Chuck Smith On The Psalms as interviewed by Chuck Smith Jr.
Fondly I remember the lazy months of summer when the tradition in our home was to begin each day with “family devotions.” Dad read a portion of Scripture, gave a brief explanation (perhaps asking questions to see if we were paying attention), and then we would kneel and pray, each of us taking our turn, from the youngest to the oldest. The only break in this routine occurred on vacation when Dad directed a summer camp in Williams, Arizona. Then we shared morning devotions with the entire camp and Dad would invariably choose a psalm for our meditation. There is something about the Psalms that perfectly complements the beauty, grandeur and life-essence that we experience in nature. In fact, our sense of God’s nearness and our impulse to wor- ship Him seem to be triggered by the natural world in exactly the same way they are triggered by the Psalms. Mom and Dad frequently quoted from passages in the Psalms. Dad seemed to enjoy their earthy word pictures, brutal honesty and declarations of God’s glory revealed in creation. Mom was drawn to the intimate expressions of God’s love and nearness, as well as the rich wisdom of the Psalms. I recently spent an enjoyable hour with my dad discussing his love for the Psalms and his use of them in worship and teaching. What follows is the essence of our conversation. I have to confess, I did not do a good job of “interviewing” Dad. Because his thoughts were so stimulating, I had trouble keeping my own mouth shut. My hope in sharing our dialogue is that you will discover the Psalms are the heart and soul of a good and healthy Christian life.
