Psalms

Singing the Psalms

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

One thing that makes me sad is how our churches often come to the lyrics of the greatest song book in the world and all we do is read the words in unison with a monotone voice. Yes, God’s word is perfect but forgive me when I say that maybe even God gets bored by the way we read it out loud! We seem to have forgotten that this was not the way the Psalms were intended to be experienced. Maybe it would help to think of the Psalms as songs whose melody has fallen asleep. With all the talent out there, why don’t more people compose new melodies for these precious promises of God to be sing by? The Psalms Project is one such group that has set about to try and bring them to life again, but there is so much more that could be done if others could catch the vision of singing God’s word.

You may consider scripture songs, to be somewhat old-fashioned or wooden, but once you try it, you will discover some wonderful benefits, just waiting to be explored. God always blesses the joyful singing of His word, in fact one of the last things Jesus did with His disciples was to sing a hymn after the Last Supper! Those lyrics most likely began with:

 "Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
    Praise the name of the Lord!
 Blessed be the name of the Lord
    now and forever.
 Everywhere—from east to west—
    praise the name of the Lord." Psalm 113:1-3

Imagine Jesus singing such praises just hours before His arrest, beating and torturous death. As the very Living word of God, He went to the cross still singing God’s word. Today, young people pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to listen to their favorite pop star, because their songs make them laugh, cry, or feel romantic. They shell out megabucks for just a passing experience, but the Psalms give far more than temporary feelings. Within them are the depth of the riches of the heart of God. What can be happier than?

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;” Psalm 126:2

Or what sadder words have you ever heard than?

“I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.”
Psalm 6:6.

God knows that when we laugh, cry, or even complain to Him, that we begin to connect with Him and with His word in the depths of our souls. So, why not take a moment with the world’s greatest songbook today, and either alone or with others, sing out the precious words that God has given us there and allow them to sink into your heart and mind?

He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:3 NLT

Quiet Like a Child

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment 
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 131 2-3 ESV

Psalm 131 is one of the fifteen Psalms titled, “Songs of Ascent” It is supposed that these were sung by pilgrims, making their way from all over Israel towards Jerusalem for the great festivals prescribed by God in the law of Moses. Since this Psalm appears near the end of that group, maybe at this point the temple is already in sight, or at least the outer walls of the city of Jerusalem. This unknown author was not someone of high rank. We don’t know his exact circumstances, but maybe it was as he paused to rest on his journey, that he was inspired to write. “I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother. ” Then taking a deep breath, he thrills in wonder at the magnificent sight of the Holy City, lying just ahead. Then a simple truth, comes like a gentle rain on a parched field. I imagine him taking a deep breath, thrilling in wonder at the magnificent sight of the Hoy City, lying just ahead. Though he wrote these words thousands of years ago, He is a lot like us. He, just a simple worshiper of Jehovah: has been not only commanded to appear, but God has invited him to come. This man, who is not a king entering the city gates in triumph, or a priest bringing a lamb for God’s altar, is accepted and even welcomed. Then he says, that, just as a weaned child rests upon His mother’s lap waiting for the new adult food that she will feed him, he realizes that God has something new for him as well. This morning, as he has quieted his hungry soul, he remembers David’s Psalm that tells him that God has prepared a banquet table in the wilderness and is waiting just for him. That truth awakening in Him such a joy, the writer knows that he must tell everyone! “O Israel, hope in the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore!”

Driving Through the Notch

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

Even though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 ESV

During times of crisis, it is natural to be fearful. A few years ago, our airwaves were filled with the constant reports of quarantines and businesses shutting down. There had never been anything like it in our lifetimes, and we wondered what would happen next. Today, there are other crises happening that are like the dark valley of death in today’s verse. Each of us faces a little different valley, but what remains the same is that as we go through them, we have a hope because we have a good shepherd. whose name is Jesus, and He has promised to walk with us all the way through.

Outside the city where I was born lies a long valley called Sugar Hollow. It is a notch between the hills through which the main road coming up from the South runs into town. It is a pretty stretch of road, but one strange thing about Sugar Hollow is that as you drive into it during afternoon rush hour, it gets dark early. Everyone begins to flick on their headlights because the surrounding hills block out the sun, in the Hollow. All around it begins to look as if night has fallen; but as you round the final bend of the road that leads out of the valley, the shadows draw back, and the sun reappears as if saying “You made it through the notch again! Welcome home!” 

Prayer: Father God, help me to trust you in the valley I am walking through today and to remember that you have promised to be with me all the way through!
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