A Teaching Outline for the Book of Psalms
Known in Hebrew as The Book of Praises, the Psalms are divinely-inspired songs intended to lead God’s people for the very purpose of praise. That is, without a doubt, the principal function of Israel’s hymnbook. After all, the worship of God, according to the Word of God, for the glory of God, stands as redeemed mankind’s ultimate purpose in life. To that end, it’s no surprise that each subsection (“Book”) of the Psalms ends in a doxology (cf. Psa. 41, 72, 89, 106, 150). But far from being only vertically-oriented, the Psalms give God’s people instruction for relationships with others as well. In fact, the ability of the Psalms to edify a believer in any situation or stage of life is easily demonstrated by the sheer number of types: praise, wisdom, penitential, thanksgiving, royal, lament, imprecatory, historical, prophetic, and pilgrimage are among the recognized categories. Furthermore, by spanning roughly one thousand years between the first psalm written (Psalm 90, by Moses) and the last (Psalm 126, after Babylonian exile), the wide range of redemptive history corresponds to a staggering number of issues God’s people faced in life. Since the general trajectory of the Psalms follows Israel’s history from the early struggles of David’s reign (Books 1 and 2) to the fall and exile of the nation (Books 3 and 4), followed by the expectation and hope after restoration (Book 5), one thing is certain: no matter what the Israelites were going through, there was a psalm for the occasion. Such is the case for those of us in the New Covenant today.
Introducing the entire Psalter, the first two psalms serve the vital function of preparing the hearts of God’s people for worship. Psalm 1 confronts each of us in our present spiritual state, explaining that there are two kinds of men, two paths in life, and two very different destinations. The blessed man follows God’s Word, whereas the wicked man follows the evil inclinations of his own heart (cf. Psa. 1:2, Gen. 6:5). The blessed man is firmly planted, flourishing day in and day out, whereas the wicked man is a rootless plant blown about (cf. Psa. 1:4, Eph. 4:14). In the end, the blessed man is known as one of God’s people, whereas the wicked man perishes. To proceed further into the book of Psalms, every man must first pass through this psalm, assessing his own spiritual condition, recognizing that to be among the congregation of those genuinely praising Yahweh means to do so in both spirit and truth (cf. John 4:24). God will not endure false worship (cf. Isa. 1:10-15).
Of course, it would take a certain level of self-righteous delusion for any fallen son of Adam to think he entered this world as the blessed man on the path of godliness. It would also be a grave error to think that the two paths of Psalm 1 represent a fork in the road, as if all men begin on a spiritually neutral path and come to a point in life in which they go one direction or another. Instead, Scripture is clear that Adam, mankind’s federal head, cast all of humanity into guilt and sin when he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (cf. Rom. 5:12, Gen. 3:17). For that reason, we all “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Even David himself, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, confessed, “I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). Thus, the book of Psalms begins by setting forth two men, two lifestyles, and two destinies, but ultimately point to only one solution for those who desire the blessings that lead to life: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only man who perfectly and perpetually walked the righteous road, thus earning such blessings for His people (cf. Psa. 40:7-8, Heb. 10:9).
Psalm 2 then carries the concept of sober-minded preparation from the individual to the collective, from one nation to all nations, and from the present to the future. In this second psalm, a prophetic picture of the greater Son of David is painted, one in which Jesus returns to confront a rebellious world, reign in Jerusalem, and destroy all of His enemies. Thus, to challenge Yahweh and His anointed is depicted as a fool’s errand. Why do the nations rage? Their destruction is guaranteed; the anointed King’s victory is certain. The only sane response is to “kiss the Son,” trusting in Him for shelter from God’s wrath. Those who do so are blessed, safe from certain destruction, and ready to join the assembly of the godly in praise. Those who do not will find themselves on the business end of the King’s sword (cf. Rev. 19:15). With this second warning issued, the Psalms have thoroughly prepared the hearts of those who would proceed in authentic worship of Yahweh.
The Psalter then moves into a large section of songs devoted to faith during trial. Well over a third of the entire book of Psalms are laments, and a large swathe of them are found in Book 1, as David expressed heartache at the hands of his persecutors. On some occasions, David wrote about facing rebellion from his son Absalom (cf. Psa. 3). On other occasions, he wrote about being on the run from Saul (cf. Psa. 34). Many occasions simply concern unnamed enemies (cf. Psa. 13). Whatever the case was, David was open and candid about his concerns, asking questions like, “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” (Psa. 13:1). His honesty serves as a model template for believers today, encouraging the heartbroken among us to set aside religious formalism in favor of genuine appeal to our Savior who loves us and cares for us. In David’s songs, he would often go on to recount the gracious care of God that helped him through his trial: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears” (Psa. 18:6). On that basis, when David was faced with new challenges, he was confident that “the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry” (Psa. 34:15). Prior compassion yielded present comfort.
Nevertheless, while David’s laments were written to console all believers, his particular role as the anointed king of Israel shaped the specifics of his songs in ways unique to him. For example, his requests that God would rise up “against the rage of my adversaries” (Psa. 7:6) or “break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer” (Psa. 10:15) were not born out of a personal vendetta or unrighteous zeal, but rather a desire for justice and order in the theocratic kingdom of Israel he was anointed to lead (cf. Psa. 7:6). The vengeance he sought was for the purpose of divine retribution rather than human retaliation. In that way, then, his imprecatory prayers in no way conflict with Christ’s instructions for believers to turn the other cheek to their enemies (cf. Matt. 5:39). Instead, when believers today see unchecked evil in the world, they should pray “Your kingdom come” and “Your will be done” (Matt. 6:10), which, by necessary implication, calls for the establishment of worldwide justice—including the breaking of the arms of the wicked and the evildoer.
Finally, the very fact that evil persists in the world is an indication that David’s psalms called for a fulfillment beyond his own capability. His inability to lead a perpetually righteous kingdom demonstrates the need for a greater David. And that is precisely who was spoken of in the Messianic triad of Psalms 22-24. Psalm 22 begins with the words of David as he expressed feelings of abandonment: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psa. 22:1). Centuries later, Jesus would utter these same words upon the cross, as He became the scapegoat for His people, expiating their sins forever (cf. Lev. 16:21-22, Mic. 7:19). David then described a struggle he faced with his enemies: “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots” (Psa. 22:18). After being crucified, Jesus’ garments were divided up by Roman soldiers in precise fulfillment of this. Finally, in faith-based expectation of rescue, David promised, “I will tell of Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You” (Psa. 22:22). After rising from the dead, Christ did just that, giving glory and honor to His heavenly Father when He brought “many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10, cf. Heb. 2:12, John 17:1). On the basis of this flawless work of substitutionary atonement, in which all for whom Christ died will be saved, it’s no wonder that the shepherd of Psalm 23 is none other than the Good Shepherd of John 10—the Lord Jesus Christ who laid down His life for the sheep (cf. John 10:11).
In Psalm 24, David wrote a praise anthem for the nation to celebrate the return and entrance of God’s anointed King to the city of Jerusalem, asking, “Who is the King of glory?” (Psa. 24:8, 10). The answer? He is the One described by Zechariah as sitting on David’s throne in Jerusalem to receive our worship year after year (cf. Zech. 14:16). He is the One described by Paul as giving us victory over even death itself (cf. 1 Cor. 15:57). He is the One described by John as wiping away every tear from our eyes (cf. Rev. 21:4). He is the Lord Jesus Christ, who will return to make all things right. With that anchor for the soul set in place, Book 1 of the Psalter closes with a comforting reminder to believers that they are blessed even when distressed. The Lord will deliver His people. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting” (Psa. 41:13).
Book 2 immediately picks up right where Book 1 leaves off, addressing the theme of trusting God through trials. Beginning with an eight-song collection from “the sons of Korah” (a guild of temple musicians, cf. 1 Chron. 6:31-48), the introductory lament of Psalm 42 asks, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence” (Psa. 42:5). Virtually all of the psalms that follow in Book 2 were penned by David, addressing the same motif of peace amidst problems (cf. Psa. 72:20). Of course, the repeated themes found in these psalms should be of no surprise, since the inadequacies of the Davidic kings (like those of the Levitical priests) were intended to foreshadow One who would be more than adequate for Israel’s needs. For that reason, although some of the psalms in Book 2 are from the perspective of David while on the throne in Jerusalem (as opposed to psalms only while in in exile), they still describe him continuing to face a number of enemies—not the least of which is his own sin (cf. Psa. 51). Since Jesus warned His disciples, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33), believers today should thank God for the dozens of psalms written by David to nourish their hearts with the hope that one day all things will be made right. Indeed, passages such as Psalm 46, describing God as a mighty fortress, have served Christians well in a variety of distressing circumstances throughout church history.
Nevertheless, despite the similarities between the Davidic laments of Books 1 and 2, there is one noticeable difference. Book 1 uses the covenant name Yahweh for God nearly 300 times, and the general term Elohim for God fewer than 20 times. Book 2, on the other hand, is just the opposite: it uses the covenant name Yahweh only 30 times, and the general term Elohim over 150 times. Far from being just a point of statistical intrigue, what this difference represents is a pair of complementary theological approaches to perseverance during hard times.
In Book 1, many of the psalms begin with an expression of heartache, continue with either a memory of God’s saving work in the past (cf. Psa. 18:16-19, 30:2, 34:4, 40:2) or an expectation of God’s saving work in the future (cf. Psa. 20:6-9, 28:4-5), and end with a settled heart. This pattern reflects how the name Yahweh characterizes God’s redemptive acts specifically for the nation of Israel (beginning with the miraculous deliverance out of Egypt). In Book 2, the psalmist also begins many of his songs with an expression of heartache, but often continues by setting his mind upon the nature or attributes of God (cf. Psa. 48:9, 54:4, 55:19, 71:18-19), which allows him to end with peace and tranquility. This pattern reflects how the term Elohim is used in reference to the general, transcendent, divine nature of God over all creation. In other words, David’s peace in Book 1 is typically based upon what God has done (or will do), whereas his peace found in Book 2 is commonly based upon who God is. Whereas the former emphasizes God’s deeds, the latter emphasizes God’s nature. Neither approach is better than the other; on the contrary, both are vital in the life of a believer.
For example, David began Psalm 54 by describing his problem: “For strangers have risen against me and violent men have sought my life” (Psa. 54:3). But rather than meditating upon God’s past acts of deliverance—as worthy of meditation that would undoubtedly be—David instead contemplated God’s nature, recognizing that God is compassionate (Psa. 54:4a), sovereign (Psa. 54:4b), just (Psa. 54:5a), and faithful (Psa. 54:5b). On that basis, David was reassured, intent on praising God: “Willingly I will sacrifice to You” (Psa. 54:6). Likewise, in Psalm 59, David began with a plea to God for help with his trouble (cf. Psa. 59:1-5), followed by an acknowledgment of God’s omniscience (cf. Psa. 59:6-8), omnipotence (cf. Psa. 59:9), love (cf. Psa. 59:10), holiness (cf. Psa. 59:11-12), and sovereignty (cf. Psa. 59:13). Unsurprisingly then, he ended with great praise to the God upon whom he could fully depend (cf. Psa. 59:17). These psalms—and many more—serve as perfect patterns for cultivating peace in a believer’s life amidst all of the trials in life. When saints today face a seemingly insurmountable challenge, they would do well to meditate not only on what God has done for them in the past, but who God is in the present. To find peace amidst turmoil, Christians need theology, not therapy.
Near the close of Book 2, Israel’s victories under God as their ultimate king are celebrated in a parade-like entrance into Jerusalem: “They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary” (Psa. 68:24). Women sing and dance to celebrate the victory (cf. Psa. 68:11). The chariots of God are applauded for being great in number (cf. Psa. 68:17). God is depicted as the One who rescued captives from the enemy (cf. Psa. 68:18). And in Jerusalem, “kings will bring gifts” to Him (Psa. 68:29). Since these details were intended to both celebrate and sustain Israel’s reliance upon God, it’s no surprise that the underlying truth of God as their King also continued over the centuries to find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus—the One who likewise led captives free from their greatest of enemies (cf. Eph. 4:8). And Christ not only embodies the redemptive aspect of this psalm, but also the royal aspect. For his valiance, David was honored with gifts from the king of Hamath (cf. 2 Sam. 8:10). For his wisdom, Solomon was honored with gifts from the queen of Sheba (cf. 1 Kin. 10:10). At His first coming, Jesus was honored with gifts from magi out of the east (cf. Matt. 2:1). And at His second coming, when He establishes a thousand-year kingdom in Jerusalem, Jesus will be honored with gifts from all the nations (cf. Isa. 60:1-9, Hag. 2:7-8, Zech. 14:16, Psa. 138:4). Until then, the people of God earnestly await the earthly reign of this righteous king, which is precisely how Psalm 72 closes out Book 2 of the Psalter.
Despite the glorious prospect of a righteous kingdom in the future, the harsh reality of this world’s present darkness finds its greatest expression in Book 3 of the Psalms. Beginning with Israel’s lament in Psalm 74:1, saying, “O God, why have You rejected us forever,” Book 3 ends on the same note of rejection in Psalm 89:38, saying, “But You have cast off and rejected, You have been full of wrath against Your anointed.” This short span of psalms finds the nation lamenting exile in Babylon, as well as the subsequent lackluster return from Babylon.
In fact, this section contains what is referred to as the “saddest” psalm, Psalm 88, because it contains only despair and lament without the usual note of hope found in other psalms. Asking, “O Lord, why do You reject my soul?” the psalmist not only likened his situation to being in “dark places” (cf. Psa. 88:6) but even felt as if his only friend were “darkness” itself (cf. Psa. 88:18)! With somber overtones like these, it would appear that such a psalm does little for us today except amplify our own fears and doubts. But there’s one vital detail that cannot be overlooked: the psalmist was talking to the Lord. The God who had afflicted him was also the God who accompanied him (cf. Psa. 139:11-12). In spite of his grief, the psalmist still knew he could turn to Yahweh as “the God of my salvation” (Psa. 88:1). And so it is that even in our darkest days, we have a Savior who is the “light of men” (John 1:5). Any sorrowful sinner who will call upon His name will be saved (Rom. 10:13). And any suffering saint can say, like the Apostle Paul (who was deserted in ministry), “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Tim. 4:17). When our earthly friends are gone, our prayers are evidence that we still have a heavenly friend. The great irony is that when Jesus is all you have, that’s when you realize Jesus is all you need.
Ultimately, Book 3 calls every believer to walk by faith, believing that God will make a way when there seems to be no way. And far from being a “blind faith,” the life of the believer is based upon the unshakable promises of God—which is precisely the glimmer of hope given in the end. After reciting God’s lovingkindness of the past and present, and to be expected in the future, Psalm 89 questions the timing of God, saying, “How long, O Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?” But the only reason the psalmist knew his question was valid is because of the promises of God—particularly, those of the Davidic covenant to establish a righteous kingdom forever (cf. Psa. 89:3-4). The psalmist was eager to see God’s promise come to pass in his own lifetime, saying to God, “Remember what my span of life is; for what vanity You have created all the sons of men!” (Psa. 89:47). Though he, like other Old Testament saints, died in faith before seeing the fulfillment of these promises (cf. Heb. 11:13), the sober wisdom he expressed in recognizing the brevity of his own life is precisely where Book 4 of the Psalms continues.
Psalm 90, the oldest psalm, was written by Moses to reflect upon the attributes of God—especially God’s eternality (that He transcends time, having neither beginning nor end, cf. Psa. 90:2) and God’s timelessness (that He is therefore not subject to time, experiencing no succession of moments, cf. Psa. 90:4). These immense theological truths form the bedrock of hope for Book 4 of the Psalms, as Moses contrasted God’s nature with man’s: “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away” (Psa. 90:10). Even when going through prolonged pain, such as seventy years in Babylonian captivity, the Israelites could rest in the reality that their chronologically transcendent God understands all of time—past, present, and future—in a single divine instant. Their only task, then, was to number their days: repenting of their sin and living in light of their own finitude such that God’s glory was their highest priority no matter how much time they had on earth. Far from standing alone, Moses’ wisdom is echoed by Solomon, who counsels us to remember our Creator because “childhood and the prime of life are fleeting” (cf. Ecc. 11:9-12:1), by Paul, who teaches us to make the most of our time “because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15), by Peter, who encourages us to live with a sober spirit because “the end of all things is near” (1 Pet. 4:7), and by James, who reminds us that our life is “just a vapor that appears for a little while” (Jas. 4:14).
After the strategic placement of Moses’ psalm, giving hope to the hopeless, the remainder of Book 4 lifts the worshiper’s heart upward toward the throne of God as the source of guaranteed victory. “The Lord reigns” is a refrain finding itself at home in a number of the royal psalms that follow (cf. Psa. 93:1, 97:1, 99:1). In light of that, “Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols” (Psa. 97:7). Though Israel’s captors mocked them (cf. Psa. 137:3), it is God who will get the last laugh (cf. Psa. 2:4). The Lord is “coming to judge the world with righteousness” (Psa. 98:9), and He will do it “through a Man whom He has appointed” (Acts 17:31). On that basis, only a lunatic would think he could get away with his sin: “They have said, ‘The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.’ Pay heed, you senseless among the people; and when will you understand, stupid ones? He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?” (Psa. 94:7-9). Christians today, like Israelites in the past, have nothing to fear when mockers mock (cf. 2 Pet. 3:3-13). On the contrary, we ought to be burdened by the plight of those who are as we once were, and we ought to preach the Gospel to them with an earnest call to turn to the Lord for forgiveness now, rather than face the Lord in judgment later. “Today, if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psa. 95:7b). An eternal perspective ought to breed an evangelistic spirit.
Book 4 ends with two of the longest psalms, the twin towers of Psalms 105 and 106, which narrate Israel’s history with God. The former recounts the ways in which God never forgot about Israel despite the nation’s repeated sins (cf. Psa. 105:8, 42), and the latter recounts the ways in which Israel continued to forget about God despite His repeated grace (cf. Psa. 106:7, 13). The first speaks of how God treated Israel, emphasizing His grace; the second speaks of how Israel treated God, emphasizing their disgrace. When explaining the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart in Egypt, Psalm 105:25 expresses one of the strongest statements of God’s sovereignty over the human will, saying, “He turned their heart to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants.” Using the same Hebrew word for “turned” as is used to describe the first plague (“He turned their waters into blood,” Psa. 105:29), what’s clear is that the psalmist not only recognized God’s kindness toward Israel, but also His divine lordship over all of creation—including the sinful acts of fallen men (cf. Acts 2:23). From the heartiest waters to the human will, God governs all (cf. Prov. 21:1). Everything in history is molded precisely according to the Potter’s unchangeable plan (cf. Eph. 1:11, Rom. 9:20). In the end, Book 4 concludes where it opened: just as Psalm 90 begins with, “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psa. 90:2), so it is that Psalm 106 ends with, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting” (Psa. 106:48). The eternal King is worthy of eternal praise.
The Psalter then turns to its climactic crescendo of praise in Book 5, containing not only several hallel (“praise”) collections of psalms, but the only psalm with a superscription that explicitly designates it “for praise” (Psalm 145). To that end, Psalm 107 kicks off the final book of the Psalms by continuing a description of Israel’s history (just like Psalms 105 and 106), but also emphasizes the covenant love of God with the repeated refrain about His “lovingkindness” (Psa. 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43). Following this opening history is a series of three psalms by David, which includes perhaps the most pivotal Old Testament passage (quoted or alluded to more times in the New Testament than any other Old Testament passage): Psalm 110:1. In this prophetic passage, David wrote, “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” In light of former promises that “the scepter shall not depart from Judah” (Gen. 49:10) and that David’s throne “shall be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16), it’s clear that God was speaking to the Messiah, who would be a descendant of David and fulfill such promises. But that forces every hearer to grapple with a fundamental question: How is it that David could refer to his descendant as his “Lord?” Since when does a father refer to his son (let alone distant grandson) as “Lord?” This is precisely the argument presented not only by the apostles (cf. Acts 2:34-35), but by Jesus Himself.
In speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” (Matt. 22:42). They responded correctly with, “The son of David” (Matt. 22:42). Jesus then cited Psalm 110:1 as being written by “David in the Spirit” (which not only affirmed the divine inspiration of the Psalms, but also the reliability of the superscriptions in the Psalms), and asked why David would call his own descendant “Lord.” In so doing, Jesus was making one of the most important theological points in all of Scripture: David referred to his descendant as “Lord” because this descendant would not only be the Son of David, but the Son of God. As one from both Bethlehem and eternity (cf. Mic. 5:2), Jesus is truly God and truly man, having taken to Himself a real human nature without divesting Himself of any of His divine attributes nor prerogatives. Summarized by the doctrine known as the “Hypostatic Union,” this truth is one for which the Pharisees were required to give an account (cf. Matt. 22:46), and one for which each of us today must give an account as well. As the only mediator between God and men (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5), to deny either the true deity or the true humanity of Jesus is to reject the only One who can give you peace with God (cf. Col. 2:8-9, 1 John 3:3).
The Psalms then turn to the first collection of hallel songs, known as the Egyptian Hallel (on account of Psalm 114:1, which mentions Israel’s departure from Egypt). These were used in connection with the Jewish celebration of Passover, in which the first several psalms of the collection would be sung prior to the Passover meal and the rest afterward. Incredibly, since Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples in the upper room, these psalms were not only sung about the Lord, but also by the Lord! In establishing the New Covenant, Jesus explained that He was the true Passover Lamb, blessed the bread and the cup, and then “after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26).
The longest chapter in the Bible, the acrostic Psalm 119, follows right on the heels of the Egyptian Hallel, glorifying the written Word of God and reminding believers today that Scripture has all things needed for life and godliness. In contrast with mystical practices such as seeking personal revelation or trying to “sense” the leading of the Holy Spirit—disastrous approaches to decision-making—the believer will “have great peace” (Psa. 119:165) by following God’s all-sufficient Word (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
The next collection in the Psalter is the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), which was originally a standalone hymn book intended to accompany pilgrims traveling up (ascending) to Jerusalem for national feasts and convocations. Though these songs wouldn’t make the journey any easier physically, they would certainly refresh the people spiritually: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Psa. 122:1). With short, memorable stanzas, the travelers could easily recount and recite the goodness of the God they were preparing to meet. The collection consists of five sets of triplet psalms that follow the same pattern: the first of each triplet (Psalms 120, 123, 126, 129, 132) describes a harm the Israelites faced, the second (Psalms 121, 124, 127, 130, 133) describes God’s help in their time of need, and the third (Psalms 122, 125, 128, 131, 134) describes a resultant hope in their hearts. In this way, they could carry their difficulties with them on their journey, trusting that He would alleviate their burdens for the trip home. In fact, the collection ends with priestly assurance of this: “May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth” (Psa. 134:3).
Though believers in this present dispensation don’t travel to a physical temple to meet with God, the God whom the psalmist said can “protect you from all evil” (Psa. 121:7) is the same God whom Paul said “will rescue me from every evil deed” (2 Tim. 4:18). And He is the same God for Christians today. While we sojourn in this life as aliens and strangers (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11), the Songs of Ascents provide us with the same pilgrim mentality to press on toward the upward call (cf. Phil. 3:14), free from loving the things of this world (cf. 1 John 2:15), until we see God face to face (cf. Matt. 5:8, Rev. 22:4).
The second hallel collection, Psalms 135-136, opens with an introductory song praising the Lord for both who He is as well as what He had done for Israel. It’s immediately followed by what is known as the Great Hallel, a psalm thanking God for the same lovingkindness, but in a unique fashion: each line describing God is followed by the phrase “for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psa. 136:1b, 2b, 3b, et. al.). This common refrain allowed those in attendance at the temple to sing antiphonally, with two groups of people alternating back and forth. All who gathered were encouraged to lend their voices to the God who was and is worthy of praise, just as for those who gather in local churches today (cf. Col. 3:16).
The next eight-psalm collection (Psalms 138-145) turns once again to the “sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam. 23:1), David himself, chronicling prayers and praises as he sought deliverance from danger. Whereas the Davidic psalms of Books 1 and 2 carried a much more somber tone, these final psalms are decidedly more triumphant. Crying out to God against evil men, he found rest and hope knowing that his Savior would rescue him from peril. As his final collection reaches a conclusion, it also reaches a climax: Psalm 145 expresses the unmatched, unstoppable, unending preeminence of God who “keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy” (Psa. 145:20). For this, David said, “My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever” (Psa. 145:21). The same Savior rescues us from peril today. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord; to depart and be with Christ is far better than to remain; death no longer has a sting for us. On that basis, however, the sober reality we must keep in mind (particularly as we model David’s prayers) is that for God to rescue us does not always mean living longer, but may mean dying sooner (cf. 2 Tim. 4:18).
The entire Psalter ends with a third cluster of hallel songs. These final five psalms are known as the Double Hallels, as each one begins and ends with hallelujah, an instruction to “praise Yahweh.” Calling upon all of creation from heaven above to earth below, the closing words of the Psalter provide a fitting end to the book by pointing all eyes to the King who alone is exalted: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6).
Just as these sacred songs were adept at leading the nation of Israel in the worship of God, so too are they today—whether in song or in sermon—for those in the Church. As you teach your disciples the book of Psalms, showing them the intimate link between theology and doxology, may they embrace the former with arms wide open and the latter with hands held high. The following outline is offered to help.
Blessed Is the Man on God’s Path (Psalm 1)
The Righteous Road (Psa. 1:1-3)
The Wicked Way (Psa. 1:4)
The Different Destinations (Psa. 1:5-6)
Blessed Is the Man with God’s Protection (Psalm 2)
The World’s Rebellion (Psa. 2:1-3)
The Lord’s Ridicule (Psa. 2:4-6)
The Son’s Reign (Psa. 2:7-9)
The Sinner’s Response (Psa. 2:10-12)
From Concern to Comfort (Psalm 3)
Concern (Psa. 3:1-2)
Contemplation (Psa. 3:3-4)
Comfort (Psa. 3-5-8)
A Soft Pillow in Hard Times (Psalm 4)
Our Confidence in Prayer (Psa. 4:1)
Our Conflict in Life (Psa. 4:2-5)
Our Comfort in Christ (Psa. 4:6-8)
Help from the God Who Hates (Psalm 5)
The Need (Psa. 5:1-3)
The Basis (Psa. 5:4-7)
The Request (Psa. 5:8-10)
The Praise (Psa. 5:11-12)
Confidence through Confession (Psalm 6)
Rebuked by God (Psa. 6:1-7)
Restored by God (Psa. 6:8-10)
Just Judgment from a Just Judge (Psalm 7)
Concern for Justice (Psa. 7:1-5)
Call for Justice (Psa. 7:6-9)
Confidence in Justice (Psa. 7:10-16)
Comfort in Justice (Psa. 7:17)
God’s Praise for Man’s Purpose (Psalm 8)
God’s Praise Expressed (Psa. 8:1-2)
Man’s Purpose Evaluated (Psa. 8:3-8)
God’s Praise Expressed (Psa. 8:9)
Comforted While Awaiting Divine Justice (Psalm 9)
God’s Justice Praised (Psa. 9:1-12)
God’s Justice Petitioned (Psa. 9:13-20)
Concerned While Awaiting Divine Justice (Psalm 10)
God’s Justice Provoked (Psa. 10:1-11)
God’s Justice Petitioned (Psa. 10:12-15)
God’s Justice Praised (Psa. 10:16-18)
Standing Strong in a Crumbling World (Psalm 11)
Fear-Based Counsel (Psa. 11:1-3)
Faith-Based Courage (Psa. 11:4-7)
Divine Safety When the Wicked Strut (Psalm 12)
Appeal for God’s Help (Psa. 12:1-4)
Answer to God’s People (Psa. 12:5)
Assurance from God’s Word (Psa. 12:6-8)
From Pain to Peace (Psalm 13)
Pain (Psa. 13:1-2)
Petition (Psa. 13:3-4)
Peace (Psa. 13:5-6)
The Sinner’s Résumé (Psalm 14)
The Deception He Embraces (Psa. 14:1)
The Depravity He Displays (Psa. 14:2-3)
The Destination He Provokes (Psa. 14:4-6)
The Delight He Forfeits (Psa. 14:7)
The Savior’s Résumé (Psalm 15)
The Predicament We Face (Psa. 15:1)
The Principles God Requires (Psa. 15:2-5a)
The Peace Christ Provides (Psa. 15:5b)
God Beyond the Grave (Psalm 16)
The Plea of Faith (Psa. 16:1)
The Proof of Faith (Psa. 16:2-4)
The Perspective of Faith (Psa. 16:5-6)
The Praise of Faith (Psa. 16:7-8)
The Peace of Faith (Psa. 16:9-11)
Peace Amidst Persecution (Psalm 17)
Scrutiny (Psa. 17:1-5)
Security (Psa. 17:6-12)
Serenity (Psa. 17:13-15)
A Saga of Salvation (Psalm 18)
Rejoicing in God’s Defense (Psa. 18:1-3)
Reflecting on His Distress (Psa. 18:4-6)
Remembering God’s Deliverance (Psa. 18:7-19)
Recognizing His Dependence (Psa. 18:20-45)
Resting in God’s Dominance (Psa. 18:46-50)
The Supremacy of God’s Special Revelation (Psalm 19)
Glory in the Skies (Psa. 19:1-6)
Grace in the Scriptures (Psa. 19:7-11)
Guilt in the Soul (Psa. 19:12-14)
Trusting God Before Battle (Psalm 20)
A Concern for the King (Psa. 20:1-5)
A Confidence in God (Psa. 20:6-8)
A Call for Help (Psa. 20:9)
Trusting God After Battle (Psalm 21)
Past Victory Appreciated (Psa. 21:1-7)
Permanent Victory Anticipated (Psa. 21:8-12)
Powerful Victory Applauded (Psa. 21:13)
The Groaning Servant’s Crucifixion (Psalm 22)
The Pain of Abandonment (Psa. 22:1-5)
The Pain of Antagonism (Psa. 22:6-11)
The Pain of Assault (Psa. 22:12-21)
The Praise of Assembled Israel (Psa. 22:22-26)
The Praise of All Nations (Psa. 22:27-31)
The Good Shepherd’s Care (Psalm 23)
Provision (Psa. 23:1-3)
Protection (Psa. 23:4-5)
Promise (Psa. 23:6)
The Glorious Sovereign’s Coming (Psalm 24)
Recognize and Understand God’s Sovereignty (Psa. 24:1-2)
Repent and Desire God’s Righteousness (Psa. 24:3-6)
Rejoice and Celebrate God’s Glory (Psa. 24:7-10)
Trusting God from Beginning to End (Psalm 25)
Protection (Psa. 25:1-3)
Direction (Psa. 25:4-5)
Compassion (Psa. 25:6-11)
Instruction (Psa. 25:12-15)
Expectation (Psa. 25:16-22)
Trusting God without Wavering (Psalm 26)
Exoneration of His Life (Psa. 26:1)
Examination of His Heart (Psa. 26:2-7)
Expectation of His Redemption (Psa. 26:8-11)
Exaltation of His God (Psa. 26:12)
Trusting God for Help (Psalm 27)
Relying on God’s Help (Psa. 27:1-6)
Requesting God’s Help (Psa. 27:7-12)
Recommending God’s Help (Psa. 27:13-14)
Trusting God to Hear (Psalm 28)
When You Need Help (Psa. 28:1-2)
When You See Hypocrisy (Psa. 28:3-5)
When You Have Hope (Psa. 28:6-9)
Ascribe to the Lord Glory (Psalm 29)
Praise for the King (Psa. 29:1-2)
Proof of the King (Psa. 29:3-9)
Peace from the King (Psa. 29:10-11)
Weeping for the Night, Joy in the Morning (Psalm 30)
Reason for Gratitude (Psa. 30:1-5)
Reflection on Grief (Psa. 30:6-7)
Request for Grace (Psa. 30:8-10)
Remembrance of God (Psa. 30:11-12)
Out of the Enemy’s Hand and into Your Hand (Psalm 31)
Commitment to God (Psa. 31:1-5)
Contempt for Idolaters (Psa. 31:6-8)
Cry for Deliverance (Psa. 31:9-18)
Comfort with Love (Psa. 31:19-22)
Courage for Others (Psa. 31:23-24)
Confession and Covered Sin (Psalm 32)
The Blessing of Forgiveness (Psa. 32:1-2)
The Burden of Sin (Psa. 32:3-5)
The Basis of Urgency (Psa. 32:6-7)
The Beckoning to Others (Psa. 32:8-11)
Rejoice, O You Righteous Ones (Psalm 33)
The Call to Praise (Psa. 33:1-3)
For God Cares (Psa. 33:4-5)
For God Creates (Psa. 33:6-9)
For God Controls (Psa. 33:10-12)
For God Conquers (Psa. 33:13-19)
The Conclusion to Praise (Psa. 33:20-22)
Taste and See That the Lord Is Good (Psalm 34)
The Beginning of David’s Praise (Psa. 34:1-3)
The Basis of David’s Praise (Psa. 34:4-7)
The Beckoning of Others’ Praise (Psa. 34:8-14)
The Basis of Others’ Praise (Psa. 34:15-22)
A Plea for Peace, A Promise to Praise (Psalm 35)
Contend, O Lord (Psa. 35:1-8)
And I Shall Rejoice in You (Psa. 35:9-10)
Rescue, O Lord (Psa. 35:11-17)
And I Shall Thank You (Psa. 35:18)
Judge, O Lord (Psa. 35:19-27)
And I Shall Declare You (Psa. 35:28)
Your Faithfulness Reaches to the Skies (Psalm 36)
Man’s Unending Hate (Psa. 36:1-4)
God’s Unending Love (Psa. 36:5-9)
David’s Unending Need (Psa. 36:10-12)
The Blessed Will Inherit the Land (Psalm 37)
The Righteous Should Not Fret (Psa. 37:1-11)
The Merciful Will Be Fulfilled (Psa. 37:12-22)
The Godly Won’t Be Forsaken (Psa. 37:23-29)
The Wise Walk by Faith (Psa. 37:30-34)
The Upright Have a Future (Psa. 37:35-40)
The Sorrow of Sin (Psalm 38)
Rebuke (Psa. 38:1-8)
Response (Psa. 38:9-14)
Resolve (Psa. 38:15-20)
Request (Psa. 38:21-22)
Numbered Days, Guarded Ways (Psalm 39)
Silent Suffering (Psa. 39:1-3)
Sober Speech (Psa. 39:4-5)
Stressful Sorrow (Psa. 39:6-11)
Somber Supplication (Psa. 39:12-13)
He Set My Feet Upon a Rock (Psalm 40)
What David Remembered (Psa. 40:1-3)
What David Learned (Psa. 40:4-8)
What David Announced (Psa. 40:9-10)
What David Believed (Psa. 40:11-12)
What David Desired (Psa. 40:13-17)
Blessed Even When Distressed (Psalm 41)
The One Who Will Be Blessed (Psa. 41:1-3)
The One Who Will Not Be Blessed (Psa. 41:4-12)
The One Who Is Always Blessed (Psa. 41:13)
Distant Despair (Psalms 42-43)
Past Attendance at the Sanctuary (Psa. 42:1-5)
Present Assurance through Song (Psa. 42:6-11)
Public Appreciation with Sacrifice (Psa. 43:1-5)
For Your Sake We Are Killed All Day Long (Psalm 44)
The Past (Psa. 44:1-8)
The Present (Psa. 44:9-16)
The Purpose (Psa. 44:17-22)
The Petition (Psa. 44:23-26)
Your Throne, O God, Is Forever (Psalm 45)
The King’s Blessing (Psa. 45:1-2)
The King’s Strength (Psa. 45:3-5)
The King’s Court (Psa. 45:6-9)
The King’s Bride (Psa. 45:10-15)
The King’s Legacy (Psa. 45:16-17)
Our Mighty Fortress (Psalm 46)
God’s Protection Has No Limit (Psa. 46:1-3)
God’s Power Has No Equal (Psa. 46:4-7)
God’s Preeminence Has No End (Psa. 46:8-11)
The King of the Earth (Psalm 47)
The King to Be Feared (Psa. 47:1-4)
The King to Be Praised (Psa. 47:5-7)
The King to Be Exalted (Psa. 47:8-9)
The Strength of Our God (Psalm 48)
The Declaration of God’s Praise (Psa. 48:1-3)
The Description of God’s Power (Psa. 48:4-8)
The Devotion of God’s People (Psa. 48:9-14)
Think Wisely about Wealth (Psalm 49)
Listen to Wisdom (Psa. 49:1-4)
Look at Life (Psa. 49:5-12)
Live by Faith (Psa. 49:13-20)
Strange Fire Incurs God’s Fire (Psalm 50)
The Summons Issued (Psa. 50:1-6)
The Sin Addressed (Psa. 50:7-13)
The Solution Offered (Psa. 50:14-15)
The Sin Addressed Again (Psa. 50:16-21)
The Solution Offered Again (Psa. 50:22-23)
Comprehensive Confession (Psalm 51)
Remove My Sin (Psa. 51:1-9)
Renew My Spirit (Psa. 51:10-13)
Recognize My Sorrow (Psa. 51:14-17)
Rejoice in Our Sacrifices (Psa. 51:18-19)
Our Confidence in God (Psalm 52)
The Wicked Rebel (Psa. 52:1-3)
The Lord Responds (Psa. 52:4-5)
The Saints Rejoice (Psa. 52:6-9)
The Absurdity of Depravity (Psalm 53)
A Foolish Denial (Psa. 53:1-3)
A Former Destruction (Psa. 53:4-5)
A Future Deliverance (Psa. 53:6)
Hiding from Men, Abiding in God (Psalm 54)
They Have Risen Up in Violence (Psa. 54:1-3)
You Will Rise Up in Vengeance (Psa. 54:4-5)
I Will Rise Up in Victory (Psa. 54:6-7)
A Kingdom in Chaos (Psalm 55)
Crying in Fear to the Lord (Psa. 55:1-8)
Calling for Judgment from the Lord (Psa. 55:9-15)
Casting Your Burdens on the Lord (Psa. 55:16-23)
Faith Over Fear (Psalm 56)
Fear (Psa. 56:1-2)
Faith (Psa. 56:3-4)
Fear (Psa. 56:5-7)
Faith (Psa. 56:8-11)
Fulfillment (Psa. 56:12-13)
Help from the Most High (Psalm 57)
Cry to the Exalted God (Psa. 57:1-4)
Concern for Exalted Glory (Psa. 57:5)
Confidence in the Exalted God (Psa. 57:6-10)
Concern for Exalted Glory (Psa. 57:11)
Unjust Judges Will Be Judged (Psalm 58)
Depravity of the Wicked (Psa. 58:1-5)
Destruction from the Lord (Psa. 58:6-9)
Deliverance of the Saints (Psa. 58:10-11)
A Prayer for Deliverance (Psalm 59)
David’s Plea (Psa. 59:1-5)
God’s Perfections (Psa. 59:6-13)
David’s Praise (Psa. 59:14-17)
From Despair to Delight (Psalm 60)
Despair (Psa. 60:1-4)
Dependence (Psa. 60:5)
Deliverance (Psa. 60:6-8)
Delight (Psa. 60:9-12)
A Refuge in God Forever (Psalm 61)
Desperate for Help (Psa. 61:1-4)
Determined to Trust (Psa. 61:5-7)
Devoted to Praise (Psa. 61:8)
Waiting on God Alone (Psalm 62)
Waiting While Warning God’s Enemies (Psa. 62:1-4)
Waiting While Welcoming God’s People (Psa. 62:5-8)
Waiting While Watching for God’s Justice (Psa. 62:9-12)
Weary Body, Weary Soul (Psalm 63)
Hunger (Psa. 63:1-2)
Help (Psa. 63:3-8)
Hope (Psa. 63:9-11)
God’s Avenging Arrow (Psalm 64)
Enemy Plans Rehearsed (Psa. 64:1-6)
Enemy Plans Reversed (Psa. 64:7-10)
Many Thanks for Many Things (Psalm 65)
You Pardon Us (Psa. 65:1-4)
You Protect Us (Psa. 65:5-8)
You Provide for Us (Psa. 65:9-13)
Come and Bless God (Psalm 66)
Come and Sing of God’s Powerful Dominion (Psa. 66:1-4)
Come and See God’s Past Deliverance (Psa. 66:5-7)
Come and Sacrifice for God’s Perfect Defense (Psa. 66:8-15)
Come and Study God’s Personal Devotion (Psa. 66:16-20)
Blessed to Be a Blessing (Psalm 67)
Desiring God’s Blessing (Psa. 67:1-2)
Delighting in God’s Blessing (Psa. 67:3-5)
Depending on God’s Blessing (Psa. 67:6-7)
God and His People (Psalm 68)
God Rises for His People (Psa. 68:1-3)
God Rescues His People (Psa. 68:4-14)
God Resides with His People (Psa. 68:15-18)
God Redeems His People (Psa. 68:19-23)
God Reigns for His People (Psa. 68:24-31)
God Rejuvenates His People (Psa. 68:32-35)
The Reproached Ruler of Israel (Psalm 69)
Reliance (Psa. 69:1-4)
Reproach (Psa. 69:5-12)
Rescue (Psa. 69:13-19)
Retribution (Psa. 69:20-28)
Restoration (Psa. 69:29-36)
We Never Outgrow Our Need for God (Psalms 70-71)
Call for Help (Psa. 70:1-3)
Communal Praise (Psa. 70:4)
Call for Help (Psa. 70:5-71:5)
Continual Praise (Psa. 71:6-11)
Call for Help (71:12-13)
Compounded Praise (Psa. 71:14-16)
Confidence in Help (Psa. 71:17-21)
Comprehensive Praise (Psa. 71:22-24)
A Request for a Righteous Reign (Psalm 72)
Peace for God’s People (Psa. 72:1-7)
Power over God’s Enemies (Psa. 72:8-15)
Prosperity from God’s Hand (Psa. 72:16-17)
Praise for God’s Name (Psa. 72:18-20)
An Evil World but a Good God (Psalm 73)
The Declaration of God’s Goodness (Psa. 73:1-14)
The Discovery of God’s Goodness (Psa. 73:15-20)
The Delight in God’s Goodness (Psa. 73:21-28)
A Life in Ruins (Psalm 74)
A Reason to Grieve (Psa. 74:1-11)
A Reason to Believe (Psa. 74:12-17)
A Reason for Reprieve (Psa. 74:18-23)
God’s Name Praised, God’s People Raised (Psalm 75)
God’s Name Praised (Psa. 75:1)
God’s Enemies Warned (Psa. 75:2-5)
God’s Justice Expected (Psa. 75:6-8)
God’s People Raised (Psa. 75:9-10)
Destruction or Devotion (Psalm 76)
What God Has Done in the Past (Psa. 76:1-7)
What God Will Do in the Future (Psa. 76:8-10)
What We Must Do Now (Psa. 76:11-12)
When There Seems to Be No Way (Psalm 77)
When Your Way Is Painful (Psa. 77:1-3)
When Your Way Is Hopeless (Psa. 77:4-9)
God’s Way Is Holy (Psa. 77:10-15)
God’s Way Is through the Pain (Psa. 77:16-20)
Remembered by the God They Forgot (Psalm 78)
They Should Remember God in the Next Generation (Psa. 78:1-8)
They Forgot God in the Northern Kingdom (Psa. 78:9-11)
They Forgot God in the Exodus (Psa. 78:12-17)
They Forgot God in the Wilderness (Psa. 78:18-33)
They Forgot God at Mount Sinai (Psa. 78:34-41)
They Forgot God in Canaan (Psa. 78:42-64)
God Remembered Them in the Southern Kingdom (Psa. 78:65-72)
A Prayer in Crisis (Psalm 79)
Review the Attack from Your Enemies (Psa. 79:1-4)
Relinquish the Answer against Your People (Psa. 79:5-8)
Recognize the Appeal of Your Glory (Psa. 79:9-13)
Shine Upon Us, O God (Psalm 80)
Reveal Your Power (Psa. 80:1-3)
Relinquish Your Anger (Psa. 80:4-7)
Restore Your People (Psa. 80:8-19)
Aspects of an Annual Assembly (Psalm 81)
Rejoice in Your God (Psa. 81:1-5b)
Remember Your Past (Psa. 81:5c-7)
Repent of Your Sin (Psa. 81:8-16)
The Judgment of Wicked Judges (Psalm 82)
Interrogation of the Wicked Judges (Psa. 82:1-2)
Instruction of the Wicked Judges (Psa. 82:3-4)
Indictment of the Wicked Judges (Psa. 82:5)
Intolerance of the Wicked Judges (Psa. 82:6-7)
Invitation of the Supreme Judge (Psa. 82:8)
A Plea for Punishment (Psalm 83)
The Plea (Psa. 83:1)
The Problem (Psa. 83:2-8)
The Precedent (Psa. 83:9-12)
The Punishment (Psa. 83:13-17)
The Purpose (Psa. 83:18)
A Day in Your Courts Is Better (Psalm 84)
A Blessed Privilege (Psa. 84:1-4)
A Blessed Peace (Psa. 84:5-8)
A Blessed Priority (Psa. 84:9-12)
Show Us Your Lovingkindness Again (Psalm 85)
Appreciating Restoration to the Land (Psa. 85:1-3)
Asking for Revival in the Land (Psa. 85:4-7)
Anticipating Righteousness in the Land (Psa. 85:8-13)
Leaning on the Lord’s Lovingkindness (Psalm 86)
Take Note of Me with Your Forgiveness (Psa. 86:1-10)
Teach Me with Your Truth (Psa. 86:11-13)
Turn to Me with Your Strength (Psa. 86:14-17)
Future Praise in the Coming Kingdom (Psalm 87)
The Center (Psa. 87:1-3)
The Citizens (Psa. 87:4-6)
The Celebration (Psa. 87:7)
With God in the Darkness (Psalm 88)
God Sends the Darkness (Psa. 88:1-9)
Praise Ends in Darkness (Psa. 88:10-12)
My Only Friends are Darkness (Psa. 88:13-18)
A Davidic Promise in Difficult Times (Psalm 89)
God’s Lovingkindness in the Present (Psa. 89:1-18)
God’s Lovingkindness in the Past (Psa. 89:19-37)
God’s Lovingkindness in the Future (Psa. 89:38-52)
Living a Life that Counts (Psalm 90)
In Awe of God’s Eternality (Psa. 90:1-2)
In Awe of God’s Timelessness (Psa. 90:3-4)
In Awe of God’s Sovereignty (Psa. 90:5-6)
In Awe of God’s Wrath (Psa. 90:7-12)
In Need of God’s Grace (Psa. 90:13-17)
Safe in the Shelter of the Most High (Psalm 91)
Confidence (Psa. 91:1-2)
Care (Psa. 91:3-13)
Commitment (Psa. 91:14-16)
The Joy of Lifelong Worship (Psalm 92)
The Priority of Worship (Psa. 92:1-3)
The Privilege of Worship (Psa. 92:4-11)
The Permanence of Worship (Psa. 92:12-15)
The Authority of Our King (Psalm 93)
Immovable Authority (Psa. 93:1-2)
Indestructible Authority (Psa. 93:3-4)
Incorruptible Authority (Psa. 93:5)
The Vengeance of Our King (Psalm 94)
Unresolved Lament (Psa. 94:1-6)
Unbelievable Lunacy (Psa. 94:7-11)
Unstoppable Love (Psa. 94:12-23)
The Worship of Our King (Psalm 95)
Sing with Joy (Psa. 95:1-5)
Submit in Reverence (Psa. 95:6-7a)
Soften Your Heart (Psa. 95:7b-11)
Worship the Coming King (Psalm 96)
The Call to Worship (Psa. 96:1-3)
The Reason to Worship (Psa. 96:4-6)
The Way to Worship (Psa. 96:7-9)
The Time to Worship (Psa. 96:10-13)
Witness the Coming King (Psalm 97)
The Power of God Displayed (Psa. 97:1-6)
The Punishment from God Deserved (Psa. 97:7-9)
The People of God Directed (Psa. 97:10-12)
Sing to the Coming King (Psalm 98)
Sing with All that You Know (Psa. 98:1-3)
Sing with All that You Have (Psa. 98:4-6)
Sing with All that You See (Psa. 98:7-9)
Our Holy, Holy, Holy King (Psalm 99)
Holy in His Reign (Psa. 99:1-3)
Holy in His Righteousness (Psa. 99:4-5)
Holy in His Relationships (Psa. 99:6-9)
Thanksgiving to Our King (Psalm 100)
The Call to Worship (Psa. 100:1-2)
The Cause for Worship (Psa. 100:3)
The Call to Worship (Psa. 100:4)
The Cause for Worship (Psa. 100:5)
Order in the Royal Court (Psalm 101)
The Example of Integrity in Himself (Psa. 101:1-4)
The Expectation of Integrity in Others (Psa. 101:5-8)
The Sorrow of a Suffering Saint (Psalm 102)
A Confession to God (Psa. 102:1-11)
A Contemplation of God (Psa. 102:12-22)
A Confidence in God (Psa. 102:23-28)
Bless the Lord Who Forgives Us (Psalm 103)
The Individual Examination (Psa. 103:1-5)
The Corporate Explanation (Psa. 103:6-19)
The Universal Exhortation (Psa. 103:20-22)
Bless the Lord Who Created Us (Psalm 104)
Day 1: Light Displays God’s Greatness (Psa. 104:1-2a)
Day 2: The Expanse Displays God’s Power (Psa. 104:2b-4)
Day 3: Earth Displays God’s Compassion (Psa. 104:5-18)
Day 4: Stars Display God’s Wisdom (Psa. 104:19-24)
Day 5: Sea Creatures Display God’s Sovereignty (Psa. 104:25-30)
Day 6: Man Should Display God’s Glory (Psa. 104:31-35)
The History of God Remembering Israel (Psalm 105)
Let Us Remember God (Psa. 105:1-7)
God Remembered Abraham (Psa. 105:8-15)
God Remembered Joseph (Psa. 105:16-22)
God Remembered Moses (Psa. 105:23-36)
God Remembered the Israelites (Psa. 105:37-43)
God Remembered Joshua (Psa. 105:44-45a)
Let Us Remember God (Psa. 105:45b)
The History of God Forgotten by Israel (Psalm 106)
Let Us Remember God (Psa. 106:1-3)
May God Remember Us (Psa. 106:4-5)
Israel Forgot God by Worrying at the Red Sea (Psa. 106:6-12)
Israel Forgot God by Complaining about Food (Psa. 106:13-15)
Israel Forgot God by Opposing the Leaders (Psa. 106:16-18)
Israel Forgot God by Making an Idol (Psa. 106:19-23)
Israel Forgot God by Doubting the Promise (Psa. 106:24-27)
Israel Forgot God by Committing Immorality (Psa. 106:28-31)
Israel Forgot God by Dishonoring His Spirit (Psa. 106:32-33)
Israel Forgot God by Embracing Paganism (Psa. 106:34-46)
May God Remember Us (Psa. 106:47)
Let Us Remember God (Psa. 106:48)
The History of God Redeeming Israel (Psalm 107)
The Praise for Redemption (Psa. 107:1-3)
The Pictures of Redemption (Psa. 107:4-32)
The Providence of Redemption (Psa. 107:33-42)
The Priority of Redemption (Psa. 107:43)
Still Trusting God: From Two Psalms to a New Psalm (Psalm 108)
A Reason for God’s Praise in all Things (Psa. 108:1-5)
A Request for God’s Protection in all Trials (Psa. 108:6)
A Reminder of God’s Preeminence over all Nations (Psa. 108:7-9)
A Reliance on God’s Power against all Enemies (Psa. 108:10-13)
The Accusers of God’s Chosen King (Psalm 109)
Deception by the Accusers (Psa. 109:1-5)
Destruction of the Accusers (Psa. 109:6-20)
Deliverance from the Accusers (Psa. 109:21-31)
Who Is the Messiah? (Psalm 110)
The Sovereign Lord (Psa. 110:1)
The Coming King (Psa. 110:2-3)
The Eternal Priest (Psa. 110:4)
The Supreme Judge (Psa. 110:5-7)
Praise the Lord for His Works (Psalm 111)
Works that Garner His Praise (Psa. 111:1-2)
Works that Guarantee His Promises (Psa. 111:3-5)
Works that Glorify His Power (Psa. 111:6)
Works that Grant His Precepts (Psa. 111:7-10)
Praise the Lord for His Blessings (Psalm 112)
The Object of God’s Blessings (Psa. 112:1)
The Outcome of God’s Blessings (Psa. 112:2-9)
The Opponents of God’s Blessings (Psa. 112:10)
Praise the Lord in All Ways (Psalm 113)
By All Servants (Psa. 113:1)
At All Times (Psa. 113:2)
For All Reasons (Psa. 113:3-9)
Praise the Lord with Trembling (Psalm 114)
God’s Deliverance of a Generation (Psa. 114:1-2)
God’s Dominance over All Creation (Psa. 114:3-6)
God’s Direction to Every Nation (Psa. 114:7-8)
Prase the Lord and to His Name Give Glory (Psalm 115)
With Praise (Psa. 115:1)
With Courage (Psa. 115:2-8)
With Faith (Psa. 115:9-15)
With Urgency (Psa. 115:16-18)
Praise the Lord Because He Hears Me (Psalm 116)
He Heard My Petition (Psa. 116:1-11)
He Will Hear My Praise (Psa. 116:12-19)
Praise the Lord Who Has No End (Psalm 117)
His Lordship Has No End (Psa. 117:1)
His Love Has No End (Psa. 117:2a)
His Loyalty Has No End (Psa. 117:2b)
Praise the Lord for He Is Good (Psalm 118)
Love to Endure Forever (Psa. 118:1-4)
Lodging to Escape Danger (Psa. 118:5-9)
Liberation to Eliminate Enemies (Psa. 118:10-14)
Life to Express Praise (Psa. 118:15-21)
Light to Enjoy Salvation (Psa. 118:22-29)
The Supremacy of God’s Sufficient Word (Psalm 119)
Abiding in Your Word Yields Blessing (Psa. 119:1-8)
By Keeping Your Word a Man Is Kept Pure (Psa. 119:9-16)
Counsel Is Given through Your Commandments (Psa. 119:17-24)
Distress Is Diminished by Your Testimonies (Psa. 119:25-32)
Each of Your Commandments Escorts Me (Psa. 119:33-40)
Forever Your Law Makes Me Fearless (Psa. 119:41-48)
Guidance from Your Law Gives Comfort (Psa. 119:49-56)
Holding to Your Word Is My Promise (Psa. 119:57-64)
I Learned Your Statutes through Affliction (Psa. 119:65-72)
Judge the Wicked as I Hope in Your Word (Psa. 119:73-80)
Keep Me Safe as I Keep Your Statutes (Psa. 119:81-88)
Limitless Are Your Law and Your Love (Psa. 119:89-96)
Meditation on Your Law Is Sweet to My Mouth (Psa. 119:97-104)
Never Will I Neglect the Light of Your Law (Psa. 119:105-112)
Opponents of Your Word Will Be Cast Out (Psa. 119:113-120)
Punish Those Who Pervert Your Precepts (Psa. 119:121-128)
Quench My Thirst for Your Commandments (Psa. 119:129-136)
Righteous Forever Are Your Testimonies (Psa. 119:137-144)
Save Me from Sorrow as I Study Your Statutes (Psa. 119:145-152)
Turn to Me as I Turn to Your Testimonies (Psa. 119:153-160)
Understanding Your Law Brings Unparalleled Peace (Psa. 119:161-168)
Victory Is Found in Valuing Your Word (Psa. 119:169-176)
Harm: Surrounded by Sinners (Psalm 120)
The Confident Plea (Psa. 120:1-2)
The Coming Punishment (Psa. 120:3-4)
The Constant Persecution (Psa. 120:5-7)
Help: Kept by the Keeper (Psalm 121)
He Who Keeps You Is Able (Psa. 121:1-2)
He Who Keeps You Is Available (Psa. 121:3-4)
He Who Keeps You Is Attentive (Psa. 121:5-6)
He Who Keeps You Is Abiding (Psa. 121:7-8)
Hope: Justice in Jerusalem (Psalm 122)
Passion for the City Declared (Psa. 122:1-2)
Praise in the City Described (Psa. 122:3-5)
Peace within the City Desired (Psa. 122:6-9)
Harm: Request for Relief (Psalm 123)
Eyes Looking for Grace (Psa. 123:1-2)
Souls Languishing in Grief (Psa. 123:3-4)
Help: Deliverance from Danger (Psalm 124)
Swallowed by Men (Psa. 124:1-3)
Submerged by Water (Psa. 124:4-5)
Shredded by Beasts (Psa. 124:6)
Snared by Trappers (Psa. 124:7)
Saved by God (Psa. 124:8)
Hope: Condemnation of the Crooked (Psalm 125)
Believers Have Been Secured (Psa. 125:1-2)
Evil Will Be Stopped (Psa. 125:3)
Justice Must Be Satisfied (Psa. 125:4-5)
Harm: Failed Fruitfulness (Psalm 126)
A Dreamlike Joy Remembered (Psa. 126:1)
A Delivered Joy Reaffirmed (Psa. 126:2-3)
A Deeper Joy Requested (Psa. 126:4-6)
Help: God Gives Good Gifts (Psalm 127)
Shelter Is from the Lord (Psa. 127:1a)
Safety Is from the Lord (Psa. 127:1b)
Sleep Is from the Lord (Psa. 127:2)
Sons and Daughters Are from the Lord (Psa. 127:3-5)
Hope: Blessings for Believers (Psalm 128)
The Foundation of the Blessed Man (Psa. 128:1)
The Family of the Blessed Man (Psa. 128:2-4)
The Future of the Blessed Man (Psa. 128:5-6)
Harm: Ongoing Oppression (Psalm 129)
History of Recurring Suffering (Psa. 129:1-3)
Help from the Righteous Savior (Psa. 129:4)
Hope for Retributive Shame (Psa. 129:5-8)
Help: Redemption for the Repentant (Psalm 130)
God’s Pity Requested (Psa. 130:1-2)
God’s Pardon Considered (Psa. 130:3-4)
God’s Promises Awaited (Psa. 130:5-6)
God’s People Encouraged (Psa. 130:7-8)
Hope: Lowly and Leaning on the Lord (Psalm 131)
A Humble Heart (Psa. 131:1)
A Settled Soul (Psa. 131:2)
A Widespread Wish (Psa. 131:3)
Harm: Threat to the Throne (Psalm 132)
The King’s Concern for Fellowship (Psa. 132:1-8)
The King’s Concern for Favor (Psa. 132:9)
The King’s Concern for Faithfulness (Psa. 132:10)
The Lord’s Commitment to Fellowship (Psa. 132:11-14)
The Lord’s Commitment to Favor (Psa. 132:15-16)
The Lord’s Commitment to Faithfulness (Psa. 132:17-18)
Help: Unparalleled Unity (Psalm 133)
The Expression of Unity’s Goodness (Psa. 133:1)
The Examples of Unity’s Goodness (Psa. 133:2-3a)
The Evidence of Unity’s Goodness (Psa. 133:3b)
Hope: Doxology and Departure (Psalm 134)
Adoration from Temple Workers (Psa. 134:1-2)
Assurance for Traveling Worshipers (Psa. 134:3)
Praise to a Great God (Psalm 135)
Exclamation of Praise (Psa. 135:1-2)
Explanation for Praise: Excellence (Psa. 135:3)
Explanation for Praise: Election (Psa. 135:4)
Explanation for Praise: Exaltation (Psa. 135:5-7)
Explanation for Praise: Exodus (Psa. 135:8-12)
Explanation for Praise: Endearment (Psa. 135:13-18)
Exclamation of Praise (Psa. 135:19-21)
Great Praise to a Great God (Psalm 136)
Exclamation of Praise (Psa. 136:1-3)
Explanation for Praise: Creation (Psa. 136:4-9)
Explanation for Praise: Conquest (Psa. 136:10-22)
Explanation for Praise: Covenant (Psa. 136:23-24)
Explanation for Praise: Compassion (Psa. 136:25)
Exclamation of Praise (Psa. 136:26)
Considering Captivity (Psalm 137)
Recognizing the Pain of Judgment (Psa. 137:1-4)
Remembering the Place of Joy (Psa. 137:5-6)
Requesting the Payback of Justice (Psa. 137:7-9)
David’s Confidence in God’s Care (Psalm 138)
Rescue in the Past (Psa. 138:1-3)
Reign in the Future (Psa. 138:4-6)
Rest in the Present (Psa. 138:7-8)
David’s Assurance in God’s Attributes (Psalm 139)
Acknowledging God’s Omniscience (Psa. 139:1-6)
Affirming God’s Omnipresence (Psa. 139:7-12)
Appreciating God’s Omnisapience (Psa. 139:13-18)
Appealing to God’s Holiness (Psa. 139:19-24)
David’s Supplication for God’s Security (Psalm 140)
Rescue Me from Their Evil Desires (Psa. 140:1-3)
Rescue Me from Their Evil Deeds (Psa. 140:4-5)
Reject Them for Their Evil Desires (Psa. 140:6-8)
Repay Them for Their Evil Deeds (Psa. 140:9-13)
David’s Holiness with God’s Help (Psalm 141)
God Hears My Cry (Psa. 141:1-2)
God Guards My Life (Psa. 141:3-5a)
God Knows My Pain (Psa. 141:5b-7)
God Preserves My Hope (Psa. 141:8-10)
David’s Rest in God’s Refuge (Psalm 142)
Hear My Supplication (Psa. 142:1-2)
Know My Situation (Psa. 142:3-4)
Grant My Satisfaction (Psa. 142:5-7)
David’s Repentance and God’s Righteousness (Psalm 143)
Humble Confession (Psa. 143:1-2)
Harmful Confrontation (Psa. 143:3-4)
Hopeful Consideration (Psa. 143:5-6)
Hurried Consolation (Psa. 143:7-10)
Heartfelt Conviction (Psa. 143:11-12)
David’s Battles and God’s Blessings (Psalm 144)
Considering Divine Instruction (Psa. 144:1-4)
Calling for Divine Intervention (Psa. 144:5-11)
Counting on Divine Invigoration (Psa. 144:12-15)
David’s Praise of God’s Preeminence (Psalm 145)
The Greatness of His Name (Psa. 145:1-6)
The Goodness of His Mercy (Psa. 145:7-10)
The Glory of His Kingdom (Psa. 145:11-13)
The Gift of His Care (Psa. 145:14-16)
The Grace of His Salvation (Psa. 145:17-21)
Praise the Lord Who Alone is Worthy (Psalm 146)
Worthy of Entire Praise (Psa. 146:1-5)
Worthy of Exact Praise (Psa. 146:6-9)
Worthy of Eternal Praise (Psa. 146:10)
Praise the Lord for His Abundant Strength (Psalm 147)
Strength Shown in the Weak He Gathers (Psa. 147:1-6)
Strength Shown in the Ways He Governs (Psa. 147:7-11)
Strength Shown in the Word He Gives (Psa. 147:12-20)
Praise the Lord Who Made Heaven and Earth (Psalm 148)
The Call for Giving Heavenly Praise (Psa. 148:1)
The Creation Giving Heavenly Praise (Psa. 148:2-4)
The Cause of Giving Heavenly Praise (Psa. 148:5-6)
The Call for Giving Earthly Praise (Psa. 148:7a)
The Creation Giving Earthly Praise (Psa. 148:7b-12)
The Cause of Giving Earthly Praise (Psa. 148:13-14)
Praise the Lord for Worldwide Victory (Psalm 149)
The Saints’ Public Celebration (Psa. 149:1-4)
The Saints’ Private Meditation (Psa. 149:5)
The Saints’ Punitive Expectation (Psa. 149:6-9)
Praise the Lord in Worldwide Worship (Psalm 150)
In All Places (Psa. 150:1)
For All Reasons (Psa. 150:2)
With All Things (Psa. 150:3-5)
From All Creatures (Psa. 150:6)