Psalms – Hymns and Prayers of God’s people How are we going, praying? Is prayer becoming more relaxed as we first reflect on his Word in our prayers. Can we get a sense of being in David’s shoes, for example, as we express the very depth of our being in very down-to-earth, even rhetorical language? A few thoughts in Psalm 23: God as the Shepherd dominates the psalm and is constant throughout. The emotional centre is v4 …
Psalms – Hymns and Prayers of God’s people Whilst reading Psalm 15, it could be so easy just to tick off all the attributes of a Christian and think to ourselves that we measure up. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! God measured up, in sending Jesus to the cross for us. Jesus paid the price and now we, as baptised children of God, live in the power of Jesus’ resurrection. We are God’s temple and the mercy …
Psalms 1 and 2 Psalms 1 and 2 work as funnels directing all the Law (through Psalm 1) and all the Prophets (through Psalm 2), into the way of prayer. By means of Psalm 1 we become a tree, putting down roots into well-irrigated soil of the Law. Psalm 1 concentrates our energies into mediative attention. A righteous life is blessed (1:1a) When we live a life like Christ – a righteous life – we …
Hymns and prayers of God’s people Most Christians over the centuries have learned to pray by praying the Psalms. The Hebrews with several centuries of a head start on us in matters of prayer and worship, provided us with this prayer book that gives us a language adequate for responding to the God who speaks to us. The Psalms as a book of 150 songs (or poems) which refer to events throughout the Old Testament …