Praying through the seasons of life Looking at the Psalms together Psalms of satisfaction Psalms of disorientation and lament Psalms of new life Psalms of thanksgiving

Through generations people have turned to the psalms. Conversations with God about the things that matter most. Genuine dialogue: psalms express both sides of the faith conversation. We also hear the voice of the Gospel. God’s good news addressed to his people. The psalms draw all life under the rule of God.

Psalms bring expression to the seasons of life. They reflect the movement of life. Not simply developmental but also transformational. Changing and being changed. Jesus said, Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Season one: Moving from a time of settled satisfaction into disorientation Change of circumstance; new personal insight Abrupt or slow dawning Dismantling of our old known world Relinquishing of a safe, reliable confidence in God’s goodness Rush of negatives: rage, resentment guilt, shame, despair, hatred..

Season two: A time of disorientation. Personal and intimate or massive and public. The psalms always deal with these times in a context of faith. Here we find the theology of the crucifixion of Jesus. His death becomes a memory and model for all dying that must be done in our faith journey. The psalms are full of the emotions of the crucifixion.

Season three: The move to new life. This comes when we thought all was lost. We escape the pit of chaos just when we thought we wouldn’t make it. We credit it to God because it’s inexplicable to us. Reversal of fortune Rescue and deliverance Saving and healing

The psalms show us that God’s way will prevail. They assert that God’s rule is known, effective and visible. This is embodied in the resurrection of Jesus. Crucifixion and resurrection; suffering and hope; complaint and thanksgiving. We like the psalms because we know life’s like this!

Why do the psalms have power today? Society is numb through avoidance and denial. Embracing these movements of life are alien to our culture. As we pray through the psalms we are engaging in counter cultural activity. Rather than keeping pain hidden we find permission to express how life is. Hope isn’t naive but born through the seasons of life.

The psalms affirm an understanding of reality. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35 Not a once and for all experience. We find ourselves in various conditions in relation to God.

Psalm 33 1 Sing joyfully to the L ORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2 Praise the L ORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the L ORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 5 The L ORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

6 By the word of the L ORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the L ORD ; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The L ORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the L ORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the L ORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 13 From heaven the L ORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18 But the eyes of the L ORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the L ORD ; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, L ORD, even as we put our hope in you.

The Psalms of Satisfaction (Ps 1; 8; 19; 104; 144; 145) These express a confident, serene settlement of faith issues. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. v4 Things settled without a doubt. They enable us to live without overwhelming anxiety. Life is well ordered as God intended.

God ordained it to be this way. For he spoke and it came to be; he commanded and it stood firm. v9 Creation isn’t a theory but an affirmation. The earth is full of his unfailing love. v8 God’s goodness is experienced by us. We may have known times of chaos but there’s a certainty that things come right and hold true. v10-11

Social function These psalms remind us that life isn’t a random list of tasks to achieve – and then you die! Rather there is a give-ness that can be relied upon; guaranteed by God. They use the language of certainty & resilience. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. v11

Our public worship articulates this and is powerful. God WORD is creative. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. v6 (John 1: 1-3) Worship is a means by which the creator interacts with his people. v2 - 3

This begs a question. Reality doesn’t always match up. We need to be alert; not self congratulatory. We don’t celebrate the status quo and ignore injustice. Deliver them from death; keep them alive in famine. v19 We acknowledge that life doesn’t always look like all that God has declared.

But they are psalms for all people. …he watches all that live on earth. v14 Even when we don’t see the benefits they enable hope for something better. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. v20

The conviction that God’s good intention for creation will triumph. There will be equality for all creation. Their significance is beyond being successful. They provide a point of reference for us. They remind us of God’s eternal pursuit of us. He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. v15

God’s creation is not fully completed but we look forward with confidence. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation… Rom 8:18-19 This moves the psalms from maintenance to transformation & new creation. They speak of a life anticipated if not yet experienced.

The psalmist give us God’s perspective on our world. We need not fear because a king, an army, a warrior … cannot save. v But the unfailing love of God can and does. v18-19 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice for we trust his holy name. v

We declare a deep conviction that God’s will for the world is resilient. His purpose will not yield until all creation is brought into all its fullness.

Praying through the seasons of life Looking at the Psalms together Psalms of satisfaction Psalms of disorientation and lament Psalms of new life Psalms of thanksgiving