Beautiful truths. It brings one back to awe and wonder at the mystery of how far God goes to meet us in our humanity and to shepherd us into safety. Thanks to your reflections, I’m considering going back to the one psalm a day habit, with the structural points you’ve mentioned in mind. Thankful for this deep well in these times!
Yes and Amen! I read through the psalms as well and it’s always fresh and beautiful and challenging - a deep deep well where the Lord continues to meet, teach and love me. Praise the Lord indeed!
“Structure is meaning”. I love this thought. I’m thinking it can also apply within each Psalm. For instance. For a while I have been pondering the structure of Psalm 139. It’s really my favorite Psalm. We are brought aware of the vast infinite presence of God. We cannot escape his presence no matter where we go. Then he moves on to talk about how precious our lives are, how intimately God knows everything about our bodies because he created them. (I pray this often when people are sick or undergoing surgeries. God you know their body better than the doctor. Guide their hands) in verse 17 he says “God how precious your thoughts are to me.” Then it’s like he remembers something that has hurt him so much he cries out in verses 19-22. “God, if only you would kill the wicked. You bloodthirsty men, stay away from me. Who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely. Lord , Don’t I hate those who hate you and detest those who rebel against you. I hate them with extreme hatred.” Then, he goes back to Search me oh God and know my heart See if there is any offensive way in me.
I’ve pondered this for a while. It just seems to break the cycle of the psalmists thought pattern. I equate it to my own prayer at times. I’m thanking God and praising God for all he has done but then a thought pops into my head of a past or current hurt and I just voice my deep pain to God. Oh how they have hurt me!! Then I’m thinking— oh wait. I’m praying and praising God. Let me get to that. lol. I just find the placement of those verses so interesting. Your post reminded me of that once again
I’m also reading a psalm a day and now you have me thinking about the cyclical nature of this habit!
So good!!
Beautiful truths. It brings one back to awe and wonder at the mystery of how far God goes to meet us in our humanity and to shepherd us into safety. Thanks to your reflections, I’m considering going back to the one psalm a day habit, with the structural points you’ve mentioned in mind. Thankful for this deep well in these times!
Especially in these times!
Yes and Amen! I read through the psalms as well and it’s always fresh and beautiful and challenging - a deep deep well where the Lord continues to meet, teach and love me. Praise the Lord indeed!
What a wonderful book God has put into our hands!
“Structure is meaning”. I love this thought. I’m thinking it can also apply within each Psalm. For instance. For a while I have been pondering the structure of Psalm 139. It’s really my favorite Psalm. We are brought aware of the vast infinite presence of God. We cannot escape his presence no matter where we go. Then he moves on to talk about how precious our lives are, how intimately God knows everything about our bodies because he created them. (I pray this often when people are sick or undergoing surgeries. God you know their body better than the doctor. Guide their hands) in verse 17 he says “God how precious your thoughts are to me.” Then it’s like he remembers something that has hurt him so much he cries out in verses 19-22. “God, if only you would kill the wicked. You bloodthirsty men, stay away from me. Who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely. Lord , Don’t I hate those who hate you and detest those who rebel against you. I hate them with extreme hatred.” Then, he goes back to Search me oh God and know my heart See if there is any offensive way in me.
I’ve pondered this for a while. It just seems to break the cycle of the psalmists thought pattern. I equate it to my own prayer at times. I’m thanking God and praising God for all he has done but then a thought pops into my head of a past or current hurt and I just voice my deep pain to God. Oh how they have hurt me!! Then I’m thinking— oh wait. I’m praying and praising God. Let me get to that. lol. I just find the placement of those verses so interesting. Your post reminded me of that once again