Psalms                             by Dr. Ralph Wilson

Psalms: Thirsting for God (Psalms 27, 42-43, 63)

Psalm 27 -- Your face, Lord, I Will Seek

Confident in Yahweh I Do Not Fear Trouble (27:1-3)

 These first few verses celebrate the utter lack of fear with which David's faith in Yahweh strengthens his heart. Notice the imagery of Yahweh that David begins with in verse 1:

• My light

• My salvation

• My stronghold

Safe in the House of the Lord (27:4-6)

Your Face, Lord, I Will Seek (27:7-12)

I Will See the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living (27:13-14)

Q1. (Psalm 27) What does it mean that David desires to "dwell in the house of the Lord"?

What does it mean to "seek his face"?

How does David provide hope at the end of this Psalm?

Psalm 42-43 -- Combating Depression with Faith

The structure falls naturally into three parts, each ending with the same repeated refrain:

A Thirst of a Parched Soul for God (42:1-2)

Doubt and Longing for Past Joy (42:3-4)

Combating Depression with Self-Talk, Remembrance, and Praise (42:5-8)

Three approaches that the psalmist uses to combat his doubt and depression.

1. Self-talk, words addressed to himself, of hope, that he will eventually have cause to rejoice in God again. (42:5)
2. Deliberate remembrance, recalling God to mind, (42:6-7)
3. Singing and praying to God night and day (42:8)

Deep Calls to Deep (42:7)

Continuing to Combat Depression with Hope (42:9-11)

Send Forth Your Light and Guide Me (Psalm 43:1-5)

Q2. (Psalms 42-43). What is the psalmist feeling during this spiritual struggle?

How does he combat his spiritual depression? Have you ever felt this way?

How did you reach out to God at this time?

Psalm 63 -- Earnestly I Seek You

I Will Lift Up My Hands in Your Name (63:2-8)

Notice the result of David's recognition of this firm and lasting love, expressed in this wonderful parallelism:

1. Lips that glorify (3b),
2. Lifelong praise (4a),
3. Prayer (signified by the lifting of hands, 4b),
4. Fullness in one's inner being, "my soul will be satisfied" (5a),
5. Singing praise (5b),
6. A memory of God in the night-time hours (6),
7. A singing in the refuge provided by God's strong presence (7),
8. An mutual holding of one another -- the soul clasps God tight, God's hand securely grasps62 David (8).

God Will Deliver David from His Enemies (63:9-11)

Consider the emotional course of the psalm:

1. Earnest seeking in a period of dryness of soul and hiding from one's enemies (verse 1)
2. A remembrance of God's presence and especially His steadfast and merciful love. (verses 2-3a)
3. The outflow of praise, prayer, and faith resulting in a fullness of soul (verses (3b-8)
4. A confidence that God will bring ultimate deliverance to him, the king (verses (9-11)

Q3. (Psalm 63) Why is recognition that God loves you the basis of all faith?

What does this realization bring about in your life?

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises in Appendix 1 to help you experience the Psalms. These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others.

Prayer

Lord, sometimes we do feel dry and parched in our souls. I pray that you would put within me and within my brothers and sisters the same kind of earnestness to seek you that is required of true followers. Help me, help us, to seek you with all our hearts and find the fullness of soul that you have for us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Songs

• "As the Deer," words and music by Martin Nystrom (© 1894, Maranatha! Music). Psalm 42:1.
• "As Pants the Hart for Streams," words unknown paraphrase, music, "Consolation" by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847). Psalm 42.
• "As Thirsts the Hart for Water Brooks," words unknown paraphrase, music by William B. Bradbury (c. 1858). Psalm 42.
• "As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams," words by Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady (1696), music by Ludwig Spohr (1835). Psalm 42.
• "Beautiful," words and music by Dennis Cleveland (© 1982, Maranatha! Music). Psalm 27:4
• "Early, My God, without Delay," words by Isaac Watts (1719), music: "St. Mark," by Henry J. Gauntlett (1805-1876), and other composers. Psalm 63:1-2
• "I Hunger and I Thirst," words by John S. B. Monsell (1866), music: "Eccles," by Bertram Luard-Selby (1904). Psalm 63:1
• "I Will Bless Thee, O Lord," words and music by Esther Watanabe (© 1970, Esther Watanabe). Psalm 63:4
• "Isn't He Beautiful?" words and music by John Wimber (© 1980, Mercy Publishing). Psalm 27:4.
• "One Thing Have I Desired," words and music by Stuart Scott (© 1984, Maranatha! Music). Psalm 27:4
• "Psalm 27," by John Michael Talbot (© 1990, Birdwing Music). Psalm 27.
• "Psalm 27:1," words and music by Pauline Michael Mills (© 1966, Fred Bock Music Company). Psalm 27:1.
• "Send the Light" (the blessed Gospel light), words and music by Charles H. Gabriel (1890). Psalm 43:3
• "Thy Lovingkindness" (Is Better than Life), words and music by Hugh Mitchell (© 1956, New Spring). Psalm 63:3-4.
• "The Lord Is My Light" (and my salvation, Whom shall I fear?), words and music by Pauline Michael Mills (© 1966, Fred Bock Music Company). Psalm 27:1, 3
• We Must Wait on the Lord," words and music by Randy Thomas (© 1979, Maranatha! Music). Psalm 27:14.