Articles
Making Use Of Our Reading In Psalms
Making use of our reading in Psalms.
The book of Psalms is unlike any other book in the bible. It is not arranged by subject, author, or date (although there are groupings). Each Psalm is its own thought and unit. Many of the psalms contain the outpouring of the heart of the writer. These reflect the situation and mindset of the writer at the time he wrote. Some show their love and awe of God. Some come from feeling abandoned and alone. Some are from the feeling of outrage at men who are ungodly. Others are instructions on life. Still others are hymns of praise and were probably used much like our songs in our song books.
This makes reading the psalms from cover to cover difficult. What needs to be done is meditation. Not 'eastern' meditation, but biblical meditation. The psalmist speaks of such meditation in his own life:
I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalms 77:12
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Psalms 119:15
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Psalms 119:48
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Psalms 119:148
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. Psalms 143:5
On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. Psalms 145:5
Such act of meditating is to ponder something, to mull it over, to consider it, to reflect upon it. It is the giving of long and serious thought about something. This kind of thinking is difficult in our busy age, but then, if we are too busy to think about God and His word we are too busy for our own good. As we read these psalms, we need to take time to pick one and spend time thinking about it. What do I learn about God? How do I begin to comprehend what I am learning about God? How am I relating to God? There is no substitute for quiet, reflective thought. That is meditation.
The psalmist even wrote and prayed about such meditation.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Psalms 104:34
Through such meditation we begin to understand God.
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Psalms 119:97
My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. Psalms 49:3
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. Psalms 119:99
Don't be in a hurry as you read the Psalms. Take your time. Stop and think about what you are reading. Mull it over and reflect upon what we learn about God here.
