Summer in the Psalms
This week we will be starting a new series in the book of Psalms. Most people are familiar with this book in some form or fashion. And there’s a reason for that: the Psalms are the language of the soul and they provide for us the full expression and experience of a real life relationship with the living God.
If there’s one word that captures the essence of the Psalms for me it would be authenticity. It’s what many sociologists say is a true mark of the newer generations. There’s a desire for that which is real and a disdain for that which sniffs at all of pretence. And that is certainly true when it comes to religion and the things of God. Many who look at the church today have an underlying suspicion of the “fake” and subsequently steer clear of what appears to them to be a forgery.
Take for example what one group of researchers found:
Gen Z is longing for men and women like you and me to commit to the long, steady work of a relationship. They aren’t looking for quick fixes and right answers as much as they want someone to be able to ask the hard questions and wrestle through their doubts and frustrations. A key statement from the 3 Questions Curriculum at Fuller Youth Institute stated that students were frustrated that we were giving answers to questions that they weren’t asking. Steady, faithful, patient relationships with parents, coaches, ministry leaders, and teachers give safety, trust, and confidence in a chaotic world.
Furthermore, countless documentaries have been streamed on Netflix and news stories have been corroborated with pastors who have hoodwinked and the religious elite who have fallen from grace. It’s left many to wonder…is there actually anything to this? Is it possible to have a real relationship with a living God?
The Psalms burst forth to declare to us definitely YES! There is a God and he is not far. There is a God and he desires intimacy. There is a God whose very presence goes with us in any and every season of life. There is a God who is real and in turn we can be real with God.
Consider David’s words in Psalm 42:5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God..” There’s no pretence or pretending. Just real conversation with a God who is present and cares.
Thus, Psalms provide for us the language of the heart. Each Psalm is rich with deep, genuine, sincere worship that overflows from the true realities - the highs and the lows of real life. Each writer instructs us and exemplifies for us how it is we can approach God and provides for us the words that often escape us in a genuine desire to worship God with no falsity or fakeness.
As we journey through a selection of Psalms (Book II) over the next twelve weeks - it’s our desire that God would use his Word to drill deeper into our soul and to draw us closer to himself. It’s our prayer that the richness of the Psalms' worshipful expression would enliven our worship and create further authenticity in our relationship with God. It’s what we want and it’s what He desires.
Invite a friend and we look forward to seeing you on Sundays this summer.
Pastor Jeremy
PS. If you want to get ahead in your study of Psalms here are the first 3 we’ll be covering along with two helpful resources.
Week #1 - Psalm 42-43
Week #2 - Psalm 46
Week #3 - Psalm 51
Praying the Psalms by Daniel Henderson
The NIV Application Commentary by Gerald Wilson
