31 May 2025
I
was leading a discussion about the Psalms recently in anticipation of a
corporate act of worship to celebrate the Psalms in the worship of the Church.
As a warm-up, I asked the group what the Psalms meant to them. These are some
of the replies.
Several
people remembered singing the Psalms. One looked back to his Primary School
days when they sang Psalms in the classroom. Another had a more negative
experience of singing Crimond in church at a very slow pace. It put him off for
life!
A
couple of people commented on how accessible the Psalms were. ‘They show you
the way.’ said one. ‘They are very accessible!’ said another referring to the
different emotions expressed so directly in the Psalms like anger. ‘The Psalms
don’t necessarily give you answers but shared experience.’
An
older member of the group talked affectionately about the metrical psalms. We
are celebrating the 375th anniversary of the Second Scottish Psalter
this year. ‘The tradition of the metrical psalms affirms the continuity of the
Church down through the ages.’ she said.
‘The
Psalms are an easy way of saying a prayer.’ This was a very thoughtful insight.
If words don’t come easily in our prayers, we are well advised to open the
Psalter and read a psalm. ‘Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee
from your presence?’ (Psalm 139;7)
Of
course, this idea can be developed in a very simple way. Instead of reading a
whole psalm, it is helpful at times to savour a line, a phrase or a verse and
mull it over and over in our mind so that it becomes embedded in our heart. Try
it with this short verse from the end of Psalm 46, ‘Be still and know that I am
God.’ (Psalm 46;10)
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