Psalms

Part One: Introduction to Psalms

The Name

The Hebrew title is Tehillim, "Praises." The English title comes from the Greek psalmoi, songs sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments. The collection is also called the Psalter. Psalms is the Bible's hymnbook and prayer book: 150 inspired songs and prayers covering every experience of the believer's life, from despair to delight, from confession to celebration. It is the longest book in the Bible, and contains both the longest chapter (Psalm 119, 176 verses) and the shortest (Psalm 117, 2 verses).

Authors

Many psalms have titles (superscriptions) naming their author or occasion. In the Hebrew Bible these titles are part of the text, and the New Testament treats them as reliable (Matthew 22:43-45; Acts 2:25-31).

The psalms span about a thousand years, from Moses (around 1440 BC, Psalm 90) to the return from exile (Psalms 126 and 137, around 500 BC).

The Five Books of Psalms

The Psalter is divided into five books, each ending with a doxology (a closing word of praise). Jewish tradition compared them to the five books of Moses.

The book moves from lament toward praise: it begins with the blessed man (Psalm 1) and ends with "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD" (150:6).

Types of Psalms

Hebrew Poetry

Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas rather than sounds, through parallelism:

• Synonymous: the second line repeats the first in different words. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (19:1).
• Antithetic: the second line contrasts with the first. "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (1:6).
• Synthetic: the second line completes or develops the first. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (23:1).

Because it rhymes thought rather than sound, Hebrew poetry translates into every language with its power intact. The word "Selah" appears 71 times in Psalms (and three times in Habakkuk 3). Its meaning is uncertain; it is probably a musical or liturgical direction, perhaps a pause to reflect or a call to lift up the voice.

Psalms and Christ

Psalms is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament book. Jesus said, "all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me" (Luke 24:44). The Psalms foretell Christ's sonship (2), His incarnation (40), His betrayal (41), His crucifixion (22; 69), His resurrection (16), His ascension (68), His priesthood (110) and His eternal reign (45; 72; 110). Jesus prayed the Psalms on the cross (22:1; 31:5), and the early church sang them (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).

Purpose and Theme

The Psalms teach God's people how to worship, pray, trust, lament, confess and praise. They show that every emotion can be brought honestly to God. Their central theme is the LORD Himself, His reign, His faithfulness and His salvation, and the right response of His people: trust and praise.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150:6

Part Two: Psalm-by-Psalm Analysis

Book I: Psalms 1-41

Psalm 1 — The Two Ways

The gateway to the Psalter contrasts two ways of life. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (1:1-2). Notice the downward progression of walking, standing and sitting with sin. The righteous man is "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season" (1:3); the ungodly "are like the chaff which the wind driveth away" (1:4). "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (1:6). Christ is the perfectly blessed Man who delighted in God's law (40:8), and through Him believers become fruitful trees (John 15:5; Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Psalm 2 — The LORD's Anointed King

The nations rage and plot "against the LORD, and against his anointed" (2:1-2). God laughs (2:4) and declares, "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion" (2:6). The King speaks: "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee" (2:7). He will receive the nations as an inheritance and rule them "with a rod of iron" (2:8-9). The psalm ends with a warning and invitation: "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry... Blessed are all they that put their trust in him" (2:12). The early church applied 2:1-2 to the plot against Jesus (Acts 4:25-27); Paul applied 2:7 to His resurrection (Acts 13:33); Hebrews to His superiority over angels (Hebrews 1:5; 5:5); and Revelation to His rule (Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15). Psalms 1 and 2 together introduce the whole book: the blessed man and the blessed King.

Psalm 3 — Peace in Danger

Written "when he fled from Absalom his son" (2 Samuel 15). "LORD, how are they increased that trouble me!" (3:1). Many said, "There is no help for him in God" (3:2). "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head" (3:3). "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me" (3:5). "Salvation belongeth unto the LORD" (3:8).

Psalm 4 — An Evening Prayer

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress" (4:1). "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still" (4:4; quoted in Ephesians 4:26 from the Greek). "LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us" (4:6). "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety" (4:8).

Psalm 5 — A Morning Prayer

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (5:3). God hates wickedness and lies (5:4-6), but David enters God's house "in the multitude of thy mercy" (5:7). The enemies' "throat is an open sepulchre" (5:9; quoted in Romans 3:13). "For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield" (5:12).

Psalm 6 — A Cry for Mercy

The first of the seven penitential psalms. "O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger" (6:1). "Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak" (6:2). "I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears" (6:6). Then the turn: "Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping" (6:8; Jesus echoes this in Matthew 7:23).

Psalm 7 — The Righteous Judge

David appeals to God against false accusation by "Cush the Benjamite." "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day" (7:11). The wicked man "made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head" (7:15-16).

Psalm 8 — The Glory of God and the Dignity of Man

"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens" (8:1). "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength" (8:2; quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:16). Looking at the heavens, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet" (8:4-6). Man's dignity comes from God's creation (Genesis 1:26-28). Hebrews 2:6-9 shows that this dominion, lost by Adam, is fulfilled in Jesus, "who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour" (also 1 Corinthians 15:27).

Psalms 9-10 — God, the Judge and the Refuge of the Oppressed

These two psalms together form an acrostic. "I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works" (9:1). "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee" (9:9-10). "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (9:17). Psalm 10 asks, "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD?" (10:1), describes the proud wicked man who says "God hath forgotten" (10:4, 11), and his mouth "full of cursing and deceit" (10:7; Romans 3:14), and ends, "The LORD is King for ever and ever" (10:16).

Psalm 11 — When the Foundations Are Destroyed

Advised to "Flee as a bird to your mountain," David answers, "In the LORD put I my trust" (11:1). "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (11:3). The answer: "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven" (11:4). "For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright" (11:7).

Psalm 12 — Pure Words in a Lying World

"Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth" (12:1). People speak "with flattering lips and with a double heart" (12:2). In contrast, "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever" (12:6-7), a verse often cited for God's preservation of His Word.

Psalm 13 — How Long?

"How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?" (13:1). Four times "How long?" Then, without any change in circumstances: "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me" (13:5-6). Lament turns to trust.

Psalm 14 — The Fool and Universal Sin

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (14:1). "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (14:3). Paul quotes this to prove that "all have sinned" (Romans 3:10-12). It closes with longing: "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" (14:7). Psalm 53 nearly repeats it.

Psalm 15 — Who Shall Dwell in God's Presence?

"LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?" (15:1). The answer is a portrait of integrity: he walks uprightly, speaks truth in his heart, does not slander or harm his neighbour, honours those who fear the LORD, keeps his word even when it hurts ("He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not"), and does not take bribes or usury (15:2-5). Only Christ perfectly meets this standard; in Him we are made acceptable (Ephesians 1:6).

Psalm 16 — The Resurrection Psalm

"Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust" (16:1). "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance... The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places" (16:5-6). "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (16:8).

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 16:10-11

Peter preached at Pentecost that David could not have meant himself, since "he is both dead and buried," but "being a prophet... he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ" (Acts 2:25-31). Paul made the same argument (Acts 13:35-37).

Psalm 17 — The Apple of the Eye

A prayer for vindication and protection: "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings" (17:8). It ends with resurrection hope: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" (17:15; 1 John 3:2).

Psalm 18 — The LORD My Rock

David's great song of deliverance from Saul (also in 2 Samuel 22). "I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer" (18:1-2). God came down in storm and earthquake (18:7-15) and "drew me out of many waters" (18:16). "As for God, his way is perfect" (18:30). "Thy gentleness hath made me great" (18:35). Paul quotes 18:49 for the Gentiles praising God (Romans 15:9).

Psalm 19 — The Two Books of God

God speaks through creation: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (19:1). The sun runs its course "as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber" (19:5). Their message goes "to the end of the world" (19:4; Romans 10:18). God speaks even more clearly through His Word: "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (19:7). His Word is "more to be desired... than gold... sweeter also than honey" (19:10). It warns and rewards (19:11). The psalm ends with personal prayer: "Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins... Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (19:12-14).

Psalms 20-21 — Prayer for the King and Praise for His Victory

Psalm 20 is the people's prayer before battle: "The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble" (20:1). "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (20:7). Psalm 21 gives thanks after victory: the king "asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever" (21:4), words fulfilled in Christ, the King who lives for ever.

Psalm 22 — The Crucifixion Psalm

Written by David about a thousand years before Christ, and centuries before crucifixion was invented, this psalm describes the cross from the inside. It begins with the cry Jesus spoke from the cross:

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Psalm 22:1

The sufferer is despised and mocked: "All they that see me laugh me to scorn... He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him" (22:7-8; Matthew 27:39-43). He is surrounded by enemies, "strong bulls of Bashan" and "dogs" (22:12, 16). His body is described: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax... my tongue cleaveth to my jaws" (22:14-15; John 19:28). "They pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture" (22:16-18; John 19:23-24; 20:25). Then at verse 21 the psalm turns: "thou hast heard me." The sufferer declares God's name to his brethren (22:22; quoted of Christ in Hebrews 2:12), and his deliverance results in worldwide worship: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD" (22:27). It ends, "they shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this" (22:31), echoing "It is finished" (John 19:30). See the full table in Part Three.

Psalm 23 — The LORD Is My Shepherd

The best-loved psalm.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23

David, a shepherd, describes God as his Shepherd: providing (rest, food, water), restoring, guiding, protecting through death, hosting a feast in the presence of enemies, and bringing him home for ever. Jesus declared, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Many see Psalms 22, 23 and 24 as a trilogy: the Good Shepherd who dies (22; John 10:11), the Great Shepherd who cares (23; Hebrews 13:20), and the Chief Shepherd who will come in glory (24; 1 Peter 5:4).

Psalm 24 — The King of Glory

"The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof" (24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26). "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?... He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart" (24:3-4). Probably sung when David brought the ark to Jerusalem: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle... The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory" (24:7-10). Christians have sung it of Christ's ascension and His return.

Psalm 25 — Teach Me Thy Paths

An acrostic prayer for guidance and forgiveness. "Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul" (25:1). "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths" (25:4). "Remember not the sins of my youth" (25:7). "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant" (25:14).

Psalm 26 — Integrity

"Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity" (26:1). "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart" (26:2). "LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house" (26:8).

Psalm 27 — The LORD Is My Light

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (27:1). "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD" (27:4). "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up" (27:10). "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart" (27:14).

Psalm 28 — The LORD My Strength and Shield

A cry not to be treated like the wicked, followed by praise: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped" (28:7).

Psalm 29 — The Voice of the LORD

A thunderstorm psalm. Seven times "the voice of the LORD" sounds over the waters, breaks the cedars, divides flames of fire and shakes the wilderness (29:3-9). "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (29:2). "The LORD sitteth King for ever. The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace" (29:10-11).

Psalm 30 — Joy Comes in the Morning

A thanksgiving for healing. "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (30:5). "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing" (30:11).

Psalm 31 — Into Thine Hand

"Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth" (31:5). Jesus spoke these words as He died (Luke 23:46), and Stephen echoed them (Acts 7:59). "My times are in thy hand" (31:15). "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD" (31:24).

Psalm 32 — The Joy of Forgiveness

A penitential psalm, probably after David's sin with Bathsheba. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity" (32:1-2). Paul quotes this as proof of justification without works (Romans 4:6-8). While David kept silent, "my bones waxed old" (32:3-4). "I acknowledged my sin unto thee... and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin" (32:5). "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye" (32:8).

Psalm 33 — Sing a New Song

"Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright" (33:1). "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made" (33:6). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" (33:12). "Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield" (33:20).

Psalm 34 — Taste and See

An acrostic from when David feigned madness before Achish (1 Samuel 21). "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (34:1). "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears" (34:4). "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him" (34:7). "O taste and see that the LORD is good" (34:8; 1 Peter 2:3). Peter quotes 34:12-16 (1 Peter 3:10-12). "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" (34:18). "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken" (34:20; fulfilled in John 19:36).

Psalm 35 — Plead My Cause

An imprecatory psalm against false accusers. "Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me" (35:1). "False witnesses did rise up" (35:11; Matthew 26:59-60). "Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause" (35:19; John 15:25).

Psalm 36 — The Fountain of Life

The wicked have "no fear of God before his eyes" (36:1; Romans 3:18). In contrast, "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens... How excellent is thy lovingkindness... For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light" (36:5-9).

Psalm 37 — Fret Not

An acrostic wisdom psalm on the prosperity of the wicked. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers" (37:1). "Trust in the LORD, and do good" (37:3). "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (37:4-5). "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him" (37:7). "The meek shall inherit the earth" (37:11; Matthew 5:5). "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD" (37:23). "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (37:25).

Psalm 38 — The Burden of Sin

A penitential psalm. "There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head" (38:3-4). "Lord, all my desire is before thee" (38:9). "Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation" (38:22).

Psalm 39 — The Brevity of Life

"LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am" (39:4). "Every man at his best state is altogether vanity" (39:5). "And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee" (39:7).

Psalm 40 — "Lo, I Come"

"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me... He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock... And he hath put a new song in my mouth" (40:1-3).

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalm 40:6-8

Hebrews 10:5-10 applies these words to Christ coming into the world: "a body hast thou prepared me." He came to do God's will by offering Himself once for all, replacing the animal sacrifices.

Psalm 41 — The Betrayed Friend

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor" (41:1). David, sick and surrounded by enemies, said, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me" (41:9). Jesus quoted this of Judas (John 13:18). Book I closes with a doxology: "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen" (41:13).

Book II: Psalms 42-72

Psalms 42-43 — Thirsting for God

These two psalms belong together, sharing a refrain. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" (42:1-2). The psalmist, far from the temple and mocked ("Where is thy God?" 42:3), remembers leading worship (42:4). The refrain speaks to his own soul: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (42:5, 11; 43:5). "Deep calleth unto deep" (42:7). "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me" (43:3). Spiritual depression is answered by preaching hope to oneself.

Psalm 44 — Faithful Yet Suffering

A national lament. Israel remembers God's past victories, "they got not the land in possession by their own sword... but thy right hand" (44:3), yet now has been defeated though it had not forsaken God (44:17-22). "Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter" (44:22), quoted by Paul of Christian suffering, followed by "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:36-37).

Psalm 45 — The Royal Wedding

A song for a royal wedding that clearly looks beyond any earthly king. "Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips" (45:2).

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Psalm 45:6-7

The King is addressed as "God," yet anointed by "God, thy God." Hebrews 1:8-9 applies this to the Son, a clear witness to Christ's deity and to the distinct persons of the Godhead. The bride, "the queen in gold of Ophir" (45:9), is called to forget her father's house (45:10), a picture of the church as Christ's bride (Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-8).

Psalm 46 — God Is Our Refuge

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea

Psalm 46:1-2

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God" (46:4). "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (46:7, 11). "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth" (46:10). Martin Luther based his hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" on this psalm.

Psalm 47 — God Is King of All the Earth

"O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth" (47:1-2). "God is gone up with a shout" (47:5), often read in connection with Christ's ascension. "God reigneth over the heathen" (47:8).

Psalm 48 — The City of the Great King

"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion... the city of the great King" (48:2; Matthew 5:35). Kings came against it and fled in terror (48:4-7). "For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death" (48:14).

Psalm 49 — Riches Cannot Redeem

A wisdom psalm. Wealth cannot buy life: "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (49:7). The rich die like animals (49:12, 20). "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me" (49:15). Only God can pay the ransom (Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Psalm 50 — God Judges His People

Asaph's psalm pictures God summoning His people to judgment. He does not need their sacrifices: "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills" (50:10). "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (50:14-15). He rebukes the hypocrite who recites His covenant but lives wickedly (50:16-21).

Psalm 51 — Create in Me a Clean Heart

David's prayer after Nathan confronted him about Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12), the greatest prayer of repentance in Scripture.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:1-2

"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight" (51:4; Romans 3:4). "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (51:5): original sin. "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (51:7). "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (51:10-12). Restored, he would teach transgressors God's ways (51:13). "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (51:17).

Psalm 52 — Against Doeg

Written when Doeg the Edomite betrayed David to Saul (1 Samuel 22:9-19). The boastful man who trusted in riches will be uprooted, "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever" (52:8).

Psalm 53 — The Fool (Again)

Nearly identical to Psalm 14, using the name "God" (Elohim) rather than "the LORD." "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (53:1). The repetition underlines universal sinfulness (Romans 3:10-12).

Psalm 54 — Betrayed by the Ziphites

When the Ziphites betrayed David (1 Samuel 23:19). "Save me, O God, by thy name" (54:1). "Behold, God is mine helper" (54:4).

Psalm 55 — Betrayed by a Friend

"Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest" (55:6). The pain is betrayal by a close companion: "it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company" (55:13-14), a picture of Judas. "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray" (55:17). "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee" (55:22; 1 Peter 5:7).

Psalm 56 — When I Am Afraid

When the Philistines seized David in Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15). "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee... I will not fear what flesh can do unto me" (56:3-4). "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" (56:8). God records every tear.

Psalm 57 — In the Cave

When David fled from Saul into the cave (1 Samuel 22; 24). "In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast" (57:1). "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise" (57:7). "Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens" (57:5, 11).

Psalm 58 — Unjust Judges

An imprecatory psalm against corrupt rulers. "Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth" (58:11).

Psalm 59 — Watched by Saul's Men

When Saul sent men to watch David's house to kill him (1 Samuel 19:11). "Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy" (59:17).

Psalm 60 — Through God We Shall Do Valiantly

From David's wars with Aram and Edom (2 Samuel 8:13). After a defeat, "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth" (60:4). "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly" (60:11-12).

Psalm 61 — The Rock That Is Higher Than I

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (61:2). "I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings" (61:4).

Psalm 62 — My Soul Waiteth Upon God

"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation" (62:1-2). "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us" (62:8). "If riches increase, set not your heart upon them" (62:10). "Power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy" (62:11-12).

Psalm 63 — Thirsting in the Wilderness

Written in the wilderness of Judah. "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (63:1). "Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee" (63:3). "I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches" (63:6).

Psalm 64 — Secret Plots Exposed

The wicked shoot words like arrows in secret (64:3-4), but "God shall shoot at them with an arrow" (64:7). "The righteous shall be glad in the LORD" (64:10).

Psalm 65 — The God of the Harvest

"Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion" (65:1). "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come" (65:2). God forgives (65:3), stills the seas (65:7), and waters the earth: "Thou crownest the year with thy goodness... The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing" (65:11-13).

Psalm 66 — Come and See

"Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands" (66:1). "Come and see the works of God" (66:5): He turned the sea into dry land (66:6). He tested His people "as silver is tried" (66:10-12). "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (66:18). "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul" (66:16).

Psalm 67 — Let All the Nations Praise Thee

A missionary psalm built on the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24-26): "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee" (67:1-3). God blesses His people so that the nations will know Him.

Psalm 68 — God Marches in Triumph

"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered" (68:1; Numbers 10:35). "A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families" (68:5-6). God's procession from Sinai to Zion (68:7-18):

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Psalm 68:18

Paul applies this to Christ's ascension and His gifts to the church (Ephesians 4:8-12). "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits" (68:19).

Psalm 69 — The Suffering of the Righteous Servant

After Psalm 22, the most quoted psalm of Christ's sufferings in the New Testament. "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul" (69:1). "They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head" (69:4; John 15:25). "I am become a stranger unto my brethren" (69:8; John 7:5). "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me" (69:9; John 2:17; Romans 15:3). "Reproach hath broken my heart... I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (69:20-21; Matthew 27:34, 48). The imprecations that follow (69:22-28) are applied to Judas and to Israel's unbelief (Acts 1:20; Romans 11:9-10). The psalm ends in praise and hope for Zion (69:30-36).

Psalm 70 — Make Haste

A short, urgent prayer (nearly identical to 40:13-17). "Make haste, O God, to deliver me... But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God" (70:1, 5).

Psalm 71 — Faith in Old Age

"In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion" (71:1). "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth" (71:9). "O God, thou hast taught me from my youth... Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation" (71:17-18).

Psalm 72 — The King's Righteous Reign

"A Psalm for Solomon," a prayer for the king that describes a reign far greater than Solomon's: the King will judge the poor with righteousness (72:2-4), endure "as long as the sun and moon" (72:5), and "come down like rain upon the mown grass" (72:6). "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (72:8). "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him" (72:10-11; compare the wise men, Matthew 2:11; Isaiah 60:6). "His name shall endure for ever... and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed" (72:17). Book II closes: "Blessed be the LORD God... And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended" (72:18-20).

Book III: Psalms 73-89

Psalm 73 — When the Wicked Prosper

Asaph confesses: "my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (73:2-3). They seemed to have no troubles (73:4-12), and he wondered whether his faithfulness was in vain (73:13-14). "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end" (73:17): they stand on slippery ground and will be destroyed (73:18-20). Then his heart turned to God:

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalm 73:25-26

"It is good for me to draw near to God" (73:28).

Psalm 74 — The Sanctuary Destroyed

A lament after the enemy destroyed the temple (likely 586 BC). "O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever?" (74:1). "We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet" (74:9). Israel appeals to God's past power: He divided the sea and broke "the heads of leviathan" (74:13-14). "Have respect unto the covenant" (74:20).

Psalm 75 — God Is the Judge

"For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another" (75:6-7). God holds the cup of judgment (75:8).

Psalm 76 — God's Victory in Zion

Probably celebrating the defeat of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35). "In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel" (76:1). "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee" (76:10).

Psalm 77 — Remembering in the Night

"I cried unto God with my voice... my soul refused to be comforted" (77:1-2). "Will the Lord cast off for ever?... Hath God forgotten to be gracious?" (77:7-9). Then: "I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old" (77:11). He recalls the Red Sea: "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron" (77:19-20). Remembering God's past faithfulness lifts present despair.

Psalm 78 — Lessons from History

The longest historical psalm. "I will open my mouth in a parable" (78:2; applied to Jesus' parables, Matthew 13:35). Its purpose: to tell the next generation "that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation" (78:4-8). It recounts Israel's repeated unbelief in the wilderness (78:9-41): "they tempted God in their heart" and asked, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" (78:18-19). God gave manna, "the corn of heaven... man did eat angels' food" (78:24-25; John 6:31), yet "they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation" (78:22). "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity" (78:38). It reviews the plagues, the conquest, the loss of the ark at Shiloh (78:60-64), and ends with God choosing Judah, Zion and David, "from following the ewes... to feed Jacob his people" (78:67-72).

Psalm 79 — Jerusalem in Ruins

"O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps" (79:1). "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake" (79:9).

Psalm 80 — Turn Us Again

A refrain repeated three times: "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved" (80:3, 7, 19). Israel is a vine God brought out of Egypt and planted, now broken down (80:8-16; compare Isaiah 5; John 15). "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself" (80:17).

Psalm 81 — Open Thy Mouth Wide

A festival psalm. "Sing aloud unto God our strength" (81:1). God reminds Israel of the Exodus and His command against other gods (81:6-10): "open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it" (81:10). "But my people would not hearken to my voice... So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust" (81:11-12). "Oh that my people had hearkened unto me" (81:13).

Psalm 82 — God Judges the Judges

"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods" (82:1). The "gods" are human judges with God-given authority who judge unjustly (82:2-4). "I have said, Ye are gods... But ye shall die like men" (82:6-7). Jesus quoted 82:6 when accused of blasphemy for calling Himself the Son of God (John 10:34-36). "Arise, O God, judge the earth" (82:8).

Psalm 83 — Against the Confederacy

Nations conspire to wipe out Israel, "that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance" (83:4). The psalmist asks God to deal with them "as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin" (83:9; Judges 4-7), "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth" (83:18).

Psalm 84 — How Amiable Are Thy Tabernacles

A pilgrim's love for God's house. "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD" (84:1-2). Even the sparrow finds a home near God's altars (84:3). "Blessed are they that dwell in thy house" (84:4). Pilgrims passing "through the valley of Baca [weeping] make it a well" and "go from strength to strength" (84:6-7).

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalm 84:10-11

Psalm 85 — Revive Us Again

"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" (85:6). "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (85:10), a beautiful picture fulfilled at the cross, where God's justice and mercy meet (Romans 3:26).

Psalm 86 — Teach Me Thy Way

"Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy" (86:1). "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee" (86:5). "All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee" (86:9). "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name" (86:11).

Psalm 87 — Born in Zion

A short prophecy that people from the nations, Egypt ("Rahab"), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia, will be counted as born in Zion (87:4-6). "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God" (87:3). Paul speaks of "Jerusalem which is above... which is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26), and Hebrews of "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Hebrews 12:22-23).

Psalm 88 — The Darkest Psalm

Heman's lament is one of the very few psalms that end without a clear turn to hope. "My soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave" (88:3). "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness" (88:6). "LORD, why castest thou off my soul?" (88:14). It ends: "Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness" (88:18). Yet it begins, "O LORD God of my salvation" (88:1): even in the deepest darkness, Heman keeps praying to God. Scripture includes this psalm to show that faith can survive seasons without answers.

Psalm 89 — The Covenant with David

Ethan celebrates God's covenant with David: "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations" (89:3-4). "I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him" (89:20). "He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father... Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth" (89:26-27; compare Revelation 1:5). Even if his sons sin, "My covenant will I not break... Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me" (89:30-37). But then the psalm laments that the crown has been cast to the ground (89:38-45), likely after the exile: "Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?" (89:49). The answer is Christ, the Son of David who reigns for ever (Luke 1:32-33; Acts 2:30). Book III closes: "Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen" (89:52).

Book IV: Psalms 90-106

Psalm 90 — Teach Us to Number Our Days

"A Prayer of Moses the man of God," the oldest psalm, probably written as the generation of the Exodus died in the wilderness. "LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth... even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (90:1-2). Man is like grass, "in the evening it is cut down, and withereth" (90:5-6). "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past" (90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years" (90:10).

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us" (90:17).

Psalm 91 — Under the Shadow of the Almighty

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 91:1-2

God protects from the snare, pestilence, terror by night and arrow by day (91:3-8). "There shall no evil befall thee... For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (91:10-11). Satan quoted 91:11-12 to tempt Jesus to throw Himself from the temple, leaving out "in all thy ways"; Jesus answered, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (Matthew 4:6-7). God's promise is for those who walk in His ways, not for those who presume on Him. "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him... He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble" (91:14-16).

Psalm 92 — It Is Good to Give Thanks

"A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day." "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD... To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night" (92:1-2). "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree... They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (92:12-14).

Psalm 93 — The LORD Reigneth

The first of several "The LORD reigneth" psalms (93; 96-99). "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty... Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting" (93:1-2). The floods roar, "The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters" (93:4). "Holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever" (93:5).

Psalm 94 — God of Vengeance

"O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself" (94:1). "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?" (94:9). "Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD" (94:12). "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul" (94:19).

Psalm 95 — Come, Let Us Worship

"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation" (95:1). "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand" (95:6-7). Then a warning: "To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation... Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest" (95:7-11). Hebrews 3-4 builds its warning about unbelief on these verses and attributes the psalm to David (Hebrews 4:7).

Psalm 96 — Sing unto the LORD a New Song

"O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth" (96:1). "Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people" (96:3). "For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens" (96:5). "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (96:9). "Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth... for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness" (96:10-13). Much of it appears in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33.

Psalm 97 — Clouds and Darkness Round About Him

"The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice" (97:1). "Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne" (97:2). "Worship him, all ye gods" (97:7; compare Hebrews 1:6). "Ye that love the LORD, hate evil" (97:10). "Light is sown for the righteous" (97:11).

Psalm 98 — Joy to the World

"O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory" (98:1). "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (98:3). Creation joins the praise: "Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth" (98:8-9). Isaac Watts based "Joy to the World" on this psalm.

Psalm 99 — Holy Is He

"The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims" (99:1). Three times the psalm declares God holy (99:3, 5, 9). "Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them" (99:6).

Psalm 100 — Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100

The basis of the "Old Hundredth" hymn, "All People That on Earth Do Dwell."

Psalm 101 — A King's Resolutions

David's commitment to integrity in his life and court: "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way... I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (101:2-3). He will not tolerate slanderers or the proud (101:5-7).

Psalm 102 — The Unchanging God

A penitential prayer of "the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed." "My days are like a shadow that declineth" (102:11). "But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever" (102:12). God will rebuild Zion, "for the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD" (102:13-18). "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth... They shall perish, but thou shalt endure... But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end" (102:25-27). Hebrews 1:10-12 applies these words to the Son, the unchanging Creator.

Psalm 103 — Bless the LORD, O My Soul

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies

Psalm 103:1-4

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy" (103:8; Exodus 34:6). "He hath not dealt with us after our sins... As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (103:10-14). Man is like grass, "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him" (103:15-17). All creation is called to bless Him (103:19-22).

Psalm 104 — The Creator's Works

A hymn on creation, following the order of Genesis 1. God is "clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain" (104:1-2). He set the earth's foundations (104:5), bounds for the sea (104:9), springs and rivers for animals (104:10-13), grass for cattle and "wine that maketh glad the heart of man" (104:14-15), trees, birds, mountains, the moon and sun (104:16-23). "O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all" (104:24). Leviathan plays in the sea (104:26). All creatures wait on God: "thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good... thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created" (104:27-30). "I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live" (104:33).

Psalm 105 — Remember His Covenant

A historical psalm of God's faithfulness. "O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people" (105:1). "He hath remembered his covenant for ever... Which covenant he made with Abraham" (105:8-9). It recounts the patriarchs, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm" (105:15), Joseph sold as a servant (105:17-22), the plagues, the Exodus, the cloud, quails, manna and water from the rock (105:23-41), "For he remembered his holy promise" (105:42).

Psalm 106 — Israel's Unfaithfulness and God's Mercy

The companion of Psalm 105, telling the same history from the side of Israel's sin. "We have sinned with our fathers" (106:6). They forgot God at the Red Sea, yet "he saved them for his name's sake" (106:7-8). They lusted in the wilderness, "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul" (106:15). They made a calf at Horeb (106:19-20); Moses "stood before him in the breach" (106:23). They believed not God's word (106:24), joined Baal-peor, and Phinehas stood up (106:28-31). In Canaan they sacrificed their children to idols (106:37-38). Yet "he regarded their affliction... and remembered for them his covenant" (106:44-45). "Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen" (106:47). Book IV closes: "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD" (106:48).

Book V: Psalms 107-150

Psalm 107 — Let the Redeemed Say So

"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so" (107:1-2). Four pictures of people in distress who "cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them": wanderers in the desert (107:4-9), prisoners in darkness (107:10-16), the sick near death (107:17-22) ("He sent his word, and healed them," 107:20), and sailors in a storm (107:23-32) ("He maketh the storm a calm," 107:29; compare Mark 4:39). Each section ends, "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (107:8, 15, 21, 31).

Psalm 108 — My Heart Is Fixed

Combined from parts of Psalms 57:7-11 and 60:5-12. "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise" (108:1). "Through God we shall do valiantly" (108:13).

Psalm 109 — Prayer Against a Betrayer

The strongest imprecatory psalm. David is attacked by those he loved: "For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer" (109:4). Peter applied 109:8, "let another take his office," to the replacement of Judas (Acts 1:20). See Part Five on the imprecatory psalms.

Psalm 110 — The Lord at God's Right Hand

The most quoted psalm in the New Testament.

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Psalm 110:1

David calls the Messiah "my Lord." Jesus asked the Pharisees, "If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" (Matthew 22:41-46). The answer: the Messiah is both David's Son (by human descent) and David's Lord (as God). Peter used this verse at Pentecost to prove Christ's exaltation (Acts 2:34-36); Hebrews repeatedly cites it (1:13; 10:12-13). The LORD's people "shall be willing in the day of thy power" (110:3).

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4

The Messiah is both King and eternal Priest, like Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). Hebrews 5-7 explains this priesthood at length. The psalm ends with His judgment on the nations (110:5-6).

Psalm 111 — Great Are the Works of the LORD

An acrostic of praise. "The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein" (111:2). "He sent redemption unto his people... holy and reverend is his name" (111:9). "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (111:10).

Psalm 112 — The Blessed Man

An acrostic companion to 111. "Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments" (112:1). "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness" (112:4). "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD" (112:7). "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor" (112:9; 2 Corinthians 9:9).

Psalms 113-118 — The Egyptian Hallel

These six psalms were sung at Jewish festivals, especially Passover: 113-114 before the meal and 115-118 after. When Jesus and His disciples "had sung an hymn" after the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30), they likely sang Psalms 115-118, with their words about the cup of salvation, death and the rejected stone.

Psalm 113 — Who Is Like unto the LORD? "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised" (113:3). He dwells on high yet "humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust" (113:5-7).

Psalm 114 — When Israel Went Out of Egypt. The sea fled and the Jordan was driven back; the mountains skipped like rams (114:1-6). "Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord... Which turned the rock into a standing water" (114:7-8).

Psalm 115 — Not unto Us. "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory" (115:1). Idols "have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not... They that make them are like unto them" (115:5-8). "O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield" (115:9).

Psalm 116 — I Love the LORD. "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice" (116:1). "The sorrows of death compassed me... Then called I upon the name of the LORD" (116:3-4). "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD" (116:12-13). "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (116:15). Paul quotes 116:10, "I believed, therefore have I spoken" (2 Corinthians 4:13).

Psalm 117 — The Shortest Psalm. "O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD" (117:1-2). Paul quotes it to show that God always intended the Gentiles to praise Him (Romans 15:11).

Psalm 118 — The Stone Which the Builders Refused. "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever" (118:1). "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" (118:6; Hebrews 13:6). "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (118:8).

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:22-24

Jesus applied this to His rejection and exaltation (Matthew 21:42), as did Peter (Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7). "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD" (118:26) was shouted at the triumphal entry (Matthew 21:9), and Jesus said Israel would say it again at His return (Matthew 23:39).

Psalm 119 — The Word of God

The longest chapter in the Bible: 176 verses in 22 sections of eight verses, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, each verse in a section beginning with that letter. Almost every verse refers to God's Word, using words such as law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments and word. The psalm is a love song to Scripture:

• Purity: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (119:9). "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (119:11).
• Spiritual sight: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" (119:18).
• Comfort in affliction: "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me" (119:50). "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" (119:71).
• Eternal and settled: "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven" (119:89).
• Love and meditation: "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (119:97). "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (119:103).
• Guidance:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

• Understanding: "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (119:130).
• Truth: "Thy word is true from the beginning" (119:160). Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
• Peace: "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (119:165).
• Humility: "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments" (119:176).

Christ is the living Word (John 1:1, 14), who perfectly loved and obeyed God's law (Psalm 40:8).

Psalms 120-134 — The Songs of Degrees (Ascents)

Fifteen short psalms sung by pilgrims "going up" to Jerusalem for the feasts (Jerusalem stands high in the hills). They move from distress far away (120) to blessing in God's house (134).

Psalm 120 — Distress Among Liars. "In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me" (120:1). "I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war" (120:7).

Psalm 121 — The LORD Thy Keeper. "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (121:1-2). "He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (121:4). "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore" (121:8).

Psalm 122 — Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" (122:1). "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee" (122:6).

Psalm 123 — Eyes Unto Thee. "As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters... so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us" (123:2).

Psalm 124 — If the LORD Had Not Been on Our Side. "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick" (124:2-3). "Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers... Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth" (124:7-8).

Psalm 125 — As the Mountains Are Round About Jerusalem. "They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed... As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people" (125:1-2).

Psalm 126 — Sowing in Tears. "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter" (126:1-2). "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad" (126:3). "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (126:5-6).

Psalm 127 — Except the LORD Build the House. By Solomon. "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (127:1). "He giveth his beloved sleep" (127:2). "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (127:3).

Psalm 128 — The Blessed Home. "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways" (128:1). "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine... thy children like olive plants round about thy table" (128:3).

Psalm 129 — Persecuted but Not Destroyed. "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth... yet they have not prevailed against me" (129:2). "The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows" (129:3), a picture often linked with Christ's scourging.

Psalm 130 — Out of the Depths. A penitential psalm. "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD" (130:1). "If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared" (130:3-4). "My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning" (130:6). "With the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption" (130:7).

Psalm 131 — Like a Weaned Child. "LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty... Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother" (131:1-2).

Psalm 132 — The LORD Hath Chosen Zion. David's vow to find a place for the ark (132:1-5; 2 Samuel 6). "Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength" (132:8; 2 Chronicles 6:41). "The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David... Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne" (132:11; Acts 2:30). "There will I make the horn of David to bud" (132:17; Luke 1:69).

Psalm 133 — Unity. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (133:1). It is like the anointing oil on Aaron's head and the dew of Hermon, "for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore" (133:2-3).

Psalm 134 — Bless Ye the LORD. The pilgrims' farewell to the night-watch priests: "Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD" (134:1).

Psalm 135 — Praise the Name of the LORD

"Praise ye the name of the LORD" (135:1). "For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself" (135:4). "Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth" (135:6). It recounts the Exodus and conquest and mocks idols (135:15-18; compare 115:4-8).

Psalm 136 — His Mercy Endureth for Ever

The "Great Hallel." Each of its 26 verses ends with the refrain "for his mercy endureth for ever." It praises God as the Creator (136:4-9), the Redeemer from Egypt (136:10-15), the Guide through the wilderness (136:16), the Conqueror of kings (136:17-22), and the One "Who remembered us in our low estate" (136:23). Every act of God, in creation, redemption and providence, flows from His enduring covenant love.

Psalm 137 — By the Rivers of Babylon

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion" (137:1). The exiles hung their harps on the willows when their captors demanded songs of Zion: "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" (137:2-4). "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning" (137:5). It ends with a terrible cry for judgment on Edom and Babylon (137:7-9), an echo of what Babylon had done to Jerusalem's children and of God's own prophecy against Babylon (Isaiah 13:16). See Part Five on the imprecatory psalms.

Psalm 138 — Thy Word Above Thy Name

"I will praise thee with my whole heart" (138:1). "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name" (138:2). "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly" (138:6). "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me" (138:8; Philippians 1:6).

Psalm 139 — Searched and Known

One of the most personal psalms. God knows everything about David: "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off... For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether" (139:1-4). He is everywhere present: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there... the darkness and the light are both alike to thee" (139:7-12). He made David in the womb:

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works... Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written

Psalm 139:13-16

This psalm teaches God's omniscience, omnipresence and creative care for each person from conception, the foundation of the value of every human life. "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!" (139:17). It ends: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (139:23-24).

Psalm 140 — Deliver Me from the Evil Man

"Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man" (140:1). The wicked "have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips" (140:3; Romans 3:13).

Psalm 141 — Set a Watch Before My Mouth

"Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (141:2; Revelation 5:8). "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (141:3). "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness" (141:5).

Psalm 142 — In the Cave

"A Prayer when he was in the cave." "I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble" (142:2). "No man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living" (142:4-5).

Psalm 143 — Teach Me to Do Thy Will

The last penitential psalm. "Enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified" (143:2; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). "My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land" (143:6). "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (143:10).

Psalm 144 — What Is Man?

"Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war" (144:1). "LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him!... Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow" (144:3-4). "Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD" (144:15).

Psalm 145 — Great Is the LORD

David's last psalm in the book, an acrostic of praise. "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever" (145:1). "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another" (145:3-4). "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all" (145:8-9). "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" (145:13). "The LORD upholdeth all that fall" (145:14). "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing" (145:15-16). "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (145:18).

Psalms 146-150 — The Final Hallelujah

Each of the last five psalms begins and ends with "Praise ye the LORD" (Hallelujah). Together they form the climax of the Psalter.

Psalm 146 — Put Not Your Trust in Princes. "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help" (146:3). "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help" (146:5). The LORD executes judgment for the oppressed, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, opens blind eyes, raises those bowed down, and protects strangers, widows and orphans (146:7-9), the very works Jesus did (Luke 4:18; 7:22). "The LORD shall reign for ever" (146:10).

Psalm 147 — He Healeth the Broken in Heart. "The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names" (147:2-4). "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy" (147:11). "He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly" (147:15).

Psalm 148 — All Creation Praise Him. Everything in heaven (angels, sun, moon, stars, waters above) and on earth (sea creatures, weather, mountains, trees, animals, kings, young and old) is called to praise the LORD, "for he commanded, and they were created" (148:5). "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven" (148:13).

Psalm 149 — A New Song for His Saints. "Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints" (149:1). "For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation" (149:4). The saints' praise is linked with God's judgment on the nations (149:6-9; compare Revelation 19:1-15).

Psalm 150 — Let Every Thing Praise the LORD. The grand finale. Praise God in His sanctuary and in the heavens (150:1), for His mighty acts and excellent greatness (150:2), with trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, dance, stringed instruments, organs and cymbals (150:3-5).

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150:6

The Psalter that began with the blessed man meditating on God's law ends with all creation praising God, anticipating the worship of heaven, where "every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth... heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:13).

Part Three: Christ in the Psalms

Messianic Prophecies in the Psalms

Psalm 22 and the Crucifixion

David wrote this psalm about a thousand years before Jesus' birth, long before the Romans used crucifixion. The details go far beyond anything David himself experienced; as Peter said of another psalm, "being a prophet... he seeing this before spake" of Christ (Acts 2:30-31).

The Offices of Christ in the Psalms

Part Four: Fulfilled Prophecies and Promises

Besides the Messianic prophecies above, the Psalms contain promises fulfilled in Israel's history and in the church:

Part Five: Key Passages and Issues in Depth

Psalm 1 — The Foundation of the Psalter

Psalm 1 sets the tone for the whole book: there are only two ways, the way of the righteous who delight in God's Word, and the way of the ungodly. The blessed life is not built on avoiding sin alone ("walketh not... standeth not... sitteth not") but on positive delight in and meditation on God's law. Meditation means turning the Word over in the mind continually (Joshua 1:8). The result is stability, fruitfulness and prosperity in God's sense.

Psalm 23 — The Shepherd's Care

The psalm moves from green pastures (rest and provision) to paths of righteousness (guidance) to the valley of the shadow of death (protection in danger) to the banquet table (honour in the presence of enemies) to the house of the LORD for ever (eternal home). The pronouns change in verse 4, from "he" to "thou," as the psalmist speaks directly to God in the dark valley: "for thou art with me." The Shepherd's presence, not the absence of danger, removes fear.

Psalm 51 — The Anatomy of Repentance

Psalm 51 shows true repentance: an appeal to God's mercy, not to one's own merit (51:1); full confession of sin as sin against God (51:3-4); recognition of a sinful nature from birth (51:5); a desire for inward truth (51:6); a request for cleansing (51:7), a new heart (51:10), the Spirit's presence (51:11) and restored joy (51:12); a commitment to teach others (51:13); and the offering of a broken and contrite heart (51:17). It is the pattern for every believer who has fallen (1 John 1:9).

Psalm 119 — The Sufficiency of Scripture

Psalm 119 teaches that God's Word is perfect, true, eternal and sufficient. It cleanses (9), keeps from sin (11), comforts (50), gives understanding (104, 130), guides (105), sustains in affliction (92) and gives great peace (165). Meditation on it is to be continual (97) and delight in it is to be sweeter than honey (103). The psalmist's response is love, obedience, prayer and praise.

Psalm 139 — God's Knowledge and the Value of Life

Psalm 139 is the Bible's clearest statement of God's personal knowledge of each human being, His presence everywhere, and His creative work in the womb. Each person is "fearfully and wonderfully made," and God sees the unborn child's "substance, yet being unperfect" (139:14-16). Christians have rightly drawn from this psalm the sanctity of human life from conception (compare Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41-44).

The Imprecatory Psalms

Some psalms ask God to judge the wicked in strong terms (35; 58; 69; 109; 137). How should Christians read them, given Jesus' command to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44)?

• They are prayers, not personal revenge. The psalmists hand vengeance to God rather than taking it themselves (Romans 12:19). David personally spared Saul twice (1 Samuel 24; 26).
• They express zeal for God's justice and honour. The enemies are God's enemies who oppose His people and His righteousness (139:21-22).
• They often echo God's own declared judgments (compare Psalm 137:8-9 with Isaiah 13:16 and Jeremiah 51:24, 56).
• They are honest. God allows His suffering people to express their pain and desire for justice to Him.
• The New Testament uses them. Psalm 69 and 109 are applied to Judas (Acts 1:20), and Psalm 69:22-23 to Israel's unbelief (Romans 11:9-10). Revelation shows the martyrs asking, "How long, O Lord... dost thou not judge and avenge our blood?" (Revelation 6:10).
• Christ reveals a fuller way. He prayed for His enemies (Luke 23:34), and the New Testament calls believers to bless those who curse them while trusting God to judge justly (Romans 12:14-21; 1 Peter 2:23). Final justice belongs to Him (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).

Lament: Honesty with God

About a third of the Psalms are laments. They teach that believers may bring confusion, grief, fear and even complaint to God. Most laments follow a pattern: address to God, complaint, request, expression of trust, and praise (Psalm 13 is a clear example). Lament is not unbelief; it is faith speaking honestly to the God it still trusts. Jesus Himself prayed a lament from the cross (22:1).

Part Six: The Major Teachings of the Psalms

1. God Is King

"The LORD reigneth" (93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1). God rules over creation, nations and history, and His kingdom is everlasting (145:13).

2. God Is Creator

The heavens declare His glory (19:1); He made all things by His word (33:6, 9); His works are manifold and wise (104:24). Creation calls all people to praise Him (148).

3. God's Steadfast Love and Faithfulness

His "mercy endureth for ever" (136), His lovingkindness is "better than life" (63:3), and His faithfulness reaches to the clouds (36:5).

4. God's Holiness and Justice

He is holy (99:3-9), hates wickedness (5:4-6), and will judge the world in righteousness (96:13).

5. The Word of God

God's Word is perfect, pure and eternal (12:6; 19:7-11; 119:89), the source of wisdom, guidance and life.

6. Sin, Repentance and Forgiveness

All have sinned (14:3); God forgives the penitent (32:1-5; 51; 103:3, 12; 130:3-4).

7. Trust in Trouble

God is refuge, fortress, rock and shield (18:2; 46:1; 91:1-2). The Psalms model faith under pressure.

8. Worship and Praise

Praise is the goal of the Psalter: with the whole heart (9:1; 138:1), with music (150), in the congregation (22:22; 35:18), and by all creation (148; 150:6).

9. The Messiah

The Psalms present the coming King, Son, Priest and Suffering Servant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44).

10. The Two Ways

The righteous and the wicked, their character and their destiny, are contrasted throughout (1; 37; 73).

11. Life, Death and Hope Beyond the Grave

Life is brief (39:4-5; 90:10; 103:15), but believers hope in God beyond death (16:10-11; 17:15; 49:15; 73:24).

12. God's Purpose for the Nations

"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD" (22:27; 67; 96:3; 117).

Part Seven: Connections — How the Psalms Link to the Rest of the Bible

The Psalms in the New Testament

In addition to the Messianic quotations in Part Three, the New Testament uses the Psalms throughout:

The Psalms in the Old Testament

Themes That Run from the Psalms Through Scripture

Part Eight: Practical Lessons

• Delight in and meditate on God's Word daily (1:2; 119:97).
• Bring every emotion to God honestly (13; 42; 88).
• Preach hope to your own soul (42:5).
• Trust God in the dark (13:5; 23:4).
• Confess sin fully and quickly (32:3-5; 51).
• Seek God early (5:3; 63:1).
• Wait on the LORD patiently (27:14; 37:7; 40:1).
• Don't envy the wicked; consider their end (37:1; 73:17).
• Remember God's past faithfulness (77:11; 103:2).
• Number your days (90:12).
• Make God your refuge (46:1; 91:1-2).
• Give thanks in everything (100:4; 107:1).
• Hide God's Word in your heart (119:11).
• Pray for unity and peace among God's people (122:6; 133:1).
• Ask God to search your heart (139:23-24).
• Guard your mouth (141:3).
• Don't trust in princes (146:3).
• Praise the LORD with everything you have (103:1; 150:6).
• Teach the next generation God's works (78:4-7; 145:4).

Part Nine: Key Verses to Memorize

Conclusion

The Psalms are the heart of the Bible set to music. Written over a thousand years, from Moses to the return from exile, they give voice to every human experience: joy and grief, fear and trust, guilt and forgiveness, loneliness and worship. They teach God's people to pray honestly, repent fully, trust deeply, and praise wholeheartedly. They reveal the LORD as King, Creator, Shepherd, Refuge and Redeemer, whose mercy endures for ever. And above all, they point to Jesus Christ: the Son declared in Psalm 2, the Sufferer of Psalm 22, the Shepherd of Psalm 23, the risen Holy One of Psalm 16, the King of Psalm 45, and the Priest-King at God's right hand in Psalm 110. Jesus prayed these psalms, fulfilled them, and died with their words on His lips. The book that begins with one blessed man ends with all creation praising God, and so will history end, around the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150:6