Why is it so few of us reflect on the Psalm each week? Is it because it is so--how shall we say--Un-American? It's so- not do-it-yourself? It's so counter-culture?
May we live the blessing of the Psalms.
SinNEr
Date: 05 Apr 2000
Time: 16:21:11
Perhaps we need the perspective ofthe Psalms even more today than ever before. We are not self-suficient, we are totally dependent on God and on His grace and mercy ALWAYS! God help us to make this known - especially by our example.
Marty@cfmc
Date: 06 Apr 2000
Time: 04:04:21
What are the essetial elements for preaching this text? How can we make this text preach REVKEV
Date: 10 Apr 2000
Time: 21:43:57
JG in WI to REVKEV
I don't know if I'm preaching it, but I do see three points.
1. The Psalmist's Pain (9-13)
2. The Psalmist's Peace (14-15)
3. The Psalmist's Petition (16)
The word "BUT" beginning v. 14 is, of course, the turning point. After that, he affirms his trust in God and makes a request in v. 16.
Hope this helps, friend.
Date: 12 Apr 2000
Time: 15:45:20
Hi all.
A few thoughts on the Psalms, and this one...
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggested that we cannot pray these Psalms as our prayer. We must pray them as Jesus' prayer. Only Jesus was innocent / persecuted / obedient / honest enough to truly have these words be his prayer to the God he called "daddy" (Abba).
- This Psalm is an interesting one to follow the Isaiah reading. To quote, "The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near." Seems like the Psalmist's experience of being a chosen spokesperson for the Lord is not quite as certain as Isaiah's. What does this do to our supposition that Jesus went willingly, and even gladly (as some have put it occasionally) to the cross?
The comment above re: the Psalms are counter-cultural, is right on! The Psalms are too honest for us who are attempting to live the lie that we are in charge, that we control our destiny, that our feelings are either the only thing that matter or don't matter at all.
The Church needs to rediscover the treasure that the Psalms can be for us.
Nuff said!
Rick in Canada, eh?