Psalms

This book is in process. It had been completed but data was lost in a systems transition.

This is a comparison of the righteous and the wicked.  The righteous are listed with joys and strength. The wicked are listed with their destruction and downfalls. 

Principles: Living a righteous life leads to blessing.  Living a wicked life leads to condemnation and destruction. 

Principles: Living a righteous life leads to blessing. Living a wicked life leads to condemnation and destruction.

The psalmist asks about the anger of nations and points at them rejecting God. God is not worried though at their anger. He chastises them. He knows His Son will vanquish them. He tells them that they need to serve the Lord.

Principles: the problems in the world are due to lack of submission to God. Submission to God brings peace.

The psalm was written when David was running from Absolom, his son, when Absolom was trying to seize the kingdom from David. David starts by telling Good how he has so many enemies. But David recognizes that God is a shield around him and he calls out to God and God responds. Because of this, David was able to rest in safety. Then David asks God to basically embarrass his enemies. 

Principles: when our trust is in God we have no reason to worry. We can rest in God when we trust in Him.

David asks God to hear him when he calls and says that people are spreading lies about him. He knows God sets the godly apart for Himself and will answer him when he calls. 

David then gives advice: don’t sin in your anger; offer sacrifices in the right heart; God provides great joy and peace. 

Principles: let God manage your reputation.  Rest in God’s peace. 

David begins this psalm by asking God to listen to him as he makes his requests in the morning. He uses words like groaning and crying to describe his prayers. He says he prays only to God and waits expectantly. He notes that God takes no pleasure in wickedness and sin and that He detests murderers and thieves. 

He then moves towards the positive in describing God and how he (David) will worship Him (God) and his request for guidance from God. 

Then David goes back to the evil of his enemies and asks the Lord to let them bear the fruits of their actions. 

He ends with describing the path of those who follow God, noting the joy and protection they receive. 

Principles: Only following God brings true joy and God’s protection.

David asks for compassion from God. He asks for mercy from God as he faces his enemies. He asks that his enemies be stopped and vanquished. In the last portion, there is a change in tone noting that God is saving him. 

Principles: Call out to God to save you. 

LIn the first stanza, David comes to God asking for protection. Next, he asks God to mobilize His armies against his enemies and defend his innocence. David notes that God is his shelter and protector and that He is an honest judge of people.  David describes what happens to the wicked and how they operate. David ends by expressing his thanks to God because He is just and he praises God.

Principles: God is the defender of the just and is a righteous judge.

David starts by saying how he will praise the Lord. He talks about how his enemies have been vanquished. He moves on to how God rules the world with righteousness. 

David then goes back to reminding/ asking God to protect him from his enemies. 

He then states what happens to the wicked and how the poor will be cared for by God.

He then asks God to judge the nations and not let people defy Him.

Principles: God handles the world according to His plan. He is worthy to be praised for that and so many things 

David asks why people get worried by troubles happening around them when God is watching everything going on. He watches both just and unjust.

Principles: God is still on the throne. 

David asks for God’s help because of the declining level of righteous people.  He describes how people are scoffing against don’t right.  Then he shares how God is responding, that He sees what is going on and will rise up and rescue those who need His help and have been calling on Him. 

Principles: God hears those who call on him for help and rescues them. 

David asks why God is forgetting him.  David asks how long he must be in anguish and when the Lord will restore joy to him.  David doesn’t want his enemies to be able to gloat about his state. 

However, David trusts God and rejoices because He has rescued him. 

Principles: look to God in the midst of your troubles.  

David notes that the fool rejects God’s existence. God looks for those who are righteous but everyone falls short. The wicked go after the righteous but God sees them doing so. 

David then points to the Messiah, who will rescue God’s people and result in joy for God’s people. 

Principles: fools reject God’s very existence.  

David highlights the heart of those that are true worshippers/God-followers.

Principles: actions can demonstrate a heart attitude and purity before God.

David asks God to keep him safe but then goes into praising Him for all that He does. He ends it by making a Messianic reference. 

Principles: Praise God for all that He does for you. 

This is a prayer of David. It covers a regular theme of David, asking God for protection from enemies and recognition/declaration of his innocence. It ends taking about the hope of relationship with God.

Principles: put your trust in God and His protection. 

This psalm is David praising God for delivering him from Saul. David praises God for being his protector and strength.  He describes how bad it was during the time when Saul was after him.  Then he shares how God prepared for and went to battle against David’s enemies. David then shared how God protected him for staying faithful to Him. David shares how God cared for, protected, and prepared him for the fight against his enemies and how they were completely destroyed. Then God put him in authority to the point that people knew his heart strength and were afraid of opposing him. 

Then David praises God for his great power and strength through the situation. 

Principles: God will move heaven and earth to care for His children. 

This Psalm of David shows David outlining aspects of God’s characteristics and how creation tells about Him.

Principles: the qualities of God are undeniable. 

This Psalm reads as a blessing to the reader, transitions to a declaration about God, and ends with a direct prayer to God.  

Principles: God is the source of our blessing and protection.

David starts out with thankfulness for how God had blessed him as King. He then switches to stating how God will triumph and how His (and David’s) enemies will be vanquished. 

Principles: be thankful for God’s provision

David expresses his feelings of being alone and that God seems far away.  Jesus quotes this when He’s on the cross.  There are a number of messianic references in here.  The psalm goes back and forth between David’s despair and his proclamation of God’s greatness. 

Principles: Even in times of trouble, God is great. We should proclaim that and rely on God in times of trouble. 

This psalm speaks of the overwhelming care of God for David. God takes care of all hours needs, leads him, protects him, gives him rest, and keeps him healthy. David can’t imagine rejecting this and going away from this ever. 

Principles: rest is God’s overwhelming care.

David writes of God’s ownership of everything as creator.  Then he expresses who may approach God. Finally, he encourages people to turn to God. 

Principles: Recognize God’s authority. 

David shares a Psalm of placing trust in God and then laying out a defense of why God is great (for others to place how trust in him) and also why God should forgive us (because of His greatness). 

Principles: put your trust in God because He is great and forgives is despite our sins. 

David calls on God to defend his innocence.  He relates why and how he has separated himself from those who are not innocent. 

Principles: let God manage your reputation. 

David contradicts the incredible characteristics of God with his own inadequacies. He then talks about what he wants most: to be intimate in his relationship with God. Then he asks God for grace, mercy, and protection. 

Principles: trust in the greatness of God, not in your own weaknesses. 

David asks God to hear God’s prayer and not include him with those who are wicked.  David then thanks Good for hearing his cry for mercy. He ends with a prayer for Israel.

Principles: God’s mercy is a treasured gift. 

David talks about the greatness and strength of God in this psalm. 

Principles: God’s greatness needs to be proclaimed. 

In this Psalm, David rejoices in God’s help. He talks about praising God, recognizing that there may be times when there will be pain and trouble but God’s favor and joy follow. 

Principles: Praise God in the midst of the trials and when you have made mistakes. 

David comes to God for protection.  He lays out the struggles he’s going through, including sin, and asks God for His protection. He then praises God for what He has done and is doing to care for David and encourages the Godly to do the same. 

Principles: place your trust in God.

David describes the joy and peace that comes from God’s forgiveness. He also talks about the weight of not confessing sin and living in rebellion. 

Principles: confession to God is good for your well being. 

David praises the Lord highlighting Him as creator and sustainor.  

Principles: Praise the Lord for His greatness in creating all that is and for His plans for your life.

David writes this after feigning madness to the king of the Philistines when running from his enemies (after having killed their hero, Goliath, years prior). It sounds more wisdom based like Proverbs. David advises his listener to seek peace and keep from speaking evil and lies.

Principles: seek to live quiet and peaceable lives before God.

David is asking God to defend him and crush his persecutors.

Principles: take your problems to God and let God defend you. 

This psalm begins by talking about how sin works the wicked.  Then it moves on to talk about how great and wonderful God is. David then asks God to pour out His love on His people.  He ends with a statement of victory showing the wicked falling. 

Principles: God’s greatness far exceed the ploys of the wicked. 

This is a psalm of hope for those struggling with evil around them.  

Principles: put your trust in and focus on God. Don’t let the evil around you change your countenance for the negative. 

David talks about how he feels when he is guilty of sin and when God is disciplining him. 

Principles: Cry out to God when you are in the wrong so you can be restored.  

David is writing about wanting to speak out against what is going on but holding his tongue until he can’t stand it any longer. He then calls on God to remind him how short and fleeting his life is. He wants to let that remind him that his words are not as important as he thinks. He talks about being exhausted by the discipline he’s going through from God. He wants release from the discipline of God. 

Principles: Put things in perspective. You are not as important as you think. Let God’s discipline work in you. 

David talks about how he benefits when he waits on God to move. When he focuses on what’s going on around him, he can only see trouble and his own sin.  

Principles: God’s greatness is unending and He cares abundantly for His people. 

David starts by talking about defending the poor and how God blesses those that do.  He then moves on to a familiar request: protect me from those that wish evil and harm. 

Principles: Do your best to care for the poor. God sees.

David expresses how he longs to be in God’s presence worshiping him instead of worried about the challenges of the day. He encourages himself to focus on God who sustains him. 

Principles: focus on God’s sustaining power instead of circumstances. 

David looks to God to defend him and pronounce him innocent.  He is being lied about from others and wants to be comforted. He ends calling himself to put his hope in God.

Principles: let God defend your reputation. Put your hope in God not your circumstances. 

This is a Psalm of the descendants of Korah. It starts out talking about how it was God that brought victory to their ancestors the Israelites, not the Israelites themselves. However, then it shifts to pleading with God to save them from the trouble they were in. They maintain that they have been faithful to God and still the trouble came. They call out to God to ransom them because of His great love.

Principles: in this world you will have trouble but be of good courage because Jesus has overcome.

A psalm of the descendants of Korah. The psalm primarily speaks highly of the king and royalty of Israel.

Principles: give honor to those in leadership for their good qualities.

This is a psalm of the descendants of Korah. It starts by talking about God as refuge. Then it talks about God being among His people and His powerful voice. The next portion talks about God’s ability to bring destruction even to destructive war itself. Then God speaks about honoring Him throughout the world. It ends talking about God being among them.

Principles: God is our refuge and strength. He is to be honored. He will be with us.

A Psalm of the descendants of Korah. This is a Psalm of praise to God for His greatness.

Principles: Praise God for His mighty works in the world and creation and in your life.

Descendants of Korah Psalm. The psalm expresses the greatness of God and how He defends Jerusalem. The enemies of Israel rallied together to attack until they saw the greatness of Jerusalem and how God defended it. Then the Ps tells the listener to describe the greatness of Jerusalem to future generations as evidence of God’s greatness.

Principles: God’s greatness is evidenced in His protection and provision for His people.

Descendants of Korah Ps. The overall focus is that you shouldn’t be afraid of what comes your way and that despite a person’s riches, they will end eventually.

Principles: you can’t take your riches with you when you die.

This is a Psalm of Asaph. He calls Israel to repent from being hypocritical and going through the motions of serving God. God speaks through the Ps saying He doesn’t need the offerings they are giving and that if they are just going to sin in spite of sacrificing they ars worthless. Instead be thankful and keep your vows to God.

Principles: to obey is better than sacrifice. Heart attitude is better than an empty show.

This psalm of David is his response after Nathan the prophet confronts him after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. David pleads for God’s forgiveness and for the joy of God to return to him.

Principles: Even when we have sinned greatly, we can turn to God for forgiveness.

In this psalm of David, he challenges those who are brazen in their sins and standing against God. He warns them that God sees what they are doing and will cut them down in plain view of the righteous. Then he closes by pointing out his trust in God.

Principles: live a pure life before God.

David writes to God asking for His protection from people who were helping Saul find him. He praises God for his protection.

Principles: praise God for His intervention and protection.

David talks about how his enemies are against him and God will rescue him. He says God keeps a record of his tears and sorrows.

Principles: God knows what you’re going through and will bring you through them.

David writes about how he will trust in God’s protection even when his enemies are chasing him to kill him. David is running from Saul hiding in the cave.

Principles: trust God to care for you in your direst circumstances.

David speaks of rulers who are not just and treat their people badly. He asks God to break them for their poor treatment.

Principles: rulers need to treat their people justly before God and people.

David again asks for protection against his enemies. He begs God to awaken and rescue him. He asks God not to simply wipe them out completely but to make their destruction something that stands out in the memories of his people. He ends saying that he will glorify God.

Principles: Focus on God instead of your problems.

David talks about how God had been disciplining the nation. David asks that God would restore them because of His holiness.

Principles: God discipline those He loves to purify them.

David asks God to protect him in His sanctuary. He prays for a blessing for the king in the third person.

Principles: put your trust for safety in God.

David is encouraging himself to trust in God and look to Him to protect him. He recognizes that his trust should not be in people around him or in wealth.

Principles: trust God in everything

David worships God in the first two sections of this psalm.  He talks about how God is his sustenance and how he meditates on Him. The final section refers to God punishing David’s enemies. 

Principles: worship the Lord

David asks God for protection against his enemies. Then he describes what happens when God protects him. 

Principles: God protects His people. 

This Psalm is one of praise by David. David praises God for His provision and the many ways He cares for the whole world. 

Principles: God is great and marvelous! 

David gives a psalm of praise to God. He encourages those around him to listen and praise God too.

Principles: praise God for all that He is and has done. 

This psalm starts out as a blessing and then transitions more to a call of what people should do.  It’s repetitive in things it says like a song. 

Principles: God blesses us when we praise Him.

This is a Psalm of exuberant praise to God. It talks about His exploits and lists ways He should be praised.  

Principles: God is worthy of praise.

David shares how he is in trouble and needs to be rescued by God. He’s weary from calling for help. He shares that he is ridiculed for serving God and crying out to Him. He is afraid that his shortcomings and sins will reflect badly on God and those who trust in God. He then moves on into how he will praise God and actual praise to God.

Principles: Focus on God all the time. 

In this psalm David asks God to rescue him from his enemies by frustrating their plans and disgracing them. He then turns to how people seeking God should be filled with joy. He ends talking about his own neediness and helplessness.

Principles: Follow God and be filed with His joy and gratefulness.

This is a psalm of Solomon. In it he basically asks God to help him be a good leader to his people.  He asks for favor with other countries and their leaders.  He asks for blessing of his people.

Principles: It is God who supports leaders. 

Asaph starts by saying how good God is to His people. Then he goes on to describe how he had struggled because he saw the proud prosper. He discusses at length how he saw them prosper despite their lies and wrong actions while he struggled. He went on to finally understand that God was not blinded to what was going on and that the proud were not getting away with anything. He realized how bitter he had become and then turned back towards trusting that God is in control. 

Principles: put your trust in God and know that He will handle everything. 

Asaph cries out to God to rescue Israel from trouble.  He reminds God of how He had chosen Israel as His prized possession and Jerusalem as His home on earth.  He asks God to restore Israel and protect it from its enemies. 

Principles: remember that God is your source. 

Asaph talks about how God will respond in judgment in His judgment. Asaph notes that God alone is the judge and move in judgment according to His plan. Asaph ends by saying he will serve and praise the Lord.

Principles: rely on God to be the judge.

This psalm of Asaph is one of praise and exaltation of God. In this stanza, he describes who God is in Israel. In the second he directly praises God as a conqueror. In the final section Asaph charges the reader to be faithful to God because of His greatness. 

Principles: God is worthy of praise. He is our protector and conqueror. 

Asaph shares how it feels like God has abandoned him.  He notes that the good times seem long gone. He asks if God had forgotten him. But then he remebered the many blessings from God and focuses on them, praising God for His meant blessings. 

Principles: Praise the Lord even when He seems absent because His blessings are overwhelming. 

In this psalm Asaph talks about making sure the next generation knows about God’s greatness.  He then gives a historical account of how God done so many great things for Israel and yet they rejected Him. He outlines the sin cycle in Israel’s history.  He talked about how Ephraim was rejected as a tribe and Judah was chosen to lead as a result. He ends by talking about God’s selection of David.  

Principles: teach the next generation about God.  

Asaph asks for mercy from God for Israel. He asks God to save Israel and forgive its people because of His great name and reputation.  

Principles: God is greater than everything else. 

Asaph calls on God to remember Israel and rescue them from their enemies. He asks God to draw them back like a son He loves. 

Principles: God loves us first.

Asaph starts out in praise to God. He then talks about God speaking to His people about taking their burdens from them.  Then he moves into a stern warning to them and a description of how they turn from God.

Principles: stay focused on a relationship with God and let Him carry the burdens of your life. 

Asaph seems upset that God is not being just in his judgment of the unrighteous. He says they act like they are gods but begs God to judge them for their unrighteousness. 

Principles:  God is righteous despite how it appears.

Asaph leads with God to rescue Israel from the enemies of God and Israel. He notes that they have created an alliance against God and Israel in the arrogance.

Principles: when enemies arrogantly conspire against you, call on God.

This is a psalm of praise to God with some generally famous sections. 

Principles: Being in God’s presence is better than riches and easy living. 

The psalm talks about the blessings of God on Israel and how He didn’t unleash His fury on them.  Then the psalmist asks God to restore and revive them. The psalmist says he listens closely to what God says but warns against turning back to sin. 

Principles: Walking with God allows for God’s blessings to flow. 

David offers this prayer praising God and asking for His favor and help. 

Principles: God is worthy of praise.

This psalm of Korah talks about the greatness of Jerusalem or Zion. It reflects the universality of the city and that everyone is a citizen of it. It talks about the favor it has from God.

Principles: God would like everyone to be saved. 

A psalm of Heman the Ezrahite. He speaks of his many troubles and asks God to remove his afflictions.

Principles: Even Heman needs God. ;-D

This Psalm starts out praising God for His greatness.  It then moves on to talk about His eternal covenant with David. Then it talks about how God has seemingly forsaken David (or his descendants) and asks to restore the covenant.

Principles: God is mighty and worthy to be praised and can be relied upon. 

This psalm of Moses is a prayer by him to God. In it Moses notes God’s greatness and His ability to see everything that goes on in the world. Moses points out how short our lives are and how God is eternal. Moses asks God to return His favor to them again. 

Principles: Our lives are so short and insignificant but God chose to love us.

This psalm is a collection of ways to praise God.

Principles: Praise God in every way