Through the Bible - Psalms

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power... Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 150)

The book of human emotion teaches us to bring every joy and every tear to the God who reigns forever.

The Book of Human Emotions

You may be wondering how we can cover 150 Psalms in one night. We will only be able to give a brief overview, as we have with all the books. But I want to challenge you: read ten psalms a day for the next fifteen work days, starting Monday. That's a great way to begin the year, and in about three weeks you'll have gone through the entire book.

The Psalms are the book of human emotions. They cover the experiences of men like David, Solomon, and Moses. A psalm is a praise to God—a poem. We're looking at the poetic books of the Bible: Job last week, Psalms tonight, Proverbs next, then Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Remember, Hebrew poetry differs from our Western poetry. In English we rhyme words; in Hebrew they rhymed ideas and thoughts.

Of all the books in the Bible, this is probably one of the most read, because it speaks so directly to the difficulties—and the joys—we go through in this life. There is a great deal of jubilation here as well as trial and tribulation. You can pick up the Psalms at any time, any day of your life, and they will speak to you in some way.

The Authors and the Hymnal of Israel

During the time of David and after, the Psalms became the hymnal and devotional book of Israel. Some were sung at the temple; the Songs of Ascent were sung as the people went up to Jerusalem for the Passover. Many begin with notes like "to the chief musician on my stringed instrument," showing there were melodies sung to the Lord.

David wrote about seventy-five of them—seventy-three are attributed to him by name, and the New Testament shows he wrote even more without his name attached. The sons of Korah, a group of priests, wrote several. Asaph, a priest during David's reign, wrote several. There's a Haman the Ezrathite (not the Haman of Esther), and an Ethan, each writing one. King Hezekiah wrote ten. Solomon, that man of wisdom, wrote several. And the earliest psalm, Psalm 90, was written by Moses—the powerful psalm that says, "teach us to number our days."

Across about a thousand years of life experience, these authors went through challenges and hard times, and in the midst of them wrote songs of praise or cried out to the Lord. That is why they minister to us so powerfully. In David's psalms you read the terror and fear of being chased by Saul and by his son Absalom—and then the encouragement God brings him in the midst of it.

God Still on the Throne

We live in a time of much craziness in the world—upheaval in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kenya. Yet I'm always reminded of Psalm 46, where the heathen rage and the nations come together in calamity, and then the Lord utters His voice and the earth melts. God is still on the throne. He still knows what's going on. As we saw last week in Job, nothing comes into our lives without first passing through God's hand. We will experience difficulty, but God permits it.

These songs cover jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgment, and prophecy. There is praise to God for His wonderful works, and there are many tears and much lamentation through difficult trials.

Five Books, One Praise

This is not one book of Psalms but five, and each ends the same way—with a doxology. The first book runs from Psalm 1 through Psalm 41, mostly Psalms of David. Psalm 41:13 ends it: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. Amen, and Amen."

The second book runs Psalm 42 through 72, ending in Psalm 72:18–19: "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things... And let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen." The third book, Psalm 73 through 89, ends in Psalm 89:52: "Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen."

In Hebrew writing—poetry and the prophets—repetition is for emphasis. Think of Isaiah 6, where the angels cry "Holy, holy, holy." That repetition emphasizes God's holiness, and I think it speaks to His triune nature—holy is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. So when the psalmists say "Amen, and Amen," they emphasize that God is to be glorified and praised.

The fourth book begins with Moses' Psalm 90 and runs to Psalm 106, ending: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord." What an encouragement, especially when facing difficulty—a reminder throughout each book that He will be praised forever and reign for eternity. There will never be a time when God is not ruling and reigning.

The fifth book runs Psalm 107 through 150, and Psalm 150 is itself a doxology that closes the whole collection: "Praise God in his sanctuary... Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." What a way to end the book—focusing us on what is truly important. The chief end of man is to glorify and praise God, because the Psalms show that He alone is worthy of such exaltation.

The Cry of the Soul

Last week in Job we saw the cry of the spirit—a man going through the greatest trial, crying out to God in faith, looking forward to the resurrection. When we come to Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, we have the cry of the soul. Man is a three-part being: body, soul, and spirit. The soul has three components—emotions, intellect, and will. The Psalms deal with the emotions, Proverbs with the intellect and wisdom, and Ecclesiastes with the will and our choice to follow God. And the Song of Solomon? The cry of the body for love—the kind of love we read of in 1 Corinthians 13.

The first psalm written was Psalm 90, by Moses around 1500 BC. The last is believed to be Psalm 137, which speaks of the exile: "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." So the Psalms span from Moses to the sixth-century BC exile. These five books were compiled into one during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, and many scholars believe Ezra the scribe gathered them into the book the Jews came to call the book of praise.

Psalms for Every Emotion

Because these songs were born out of human experience and filled with human emotion, they are perfectly fitted to minister to us in whatever trial we face. If you're oppressed and grieved by the weight of your sin—as David was after Bathsheba, found out a year later by Nathan—turn to Psalm 51, and also Psalm 32, which shows how God deals with our sin by His grace.

Worried or anxious? Psalm 37 and Psalm 73—those pages may be worn out in some Bibles. Psalm 73, the first psalm of Asaph, wrestles with how the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous suffer, much like Job. Asaph is finally encouraged when he goes into the sanctuary and sees the end of the wicked—remembering we will all stand before the Lord one day.

Angry, perhaps driving the 15 in the afternoon? Psalm 58 and Psalm 13. Resentful? Psalm 94 and Psalm 77. Happy and wanting to express your joy? Psalm 92 and Psalm 66. Feeling forsaken? Psalm 88. Grateful for God's wonderful works? Psalm 40. Doubtful and lacking faith? The epic Psalm 119. Lonely, feeling you're the only one left—as Elijah did in the cave fleeing Jezebel? Psalm 71 and Psalm 62.

Christ in the Psalms

The most powerful part of the Psalms we don't fully understand until we reach the New Testament. In Luke 24, the risen Jesus stands among His terrified disciples, shows them His hands and feet, eats a piece of broiled fish to prove He is flesh and bone, and says:

These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that 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 speak beautifully of Jesus. He is the Son of God in Psalm 2 (fulfilled in Matthew 3). He is praised by His children in Psalm 8 and is ruler of all. He rises from the dead in Psalm 16—His soul not left in corruption. Psalm 22 gives the perspective of Christ on the cross: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me," His own words in Matthew 27. There He is derided by His enemies, His hands and feet pierced, and lots cast for His clothing.

His bones were unbroken (Psalm 34). He was accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35, fulfilled in Mark 14), hated without cause (Psalm 35), and delights in God's will (Psalm 40). He was betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41, Luke 22). He is the eternal King (Psalm 45), ascends to heaven (Psalm 68), and is zealous for God's house (Psalm 69, John 2:17). He was given vinegar to drink at the cross. In Psalm 109 He prays for His enemies—"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23). In Psalm 110 He rules over His enemies and is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5). In Psalm 118 He is the chief cornerstone who comes in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21). If you want to see Christ in the Old Testament, read the Psalms.

The Character of God

The Psalms also give us insight into the character of God the Father. He is our shield (Psalm 3), our rock (Psalms 18, 42, 95), our shepherd—as Jesus called Himself in John 10 (Psalms 23, 80), our judge (Psalm 7), our refuge and ever-present help in time of trouble (Psalms 46, 62, 91), our fortress (Psalms 31, 71), our avenger (Psalm 26), the Creator (Psalm 8), the Deliverer (Psalm 37), the Healer (Psalm 30), the Protector (Psalm 5), the Provider (Psalm 78), and the Redeemer (Psalm 107).

God is outside His creation, outside time and space. You won't find Him in the telescope, the microscope, or the laboratory. You may find evidence of a Creator in the intricate design of things, but you discover God only by revelation. Hebrews 1 tells us God spoke in former times by the prophets, but in these last days by His Son. So the Psalms are special revelation—we come to know God's character through men like David, Asaph, and Solomon. And the best way to truly know someone is personally, which is why Jesus came: the personal revelation of God.

Coming to God Honestly

The Psalms disclose the marvelous fact that we can come to God with whatever emotion we have, in the midst of whatever we're going through. You don't have to be in a position of perfection to approach Him. David came in absolute terror while fleeing Saul and Absalom. We can come in desperation, despair, and our tears—but also with our joys, our hopes, our thanksgiving and praise. Too often people only approach God when they're in trouble, but the Psalms show we should come before Him constantly.

We turn to Him for wisdom, healing, forgiveness, and restoration—the things only He can truly give. Doctors may give a physical healing, but how long will it last? Moses tells us in Psalm 90 our days are seventy years, eighty by strength, so we must number our days. Only One can heal us spiritually for eternity.

The Imprecatory Psalms

Some psalms strike people as odd—where David or another author cries, "Break their teeth, O God; destroy them." These are the imprecatory psalms, where the psalmist cries for God to pour out His righteous wrath upon his enemies. There are about twenty of them. Understand: these prayers are not prescriptive—God is not commanding us to pray for our enemies' destruction. They are descriptive of what people actually go through in deep emotional trial.

They teach us to approach God honestly, not pretending to be righteous or special, but coming with our real fears and difficulties. Jesus told the woman at the well that true worshipers worship in spirit and in truth—not covering over and pretending we're okay when He already knows our hearts. The Psalms show He searches our hearts and knows all things; why would we try to fool Him? We should lay our trouble down at His feet, because He alone can truly deal with it.

I find every time I wish God would pour out judgment on someone—who cut me off on the freeway, perhaps—not ten minutes go by before I'm praising Him for His mercy toward me, that He hasn't showered His wrath upon me. We wish He'd clobber that person, then in the next breath remember how He has dealt graciously with us. And there is a day coming when these prayers will be fulfilled—when God pours out His wrath on those who reject Him, and on our true adversary, the devil. Remember, our battle is not with flesh and blood; our enemy is spiritual.

God Is Our Refuge

This is what the whole purpose of God has been from the beginning—that He could fellowship with man. Sin separated us, but God continually reaches out: bringing Israel out of Egypt so they could build a tabernacle, bringing them into the promised land so His name would have a place. The Levitical system left a veil in the way, so Jesus came to tear down that veil and break the wall of separation, that we might enter in and have fellowship with God, whatever we're going through.

I want to finish with Psalm 46:

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; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Selah is a pause—consider what you just read. Even if everything you know is in upheaval, notice where our focus should be: "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God." Everything can be in total chaos, yet those who know the one true God remember there is a calm, cool river that gladdens His city. "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved." The heathen rage, the kingdoms are moved, "he uttered his voice, the earth melted." God speaks, and everything falls away. "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Sometimes it's just your personal world falling apart—the doctor says cancer, or a loved one has been in an accident. In the midst of that, remember there is a city of God, and God is in the midst of it, on the throne, and a day is coming when He will be exalted on the earth. That's why we keep praying, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

The Psalms are the writings that help us refocus in the midst of emotional upheaval. You get to see into David's life as his world falls apart, and so often his psalms end with him remembering, "God, you are merciful." If anything, I am always encouraged by these psalms that reveal God as our refuge, our fortress, our avenger, the Creator, Deliverer, Healer, Provider, Protector, and Redeemer. It is important for the people of God to understand who our God truly is.

Closing Prayer

God, I thank You that we have this powerful book to read through regularly. Help us to read it thoughtfully, prayerfully, and regularly—to see how You carry those going through trial, how You strengthen and encourage the weak, how You desire the praise of those experiencing joy, for truly all joy comes from You. As Psalm 16 says, in Your presence is fullness of joy. If we're going through trouble tonight, may we find our way to Your presence and experience the joy only You can give. Help us to cry out to You wherever we are, in whatever emotion we feel, because You alone can heal us, bind up our wounds, deliver us from the prison house, and carry us to the place of refuge. Help us to remember that as we read these songs, and help us to shine brightly Your grace and mercy to others. For we ask it in Jesus' name, Amen.