Fairview Evangelical Presbyterian Church

The Psalms are a special book. They are 150 individual songs or prayers that are spread out over several different genres and general attitudes. Most of the Bible consists of God communicating with His people but the Psalms are full of God’s people communicating with Him. RC Sproul famously said that “whenever I read the Psalms, I feel like I am eavesdropping on a saint having a personal conversation with God.” And this is a wonderful gift. Some of the Psalms highlight praise, some highlight gratitude, some highlight lament, and others highlight anger.  

The Psalms give us a model for how to approach God in every situation we find ourselves. Too often, we think of prayer as a chore we must do, or a particular method where we have to say the right words – but the Psalms give us examples for how to approach God in authenticity. Throughout the entire history of the church, Christians have used the Psalms to pray and connect with God. Even Jesus used the Psalms to pray in His most trying moments in the Garden, and on the Cross. This is the beauty of the Psalms; they are not just God’s Word to Us but also God’s Word For Us. Whenever you find yourself in a situation where prayer is not easy, where you’re not sure what words to use – there is a Psalm to help you connect to God.  

We have spent most of the liturgical year – Advent-Pentecost – studying the life of Christ, and the empowering of the Church through the Holy Spirit. We have focused on the story of God dwelling with His people. Now, we transition into ordinary time and learn more about God by studying the story of His people, by better understanding our human condition and how we relate to God. This Summer, I hope that we will grow in our comfort with the Psalter, understanding it as a way to encourage our prayer life, enrich our praise, and deepen our relationship with God.