Artwork Credit: foundationsforfreedom.net

Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.

Psalms: God is the center of life and the central joy of life! (Book 5)

The Psalms are, in reality, the words to the praise and worship songs of the long ago nation of Israel. We are asking you to imagine these lyrics as the power point slides or the song sheets handed out to those who come to sing praise to God each weekend.

Book 5 – Psalms 107-150 wrap this collection of worship songs up with the strong vocalization of God’s worth. From a several more songs from King David (Psalm 108-110; 138-145), to a series of songs pilgrims would sing on the way up the mountain road to Jerusalem to the longest psalm about the glories of the words of the King of kings (Psalm 119), to five “Hallelujah” (Literally: Praise God!) psalms (Psalm 146-150), Book 5 leaves the reader / worshipper with little doubt that God is the center of life and the central joy of life as well.

Praise is transforming! For the people of Israel, humiliated and downcast over the conquest of their nation and their internment in a foreign land, these songs of worship sought to lift and focus them on the greatness of God’s steadfast love. As these words sank deep into the DNA of these discouraged peoples, the strong encouragement to their return to the will and words of God as a lifestyle would be felt. A turn around – literally, turning back – to an intimate, real and passionate relationship with God would be the intended result of these praise songs.

As you read, be sure not to miss …

• The call to seek God when in distress and to thank him when he delivers, as in Psalm 107.
• The certainty of the coming of Messiah (the World-Wide Ruling King, a descendant of David), as in Psalm 110.
• The futility of idols and the faithfulness of God, as expressed in Psalm 115.
• The value and practicality of a life lived in harmony with the words of God as revealed in the Law (Genesis – Deuteronomy), as in Psalm 119.
• The joy of entering into God’s presence at the Temple by singing as you traveled up the mountains to Jerusalem as expressed in Psalms 120-134.
• The mercy of God, which endures forever, as repeated after every line of the song in Psalm 136.
• The unfathomable knowledge of humanity by God concerning our every movement, thought or work, as in Psalm 139.
• The happiness of God which surrounds those who have been delivered by this all-powerful God, as in Psalm 144.
• The praise of God through every means possible so that God’s name and fame may be known by all, as in Psalm 150.

No matter the depths of despair and difficulty, this volume of praise songs causes us to understand: God is able and willing to deliver us from any and all of our most dire circumstances if we will but draw close to him and trust his steadfast love.

It is our hope that this background information helps a bit as you read on in the Bible.

© 2011 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, All rights reserved.

For daily insights into the passage we are reading together each day, you can follow Dr. Smith on Twitter and on Facebook.

You can obtain more help from the FREE Bible reading schedule on our resource page. In His Image is a daily devotional that also follows our reading schedule and expresses the Biblical truth: “God Created You to Love You.” You can find this resource on the side bar of our website.

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The world around us changes approximately every 18 months! Such change brings great challenges to our mission. Eagles In Leadership has designed a weekend to help you energize your congregation or organization to fulfill the Great Commission in your community. You can bring this weekend to your church or organization!

The weekend revolves around four key messages:

• Help! My Community Is Changing!
• What’s Your Dream for Your Church? (And How Do You Reach It?)
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• Reaching Your Community In Your Generation! (It’s All About the Mission!)

You can learn more here.

Photo Credit: risingsunchurch.org

Recently a church leadership team asked me the following question: “What is the purpose of the church weekly gatherings? “ As I thought about their question, I realized that the New Testament has much to say about the worship of God’s people on a weekly gathering. Among those statements,

• Whatever else is done, worship must be done in spirit and in truth. (John 4.23-24) Many churches worship with lots of spirit but little truth – this can lead to fanatical heresy. Many other churches worship with lots of truth and little spirit – this can lead to Phariseeism. Every worship celebration should be a time of raving worship in spirit and passionate application of truth.

• Whatever else is done, worship should provide an opportunity for the following elements from time to time. The following is exemplary, not exhaustive …

o   Explanation of our justification in Jesus (Romans 1-4; Galatians 3; Ephesians 1-3)

o   Encouragement in our sanctification process (Romans 5-8)

o   Reminder of the consequences of rejecting Christ (Romans 9-11; Galatians 4)

o   Call to total commitment to Christ (Romans 12)

o   Honoring of government in all we do (Romans 13)

o   Joy / responsibility of our liberty in Christ (Romans 14; Galatians 5)

o   Commitment to the nurture and unity of the congregation (Romans 15-16; 1 Corinthians 1; 3;  Ephesians 4.1-16; Galatians 6; Ephesians 4)

o   Focus on the pathway of humility as Christ’s follower (1 Corinthians 2; 8-9)

o   Calling of the congregation to maturity (1 Corinthians 3; Ephesians 5)

o   Reminder of the mission we are on (1 Corinthians 4)

o   Call to individual spiritual purity (1 Corinthians 5-7; 2 Corinthians 6-7)

o   Honoring of marriage and families (1 Corinthians 7; Romans 9; Ephesians 5-6; Hebrews 13)

o   Communion (1 Corinthians 12.17-26)

o   Spiritual examination (1 Corinthians 12.27-34)

o   Opportunity to utilize spiritual gifts when they are appropriate to the worship experience (1 Corinthians 12.1-11)

o   Diversity in worship expression (1 Corinthians 12.12-31; 14)

o   Centrality of loving God and all members by sacrificing one’s personal desires for the benefit of others (1 Corinthians 13)

o   Focus on the resurrected Lord (1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 2-5)

o   Generosity in giving (1 Corinthians 16; 2 Corinthians 8-9)

o   Forgiveness of the repentant (2 Corinthians 2)

o   Equipping for daily spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10; Ephesians 6)

o   Reminders of the glory in suffering (2 Corinthians 11-12)

o   Emphasis on God grace as the measure of life (Galatians 2)

So why do we worship? Here is a partial list of the purposes of worship from my worship pastor, Rick Munchow of Saddleback Church …

• Worship is a time to be informed – so the message must clarify God’s purposes. (1 John 5.13; Luke 5.27-28; John 16.12)

• Worship is a time to be inspired – so the messenger must cast the vision and raise the bar. (1 Corinthians 4.16)

• Worship is a time to be influenced – so the worship team must lead them to their next spiritual step. (1 Corinthians 18.6; John 14.5-6; Mark 5.18-19; Proverbs 13.20)

• Worship is a time to be invigorated – so the service must empower those who have gathered in Jesus’ name. (Matthew 18.20; 1 Thessalonians 2.11)

• Worship is a time to be invested in – so the service must equip our people for purposeful living. (Acts 1.8; Romans 15.13; Proverbs 14.12; Ephesians 3.16, 20-21

• Worship is a time to integrate faith and practice – so people need to be able to see practical application of biblical principles. (James 1.22-24; 1 Corinthians 4.20; 1 John 3.18; 2 Peter 1.7)

• Worship is a time to initiate newcomers into the community – so we need to welcome guests and tell them they can belong here. (Romans 15.7; Ephesians 1.3; Romans 6.3-4; 2 Peter 1.12-13

• In worship, we are trying to create an atmosphere of: 1) Expectation (Matthew 9.29); 2) Celebration (Psalm 100.2); 3) Affirmation (Hebrews 10.25); 4) Incorporation (1 Peter 3.8); 5) Restoration (Psalm 51.10, 12); and 6) Liberation (2 Corinthians 3.17).

When you gather this weekend, with God’s people, remember YOU are not the audience. We come to address an audience of ONE! Since He knows all about you, go ahead and share ALL of you with Him in the worship center. He will so appreciate your testimony of intimacy.

If you would like help with designing worship, leadership development or the discipleship process, we are here to help you with all of your leadership needs. Contact us for individual, leadership team or corporate consultation.