LENTEN BIBLE STUDY: Praying the Psalms in Light of the Lord’s Prayer
Week 1 - Our Father in Heaven
Psalms of confidence and trust
3, 4, 11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 115, 121, 125, 129,131
Week 1 of our Bible study begins with the first line of the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father in Heaven. This phrase speaks of our identity as God’s children and reminds us that we can approach our God with confidence and trust.
Long before Jesus instructed us to call God Father, the writers of the psalms approached God with boldness and confidence because of God’s loving kindness expressed in his covenant with his people. The psalms associated with this phrase are the psalms of confidence: 3, 4, 11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 115, 121, 125, 129, 131.
Included in this grouping is the 23rd Psalm - the Lord is my shepherd, perhaps the most well-known of all of the psalms. Other psalms include Psalm 27 - the Lord is my light and my salvation, Psalm 121 – I lift my eyes to the mountains, and Psalm 125 – As mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever. The last psalm in this section, Psalm 131, is a psalm of quiet trust that invites us to rest in the Lord like a child on its mother’s lap. “I have stilled my soul, hushed it like a weaned child, like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me.” (vs. 2)
I invite you to “still your soul.” Try to find some time during the craziness which is life to rest in quiet confidence knowing you are loved. Reflect throughout the week on what it means to call God Father.
And so, we begin our Lenten journey by reflecting on “who we are” and “whose we are” – beloved children of God and members of one family.
When I opened one of the bibles I have, I found this thought of the week bookmark. "It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full distraction." by St. Edmund. How many times have we said the Our Father with full distraction? My initial thought is simply say Our Father...it sums it all up...we put our faith and trust in Him...for He already knows all our thoughts, tribulations and desires. Through out the 12 Psalms are all the things a Father does for His child. Surround us, put your arms around us, bless us, still my soul, shield me, safety, show me favor, make me secure, inheritance, counsel, refuge & goodness in the land of the living, power & kindness, safety & glory, faithfulness & love and promise. Jesus taught us how to pray and we follow the example He gave us. I know that in the last year, I have said the Our Father more times than I can count...sometimes not always without distraction....for I know I have no place else to turn but to Our Heavenly Father. When I have faced temptations, evil thoughts, anger and despair, as the Psalm says "I have stilled my soul" and turned to the Father. TRUST IN HIM! I know He loves me and trust His plans whatever they might be. My favorite....Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.....You guide me along the right path....I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. Comfort me O Lord! Shepherd me. For you truly are OUR FATHER.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reflections, Mike. Isn't it wonderful how the twelve Psalms flesh out what it means to be a father, enriching our concept of God as father!
ReplyDeleteI take a lot of comfort in the Psalms and the connection to the Our Father was something I never thought of before so...God is leading me in another direction. As we continue this lenten journey may God bring us comfort and peace. May we grow to further appreciate all that He does for us. I really hope to develop an ever greater appreciation for this wonderful prayer. Cannot wait for Thy will be done!
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