week 1
"There is no other way in. Prayer is essential. Find an hour each day, in the morning if possible, and pray."
- Francis de Sales
introduction to the Series
Most of what we learn how to do, we learn from other people. Sometimes it is the learning that comes from specific and deliberate instruction. At other times it is the learning that comes by way of example and imitation.
During 2023, our endeavor is to learn how to pray from the Psalmist.*
The Book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible, and it is mostly a book of prayers. We will spend the year going through the book, beginning to end, and letting the Psalmist teach us by example how to pray.
In this endeavor, we cannot benefit from his deliberate instruction, of course. What we can do, however, is take full advantage of his example. We will observe how he prays, and we will learn to imitate him.
Our approach will be week by week. The recommended practices and exercises are not daily, but rather suggestions for an individual to implement throughout the whole week.
During 2023, our endeavor is to learn how to pray from the Psalmist.*
The Book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible, and it is mostly a book of prayers. We will spend the year going through the book, beginning to end, and letting the Psalmist teach us by example how to pray.
In this endeavor, we cannot benefit from his deliberate instruction, of course. What we can do, however, is take full advantage of his example. We will observe how he prays, and we will learn to imitate him.
Our approach will be week by week. The recommended practices and exercises are not daily, but rather suggestions for an individual to implement throughout the whole week.
This week's Psalms
Psalms 1, 2, and 3.
this week's exercises
Read Psalm 1. This Psalm is not a prayer in the sense of being addressed to God. It is, however, an affirmation of how things work under God. It is important for the people of God to affirm -- to articulate and say aloud -- the things that are true.
Read Psalm 1 again, but this time read it aloud. Read it aloud in the same tone of voice with which you would make some other statement about which you are certain and passionate -- e.g., why this season or that your favorite season of the year.
Read Psalm 1 one verse at a time. After each verse, pause to pray, with these questions in mind:
Read Psalm 2. Like Psalm 1, Psalm 2 is not a traditional prayer in the sense of being addressed to God. Yet, again, it affirms truths about God and the world. At the end of every three verses of Psalm 2, say to God in prayer what you understand is the truth being affirmed in those verses.
Read Psalm 2 again, watching for reasons to praise and thank God in the Psalm. Give expression to that thanks and praise.
Intercessory prayer is asking God to intervene in some situation where it seems that His will is not being done. Read Psalm 2 prayerfully, watching for anything that prompts you to intercessory prayer.
Read Psalm 3. The Psalmist begins by crying out to God about how many enemies or foes he has. According to tradition, the Psalm came out of the time when David was usurped by his son Absalom. That suggests that he felt like he had enemies at several levels: military, political, and personal. Not every enemy draws a sword or a gun against you. Some may only use their tongues. Some enemies -- that is, things that threaten us -- aren't even people, at all; they are disease or fear, pain or temptation, and more. Make a list of some of the enemies that you have had in the past, as well as any enemies you feel you have in the present. Pray through Psalm 3 in a personal way, and make specific reference to some of those past and present enemies where it is appropriate in the prayer.
While the Psalmist feels surrounded by enemies, he doesn't spend much time describing them in this particular Psalm. He does, on the other hand, make a number of definitive statements about God. That can be hard to do -- to focus on God when there are threatening and frightening circumstances on every side. Read Psalm 3 again, and list the things that the Psalmist declares and affirms about God in Psalm 3. Rewrite those affirmations in your own words and according to your own experience.
Psalm 3 seems to be written out of present crisis, yet the Psalmist makes reference to past experiences of divine help and salvation. What past experiences of God's faithfulness and care should you deliberately recall today in the face of whatever troubles or challenges you may be facing?
While the entire context of Psalm 3 suggests the need for help, verse 7 is the only explicit moment where the Psalmist specifically expresses his cry for God to help him. How is the Psalmist's approach in Psalm 3 exemplary for you in terms of how you should pray when you need the Lord's help.
Read Psalm 1 again, but this time read it aloud. Read it aloud in the same tone of voice with which you would make some other statement about which you are certain and passionate -- e.g., why this season or that your favorite season of the year.
Read Psalm 1 one verse at a time. After each verse, pause to pray, with these questions in mind:
- Is there anything here for which I should thank or praise the Lord?
- Is there anything for which this prompts me to repent?
- Is there a commitment to the Lord that I should make in response to this verse?
Read Psalm 2. Like Psalm 1, Psalm 2 is not a traditional prayer in the sense of being addressed to God. Yet, again, it affirms truths about God and the world. At the end of every three verses of Psalm 2, say to God in prayer what you understand is the truth being affirmed in those verses.
Read Psalm 2 again, watching for reasons to praise and thank God in the Psalm. Give expression to that thanks and praise.
Intercessory prayer is asking God to intervene in some situation where it seems that His will is not being done. Read Psalm 2 prayerfully, watching for anything that prompts you to intercessory prayer.
Read Psalm 3. The Psalmist begins by crying out to God about how many enemies or foes he has. According to tradition, the Psalm came out of the time when David was usurped by his son Absalom. That suggests that he felt like he had enemies at several levels: military, political, and personal. Not every enemy draws a sword or a gun against you. Some may only use their tongues. Some enemies -- that is, things that threaten us -- aren't even people, at all; they are disease or fear, pain or temptation, and more. Make a list of some of the enemies that you have had in the past, as well as any enemies you feel you have in the present. Pray through Psalm 3 in a personal way, and make specific reference to some of those past and present enemies where it is appropriate in the prayer.
While the Psalmist feels surrounded by enemies, he doesn't spend much time describing them in this particular Psalm. He does, on the other hand, make a number of definitive statements about God. That can be hard to do -- to focus on God when there are threatening and frightening circumstances on every side. Read Psalm 3 again, and list the things that the Psalmist declares and affirms about God in Psalm 3. Rewrite those affirmations in your own words and according to your own experience.
Psalm 3 seems to be written out of present crisis, yet the Psalmist makes reference to past experiences of divine help and salvation. What past experiences of God's faithfulness and care should you deliberately recall today in the face of whatever troubles or challenges you may be facing?
While the entire context of Psalm 3 suggests the need for help, verse 7 is the only explicit moment where the Psalmist specifically expresses his cry for God to help him. How is the Psalmist's approach in Psalm 3 exemplary for you in terms of how you should pray when you need the Lord's help.
* We will refer to the author as “the Psalmist,” though of course not all of the Psalms were written by the same person. A significant number are attributed to David. Others are associated with Asaph, the sons of Korah, and an assortment of other individuals. Also, several dozen Psalms have no name attached to them. For the sake of ease and uniformity, we will simply refer to “the Psalmist.”