true God that taught Asaph that the wicked are (in the words of the stereotyped highway patrolman) "in a heap of trouble now, boy!" But even more than that, he, the psalmist, was just as bad as long as he tried to justify himself by comparison with the "wicked" rather than relying on the mercy of the only truly just One.

Psalm 103

"Bless the Lord, O my soul [...] who forgives all your iniquity [...] who redeems your life from the pit." This is about the utter mercy of God in saving. Why do we need saving? "As for man, his days are like grass [...] the wind passes over it, and it is gone [...] But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him."

Psalm 133

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!" This one is, as most of my college math books said at least once, left as an exercise for the reader.