This course explores 18 selected psalms from the Psalter, the prayer book of the Bible and the early church. You will be encouraged and inspired by Israel’s worship and praise of God as Creator. You will also come to sense how these ancient songs and prayers shaped the lives of God’s people and sense the call of the Davidic kingdom that resounds throughout many of the psalms.
This course will examine themes of celebration, including praise for God’s glory and his presence, as well as thanksgiving for his lovingkindness and faithfulness. It will also examine the lament of God’s people for challenges they faced, losses and injustices suffered, and the hope they found in the middle of distress or disaster.
These important psalms not only point Christians today towards worship in song or personal piety in practice, they also give voice and expression to concrete situations of international justice and global concerns for God to put the world to rights. The psalmist asks real questions such as:
• How come the world is this way?
• How do I pray for someone who feels the closure of death?
• What expressions can I use to praise the Lord and respond to the call to worship?
• Where can I turn when everything seems hopeless?
• Why does it seem like the wicked go unpunished?
• What words can I use to give thanks to God?
• How can I celebrate with joy for all that God has done?
We invite you to join us as we explore these selections from the Psalms that continue to sing God’s praise, build up the church, and give Christian voice that might resound throughout the world today.
Introduction to the Psalter
Introduction to the Psalter
Reading of Psalm 1
1m
Psalm 1: The Lord Watches over the Righteous
17m
Reading of Psalm 2
2m
Psalm 2: God Establishes His Kingdom for the World
18m
Psalms of Ordinary Life
Reading of Psalm 3
1m
Psalm 3: A Paradigm for Ordinary Life
15m
Reading of Psalm 8
1m
Psalm 8: The Mystery of Being Human
17m
Reading of Psalm 19
2m
Psalm 19: A Poem about God’s Law
19m
Psalms of Lament
Reading of Psalm 44
3m
Psalm 44: A Lament of the People of God
17m
Reading of Psalm 88
2m
Psalm 88: Darkness Is My Only Companion
15m
Psalms of Celebrating Creation
Reading of Psalm 104
4m
Psalm 104: A Celebration of God the Creator
18m
Reading of Psalm 65
2m
Psalm 65: The Bounty of Creation
16m
Psalms of Joy
Reading of Psalms 96, 98
3m
Psalms 96, 98: Celebrate the New Thing God Is Doing
16m
Reading of Psalms 95, 97, 99, 100
4m
Psalms 95, 97, 99, 100: Worship God with Thanksgiving
19m
Psalms of Remembrance
Reading of Psalms 105, 106
9m
Psalms 105, 106: Two Sides of the Story of God’s People