Psalms: Songs of Jesus

Psalms: Songs of Jesus “The Psalms are an anatomy of all parts of the soul.” - John Calvin “The Psalms, then, are not just a matchless primer of teaching but a medicine chest for the heart and the best possible guide for practical living.” - Tim Keller “The Psalms are a Little Bible, wherein everything contained in the entire Bible is beautifully and briefly comprehended.” - Martin Luther 1) Poetry 2) Pattern 3) Preview 1) Poetry 2) Pattern 3) Preview “The Lord is my shepherd” Psalms 104:31: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalms 1:6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous. But the way of the wicked will perish. 1) Poetry 2) Pattern 3) Preview “The other Scriptures speak to us, but the Psalms speak for us.” -Athanasius (AD 296–373) “The Psalms anticipate and train you for every possible spiritual, social and emotional condition-they show you what the dangers are, what you should keep in mind, what your attitude should be, how to talk to God about it, and how to get from God the help you need...The Psalms are the divinely ordained way for us to learn devotion to our God.” - Tim Kellar “Left to ourselves, we will pray to some god who speaks what we like hearing, or to the part of God we manage to understand. But what is critical is that we speak to the God who speaks to us, and to everything he speaks to us … the Psalms train us in that conversation”. - Eugene Peterson 1) Poetry 2) Pattern 3) Preview Book 1 - Establishment of God’s Kingdom through David Book 2 - Transfer of that kingship covenant from David to Solomon Book 3 - That transfer from David to Solomon starts well but ends in disaster Book 4 and 5 - How to live in the absence of a messianic king. Luke 20: 41-44: 41 But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 43 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 44 David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” Psalm 22 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 16 they have pierced my hands and feet— 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 1) Poetry 2) Pattern 3) Preview 1. Read one Psalm every day. Slowly. 2. Use imagination and senses. 3. Memorize and pray the psalms. 4. Use as a pattern for your prayers. 5. Always look for Jesus. Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”