Author page: Henry Haffner

Most of the psalms, hymns, and readings in this morning’s service could be summed up in a single word: “Help!” We ask the Lord to rescue us from a foreign throng (Blest Be The Lord, My Rock, My Might—Psalm 144), and we cry out “Save your servant! preserve my life!” (Turn Your Ear And Answer—Psalm 86). We are warned to…

This morning’s sermon text from Psalm 6 is a cry of desperation, an escalation of the prayers for relief and salvation David has prayed in Psalms 3-5. The psalmist is brought to the end of himself, terrified of God’s anger (vs. 1) and weeping over his own weakness (vs. 2, 6-7)—though he concludes with the assurance that the Lord accepts…

Isn’t it fascinating to see the connections between these first few psalms in the psalter? After David declares that he will “lay down and sleep” in the midst of his enemies in Psalm 3, the image of “sleep” comes again in Psalm 4. Here we see David giving thanks for relief amid distress, then sleeping “in peace” (vs. 8). Many…

Since we were first planted, Parish has been a church that has prioritized singing the psalms. The section of our worship service called “God speaks to His people through His Word” always includes at least one psalm (this week it’s a setting of Psalm 149, which is also our Call to Worship), and often we’ll sing several more psalms throughout…

At the close of Haggai’s prophecy, the people of Israel face the monumental task of completing the rebuilding of the temple. But the prophet leaves them with a comforting note—that they are uniquely called to the task (“I have chosen you,” Haggai 2:23). As the hymns and Scriptures in the rest of the service indicate, the Lord will prosper the…