The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-06
CHRISTIAN ENDEAv0R.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning March J, 1909.
BY REV. 8. II. DOYLE

BY REV. 8. II. DOYLE.
Topic.-Life Lessons TO- me from the
Psalms.-Ps. XVI. LII. SConsecrattou
meetinS.l 81
The expression ..for me" indicated
In the topic has q special significance
as related to the Psalms. Every book
Of the Bible applies more or less to
the individual. but the Psalms In this
respect surpass all others No other
book has been more widely read. and
no other has had so many comments
written upon It, The reason for these
things lies close to the surface. The
Psalms are largely devotional. They
are the expressions of the soul In its
relation to God under the most varied
circumstances. The experiences Of
the soul are ard always have been
essentially the same. and hence when
the soul Is cast down or exalted. when
under depression or blessed with ::
perfect trust. we turn to the Psalms to
read the experiences Of others under
similar circumstances. and We never
go away without a blessing. The
Psalms have been 4 powerful factor
both in church life and national life.
but. above all. they have filed longing
wants "a the Individual life. II you
have neglected or are neglecting this
book rs q means Of your personal
growth in experimental religion and
In all sraccs you are making Q sad
mistake. In the Twenty-third Psalm.
for instance. only the singular per-
sonal pronoun II used. illustrating
that they are for me-"
The book Of Psalms Il q collection
Of sacred poems. used In song and
composed by various authors. but
principally by David. and hence they
David" They include historical refer
cnccs. confessions of men. Messianic
prophecies. the outpourings OF the soul
l., times Of doubt and despair and
praises and rejoicings In times Of I'm
plicit trust and Joy. The book con-
sists Of 100 Psalms, Jet there II No
division ns to time or N to the sub
jects used. The Jews divide them
into I'VE books. which division has
been followed by the revisers Of the
Old Testament:
Book FPS. l41.
Book I.-Ps. 42-72.
Book III.-Ps. 1880.
Book 1v.-Ps. 0O-lO6.
Book Y.-Ps. lO7-lSO.
Nor are the divisions arbitrary. Al
the end Of each one there 10 q natural
stopping place. The nrst book closes
with the words, blessed be the Lord
Gcd Of Israel from everlasting to
everlasting. amen and amen" (Ps. XII
10y: the second. The prayers Of David
the son Of Jesse. are ended (Ps. lxxii
2O: the third. blessed be the Lord for
cvermOre. amen and amen (Ps. lxxxix
52): the fourth. BLESSED be the Lord
God of Israel from everlasting ia
everlasting. and let all the people say
amen: praise re the Lord" FPS. cvi
49,: the nth. Let everything that hath
breath praise the Lord: praise - thu
Lord" (Ps. 81. O.
The Forty sixth Psalm II q lesson to
the church and to us as members Of
1t. In the midst Of all the trials Of
the church God 10 In the midst Of
her: she shall not DO mifed. God
shall help te:. and that right early"
So 1t Is with our lives. God IL in the
midst Of them. and we need not fear
though the earth and the mountains
be moved or the waters roar. '30od
Is our refuge and our strength"
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. l. 1-6: Nv, Is: xix. lila: xiii
xxxvii. 1-5: Eli. Ill: xvii: ciii. Is
evil. Is: cxvi. 1910; cl.