Themes from the Psalms Class #14

Quote The kingdom of heaven is not come even when God’s will is our law; it is fully come when God’s will is our will. George MacDonald

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! Don’t be afraid to express your feelings! (and don’t deny them) The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre… "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent… Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh…?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh." Story: Mrs. Ollis Davis’ in trashcan

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, 52, 118 –Shepherd, GuardianPs 23, 121 Ps 1

Protection: Deliverance, Refuge, Strength (1) I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. (1-3) Psalm 18 (David) Introduction: He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: This is the same passage as is found in 2 Samuel 22

Protection: Deliverance, Refuge, Strength (2) Psalm 18 (David) Problem: The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. (4-6)

Protection: Deliverance, Refuge, Strength (3) God’s Response: The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. (7-10) Psalm 18 (David) Note the intensity of the reaction!

Protection: Deliverance, Refuge, Strength (4) God’s Response: He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him – the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. (11-15) Psalm 18 (David)

Protection: Deliverance, Refuge, Strength (4) God’s Response: He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (16-19) Psalm 18 (David)

Protection: Deliverance, Refuge, Strength (5) God’s Strength: You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. (26-36) Psalm 18 (David) stability What Christ did for us Jesus is the light; John 8:12 Phil 4:13 Psalm 119

Protection: Deliverance, Refuge, Strength (6) Overcoming Enemies: I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them – to the LORD, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets. (37-42) Psalm 18 (David)