Psalms: the Prayer Book of the Bible

Dietrich BonhoefferPsalms:

The Prayer Book of the Bible

“This is pure grace, that God tells us how we can speak with him and have fellowship with him.”

NT WrightThe Case for the Psalms

“The Psalms were the hymnbook that Jesus and his first followers would have known by heart”

Matthew 27:46 (NIV)

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Psalm 22:1 (NIV)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Psalm 33:6 (NIV)

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 33:6 (MSG)

The skies were made by God's command; he breathed the word and the stars popped out.

Psalm 139:3 (NIV)

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Psalm 139:3 (MSG)

You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight.

Walter Brueggemann The Message of the Psalms

• Orientation• Disorientation • New Orientation

Dietrich BonhoefferPsalms:

The Prayer Book of the Bible

• The Creation• The Law• Holy History• The Messiah• The Church• Life

• Suffering• Guilt• The Enemies• The End• Petition / Spirit• Morning Prayer

• Time• Space• Matter

NT WrightThe Case for the Psalms

Psalm 51:1-3 (NIV)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

“It is a dangerous error, surely very widespread among Christians, to think that the heart can pray by itself…Prayer does not mean simply to pour out one’s heart.”

Dietrich BonhoefferPsalms:

The Prayer Book of the Bible

Romans 8:35-38 (NIV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Psalm 44:22-26 (NIV)

Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 44:22-26 (MSG)

No, you decided to make us martyrs, lambs assigned for sacrifice each day. Get up, God! Are you going to sleep all day? Wake up! Don't you care what happens to us? Why do you bury your face in the pillow? Why pretend things are just fine with us? And here we are — flat on our faces in the dirt, held down with a boot on our necks. Get up and come to our rescue. If you love us so much, Help us!

Matthew 27:46 (NIV)

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Psalm 22:1 (NIV)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Psalm 22:1-8 (MSG)

God, God . . . my God! Why did you dump me miles from nowhere? Doubled up with pain, I call to God all the day long. No answer. Nothing. I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.

Psalm 22:1-8 (MSG)

And you! Are you indifferent, above it all, leaning back on the cushions of Israel's praise? We know you were there for our parents: they cried for your help and you gave it; they trusted and lived a good life.

Psalm 22:1-8 (MSG)

And here I am, a nothing — an earthworm, something to step on, to squash. Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me, they shake their heads: "Let's see how God handles this one; since God likes him so much, let him help him!"

Psalms: the Prayer Book of the Bible

Lessons in Prayer