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Psalms2011

Week1(linktopage2)

Week2(linktopage4)

Week3(linktopage6)

Week4(linktopage8)

Week5(linktopage9)

Week6(linktopage10)

Week7(linktopage12)

Week8(linktopage13)

Week9(linktopage15)

Week10(linktopage16)

WritingYourOwnPsalm(linktopage21)

LearningtoChantPsalms(linktopage20)

AdditionalResources(linktopage17)

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Week1–GettingtheMostoutofthePsalms(p.5-9)

Introduction

BeforedivingintothePsalms,we’regoingtotakesometimethisweektoorientourselves,andgettoknowoneanotherasagroup.Thiswillbebeneficialingettingthemostoutofourtimetogetheroverthecomingweeks.

-Takeaminuteforeachmemberofthegrouptointroducehim/herself.

-ReadPeterson,pages5-7.

-Respondtothefollowingquestions:

-HowmightthepoetryofthePsalmshelpfulforourrelationshipwithGod?

-HowmightweusethePsalmstostrengthenourprayerlife?

-Readthe“SuggestionsforMembersofaGroupStudy”onpages8-9.

GroupCovenant

Thisyear,wewouldlikeeachgrouptoforma“GroupCovenant”withoneanother.Itisourhopethatduringthecourseofthisbiblestudy,yourgroupwillcommittofulfillinganagreeduponsetofexpectations.Thiswillhelpensurethateveryoneinyourgroupisonthesamepage,andcommittedtomakingthisbiblestudythebestpossibleexperienceitcanbe.

YourGroupCovenantcanbeinwritingorverbal.Herearesomesampleissuesyoumaywanttoaddresswithyourcovenant:

-Whattimewillyoumeet,andwhere?

-ThePsalmsstudylastsfortenweeks.Howmanytimesisitreasonabletoexpectagroupmembertoattend?

-Willthemembersofyourgroupdoanyreadingbeforetheymeet?Ifso,whatiseveryoneexpectedtoread?

-Whatarecommongoalsforyourtimetogether?Whatcanyoudotomakesurethosegoalsaremet?

Additionally,youmaywantgroupmemberstoanswerthefollowingTrue/Falsequestions:

-Iwantmusicincorporatedintothestudybeforeorafterthediscussion

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-Iwantartincorporatedintothestudy

-Iwanttobringfoodordrinkstothisstudy

-Iwanttobecalledupondirectlytoanswerquestions

-Iwanttotaketurnsleadingthestudy

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Week2–Psalm1

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText

-Whydoestheauthorusetheword“delight”inversetwo?

-Howarewetounderstandthephrase“whatevertheydoprospers”inversethree?DoesthismeanthatChristianswillalwaysgettheirway?

QuestionsforOurLives

-HowdoweloveandshareChristwiththescoffersandmockersinourlives,withoutbecomingtooinfluencedbythem?

-Whatwaysdoesourculturemakeithardtocultivateameditativemindset?

NoworLater

PetersonsuggestsusingPsalm119inprayeranddevotionthisweek,tohelpformameditativemindset.Considermeditatingonthefollowingpassagesduringquiettime,orthroughoutthedayduringtheupcomingweek:

Day1–Verse1-24

Day2–Verse25-48

Day3–Verse49–80

Day4–Verse81–104

Day5–Verse105–128

Day6–Verse129–152

Day7–Verse153–176

Music

Psalm1Acapella-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsQF8VIJPFM

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BrianMoss–JoyWillCometoYou

http://prayerbookproject.blogs.com/Prayerbook_1/Joy_Will_Come_To_You.mp3

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Week3–Psalm2

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText

-Whoisspeakinginverseseven?Howisthatsignificant?

-Howcanrulers“servetheLORDwithfear,andrejoicewithtrembling”inaculturewhereChurchandStateareseparated?

QuestionsforOurLives

-HowdoesthisPsalmaffectourunderstandingofwhatrulersandgovernorsshoulddo?

-Howwelldoesthegovernmentinyourcountryoforiginreflectthispsalm?Whatisitdoingthatyouwanttoseemoreof?Whatneedstochange?

NoworLater

Petersonsuggestsyouspendsometimelearningaboutaruler,inordertobecomemoreawareofhowtoprayforthem.Ifyouarenotsurewhotoprayfor,herearesomesuggestions:

-Thehighestofficialinyourhomecountry(president,king,primeminister)

-Thecongressorparliamentinyourcountry

-JosephDeiss,PresidentoftheUnitedNations

-Thegovernor,orotherleadersfromyourstateorprovince

-Themayor,citymanager,orsuperintendentinyourhometown

-GaylenByker,out-goingPresidentofCalvinCollege,and/orhissuccessor

MusicJasonGoldtrap-Psalm2Acappella-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkpo50UWTscLeonardBernstein–"Adonairo-I”(CombinationofPsalm2and23)-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcF3t-W3Wi8

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BrianMoss–KisstheSonhttp://prayerbookproject.blogs.com/Prayerbook_1/Kiss_The_Son.mp3

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Week4–Psalm51

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText-Whatdoesversefourteachusabouthowweshouldrespondtosin?-Inverseeleven,DavidasksGodnottotakeHisHolySpiritaway.HowmightDavid’sunderstandingoftheHolySpiritdifferfromours?QuestionsforOurLives-Petersonsays“ourexperienceofsindoesnotconsistofdoingsomebadthings,butofbeingbad.Itisafundamentalconditionofourexistence,notatemporarylapseintoerror.”Whatdoeshemeanbythisstatement?Doyouagree?Whyorwhynot?-HowcanwecreateaChristianculturethatismoreopenaboutoursin,andourneedforforgiveness?

NoworLater

AttempttodoPeterson’sexerciseatleastoncethisweek,focusingonaparticularsin,orpatternofsinbehavior.

Music

WashMe,OGod(fromJazzPsalms)–DanielRichardsonandAngelNapieralski(linktobookstorepage)

(RipfromCD)

Chant

GreekOrthodox(InEnglish)-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ8ufoy4ulw

GregorioAllegri-MiserereMei,Deus(Psalm51)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFAmQ8Dccm4

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Week5–Psalm103

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText

-Howshouldweinterpretverseseventeen,“theLORD’sloveiswiththosewhofearhim,andhisrighteousnesswiththeirchildren’schildren?”

-Whatarecommonmisunderstandingspeoplehavewithregardtotheirsalvation?WhatversesinthisPsalmhelpcorrectthem?

QuestionsforourLives

-Howdoesunderstandingthedoctrineofsalvationenhanceourexperienceofit?

-Whatrolecanourexperienceofsalvationplaywhenweshareourfaithwithothers?

NoworLater

PetersonencouragesustowriteourownPsalmofpraise.ForsomehelpfulsuggestionsaboutwritingyourownPsalm,clickhere(linktopage18).

Music

BlesstheLordMySoul–ConcordFirstAssembly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeGst3a4hO4

BlesstheLordMySoul–TaizeCommunity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGEjKV6eDxY

Chant

Psalm103-OrthodoxChoirofValaamMonastery(InEnglish)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_VjxxONUNE

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Week6–Psalm23

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText-Whywouldtheshepherd’s“rodandstaff”inversefourbeasourceofcomfort?-Whatisthesignificanceofthespeakerbeingseatedatthetableinthepresenceofhisenemiesinversefive?QuestionsforourLives-Howcanwetangiblybeledto“quietwaters,”andhaveoursoulsrestoredbyGod?-WhatisapracticalwaythatyoucanberemindedofGod’sfaithfulnessduringatimeoffearoranxiety?

NoworLater

Onyourown,readIsaiah40aloud,asPetersonsays.ThispassageislargelyaboutthemightandmajestyofGod,andHiscentralityoverallcreation.Takesometimetogoslowlythroughit,thenthink,pray,orjournalaboutthesequestions:

-Howdoesyourviewofyourselflineupwiththispassage?IsyourattitudesimilartotheScriptures?HowdoesaproperviewofGodandselfhelpusovercomefear,andfeelmorecomfortable?

Music

LeonardBernstein–"Adonairo-I”(CombinationofPsalm2and23)-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcF3t-W3Wi8

JohnRutter:Requiem6/7-TheLordismyshepherd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovPbeXYUD-g

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Chant

JohnBoyer–Psalm23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX3QdTmWoxk

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Week7–Psalm137

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText

-Howdoesthispsalmcompareinstructuretootherpsalmswe’vereadsofar?Howmightthatbesignificant?

-HowmightGodrespondtotheauthorofthispsalm?

QuestionsforOurLives

-IsthereapeoplegroupthatyouseeinasimilarwayastheIsraelitessawtheBabylonians?Why?HowwouldChristcompelyoutorespondtothem?

-Isthereahealthywaytoexpressfeelingsofhatredinacommunityoffaith?Ifso,whatmightitlooklike?

NoworLater

PetersonrecommendsprayingthroughPsalms138and139inordertocontinueprayingthroughstrongemotions.Thisweek,readthroughPsalm137,138,and139consecutivelyattheendoftheday.Usethesepsalmsasajumpingoffpointtoprocessyourday,andthevarietyofemotionsyouexperiencedthroughoutit.

Music

BytheRiversofBabylon–CroydonSDAGospelChoir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gotiViaoLPE&feature=related

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Week8–Psalm6

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText

-WhatwordswouldyouusetodescribethelanguageusedbyDavid?Howishislanguagesignificant?

-Whatisthesignificanceofverseten?WhywouldDavid’senemiesbeoverwhelmedby“shameandanguish?”

QuestionsforOurLives

-David’slifewasoftenthreatenedbyenemieswhowantedtokillhimortakehisthrone.Whoaretheenemieswhocauseyougriefinyourlife?Howdotheythreatenorharmyouphysically,spiritually,oremotionally?

-Howoftendoyouweepfor/withothers?WhymightthatbeanimportantpartoftheChristianlife?

NoworLater

PetersonencouragesustospendtimepouringoutourfeelingstoGod.Usetheguidedprayerbelow,basedonPsalm6,tohelpfacilitateanexpressionofyourfeelingsforyourself,orthesuffering/strugglesofanother.Readthroughtheprayer,incorporatingthecircumstancesyouarethinkingof.Thenspendsometimethinking,praying,orjournalingabouthowGodmightrespondtothisprayer.

LordandFather,

Havemercyon().YouareGod,and()aremerelyhuman.Spare()fromyourangerandwrath.()feelstheanguishandburdenof().TakepitySovereignLord,forYouaregreatandincontrol.

Lord,howlongwillyouallowthingstobethisway?Pleasedonotignoretheseprayers.Iknowyoucanhearthem,forYouarealwaysnear.

DonotwithholdYourloveLord.Donotallow()towitherinspirit,ortolosehope.YouareourLord.OurGod.OurKing.PleaseshowYourselfinthissituation,lest()belostintears,andsorrow.

OLord,()isreallystrugglingwith().Protect()fromenemies,andfromSatan,theSpiritualenemy.Restoreandrenew()strengthandfaith.ShowYourpresence,andbringhealing,andhopewhereitisneeded.

IpraiseYouLord,becauseYouheartheseprayers.YouloveYourpeople,andYouwillalwaysremainfaithfultothem.Help()torememberthatalways.

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Havemercyon().Whateverhappens,protect()’sfaith,andhelp()toknowYourgoodnessandwisdom,evenif(he/she/they)cannotseeit.

InthenameoftheFather,Son,andHolySpiritIpray.Amen.

Music

BrianMoss–HealMe

http://prayerbookproject.blogs.com/Prayerbook_1/Heal_Me.mp3

YoungAdultsChoirLaudate!–Psalm6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQbm1_ymR0A

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Week9–Psalm73

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText

-WhatstandsouttoyouaboutthestructureofthisPsalm?

-HowdoesourbeliefintheHolySpiritchange/shapeourreadingofthisPsalm–specifically,verses16-17.

QuestionsforOurLives

-Psalm73speaksofthepsalmist’sjealousyofnon-believers.Whatworldlybeliefs/practices/trappingsmakeyoufeeljealoussometimes?Whatdoesthatsayaboutthestateofyourheart?

-Re-readverses13-14.Haveyoueverexperiencedatimewhereyoufeltlikethat?Howdidyouhandleit?

NoworLater

Psalm49reiteratesthetruthofourspiritualcondition–apartfromGod,wehavenothing.Allearthlywealth,stature,andpossessionsaretemporary,andultimatelymeaningless.ReadthroughPsalm49.Then,committoprayingeachdaythisweekforsomeoneyouknowwhoisnotlivinginrightrelationshipwithGod.Praythathe/shewillknowtheirneedforGod,andprovideyouorothersopportunitiestoshowandspeakaboutGod’slovetothatperson.

Music

Boogalu–Psalm73

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsBv9YQQVjE

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Week10–Psalm150

AdditionalQuestions

QuestionsfortheText

-WhydoyouthinkthisisthelastPsalminthePsalter?

-Whatdoestheuseofinstrumentsanddancingtellusaboutthenatureofpraise?

QuestionsforOurLives

-HowcanwepracticallypraiseGodduringtheweek,outsideofChurch?

-Howshouldwereadthispsalmintimesofdifficultyorstress?

NoworLater

Ifyouhavenotalready,usethislastweektowriteyourown(linktopage18)psalmofpraisetoGodforwhatHehasdoneinyourlife.Youcouldalsowriteapieceofmusicorcreateadrawing/painting/sculptureingratitudetoGod.Don’tworryifyoudonotnormallyconsideryourself“artistic”–artcanbeauniqueandpowerfulwaytodeepenprayerandexpressourfeelingstoGodforallpeople!

Music

JubilationGospelChoir–Psalm150

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv-auouzP-4

ErezYechiel–Psalm150(HebrewwithEnglishTranslation)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq0dVQnkoHs

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AdditionalResources

SuggestedBooks

HowtoReadthePsalms,TremperLongmanIII,IVPAcademic,1988.

Anintroductiontothevarioustypesofpsalms,andhowtoapproachthem.

PsalmsandtheLifeofFaith,WalterBrueggemann,FortressPress,1995.

Acomprehensiveoverviewofthepsalms,andtheirmeaningfortheChurch,byarenownedOldTestamentscholar.

AnsweringGod:ThePsalmsasToolsforPrayer,EugenePeterson,HarperOne,1991

PetersonprovidesfurtherguidanceforusingthePsalmsasatoolforprayer.

TheBiblicalPsalmsinChristianWorship:ABriefIntroduction&GuidetoResources,JohnD.Witvliet,2007.

Anoverviewofthewaypsalmsarewritten,andtheirvarioususesinworshipthroughoutchurchhistory.Alsocontainsacomprehensiveguidetopsalmsresources.

Commentaries

Whatisacommentary?(linktopage19)

NIVApplicationCommentaryPsalms,GeraldH.Wilson,2002.

Helpsreadersseethetext’sapplicationinthecontemporaryworld.

Psalms,JamesLutherMays,Interpretation.1994.

Readablecommentarydesignedforusebyeverydaypeople.

Psalms1-72and73–150,DerekKinder,2009

BriefbutthoroughoverviewsofeachPsalm,aswellasstructuralanalysisandquestionsofinterpretation.

ThePsalmsasChristianWorship:AnHistoricalCommentary,BruceK.WaltkeandJamesHouston,Eerdmans,2010.

VersebyverseexpositionofeachPsalmfromahistoricalperspective.Writtenforascholarlyaudience.

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Formorerecommendedcommentaries,visittheCenterforExcellenceinPreaching.(http://cep.calvinseminary.edu/encounterText/commentaries.php?pNav=cep)

AdditionalMusic

Psalms–SovereignGraceMusic

ContemporaryrenditionsoftwelvedifferentPsalms

http://www.amazon.com/Psalms-Sovereign-Grace-Music/dp/B001EGFZ36/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307717860&sr=8-2

PsalmsfromtheSoul–Volume1

Gospel-stylepsalmsandcanticles,takendirectlyfromtheCatholicLectionary

http://www.ocp.org/products/12891

PsalmsfromtheSoul–Volume2

http://www.ocp.org/products/20743

ThePsalmsProject

UnpluggedrenditionsofthirteendifferentPsalms

http://www.thepsalmproject.com/

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Whatisacommentary?

ABiblicalcommentaryisaworkdesignedtoaidthereaderinthestudyofScripture.Commentariesareusuallyscholarlyinnature(thoughnotalways),andtheyprovideexplanationandinterpretationofa

passagebyexaminingtheauthorship,background,setting,andoriginallanguageofapassage.Theyalsoprovideusefulcross-referencingandcomparisonwiththerestoftheBiblicalnarrative.

Awordofcautionwhenusingcommentaries–sometimesthereisnotaclearconsensusinthescholarlycommunityaboutaparticularverse,ordetailofastory.Althoughmostauthorsdotheirbesttoremainobjective,thereisalwayssomesubjectivitywheninterpretingScripture.Itisimportanttorememberthiswhenforminganopinionaboutapassage,andespeciallywhenfacilitatingdiscussionswherea

commentaryisused.

HowdoIuseacommentary?

Somepeoplethinkthatcommentariesareonlyforpastorsandteachers.However,theycanbegreattoolsforpersonalorgroupBiblestudy!

ForthePsalmsstudy,leadersorgroupmembersmaywanttoreadthroughpartofoneofourrecommendedcommentaries(linktopage13)beforeorduringtheBiblestudy.Thecommentarycanprovidevaluableinsightintothestructureandpurposeofthepsalm,andhelpilluminateversesthat

seemconfusing.

Leadersareinvitedtoformadditionalquestionsbasedoncommentarymaterials,iftheyareinterested.

BesuretovisittheHekmanLibrary(http://library.calvin.edu/)toseeifyoucanborrowoneofourrecommendedcommentaries!

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LearningtoChantPsalms

SingingandchantingthePsalmsisanancientpracticeintheJudeo-Christiantradition.However,manyProtestantshavenothadexposuretothejoyofthisspiritualdiscipline.

ChantingthePsalmscanbeapowerfulexperience,becauseitinvolvesthemind,heart,andbodyinprayerandworshipofGod.Onedoesnotneedtothinkher/hissingingvoicemustbe“goodenough”tochantthePsalms.Thetruthisyourtruesingingvoiceisbeautiful,becauseitispartofyourauthenticself,createdbyGod.Althoughitmayfeeluncomfortableatfirst,itisworththeeffort!

BelowareseveralresourcesthatmayserveasahelpfulintroductiontothepracticeofchantingthePsalms.

HelpfulResources

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Faith-Tools/Meditation/2000/06/Lesson-1-The-Bare-Essentials.aspx

http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/theologyandworship/chant-psalms/

ChantingthePsalms:APracticalGuidewithInstructionalCD,CynthiaBourgealt,NewSeeds(2006).

http://www.amazon.com/Chanting-Psalms-Practical-Guide-Instructional/dp/1590302575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307114630&sr=8-1

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WritingYourOwnPsalm

OnewaythatwecanrespondtothePsalmsistospendtimecomposingapsalmourselves.WecanwritepoemsorsongsthatareinthespiritandstyleofthePsalms,orevenre-writeorparaphraseanexistingpsalmtofitourmoderncontext.

WhatmakesthePsalmssopowerfulisthattheyprovidelanguagethatwecanandshoulduseinprayer.WritingourownpsalmisnotabouttryingtoreplacewhatiscollectedintheBible.Rather,itisahelpfulexercisebecauseitchallengesustofilterourthoughtsandprayersthroughtheScriptures,whileexpressingourfeelingsbeforeGodinapowerfulway.

Considermodelingapsalmafteronethatwereadduringthestudy,andadoptingthewordstoyouoryourfaithcommunity’scurrentsituation.Or,youcanalsowriteapsalmbasedonyourownwordsinastylethatintriguesyou–alament,orapsalmofpraise,forexample.

Whateveryoudo,remembertohavefunwithit!Thisexerciseisnotaboutbeinga“great”writer.It’saboutgivingvoicetoyourthoughtsandfeelingsinawaythatishonestandhonorsGod.Ifyougetstuck,checkoutoneofourexamplesbelow.Andifyou’vegotagreatpsalmyou’dlikeustopostonourwebsite,emailtheCampusMinistriesStaffatpsalms@calvin.edu

Example1–BasedonPsalm13(linktopage19)

Example2–APsalmofPraise(linktopage23)

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BasedonPsalm13

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APsalmofPraise

AJGretz

AlmightyGodandFather,Whoislikeyou?WhodeservestobecalledLordOrKing?SurelynotI,Father.Iammortalman.Dust.Andsin.ThoughIamfullofprideAndIlongforgloryIamnotlikeYou.SurelyIamnottheLord.YouaretheAlmightyOne.TheMakerofHeavenandEarth.OfallthatisseenAndunseen.Youreignoverskyandstar.ThewatersoftheseaAndthefoundationsoftheEarthObeyYoureverycommand.OLordHavemercyonme.HelpmetoremembermyplaceToserveyouinhumilityAndfindsecurityinYoursovereignrule.BlessedareYourpeopleWholoveYouAndarelovedbyYou,TheAlphaandOmega,BeginningandEnd.InYou,God,wefindourpurposeAndeverlastinglove.YouworkforthegoodofYourpeople.

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PraiseYouforYourgoodnessAndfaithfulness.PraiseYouforYourrelentlessloveAndundeservedgrace.PraiseYou,OurLord.OurGod.OurKing.