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We continue our tour through Book Five of the Psalms by returning briefly to Psalm 118 and then exploring Psalm 119 and the Songs of Ascents in Psalms 120–134. Throughout these psalms, we find God's people learning to delight in His instruction, trust His faithfulness, and joyfully draw near to His presence.

We begin with a few more connections in Psalm 118, including the repeated call to Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the Lord. We also look at how the Hallel Psalms appear in the story of Jesus' final week. These weren't simply ancient songs—these were words Jesus and His disciples knew, sang, and used.

Then we turn to Psalm 119 and the Torah. Rather than thinking of Torah simply as "law," we explore it as God's teaching and instruction for His people. The psalmist asks God to teach him, finds freedom in God's commands, looks to God's Word for counsel, and repeatedly describes the Torah as his delight. Psalm 119 challenges us to ask some difficult questions: Where do I look for counsel? Do I truly delight in God's instruction? Am I hungry to learn what He has taught us? And how often does knowing God lead me to praise Him?

From there, we begin the Songs of Ascents, Psalms 120–134. Imagine families traveling together up to Jerusalem, singing these songs along the way as they anticipated worshiping at the Temple and drawing near to the presence of God. As the journey unfolds, the songs remind travelers that God watches over them, remains near, hears their prayers, and can be trusted because He has proven Himself faithful.

But the journey isn't filled only with celebration. These songs make room for struggle, waiting, and longing too. God's people remember past hardships, pray for Jerusalem, ask God for grace, and wait for Him to act. Psalm 130 reminds us that with God there is forgiveness, chesed, and full redemption, while Psalm 131 gives us the beautiful picture of a contented child resting securely with its mother.

Along the way, we're also reminded that children are a gift, obedience brings blessing, God is actively involved in the lives of His people, and His presence among them is worth celebrating.

Finally, the travelers arrive. Psalm 134 ends the journey exactly where it was headed all along—in God's presence, with hands lifted in praise.

As we move closer to the end of the Psalms, a familiar invitation becomes louder and louder: Praise the Lord. Through obedience and struggle, traveling and waiting, blessing and uncertainty, God's people can keep looking to Him. He is living, active, faithful, and worthy of our praise.

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We begin Book Five of the Psalms by touring Psalms 107–118 and discovering once again that God's chesed—His steadfast covenant love—runs throughout the story. Book Four ended with "Praise the Lord," and Book Five picks right up with a call to give thanks to the Lord because His steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 107 is filled with vivid pictures of people in desperate situations who cry out to God and are rescued. Their circumstances are different, but the pattern is the same: God's people turn to Him, He acts, and His chesed remains. The psalm ends by telling the wise to pay attention to these stories and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

As we move through Psalms 108–112, we encounter the living God who rules over the nations, hears the cries of His people, judges evil, remembers His covenant, and blesses those who delight in His commands. Psalm 109 even gives us words for those difficult moments when we have been deeply wronged and need to entrust justice to God rather than take it into our own hands.

Then we arrive at Psalm 110, the most frequently quoted psalm in the New Testament. This Messianic psalm asks us to consider the identity of the coming King. He is greater than David, He will ultimately defeat His enemies, and He is connected to the mysterious biblical figure Melchizedek. Once again, the Psalms point us forward to the Messiah.

Finally, we tour Psalms 113–118, traditionally known as the Hallel Psalms. These songs were connected to Passover and Israel's festivals, celebrating God's greatness, the Exodus, and His faithfulness to His people. They are filled with powerful images, repeated declarations of God's chesed and emunah, and reminders that Israel's God is completely different from the lifeless idols of the nations.

These psalms become even more meaningful when we remember that Jesus would have known and sung them. As He celebrated His final Passover with His disciples and prepared to walk toward the Garden of Gethsemane, these were the words surrounding Him. That gives Psalm 118's declaration a powerful setting: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever."

From God's rescue of His people to the promise of the Messiah, these psalms invite us to trust the living God, delight in His ways, leave justice in His hands, and remember that His steadfast love truly does endure forever.

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In this episode, we finish Book Four of the Psalms by touring Psalms 96–106. These psalms are filled with joy and praise, but they also teach us why God's people have reason to rejoice: God is King, and He rules with righteousness, justice, and faithfulness.

Psalms 96–100 invite us to notice repeated words, powerful images, and descriptions of an active God who is very different from the lifeless gods worshiped by the surrounding nations. God saves, reigns, judges rightly, and makes His salvation known among the nations. Even God's judgment becomes a reason for creation to rejoice because His kingdom is founded on righteousness and justice. Along the way, we continue to encounter chesed and emunah—God's steadfast love and faithfulness.

These psalms also give parents wonderful opportunities to teach their children what God is like. Psalm 99 shows us the holy and just King, while Psalm 100 pictures God's people as sheep belonging to their Shepherd. Psalm 101 then gets incredibly practical, giving families a chance to talk about the things we choose to put before our eyes and what it looks like to live faithfully in our homes.

But the Psalms don't pretend that life is always joyful. Psalm 102 suddenly takes us into a dark and painful prayer: "Hear my cry" and "Do not hide your face from me." Life can change in a moment, and the Psalms give us words for those moments too. Even there, the psalmist holds onto the hope that God will show compassion.

Then Psalm 103 bursts back into praise, reminding us of God's benefits and echoing God's description of Himself in Exodus 34: merciful, gracious, patient, and abounding in chesed. Psalms 104–106 continue that praise by showing us a God who is actively caring for His creation and faithfully providing for His people.

Finally, Psalms 105 and 106 give us a history lesson from two perspectives. Psalm 105 emphasizes God's faithfulness throughout Israel's story, while Psalm 106 honestly remembers the people's repeated sin and rebellion. Put them together, and the contrast is striking: God's people fail again and again, yet God remains compassionate and faithful to His covenant.

Book Four ends with God's people scattered among the nations, waiting to be gathered again. Their hope—and ours—is rooted not in human faithfulness but in the character of the King. God is righteous. God is just. God is compassionate. And God remains faithful to His everlasting covenant.

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In this episode, we begin Book Four of the Psalms by exploring Psalms 90–95. These songs remind us that the Psalms are more than ancient poetry—they are a prayer journal that gives voice to our deepest fears, joys, questions, and hopes. As you read them, let them shape your own conversations with God.

We begin with Psalm 90, the only psalm attributed to Moses. In it, Moses reflects on the brevity of life and prays, "Teach us to number our days." What would change if we truly lived with that perspective? Even in the midst of life's hardships, this psalm points us toward God's faithfulness and includes a beautiful prayer we can pray over our families and friends.

Psalm 91 answers the struggles of Psalm 90 by reminding us that our true shelter is the Most High God. No matter what we face, our security is found not in our circumstances but in God's presence and protection.

As we continue through Psalms 92–94, we discover reasons to praise God for His steadfast love (chesed), His faithfulness (emunah), His wisdom, and His justice. These psalms remind us that the righteous flourish by remaining rooted in God, that His wisdom is beyond our understanding, and that He sees every act of evil. While human injustice may seem to prevail for a time, God will one day make every wrong right. He is the righteous King, and His people remain His treasured inheritance.

Finally, Psalm 95 calls God's people to joyful worship by celebrating His greatness as Creator and King. Yet the psalm ends with a sober reminder from Israel's history: worship is more than singing. Hearts that truly know God respond with obedience. Looking back at Israel's failures encourages us to trust God's voice today.

Throughout these psalms, we see a consistent invitation: remember who God is, trust Him through life's uncertainties, and live each day in light of His eternal kingdom.

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In this episode, we tour Psalms 81–89 and discover a powerful thread running through these songs: God desires to bless His people, draw near to them, and remain faithful even when they fail.

Psalm 81 begins with joyful celebration of the Exodus, but God reminds Israel that blessing flows from listening to His voice. Rather than portraying God as harsh and eager to punish, these psalms repeatedly show Him ready to bless His people when they return to Him.

We then explore Psalms 82–83, where God is presented as Judge over every nation and every lesser spiritual power. Israel’s God is not merely a local deity; He is the Most High who rules over all.

Psalms 84–87 shift our attention to the beauty of God’s presence. The psalmists delight in the Tabernacle, celebrate Jerusalem, and use names such as Lord of Hosts and Most High to proclaim God’s greatness. Along the way, we see recurring themes of drawing near to God, righteousness, and God’s steadfast chesed love.

Psalm 86 gives us a beautiful model for prayer: “Guard my life, bring me joy, teach me, and give me an undivided heart.” It also looks forward to the day when all nations will worship the Lord.

Finally, we wrestle with Psalm 88, the darkest psalm in the Psalter and the only one that does not end with praise. Yet Psalm 89 immediately answers with worship and a reminder of God’s covenant with David. Even when God’s people wander, He promises that He will not remove His steadfast love.

As Book Three of the Psalms closes with a doxology, these songs leave us with a lasting hope: God remains faithful to His covenant, His kingdom, and His people.

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In this episode, we continue our tour through Psalms 73–80, where the psalmists wrestle with one of life's hardest questions: Why do the wicked seem to prosper while God's people suffer? Again and again, these psalms remind us to shift our perspective and remember one unchanging truth—God is still King.

We begin with Psalm 73, where the psalmist honestly struggles with envy and discouragement before declaring, "But God..." We explore how God's presence becomes our true strength and examine connections between this psalm and the New Testament, including Jesus' words about the "pure in heart" and Paul's language of those who were once "far off" but have been brought near.

As we move through Psalms 74–76, we see God revealed as the righteous Judge of both Israel and the nations. Though evil may seem to triumph for a season, these psalms proclaim that God will judge wickedness, remain faithful to His covenant, and ultimately receive worship from all peoples. Along the way, we notice recurring images of shepherds and sheep, reminding us that God continually cares for and leads His people.

Psalms 77–80 repeatedly look back to Israel's history, especially the Exodus, to remind God's people of His faithfulness in the past. Even in seasons of doubt, when it feels as though God has forgotten His chesed—His steadfast covenant love—the psalmists choose to remember His mighty acts. We also discover why knowing the stories of Genesis through Samuel enriches our understanding of these songs, as the psalmists continually draw from Israel's history to strengthen hope in the present.

Finally, Psalm 78 challenges every generation to pass on the story of God's faithfulness. Parents are called to teach their children God's works and His instruction so that the next generation will place its hope in Him. The section concludes with Psalm 80, where Israel is pictured as God's carefully tended vine and the people cry out for a faithful leader—a hope that ultimately points us forward to the coming Son of Man.

Throughout these psalms, we see a consistent message: when life is confusing and evil seems to prevail, God's people remember who He is, what He has done, and confidently place their hope in the God who remains in control.

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In this episode, we continue our tour through Psalms 63–72, discovering a recurring pattern that runs throughout these songs: life's circumstances may rise and fall, but God's people always have reasons to praise Him.

David begins in Psalm 63 by expressing a deep longing for God, reminding us that worship is not dependent on our circumstances but on the unchanging character of the One we worship. As we move through these psalms, we see God rewarding the righteous, actively working in His creation, and faithfully caring for His people. From the praise of all the earth in Psalm 66 to the missionary heart of Psalm 67, we are reminded that God's blessings are meant to display His glory among the nations.

We also explore the vivid imagery of Psalm 68 as God is portrayed as the victorious King taking His throne, and we see how these psalms continue to build on the larger story of Scripture. In Psalms 69 and 70, David honestly acknowledges his own sin and his need for God's help, while Psalm 71 provides a beautiful model for overcoming discouragement by remembering God's lifelong faithfulness and responding with praise.

Finally, we conclude with Psalm 72, which closes Book Two of the Psalms with a glorious vision of the righteous King whose reign extends to the ends of the earth. While originally connected to Solomon, this psalm ultimately points us to the greater King, the Messiah, whose kingdom will never end. The book closes with a doxology, reminding us that no matter how many hardships we encounter along the journey, praise belongs to God.

As you listen, notice how these psalms continually connect back to the larger story of the Old Testament. To help you recognize those connections, we've created a companion PDF that traces the story of the Old Testament and highlights the events and themes the psalmists often reference. It's available on our website for $1.99 and is a great resource for individuals and families who want to read the Psalms with greater context and confidence.

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The Psalms often read like someone's personal prayer journal. They give us an honest look at what it means to follow God through seasons of fear, betrayal, discouragement, and hope. Again and again, the psalmists bring their deepest struggles before God, only to return to the unchanging truth of who He is.

In this episode, we journey through Psalms 52–62, beginning with the heartbreaking events behind Psalm 52 found in 1 Samuel 22. We contrast the actions of the foolish with the character of the righteous as Psalms 52 and 53 remind us that while people may reject God, He sees every action and will ultimately judge evil.

As we continue, we discover a repeated message throughout these psalms: God is still on His throne. Whether David is surrounded by enemies, betrayed by friends, or overwhelmed by fear, he continually returns to God as his refuge, deliverer, and King. We explore beautiful truths such as God recording every tear we shed (Psalm 56), inviting us to cast our burdens on Him (Psalm 55), and surrounding His people with His steadfast covenant love (chesed) even in the darkest moments.

Along the way, we revisit one of God's covenant names, "The Lord is My Banner," and see how His kingship and faithfulness echo the themes introduced earlier in the Psalms. We also consider the lasting heritage of those who fear the Lord and the hope of dwelling in God's presence under the reign of His King.

These psalms remind us that faith doesn't ignore hardship—it brings every hardship to God. No matter what we face, God remains strong, merciful, and faithful. He sees our tears, knows our circumstances, and calls us to trust Him, praise Him, and find our refuge in His steadfast love.

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In this episode, we continue our tour through the Psalms, stopping to notice the themes, connections, and biblical images that prepare us for deeper study later. Rather than diving into every detail, we're acting as tour guides, pointing out the landmarks that help us understand the bigger picture of the Psalms.

We begin with Psalms 42 and 43, where the psalmist longs for the living God in a world filled with lifeless gods. As the psalmist wrestles with discouragement, he repeatedly finds hope in God's chesed—His steadfast, covenant love. We also discover why being in God's presence, at His house, was the source of true joy and delight for Israel.

Moving through Psalms 44–50, we see a recurring message emerge: the God of Israel is the true King over every nation. Though Israel was a small nation surrounded by powerful empires, these psalms remind God's people that their King reigns above every earthly ruler and every false god. Along the way, we explore the Messianic hope found in Psalm 45, the comforting promises of Psalm 46, and the majestic descriptions of God's power and kingship that fill Psalms 47–49.

Finally, Psalm 50 reminds us that God never desired sacrifices for their own sake. Sacrifices were never meant to "fix" sin; they were God's gracious means of restoring relationship with Him. That truth prepares us beautifully for Psalm 51, where we see that genuine repentance and God's mercy bring the forgiveness that every sinner needs.

Throughout these psalms, one message rises above the rest: our God is the living King. He reigns over every nation, remains faithful through His steadfast love, and continually invites His people into His presence.

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In this episode, we explore several psalms that deepen our understanding of God's character and the life of faith. We begin with Psalm 17 and the Hebrew idiom "the apple of Your eye," discovering the powerful image David uses to describe God's protection and care for His people.

Next, we dive into Psalm 18, examining the rich imagery David uses to describe God as his rock, fortress, and deliverer. We also wrestle with David's claim to be "blameless" and see how it connects back to the righteous person described in Psalm 1.

We then look at Psalms 20 and 21 as a pair. Psalm 20 records the people's prayers and requests for the king, while Psalm 21 celebrates God's answer. Along the way, we see how Psalm 21 reaches beyond David and points us back to the Messianic hope introduced in Psalm 2.

Finally, we turn to Psalm 37, where the psalmist provides practical guidance for living faithfully in difficult times. Even when life is hard and the wicked seem to prosper, God's people are called to trust, delight, commit, wait, and rest in Him, knowing that He is their help and deliverer.

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