My mother loves the book of Psalms. There are no problems of life that don’t have an answer in the book of Psalms or to be more specific there is no life’s problem that she doesn’t have a prayer passage in the book of Psalms. Her favorites were Psalm 35, Psalm 91, Psalm 121 and host of other Psalms. Growing up under her spiritual guidance made me believe the book of Psalms was essentially a prayer book, especially ‘hot psalms’ that has the power to deal with your enemies. Oh how I love to recite Psalm 91 back then, Psalm 23 and others as I decree protection over my life from all ‘enemies’. Today, now I know there is only one enemy that matters, Satan, and even this so-called enemy is a defeated foe! Hallelujah!
Then I found myself in the Pentecostal-charismatic circle as I grew up in the faith and discovered that maybe the book of Psalms is a book of Praise after all. Psalm 100 came alive along with Psalm 150 and host of other Psalms that exalts the greatness of God and his wondrous works! David was a man of praise, and indeed he was. He became the epitome of what praises should be to God! There are many singing groups today that are named the SPIRIT OF DAVID, and there is even a song by Fred Hammond with the lyrics, ‘When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart, I will sing as David sang’. Essentially for we charismatics, the book of Psalms is the book of praise! And I love this praise chapter in Psalm 67:3-7.
‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him’
The power of praise is espoused in this scripture!
Given the two extreme views, i have had about the book of Psalms have had to ask myself what the book of Psalms is all about? Is it the book of prayer like my mother will have me believe or the book of praises as modern day charismatics will have me believe? And this struggle highlights not just the struggle of the Church but of everyone on the face of the earth, the struggle to find the right balance between two extremes. For the church, it is the struggle to find the balance between two scriptural extremes!
Read full message here PRAYERS OF DAVID - A PATTERN FOR INTERCESSORY WORSHIP
Then I found myself in the Pentecostal-charismatic circle as I grew up in the faith and discovered that maybe the book of Psalms is a book of Praise after all. Psalm 100 came alive along with Psalm 150 and host of other Psalms that exalts the greatness of God and his wondrous works! David was a man of praise, and indeed he was. He became the epitome of what praises should be to God! There are many singing groups today that are named the SPIRIT OF DAVID, and there is even a song by Fred Hammond with the lyrics, ‘When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart, I will sing as David sang’. Essentially for we charismatics, the book of Psalms is the book of praise! And I love this praise chapter in Psalm 67:3-7.
‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him’
The power of praise is espoused in this scripture!
Given the two extreme views, i have had about the book of Psalms have had to ask myself what the book of Psalms is all about? Is it the book of prayer like my mother will have me believe or the book of praises as modern day charismatics will have me believe? And this struggle highlights not just the struggle of the Church but of everyone on the face of the earth, the struggle to find the right balance between two extremes. For the church, it is the struggle to find the balance between two scriptural extremes!
Read full message here PRAYERS OF DAVID - A PATTERN FOR INTERCESSORY WORSHIP
