WORSHIP NOTES
Volume 9, No. 12 (December 2014)
We continue from October our look at facets of worship that are displayed in Israel’s hymnbook, the Psalms. The intent is not to expound exhaustively each Psalm, of course, but simply to highlight one major perspective on worship that can be seen in each.
WORSHIP IS . . .
(Psalm 31) . . . trustfully waiting on the Lord to deliver and bless.
(Psalm 32) . . . exulting in the freedom of the Lord’s forgiveness.
(Psalm 33) . . . joyful hope in the King of creation and Lord of nations.
(Psalm 34) . . . a confident acknowledgement of His providential care.
(Psalm 35) . . . boldly calling on God for deliverance.
(Psalm 36) . . . taking joyful refuge in God in the midst of trials and enemies.
(Psalm 37) . . . a confident hope in God’s ultimate vindication of them.
(Psalm 38) . . . an anguished appeal to God for deliverance in the face of opposition and suffering.
(Psalm 39) . . . resting our hope, for the present and the future, in God.
(Psalm 40) . . . a trustful dependence on God as our only Deliverer.
(Psalm 41) . . . a settled trust in God in the midst of trying circumstances.
(Psalm 42) . . . a confidence built on God’s past faithfulness and looking hopefully to the future.
(Psalm 43) . . . looking to God for vindication and hope.
(Psalm 44) . . . crying to God for help in the difficult present as He has given it in the past.
(Psalm 45) . . . a joyful acknowledgement of God’s eternal reign (vs. 6).
(Psalm 46) . . . a confident declaration of God’s sovereign power and protection.
(Psalm 47) . . . an acclamation of God’s reign over all the earth.
(Psalm 48) . . . praising God for His greatness and steadfast love.
(Psalm 49) . . . a trusting focus on God as the only source of lasting good.
(Psalm 50) . . . bowing before the sovereign Judge of all.
(Psalm 51) . . . turning to God for mercy and forgiveness when we sin.
(Psalm 52) . . . confidently looking to a faithful God for vindication and justice.
(Psalm 53) . . . acknowledging the helplessness of man without God.
(Psalm 54) . . . gratefully rejoicing in God as one’s Helper and Upholder (vs. 4).
(Psalm 55) . . . casting our burdens on an all-sufficient God (vs. 22).
(Psalm 56) . . . looking to God’s watchcare (vs. 8) and protection in the hardships of life.
(Psalm 57) . . . exulting in God’s glory.
(Psalm 58) . . . a cry for God’s justice and vindication.
(Psalm 59) . . . a dependence on God’s protection (fortress, refuge) and steadfast love in the face of enemies.
(Psalm 60) . . . crying out in desperation to God even when He seems to be silent or absent.