Greetings, fellow believers! As part of my studies this semester at the Institute of Lutheran Theology in Brookings, South Dakota, I had the pleasure of reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Psalms: A Prayer Book of the Bible." This book is a wonderful resource for anyone seeking to deepen their prayer life and draw closer to God.
Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian who was martyred for his faith during World War II, believed that the Psalms were not just a collection of ancient songs and poems, but a guidebook for prayer and worship. He wrote, "God's speech in Jesus Christ meets us in the Holy Scriptures. If we wish to pray with confidence and gladness, then the words of Holy Scripture will have to be the solid basis of our prayer. For here we know that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, teaches us to pray. The words which come from God become, then, the steps on which we find our way to God."
In this book, Bonhoeffer provides insightful commentary on each of the 150 Psalms, expounding upon their meaning and how they can be applied to our lives today as Christians.
One of the things that struck me about Bonhoeffer's work is how it aligns with the sixth principle of our Chapel: We believe in Christian contemplation, meditation, and prayer. Here at the Danish Countryside Chapel, we start each day off with a morning prayer to focus our work for the day. Bonhoeffer writes: "The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity. This unity must be sought and found in morning prayer. It is confirmed in work. The morning prayer determines the day. Squandered time of which we are ashamed, temptations to which we succumb, weaknesses and lack of courage in work, disorganization and lack of discipline in our thoughts and in our conversation with other men, all have their origin most often in the neglect of morning prayer."
As I read this book, I found myself drawn into that conversation, experiencing the power and beauty of the Psalms in a new way. Bonhoeffer's insights and prayers helped me to see the Psalms not just as ancient poetry, but as living words that can speak to us today.
Overall, I highly recommend "Psalms: A Prayer Book of the Bible" to anyone seeking to deepen their prayer life and draw closer to God. It is a powerful reminder that the Psalms are not just a relic of the past, but a living part of our faith that can guide us on our journey toward God.
Pastor Loren
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