Songs of Hope

What are you streaming at the moment? 

The one thing Spotify has re-taught me is my love for songs!  Never before have I felt so engaged in exploring new artists and genres. Spotify even suggest playlists for me based on my listening habits – who would have thought?  (I realize that none of you would listen to any of the suggested playlist based on my 80’s music tastes….!)

Almost universally, across many cultures, songs are the preferred art-form for narrating the experience and emotions of human relationships. The more I listen, the more I notice that many song lyrics are devoted to the expression and communication of love (Usually romantic, of course). Love, regret, loss, anticipation, anger, passion….. There’s a song for every experience and emotion.

Songs have always been our preferred artform.  The combination of poetry, music and emotion always tend to lead us to deep pathos or elation. Songs move us. It is how we are created – music is a gift – and the bible tells us that even God loves to sing. (Zep 3:17)

Smack-bang in the middle of the bible is The Book of Psalms.  An anthology of 150 songs narrating the full breadth of human emotion through varying life experiences and relationships.  As we study this collection we realize it is, in fact, five separate books of poetry, prayers and lyrics mostly set to music (we assume).  

For the remainder of the year we will be studying a selection of Psalms and learning how each of them guided their original listeners to an excited anticipation of Jesus the Messiah.  How were the lyrics written? When, where, and in what company were they recited? What was their emotional impact?  What poetry was crafted to engage the hearts and minds to build this anticipation? 

As we head for Christmas we hope to reignite the passion of these ancient songs – letting them live again and allowing them to move us in freshly anticipating Jesus the Messiah in our own lives. 

Here are the Psalms we will study:        

2          Anointed Son              

16        Resurrection               

22        The agony                  

45        The bridegroom         

69        Suffering                    

110      David’s Lord         

118 The Capstone