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Preface |
2 |
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Table of Psalms Referred To |
4 |
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Table of Contents |
5 |
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References and Abbreviations |
12 |
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Reprint Guidelines |
14 |
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Introduction to the Psalms |
16 |
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What Is a Psalm? |
17 |
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Hebrew Poetry |
17 |
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1. Thought Parallelism |
17 |
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2. Imagery |
18 |
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Categories of Psalms |
19 |
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Authorship |
20 |
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Date of the Psalms |
21 |
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Structure of the Psalter |
22 |
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Canonicity of the Psalms |
23 |
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Chapter and Verse Confusions |
23 |
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Technical Terms |
23 |
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A Phantom New Year Festival |
24 |
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Authority of the Psalms |
25 |
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An Invitation to Online Participation |
27 |
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1. Psalms: Marveling at God's Majesty in Creation (Psalms 8, 19, 139) |
28 |
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Psalm 8 -- How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth |
28 |
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How Majestic Is Your Name (8:1-2) |
29 |
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Contrasting the Infinite Universe with Finite Man (8:3-8) |
30 |
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A Christological Application |
31 |
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Psalm 19 -- The Heavens Proclaim the Glory of God |
31 |
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God's Glory Proclaimed by the Heavens (19:1) |
32 |
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The Heavens Express God's Word Wordlessly (19:2-4a) |
32 |
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The Glory of the Sun (19:4b-6) |
32 |
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The Perfection of God's Written Word (19:7-9) |
33 |
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The Value and Sweetness of God's Word (19:10) |
34 |
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The Word Exposes and Protects Against Sin (19:11-13) |
34 |
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A Prayer for a Pure Heart (19:14) |
35 |
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Yahweh our Rock and Kinsman-Redeemer (19:14b) |
35 |
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Psalm 139 - The Creator and Searcher of My Inmost Being |
36 |
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2. Psalms: Thirsting for God (Psalms 27, 42-43, 63) |
40 |
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Psalm 27 - Your face, Lord, I Will Seek |
40 |
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Confident in Yahweh I Do Not Fear Trouble (27:1-3) |
40 |
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Safe in the House of the Lord (27:4-6) |
41 |
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Your Face, Lord, I Will Seek (27:7-12) |
42 |
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I Will See the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living (27:13-14) |
43 |
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Psalm 42-43 - Combating Depression with Faith |
44 |
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A Thirst of a Parched Soul for God (42:1-2) |
45 |
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Doubt and Longing for Past Joy (42:3-4) |
46 |
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Combating Depression with Self-Talk, Remembrance, and Praise (42:5-8) |
46 |
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Deep Calls to Deep (42:7) |
47 |
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Continuing to Combat Depression with Hope (42:9-11) |
47 |
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Send Forth Your Light and Guide Me (Psalm 43:1-5) |
48 |
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Psalm 63 - Earnestly I Seek You |
48 |
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I Will Lift Up My Hands in Your Name (63:2-8) |
49 |
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God Will Deliver David from His Enemies (63:9-11) |
50 |
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3. Psalms: Choosing the Right Path (Psalms 1, 15, and 133) |
54 |
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Psalm 1 - The Two Ways, Righteous and Unrighteous-ness |
54 |
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Blessed is ... (1:1a) |
54 |
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Separating from Sin, Delighting in God (1:1-2) |
55 |
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The Lord's Watch-Care over the Believer (1:6) |
56 |
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Poetic Structure |
56 |
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A Fruit-Bearing Tree Planted by the Water (1:3) |
57 |
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Chaff that the Wind Blows Away (1:4) |
58 |
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Psalm 15- Characteristics of a Righteous Person |
58 |
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Dwelling with God (15:1) |
59 |
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Poetic Structure |
59 |
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Moral Integrity (15:2) |
60 |
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Fairness to Neighbors (15:3) |
61 |
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Clear Allegiance (15:4a) |
61 |
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Keeping One's Word (15:4b) |
62 |
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Living without Greed (15:5) |
62 |
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Psalm 133 -- The Beauty of Unity |
63 |
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Brothers Living Together in Unity (133:1) |
63 |
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Good and Pleasant (133:1) |
64 |
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Unity Is Like Perfumed Oil Generously Poured Out (133:2) |
64 |
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Unity Is Like Heavy Dew (133:3) |
65 |
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4. Psalms: Offering High Praises to God (Psalms 150, 95, and 98) |
68 |
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Psalm 150 -- Let Everything that Has Breath Praise the Lord! |
69 |
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Instruments of Praise |
69 |
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Everyone that Has Breath (150:6a) |
71 |
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Psalm 95 - Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down |
71 |
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Structure of Psalm 95 |
71 |
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Names and Titles of God |
71 |
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Expressions of Worship |
72 |
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God our Shepherd (95:7) |
72 |
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Obedience Must Follow Worship (95:7d-11) |
73 |
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Psalm 98 - Sing to the Lord a New Song |
74 |
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Sing a New Song (98:1-3) |
75 |
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Yahweh's Salvation for Israel (98:1b-3) |
75 |
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Instrumental Worship (98:4-6) |
75 |
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All Nature Praises Yahweh (98:7-9a) |
76 |
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The Reason for Praise: The Judge Is Coming with Righteousness (98:9b-d) |
76 |
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5. Psalms: Crying Out for Rescue (Psalms 69, 40, 80) |
80 |
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Psalm 69 -- Deep Waters and Miry Depths |
80 |
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Going Down for the Third Time (69:1-4) |
81 |
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You Know My Own Guilt (69:5-12) |
81 |
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David's Appeal to God's Mercy (69:13-18) |
82 |
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Calls for Salvation and Rescue |
83 |
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Back to David's Enemies (69:19-28) |
84 |
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A Final Plea (69:29) |
85 |
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An Outpouring of Praise (69:30-33) |
85 |
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A Prophecy for the Restoration of Israel's Homeland (69:33-36) |
85 |
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A Psalm for the Brokenhearted |
86 |
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Psalm 40 -- O My God, Do Not Delay |
86 |
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He Put a New Song in My Mouth (40:1-3) |
87 |
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Blessed Is the Person Who Trusts in This Caring God (40:4-5) |
87 |
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In the Scroll of the Book It Is Written of Me (40:6-8) |
88 |
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David's Public Testimony (40:9-10) |
89 |
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Troubles without Number Surround Me (40:11-12) |
89 |
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A Returning Confidence that Expects God's Salvation (40:13-16) |
90 |
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O My God, Do Not Delay (40:17) |
90 |
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Psalm 80 -- Restore Us, O God |
91 |
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Revive Us Again (80:18-19) |
92 |
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Make Your Face Shine upon Us (80:3, 17, 19) |
93 |
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6. Psalms: Trusting in God's Protection (Psalms 61, 91, 121) |
96 |
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Psalm 61 - Lead Me to the Rock that Is Higher than I |
96 |
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Hear My Faint Cry, O God (61:1-2b) |
96 |
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The Rock that is Higher than I (61:2c) |
97 |
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My Refuge and Strong Tower Against the Foe (61:3) |
97 |
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The Shelter of Your Wings (61:4) |
97 |
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Psalm 91 - Dwelling in the Shelter of the Most High |
99 |
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The Mighty Names of God (91:1-2) |
99 |
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Metaphors of Protection |
99 |
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The Fowler's Snare (91:3) |
100 |
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The Terror of Night (91:5-6) |
101 |
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It Will Not Come Near You (91:7-8) |
101 |
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Dwelling with the Most High (91:9-10) |
101 |
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Angels Protecting Us (91:11-12) |
101 |
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Power Over Evil Forces (91:13) |
102 |
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Because He Loves Me I Will Rescue Him (91:14-16) |
102 |
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Psalms 56 and 57 |
104 |
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Psalm 121 - I Will Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills |
104 |
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I Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills (121:1-2) |
104 |
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The Lord Who Watches Over You (121:3-8) |
105 |
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Will God Really Protect Us? |
107 |
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7. Psalms: Resting in God's Care (Psalms 131, 23, 16, 3, 31, 46) |
111 |
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Psalm 131 - I Have Stilled and Quieted My Soul |
111 |
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Humility and Trust (131:1) |
111 |
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I Have Stilled and Quieted My Soul (131:2) |
112 |
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Hoping, Trusting in the Lord (131:3) |
112 |
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Psalm 23 - The Lord Is My Shepherd |
113 |
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The Lord our Shepherd (23:1) |
113 |
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The Shepherd Provides Food (23:2) |
114 |
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The Shepherd Provides Restoration and Refreshing (23:3a) |
114 |
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The Shepherd Guides in Righteous Ways (23:3b) |
114 |
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Protection and Assurance in Fear (23:4) |
114 |
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The Gracious Host (23:5) |
115 |
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Eternal Life (23:6) |
116 |
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Psalm 16 - You Will Not Abandon Me to the Grave |
116 |
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Psalm 3 - I Lie Down and Sleep |
117 |
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Psalm 31 - Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit |
118 |
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Psalm 46 - Our Ever-Present Help in Trouble |
119 |
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8. Psalms: Exulting in God (Psalms 57, 96, 126, and 24) |
124 |
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Psalm 57 -- I Will Awake the Dawn! |
124 |
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David's Lament (57:1-6) |
125 |
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Be Exalted, O God (57:5, 11) |
125 |
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They Have Been Caught in Their Own Trap (57:6) |
125 |
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David's Exultation (57:7-11) |
126 |
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Psalm 96 - Ascribe to the Lord the Glory Due His Name |
127 |
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Blessing Yahweh (96:2) |
127 |
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Declaring His Glory to the Nations (96:3-6) |
128 |
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Great Is the Lord and Greatly to Be Praised (96:4a) |
128 |
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Ascribe to the Lord the Glory Due His Name (96:7-8) |
128 |
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Worship Yahweh in the Splendor of His Holiness (96:9) |
129 |
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The Lord Reigns! (96:10a) |
129 |
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Let Heavens, Earth, Sea, Fields, and Trees Worship Yahweh (96:10-13) |
130 |
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Psalm 126 -- He Who Goes Out Weeping Will Return with Songs of Joy |
131 |
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When the Lord Brought Back the Captives (126:1a) |
131 |
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Our Mouths Were Filled with Laughter (126:1-3) |
131 |
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Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord (126:4) |
132 |
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Weeping Comes before Reaping (126:5-6) |
132 |
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Psalm 24 -- The King of Glory |
133 |
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The King is the Creator (24:1-2) |
134 |
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The King's Requirement of Complete Loyalty (24:3-6) |
134 |
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The King of Glory Shall Come In (24:7-10) |
135 |
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The King of Glory and Our Heart's Home |
136 |
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9. Psalms: Rejoicing in God's Character (Psalms 103, 145, and 117) |
140 |
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Psalm 103 - Bless the Lord, O My Soul |
140 |
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Bless the Lord (103:1) |
140 |
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Forget Not All His Benefits (103:2-5) |
141 |
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The God of Righteousness and Justice (103:6) |
142 |
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The God Who Revealed Himself to Israel in the Exodus (103:7) |
142 |
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The Gracious and Merciful God (103:8-9) |
142 |
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The God Who Forgives Us Completely (103:10-13) |
143 |
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The Lord Has Compassion on Us as Children (103:13-14) |
143 |
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The Transitory and the Eternal (103:15-18) |
144 |
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The Lord Is King over All (103:19) |
144 |
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Let Angels, Creation, and My Own Soul Bless the Lord (103:20-22) |
144 |
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Psalm 145 - I Exalt You, My God the King |
145 |
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An Acrostic Psalm |
145 |
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I Extol You, My King (145:1-2) |
145 |
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Your Greatness Is Beyond Reckoning (145:3-7) |
145 |
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The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate (145:8-9) |
146 |
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All He Has Made -- Yahweh the Creator (145:9b, 13b, 17b) |
146 |
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The Glory of Yahweh's Kingdom (145:10-13a) |
146 |
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The Faithful Character of Our God (145:13b-16) |
147 |
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The Lord Is Near (145:18-20) |
147 |
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My Mouth Will Speak in Praise of the Lord (145:21) |
148 |
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Psalm 117 -- The Faithfulness of the Lord Endures Forever |
149 |
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10. Psalms: Looking Forward to the Messiah (Psalms 2, 110, and 22) |
154 |
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Messianic Psalms and the Nature of Prophecy |
154 |
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Psalm 2 - You Are My Son, Today I Have Begotten You |
155 |
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The Nations Conspire Against Yahweh and His Messiah (2:1-6) |
155 |
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You Are My Son (2:7-8) |
156 |
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Today I Have Begotten You (2:7) |
157 |
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Kiss the Son (2:10-12) |
158 |
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Psalm 110 - The Messiah as Priest and King |
158 |
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The Messiah Is Greater than David (110:1) |
158 |
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A Universal Messianic Rule (110:2-3) |
159 |
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The Eternal Priest from Melchizedek's Order (110:4) |
159 |
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Messiah Will Subdue and Judge the Nations (110:5-7) |
160 |
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Psalm 22 - My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? |
161 |
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Why Have You Forsaken Me? (22:1-2) |
161 |
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God Is Enthroned on Our Praises (22:3) |
162 |
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Comparisons to the Crucifixion (22:6-18) |
162 |
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The Conclusion of Praise (22:19-31) |
164 |
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11. Psalms: Finding Forgiveness and Restoration (Psalms 32 and 51) |
167 |
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Psalm 32 - Blessed Is the One Whose Sin Is Forgiven |
167 |
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Structure |
167 |
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Blessed Is the Forgiven Person (32:1-2) |
168 |
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The Agony of Guilt (32:3-4) |
169 |
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The Freedom of Confession (32:5) |
169 |
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You Are My Hiding Place (32:6-7) |
170 |
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A Call to Teachability rather than Stubbornness (32:8-11) |
171 |
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Psalm 51 - Create in Me a Clean Heart, O Lord |
171 |
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Setting the Scene (2 Samuel 11-12) |
171 |
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Structure |
172 |
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Pleading for God's Mercy (51:1-2) |
172 |
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Confessing and Acknowledging Sin (51:3-5) |
174 |
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Hungering for Fellowship Once More (51:6-12) |
175 |
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The Longing for a Pure Heart (51:10, 12) |
176 |
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Do Not Take Your Holy Spirit from Me (51:11) |
177 |
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Resolving to Declare God's Grace (51:13-15) |
178 |
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Offering the Sacrifice of a Contrite Heart (51:16-17) |
178 |
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Praying for Jerusalem's Prosperity (51:18-19) |
179 |
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12. Psalms: Giving Thanks to Our Faithful God (Psalms 100, 107, 118, and 34) |
182 |
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Psalm 100 - Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving |
182 |
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Giving Thanks with Joy (100:1-2) |
183 |
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We Are the Sheep of His Pasture (100:3) |
184 |
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Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving (100:4-5) |
184 |
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Psalm 107 - Give Thanks to the Lord for His Unfailing Love |
185 |
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Psalm 118 - His Love Endures Forever |
186 |
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The Stone that the Builders Rejected (118:22-23) |
186 |
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This Is the Day which the Lord Has Made (118:24) |
187 |
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Hosanna! (118:25-27) |
187 |
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I Will Give You Thanks (118:28-29) |
188 |
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Psalm 34 - Taste and See that the Lord Is Good |
189 |
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I Will Bless the Lord at All Times (34:1-2) |
189 |
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Magnifying and Exalting (34:3) |
190 |
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I Sought the Lord and He Delivered Me (34:4-7) |
191 |
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Taste and See that the Lord is Good (34:8-10) |
191 |
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I Will Teach You the Fear of Yahweh (34:11-14) |
192 |
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His Ears Are Attentive to the Cry of the Righteous (34:15-16) |
193 |
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Many Are the Afflictions of the Righteous, but the Lord Delivers (34:17-20) |
193 |
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The Lord Redeems His Servants, Does Not Condemn Them (34:21-22) |
194 |
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Psalms: Epilogue (Psalms 47 and 119) |
198 |
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Psalm 47 - Clap Your Hands All Nations |
198 |
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Psalm 119 - Delight in the Law of the Lord |
198 |
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Appendices |
201 |
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Appendix 1: Exercises to Help You Experience the Psalms |
202 |
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Appendix 2. Psalms in Worship throughout the Centuries |
205 |
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Beginning with David |
205 |
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Psalms in Temple Worship |
205 |
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Psalms in the Synagogue |
207 |
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From Synagogue to House Church |
207 |
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The Post-Apostolic Church |
208 |
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The Liturgy of the Hours |
208 |
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Singing the Psalter |
209 |
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Late Twentieth Century Psalm Singing |
209 |
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Appendix 3. How Should We Understand the Imprecatory Psalms in which Enemies Are Cursed? |
211 |
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Imprecations and Curses |
211 |
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A Story of Persecution and Hatred |
212 |
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A Longing for Justice and Judgment |
213 |
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The Fine Line between Justice and Revenge |
213 |
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Christ Our Exemplar and Judge |
213 |
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Progressive Revelation |
214 |
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How to Respond to the Psalmists' Terrible Curses |
214 |
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Appendix 4. New Testament Quotations from the Psalms |
216 |
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Appendix 5. Example of Readers Theater Approach to the Psalms |
221 |
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Appendix 6. Class or Group Handouts |
225 |