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Some of my most favorite people of all time are Bible class teachers. I can remember Sister Martin and the VBS class she taught on Luke when I was in the 5th grade. Coach and Mrs. Goode stand out as I entered the 6th grade. Brother Shaw taught the high school class as I worked my way through Floyd E. Kellam High. Dr. Wheeler, Dr. Williams, and Dr. Hinkle all stand out in my memory through my college years. Each one of these people had a tremendous impact on how I think and how I know Jesus. In Psalm 78 the psalmist writes, “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” In verse 6 he goes on to say, “that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children…” Here we find a description of teachers who talk about God in such a way that the next generation is inspired to follow God. Teachers, parents, grandparents, and friends from one generation to another make a chain of praise that calls the eyes of those around them to see God at work. You have a tremendous impact and leave a marvelous legacy when you talk about, “the glorious deeds of the Lord.”

This week we will be reading Psalm 73, and once again we run across a title. This time it reads, “Book 3.” If you will remember back to Psalm 42 at the end of April, we talked about Books 1 and 2. Traditionally, the Book of Psalms has been divided into five parts. Each part seems to correspond to the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch). Psalms 1-41 are written mainly by David (though there are other authors there) and deal with man’s fall into sin and our need to seek righteousness and a relationship with God. Book 2 corresponds to Exodus and the power of God to free us from sin. Book 3 corresponds to Leviticus. Eleven of the seventeen Psalms in this section are attributed to Asaph. Second Chronicles 5:12 tells us that Asaph was a Levitical singer, a man from the tribe of Levi, associated with the priesthood. Just as the book of Leviticus was written to teach God’s people about holiness, praise, and worship, Book 3 of the Psalms will do the same. Psalms 73-89 were written to be sung as people came into worship and stood in the presence of God. Reverence, holiness, the authority of God, and submission are all themes that resonate in this section. As you read and embed, be aware that God calls us into His presence to transform us. He calls us into relationship so that we can look like Jesus.

Psalm 72 is a prayer for a king. The inscription or title reads, “Of Solomon.” It is appropriate to understand that this is a prayer written for the leadership of Solomon. Some scholars would even go so far as to say that the prayer could be attributed to David as he prays for his son who would be king. I think of this Psalm in that way. I imagine David as a father, holding his son in his arms and praying that God will grant him a life of great things. A prayer that his son would honor God in righteousness, generosity, mercy, justice, and wisdom. A father who prays that his son would seek God throughout his life and come to understand that anything truly great is a work of God. It is a prayer I hope we are praying for our children. It is a prayer I hope we are praying for our elders, preachers, deacons, and Bible class teachers. I hope we are praying for our fathers and mothers to honor God in all that we do. It is a touching prayer that points us to the hand and heart of God.

In Psalm 59:16-17, David makes a remarkable commitment. This Psalm was written during a hard time in David’s life. He is on the run and King Saul is out to get him. Saul has sent men to watch David’s house. The men are there to kill David. It is a time of worry and fear. David is considered an outlaw, hunted and harassed. But in the midst of all these circumstances, David chooses not to gripe or complain. David chooses not to whine about his situation. David commits to singing the praises of God. He commits his heart to remembering the strength of God. The promises that have been made and the future that God has planned for David. Embedding the Bible is about seeing God in every moment. Remembering that God is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than any problem, circumstance, or situation that I face. When I embed the Bible, I plant the words of God in my heart. As we nurture those words and call them to mind, they grow and spread through our lives. They offer hope, encouragement, and help us see God’s hand at work.

This week the Psalms that we read sound like the Psalmist has had a pretty rough time. Each of the Psalms that we will read talks about being surrounded by enemies and trouble. From close friends who have betrayed a relationship to society at large and the troubles that come with life, the Psalmist pours out his heart as he struggles to find peace, security, and meaning in life. It is not unlike our own days at times. We watch the news and feel the weight of hopelessness or confusion at the human capacity for sin. We argue with friends, feel betrayed by jobs, and just have times when we feel like there is no solid place to stand. Embedding the Bible this week is a call to go where there is a foundation on which to rest. The Psalmist teaches us to go to God. Each Psalm starts out with a small line, “To the Choirmaster.” When the Psalmist needs security, he goes to worship. Each of this week’s Psalms ends with trusting in God. God provides the rock solid place to stand that we need to gain perspective, learn truth, and live out faith.

One of the neat things about reading through the Psalms is noticing how familiar we are with some of the words and phrases. In our worship today, we sing a lot of the themes that we read in the Psalms. This week you will reach Psalm 46:10 and the words, “Be still, and know that I am God.” With these words, we are called to rest from the world and sit before God while He speaks to us. It is a reminder to listen. There are so many voices that call for our attention. The voices of the world speak to us in media, friends, the workplace, and our neighborhoods. There are messages designed to shape our desires and feed our hungers. We are bombarded with the standards of the world and the expectations of our culture. Psalms reminds us that there is one voice that we should follow. Only one voice that can lead us from captivity to freedom. The voice of God. Embedding the Psalms is an opportunity to be still and listen to where and how God wants to lead us. It is a chance to learn what God has planned for us and how God is moving to carry out His plan. Take some time this week to be still and listen as God speaks through the Psalmist. He is telling us who He is and how He loves us.

As you embed the Bible this week, you will come to Psalm 42. Just before the Psalm begins there is a section heading that reads, “Book 2.” What is that all about? Traditionally, the Book of Psalms has been divided into five parts. Each part seems to correspond to the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch). Psalms 1-41 are written mainly by David (though there are other authors there) and deal with man’s fall into sin and our need to seek righteousness and a relationship with God. Book 2 corresponds to Exodus. As you begin reading, keep in mind that one of the general themes from Psalm 42 through Psalm 72 is the power of God to free us from sin. Here you will find cries for release that God answers for His people. Here you will hear the call to be free from sin and the world. Here you will see how God leads His people from chains of enslavement to freedom in forgiveness. It is a personal journey that calls for us to surrender ourselves to the power of God. I hope that as you embed the words of this section, you will embed the message that goes with it. God offers freedom and hope and forgiveness to His people. We are the people of God; we are a people of promise. While sin may have defined our lives at one time, we have a chance to experience a life of freedom in Christ. We are a delivered people.

When I first began in youth ministry, I started attending a conference that centered on understanding youth and families and the way that they are shaped by a relationship with God and life in the church. The conference had great speakers, men who had devoted themselves to years of research and study. There was always a notebook full of statistical information gleaned with the latest tools and precise analysis. We spent hours talking about how ministry can help families be what God wants them to be, and about how the church can help plug youth and families into a growing relationship with Jesus. I appreciate all the expertise and wisdom that came with the conference, but my most striking memory is of the worship time. One time in particular, we sat and listened to a six minute excerpt of a sermon. The speaker spent the entire six minutes giving short phrases that all began with, “My God is…” Over and over, he painted a picture of God in his life. After we listened, the worship leader stood up and asked a question. “If you had the chance to fill six minutes describing God, how would you do it?” The Psalms is a collection of 150 different works of literature, all pointing to who God is and how He works in our lives. It is an amazing thing to think of how much our God wants to work in us and how much our God cares.

Over and over in the Psalms, we see the writers pouring their hearts out to God. Political struggle, family contention, and personal tragedy all show up. But the Psalms are not about venting heartache. It is not a collection centered on spewing grief into the air just to proclaim some personal discontent. The Psalms seek answers to life’s questions. The psalmists seek relief and comfort. In Psalm 33, we catch a glimpse of what the psalmists are seeking. This psalm is about the steadfast love of the Lord. A love that permeates every part of life. A love that raises the spirit and comforts the hurting. A love that shapes the heart of those who seek refuge in God. Psalm 33 shows us that the steadfast love of the Lord touches the hearts of His people and brings them a new perspective. An opportunity to praise and worship a God who moves and works in our lives. The steadfast love of the Lord leads us to joy and to thanksgiving as we see Him in our moments. The psalmist ends his writing here with a request. “Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” My prayer this week is that as we embed the Bible on our hearts we can experience the hope that comes from living in a relationship with God, and that we can understand that the steadfast love of the Lord rests in our days.

Psalm 23 is one of the most popular passages in the entire Bible. We see it on bookmarks, hear it read in public, and our children memorize it as part of Bible classes. It is not hard to understand the power of this passage. Here the psalmist writes of a Shepherd that leads and cares for His sheep. It is a picture of love and mercy, grace and relationship. There is no mistaking the point that God leads His people and cares for them. Today is Easter, and we are reminded of an empty tomb. The psalmist writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” With these words, we are reminded that Jesus goes before us and leads us, no matter where we may travel. Even when we walk through death, Jesus has gone before and comes through victorious. As our Shepherd, He will walk with us no matter what we face. The story of the Bible is the story of a God who walks alongside His people. A God who holds them up, encourages them, sustains them, and empowers them. Embedding the Bible helps us to see that God continues to shepherd His people.