How to Read the Psalms
Posted by tom | Sep 11, 2011
In addition to Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship & Direction (David G. Benner. IVP. 2002), which I'm reading for SF723: Christian Spiritual Direction, I'm also digging into How to Read the Psalms (Tremper Longman III. IVP. 1988)* for OT559: Psalms. Wish I would have picked up this InterVarsity Press book years ago! A lot to share, but I couldn't help "kick off" the fall season with . . .
Worship in many churches is a spectator sport. If we listen to the commands of the psalmist, our worship will radically change. It will become communal and enthusiastic:
Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy. (47:1)
Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD glory due his name;
worhip the LORD in the splendor o his holiness. (29:1-2)
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 (103:1-2)
The Psalms were born from life struggles, and they speak to people who struggle today. They also arose from people who had experienced liberation from struggle, and so we find expression to our joy when God liberates us from oppression.
Conclusion
As we read a psalm, we learn about God and his care for us. We learn about ourselves as well. We understand our situation better because the whole gamut of human experience is expressed in the Psalter. As David Hubbard put it, the Psalms speak to all seasons of our souls [Psalms for All Seasons (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971) and More Psalms for All Seasons (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975].
Our intellect is informed, our emotions are refined, and our wills are directed. What further motivation do we need to spend time reading and meditating on the Psalms?
Amen!
*Note: if you're interested in discussing the material with me (possibly even reading How to Read the Psalms alongside me), please drop me a message.
