READING THROUGH THE PSALMS
Welcome, friends! The purpose of this document is to guide you through a yearlong encounter with the book of Psalms. In total, Psalms includes 150 different songs, divided into 5 sections or “books.” We want to encourage everyone in our church to set a goal of studying 5 psalms each week. To help you with this, we have prepared a few questions for reflection/discussion, as well as a brief prayer you can use to focus your time with God. The book of Psalms is an incredible resource for all Christians, as it does more than perhaps any other book in the Bible to show us a living example of how we communicate, both personally and corporately, with God. We genuinely believe that by spending a year engaging with these texts, our church community will emerge not only with a deeper faith, but also with a clearer understanding of what it means to be people of hope. Thank you for walking alongside us in this project! You can access these guides by using the following links:
Here is an example of how the guides look for the first 5 psalms… use the links above to keep going!
Psalm 1: The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
Reflect/Discuss:
What does it suggest that the "blessed man" does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers? Why those 3 verbs?
Think on the comparison the psalmist makes between meditating on the law and a tree planted by streams of water. How might we be challenged by this comparison?
Pray: God, teach me to delight in time spent with you. Give me motivation to read your words and excitement to speak with you.
Psalm 2: The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed
Reflect/Discuss:
Why do the nations, peoples, kings, and rulers in verses 1 and 2 set themselves up against God?
Who might God be talking about when he says, in verse 6, “I have set my King on Zion”?
What does it mean for the Israelites to keep a psalm about God’s authority not only over them but over all the nations?
Pray: God, remind me of your authority, not just over my life, but over all the earth. Help me to trust in you.
Psalm 3: Save Me, O My God
Reflect/Discuss:
The notes for this psalm say it was written by David “when he fled from Absalom his son.” Do a little online research into this story! How might these words fit that situation?
So many of the psalms are about trusting in God to be the one who saves us...instead of trusting in others or trusting in ourselves. Is this hard for you to do? What makes it difficult?
Pray: God, help me to put my full trust in you and you alone to save me when I face difficulties in my life.
Psalm 4: Answer Me When I Call
Reflect/Discuss:
In verse 4, the psalmist instructs us/himself to “Be angry, and...not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” Do you tend to allow yourself to be angry? Are you able to be angry without lashing out at others? How might pondering and experiencing your anger--without pouring it out on others--actually be helpful to you?
The psalmist says “the Lord hears when I call to him.” Do you have an easy or difficult time believing this? Talk to God about your feelings this week.
Pray: God, help me to bring my most honest self to you when I pray, warts and all.
Psalm 5: Lead Me in Your Righteousness
Reflect/Discuss:
The psalmist is confident in verse 7: “I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.” Do you feel confident that God hears you, accepts you, as you are? What might make this difficult to believe sometimes?
What does the word “refuge” really mean? Use a source to look it up and meditate on this today: what does it mean for God to be our refuge?
Pray: God, help me to not only trust that you are on my side but rejoice in the ways you show me blessings and kindness. Help me to live a trusting and hopeful life.