Psalms, in Luther’s opinion, is a book of prayers for the child of God. In Calvin’s estimation it covers every possible life contingency. The Psalms are a prayer book for they are an “anatomy of all the parts of the soul.” He said the Psalms helps us see our needs clearly and shows us the “remedy for their cure.”
Book Two of Psalms, 42-72 (the Psalms are divided into five books), introduces us to the hearts of three composers: the Sons of Korah, Asaph, and more of the passions and experiences of David.
Our aim in this course will be to open consecutive Psalms, one a week for the quarter beginning with Psalms 42 and 43 (often considered two parts of one Psalm—read them, you’ll see why). We will reflect on the incidents and passions of the composers and think out loud together about the raw materials they give us for our own prayer lives.
This class, by God’s grace, will attack sterile, mindless, perfunctory praying in us all. It will give us God’s words to use in our personal and humble expressions of anger, grief, confusion, and exasperation, and our appeals, hopes, longings, and joys. It will equip us to worship, supplicate, and give thanks in more than vague and general prayer requests and clichés.
The tuition for this course: A broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart—sacrifices YHWH will not despise (Psa. 51:17).
This class will be taught by Rick Horne and will run from September 11, 2016 – January 1, 2017, every Sunday at 9:45am in the Fellowship Hall.