Prayer Lessons from the Psalms
Edwards T. Welch , “Depression a Stubborn Darkness”
If I were given the assignment to
write about prayer and was allowed the use of only one book of the Bible, I
would choose the Psalms. Most of the Psalms are prayers. I have written two
Bible studies on the topic of prayer which can be purchased from Lulu. I will
attach the link in this blog. These two studies only cover the Old Testament. I
hope to someday have Bible studies about prayer from the New Testament on this
site too.
I will be posting short excerpts
from my studies on my blog from time to time. Today’s is drawn from the section
on the Psalms and is about praise and thanksgiving – an important part of
prayer. One of my favorite praise passages is found in Psalms 69:30-31.
“I will praise the name of God with a song: I will magnify
Him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord…”
What makes these verses unique is
the context in which they are found. Psalms 69 is a chapter where the writer is
in great distress. He says things like, “Save
me. O God! I am weary with my crying out. Deliver me…Answer me. I am in despair”
Then, he writes,
“I will praise the name of God…This will please the Lord.” When read in
context, this verse brings tremendous clarity to certain aspects of praise.
Praising God
is a behavior we can choose, no matter how we feel. It is always appropriate regardless
of our circumstances and is not based on our circumstances. Praise is about God
and who He is, instead of us and how happy or comfortable we are. Praise
pleases God. It is always appropriate, especially when we are desperate for God
to hear our prayers. It is no coincidence that the last verse in all of Psalms
says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Psalms 150:6)
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