Contentment is a tricky thing to find. A recent book captures the mood of our culture well – “Why are we restless: On the modern quest for contentment”
Here is the diagnosis
We live in an age of unprecedented prosperity, yet everywhere we see signs that our pursuit of happiness has proven fruitless. Dissatisfied, we seek change for the sake of change—even if it means undermining the foundations of our common life. In Why We Are Restless, Benjamin and Jenna Storey offer a profound and beautiful reflection on the roots of this malaise and examine how we might begin to cure ourselves.
Drawing on the insights of Montaigne, Pascal, Rousseau, and Tocqueville, Why We Are Restless explores the modern vision of happiness that leads us on, and the disquiet that follows it like a lengthening shadow.
To help us to find contentment in God this summer we’re going to look at one Psalm of Asaph and five Psalms of the sons of Korah. Both groups were temple singers, leading temple choirs, helping God’s people to find contentment in God through prayer & song. The Psalms remind us of a different way of life, a different city, to which we belong, that offers us contentment in all of life.
The Sons of Korah themselves had quite a story of faith as their ancestor had been punished by God for his rebellion and disobedience (Numbers 26). However a number of the descendants of the rebel leader survived and became doorkeepers and guardians (1 Chron 9:17, Psalm 84:10), another part singers and musicians in the temple choir founded under David by Heman, whose fellow-Levites Asaph and Jeduthun (or Ethan) directed the choirs drawn from the other two clans of that tribe (1 Chron 6:31, 33, 39, 44).
Here are your dates and Psalms. Ps73 comes first as it in the Psalm of Asaph.
- 17-Jul: Psalm 73 – Finding contentment in God in an unjust world
- 24-Jul: The Banquet
- 31-Jul: Psalm 46 – Finding contentment in God in earthly turmoil
- 07-Aug: Psalm 48 – Finding contentment in God’s secure city
- 14-Aug: Psalm 49 – Finding contentment in God when money tempts us
- 21-Aug: Psalm 84 – Finding contentment in God’s presence
- 28-Aug: Psalm 87 – Finding contentment in the city of God’s salvation
The talks will look at the theme of contentment from a Christian perspective and similar themes of joy, peace, security, rest, humility etc.
For more resources and a larger overview on the Psalms do read this article – 5 reasons to pray the psalms, or check out the overview for the 2018 series and the resources at the bottom.
For two good commentaries on the Psalms check out Derek Kidner in the Tyndale series in the and Alec Motyer on the Psalms in the larger New Bible Commentary (a must have for any bible student!)
Do join us a Synge Street School at 4.30pm each Sunday this summer.