My notes from David Jackman’s talk in the first session at EMA (Evangelical Ministry Assembly)…
Preaching and praying from the Psalms (1)
Three benefits of focussing on the Psalms:
- Teach, correct, rebuke, and train us in righteousness – so focus on God.
- Model and teach us about how to pray and lead to praying.
- Help us open up this genre of teaching in our preaching.
What is the special value of preaching the Psalms?
Athanasius: “…the Psalms have a unique place in the Bible because most of the Scripture speaks to us, while the Psalms speak for us.”
Eugene Peterson: “prayer is not something we think up – prayer is answering speech.”
From Genesis 1 the first word is always God’s. How do we take up the conversation? The major biblical instruction for answering God is the Psalms. The Psalms teach us what to say and also why and how given the circumstances.
Our situation is that churches are not characterised by vigorous prayer, they are on the back foot under pressure of culture and looking in on themselves.
How do we approach God when on the back foot?
Psalm 44
This is clearly a poem. An answering end of a conversation with God. Poetry has the intensity and ability to communicate in a deeper way than prose. These affective ingredient of Psalms generates emotions in us and we join the psalmist as they pour out themselves in all circumstances of life. Poems have a clear direction of thought. The challenge is to identify the central theme this poem revolves around.
See the flow: Lord you have always helped us and we need you to keep doing that but you are not doing that. Why is that not happening? If not punishment, why defeat. We need your help. The mood of the Psalm is perplexity and confusion that can easily lead to discouragement.
Psalm 44 is set in a time of sudden defeat after many victories. Why is it like this? Why are apparent innocent people suffering?
Verses 1-8: Look back to the past. To what God has done (v1-3). Prayer has a statement of trust and confidence in the Lord (v4-8). Every deliverance is 100% due to the Lord.
Verses 9-16: Present shocking accusation. God is responsible for their defeat and with defeat comes shame (v13-16). Many Christians today are demoralised and it seems that God no longer goes out with them.
Verses 17-21: Why? Taking rejection to covenant curses of God. But it can’t be due to covenant curses because present situation is faithfulness, so it’s attributed to God. This is a prayer of faith. God would have discovered treachery and idolatry. It’s not hidden sin here.
Verse 22: Turning point. Experience of defeat is because we belong to God. It’s the cross God calls us to take up to follow Him. Conflicts are painful and injure people, suffering may be a battle scar rather than a punishment. It’s the price of loyalty in a world that is opposed to God. It’s a mark of fellowship with a crucified God.
Paul in Romans 8:36 quotes Psalm 44:22. God’s love for us makes New Testament church crucified to the world so through this we may be partakers of His glory. Wear battle scars with pride, it is for His sake. Recognise His sovereign hand and trust that He will vindicate His purposes.
Verses 23-26: How we are to respond. Deep faith. Urgent faithful visionary prayer sharing deep faith in God. The last word – steadfast love – is the ground of all our praying and certainty of God’s answer. Recognise the cosmic battle and pray with renewed confidence.
“When the Son of Man comes will He find faith?”
