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Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists

Discover the power of praying the Psalms and learn how to incorporate their emotions, expressions, and praises into your own prayer life. Explore the cultural differences and find lessons that can deepen your connection with God.

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Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists

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  1. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists

  2. DeitrichBonhoeffer: “The only way to understand the psalms is on your knees, the whole congregation praying the words of the psalms with all its strength”. (My Soul Finds Rest, Edwin Robertson trans. And ed., Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2002, page 11)

  3. Singing the Psalms • “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah!,” “Praise the Lord”—Psalm 148 • “The Lord’s My Shepherd,” “The Lord My Shepherd Is,” “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want”—Psalm 23 • “How Shall the Young Secure”—Psalm 119 • “As the Deer”—Psalm 42 • “This Is the Day”—Psalm 118 • “I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord”—Psalm 89 • “You Are My Strength,” “I Will Call Upon the Lord”—Psalm 18 • “Unto Thee O Lord” –Psalm 25 • “How Majestic Is Your Name”—Psalm 8

  4. Emotions in the Psalms: • Distress • Psalm 22:1-5--My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? 1bFar from my deliverance are the words of my 2cgroaning. 2 O my God, I acry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but 1I have no rest. 3 Yet aYou are holy, O You who 1are enthroned upon bthe praises of Israel. 4 In You our fathers atrusted; They trusted and You bdelivered them. 5 To You they cried out and were delivered; aIn You they trusted and were not 1disappointed.

  5. Emotions in the Psalms: • Distress • Desire for Deliverance • Psalm 102:1-2--Hear my prayer, O Lord! And let my cry for help bcome to You. 2 aDo not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress; bIncline Your ear to me; In the day when I call aanswer me quickly.

  6. Emotions in the Psalms: • Distress • Desire for deliverance • Appreciation and Praise • Psalm 8:1-9--O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have 1adisplayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 aFrom the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established 1bstrength Because of Your adversaries, To make cthe enemy and the revengeful cease. 3When I 1aconsider bYour heavens, the work of Your fingers, The cmoon and the stars, which You have 2ordained; 4 aWhat is man that You 1take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a alittle lower than 1God, And bYou crown him with cglory and majesty! 6 You make him to arule over the works of Your hands; You have bput all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the 1beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9aOLord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

  7. Emotions in the Psalms: • Distress • Desire for deliverance • Appreciation and Praise • Joy of Forgiveness (Psalm 32) • Contrition (Psalm 51)

  8. The Psalms: • Enliven Us • We can learn from others similar experiences. • We can learn from their dependence on God. • We can learn from their creativity. • Make Us Feel Uncomfortable • Inadequate in our expression to God. • Uncomfortable to address God in a demanding way. (Ref. Psalm 102) • Uncomfortable to speak in terms of imprecation . (Ref. Psalm 108)

  9. We Don’t Have to Pray Just Like the Psalmists • The Psalms Are Apart of the Old Testament. • The Psalms were apart of the Old Covenant. (John 10:34-35) • The Hebrew writer remind us that by necessity there was a change in law. (Hebrews 7:12) • We are no longer under a “tutor”. (Galatians 3:24-25) • Christ was the end of the law (Romans 10:4). Truly Christ fulfilled the law. (Matthew 5:17) • BUT the Old Testament was written for our learning. (Romans 15:4)

  10. We Don’t Have to Pray Just Like the Psalmists • The Psalms Are Apart of the Old Testament. • The Psalms Were Written in a Culturally Appropriate Form. • Edwin Crozier: “As God did with all scripture, He used the men within their culture, with their backgrounds to write out His revelation. To act like we must pray exactly as the psalmist did would be similar to saying we can only preach about judgment the way those who wrote in the apocalyptic style did.” (2009 SITS Conference, Psalms for the Soul, page 86)

  11. Cultural Differences • Psalm 102:1-2— Hear my prayer, O Lord! And let my cry for help bcome to You. 2 aDo not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress; bIncline Your ear to me; In the day when I call aanswer me quickly. • John 19:26—When Jesus then saw His mother, and athe disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He * said to His mother, “bWoman, behold, your son!”

  12. We Don’t Have to Pray Just Like the Psalmists • The Psalms Are Apart of the Old Testament. • The Psalms Were Written in a Culturally Appropriate Form. • When Jesus Taught His Disciples to Pray He Did Not Reference the Psalms. (Luke 11:1-4; Matt. 6:9-13) • However: Ref. Matt. 27:46; Luke 23:46; • The Hebrews Did Not Always Pray Like the Psalmist. • Isaiah 38:2-3; Isaiah 38:9-20; There Are Many Lessons We Can Learn from the Psalms (1 Cor. 10:11; Romans 15:4)

  13. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists • To Pray Like the Psalmists, We Must Believe in God Like the Psalmists.

  14. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God Is. • The psalmists prayed like they did because they believed God existed. • Psalm 14:1—The fool has asaid in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable 1deeds; There is bno one who does good. • Psalm 53:1—The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; bThere is no one who does good. • To the psalmist hardship was not proof of atheism, instead it was reason to humble oneself before God.

  15. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God Is. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR.

  16. Psalm 8:1-9-- O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have 1adisplayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 aFrom the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established 1bstrength Because of Your adversaries, To make cthe enemy and the revengeful cease. 3When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The cmoon and the stars, which You have 2ordained; 4 What is man that You 1take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a alittle lower than 1God, And bYou crown him with cglory and majesty! 6 You make him to arule over the works of Your hands; You have bput all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the 1beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9aOLord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth! The Creation Manifests God’s Glory (vv. 1, 3) When We View Creation We Should be Reminded of God’s Greatness and Our Humble Dependent Nature

  17. Psalm 139:13-16--For You aformed my 1inward parts; You bwove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for 1I am fearfully and wonderfully made; aWonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My 1aframe was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the bdepths of the earth; 16 Your aeyes have seen my unformed substance; And in bYour book were all written The cdays that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. • God’s Awesome Nature in Creation Is Seen in Us. • God Knew David Before His Birth. • This Great Knowledge Can Affect Us in One of Two Ways: • I’ll isolate myself from God in shame. • I’ll draw near to God in transparent honesty.

  18. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God Is. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE.

  19. God Is the Source: • The psalmist viewed God as the source of everything good. • He is the source of truth. • Psalm 43:3—O send out Your alight and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your bholy hill And to Your cdwelling places. • He is the source of blessing. • Psalm 24:5—He shall receive a ablessing from the Lord And 1brighteousness from the God of his salvation. • He is the source of life. • Psalm 36:9—For with You is the afountain of life; In Your light we see light.

  20. God Is the Source: • God allowed illness (Psalm 102:3-11) • God allowed enemies to continue (Psalm 13:2) • God allowed financial ruin (Psalm 62:9-10) • God allowed struggles (Psalms 88:3-7) How Did This Affect Prayer? Because they viewed God as the source or sovereign in control they lamented everything from illness to attack and took it to God in prayer. Why? Because God could do something about it.

  21. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God IS. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is JUDGE.

  22. God Is a Fair and Equitable Judge • Psalm 96:10-13—Say among the nations, “aTheLord reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;He will judge the peoples with equity.” 11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; 12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy 13Before the Lord, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness And the peoples in His faithfulness. How did this affect the Psalmists? The Psalmist is accountable to God. The Psalmist would appeal to the Lord to judge the wicked. (Psalm 94:2, 22-23;)

  23. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God IS. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is JUDGE. • The Psalmist Believed God Is KING.

  24. God Is King • Psalm 95:3— For the Lord is a agreatGod And a great King babove all gods, • Ref. Deut. 6:4-5; Psalm 86:10; • If He is the only king, then He is my king. • Psalm 5:2-- Heed athe sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. • Psalm 84:3-- The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your aaltars, O Lord of hosts, bMy King and my God. • If He is king, then He is to be served and praised. • Psalm 95:1-3—O come, let us asing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to bthe rock of our salvation. 2 Let us acome before His presence bwith1thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him cwith2psalms. 3 For the Lord is a agreat God And a great King babove all gods, • Psalm 145:1— I will aextol You, bmy God, O King, And I will cbless Your name forever and ever.

  25. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God IS. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is JUDGE. • The Psalmist Believed God Is KING. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His ROCK, FORTRESS, MIGHTY TOWER.

  26. God Is Our ROCK, FORTRESS, and MIGHTY TOWER • Psalm 18:1-6 --“I love You, O Lord, amy strength.” 2 The Lord is amy1rock and bmy fortress and my cdeliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My dshield and the ehorn of my salvation, my fstronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is aworthy to be praised, And I am bsaved from my enemies. 4 The acords of death encompassed me, And the btorrents of 1ungodliness 2terrified me. 5 The acords of 1Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 6 In my adistress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice bout of His temple, And my ccry for help before Him came into His ears.

  27. God Is Our ROCK, FORTRESS, and MIGHTY TOWER • How did this affect the Psalmist? • We cannot rely upon on kings (Psalm 48:4-5) • We cannot rely on armies or personal strength (Psalm 33:16) • We cannot rely on riches (Psalm 62:9-10) • We cannot rely on family (Psalm 27:10) • We cannot rely on friends (Psalm 41:9) • WE CAN RELY ON GOD.

  28. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God IS. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is JUDGE. • The Psalmist Believed God Is KING. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His ROCK, FORTRESS, MIGHTY TOWER. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His SHEPHERD.

  29. God Is Our Shepherd • Psalm 28:9— Save Your people and bless bYour inheritance; Be their cshepherd also, and dcarry them forever. • Psalm 80:1— Oh, give ear, aShepherd of Israel, You who lead bJoseph like a flock; You who care enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!

  30. God Is Our Shepherd • Psalm 23:1-6— The Lord is my ashepherd, I 1shall bnot want. 2 He makes me lie down in agreen pastures; He bleads me beside 1cquiet waters. 3 He arestoresmy soul; He bguidesme in the 1cpaths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I awalk through the 1valley of the shadow of death, I bfear no 2evil, for cYou are with me; Your drod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You aprepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You 1have banointed my head with oil; My ccup overflows. 6 1Surely agoodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will 2bdwell in the house of the Lord3forever.

  31. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God IS. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is JUDGE. • The Psalmist Believed God Is KING. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His ROCK, FORTRESS, MIGHTY TOWER. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His SHEPHERD. • The Psalmist Believed God Is NEAR.

  32. God Was Spoken Of As Being Far Away in the Psalms: • Psalm 10:1— Why ado You stand afar off, O Lord? Why bdo You hide 1Yourself in times of trouble? • Psalm 13:1— How long, O Lord? Will You aforget me forever? How long bwill You hide Your face from me? • God Was Spoken of As Being Near in the Psalms: • Psalm 34:18--The Lordis near sto those who have a broken heart, And saves such as 4have a contrite spirit. Far seems to convey an expression of anguish. “Why has God not acted?” Near seems to convey that God does hear, He does act, He sees.

  33. The nearness of God affected the psalmists belief because the psalmist kept on praying, writing, and appealing to God. • They knew God did listen. (Psalm 5:3; Psalm 94:9)

  34. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God IS. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is JUDGE. • The Psalmist Believed God Is KING. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His ROCK, FORTRESS, MIGHTY TOWER. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His SHEPHERD. • The Psalmist Believed God Is NEAR. • The Psalmist Believed God Is LOVE.

  35. God’s Steadfast Love • God’s steadfast love is precious. (Psalm 36:7) • God saves because of His steadfast love. (Psalm 6:4) • He is merciful and forgets our sins because of His steadfast love. (Psalm 25:6-7) • His steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts Him. (Psalm 32:10) • His steadfast love endures all day. (Psalm 52:1) • God answers our pleas because of His steadfast love (Psalm 69:16) • His steadfast love holds us up when we think we’ll slip(Psalm 94:18) • His steadfast love endures forever(Psalm 100:5) Whether the psalmist was angry, sad, mad, distressed, harassed, happy, etc. The psalmist agreed that God loved them. Therefore they pray. If we want to pray like the psalmists then we will have to understand that God loves us as well.

  36. The Psalmist Believed in God • The Psalmist Believed that God IS. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is CREATOR. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is the SOURCE. • The Psalmist Believed that God Is JUDGE. • The Psalmist Believed God Is KING. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His ROCK, FORTRESS, MIGHTY TOWER. • The Psalmist Believed God Is His SHEPHERD. • The Psalmist Believed God Is NEAR. • The Psalmist Believed God Is LOVE.

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