Blogs by Mark Johnston

It is sobering to see the extent to which David, 'the man after God's own heart', spent so much of his life embroiled in conflict. From the obvious tensions between him and his brothers when we first meet him, through... continue

Life has its low points for us all and, for David, the events that lay behind this particular psalm rank close to the nadir. The title of the psalm links its composition to the time when David 'pretended to be... continue

Singing new songs is one of those things that stirs different thoughts and feelings in different Christian circles; but here in this psalm David vigorously encourages the practice!  But before either side in the worship discussion gets too excited about... continue

What is the epitome of blessing in the life of faith? Different Christians would no doubt offer different answers: from personal peace and happiness through to the salvation of many as the gospel is proclaimed. It is certainly true that... continue

It so happens, as I sit at my computer preparing these notes, that we are very much in the midst of one of those defining experiences of life - a major relocation to a new church. So the sentiments expressed... continue

We end our little series of reflections on these psalms this week on an interesting note with two psalms that provide a fitting climax and conclusion to the section. The first is a final cry to God from David for... continue

Throughout history the builders of castles, forts and citadels have favoured rocky outcrops as the best place to site them. So David reaches for the language of such places to describe the One in whom believers are truly secure: 'My... continue

It's always fascinating to see the way the Psalms have been arranged since, more often than not, the thoughts of one flow into those that follow. That is certainly the case in this little cluster of psalms that are providing... continue

Two things seem to dominate the headlines of our times: corruption and conspiracy. Bad men end up in positions of power and good men (and women) are all too often undermined and sidelined in their influence. Things haven't changed since... continue

Every culture of the world has a niche for poetry and song. It is one of the great hallmarks of our humanity. The reason for this is our need as human beings to express not just our thoughts, but also... continue