Experiencing the Psalms
August 2, 2007 by Lillie
I just finished an excellent Bible study of Hebrews with Pastor Ralph Wilson of JesusWalk. I’ve taken several studies from Pastor Wilson and also enjoy them and learn a lot. Since health challenges make it difficult for me to participate in the Bible studies at my church, I appreciate these online studies.
The next study is Experiencing the Psalms. Pastor Wilson describes the study like this:
The Book of Psalms represents a rich tapestry of prayer and praise. Some psalms reflect a texture of deep despair, other glow with a deep peace in the Lord’s strength, still others bubble with an exuberant exaltation of the Most High God. They cover the range of human emotion and experience. What they all have in common is prayer, a reaching out to God from every imaginable experience.
In this 12-week study we’ll attempt to enter into the experience of the psalms. Yes, we’ll explore the meanings of words and learn to appreciate the high art of these poetic masterpieces. We will study thoughtfully, carefully. But more than that we will find out how to pray. We will know how to find peace in the midst of turmoil. We will learn to be thankful. We will begin to follow the pattern of the psalmists as we begin to praise. In short, with the psalms that we study as our guide, we will grow deeper in our walk with the Lord and more able to offer worthy praise to the King. We will experience the Psalms.
I’m looking forward to this study, which begins August 31st. You can learn more or register for the course at Experiencing the Psalms: a 12-week Bible study exploring the richness of the Psalter.
[tags]Bible study, Psalms, Pastor Ralph Wilson, JesusWalk[/tags]
Lillie, I remember one of my former pastors always used to say, “For every sigh, there’s a psalm.” My very favorite is Psalm 27 – such victory there is always on my heart!
Several years ago, I did a study of the life of David that took an in-depth look at many of the Psalms. More recently, I’ve been reading through the Bible chronologically, and the reading guide I use arranged the Psalms and the Proverbs topically. That was a very interesting and insightful way of studying those two books. I’m working on a set of free Easy-to-Print Chronological Bible Reading Guides which I’m making available on my blog.
The Psalms and the Proverbs are included in the “Israel As a Monarchy” section, which is one of the sections that I have completed. This is a big job, so it’ll be a work in progress for a while.
Your pastor’s comment is lovely, Robert. I edited your comment to link to Psalm 27 at Bible Gateway.
Thanks for sharing this, ru4real. I have read a Bible that was actually printed chronologically, and reading individual Psalms in relation to the events in David’s life was enlightening.
My eyesight has gotten so bad I can’t read the print in that Bible in any more, so I’m glad to learn of an alternative. I’m still in the Old Testament on my current read through the Bible, so it will be awhile before I get back to the beginning. But I’ve saved the information to use the next time. Maybe you’ll have the guide finished by then.