Psalm Starter: Recent Episodes
David Beaty
Each of the last five Psalms (146 -150) in the Book of Psalms begins and ends with the words "Praise the Lord," which is the translation of the Hebrew word הַ֥לְלוּיָ֨הּ (hallelujah). This final section of the Book of Psalms is an excellent reminder to us not to neglect praise during our times of prayer.
Psalm 145 is a song of praise. It teaches us that it is always good to begin a time of prayer with praise to God. Further, recalling and praying the truths in Scripture about God is a good practice.
Psalm 144 is a Psalm of David. In it, David prays for blessing upon God's people. It teaches us that we should always praise God for who he is and what he has done for us. We must always come before God with humility and pray for his power to be displayed to further His Kingdom's purposes.
In Psalm 143, King David pleads with God for mercy instead of judgment. He prays for guidance from God in the midst of his suffering. God is the source of mercy when we need His restoring grace.
King David begins Psalm 142 by crying out to the Lord for mercy. He then acknowledges that God is his refuge and makes specific requests of God. It teaches us that even in our lowest and darkest times, we should seek God first.
Psalm 141 starts with a request for the prayer to ascend before the Lord as worship. It also contains a request for help in controlling speech and having strength in keeping godly discipline.
In Psalm 140 King David addresses the Lord with confidence. It is great Psalm for those who are afflicted to review and meditate upon.
Psalm 139 can guide us to more effective times of prayer by reminding us that it is always good to begin a time of prayer with a focus on who God is. That helps us to get our eyes off ourselves and onto God. It also reminds us that God knows us intimately.
Psalm 138 is a Psalm of David. It begins with a commitment to thanking and praising God for his steadfast love and faithfulness. When we turn to God in times of weariness, God can provide "strength of soul."
Psalm 136 is a call to give thanks to the Lord for his goodness. It is also a call to give thanks for his many benefits to his people such as those found in creation and those benefits that are part of salvation.
Verses from Psalms 132, 133, and 134 remind us that God keeps his promises and His Word, that we need to pray for unity among God's people and call us to praise and bless the Lord.
Verses from Psalms 129, 130, and 131 remind us that God is our deliver, teach us to seek God when we are in despair, and call us to humility before the Lord.
Verses from Psalms 126, 127, and 128 teach us that God is a restorer of His people. They call us to pray sincerely to God and remind us that God is the source of all true blessings.
Verses from Psalms 123, 124, and 125 teach us that we pray to God because of who He is. God is Lord over all, our helper, our creator, and our source of stability. We should trust in God and find our security in Him.
The "Songs of Ascent" are a collection of Psalms (120-134) that were probably sung by pilgrims who were "ascending" or "going up" to Jerusalem. Sections from Psalms 120, 121, and 122 teach us that we should call to God whenever we are in distress, always acknowledge God as our helper, and pray for the peace of God's people.
In this final episode on Psalm 119, we look at the last verses (161-176), which comprise two sections. The first section is headed by two Hebrew letters that are treated together שׂ (pronounced shin) and שׁ (pronounced sin), and the second is headed by the final letter in the Hebrew alphabet ת (pronounced taw). They remind us to turn to God and his Word whenever we are persecuted, suffering, or facing adversity.
Psalm 119, the section headed with "פ," pronounced pe, begins with praise and then makes a statement about the power and benefit of God's Word. If you are having trouble getting started in a time of prayer, open your Bible, read a few verses, and reflect on them. It will help put you into a proper frame of mind for prayer.
In Psalm 119, the sections headed with the Hebrew letter "ס," pronounced samek, andthe Hebrew letter "ע," pronounced ayin (verses 113-128) imply that the psalmist is undergoing significant adversity. It teaches us that during tough times, we can appeal to God for his steadfast love, and to be taught by God so that we can grow.
Psalm 119, verses 73-80, teaches us that meditating on God's Word is a great way to keep our hearts aligned with God's will during times of adversity.
Throughout Psalm 119, verses 65-72, the writer expresses a great desire for learning from God. When we seek to learn from God during our times of trial, we can grow in our faith and the quality of steadfastness.
Verses 33-48 of Psalm 119 contain a number of valuable verses that teach us how to pray for guidance, for the ability to obey God's Word, for protection from covetousness, and from protection from looking at evil things.
The theme of Psalm 119 is the Word of God. Verse 18 reads "Open my eyes that I may behold wonderous things out of your law." This is a great verse to memorize and pray before reading your Bible.
Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm. It has 176 verses, making it the longest chapter in the Bible. It is longer than some entire books of the Bible. It is a remarkable composition and is known as an alphabetic acrostic.
Psalm 118 is a psalm of thanksgiving to God for his steadfast love. It points us to Jesus Christ, who provides our salvation.
Jesus and his disciples may have sung Psalm 116 at the Last Supper because it was there that Jesus instituted the "cup of salvation." It reminds us to express our gratitude to God through our words and through our commitment to Him in our lives.
Psalm 109 is an imprecatory Psalm, which is a spoken curse. King David is calling for curses to come upon his enemies. This makes the Psalm a challenging Psalm to understand and apply.
Psalm 107 is a call to thank the Lord for his steadfast love. Those who have heard and embraced the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ recognize that God's most excellent demonstration of steadfast love was in sending Jesus, who died on the cross to pay for our sins and was raised from the dead to give us eternal life.
Psalm 106 is a call to thank and praise God, emphasizing not forgetting what He has done for us. Being grateful for what He has done for us can help us not to fall into a place of spiritual complacency.
Psalm 105 calls us to praise God for His wondrous works that have been done on behalf of His people. It has a particular emphasis on God's faithfulness to his chosen people throughout history. It reminds us that we should always thank God for who He is and what He has done.
Psalm 104 contains a pattern of the psalmist writing "to" God and then writing "about" God. This Psalm teaches us that it is good to remember and reflect upon the great things God has done in our own lives and creation at large. It is also good to remember our complete dependence upon God. It is always appropriate to pray that God be glorified in our lives.
Psalm 102 is a prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Part of this Psalm is quoted in the New Testament book of Hebrews and the words are applied to Jesus.
Psalm 101 is a Psalm of David. It is a prayer of commitment to the Lord. He expresses what he "will" and "will not" do. God's steadfast love is the solution to our inability to live with perfect holiness in our own strength.
Psalm 100 is a psalm about thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a vital part of a healthy prayer life.
Psalm 95 is a Psalm about worship. Our times of prayer should always include some element of praise to or worship of God. When we're in a time of prayer, we are given the instruction to obey him. Worship includes an obedient life.
A key lesson in Psalm 94 is that we are blessed when God disciplines us, even if it may seem unpleasant to us at the time. Despite the evil we see happening around us, we can trust the God is in control.
Psalm 92 is a Psalm of joy and hope. Despite the evil around us, it is always good to approach God with thanksgiving and singing praises. It is also good to remember and be grateful for all the things God has done for us.
Psalm 90 is one of the great prayers of the Book of Psalms. It is a prayer of Moses. God is addressed as the "dwelling place." The eternal nature of God and the temporal nature of man is stressed. By trusting God, we can have wisdom so that God can make the work of our hands fruitful in his sight.
Psalm 89 reminds us that we often face times in life when it does not seem like God's promises are being fulfilled. However, we should continue to seek God to turn toward Him.
Psalm 88 does not sound like a very encouraging Psalm. It is perhaps the "darkest" of the Psalms because it does not end on a note of hope. What are we to make of this? Darkness and suffering are not the end for believers because we know the One who has brought the light of His grace and truth to us—Jesus Christ.
Psalm 86 is a prayer of David. King David was facing life-threatening circumstances when he wrote the prayer. Throughout the Psalm, King David turns his attention to who God is and what God has done in the past.
In Psalm 85 we find prayer for God to restore his people, prayer that God would put away his anger toward His people, and prayer for revival. God has done all of these things for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 84 is a prayer of devotion to the Lord and an expression of gratitude for the privilege of knowing and serving Him. It is rich in its teaching and encouragement.
Psalm 83 can guide us in praying when it seems enemies prevail against God's work. We should pray for God's word and truth to become known and for His power to be shown.
Psalm 80 is a prayer in which the psalmist asks for the restoration of God's people. It can guide us as we pray for God's renewing, reviving, and strengthening work in His people—the Church.
Psalm 79 teaches us that in times of terrible crisis, it is always good to acknowledge our sins to God and pray for forgiveness. We should appeal to God's compassion and we should pray for God's name to be honored.
The theme of Psalm 77 is praying when you are discouraged. When we are discouraged, we should begin our prayer time by focusing on who God is and what he has done.
Psalm 74 is a maskil of Asaph. It teaches us about prayer when it seems like God's will is not being done around us. We should never forget who God is and what He has done in the past.
Psalm 73 deals with a change in perspective that Asaph, a worship leader during Biblical times, had. When we need our perspective changed, we should draw near to God by praying, worshipping, hearing God's Word, and expressing our trust in the Lord.
Psalm 72 is a psalm of Solomon. Verses 17-19 point to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. The psalm also guides us on how to pray for national leaders. We should pray for their righteousness, that they should have compassion on the poor, and that they will honor the Lord as the only true God.
The key theme of Psalm 71 is prayer in the time of old age. We never outgrow the need for God's help. We never age out of our need for His power and his grace.
Psalm 69 reminds us that honest, sincere lament and complaint is acceptable to God. It also reminds us to always turn to God in a crisis. We should always trust in God's steadfast love.
How can Psalm 67 guide us in developing our own prayers? It reminds us of God's call for the Church to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations of the world.
Willfully holding on to the practice of sin can hinder our confidence in prayer. The good news is that God has made provision for our sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Regardless of how we feel and despite whatever our circumstances are, God is always worthy of our praise. God provides everything that the Earth needs and the Earth itself gives praise to Lord.
Psalm 63 teaches us the importance of seeking God for God Himself. There is nothing better than the steadfast love of God. We should meditate on who God is.
Psalm 62 is a psalm about waiting upon God in faith. God alone is our rock, our salvation, and our fortress. We are to trust in God and pour out our heart to him in prayer.
There is an essential lesson in Psalm 61: We need God to lead us to Himself. We sometimes feel distant from God. We can pray for God to awaken the awareness of His presence in us.
Psalm 60 reminds us that there are still times of defeat and discouragement amid great victories. We need to remember that only God can give victory. Praying God's Word is a great way to strengthen our prayer lives.
Psalm 59 teaches us that when facing adversity, we should make specific requests of God. We should also focus on who God is, rely on God's strength and steadfast love, and always conclude our prayer time with praise to God.
Psalm 57 is one of 14 Psalms with a historical note in its heading. It teaches us that we should come to God whenever we need mercy and acknowledge that God is the source of our strength.
Psalm 56 was written during a very tough crisis in the life of King David. Yet, the psalm reminds us to pray, to trust, and to give praise to God because of who He is and because of His great care for those who are His own.
Psalm 55:22 is a terrific verse to memorize. It is helpful in that it reminds us to cast our burdens on God. The New Testament teaches the same idea in 1 Peter 5:6-7.
King David begins Psalm 54 by specifically asking God to save him. He puts his trust in God and gives thanksgiving to God. God is the One who upholds our lives. We should commit to worshipping God.
Psalm 51 is one of the greatest prayers of confession of sin in the Bible. It teaches us that when we are confessing our sins before the Lord we need to be completely open and honest.
Verse 22 of Psalm 44 is quoted in the New Testament book of Romans. We should always turn from lament to trust in God because we who are in Christ, have been saved.
Scholars suggest that Psalms 42 and 43 were originally one composition. They express longing for God's presence. They teach us about praying when we are discouraged or depressed. During those times we should let the Word of God lead us.
The writer of Hebrews takes the words of King David in Psalm 40 and applies them to Jesus Christ. This teaches us that God is not honored by sacrifices and burnt offerings, but instead, Christ came and gave his own life on the cross to take the judgment for our sins.
Psalm 39 reflects on the brevity of life on earth. However, we can trust and hope in God despite that brevity. We should repent and turn from sin and place our hope fully in the Lord.
Psalm 38 teaches us that it is OK to lament to God and be honest in our prayers. It also teaches us to search our hearts for any sin. In the midst of suffering, we should put our trust in God.
Psalm 35 teaches us that God wants us to trust him to fight our battles. We should recognize that God's answers to our prayers do not come immediately. Despite our circumstances, God delights in the welfare of his servants.
King David pronounces the blessedness of being forgiven by God in Psalm 32. He also stresses the importance of being teachable and humble before God. The psalm teaches us that we should acknowledge our sins honestly before the Lord.
Jesus quoted from the Psalms more than any other book of the Old Testament. Jesus prays Psalm 31:5 from the cross. This reminds us that we also should learn and pray the Psalms. We can pray in faith when we are facing adversity.
Psalm 30 reminds us that there will be mourning and suffering for God's people. However, for the believer, all suffering is temporary. Even if it does not end in this life, it will end in eternity.
Should we pray the way King David prays in Psalm 28 regarding his enemies? There is a better way in light of the teaching from Jesus in the New Testament to love your enemies and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. However, we can and should pray for God to defeat our spiritual enemy, Satan.
Psalm 27 is a beautiful psalm of trust in the Lord and prayer to the Lord. It contains three emphases that can guide us in our own prayer life.
Psalm 25 is a psalm that deals with the subject of guidance. It teaches us that we need to remember that God gives guidance to those who are humble. When we have hardship in life, we can get guidance from God, but we need to remain humble.
Psalm 23 is perhaps the best-known psalm. How can it help us to pray? One way is to personalize the words and then pray them.
Psalm 19 is a beautiful teaching psalm. Verses 1-6 teach us that creation reveals the greatness of God. Verses 7-11 teach us that God is revealed in Scripture. In the final verses, there is a prayer in response to those two teachings.
Psalm 18 extols the greatness of God. It teaches us that we can pray with confidence and gratitude despite the adversity we face because God rules over everything.
Psalm 17 is "a prayer of David." King David was a great warrior, but he put his trust in God, not his own capabilities, to defeat his enemies. The Psalm concludes with a look to eternity which is a good reminder for us that because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we too can look to eternity when we face adversity in this life.
In verse 8 of Psalm 16, King David states, "I have set the Lord always before me." What David is saying is that regardless of what he is facing in life, he is going to look to the Lord for help.
Learning the Psalms can be a helpful way to learn how to pray. In Psalm 13, King David asks 4 times, "How long?" He moves from feeling forgotten by God to seeking God and having confidence in God's steadfast love.
Psalm 9 includes both prayer and teaching. It teaches us that we should trust God in our times of distress. It also speaks of the Lord's ultimate victory over the nations.
Psalm 8 is a beautiful psalm of praise to God for his greatness. Magnifying the Lord for his greatness is always a good way to start prayer. Verse 2 is quoted in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew. When we praise the Lord, God can silence the attacks of the enemy.
Psalm 7 is a song that consists of prayer, teaching, and warning. God's wrath is a reality. However, for those who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord, God has not destined them for wrath.
Psalm 6 is a prayer of lament—an expression of grief or sorrow. Towards the end of the prayer, David expresses confidence in the Lord. When we are in the midst of hardships in life it is OK to lament however, we should always trust in God's steadfast love.
King David prays a particularly helpful prayer for us to learn in Psalm 5:8—"Lead me O LORD in your righteousness, because of my enemies make your way straight before me." When facing adversity it is a good prayer to pray.
Psalm 4 verse 3 has a wonderful truth—"Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself." This is a lovely picture of how God intends a close relationship with those he has redeemed and set apart for himself.
The book of Psalms has been referred to as the prayer book of the Bible. It gives us a vocabulary for prayer. King David's prayer in Psalm 3 is an example of praying with confidence in the midst of a crisis.
The prophet Malachi writes about the coming of the "Day of the Lord." This refers to the time of Jesus Christ's return, the Second Coming. How should we be praying in light of Jesus' return?
Malachi's prophecy teaches us how not to approach God in prayer and worship. He rebukes the Israelites for coming to God with the worst that they had to offer and for having a lack of true instruction coming from the priests. They also oppressed the poor and needy and did not give proper tithes.
In Zechariah, there is a call for people to return to the Lord and to look to God, not to idols, for provision. Our salvation comes from the Lord and our power to walk with the Lord comes from the Holy Spirit.
One of the lessons we learn from the prophet Zechariah is that it is possible for people to go through religious motions without really "returning" to the Lord. True humility, repentance, and sincere seeking of the Lord are necessary for us to pray prayers to which God responds.
The prophet Zephaniah predicted that judgment would come upon Judah. He also called for the humble in the land to seek the Lord. The book ends with praise. The message for us is that as people who live in a time and nation in which God's righteous judgment is deserved, we are called to be people of humility who seek the Lord.
The prophet Habakkuk prays with reverence for the Lord, for God to revive his good work for God's people, and for God's mercy. He concludes his prayer with beautiful words that look to the future glory for those who place their faith in Jesus.
The prophet Habakkuk's prayer for understanding was answered in a way that he could not have fully understood at that time because the answer points us to the Gospel of Jesus Christ which provides deliverance from the judgment that we all deserve.
The prophet Micah accused the leaders of Israel of being confident of their position in the Lord while they were actually doing ungodly things. We must not be like the rulers and prophets of Micah's day who prayed and got no answer because their prayers were presumptuous.
Jonah was angry that the people of Ninevah had repented at his preaching and God was displeased with his anger. We can learn from this that rather than being angry at the unbelieving world, we who are Christians should sincerely pray for them to know the Lord.
Jonah calls upon the Lord in his distress and the Lord hears his prayer. God listens to us in times of crisis, even if it is a crisis we bring upon ourselves.
When the prophet Jonah is at sea and God causes a tempest to come upon the ship, when the mariners hear Jonah's statement of truth about the Lord, they turn to the Lord themselves and call out in prayer. A crisis often provides a great opportunity for unbelievers to turn to the one true God.
Joel has been called the prophet of the Holy Spirit. Joel teaches us how people experiencing judgment should pray. He does this by using one word—returning. The call to repent is a common form of prayer in the Old Testament.
The name Hosea comes from the Hebrew word for salvation. The Book of Hosea teaches us how disobedient people should pray, repent, and turn back to God.
Daniel is praying and fasting for three weeks and again an angel comes to visit him. The angel says some unusual words to him that give us some insight into spiritual warfare in the heavenly realms.
At the end of Daniel's great prayer for his people, he is visited by the angel Gabriel who encourages Daniel and gives him understanding about the future. He also tells him that he is greatly loved by God.
Daniel's prayer for the Israelites is guided by Scripture. He confesses the sins of his people and does not exclude himself. Then he makes his request to the Lord.
The account of Daniel shows us a remarkable and uncompromising devotion to prayer. This teaches us the value of steadfastness in prayer.
Daniel was a Jewish captive in Babylon. When he is facing a crisis, he goes to his companions and asks them to pray for him. When we don't know what to do, the Scriptures invite us to pray and ask others to pray for us.
One of the recurring ideas in the Book of Ezekiel is that God will do what He's going to do so that people will know that He is the Lord. This is an emphasis that should be in our prayers—that God is the Lord.
Ezekiel was a prophet during the time that the Jews were in exile in Babylon. There is a short prayer recorded in Ezekiel chapter 11. In answer to his prayer, God says what he will do in the future for the nation of Israel.
In the Book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah recognizes that real restoration begins by being in a right relationship with God.
The Book of Lamentations emphasizes God's anger at sin, Jeremiah's grief, and the people's suffering under the siege against Jerusalem. Despite all this lament, there is hope in the book as well.
While imprisoned, Jeremiah prays to God. His prayer expresses joy and exclamation, recalls God's steadfast love, and offers words of hope.
While lamenting over his situation, Jeremiah remembers his calling. He then expresses his confidence in God.
In Jeremiah chapters 15 and 16, we see that God's people must sometimes stand alone and that there may be prolonged times of prayer without seeing results—even times of lament or pain—but God never leaves his servants.
Jeremiah's prayer in chapter 10 includes worship, declaration of who God is, the futility of idols, and prayer for guidance.
We see with the prophet Jeremiah that God often calls one individual who is in a right relationship with Him to pray for many other people who are not in right relationship with God. There is always hope because of who God is.
It is evident in Scripture that fasting and prayer are connected. The prophet Isaiah emphasizes considering the poor when fasting and also that we should take time and give focused attention to seeking God when fasting.
Isaiah chapter 12 is a reminder that our prayers should include 3 things:
1) thanksgiving and praise to God for his great gift of salvation.
2) expression of our trust in Him.
3) concern for the unreached people of the world.
Isaiah chapter 6 teaches us four things: the importance of grasping the holiness of God, the importance of understanding our own sinfulness, the knowledge that a remedy is provided by God for our sin, and finally, that we should joyfully surrender to God's will.
Proverbs can guide us in many ways to build lives of prayer. Proverbs calls us to pray for the development of wisdom in our lives. It calls us to pray for wisdom in the decisions that we make.
Proverbs is filled with wisdom that can guide us in developing our prayer lives. Agur, the author of Proverbs 30, makes two broad requests of God. First, that God would help him become a person of integrity. Second, that God would help him to remain faithful to God.
There is little mention of prayer in the Book of Proverbs, however, there is great wisdom in the Book of Proverbs to guide us in praying. It teaches us the great value of the fear of the Lord.
The Book of Proverbs reminds us to pray that we may be kept from temptation. It also teaches us the great value of humility. Humility before God is inseparably connected to prayer. By prayer, we commit what we do to the Lord and trust that He will guide us.
The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom to guide us in praying. It teaches us to seek God's wisdom in all we do. It guides us to seek an understanding of God's Word.
In the midst of Job's pain, his friends added to it by hurting him with their words. They were not very good comforters. Why then was it so important that Job pray for his friends?
The life of Job is a call to steadfastness in suffering and to remember that the Lord is indeed compassionate and merciful.
For those who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, God's throne is the throne of grace. Believers are called to come with confidence before His throne, praying in order that they may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need.
Job expresses his need for an arbiter, which seems to look ahead to what Jesus would do for us. Jesus became the answer to Job's plea.
Biblical fasting is abstaining from food or other pleasure to give focused time to seeking God and His will for our lives and the lives of others. Fasting is associated with prayer, so although prayer is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, it is implied.
Nehemiah's example is one of constant prayer throughout the busyness of life. He prayed throughout his work.
In Nehemiah's payer, he confesses the sins of the people, but he also identifies himself with those sins. He requests that God will hear his prayer, he appeals to God's Word, and then he seeks God's favor in mercy. Then Nehemiah acts on his prayer.
The priest Ezra was deeply moved by the sins of the people of Israel and he identified with them. He acknowledges they had broken God's commandments. The people responded with weeping and repentance.
King Jehoshaphat's prayer is a reminder for us to always turn to God in the adversities and challenges of life. We need to remember who God is and what he has done.
The lesson that we can learn from King Asa's life is that we must never stop seeking the Lord. We never outgrow the need for his help. We must never stop relying upon God in prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 7 we find God's instruction for the healing of a nation. It provides us with a pattern for how to pray for a nation.
King Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings focuses on the greatness of God and requests salvation from God. God then speaks through the prophet Isaiah to let Hezekiah know He has heard the king's prayer. God used Hezekiah's prayer to bring about his purpose.
The prophet Elijah went through a period of feeling depressed and discouraged. However, God reminded Elijah that he is not alone and then give him meaningful work. When we feel isolated we should go to God's Word first and foremost so that we can hear from Him.
Elijah's prayers affected an entire nation. James reminds us that Elijah was only human—just like us. If we have been made righteous through faith in Jesus, our prayers, like Elijah's, can have great power as they are working.
Those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ have a much better promise than praying toward a place. We pray not to place, but because of a person—Jesus Christ.
God approved of Solomon's prayer because he focused on God's steadfast love, was humble before the Lord, and asked for wisdom to be able to do God's will.
It is important that we take a humble assessment of ourselves before we approach God prayer. We should focus on the greatness of God and the fulfillment of His will. We can then request blessing upon our family.
King David seemed to be quick to pray and wait upon God for guidance. This is a contrast with King Saul who was quick to take matters into his own hands.
In Hannah's song of praise found in 1 Samuel chapter 2, she prays for a king at a time when there is no king in Israel. Her words point to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Her gratitude led her to praise the Lord and her praise pointed prophetically to the One who would come to judge all.
Hannah's vow to commit her child to the Lord's service as a priest was seeking to honor the Lord. She was cooperating with God's plan. The fulfillment of the vow was in accordance with God's will.
The story of Jephthah in the Book of Judges is a tragic example of how not to pray. We should not negotiate with God. A better way for us to pray is to come to the Lord in submission with humility and with reliance upon His power.
In the Book of Judges, Gideon asks God for a sign to confirm His will. Is that an appropriate way for a Christian today to pray in order to determine God's will or to receive His guidance?
Sometimes we don't see the answers to prayers that we want in this life because God has something better for us either in this life or in the life to come. It is important that we try to align our prayers with the will of God.
In the Book of Numbers, the people of Israel ask Moses to pray for them after the Lord afflicts them for their disobedience. Once again Moses prays, and once again God gives Moses a solution to the problem. However, this time, the solution has much greater significance.
Moses is a remarkable example of the power of intercessory prayer. His prayer resulted in the sparing of an entire nation!
God did not rebuke Moses for lamenting in prayer about the hard situation he was facing. Instead, God gave him a solution. We can come with honesty before the Lord in prayer.
In the Book of Numbers, the Lord gives Moses a benediction—a spoken blessing—to speak over the people of Israel. Those of us who know God as our Father through faith in Jesus Christ can also pray this benediction for ourselves, our families, and other people that we know.
Moses was changed by his time in prayer with God. We who have embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ are also changed by our time spent with God in prayer. This comes about by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Moses was in fellowship with God and in prayer, he experienced God's holy presence—the glory of God. During these times Moses was growing to know God better and he was being changed by encountering God's presence.
Moses learned to highly value the presence of God. He also learned the great need to continue to know God better.
Moses appeals to God's Word when he intercedes in prayer on behalf of the nation of Israel. One man praying, spares an entire nation.
When Moses is confronted with a crisis, he doesn't try to solve the problem with his own reasoning. Instead, he cries out to the Lord in prayer and the Lord gives him the proper guidance. Often that guidance can result in something far more significant than we imagined.
The Song of Moses reminds us that praise should always be a vital part of our prayer lives. In this song, there is an emphasis on who God is, what He has done for the people of Israel, His steadfast love for His people, and trust in God's future reign.
God used the prayers of Moses to stop the plagues. Moses was an intercessor. Intercessory prayer can be understood as someone who is in a right relationship with God praying before God on behalf of someone else who is not necessarily in a right relationship with God.
Jacob's prayer in Genesis 32 is a good model for how to pray confidently and specifically. Jacob approaches God on the basis of who God is. He also appeals to God on the basis of what God has already said. He prays with humility.
It is not only well know people of the Bible whose prayers were recorded. The prayer of Abraham's servant is recorded in Genesis. Two of the things we learn from the prayer are the value of praying specifically and not approaching God on the basis of our own wisdom, worthiness, or righteousness, but approaching God on the basis of His great steadfast love.
Abraham was far from perfect. However, God used Abraham's prayers for King Abimelech to heal him and his household. God chose to use the prayer of someone who was walking with Him to work in the life of someone who was not walking with Him.
Because of Abraham's relationship with God, Lot was spared when God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham stood before God to pray for others. God also gives us, as believers in Jesus, the privilege of interceding in prayer on behalf o others.
Those who walk with God, communicate with God. God gives commands, guidance, and promises, and people who walk with God obey Him, worship Him, and talk with Him. God created human beings for fellowship with Himself and prayer is a vital part of that fellowship.
As the book of Revelation draws to a close, we see the great purpose of God fulfilled. That purpose is that God will be with His redeemed people. Communion with God is the great privilege, joy, and destiny of every true believer in Jesus Christ.
Revelation paints a vivid picture of the challenges that will accompany life on Earth for believers in the time before Jesus' return. Because of these difficulties, believers need to be prepared to pray. How then, should we pray, in light of these difficulties?
One of the most prevalent forms of communication with God found in the book of Revelation is praise and worship. Praise and worship are a form of prayer. Prayer is not just for our benefit. Prayer is for God's benefit as well, as a form of worship.
One of the types of prayer that is called for in the book of Revelation is the prayer of repentance. Repentance is to change one's mind. It conveys the idea of "turning." God would not call us to repent if He were not willing to restore us. Repentance is the great hope of revival for the church.
Our prayer life is to be guided, enabled, and powered by the Holy Spirit who indwells believers. This type of prayer is a means of walking closely with the Lord and a means of being strengthened and edified in our faith.
The great revelation of God in Scripture shows us his will. The better we know Scripture, the more aquatinted we will be with God's will and therefore better able to pray with great confidence.
If our hearts condemn us for some deliberate disobedience to God then we cannot pray with confidence. However, if keep God's commands—especially the command to love one another—then we are abiding in Christ and we can then pray with confidence.
Verses 8 and 9 of 1 John Chapter 1 are particularly important for us as believers because we still sin. God is faithful to forgive our sins. Our confession of sin is not dependent upon our human goodness but upon the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
A lack of self-control and overindulgence in food, drink, or entertainment can hinder us from praying. Christians need to be prepared to pray effectively at all times. The Bible calls us to spiritual alertness, sober-mindedness, and maintaining a lifestyle in which we are ready to pray at all times.
When husbands and wives pray together there is greater unity in marriages. It is important for couples to pray together for their marriage and, if they have children, to pray for their children.
Praying with one another, confessing sins to one another, and praying for healing for one another are all important parts of the ministry of the body of Christ. God can use our prayers powerfully. We can pray big prayers because we have a big God.
James gives a reason for unanswered prayer—wrong motives. When we come to God in prayer we're to pray in faith and not to pray for things out of selfish desire.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes that when we are going through hard times, we need wisdom. We should ask God in prayer for His wisdom. He also says that when we pray for wisdom, we must do so in faith without doubting.
Hebrews 13:20-21 provides a wonderful model for our own prayer. This benedictory prayer is for our own spiritual growth and development and for spiritual growth in the lives of others.
There was communication between the Lord and people like Abraham, Sarah, and Moses who responded in faith to God's directions. These people were not without sin but God honored them because they trusted and believed in Him.
One of the most valuable things to remember when we pray is that Jesus is our representative before God's throne. We do not come on the basis of our own worthiness because none of us are worthy enough.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that we don't need to come to God in prayer on the basis of our righteousness because Jesus is our high priest.
The book of Hebrews presents Jesus as our great high priest. Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins and now represents us before God. We can pray with confidence because Christ has become our merciful and faithful high priest.
The Apostle Paul offers many prayers of benediction for those he is writing to. These often start with the word "may." These are beautiful examples of Holy Spirit-inspired prayer that we can use to pray for ourselves and for one another.
We can pray for other Christians to be made worthy of the calling to be followers of Jesus. We can pray for those who are growing in their faith that God will fulfill in them every resolve for good and that the works of faith that He puts into their hearts would be fulfilled by his power. We can pray that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in us and that we will be glorified in Him.
How is it possible to live a life in which we "pray without ceasing?" Human discipline alone can not accomplish it. Only with the presence, power, and filling of the Holy Spirit can we do it.
As you're praying for people, pray for the love of God to be fully manifest in their lives. Pray that their love for God and love for other believers will grow and increase. There is no holiness without love.
The apostle Paul asks the Colossian church to pray for his preaching to be clear. Paul was dependent on the prayers of God's people.
As we are filled with the knowledge of God's will, we begin to live out God's will, bearing fruit in every good work. We can pray to be strengthened with power so that our endurance and patience grow.
Paul gives a prescription for living with less anxiety in his letter to the church at Phillipi. Through prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, and requests, the peace of God can guard our hearts and minds against anxiety.
As we grow in love we should grow in the ability to discern between good and evil. We can pray for the ability to live pure lives so that we are can be prepared for Christ's return.
Paul's trust was not in his own ability to make disciples but in the work that God would do for those whom Paul was teaching. Paul was part of the process of their spiritual growth through his prayers for them.
Without an active life of prayer, we are not putting on the whole armor of God. We should be praying at all times in the Spirit. As we are praying for other people it is important that we persevere in prayer. Don't give up if you don't see immediate changes in response to your prayers.
Spiritual opposition from Satan and his kingdom is a reality. If we are going to be able to stand against this opposition we need the spiritual armor that God has provided. Constant prayer in the Holy Spirit is a vital part of the spiritual armor.
The great prayer of the apostle Paul recorded in the book of Ephesians chapter 3 is one of the greatest prayers of the Bible and one of the most important prayers to learn, memorize, pray for ourselves, and pray for others. It models praying for spiritual strength and spiritual comprehension so that we can gain spiritual maturity in which the love of Jesus within us is the evidence.
If you study the prayers of the apostle Paul found in the New Testament, you'll find that there is a recurring emphasis on spiritual growth and maturity. The greatest expression of spiritual maturity is to be filled with the love of Jesus.
From Paul's prayers for the Ephesians, we can learn the importance of praying for the ability to comprehend the greatness and vastness of the love of Jesus. If we are to be filled with all the fullness of God then we must be filled with the love of Christ.
If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord and have repented of sin, turned to Him, and embraced what He did for you on the cross, then you are a "saint"—one who has been set apart by God for Himself. It is important for us to pray for spiritual understanding and wisdom for ourselves and for other believers—for all the saints.
In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul prays continually, with gratitude, and specifically for spiritual illumination for those he is praying for. We need God's help to understand spiritual realities and the revelation given to us in Scripture.
In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul provides us with a model for how to approach God with gratitude, praise, thanksgiving, and worship for who God is and what He has done for us. Knowing how to praise God is an important part of knowing how to pray to God.
A benediction can be thought of as a form of prayer that expresses something that you desire to happen in the life of the person or people whom you are praying for. The apostle Paul had a pattern for using these blessings at both the beginning and end of his letters which are now part of the New Testament.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul prays to God and asks him to remove a "thorn in the flesh." God responds by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you." Paul concludes that he can be content in his struggle, whatever it was.
In Christ, we have something far better than what the Israelites had with the law. When the Lord opens our hearts to embrace the salvation provided for us through Jesus, the spiritual veil that kept us in spiritual darkness is removed. As we are then able to enjoy the presence of God, he changes us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Paul says,"...it is through him that we utter our Amen to God..." in 2 Corinthians, he is talking about our coming to God with faith in his promises and our praying through Christ with Jesus as our great high priest so that in Christ all the promises of God for us are "Yes and amen." Paul also says that God has"given us his Spirit in our hearts." When we pray, we can see all three persons of the Trinity at work.
In 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul expresses his confidence that God will deliver him from the persecution and suffering that he experiences, but he also believes God will use the prayers of the saints to help bring about that deliverance. We don't always know how God is using our prayers to help other people.
Paul lists 9 spiritual gifts in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 of which speaking in tongues is included. In chapter 14 he talks about praying in tongues and that some of the benefits of doing this are to give praise and thanksgiving to God. God gives this gift to come Christians and it has valuable use in prayer.
The apostle Paul gives relatively little teaching on prayer in 1st Corinthians but in his teaching on the Lord's Supper, he points to an important role of prayer as a way of examining ourselves. Praying Psalm 139 can be a great way to do that.
In 1 Corinthians we can learn from the apostle Paul how to pray for Christians who are less than spiritually mature and far from God. Our trust must be in the faithfulness of God.
Paul appeals to the believers in Rome for prayer. He feels it is essential for them to enter into prayer with him and for him for God's work in his life. When we pray for people who are doing the work of ministry, whether in our local church or internationally, we are joining in partnership with them and they are very much in need of that partnership.
All who are truly Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling within. The Holy Spirit leads us and bears witness to us when we pray. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray effectively.
The book of Romans is the most theological of all the books that the apostle Paul wrote. In the opening of this book, Paul notes his prayers for the people in Rome. Paul provides a wonderful model for how to pray for other people.
Paul the apostle becomes one of the greatest people of prayer whose account is recorded for us in Scripture. When he is shipwrecked on the island of Malta, he prays for the sick father of the chief official of the island, Publius, and he is healed.
In Acts 16 Paul and Silas cast an evil spirit out of a woman and are subsequently imprisoned. While in prison they pray and as a result, everyone in the prison is freed. It becomes an opportunity for Paul and Silas to preach the Gospel to the jailer and his family.
In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabus are sent out by the church in great power to spread the Gospel and they see much fruit but they also experience great persecution. This becomes a pattern for Paul who faced persecution in many of the places he went to preach the Good News. As a result, he often asked the church to pray for him in that regard. We should be doing the same for missionaries in our day.
What we're seeing as we continue through the Book of Acts, is that there is power when Christians pray together. Do you have people in your life that you regularly pray with? If you're married, are you regularly praying with your spouse?
In Acts chapter 10 there is a great instance of the Gospel going to the Gentiles. It begins initially with two different individuals—Cornelius and Peter—who were seeking God in prayer. God often orchestrates significant activities through people who are devoted to prayer.
As we continue to consider the example of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, it is interesting that in his prayer at the time of his death, he cried out with a loud voice. Could it be that the Lord used Stephen's loud prayer to affect Saul who was standing nearby and who would later have an encounter with Jesus?
Stephen, one of the first deacons in the early Church, challenged the religious people who were resisting the truth of the Gospel. The religious leaders were angered and stoned Stephan to death. Just before he took his last breath, Stephen prayed, "Lord do not hold this sin against them."
As we continue to look at the pattern of prayer shown in the Book of Acts we see that when Peter and John were threatened and forbidden to speak about Jesus they gathered the believers together and prayed. They exalted God and asked for boldness to continue to speak the Word of God.
After the remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter preached the Gospel and 3000 people became Christians. These new followers of Jesus devoted themselves to several primary spiritual disciples, one of which, was prayer.
The Book of Acts follows the four Gospels and gives us the history of the early Christian Church. The early church leaders had a great devotion to prayer. The first thing they did after Jesus' ascension into heaven was to gather together and pray.
Bringing together the 3 chapters in John that we've been looking at this week—Chapters 14-16—we see a remarkable emphasis on praying to the Father in the name of Jesus with great assurance that our prayers will be heard and answered. But there are conditions like abiding in Christ and having the Holy Spirit as our guide and helper.
In John 16:23-28 Jesus gives the strongest possible encouragement to believers to pray in his name with great confidence and joy. However, there are conditions that go along with these promises. When we come before the father in the name of Jesus we do so on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross and his righteousness, not on the basis of our own righteousness.
Jesus told his disciples that it was in their best interest for him to leave because then he would send the Holy Spirit. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to have Christ's words abiding in us. There is a clear link between having the guidance of the Holy Spirit and abiding by Jesus' words and praying effectively. Believers in Jesus Christ never pray alone—they pray in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
In John 15, as in John 14, Jesus gives remarkable promises about prayer. Jesus calls us to abide in him, surrender to his Lordship, and be obedient to his teachings. When we abide in him we have the incredible promise of effective prayer and fruit-bearing that glorifies God.
In John 14:16-17 Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit who dwells within believers. We need God's help to pray as we should and God gives us that help in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel of John Chapter 14 Jesus gives the strongest possible encouragement to believe in prayer. Believing prayer is prayer that will give glory to God. There is a strong emphasis on living a life of obedience to Jesus' commands in this passage and praying in his name.
In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 21, after the "cleansing of the Temple", Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in true faith which is always surrendered to God's will. Jesus gives encouragement to them to have a strong belief in prayer but is also teaching that faith is not a tool to manipulate God into giving us what we want.
In Luke Chapter 18, Jesus teaches about the importance of humility in prayer. The parable he tells contrasts a self-righteous Pharisee with an often despised tax collector. The tax collector, however, is considered justified by God because of his humility.
Jesus teaching on prayer found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 18 immediately follows his teaching on his return in Chapter 17. He uses a parable to teach that they should always pray and not lose heart. God is pleased when we persevere in trusting him.
In Luke Chapter 11 Jesus teaches about the need to persist in prayer. After providing a model for prayer to his disciples, Jesus tells them a story that is an illustration and a call to persistence in prayer. This persistence in prayer is especially important in praying for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When Christ was on the cross, he prayed. Jesus was forgiving those who had wronged him. He also prayed from Psalm 31:5. Jesus lived a life of prayer just as he expects his followers to live lives of prayer.
When Jesus was facing the greatest challenge in his life he first spent time in prayer. Prior to the crucifixion Jesus prayed on the Mount of Olives. While he was praying, Jesus was agonizing over having to bear the sin of the world.
In Luke Chapter 9 we read about Jesus' transfiguration which occurred when he and a few of his disciples went up on a mountain to pray. It demonstrates God's power and glory upon the life of Christ. As believers, we need to rely upon prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus did.
Jesus' routine seemed to be one of rising early in the morning to pray and then embarking on a full day and evening of ministry. On the night before choosing his 12 apostles, he spent the entire night in prayer. Jesus enjoyed communion with God and it strengthened him.
In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 3 we read about Jesus coming to be baptized by John the Baptist. When Jesus is baptized, he is praying. He is shone to be anointed by the Holy Spirit while he is praying. Jesus lived a life of prayer.
Jesus' model prayer that he gives us in Sermon on the Mount is commonly called The Lord's Prayer. It can be used as a guide for your own time of daily prayer. Having a plan for your time of prayer can make that time much more fulfilling, effective, and rewarding.
Satan temps us in order to tear us down. He is described in the Scriptures as the "god of this world." How then do we, as believers, prevail over Satan and his temptations?
It can be difficult to forgive those who have hurt us deeply. God calls us to forgive them because he knows that it is in our best interest. There are dangers to unforgiveness such as a hindered prayer life, bitterness, anger, and loss of joy.
God calls those who have received his great forgiveness to forgive others. Jesus tells us a parable about this in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 18. Does the parable indicate that if we don't forgive someone else then we lose our salvation?
The request in the Lord's Prayer to "forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors" is why many people prefer to call this model prayer the Disciples Prayer because Jesus never would have prayed these words since he had no sins to confess. We, however, should confess our sins daily and also allow God to show us if we need to forgive someone else.
Why does God ask us to pray for what He already knows we need? God shapes our lives and works in us as we pray and as we wait for our prayers to be answered. He develops the quality of perseverance in us. Tested faith becomes stronger faith. Jesus teaches us this in a parable in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 18.
The Lord's Prayer is a good model for a daily time of prayer. Each statement can be thought of as a different category for prayer. For example, when Jesus teaches us to pray for our daily bread that means to ask for that which we need whether actual food, financial provision, or even strength to preserve through a difficult trial. By doing so we acknowledge our dependence on God for what we need.
How do we know what God wants so that we can pray for His will to be done? God reveals His will for us in Scripture. A broad knowledge of God's Word can give us great guidance. God has given us a number of prayers to pray and promises to hold on to when it comes to knowing and discerning His will.
If something is God's will, why do we need to pray for it to be done? Isn't God sovereign? When we pray this way it aligns us, strengthens us, and lets us partner with God in His Kingdom work. Jesus gives us a good example of this when He is praying in the garden of Gethsemane as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke.
In the next part of Jesus' teaching on prayer in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs his followers to pray for the coming of God's Kingdom. God's Kingdom is generally considered to be His rule and His reign. It is here already but, has not come in all its fullness yet. When we pray this part of the Lord's Prayer we are praying that God's work will prevail over that which on earth is in opposition to it.
At the beginning of the Lord's Prayer, Jesus balances the intimacy and closeness of a relationship with God with the need for respect and reverence toward God. From beginning to end in the Bible, God is described as infinitely holy.
In Matthew 6:9, Jesus says "Pray then like this..." What follows is commonly referred to as "The Lord's Prayer." One striking thing about this prayer is how Jesus instructs His followers to address God. Jesus was bringing about a new relationship with God.
One of the best ways to see what is significant to God when we pray is to look at prayers in Scripture that God responded to. Luke Chapter 18 and Luke Chapter 23 offer two good examples of God responding to prayer.
Jesus' most foundational teaching on prayer is found in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 6. He begins the teaching by first instructing his disciples how NOT to pray. Where is your heart when you pray? Are you coming to God with humility and sincerity?
Why is prayer so important? Why has God chosen to work through prayer? Why were God's great leaders in Scripture, and Jesus himself, such people of prayer?
Building a Life of Prayer is a short (5-minute), daily podcast designed to help you grow in your comfort and confidence in prayer. By teaching through the prayers of the Bible, Pastor David Beaty of River Oaks Community Church in Clemmons, NC, U.S.A., will help you to come to enjoy prayer more, whether praying alone or praying with others.
The apostle Peter uses verse 22 from Psalm 118 in Acts chapter 4 to proclaim that Jesus was rejected, crucified, and rose from the dead.
The importance of Psalm 110—especially verse 1—and its' use in the New Testament is extraordinary.
Psalm 102 contains the heading "A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord."
Psalm 69 was written about one thousand years before Christ and predicted what would happen to Him on the cross.
Psalm 69 was written by King David and is considered a lament. It is quoted in the Gospel according to John and the Book of Romans.
Psalm 34 was written by King David and contains a prophecy about Jesus' death on the cross.
Psalm 22 is particularly important in the way that it predicts Jesus' suffering on the cross.
In the Book of Acts the apostle Paul quotes from Psalm 16 as proof of Jesus' resurrection.
In the New Testament Book of Acts the apostle Peter quotes Psalm 16 as an important proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus quotes from Psalm 8 and applies it to the praise that people were giving to him.
For the next 15 episodes we are considering the psalms that seem to have a particular focus on the coming of Jesus as Messiah and Savior. This brief series is entitled "Jesus in the Psalms."
Psalm 148 is a call to worship the Lord. This includes angels and all parts of creation to give praise to God.
The second part of Psalm 147 continues to call people to praise God and provides more reasons for doing so.
The last five psalms (146 - 150) each begin and end with the words, "Praise the Lord." Each one also tells us why we should praise the Lord.
Psalm 145 is the last of the psalms that is a Hebrew acrostic in which each verse begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Near the end of Psalm 144 David begins praying for God's blessing on His people in their present time and circumstances.
Psalm 144 reminds us that it is not enough just to know about God but that we must know Him as our God.
In Psalm 140 King David's emphasis is on those who are persecuting him and how he will depend on God in order to overcome them.
In Psalm 139 King David marvels at the vastness of God's knowledge and His care for his people.
Psalm 137 is one of the most difficult psalms to understand and appreciate because of its harsh words of judgment.
The words "steadfast love" in Psalm 136 are the translation of the Hebrew word "hesed" which refers to God's covenant love toward His people.
In Jewish tradition Psalm 136 is called the "Great Hallel" which means "Great Psalm of Praise."
In the second part of Psalm 135 there is particular emphasis on God's greatness over all idols.
This psalm is a call to praise the Lord for His greatness over all other gods, His rule over all creation, and His deliverance of His people.
Psalm 134 is the last of the 15 psalms that are given the title of "a song of ascents." It is a call to praise the Lord.
In this short, but extremely important, psalm we find the theme of the beauty and importance of unity for God's people.
In the second half of Psalm 132 the psalm writer is reflecting upon God's oath to King David.
The write of Psalm 132 is reflecting upon King David's longing to have a suitable place for the worship of God.
Charles Spurgeon said of Psalm 131, "It is a short ladder if we count the words, but yet it rises to a great heighth—reaching from deep humility to fixed confidence."
Psalm 129 is recalling the sufferings of Israel and also calling for judgment upon those who hate God's people.
Psalm 127 is psalm of King Solomon. The theme is the need to rely completely upon the Lord if our work is not to be in vain.
Psalm 126 is reflecting on what it was like when the Israelites were freed after 70 years of captivity in Babylon.
Psalm 124 is a psalm of King David that reflects upon God's great life-saving deliverance.
Psalm 122 is attributed to King David and was sung by Jews who traveled to Jerusalem to worship.
Psalm 120 is the first of fifteen "Ascent Psalms." These songs may have been sung by Jewish pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for one of the three annual feasts.
In the final stanza of Psalm 119 the writer is crying out to God and is aware of his need for God's help and care.
In this stanza of Psalm 119 the psalmist is noting that it is his love for God's Word that is keeping him secure in the midst of his adversity.
The psalm writer finds assurance in God's mercy, steadfast love, and the enduring truth of His Word in this stanza of Psalm 119.
The psalmist is clearly in distress and is crying out to God in this stanza of Psalm 119.
In stanza 16 of Psalm 119 the writer is facing some type of oppression from evil people.
The theme of this stanza of Psalm 119 is love for God's Word with emphasis on how it has benefitted the life of the psalm writer.
One commentator describes this stanza as the lowest point in all of Psalm 119 as it is the most focused on suffering.
In this stanza of Psalm 119 the writer is reflecting on some affliction or time of suffering.
A key idea in this stanza of Psalm 119 is that affliction can serve a good purpose when it results in a turning to and learning from God's Word.
The emphasis in this stanza of Psalm 119 is getting comfort from God's Word during times of suffering or affliction.
Psalm 119 can be immensely helpful in prayer. A wonderful way to strengthen your prayer life is to learn how to pray Scripture.
The fourth stanza of Psalm 119 lets us know that the writer was suffering from some significant distress.
The third stanza of Psalm 119 contains one of the best prayers in Scripture to pray before we read or study the Bible.
In the second stanza of Psalm 119 we learn that there is protection from sinning by storing up God's Word in our hearts.
Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It is an alphabetic acrostic with 22 stanzas—one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm and the shortest chapter in the entire Bible. However, it contains a lot of important teaching.
In the second half of Psalm 116 the psalm writer emphasizes what he will do for the Lord.
In Psalm 116 the psalmist expresses his love for God because the Lord has heard his pleas for mercy.
Psalm 115 is the third of the Hallel Psalms. It begins with a commitment to give glory to God.
Psalm 114 is the second of the Hallel Psalms. It begins by recounting the Exodus and then notes the miracles that God did for His people.
Psalm 113 is the first of six Hallel Psalms—psalms which were sung during the Jewish feasts.
Psalm 112 describes the character of a person who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments.
The fear of the Lord can be understood as reverence for God. It is holy, humble respect for Him.
Psalm 111 is a remarkable composition because it is an alphabetic acrostic that is a call to praise God.
The mention of Melchizedek in Psalm 110 points to Jesus as the the great high priest of those who are believers in Christ.
Melchizedek is a somewhat mysterious person in Scripture who is mentioned in this Psalm as well as in Genesis and Hebrews.
King David begins this psalm with a commitment to praise the Lord among his own people and among all nations.
This part of Psalm 107 reminds us of an event in the life of Jesus that is recorded in the Gospel of Mark.
This section of Psalm 107 includes the recognition that the Israelites had deserved the suffering that they had experienced during exile.
Psalm 107 is a psalm of praise of the regathered Israelites after their exile in Babylon.
The final section of Psalm 106 focuses on the sins of the Israelites after they had entered into the land of Canaan.
Psalm 106 provides an overview of the history of Israel with an emphasis on the unfaithfulness of the people.
In the last section of Psalm 105 we read about what God did for the Israelites under the leadership of Moses.
This section of Psalm 105 continues to review the remarkable history of God's work unto the people of Israel.
In the first part of Psalm 105 there is a special emphasis on God's faithfulness to His covenant.
The second half of Psalm 104 continues to praise God for His creation and for His work in sustaining creation.
In the latter part of Psalm 103 King David remembers God's great blessings towards those who fear Him.
The psalm writer seems to have a different and new perspective in this section of Psalm 102.
Psalm 102 is a prayer of one afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
One of the things to notice about Psalm 96 is the emphasis on worship being about bringing something to the Lord.
Psalm 96 seems to have been written by King David for the occasion of the bringing of the Ark of God to Jerusalem from the house of a man named Obed-Edom.
Psalm 95 reflects back on something that is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Exodus and is later picked up in the New Testament Book of Hebrews.
We are given assurance in Psalm 94 that despite what we have seen the wicked do, God's justice will come.
Psalm 91 presents God as the dwelling place and protector of His people as well as the provider of their salvation.
Psalm 91 speaks of the many benefits for those who know and trust in the Lord as their refuge.
This prayer of Moses is contrasting the eternity of God with the brevity of a human being's life on Earth.
The second section of Psalm 89 speaks in more detail about God's faithfulness to His covenant with King David.
Psalm 89 is a lengthy psalm that contains three especially important words—forever, faithfulness, and covenant.
Psalm 87 can be understood as a prophecy of the day when unbelieving nations will come to know the true and living God.
Psalm 86 contains a quote from the Book of Exodus that reveals who God is and what He is like.
Psalm 85 begins by reflecting on a past restoration of God's people and then transitions to a prayer for another restoration of God's people.
Psalm 83 can seem troubling because the writer, Asaph, is praying for the destruction of the enemies of the Jews.
Psalm 82 reads like a courtroom account in which God is bringing charges against the rulers of Israel.
Psalm 81 begins with a call to worship God and continues with a reminder of what God has done for Israel.
Bible commentators suggest that Psalm 79 is written about the destruction of Jerusalem.
Psalm 78 is a teaching psalm with a call to remember God's works and to learn from the past.
After celebrating the defeat an enemy, the psalm writer calls upon the people to fear and be faithful to God.
Psalm 74 teaches us that when we lament our present circumstances we should remember God's great works and turn to His Word.
The psalm writer—Asaph—had become envious of the wicked, however his perspective changed when he went into the Sanctuary.
In the final verses of Psalm 71 we can learn that we will never out live our need to turn to the Lord in our difficulties.
In the second part of Psalm 68 there is an emphasis placed on other nations and kingdoms turning to God.
Psalm 68 is a song about the mighty acts God has done for His people and reads like a song of military triumph.
Psalm 67 is a world missions psalm. The blessing of God extends to all nations of the world.
In the second half of Psalm 66 the writer is reflecting on their own experience of praying to God in times of need.
The author of Psalm 66 is not identified. It is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving and has a world missions emphasis.
Psalm 65 is a beautiful psalm of praise to God for His grace, His power, and His provision.
In Psalm 64 King David helps us understand that no matter what evil people do, we should stay focused on the Lord and rejoice in Him.
As David continues to seek the defeat of his enemies he turns his focus to God and provides an expression of his faith in God.
Psalm 59 is a Miktam of David when Saul had sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.
Psalm 58 is psalm in which King David calls for God's judgment and punishment upon the wicked.
In Psalm 55 King David teaches us a very valuable truth—that we are to place our burdens on God's shoulders and trust that He will carry them for us.
In Psalm 55 King David describes a time when he was betrayed by someone that he considered to be a friend.
Psalm 54 is a maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”
Psalm 53 is very similar to Psalm 14. Since the information is given twice in Scripture, it indicates the importance of what is being said.
Psalm 52 is a maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”
Psalm 51 is a psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Psalm 50 is a psalm of judgment in which God is judging his people for worshipping him with wrong heart motives.
Psalm 49 is a wisdom psalm—a psalm that teaches—and its focus is on the foolishness of trusting in wealth.
Psalm 48 includes praise for the Lord in celebration of Jerusalem—the city of the Great King.
Psalm 46 is a psalm of assurance that God is with His people even in the midst of national and world crisis.
Psalm 45 seems to be a Messianic wedding song. It contains verses that are quoted in the New Testament Book of Hebrews.
King David concludes Psalm 41 by praising God for upholding him through his trials. It also includes a call to care for the poor.
One important quality of Psalm 40 is that it emphasizes telling people what God has done for us.
King David begins Psalm 40 by recalling God’s deliverance and faithfulness. It is a Messianic Psalm that is quoted in the New Testament.
In Psalm 38 we find King David confessing his sin and lamenting the suffering he has endured as a result of his sin.
Parts of Psalm 35 seem to be Messianic—they point ahead to the suffering of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 35 is an imprecatory psalm in which the writer is asking God to pour out judgement on his enemies.
Psalm 34 was written by King David and recalls the time when he pretended to be insane in order to spare his own life .
The background story for Psalm 34 is found in 1 Samuel chapter 21 when King David was fleeing from Saul.
An emphasis of the latter half of Psalm 33 is that God is not impressed by great military might.
Psalm 33 does not have an identified author and is a psalm of praise to God for His great work in creation.
Psalm 31 records some important things that King David learned about the Lord in the midst of a serious trial.
Psalm 29 celebrates the greatness of the voice of the Lord and reminds us of His sovereignty.
The second part of Psalm 27 indicates that adversity often presents an environment for spiritual growth.
Psalm 27 was written by King David. It is a psalm of confidence in God during the worst of troubles.
Psalm 25 concludes with two additional components of relying on God for guidance: reverence and attention.
Psalm 25 is a psalm of King David that emphasizes the importance of the guidance of God.
Some commentators believe that Psalm 24 is about King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.
Psalm 23 is one of the best known and most loved of all psalms. It provides a beautiful image of God’s loving care for His people.
The conclusion of Psalm 22 predicts that the Messiah will one day rule over the nations. We can see this fulfilled in Jesus’ life after the resurrection, especially in the “Great Commission” mandate that he gave to his followers.
Psalm 22 accurately describes many details of the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, yet it was written approximately 1000 years prior to that event.
Psalm 22 is a Messianic psalm that accurately predicts the suffering of Jesus. Jesus spoke the first words of Psalm 22 when he was on the cross.
Psalm 21 seems to pick up where Psalm 20 left off. It celebrates God’s power over His enemies.
At the end of Psalm 19, King David applies the two different types of revelation—general and special—to himself.
Psalm 19 is divided into two parts. The first part expresses general revelation—the revelation of God through creation. The second part focuses on special revelation—the holy Scriptures.
In the final verses of Psalm 18 King David emphasizes that God alone is Lord. His way is perfect.
In Psalm 18 King David recounts both his many adversities and how God has delivered him from them.
Psalm 17 is a prayer in which King David is seeking vindication from his enemies and God’s protection from wicked people.
The verses in the second half of Psalm 16 are particularly important because they contain a Messianic prophecy regarding Jesus’ resurrection.
Psalm 16 is a psalm of devotion in which King David states his commitment to the Lord as the one true God.
In the fifteenth psalm, King David expresses what a righteous person’s life should look like.
Verse 3 of Psalm 14 is quoted by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament Book of Romans. The point being made is that no human being is righteous before God on the basis on their own merit.
King David begins Psalm 13 with a lament, goes on to make a request of God, then moves to expressions of trust, and finally ends with a commitment to give praise to God.
In Psalm 12 King David laments the evil in the world and receives assurances from the Lord that He will intervene on behalf of the poor and needy
Psalm 11 was written by King David during a time when he was facing adversity. He assures himself, and us, that God rules over everything regardless of our circumstances.
Psalm 10 is a lament in which the psalmist expresses concern that God seems so far away.
In the second half of Psalm 9 King David provides a reminder of God’s faithfulness and also a call to actively praise God for that faithfulness.
In the first ten verses of Psalm 9 King David gives praise to God and proclaims God’s rule and reign.
Jesus quotes the second verse of Psalm 8 in the Gospel of Matthew which gives us an important insight into the significance of this verse.
The second half of Psalm 7 says that God feels indignation every day. If that is true, how can any of us stand before him?
In Psalm 7 King David deals with an injustice done to him by Cush. He turns to God for vindication.
Psalm 6 is a lament in which, despite his affliction, King David does not turn away from God, but rather looks toward God.
In Psalm 5 King David is facing a serious trial yet beautifully states his trust in God.
Psalm 3 was written by King David about fleeing from his son Absalom, an account that is recorded in chapters 15 and 16 of the Book of 2nd Samuel.
Psalm 2 is what is known as a Messianic Psalm, in that it speaks of the Messiah, Jesus.
Psalm Starter is a new podcast by Pastor David Beaty of River Oaks Community Church beginning on January 6, 2020. Psalm Starter is a short, 3-minute, daily devotion in the Psalms to help you start your day in Scripture. Episodes will be published Monday-Friday at 5AM.