Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Week 1 (Week 5) Sean's Topics
Sean, please place at least three posts here about what you are studying. Ed and Tyler, you may post here in response to Sean's posts. You may ask him a question (Be creative and put two sentences with the question if you want it to be one of your posts that count for the week.)
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Sean, please give us the title of your book again, and the chapter title we will discuss this week.
For your second and third posts, pick out two of the most important, or most striking, or most interesting parts of the chapter, and post comments about them. (Don't agonize over what is "most" though. If nothing stands out, just pick two items and make comments about them.)
My book is titled The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey. This week I'm reading chapter 4. Psalms: Spirtuality in Every Key.
The author speaks at first on how he didnt care much for the Psalms because they seemed disorganized and erratic. He explained that one sentence the writer is questioning God, and the next they they are praising Him. So far every book the author starts speaking of he didnt care for at first, then explains how he came to love them.
He goes on to explain that he came to realize that they are not, in a sense, answering problems. They allow us to relate to them. It goes along with realizing that there are not answers to a alot of problems we face. We just deal with them, and we make the choice on how. The Psalmist put their faith in God and thats what I hope I do.
On a personal note, I have always been amazed at how the Psalms were written so long ago and still continue to create music today. I dont think I can actually put my finger on what makes Psalms special to me. They seem to do alot of things for me.
Hey Sean, I see that you are in the chapters about Psalms. I really love Psalms because they cover so much that people can feel in life. What are you and Randy's favorite Psalms to read?
I really like Psalm 1. I think it is because it was the first Scripture passage that students at a Christian school I helped start in Georgia had to memorize. The staff had to learn it too. It has stuck with me all these years.
Sean, were there any Psalms that came to mind when you were in the hospital. I know there may be things there that deal with despair or uncertainty. Of course, maybe at that time, you could not focus on anything. Aren't you glad to know that you had already established your relationship with the Lord? However, maybe you did have a psalm help you at that time. How about it?
There are many Psalms that have become favorites as time goes by. The more I deal with now that God is in my life, the more I can relate to. But most that stick with me are ones that have been put to music. recent song that I listen to is called Restore to Me, which quotes verses 9 - 12.
There were a lot of Psalms that I read every day during my time dealing with the tumor. Someone gave me a list of scriptures to read at church one day. Its funny because I dont know who it was, and I've never seen them (her) since. But one that I came across reading thru all of this was Ps. 118 v. 17 " I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord". That was the last thing I was praying as I went down the hall to the operating room, and the 1st thing I thought of when I woke up and realized it was over. I hung all I had on them. When I write about this I get emotional because I cant put into words how much God's Word meant to me & how it gave me a new perspective on what hope is.
In my earlier post, verses 9 - 12 are from Ps. 51. Another thing the author brought up about the psalms is when you read some of them from David, they sound like God had rescued him from some horrible catastrophe, but look up in Samuel to what was going on and reading it there it would look like something David done on his own. I dont have my book on me to give and exact example but he uses the time when David acted like a madman when he thought he was going to be captured. In Samuel it reads like David thought of that on his own, but the psalm that corresponds with it gives every bit of credit to God. That David realized that God gave him the knowledge just in time to get himself out of the mess. Good Stuff!
Psalm 51 is the great psalm that is recorded for us that shows David's repentance after his sin with Bathsheba. Aren't you glad that God is able and will save to the uttermost?
The remainder of the chapter speaks about the psalms that wish harm on their enemies. There are some that pretty hateful. The author brings up a point that a lot people dont really acknowledge evil. But anyone who has dealt with severe loss, which can include many things, you can relate to those psalms.
The author also talks of being angry at God. I believe that its theraputic to tell you angers to God, even if they are towards God. My belief is that he wants your attention, and if you "question" Him, His Word says he will answer.
I have heard some folks say that we should not question God. I think that He wants us to ask Him questions about things that we don't understand. I find that if we pray about something that we don't understand, we will be directed to the scriptures. Sometimes I even hear a message preached on the problem that I don't understand.
Sean, I liked your Ps. 118 v. 17 "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord". Psalm. That gave you courage to go on. Even if you had passed from this life, you would have still "lived," but now you have the opportunity to declare the works of the Lord.
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