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Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists

Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists. Lesson #3. Types of Psalms:. Psalms of hymns or songs of praise . Psalm 8; 19; 65; 67; 89; 113; 146-150; Psalms of complaints or laments : This is by far the most common types of Psalms. Psalm 4; 42; 88; 142 ;

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Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists

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  1. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists Lesson #3

  2. Types of Psalms: • Psalms of hymns or songs of praise. • Psalm 8; 19; 65; 67; 89; 113; 146-150; • Psalms of complaints or laments: • This is by far the most common types of Psalms. • Psalm 4; 42; 88; 142; • Included in this category are the imprecatory psalms. • Psalm 35; 58; 69; 83; 109; 137; • Included in this category are the penitential psalms. • Psalms of thanksgiving. • Psalm 30; 34; 48; 98; 118; • Psalms of confidence or trust: • Psalm 16; 23; 27; 62; 91; 125; • Psalms of remembrance or salvation history. • Psalm 78; 105; 135; 136;

  3. Dan Petty: “No other part of the Old Testament so richly expresses the faith of the believer and worshipper of God as do the Psalms. Christians through the ages have loved the Psalter at least as much as did the ancient Jews. The lines of the Psalms strike the chords of religious experience at every level. The psalmist provided believers a rich vocabulary for the expression of faith, joy, and praise. Their words evoke the deepest of human emotions, ranging from the depths of despair, guilt, and doubt, to the heights of forgiveness, hope, and longing for God. The Psalms present a high standard of wisdom and practical piety. From the vantage point of the New Testament the Christian can see in the Psalms the good news of salvation in Christ.”

  4. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists • TO PRAY LIKE THE PSALMISTS, WE MUST SEE GOD LIKE THE PSALMISTS DID. • TO PRAY LIKE THE PSALMISTS, WE MUST SEE OURSELVES LIKE THE PSALMISTS DID. • TO PRAY LIKE THE PSALMISTS, WE MUST SEE PRAYER LIKE THE PSALMIST DID.

  5. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists • TO PRAY LIKE THE PSALMISTS, WE MUST PREPARE TO PRAY AS THE PSALMIST DID. • TO PRAY LIKE THE PSALMISTS, WE MUST HAVE THE SAME GOAL IN OUR PRAYERS. • TO PRAY LIKE THE PSALMISTS, WE MUST BE RIGOROUSLY HONEST AND OPEN.

  6. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists Preparing to Pray Like the Psalmist

  7. Preparing to Pray Like the Psalmist • Sacrifice • The Psalmists linked sacrifice to prayer. • Psalm 5:3—O Lord, in xthe morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you1 and ywatch. • Prepare—to arrange or set in order like a priest would a sacrifice. • Psalm 54:6—With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, dfor it is good. • Context: (v.2) To sacrifice after God responds to his prayer. • Psalm 66:13-15— I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows, 14 Which my lips uttered And my mouth spoke when I was ain distress. 15 I shall aoffer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts, With the smoke of brams; I shall make an offering of 1bulls with male goats. Selah.

  8. In the Old Testament There Is a Connection Between Prayer and Sacrifice • Abraham built an altar and called on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 12:8) • Abraham had traveled to Egypt because of the famine. When he returned to Canaan, he went to the altar he had previously built in order to call on the Lord. (Acts 13:1-4) • Abraham moved to Mamre and built another altar in order to call on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 13:18) • Isaac followed Abraham’s example and built an altar in Beersheba in order to call on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 26:25) • David built an altar to call on the name of the Lord to seek relief from God’s judgment. (1 Chron. 21:26) • In Isaiah 56:7, God said there would be altars and sacrifice at His temple because His house would be a house of prayer.

  9. Connect Between Sacrifice and Prayer • Isaiah 59:1-2— Behold, atheLord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; bNor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your ainiquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His 1face from you so that He does bnot hear. • The implication: If we want our prayers heard there must be atonement for sin. Sin has separated us from God. • In the New Covenant we do not need an animal sacrifice to pray. Christ’s sacrifice allows us to come into the presence of God. (Hebrews 10:19-22) • Hebrews 10:19-22— Therefore, brethren, since we ahave confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have aa great priest bover the house of God, 22 let us adraw near with a 1sincere heart in bfull assurance of faith, having our hearts csprinkledclean from an evil conscience and our bodies dwashed with pure water.

  10. Preparing to Pray Like the Psalmist • Sacrifice • Study God’s Word • Blessed is the man who meditates on God’s law. (Psalm 1:1-2) • God listened to the psalmist’s prayer because “your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8) • The law was sweeter than honey and more precious then gold to the Psalmist. (Psalm 19:7-11) This relationship to God’s word laid the foundation for coming to God in prayer.

  11. Preparing to Pray Like the Psalmist • Sacrifice • Study God’s Word • Live God’s Word • If the Psalmist gave themselves over to sin, then God would not listen. • Psalms 66:18—If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; • David plead for vindication based upon the fact that he kept God’s word. • Psalm 26:1— Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have bwalked in my integrity, And I have ctrusted in the Lord2dwithout wavering. • The Psalmists understood that everyone sinned (Psalm 14:2-3) and no one could come to God utterly sinless (Psalm 130:3). • BUT the Psalmist understood that one could not sin with impunity. • They understood that they should submit to God’s word. • They understood that they should confess when wrong.

  12. Preparing to Pray Like the Psalmist • Sacrifice • Study God’s Word • Live God’s Word • Broken Contrite Heart

  13. Preparing to Pray Like the Psalmist • Broken Contrite Heart • The Psalmist saw the need to live by God’s word and they failed to do that perfectly. • The Psalmist saw that sacrifice was necessary to pray, but they understood that sacrifice alone accomplished nothing. • If God was to be approached, then He must be approached with a broken, humble spirit. • Psalm 51:16-17--For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. • The proud will not pray because he sees not dependence upon God. The humble will acknowledge sin and turn to God for help.

  14. Preparing to Pray Like the Psalmist • Sacrifice • Study God’s Word • Live God’s Word • Broken Contrite Heart • Surrendering to God • The Psalmists believed God was his rock, fortress, and strength. (Psalm 18:1-3) • Because of this there was an absolute trust in God and His guidance. • Psalm 31:5--Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have bransomed me, O Lord, cGod of 1truth.

  15. How Does This Affect Our Prayers? • Christ is our sacrifice (Hebrews 10:19-22). Are we in Him? (Gal. 3:26-27) Do we enjoy the benefits of His blood poured out in our stead? • We must be students of the word. • Nehemiah (Neh. 9), Daniel (Dan. 9) and the Psalmists’ (Psa. 106) prayers benefited from a knowledge of God’s word. • An understanding of God’s word lays the foundation for a proper prayer life. • We must live God’s word. • God will not hear the prayer of those given over to sin. • God will hear those who confess their sins and dedicate themselves to live according to His will. • We must possess a contrite heartwhen we sin and acknowledge God as the only source of healing. • Surrender ourselves • God is our rock, tower, etc. • We are to trust in Him to lead us where we are to go, and we follow in faith of His protection.

  16. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists Having the same goal in prayer as the psalmists

  17. Having the Same Goal in Prayer as the Psalmists • The laments and complaints sought God’s deliverance and guidance. However, even in the laments, they express the same goal as the apostle Paul (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). Everything is to God’s glory.

  18. Having the Same Goal in Prayer as the Psalmists • Praise in the Psalms: • Psalm 8:1—O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have 1adisplayed Your splendor above the heavens! • Psalm 115:1—Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But bto Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your 1truth. • Psalm 146:1-2—Praise 2the Lord! aPraise the Lord, O my soul! 2 I will praise the Lordawhile I live; I will bsing praises to my God while I have my being. • Psalm 150:1-2—Praise 2the Lord! Praise God in His asanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty 3bexpanse. 2 Praise Him for His amighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent bgreatness.

  19. Having the Same Goal in Prayer as the Psalmists • Praise in the Lament Psalms: • Request: Spare life so that God be praised. • Psalm 6:5— For athere is no 1mention of You in death; In 2Sheol who will give You thanks? • Psalm 30:9— “What profit is there in my blood, if I ago down to the pit? Will the bdust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness? • Psalm 88:10— Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will athe1departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah. • Psalm 115:17— The adead do not praise 1the Lord, Nor do any who go down into bsilence; • Psalm 118:17— I awill not die, but live, And btell of the works of 1the Lord. • He will live to tell the works of the Lord. • Psalm 119:175— Let my asoul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me. • Exceptions: • Psalm 41:10— But You, O Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up, That I may repay them. • The General Rule: Even in the laments, the Psalmist offered up praise. How Does This Affect My Prayers? When I am suffering do I glorify God in prayer? When I pray where is the emphasis? Ref. Matt. 6:9-13;

  20. Learning to Pray Like the Psalmists • To Pray Like the Psalmists, We Must Believe in God Like the Psalmists. • To Pray Like the Psalmists, We Must See Ourselves as the Psalmists Did. • To Pray Like the Psalmists, We Must View Prayer as the Psalmists Did. • To Pray Like the Psalmists, We Must Prepare to Pray Like They Did, and Have the Same Goals as the Psalmists.

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