At the centre of God's word are the Psalms, or Songs. They are concerned with prayer and worship (see the notes for Week 17). Although expressing the experience of individuals in times past, they are timeless in much of their message.
Here you can find expressions of humility, praise, confession; outpourings of the heart; and restatements of the Hope of Israel and of the Promises of God. Here the Lord Jesus gained solace and strength, as he did from all the Scriptures.
Some of the Psalms may have been written by Moses, Solomon, Hezekiah or others, but most were Psalms of David. All were inspired by God, as their contents prove.
Many Psalms are "Messianic", that is, they point forward to the Messiah - to his sufferings and death, to his resurrection, to his Divine Sonship and to the glories of his coming Kingdom. Scores of quotations from the Psalms occur in the New Testament.
There are Psalms for all seasons and circumstances ... whether you are experiencing sorrow or joy, fear or exultation.
| SUNDAY
Psalm 1 |
Christ also had a delight in God's word. He meditated in it day and night (verse 2). |
| MONDAY
Psalm 2 |
Christ is God's Son (verse 7), the appointed King who will rule in Zion (verse 6) over all the earth (verse 8). (Quoted in Acts 4:25; 13:33; and Hebrews 1:5; 5:5). |
| TUESDAY
Psalm 6 |
Death is an enemy (verse 5). Deliverance is only for those who believe in Christ (John 3:16). |
| WEDNESDAY
Psalm 16 |
Deliverance from death was promised for Christ himself (verses 8-11). (Quoted in Acts 2:30-32; 13:35). |
| THURSDAY
Psalm 19 |
Only the word of God (verses 7-11) can show us up for what we really are (verse 12) and make us what we really should be (verses 7-9). |
| FRIDAY
Psalm 22 |
Jesus Christ came to save sinners (verse 5). His sufferings are foretold in this chapter (for example, verses 16, 18). |
| SATURDAY
Psalm 23 |
Christ, like God, can be our shepherd to save us from death (verse 4) and guide us to eternal life (verse 6). |