Curious Psalms

Rachel Timms returns to Curious Psalms to talk about Psalm 49. This unique wisdom Psalm talks extensively about wealth and little about God, so Matt and Rachel discuss both the ways it has helped them reflect on their resources as well as the ways it points to God as the one who brings life and redemption. Plus, they discuss some interesting punctuation choices!

The Reverend Dr. Kevin Adams joins Matt for this conversation about the enthusiastic Psalm 48. Together, they talk about the ways this Psalm reminds us that God is both a God of concrete places and of everyone and everywhere, as well as some specific prayer practices that could flow out of an encounter with this psalm. Plus, there’s a whole lot more about Jerusalem, the Church and God as our guide to the end.

For one of his last conversations on Curious Psalms, Reverend Kyu Hahn returns to talk about the deeply joyful Psalm 47. Matt and Kyu discuss the ways joy combats a culture of content, how this psalm can be a model for our prayer and even how we may get glimpses of the meaning of Jesus’s ascension here.

Amy Langle returns for an honest and vulnerable conversation about Psalm 46. Matt and Amy discuss the Psalm’s call to “be still”, the comfort in God having an ultimate plan and serving as our refuge, and Amy shares a moment of personal revelation.

For Psalm 45, we had to have Dr. Libby Backfish join the podcast as Matt and Libby explore a unique wedding psalm, an unusual reference to God and a reminder of the fact that any human greatness comes from God. Plus they discuss how this can inspire us to pray for our leaders and be mindful of God in the midst of celebration.

Olivia Giles joins the podcast to discuss Psalm 44, a corporate lament Psalm. The conversation explores the inscrutable ways of God, how that can actually help us pray and how, even in the hardships and challenges of our experience with God, we can rest on his unfailing love. Plus, tune in for a meaningful mention of the LEGO movie!

Nathan Giles is back for a conversation about Psalm 43. In this partner Psalm to Psalm 42, we talk about its particular movements, how it helps us explore and pray what we are experiencing as well as its invitation into a robust receptivity to God. We also take some time to explore an interesting phrase in v.1, “plead my cause” and what it means for God to both plead on our behalf and to be the judge. Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation!

In this conversation on Psalm 42, Reverend Kyu Hahn is back on the podcast to talk about this fascinating Psalm that models a kind of spiritual self-talk. Together, we talk about the Psalm’s rhetorical questions, God’s presence in the midst of silence and how remembering and questioning can be welcome and helpful parts of praying.

Plus, as a bonus, listen to Sandra McCracken’s “My Help, My God” here.

For this episode on Psalm 41, Aaron Antoon returns to discuss the ways our questions about God lead us into further exploration, how a single line from the Psalms can form a meaningful prayer, some of the particularly rich turns of phrase the Psalmist uses and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

For this episode on Psalm 40, Heath Langle joins the podcast. He shares what Psalm 40 means to him personally as we talk about its overflowing gratitude, humility and joy and how it reminds us of God’s care for both our past and our future. And that's just a taste - this conversation is full of thinking about the arc of the Bible, the universal and specific nature of poetry and the Psalms and more.

And, as promised, here’s a link to a video of a live performance of “40” by U2.