Psalms: Part 1 - 'Hymns of Praise'

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
Here are some questions to consider:

Readings:

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7     who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!




Prayer and Reflection:

Loving God, we praise You and bless Your holy name. We thank you for all that you give to us, even life itself. We thank You for sustaining us each day, that You are always with us, and that You always love us. We say sorry for us the times we get it wrong and give offense to You, and for when we hurt Your creation, and do damage to other people and to ourselves. We thank You and we praise You that You are tenderhearted, gracious and forgiving and that, despite our failings and shortcomings, Your will for us is always good, and pleasing and perfect. Loving God we praise, worship and adore You. Look kindly on us and those whom we love and grant us Your blessing. Amen.



Questions to Consider

1. The book of psalms, or the Psalter, contains 150 songs or poems and could be said to be the hymnbook of ancient Israel. If you had to collect or collate 150 songs and poems… what would they be?
2. Even if you haven’t chosen 150… pick a few songs/poems and talk about them in your Life Group or with one or two close friends. Why did you choose those songs or poems?
3. Can you remember a time when you really felt someone deserved praise? Did you praise them, and if so, how?
4. Pick two people (not from the Bible) who you think worthy of praise. One can be fictional and one real. Who have picked and what do you find praiseworthy about them?
5. Now pick someone you know who is in your view praiseworthy? Have you ever praised them? If not, why not – and might you be brave enough to do so now?
6. Take a few minutes to choose any psalm and read it through two or three times very slowly. Meditate on it. What might God be saying to You?
7.Take some time to think through, and perhaps write down, all of the things you want to praise God for… and then praise God for them!