Reading the Psalms - A Primer

    I have always had a desire to read my Bible every day. However, like any discipline, daily scripture reading and prayer can prove to be a difficult goal to achieve.

Some of the problems include:
1) Where to start reading?
2) How much to read?
3) What to look for when reading?
4) How to read?
The list can go on and on.

    “Reading the Psalms” takes shape through a monastic influence I was exposed to through some professors recently. This is nothing new or earth shattering.

    Our goal is to read 4 psalms a day. (Problems 1 and 2 DONE!) Now some psalms are significantly longer than others, we’ll break those up into smaller parts. If 4 psalms proves to be too much, read 1 or 2. Don’t feel rushed or get discouraged if you miss a day.

    As we read we’re going to do so in a lectio divina sort of way. (If you have time to explore that link I encourage you to do so. If not a helpful sentence: “In lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God's word for us this day.”) I invite you to write down this word or phrase that you hear spoken to you, and perhaps even a short thought about it. (Problem 3; check)

    Finally, remember that a Psalm will generally be a short poem, or perhaps an ancient hymn or praise song. Think of each one as a self-contained unit; in that way it’s almost like reading through a Shel Silverstein book. As poetry we will encounter just about every human emotion possible. Keeping in mind that we are reading poetry will help solve Problem 4.

Why a blog format?

    Each entry will be my personal notes from my time reading. No great, deep, theological, homiletical, exegetical, historical context, mumbo jumbo, there are other places to get that sort of thing. Just the word(s) and phrase(s) I hear as I read.

    It is my hope that others will join along and use the comment section as a place to add what they experience reading. Hopefully this format will allow anyone to join at any point. Start from the beginning or come in at the newest post.

For example / what it looks like:

    Psalm 1:3 - "...like trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season, leaves not withering. Prospering in all they do." Mighty trees take time to grow; slow and steady, just like strong people of faith