Reading Through the Psalms

There is an expression, "You can't take it with you." This sentiment is clearly expressed in Psalm 49. Not only can one not take their wealth with them, but it won't save them from the grave (verses 6-9) and it can't redeem another.

Psalm 48 speaks of the confidence in the protection of God who has claimed Jerusalem and Mount Zion for his own. Psalm 98 speaks of his ultimate victory and when he will judge all in righteousness, and Psalm 148 again proclaims that all the earth praises him.

Psalm 47, 97, and 147 are all three about the joy that is only found in God's righteousness. Romans 8:19-22 states that the earth groans under the wickedness of man, of sin that is ruling the earth. Psalm 97:1 states that the earth itself, the very land, rejoices when God's truth reigns.

Psalm 46 is about having faith in God no matter the storms life brings beginning "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Psalm 45 begins a set of three Psalms in which David exalts in the glory of God throughout the circumstances of life. Psalm 45 is a wedding song, to be sung during a time of joy. Psalm 95 tells of God's great care for his people, even when they rebel. He praises God for his goodness and faithfulness and expresses the confident hope, that as Jesus assured in Matt xxx x, that all who seek God in truth will find him. (Psalm 145:18)

In Psalm 44, David reflects on the works of God, of his goodness to the people of Israel and how he delivered them. He also acknowledges the righteousness and justice of God, that because of Israel's sin, they experienced judgment. Psalm 94 again speaks about the justice of God, that the wicked will get their due rewards. Psalm 144 is a confident praise that regardless of the circumstances, God will deliver those who put their trust in him.

In Psalm 143, David acknowledges that no one is righteous in God's sight and we have no right to claim justice from God on our own merits. The set of Psalms: 43, 93, and 143, are about going to God for justice on the basis of relationship, because of his love and mercy for his. That he alone saves.

Psalm 23 is probably the most well known out of the 150 Psalms in the Bible. It is a declaration of David's confident assurance that God will be with him no matter what the circumstances, whatever valleys life brings. But not many are familiar with Psalm 42 which is also about the valleys of life. If Psalm 23 is about God's faithfulness in the valley, Psalm 42 is what it actually feels like to walk through it.

Psalm 91 is one of the most powerful of the Psalms written by David speaking of God's deliverance and salvation (Yeshua.) It is God's "911." Satan himself quoted the verse 12 of the Psalm when in the wilderness temptation, he suggested that he through himself off the cliff because angels would lift him up (Luke 4:11-12, Mattthew 4:6-7.) Psalms 41 and 141 both illustrate the characteristics of the person who can have that faith in the deliverance of God.

Everyone goes through trials and tribulations, dark times and depression. If you haven't, you either haven't lived long enough or are lying to yourself. God doesn't promise that we won't have trials, but he does promise that he will be with us through them. Psalm 40 was written by David praising God after coming through one of his many trials.