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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

956.0. "Psalms" by POWDML::FLANAGAN (Resident Alien) Tue Aug 16 1994 14:58

    I am reading through the Psalms.  I find many of the Psalms to be
    wonderfully inspiring.  Psalm 100 is my favorite.
    
    What is your favorite Psalm?
    
    Patricia
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956.1Psalm 37RDGENG::YERKESSbring me sunshine in your smileTue Aug 16 1994 15:4812
If pressed to pick a favourite then it would have to be Psalm 37.
Mainly because it paints such a wonderful future and the things
that we see such as the attrocities in Rwanda will come to an end
and never be experienced again. "Hope in Jehovah and keep his way,
And when the wicked ones are cut off, you will see [it]." Psalm 37
verse 34 NWT.

But all the Psalms are enjoyable to read. Listening to Psalms on
cassette while in a traffic jam can be rather soothing and 
refreshing.

Phil.
956.2Psalm 88DNEAST::DALELIO_HENRTue Aug 16 1994 16:296
  Psalm 88

  The psalms are songs. Psalm 88 - even when we're miserable and the heavens
  seem to be brass, the Lord still hears us though we may think not.

956.3Probably 22STRATA::BARBIERITue Aug 16 1994 16:3922
      Hi,
    
        I'm not really sure, but most likely Psalm 22 because this
        scripture expounds on the mind of Christ when He hung for
        me more so than any other scripture.
    
        I really do like 22 through 24 though.  Their order is not
        unimportant.  Psalm 23 seems to summarize the victory of
        faith even when the temptation is the cross "though I walk 
        through the valley of the shadow of death..."  Psalm 24 speaks
        of a generation who, I believe, endure the cross save they
        have a Forerunner - Jacob the generation who seeks His face.
    
        I also like 51 a lot - nice psalm of repentence and as I am
        a believer in the law of God, I appreciate 119.
    
        I'll keep reading this to get inputs.  There is much of the
        psalms I don't know.
    
        Nice topic.
                                            
                                                  Tony
956.4Don't read them just once; pray them constantlyCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Aug 16 1994 17:2426
The Psalms are one of the most important books of Holy Scripture, and
for that matter, of all the literature of the world.  They consist of
hymns, songs of thanksgiving, lamentations of individuals and of God's
people, petitions, pilgrimage songs, royal songs, wisdom songs, and,
most importantly, messianic psalms.

The Psalms present a unique view into the inner structure of God's
revelation: the Psalter makes known that revelation is not effected
as a monolog by God, but that God has prepared in his chosen people
a partner that is brought into the process of revelation.  Revelation
is thus a dialogue: God acts and speaks, and the People of Israel act
and speak in response.

As the ancient prayer book of God's People, the Psalter retained its
importance in the early Church and still does so today.  Christians
should be encouraged to constantly pray the psalms, to let the glory
of God, the relationship with God, and the promises of God, fulfilled
in Christ, more fully be impressed upon their minds and spirits.

I present two methods for repeatedly reading the entire Psalter on a
regular and constant basis.  You may adapt them in your own way to
your own rule of life, or develop any scheme of your own.  Take comfort
in knowing that as you pray the psalms, you are praying together with
millions of Christians all over the world.

/john
956.5A Seven Week CycleCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Aug 16 1994 17:2557
		Morning			Evening

1   Sunday      146, 147                111, 112, 113
    Monday      1, 2, 3                 4, 7
    Tuesday     5, 6                    10, 11
    Wednesday   119:1-24                12, 13, 14
    Thursday    18:1-20                 18:21-50
    Friday      16, 17                  22
    Saturday    20, 21                  110, 116, 117

2   Sunday      148, 149, 150           114, 115
    Monday      25                      9, 15
    Tuesday     26, 28                  36, 39
    Wednesday   38                      119:25-48
    Thursday    37:1-18                 37:19-42
    Friday      31                      35
    Saturday    30, 32                  42, 43

3   Sunday      63, 98                  103
    Monday      41, 52                  44
    Tuesday     45                      47, 48
    Wednesday   119:49-72               49, 53
    Thursday    50                      59, 60
    Friday      40, 54                  51
    Saturday    55                      138,139

4   Sunday      24, 29                  8, 84
    Monday      56, 57, 58              64, 65
    Tuesday     61, 62                  68
    Wednesday   72                      119:73-96
    Thursday    70, 71                  74
    Friday      69                      73
    Saturday    75, 76                  23, 27

5   Sunday      93, 96                  34
    Monday      80                      77, 79
    Tuesday     78:1-39                 78:40-72
    Wednesday   119:97-120              81, 82
    Thursday    83                      85, 86
    Friday      88                      91, 92
    Saturday    87, 90                  136

6   Sunday      66, 67                  19, 46
    Monday      89:1-18                 89:19-52
    Tuesday     97, 99, 100             94, 95
    Wednesday   101, 109                119:121-144
    Thursday    105:1-22                105:23-45
    Friday      102                     107:1-32
    Saturday    107:33-43, 108          33

7   Sunday      118                     145
    Monday      106:1-18                106:19-48
    Tuesday     120,121,122,123         124, 125, 126, 127
    Wednesday   119:145-176             128, 129, 130
    Thursday    131, 132, 133           134, 135
    Friday      140, 142                141, 143          
    Saturday    137, 144                104
956.6A Thirty Day CycleCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Aug 16 1994 17:2634
		Morning			Evening

Day  1		1,2,3,4,5		6,7,8
Day  2		9,10,11			12,13,14
Day  3		15,16,17		18
Day  4		19,20,21		22,23
Day  5		24,25,26		27,28,29
Day  6		30,31			32,33,34
Day  7		35,36			37
Day  8		38,39,40		41,42,43
Day  9		44,45,46		47,48,49
Day 10		50,51,52		53,54,55
Day 11		56,57,58		59,60,61
Day 12		62,63,64		65,66,67
Day 13		68			69,70
Day 14		71,72			73,74
Day 15		75,76,77		78
Day 16		79,80,81		82,83,84,85
Day 17		86,87,88		89
Day 18		90,91,92		93,94
Day 19		95,96,97		98,99,100,101
Day 20		102,103			104
Day 21		105			106
Day 22		107			108,109
Day 23		110,111,112,113		114,115
Day 24		116,117,118		119:1-32
Day 25		119:32-72		119:73-104
Day 26		119:105-144		119:145-176
Day 27		120,121,122,123,124,125	126,127,128,129,130,131
Day 28		132,133,134,135		136,137,138
Day 29		139,140			141,142,143
Day 30		144,145,146		147,148,149,150

In months with thirty-one days, repeat the psalms for Day 30 on Day 31.
956.7COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Aug 16 1994 17:2622
Some comments on my own usage.

I use the seven week cycle together with a regular program of scriptural
reading which cycles through the entire bible with an OT reading, a reading
from an epistle, and a Gospel reading.  I use the psalms for the morning
between the first two readings, and the psalms for the evening between the
second and last readings.

I most commonly use the Coverdale Psalter which was one of the first widely
available English Psalters, about 75 years older than the King James Bible.
But I also read the psalms in other translations, and even in other languages
(French and German).  I always try to do a full cycle in the chosen translation
without switching around during a cycle.

If I somehow miss a day, rather than skipping readings, I double up on the
next day to catch back up.

The thirty day cycle will get you reading the Psalter more frequently, and
will more quickly and more deeply impress the Psalms upon you; but it takes
more time each day.  You should chose a plan that you can really stick with.

/john
956.8COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Aug 16 1994 17:3326
Another note:  The verses in many of the psalms are numbered differently
in different translations.  For example, my French and German bibles
often (but not always) number the directions to the choirmaster which
precede many of the psalms as verse 1 or even verses 1 and 2.  In other
translations, verses will be combined or separated, yielding different
numbering.

For the psalms which are divided on verse boundaries, look at your bible
and try to figure out were, within one or two verses in either direction,
the logical breaking point is.

Psalm 119 has a common verse numbering in all translations.

The seven-week cycle (in .5) can be accomplished in seven days, as follows:

	Pray the psalms listed for:		at:

		Sunday				 6am
		Monday				 9am
		Tuesday				12n
		Wednesday			 3pm
		Thursday			 6pm
		Friday				 9pm
		Saturday			12m

/john
956.9This is tough...CSC32::KINSELLAA tree with a rotten core cannot stand.Tue Aug 16 1994 23:0110
    
    Hmmm....it's hard to pick a favorite because they speak to different
    experiences.  I love many psalms.  Several come to mind.  Psalm 51
    talks about forgiveness and having a clean heart before God.  Psalm 73
    is great in times of depression.  The beginning of Psalm 5 is about God
    hearing our prayers.  Psalm 42 talks of our need for God.  But I guess
    a favorite since I was in high school (the years are mounting!) is
    Psalm 139 which gives a visual of how awesome God our Creator is.
    
    Jill
956.10COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Aug 16 1994 23:1317
An excerpt from Psalm 139:


        For you yourself created my inmost parts;
          you knit me together in my mother's womb.
        I will thank you because I am marvelously made;
          your works are wonderful, and I know it well.
        My body was not hidden from you,
          while I was being made in secret
          and woven in the depths of the earth.
        Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
        all of them were written in your book;
          they were fashioned day by day,
          when as yet there was none of them.


956.11CSLALL::HENDERSONFriend will you be ready?Wed Aug 17 1994 03:1315

  re -1

  
  I don't spend nearly enough time in the Psalms, thus had not come across that.


  I do frequently pray Psalm 51, and I love Psalm 5.





 Jim
956.12Our Creator's wonderful worksRDGENG::YERKESSbring me sunshine in your smileWed Aug 17 1994 09:2110
re .10

;        Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
;        all of them were written in your book;
;          they were fashioned day by day,

This can be likened to the modern understanding of DNA, shows that
the Psalmist wrote this with guidance of God's holy spirit.

Phil.
956.13AIMHI::JMARTINWed Aug 17 1994 15:004
    Psalm 103 is very inspiring to me...
    
    Bless the Lord..Oh my soul..Bless His Holy Name...
    Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all His benefits...
956.14My Life PsalmJULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeWed Aug 17 1994 16:2433
    Psalms 27:1  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
    the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
      2  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to
    eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
      3  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
    though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
      4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that
    I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the
    beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
      5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in
    the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a
    rock.
      6  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round
    about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will
    sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
      7  Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me,
    and answer me.
      8  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy
    face, LORD, will I seek.
      9  Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger:
    thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my
    salvation.
     10  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take
    me up.
     11  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of
    mine enemies.
     12  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false
    witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
     13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the
    LORD in the land of the living.
     14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen
    thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
    
956.15Psalm 8POWDML::FLANAGANI feel therefore I amThu Aug 18 1994 19:561
    Psalm 8 is another favorite.
956.16GUCCI::RWARRENFELTZFollow the Money!Mon Aug 22 1994 13:593
    Nancy:
    
    Psalm 27 is my favorite also...!
956.17CSC32::J_CHRISTIELuke 1.78-79Mon Aug 22 1994 19:484
    Selected portions of Psalm 16
    
    Richard
    
956.18I can't pick just 1SALEM::RUSSOTue Aug 23 1994 15:4618
>Note 956.13                          Psalms                             13 of 17
>AIMHI::JMARTIN                                        4 lines  17-AUG-1994 11:00

>    Psalm 103 is very inspiring to me...
    
>    Bless the Lord..Oh my soul..Bless His Holy Name...
>    Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all His benefits...


 This reminded me of Psalm 83:18 NWT "That people may know that you,
 whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth."

 It's tough to say I have a favorite Psalm, I don't think I do. But I
 get strength and encouragement from Psalms 64-67 which remind me of
the privilage I have to approach Jehovah in prayer and that I can rely 
on him to hear me and provide the needed strength and direction in times
of trial.
                 robin
956.19CSC32::J_CHRISTIELuke 1.78-79Tue Aug 23 1994 15:534
    I wonder if anyone ever picked Psalm 137 as their favorite.
    
    Richard
    
956.20POWDML::FLANAGANI feel therefore I amMon Aug 29 1994 16:2121
    I actually found some level of sympathy and understanding for Psalm 137
    particularly the part about the plea for God to smash the babies into a
    rock in my Women's bible commentary.
    
    The Psalm is written by a person in Agony and strongly desiring
    revenge.  He is pouring out his heart to God seeking vengence.  The
    point was that God embraces each of us in our moments of Agony with all
    our human emotions including our anger and hostility.  God embraces us,
    and comforts us, and holds us and allows us to be.  Our emotions are
    our emotions and are neither Good or Bad.  We can be emotionally open
    with God without fear of what we are thinking or feeling.
    
    God is not an instrument of vengence and does not kill innocent babies.
    
    Reading the psalms from that perspective gives a whole new perspective.
    
    Can you imagine as a parent calming a hysterical child who wants to
    "kill" her brother.  Can you imagine holding and comforting that child and
    ignoring the emotional plea to hurt the sibling? 
    
    Patricia
956.21BIGQ::SILVAMemories.....Mon Aug 29 1994 17:367


	Patricia, great note! :-)



956.22you said volumesTFH::KIRKa simple songMon Aug 29 1994 17:505
I agree.  Very good note and food for thought.

Peace,

Jim
956.23HeartsongsCSC32::J_CHRISTIELuke 1.78-79Tue Aug 30 1994 04:428
    .20 Confirms my belief the the Psalms are really the heartsongs of
    the psalmists.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
956.24A little background?DNEAST::DALELIO_HENRTue Aug 30 1994 11:1235
 Patricia,
 
 Smashing babies heads againt a rock was the Amalakite method of killing 
 off the population of those whom they conquered. David (or whoever) is
 simply asking God that they reap what they (Amalakites) have sown.

 The power of life and death is in the hands of the Lord. Sometimes He
 either gives or allows mankind this power over himself.
 
 In the book Mein Kampf, Hitler claimed that he was doing the work of the
 Lord in his persecution of the Jews. He used the word "anihilation" as
 a solution to the Jewish "problem". This several years before he became
 chancellor.

 I can't see God as comforting Hitler for his evil deeds.
 Jehovah has said that those "curse" the seed of Abraham will be cursed
 themselves.

 I've had 11 children and I have NEVER heard one of my children express
 the fact that they wanted to "kill" one another. We are a very very
 close family and that kind of talk would be a shock and a trauma to each 
 one of us.

 The fact that the innocent suffer with the guilty is a "problem" we all
 have to face. I don't think bringing Our Heavenly Father onto the red
 carpet is a viable solution. For example; in the flood of Noah, possibly
 millions of innocent babies drowned. I can understand how one would want 
 to mythologize the account of the flood, but the Bible plainly says that
 God himself was responsible for the deluge and He Himself "closed the door"
 to the ark. Rather than "debunk" the Bible, why not take heed to the warnings 
 against the kinds of wickedness that kindled His wrath to destroy the world?


 Hank 
956.25POWDML::FLANAGANI feel therefore I amTue Aug 30 1994 14:3922
    Hank,
    
    I respect your point of view on the bible but it is not my point of
    view.  To me the Noah's Ark story is a myth and any inspiration and
    beauty in that story can only be found in it being a myth.
    
    I am glad to hear that you family is such a close family and your
    children have never expressed the desire to injure one another.  I have
    two children and there have been a few instances in which they were
    very angry and frustrated with each other and have expressed that anger
    in terms of wanting the other to be hurt as much as they were feeling
    hurt.
    
    I like Richards word "Heartsong".  the Psalms are the heartsong of the
    authors.  There is great comfort in knowing that God accepts each of us
    as we are.  The desire for revenge felt in the moment of pain and agony
    is not the same thing as carrying out the deed.  
    
    Your background information is helpful.  I can relate it to the words,
    and deeds of many Americans during the War in Iraq.
    
                                       Patricia