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Introduction to the Book of Psalms
The book of Psalms consists of 150 individual “psalms” or “hymns” that were written over the span of a century (c. 1440–430 BC) before being compiled into the form we have today sometime during the third century BC.
The psalms were originally hymns meant to be sung or recited during Temple worship or on other specific occasions. They were often set to music, and many of the superscriptions contain musical notations or instructions on how they were intended to be used in worship. The psalms can generally be divided into several types:
- Psalms of praise, which express worship and admiration of God;
- Psalms of enthronement, which celebrate God’s sovereign rule;
- Psalms of Zion, which exalt Mount Zion, God’s dwelling place in Jerusalem;
- Psalms of lament, in which the author (or nation as a whole) cries out to God for deliverance from distress;
- Psalms of thanksgiving, in which the author (or nation) praises God for his acts of deliverance;
- Psalms of royalty, which deal with matters relating to earthly kings and the divine kingship of God;
- Psalms of pilgrimage, or “songs of ascent,” which the Jewish people sang when “going up” to Jerusalem for the annual festivals;
- Psalms of wisdom, which uphold the virtues of godliness and proclaim God’s rewards for righteous living;
- Psalms of the law, which extol the virtues contained in God’s law (the Torah); and
- Psalms of restoration, which look forward to the future restoration of God’s people.
The psalms—like the language of worship—are not polished, perfect, or advanced. They’re just honest.
Key Themes from the Psalms
- God is worthy of all worship.
- God will defend His people against their enemies.
- Being in relationship with God is the key to all joy and security.
Lesson #1: The Path of Righteousness
The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. – Psalm 1:6
Psalms 1 and 2, composed by an unknown author, serve as a type of prologue or introduction to the entire book of Psalms. The author invites his readers to take delight in the Lord, follow his ways, and continually strive to have a pure heart before him.
Jesus once said:
The heart is the center of the spiritual life. If the fruit of a tree is bad, you don’t try to fix the fruit; you treat the roots. And if a person’s actions are evil, it’s not enough to change habits; you have to go deeper. You have to go to the heart of the problem, which is the problem of the heart. That is why the state of the heart is so critical. What is the state of yours?
The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink human misery or taste God’s mercy. No wonder, then, the wise man begs, “Above all else, guard your heart” (Proverbs 4:23). David’s prayer should be ours: “Create in me a pure heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10). And Jesus’ statement rings true: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Life Lessons
Psalm 1 presents us with two paths that we can take in life. We can take the way of the righteous, or we can go the way of the wicked. Righteous people are blessed, God-centered, Word-saturated, grounded, and prosperous. The wicked are empty, wind-blown, and vulnerable to judgment.
Lesson #2: Comfort & Rest
David pictures God as a host of a banquet who sets out a feast in “the presence of [His] enemies” (Psalm 23:5). In the presence of God, we can always find comfort, peace, and rest, even when we are surrounding by the greatest toils and stresses of life.
Life Lessons
David wrote, “The LORD…makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:1–2). Sometimes, we don’t know when to stop the pace of our busy lives. And, more seriously, we don’t know how to stop. But, as David tells us, our watchful Shepherd knows just how desperately at times we need to just rest. Our Lord wants us to develop a personal rhythm between work and rest. Too many people are “burning the candle at both ends” and “running on empty.” There is no honor in working ourselves to death! Jesus himself knew just how important rest was for his own life and for his disciples. He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).
Lesson #3: Confessing Our Sins
David conducted a census of the people against God’s will, with the consequence that 70,000 people died in a plague (see 2 Samuel 24). David well understood the damage that sin can cause—and the blessings we receive when we confess those sins to God and receive his grace and forgiveness.
Dangling from the cross is an itemized catalog of your sins. The bad decisions from last year. The bad attitudes from last week. There, in broad daylight for all of heaven to see, is a list of your mistakes. God has penned a list of our faults. The list God has made, however, cannot be read. The words can’t be deciphered. The mistakes are covered. The sins are hidden. Those at the top are hidden by his hand; those down the list are covered by his blood. Your sins are blotted out by Jesus. “God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross” (Colossians 2:13–14).
Life Lessons
The path to the blessings of forgiveness begins with the first step of honest confession. Jesus declared that he had come into the world to save sinners who need forgiveness—not the self-righteous who refuse to admit their need for him. “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). To refuse to admit we have sin is to refuse God’s cleansing grace! Even more, as David points out in Psalm 32:3, unconfessed sin makes us unhealthy as well as unholy. Confession of sin, on the other hand, honors God and the love he showed in sending Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.
Lesson #4: Relying on God’s Strength
The “sons of Korah,” the authors of Psalm 46, were the descendants of Moses’ cousin Korah. He is best known in the Bible for leading a revolt against Moses, with the result that God sent fire from heaven to consume him and his co-conspirators (see Numbers 16:1–40). His line, however, “did not die out” (26:11), and during the time of David they became the great leaders in choral and orchestral music in the tabernacle.
This “psalm of Zion,” which was popularized by Martin Luther in his hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” celebrates the presence of God in all aspects of life—both the good and the bad. It relates how we can always rely on God’s strength.
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside” (Matthew 5:1).
Before He went to the masses, He went to the mountain. Before the disciples encountered the crowds, they encountered the Christ. And before they faced the people, they were reminded of the sacred. (From The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado.)
Life Lessons
To “be still” does not come naturally to us. To be still is not a passive resignation but an active expectancy to witness only what God can do. It is to be still and watch God take charge.
Lesson #5: Confidence in God
My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. – Psalm 62:5–6
The superscription to Psalm 62, which was written by King David, states that this hymn was “for Jeduthun,” which likely means this was intended to be sung by his choir. Jeduthun is mentioned in the Bible as being “responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song” (1 Chronicles 16:42).
Jesus knelt down and prayed, saying, “ ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ …His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:42,44).
How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion?
Life Lessons
David in this psalm declares two seemingly opposing truths about God. On the one hand, God is a “mighty rock” and all-powerful (Psalm 62:7). On the other hand, God has “unfailing love” for his people (verse 12). A God who is only powerful can seem scary and unapproachable. A God who is only loving can seem limp and ineffective. But when the two are combined—strength and love—we can have complete confidence that he not only has the ability to save us from our trials but also cares enough about us to act.
Lesson #6: Trusting in God’s Goodness
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:26
Asaph, the author of Psalm 73, was one of three musicians (along with Heman and Jeduthun) whom David commissioned to be in charge of singing in the Temple. He also was credited with performing at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (see 2 Chronicles 5:11–14). During Asaph’s lengthy tenure, he witnessed suffering among the righteous, while the wicked seemed to prosper. This state of affairs could have led him to despair, but his words in this psalm indicate he had determined to trust in God’s goodness and believe his promises. Asaph chose to trust “God is good” (Psalm 73:1) and would deal with “all who are unfaithful” to him (verse 27).
Persecution is necessary for the advancement of the gospel.
In Romans 8:35, Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” He answers his own question with this response: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 38–39). Persecution is not the problem. Sin is the problem. As believers, we’re here to help people overcome it, even if it means risking our own lives. (From Max on Life by Max Lucado.)
Life Lessons
We come into this world trusting in the goodness of others. Like Asaph, we also come to understand that we can trust in the goodness of God. In spite of the sufferings we witnessed, or the wickedness of others, as we drew near to God, we found that He drew near to us. Like Asaph, we never have to fear that we will be abandoned. God is always with us.
Lesson #7: Embracing God’s Law
If they break My statutes and do not keep My commandments, then I will punish their transgression… Nevertheless, My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him. – Psalm 89:31–33
Ethan the Ezrahite, the author of Psalm 89, was evidently a counselor in King Solomon’s court. He was known for his great wisdom, for the Bible holds him up as a standard of comparison to Solomon: “He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite” (1 Kings 4:31).
In this psalm, Ethan reflects on the covenant that God established with King David and the great love the Lord has shown to his people. But also laments over the fact that David’s descendants often forsook God’s law and did not follow his commands. In spite of this, Ethan states his assurance that God has not removed his love from Israel, nor will he ever break the promises made to his people.
God loves us with an infinite love, but he cannot and will not approve of disorder. Consequently, he has laid down spiritual laws which, if obeyed, bring harmony and fulfillment, but, if disobeyed, bring discord and disorder. (From How to Be Born Again by Billy Graham.)
Life Lessons
Words build relationships. The Bible declares that God also speaks. The book of Genesis opens with a repetitive, “God said…” (1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29). God, our Creator, desires to be in living relationship with us—and our living God speaks through His Word. Furthermore, the Bible introduces us to the Living Word…who is Jesus, the Son of God. Sins breaks our relationship with God, but Jesus, through His redeeming work on the cross, restores that relationship. The Bible is all about growing in an abundant relationship with God. The way that we build that relationship is to stay faithful and true to His commands.
Lesson #8: The Right Perspective
Moses, the author of Psalm 90, was the great lawgiver and leader of the Hebrew people during the exodus from Egypt. While this is the only psalm credited to him, Jewish tradition holds that he was also the author of the books of the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy).
The spirit of Moses’ concern is certainly prevalent in the psalm, which focuses on the transient nature of life in this world, making the most of our days by living in a way that is pleasing to God (and free of his judgment), and seeking God’s favor as we do the work he has prepared for us.
Moses’ words remind us that we need to “number our days” (Psalm 90:12) and have the right perspective on life. As Solomon concluded, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Life Lessons
Moses asked God, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). The Bible repeatedly reminds us that life is short. As James writes, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (4:14). It is important for us to use our days wisely. As Moses writes, we do this by seeking a heart of wisdom—by asking God to fill us with “the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding” that Jesus himself possessed (Isaiah 11:2). As we gain this wisdom from God, we learn to focus our priorities on what matters for eternity.
Lesson #9: Getting Our Priorities Straight
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases…who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. – Psalm 103:2–4
King David, the author of Psalm 103, was a man who had many responsibilities and many priorities in life. When those priorities included God, he was successful in what he did, from slaying the giant Goliath, to eluding capture by King Saul, to assuming the throne of Israel and vanquishing the nation’s enemies.
But when David became complacent in his role—when he allowed the familiarity of day-to-day palace life to distract him—negative consequences soon followed. In one notable instance, “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war…David remained in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1). What followed, of course, was David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba…and soon after, his beloved son Absalom staged a revolt against him.
Even in times of distress, David knew that if he refocused his priorities on God, the Lord would be compassionate and forgive him. “As a father has compassion on his children,” he wrote, “so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13).
Life Lessons
David reminds us in this psalm to “forget not all [God’s] benefits” or take anything for granted (Psalm 103:2). God invests everything with value—even turning ashes into beauty (see Isaiah 61:3). As Paul writes, “In all things God works for the good” (Romans 8:28), even the mundane. So never overlook the simple everyday blessings of God—forgiveness, mercy, rest, comfort—and praise the Lord for them.
Lesson #10: God’s Protection & Salvation
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people. – Psalm 125:1–2
Psalms 125 and 126, by an unknown writer, are part of a collection known as the “Song of Ascents.” Most likely, these songs were sung by the Jewish pilgrims as they “ascended” from the countryside to Jerusalem to attend the three required annual festivals. As God had commanded his people in the days of Moses, “Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles” (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Psalms 125 and 126 would have reminded the pilgrims of their history as they traveled into Jerusalem and how the Lord had faithfully guided them. As psalms of “communal confidence,” they expressed the pilgrims’ trust in the Lord to continually meet their needs and protect them.
At the moment of Jesus’ death, an unbelievable miracle occurred. “Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37–38). According to Henry and Richard Blackaby, “The veil separated the people from the temple’s Most Holy Place, and it had done so for centuries. According to tradition, the veil—a handbreadth in thickness—was woven of seventy-two twisted plaits, with each plait consisting of twenty-four threads. The veil was apparently sixty feet long and thirty feet wide.”
The fact that it was torn from top to bottom reveals that the hands behind the deed were divine. God himself grasped the curtain and ripped it in two. No more! No more division. No more separation. No more sacrifices. “No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “‘[Jesus] himself bore our sins’ in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by His wounds you have been healed’” (1 Peter 2:24).
Life Lessons
We all want to be safe. The people of Israel wanted the same…and they knew they had the Lord God as their protector. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem,” the psalmist wrote, “so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore” (Psalm 125:2). Of course, this doesn’t mean that only good things happened to them. History tells us the Jewish people endured one trial after another. But they knew nothing could take them out of the Lord’s hands. The same is true of us. Trials, suffering, and even death will come our way. Yet, we can know that because of Jesus’ saving work on the cross, we are protected from eternal judgment. Glory and eternal life are in our future.
Lesson #11: God’s Blessings on Families
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. – Psalm 127:4–5
Solomon, the author of Psalm 127, was the son of King David and ruled Israel during the time of its greatest prosperity and independence (c. 970–931 BC). Although only two psalms are credited to him, Jewish tradition holds that he also contributed to the Book of Proverbs and wrote Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.
The Bible credits Solomon as being one of the wisest men who ever lived and for building the first Temple in Jerusalem. In Psalm 127, one of the “Songs of Ascents,” Solomon perhaps reflects on these building efforts, noting that unless God is in the process of all our human efforts, “the builders labor in vain” (verse 1). Solomon also notes that “children are a heritage from the LORD,” (verse 3), and even today this psalm is often recited in Jewish culture as part of a thanksgiving service following the birth of a child.
The psalmist says we are “blessed” if our “quiver is full of children” (see Psalm 127:4–5). The “arrows” God delivers into our quiver come ready-made, needed to be shaped and pointed toward the right target.
In the family portrayed on this scriptural canvas, the Lord is still central. When children come, they are viewed as a gift of the Lord, a reward, fruit provided by him… It may be the right time for you to come to terms with the truth regarding your family. In most family conflicts Lucado encounters involving trouble with teenagers, the problem has been more with parents who were either too liberal and permissive or too inflexible, distant, rigid (and sometimes hypocritical) than with teenagers who were unwilling to cooperate.
When the modeling is as it should be, there is seldom much trouble from those who fall under the shadow of the leader. Strengthening your grip on the family may start with an unguarded appraisal of the leadership your family is expected to follow. (From Strengthening Your Grip by Charles Swindoll.)
Life Lessons
Parental joy is like no other in the world…and parental pain knows no rival. Cradling a newborn in our arms provokes glistening tears of delight. The teenage years produce tears of frustration. At times we may wonder if the psalmist was in his right mind when he said we are “blessed” for having them. But as we look at passages of Scripture such as Psalm 127, we find that God truly loves families, blesses families, celebrates families.
Lesson #12: A Life of Purpose
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. – Psalm 139:16
The components of this psalm by David—consisting of a hymn, thanksgiving, and lament—reveal the depths of the personal relationship he had with the Lord. In many ways, the psalm captures David’s realization as he looked back on his life and recognized that God was always there, always watching over him, and always aware of even his innermost thoughts, and always had a plan and purpose for his steps.
While the idea of “God always watching” may make some people nervous, David praised God for His constant awareness, even offering, “Search me, God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24). David knew he was not perfect, but he also knew he was forgiven and restored. As he reflected on this, he couldn’t help but worship his loving creator for the way He had guided him through life.
You exited the womb uniquely equipped. David states it this way: “My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:15–16).
Don’t dull your life by missing this point: You are more than statistical chance, more than a marriage of heredity and society, more than a confluence of inherited chromosomes and childhood trauma. More than a walking weather vane whipped about by the cold winds of fate. Thanks to God, you have been “sculpted from nothing into something” (verse 15 from The Message). (From Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado.)
Life Lessons
David asked God to search his heart and reveal anything that was offensive to the Lord.
On our own, we are too weak, fragile, and bent in our own way to become the people God created us to be. We might be able to reform some outward behaviors, but we will never be able to transform our hearts. The heart is the control room of our lives, and when we try to take control, we will only end up hurting ourselves and others (as David did). It is only when we surrender our hearts and our lives to Christ that God’s renewing power brings us into new creation. Jesus declares, “I make all things new” (see Revelation 21:5). Among those “new things” are our hearts.