Today is perhaps a more non-typical Thankful post because it's about something that's pretty solid and relatable and not so abstract and personal.
Today, I was thinking objectively about Psalms. I've thought about a lot of these points before, but never merged them all to express my appreciation for the Psalms. This book is very unique and enlightening, relatable and surreal- all at the same time.
It's like a novel you would read, but you're in it. It gives the suspense of being in the story itself, because I know I can relate in real life, but the assurance of knowing the future and how things will end, because I know I am ultimately saved.
I was reading Psalm 91 this morning so I'll use it as my example. It might look long but just go ahead and read it
I really couldn't count how many times I've been "zoomed in" so much that all I can see going on in my life is the desperate situation before me instead of the hope that I have that A) not only in the grand scheme of life on earth is this situation not as big as I see it to be right now but B) in the grand scheme of life on earth and after, Jesus is strong and He loves me. I need not be worrying my anxious heart.
Like I said earlier, reading the Psalms reminds me of a novel. There is a main character and an antagonist, the danger and the savior. In Psalm 91, the main character is the psalm writer and it's written from his perspective. The snare and fowler, the deadly pestilence, etc. is the antagonist. There is danger- arrows, pestilence that stalks in darkness, destruction that wastes at noonday, etc. And the psalm writer knows there is a savior- the Almighty, the Most High, the refuge and fortress and God that he trusts in.
It's a lot like real life. In fact, it's hard for me to remember this because it's from so long ago, but it is real life. When I really read the psalms with a soft heart, I remember that. I remember that the feelings that the writer talks about are what I've felt. I remember that I've been that desperate and afraid. But reading the Psalms is more than just reading something I can relate to. It's hope-infusing.
I haven't felt this exact way about the Psalms until lately, although I've been a longtime fan.
I set a goal for myself (I think when I was in middle school) to read through all the Psalms. I did, and I attribute a lot of my spiritual growth in that time to the Holy Spirit using the Psalms to get to my heart. Lately though, I've viewed the entire Bible and the gospel with a new perspective. The new perspective being attributed to grace. I haven't understood grace much until recently (and let me tell you, it's still a work very much in progress) and it's started to creep into and influence a lot of areas in my life - including how I read the Psalms.
I used to read the Psalms and be encouraged, but I would also sometimes be discouraged (because, let's face it, some of those Psalms sound pretty depressing). I almost related too much-because I didn't understand the grace that I can now claim that the Psalm writer couldn't.
As of recently, when I've been reading the Psalms, I've been seeing every one of them as a display of grace to me, because God's grace says "no matter the situation or what you do, I still apply to you".
Reading this Psalm (and many others) reminds me of looking back on a journal and seeing how prayers got answered and how seemingly ominous situations got worked out for good, because of God's grace on me. When I zoom out and look at the big picture, I see that Jesus already gave me a place to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Reading through the Psalms, I see how all the "He will"s got fulfilled. I see a faithful God.
Maybe the Psalm writer didn't see all of these requests and anxieties addressed in his lifetime, but reading it from my perspective, I can see how God came through every time. They remind me that life, even life on earth, is bigger than me and that I have a God who is working everything together for a bigger, higher purpose than I can even see most of the time.
Every time the writer cries out, every time the writer asks where God is, every time the writer seems to think that the Lord might let him down. Every time the writer is told he will be delivered, every time the writer is reminded that God will come through, every time the writer is given a promise. Every time reminds me that even though there may be hard times in life, He is with me in trouble and I have been and will be rescued. Every time reminds me that I have been shown salvation in the deepest way, and that there is grace and hope.
I'm thankful for the book of Psalms and the way it displays elements through a long, artful, moving story. I'm more thankful yet for what it displays and the fact that it's true. It's a testament to the faithfulness, goodness and grace and hope of God.
Today, I was thinking objectively about Psalms. I've thought about a lot of these points before, but never merged them all to express my appreciation for the Psalms. This book is very unique and enlightening, relatable and surreal- all at the same time.
It's like a novel you would read, but you're in it. It gives the suspense of being in the story itself, because I know I can relate in real life, but the assurance of knowing the future and how things will end, because I know I am ultimately saved.
I was reading Psalm 91 this morning so I'll use it as my example. It might look long but just go ahead and read it
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
For he will command his angels concerning you
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
With long life I will satisfy him
I really couldn't count how many times I've been "zoomed in" so much that all I can see going on in my life is the desperate situation before me instead of the hope that I have that A) not only in the grand scheme of life on earth is this situation not as big as I see it to be right now but B) in the grand scheme of life on earth and after, Jesus is strong and He loves me. I need not be worrying my anxious heart.
Like I said earlier, reading the Psalms reminds me of a novel. There is a main character and an antagonist, the danger and the savior. In Psalm 91, the main character is the psalm writer and it's written from his perspective. The snare and fowler, the deadly pestilence, etc. is the antagonist. There is danger- arrows, pestilence that stalks in darkness, destruction that wastes at noonday, etc. And the psalm writer knows there is a savior- the Almighty, the Most High, the refuge and fortress and God that he trusts in.
It's a lot like real life. In fact, it's hard for me to remember this because it's from so long ago, but it is real life. When I really read the psalms with a soft heart, I remember that. I remember that the feelings that the writer talks about are what I've felt. I remember that I've been that desperate and afraid. But reading the Psalms is more than just reading something I can relate to. It's hope-infusing.
I haven't felt this exact way about the Psalms until lately, although I've been a longtime fan.
I set a goal for myself (I think when I was in middle school) to read through all the Psalms. I did, and I attribute a lot of my spiritual growth in that time to the Holy Spirit using the Psalms to get to my heart. Lately though, I've viewed the entire Bible and the gospel with a new perspective. The new perspective being attributed to grace. I haven't understood grace much until recently (and let me tell you, it's still a work very much in progress) and it's started to creep into and influence a lot of areas in my life - including how I read the Psalms.
I used to read the Psalms and be encouraged, but I would also sometimes be discouraged (because, let's face it, some of those Psalms sound pretty depressing). I almost related too much-because I didn't understand the grace that I can now claim that the Psalm writer couldn't.
As of recently, when I've been reading the Psalms, I've been seeing every one of them as a display of grace to me, because God's grace says "no matter the situation or what you do, I still apply to you".
Reading this Psalm (and many others) reminds me of looking back on a journal and seeing how prayers got answered and how seemingly ominous situations got worked out for good, because of God's grace on me. When I zoom out and look at the big picture, I see that Jesus already gave me a place to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Reading through the Psalms, I see how all the "He will"s got fulfilled. I see a faithful God.
Maybe the Psalm writer didn't see all of these requests and anxieties addressed in his lifetime, but reading it from my perspective, I can see how God came through every time. They remind me that life, even life on earth, is bigger than me and that I have a God who is working everything together for a bigger, higher purpose than I can even see most of the time.
Every time the writer cries out, every time the writer asks where God is, every time the writer seems to think that the Lord might let him down. Every time the writer is told he will be delivered, every time the writer is reminded that God will come through, every time the writer is given a promise. Every time reminds me that even though there may be hard times in life, He is with me in trouble and I have been and will be rescued. Every time reminds me that I have been shown salvation in the deepest way, and that there is grace and hope.
I'm thankful for the book of Psalms and the way it displays elements through a long, artful, moving story. I'm more thankful yet for what it displays and the fact that it's true. It's a testament to the faithfulness, goodness and grace and hope of God.