Inspirational Insights: Psalms has you covered
Psalm 139:1-4, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.”
Many times I go to God in prayer when my heart is hurting so much, the words of what I’m asking from God simply fail to come out. Sometimes I just say to Him, “Please, just know how I feel and what’s best to take the hurt away”. The verse above lets me know…He knows.
The Book of Psalms is comforting and lets us know that whatever we are going through He knows before we even ask. This book is the greatest collection of poetry, songs and prayers. The poetry is a reflection of reality, the songs are of praise, worship and thanksgiving, and the prayers are the heartfelt requests and forgiveness in the very depth of our inner being. John Calvin once said that the Book of Psalms is an “anatomy of all parts of the soul”.
The formation and completion of Psalms took over 500 years. Three themes are covered by this prophetic book; 1) the humiliation and exaltation of the Messiah, 2) the sorrows and eventual deliverance of Israel, 3) the future blessing of all the nations through Israel’s reigning Messiah.
Psalm 22, written hundreds of years before our Lord’s incarnation, spoke of Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Crucifixion wasn’t even known of at that time. Yet, David spoke of the crucifixion as if it were his own.
Verses 27-28 in Psalm 22 says “all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations”. This reminds me of Philippians 2:10-11, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.
Some Psalms express extreme anger against enemies and evil-doers; just like we do when we get angry and want immediate revenge against those who have wronged us. However, in Matthew 5:45-46, it reminds us that “He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?”
When I have been wronged, or need guidance, I turn to Psalm 5. When I need assurance of safety for me, my family, and friends, I turn to Psalm 91. When life comes at me hard and temptations surround me, I turn to Psalm 23. When I need reminded of who He is, I turn to Psalms 105 and 135. When I need assurance that His Word is true and just, I turn to Psalm 119.
The wonderful thing about the Book of Psalms is that no matter who you are, what you’ve done, whether you have uncertainties in your life, if you feel unloved and uncared for, or even if you feel like you’re on top of the world…the Psalms has you covered.
Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
If you’re looking for something specific, there’s a book in the Bible that’s got you covered. I know because I’ve seen it, I’ve read it, and I’ve experienced it!
(This week our church will be praying for people along Atkinson Way, Berkey Road, and Mississippi Street in the Boswell area. We ask that you remember them this week in your daily prayers. If you have any street requests for prayer please send them to me at the email below.)
(Nancy Stoppe of Jenners is affiliated with Jenner Township Baptist Church, Boswell. She can be contacted at stoppe123@comcast.net.)
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Nancy Stoppe column about the Book of Psalms
