Praying Psalm 4

“Teaching Trust”

What is the title of this Psalm 4?

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

These were songs sung in worship. They were part of church from the OT. We continue that same faith today, now knowing "more of the story", namely, Christ.

READ and DISCUSS Bonhoeffer, Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, “Names, Music, Verse Form”

Read Psalm 4:1

¹Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have created a space for me/ relieved me when in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

How does David pray?

With confidence – answer me!, hear me!, These are imperatives. (He knows God will!)

Read Psalm 4:2-3

²Sons of men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you (all) love vanity and How long will you (all) seek after a lie? Selah
³But know that YHWH set apart the faithful (Chesed!) for himself; YHWH hears when I call to him.

What is David’s prayer?

(1)A Lament - How long? Is a classic cry to God. The sons of man have it wrong.

WHO are these "sons of men"? These are the people right in front of him, part of his faith, part of Israel. Recall the many times the people of God began down the wrong path...

(2) A Reminder – YHWH set apart the people of his CHESED. This means YHWH hears David - “the faithful”.

*CHESED  is steadfast love, overbounding mercy – God’s great commitment to his people, and our commitment pales in comparison.

Read 4:4-5

⁴ Be angry/excited, but do not sin; ponder/speak in your own hearts on your beds, but be silent. Selah
⁵Sacrifice a sacrifice of righteousness, and trust in YHWH.

What is the psalmist’s advice?

(This is advice to the Sons:) Anger is reality – don’t sin. Worry is reality – don’t show it.

The things you DO, these are your sacrifices.

SO a "right sacrifice"(or prayer, or life) LOOKS like trust in YHWH.

Read Psalm 4:6-8

⁶There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, YHWH!"
⁷You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

 ⁸In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone YHWH, cause me/make me dwell in safety.

Where is David’s “good” found?

The Many (outside) will call on the Good of YHWH to be shown = give us blessings, give us a sign.

BUT Psalmist has joy and peace – EVEN more than the best blessings they could have!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
This is teaching sons of man.  Reminding them of the comfort & peace in being set apart by YHWH

How did Christ pray this psalm?

Christ teaches his disciples what a life of trust looks like - Matthew 6:25 (birds of the air)

How long? in v.2 Christ’s laments about  his people.

The quiet passion. in v.4-5, Christ was THE right sacrifice.

How can we pray this?

Be repentant -  we love vanity & seek lies. We know we need to be taught.

LEARN to take comfort in YHWH alone. Christ's actions and words to his Father teach us about our relationship with our Father through Christ.

PRAY:
Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.

Praying Psalm 3

 “Confident Salvation”

Can we learn a better way to pray?

Read “Learning to pray in the name of Jesus.” By Bonhoeffer. YES! When Jesus takes us along with him in prayer (The Lord's Prayer) we pray rightly. All prayers are summed up in the words of the Lord's Prayer. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we pray His words to God.

What is the title of this Psalm 3?
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

This is actually the 1^st verse in the Hebrew: What is the history behind it?

2 Samuel 14-16: killed Amon. Absalom was exiled & came back 14:33. He won the hearts of the Israelistes during David's rule 15:4-6. Tried to kill King David 15:13-14.

Read Psalm 3:1-2

¹O YHWH, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
²many are saying of my soul/body/ nephesh, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

Why might David be afraid?

(1)The many.There are alot of people against him!
(2)People say, "No salvation in God!" There's no hope? That's scary. Maybe David’s doing the wrong thing –Maybe God won’t come...
* In v.2 "nephesh" means BODY & SOUL. These are not separate ideas. David's concern is for BOTH his physical body and the deliverance of his soul.
* "Selah" divides this Psalm into stanzas. Although the literal meaning in Hebrew is unclear, it's commonly understood as a musical notation for the chior/ musician.

Read Psalm 3:3-4

³But you, O YHWH, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴I cried aloud to the YHWH, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

What does YHWH do?

(3)Shield, lifts head - notice this is GOD's work. (It's NOT David picking up his own bootstraps.)

(4) He Answers crys. God hears, God answers.
*His Holy Hill is an interesting place from which He answers. It sounds more like manifest action rather that ONLY a physical place. (Remember Psalm 2 where he installed his king? Action from His Holy Hill.) This is YHWH. His name is a verb, he defines himself by the WORK He has done for His people. He even shows up as Christ who IS the "Kingdom of God" or "Active rule and reign of God".

Read Psalm 3:5-6

⁵I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the YHWH sustained me.
⁶I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around (a circle).

Why is David NOT afraid?

YHWH sustains.YHWH gives confidence. David's situation among enemies did not change. God did not zap all the bad guys away. David has this confidence in the middle of an impossible situation.

Read Psalm 3:7-8

⁷ Arise, O YHWH! Save me (v.2), O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation (v.2&7) belongs to (is to) YHWH; your blessing be on your people! Selah

How does David pray to God?

He calls on God to "Arise!" DO IT! Act! DO what you are – salvation.

David knows what YHWH is  = Active Salvation. This is the SAME root word in v.2, v.7, and v.8

David trusts God will save – these blessings go to his people.

* Interestingly, the Hebrew word for salvation is  "ye-shu-ah"  = Joshua. THIS is the name given to the Christ baby, our SALVATION, "Jesus". Gods action IS Jesus! The blessings of Jesus' salvation are ON HIS PEOPLE (we are saved)!!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm and prayer?

The audience is reminded where to trust = YHWH and HIS action.

Also, it is a Call on God to act, or to save.

How did Christ pray this prayer to His Father?

Lots of answers can be great examples. Jesus constantly hopes and trust in His Father. He goes through the passion as one surrounded by enemies. His life, death and ressurection IS the action of God, the salvation that God's people long for.

(Example: John 17 – Jesus has trust in the salvation of God – God's blessings will be on the followers of Jesus.)

Then, how do we pray to God?

Trust in GOD to save – DO NOT trust in a better ME to save myself…
God does what he says. Call on YHWH and hold Him to His promises!
We are comforted in the middle of enemies and hardship, because God is strong. He acts for our deliverance in Jesus. (Body and soul, remember?)

PRAY:

What does God say? The Second Commandment. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

What do you believe?  Redemption.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What does this mean?I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

What do you pray? The Seventh Petition. But deliver us from evil.
What does this mean?We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.

Praying Psalm 2

“A Fearful Woman”

How do you know your prayers are heard by God?

This is a great opportunity to read Psalms; the Prayer Book of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "Lord, Teach Us to Pray!" We can be sure by praying the way HE taught us. Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer when the disciples asked. We learn to pray for more than just "daily bread" when we use God's Word to pray RATHER THAN the often sinful desires of our heart.

Read Psalm 2:1-3

¹ Why do the nations rage/tumult and the peoples plot/murmur (same word as 1:2, meditate) in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves/take a stand, and the rulers take counsel/SIT/fix (1:1) together, against the YHWH and against his Anointed ("Christos" in Greek), saying,
³"Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."

How do these people and leaders act toward God?

They "fix" together and they are  NOT happy! Contrast to Ps.1 (producing & growing) the people in tumult & murmur/meditate!

They are set against GOD & anointed one. Kings were anointed, David was anointed, Christ was the Anointed one. All of these come to mind.

They want FREEDOM! Might this be the attitude of a non-Christian when they look at the faithful people of God?

Read Psalm 2:4-6

⁴He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision/mocks them.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his wrath/anger/nose/fire, and terrify them in his fury/burning anger, saying,
⁶"As for me/I, I have set/installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.

How does the Lord respond?

He acts in a terrible progression: Laugh, mock, anger – TERRIFY.
The Lord speaks about HIS king. It must be a different king... Again, we think David, Christ...

Read Psalm 2:7-9

⁷I will tell of/recount the decree: The YHWH said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage/property, and the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall break/smash them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."

 Who is the "me" YHWH is speaking to?
 David? A King? But this sounds very similar to Christ's baptism! Psalms include prophesy = Christ is God's son who has been given authority over all the earth. He will come again in glory to conquer the unrighteous.

Read Psalm 2:10-12

¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned/be corrected, O rulers/judges of the earth.
¹¹ (y’all) Serve the YHWH with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you(all) perish in the way, for his wrath/anger is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

What is the purpose of this psalm?

Warning to kings & people.

This is HOW to serve YHWH  - in FEAR. To fear the Lord is not only reverence. It is contains terror as well. (See Isaiah 6)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

How did Christ pray this Psalm?
 In dealing with Pharisees and False teachers, we see glimpses of the wrath and judgement to come. (See warnings in Matthew 11 & 12)Christ continues to call them to FEAR.

Are we afraid of God?
Certainly, our sin makes us unworthy to stand before the Righteous Judge and it is proper to fear Him. We often confess that we SHOULD be punished for our sin. ("I...deserve your temporal and eternal punishment!") Our desparate situation is actually that bad - we continue to live unclean lives and WE don't get any closer to fixing it!

How do we “take refuge”(v.12) in this fearful image of God?

Our comfort is Christ. HE is the only one who could fix this relationship between God and man. Christ is the king that God has installed for his people. Christ will execute the judgement for those who oppose God. Christ has already absorbed and fulfilled the wrath of God that was intended to punish us(for lack of fear). We have been made the good "sons of God" (by virtue of Christ) in which He is well pleased!

PRAY:

What does God say? The First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should FEAR, love, and trust in God above all things.

What do we pray? Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How is this done?When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

Praying Psalm 1

“A Happy Woman”

Are you happy?

Read Psalm 1:1-2

¹Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
²but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night

What does this happy person do?

He does NOT: Walk, stand, sit. Poetically, this intensifies where the person is. He is not with these people!

BUT he does this: delights and meditates – day & night ALL the time – it is part of you.

What is the Torah of YHWH?

Torah means "Law" - 1^st 5 books of OT laws AND promises. It is so much more than the 10 commandments. Rather, Torah is the story of God and his loving instruction.

Yahweh (YHWH) means "LORD" - This is the all-capital-letter name of God. This is the name He gives Moses at the burning bush ("who shall I say sent me?"). This name comes from Hebrew verb "hayah" meaning "to be". YHWH is actually a verb, an action - God names himself by His works/acts.

Read Psalm 1:3-4

³He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

 ⁴The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Describe the “happy” tree.
 It is transplanted, not just planted (which is a different Hebrew word). The roots go to water (hmmm. living water?). It does what a tree was created to do, produce. AND it's alive forever?? ALWAYS prospering. Wow, do real trees DO this??

Describe the wicked.
Opposite – They're dry, not living, blown away, gone. This was a huge fear for the Hebrew culture, that they would not be remembered.

Read Psalm 1:5-6

⁵Therefore the wicked shall not stand (jussive) in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 What is the unhappy conclusion for the wicked?

They will not stand before God. AND they won't stand with righteous, either - THEY ARE ALONE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

Who would you rather be, the happy, or the wicked?
 Why? This Psalm is a description of a happy/wicked person. It showcases the beauty of the righteous.

Is Christ happy?
He is the ultimate happy man. He was/is the Word through and through, day and night. He is THE tree of life (check out Revelation) from which all water flows. His way was always the way of His Father in heaven, and God was pleased.

Are you happy?
 YES, happy is NOT a feeling. You, like the happy tree, were transplanted (by another) given life by water, bore fruit, and will do it FOREVER. Happiness is living where YOU were planted by God, in Christ.  Day & night, Christ's Word is in you; it was poured over you in Baptism; it is fed to you in His body & blood. Happy women are sustained in the "way of the righteous," namely, the redemptive acts of Christ and graceful acceptance by God.

PRAY:

 Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean? God would thereby [with this little introduction] tenderly urge us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.

A View From the Cry Room: Christmas

     The Christmas songs have begun on our radio, and this year I hear a haunting theme over and over. Adults are longing to see the Christmas season through a child’s eyes. Oh, but there are places to go, meals to cook, things to mail… Looking down at my own children, I pause to consider how they do see Christmas.

      During the next several weeks of shopping and decorating and baking and eating, there are new and delightful treats behind every corner. There are smells and colors that we reserve for this time of year, like candy canes, gingerbread and red/green bows. There are special songs and emotions that seem to touch the heart of everyone. Anticipation builds while we wait for family to arrive or gifts to be opened.

     As for my children, there’s even more! They watch colors in church change from blue to white and see special candles shine. They stay up later after “night church” and spend more time with their church family. They smell a Christmas tree and hum favorite hymns along with choirs, organs, and bells. Excitement about the coming of baby Jesus is displayed in every art project or Barbie playtime.

     I guess to see Christmas alongside my children rekindles some simple joys. I can feel excitement, happiness and anticipation that are often overshadowed by responsibility. I can hear the same words of God (that I know by heart) and rejoice anew! I can even taste the salvation that has come, and will come again soon.

A View From the Cry Room

Screaming, scolding, sobbing, shushing… Sunday morning church can be an emotional event with a child. Just last Sunday I held my 21 month old son, Titus, hearing only his angry cry (and not the prayers). In response, my tears were just behind my eyes, welling deeper with every passing minute.

“I want to be with THEM”, I thought, “I want to sit quietly and listen intently, just like the rest of the church.”

My mind wandered to the handful of times when I was on the other side of the glass, but then, years of memories flooded from the cry room or mother’s room or training chapel or even the narthex of our past. Roughly counting, I am coming up on a 10 year anniversary in the little (not so) sound-proof room in the back of the church!

 So is that all it is? Just a little room where the bad kids sit until they can be a respectable part of the body of Christ? Reflecting on my own life in faith for the last 12 years with these tiny Christians, it has been so much more. It is where Karra learned how to hold a hymnal, right side up. Julianna memorized the words of the Lord’s Prayer and when to fold her hands. Rose could hear herself sing and is now obsessed with church hymn tunes. Naomi discovered she couldn’t see what was going on, and quickly adapted to life in the pew. Each of my children had always been a part of worship in these separate little places, as was I.

So the tears subsided, the pacifier comfort kicked in, and both mama and baby began to calm down. I was thankful for the small space where Titus may learn something to move us closer to the live version of church. But I know we will continue to wrestle with lessons of silence and stillness. Then, Pastor appropriately concluded, “The Lord look upon you with favor and grant you peace.” Sure enough, his head on my shoulder, his eyes puffy from tears, Titus affirmed, “Amen!”

How to Study the Psalms

The Book of Psalms is a Prayer Book found in the Bible. It is a beautiful guide to prayer by the very breath of God. Our journey through the Psalms is not unique or new. Christians have prayed these words for thousands of years. Even now, the faith we confess echoes these very words back to God in our own spiritual conversation.

Our Study "Praying the Psalms"  has THREE sections:

(1) Study:
What do these words mean to an Old Testament Israelite? Who wrote it and why? How does Hebrew Poetry depict the prayer? A good commentary (by the direction of your Pastor) is helpful to get at the immediate sense of the Psalm.

(2)What does this mean for me?
This is the point where we jump from Old Testament Israel to the 21st Century Christian. The only way we can pray to God is to pray in the name of Jesus. He is the bridge in our right relationship with God. What kind of psalm is this? How did Christ pray it? Only then we begin to learn how to pray.

(3) PRAY:
Lastly, we pray the Words Jesus has given us. The Lord's Prayer contains every prayer we need to communicate with Our Father in Heaven. Our lessons in prayer flow from the ancient Christian Faith, through the atoning work of Christ, filling our hearts with God's own word and His good and gracious will.

Each week I will post the next psalm so that you can follow along! Focus on one petition of the Lord's Prayer each week.

**PLEASE READ**

Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

 I make reference to this small (65 page) booklet throughout the study. Bonhoeffer clearly explains the amazing connection between Christ, the Psalms, and our prayers. It shapes and guides our discussion of Praying the Psalms!

FULL of it

You may think we are FULL of Grace. You may think we go to church to fill up the cosmic gas tank. You may think that a little more Grace gets us a little closer to God... Well, actually we're full of  %*#! Grace is not a thing, we can't measure it and then get more. Grace is a relationship. He could have held us accountable for our own sin. He could have made us suffer our own punishment. He could have kept his own son alive. But God acts gracefully to us. Jesus Christ's perfect will and work is applied to our account, because God is gracious. We are Graceful ladies because Christ has paid our debt in full.