The Psalms cover all human experience living with God. In some, King David shouted joyful praise: “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Ps. 95:1). In others, he softly sang the calm assurance of God’s presence: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1). Heman the Ezrahite desperately moaned, “For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol” (Ps. 88:3). The Sons of Korah even labeled Psalm 45 as “a love song”!
Yet, the Psalms do not just express our feelings: they also have something to say. Some teach about God and His work throughout history. Psalm 104 declares God’s glory in how He created the world, Psalm 105 recounts all the ways God was with the people from Abraham through Moses, and Psalm 106 remembers all the ways Israel was unfaithful to Him. Other psalms extol the qualities God’s people should demonstrate: “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him” (Ps. 41:1).
Not unlike our own songbooks, the Psalms were carefully arranged, bringing songs written centuries apart together. Psalm 113-118 comprises the Hallel, a collection of praise songs to be sung during holidays like Passover. Psalms 120-134 were the Songs of Ascents: you can follow the Jewish pilgrims’ progress on their journey to Jerusalem and their swelling anticipation to worship God as you mediate over each. These collections are fittingly bridged by Psalm 119, a beautiful celebration of God’s word where each section begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Read Psalms 146-150 together, and you can practically hear the crescendo as each declares, “Praise the LORD!”
There is so much we can learn from these sacred selections. While we so easily divide over preferences for “traditional” or “contemporary” music, the Psalms present a millennium-spanning vision of praise encompassing all different styles. Whether you prefer an upbeat (if somewhat repetitious) praise song or a song that teaches all the finer points of doctrine, there is a psalm for you. Whether you are on the mountaintop, in the pit, or anywhere in between, there is a psalm for you. In the middle of our Bibles, God has tucked a wonderful love song: one I’m sure He wrote for you and me.
Are you ready to have your faith shaped by these powerful songs? Check out our sermon series, Climbing Higher: Songs of Ascents.