Two Ways To Live Series

Some things change. For example, for students are heading off to college this week and are scheduled to graduate in 2013, the following things have always been.

1. They have always been able to watch wars, police riots, and coups unfold on television.

2. The American health care system has always been in critical condition;

3. They have never been amazed that you now listen or watch your TV or radio on the computer;

4. The Oval Office has always had a computer;

But some things do not change. How we talk to God and how God talks to us hasn’t changed in thousands of years. Indeed, where we find some of the best information on how to talk with God is found in a book that is around 2,500 years old, entitled the Psalms. Here is wisdom from generations upon generations ago that knows nothing of the technological and economic progress you and I see today. Still, we find substantive wisdom on how we should love and live … cry and query … How we can both express our fury and celebrate God’s love… And all of this is in the Psalms.

Today signals the beginning of a new series entitled God Talk: A Study of the Psalms. Over the course of the next several weeks, we explore avenues where both our mind and emotions can be authentic with God. Where we recognize that nothing is hidden from His purvey and we can be real with Him.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;?but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.?The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;?for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:1-6)

TODAY’S BIG IDEA: How You Live Today Really Matters Tomorrow.

1. Why This Matters

1.1 Why the Psalms Matter

With even a cursory examination of the book of Psalms, we immediately recognize that we are wealthy by merely its possession. Within this collection of poetry and praise, we see both God speaking to His people as well as a window into an ancient world. This window gives us a picturesque view of Israel’s response of faith to the living God. Through this window we are enabled to look out on our brothers and sisters in the faith of more than 2,500 years ago. Here we are invited to experience the past. We see through this window called the Psalms a mirror of the faith of Israel. We experience how God’s people in the past have related to Him. And in an age that at once both screams for the present and abhors the past, we will see that there is abundant riches in seeing how God’s people of the past related to Him.

There are at least two lessons we can learn by an investigative look into the Psalms.

1.1.1 The Psalms Can Lead you into a Renewal in Worship

The book of Psalms confronts our complacency as we see the wonder and majesty of God. The Psalter can revolutionize our family patterns, our devotional life, and our church. The word “psalm” means songs or poems. With more than 150 chapters of poetry and praise to God, this book will transform your prayer life. This book is meant to be sung and cherished. It calls on you to delight yourself in God. If we approach this book in the right attitude, the book of Psalms will create within a greater longing for God Himself.

1.1.2 The Psalmist Is Realistic to Suffering We Experience

If you linger over the Psalms, you’ll see what is called a lament. Our spirits cry out to God in times of sorrow where our depression and frustration overwhelm us. This is a cry of authenticity before God. Recognizing we cannot hide our emotions, we come to God in faith asking Him questions they unnerve us as well as expressing our pain. The Psalms can affect our entire being.

1.2. Why Psalms One Matters

“Blessed is the man…” (Psalms 1:1a)

1.2.1 It Matters Because of God’s Favor

If you’ll place your eyes on verse one, you’ll see that is begins with the “Blessed.” This is just one word that forms a rich cluster of words describing righteous people. The same word can be translated as happy. While happiness is more than a feeling, this word promises us that there is an opportunity to have a life that is meaningful. In just a moment, we’ll read of the wicked where they are described as worthless. This is not the case with those who are favored by God. They are not worthless. Instead, God gifts these men and women with a life of worth and significance. They know that life can be delightful.