Singing the Psalms
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord
- Eph 5:19 NIV
Over the past month I’ve been going through the Psalms for my quiet times. We’ve been studying various Psalms in my counseling course and my Lecturer has an affinity for them. He likes them because they capture the essence (from what I can tell so far) of the class. They map real life to God and his scripture.
Last summer I did the life of David through the Chronological Bible. It would place the events in David’s life right next to the Psalms. You would read about him being chased. Then you would read the Psalm of him crying out to God while he’s being chased by his enemies. Samuel revealed the life of David, Psalms revealed his heart. The Psalms show how David, a man after God’s heart, thought, how he believed, and how he hung onto God. The Psalms show how hearts should react to the real God in real life situations. They show me what my relationship to God should look like in the good times and in the bad.
I think when Paul tells us to speak to one another with psalms, he’s telling us to share the ways we hold onto God throughout life. Encourage one another to seek God in the good times and in the tough times. Tell of God’s goodness when you’re promoted at work. Tell of God’s goodness when you’re diagnosed with cancer. Understanding the point, style, and themes of the Psalms has helped me to enjoy and gain much during my quiet times this past summer.