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Deutsche Version | Wiki Start | Topics Collection i
Prayer Time IV.
Friday, May 22, 2009. Looking into the prayer book of the Old Testament is and remains extremely fascinating. The Psalms have been written nearly 3000 years ago. They are a collection of 150 prayers and songs, which reach deeply into the history of mankind as well as the soul of men. Yes, they reach deeply into our soal. They reflect the typical sorrows and concerns, typical experiences, typical problems. But they also lead to sustainable answers. They lead to God, pull the praying man to the source of life and strength and consolation.
There is one typical movement in many psalms. They start with reality, with the challenges and problems the author faces. They put these problems onto the table, they are honest and do not hold back anything. They bring all these things to God and tell him: God, this is how things are around me. Here, have a look!
But then the psalm does not stay with the pure analysis of the situation. Or better: the psalm goes into a deeper analysis. It takes into account the existence and presence of the Lord, of the loving and living God of the world. The psalm switches from a worldly perspective into a Godly perspective. It reviews the situation with the knowledge about God and his character. This changes everything!
What is different when we take into account the existence of the Lord? It is like having a bigger brother, it is like being home with the father in charge, who can sort out all kind of problems the children face. We are not lost in space, not completely in the hand of other humans or of fate. There is the Lord who has the power to act.
But there is much more than the pure power of God. It is the character of God. He is pure, humble, trustworthy and full of truth. He is the most enjoyable being you can ever meet. Knowing the existence of this God switches everything from minus to plus. This is reflected in the psalms again and again. The authors knew God and he changed their thoughts, their life and their destiny. What can be more fascinating? [R.W.E.P., jesusnetwork.eu]
