I hope you are enjoying the snow. It is rather beautiful to see.
The Bible study group that meets on Tuesday mornings will start a new study next week on the Book of Psalms. I thought I would share a bit about the Book here as well.
Most of the Bible is the record of God’s word and action in the world. God’s actions are recorded in the stories of creation, calling people to faith, delivering the people from slavery, and providing direction and guidance through leaders, kings, or prophets. But the Book of Psalms is quite different. These are the words that God’s people have used to express their joy and praise, their sorrows and deepest longings, their thanks, and their deep trust in God. Through 150 songs and poems, we get a sense of how people of faith can share themselves with God. The Psalms teach us how to pray, and they give us models to follow. These prayers show us that there are many different ways that we can express the range of human emotions, including fear, gratitude, thanksgiving, joy, anger, and despair. The Psalms reveal to us many of the qualities of God, including trustworthiness, holiness, patience, and goodness. At times, we may be frustrated by God’s slowness to answer and by seeming to be far away, but still, the psalmist continues to offer heartfelt words with the sense that the words will somehow be received and even treasured by the divine.
There are many different types of Psalms. I suggest you pick up the Bible and dabble in the Book of Psalms on your own. There are well-known favorites you might enjoy, such as Psalm 23, Psalm 139, and Psalm 121. You might take a look at Psalm 1 that offers wisdom and direction. Psalm 31 as a cry for help in times of personal struggle and Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession and turning to God.
I hope that you might find some words there that resonate with you and enrich your own conversations with God.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Steve