Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! ²Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. ³Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! —Psalm 96:1-3
The book of Psalms is one of the most beloved in all of Scripture. Tremper Longman writes,
As we read the Psalms, we are entering into the sanctuary, the place where God meets men and women in a special way. We will see that the conversation between God and his people is direct, intense, intimate and, above all, honest. …In the same way that the sanctuaries of the Old Testament, primarily the tabernacle and the temple, were considered to be at the physical center of the people of God, so too is the book of Psalms in the middle of the Bible (How to Read the Psalms).
Longman’s point is precisely why the Fighter Verses program regularly features portions of this book, like Psalm 96:1-3, for memorization. There is something wonderful about them. They model how to worship God, how to be honest and real before him. They show us His greatness and goodness in vivid ways.
Perhaps that’s why they are uniquely used by God to reach deep inside us and touch us like they do. “[The psalms] inform our intellect, arouse our emotions, direct our wills and stimulate our imaginations. When we read the Psalms with faith, we come away changed and not simply informed” (Longman).
Whatever your routine for reading Scripture, consider weaving in the Psalms. Consider reading them aloud in the morning and evening. Maybe meditate on one each day. The Psalms are always a gust of fresh air to rusty souls. More of the Psalms will mean good for you.
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