Living with Psalms – Bible Study with Pastor Jim Rhea
As we begin a new year, and we prepare for the
inauguration of a new US president, our reading of Psalm 21 makes us
stop and think. It is a psalm asking God’s blessing on the country
(Israel) and her ruler (the king). It comes from a different time
in history when world problems were not as complex. War and destruction
seemed the only answer. Parts of Psalm 21, which invoke God’s power and
presence with the country and its leaders, seem appropriate for our day;
and trusting in God is always the right thing to do. My prayers
however run more in direction of hope – for peace instead of war, for
the end to divisions around race and religion, for a vision of a world
that together takes on the common enemies of hunger, hatred, and
disease. I still hold out hope for the world God still calls forth
among us and refers to as his Kingdom. Join me in praying for our
nations.
Psalm 21
1-7 Your strength, God, is the king's
strength. Helped, he's hollering Hosannas. You gave him exactly what he
wanted; you didn't hold back. You filled his arms with gifts; you gave
him a right royal welcome. He wanted a good life; you gave it to him,
and then made it a long life as a bonus. You lifted him high and bright
as a cumulus cloud, then dressed him in rainbow colors. You pile
blessings on him; you make him glad when you smile. Is it any wonder
the king loves God? That he's sticking with the Best?
8-12 With a fistful of enemies in one
hand and a fistful of haters in the other, You radiate with such
brilliance that they cringe as before a furnace. Now the furnace
swallows them whole, the fire eats them alive! You purge the earth of
their progeny, you wipe the slate clean. All their evil schemes, the
plots they cook up, have fizzled—every one. You sent them packing; they
couldn't face you.
Week of January 4 Psalm 21
This Psalm is written as a Thanksgiving for a victory
under an earthly king in the line of David. I find it disturbing that
praise to God and to an earthly ruler are so closely bound up together.
However, look through Psalm 21 for phrases that clearly describe how God
is at work (for example, strength and help in v. 1). How do you want God
to be at work in your life during 2005?
As we face a new year in a world that lacks
peace and where our soldiers are at risk, how should we pray? Certainly
verse 10 is an inappropriate thing to ask. Offer your prayer for peace,
realizing that “God so loved the world” that he sent his son Jesus for
all. Pray now.
Someone said that Psalms are “a
recipe for faithful living.” With that in mind I urge you to keep
studying. I also share the following:
A Recipe for a Happy New Year
Take 12 fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly cleansed
from all old memories of bitterness, rancor, hate, and jealousy.
Cut these months into 30 or 31 equal parts. (This batch will keep for one
year. Do not attempt to make more than one batch at a time – many
people spoil the entire lot in this way.)
Prepare one day at a time as follows: Into each day, put 12
parts of faith, 11 of patience, 10 or courage, nine of work (some people
omit this ingredient and spoil the flavor of the rest), eight of hope,
seven of fidelity, six of open-mindedness, five of kindness, four of
rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad-don’t do
it), three of prayer, two of meditation, and one of well-selected
resolution.
Add a teaspoonful of good spirit, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly,
a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.
Pour love liberally into the whole, and mix with vim. Cook
thoroughly in a fervent heat. Garnish with a few smiles and a
sprig of joy; then serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness
and a Happy New Year is a certainty.
From
“Leaves of Gold”
Psalm 20
1-4 God answer you on the day
you crash, The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harm's reach, Send
reinforcements from Holy Hill, Dispatch from Zion fresh
supplies, Exclaim over your offerings, Celebrate your sacrifices, Give
you what your heart desires, Accomplish your plans.
5 When you win, we plan to raise
the roof and lead the parade with our banners.
May all your wishes come true!
6 That clinches it—help's
coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out.
7-8 See those people polishing their
chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we're making
garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up
lame— and we'll be on our feet, standing tall.
9 Make the king a
winner, God; the day we call, give us your answer.
Week of January 11 Psalm 20
Psalm 20 is one of many, many Psalms that I believe came out of an
ancient annual New Year’s celebration, where the king was ritually
re-enthroned and prayed for. I suppose it bore some resemblance to
our United Methodist practice of John Wesley’s New Year Covenant Renewal
Communion Service. What are your spiritual goals for the New Year? How
will God be re-enthroned in your life?
Does worship and worship attendance matter? Check it out in Psalm 20.
Verse 2 talks about the sanctuary. Circle all the words or phrases that
highlight the benefits of public praise, i.e. answer, protect, send
help, and give support (vss. 1 and 2). Recommit to the church and to
serving God in the year ahead. Pray it now.
Today’s psalm is a
wonderful hymn of praise to a righteous creator God. The final
verse (v.14) is often quoted by preachers as a kind of a prayer before
getting up to preach. I have known some who use it before every sermon.
Spoken, or unspoken, it what every pastor hopes for on Sunday.
When God is pleased then lives and hearts are touched by God’s presence.
Of course, the largest ingredient to successful preaching is what you
bring – your openness to God, your willingness to be a vessel for God’s
Word, your determination to be a hearer and a doer. Attitude in
other words.
I think the message of Psalm 19 has stood the test of time.
Will it speak to you? Only you know the answer to that.
PSALM 19
1-2 God's
glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each
evening.
3-4 Their words aren't heard, their voices
aren't recorded, but their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is
spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome for the sun—a
superdome! The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon
bed, The day breaking sun an athlete
racing to the tape.
6 That's how God's Word
vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching
deserts, warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our
lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right
road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The
directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.
God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
READ VERSES 10-14
Week of January 18 Psalm 19
Here is one of the most beautiful, poetic Psalms of
all, extolling the wonders of God’s creation. Verse 1 is a memory verse
for any occasion of experiencing natural beauty. Just experience the
images in Psalm 19:1–6. Think of your favorite, most inspiring times out
in nature.
The second half of this Psalm moves into praising
God for God’s righteousness and reminding us of the benefits of living
according to God’s will for our lives. Apply verses 7–13 to yourself.
How are you doing so far in 2009? Verse 14 is given by some pastors as
the prayer before the sermon each Sunday. It is also a good prayer for
kind speech and holy living each day. Pray it now. Live it tomorrow.
Psalm 18 praises God for his
greatness in delivering Israel from her enemies. As we in the
United States observe the inauguration of a president this week, we pray
God’s blessing on our country. Read this week’s psalm in that
light.
Jesus preached about living in two worlds, and “rendering to Caesar
what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matt. 22:19-21).
While we pray for our country, God requires something different from
us….something more for living as Christians in these days ahead.
I’m talking about justice, mercy, humility, compassion, and love lived
out in generous and unselfish ways. God is depending on you to be
a part of his redemption plan for the world.
PSALM 18
1-2 I love you, God— you make me
strong. God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my
rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding
behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout.
3 I sing to God, the
Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved.
4-5 The hangman's noose was tight at my
throat; devil waters rushed over me.
Hell's ropes cinched me tight; death traps barred every exit.
6 A hostile world! I
call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call;
my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!
7-15 Earth wobbles and lurches; huge mountains
shake like leaves, Quake like aspen leaves because of his rage. His
nostrils flare, bellowing smoke; his mouth spits fire. Tongues of fire
dart in and out; he lowers the sky. He steps down; under his feet an
abyss opens up. He's riding a winged creature, swift on wind-wings. Now
he's wrapped himself in a trench coat of black-cloud darkness. But his
cloud-brightness bursts through, spraying hailstones and fireballs.
Then God thundered out of heaven; the High God gave a great shout,
praying hailstones and fireballs. God shoots his arrows—pandemonium! He
hurls his lightnings—a rout! The secret sources of ocean are exposed,
the hidden depths of earth lie uncovered the moment you roar in protest,
let loose your hurricane anger.
READ VERSES 16-50
Week of January 25 Psalm 18
This Psalm of David begins with a beautiful phrase, “I love you,
Lord.” The rest of the Psalm, unlike most others and most of our
prayers, asks for nothing. It is a Psalm expressing love and gratitude
from beginning to end, 50 verses later. When is the last time you prayed
in this way? Try an “I love you, Lord” prayer.
Look in more detail at Psalm 18, and some of the ancient poetic images.
What do you think is going on in verses 7–16? How about verses 32–45?
Thank God for times of inspiration and strength in your life.