Dear Friends in Christ,
Welcome to the first posting for our Psalm study! If you have not gotten your copy of "Reading the Psalms with Luther" please pick it up on Sunday morning. If you didn't order one, but would like a copy, let me know and we'll get you one. We will officially begin our study on Wednesday December 5th by studying the Messianic Psalms. Until then, let's get comfortable with our new book and the new blog.
When paging through your book you will notice a number of interesting pieces of information other than Luther's commentary and the actual psalms. On page 12 and 13 you will notice a section on singing the psalms. Since the psalms were actually a collection of hymns for the church of the Old Testament, they are heard in their truest form when they are sung. This is why we sing a psalm or introit every Sunday in Church. These pages allow you to sing the psalms at home. One of our members recently told the confirmation class that when she lies in bed on sleepless nights, she sings the psalms or a familiar hymn that she remembers from her childhood.
Also, at the end of the book on pages 357 and on you will notice different categories of Psalms and their use in daily prayer and worship. Take a look at page 357. Did you know that many of the Psalms were written specifically about Jesus Christ our Lord even before His incarnation? Did you know, in fact, that many of the Psalms actually reveal the words of the preincarnate Christ? For example, in Psalm 22, the Son of God is speaking long before He ever assumed human flesh. The Messianic Psalms do great things for those who have a hard time believing that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. They reveal very clearly the truth about the Son, that He indeed is Immanuel, God with us!
I look forward to our conversations as we begin a new year in the life of the Church. Let's be on guard and be alerted this season of Advent, and prepare our hearts for the coming of the bridegroom by immersing ourselves in His life-giving and sustaining Word, you know, our great heritage!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Introduction to "Reading the Psalms with Luther"
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9 comments:
Preach:
Just a thought here: Is it possible or practical to scan the psalm or page that is up for study at that time? It might let someone who is not from St. Paul's know what we're talking about. Just a thought.
--rf
Finchman:
I like your thinking. I will let it be known ahead of time what Psalm we are studying. Everyone at least can read the psalm and then we will provide a brief summary of what Luther has written each week. That will enable folks to be involved even if they don't have the book. Good thought, keep em' coming.
Preach
so. . . can we post questions too? or just comments?
You may certainly post questions, comments or whatever you would like to as it relates to the specific study. You may in fact even ask other questions, but the moderator reserves the right to filter commentary if it is not appropriate. This will enable anyone to be involved easily, yet at the same time retain the blog's integrity and appropriateness.
We would love to participate, we do not have the book but we do have the Psalms. Thank you for inviting us.
Thank you for including me in this e-mail. This will be a bible study I can do and still work. I look forward to participating. I will need to get a book Just let me know how I can do that
Thank you for giving us the opportunity for this Bible study. I look forward to participating. I'm assuming it will be okay to pick up with the study on Wednesday evening on the 5th since I am working during the day. Please let me know how to get a book. Sorry I am so late
If you don't have a copy of the book go to www.cph.org On that sight do a search for the book "Reading the Psalms with Luther." Our book will pop right up. They are 14.99 now over the internet. For those of you who ordered at church they were 10.99 and we still have some in the fellowship hall. Pick them up for 10.99 while they last. Otherwise, order them over the internet.
Pastor Sherrill,
How wonderful to use our book for your study of the Psalms. Thank you for your positive words.
ScotK
Editor, Reading the Psalms with Luther
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