A Snapshot of the Psalms

Do you ever feel like you don’t have the words to say in prayer? Have you ever been overjoyed and just want to sing the Lord’s praises? If you’re looking for something to help you express your emotions to the Lord, check out the book of Psalms. I guarantee there’s at least one chapter out of the 150 that you can relate to. Psalms are songs, poems, and hymns written by various authors in ancient Israel. These were written down and collected so that God’s people could sing them together. Psalms help us express our emotions before God through worship and prayer, and they help us remember God’s faithful love, matchless power, constant presence, and promises. Though the circumstances we experience may be different from the Psalms’ original readers, the purpose of the Psalms in expressing human emotion crosses the borders of time, making these writings relevant to us even today. Isn’t it amazing that thousands of years later, we can use these same texts for the same purposes? Not only are the Psalms useful for expressing our joys, sorrows, frustrations, and requests to God, but they also point to Jesus time and time again. Jesus Himself quoted them often throughout His ministry. A few noteworthy psalms that foretold Jesus are 22, 34, and 69. Psalm 22 outlines much of the agony Jesus would face when nearing His death, even specific details such as the taunts of those around Him while He hung on the cross and the casting of lots for His clothing (verses 8 and 18). And, in His perfect obedience to God the Father, Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 while nailed to the cross, My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Matthew 27:46). When Jesus rose from the dead, His followers saw that He is the Messiah His people had been waiting for all alongthe promised Savior the Psalms point to again and again. God gave us the Psalms as a gift to help us express ourselves to Him and know Him better. Whether in joy or sadness, we can approach our Father in prayer and worship whenever we need. Emily Rondello What kind of psalm would help you express a prayer before God today? One of joy? Sorrow? Longing? Frustration? Repentance? Request? Even when we don’t know how to express ourselves to God, He understands us anyway (Psalm 139:1-6; Romans 8:26-27). How might this truth free you to come to God even when you don’t know what to say? Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 (NLT)

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Psalm 89