10/6/13- Psalms of Thanksgiving

The Psalms have been called the mirror of the human soul.  They are rivers of refreshment and wells of consolation. They reflect our joy and hope but also our confusion and pain. We turn to the Psalms for comfort in times of suffering  and to express our both hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows. The Psalms were at the heart of worship in Israel.   The book is like a hymnal.  The Psalms continue to be at the center  of worship for traditional Jews.
The Psalms are so central to identity of the people of God that Psalms is the most quoted book  of Hebrew Scriptures in the New Testament.
Psalms are the lifeblood of the church as well as the songbook of ancient Israel. Paul and Silas sing Psalms in prison (Acts).
Jesus and disciples sing a Psalm as they leave the Last Supper (Mark).  Psalms quickly became central in Christian worship.
To learn the Psalter by heart was the first duty of a novice in monastic life and Psalms were recited throughout the day.
The Psalms are central to the Reformed Tradition. 
Calvin said of the Psalms,  "God's promises are presented to us ...
the principles of proper prayer are found scattered throughout this whole work ... this book is crammed with all sorts of precepts capable of shaping our life holily, piously, justly ...  general praises of God's goodness are recounted to teach us to rest in Him alone...”
Reformed worship included the singing of metrical psalms.
 It is this use of the Psalms that left its mark on Reformed piety and practice. The Psalms were sung in one’s own native language by the congregation.
This was quite radical as prior to this,
 Psalms were sung only by clergy or special choirs in Latin.
  The form of private and family worship recommended  by the Westminster Directory (English, 1600’s) included the singing of metrical Psalms, the reading of scripture and a lengthy prayer. 
The Psalms came early to America.  The first book printed in North America was the Bay Psalm book in 1646.  Many Protestant martyrs died singing the Psalms.
There are many types of Psalms. Scholars have developed many systems of classification. Some of these categories are:
Psalms of Praise/Thanksgiving
(both for Israel as a people of God and for individuals)
Laments
(painful cries to God as a people or an individual)
Enthronement/Royal
(celebrates God as our true and only king)
Wisdom
(celebrates living life in accordance with God’s law)
Psalms of Praise/Thanksgiving . Today’s Psalms celebrate the power and goodness of God.
They remind us of the wonders of God’s creation and all that He has done for His people.
They allow us to praise His mercy and compassion and thank Him for all that He has done for us.
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Prayers for 10-6-13
Psalm 8  
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory in the heavens.  Through the praise of children and infants  you have established a stronghold against your enemies,  to silence the foe and the avenger.When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,  the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,  what is mankind that you are mindful of us, human beings that you care for us?   Yet you have made us a little lower than the angels and crowned us with glory and honor.   You have made us rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under our feet:  all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,  the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.  Lord, our Lord,  how majestic is your name in all the earth!
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Psalm 103
 
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
  The lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel:
 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is His love for those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
    so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
 As a father has compassion on His children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;
***************************************************Psalm 148
 
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights above.
 Praise Him, all his angels; praise Him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at His command they were created,
 and He established them for ever and ever—
    He issued a decree that will never pass away.
 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding,
 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,
 young men and women, old men and children.
 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for His name alone is exalted;
    His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
 And He has raised up for his people a horn,
    the praise of all his faithful servants,
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.