I have trouble with the Psalms. I know I am supposed to find them inspiring. I find them confusing. So in an effort to stay honest with this exercise of reading the Bible through in a year; I have decided to really study the Psalms and try to find some understanding. I’ve begun a book recommended to me at a conference: Answering God; The Psalms As Tools for Prayer by Eugene H. Peterson. I’ll keep you “posted” on my results.
Here are some thoughts for you while reading the Psalms this week.
1. Psalms 1 & 2 work together. In Psalm 1 we have “Blessed in the man” or “Happy are those” who “delight in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.” Consider these questions: "What do you give your attention to? What do you immerse yourself in? What do you take pleasure in? Where do you take your life cues from? The verbs suggest habits: following, walking, sitting, and meditating. Do we loiter with and turn our ears to rebels and scoffers, or do we go beyond mere duty and eagerly attend to God’s guidance and teaching?" (Questions taken from The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible).
2. Psalm 2 moves from meditating on God’s word to rebelling against it. The study notes from The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible suggest we have a choice of paths we can take. The paths? - Either meditating on God’s word allowing it to influence our lives or to rebel against God’s authority. Are you more inclined to rebel or to meditate?
3. Psalm 3 – Peaceful sleep in the midst of adversity. Just last night I slept fitfully because I couldn’t turn off my mind. Perhaps I need to pray this Psalm before bed tonight! What images of God’s presence comfort you and remind you of His steadfast care?
4. Psalm 5 - I have verse 3 circled in my Bible. Give God your requests and “wait in expectation.” This is faith.
5. Psalm 6 – If you have a terminal illness or have cared for someone with a terminal illness, this Psalm speaks profoundly. The emotion of this Psalm resonates with me – haven’t we all cried to God in this way?
6. Psalm 7 – Verses 9 – 11 reveal the Psalmist’s confidence in God to be just. Sometimes I lose sight of God’s justice. I tend to want justice in my time with my definition. God says wait. He is in control.
Hope you are finding these reflections helpful...feel free to post comments.
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I like your comment on Psalm 1 & 2 having the verbs following, waiting, sitting, and meditating. What strikes me about these verbs is how passive they are in terms of our "self". When we follow, wait, sit or meditate, we really are being passive in that we are not the focus, God is. When we wait on God, he is the focus; when we sit in God's presence, he is the focus; when we follow God, he is the focus; and when we meditate upon God, he is the focus again. I think that is a good reminder to all of us to make God the focus as we do all those things.
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