In the Psalms (Psalm 1)

This summer, I want to invite you to join me on a journey through the Book of Psalms. This wonderful collection of inspired poetry is a gift to us as we strive to know God intimately, and it can be a wonderful experience to share together. C.S. Lewis describes the pain of not being able to share delightful things like the psalms with others: “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with.” (C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms) 

I am excited to share this journey with you. The 150 psalms can provide a wonderful backdrop to our summer activities and adventures as they reflect on God, His attributes, His Word and how we respond to life in the complex world we live in. In these weekly emails throughout the summer, I will joyfully share some of my favorite psalms and a few thoughts related to them. 

It seems fitting that the first psalm we will look at together is Psalm 1. I had a mentor who recommended memorizing this wonderful set of verses as a middle schooler, and I am so grateful to have this tucked into my memory. Blessed, joyful is the person who avoids the lies of the wicked, but delights in the truth of God and His Word. The wicked find themselves tossed in the wind, but those who root themselves in God’s truth will be established like a tree with deep roots that can handle anything life throws at them. What a wonderful message for us to share together today! With AI, social media, and a constant flow of information (and sometimes false information) from around the world, it is hard to know what and who we can trust. David makes it crystal clear in Psalm 1 that God is worth trusting and worth listening to. If we do, we can thrive, even amidst the storms of life. I pray for all of us in our church family, that we would be blessed because we listen to Him and His wonderful voice.

Expectantly,

Shawn