Greatest Hits of the Old Psalm 73 & 150 The Psalms in Worship

Snippet of sermon by Rev Dr Andrew Peh

The United Methodist Hymnal includes the Psalter which has been the liturgical source book for Israel. They demonstrate the myriad ways that the people of God worshipped Him. Ps 121 is a Song of Ascent which they often sing going up to Jerusalem for the big festivals. The Psalter also contains songs of laments too, communal praise and laments, individual praise or laments; response and emotions. Israelites ensured that they worship together. They were completely open to the Lord and were not afraid to bare their individual or communal anguish to the Lord, asking for the destruction of their enemies. The Imprecatory Psalms, in particular, invoke evil upon their enemies. Ps 137 e.g. is one of those that has been modernized and sung expressing their anger with the Babylonian. They laid open their emotions to the Lord and allowed Him to change them. They conversed with God and commit seemingly hopeless situations before the Lord. There is another group of Psalms known as the wisdom psalms.  Ps 1 is an example and it serves as the doorway to this hymnbook to keep ourselves with the Lord.

Reflection: How has all this increased your understanding of worship in the community?

Sermon Proper
Ps 73 is attributed to Asaph: The Psalmist looked around and observed that those who opposed God are prospering even though they have only disdain for God. Conversely, the faithful ones are having a tough time. This disquiet was put to rest when he entered the sanctuary of God. Instead of being blinded by the temporal, Asaph interspersed his verses with this word 'Selah'. This is an instruction to the singers/readers to pause and to ponder. In the business of our lives, we need to be still that despite all the injustices, God is still on the throne. Played a song with “selah” that cause us to pause: Whom Have I by Voices of Praise.
·         Devotional Ps 23 a being acquainted of the providential care for us.
·         Doctrinal : Ps 51 anatomy of sin. ps 137 the omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience of God is made known. Ps 119 reminds us of the primacy of the word of God in our lives. An acrostic Psalm the depth and then riches that we have to understand god through our praise.
·         Doxological: Giving glory to God. Expressions their praise for bim. Simple song of praise of God. psalm 150 is a doxology.

Reflection questions:

Take time to ponder on the presence and the goodness of God... Quiet times are punctuated by snores for some of us. If we take care to ruminate on the word of God the way cows chew on the cud to extract all the goodness on the grass, God draws near and from our hearts will break out a song for him.

 

So offer up your lives

Holy and acceptable

A willing sacrifice

Precious in my sight

But in all that you do

Remember all I want is You

 

From “Praise looks good on you” by Don Moen.