Summer in the Psalms // Psalm 1 // Which Way?

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Summer in the Psalms // Psalm 1 // Which Way?

June 4, 2023 • Psalm 1

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The Psalms are a divinely ordained way to learn devotion to our God, a collection of timeless songs and poetry

that have been treasured by the Church for centuries. Why are they so important? They are holy Scripture

filled with rich theological truths and they provide us with an insight into God's character and actions. The

Psalms stir our hearts in a unique way. As John Calvin so aptly put it, the Psalms are an "anatomy of all parts

of the soul," meaning that no matter what emotion we are feeling, we can find solace, comfort, and inspiration

in these ancient texts.

The Psalms are particularly special because they are not meant to be merely read but also recited, prayed, and

sung. This makes them a powerful tool for learning devotion to our God and for connecting with Him on a

deeply personal level. It is no wonder that Martin Luther called the Psalms a "mini Bible," as they offer a

comprehensive look at the human experience and our relationship with God.

Psalm 1 is a wisdom Psalm that shows the way of the righteous versus the way of the wicked. In this Psalm, we

see the importance of aligning our lives with God's Word and avoiding the temptations of the world. Through

meditating on this Psalm and incorporating it into our prayers and worship, we can learn to live more fully in

God's grace and embrace the abundant life that He has promised us. The question we must ask ourselves is:

WHICH WAY?

So let us take the time this summer to dive deeper into the Psalms and allow them to transform our hearts and

minds. These ancient texts still hold so much relevance for us today and offer us a window into the beauty and

majesty of our God.

Praise the Lord // Psalm 150

August 6, 2023 • Psalm 150

Psalm 23 // The LORD Is My Shepherd

July 23, 2023 • James Allison • Psalm 23

Sheep are one of the only animals that can’t really take care of themselves. All of the dirt, grime, and dust naturally gets absorbed into their wool, and they need someone to clean them. Left to themselves, sheep would wander off into the wilderness and die. They need a someone to guide them. A sheep can't really protect itself, and it can't really provide for itself. Sheep need a shepherd. Isaiah 53:6a says, we all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way. This is the human condition. We, like sheep, wander off on our own path leaning on our own understanding - trusting in something other than the Good Shepherd to save, sustain, and satisfy. Psalm 23 is King David's deeply personal testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness throughout his life. As a Shepherd King, David knew what it meant to say of his creator “The LORD is my Shepherd”

Psalm 32 // The Forgiveness of God

July 16, 2023 • James Moseley • Psalm 32

When it comes to understanding who God is, we often make the mistake of viewing God based on how we view ourselves. We all have faults and areas where we have come up short, and if we are not careful, we end up with a view of God that looks a lot like us. When this happens, it affects the way we relate with Him. This is seen in a big way when it comes to God’s forgiveness. The way you and I forgive is very different from God’s Forgiveness. Some of us may struggle in our relationship with God because we have defined God’s forgiveness based on who we are instead of who He is! Today we carry around the weight of our guilt and shame as believers, and this is not the life Jesus speaks of when He invites us into a relationship with him. In Psalm 32, we see that David has had his joy restored for his year of carrying around the guilt and shame from his sins. David experienced the forgiveness of God! He starts by showing us what comes with God’s Forgiveness. From here, he opens our eyes to what conviction looks like in the life of a Jesus Follower, followed by how we can experience this forgiveness in our own life that only comes through Him! HE FORGIVENESS OF GOD Psalms 32: 1-5 ESV 1. WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? A. God's forgiveness REMOVES the guilt of our sin “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven… ( v1) B. God’s forgiveness COVERS the shame of our sin “… whose sin is covered!” (v.1b) C. God’s forgiveness WIPES CLEAN the record of my sin “ How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity…” (v. 2a)