Participants:
Series Code: IIWSS
Program Code: IIWSS024002S
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00:16 >>Eric Flicklinger: Welcome to "Sabbath School," 00:17 brought to you by "It Is Written." 00:19 We're back once again as we continue our study 00:22 in the Book of Psalms, and this is week number two, 00:26 "Teach Us to Pray," an exciting study we have today. 00:30 But let's begin with prayer. 00:32 Father, we want to thank you for bringing us together again 00:35 this week as we continue our journey 00:37 through the Book of Psalms. 00:38 And this week, we're going to be looking 00:40 at the importance of prayer and what the Book of Psalms 00:42 can teach us about that very subject. 00:44 We ask that you'll guide us through our time together today, 00:47 and we thank you in Jesus's name, amen. 00:50 Well, we're delighted once again this week to welcome back 00:53 the author of this quarter's "Sabbath School" lesson, 00:56 Dr. Dragoslava Santrac. 00:58 She is the managing editor 00:59 of the "Encyclopedia of Seventh Day Adventists." 01:02 Slava, welcome back once again. 01:04 >>Dragoslava Santrac: Thank you. 01:05 >>Eric: So, this week we're looking at prayer, 01:07 the importance of prayer, "Teach Us How to Pray." 01:11 Well, I mean, the title of this week's lesson 01:14 may make some people feel a little uncomfortable. 01:17 "Teach Us How to Pray." 01:18 I know how to pray, do we really need to know how to pray? 01:22 And what are some of the benefits 01:24 or drawbacks of spontaneous prayer versus prayer 01:28 that we might learn from the Book of Psalms? 01:31 Help us to understand this a little bit. 01:33 >>Dragoslava: Yes, yes, well, I will start with maybe 01:36 sharing a short story that I read. 01:40 This particular author shared the anecdote 01:43 from his friend's life. 01:45 One evangelist was visiting them, 01:49 and as they sat to share a meal together, 01:52 the father of the house began with prayer, 01:55 and he recited a few lines from Psalm 145, 02:02 and he began the prayer saying, 02:04 "O Lord, the eyes of all look expectantly to You, 02:08 and You give them their food in due season." 02:12 And as he was in the middle of his prayer, 02:14 the evangelist interrupted him, saying, 02:18 "Lord, we thank you that we don't need 02:21 to burn our lamps with borrowed oil." 02:25 See, with this critique, 02:27 this man disregarded the invaluable, 02:31 irreplaceable value of Psalms as prayers. 02:36 And it doesn't take much just to remember Jesus's disciples 02:42 in the gospels who said, "Lord, teach us to pray." 02:47 Who knows, 02:48 if they didn't ask that question, 02:50 would the Lord's Prayer be in the Bible? 02:54 We don't know, but we are very grateful 02:56 to the disciples for asking that and Jesus did not say, 03:01 "Why are you asking me that? 03:02 You should know." 03:04 But he taught them, 03:05 because Jesus understood that prayer, 03:08 yes, it comes from heart, but prayer needs to have content 03:12 and understanding of to whom we pray, 03:16 why we pray, and all of that we learn 03:19 through the Scripture 03:21 and of course with the Holy Spirit. 03:24 >>Eric: Right, so we're looking at the Book of Psalms, 03:26 and we want to know how to pray, 03:28 how can we incorporate the Psalms 03:31 into our own prayer life? 03:34 Are there easy ways that we might do that? 03:39 >>Dragoslava: If we think of the Psalms 03:41 as biblical prayers par excellence, 03:44 we would love and want to have them 03:48 every day in our life. 03:50 It's like when we talk about healthy diet, 03:53 how to be physically strong and healthy. 03:55 We recommend a change of lifestyle, isn't it? 04:00 Something that's long-term. 04:02 One healthy meal is beneficial, 04:05 but if it's taken only sporadically, 04:07 it won't produce the effects and benefits 04:10 that a healthy diet is meant for. 04:14 The same is with the Psalms. 04:16 If we just sporadically, from time to time, 04:19 read a Psalm and then forget about it, 04:22 yes, we will be blessed, but not as much as 04:26 if we make the Book of Psalms, reading of the Psalms, 04:30 praying with the Psalms a daily, daily habit. 04:35 >>Eric: You, you've been studying the Psalms, 04:37 letting the Psalms work on you for many, 04:40 many years. 04:42 What kind of experiences have you had as you interact 04:45 or interconnect your own prayer life with the Psalms? 04:49 How has it been a blessing to you 04:51 and how might it be a blessing 04:52 to someone else who's thinking, 04:54 well, how could I do this? 04:55 How could I have my prayer life enlivened? 04:57 Sometimes we can, if we're not careful, 05:00 get into a rut when we pray and we pray the same things 05:02 over and over again without even thinking about it. 05:04 How might incorporating the Psalms 05:07 into a prayer life make a difference? 05:10 How has it made a difference for you? 05:11 >> Dragoslava: Yes, well, I mentioned earlier 05:14 that I grew up with the Bible, and the biblical stories, 05:20 and the Psalms, and all these images, 05:22 but I have to admit, 05:24 it wasn't until in my later life 05:27 that I embraced the Psalms fully in my life. 05:32 And it took one unfortunate event in my life to help me, 05:38 or should I say open my eyes, to fully appreciate, 05:43 and I'm still growing 05:44 in the appreciation of the Psalms. 05:47 When my husband and I lost our first child 05:50 due to some complications at the delivery, 05:54 that Friday evening I was alone in my hospital room, 05:59 and I was left without any spiritual oil 06:02 in my lamp, to use a metaphor from the illustration. 06:07 And almost just by habit I took the Bible, 06:11 I was exhausted, physically, yes, 06:13 but spiritually even more. 06:17 But I took the Bible, nevertheless, 06:19 as it was my custom, and I opened the Bible 06:22 where the bookmarker stood, and I was like, 06:26 yeah, I'll just read, and that's going to be that. 06:29 And for that day, the marker was on Isaiah chapter 49, 06:35 and that's the Song of Zion. 06:39 It is Zion celebrating the goodness 06:41 and love of God. 06:43 And as I was reading, each word, 06:48 it looks as if it was meant to pierce my heart even more. 06:52 I read verse 13, "Sing, O heavens, be joyful, 06:56 O earth, and break out in singing, 07:00 O mountains, for the Lord has comforted His people 07:03 and will have mercy on the afflicted." 07:07 But then I read verse 14, "But Zion said, 07:13 'The Lord has forsaken me and my Lord has forgotten me.'" 07:18 When I read this verse, these words became my words. 07:24 The words that I lost, 07:26 the words I didn't have to pray that evening, 07:30 I found them right there in this. 07:33 And I kept repeating this verse over and over again, 07:37 and then I finally, after really pouring out 07:41 all my soul into that verse, 07:43 I read the next one which says, 07:45 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, 07:49 and not have compassion on the son of her womb? 07:53 Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you." 07:58 And since that time, Eric, I can tell you, 08:02 I realized what a treasure, prayer treasure, 08:07 not just theological, doctrinal, which is also crucial, 08:11 but what a prayer treasure do we have in the Bible. 08:16 And since then, the Psalms especially, 08:21 they help me articulate my words. 08:24 They help me articulate my feelings, 08:26 what I want to tell the Lord, and they lead me in prayer. 08:31 They help me create and maintain a regular prayer life. 08:37 >>Eric: So, it's not just something theoretical 08:40 or theological, 08:41 it's a very real help in challenging times, 08:45 and people face real challenges today. 08:48 Life is very complex, prayer can sometimes be complex, 08:54 and the Book of Psalms, 08:56 it helps us to understand the perplexity of human life, 08:59 the perplexity of prayer. 09:02 When you have somebody who's on a pilgrimage of faith, 09:06 they may be at different points in their journey, 09:10 how can the Psalms help someone who is trying to find their way 09:15 through a complex life, through a difficult pilgrimage, 09:19 to get where they wanna go? 09:21 >>Dragoslava: Yes, yes, you see, when difficulty struck us, 09:25 when something bad happens to us, 09:29 especially as believers, because we have this faith 09:32 that God is good, God is in control, 09:35 He protects, 09:36 and then we get bitterly surprised 09:40 when sickness hits, or worse, 09:43 and some people have tendency to stop praying, 09:47 to turn away from God, 09:49 because it is too heavy to understand. 09:52 And the Psalms, they don't run away 09:54 from these challenging questions, 09:57 but you see, they also promote one crucial idea 10:01 that no matter what, 10:03 the communication with God must go on. 10:07 So, when the psalmists cry out, 10:10 "O, God, how long? 10:12 Why have you forsaken me? 10:14 How long will you be angry with us forever?" 10:18 You see, they express this longing, 10:22 this maybe disappointment, 10:24 and even challenging language sometimes, 10:27 but what's crucial here is 10:29 that they continue talking to God, why? 10:33 Because they know that prayer is directed to a living God 10:38 who may for a time seem to have hidden his face, 10:42 but it is a merciful, longsuffering God 10:46 who hears and answers prayers. 10:48 So, my encouragement here to everyone is, 10:51 no matter to what you're going through right now, 10:56 don't stop talking to God, because God hears you. 11:00 The Psalms will give you words, but also, 11:04 they will lead you to hope that you don't feel now. 11:08 >>Eric: So, many people around the world are looking for hope. 11:11 The Book of Psalms contains a lot of that hope or points us 11:14 to the one can can give us that hope, 11:16 maybe that's a more appropriate way of saying it. 11:18 If somebody wants to dig more deeply into the Book of Psalms, 11:21 there is a companion book for the Book of Psalms. 11:24 Share with us a little bit about that companion book. 11:27 >>Dragoslava: Yes, the companion book accompanies the quarterly, 11:32 and it follows the week-by-week segments, 11:35 and provides additional information, 11:39 provides illustrations and explanation, 11:42 and it's a wonderful resource, I definitely recommend. 11:46 >>Eric: And the person who wrote it, 11:47 tell us a little bit about him. 11:49 >>Dragoslava: Yes, Dr. Martin Klingbeil, 11:50 he is an Old Testament specialist and a teacher 11:55 here at Southern Adventist University, 11:57 a great scholar. 11:59 He coauthored the commentary on the Book of Psalms with me. 12:04 He did the first part, Psalms 1 to 75, 12:07 I did 76 to 150, so a wonderful companion book, 12:14 definitely a must-have read for everyone. 12:18 >>Eric: Fantastic, and if you're wanting to pick up 12:20 that companion book, that's very easy to do. 12:23 Just go to itiswritten.shop, itiswritten.shop, 12:27 and look for the companion book to this quarter's 12:30 "Sabbath School" lesson on the Book of Psalms 12:32 by Dr. Martin Klingbeil. 12:34 You will be blessed immensely as you read that 12:38 as we study week by week 12:40 through the adult "Sabbath School" 12:43 Bible study guide, as you study through it, 12:45 then come here to the "Sabbath School" program, 12:48 and you get to hear from the author. 12:50 Couple that together with the companion book, 12:54 and you're going to be able to not just deepen 12:57 and strengthen and broaden 13:01 your own understanding of the Book of Psalms, 13:03 but you'll be able to share these things with others, 13:06 because no doubt you know some people 13:08 who are going through some challenges. 13:10 So, I trust you already know and believe that you do, 13:13 that this is not just for our own intellectual gain, 13:16 but it plays a very real work on our spiritual lives 13:21 and we can be an encouragement to others as we share it 13:24 with them as well. 13:25 We're going to be back in just a moment 13:27 as we continue looking at teaching us 13:29 how to pray here on "Sabbath School," 13:32 brought to you by "It Is Written". 13:38 >>John Bradshaw: There's something I wanna tell you 13:40 about that is so important, it's My Place with Jesus, 13:44 It Is Written's ministry to children. 13:47 Take the children you care about to myplacewithjesus.com. 13:52 At My Place with Jesus, you'll find so much 13:55 that will bless your children, or grandchildren, 13:58 or great grandchildren, or the children at church. 14:02 There are the My Place with Jesus Bible guides, 14:05 21 studies that will take the children you care about 14:09 into the Word of God. 14:11 They'll learn the important things, 14:13 especially the love of God, 14:16 and the sacrifice Jesus made for them. 14:18 As well, take your children to Journey Through the Bible, 14:22 it's there at myplacewithjesus.com. 14:24 It's a special Bible reading program 14:27 that will get children into the habit 14:29 of reading their Bible daily and connecting 14:31 with God regularly. 14:33 So, don't forget, myplacewithjesus.com 14:36 from "It Is Written". 14:38 ♪♪♪ 14:42 >>Eric: Welcome back to "Sabbath School" 14:44 brought to you by "It Is Written". 14:45 We're continuing looking at week number two, 14:47 lesson number two on teaching us how to pray. 14:51 Slava, let me ask you this question, 14:53 how can our prayer life benefit as we incorporate 14:58 the Psalms into it? 14:59 What are some ways that it can be strengthened, 15:02 made more powerful, more impactful? 15:05 >>Dragoslava: Yes, as we mentioned just earlier, 15:08 the Psalms help us articulate our prayers 15:12 and they give us a freedom of speech. 15:15 Sometimes we think that we have to center our words and 15:21 be very careful what we express in our prayers, 15:25 especially in communal or church prayers. 15:28 However, the Psalms give us this freedom of speech, 15:32 and God wants us to come to him as we are and with what we have. 15:38 So, one of the benefits is that the Psalms make 15:41 the believing community aware of the whole range of emotions 15:48 and situations in believer's lives. 15:50 By default, we believe that many times that happiness 15:55 should be that main mood that's appropriate for worship, 15:59 but then we will go to the Psalms 16:01 and realize that if we are going through these stressful moments, 16:06 that it is appropriate to cry, even express anger. 16:11 But you see, the Psalms are giving us 16:13 these proper words to do that, 16:16 but they don't just leave us there. 16:19 They do give us words, but then they also broaden 16:24 our perspective by introducing hope and elements 16:28 that we at the moment don't have. 16:31 And they even transform our experience, 16:35 because as the Word of God, by the Holy Spirit, 16:39 God is able to make us believe and live by the words 16:45 that we read in these prayers. 16:48 So, it's really an entire process 16:51 that the Psalms lead us 16:53 through in our spiritual journey. 16:55 >>Eric: So, it's an amazing book, 16:57 a compilation of songs and prayers, 17:00 and you just shared a wonderful example 17:03 of how some Bible passages meant a great deal to you 17:07 and your family when you were going 17:09 through some significant challenges. 17:11 What if somebody's going through a challenge and they pick up 17:14 the Psalms, and they say, "Okay, how can this help me?" 17:18 And they open it up and they start reading, 17:19 and it doesn't seem to apply to them at all. 17:22 My suspicion is that the Bible didn't fail, 17:24 but that there may be something else to take into consideration. 17:29 >>Dragoslava: Yes, exactly, you see, 17:31 when we read and pray the Psalms, 17:33 we do that as individual believers, 17:36 but we also learn that while we do that, 17:39 we keep in mind our entire community of faith. 17:43 We are not lonely rangers, we are the people of God, 17:47 and this peoplehood is very important in the Psalms. 17:51 So, let's say currently 17:53 I'm going through wonderful times, 17:56 maybe someone got a promotion, or graduated, 18:01 or something like that, and then it happens 18:04 that I read a Psalm of lament. 18:06 As you said, did the Bible fail me? 18:08 No, the Psalm of lament, reading it in joyous times 18:13 can be beneficial for at least two reasons. 18:16 First, it teaches me compassion towards the suffering. 18:20 It teaches me that there are people around the world 18:24 who are not enjoying the peace and blessings that we have, 18:30 and it calls us to pray for them, to intercede. 18:34 It could be somebody in our near environment, 18:39 or people around the world, 18:41 not to mention all the wars and crisis. 18:44 It teaches us compassion. 18:46 And second, it teaches us that bad, 18:50 just as good, is part of this earthly living, 18:54 and that it can happen to anyone, 18:57 to God's children as well. 19:00 So, it prepares us to stay strong 19:03 in those times as well. 19:06 >>Eric: So, it may apply to us immediately directly, 19:09 it may apply to someone else that we're not thinking of, 19:12 and it may just help to help us appreciate 19:16 the complexities of life 19:18 and prepare us for something that is to come. 19:20 We've talked about how the Book of Psalms 19:22 contains prayers, is prayers, 19:25 it's communion between Jesus and us, 19:28 but they're also songs. 19:31 Share with us a little bit more about the songlike nature 19:35 of the Book of Psalms. 19:37 How does that play into things? 19:39 >>Dragoslava: Yes, yes, Eric, if I may, 19:40 before I try to answer that beautiful question, 19:45 I would like just to add that the Psalms 19:47 also supply new motives for prayers. 19:52 Sometimes we tend to be 19:54 very self-centered in our prayers 19:57 and pray mostly about physical needs, 20:00 but the Psalms will teach us to pray 20:04 about many more things that God wants us to pray for. 20:09 And just the other day as I was reading this Psalm, 20:12 Psalm 122, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." 20:18 I was surprised how relevant that prayer is. 20:23 Pray about other things. 20:25 So, it supplies these new motives 20:27 so our prayers are much broader 20:30 than sometimes what we tend to pray for. 20:33 >>Eric: That's very powerful. 20:35 >>Dragoslava: Yes, and Psalms is songs, 20:37 because there are prayers and songs. 20:41 Ancient Christians, when we read 20:43 the Book of Ephesians, chapter 5 20:45 and other texts in the New Testament, 20:48 the orders of the epistles say singing in the psalms and songs, 20:54 they had tunes and they sang, 20:57 because that's a pneumonic device, 20:59 a way to remember a Psalm. 21:02 And we do have Psalm music today by various artists, 21:06 but it's a beautiful way to learn a Psalm, by singing it. 21:10 Sometimes I like to invent my own tune, 21:13 of course I sing only for myself and the Lord 21:17 who is very gracious to listen, but it's a wonderful, 21:22 wonderful way. 21:23 And Ellen White, in "Education," she wrote, 21:28 "How often by words of Holy song 21:31 are unsealed in the soul the springs of penitence 21:36 and faith, of hope and love and joy." 21:40 And when we have these songs, these Psalm verses in our minds, 21:45 they just pop out whenever, you know, we need them. 21:49 They're just there and surprise us 21:51 and we start singing in our heart, 21:53 and it changes the whole perspective 21:56 we look on a day or a situation. 21:59 >>Eric: You mentioned a moment ago 22:00 about how singing a Psalm 22:03 might help it to stick in our minds. 22:08 Now, without singing a song or a Psalm, 22:11 what are some Psalms that you've found for yourself 22:15 that maybe in singing them in your mind 22:18 or even singing them outwardly, 22:21 have been able to kind of settle in there a little bit better? 22:25 Any that stick out to you? 22:27 >>Dragoslava: Yes, well, there are several Psalms. 22:30 Sometimes what I like to do, I go to YouTube and try to see 22:34 if any artists already made a song, 22:37 and there are truly some wonderful songs. 22:40 By the means of a song I was able to memorize Psalm 77, 22:46 which is one of my favorite Psalms, 22:48 and perhaps later in our study we will refer to this Psalm. 22:53 Psalm 119, I'm on a journey of memorizing Psalm 119, 22:59 and singing it definitely helps a lot. 23:04 And it brings a kind of joy and personal touch 23:08 to the Psalm when we sing it. 23:12 >>Eric: Let's say somebody doesn't consider themselves 23:15 a singer, as you said, they sing between maybe 23:19 themselves and the Lord and not too many other people, 23:22 but it can still be a blessing for them, can't it? 23:23 >>Dragoslava: Absolutely, absolutely, 23:25 and I believe God created us with a musical fiber 23:29 in our hearts, and it brings so much joy. 23:33 And even if it's a eulogy, like a sad song, 23:36 it becomes so much deeper than just reading it. 23:42 >>Eric: Are there any Psalms that you can think of 23:47 that lend themselves very nicely to a song-type memorization? 23:54 You mentioned right now you were on a journey for Psalm 119. 23:56 That's an impressive journey. 23:58 That's a good long Psalm, and my suspicion is that 24:04 that song may twist and turn along the way 24:06 as you memorize it. 24:08 What would be some easy ones that people might start with 24:13 when thinking about singing the Psalms? 24:16 >>Dragoslava: Perhaps I'm thinking now of hymns. 24:19 Hymns are a wonderful way to sing, 24:22 and even in the church. 24:24 For example, Psalm 29, 24:26 it's a beautiful hymn to the Lord. 24:28 "Give unto the Lord, O mighty ones, 24:31 give unto the Lord glory and strength. 24:33 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." 24:36 A beautiful Psalm to sing. 24:38 Perhaps Psalm 8 and some other Psalms. 24:41 Psalm 136 is also a beautiful Psalm, 24:46 and perhaps if there are some musicians who can compose, 24:53 it could be sang antiphonally, meaning that one part 24:57 of the group sings the first line, 24:59 and then the second group echoes, 25:02 "For his mercy endures forever." 25:05 "Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! 25:07 For His mercy endures forever." 25:09 And the entire Psalm goes that way, 25:12 and it kind of really builds this true spiritual joy, 25:17 not the artificial one, but the real one 25:20 coming out from the Lord's Word. 25:23 >>Eric: So, it may be, in fact it probably is, 25:25 that since we don't necessarily have the music 25:28 that originally accompanied these, 25:30 we can get, to some extent, creative ourselves 25:33 and let the Lord impress us with how this should 25:36 all come together in a way that's going to work for me 25:40 to memorize it and for me to apply it to my life. 25:43 Do you have any final thoughts, words of wisdom this week? 25:47 We're talking about "Teach Us to Pray." 25:50 The disciples came to Jesus, "Teach us to pray." 25:52 We're going through the Psalms and the Psalms are helping us 25:55 to learn how to pray. 25:57 Someone who's wanting to implement this element 26:01 a little bit more in their lives, 26:03 any final words of wisdom, 26:05 thoughts to give to them on how this might work for them? 26:09 >>Dragoslava: Yes, yes, well, I will start with saying 26:12 that first of all, make a commitment 26:18 to incorporate reading or praying the Psalms 26:22 on a daily basis. 26:24 And I would recommend starting from Psalm 1 26:27 and then continuing in that way, in that order, 26:31 throughout the entire book. 26:34 What we can do is first of all ruminate or reflect 26:38 on the various ways the psalmist addresses God, 26:43 the motives for prayer the psalmists include, 26:46 the way the psalmist expresses himself. 26:51 How does that relate to me when I read? 26:54 And if I read and it relates to me, 26:57 then I supply something of my personal situation. 27:02 The Psalms were written in a very general way, 27:07 meaning that they want to be applicable to all people. 27:11 And then, if the Psalm challenges me in some way, 27:15 I should pause and in the light of Christ's revelation, 27:20 think where I should better myself. 27:23 Is there a confession I should make? 27:25 And allow the Psalm to lead me all the way. 27:27 >>Eric: Slava, thank you for joining us or taking us 27:30 through this lesson this week, learning how to pray, 27:34 and we hope and trust 27:36 that this has been a blessing to you as well. 27:38 We'll be back again next week as we continue our journey 27:41 through the Book of Psalms, here on "Sabbath School," 27:44 brought to you by "It Is Written". 27:46 ♪♪♪ 27:56 ♪♪♪ 28:06 ♪♪♪ |
Revised 2024-01-03