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Praying the Psalms Spring 2017
Sunday School Series
Sing to the LORD a New Song:
P sal m s o f R e o r ie n t a t i o n
Week 5
Introduction! While(many(psalms(speak(candidly(about(loss(and(grief,(a(number(of(others(boldly( bear(witness(to(the(possibility(of(new(life.(In(these(psalms(of(reorientation,(God( intervenes(in(sudden(and(surprising(ways.(Out(of(the(depths(of(despair,(God(provides( refuge(and(comfort.(From(the(shadow(of(Sheol,(the(psalmist(is(assured(that(God’s( faithfulness(endures(forever.(This(experience(of(reorientation(is(received(as(both(a( surprise((not(anticipated)(and(a(gift((not(earned).(In(response,(the(psalmist(dares(to( sing(a(new(song(to(the(LORD—a(song(whose(lyrics(reverberate(with(soaring( doxologies(and(heart]felt(gratitude.((
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V.!Living!Doxology! ! (
In(comparison(to(laments(or(imprecations,(the(psalms(of(reorientation(looked(at(in( this(session(are(more(dearly(loved(and(more(often(used(in(Christian(circles.(To(be( sure,(few(need(to(be(convinced(that(praise(and(thanksgiving(are(crucial(to(the( Christian(life.(Nevertheless,(putting(these(concepts(into(action(is(not(easy.(The( psalms(of(reorientation(teach(us(at(least(three(things(about(living(a(life(of(doxology:( (
(1) Doxology(must(be(intentionally(cultivated.(It(is(easy(for(us(to(begin(to(see( seasons(of(reorientation(as(the(“new(normal.”(As(our(memory(of(God’s( gracious(intervention(fades,(so(too(does(our(gratitude.(We(can(recover( praise(and(thanksgiving(only(when(we(create(space(to(recall(the(larger( narrative(of(God’s(work(to(reorient(our(lives.((
(
Prayers(of(reorientation(are(most(clearly(on(display(in(three(types(of(psalms:((1)( hymns(of(praise;((2)(songs(of(thanksgiving;(and((3)(enthronement(psalms.(Though( varying(in(tone(and(content,(these(types(of(psalms(offer(full(and(unfettered( testimony(about(the(new(and(grace]filled(reality(God(has(wrought.(Yet(this(is(no( mere(return(to(the(original(state(of(well]being(found(in(psalms(of(orientation.(The( anguish(of(disorientation(has(shattered(the(“first(naïveté”(of(a(life(unaware(of( injustice,(betrayal,(and(grief.(Having(been(through(the(pit,(we(become(more(aware(of( our(need(for(God’s(grace(and(more(grateful(for(the(new(circumstances(before(us.(
(
(2) Doxology(is(not(just(a(feeling(but(a(vocation.(In(psalms(of(reorientation,( praise(and(thanksgiving(are(deeply(personal(but(are(never(intended(to( remain(private—they(are(forms(of(public(witness.(By(openly(sharing(our( doxologies(of(reorientation,(we(answer(the(call(to(give(God(away(to(others.(( (
(3) Doxology(is(politically(subversive.(More(than(just(describing(what(is,(psalms( of(reorientation(envision(what(might(be.(They(dare(to(depict(a(world(set( right(and(made(whole.(In(speaking(boldly(of(God’s(shalom,(they(offer(us(a( defiant(alternative(to(the(world(in(front(of(us.(Though(non]partisan(in( nature,(psalms(of(reorientation(give(us(a(way(to(maintain(hope(in(the(midst( of(discord(and(divisions.(((
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Lesson!at!a!glance! ( !
I.!!!!Hymns!of!Praise! II.!!!Songs!of!Thanksgiving!
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III.!!Enthronement!Psalms!! IV.!!Prayers!of!Reorientation! V.!!!Living!Doxology!
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( Which(of(the(above(three(points(resonates(with(you(most(deeply?(Why?( What(other(lessons(do(you(think(psalms(of(reorientation(teach(us(about( living(a(life(of(doxology?(
(
Conversation!Starter! Describe(a(time(in(life(in(which(you(were(in(a(season(of(reorientation.(What(brought( about(these(new(circumstances?(!
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( ( (
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IV.!Prayers!of!Reorientation!
I.!Hymns!of!Praise!!
(
((((((((((((((((((((
Prayers(of(reorientation(are(not(only(found(in(the(pages(of(the(Psalter.(Rather,( throughout(Scripture(we(find(characters(singing(hymns(of(praise(and(songs(of( thanksgiving(as(a(way(of(celebrating(God’s(grace(and(mercy.(! ! Read!1!Samuel!2:1/10.!After(many(years(of(being(barren,(Hannah,(the(wife( of(Elkanah,(conceives(and(bears(a(son—the(great(prophet(Samuel.(In( response,(she(sings(this(ancient(poem(of(thanksgiving.(( ! ( Using(language(similar(to(that(which(is(found(in(the(Psalter’s(songs(of(thanksgiving,( Hannah’s(prayer(pictures(a(divinely(initiated(change(of(fortunes:(the(lowly(are( exalted((v.(4),(the(hungry(are(fed((v.(5a),(the(barren(conceive((v.(5b),(the(poor(are( made(rich((v.(7),(and(the(needy(are(lifted(up((v.(8).(The(words(of(Hannah’s(prayer(is( strongly(echoed(in(the(prayer(of(another(mother]to]be(many(years(later.( ( Read!Luke!1:46/55.!What(is(the(context(of(Mary’s(hymn(of(praise?(In(what( ways(was(God(delivering(her(from(a(state(of(disorientation?(! ( ( Though(sometimes(called(Mary’s(song,(this(prayer(is(traditionally(known(as(the( Magnificat,(based(on(the(Latin(translation(of(its(opening(word((NRSV(=(magnifies).( This(song(is(frequently(recited(in(Christian(worship(services,(especially(during( Advent.(Its(words(have(often(been(set(to(music,(with(the(settings(provided(by(Vivaldi( and(Bach(being(most(well(known.(Some(ancient(manuscripts(of(the(Gospel(of(Luke( replace(the(name(Mary(in(v.(46(with(Elizabeth—Mary’s(cousin,(who(like(Hannah,( conceived(after(years(of(barrenness.( ! In(Acts(16:25,(Paul(and(Silas(sing(hymns(to(God(while(in(prison.(Why(do(you( think(they(sing(hymns(as(opposed(to(laments?((
Outside(of(laments,(the(hymn(of(praise(is(the(most(commonly(occurring(type(of( psalm(in(the(Psalter.(They(were(intended(to(be(sung(in(communal(worship(and(are( best(understood(as(offering(public(testimony(about(who(God(is(and(what(God(has( done.(These(psalms(have(two(main(parts:(a(call(to(praise(and(the(reason(for(praise.(( ! Read!Psalm!117.(In(this(psalm,(who(is(being(summoned(to(praise?(What( reasons(are(given(for(such(praise?(( ( ( The(most(characteristic(form(of(the(call(to(praise(is(found(in(Ps(117:2,(“Praise(the( LORD!”(The(underlying(Hebrew(phrase,(hallelu&yah,(consists(of(a(plural(imperative( (hallelu(=(“praise(y’all!”)(followed(by(the(object(of(the(praise,(a(shorted(formed(of( the(divine(name,((Yah)weh.(Other(calls(to(praise(include:(“Rejoice(in(the(LORD!”( (33:1),(“Clap(your(hands!”((47:1),(“Make(a(joyful(noise(to(God!”((66:1),(and(“Sing(to( the(LORD!”((98:1).(Whatever(its(form,(the(point(of(the(call(to(praise(is(to(invite( others(into(a(celebratory(and(joyful(expression(of(faith.( ( To(what(extent(are(you(comfortable(with(public(expressions(of(faith?(Even(if( you(feel(your(faith(is(more(private,(what(might(it(look(like(to(respond(to(the( call(to(praise?( ( ( One(of(the(most(well(known(and(dearly(loved(hymns(of(praise(is(Psalm(103.(While( the(psalm(begins((vv.(1]2)(and(ends((vv.(20]22)(with(a(call(to(praise,(the(bulk(of(the( psalm(consists(of(a(detailed(litany(of(reasons(for(praising(God.( ( Read!Psalm!103:3/18.!Of(the(divine(attributes(and(actions(listed(in(these( verses,(which(stands(out(the(most(as(a(reason(you(would(praise(God?(Why?(( ( ( (
(
II.!Songs!of!Thanksgiving!
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(
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III.!Enthronement!Psalms! (
The(song(of(thanksgiving(shares(much(in(common(with(the(hymn(of(praise.(Both(aim( to(proclaim(who(God(is(by(describing(what(God(has(done,(and(both(assume(a(divine( and(human(audience.(However,(unlike(hymns(of(praise,(songs(of(thanksgiving(seem( to(be(uttered(in(response(to(a(specific(experience(of(crisis(or(loss.(Songs(of( thanksgiving(typically(consist(of(three(parts:((1)(the(report(of(crisis;((2)(the( description(of(help(received;(and((3)(praise(delivered.(( ( Read!Psalm!30.!What(imagery(does(the(psalmist(use(to(describe(the(past( crisis?(What(imagery(does(the(psalmist(use(to(describe(the(help(received( (i.e.,(the(way(in(which(life(is(reoriented)?! ! ( At(the(heart(of(these(songs(is(a(declaration(of(thanks(for(God’s(gracious(intervention.( As(in(English,(the(Hebrew(verb(“to(thank”((yadah)(denotes(an(expression(of( gratitude,(but(it(also(implies(the(idea(of(“testifying”(or(“bearing(public(witness.”(In( other(words,(the(gratitude(expressed(is(not(a(private(thank]you(note(to(God(but(a( form(of(public(praise(meant(to(give(God(away(to(one’s(neighbor.(As(OT(scholar( Patrick(Miller(puts(it,(thanksgiving(is(“testimony(for(conversion.”( ( Read!Psalms!34:11/14;!40:9/10;!and!57:9.(In(each(of(these(songs(of( thanksgiving,(what(does(it(look(like(for(the(psalmist(to(bear(public(witness( about(their(experience(of(reorientation?(( ( ( To(what(extent(do(you(think(openly(sharing(your(own(experiences(of( reorientation(is(a(form(of(outreach?(Why(or(why(not(might(this(be(an(effect( way(of(“sharing(Christ”(with(others?( ( ( (
A(collection(of(six(hymns(of(praise((47,(93,(96]99),(known(as(enthronement(psalms,(( identify(Yahweh(as(king(and(celebrate(his(cosmic(sovereignty.(These(hymns(utter(a( “new(song(to(the(LORD”((95:1;(96:1;(98:1)(that(evokes(doxology(and(affirms(hope(in( a(world(restored(and(redeemed(under(God’s(reign(of(shalom.( ! Read!Psalm!96.!How(does(this(psalm(describe(the(extent(of(God’s(reign?( Who(is(to(join(in(singing(this(“new(song(to(the(LORD”?( ! ! Like(other(psalms(of(enthronement,(Psalm(96(acknowledges(that(the(world(is( populated(by(many(gods.(Yet(these(psalms(affirm(that(Yahweh,(as(great(king,(is(“to( be(revered(above”(these(other(gods((v.(4)(and(that(these(lesser(deities((or(idols)( should(“bow(down(before(him”((97:7).(In(this(way,(the(psalms(of(enthronement( function(as(a(liturgical(commentary(on(the(first(commandment(of(the(Decalogue:( “you(shall(have(no(other(gods(before(me”((Exod(20:2;(Deut(5:7).( ( Martin(Luther(defines(a(god(as(“that(to(which(we(look(for(all(comfort(and( refuge(in(life.”(Given(this(definition,(what(other(“gods”(compete(for(your( loyalty(and(affection(today?(( ( ( The(enthronement(psalms(describe(the(nature(of(God’s(kingship(in(terms(of(ethical( norms(laid(out(in(the(Mosaic(covenant.(Rather(than(being(a(king(who(exercises( arbitrary(power,(God’s(reign(seeks(to(a(establish(a(social(order(of(peace,(equality,( and(fairness.(In(this(way,(God’s(kingship(enacts(“distributive(justice”—that(is,(the( establishment(of(justice(on(behalf(of(the(most(vulnerable(in(society.(( ( Read!Ps!96:10,!13;!97:2;!and!99:4.(What(might(it(look(like(for(the(church(to( embody(these(aspects(of(God’s(kingship(for(the(most(vulnerable(members(of( society(today?( (
(
II.!Songs!of!Thanksgiving!
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(
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III.!Enthronement!Psalms! (
The(song(of(thanksgiving(shares(much(in(common(with(the(hymn(of(praise.(Both(aim( to(proclaim(who(God(is(by(describing(what(God(has(done,(and(both(assume(a(divine( and(human(audience.(However,(unlike(hymns(of(praise,(songs(of(thanksgiving(seem( to(be(uttered(in(response(to(a(specific(experience(of(crisis(or(loss.(Songs(of( thanksgiving(typically(consist(of(three(parts:((1)(the(report(of(crisis;((2)(the( description(of(help(received;(and((3)(praise(delivered.(( ( Read!Psalm!30.!What(imagery(does(the(psalmist(use(to(describe(the(past( crisis?(What(imagery(does(the(psalmist(use(to(describe(the(help(received( (i.e.,(the(way(in(which(life(is(reoriented)?! ! ( At(the(heart(of(these(songs(is(a(declaration(of(thanks(for(God’s(gracious(intervention.( As(in(English,(the(Hebrew(verb(“to(thank”((yadah)(denotes(an(expression(of( gratitude,(but(it(also(implies(the(idea(of(“testifying”(or(“bearing(public(witness.”(In( other(words,(the(gratitude(expressed(is(not(a(private(thank]you(note(to(God(but(a( form(of(public(praise(meant(to(give(God(away(to(one’s(neighbor.(As(OT(scholar( Patrick(Miller(puts(it,(thanksgiving(is(“testimony(for(conversion.”( ( Read!Psalms!34:11/14;!40:9/10;!and!57:9.(In(each(of(these(songs(of( thanksgiving,(what(does(it(look(like(for(the(psalmist(to(bear(public(witness( about(their(experience(of(reorientation?(( ( ( To(what(extent(do(you(think(openly(sharing(your(own(experiences(of( reorientation(is(a(form(of(outreach?(Why(or(why(not(might(this(be(an(effect( way(of(“sharing(Christ”(with(others?( ( ( (
A(collection(of(six(hymns(of(praise((47,(93,(96]99),(known(as(enthronement(psalms,(( identify(Yahweh(as(king(and(celebrate(his(cosmic(sovereignty.(These(hymns(utter(a( “new(song(to(the(LORD”((95:1;(96:1;(98:1)(that(evokes(doxology(and(affirms(hope(in( a(world(restored(and(redeemed(under(God’s(reign(of(shalom.( ! Read!Psalm!96.!How(does(this(psalm(describe(the(extent(of(God’s(reign?( Who(is(to(join(in(singing(this(“new(song(to(the(LORD”?( ! ! Like(other(psalms(of(enthronement,(Psalm(96(acknowledges(that(the(world(is( populated(by(many(gods.(Yet(these(psalms(affirm(that(Yahweh,(as(great(king,(is(“to( be(revered(above”(these(other(gods((v.(4)(and(that(these(lesser(deities((or(idols)( should(“bow(down(before(him”((97:7).(In(this(way,(the(psalms(of(enthronement( function(as(a(liturgical(commentary(on(the(first(commandment(of(the(Decalogue:( “you(shall(have(no(other(gods(before(me”((Exod(20:2;(Deut(5:7).( ( Martin(Luther(defines(a(god(as(“that(to(which(we(look(for(all(comfort(and( refuge(in(life.”(Given(this(definition,(what(other(“gods”(compete(for(your( loyalty(and(affection(today?(( ( ( The(enthronement(psalms(describe(the(nature(of(God’s(kingship(in(terms(of(ethical( norms(laid(out(in(the(Mosaic(covenant.(Rather(than(being(a(king(who(exercises( arbitrary(power,(God’s(reign(seeks(to(a(establish(a(social(order(of(peace,(equality,( and(fairness.(In(this(way,(God’s(kingship(enacts(“distributive(justice”—that(is,(the( establishment(of(justice(on(behalf(of(the(most(vulnerable(in(society.(( ( Read!Ps!96:10,!13;!97:2;!and!99:4.(What(might(it(look(like(for(the(church(to( embody(these(aspects(of(God’s(kingship(for(the(most(vulnerable(members(of( society(today?( (
(
(
IV.!Prayers!of!Reorientation!
I.!Hymns!of!Praise!!
(
((((((((((((((((((((
Prayers(of(reorientation(are(not(only(found(in(the(pages(of(the(Psalter.(Rather,( throughout(Scripture(we(find(characters(singing(hymns(of(praise(and(songs(of( thanksgiving(as(a(way(of(celebrating(God’s(grace(and(mercy.(! ! Read!1!Samuel!2:1/10.!After(many(years(of(being(barren,(Hannah,(the(wife( of(Elkanah,(conceives(and(bears(a(son—the(great(prophet(Samuel.(In( response,(she(sings(this(ancient(poem(of(thanksgiving.(( ! ( Using(language(similar(to(that(which(is(found(in(the(Psalter’s(songs(of(thanksgiving,( Hannah’s(prayer(pictures(a(divinely(initiated(change(of(fortunes:(the(lowly(are( exalted((v.(4),(the(hungry(are(fed((v.(5a),(the(barren(conceive((v.(5b),(the(poor(are( made(rich((v.(7),(and(the(needy(are(lifted(up((v.(8).(The(words(of(Hannah’s(prayer(is( strongly(echoed(in(the(prayer(of(another(mother]to]be(many(years(later.( ( Read!Luke!1:46/55.!What(is(the(context(of(Mary’s(hymn(of(praise?(In(what( ways(was(God(delivering(her(from(a(state(of(disorientation?(! ( ( Though(sometimes(called(Mary’s(song,(this(prayer(is(traditionally(known(as(the( Magnificat,(based(on(the(Latin(translation(of(its(opening(word((NRSV(=(magnifies).( This(song(is(frequently(recited(in(Christian(worship(services,(especially(during( Advent.(Its(words(have(often(been(set(to(music,(with(the(settings(provided(by(Vivaldi( and(Bach(being(most(well(known.(Some(ancient(manuscripts(of(the(Gospel(of(Luke( replace(the(name(Mary(in(v.(46(with(Elizabeth—Mary’s(cousin,(who(like(Hannah,( conceived(after(years(of(barrenness.( ! In(Acts(16:25,(Paul(and(Silas(sing(hymns(to(God(while(in(prison.(Why(do(you( think(they(sing(hymns(as(opposed(to(laments?((
Outside(of(laments,(the(hymn(of(praise(is(the(most(commonly(occurring(type(of( psalm(in(the(Psalter.(They(were(intended(to(be(sung(in(communal(worship(and(are( best(understood(as(offering(public(testimony(about(who(God(is(and(what(God(has( done.(These(psalms(have(two(main(parts:(a(call(to(praise(and(the(reason(for(praise.(( ! Read!Psalm!117.(In(this(psalm,(who(is(being(summoned(to(praise?(What( reasons(are(given(for(such(praise?(( ( ( The(most(characteristic(form(of(the(call(to(praise(is(found(in(Ps(117:2,(“Praise(the( LORD!”(The(underlying(Hebrew(phrase,(hallelu&yah,(consists(of(a(plural(imperative( (hallelu(=(“praise(y’all!”)(followed(by(the(object(of(the(praise,(a(shorted(formed(of( the(divine(name,((Yah)weh.(Other(calls(to(praise(include:(“Rejoice(in(the(LORD!”( (33:1),(“Clap(your(hands!”((47:1),(“Make(a(joyful(noise(to(God!”((66:1),(and(“Sing(to( the(LORD!”((98:1).(Whatever(its(form,(the(point(of(the(call(to(praise(is(to(invite( others(into(a(celebratory(and(joyful(expression(of(faith.( ( To(what(extent(are(you(comfortable(with(public(expressions(of(faith?(Even(if( you(feel(your(faith(is(more(private,(what(might(it(look(like(to(respond(to(the( call(to(praise?( ( ( One(of(the(most(well(known(and(dearly(loved(hymns(of(praise(is(Psalm(103.(While( the(psalm(begins((vv.(1]2)(and(ends((vv.(20]22)(with(a(call(to(praise,(the(bulk(of(the( psalm(consists(of(a(detailed(litany(of(reasons(for(praising(God.( ( Read!Psalm!103:3/18.!Of(the(divine(attributes(and(actions(listed(in(these( verses,(which(stands(out(the(most(as(a(reason(you(would(praise(God?(Why?(( ( ( (
Introduction! While(many(psalms(speak(candidly(about(loss(and(grief,(a(number(of(others(boldly( bear(witness(to(the(possibility(of(new(life.(In(these(psalms(of(reorientation,(God( intervenes(in(sudden(and(surprising(ways.(Out(of(the(depths(of(despair,(God(provides( refuge(and(comfort.(From(the(shadow(of(Sheol,(the(psalmist(is(assured(that(God’s( faithfulness(endures(forever.(This(experience(of(reorientation(is(received(as(both(a( surprise((not(anticipated)(and(a(gift((not(earned).(In(response,(the(psalmist(dares(to( sing(a(new(song(to(the(LORD—a(song(whose(lyrics(reverberate(with(soaring( doxologies(and(heart]felt(gratitude.((
!!!! !!
(
V.!Living!Doxology! ! (
In(comparison(to(laments(or(imprecations,(the(psalms(of(reorientation(looked(at(in( this(session(are(more(dearly(loved(and(more(often(used(in(Christian(circles.(To(be( sure,(few(need(to(be(convinced(that(praise(and(thanksgiving(are(crucial(to(the( Christian(life.(Nevertheless,(putting(these(concepts(into(action(is(not(easy.(The( psalms(of(reorientation(teach(us(at(least(three(things(about(living(a(life(of(doxology:( (
(1) Doxology(must(be(intentionally(cultivated.(It(is(easy(for(us(to(begin(to(see( seasons(of(reorientation(as(the(“new(normal.”(As(our(memory(of(God’s( gracious(intervention(fades,(so(too(does(our(gratitude.(We(can(recover( praise(and(thanksgiving(only(when(we(create(space(to(recall(the(larger( narrative(of(God’s(work(to(reorient(our(lives.((
(
Prayers(of(reorientation(are(most(clearly(on(display(in(three(types(of(psalms:((1)( hymns(of(praise;((2)(songs(of(thanksgiving;(and((3)(enthronement(psalms.(Though( varying(in(tone(and(content,(these(types(of(psalms(offer(full(and(unfettered( testimony(about(the(new(and(grace]filled(reality(God(has(wrought.(Yet(this(is(no( mere(return(to(the(original(state(of(well]being(found(in(psalms(of(orientation.(The( anguish(of(disorientation(has(shattered(the(“first(naïveté”(of(a(life(unaware(of( injustice,(betrayal,(and(grief.(Having(been(through(the(pit,(we(become(more(aware(of( our(need(for(God’s(grace(and(more(grateful(for(the(new(circumstances(before(us.(
(
(2) Doxology(is(not(just(a(feeling(but(a(vocation.(In(psalms(of(reorientation,( praise(and(thanksgiving(are(deeply(personal(but(are(never(intended(to( remain(private—they(are(forms(of(public(witness.(By(openly(sharing(our( doxologies(of(reorientation,(we(answer(the(call(to(give(God(away(to(others.(( (
(3) Doxology(is(politically(subversive.(More(than(just(describing(what(is,(psalms( of(reorientation(envision(what(might(be.(They(dare(to(depict(a(world(set( right(and(made(whole.(In(speaking(boldly(of(God’s(shalom,(they(offer(us(a( defiant(alternative(to(the(world(in(front(of(us.(Though(non]partisan(in( nature,(psalms(of(reorientation(give(us(a(way(to(maintain(hope(in(the(midst( of(discord(and(divisions.(((
(
Lesson!at!a!glance! ( !
I.!!!!Hymns!of!Praise! II.!!!Songs!of!Thanksgiving!
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III.!!Enthronement!Psalms!! IV.!!Prayers!of!Reorientation! V.!!!Living!Doxology!
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( Which(of(the(above(three(points(resonates(with(you(most(deeply?(Why?( What(other(lessons(do(you(think(psalms(of(reorientation(teach(us(about( living(a(life(of(doxology?(
(
Conversation!Starter! Describe(a(time(in(life(in(which(you(were(in(a(season(of(reorientation.(What(brought( about(these(new(circumstances?(!
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( ( (
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Praying the Psalms Spring 2017
Sunday School Series
Sing to the LORD a New Song:
P sal m s o f R e o r ie n t a t i o n
Week 5