Kal's Korner 4.29
For the Week of April 29-May 5, 2018

The Word: Psalm 42
Psalm 42:11, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” ESV
The heading of Psalm 42 … “To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.”
The sons of Korah were a group of priests who were charged with the ministry of singing 2 Chronicles 20:19, describes them in action: “The Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”
So the heading implies that this psalm was probably used in public worship and was sung. The psalms are songs. They are poems. They are written to awaken and express and shape the emotional life of God’s people. Poetry and singing exist because God made us with emotions, not just thoughts. Our emotions are massively important.
The second thing to notice in the heading is that the psalm is called a “maskil.” It’s not clear what the word means. That’s why most versions don’t translate it. It comes from a Hebrew verb that means to make someone wise , or to instruct . So when applied to psalms, it may mean a song that instructs , or a song that is wisely crafted . That reminds us that the psalms intend to instruct. “Blessed is the man whose delight is in the instruction of the Lord, and on his instruction he meditates day and night.”
So “To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah” underlines these two truths:
· The psalms are instruction
· The psalms are songs.
And Jesus taught that they were inspired by God. They intend to shape what the mind thinks, and they intend to shape what the heart feels. When we immerse ourselves in them, we are “thinking and feeling with God.”
Join us at St. Paul’s on Mother’s Day (May 13) for more on Psalm 42 and a message entitled, “Spiritual Depression and Hope in the Psalms” – Believe me this message is not just for moms. It is for moms, dads, and the rest of us!!
Before that – this coming Sunday is an Ascension Day (Jesus ascending into heaven) Message you will not want to miss… “Up, Up and A Way Among Us.” Sunday May 6, 2018 at St. Paul’s @ 8:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m.
God bless your week
In Jesus
Pastor Kal








