Psalms

BY She Reads Truth

We’re halfway through This Is the Old Testament, our thematic overview of the Old Testament. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll finish our look at the books of Wisdom Literature and begin the last sections of the Old Testament, the Major and Minor Prophets.

What Is Psalms? The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 musical poems and prayers written by David and others that represent the full range of human emotion in worshiping God.

How Psalms Fits Into the Story: The Psalms are deeply relational and give us a window into who God is, how He acts, and how His people can respond. The struggle to understand how God’s attributes—particularly His sovereignty and goodness—relate to life experiences is a major theme throughout the Psalms. These words, often in the form of prayers, were written by people who had not lost their faith in God as they navigated the mountaintops and valleys of life. Like us, they wrestled with how God was dealing with them both personally and as a community. 

Reflection Questions: 
1. Do you find it easier to pray or worship God in certain moods or seasons? How do the emotions conveyed in Psalm 116 influence your understanding of what you can bring to God?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?

Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.