COOL STUFF ABOUT PSALMS* Psalms = “Book of Praises”

* It’s an edited book, containing 5 books (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150)

* Almost half (73) are attributed to David

* Middle verse(s) of the Bible: Psa 103:1-2

* Middle chapter of the Bible: Psa 117

PSALM 117Praise the LORD*, all you nations;extol Him, all you peoples.

For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the LORD*.

* Hallelu Yah (Hallelujah)

N.T. Wright

N.T. WRIGHT“By all means, write new songs. Each generation must do that. But to neglect the church’s original hymnbook is, to put it bluntly, crazy...

The Psalms represent the Bible’s own spiritual root system for the great tree we call Christianity.”

N.T. WRIGHT“The Psalms invite their singers (and readers) to live at the crossroads of time, space, and matter…between God’s time and our time…between God’s space and our space…between the created order…and the way in which creation…is promised that it will at last be filled afresh, filled to overflowing, with the (full) grandeur and glory (of God.)”

Tim Keller

PSALM 1:1-3Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on His law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

THE PROMISES of MEDITATION1. It leads to STABILITY

(like a tree planted by water…)

* Trees by streams can do well even w/little rain* Streams = word of God* Roots in water = meditation* Produces stability, peace, courage, even in times of great difficulty, adversity or upheaval

THE PROMISES of MEDITATION1. It leads to STABILITY

(like a tree planted by water…)

2. It produces CHARACTER(yields its fruit in season…)

* Not simply feelings, but real depth* Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

THE PROMISES of MEDITATION1. It leads to STABILITY

(like a tree planted by water…)

2. It produces CHARACTER(yields its fruit in season…)

3. It brings BLESSEDNESS(whose delight is in the Law…)

* Moves us through duty, to joy

PSALM 103:1-2Praise the Lord,my soul; and all myinmost being, praiseHis holy name.Praise the Lord,my soul, and forgetnot all His benefits.

PSALM 103:3-5- forgiveness- healing- redemption- satisfaction- renewal

PSALM 1:4-5Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

QUESTIONS for THE TEXT1. What did the original author intend to

convey to the original readers?

2. What role does this text play inScripture as a whole; how does itlead us to Jesus?

3. Is this a COVENANT or KINGDOM text?

TIM KELLER“Unless you do the hard work of answering those (kinds of) questions about a text, your meditation won’t be grounded in what God is actually saying in the passage…(you’ll be) listening to your own heart or to the spirit of your own culture, not to God’s voice in Scripture.”

WAYS to MEDITATE WELL1. FIX your MIND

* Is there something to learn about how to live in this passage?

* Is there something to learn about Jesus, His heart/mind/salvation?

* Is there something to learn about being the people of God?

WAYS to MEDITATE WELL1. FIX your MIND

* Take one specific verse and pray through it, emphasizing and thinking on each specific word, one at a time

* Close the Bible & try paraphrasing the text in your own words; then look back and see what you missed

* Memorize the passage

1 JOHN 1:9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

WAYS to MEDITATE WELL2. INCLINE your HEART

* What can I praise God for?* What do I need to repent of?* What can I ask &/or thank Him for?* Is there something I need to stop doing as a result of this passage?* Is there something I need to start doing as a result of this passage?* Is there something to the timing here?

1 JOHN 1:9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

WAYS to MEDITATE WELL2. TEMPER your EXPECTATIONS

* Remember, trees don’t grow overnight* The growth process will be cumulative* We have to stick with it (day and night…)

WAYS to MEDITATE WELL3. TURN your EYES UPON JESUS

* Read about and think on His life* Thank Him for who He is and what He has done* Meditate on Him, and with Him

SOUL TRAINING EXERCISE

Meditate on & memorize Romans 16:19b“I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”* Is there something I need to * Is there something I need to STOPSTOP doing? doing? * Is there something I need to * Is there something I need to STARTSTART doing? doing? * Is there something to the timing here?* Is there something to the timing here?