Prayer and the Psalmsናሙና

Introduction

Between Psalm 1 and Psalm 150 we find every kind of prayer; prayer that includes every emotion, complaint, resolution, lack of resolution, marvel, wonder and praise, and everything in between.  The Psalms are not full of a polite poetry to ease you into a gentle sleep – a rock-a-bye-baby faith.  On the contrary. 

There is no human emotion that the Psalms don’t refer to, in some way or other.  A faith that can’t allow for the expression of our humanity will always be a short-changing spirituality – inadequate and inept.  

It is to God we should least hide our feelings, our pains, griefs and our triumphs. Only Almighty God can bear our unbearable-nesses.  The Psalms address, allow for, and encourage us to ‘let it all hang out.’  David and other of the Psalmists certainly did.  They were at times tender and full of trust, and at other times raw and angry, full of doubt.  But always, real.

In his book, An Introduction to the Old Testament, John Goldingay (A British Old Testament scholar) states the Psalms are, “one hundred and fifty examples of how to talk to God.”  What a brilliant and succinct description.  

He helps us further understand the Psalms, writing, “The main genres are songs of praise or hymns, prayers or protests (corporate and individual) and thanksgiving and testimonies (corporate and individual).”  He raises the point that the Psalms are songs of trust and protest – not either/or, but both, and they relate to us as individuals as well as to us as God’s gathered people.  We should use them in the closet, and in the chapel. 

The Psalms invite participation and should be read/sung aloud where possible.  Some are beautiful in their descriptions of God’s majesty and some are raw, and doubt-filled in regards to God’s care or concern.  Some are quite troubling (although being in poetic form they probably aren’t referring to actual action/vengeances).  These are called the Psalms of Imprecation.  These strong articulations don’t necessarily precipitate strong actions – they may even dampen the possibility if expressed correctly.  It is unhealthy not to reveal our feelings, our frustrations, but it is unhealthy to dump them on others.  God understands - he is the only one that does. Go to him, dump on him, and less on others (who may be the focus of your frustration in the first place).  God is hardly shocked by what you face and think.

Eugene Petersen, who wrote The Message Bible, says the Psalms have historically been the prayer book of God’s people, precisely because they cover most all of what we feel or face (particularly as it relates to prayer).

We have lost a vital and valuable means of prayer if we don’t avail ourselves of the rich heritage of the Psalms, as God’s people have done down through the ages.  And why try to reinvent the wheel? 

I encourage you to pick up the book of Psalms when you pray – it will enrich your communications with God the Father by the Holy Spirit.  Pray along with the greats in their struggles and triumphs - their words will become yours. 

Psalm 1 - Blessed is the man

There is no better place to start when talking of the Psalms than Psalm 1, and we can do no better than quote it.  It sets the stage for these devotional readings of scripture that look at the role of the Psalms and prayer in the life of the people of God.  

“Blessed 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;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He 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.

The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.”

This Psalm is unequivocal – God’s word/law is the basis of a full and fruitful life.  To follow its counsel is wisdom, to fail to follow its counsel is folly – from cradle to grave.