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Psalms - 10/21/2008 1:32:04 PM
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Prairiehiker
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HOw do we use the book of Psalms? Aren't the Psalms songs/poems written by David? Why do we attribute authority in them? Aren't they his subjective wishes, desires, observations, etc? I don't find comfort in reading them because they are based on the experience of one man. How can I read them and make them mean anything to me?
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Wishing for a Steelers/Eagles superbowl.
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RE: Psalms - 10/21/2008 1:45:54 PM
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MrFribbles
Posts: 1886
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Well, first, on a more academic note, they weren't all written by David. If I remember correctly, only about half are attributed to him.
Second, we can relate to them because, even though they were written by one individual, they describe either 1, timeless truths (Psalm 19), or 2, experiences we all share. A lot of the Psalms contain elements of going through trouble and hardship. Which of us cannot relate to these times where we felt there was no recourse but crying out to God?
I would say more, but I have Science Lab in about five minutes. : )
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: Psalms - 10/21/2008 2:14:13 PM
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restinginHim
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Jesus quoted from Psalms.
2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
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"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." John 15:9
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RE: Psalms - 10/21/2008 2:17:06 PM
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Escaped
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I find great inspiration from the Psalms. At times, I can feel the very presence of God when I am meditating through a passage.
If fact, if you listen carefully, you can hear the heat and voice of the Savior!
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I have cried desperately for help, but still it does not come.
During the day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer; I call at night, but get no rest.
But you are enthroned as the Holy One, the one whom Israel praises.
Our ancestors put their trust in you; they trusted you, and you saved them.
They called to you and escaped from danger; they trusted you and were not disappointed.
But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm, despised and scorned by everyone!
All who see me make fun of me; they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.
"You relied on the LORD," they say. "Why doesn't he save you? If the LORD likes you, why doesn't he help you?"
It was you who brought me safely through birth, and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.
I have relied on you since the day I was born, and you have always been my God.
Do not stay away from me! Trouble is near, and there is no one to help.
Many enemies surround me like bulls; they are all around me, like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.
They open their mouths like lions, roaring and tearing at me.
My strength is gone, gone like water spilled on the ground. All my bones are out of joint; my heart is like melted wax.
My throat is as dry as dust, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have left me for dead in the dust.
An evil gang is around me; like a pack of dogs they close in on me; they tear at my hands and feet.
All my bones can be seen. My enemies look at me and stare.
They gamble for my clothes and divide them among themselves.
O LORD, don't stay away from me! Come quickly to my rescue!
Save me from the sword; save my life from these dogs.
Rescue me from these lions; I am helpless before these wild bulls.
I will tell my people what you have done; I will praise you in their assembly:
"Praise him, you servants of the LORD! Honor him, you descendants of Jacob! Worship him, you people of Israel!
He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering; he does not turn away from them, but answers when they call for help."
In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done; in the presence of those who worship you I will offer the sacrifices I promised.
The poor will eat as much as they want; those who come to the LORD will praise him. May they prosper forever!
All nations will remember the LORD. From every part of the world they will turn to him; all races will worship him.
The LORD is king, and he rules the nations.
All proud people will bow down to him; all mortals will bow down before him.
Future generations will serve him; they will speak of the Lord to the coming generation.
People not yet born will be told: "The Lord saved his people."
Psalm 22
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RE: Psalms - 10/21/2008 2:17:51 PM
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LCannon
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From: Lebanon, OR
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Most of the book(over half)is attributed to David and is the honest reflection, poetry and praise. David was 'a man after God's own heart', as such perhaps David shows the height of attainment reached in Glory and by extension our personal journey. We can't really appreciate the affection and the sense of Jehovah's Glory the nation Israel felt for and in King David nor we can feel the hatred of Saul's faction.
Read(aloud)the first verse of Psalms 91-101 and if one can't get a sense of Glory shame on you. Even when he is crying out to Jehovah(5:1,2)he always ends with Glory(5:11-"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover them with favor as with a shield."
< Message edited by LCannon -- 10/21/2008 7:29:35 PM >
_____________________________
"It may be that when the angels go about their task of praising God they play
only Bach. I am sure, however, that when they are together en famille they
play Mozart and then too our dear Lord listens with special pleasure."(Karl Barth)
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RE: Psalms - 10/21/2008 6:33:14 PM
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Bluethread
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In a literary sense, the purpose of poetry and literature is to provide a means of indoctrination either by wrapping a concept in an emotional context or presenting it in a way that can be easily repeated. Tying a concept to an emotion and/or repeating it over and over, helps one internalize it and make it part of ones life. That, I believe, is why Paul tells us to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
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"Show me wherein I have errored and I will hold my tongue." Iyov(Job)
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RE: Psalms - 10/21/2008 9:48:30 PM
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Prairiehiker
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I really struggle reading through Psalms. I guess I like reading through stories because they are more factual, but when it comes to hymns and praises, I don't get the same reaction as most people do. A friend has told me time and time agian to read Psalms, esp when I'm going through difficult time, but they don't give me the comfort that they're supposed to give.
_____________________________
Wishing for a Steelers/Eagles superbowl.
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RE: Psalms - 10/22/2008 2:07:38 AM
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Liveloved
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quote:
I really struggle reading through Psalms. I guess I like reading through stories because they are more factual, but when it comes to hymns and praises, I don't get the same reaction as most people do. A friend has told me time and time agian to read Psalms, esp when I'm going through difficult time, but they don't give me the comfort that they're supposed to give.
Prairiehiker, The psalms are stories of real people and real situations and their response to God in the midst of it. Put yourself in the place of the psalmist and join in as if it is you doing the speaking. For example, I just turned to Psalm 88. It begins O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before Thee. Let my prayer come before Thee; Incline Thine ear to my cry. Put that cry in your own words. (I write my prayer down in a prayer journal each morning.) The psalm continues For my soul has had enough troubles and my life has drawn near to Sheol. Again, just speak that same thought to the Lord, putting it in your own words. You can be specific and name some of your current troubles but the important thing is to just honestly speak to the Lord from your life experience, letting the psalm and the psalmist guide you in your prayer.
I go through the entire psalter and then begin the process again. Sometimes I spend more than one day on a psalm. Sometimes I spend my whole prayer on a single verse.
The purpose is for you to identify and enter into the psalmist's honest sharing with the Lord. It brings about a listening and speaking relationship with the Lord.
The Lord wants us to share openly and honestly with Him about our lives, the situations we are in and the help we need. I have found the psalms to be a wonderful way of bringing about true communion with the Lord. The psalms lead me in thanksgiving and worship, adoration and love.
I pray you give them a try. Bless ya, LL
Thomas Merton wrote a book called Praying the Psalms that I found to be very helpful in case you'd like to learn more.
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RE: Psalms - 10/23/2008 6:20:10 PM
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Bluethread
Posts: 1669
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
I really struggle reading through Psalms. I guess I like reading through stories because they are more factual, but when it comes to hymns and praises, I don't get the same reaction as most people do. A friend has told me time and time agian to read Psalms, esp when I'm going through difficult time, but they don't give me the comfort that they're supposed to give.
Though some see little value in doing so, you might try studying rabbinic and cultural sources in order to get a "feel" for the context in which the Psalms were written. You can also look for recordings by cantors(musical readers) and listen to those as you read the text.
_____________________________
"Show me wherein I have errored and I will hold my tongue." Iyov(Job)
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RE: Psalms - 10/23/2008 7:00:52 PM
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1love1God1way
Posts: 2478
Joined: 5/16/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
I really struggle reading through Psalms. I guess I like reading through stories because they are more factual, but when it comes to hymns and praises, I don't get the same reaction as most people do. A friend has told me time and time agian to read Psalms, esp when I'm going through difficult time, but they don't give me the comfort that they're supposed to give.
One of the coolest things ever is being able to take the psalms as the stories, and put them together, and see how David truly reacted in the midst of some of the stories. It takes study to determine which psalm took place during what period, but once you start getting into it, you'll be hooked.
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love.ben
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RE: Psalms - 10/24/2008 11:19:15 AM
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PastorPatricia
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The Ps. reflect every emotion known to people and are a wonderful and blessed source of prayer. Read them, meditate on them and pray them.
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But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Is. 12:24
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