The Psalms are a treasure trove of experiential knowledge. They are dynamic human interactions with our Living Creator Redeemer God. The Psalms fluctuate from expressions of agony to unwavering trust, from despair to the heights of praise, from complaining to thanksgiving. That sounds much like the reality of ‘life and living.’
As this summer Psalm series has unfolded, I have noticed a few things. Psalm 1 begins the Psalter with describing the path of wisdom. Then Psalm 2 enthrones God as King of the heavens and the earth. And then there are two groups of laments, crying out to God (2-7, 9-14) with another enthronement Psalm in the middle, Psalm 8. Then a mixture of Psalms focused on a revolving pattern of lament, confession of trust, thanksgiving, and praise. Sometimes they are expressed communally and other times individually.
This revolving pattern of dynamic human expression and experience in relationship with a loving and mysterious Living God, seems an accurate reflection of our day to day life. We are never all praise all the time, we are never all trust all the time, we are never all ‘in sorrow’ all the time… like Ecclesiastes says, “There is time for everything under the sun.”
What’s my point? Not sure… yet, here is something… There is comfort in knowing that others, especially the community of God’s people, can and do express their heart of worship in authentic and real ways. The ebb and flow of life with its ups and downs, even for people of strong faith, is not only ‘OK’, it is to be expected. It’s normal.
When it comes to worship of God in our lives, seems to me that God desires authenticity when we express our worship, preferring ways that reflect honestly and openly where we are with God. God invites the different postures in which we can approach him. And when we approach Him, make sure we are engaging him with reality – no ‘fake-ness’ allowed.
Sunday we take a look at Psalm 27: Strength. It is a difficult Psalm to categorize because it embodies different genres of the Psalms. Lets explore it together on Sunday – – See you soon!
Pastor Mark