Dear Psalms friends,
So…here we are together, back again in Book V of the Psalter with the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118), the Torah “love letter” of Psalm 119, and the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). If you have not yet ordered Tim and Kathy Keller’s The Songs of JESUS, it’s time! Doug and I will be here one more Sunday after tomorrow, before heading to retreat in Colorado 9/5-9/13. Our group will not meet on 9/6 and 9/13. We’ll start meeting again on 9/20.
The final section of the Psalter, Book V, was probably put together after the Exile with the needs of the exilic and post-exilic community guiding its composition. YHWH had spoken and was still speaking words to them through his prophets. (See Psalms 147:15-20 and Isaiah 55:6-11.) Also, Book V concludes the Psalter in overwhelming praise of YHWH, showing us what honest relationship and trust in Him produces.
Tomorrow’s focus will be on 2 of the eight verse stanzas of Psalms 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, an amazing Long Acrostic composed out of deep love for and dependence on YHWH’s verbal expressions–His words, laws, statutes, decrees, commands, commandments, ways–His torah. Other Torah psalms are Psalm 1 and Psalm 19.
Our focus tomorrow is Psalm 119:41-48, the Waw section, and Psalm 119:169-176, the Taw section, the whole psalm’s conclusion. How do we make progress in our relationship with our Triune God and His Word?
Watch your e-mail later today for a guide for study and discussion of these 2 sections of Psalms 119.
Grace and peace in Christ,
Toni