Introduction to "Reading the Psalms with Luther"

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!