Lenten Devotional

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About Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Become a Student

Certificate Programs

Special Programs

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Events

The Seminary hosts a wide range of events—many of them free!—on topics of faith including church planting, mission, vocation, spiritual formation, pastoral care and counseling, archaeology, and many more. Visit our calendar often for a listing of upcoming events.

Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with PTS

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Church Planting Initiative (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!

Lent Devotional February 21, 2018

Scripture

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
         give heed to my sighing.
2 Listen to the sound of my cry,
         my King and my God,
         for to you I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
         in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
         evil will not sojourn with you.
5 The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
         you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
         the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
         will enter your house,
  I will bow down toward your holy temple
         in awe of you.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
         because of my enemies;
         make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouths;
         their hearts are destruction;
  their throats are open graves;
         they flatter with their tongues.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
         let them fall by their own counsels;
  because of their many transgressions cast them out,
         for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
         let them ever sing for joy.
  Spread your protection over them,
         so that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
         you cover them with favor as with a shield.

Devotional

Written by the Rev. Kimberly Greway, Chief Operating Officer, Foundation of HOPE / Director of Chaplaincy Services, Allegheny County Jail, Pittsburgh, Pa. / Doctor of Ministry Parish Ministry Focus

One of the hardest books of the Bible for me to read is the Psalter. It is not difficult because of its poetic language and structure or because of its symbolism and allusion. In fact, those attributes make it one of my favorite books.

Rather, the Psalter is difficult for me to read because I can’t help singing the songs that are drawn from it when I come upon those passages. I might be happily reading or praying a psalm when suddenly a verse leads me into a well-known song. The melody plays in my mind and the words of the song, rather than the psalm, drift into my consciousness. The music takes me to a place that I didn’t intend when I began reading. Often the experience deeply enriches the reading.

When I read verse 8 of Psalm 5, the words and music of Samuel Wesley, grandson of hymn writer Charles Wesley, waft into my mind:

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, 
make thy way plain before my face. 
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, 
that makest me dwell in safety.

The repetition of “thou, Lord only” in the song emphasizes the uniqueness of the Lord’s protection. The drawn-out syllables in “safety” settle us securely in a protective shelter. Rather than detracting from the psalm, these elements of the song complement the psalmist’s themes and enhance the experience of reading or praying. So, this Lent, let us find our refuge in God and ever sing for joy!

Prayer

Protector God,
Who straightens our paths and harkens to our cries:
Hear our words,
Heed our sighings,
Hide us from our enemies,
That we may take refuge in you
and rejoice in your protection with songs and exultations;
Through Jesus Christ the Crucified,
Amen.

Lent Devotional February 21, 2018

Scripture

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
         give heed to my sighing.
2 Listen to the sound of my cry,
         my King and my God,
         for to you I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
         in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
         evil will not sojourn with you.
5 The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
         you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
         the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
         will enter your house,
  I will bow down toward your holy temple
         in awe of you.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
         because of my enemies;
         make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouths;
         their hearts are destruction;
  their throats are open graves;
         they flatter with their tongues.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
         let them fall by their own counsels;
  because of their many transgressions cast them out,
         for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
         let them ever sing for joy.
  Spread your protection over them,
         so that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
         you cover them with favor as with a shield.

Devotional

Written by the Rev. Kimberly Greway, Chief Operating Officer, Foundation of HOPE / Director of Chaplaincy Services, Allegheny County Jail, Pittsburgh, Pa. / Doctor of Ministry Parish Ministry Focus

One of the hardest books of the Bible for me to read is the Psalter. It is not difficult because of its poetic language and structure or because of its symbolism and allusion. In fact, those attributes make it one of my favorite books.

Rather, the Psalter is difficult for me to read because I can’t help singing the songs that are drawn from it when I come upon those passages. I might be happily reading or praying a psalm when suddenly a verse leads me into a well-known song. The melody plays in my mind and the words of the song, rather than the psalm, drift into my consciousness. The music takes me to a place that I didn’t intend when I began reading. Often the experience deeply enriches the reading.

When I read verse 8 of Psalm 5, the words and music of Samuel Wesley, grandson of hymn writer Charles Wesley, waft into my mind:

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, 
make thy way plain before my face. 
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, 
that makest me dwell in safety.

The repetition of “thou, Lord only” in the song emphasizes the uniqueness of the Lord’s protection. The drawn-out syllables in “safety” settle us securely in a protective shelter. Rather than detracting from the psalm, these elements of the song complement the psalmist’s themes and enhance the experience of reading or praying. So, this Lent, let us find our refuge in God and ever sing for joy!

Prayer

Protector God,
Who straightens our paths and harkens to our cries:
Hear our words,
Heed our sighings,
Hide us from our enemies,
That we may take refuge in you
and rejoice in your protection with songs and exultations;
Through Jesus Christ the Crucified,
Amen.

About Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Become a Student

Certificate Programs

Special Programs

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Events

The Seminary hosts a wide range of events—many of them free!—on topics of faith including church planting, mission, vocation, spiritual formation, pastoral care and counseling, archaeology, and many more. Visit our calendar often for a listing of upcoming events.

Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with PTS

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Church Planting Initiative (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!