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Reading Guide
Book 4, Psalms 90-106
Watch for the
Psalm 90 - Our weakness and God’s mercy
Who is named as the author of this psalm?
What is he asking God to do?
Psalm 93-99 The LORD reigns as King
All of creation will celebrate God’s reign.
Look for how rivers, trees, and mountains are used in these psalms.
Psalms 105-106 - A history lesson for God’s people
Read these two psalms together in one sitting.
What is being described?
How is God described?
How are the people described?
What is God’s response at the end of psalm 106?
What is the response of the people at the end of psalm 106?
Reading Guide
June 23-29
Book 3, Psalms 73-89
Take note of who wrote each of the psalms.
Did David write any in this section?
Read these Psalms with the Babylonian conquest and exile in mind.
Note the mixture of lament and praise.
Psalm 73
What does the author say about himself?
What does he say about the people around him?
What does he say about God?
How do the first verse and the last verse fit into the rest of the poem?
Psalm 78
Compare Psalm 78 to Acts 7.
What do they have in common? What is different?
Psalm 79
Vs. 1-4 What time period and what people are being described?
Vs. 4-12 What are they asking of God?
V. 13 What do they vow to do?
Psalm 80 - What are the two symbols used in this psalm (vs. 1-7 and vs. 8-16)?
What does each represent?
Compare this psalm to Matthew 21:33-46, John 15:1-8
Who is the psalmist speaking of in vs. 17-18?
Note verses 3, 7, and 19
Psalm 82 - Whom does the psalmist ask God to “defend” or “vindicate” (depending on Bible version)?
Psalm 84:10 and Luke 15:17-19 What do these have in common?
Psalm 86:15 Where have you heard this before?
Psalm 89
Vs. 1-37 - Who is the psalmist describing?
Vs. 38-51 - The tone changes. What is this about?
Reading Guide
June 16-22
Psalms 42-72
Psalms 3 through 72 - see Psalm 72:20 - Emphasis on David, his life and his struggles. Much of his life was spent running and hiding from his enemies - first Saul, then his own family - Absolom.
Psalms 42-43: Hope for a future return to the temple in Zion
Psalms 46-48: God is our refuge
Psalms 49-53: struggling with sin and human failure
Psalm 72: The future reign of the Messianic king.
This king’s reign will bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to bring God’s blessing to all the nations. Compare Psalm 72:17 with Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:17
Reading Guide
June 9-15
Psalms 1-41
Introduction: Psalms 1 and 2
Psalm 1 - Blessed is the one who meditates on the Torah. Torah means “teaching” and was the Hebrew name for the five books of Moses. Psalms, also with five “books”, or sections, could also be seen as a new Torah (teaching) about prayer. The tree planted by streams of water - imagery of Eden and temple - God and man together in peace.
Psalm 2 - A poetic reflection on God’s promise to king David in 2 Samuel 7, that one day a Messianic king would come and establish God’s kingdom over the world. All those who take refuge in the Messianic king will be blessed.
So watch throughout the book for these themes: Eden and temple - God and man together; faithfulness to the Torah; the Messiah; the Messianic kingdom of God.
As you read, watch for the connection to David:: “a psalm of David”.
Psalm 15: A call to covenant faithfulness
Psalms 16-18: David’s past deliverance and elevation as king
Psalm 19: Praising God for the Torah
Psalms 20-23: future king’s deliverance and kingdom over the nations and including the nations
Psalm 24: A call to covenant faithfulness
Note how the two themes of Psalms 1 and 2 are tied together here.
Psalm 41:13 - The end of Book 1 - “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.”