Psalms
A study of the Psalms based upon the Liturgy of the Hours including canticles from outside the Book of Psalms
Psalm 48: God Delivers Zion
July 19, 2018
This study examined Psalm 48 as a response to God's miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the overwhelmingly superior Assyrian army. We spent some time addressing how God's perspective on physical life and death may be different from ours as well as the different understandings of love and hate between Hebrew and Christian thought. We touch briefly upon the geography of Jerusalem and some of the common metaphors used in this psalm.
Psalm 8: The Wonder of God and Man
October 18, 2018
We explore Psalm 8 in this study both from the perspective of the psalmist musing on the greatest of God as revealed in His creation and yet having such concern and granting such exaltation to mankind and from the perspective of Christians awestruck at the wonder of what God is doing in Christianity through Jesus and the hypostatic union. We discussed the danger the power God wishes to give us poses and the need for conversion to be prepared to receive such power. We also look at some of the ways the New Testament writers used this psalm and saw it as prophetic.
Psalm 63: Your Love Is Better Than Life - Part 1
October 25, 2018
This study explores Psalm 63 including its possible context of Absalom's rebellion against David. We considered how we can still see God's power and glory in His sanctuary today. We dwelt upon what it means to value God's love even more than life itself. We spoke of spiritual delights and intimacy with God and challenged ourselves to see how close we are to Him gauged against this psalm.
Psalm 63: Your Love Is Better Than Life - Part 2
October 25, 2018
This study explores Psalm 63 including its possible context of Absalom's rebellion against David. We considered how we can still see God's power and glory in His sanctuary today. We dwelt upon what it means to value God's love even more than life itself. We spoke of spiritual delights and intimacy with God and challenged ourselves to see how close we are to Him gauged against this psalm.
Psalm 116:10-19: I Trusted Even When Afflicted - Part 1
January 10, 2019
This study spends a lot of time on the Psalmists' statement that he trusted even when afflicted including an example of this from the diary of Saint Faustina. We spoke of the need to recognize bounty even in the midst of trials and looked at some statements from Saint Paul in this regard. We examined some of the sacrificial practices mentioned and considered how seriously God takes affliction and even the death of His people. The connection between love and trust was a persistent theme as well as how far and how deep that love and trust can go.
Psalm 116:10-19: I Trusted Even When Afflicted - Part 2
January 10, 2019
This study spends a lot of time on the Psalmists' statement that he trusted even when afflicted including an example of this from the diary of Saint Faustina. We spoke of the need to recognize bounty even in the midst of trials and looked at some statements from Saint Paul in this regard. We examined some of the sacrificial practices mentioned and considered how seriously God takes affliction and even the death of His people. The connection between love and trust was a persistent theme as well as how far and how deep that love and trust can go.
Psalm 91: God Protects Through All Trials - Part 1
February 14, 2019
In this study, God seems to draw us repeatedly to the theme that He does not save us FROM trials but rather saves us IN trials both in the sense of saving us in the trial itself and saving us by means of the trial as we explore Psalm 91. We discuss much of the imagery — fowlers, pinions, eagles, bucklers — as well as possible ties to the Exodus. We take a brief look at the role of angels and our need to not only be protected from evil but to be given the strength to battle against evil. We look at what it means to cleave to God in love but we keep returning to the theme that, to love Him as He loves us, we must learn love through experience, not just knowledge and that experience is often given to us as the way to salvation by means of trials.
Psalm 91: God Protects Through All Trials - Part 2
February 14, 2019
In this study, God seems to draw us repeatedly to the theme that He does not save us FROM trials but rather saves us IN trials both in the sense of saving us in the trial itself and saving us by means of the trial as we explore Psalm 91. We discuss much of the imagery — fowlers, pinions, eagles, bucklers — as well as possible ties to the Exodus. We take a brief look at the role of angels and our need to not only be protected from evil but to be given the strength to battle against evil. We look at what it means to cleave to God in love but we keep returning to the theme that, to love Him as He loves us, we must learn love through experience, not just knowledge and that experience is often given to us as the way to salvation by means of trials.
Psalm 42: Thirsting for God
March 14, 2019
We begin our exploration of Psalm 42 by learning about the sons of Korah and examining the theme of God as the source of living water in both the Old and New Testament. We then discuss several dimensions of our relationship with God including our love and desire for Him, our honesty with Him, and how our hearts and heads can get out of sync in our relationship with Him.
Psalm 146 - Part 1: Praise God With Every Breath
May 23, 2019
After some comments on the Flame of Love devotion, our study of Psalm 146 starts with the psalmist's exuberant burst of praise which we explore in two directions, viz., in liturgy as the eternal loving work of God's people and the need to make use of the time we have on Earth according to Paul's admonition to "redeem the time." The latter led to a lengthy discussion about why our spiritual lives seem to become more arduous as we grow close to God.
Psalm 146 - Part 3: Praise God Who Keeps Faith Forever
June 27, 2019
In this conclusion of our study of Psalm 146, we begin again with some comments on the Flame of Love devotion and how they relate to a question asked previously about this psalm. We continue to explore the psalmist's praise of God for His fidelity and providence but also examine how this providence does not imply a faultless world without suffering. Rather, we can expect the contrary. We cross reference Psalm 107 to see some of the good effects of this suffering. We examine God's giving of sight to the blind and His defense of the vulnerable which results in a concluding burst of praise.
Psalm 86: Trusting God Who Delivers and Sustains Us
July 11, 2019
Our study of Psalm 86 returns us repeatedly to the idea of recognizing our neediness and God's loving willingness to always sustain us. We discuss Mary's need for a Savior even though she did not sin and our complete dependence on God for our very existence as well as our spiritual perfection. We touch briefly on consecration to God and the difference between sin as a way of life and individual sins. We focus on Bible Study as a means rather than an end and some of the messianic inferences in this psalm.