WEEK 3 |
psalms this week |
When we pray, remember: |
Psalms 7, 8, and 9.
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introduction to the Series
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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. |
Exercises for this week
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Psalm 7
Read Psalm 7. In this Psalm, the writer is very confident of his own innocence. He believes he is suffering unjustly. And in the midst of that situation, he calls out to God for help. What does all of that suggest to you about the Psalmist's faith? In what ways does the writer of Psalm 7 provide an example for you to follow?
We have noted that the Psalmist was confident of his innocence. Of what else was he confident? Make a list. Review that list in prayer. Talk to the Lord about the degree to which you are or are not similarly confident. At the beginning of Psalm 7, the Psalmist says to the Lord, "In you I take refuge." Take a few moments to write down the attributes of a good refuge. Review the list of attributes, and talk to God about each. To what extent do those attributes describe Him? Thank and praise Him for His attributes as a refuge. While the Psalmist says that he takes refuge in the Lord, people take refuge in a lot of different kinds of things -- different kinds of places, experiences, relationships, etc. Make a list of some of the other refuges to which people turn when they are frightened or in trouble. Make a list of some of the refuges to which you have turned at times when you've been frightened or in trouble. Compare those to the Lord. Talk to Him about each. One of the central faith issues with this sort of prayer is an assumption that God is just. Spend a few moments thinking about what that means. Write out a list of statements that would complete this sentence: "Because God is just, I can count on it that..." |
Psalm 8
Read Psalm 8. The Psalmist begins and ends with exclamations about the Lord's name. The name of the Lord is a crucial theme in Scripture, and we will see its importance again and again in the Psalms. The Israelites were taught not to take His name in vain (Exodus 20:7), His name is associated with His presence (e.g., 1 Kings 8:29), it is identified as a place of refuge for the righteous (Proverbs 18:10), and Jesus taught that its treatment as holy was the first thing we should pray for (Matthew 6:9). In light of all that, spend some moments right now meditating on what the Psalmist says about the Lord's name.
Write out a description of how you imagine the Psalmist was feeling in verses 3 and 4. How did the Psalmist respond to that feeling? What other ways might people respond to that same feeling? In Psalm 8, the Psalmist marvels at several different things. Among other things, he marvels over human beings. What seems to be amazing and significant about human beings? Make a list. Then talk to the Lord about that list the way the Psalmist would. The Psalmist marvels at several things in Psalm 8. Among other things, he marvels at creation. What seems to be marvelous and wonderful about the creation? Make a list. Then talk to the Lord about it the way the Psalmist would. Above all, the Psalmist marvels at the Lord. What is marvelous about Him? Make a list. Talk to Him about it the way the Psalmist would. |
Psalm 9
Read Psalm 9. Over the course of the Psalm, the Psalmist makes numerous references to other people -- or at least types of people. Make a list of the various references to other people. Review that list in prayer, acknowledging before God to what extent each type of person factors into your own prayers.
Review again the list of peoples made above. Next to each, write down God's response to those people according to the Psalmist. In verse 1, the Psalmist says to the Lord, "I will recount all of your wonderful deeds" (ESV). The underlying Hebrew verb that we render as "recount" is related to the Hebrew noun for "scribe." The idea is to make a careful record; to write it all down; and to preserve it for others to read. Talk to the Lord about what it would mean for you to recount all of His wonderful deeds in your life. As in Psalm 7, one of the underlying tenets of Psalm 9 is that the Lord is just. Reflect on that theme in this Psalm, and make a list of the things the Lord does because He is just. It is not until verse 13 that the Psalmist gives the first hint that he is in need of help in the present. Most of what preceded verse 13 was a recalling of what the Lord has done in the past. As you pray about what ways you need the Lord's help today, take the time to precede your request with "twelve verses" of who He is and what He has done in the past. Based on what you read in this Psalm, what would you say the Psalmist wants other to know. Make a list. Then talk to the Lord candidly about what you want others to know. |
* 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.”