The great 4th century Church Father, Athanasius once said: “The Psalms have a unique place in the Bible because [whereas] most of Scripture speaks to us, the Psalms speak for us.” No truer words have been spoken.
This is helpful! I can clearly see where I am lacking in #1 and #5. I tend to sit with the other three for weeks before getting to the others. So I’m really just complaining and feeling sorry for myself instead of truly lamenting. 🤯
Sandra, it confirms in my mind why I have always thought Psalm 13 is so punk rock. It’s quick and urgent, and has all five of your criteria are covered in 6 verses!
I'm definitely in! I see this is a book with lots of space to write in; would you say the ebook works just as well as the paperback version (with a notebook close by)?
And the marvelous Athanasius quote from the beginning (and end) makes me think of someone else I find inspiring: Eugene Peterson. His LifeGuide study guide on Psalms starts with a statement whose symmetry seems anchored in those words by Athanasius: "People look into mirrors to see how they look; they look into the Psalms to find out who they are."
I'm looking forward to your own book, which will be my first in the Richter canon. :)
Oh, and I read Jeremiah and Lamentations recently, and I wonder if in someone's definition there are "stray psalms" in there (sort of like the stray sonnet in Romeo and Juliet). Very lyrical language in any case!
Ah yes, there are "stray psalms" all over the canon! And the elevated speech of the prophets drifts easily into the high poetry of the Psalms. And according to the Dead Sea Scrolls, there were thousands of psalms written that did not make it into the canon. I hope you enjoy the study on Psalms. You can find the streaming code to the video-ed lectures on the inside cover of the book!
Thank you for a wonderful reply. Psalms, in their abundance and their imagery, often have an uncanny way of latching onto other things we read or do or imagine that day. :)
I already have your book in my library and hope to dive into the study of Psalms through your guidance quite soon.
Thank you so much for this. I’m sharing it with those I love. Indeed we all need to know and speak the language of lament and let God, through the Psams, speak for us.
This is helpful! I can clearly see where I am lacking in #1 and #5. I tend to sit with the other three for weeks before getting to the others. So I’m really just complaining and feeling sorry for myself instead of truly lamenting. 🤯
A lesson for all of us. Thanks for sharing :)
💛💛
Sandra, it confirms in my mind why I have always thought Psalm 13 is so punk rock. It’s quick and urgent, and has all five of your criteria are covered in 6 verses!
I'm definitely in! I see this is a book with lots of space to write in; would you say the ebook works just as well as the paperback version (with a notebook close by)?
And the marvelous Athanasius quote from the beginning (and end) makes me think of someone else I find inspiring: Eugene Peterson. His LifeGuide study guide on Psalms starts with a statement whose symmetry seems anchored in those words by Athanasius: "People look into mirrors to see how they look; they look into the Psalms to find out who they are."
I'm looking forward to your own book, which will be my first in the Richter canon. :)
Oh, and I read Jeremiah and Lamentations recently, and I wonder if in someone's definition there are "stray psalms" in there (sort of like the stray sonnet in Romeo and Juliet). Very lyrical language in any case!
Ah yes, there are "stray psalms" all over the canon! And the elevated speech of the prophets drifts easily into the high poetry of the Psalms. And according to the Dead Sea Scrolls, there were thousands of psalms written that did not make it into the canon. I hope you enjoy the study on Psalms. You can find the streaming code to the video-ed lectures on the inside cover of the book!
Thank you for a wonderful reply. Psalms, in their abundance and their imagery, often have an uncanny way of latching onto other things we read or do or imagine that day. :)
I already have your book in my library and hope to dive into the study of Psalms through your guidance quite soon.
Sandy,
Thank you so much for this. I’m sharing it with those I love. Indeed we all need to know and speak the language of lament and let God, through the Psams, speak for us.
Bless you!
Tommy A