Psalms Readings – Week 1
January 3 – Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
This is such a helpful psalm to start our journey through this splendid book. It is classified as a wisdom psalm. It teaches the difference between the way of the righteous in verses 1-3 and the unrighteous in verses 4-5. Verse 6 is a summary of the two.
It paints two pictures. The righteous are like well-watered healthy fruit-bearing trees. They are strong and stable producing the kind of qualities that represent Christ and His kingdom.
In contrast, the unrighteous are like wheat chaff that is easily blown away. They have no stability and no endurance in the presence of the righteous and the final judgment.
The difference between the two is that the righteous meditate on God’s instructions while the unrighteous do not. In fact, the righteous delight in doing so. It is not a duty or a dreaded exercise. It is done with passionate desire because it is life-giving. It is the way of the blessed life. It is the way of true happiness in the kingdom. It leads to the promise that the Lord watches over those who choose to go this direction.
There is no other way around it. It you desire to be among God’s truly happy ones, if you desire victory in your spiritual journey, then taking time to think deeply about God and His Word will be a practice, even a lifestyle, in which you joyfully delight.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 1:1-2, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Question(s) to Consider:
Do you delight in God’s Word? What does your practice of thinking deeply about Scripture look like?
January 4 – Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
This is one of several “royal” or “Messianic” psalms. The focus moves from the personal in Psalm 1 to the world in Psalm 2. The key to success in Psalm 1 is thinking deeply about God’s Word so that we will live it out. The key to success for world powers is to submit to God, the great King of all kings, and His anointed son.
The son includes the promises God made to David and his lineage of kings. It is, also, prophetic as it looks ahead to the Son of God, Jesus, the Christ, who is the great “son of David.”
Psalm 2 unfolds in four parts: the nations rebel against the Lord and His anointed king (1-3); the Lord rebukes them and affirms his anointed one (4-6); the Lord’s anointed repeats God’s promises to him (7-9); and the psalmist warns the nations to fear the Lord (10-12). (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible) The lesson for us, is that blessing or true happiness, comes when we totally trust and take refuge in Jesus, the Son, King of all kings.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 1:1-2, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Question(s) to Consider:
How does this psalm inspire you to see Jesus as the King of your life and of the world?
January 5 – Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1 Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” 3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. 7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
Psalm 4
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? 3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him. 4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. 5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. 6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. 7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
In Psalm 3, David found himself in the worst possible circumstance. His own son was after his throne and his life. David’s life had been filled with running, hiding, and fighting. Now, the trouble was not only survival for his life but a deeply wounded heart as he battled his own son whom he loved but who had turned on him.
David revealed his remarkable trust in God despite his circumstances and lack of inspiration from others. God is David’s shield. God keeps his head held high. God answers David’s prayers. God sustains him as he sleeps. David refused to fear though he faced impossible odds.
In Psalm 4:6-7, David asks in a beautiful and poetic way that the light of God’s face would shine on them. He requests God’s favor to be known. In verse 8, we see that David placed his ultimate faith in God because he could lie down and sleep peacefully. He acknowledged that his confidence is in God for he knows that God alone is the source of his safety.
If you are facing impossible odds and if no one is giving you any encouragement, step into David’s shoes and take on his heart of faith. Make his prayers your own. When we are stressed and distressed, a peaceful night’s sleep may be hard to come by. David gives us an affirmation of faith we can speak each evening before bedtime: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
May God’s blessing be upon His people!
Memory Verse:
Psalm 1:1-2, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Question(s) to Consider:
How will you make these prayers your own? How will you use this affirmation of faith as a way to prepare your heart and mind for sleep?
January 6 – Psalm 5
For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.
1 Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament.
2 Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong;
6 you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest.
7 But I, by your great love, can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies- make your way straight before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they tell lies.
10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
David tells us that this psalm is to be used in worship with pipes. The musical instrumentation in the psalms is so diverse. God loves to hear a variety of sounds and songs to bring him praise.
This is a personal lament that was to be used in a worship setting. It is a prayer that David offered each morning and waited with anticipation for God to answer.
He goes on tell that God is not pleased with evil people, He does not welcome them, they cannot stand in His presence, they are detested, and even destroyed. These are those who refuse to repent and turn wholeheartedly to God.
On the other hand, David knows it is by God’s great love that he can come into God’s presence and worship. David knows that his goodness is not good enough to allow him entry. Instead, he asks the Lord to lead him in the right way in the midst of so much evil around him.
What a relevant prayer for us today. In a dark world of evil, injustice, and moral corruption, our heart’s prayer is that we will be led in the holy and good way of God.
David asks that sinners would be declared guilty but that those who trust in the Lord would sing and rejoice because God has spread His protection over them. The Lord blesses the righteous and shields them with His grace. That is a strong motivation to be among the righteous!
Memory Verse:
Psalm 1:1-2, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Question(s) to Consider:
Is it your heartfelt desire and prayer that God will lead you in the good and holy way in the midst of much darkness? How does this prayer motivate you to be counted among the righteous?
January 7 – Psalm 6
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?
4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
The ancient church identified this psalm as one of seven penitential psalms, though it mentions no specific sin. The reason it is classified as such is because David begins by asking for God not to rebuke or discipline him in His anger. He pleads for God’s mercy and healing for his whole body is racked with pain.
This psalm takes us into the depths of David’s soul. We discover the psalms are so beneficial for our own spiritual journey because they speak from the heart of human pain and longing. David is not afraid to admit that he is in deep anguish. He is so distressed that he weeps through the night. He is worn out from crying out to God.
David ends this prayer with confidence that God has heard and accepted his prayer. He knows his enemies will be turned away because of what God will do.
It is important to note that David expresses such faith and confidence before the answer ever comes. He speaks by faith that God will do this. We will see this pattern over and over where the psalmists soulfully weep, cry out, ask, plead, even question God, but then they declare their faith and belief that God will answer their prayer.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 1:1-2, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Question(s) to Consider:
Where are you feeling anguish in your soul? How are you expressing it to God? Even in the midst of your pain, will you declare your faith and confidence in God?
January 8 – Psalm 7
A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
6 Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure—you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.
10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
The introductory statement, “concerning Cush, a Benjamite” is not known elsewhere in the Bible, although King Saul, one of David’s tormentors, was from the tribe of Benjamin. “Cush” was a land south of Egypt in what today is Sudan. But the term here clearly refers to a person from the tribe of Benjamin, not a foreigner or a foreign land. It is likely that this title refers to an event that has been lost to history. (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible)
David expressed confidence in the Lord and requested deliverance from all his pursuers whom he believes will tear him apart like a lion. This imagery depicts this is no small opposition David faces.
David asked God to direct His anger against his enemies. Throughout this psalm, David never declares an intention to take his own vengeance; he asks God to do this. He was not reluctant to admit his sin, but he also stoutly defended his integrity when he knew he had done no wrong
David often speaks of God’s unfailing love, but here he reveals the truth that God expresses judgments which are built into the system of the world. David goes on to say those who dig a hole for others fall into it themselves. The trouble they cause comes back on them.
The psalm ends with a vow to praise God for who He is. Such a pattern models for us that life is to be lived thanking and praising God, even when present situations seem very troubling.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 1:1-2, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Question(s) to Consider:
Where do you need to wait upon God to exercise His judgment? Are you praising Him anyway?
January 9 – Psalm 8
For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
As we journey through the psalms, we will find some are best to be enjoyed as they are. Instead of dissecting their meaning, we will engage them as a source for prayer and worship.
This is one of those psalms. I invite you to read, meditate, and pray this prayer of praise in preparation for gathering with the Body of Christ in worship today. May your hearts be caught up in praise for God’s majesty, wonder, and glory as you enter the sanctuary to express your love to the Lord!
Memory Verse:
Psalm 1:1-2, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Question(s) to Consider:
What will you add to this prayer in declaring God’s majesty?