Themes from the Psalms

Class #19

Quote

The hunger for love is much more difficult

to remove than the hunger for bread.

Mother Teresa

• 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!

Write a journal

The entries do not have to be poetry

I’ve been reading my 1985 journal entries

Sometimes its good to read what others expressed about you

October, 1985, John Sain (playing volleyball):

Heard gets his money’s worth wherever he goes!

and,

I’d rather spike the ball on Heard than eat!

The Beauty of the PsalmsLike 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, 105-106 (119)– Love of the Law (and His Goodness) Ps 119

• Inner Struggle– Despair Ps 13, 42-43, 69– Betrayal / false accusation / enemies Ps 31, 41, 55

• Worthiness– Penitence / Cleansing Ps 51– Qualifications Ps 15, 24– Unfailing (Steadfast) Love Ps 130, 136

• Shared Strength– Courage Ps 27-28– Healing Ps 34, 147– Renewal / Restoration Ps 38, 103

• Protection– Deliverance, Refuge, Strength Ps 18, 28, 30, 40, 46, 52,

59, 61, 62, 73, 118, 144

– Shepherd, Guardian Ps 23, 121

Ps 1

Protection: Unshaken (1)

My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (1-2)

How long will you assault a man?

Would all of you throw him down

-- this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place;

they take delight in lies.

With their mouths they bless,

but in their hearts they curse. Selah (3-4)

Psalm 62 (David)

Seismic mass for 10V

Protection: Unshaken (2)

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah (5-8)

Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie;

if weighed on a balance, they are nothing;

together they are only a breath.

Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods;

though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:

that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.

Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. (9-12)

Psalm 62 (David)

Essentials (Core)

False strength

Protection: True Value (1)

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: - circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,

of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; - in regard to the law, a Pharisee; - as for zeal, persecuting the church; - as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…

Philippians 3:4-8

Other Themes from the Psalms (hsl)

• Renewal (should be included with healing) Ps 103

• Dealing with Slander

(should have been included with false accusation) Ps 31

• Purpose Ps 138

• The Image of Peace Ps 85• God’s Good Spirit Ps 143

Renewal (1)

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

you lay me in the dust of death.

But you, O LORD, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

Psalms 22:14-15, 19

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;

my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.

My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning;

my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.

Psalms 31:9-10

Various Psalms

Renewal (2)

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD“

-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

(Psalms 32:3-5)

For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

I am like a man without strength.

Psalms 88:3-4

Various Psalms

Renewal (3)

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

For your arrows have pierced me,

and your hand has come down upon me.

Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;

my bones have no soundness because of my sin.

My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.

I am bowed down and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.

My back is filled with searing pain;

there is no health in my body.

I am feeble and utterly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

Psalm 38 (David)

Crushed and spent

Renewal (4)

My heart pounds, my strength fails me;

even the light has gone from my eyes.

My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;

my neighbors stay far away.

Those who seek my life set their traps,

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;

all day long they plot deception.

I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear,

like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;

I have become like a man who does not hear,

whose mouth can offer no reply.

I wait for you, O LORD;

you will answer, O Lord my God.

Psalm 38 (David)

Waiting for an answer

Renewal (5)

For I said,

"Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."

For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin.

Many are those who are my vigorous enemies;

those who hate me without reason are numerous.

Those who repay my good with evil

slander me when I pursue what is good.

O LORD, do not forsake me;

be not far from me, O my God.

Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

Psalm 38 (David)

Renewal (6)

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits –

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (1-5)

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 103 (David)

Renewal (7)

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103 (David)

Fear: not afraid, but awe and respect

Renewal (8)

As for man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children --

with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 103 (David)

Renewal (9)

Praise the LORD,

you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Praise the LORD,

all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

Praise the LORD,

all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Psalm 103 (David)

Slander (1)

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.

Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.

Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. (1-5)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.

I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. (6-8)

Psalm 31 (David)

Slander (2)

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.

My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.

Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me.

I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. (9-12)

For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. (13-16)

Psalm 31 (David)

Slander (3)

Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave.

Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. (17-18)

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. (19-20)

Psalm 31 (David)

Slander (4)

Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.

In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (21-24)

Psalm 31 (David)