Psalms for the Seasons of Life: Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living

The word Psalms in Hebrew means praises; in Greek it means songs. Combine the two ideas and you will find that "praise songs" aptly describes the basic themes of the poetry and prose that Israel set to music and used as a hymn book. The many writers of the Psalms (with David the most prominent and prolific) were often harassed and hounded, confused and critical, but they eventually seemed to return to the summit of praise. So it should be in our pilgrimage: though we taste of sorrow, we should finish our course with the sweet morsels of joy on our lips!The classic men of the Bible ran to the Psalms for their inspiration in their greatest triumphs and tragedies. Jonah quoted them in the fish's belly, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter incorporated the Psalms in his marvelous Pentecostal sermon, and Paul included their wisdom in his Roman masterpiece. Maybe we should find our way there, too. These are ancient texts, but they are profitable for contemporary living.I have now been praying through the Psalms for over three years. The insights that the Lord has shown me are precious to me and I believe could be significant for you, as well. John Calvin wrote that the Psalms consist of "the anatomy of all parts of the soul" and I believe their truth addresses virtually every facet of the human experience.I invite you to join me in this journey through Psalms for The Seasons Of Life. --- Arnold Fleagle