1. Themes from the Psalms Class #8

2. Quote The practice of art isn’t to make a living. It’s to make your soul grow. Kurt Vonnegut translate: “expression”

3. Introduction –Types of Literature –Translation of Poetry –Parallelism –Expressing Ourselves –Religious Background (Mindset of the hearers) –About the Psalms Themes –Worship –Inner Struggle –Worthiness –Shared Strength –Protection –Prophecy* Conclusions Outline of the Class Let me know if you have a favorite psalm that you want us to study

4. The Psalms and Honest Worship From Psalms I have learned that I can rightfully bring to God whatever I feel about Him. Philip Yancey It is useful to have someone’s thoughts to guide us, but… True worship is worship from our heart, not just repetition by rote of someone else’s words. We should keep writing stories and songs, keep exploring, probing, and thinking. The psalms are not doctrinal statements, creeds, or history. The Psalms were not thundered from Sinai or received in a vision.

5. Expression! Songs from the Psalms! Look at our songbook, page 1039 See how many Psalm references there are!

6. The Beauty of the Psalms Like a multifaceted jewel (facet – faces) Fascination with the word Turning it in your hand Gazing at it as it sparkles Not having all of the right answers, but enjoying the trip Is it better to be right about insignificant matters, or to keep thinking ? With the Psalms you can worship with feeling without getting ensnared by legalism and arguments.

7. The Beauty of the Psalms Some of us just don’t get it! Peanuts Cartoon

8. Inner Struggle (Enemies) Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Psalm 69:1-3, 14 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. Psalm 41:9 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22 My policy is to pray for God’s blessings on all who love me and my family

9. Themes from the Psalms (hsl) Worship –Worship (creation)Ps 8, 19 –Worship (awesome deeds)Ps 78, 105-106 (119) –Love of the Law (and His Goodness)Ps 119 Inner Struggle –DespairPs 13, 42-43, 69 –Betrayal / false accusation / enemiesPs 41, 55 Worthiness –Penitence / CleansingPs 51 –QualificationsPs 15, 24 –Unfailing (Steadfast) Love Ps 130, 136 Shared Strength –CouragePs 27-28 –HealingPs 34, 147 Protection –Deliverance, Refuge, StrengthPs 18, 46, 118 –Shepherd, GuardianPs 23, 121 Ps 1

10. Worthiness: Penitence and Cleansing (1) Preface: When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Plea for mercy: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (1-2) Confession: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. (3-6) Psalm 51 (David) Nathan causes David to condemn himself David asks God to look deep within him David can’t put it out of his mind Comparison by Significance (God vs man)