Healing Psalms: The Dialogues with God That Help You Cope with Life

290 Pages·2003·0.97 MB·English

by  Joshua O. Haberman

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Healing Psalms
Y
The Dialogues with God That
Help You Cope with Life
A Reader’s Companion to the Book of Psalms
Joshua O. Haberman
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Healing Psalms
Y
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Other books by Joshua O. Haberman
Philosopher of Revelation: The Life and Thought of S. L. Steinheim
The God I Believe In: Conversations about Judaism
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Healing Psalms
Y
The Dialogues with God That
Help You Cope with Life
A Reader’s Companion to the Book of Psalms
Joshua O. Haberman
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Copyright © 2003 by Joshua O. Haberman. All rights reserved
The author gratefully acknowledges permission to quote from The Book of Psalms,copyright © 1917
and reprinted in 1955 by the Philadelphia Jewish Publication Society. By permission of the Jewish
Publication Society.
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Published simultaneously in Canada
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ISBN 0-471-26474-1
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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To Maxine,
the Love of my Life
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Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii PSALM10 14
Is God on the Job?
INTRODUCTION xv
Reflection: God’s Justice
FIVESUGGESTIONSFOR
PSALM11 16
READINGTHEPSALMS xvii God Is Watching!
GUIDETOTOPICSIN Reflection: Escapism
THEPSALMS xix PSALM12 17
PSALM1 1 When You Can’t Trust Anyone
Two Ways of Life Reflection: The Two-Front War
Reflection: The Two Ways against Corruption
PSALM2 2 PSALM13 19
Godforsaken?
Rejoice with Trembling
Reflection: Prayer
Reflection: Do Not Follow the
Crowd PSALM14 20
Who Has the Last Laugh?
PSALM3 3
Reflection: Dependence on God
Down but Not Out
Reflection: Coping with Fear PSALM15 21
God’s Favorites
PSALM4 5
Reflection: What Is Righteousness?
Listen to Your Heart and Be
Still PSALM16 22
Reflection: Security under God The Happiness of Knowing
God’s Presence
PSALM5 6 Reflection: Joy in God’s Presence
God Is Not on the Side of Evil
Reflection: God Cares PSALM17 23
When God Is Your Best Friend
PSALM6 7 Reflection: Prayer
“I Soak My Bed with Tears”
Reflection: God Heals PSALM18 25
God to the Rescue
PSALM7 9 Reflection: “You Light My Lamp”
He Will Fall into the Trap He
Made PSALM19 28
God Beyond Is Also Within
Reflection: Evil Destroys Itself
Reflection: The Law of God
PSALM8 10
Does Your Life Make a Difference? PSALM20 30
The Power of Prayer
Reflection: The Grandeur and
Misery of Man Reflection: Dependence
PSALM9 12 PSALM21 32
God Does Not Abandon Those Hope Is Grounded in Past
Who Turn to Him Experience
Reflection: Prayer Reflection: Joy-Sharing
vii
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viii CONTENTS
PSALM22 33 PSALM36 59
An Experience of Salvation In God’s Light We See Light
Reflection: Hope Reflection: God, Our Preserver
PSALM23 35 PSALM37 61
The Nightingale of the Psalter Don’t Fight Fire with Fire
Reflection: Intimacy with God Reflection: Anger and Resentment
PSALM24 37 PSALM38 64
Who Is Nearest to God? The Trial of Illness
Reflection: Humility Reflection: Guilt
PSALM25 38 PSALM39 66
When Deep in Trouble Is Life Worth Living?
Reflection: Prepare to Meet God Reflection: Death
PSALM26 41 PSALM40 68
Corruption Is Contagious Back to God for More Help
Reflection: Wonder Reflection: Indecision
PSALM27 42 PSALM41 71
Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Fears The Test of Friendship
Reflection: Fear of Abandonment Reflection: Illness
PSALM28 45 PSALM42 72
Why Expect Help from God? The Dark Night of the Soul
Reflection: Unanswered Prayer Reflection: God Experience
PSALM29 46 PSALM43 74
The God of Nature Shares Turn to the Future
Power with Man Reflection: Overcoming Gloom
Reflection: God Empowers Man
PSALM44 75
PSALM30 48 Keeping the Faith Despite
God, Our Lifeline God’s Silence
Reflection: Optimism Reflection: God in Hiding
PSALM31 50 PSALM45 78
The War of Words Family Values in a Royal
Reflection: Self-Esteem Wedding Song
Reflection: Enjoy Life
PSALM32 52
Confession Brings Relief PSALM46 80
Reflection: Confession God, Our Refuge and Fortress
Reflection: Crisis-Born Vision
PSALM33 53
God Is in Charge PSALM47 82
Reflection: God’s Omniscience God Rules
Reflection: God and Reverence
PSALM34 55
for Life
Does Personal Experience
Confirm Your Faith? PSALM48 83
Reflection: Be Positive Thank God, It Didn’t Happen!
Reflection: Appreciation
PSALM35 57
When Former Friends Repay PSALM49 85
Good with Evil He Shall Take Nothing with Him
Reflection: Words Reflection: Death