Psalm 12

 

Christ in the Psalms is a yearly reflection on how the people of God pray, engage emotion, and offer all elements of life to the God who dwells with His people. As we learn and reflect, we wondrously find unmistakable glimpses of Christ throughout the process.

This summer will take us from Psalm 11 through Psalm 20.

Psalm 11—Artwork

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Chase Hoffman

About the Artist • About the Piece

I was born and raised here in Colorado. I was briefly an engineer before switching careers to photography. I’ve been doing photography professionally for 16 years across several specialties like portraiture, sports, wildlife, landscape, and real estate. My wife and I have been attending Park Church for 11 years. I’m also a father of two energetic boys, Clark and Devin.

The first sentence of Psalm 11 “In the Lord, I take refuge” is the focus of my piece. David is told to “flee like a bird to your mountain” so I chose to embody David as this red-winged blackbird. The wicked in this psalm are intent on violence toward David yet The Lord is his refuge. A refuge isn’t merely a place away from danger, but a place where one can be calm and be assured of salvation. Just like how this bush shelters this bird from predators and the elements, God shelters David and he shelters us.

There is no need to flee, but to remain with God. The artistic process of exploring theological concepts in photography is like a real-world scavenger’s hunt for God’s goodness. Obviously I “make” my art, but unlike other art forms it’s only through real moments that happen around me. That requires a mental shift and stillness to help me find those fleeting moments and then actually capture them. When I found this bird, I was able to sit down on the ground and take my time dialing in my camera’s settings. The two of us actually stayed put together for several minutes. It was clearly aware of me (probably ten feet away), but didn’t feel the need to flee. I was the one that left first after getting more than enough images.

Psalm 11

 

Christ in the Psalms is a yearly reflection on how the people of God pray, engage emotion, and offer all elements of life to the God who dwells with His people. As we learn and reflect, we wondrously find unmistakable glimpses of Christ throughout the process.

This summer will take us from Psalm 11 through Psalm 20.

James 3:13–18: Wisdom From Below & Wisdom From Above

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

James 3:1–12: The Power of the Tongue

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

James 2:14–26: Faith & Works Excursus—James & Paul

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

James 2:14–26: Faith & Works

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing—not with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

James 2:1–13: Favoritism & Love

We live in a cultural moment where people are longing for wisdom, yet increasingly uncertain where to find it. James’ letter speaks to this longing&mdashnot with vague spiritual sentiment, but with direct, practical wisdom for forming resilient lives of faith grounded in Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom.

Eastertide Reflections & James 1, Part II

In this second episode of our relaunched podcast, we visit realism and hope, childlike faith and adult realities, hearing and speaking, and even the Easter Bunny. Join us as Bailey T. Hurley interviews Gary McQuinn on Eastertide and the second half of James chapter one.

Welcome to the Park Church Podcast, where Sunday’s teaching doesn’t stop at the church doors. We’re here to take the big ideas of faith and walk them right into the heart of everyday discipleship. Each episode digs deeper into Scripture with clarity, engages the world we actually live in, and offers practical wisdom for following Jesus in real life: work and family, relationships and anxiety, suffering; the questions you’re already wrestling with. Think of it as the place where our sermon series keeps the conversation going, where our pastoral team engages the questions you are already asking, and where formation grows legs for the week ahead. This is the Park Church podcast, helping you walk in the way of Jesus every day.

Where to Listen

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Revisiting our Two-Year Vision for Park Church

Before returning to the book of James, we wanted to take a “halfway point” look at our Two-Year Vision for Park Church. Before we begin construction on our building (which is only one part of the vision!), we want to celebrate the stories of our building and set some expectations for our experience here over the next year, all within the bigger picture of God’s faithfulness.