The Psalms
The psalmists include some of the most beautiful phrases in scripture. Prayed over for last 3000 years they bring comfort, challenge and praise. They lift us, offer lament and level us. They are a source of solace and inspiration flowing from the human heart and experience. We read the New Testament alongside the Hebrew scriptures - things make sense when we read biblical texts and the relationship between the two.
​Psalms - King David was 30 when he became King.
Psalm 1 - not just the first (though not the first written) it is almost an introduction to the Psalms - in a few earlier editions this Psalm was unnumbered and sat almost as a preface before the remaining Psalms. These Psalm 1 didn't just happen to be placed at the beginning of the book - as highly edited it was intentional. Psalm 1 offers a contrast between the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly reminding us by not doing certain things brings happiness - it seems a negative approach but wisdom oozes. As social creatures (just like Jack the alpaca) we are influenced by our environment - good and bad. if we want to dwell within the light of God - a righteousness life - be careful where you hang out. Be mindful of who influences minds and hearts. In the Psalmist words turn toward the positive - what are the places, the people, the activities that guide us towards goodness, righteousness and love? and be grounded - They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. Psalm 1
But Paul reminds us that it’s even wider than that. “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8)
Psalm 8 - what beautiful poetry - the night star draws us in and we are dazzled by its glory. If only the psalmist had a telescope - so much more to witness. Yet a handful of stars refused to behave - the wanderers - as the Greeks finally called them saw a handful of stars refusing to meld and exist like the others (well done the wanderers). The Greek word for wanderers is planeo from which we derive planets - perhaps those wandering stars were other worlds of their own. We cannot unsee the images of Earth, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus but that wasn't known to the writer of Psalm 8. How much more cause for joy then. It is estimated there are 10 billion galaxies with each galaxy containing 100 billion stars. It isn't just what we say for that is a fraction of what is really out there.
So the psalm is humbling - not just "out there" but look around - the birds of the air (Artic Terns fly 10000 miles round trip from Antartic to Asia for the summer.
In just 70 Hebrew words we are pulled in to think of God, creation and their relationship. psalm 8 the first praise Psalm and the only one as a direct address to God.
Creation matters and God loves it. Why for it declares the glory of God. And we - we are to care for it. “O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth"
Psalm 13 - written by King David in a time of trial - possibly during the Babylonian Exile though it is difficult to pinpoint to a specific time. "How long.." a lament we can all identify with. A request for divine help.
David's humble beginnings sets him apart as God chooses him to be King, and as a King faced a jealous predecessor - Ish-bosheth (or Ishbaal): Ruled briefly after Saul (one of Saul's sons) , mainly over the northern tribes. (2 Samuel 2:8-21). David had clearly identified enemies and made major mistakes in life (who hasn't). In that context he expresses a vast range of emotions.
"How long O lord, will you forget me for ever" - as we consider the love of God expressed in Jesus we reflect on the ending of the psalm - "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me".
Psalm 23 - written by King David reflects on his humble beginning as a shepherd illustrating God's intimacy, goodness and provision. Written over 3000 years ago ( just let that sink in for a while) around 1000BC (David was King from 1010-970BC). Could it be a period of reflection in the later part of his life. As you reflect on your life what characteristics of God's love and provision speak to you?
David didn't invent the view of God being Shepherd - it is peppered through scripture. “God will feed his flock like a shepherd,” said the prophet Isaiah, “and will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them close to him, and gently lead the mother sheep. . .” (Isaiah 40:11)
The prophet Ezekiel put it even more strongly: “Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and I will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered. . .I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries. . .I will feed them with good pasture. . . I will seek the lost, I will bring back the strayed, I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak. . .I will feed them with justice.” (Ezekiel 34:11-16)
So, David didn’t invent this idea and gives himself to it - The Lord is my shepherd - that is all we need.
Psalm 63 - Written by David perhaps in a time of wilderness in Judah. Most commentators believe it to belong either to David’s wilderness years before he came to the throne of Israel, or to his brief exile from the throne in the rebellion of Absalom. The wilderness years when hunted by King Saul are preferred, but not held with absolute certainty.
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Psalm 63 is about being thirsty. Not in a physical way, but physical thirst is a good word picture for something that God has placed in every human being. Every human being, even the most irreligious person, is spiritually thirsty. St. Augustine’s Confessions in which Saint Augustine states “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” reminds us where our hope is
Psalm 90 - the ticking of a clock astounds us - we pay attention at different times of lives - the first and last breath - time all noted. Time is different - in an airport lounge to a doctors waiting room it is impactful. Psalm 90 is all about time and is often used at a funeral service.
Written by Moses it is considered to be the first Psalm written (other Moses psalms 90-106). The Psalm commences my Lord - unique in the Psalms and quite appropriate. It points to YHWH's power and relationship with the speaker. Moses throughout the Psalm spas of experience (possibly written in the wilderness in Canaan). Psalm 90 s not disconnected from Moses other writings - its a reflection on them.
Moses writes: “You turn man to destruction, And say, ‘Return, O children of men.’” (Psalm 90:3, NKJV)
While this verse doesn’t mention dust explicitly, it clearly echoes what Moses had already written in Genesis after the fall: “For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19, NKJV)
This isn’t just poetic language—it’s a reflection of a reality Moses saw up close. The judgment described in Genesis and carried out in the wilderness became something he witnessed firsthand.
Psalm 90 focus is on God's eternal nature of the brevity of human life.
Psalm 121 - where do you look for help?
Psalm 121 is a Song of Ascents, one of the many said to be written by King David, is recited in times of trouble. In fact, it was taught that David himself was feeling hopeless when he composed this psalm (see Psalm 120 for information on his troubles). King David was looking for a ray of light, a modicum of peace. In a time when he was seeking hope and inner strength, he asks, “Who will help, and where will that help come from?” And before asking the question, of which he surely knew the answer, he turned his eyes to the mountains.
Where do you look for help? Does you gaze go to the person who you love and trust - the one who brings calm into a situation.
Often recited a the start of the journey the traveller asks a question and the answer is clear to see - 1 I lift my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The psalm begins with a question to which anyone can relate: Where can I get help? Or better, where can I look for help? So we ask in the midst of space and time - where do we look for help?
Psalm 139 - A song of David - “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” Musicians would have performed and sung this magnificent psalm. It is a remarkable piece of poetic theology–powerful writing in every sense. Why is it so powerful? 1 Samuel 16:23 tells us David played the harp for King Saul. Anointed music lifts the soul. Possibly attributed to the time when David is made King.
This is the reading I look at when selecting a new translation/version of the bible. It's poetry lifts the soul. A psalm of God's omnipresence and omniscience.
1-6: God’s omniscience (He knows all).
7-12: God’s omnipresence (He is everywhere).
13-18: God’s omnipotence (He forms life).
19-24: A concluding prayer against wickedness and a request for divine searching.
We cannot flea from God's presence.