To mark the release of his book Tumbling Sky: Psalm Devotions for Weary Souls Matt Searles is making the album which inspired the book available for free download.
The album is a wonderful addition to Searles’ two earlier productions.
The Psalms are chosen this time to reflect the ministry that they offer to those in times of lament or suffering.
I don’t know how long the offer will last.
Go here for information about the devotional book.
Go here for the free music.
Psalm 23 by The Corner Room.
Rev. Lane Keister (aka Green Baggins) has posted this prayer, based on Psalm 1.
Let those rooted in the life-giving Saviour Jesus prepare to worship God with his people tomorrow.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have revealed to us that we are blessed if we do not walk in the council of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scoffer. Make us instead to delight in your law, that we might meditate on it day and night. Make us to be like trees planted by streams of water, yielding their fruit in their season, never withering, gaining an internal, invisible nourishment so that, in anything that we do for you and for your kingdom, we will prosper. Make us not like the wicked, who have so little weight that the wind can drive them away. Though we feel alone in this, though we see and feel the pressures against righteousness by the world outside, we know, Father, that the whole congregation of the righteous will stand with us. Above all, you stand with us, for you know our path, the end from the beginning. You know that path of wisdom, and you delight to show it to us. You also illuminate for us the path of the wicked, and you show us its end. We praise you that Jesus walked not in the counsel of the wicked, nor did he stand in the way of sinners, nor ever sit in the seat of scoffers. We praise you that He delighted to do your will, that He delighted in your law, that He always meditated on it, that He therefore has become for us the life-giving vine who nourishes our faith always.
“Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90: 12) is one of my favourite verses in the Psalms.
In an excerpt from his new book, Learning To Love The Psalms, Robert Godfrey points out that the lesson of the verse is not to focus on making the best use of the number of days we get, but to be challenged by the shortness of the time we have here to look to eternity.
That’s wisdom.
From the post.
If our need is to number our days by contrasting their shortness with the eternal nature of God, then our prayer to God is that He would teach us: “Teach us to number our days.” We will never learn that lesson in our own strength. We are not only ignorant if left to ourselves, but we suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18). We convince ourselves that we have a long time to live, and as long as we are healthy, we really believe that we will live forever in this body. We need a teacher, and the only teacher who can rescue us from ourselves is God.
Read the whole post here.
Saviour, Shepherd Me.
A setting of Psalm 23 by Matt Searles, vocals by Liv Chapman.
Released on Searle’s 2016 album Tumbling Sky.
The lyrics:
The Lord’s my shepherd
Nothing shall I lack, or need
He bids my soul rest
In the pastures wide and green
Saviour shepherd me
Saviour shepherd me
His grace restores me
I walk in paths of righteousness
And for His glory
My king will keep me till the end
You are all I need
Jesus all I need
Your love and mercy follow me
Til I feast at the table of the King
And in the shadow
When all my path’s too dark to see
My Lord is with me
His rod and staff will comfort me
Saviour shepherd me
Saviour shepherd me
You are all I need
Jesus all I need
Your love and mercy follow me
Til I feast at the table of the King
Saviour shepherd me
Saviour shepherd me
© Matt Searles 2016
This version of Psalm 62, title I’ll Not Be Shaken is from Wendell Kimbrough’s recent album Psalms We Sing Together.
So, last Sunday night I finished preaching Psalms on Sunday nights.
The Sunday evening congregation made it with me through all 150 Psalms, including one evening where Psalm 119 was read in its entirety. After Psalm 150 I returned to Psalm 119 and preached through its 22 sections.
There were five or so of those that others preached, but other than that it was my little project.
Can’t imagine I’ll do it again, but I never imagined doing it the first time.
The evening congregation’s support was deeply appreciated throughout.
Next we’ll set off on John’s Gospel and see where that takes us.
