Themes from the Psalms Class #4

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Research Scripture (for Kristen)

Quote True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist. Albert Einstein

Introduction –Types of Literature –Translation of Poetry –Parallelism –Expressing Ourselves –Religious Background (Mindset of the hearers) –About the Psalms Themes –Worship –Inner Struggle –Worthiness –Shared Strength –Protection –Prophecy* Conclusions Outline of the Class Let me know if you have a favorite psalm that you want us to study

The Psalms and Honest Worship From Psalms I have learned that I can rightfully bring to God whatever I feel about Him. Philip Yancey It is useful to have someone’s thoughts to guide us, but… True worship is worship from our heart, not just repetition by rote of someone else’s words. We should keep writing stories and songs, keep exploring, probing, and thinking. The psalms are not doctrinal statements, creeds, or history. The Psalms were not thundered from Sinai or received in a vision.

Expression! What’s your favorite word when you hit your finger with a hammer? (Don’t answer: This is a rhetorical question) It is almost impossible to constrain real feelings! Image of hammer hitting thumb

The Beauty of the Psalms Like a multifaceted jewel (facet – faces) Fascination with the word Turning it in your hand Gazing at it as it sparkles Not having all of the right answers, but enjoying the trip Is it better to be right about insignificant matters, or to keep thinking ? With the Psalms you can worship with feeling without getting ensnared by legalism and arguments.

Themes from the Psalms (hsl) Worship –Worship (creation)Ps 8, 19 –Worship (awesome deeds)Ps 78, (119) –Love of the Law (and His Goodness)Ps 119 Inner Struggle –DespairPs 13, 42-43, 69 –Betrayal / false accusation / enemiesPs 41, 55 Worthiness –Penitence / CleansingPs 51 –QualificationsPs 15, 24 –Unfailing (Steadfast) Love Ps 130, 136 Shared Strength –CouragePs –HealingPs 34, 147 Protection –Deliverance, Refuge, StrengthPs 18, 46, 118 –Shepherd, GuardianPs 23, 121 Ps 1

Worship: Awesome Deeds (9) Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced… [Descriptions follow of historical acts of God’s interaction] Praise the Lord (end verse) Psalm 105 and 106 (Highlights) 105:1-5 God’s Wonderful Activity

Worship: Awesome Deeds (10) Bookend: Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. (1-3) We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. (6) [Description of the rebellion by the Red Sea, and deliverance from Egypt] Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. (12) But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them. (13-15) Psalm 105 and 106 (Highlights) 106: Ebb and Flow of God’s People’s Obedience We must keep trying to do right!

Worship: Awesome Deeds (11) In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram. Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. (16-18) [They make the idol calf] So he said he would destroy them-- had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. (23) Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert, make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. (24-27) Psalm 105 and 106 (Highlights) 106: Ebb and Flow of God’s People’s Obedience Moses interceded for them many times

Worship: Awesome Deeds (12) They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. (35) They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. (36) They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. (37) They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. (38) They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. (39) Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power. Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. (40-43) Psalm 105 and 106 (Highlights) 106: Ebb and Flow of God’s People’s Obedience A list of more things they did wrong

Worship: Awesome Deeds (13) Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. (47) Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" (48) Bookend: Praise the LORD. Psalm 105 and 106 (Highlights) 106: Ebb and Flow of God’s People’s Obedience Summation: Worship!

Worship: Awesome Deeds (14) Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Handel’s Messiah Another example of man’s expression in worship

Worship: Awesome Deeds (15) The kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever Handel’s Messiah This looks pretty dull and repetitive, sort of like you get with some rock songs… But wait until you hear the music!

Worship: Awesome Deeds (16) King of Kings, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! and Lord of Lords, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! King of Kings, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! and Lord of Lords, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! King of Kings, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! and Lord of Lords, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and He shall reign for ever and ever Handel’s Messiah

Worship: Awesome Deeds (17) King of Kings for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! and He shall reign for ever and ever, for ever and ever, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and He shall reign for ever and ever, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Handel’s Messiah

Worship: Love of God’s Law (and His Goodness) (1) Almost every verse shows some characteristic of the concept of the law: 1) testimonies 2) commandments 3) precepts 4) word 5) law 6) ways 7) truth 8) judgments 9) righteousness 10) Statutes It is almost universally asserted that in every verse of this psalm one or other of those ten words is used, except in v 122. On closer inspection we shall find that none of them is used in the above sense in the 84 th, 90 th, 121 st, 122 nd, and 132 nd verses. Psalm 119 (176 total verses) Acrostic: Each idea in a group of eight starts with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet C.S. Lewis: “Literary Embroidery”

Worship: Love of God’s Law (and His Goodness) (2) (Psalms 19:7-11) The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 119: an elaboration on the ideas of Psalm 19:7-11

Worship: Love of God’s Law (and His Goodness) (3) {2} Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. {10} I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. {58} I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. {145} I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees. Psalm 119 (seek with all our heart) {20} My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. {131} I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. {76} May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Psalm 119 (longing)