Reading the Psalms

Breakdown of the Old Testament By Divisions

The Law

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy

History  (Most of this section is the OT Stories)

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra Nehemiah, & Esther

Poetry/Wisdom

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations

Prophets

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel,

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah Malachi

The Psalms are a collection of prayers and hymns

consisting of words spoken to or about God instead of

God’s words to us. 

FIVE GUDELINES FOR READING THE PSALMS

1. Understand the Various Functions of the Psalms

Three ways psalms help us:

• They give expression to my thoughts and prayers.
• They help me reflect on God and on life.
• They form my thinking about God and life.

2. Distinguish Between The Different Types of Psalms

• Psalms of Lament    (3, 5, 22, 31, 39, 42, 57, 71, 120)
• Psalms of Thanksgiving    (18, 30, 65, 67, 75, 92 116)
• Psalms of Praise         (8, 19, 66, 100, 103, 104, 148)
• Salvation History Psalms          (78, 105, 106, 135-136)
• Celebration/ Affirmation Psalms  (2, 50, 81, 110, 76)
• Wisdom Psalms            (36, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128)
• Psalms of Trust            (11, 16, 23, 27, 62-63, 91,121)
• Messianic Psalms                     (2; 20-24; 41 68; 118)
• Psalms of Confession (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)

3. Embrace the Figurative Language of the Psalms

4. Understand the Structure

Poetry & Parallelism

5. Use the Psalms in Prayer to Express a Range of Emotions and Life Experiences

FIVE WAYS TO USE THE PSALMS IN OUR LIVES

1. They Are a Guide to Worship (Corporate & Private)
2. They Teach Us How To Express Honest Emotion to God
3. They Show the Importance of Prayer & Meditation
4. They Reveal the Priority of Bringing Our Petitions Before Him
5. They Do NOT Guarantee a Perfect Life but Always Remind Us That There is Hope in the Lord.