"Shine forth against the darkness, my God. . . Comfort my anxious soul." This Psalm calls us to an assurance, even in the heavy shadow of oppression and violence.

"God, you reign over all. . . let us feel your Strength" This brief and powerful prayer affirms the firm establishment, the forever promise, the stability of God's power... such a vital thing to hold onto in the tumult of brokenness. Our bodies and minds need to hold onto this foundation. This lovely prayer comes within a movement of Psalms in which the Enemy [of all stability] is clearly seen and this promise of eternal trust is so vital.

"God, let me flourish . . . Like a tree in your courtyard." This beautiful Psalm gives us marvelous images of the rhythm and blessing of God's proximity, a glimpse of the Messiah's perspective, and a promise of flourishing.

"We call upon you, God. . . Be our Refuge" This Psalm is one of the most memorized, recited, and adored in the history of humanity. We love its powerful imagery and promise but also we have a strained relationship with it--knowing it as the Psalm that the Satan used to tempt Jesus (Matt 4 and Luke 4). We pray this Psalm within this movement of Psalms, knowing its power, knowing that Jesus rebuffs the false interpretation by quoting Psalm 95, and knowing that the promises have already come true and we can experience their forever resonance.

"Teach us to number our days. . . Lord, Give us a Heart of Wisdom" Psalm 90 opens us up to a vision of our own mortality in the light of God's eternal presence. Called a prayer of Moses, it invites both into life rhythms and the 4th Book in the Psalms.

"Though we carry all of this hurt. . . We hold Your HESED love forever, God." This roller coaster of voices begins with perfect praise, shifts to God's description and promises of the Messiah, and then finally gathers around the Messiah crying out to God in agonizing misery. This Psalm concludes a movement of Psalms that began in 86 and introduces us to the Messiah's heart and life-arch.

"YAHWEH I cry out to you. . . through the lonely night." This Psalm comes from the Dark Night of the Soul, the "Desert" time of abandonment and loneliness. We hear the Messiah's voice crying out to God and wonder if there is any hope at all. Yet here is the rhythm of holding on, and continuing to pray, even when everything seems impossible. We find ourselves in the middle of a movement of Psalms that come from the heart and experience of the suffering Messiah.

"This one was born there… All our springs are in You" A mystery song about birth, sandwiched between Empires, yet in the City of God. We wonder with this marvelous song...

"Incline your ear to me YAHWEH... UNITE my heart to your Way". The beautiful Psalm begins a new movement of prayers that are close to the identity, heart, and experiences of the Messiah. The Christian scriptures quote this Psalm as the "Lamb's Song." We will explore some of its many treasures.

"God of our Salvation. . . Let us hear the footsteps of your Way" Psalm 85 is an overwhelming song of beauty and the fruitful arrival of heaven on earth. Some of the most important words and images in our expressions of faith come together in this prayer as we end a movement of Psalms that began in Psalm 79, leading through desolation, hopelessness, fury, and then a call to Pilgrimage--now we see the fruit of pilgriming with the Messiah.